Ankle fractures: High implant cost is not associated with better patient reported outcomes

IntroductionAnkle fractures comprise 9% of all fractures and are among the most common fractures requiring operative management. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with plates and screws is the gold standard for the treatment of unstable, displaced ankle fractures. While performing ORIF, orthopaedic surgeons may choose from several fixation methods including locking versus nonlocking plating and whether to use screws or suture buttons for syndesmotic injuries.Nearly all orthopaedic surgeons treat ankle fractures but most are unfamiliar with implant costs. No study to date has correlated the cost of ankle fracture fixation with health status as perceived by patients through patient reported outcomes (PROs). The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between increasing implant cost and PROs after a rotational ankle fracture.MethodsAll ankle fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) at a level I academic trauma center from January 2018 to December 2022 were identified. Inclusion criteria included all rotational ankle fractures with a minimum 6-month follow-up and completed 6-month PRO. Patients were excluded for age <18, polytrauma and open fracture. Variables assessed included demographics, fracture classifications, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living (FAAM-ADL) score, implant type, and implant cost.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in cost between fracture types (p < 0.0001) with trimalleolar fractures being the most expensive. The mean FAAM-ADL score was lowest for trimalleolar fractures at 78.9, 95% CI [75.5, 82.3]. A diagnosis of osteoporosis/osteopenia was associated with a decrease in cost of $233.3, 95% CI [−411.8, −54.8]. There was no relationship between syndesmotic fixation and implant cost, $102.6, 95% CI [−74.9, 280.0]. There was no correlation between implant cost and FAAM-ADL score at 6 months (p = 0.48).ConclusionsThe utilization of higher cost ankle fixation does not correlate with better FAAM-ADL scores. Orthopaedic surgeons may choose less expensive implants to improve the value of ankle fixation without impacting patient reported outcomes.     

Comment on “Outcomes of curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis”

The present letter to the editor is in response to the research “Outcomes of curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis” by Elshaarawy et al in World J Gastroenterol 2021; 13(5): 424–439. The preoperative assessment of the liver reserve function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with cirrhosis is crucial, and there is no universal consensus on how to assess it. Based on a retrospective study, Elshaarawy et al investigated the impact of various classical clinical indicators on liver failure and the prognosis after hepatectomy in HCC patients with cirrhosis. We recommend that we should strive to explore new appraisal indicators, such as the indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min.     

Replantation and Lengthening of a Lower Leg in a 7-Year-Old Child: A Case Report

Replantation of the lower leg has controversial indications, but it may be considered in carefully selected patients. Although the function of prosthetic lower legs has been improved in recent decades, leg salvage remains a laudable goal. We present the case of a 7-year-old child who sustained a traumatic amputation at the level of the middle tibia with loss of the middle portion of the lower leg. We performed successful replantation, and tibia lengthening was performed starting 10 days after replantation and lasted 6 months.     

长期输精管结扎术后附睾的超声表现

目的:探讨长期输精管结扎术后附睾的超声表现。方法:选择输精管结扎术后10～31年且有临床症状的患者64例(结扎组)。同时选择同期被临床诊断为附睾疾病而无结扎史的患者60例作为对照组。用高频超声观察附睾头、体、尾部的形态,厚度及内部回声;用彩色多普勒血流图或能量图观察附睾的血流状况。结果:结扎组附睾体部增厚、尾部增厚、头体尾均增厚及附睾管扩张的发生率分别为64.1%、78.1%、42.2%、54.7%,均显著高于对照组的15.0%、51.7%、8.3%、8.3%(P<0.01),而结扎组附睾的高血供发生率15.6%显著低于对照组的61.7%(P<0.01)。结论:长期输精管结扎术后附睾的主要超声表现是附睾增厚、附睾管扩张,但附睾血流多为无血供或低血供状况。     

小鼠匹鲁卡品致后海马活化素A、抑制素A蛋白及活化素ⅡA受体mRNA的差异表达

目的 :观察癫持续状态 (SE)后小鼠海马活化素A、抑制素A蛋白及活化素ⅡA受体mRNA表达的变化。方法 :采用匹鲁卡品诱导的SE小鼠模型 ,分别应用Westernblot与RT PCR观察SE后活化素A与抑制素A蛋白及活化素ⅡA受体mRNA表达的动态变化。结果 :①活化素A蛋白于SE后 3h开始增高 ,6h显著增高 ,2 4h至高峰 ,48h仍维持在较高水平 ;而未成SE的小鼠活化素A表达无明显变化。②抑制素A蛋白SE后无明显增加 ,同正常小鼠及未成SE的小鼠比较无显著差异。③活化素ⅡA受体mRNA在SE后表达无明显变化。结论 :SE后海马活化素A、抑制素A蛋白及活化素ⅡA受体mRNA表达存在差异性 ;活化素A可能对性脑损伤的保护与修复具有重要作用。     

重组人生长激素对体外人结肠癌COLO-320细胞生长的影响

目的　探讨重组人生长激素 (rhGH)对体外人结肠癌COLO 3 2 0细胞生长的影响。方法　取对数生长期的人结肠癌细胞株COLO 3 2 0细胞 ,分别在有血清 (血清组 )和无血清 (无血清组 )条件下培养 ,以不同浓度的rhGH和(或 )羟基喜树碱 (CPT)培养COLO 3 2 0细胞 ,分别培养 2 4h、48h及 72h ,然后用四甲基偶氮唑蓝 (MTT)法测定结肠癌细胞生长抑制率。结果　不同浓度的rhGH作用不同时间对人结肠癌细胞株COLO 3 2 0细胞的生长均无明显影响 (P>0 .0 5 ) ;单用CPT或rhGH联合CPT使用时对该细胞生长的抑制率均明显高于单用rhGH(P<0 .0 1) ,但前两者间差异无统计学意义 (P>0 .0 5 )。结论　体外条件下rhGH对人结肠癌细胞株COLO 3 2 0细胞的生长既无促进作用 ,也无抑制作用 ,且不影响CPT对人结肠癌细胞株COLO 3 2 0细胞的抑制作用。     

核因子κB圈套寡核苷酸减轻大鼠移植肝缺血/再灌注损伤的作用和机制

目的探讨抑制枯否（Kupffer）细胞核因子κB（Nuclearfactor-kappaB，NF-κB）活性对减轻大鼠移植肝缺血／再灌注损伤（IRI）的作用和机制。方法建立大鼠肝移植缺血／再灌注损伤模型。实验分正常对照组、缺血／再灌注组和圈套寡核苷酸组，每组均为8只大鼠。圈套寡核苷酸组于移植术前2d经供者尾静脉注入120μg脂质体包裹的NF-κB圈套寡核苷酸。移植再灌注后2h，取各组受者移植肝分离枯否细胞。凝胶迁移变动分析法（EMSA）检测枯否细胞NF-κB蛋白结合活性，逆转录聚合酶链法（RT—PCR）观察枯否细胞肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF—α）和白细胞介素6（IL-6）mRNA的表达，同时观察肝组织病理及肝功能变化。结果缺血／再灌注组移植肝再灌注后2h，枯否细胞NF-κB活性及TNF-α、IL-6 mRNA表达量较对照组明显升高（P〈0．01）。光镜下肝细胞大量变性、坏死，伴有肝血窦明显淤血，血清丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）和胆红素总量（TBIL）较对照组明显升高（P〈0．01）。相反，圈套寡核苷酸组枯否细胞NF-κB活性及细胞因子mRNA表达与缺血／再灌注组相比明显下降（P〈0．01），移植肝未见明显病理组织学改变，肝功能明显改善。结论NF-κB圈套寡核苷酸能高效抑制枯否细胞NF-κB活性，并抑制其下游有害细胞因子的产生，从而减轻缺血／再灌注损伤对移植肝的打击和损害。     

中枢神经系统白血病血清神经元特异性烯醇酶测定的临床意义

目的 探讨血清神经元特异性烯醇酶与中枢神经系统白血病之间的关系。方法 对确诊的30例急性白血病患者及匹配的正常人的血清神经元特异性烯醇酶进行测定。结果 中枢神经系统白血病组血清神经元特异性烯醇酶含量21．92 7．5μg/L均明显高于白血病组、对照组，差异有显著性。结论 血清神经元特异性烯醇酶可作为反映中枢神经系统白血病病情的生化指标。     

磁共振3D-FIESTA序列对L1～L5脊神经解剖的研究

目的:探讨磁共振3D-FIESTA序列显示腰骶脊神经的价值。材料和方法:无脊柱或脊髓异常的健康受试者45例,年龄27~65岁。用GE1.5TMRI机做3D-FIESTA脊柱扫描,参数:TR=4.2~6.2ms,TE=2.0~3.0ms,TI=113~131,带宽=125.0kHz,层厚=1mm,重叠0.5mm扫描;矩阵=384×224。范围从T12至骶部。在AW4.0工作站上用MPVR方式重建脊神经,观察脊神经的显示,并测量其走行角度及其断面直径。结果:L1~L5脊神经主干均可清晰显示,脊神经节后段表现为高信号包绕的低信号线条影。L1~L5脊神经第3级分支的显示率分别为0、0、100%、91%和100%。双侧脊神经之间的走行角度或直径无显著差异。结论:3D-FIESTA序列可良好地显示腰骶脊神经的解剖。     

彩色多普勒超声在介入穿刺性血管损伤诊断中的价值

目的用彩色多普勒超声观察穿刺性血管损伤的声像图特征。方法26例周围血管穿刺后出现局部肿块、血管杂音,用彩色多普勒超声显示肿块的形态、回声、与周围血管的关系,观察肿块内、破口处、肢体动脉和静脉内的血流信号。结果3例单纯性血肿,彩色血流成像肿块内无血流信号;19例假性动脉瘤,肿块内有低速的动脉血流信号,动脉与肿块的破口处有五彩镶嵌的彩色血流信号和收缩期高速湍流血流频谱;4例动静脉瘘,在瘘口处可见有一股五彩镶嵌的彩色血流信号和连续性高速分流频谱。结论彩色多普勒超声能为穿刺性血管损伤提供准确的诊断。