Effect of ankle versus thigh tourniquets on post-operative pain in foot and ankle surgery

BACKGROUND Tourniquets are commonly used in elective extremity orthopaedic surgery to reduce blood loss,improve visualization in the surgical field,and to potentially reduce surgical time.There is a lack of consensus in existing guidelines regarding the optimal tourniquet pressure,placement site,and duration of use.There is a paucity of data on the relationship between the site of a tourniquet and postoperative pain in foot and ankle surgery.AIM To explore the relationship between tourniquet site and intensity of post-operative pain scores in patients undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery.METHODS Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 201 patients who underwent foot and ankle surgery in a single institution was undertaken.Intraoperative tourniquet duration,tourniquet pressure and site,and postoperative pain scores using Visual Analogue Score were collected in immediate recovery,at six hours and at 24 h post-op.Scatter plots were used to analyse the data and to assess for the statistical correlation between tourniquet pressure,duration,site,and pain scores using Pearson correlation coefficient.RESULTS All patients who underwent foot and ankle surgery had tourniquet pressure of 250 mmHg for ankle tourniquet and 300 mmHg for thigh.There was no correlation between the site of the tourniquet and pain scores in recovery,at six hours and after 24 h.There was a weak correlation between tourniquet time and Visual Analogue Score immediately post-op(r=0.14,P=0.04)but not at six or 24 h post-operatively.CONCLUSION This study shows that there was no statistically significant correlation between tourniquet pressure,site and postop pain in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery.The choice of using a tourniquet is based on the surgeon's preference,with the goal of minimizing the duration of its application at the operative site.

Outcome of meniscal repairs in paediatric population:A tertiary centre experience

BACKGROUND Meniscal sparing surgery is a widely utilised treatment option for unstable meniscal tears with the aim of minimising the risk of progression towards osteoarthritis.However,there is limited data in the literature on meniscal repair outcomes in skeletally immature patients.AIM To evaluate the re-operation rate and functional outcomes of meniscal repairs in children and adolescents.METHODS We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair surgery between January 2007 and January 2018.All patients were under the age of 18 at the time of surgery.Procedures were all performed by a single surgeon.Information was gathered from our hospital Electronic Patient Records system.The primary outcome measure was re-operation rate(need for further surgery on the same meniscus).Secondary outcome measures were surgical complications and patient reported outcome measures that were International Knee Documentation Committee(IKDC),Tegner and Lysholm scores.RESULTS We identified 59 patients who underwent 66 All-inside meniscal repairs(32 medial meniscus and 34 Lateral meniscus).Meniscal repairs were performed utilizing FasT-Fix(Smith and Nephew)implants.There were 37 males and 22 females with an average age of 14 years(range 6-16).The average follow-up time was 53 months(range 26-140).Six patients had concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery along with the meniscal repair.There were no requiring further meniscal repairs and 9 patients underwent partial meniscectomies.The mean postoperative IKDC score was 88(44-100),Tegner score was 7(2-10)and Lysholm score was 94(57-100).CONCLUSION Our results showed that arthroscopic repair of meniscal tears in the paediatric population is an effective treatment option that has a low failure rate and good postoperative clinical with the advantage of preserving meniscal tissues.

Utilising the impact of COVID-19 on trauma throughput to adapt elective care models for more efficient trauma care

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has necessitated adaptations in local trauma services,with implementation of novel methods of practice,strategic adaptations,and shifting of resource management.Many of these may serve the driver for landmark changes to future healthcare provision.AIM To analyse the impact of COVID-19 on service provision by comparing throughput and productivity metrics with preceding years to identify differences in practice that were successful,cost-effective,and sustainable.METHODS We quantified orthopaedic trauma care provision at a single University Teaching Hospital over a three consecutive year period,from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2020.Each year was split into four phases based on the 2020 national COVID-19 pandemic periods.We quantitatively analysed change in rates of inpatient trauma operative case load,sub-specialty variation,theatre throughput,and changes in management strategy.Qualitative analysis was based on multidisciplinary team interviews to highlight changes to care pathways.RESULTS Of 1704 cases were admitted in 2020,11.9%and 12.4%fewer than 2019 and 2018,respectively.During phase 1,hip fractures encompassed the majority(48.8%)of trauma throughput,with all other subspecialties seeing a reduction.Mean length of stay was shorter during phase 1(5.7 d);however,the time in theatre was longer(144.3 min).Both,Charlson(0.90)and Elixhauser(1.55)Comorbidity Indices indicated the most co-morbid admissions during 2020 phase 1.CONCLUSION COVID-19 has resulted in a paradigm shift in how care is accessed and delivered,with many evolving changes and adaptations likely to leave an impression upon healthcare provision in the future.

Strategies and outcomes in severe open tibial shaft fractures at a major trauma center: A large retrospective case-series

BACKGROUND Severe open tibia fractures are challenging to treat with a lack of published clear management strategies.Our aim was to provide an overview of the largest singlecenter experience in the literature,with minimum 1-year follow-up,of adult type 3 open tibial shaft fractures at Cambridge University Hospitals(a United Kingdom major trauma center).We sought to define patient characteristics and our main outcome measures were infection,union and re-fracture.AIM To retrospectively define patient and injury characteristics,present our surgical methods and analyze our outcomes–namely infection,union and re-fracture rates.METHODS Consecutive series of 74 patients with 75 open tibial fractures treated between 2014 and 2020(26 classified as Gustilo-Anderson 3A,47 were 3B and two were 3C).Nine patients underwent intramedullary nailing(IMN),61 underwent Taylor spatial frame(TSF)fixation and 5 were treated with Masquelet technique(IMN and subsequent bone grafting).RESULTS Mean follow-up was 16 mo(IMN)and 25 mo(TSF).We had an infection rate of 6.7%(5),non-union rate of 4%(3)and re-fracture rate of 2.7%(2).Average time to union was 22 wk for IMN and 38.6 wk for TSF.Thirty-three cases had a bone defect with a mean of 5.4 cm(2-11).Patient age,sex,diabetes,smoking status or injury severity did not have a significant effect on union time with either fixation method.Our limb salvage rate was 98.7%.CONCLUSION Grade 1 to 3A injuries can effectively be treated with reamed or unreamed IMN.Grade 3B/C injuries are best treated by circular external fixators as they provide good,reproducible outcomes and allow large bone defects to be addressed via distraction osteogenesis.

Update on surgical procedures for carpal tunnel syndrome:What is the current evidence and practice?What are the future research directions?

Carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS)is a multifactorial compression neuropathy.It is reported to be very common and rising globally.CTS’s treatment varies from conservative measures to surgical treatments.Surgery has shown to be an effective method for more severe cases.However few unclear aspects and room for further research and improvements still remains.We performed a narrative literature review on the most up to date progress and innovation in terms of surgical treatments for CTS.The simple algorithm of leaving the choice of the surgical method to surgeons’preference and experience(together with consideration of patients’related factors)seem to be the best available option,which is supported by the most recent metanalysis and systematic reviews.We suggest that surgeons(unless in presence of precise indications towards endoscopic release)should tend to perform a minimally invasive open approach release,favoring the advantage of a better neurovascular structures visualization(and a consequent higher chance to perform a complete release with long term relief of symptoms)instead of favoring an early reduction(in the first postoperative days)of immobilization and pain.Research towards a universally accepted standardization should be aimed for by the researchers,who have failed to date to sufficiently limit bias and limitations.

Two-stage revision in periprosthetic knee joint infections

Periprosthetic joint infection(PJI)following total knee arthroplasty is one of the most catastrophic and costly complications that carries significant patient wellness as well as economic burdens.The road to efficiently diagnosing and treating PJI is challenging,as there is still no gold standard method to reach the diagnosis as early as desired.There are also international controversies with respect to the best approach to manage PJI cases.In this review,we highlight recent advances in managing PJI following knee arthroplasty surgery and discuss in depth the two-stage revision method.

肱骨干骨折后桡神经麻痹的系统评价

目的采用循证医学研究方法,系统评价肱骨干骨折后桡神经麻痹(radialnervepalsy,RNP)的不同处理方法,为临床治疗决策提供证据基础。方法采用PubMed、Datastar及CochraneDatabase等互联网公共搜索引擎作为检索工具,检索过去40年中发表的有关肱骨干骨折后桡神经麻痹的文献,再对入选文献的参考文献行手工检索,制定数据抽取问表,对入选文献进行数据抽取、汇总、归纳和荟萃分析。结果共检索到391篇原始文献,其中324篇得自电子检索,67篇得自手工检索。有35篇符合最终的入选标准,总计随访患者1045例。其中21篇文献共记录了发生于4517例肱骨干骨折中的532例桡神经麻痹,肱骨干骨折后桡神经麻痹的发生率为11.8%。肱骨干中1/5和中远1/5部位的桡神经麻痹发生率明显高于其他部位(P<0.05)。不同骨折类型中,横形和螺旋形骨折较斜形和粉碎性骨折更易于并发桡神经麻痹(P<0.0001)。肱骨干骨折后桡神经麻痹总的恢复率为88.1%,早期保守治疗的病例自发性恢复率为70.7%。观察等待组和早期手术探查组之间神经恢复的最终结果没有明显差别。结论对肱骨干骨折后桡神经麻痹采用早期保守治疗不会影响神经的最终恢复结果,可以避免许多不必要的手术。