Acute hospital-community hospital care bundle for elderly orthopedic surgery patients:A propensity score-matched economic analysis

BACKGROUND While Singapore attains good health outcomes,Singapore’s healthcare system is confronted with bed shortages and prolonged stays for elderly people recovering from surgery in acute hospitals.An Acute Hospital-Community Hospital(AHCH)care bundle has been developed to assist patients in postoperative rehabilitation.The core concept is to transfer patients out of AHs when clinically recommended and into CHs,where they can receive more beneficial dedicated care to aid in their recovery,while freeing up bed capacities in AHs.AIM To analyze the AH length of stay(LOS),costs,and savings associated with the AH-CH care bundle intervention initiated and implemented in elderly patients aged 75 years and above undergoing elective orthopedic surgery.METHODS A total of 8621:1 propensity score-matched patients aged 75 years and above who underwent elective orthopedic surgery in Singapore General Hospital(SGH)before(2017-2018)and after(2019-2021)the care bundle intervention period was analyzed.Outcome measures were AH LOS,CH LOS,hospitalization metrics,postoperative 30-d mortality,and modified Barthel Index(MBI)scores.The costs of AH inpatient hospital stay in the matched cohorts were compared using cost data in Singapore dollars.RESULTS Of the 862 matched elderly patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery before and after the care bundle intervention,the age distribution,sex,American Society of Anesthesiologists classification,Charlson Comorbidity Index,and surgical approach were comparable between both groups.Patients transferred to CHs after the surgery had a shorter median AH LOS(7 d vs 9 d,P<0.001).The mean total AH inpatient cost per patient was 14.9%less for the elderly group transferred to CHs(S$24497.3 vs S$28772.8,P<0.001).The overall AH U-turn rates for elderly patients within the care bundle were low,with a 0%mortality rate following orthopedic surgery.When elderly patients were discharged from CHs,their MBI scores increased significantly(50.9 vs 71.9,P<0.001).CONCLUSION The AH-CH care bundle initiated and implemented in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery appears to be effective and cost-saving for SGH.Our results indicate that transitioning care between acute and community hospitals using this care bundle effectively reduces AH LOS in elderly patients receiving orthopedic surgery.Collaboration between acute and community care providers can assist in closing the care delivery gap and enhancing service quality.

Analgesic Efficacy of Intrathecal Bupivacaine with or without Morphine in Lower Limb Orthopedic Surgery. A Comparative Study

Background: Lower limb orthopaedic surgeries are commonly associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain. Adequate pain relief is essential for patients undergoing such procedures, as uncontrolled pain can lead to delayed recovery, prolonged hospitalization, and increased morbidity. Intrathecal administration of bupivacaine, a long-acting local anesthetic, has been shown to provide effective analgesia after lower limb orthopaedic surgery. However, the duration of analgesia with bupivacaine alone is limited, and the addition of an opioid, such as morphine, can prolong the duration of analgesia. Objective: The objective of this study was to document the comparative effect of adding morphine to intrathecal bupivacaine or only intrathecal bupivacaine for lower limb trauma orthopedic surgeries in terms of onset of action, duration of analgesia, pain severity, and side effects. Methods: This was a comparative longitudinal study design conducted at the Orthopaedic Unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 60 patients. A standard structured questionnaire was also used to collect data on the socio-demographics, and clinical features of patients, drug used,side effects and severity of pain at 24,48 and 72 hrs after surgery. Results: Co-administration of intrathecal bupivacaine with morphine produced good and long-lasting postoperative analgesia with a mean time of 1004.25 ± 310.43 minutes, whiles using only bupivacaine produced shorter postoperative analgesia with a mean time of 294.75 ± 195.53 minutes. The p-value p values of p = 0.635 and p = 0.689 respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that co-administration of intrathecal bupivacaine with morphine emerged as a better option for postoperative pain management after lower limb orthopedic surgeries as compared to administering only bupivacaine regarding the duration of analgesia. Milder side effects like pruritus, nausea, and vomiting were seen in group B than in group A and were promptly well managed to the patient’s satisfaction.

Analysis of the Role of Nursing Intervention in Operating Room in the Prevention of Incision Infection in Orthopedic Aseptic Surgery

Objective:To explore and analyze the role of nursing in the operating room in the prevention of incision infection in aseptic orthopedic surgery.Methods:68 patients that underwent aseptic orthopedic surgery in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2022.They were divided into a research group(n=34)and a control group(n=34)by the random number table method.The patients in the control group received conventional nursing intervention in the operating room,and the patients in the study group received the optimized and modified nursing intervention in the operating room;then,the related indicators of nursing intervention of the two groups were compared.Results:The incidence of incision infection in the study group was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05);the average duration of surgery and length of stay the study group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);the stress response indexes of patients in the study group were lower than those in the control group 24 hours after operation(P<0.05);the degree of satisfaction of the patients in the study group to the services provided by the nursing staff was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:High-quality nursing intervention in the operating room for aseptic orthopedic surgery patients can significantly reduce the incidence of incision infection,reduce the stress response caused by surgery,shorten the duration of surgery and length of stay,and improve nursing satisfaction,which makes it worthy of popularization.

Academic productivity correlates with industry earnings in foot and ankle fellowship programs in the United States:A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND The study investigates the connection between academic productivity and industry earnings in foot and ankle orthopedic surgery fellowships.Utilizing metrics like the H-index and Open Payments Database(OPD)data,it addresses a gap in understanding the relationship between scholarly achievements and financial outcomes,providing a basis for further exploration in this specialized medical field.AIM To elucidate the trends between academic productivity and industry earnings across foot and ankle orthopedic surgery fellowship programs in the United States.METHODS This study is a retrospective analysis of the relationship between academic productivity and industry earnings of foot and ankle orthopedic surgery fellowships at an individual faculty and fellowship level.Academic productivity was defined via H-index and recorded from the Scopus website.Industry earnings were recorded from the OPD.RESULTS Forty-eight foot and ankle orthopedic surgery fellowships(100%of fellowships)in the United States with a combined total of 165 physicians(95.9%of physicians)were included.Mean individual physician(n=165)total life-time earnings reported on the OPD website was United States Dollar(USD)451430.30±1851084.89(range:USD 25.16-21269249.85;median:USD 27839.80).Mean physician(n=165)H-index as reported on Scopus is 14.24±12.39(range:0-63;median:11).There was a significant but weak correlation between individual physician H-index and individual physician total life-time earnings(P<0.001;Spearman’s rho=0.334)and a significant and moderate positive correlation between combined fellowship H-index and total life-time earnings per fellowship(P=0.004,Spearman’s rho=0.409).CONCLUSION There is a significant and positive correlation between academic productivity and industry earnings at foot and ankle orthopedic surgery fellowships in the United States.This observation is true on an individual physician level as well as on a fellowship level.

Developing an enhanced recovery after surgery program for oncology patients who undergo hip or knee reconstruction surgery

Enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)protocols are applied in orthopedic surgery and are intended to reduce perioperative stress by implementing combined evidence-based practices with the cooperation of various health professionals as an interdisciplinary team.ERAS pathways include pre-operative patient counselling,regional anesthesia and analgesia techniques,post-operative pain management,early mobilization and early feeding.Studies have shown improvement in the recovery of patients who followed an ERAS program after hip or knee arthroplasty,compared with those who followed a traditional care approach.ERAS protocols reduce post-operative stress,contribute to rapid recovery,shorten length of stay(LOS)without increasing the complications or readmissions,improve patient satisfaction and decrease the hospital costs.We suggest that the ERAS pathway could reduce the LOS in hospital for patients undergoing total hip replacement or total knee replacement.These programs require good organization and handling by the multidisciplinary team.ERAS programs increase patient's satisfaction due to their active participation which they experience as personalized treatment.The aim of the study was to develop an ERAS protocol for oncology patients who undergo bone reconstruction surgeries using massive endoprosthesis,with a view to improving the surgical outcomes.

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy during anesthesia recovery for older orthopedic surgery patients: A prospective randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Hypoxemia is a common complication in older patients during postoperative recovery and can cause pulmonary complications.Therefore,reducing the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia is a clinical concern.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen(HFNCO)in the resuscitation period of older orthopedic patients.METHODS In this prospective randomized controlled trial,60 older patients who underwent orthopedic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups:those who used conventional face mask and those who used HFNCO.All patients were treated with 60%oxygen for 1 h after extubation.Patients in the conventional face mask group were treated with a combination of air(2 L)and oxygen(2 L)using a traditional mask,whereas those in the HFNCO group were treated with HFNCO at a constant temperature of 34℃ and flow rate of 40 L/min.We assessed the effectiveness of oxygen therapy by monitoring the patients’arterial blood gas,peripheral oxygen saturation,and postoperative complications.RESULTS The characteristics of the patients were comparable between the groups.One hour after extubation,patients in HFNCO group had a significantly higher arterial partial pressure of oxygen(paO_(2))than that of patients in conventional face mask group(P<0.001).At extubation and 1 h after extubation,patients in both groups showed a significantly higher arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide(paCO_(2))than the baseline levels(P<0.001).There were no differences in the saturation of peripheral oxygen,paO_(2),and paCO_(2) between the groups before anesthesia and before extubation(P>0.05).There were statistically significant differences in paO_(2) between the two groups before anesthesia and 1 h after extubation and immediately after extubation and 1 h after extubation(P<0.001).However,there were no significant differences in the oxygen tolerance score before leaving the room,airway humidification,and pulmonary complications 3 d after surgery between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION HFNCO can improve oxygen partial pressure and respiratory function in elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery under general endotracheal anesthesia.Thus,HFNCO can be used to prevent postoperative hypoxemia.

Automatic Bone Surface Restoration for Markerless Computer-Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery

An automatic markerless knee tracking and registration algorithm has been proposed in the literature to avoid the marker insertion required by conventional computer-assisted knee surgery,resulting in a shorter and less invasive surgical workflow.However,such an algorithm considers intact femur geometry only.The bone surface modification is inevitable due to intra-operative intervention.The mismatched correspondences will degrade the reliability of registered target pose.To solve this problem,this work proposed a supervised deep neural network to automatically restore the surface of processed bone.The network was trained on a synthetic dataset that consists of real depth captures of a model leg and simulated realistic femur cutting.According to the evaluation on both synthetic data and real-time captures,the registration quality can be effectively improved by surface reconstruction.The improvement in tracking accuracy is only evident over test data,indicating the need for future enhancement of the dataset and network.

Clinical Observation of Double Tube Laryngeal Mask in Fast-Track Anesthesia for Limb Orthopedic Surgery in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Objective: To compare and analyze the effect and safety of double tube laryngeal mask and endotracheal intubation general anesthesia in fast track anesthesia for limb orthopaedic surgery in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: 78 children with cerebral palsy undergoing limb orthopedic surgery were randomly divided into laryngeal mask group and intubation group, with 39 cases in each group. The perioperative hemodynamic indexes, anesthesia effect related indexes, anesthesia related complications or adverse reaction rates of the two groups were observed and compared between the two groups. Results: When the two groups of children entered the room, there was no significant difference in MAP and HR (P > 0.05);MAP and HR of children in the intubation group were higher than those in the laryngeal mask anesthesia group (P Conclusion: Laryngeal mask is used to establish the airway of intravenous general anesthesia in limb orthopaedic surgery of children with cerebral palsy, which is conducive to the stability of children’s circulatory and respiratory system, to reduce the impact of narcotic drugs on children, to reduce the incidence of postoperative anesthesia related complications, and to improve the anesthetic effect. It meets the requirements of fast track anesthesia, and can be widely used in clinical practice.

Prevention and Treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis of the Lower Limbs in Patients with Complications after Orthopedic Trauma Surgery

Objective:To explore and analyze on how to prevent and treat deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs in patients with complications after orthopedic trauma surgery.Methods:The research patients were selected from the cases of surgical treatment of orthopedic trauma in the hospital during the past two years,and a total of 58 patients were selected.The patients were randomly divided into two groups,with 29 patients in the control group treated with conventional clinical methods;and the other 29 patients were assigned to the experimental group,where targeted preventive and therapeutic measures were administered.During the research,the number of complications of postoperative deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs and the corresponding treatment efficacy were compared between the two groups of patients.Results:According to the results of clinical experiments,the probability of patients in the experimental group suffering from deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs after surgery was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05);in addition,when complications of deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs occurred,the treatment efficacy of the patients in the experimental group was 96.55%,and the treatment efficacy of the patients in the control group was 82.76%.There was a significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion:Through clinical experiments to study and analyze the prevention and treatment measures of deep vein thrombosis in patients with complications after orthopedic trauma surgery,this research proves that active and comprehensive preventive and treatment measures can effectively reduce the number of complications and improve surgery treatment efficacy.

Establishment of a new method of digital orthopedic surgery and its widespread clinical application

Objective To create an unique new method of digital orthopedic surgery and widely apply to spinal surgery,treatment of bone and joint injuries,ligament reconstruction and repair,bone minor resection and reconstruction,serious bone and

Life-threatening delayed mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema after general anesthesia in a rheumatoid arthritis patient: a case report

Background:Delayed mediastinal emphysema with subcutaneous emphysema after extubation is rarely reported in current literature.Symptomatic treatment is considered effective for management.Case presentation:We report a case of a 56-year-old female with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis under corticosteroid therapy who developed mediastinal emphysema with subcutaneous emphysema 2 days after recovering from general anesthesia for orthopedic surgery treating a femoral neck fracture.The patient received aggressive subcutaneous decompression and symptomatic management.Results:The patient’s condition improved after treatment.Based on computed tomography scan results,we hypothesize that the longstanding rheumatoid arthritis may have resulted in fragile lung tissue.Violent postoperative coughing likely caused rupture of small airways,leading to mediastinal emphysema.Conclusions:It is crucial to preoperatively assess the risk of airway injury in high-risk patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis.Delayed postoperative mediastinal emphysema should be carefully evaluated and managed aggressively to avoid exacerbation or life-threatening scenarios.Further research is warranted to elucidate the pathology and guide perioperative management in these patients.

Design and Implementation of a Control System to Mitigate Osteonecrosis in Orthopedic Bone Drilling Procedures

The drilling process in orthopedic surgery can sometimes lead to an undesired increase in temperature,which can cause serious damage to bones and soft tissues.This overheating is typically identified as a temperature above 47℃,known as the critical limit,and can result in the condition known as osteonecrosis.This study aims to develop a new control system,using a proportional-integral-derivative(PID)controller,to prevent overheating and the resulting osteonecrosis.The bone temperature is constantly measured using a thermocouple and,when it reaches the critical temperature of 47℃,the cooling device is activated by the PID-controlled system.This new control system makes the drill machine with cooling device more user-friendly and allows surgeons to set a desired temperature level manually.

Application of aspirin and low molecular weight heparin in major orthopedic surgery:Meta analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Objective:The perioperative period of major orthopedic surgery is associated with a high risk of thrombosis,but the best chemopreventive agent for thrombosis prophylaxis is still inconclusive.For this reason,this paper evaluated the efficacy and safety of aspirin versus low-molecular heparin using a Meta-analysis.Methods:Ten randomized controlled studies on the application of aspirin and low-molecular heparin for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis in orthopedic major surgery were retrieved by computer searches of PubMed,CochraneLibrary,WebofScience,China Knowledge Network,Wanfang,and Vipul databases according to inclusion and exclusion criteria,and the literature was managed using Endnote software,and the data were analyzed using Revman 5.3 software was used to perform Meta-analysis of the extracted data,focusing on the effects of these two drugs on pulmonary embolism,deep vein thrombosis,major bleeding events,minor bleeding events,wound complications,mortality and blood loss within 90 days after major orthopedic surgery.Results:(1)Ten randomized controlled trials of high quality were included,with a total of 12,974 patients,7,026 in the aspirin group and 5,948 in the low-molecular heparin group;(2)Meta-analysis showed that aspirin had a higher incidence of pulmonary embolism(OR=1.59,95%CI:1.02 to 2.49,P=0.04)and deep vein thrombosis(OR=1.60,95%CI:1.26 to 2.02,P=0.0001)than low molecular heparin;(3)The incidence of major bleeding events(OR=0.85,95%CI:0.47 to 1.55,P=0.60),minor bleeding events(OR=0.79,95%CI:0.55 to 1.12,P=0.18),adverse wound reactions(OR=0.79,95%CI:0.48 to 1.31,P=0.36),mortality within 90 days(OR=0.69,95%CI:0.20 to 2.31,P=0.55)and perioperative blood loss(MD=0.69,95%CI:0.20 to 2.31,P=0.55)in both drug groups,mortality within 90 days(OR=0.69,95%CI:0.20 to 2.31,P=0.55)and perioperative blood loss(MD=0.69,95%CI:0.20 to 2.31,P=0.55)were not statistically significant.Conclusion:Low-molecular heparin was superior to aspirin in the prevention of pulmonary embolism and lower extremity deep vein thrombosis after major orthopedic surgery,but the safety and adverse drug reactions of both groups were basically similar.Based on this,the authors recommend that low-molecular heparin should be preferred for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis in major orthopaedic surgery;however,the inclusion of randomized controlled trials remains limited,necessitating high-quality,large-sample,long-term follow-up clinical studies.

Mixed reality for visualization of orthopedic surgical anatomy

In the modern era,preoperative planning is substantially facilitated by artificial reality technologies,which permit a better understanding of patient anatomy,thus increasing the safety and accuracy of surgical interventions.In the field of orthopedic surgery,the increase in safety and accuracy improves treatment quality and orthopedic patient outcomes.Artificial reality technologies,which include virtual reality(VR),augmented reality(AR),and mixed reality(MR),use digital images obtained from computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.VR replaces the user’s physical environment with one that is computer generated.AR and MR have been defined as technologies that permit the fusing of the physical with the virtual environment,enabling the user to interact with both physical and virtual objects.MR has been defined as a technology that,in contrast to AR,enables users to visualize the depth and perspective of the virtual models.We aimed to shed light on the role that MR can play in the visualization of orthopedic surgical anatomy.The literature suggests that MR could be a valuable tool in orthopedic surgeon’s hands for visualization of the anatomy.However,we remark that confusion exists in the literature concerning the characteristics of MR.Thus,a more clear description of MR is needed in orthopedic research,so that the potential of this technology can be more deeply understood.

Taper-wedge stem suitable for anterior approach total hip arthroplasty:Adequate biomechanical reconstruction parameters and excellent clinical outcome at mid-term follow-up

BACKGROUND The direct anterior approach(DAA) for total hip arthroplasty(THA) is a less invasive and muscle-sparing approach that seems to improve early function and patient satisfaction. Several studies, however, have reported high complication and revision rates due to the technical difficulties related to the femoral preparation.AIM To evaluate the usefulness and safety of a new stem equipped with a morphometric design and a size-specific medial curvature in DAA for THA.METHODS This retrospective study was based on 130 patients that underwent mini-invasive DAA procedures for THA using the Accolade Ⅱ stem. A total of 144 procedures were included in the assessment, which was based on postoperative complications, survival rates, functional parameters, and patient related outcomes.RESULTS Overall complications were recorded in 6 procedures(4.2%). There were no complications related to the stem implantation and no intraoperative fractures. Only one patient was revised for deep infection. On radiographs, biomechanical hip reconstruction was satisfactory and no stem showed any subsidence greater than 2 mm. Full osseointegration based on Engh scores was seen in all of the implanted stems. Median Harris hip score at final follow-up was 99 points(range 44-100 points), which resulted excellent in 91.3% of patients. The median values of the osteaorthritis outcome score ranged from 87.5 to 95.CONCLUSION The mid-term positive outcomes and low complication rate in our consecutive series of patients support the safety and suitability of this new stem design in DAA for THA.

All-epiphyseal versus trans-epiphyseal screw fixation for tillaux fractures:Does it matter?

BACKGROUND Tillaux fractures occur primarily in adolescents due to the pattern of physeal closure and are classified as Salter-Harris type III physeal fractures.Operative management with screw fixation is recommended for more than 2 mm of displacement or more than 1 mm of translation.However,the efficacy and complications of trans-physeal vs all-physeal screw fixation have not been investigated extensively.AIM To compare the clinical and functional outcomes of trans-physeal(oblique)and all-epiphyseal(parallel)screw fixation in management of Tillaux fractures among pediatric patients.METHODS This was an ethics board approved retrospective review of pediatric patients who presented to our tertiary children’s care facility with Tillaux fractures.We included patients who had surgical fixation of a Tillaux fracture over a 10 year period.Data analysis included demographics,mode of injury,management protocols,and functional outcomes.The patients were divided into group 1(oblique fixation)and group 2(parallel fixation).Baseline patient characteristics and functional outcomes were compared between groups.Statistical tests to evaluate differences included Fisher’s Exact or Chi-squared and independent samples t or Mann Whitney tests for categorical and continuous variables,respectively.RESULTS A total of 42 patients(28 females and 14 males)were included.There were no significant differences in body mass index,sex,age,or time to surgery between the groups[IK2].Sports injuries accounted for 61.9%of the cases,particularly non-contact(57.1%)and skating(28.6%)injuries.Computed Tomography(CT)scan was ordered for 28 patients(66.7%),leading to diagnosis confirmation in 17 patients and change in management plan in 11 patients.[GRC3]Groups 1 and 2 consisted of 17 and 25 patients,respectively.For mid to long-term functional outcomes,there were 14 and 10 patients in groups 1 and 2,respectively.Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the functional outcomes,pain scores,or satisfaction between groups.No infections,non-unions,physeal arrest,or post-operative ankle deformities were reported.Two(4.8%)patients had difficulty returning to sports post-surgery due to pain.One was a dancer,and the other patient had pain while running,which led to hardware removal.Both patients had parallel fixation.Hardware removal for groups 1 and 2 were 4(23.5%)and 5(20.0%)patients,respectively.The reasons for removal was pain in 2 patients,and parental preference in the remaining.CONCLUSION This is the largest reported series of pediatric patients with Tillaux fractures comparing functional outcomes of different methods of screw fixation orientation to the physis,which showed no difference regarding functional outcomes.

Regional anesthesia for orthopedic procedures:What orthopedic surgeons need to know

Regional anesthesia is an integral component of successful orthopedic surgery.Neuraxial anesthesia is commonly used for surgical anesthesia while peripheral nerve blocks are often used for postoperative analgesia.Patient evaluation for regional anesthesia should include neurological,pulmonary,cardiovascular,and hematological assessments.Neuraxial blocks include spinal,epidural,and combined spinal epidural.Upper extremity peripheral nerve blocks include interscalene,supraclavicular,infraclavicular,and axillary.Lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks include femoral nerve block,saphenous nerve block,sciatic nerve block,iPACK block,ankle block and lumbar plexus block.The choice of regional anesthesia is a unanimous decision made by the surgeon,the anesthesiologist,and the patient based on a risk-benefit assessment.The choice of the regional block depends on patient cooperation,patient positing,operative structures,operative manipulation,tourniquet use and the impact of postoperative motor blockade on initiation of physical therapy.Regional anesthesia is safe but has an inherent risk of failure and a relatively low incidence of complications such as local anesthetic systemic toxicity(LAST),nerve injury,falls,hematoma,infection and allergic reactions.Ultrasound should be used for regional anesthesia procedures to improve the efficacy and minimize complications.LAST treatment guidelines and rescue medications(intralipid)should be readily available during the regional anesthesia administration.

Mobile phones in the orthopedic operating room: Microbial colonization and antimicrobial resistance

BACKGROUND Surgical site infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality following orthopedic surgery.Recent efforts to identify sources of contamination in the operating rooms have implicated mobile phones.AIM To investigate microbial colonization on the mobile phones of health care professionals in the orthopedic operating room.METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study involving culture and sensitivity analysis of swabs taken from the mobile phones of orthopedic and anesthesia attendings,residents,technicians and nurses working in the orthopedic operating rooms over a period of two months.Demographic and cell phone related factors were recorded using a questionnaire and the factors associated with contamination were analyzed.RESULTS Ninety-three of 100 mobile phones were contaminated.Species isolated were Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(62%),Micrococcus(41%)and Bacillus(26%).The risk of contamination was increased with mobile covers and cracked screens and decreased by cell phone cleaning.CONCLUSION Mobile phones belonging to health care workers are frequently contaminated with pathogenic bacteria with the potential of transferring drug resistance to nosocomial pathogens.Studies investigating the relationship to surgical site infections need to be conducted.The concept of"mobile hygiene"involving the change of mobile covers,replacement of cracked screens or even wiping the phone with an alcohol swab could yield the cost-effective balance that contaminated cell phones deserve until they are established as a direct cause of surgical site infections.

Idiopathic gastric partial necrosis

We present the case of an elderly patient, who had orthopaedic surgery and suffered in the early post-operative period an idiopathic gastric partial necrosis. We reviewed the literature and it is an extraordinarily infrequent entity. Partial resections have already been described in case of limited necrosis, as reported in our case. Prompt diagnosis of idiopathic gastric necrosis and aggressive treatment are mandatory. Further awareness of this strange entity and its risk factors can lead to a quicker diagnosis and higher possibilities of survival for the patient.

The Utility of Telemedicine to Manage Post-Operative Pain

Telemedicine is defined as practicing medicine via a virtual interface, including email, telephone calls, text messages, video chatting, and personalized online programs. Telemedicine has increased over the past few decades, mainly in psychology and primary care. Recently, surgical specialties have also begun to utilize telemedicine for post-operative care. There are many studies examining telemedicine’s use in managing post-operative pain. This review paper focuses on 17 on postoperative pain management. They found that telemedicine can assist physicians in managing post-operative pain remotely by increasing adherence to post-operative regimens (p < 0.001), providing greater individualized care (p = 0.01), and decreasing post-operative pain medication dependence (p = 0.04).