Ippokratis Hatzokos

The role of CT in diagnosis and treatment of distal tibial fractures with intra-articular involvement in children

AIM Distal tibial fractures with intra-articular involvement during childhood are injuries with potentially severe complications if not treated promptly. Daily clinical practice indicates that sole use of plain radiographs may lead to misdiagnosis and subsequent erroneous selection of suitable treatment. The role of computed tomography (CT) in the classification and treatment decision of these injuries is unclear. This study aims to determine whether CT evaluation is required in the management of these fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS We assessed 64 distal tibial fractures with intra-articular involvement on two separate occasions in a blinded study, in order to classify the fracture and decide the appropriate treatment approach. In the first part of the study, plain radiographs were evaluated in order to diagnose the type of the fracture and select the appropriate treatment. In the second part, CT scans were performed in the same patients in order to re-evaluate diagnosis and treatment. The study included fractures prior to physeal closure (Salter-Harris III and IV fractures, n=32) as well as transitional fractures (J. Tillaux and triplane fractures, n=32). RESULTS According to plain radiographs, 31 patients were diagnosed with SH III fracture, 8 with SH IV, 9 with J. Tillaux and 16 with triplane fracture. Surgical treatment was decided in 18 patients and non-surgical in 46. After CT scan evaluation, 20 patients were diagnosed with SH III, 12 with SH IV, 9 with J. Tillaux, and 23 with triplane fracture. In this occasion the number of patients referred for surgical treatment raised to 42 leaving only 22 patients to be treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS Computed tomography lead to changes in fracture classification and treatment decision. Treatment decision changed for 24 patients after CT evaluation. Treatment decision in patients with SH III and IV did not change significantly opposed to patients with transitional fractures, where CT scan had major impact on treatment decision. Despite the irradiation of immature skeleton and higher cost containment, this study indicates that patients with transitional distal tibial fractures as well as patients with displaced SH III and IV fractures must undergo CT examination in order to make accurate diagnosis and select the appropriate treatment.

Microdamage evaluation in human trabecular bone based on nonlinear ultrasound vibro-modulation (NUVM).

The primary aim of this work is to investigate the potential of nonlinear ultrasound for microdamage detection in human bone. Microdamage evaluation in human bone is of great importance, because it is considered a significant parameter for characterizing fracture risk. Experiments employing nonlinear acoustic vibro-modulation were carried out in human femoral trabecular specimens removed during surgery. A frequency mixing (inter-modulation) was observed between an ultrasound wave, propagating in the bone, and a low-frequency vibration applied directly to the bone specimens. The appearance of side frequencies, which are related to the vibrational excitation, around the fundamental ultrasound frequency manifests the modulation nonlinear phenomenon. Instead of inducing microdamage by mechanical fatigue loading, specimens with different degree of osteoporosis were used. The experiments demonstrated that osteoporotic bone exhibits stronger nonlinearity compared to healthy bone presenting significant increase of the modulation amplitude with increasing degree of osteoporosis. The obtained results indicate that, in contrast to conventional hysteretic nonlinearity, dissipative acoustic nonlinearity can be of significance in the generation of nonlinear modulation effects. In the proposed technique the size and the shape of samples are not crucial compared to nonlinear resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (NRUS). Furthermore, the method is sensitive to the presence of microdamage, non-invasive, easy to implement and most important, it can be proved valuable tool for in vivo bone damage characterization.

Does aprotinin reduce blood loss in total hip arthroplasty

This prospective randomized study examined the effects of aprotinin during total hip arthroplasty (THA). Fifty patients who were enrolled in the study received aprotinin or normal saline. Mean intraoperative blood loss was reduced from 1496 mL in the control group to 1073 mL in the aprotinin group. The mean transfusion unit was 1.56 in the aprotinin group and 3.8 in the control group.

Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty for the Treatment of 3 and 4- Part Fractures of the Humeral Head in the Elderly

Background: Proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients present with severe comminution and osteoporotic bone quality. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty has lately been proven beneficial in treating patients with complex proximal humeral fractures. The above technique is recommended and has better results in elderly than in younger individuals. Methods: We performed a literature search in the databases Pubmed, Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane Library for published articles between 1970 and 2016 using the terms: proximal humerus fractures and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Results: Significant benefits with the use of reverse prosthesis, especially in patients older than 70 years with a proximal humeral fracture, include reduced rehabilitation time as well as conservation of a fixed fulcrum for deltoid action in case of rotator cuff failure. Compared with hemiarthroplasty and internal fixation, reverse prosthesis may be particularly useful and give superior outcomes in older patients, due to comminuted fractures in osteopenic bones. However, significant disadvantages of this technique are potential complications and a demanding learning curve.Therefore, trained surgeons should follow specific indications when applying the particular treatment of proximal humeral fractures and be familiar with the surgical technique. Conclusion: Although long-term results and randomized studies for reverse prosthesis are lacking, short and mid- term outcomes have given promising results encouraging more shoulder surgeons to use this type of prosthesis in proximal humeral fractures.

Distraction osteogenesis as a salvage method in infected knee megaprostheses.

Infection of total knee replacement represents a severe complication. Especially in cases of infected megaprostheses, treatment options are limited and even amputation may become unavoidable. We present two cases of infected knee hinged megaprostheses. Both were treated by prosthesis removal and debridement of all surrounding infected bone and soft tissue, followed by distraction osteogenesis for the bridging of the large bone defect which had resulted. Implant removal and surgical debridement were combined with Ilizarov frame application and femoral and tibial osteotomies in a one-stage procedure, for commencing distraction osteogenesis. After bone transportation was completed, arthrodesis of the knee in both cases was successful. Two years after completion of the treatment, both patients demonstrate a stable knee arthrodesis and a satisfactory clinical result. The described treatment plan represents an effective salvage method in cases of infected knee megaprostheses that can successfully address both the need for a stable arthrodesis and the avoidance of a severe leg-length discrepancy by bridging the extensive bone defect.

Treatment of intra-articular comminuted os calcis fractures.

This technique for the management of comminuted intra-articular os calcis fractures minimizes the amount of Implants used, obviates autologous bone graft, and allows for early mobilization and return to work.

Rotator cuff repair: A biomechanical ex vivo ovine study

The purpose of this study was to assess load to failure of sutures, suturing techniques, and suture anchors used in rotator cuff surgery in order to explore their weaknesses. Ten types of sutures (absorbable and nonabsorbable), four types of suturing techniques, and eight types of suture anchors (bioabsorbable and metallic) were tested. Material Testing Machine and attached load cell were used to test the biomaterials in ex vivo ovine tissues. The results show that the mean load to failure and stiffness were higher in nonabsorbable sutures. Massive cuff tear and modified Mason-Allen suturing techniques had higher failure strength and stiffness when compared to simple and mattress techniques, but there was no substantial difference between them. Metallic suture anchors had higher failure strength when compared to bioabsorbable ones. Often either in metallic or in bioabsorbable anchors, the eyelet fails first. The failure sequence in ovine tissues is found to be in the following order: simple and mattress suturing techniques, nonabsorbable sutures, massive cuff tear and modified Mason-Allen suturing techniques, bioabsorbable anchors, and metallic anchors. Thus, it is concluded that metallic anchors mounted with modern nonabsorbable sutures will fail last. If we use simple and mattress techniques, the tendon–suture level will fail first, but it will improve substantially using more sophisticated suturing techniques (massive cuff tear or modified Mason-Allen).

Implementation of the Ottawa Ankle Rules by Resident Orthopaedic Surgeons in an Emergency Department

Abstract Background: Routinely in an emergency department, radiographs are ordered for almost every patient with ankle injury, despite there are decision rules such as Ottawa Ankle Rules (OAR) to distinguish the patients who need them. The use of these rules is limited due to imperfect sensitivity and subjectivity of the method. Objectives: To validate the accuracy of the OAR implemented by resident orthopaedic surgeons to rule out clinical significant ankle fractures in patients with acute ankle injuries. Design: prospective cohort study. Method: One hundred and twenty three patients presented with ankle injury in our emergency department during a two-month period (January 2012 to February 2012).One hundred and nineteen patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this study. Resident orthopaedic surgeons examined the patients and filled the data forms. All patients underwent blinded radiographic assessment by an orthopaedic surgeon and a radiologist. Main outcome measures: sensitivity, specificity, potential reduction in radiographs needed. Results: An ankle fracture was observed in thirty-four (28.6%) patients. In this group of patients, the OAR failed to predict two fractures (sensitivity 94.12%) and showed a relative low specificity (37.65%). The possible reduction in the radiographs needed was 28.6%. Conclusions: This validation study of the OAR implemented by resident orthopaedic surgeons in a Greek setting produced similar results than those published previously in various other settings. The OAR for ankle injuries seem to be an accurate, objective, cost effective method to rule out ankle fractures.

Perioperative variations of the intracompartmental pressures of the paraspinal muscles.

Study Design: Study of the influence of thoracolumbar spinal surgery through a posterior approach to the intercompartmental pressure of the paraspinal muscles. Objective: To create waveforms according to the pressure variations up to 24 hours postoperatively and relate these measurements to independent parameters. Summary of Background Data: The existence of a paraspinal anatomic compartment and a relevant compartment syndrome has been supported theoretically, proven experimentally, and confirmed in clinical cases. The perioperative variations of the intercompartmental pressures remain largely unknown. Methods: Five measurements were taken from both paraspinal compartments in each operated patient: preoperatively, intraoperatively, immediately after wound closure, and at 6 and 24 hours postoperatively. The recorded pressures were grouped as normal, elevated, or suggestive of a paraspinal compartment syndrome. Abnormal pressures were correlated with patient-related and operation-related parameters. Forty-two patients participated in the study, 21 male and 21 female patients aged 13 to 83 years (mean age 51 y). Seventy compartments were included in the final analysis. Results: Forty-two compartments developed abnormally elevated pressures postoperatively and in 22 of these, pressures suggestive of a compartment syndrome were recorded. In no case was there a clinical presentation of a true compartment syndrome. Different waveforms were created for the normal and elevated pressures group. In compartments with high measurements, pressures were likely to continue to rise at 6 and 24 hours postoperatively. The body mass index was greater in both the elevated pressures and compartment pressures groups. Procedures lasting >2 hours, extended approaches, and instrumented posterior interbody fusion operations were related with lower postoperative pressures. Conclusions: A large percentage of patients develop increased paraspinal muscle pressures up to 24 hours after posterior thoracolumbar spine surgery. These increases are related to patient-related and operation-related factors and may not present clinically as a compartment syndrome.

Knee Joint Effusion following Ipsilateral Hip Surgery

Purpose. To correlate patellar reflex inhibition with sympathetic knee joint effusion. Methods. 65 women and 40 men aged 45 to 75 (mean, 65) years underwent hip surgery. The surgery entailed dynamic hip screw fixation using the lateral approach with reflection of the vastus lateralis for pertrochantric fractures (n=49), and hip hemiarthroplasty or total hip replacement using the Watson-Jones approach (n=38) or hip hemiarthroplasty using the posterior approach (n=18) for subcapital femoral fractures (n=28) or osteoarthritis (n=28). Knee joint effusion, patellar reflex, and thigh circumference were assessed in both legs before and after surgery (at day 0.5, 2, 7, 14, 30, and 45). Time-sequence plots were used for chronological analysis, and correlation between patellar reflex inhibition and knee joint effusion was tested. Results. In the time-sequence plot, the peak frequency of patellar reflex inhibition (on day 0.5) preceded that of the knee joint effusion and the thigh circumference increase (on day 2). Patellar reflex inhibition correlated positively with the knee joint effusion (r=0.843, p=0.035). These 2 factors correlated significantly for all 3 surgical approaches (p<0.0005). All 3 approaches were associated with patellar reflex inhibition on day 0.5 (p=0.033) and knee joint effusion on day 2 (p=0.051). Conclusion. Surgical trauma of the thigh may cause patellar reflex inhibition and subsequently knee joint effusion.