International Journal of Research in Orthopaedics
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Bilateral neck of femur stress fracture secondary to osteopetrosis treated with dynamic hip screw
Get PDFOsteopetrosis, a rare hereditary bone disorder, is characterized by increased bone density due to defective osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. This condition often leads to skeletal fragility, resulting in recurrent fractures despite increased bone mass. Among these, stress fractures of the femoral neck pose a unique challenge where conventional management may not be optimal. Valgus osteotomy offers a viable surgical intervention to realign the mechanical axis, thereby reducing stress on the femoral neck and facilitating healing. This paper reviews the pathophysiology of osteopetrosis, its impact on fracture healing, and the role of valgus osteotomy in managing femoral neck stress fractures in osteopetrotic patients
Anatomical retinaculum repair and pseudo-pouch closure: surgical technique for management of posterior tibial tendon dislocations
Get PDFThis study aims to present a surgical technique for managing Type-II posterior tibial tendon (PTT) dislocations, characterized by a detachment of both the flexor retinaculum and periosteum from the tibia, and to review existing literature on treatment approaches for this rare condition. We describe a surgical procedure that involves an approach to the PTT, assessment, and potential deepening of the retro malleolar groove, and repair of the detached flexor retinaculum using a double suture technique. The technique addresses the challenges posed by the pseudo pouch formed due to the detachment and aims to stabilize the PTT within the groove. The surgical outcomes of two cases involving young, active patients are discussed, including pre- and post-operative assessments. In case 1, a 19-year-old male athlete demonstrated improvement in pain and function, with no recurrence of dislocation at six months follow-up. Case 2, a 40-year-old male athlete, experienced slight discomfort but returned to practice with improved strength and function. Both cases showed effective tendon stabilization within the retro malleolar groove and favorable outcomes without significant complications. The described surgical technique for Type-II PTT dislocations, involving reattachment and repair of the retinaculum, successfully addresses the challenges of the pseudo pouch and provides effective stabilization of the tendon. This approach results in satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes, with most patients achieving a return to pre-injury function. The study highlights the need for further research to compare biomechanical effectiveness and long-term tissue healing outcomes of this technique
Supervised machine learning algorithms used to predict post-surgical outcomes following anterior surgical fixation of odontoid fractures
Get PDFBackground: Odontoid fractures have a high mortality rate, and numerous classification systems have previously predicted surgical outcomes with mixed consensus. We generated a machine learning (ML) construct to predict post-operative adverse events following anterior (ORIF) of odontoid fractures.
Methods: 266 patients from the American college of surgeons-national surgical quality improvement program (ACS-NSQIP) with anterior ORIF (CPT 22318) of odontoid fractures from 2008-2018 were analyzed using ML algorithms random forest classifier (RF), gradient boosting classifier (GB), support vector machine classifier (SVM), Gaussian Naive Bayes classifier (GNB), and multi-layer perceptron classifier (MLP), and were compared to logistic regression classifier (LR). Algorithms predicted increased length of stay (LOS), need for transfusion (Transf), non-home discharge (NHD), and any adverse event (AAE). Permutation feature importance (PFI) identified risk factors.
Results: ML algorithms outperformed LR. The average AUC for predicting Transf was 0.635 (accuracy=77.4%), extended LOS=0.652 (accuracy 59.6%), NHD 0.788 (accuracy=71.9%) and AAE 0.649 (accuracy 68.1%). GB performed highest for Transf (AUC=0.861), identifying operative time (PFI 0.253, p=0.016). GB and RF performed equally for NHD (AUC=0.819), highlighting preoperative hematocrit (PFI=0.157, p<0.001). GB predicted AAE (AUC=0.720) also identifying preoperative hematocrit (PFI=0.112, p<0.001). RF predicted extended LOS (AUC=0.669) highlighting preoperative hematocrit (PFI=0.049, p<0.001).
Conclusions: ML outperformed LR, successfully predicting Transf, extended LOS, NHD, and AAE for anterior ORIF of odontoid fractures. Our construct may complement conventional risk stratification to reduce adverse outcomes and excess cost
Outcome of dynamic locked plate in treatment of intracapsular femur neck fracture
Get PDFBackground: The ideal surgical treatment of femoral neck fractures is still debatable. When internal fixation is used, many implants are available. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome following fixation of intracapsular femur neck fractures using the Targon-FN system (B. Braun, AG. Melsungen, Germany) comparing the results with a similar study done by the manufacturer and to assess risk factors associated with complications.
Methods: A prospective interventional case series involved 30 consecutive patients aged from 23 to 82 (Mean 49 years) treated at Al-Jalaa trauma hospital in Benghazi- Libya in period from January 2016 to July 2017, for an intracapsular femur neck fracture with Targon-FN system. According to Garden classification 9 fractures (30%) undisplaced and 21 (70%) were displaced fractures, with 2 patients (6.7%) had type I, 7 patients (23.3%) had type II, 7 patients (23.3%) had type III and 14 patients (46.7%) had type IV fracture. Epidemiological data were collected. Patients were followed-up for 2 years (average 16 months). Joint function was assessed clinically by using Harris hip score (HHS) and fracture healing by radiological assessment at sex weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and finally at 2 years. Complications were recorded. Statistical analysis done to predict risk factors associated with reoperation and complications.
Results: Sixteen patients (53.3%) developed one or more complications. Complications were higher than those of manufacturer’s study and included avascular necrosis (53.3%, n=16), nonunion (30%, n=9), blown out implant (16.66%, n=5), loosening screw (3.3%, n=1), and deep infection (3.3%, n=1). In total, 5 patients required total hip replacements. At end of 2 years 19 patients (63%) had poor result, one patient (3.3%) had fair result, 1 patient (3.3%) had good result and 9 patients (30%) had excellent result according to HHS. Delayed surgery, fracture displacement, surgeon’s experience, age ≥40 years and time to postop weight bearing recognized as risk factors for complications.
Conclusions: A minimally-invasive surgery of Targon FN justifies use of this system for the preservation of the patient’s hip joint, early rehabilitation and mobilization. Complications and re-operation could be minimized by performing surgery within 24-48 hours, provision of skillful surgeons, and proper timing of postoperative weight bearing. The main limitation is the small number of cases and short follow-up averaged at 16 months
Assessment of clinical, functional and radiological outcomes in young patients with grade 3 and 4 osteoarthritis of the knee joint undergoing knee joint distraction with and without arthroscopic debridement and chondroplasty-a prospective, comparative and randomized controlled study
Get PDFBackground: Treatment of severe osteoarthritis (OA) in relatively young patients is challenging. Although successful, Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has a limited lifespan, with the risk of revision surgery, especially in active young patients. Our study aims to assess the comparative clinical, functional and radiological outcomes of knee joint distraction (KJD) with and without arthroscopic debridement and chondroplasty in OA of knee in the young, in a randomized controlled trial.
Methods: Our study was a prospective randomized trial with equal allocation. A total of 160 patients needing intervention for knee arthritis, in the age group of <55 years were included as per the inclusion criteria, and were randomized into 2 groups. Group A included 80 patients who underwent KJD alone. Group B included 80 patients who underwent KJD with arthroscopic debridement and chondroplasty. All patients were followed up to 24 months post intervention. Clinical (Visual analogue scale-VAS), functional (Western Ontario and McMaster universities OA index-WOMAC) and radiological (Joint space width-JSW) outcomes were then compared and assessed.
Results: Both the groups showed statistically significant improvement of clinical, functional and radiological outcome scores compared to baseline levels. The mean improvement in KJD+SCOPY group was statistically superior to that of KJD group with regard to clinical and functional outcome scores; however, the radiological improvement though being statistically significant in both groups compared to baseline levels, but one group was not superior to that of other.
Conclusions: KJD in patients with OA of knee (Kellegren Lawrence grade 3-4) aged <55 years results in improvement of clinical, functional and radiological parameters at 2 year follow up. Addition of arthroscopic debridement and chondroplasty to KJD makes it superior to KJD alone in terms of improvement in clinical, functional and radiological outcomes. We recommend arthroscopic debridement and chondroplasty coupled with KJD for compliant patients of less than 55 years with grade 3-4 OA of the knee
Detecting suspected scaphoid fractures? the role of different imaging modalities within a district general hospital during the pandemic
Get PDFBackground: This study evaluates the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus computerised tomography (CT) scans for persistent wrist pain at the thumb base following injury in adults and children during covid. This was part of a pathway introduced as access to MRI scan was limited.
Methods: Patients were identified as having possible scaphoid fractures within the emergency department but had no fracture identified on initial imaging over a 3-month period. These were triaged to a scaphoid pathway during the covid pandemic from a virtual clinic. Patients were reviewed clinically and radiographically within the hand clinic using further imaging with CT or MRI scan.
Results: During the study time 45 patients with scaphoid fractures were detected on initial radiography in ED and 187 with suspected scaphoid fractures were selected for further review. Ninety (48%) were referred to the hand clinic where 2 (1%) scaphoid fractures were diagnosed on a second radiograph and ninety-seven (52%) were to be seen in an upper limb clinic where 2 (1%) further fractures were detected. 92% of scaphoid fractures were identified on radiography either in ED or orthopaedic clinic. Of the remaining 178 with two negative radiographs further imaging was requested in 45 cases (25%). Pathology was found in 17 (58%) MRI scans and in 7 (39%) CT scans.
Conclusions: Imaging needs to be timely to enable effective treatment. Obtaining MRI scans while diagnostically superior is not always achievable especially in times of resource depletion. Back up pathways using alternative imaging can be effective
Assessment of the safety and efficacy of intravenous versus topical tranexamic acid in patients undergoing primary total hip and knee arthroplasty surgeries with respect to decreasing peri-operative blood loss and blood transfusion rates: a prospective and comparative study
Get PDFBackground: Synthetic antifibrinolytic agent like tranexamic acid has been increasingly used in Arthroplasty surgeries to decrease the peri-operative blood loss. The current study was undertaken to compare the efficacy between the intravenous and Topical route of TXA in deceasing the blood loss and transfusion rate in patients undergoing primary total hip and knee arthroplasty (THR and TKR) surgeries.
Methods: A total of 120 patients were enrolled in the study with 60 each undergoing THR and TKR surgeries with 30 each given TXA in IV and Topical routes. Outcomes were assessed in terms of mean 24 hours drain output, mean blood loss, mean drop in hemoglobin blood transfusion rate.
Results: The mean drain output was more in the IV group in both THR and TKR patients (p>0.05). The mean blood loss was more in the Topical group in both THR and TKR patients (p>0.05). The mean drop in hemoglobin was more in the Topical group, with the difference being significant in the THR patients (p<0.05) and being insignificant in TKR patients (p>0.05). In IV group 9 patients (15%) and in Topical group 25 patients (41.67%) needed blood transfusions, the difference being statistically significant.
Conclusions: Both IV and Topical routes of TXA are equally effective in decreasing the peri-operative blood loss and transfusion rates in patients undergoing primary arthroplasty surgeries, with IV route having slightly upper hand as compared to the Topical route.
Quantification of anterior translation of tibia over femur using Lachmeter in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft
Get PDFBackground: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important restraint on anterior tibial translation of the knee. Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft is the most widely accepted surgical procedure for ACL insufficiency. This study is assessing the effect of ACL reconstruction by hamstring tendon autograft on the anteroposterior stability of the knee joint by measuring the side-to-side difference of anterior tibial translation using the Lachmeter. We are also assessing the functional outcome of the same surgery using international knee documentation committee (IKDC) score.
Methods: The study included 30 patients who were admitted for ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft. The side-to-side difference of anterior tibial translation was assessed by using Lachmeter preoperatively and postoperatively at the end of the 1st, 3rd, and 6th months. The IKDC score was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at the end of 6th month.
Results: The mean Lachmeter value of respondents in the current study was 4.31±0.56 mm during the preoperative period. Lachmeter values were 2.79±0.42 mm, 2.09±0.42 mm, and 1.29±0.39 mm, respectively, at the end of the first, third, and sixth months postoperatively. Mean preoperative and postoperative 6th month IKDC scores were 55.83±7.7 and 89.20±5.3 respectively.
Conclusions: There is significant serial improvement in the side-to-side difference of anterior tibial translation in the 6 months of post operative period following ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft. The improved IKDC score from preoperative to postoperative level is also indicating a positive functional outcome
A case of primary skeletal muscle lymphoma mimicking cellulitis
Get PDFPrimary skeletal muscle lymphoma is a rare entity. Their presentation can be easily confused with a wide variety of inflammatory conditions, neoplasia as well as infectious diseases. We came across a 65-year-old lady who presented to us with complains of pain and swelling in the right thigh, leg and foot and fever-on and off for 20 days. She was initially managed elsewhere on the line of cellulitis with incision and drainage of right leg 15 days back but there had been no clinical improvement. We took her detailed history and examined her thoroughly. Relevant blood investigations were sent. However, the clinical examination findings and history were suggestive of an infective cause, blood investigations were suggestive of an acute inflammatory pathology, whereas radiological investigations (NCCT and X-ray) and cytological investigations (FNAC) which were performed at the previous place of treatment were inconclusive. We then did a CE-MRI of the right lower limb which showed centrally necrotic, enhancing mass lesion involving peroneal muscles with multiple enlarged inguinal and popliteal lymph nodes. Based on this finding, biopsy was performed and specimen was sent for histopathological examination which revealed “malignant small round cell tumor”. Immunohistochemistry was then done and tumor cells were found to be positive for vimentin, LCA, CD20 and negative for PANCK and CD3. Based on the above findings it was diagnosed as “non-hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) B-cell type” of right leg. Considering the confusing clinical presentation of this entity and inconclusiveness of blood and basic radiological investigations, lesions of extremities presenting with features of cellulitis must be carefully assessed.
Complications of Ilizarov method treatment for infected nonunion femoral shaft fracture
Get PDFBackground: Infected non-union of the femur is complicated by the involvement of soft tissue and bone, long-term resistant multi-bacterial infection, limb length discrepancy, deformities, joint stiffness, and multiple draining sinuses, and poses a challenge for orthopedic surgeons. This study aimed to analyze the complications of Ilizarov method treatment for infected non-union femoral shaft fracture.
Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the national institute of traumatology and orthopedic rehabilitation (NITOR), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from May 2018 to August 2020. A total of 20 patients were selected as study subjects by purposive sampling technique. All data were collected using a pre-formed questionnaire. Data were processed and analyzed using computer software program SPSS version 22.0.
Result: The mean bone gap created during the operation was 2.7±1.7 cm of them, in 12 (60%) patients, it was 0 to 2 cm, and in 8 (40%) patients it was more than 2 cm. The mean time needed for radiological union was 7.85±2.1 months ranging from 5 months to 11 months. In 10 (50%) patients, union was achieved within 4 to 7 months, and in 10 (50%) patients it was 8 to 11 months. Regarding limb length discrepancy, in 5 (25%) cases there was no limb length discrepancy (LLD). Twelve patients had 1 cm to 2.4 cm LLD and 3 (15%) patients had ≥2.5 cm LLD. The mean LLD was 1.2±0.9 cm. Regarding complications, in 10 (50%) cases, there was no complication and 10 (50%) patients had complications. The complications were pin tract infection in 7 (35%) patients and wire loosening in 3 (15%) patients.
Conclusions: The study concludes that while the Ilizarov ring fixator proves to be a dependable and successful method for stabilizing, correcting length discrepancies, and eliminating infections, it is not without its share of complications. The findings of this research indicate a 50% complication rate among the patients undergoing this treatment