Volkan Kilincoglu

The relation between the arthroscopic findings and functional outcomes in patients with septic arthritis of the knee joint, treated with arthroscopic debridement and irrigation

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between arthroscopic findings and functional outcomes in patients with septic arthritis of the knee joint, treated with arthroscopic debridement and irrigation. METHODS Twenty patients (17 male, 3 female; mean age: 31 years [5-63 years]) with knee septic arthritis treated with arthroscopic debridement and irrigation in our clinic between 2004-2007 were included in the study. The decision for arthroscopic debridement was made based on the clinical findings, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level and the aspiration of the affected knee. During the arthroscopic debridement, the joint was staged according to Gachter criteria. Continuous irrigation system was set up for all cases following surgery. After the surgery, the Bussiere functional scale was used for clinical evaluation. The mean follow-up periodwas 29±11months (range 13-54 months). The McNemar test was used in comparing the results. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used in the correlation analysis. The level of significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS The culture was positive in 3 cases, and negative in 8 cases who exhibited gram (+) cocci in gram stains. In nine cases, cultures were negative and no microorganisms were detected in gram stains. According to the arthroscopic Gachter classification, 4 cases (20%) were Stage 1, 10 cases (50%) were Stage 2, 5 cases (25%) Stage 3 and 1 case (5%) was Stage 4. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean functional score of the knees with differing Gachter stages (McNemar test, p=0.003). There was a statistically significant and strong correlation between Gachter score and functional results (correlation coefficient: 0.780; p<0.001). CONCLUSION Advanced arthroscopic findings are associated with poor functional results in patients with septic arthritis of the knee joint. In addition, the time between the initial symptoms and the surgery directly affects the functional results.

Component alignment in simultaneous bilateral or unilateral total knee arthroplasty

A bilateral total knee prosthesis procedure can be performed simultaneously in patients with bilateral gonarthrosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in component alignment between the simultaneous bilateral TKA and unilateral TKA. A total of 20 patients out of 40 underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA, whereas 20 patients had unilateral TKA. The component alignments were compared radiographically. There was no statistically significant difference in the component alignment between the simultaneous bilateral TKA group and the unilateral TKA group. In conclusion, component alignment of the patients with simultaneous bilateral TKA is similar to that of unilateral TKA.

A calcaneal osteochondroma with recurrence in a skeletally mature patient: a case report

IntroductionOsteochondroma is the most common benign tumor of the skeleton. However, calcaneal osteochondroma is very rare. Osteochondromas grow during childhood through adolescence, but usually growing ends when the epiphyseal plates close. In an adult, growth of an osteochondroma suggests the diagnosis of malignant transformation to a chondrosarcoma. However, enlargement of an osteochondroma reported as benign after skeletal maturity is present in literature.Case presentationWe report the clinical and radiologic findings of a calcaneal osteochondroma with an extremely rare placement and painfull, rapid reccurence following surgical excision in a skeletally mature female. The lesion showed growth the first-operation later and was re-operated. Histopathological examination did not show malignancy.ConclusionIt should kept in mind that benign osteochondromas can show symptomatic growth in skeletally mature patients without malignant transformation.

Klippel–Feil syndrome with osteopoikilosis in a young lady and her four female relatives with osteopoikilosis

Osteopoikilosis is a rare, usually asymptomatic, autosomal dominant bone disorder, which is usually found incidentally on X-ray. Klippel–Feil syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by the congenital fusion of any two of the seven cervical (neck) vertebrae. It is caused by a failure in the normal segmentation or division of the cervical vertebrae during the early weeks of fetal development. In this case report, we describe a woman with osteopoikilosis associated with type 2 Klippel–Feil syndrome. Additionally, four female members of her family had osteopoikilosis. We state that possible syndromes that can go with osteopoikilosis must be kept in mind in case of an incidental diagnosis in daily practice.

Burst fracture of the lumbar vertebra due to a landmine injury: a case report

IntroductionThe reason we report this case is that spine injuries may well occur due to landmines similar to other injuries like traumatic limb amputations and more over they may be overlooked.Case presentationThe patient was 29-years-old Turkish male and was a member of the military. He detonated the landmine that caused his injuries while in a conflict zone. He had a right below knee and left above knee traumatic amputations. He had also mild intermittent pain in his lower back. There were no focal neurological findings such as weakness, altered sensibility, or alteration in the function of the bowel or bladder. Radiographs of the lumbar spine revealed an L2 burst fracture. Computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine demonstrated a burst fracture of the L2 vertebrae and moderate compression in the anterior portion of the thecal sac due to the fracture fragment. Because of the stabile nature of the L2 burst fracture and lack of neurological disturbance, operative decompression, instrumentation and fusion was not performed. After healing of the stumps, the patient was mobilized with immediate prostheses and a thoracolumbosacral brace.ConclusionSpine injuries should not be overlooked when evaluating patients after landmine explosions. After the patient has been stabilized, the secondary screening and radiographic evaluations should also comprise the thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbar spine when treating patients after landmine injuries.

Comparison of anti-edema effects of iloprost and diclofenac sodium on traumatic rat paw edema

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare the anti-edema effects of a stable prostacyclin analogue, iloprost, with parenteral and local forms of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac sodium, on traumatic soft tissue edema. METHODS Thirty-two adult male rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups. Traumatic edema in one paw of each rat was produced by established protocol. Different drugs were then administered to each group: intraperitoneal (i.p.) saline (group 1, control group), topical diclofenac gel (group 2), i.p. diclofenac sodium (group 3), and i.p. iloprost (group 4). The volume of the paws was measured at baseline (before trauma) and at 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours after trauma. The anti-edema effects of these 3 drugs (diclofenac gel, diclofenac sodium i.p., iloprost i.p.) were compared to each other and to the control group. RESULTS The greatest increase in paw edema in the first, second and fourth hours was seen in the control and iloprost groups. At the 4-hour measurement, edema levels were all equal except control group. Following 4- and 8-hour measurements, edema began to decrease in all groups. After 8 and 24 hours, the fastest decrease in edema was in iloprost group, with complete resolution of edema by 72 hours. The next fastest decrease in paw volume was seen with i.p. diclofenac sodium, followed by diclofenac gel. CONCLUSION Iloprost has experimentally higher anti-edema effect than diclofenac sodium for the conservative treatment of the traumatic soft tissue edema.

Closed posteromedial dislocation of ankle in a 12 year-old boy: a case report

Ankle fractures and fracture dislocations are common injuries in orthopaedic practice however pure ankle dislocation without an associated fracture is extremely rare. There are a few cases reporting such a lesion in the literature. Also this injuries are generally open high energy trauma injuries. Closed treatments are reported to be effective and ligament injuries are generally not reported. In this study, we report a closed pure posteromedial ankle dislocation with anterior talofibular ligament rupture and its treatment and outcome in a 12 year-old boy. We think that this is an extremely rare lesion.

Bilateral absence of patella

A 20‐year‐old man with bilateral absence of patella, thinness of the left femoral neck, femoral and tibial shaft was reported. This clinical presentation has not been reported in the English language literature. We propose that the unusual association observed in our patient may represent a distinguishing clinical presentation from previously reported aplastic patella syndromes.

Effect of bleeding on nerve regeneration and epineural scar formation in rat sciatic nerves: an experimental study

OBJECTIVE Epineural scar formation is one of the most significant negative factors affecting surgical repair after peripheral nerve injury. The scar tissue mechanically hinders axonal regeneration and causes adhesions between nerves and surrounding tissues. A hemostatic agent Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS; İmmun Gıda İlaç Kozmetik San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti., Istanbul, Turkey) has not been previously used. Decreasing the postoperative bleeding and adhesions between nerve and surrounding tissues will prevent the formation of scar tissue, as well as corresponding compressive neuropathy and/or deceleration of axonal regeneration. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of bleeding on nerve healing and scar tissue after repair of peripheral nerve injuries. METHODS The right sciatic nerve of 30 Sprague-Dawley male rats (weighing 260-330 g) was cut 1.5 cm proximal to the trifurcation and repaired primarily with 8/0 sutures using epineural technique. The rats were then divided into 3 groups. Saline was applied in Group 1 (n=10), ABS in Group 2 (n=10), and heparin in Group 3 (n=10) for 5 minutes to the repair site and surrounding tissues. In each group, electrophysiological measurements were performed with electromyography (EMG) at postoperative week 12. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging was used at week 12. Macroscopical and histopathological evaluations were conducted after sacrificing the rats at week 24 with total excision of the repaired sciatic nerves and surrounding tissues. RESULTS The ABS and saline groups showed better healing than the heparin group. The ABS and saline groups were better in the histopathologic evaluations, but there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Statistically significant differences were not found between the 3 groups. Significant results may be obtained with larger studies.

The effect of oral tranexamic acid administration on blood loss and hospital costs in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

Aim: Total knee arthroplasty is a kind of major orthopaedic operation that may go with serious amount of peroperative blood loss. Tranexamic acid administration (an antifibrinolytic agent) is one of the most common strategy among the various blood preserving strategies used in major surgeries associated with high volume blood loss. The aim of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of oral tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss and blood transfusion in total knee arthroplasty procedures. In addition hospital costs were also compared. Materials-Methods: Between 2013-2016, 256 total knee arthroplasty procedure performed by six different staff surgeons in our clinic. 125 patients appropriate for our study criteria were included in our study and retrospectively evaluated. 49 patients in study group were administered 15 mg/kg tranexamic intravenous infusion before relasing intraoperative tourniquet and continued as oral 500 mg tranexamic acid three times with 6 hours interval in the first postoperative 24 hours.76 patients were not administered tranexamic acid and compromised the control group. Information on pateints’s demographics, preoperative and postoperative 24th hour hemoglobin and hematocrit values, postoperative 24th hour drain volumes and blood transfusions were obtained from patient files retrospectively. Results: Postoperative 24th hour drain volumes were significiantly less in tranexamic acid administered group (283 130 cc) than that of control group (383 135 cc) (p<0,001). Decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit values in the postoperative 24th hour were significiantly less in study group (1,73 g/dL-%6,13) than those of control group (2,92 g/dL -%8,63) (P<0,001). Both number of total erythrocyte suspensions (ES) transfused and number of patients transfused were higher in control group than those of study group. (52 ES and 45 patients versus 18 ES and 14 patients) Calculated average ES per patient were 0.37 in study group and 0.68 in control group. (P=0,009). As a result blood bank costs were reduced %50 in study group as compared to control group. Conclusions: Tranexamic acid administered as single intraoperative intravenous dose and sequentially continued as 500 mg oral dosage 3 times with six hours interval in the first postoperatve24 hours is a significiantly effective approach in preventing bloos loss and reducing hospital costs in total knee arthroplasty procedures. In addition easiness and convinience of oral administration of tranexamic acid makes the approach more advantageous.