Procedure Duration,Time Under Anesthesia,and Readmissions in Direct Anterior and Posterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty

BackgroundOperative time is related to complications in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study compared operative time in direct anterior (DA) and posterior approach THA and whether differences were related to increased hospital readmissions within 90 days of discharge.MethodsProspectively documented data on 3,152 consecutively performed THAs by 16 surgeons at a large Midwestern United States academic healthcare system were retrospectively reviewed. All surgeons were beyond their learning curve. Cases characterized by factors extending operative time were excluded. A total of 1,235 analysis cases were performed with the DA approach and 1,608 with the posterior approach. DA patients had lower mean body mass index (P < .001), were more likely to be classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status 1 or 2 (P < .001), and more likely to have surgery in an ambulatory setting (P < .001).ResultsTime under anesthesia was significantly longer for DA procedures by 19 to 27 minutes in hospital and ambulatory settings, respectively (P < .001). Increasing body mass index had a greater impact on anesthesia time for DA patients (P = .020). There were no differences in nontraumatic readmissions within 90 days of surgery based on surgical approach (P ≥ .480); however, significantly more DA patients classified as ASA-PS 3 or 4 were readmitted compared to those classified as ASA-PS 1 or 2 (P < .001), a difference not observed for posterior approach patients.ConclusionAnesthesia time is a modifiable risk factor for patient safety and an important factor in healthcare resource utilization. Consideration of ways to reduce DA operative times is encouraged.     

Using EMG to deliver lumbar dynamic electrical stimulation to facilitate cortico-spinal excitability

BackgroundPotentiation of synaptic activity in spinal networks is reflected in the magnitude of modulation of motor responses evoked by spinal and cortical input. After spinal cord injury, motor evoked responses can be facilitated by pairing cortical and peripheral nerve stimuli.ObjectiveTo facilitate synaptic potentiation of cortico-spinal input with epidural electrical stimulation, we designed a novel neuromodulation method called dynamic stimulation (DS), using patterns derived from hind limb EMG signal during stepping.MethodsDS was applied dorsally to the lumbar enlargement through a high-density epidural array composed of independent platinum-based micro-electrodes.ResultsIn fully anesthetized intact adult rats, at the interface array/spinal cord, the temporal and spatial features of DS neuromodulation affected the entire lumbosacral network, particularly the most rostral and caudal segments covered by the array. DS induced a transient (at least 1 min) increase in spinal cord excitability and, compared to tonic stimulation, generated a more robust potentiation of the motor output evoked by single pulses applied to the spinal cord. When sub-threshold pulses were selectively applied to a cortical motor area, EMG responses from the contralateral leg were facilitated by the delivery of DS to the lumbosacral cord. Finally, based on motor-evoked responses, DS was linked to a greater amplitude of motor output shortly after a calibrated spinal cord contusion.ConclusionCompared to traditional tonic waveforms, DS amplifies both spinal and cortico-spinal input aimed at spinal networks, thus significantly increasing the potential and accelerating the rate of functional recovery after a severe spinal lesion.     

Characterization of Moyamoya and Middle Cerebral Artery Diseases by Carotid Canal Diameter and RNF213 p.R4810K Genotype

ObjectivesIt is sometimes difficult to differentiate middle cerebral artery disease from moyamoya disease because the two can present similarly yet have different treatment strategies. We investigated whether the presence of a narrow carotid canal and the RNF213 mutation can help differentiate between the two phenotypes.Population and MethodsWe analyzed 78 patients with moyamoya disease, 27 patients with middle cerebral artery disease, and 79 controls from 2 facilities. The carotid canal diameter was measured using computed tomography. The p.R4810K mutation was genotyped by TaqMan assay. A receiver operating characteristics analysis was performed to assess the significance of the carotid canal diameter for the accurate diagnosis of moyamoya disease.ResultsThe carotid canal diameter was significantly narrower in patients with moyamoya disease than in controls. The optimal cutoff values were 5.0 mm for adult males and 4.5 mm for adult females and children (sensitivity: 0.82; specificity: 0.92). Among the patients with middle cerebral artery disease, 18.5% and 25.0% of the affected hemispheres had the p.R4810K mutation and narrow canal (i.e., below the cutoff), respectively, whereas only 3.1% of those had both. Contrastingly, 68.8% of the affected hemispheres in patients with moyamoya disease had both these characteristics. Among the patients with moyamoya disease, those with the p.R4810K mutation tended to have narrower carotid canals.ConclusionsAlthough the presence of a narrow carotid canal or the p.R4810K mutation alone could not be used to distinguish those with moyamoya disease from those with middle cerebral artery disease, the combination of these factors could better characterize the two phenotypes.     

Comparison of fiber tract low frequency stimulation to focal and ANT stimulation in an acute rat model of focal cortical seizures

BackgroundCurrent implementations of direct brain stimulation for epilepsy in patients involve high-frequency (HFS) electrical current and targeting of grey matter. Studies have shown that low-frequency (LFS) fiber-tract stimulation may also prove effective. To compare the efficacy of high-frequency grey matter stimulation to the low-frequency fiber tract stimulation technique a well-controlled set of experiments using a single animal model of epilepsy is needed.ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to determine the relative efficacy of different direct brain stimulation techniques for suppressing seizures using an acute rat model of focal cortical seizures.Methods4-AP was injected into the S1 region of cortex in rodents over 3 h. LFPs were recorded from the seizure focus and mirror focus to monitor seizure frequency during the experiments. CC-LFS, HFS-ANT, Focal-HFS, or a transection of the CC was applied.ResultsStimulation of the CC yielded a 65% ±14% (p = 0.0014) reduction of seizures in the focus and a 97% ±15% (p = 0.0026) reduction in the mirror focus (n = 7). By comparison transection of the CC produced a 65% ±18% reduction in the focus and a non-statistically significant reduction of 57% ±18% (p = 0.1381) in the mirror focus (n = 5). All other methods of stimulation failed to have a statistically significant effect on seizure suppression.ConclusionsLFS of the CC is the only method of stimulation to significantly reduce seizure frequency in this model of focal cortical seizures. These results support the hypothesis that LFSof fiber tracts has significant potential for seizure control.     

少腹逐瘀汤联合孕三稀酮治疗子宫内膜异位症前瞻性研究

目的:探讨少腹逐瘀汤联合西药保守治疗子宫内膜异位症的临床价值。方法:我院诊治的80例子宫内膜异位症患者为研究对象,按随机双盲分组原则分为观察组和对照组,各40例。两组均给予孕三稀酮进行治疗,观察组在此基础上加用少腹逐瘀汤。对比两组临床疗效,记录两组治疗前后中医症状评分、血液流变学(血浆黏度、全血高切黏度、全血低切黏度、红细胞沉降速率、红细胞聚集指数、纤维蛋白原)及外周血糖类抗原125(CA125)含量,并观察两组在治疗期间不良反应发生情况。结果:观察组临床总有效率90.00%显著高于对照组72.50%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组治疗后痛经、腰骶肛门坠胀、月经周期、经期、形寒肢冷症状评分较治疗前显著降低(P<0.05); 观察组治疗后痛经、腰骶肛门坠胀、月经周期、经期、形寒肢冷症状评分显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组治疗后血液流变学指标及外周血CA125含量显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:采用少腹逐瘀汤联合孕三稀酮治疗子宫内膜异位症,能提高临床疗效,减轻患者临床症状,加快病情康复。     

耳穴埋豆治疗胸腔镜手术后疼痛临床观察

目的观察耳穴埋豆治疗胸腔镜术后疼痛的临床效果。方法选取80例胸腔镜术后患者随机分为2组,每组40人。对照组患者术后采用WHO推荐的三阶梯镇痛疗法,给予对症治疗。观察组患者在进行三阶梯镇痛治疗的基础上加用耳穴埋豆止痛。记录2组患者6 h,12 h,24 h,36 h静息时、咳嗽时VAS评分。结果手术后患者6 h,12 h,24 h,36 h静息时、咳嗽时VAS评分结果有统计学差异。结论耳穴埋豆能减轻胸腔镜术后患者的疼痛。