Serdar Hakan Başaran

Efficiency and Cost Analysis of Cell Saver Auto Transfusion System in Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Blood loss and replacement is still a controversial issue in major orthopaedic surgery. Allogenic blood transfusion may cause legal problems and concerns regarding the transmission of transfusion-related diseases. Cellsaver Systems (CSS) were developed as an alternative to allogenic transfusion but CSS transfusion may cause coagulation, infection and haemodynamic instability. AIMS Our aim was to analyse the efficiency and cost analysis of a cell saver auto-transfusion system in the total knee arthroplasty procedure. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective comparative study. METHODS Those patients who were operated on by unilateral, cemented total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were retrospectively evaluated. Group 1 included 37 patients who were treated using the cell saver system, and Group 2 involved 39 patients who were treated by allogenic blood transfusion. The groups were compared in terms of preoperative haemoglobin and haematocrit levels, blood loss and transfusion amount, whether allogenic transfusion was made, degree of deformity, body mass index and cost. RESULTS No significant results could be obtained in the statistical comparisons made in terms of the demographic properties, deformity properties, preoperative laboratory values, transfusion amount and length of hospital stay of the groups. Average blood loss was calculated to be less in Group 1 (p<0.05) and cost was higher in Group 1 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Cell saver systems do not decrease the amount of allogenic blood transfusion and costs more. Therefore, the routine usage of the auto-transfusion systems is a controversial issue. Cell saver system usage does not affect allogenic blood transfusion incidence or allogenic blood transfusion volume. It was found that preoperative haemoglobin and body mass index rates may affect allogenic blood transfusion. Therefore, it is foreseen that auto-transfusion systems could be useful in patients with low haemoglobin level and body mass index.

Fourth and fifth carpometacarpal fracture dislocations

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term results of patients with surgically treated 4th and 5th carpometacarpal (CMC) fracture dislocation. METHODS The study included 9 CMC dislocation patients (9 males; mean age: 31.2 years, range: 20 to 40 years) treated with open reduction and internal fixation between 2008 and 2012. Mean follow-up period was 19.4 months. Mean interval between trauma and operation was 10.7 (range: 3 to 35) days. Radiological evaluation was performed at the final follow-up. Hand grip power was measured using a hand dynamometer and the injured and uninjured sides were compared. METHODS There was a statistically significant difference compared to the injured side in hand dynamometer measurements (p<0.05). Three patients experienced pain during heavy labor. Among these cases, 2 had delayed diagnosis and 1 a comminuted CMC dislocation and was unable to return to his previous job. There were no recurrent dislocations or revision surgery due to complications. CONCLUSION Early diagnosis and treatment of 4th and 5th CMC dislocation results in good anatomical and functional results. Delayed or incorrect diagnosis of this region causes severe radiological and functional problems. Detailed physical and radiological examination can prevent CMC dislocation from being overlooked.

The combined use of oral and topical tranexamic acid is a safe, efficient and low-cost method in reducing blood loss and transfusion rates in total knee arthroplasty

Aims: The combined (IV (intravenous) + topical) use of tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to be a safe method and more effective than single (IV or topical) application. The optimal administration method of TXA is still being investigated and safety, efficiency and cost are the three main crucial parameters in achieving the best administration method. We aimed to determine whether combined (oral + topical) use of TXA reduced blood loss and transfusion rates more than single (topical) administration in TKA and whether oral + topical use is as safe and efficient as the IV + topical use, in addition to the main advantage of relatively low cost. Methods: In this prospective, randomized study, 100 patients were randomly assigned to either the topical TXA group or the combined (oral + topical) TXA group. There were no significant differences between the groups in age, body mass index or gender. The haemoglobin and haematocrit levels of each patient were recorded preoperatively and on post-operative days 0, 1, 2 and 3. The post-operative suction drainage and blood transfusion volumes were also recorded. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the groups in haemoglobin and haematocrit levels on post-operative days 0, 1, 2 and 3 (p < 0.05) in favour of the combined group. The post-operative drainage amounts (p = 0.0001), measured blood loss volume (p = 0.003) and transfusion rates (p = 0.03) were lower in the combined (oral + topical) group compared to the topical group. Conclusions: Of the different methods of TXA administration, the combined use of oral and topical TXA is a safe, efficient and low-cost method in reducing blood loss and transfusion rates after TKA.

The outcome and parents-based cosmetic satisfaction following fixation of paediatric supracondylar humerus fractures treated by closed method with or without small medial incision

Supracondylar humerus fractures are common in children. Displaced fractures are usually treated with closed reduction and cross pin fixation. But, medial pinning may cause the ulnar nerve injury. The aim of this study was to compare the parents-based cosmetic satisfaction of the incision scars in children with displaced supracondylar humerus fractures treated by closed reduction and cross pin fixation with or without small medial incision. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 72 children with displaced supracondylar humerus fractures treated two different closed reduction and percutaneous pinning methods at our institution from January 2010 through December 2013. A group has 36 patients treated with small medial incision and crossed K-wires fixation after closed reduction. The other group has 36 patients treated with closed reduction and K-wires fixation. At the final follow-up, the patients were evaluated radiologically and clinically with Flynn’s criteria. Furthermore, a visual analogue scale was used to determine of the parents-based cosmetic satisfaction score. All fractures healed without major complications at the final clinical and radiological assessment. Although, between the two groups did not differ in terms of Flynn cosmetic and functional outcomes, there were statistically significant differences between both groups according to the parents-based cosmetic satisfaction scores. The closed reduction and crossed pin fixation without small medial incision should be preferred first because of better the parents-based cosmetic satisfaction.

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the cell saver system in instrumented posterior fusion with thoracic and lumbar vertebral fractures

BACKGROUND The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of intraoperative autotransfusion that uses the cell saver system (CSS) in patients undergoing posterior instrumentation and fusion of thoracic and lumbar vertebral fractures. METHODS We divided 121 patients who were to undergo posterior instrumentation and fusion due to thoracic and lumbar vertebral fractures into two groups: 59 patients (23 males and 36 females) were in the cell saver group, and 62 patients (22 males and 40 females) were in the control group. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell (RBC) values were recorded for all patients preoperatively, on the postoperative first, second, and third days, and on the hospital discharge day. Transfusion rates and numbers of allogeneic erythrocyte transfusions, as well as the costs of transfused total auto- and allogeneic transfusions were compared. RESULTS The numbers of erythrocyte suspensions transfused perioperatively were 0.2±0.6 units in the cell saver group and 0.7±1.4 units in the control group (p=0.01). Statistically significant differences were noted between the two groups on the postoperative first, second, and third days in terms of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RBC values. These differences had disappeared by the hospital discharge day. The average cost of perioperative blood transfusions was

Treatment and Results in Paediatric Traumatic Hip Dislocation: Case series and review of the literature

431±27.4 in the cell saver group and

Geriatrik hastalardaki intertrokanterik femur kırıklarının eksternal fiksatörle tedavisi

34.5±66.25 in the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION The use of the CSS was not cost-effective, but it was particularly successful at reducing the rate and the number of units of postoperative allogenic blood transfusions.

Hafif ve orta derece gonartrozlu hastalarda yapılan artroskopik debritmanın hastaların yaşam kalitesine etkisi / The effect of arthroscopic debridement on life quality of mild and moderate gonarthrosis patients

BACKGROUND Six acute traumatic hip dislocations in pediatric patients were retrospectively analyzed. Types of dislocations, associated lesions, treatment methods, complications, and clinical and radiological outcomes were reviewed. METHODS Six child patients treated due to traumatic hip dislocation between 2007 and 2011 in our clinic were included in the study. While five of the patients were male, one was female; the average age was 8 years and 8 months. The mean follow-up was 25.2±10 months. There were posterior dislocations in five cases and transepiphyseal fractured dislocation in one case. Four cases were treated by closed reduction while two cases were treated with open reduction method. RESULTS In the last control of the patients, asymmetric widening in the hip joint was found due to osteochondral fracture in one patient and coxa magna occurred in one patient. Avascular necrosis developed in one case with transepiphyseal fractured dislocation. Harris hip score evaluation was found excellent in five cases and bad in the case with fractured dislocation. CONCLUSION Traumatic hip dislocation is a rare condition. It should be treated with preferably closed method as soon as possible. Repetitive reduction trials should be avoided. Open reduction should be performed to recognize accompanying lesions after advanced radiologic examinations such as computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Peroneus quartus: prevalance and clinical importance

The treatment of intertrochanteric femur fractures in geriatric patients with external fixator Objective: We evaluated the results of osteosynthesis with external fixation for intertrochanteric hip fractures in elderly patients with a high anesthesia risk. Material and Methods: Sixty-eight patients with closed intertrochanteric femur fractures (48 women, 20 men, mean age: 77 years; range between 65-84 years) were treated with an unilateral external fixator under epidural anesthesia combined with mild sedation. According to AO/OTA classification A1.1, A1.2, A1.3 and A2.1 types were accepted as stabil, (Group 1), A2.2, A2.3, A3.1, A3.2 and A3.3 type fractures (Group 2) were accepted as unstabil fracture types. In first group there were 39 patients and in the second group there was 29 patients. The mean follow up was 12 months (9 to 18). In all patients, an AO tubular external fixator was used. Operation time, hospitalization period, healing time, complication rate and postoperative activity level were evaluated. Statistical evaluation was done by Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: The mean operation time was 24 minutes (17-60) in the firstgroup and 38 minutes (26-70) in the second group (p<0.001). The mean hospitalization duration was 4 days (2-10) in the first group and 7 days (3-13) in the second group (p<0.001). The mean time for the union of the fracture was 11.64 (9-17) weeks in the first group and 13.9 weeks (11-18) in the second group (p<0.001). While 8 patients had superficial and 3 patients had deep infection in the first group, in the second group there were 10 patients with superficial and 4 with deep infection. In the second group, varus deformity was observed in 5 patients. The mean Barthel daily activity score was calculated as 14.2 (9-18) in the first group and 11.4 (4-14) in the second group (p<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the mortality ratios between two groups. Conclusion: Since fixation by external fixators for intertrochanteric femur fractures is minimally invasive, causes less bleeding and preserves soft tissues and bones, it is one of the preferred methods for the treatment of elderly patients with a high anesthesia risk. Nevertheless, for the intertrochanteric femur fractures that are unstable according to the AO classification, the union time is longer, union in the varus position is more often and the complication ratio is higher. Therefore it should be used for chosen cases among geriatric patients.

The measurement of tibial torsion by magnetic resonance imaging in children: the comparison of three different methods

Objective: Osteoarthritis is the most seen type of arthritis and forms more than 6% of all symptomatic knee diseases. A lot of treament modalities are used and the treatment algorithm acts from conservative precedures to surgical procedures. Material and Methods: Fourty patients who had symptomatic primary osteoarthritis for ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria, who were in mild and moderate stages for IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) and who were symptomatic in spite of at least six months of treatment were integrated to the study. The quality of life and functional evaluation of patients are done before and at least six months after the surgery by SF-36 quality of life and Lysholm scores. All patients are evaluated with patient pleasure scala at their last visits. Results: The increase of mean Lysholm knee score after arthroscopic debridement was statistically significiant (p