Reşit Sevimli

Treatment of Chronic Plantar Heel Pain With Radiofrequency Neural Ablation of the First Branch of the Lateral Plantar Nerve and Medial Calcaneal Nerve Branches

From March 2012 to February 2013, 37 patients experiencing plantar heel pain for ≥6xa0months despite treatment with physical therapy and other conservative treatment modalities were followed up. If neurogenic heel pain originating from the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve was present, with or without the medial calcaneal nerve, diagnostic nerve blocks to these nerves were performed for confirmation. If the pain was determined to be of neurogenic origin, radiofrequency neural ablation (RFNA) was applied to the corresponding sensory nerve endings. Pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale, and patients were followed for at least one year. A total of 41 feet from 37 patients (30 [81.1%] females, 7 [18.9%] males; mean age, 50.7xa0±xa01.6xa0years; mean body mass index, 30.6xa0±xa00.7xa0kg/m(2)) were included. The mean visual analog scale scores improved significantly from 1 to 6 to 12 months after the procedure relative to before the procedure, with 88% of all patients rating the treatment as either very successful or successful at 12 months postoperatively. RFNA applied to both the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve and the medial calcaneal nerve sensory branches (16 [39%] feet) and only the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve sensory branches (25 [61%] feet) showed similarly high levels of success. Of the 41 feet, 28 [68.3%] had received extracorporeal shockwave therapy, 35 [85.4%] had received steroid injections, and 22 [53.7%] had received both extracorporeal shockwave therapy and steroid injections before RFNA as an index procedure. All were unresponsive to these previous treatments. In contrast, almost all (88%) were treated successfully with RFNA. Despite a high incidence of neurologic variations, with a precise diagnosis and good application of the technique using the painful points, chronic plantar heel pain can be treated successfully with RFNA.

Is it Possible to Recover Cardiac Functions After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background: Patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis lead a less active life than their healthy peers. It is well known that insufficient physical activity is the most common cause of chronic diseases. However, there is not enough research to enlighten the effect of increased functional capacity on cardiac functions after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to investigate whether the orthopedic surgeons can predict that the patients will be healthier after TKA in terms of cardiac functions or not? Methods: 109 patients who underwent TKA were prospectively followed for one year. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and short form 36 (SF-36) surveys, BMI measures, average step count per day, the six-minute walking test (6MWT), the Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST) and Doppler echocardiography were performed both in the preoperative and postoperative period. Results: After TKA, there was a substantial improvement in terms of WOMAC and SF36 survey scores. The average step count increased from 2199.6±690.8 steps/day to 4124.3±1638.8 steps/day. 6MWT and FTSST improved significantly as well. The average brisk walking time was 174.23±95.11 minutes/week. The means of early and late mitral inflow velocity ratios (E/A and Em/Am ratios) increased from 0.71±0.12 to 0.77±0.13 and from 0.66±0.13 to 0.76± 0.15 at the first year follow-up visit, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: In the first year, objective physical capacity measures increased together with the expected improvements in disease-specific and generic measures. After TKA, left ventricular diastolic functions may be considered to have recovered in the light of the healing signs via echocardiography.

Clinical features and follow-up results of the patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in orthopedic practice -

Treatment of the infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains in orthopedic patients is a difficult and laborious process for both the patient and physician. Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) is one of the leading causes of community-acquired and nosocomial infections. In this study, we aimed to investigate the susceptibilityof the MRSA strainsisolated in orthopedic patients cultured for different reasons in our clinic to various antibiotics, and to evaluate clinical characteristics of the patients and factors affecting the prognosis. A total of 40 patients with MRSAisolated in our orthopedics clinic between December 2012 and November 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Data including age, sex, comorbidities, previous surgeries, and previous antibiotic treatments were obtained from patients’ files and electronic information system. Of 40 patients, 60% were male, and 56% were over 60 years old. While 80% of the patients underwent an orthopedic surgery, 20% of them received no surgical intervention before the diagnosis. A total of 90% were in-patients, and the mean length of hospital stay was 22 days. The mean time from the date of hospitalization to the isolation of MRSA was 12 days. According to the consultation findings, in the clinical recovery process of the patients and in the treatment algorithm given to those patients, vancomycin and teicoplanin were found to be among the most important treatment options, in addition to significant debridement to be done, for MRSA strains. Our study results suggestthat, in addition to the surgical debridement, timely antibiotherapy is of utmost importance to reduce mortality and morbidity in MRSA-positive orthopedic patients.

An investigation of infection rate and seasonal effect level in total joint replacement cases

This study aims at evaluating gender, age range and seasonal differences in patients who developed articular infection after undergoing joint prosthesis in our clinic. This study is a retrospective screening of advanced articular arthrosis patients who had undergone total joint arthroplasty of the upper and lower extremities between 2009 and 2016. Of 504 patients who had been treated with total joint replacement, our study includes 468 patients we could follow up or contact by phone and who had been applied 559 primary or revision total knee arthroplasty. The mean age of these patients was 58.9 (ranging from 41 to 74). We detected infection in 22 (3.9%) total joint arthroplasty patients. Of these 14 (63.63%) were females and 8 (36.36) were males. There was no statistically significant difference between infection rates in terms of seasonal distribution nor gender or age range. In the light of our findings, we concluded that gender, age range and seasonal differences have no effect on infection rates in total joint replacement cases.

Analysis of orthopedic surgery of patients with metastatic bone tumors and pathological fractures

Objective This study was performed to determine the most common causes, locations, and treatments of metastasizing primary tumors through evaluation of patients with metastatic bone tumors who were admitted to our clinic. Methods In total, 96 patients with metastatic bone tumors who were admitted to our clinic from 2000 to 2016 were included in the study. Results The breast (30 patients, 31.3%) and lung (18 patients, 18.8%) were the most commonly metastasized primary organs. The femur was the most commonly metastasized bone. Conclusions Bone tumors in patients of advanced age are, unless otherwise proven, considered to be metastatic, and the development of specific diagnostic and treatment algorithms is needed. Clinicians should attempt to improve the general condition of patients with tumors exhibiting bone metastasis to increase the patients’ quality of life by providing early mobilization. Thus, appropriate patient selection and proper internal fixation are essential.

Determining the Optimal Length and Safety of Pedicle Screws in the T12 Vertebra: A Morphometric Study

Introduction: Despite the developments in implant technology and imaging methods and the advances in surgical techniques, there are still potential problems and complications of transpedicular screw application. This is a morphometric study to examine the proximity of the T12 vertebra to the thoracic aorta. Our aim was to define the appropriate length of the pedicle screw to be used in the 12th thoracic vertebra, using computed tomography (CT) data. Methods: Randomly selected cases from the same ethnic group in a specific age group were examined in terms of the length from the anterior vertebral body and the screw entry point of the T12 vertebra to the thoracic aorta. In light of these data, a statistical analysis was made for the selection of the most appropriate screw length. Results: A statistically significant difference was detected in the distance from the T12 left screw entry point to the aorta between males and females (p=0.001). No statistically significant correlation was found between age and the distance between the left screw entry point and the aorta (p=0.105). Also, no statistically significant difference was detected between the T12 vertebral body-aorta distance in males and in females (p=0.212). The relationship between the shortest aorta-vertebral body distance and age was not statistically significant (p=0.7). Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference between the left screw entry point-aorta distance and the aorta-vertebral body shortest distance (p=0.731). Conclusions: Significant differences were observed between males and females in terms of the distance between the T12 vertebra left screw entry point and the thoracic aorta (p=0.001). Thus, we can assert the need for the preoperative evaluation of patients with computed tomography in selecting the appropriate screw length and avoiding complications.

Mid-Term Outcomes of Arthroscopic Treatment in Patients with a Stiff Elbow

Introduction Loss of function and pain are the main complaints at the time of hospital admission for patients with a stiff elbow. In this study, we present mid-term radiological and functional results for the use of the arthroscopic release technique in patients admitted to the outpatient clinic with a stiff elbow. Methods A total of 22 patients (six females, 16 males; mean age: 36 years, range: 18 to 56 years) who underwent an arthroscopic intervention for traumatic or non-traumatic stiff elbow and arthrosis between January 2005 and November 2015 were included in the study. All patients started elbow movement after the first day following surgery. Pre- and postoperative radiological evaluations of patients were carried out, in addition to functional evaluation to measure the range of motion of the elbow joint and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores before and after surgery. Results The mean follow-up was 28.4 (range: 21 to 118) months. The mean preoperative flexion-extension arc of the patients was 89° (range: 0° to 115°), and the mean flexion-extension arc increased to 103.5° (range: 52° to 128°) at the final follow-up visit (p < 0.05). The mean preoperative DASH score was 42.17 (range: 33 to 81), decreasing to 30.35 (range: 9.7 to 41.3) postoperatively (p<0.05). In the final visit, none of the patients were found to require additional surgical interventions for the elbow. Conclusions Arthroscopic release can be considered a safe and effective option to obtain range of motion in joints in post-traumatic stiff elbow cases.

Percutaneous surgery using Admix NoKorTM Non-Coring 16 G needle in cases with trigger finger

In this study mid- and long-term outcomes of the cases with trigger finger we treated using Admix NoKorTM have been presented. Percutaneous release procedures were applied for 24 fingers of 22 (19 female, 3 male patients; mean age, 57; range, 39-72) patients between May 2009 and May 2011. Preoperatively US was performed so as to confirm the presence of trigger finger. Diameters of the tendons of the affected and intact hands measured using US, were compared so as to be able to demonstrate thickening of the tendon of the trigger finger. The patients were monitored for an average period of 25.2 (range, 14-36) months. During surgery, clinically loss of the catching sensation was observed. In two patients percutaneous trigger finger release failed, so we have to proceed with open surgery. During open surgery, we observed longitudinal wounds on the tendon. One patient developed unilateral radial digital nerve damage. Percutaneous release of the trigger finger using Admix NoKorTM 16-G gauge needle can be preferred in the treatment of trigger finger. Trigger finger of the first digit requires more attentive approach and one should be aware of the complications. If required open surgery can be preferred.

The effect of tramadole HCL and paracetamol on fracture healing in rat tibia model

In our research, we aim to study the effects of combined usage of tramadole HCl + paracetamol on rat tibia fracture model. In our study, 60 Wistar-Albino type male rats, weighted at 300-350 g., were divided as “control” and “test” ( tramadole HCl + paracetamol) groups Under general anesthesia, standard closed fractures were created on right tibias of all rats using blunt ended needle holder with three point principle and then closed reduction and fixing with intramedullary nail (0.7 mm) were provided. After fracture treatment of 30 rats in the test group, starting at the same day, 40mg/kg/day tramadole HCL was introduced as daily intermuscular dosage until they were sacrificed. Rats were sacrificed after the fractures as groups of 10 individuals at 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks. Healing fractured tibias were examined mechanically, radiologically, histopathologically. Results: No positive or negative radiological, biochemical and histological effect was detected after the long duration of tramadole HCL + paracetamol usage, starting from the first day and reaching to 6 weeks, in healing process of closed tibia fractures created and fixed with IM nails in rats. Considering the negative effects of NSAIDs on fracture healing, we think that tramadole HCl + paracetamol combination is a safe option in postoperative pain treatment after fracture.