Marcos de Camargo Leonhardt

Anatomic Study of the Filum Terminale and Its Correlations with the Tethered Cord Syndrome

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the intradural anatomic features of the filum terminale (FT) in fresh human cadavers, analyzing morphological parameters relevant for the diagnosis of the tethered cord syndrome. METHODS Forty-one fresh cadavers were dissected, and the following parameters were evaluated: cadaver height, weight, and age, FT length, FT diameters at the initial point and midpoint, and topographic relationships of the initial and fusion points of the FT to the adjacent vertebrae. RESULTS The mean FT length was 156.44 mm (range, 112.8–211.1 mm), the mean initial diameter was 1.38 mm (range, 0.4–2.5 mm), and the mean midpoint diameter was 0.76 mm (range, 0.1–1.55 mm). Four specimens (9.76%) exhibited FT thicknesses of more than 2 mm at their initial points. The FT most frequently started at the middle L1 level (19.51%) and fused with the dura mater at the upper S2 level (31.71%). Two fila (4.88%) started below the L2 level. Statistically significant correlations were observed (Pearson correlation, P < 0.05) between specimen weight and height (P = 0.019), initial point and midpoint diameters of the FT (P < 0.001), initial vertebral level and specimen height (P = 0.012), and initial and fusion vertebral levels (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION Variation ranges were large for almost all anatomic parameters of the FT. Six cadavers (14.63%) in our study fulfilled one of the anatomic diagnostic criteria for tethered cord syndrome. Neurosurgeons must remember the normal variations in the anatomic features of this region when establishing the diagnosis of tethered cord syndrome or performing surgical procedures involving the caudal part of the dural sac.

Acetabular Component Positioning in Total Hip Arthroplasty With and Without a Computer-Assisted System: A Prospective, Randomized and Controlled Study

In a study of the acetabular component in total hip arthroplasty, 20 hips were operated on using imageless navigation and 20 hips were operated on using the conventional method. The correct position of the acetabular component was evaluated with computed tomography, measuring the operative anteversion and the operative inclination and determining the cases inside Lewinneks safe zone. The results were similar in all the analyses: a mean anteversion of 17.4° in the navigated group and 14.5° in the control group (P=.215); a mean inclination of 41.7° and 42.2° (P=.633); a mean deviation from the desired anteversion (15°) of 5.5° and 6.6° (P=.429); a mean deviation from the desired inclination of 3° and 3.2° (P=.783); and location inside the safe zone of 90% and 80% (P=.661). The acetabular component positions tomography analyses were similar whether using the imageless navigation or performing it conventionally.

Tratamento das infecções pós artroplastia total de joelho: resultados com 2 anos de seguimento

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to analyze and standardize the treatment protocol of infections following total knee arthroplasty proposed by the Knee Group and the Infectology Group of IOT-HC-FMUSP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2003 and 2004, twenty-nine patients (19 women and 10 men, mean age: 67 years) diagnosed with infection after total primary knee arthroplasty were hospitalized at IOT-HC FMUSP (Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Hospital das Clinicas, Medical College, University of Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil) and subjected to a treatment protocol. The mean follow-up time was 20 months. Nine cases had superficial infections, three had acute deep infections and eighteen had chronic deep infections. The classification is based on local clinical criteria and on the time of symptoms onset. RESULTS: Eight patients with superficial infection and three patients with acute deep infection were treated, showing good outcomes and no recurrence cases. Eighteen patients with chronic deep infection were treated and cured, 14 of whom with no recurrence during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: We regard our outcomes and treatment protocol as appropriate and consistent with literature.

Revisão da artroplastia total de joelho em dois tempos: o valor da cultura obtida por biópsia artroscópica

OBJETIVO: O tratamento mais utilizado para o tratamento das infeccoes profundas nas artroplastias totais do joelho tem sido a revisao em dois tempos. Mesmo seguindo os passos preconizados neste tipo de tratamento, ainda existe a duvida do periodo certo para realizar o segundo tempo da revisao sem o risco de colocacao de um novo implante em uma area ainda infectada. Nosso trabalho tem como objetivo determinar o valor da cultura obtida por biopsia artroscopica, a fim de determinar o momento adequado para a realizacao do segundo tempo da revisao e tambem o tempo adequado para manter o espacador. MATERIAL E METODOS: Doze pacientes com o diagnostico de infeccao profunda pos-artroplastia total de joelho primaria foram submetidos ao protocolo de revisao em dois tempos, e apos seis semanas da colocacao do espacador e da antibioticoterapia, o paciente foi submetido a biopsia artroscopica no joelho infectado e atraves dela foram colhidas amostras para cultura a fim de verificar se o momento era adequado para a realizacao do segundo tempo da revisao. RESULTADOS: Os resultados das culturas de todos os pacientes submetidos a biopsia artroscopica foram negativos, sendo todos submetidos ao segundo tempo da revisao. Das culturas colhidas durante o implante da nova protese, onze confirmaram a inexistencia de processo infeccioso ativo no sitio cirurgico; uma cultura foi positiva, sendo isolado neste paciente Staphyloccocus aureus sensivel a oxacilina. CONCLUSAO: Apesar do pequeno numero de casos, concluimos que a cultura obtida pela biopsia artroscopica tem valor e mostrou que seis semanas e o tempo adequado para manutencao do espacador.

Comparison of total hip arthroplasty in osteoarthritis of mechanical and rheumatologic causes

Objective: To compare the use of uncemented implants in total hip arthroplasty in patients with rheumathologic diseases and mechanical osteoarthrosis. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 196 patients who were operated by the Hip and Arthroplasty Surgery Group of the IOT-HCFMUSP between 2005 and 2009. Patients were divided into two groups: mechanical causes (165 patients) and rheumathologic causes (31 patients). Groups were compared between each other in age, gender and follow-up time. Osseointegration rate and percentage of failure in arthroplasty were evaluated. Results: No statistically significant difference was found in osseointegration rates (in both femoral and acetabular components) in both groups. The rates of revision surgery and implant survival also did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusion: The use of uncemented total hip arthroplasty did not show worse results in rheumathologic patients. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Case Control Study.

A new low-cost negative-pressure wound therapy versus a commercially available therapy device widely used to treat complex traumatic injuries: a prospective, randomized, non-inferiority trial

OBJECTIVES: Negative-pressure wound therapy has been widely adopted to reduce the complexity of treating a broad range of acute and chronic wounds. However, its cost is high. The objective of this study was to evaluate the following two different methods of negative-pressure wound therapy in terms of healing time: a low-cost method of negative-pressure wound therapy (a pressure stabilizer device connected to a hospital wall-vacuum system with a gauze-sealed dressing, USP) and the standard of care (vacuum-assisted closure, VAC). METHODS: This is a randomized, controlled, non-inferiority, unblinded trial. Patients admitted with complex injuries to a trauma center in a public referral hospital who were indicated for orthopedic surgery were randomized to a USP or VAC group. The primary outcome was the time required to achieve a “ready for surgery condition”, which was defined as a wound bed with healthy granulation tissue and without necrosis or purulent secretion. Wound bed area contraction, granulation tissue growth and the direct costs of the dressings were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Variation in area and granulation tissue growth were essentially the same between the systems, and healing time was equal between the groups (p=0.379). In both systems, serial debridement increased wound area (p=0.934), and granulation tissue was also increased (p=0.408). The mean treatment cost was US

Incidence and risk factors associated with infection after intramedullary nailing of femoral and tibial diaphyseal fractures: Prospective study

15.15 in the USP group and US

Functional results and isokinetic muscle strength in patients with Fraser type I floating knee treated with internal fixation

872.59 in the VAC group. CONCLUSIONS: For treating complex traumatic injuries, USP was non-inferior to and less expensive than VAC.

Low-energy femoral shaft fracture in elderly patient with prolonged use of alendronate

BACKGROUND Diaphyseal fractures of femur and tibia are prominent due to its high incidence and high economic and social impact. Intramedullary nailing (IN) is the surgical procedure of choice. Surgical site infection (SSI) related to this procedure is considered a difficult to treat complication. AIMS Determine the incidence of SSI after IN of femoral and tibial diaphyseal fractures and evaluate possible risk factors. METHODS Prospective observational cohort study. SSI was defined according to CDC-NHSN criteria and surveillance period for the occurrence of infection was 12 months. Incidence of SSI was calculated as the ratio between the number of patients with SSI and total number of patients. Analysis of potential risk factors included patients-related factors (age, gender, body mass index, active foci of infection, immunosuppressive conditions, ASA score, alcohol or illicit drug abuse, smoking, polytrauma, etiology of fracture, type of fracture if closed or open, classification of fracture according to Müller AO, Tcherne classification for closed fractures, Gustilo-Anderson classification for open fractures, previous surgical manipulation, use of blood products); environmental and surgical-related factors (surgical wound classification, duration of surgery, hair removal, intraoperative contamination, antimicrobial use, presence of drains, hypothermia or hypoxia in the perioperative period, type of IN used, reaming, need for soft tissue reconstruction, use of negative pressure therapy) and microbiota-related factors (cultures of nasopharyngeal swabs forStaphylococcus aureus and axillary/inguinal/perineal swab for Acinetobacter baumannii). RESULTS 221 patients were included and completed the 12-month follow-up period. Incidence of SSI was 11.8%. In the initial analysis by unadjusted logistic regression, following factors were associated SSI: Müller AO classification of the fracture morphology groups 2 or 3, previous use of external fixator, presence of drains, use of negative pressure therapy and need for muscle or skin flap repair. In the multiple logistic regression-adjusted analysis, previous use of external fixator and need for muscle or skin flap repair remained associated with SSI. CONCLUSIONS Incidence of SSI associated with IN for femoral and tibial diaphyseal fractures was 11.8%. Previous use of external fixators and need for muscle or skin flap repair were factors associated with occurrence of infection.

Artrodese do quadril: estudo retrospectivo com mais de 20 anos de seguimento

INTRODUCTION According to Frasers description, ipsilateral femoral and tibial diaphyseal fractures are characterised as type I floating knee and have a better prognosis than fractures with joint involvement (type II). There are few reports of functional and muscle strength in these patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the functional and isokinetic muscle strength of patients with type I floating knee undergoing femoral and tibial internal fixation. METHODS Patients with type I floating knee undergoing concomitant femoral and tibial internal fixation were invited for clinical evaluation. The parameters evaluated included the following: Karlstrom and Olerud score; Lysholm score; isokinetic thigh and hip muscle evaluation; knee range of motion; pain level; investigation of associated knee injuries by clinical evaluation and MRI; and types of complications. RESULTS Twenty-one patients were included in the study; 11 of these were clinically evaluated, with a mean follow-up of 23.9 months. Six patients had an acceptable result according to the Karlstrom criteria, whereas eight patients had a poor result based on the Lysholm scale. The peak torque deficit was 61% for knee extensors, 37% for flexors and -9% for hip abductors. The mean pain level was 5.9. Three patients had a partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury; one patient had a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury; and three patients had a meniscal injury. There were four cases of tibial or femoral nonunion at one year and two cases of chronic osteomyelitis. CONCLUSION Patients with type I floating knee had unsatisfactory functional results, significant knee extensor and flexor muscle strength deficits and a significant rate of complications at the two-year follow-up.