Evandro Pereira Palacio

Hierarchy of evidence relating to hand surgery in Brazilian orthopedic journals

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE There is no systematic assessment of the quality of scientific production in the specialty of hand surgery in our setting. This study aimed to systematically assess the status of evidence generation relating to hand surgery and to evaluate the reproducibility of the classification method based on an evidence pyramid. DESIGN AND SETTING Secondary study conducted at Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp) and Faculdade Estadual de Medicina de Marília (Famema). METHODS Two researchers independently conducted an electronic database search for hand surgery studies published between 2000 and 2009 in the two main Brazilian orthopedic journals (Acta Ortopédica Brasileira and Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia). The studies identified were subsequently classified according to methodological design (systematic review of the literature, randomized clinical trial, cohort study, case-control study, case series and other studies) and evidence level (I to V). RESULTS A total of 1,150 articles were evaluated, and 83 (7.2%) were included in the final analysis. Studies with evidence level IV (case series) accounted for 41 (49%) of the published papers. Studies with evidence level V (other studies) accounted for 12 (14.5%) of the papers. Only two studies (2.4%) were ranked as level I or II. The inter-rater reproducibility was excellent (k = 0.94). CONCLUSIONS Hand surgery articles corresponded to less than one tenth of Brazilian orthopedic production. Studies with evidence level IV were the commonest type. The reproducibility of the classification stratified by evidence level was almost perfect.

Effects of platelet-rich plasma on lateral epicondylitis of the elbow: prospective randomized controlled trial

Objective To evaluate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) infiltration in patients with lateral epicondylitis of the elbow, through analysis of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) questionnaires. Methods Sixty patients with lateral epicondylitis of the elbow were prospectively randomized and evaluated after receiving infiltration of three milliliters of PRP, or 0.5% neocaine, or dexamethasone. For the scoring process, the patients were asked to fill out the DASH and PRTEE questionnaires on three occasions: on the day of infiltration and 90 and 180 days afterwards. Results Around 81.7% of the patients who underwent the treatment presented some improvement of the symptoms. The statistical tests showed that there was evidence that the cure rate was unrelated to the substance applied (p = 0.62). There was also intersection between the confidence intervals of each group, thus demonstrating that the proportions of patients whose symptoms improved were similar in all the groups. Conclusion At a significance level of 5%, there was no evidence that one treatment was more effective than another, when assessed using the DASH and PRTEE questionnaires.

Results from surgical treatment of Morel-Lavallée lesions: prospective cohort study

Objective To present the results from early diagnosis and delayed surgical treatment of a cohort of patients who were diagnosed with Morel-Lavallée lesions. Methods Between January 2006 and December 2013, we performed delayed surgical debridement on Morel-Lavallée lesions, after delimitation of the local tissue necrosis, followed by closure through second intention and/or use of grafts/flaps. Results All the patients evolved with complete closure of the lesion after the delayed debridement, granulation of the operative wound and primary suturing or construction of pedunculated flaps. Three patients (50%) evolved with deep infectious processes due to the successive operative procedures. Conclusion Whatever the treatment methods used are, they should be performed in a radical manner. If not, the patient will be at risk of evolution to septicemia and death.

Exposure of the surgical team to ionizing radiation during orthopedic surgical procedures

Objective the aim of this study was to assess the degree of exposure of the orthopedic surgical team to fluoroscopic ionizing radiation. Methods the ionizing radiation to which the orthopedic surgical team (R1, R2 and R3) was exposed was assayed using thermoluminescent dosimeters that were distributed in target anatomical regions (regions with and without protection using a lead apron). This was done during 45 hip osteosynthesis procedures to treat transtrochanteric fractures that were classified as 31-A2.1 (AO). Results the radioactive dose received by R3 was 6.33 mSv, R2 4.51 mSv and R3 1.99 mSv (p = 0.33). The thyroid region received 0.86 mSv of radiation, the thoracic region 1.24 mSv and the gonadal region 2.15 mSv (p = 0.25). There was no record of radiation at the dosimeters located below the biosafety protectors or on the team members’ backs. Conclusions the members of the surgical team who were located closest to the fluoroscope received greater radiation doses than those located further away. The anatomical regions located below the waistline were the ones that received most ionizing radiation. These results emphasize the importance of using biosafety devices, since these are effective in preventing radiation from reaching the vital organs of the medical team.

Detecting Early Biomechanical Effects of Zoledronic Acid on Femurs of Osteoporotic Female Rats

Aim. To investigate the biomechanical effects of zoledronic acid (ZA) on femurs of female osteoporotic rats after follow-up periods of 9 and 12 months. Methods. Eighty female Wistar rats were prospectively assessed. At 60 days of age, the animals were randomly divided into two groups: bilateral oophorectomy (O) (n = 40) and sham surgery (S) (n = 40). At 90 days of age, groups O and S were randomly subdivided into four groups, according to whether 0.1 mg/kg of ZA or distilled water (DW) was intraperitoneally administered: OZA (n = 20), ODW (n = 20), SZA (n = 20), and SDW (n = 20). The animals were sacrificed at 9 and 12 months after the administration of the substances, and then their right femurs were removed and analyzed biomechanically. Axial compression tests that focused on determining the maximum load (N), yield point (N), and stiffness coefficient (N/mm) of the proximal femur were performed in the biomechanical study. Results. ZA significantly increased the maximum load and yield point, reducing the stiffness coefficient concerning the oophorectomy status and follow-up period. Conclusion. Zoledronic acid, at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg, significantly increased the maximum loads and yield points and reduced the stiffness coefficients in the femurs of female rats with osteoporosis caused by bilateral oophorectomy.

EFFECTS OF ZOLEDRONIC ACID ON OOFORECTOMIZED RATS' TIBIAE: A PROSPECTIVE AND RANDOMIZED STUDY

To investigate clinical, biomechanic and histomorphometric effects of zoledronic acid on osteoporotic rats’ tibiae after bilateral ooforectomy. Methods: 40 female Wistar (Rattus novergicus albinus) rats were prospectively studied. On the 60th day of life, the animals were randomized into two groups according to the surgical procedure: bilateral ooforectomy (O) (n=20) and sham surgery (“sham”) (P) (n=20). After 30 days, the animals were divided into four groups, according to the administration of zoledronic acid (ZA) 0.1mg/kg or distilled water (DW): OZA (n=10), ODW (n=10), PZA (n=10) and PDW (n=10). After 12 months, the animals were sacrificed, and had their tibiae assessed. In the clinical study, animals’ weight was considered; in the biomechanical study, compressive assays were applied and, in the histomorphometric analysis, the bone trabecular area was determined. Results: “O” groups showed a significantly greater weight gain than “P” groups (p=0.005). Groups OZA and PZA showed an insignificant weight gain when compared to ODW (p=0.47) and PDW (p=0.68). The groups receiving zoledronic acid and distilled water were able to bear maximum load, similar (p=0.2), at the moment of fracture. In the groups receiving zoledronic acid, an insignificant increase of the bone trabecular area was found when compared to the groups receiving distilled water (p=0.21). There was a positive correlation between trabecular area and maximum load (p=0.04; r=0.95). Conclusion: Zoledronic acid did not significantly influence animals’ weight. The results showed an insignificant increase both of the tibial shaft bone resistance and the bone trabecular area.

Severe ocular alteration associated with fracture of the scapula. Case report

Objective Scapula fractures are rare entities and occur along with severe respiratory complications, usually associated with lung tissue injuries. The authors describe a rare case of eye arteriolar thromboembolism due to scapular body fracture in a patient victim of a car accident.

Open drainage versus percutaneous drainage in the treatment of tropical pyomyositis: prospective and randomized study

Objective: To compare the results from treating tropical pyomyositis through percutaneous drainage of abscesses versus open surgical drainage of abscesses, by means of a randomized prospective study. Methods: Twenty-five patients with tropical pyomyositis (Chiedozi grade II) were included in this study. They were randomized into two groups: group A (n = 13), treated with antibiotics and open drainage of the abscesses; and group B (n = 12), treated with antibiotics and percutaneous drainage of the abscesses. Results: The mean age was 35.3 years (± 19.2) in group A and 30.1 years (± 9) in group B (p = 0.41). There were eight female patients (61.5%) and five male patients (38.5%) in group A; in group B, three were female (25%) and nine were male (75%) (p = 0.11). Staphylococcus aureus was the microorganism most frequently found (72%). The mean hospital stay in group A was 12.7 days (± 2.3), and in group B, 10.6 days (± 1.6) (p = 0.01). The mean duration of antibiotic use in group A was 12.2 days (± 2.3), and in group B, 10.1 days (± 1.5) (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Percutaneous drainage of the abscesses, in association with antibiotic therapy, is an efficient treatment method for tropical pyomyositis grade II, with shorter antibiotic use and hospital stay for patients.

Drenagem aberta versus drenagem percutânea no tratamento da piomiosite tropical: estudo prospectivo e randomizado

OBJECTIVE: To compare, by means of a prospective and randomized study, the treatment outcomes of Tropical Pyomyositis (TP) through open drainage of abscesses versus percutaneous surgical drainage. METHODS: 25 patients with TP (Chiedozi stage II) were randomized into two groups: Group A (n=13), treated with antibiotics and open drainage of the abscesses, and Group B (n=12), treated with antibiotics and percutaneous drainage. RESULTS: The mean age was 35.3 years (±19.2) in Group A and 30.1 years in Group B (±9) (p=0.41).There were eight female (61.5%) and five male (38.5%) patients in Group A; in Group B three were female (25%) and nine (75%) male (p=0.11). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent agent found (72%). The mean hospitalization period in Group A was 12.7 days (±2.3), and in Group B, 10.6 days (±1.6) (p=0.01). The mean antibiotics treatment period in Group A was 12.2 days (±2.3), and 10.1 days (±1.5) in Group B (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The percutaneous drainage of the abscesses is an efficient treatment method for the Tropical Pyomyositis, with a shorter period of hospitalization and antibiotics usage.