Effect of Compressive Shoulder Draping With Adhesive Incise Drape on Soft Tissue Swelling in Shoulder Arthroscopy: A Prospective Randomized Trial

Background

Soft tissue swelling in shoulder arthroscopy is common and may lead to complications. Measures aimed at reducing this phenomenon are routinely used with limited efficacy.

Purpose/Hypothesis

The purpose of the study was to assess (1) soft tissue swelling of the shoulder (the operated site) and (2) soft tissue swelling of the neck, chest, and arm (the surrounding tissue) in patients with versus without compressive draping during shoulder arthroscopy. It was hypothesized that compressive draping of the shoulder with adhesive incise drape would reduce soft tissue swelling during shoulder arthroscopy.

Study Design

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods

A total of 50 patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were prospectively randomized to either the study group (in which the shoulder was draped with adhesive incise drape tightened around the shoulder) or the control group (in which a standard shoulder arthroscopy drape was used). The circumferences of the shoulder, arm, chest, and neck were measured preoperatively and postoperatively and compared between the groups.

Results

The shoulder circumference in the standard draping group increased by 16% during the procedure (from 21.2 ± 1.5 cm preoperatively to 24.5 ± 1.7 cm postoperatively) compared with only 6% in the compressive draping group (from 21.0 ± 1.3 cm preoperatively to 22.3 ± 1.1 cm postoperatively) (P < .01). No serious postoperative complications were observed in either group.

Conclusion

Compressive shoulder draping with adhesive incise drape was effective in reducing soft tissue swelling around the shoulder in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair compared with standard arthroscopic draping and was not associated with any adverse reactions.

Registration

NCT03216590 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Acute disc herniation following surgical decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis: a retrospective comparison of mini-open and minimally invasive techniques

BACKGROUND

Disc herniation following decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis is a less familiar surgical complication. Previous studies suggested that open lumbar decompression techniques, associated with relative segmental instability especially in the presence of degenerated disc in older patients, are more likely to result in disc herniation compared to minimally invasive techniques. The current study compares the incidence of acute disc herniation following mini-open and minimally invasive decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study reviewing 563 patients who underwent spinal decompression for symptomatic lumbar stenosis by mini-open bilateral partial laminectomy technique or minimally invasive laminotomy utilizing a tubular system. Demographic and clinical data were collected and compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Postoperative disc herniation rate was significantly lower in the minimally invasive group with 2 of 237 cases (0.8%) versus 19 of 326 cases (5.8%) in the mini-open group (p = 0.002). This finding was more noticeable following multi-level procedures with no case of postdecompression disc herniation in the minimally invasive group compared to 8 of 39 cases (20.5%) in the mini-open group (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of postoperative disc herniation following spinal decompression for symptomatic lumbar stenosis was 5.8% following mini-open bilateral partial laminectomy compared to only 0.8% after minimally invasive laminotomy (p = 0.002). These findings highlight the more extensive nature of mini-open surgery associated with relative segmental instability that poses a greater risk for postoperative disc herniation.

Age-related Differences in Clinical Outcomes of Lumbar Discectomy

Introduction

Lumbar discectomy is a common and effective treatment for symptomatic disk herniation. It has been suggested that lumbar discectomy in older patients may result in poorer clinical outcomes and lesser satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to assess age-related difference in patient reported outcomes of patients undergoing lumbar discectomy for chronic low back and radicular pain.

Materials and methods

Patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy without neurological deficit underwent non-urgent single level lumbar discectomy in our institution between 2014 and 2017. Pain level (using VAS score), Oswestry Disability Index, and SF-12 scores were retrospectively reviewed and compared between younger patients (<60 years, group 1) and older patients (>60 years, group 2).

Results

Seventy-three patients, aged between 34–76 years participated in this study. VAS, ODI, and SF-12 scores improved significantly after the surgery for each group (P < .01). When comparing between the groups, no significant differences in the outcomes measured were found after the surgery in both early post-operative follow-up and late post-operative follow-up (P > .05).

Discussion

Elderly patients undergoing lumbar discectomy report a significant reduction in VAS, ODI, and SF-12 scores justifying the procedure.

Conclusion

Lumbar discectomy improved function and decreased pain level to similar extent in both younger and older patients suffering from radicular symptoms related to lumbar disc herniation.

Bilateral traumatic C6-C7 facet dislocation with C6 spondyloptosis and large disk sequestration in a neurologically intact patient

Traumatic cervical spondyloptosis is an uncommon and severe form of facet joint dislocation that commonly leads to severe neurological damage. Decision making regarding the reduction and fixation technique is challenging, especially when a patient is neurologically intact, since an undiagnosed prolapsed disk at the involved level may lead to severe neurological consequences during reduction. A 24-year-old male was admitted after sustaining a severe direct axial blow to his head. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed an acute C6C7 fracture dislocation with spondyloptosis of C6 vertebra and a large disk fragment posterior to C6 vertebral body. The patient was neurologically intact, apart from mild bilateral numbness over C6 distribution. The patient underwent C6 corpectomy to avoid acute cord compression related to the large sequestered disk behind C6 vertebra. Following C6 corpectomy, we were unable to exert enough axial pull to reduce the facet dislocation through the anterior approach. Therefore, the reduction was performed through a posterior approach with C5T1 posterior fusion, followed by anterior cage placement and C5-7 anterior fusion (front-back-front approach). At postoperative follow-up of 24 months, the patient demonstrated a full and pain-free cervical range-of-motion and remained neurologically intact. Follow-up radiographs of the cervical spine demonstrated good instrumental alignment with solid fusion at 6-month follow-up.

Local implantation of autologous adipose-derived stem cells increases femoral strength and bone density in osteoporotic rats: A randomized controlled animal study

BACKGROUND

Deficient osteogenic capacity of bone marrow stem cells plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have emerged as a promising source of skeletal progenitor cells. The capacity of ADSCs to undergo osteogenic differentiation and induce mineralized tissue formation may be beneficial in the treatment of osteoporosis. We question whether administration of autologous ADSCs into the proximal femur of osteoporotic rats will induce osteogenesis and enhance bone quality and strength.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty ovariectomized female rats were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups: (1) percutanous implantation of autogenous ADSCs-seeded scaffold into the proximal femur and (2) percutanous implantation of non-seeded scaffold. The contralateral untreated femur served as control. The effect of treatment on bone characteristics was assessed at 12-week follow-up by micro-computed tomography analysis, mechanical testing, and histological analysis.

RESULTS

The mean cortical thickness, total bone volume density, and bone load to failure in femora injected with autologous ADSCs-seeded scaffold was significantly higher compared to femora injected with non-seeded scaffold and compared to the untreated control femora ( p < 0.01). Histological examination of the injected specimens revealed complete osseo-integration of the scaffolds with direct conversion of the ADSCs into osteoblasts and no inflammatory response.

CONCLUSIONS

Autogenous ADSCs implantation into the proximal femur of rats with ovariectomy-related osteoporosis promoted bone regeneration and increased bone strength at short-term follow-up. These findings highlight the potential benefit of autogenous ADSCs in the treatment of osteoporosis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I, randomized controlled trial, animal study.

[WAITING TIME FOR SURGICAL FIXATION OF FEMORAL NECK FRACTURES: DOES A DIAGNOSIS-RELATED GROUP PAYMENT METHOD MATTER?]

BACKGROUND

Early surgical fixation of femoral neck factures in elderly patients has been suggested to decrease morbidity and mortality and to improve treatment outcome. This study evaluates the effect of the implementation of a diagnosis-related group payment method in our hospital on waiting time for surgery and the short-term outcomes of elderly patients following surgical fixation of hip fractures.

METHODS

Demographic and clinical characteristics of 75 consecutive patients, who underwent surgery for hip fracture in our hospital, before the implementation of a diagnosis-related group payment method, were compared with those of 75 consecutive patients, who were operated on after the implementation of the payment system.

RESULTS

Demographic characteristics were similar for both groups. Before the implementation of a diagnosis-related group payment method, 84% of the patients waited longer than 48 hours for surgery, compared to only 24% of patients after the implementation (p<0.001). Medical considerations and operation room availability were the main reasons for delaying surgery in both groups. Mortality and morbidity rates during the hospital stay remained similar, regardless of the implementation of the payment method.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of a diagnosis-related group payment method shortened the waiting time for surgical hip fixation in elderly patients treated in our hospital, with no effect on the mortality and complication rate during the hospital stay.

Primary shoulder arthroplasty using a custom-made hip-inspired implant for the treatment of advanced glenohumeral arthritis in the presence of severe glenoid bone loss

BACKGROUND

Total shoulder arthroplasty for end-stage glenohumeral arthritis with severe glenoid bone loss poses a unique challenge for shoulder surgeons. Current surgical solutions are limited and associated with high complication rates. We hypothesized that a custom-made computer-aided design-computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) total shoulder replacement (TSR; Stanmore Implants Worldwide, Elstree, UK) resembling a total hip prosthesis could offer a reliable alternative for this challenging subset of patients.

METHODS

Thirty-seven patients with rotator cuff-deficient end-stage glenohumeral arthritis and severe glenoid bone loss (assessed as not amenable to treatment with standard anatomic or reverse total shoulder implants) were treated with the CAD-CAM TSR between 2006 and 2013. Clinical data were collected prospectively and analyzed at a mean follow-up of 5 years.

RESULTS

Postoperatively, the pain level with activity decreased from 9.2 ± 1.7 to 2.4 ± 2.9 (P < .001). The Oxford Shoulder Score improved from 11 ± 8 points to 27 ± 11 points (P < .001), and the Subjective Shoulder Value (on a 0%-100% scale) improved from 23% ± 14% to 60% ± 24% (P < .001). Active forward elevation improved from 39° ± 23° to 63° ± 38° (P < .001), and external rotation improved from 6° ± 16° to 15° ± 17° (P = .001). Component revision was required in 6 of 37 patients (16%) (glenoid loosening in 1, humeral stem loosening in 3, periprosthetic fracture in 1, and prosthesis dislocation in 1).

CONCLUSION

The CAD-CAM TSR offers a reliable alternative for the treatment of end-stage glenohumeral arthritis with severe glenoid deficiency not amenable to standard anatomic or reverse total shoulder implants, with maintenance of significant pain relief and clinical-functional improvement at 5-year postoperative follow-up.

Staged Correction of Severe Thoracic Kyphosis in Patients with Multilevel Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Study Design Technical report. Objective Multilevel osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures may lead to considerable thoracic deformity and sagittal imbalance, which may necessitate surgical intervention. Correction of advanced thoracic kyphosis in patients with severe osteoporosis remains challenging, with a high rate of failure. This study describes a surgical technique of staged vertebral augmentation with osteotomies for the treatment of advanced thoracic kyphosis in patients with osteoporotic multilevel vertebral compression fractures. Methods Five patients (average age 62 ± 6 years) with multilevel osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and severe symptomatic thoracic kyphosis underwent staged vertebral augmentation and surgical correction of their sagittal deformity. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were assessed retrospectively at a mean postoperative follow-up of 34 months. Results Patients' self-reported back pain decreased from 7.2 ± 0.8 to 3.0 ± 0.7 (0 to 10 numerical scale; p < 0.001). Patients' back-related disability decreased from 60 ± 10% to 29 ± 10% (0 to 100% Oswestry Disability Index; p < 0.001). Thoracic kyphosis was corrected from 89 ± 5 degrees to 40 ± 4 degrees (p < 0.001), and the sagittal vertical axis was corrected from 112 ± 83 mm to 38 ± 23 mm (p = 0.058). One patient had cement leakage without subsequent neurologic deficit. Decreased blood pressure was observed in another patient during the cement injection. No correction loss, hardware failure, or neurologic deficiency was seen in the other patients. Conclusion The surgical technique described here, despite its complexity, may offer a safe and effective method for the treatment of advanced thoracic kyphosis in patients with osteoporotic multilevel vertebral compression fractures.

Upper limb kinematics after arthroscopic and open shoulder stabilization

BACKGROUND

Shoulder joint stability mediated by proprioception is often quantified by arm repositioning tests (i.e., static end-position accuracy), overlooking ongoing movement quality. This study assessed movement quality by adopting smoothness-related kinematic descriptors. We compared performance of healthy controls with that of patients in arthroscopic shoulder stabilization and open shoulder stabilization groups. We hypothesized that arm kinematics after arthroscopic intervention would more closely resemble healthy movements compared with patients after open shoulder stabilization surgery.

METHODS

Healthy controls (N = 14) were compared with patients after arthroscopic shoulder stabilization (N = 10) and open shoulder stabilization (N = 12). Right-hand dominant subjects (the affected side in patients) performed 135 unconstrained 3-dimensional pointing movements toward visual targets (seen through pinhole goggles; i.e., no arm vision). Arm kinematic data were recorded and offline analyzed to obtain hand tangential velocity profiles further used to compute the acceleration-to-movement time ratio, peak-to-mean velocity ratio, and number of velocity peaks ("symmetry," "proportion," and "fragmentation" features, respectively). Parametric and nonparametric statistics were used for comparisons (P ≤ .05).

RESULTS

Control and arthroscopic shoulder stabilization groups presented similar acceleration-to-movement time ratio and peak-to-mean velocity ratio. Both groups differed from the open shoulder stabilization group (P = .001). Distributions of velocity peaks for control and arthroscopic shoulder stabilization groups were similar, whereas open shoulder stabilization and control subjects differed significantly (P = .028).

CONCLUSIONS

Movement quality mediated by proprioception in arthroscopic shoulder stabilization patients matches that of healthy controls, whereas performance in open shoulder stabilization patients seems inferior compared with that in healthy controls, as assessed by smoothness-related measures (less symmetrical, more fragmented movements).

Bilateral reconstructive costoplasty for razorback deformity correction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

BACKGROUND

Correcting the chest wall deformity is an important goal of scoliosis surgery. A prominent rib hump deformity may not be adequately addressed by scoliosis correction alone. It has been shown that costoplasty in conjugation with scoliosis correction and instrumented spinal fusion is superior to spinal fusion alone in addressing the chest wall deformity. In cases of severe rib hump deformity unilateral convex side costoplasty alone might not adequately restore thoracic cage symmetry necessitating for additional concave side rib cage reconstruction.

CASE REPORT

A 16-year-old male with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and a sharp, cosmetically unacceptable, prominent rib hump (razorback deformity) underwent scoliosis correction with posterior spinal fusion and bilateral costoplasty. The convex-sided ribs were resected and used for concave-sided rib reconstruction. The rib hump height was reduced from 70 mm before the procedure to 10 mm after the procedure and the apical trunk rotation was reduced from 36° to 5°, respectively. Solid spinal fusion and ribs union was achieved. The patient remained very satisfied with no loss of correction at 2-year postoperative follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral costoplasty in conjugation with scoliosis correction may provide a safe and effective method for the treatment of severe rib cage deformities associated with thoracic scoliosis. It should be considered in the presence of prominent rib hump deformity, where scoliosis correction alone or with unilateral costoplasty is unlikely to provide adequate correction.

Diagnosis and treatment of a rectal-cutaneous fistula: a rare complication of coccygectomy

BACKGROUND

Coccygectomy may be indicated for the treatment of debilitating coccygodynia unresponsive to non-operative treatment. Perineal contamination and postoperative wound infection following coccygectomy remains a major concern. We present a rare post-coccygectomy complication of rectal-cutaneous fistula. To our knowledge no such case has been previously described.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 24-year-old woman presented with recurrent wound infections 1 year after coccygectomy at another institution, which persisted despite two surgical debridements and antibiotic treatment. Wound cultures showed non-specific poly-microbial bacterial growth. MRI scan of the spine and pelvis revealed a sinus track and soft tissue edema with no evidence of abscess or osteomyelitis. Methylene blue injection to the sinus tract confirmed the presence of a rectal-cutaneous fistula. The patient underwent further debridement, fistulectomy and synchronous defunctioning colostomy and resection of the involved colon segment. The wound healed by secondary intention with complete resolution of the infection. Re-anastomosis and closure of the colostomy was performed 6 months later. At 2-year follow-up, the patient had no signs of infection and her initial coccygeal symptoms had improved.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative infection following coccygectomy remains a major concern. A discharging sinus at the surgical site may suggest the presence of a rectal-cutaneous fistula, which requires a combined approach of spinal and colorectal surgeons. Methylene blue injection to the sinus tract may facilitate the diagnosis of a rectal-cutaneous fistula.

A reverse shoulder arthroplasty with increased offset for the treatment of cuff-deficient shoulders with glenohumeral arthritis

Inherent disadvantages of reverse shoulder arthroplasty designs based on the Grammont concept have raised a renewed interest in less-medialised designs and techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) with the fully-constrained, less-medialised, Bayley–Walker prosthesis performed for the treatment of rotator-cuff-deficient shoulders with glenohumeral arthritis. A total of 97 arthroplasties in 92 patients (53 women and 44 men, mean age 67 years (standard deviation (sd) 10, (49 to 85)) were retrospectively reviewed at a mean follow-up of 50 months ((sd 25) (24 to 96)). The mean Oxford shoulder score and subjective shoulder value improved from 47 (sd 9) and 24 points (sd 18) respectively before surgery to 28 (sd 11) and 61 (sd 24) points after surgery (p <  0.001). The mean pain at rest decreased from 5.3 (sd 2.8) to 1.5 (sd 2.3) (p < 0.001). The mean active forward elevation and external rotation increased from 42°(sd 30) and 9° (sd 15) respectively pre-operatively to 78° (sd 39) and 24° (sd 17) post-operatively (p < 0.001). A total of 20 patients required further surgery for complications; 13 required revision of components. No patient developed scapular notching.

The Bayley–Walker prosthesis provides reliable pain relief and reasonable functional improvement for patients with symptomatic cuff-deficient shoulders. Compared with other designs of RSA, it offers a modest improvement in forward elevation, but restores external rotation to some extent and prevents scapular notching. A longer follow-up is required to assess the survival of the prosthesis and the clinical performance over time.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:936–42.

Hip-inspired implant for revision of failed reverse shoulder arthroplasty with severe glenoid bone loss. Improved clinical outcome in 11 patients at 3-year follow-up

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Glenoid reconstruction and inverted glenoid re-implantation is strongly advocated in revisions of failed reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). Nevertheless, severe glenoid deficiency may preclude glenoid reconstruction and may dictate less favorable solutions, such as conversion to hemiarthropasty or resection arthropasty. The CAD/CAM shoulder (Stanmore Implants, Elstree, UK), a hip arthroplasty-inspired implant, may facilitate glenoid component fixation in these challenging revisions where glenoid reconstruction is not feasible. We questioned (1) whether revision arthroplasty with the CAD/CAM shoulder would alleviate pain and improve shoulder function in patients with failed RSA, not amenable to glenoid reconstruction, (2) whether the CAD/CAM hip-inspired glenoid shell would enable secure and durable glenoid component fixation in these challenging revisions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

11 patients with failed RSAs and unreconstructable glenoids underwent revision with the CAD/CAM shoulder and were followed-up for mean 35 (28-42) months. Clinical outcomes included the Oxford shoulder score, subjective shoulder value, pain rating, physical examination, and shoulder radiographs.

RESULTS

The average Oxford shoulder score and subjective shoulder value improved statistically significantly after the revision from 50 to 33 points and from 17% to 48% respectively. Pain rating at rest and during activity improved significantly from 5.3 to 2.3 and from 8.1 to 3.8 respectively. Active forward flexion increased from 25 to 54 degrees and external rotation increased from 9 to 21 degrees. 4 patients required reoperation for postoperative complications. No cases of glenoid loosening occurred.

INTERPRETATION

The CAD/CAM shoulder offers an alternative solution for the treatment of failed RSA that is not amenable to glenoid reconstruction.

Clinical outcome after reconstruction for sternoclavicular joint instability using a sternocleidomastoid tendon graft

BACKGROUND

Anterior instability of the sternoclavicular joint is uncommon and usually follows a benign course, although symptomatic patients may require surgical intervention. The optimal treatment for symptomatic instability of the sternoclavicular joint remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome after reconstruction of the sternoclavicular joint with use of a sternocleidomastoid tendon graft to treat chronic debilitating anterior instability of the sternoclavicular joint.

METHODS

Thirty-two patients underwent surgical reconstruction of the sternoclavicular joint for chronic debilitating anterior instability using the tendon of the sternal head of the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle and were followed for a mean of forty-four months. The etiology of instability was posttraumatic in fourteen patients, generalized hyperlaxity in seven patients, and degenerative instability in eleven patients. Outcome measures included the Oxford instability shoulder score, subjective shoulder value, pain rating, and postoperative grading of sternoclavicular joint stability.

RESULTS

Clinical scores and pain rating were similar for the three groups before surgery and improved significantly in all of the groups to the same extent after the surgery. At the time of the latest follow-up, eleven of fourteen patients in the posttraumatic group, six of seven patients in the generalized hyperlaxity group, and eight of eleven patients in the degenerative group reported the sternoclavicular joint as stable with no functional limitation. Two patients reported that the joint remained unstable. No other complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Sternoclavicular joint reconstruction using a sternocleidomastoid tendon graft is safe and offers reliable pain relief and functional improvement for patients with chronic debilitating anterior instability of the sternoclavicular joint.

Increased-offset reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of failed post-traumatic humeral head replacement

BACKGROUND

Late complications after humeral head replacement (HHR) for comminuted proximal humeral fractures are common and may necessitate revision surgery. This study evaluated the outcome of revision surgery of failed post-traumatic HHR with a less medialized reverse shoulder prosthesis.

METHODS

Thirty-three patients with failed post-traumatic HHR due to rotator-cuff insufficiency and glenoid erosion, but with sufficient preservation of the glenoid bone stock to permit primary stability of an inverted glenoid implant, underwent revision using the Bayley-Walker reverse shoulder prosthesis (Stanmore Implants, Elstree, UK) and were monitored up for a mean of 31 months. Outcome measures included the Oxford Shoulder Score, subjective shoulder value, pain rating, active range of motion, and shoulder radiographs.

RESULTS

The average postrevision Oxford Shoulder Score and subjective shoulder value improved from 50 ± 6 to 29 ± 11 and from 23 ± 19 to 51 ± 23, respectively (P < .001). Pain level decreased from 6.2 ± 2.1 to 1.4 ± 2.0 (P < .001). Active forward flexion increased from 34° ± 22° to 63° ± 30° and external rotation from 11° ± 14° to 20° ± 16°(P < .01). More patients were able to use their affected arm to reach a functional triangle consisting the mouth, opposite armpit, and ipsilateral buttock after revision (24% vs 73%; P < .001). Seven patients (21%) had postrevision complications. No glenoid loosening or scapular notching occurred.

CONCLUSION

Revision of failed post-traumatic HHR with the Bayley-Walker shoulder offers reliable pain relief and improvement in shoulder function with a complication rate similar to other reverse prostheses. Nevertheless, revision shoulder arthroplasty remains challenging with a high rate of complications.

Revision arthroplasty with a hip-inspired computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing implant for glenoid-deficient shoulders

BACKGROUND

Revision arthroplasty for failed post-traumatic humeral head replacement associated with rotator cuff and glenoid deficiency is challenging. Current surgical solutions are fraught with complications, and no best-practice strategy has been established. We hypothesized that the computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) shoulder (Stanmore Implants, Elstree, UK), a total shoulder design resembling a total hip prosthesis, can offer a reliable alternative in this surgically challenging subset of patients with rotator cuff deficiency and advanced glenoid bone loss.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients with failed post-traumatic humeral head replacement associated with rotator cuff and glenoid deficiency underwent revision with CAD/CAM shoulders between 2005 and 2010. Clinical data were collected prospectively and analyzed at a mean follow-up of 3 years.

RESULTS

After revision, the pain rating at rest (on a 0-10 numerical scale) decreased from 5.6 ± 1.3 to 1.1 ± 1.3 (P < .001) and pain during activity decreased from 7.4 ± 1.2 to 2.1 ± 1.8 (P < .001). The Oxford shoulder score improved from 47 ± 6 to 31 ± 9 (P < .001), and the subjective shoulder value (on a 0%-100% scale) improved from 22% ± 14% to 45% ± 18% (P < .001). Active shoulder range of motion was similar before and after revision. Postoperative complications occurred in 9 patients and included 1 infection, 2 periprosthetic fractures, 2 prosthetic dislocations, and 4 fixation screw fractures. No case of glenoid loosening occurred.

CONCLUSION

The CAD/CAM shoulder offers a reliable method of securing a glenoid component in shoulders with advanced glenoid deficiency and should be considered as an alternative to other surgical methods in these challenging cases. At 3 years' follow-up, pain and clinical scores improved significantly and no case of glenoid loosening occurred.

Fusion and subsidence rate of stand alone anterior lumbar interbody fusion using PEEK cage with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2

INTRODUCTION

Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is an established treatment for structural instability associated with symptomatic disk degeneration (SDD). Stand-alone ALIF offers many advantages, however, it may increase the risk of non-union. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) may enhance fusion rate but is associated with postoperative complication. The optimal dose of BMP-2 remains unclear. This study assessed the fusion and subsidence rates of stand-alone ALIF using the SynFix-LR interbody cage with 6 ml/level of BMP-2.

METHODS

Thirty-two ALIF procedures were performed by a single surgeon in 25 patients. Twenty-five procedures were performed for SDD without spondylolisthesis (SDD group) and seven procedures were performed for SDD with grade-I olisthesis (SDD-olisthesis group). Patients were followed-up for a mean of 17 ± 6 months.

RESULTS

Solid fusion was achieved in 29 cases (90.6 %) within 6 months postoperatively. Five cases of implant subsidence were observed (16 %). Four of these occurred in the SDD-olisthesis group and one occurred in the SDD group (57 % vs. 4 % respectively; p = 0.004). Three cases of subsidence failed to fuse and required revision. The body mass index of patients with olisthesis who developed subsidence was higher than those who did not develop subsidence (29 ± 2.6 vs. 22 ± 6.5 respectively; p = 0.04). No BMP-2 related complications occurred.

CONCLUSION

The overall fusion rate of stand-alone ALIF using the SynFix-LR system with BMP-2 was 90.6 %, comparable with other published series. No BMP-2 related complication occurred at a dose of 6 mg/level. Degenerative spondylolisthesis and obesity seemed to increase the rate of implant subsidence, and thus we believe that adding posterior fusion for these cases should be considered.

Procedural sedation with propofol for painful orthopaedic manipulation in the emergency department expedites patient management compared with a midazolam/ketamine regimen: a randomized prospective study

BACKGROUND

The use of procedural sedation and analgesia to allow painful orthopaedic manipulations in the emergency department has become a standard practice over the last decade. Both propofol and midazolam/ketamine are attractive sedative regimens for routine use in the emergency department. We hypothesized that sedation with propofol as compared with midazolam/ketamine will save time in the emergency department. The purpose of the present study was to compare the recovery time, the total sedation time, and the adverse events of procedural sedation and analgesia induced with propofol as compared with midazolam/ketamine.

METHODS

This prospective randomized study was conducted in the emergency department of a tertiary care, university-affiliated medical center. All sedations and orthopaedic manipulations were performed by trained and approved orthopaedic residents assisted by a registered nurse according to the same protocol. Sedation time and adverse events were recorded in real time.

RESULTS

Sixty adults (thirty-five men and twenty-five women) with a mean age (and standard deviation) of 45 ± 17 years were randomly enrolled in the study, with thirty patients being managed with each regimen. The average recovery time was 7.8 ± 3.7 minutes following sedation with propofol, compared with 30.7 ± 10.1 minutes following sedation with midazolam/ketamine (p < 0.001). The average total sedation time was 16.2 ± 3.8 minutes for the propofol group, compared with 41.6 ± 10.7 minutes for the midazolam/ketamine group (p < 0.001). The overall rate of respiratory and hemodynamic adverse events was 20% for the propofol group and 10% for the midazolam/ketamine group.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of propofol for an orthopaedic procedure requiring sedation in the emergency department expedites patient management and saves time in comparison with the use of midazolam/ketamine.

[Tissue necrosis following intramuscular administration of various drugs (Nicolau syndrome): clinical presentation, pathophysiology and treatment]

Skin and soft tissue necrosis is a rare but serious complication following intramuscular administration of various drugs (Nicolau syndrome). It typically presents with pain and pallor at the injection site, followed by erythema and livedoid reticular patch that progresses to necrosis. The pathogenesis is not completely understood, although vascular origin (i.e. damage to an end artery at the injection site) seems to be the most realistic hypothesis. This review aims to provide an overview of the currently available Literature.

[Ankle joint arthritis--etiology, diagnosis and treatment]

Ankle joint arthritis causes functional limitation and affects the quality of life many patients. It follows traumatic injuries, inflammatory joint arthritis, primary osteoarthritis, hemochromatosis and infections. Understanding the unique anatomy and biomechanics of the ankle is important for diagnosis and treatment of ankle joint pathology. The treatment of ankle joint arthritis has advanced considerably in recent years and it is still a surgical challenge. Total ankle replacement seems to be a promising form of treatment, even though current data does not demonstrate advantages over ankle joint arthrodesis.