Toward an Improved Wrist View: Qualitative and Quantitative Investigation of the 20° Axial Lateral Wrist X-Ray

AimIn standard lateral wrist radiographs, the radiocarpal joint is often obscured because of the angulation of the radial styloid process. A modified lateral projection at a 20° angle has been shown to demonstrate the distal radius in profile in postoperative patients without superimposing of the orthopedic hardware used in open reduction and internal fixation procedures over the wrist joint. We assessed whether this 20° axial-lateral view is advantageous in a wider patient group.Materials and MethodsConsenting adults receiving wrist radiographs in a tertiary hospital radiology department for any indication underwent posteroanterior, posteroanterior-oblique, 0° lateral, and 20° lateral views. A musculoskeletal radiologist and a radiology technologist, blinded to clinical data and to which view was 0°/20°, both evaluated 0°/20° images in random order for whether the radiocarpal joint was obscured by radial styloid, radiocarpal articular margins, or ulnar styloid process, and which view was preferred.ResultsIn 124 cases, the radiocarpal joint was shown clearly on more 20° than 0° views (75/124 vs. 23/124, P < .001). Orthopedic hardware obscured joint lines in fewer 20° than 0° views (12/124 vs. 28/124, P < .001). There was a trend to the ulnar styloid process obscuring part of the radiocarpal joint less in 0° view (28/124 vs. 78/124 in 20°; P = .088), primarily in 20° laterals of wrists with positive ulnar variance. The 20° view was preferred by the radiologist in 76% (95/124) and preferred by the technologist in 83% (104/124).ConclusionThe 20° lateral view was superior to the current 0° lateral view in a wide range of patients, with the radiocarpal joint obscured significantly less by hardware or adjacent anatomy, and preferred by both the blinded radiologist and technologist.     

Impact of fibrin glue versus suture closure on double-headed pterygia in Asian eyes – a 7-year study in a tertiary institution

BackgroundTo compare the recurrence rate and outcomes of double-headed pterygia using fibrin glue versus suture closure of conjunctival autograft.MethodsAll patients with double-headed pterygia who underwent pterygia excision with conjunctival autograft from January 2012 to January 2019 in the National University Hospital of Singapore were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on whether fibrin glue or sutures were used to secure the conjunctival autograft in place. All patients had a minimum of 6 months follow-up.ResultsA total (26 patients) of 22 eyes had fibrin glue, while eight eyes underwent suture closure of their conjunctival autograft. Fibrin glue group had 4.5% recurrence rate, while suture group had 37.5% recurrence rate (p = .021). There is statistically significant improvement for overall visual acuity (p = .009) and cylinder (p = .002). There is also statistically significant improvement for visual acuity in the glue group (p = .026), but not in the suture group. Fibrin glue group had a shorter operation duration time compared to suture group (p < .001).There were no cases of graft dislocation, contraction or limbal stem cell deficiency.ConclusionsLow recurrence rates and good postoperative visual outcomes can be achieved with the split conjunctival autograft technique. Our study suggests that fibrin glue has an additional benefit over the use of sutures in the management of these complex cases.     

Management of orthopedic oncology patients during coronavirus pandemic

The new measures implemented in hospitals also altered the operation of orthopedics and traumatology departments. The main purpose of this article is to discuss how orthopedic oncology clinics should be organized during the pandemic and to present the process management scheme for patients requiring orthopedic surgery, including trauma surgery, from diagnosis to treatment, together with our experiences. Instead of thinking about the global emergence of the epidemic, it is time to act decisively. At first glance, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and orthopedics may seem to be unrelated disciplines, but the provision of healthcare services to patients who require them proves that these two fields are parts of the same whole. Our experiences in treating neutropenic, lymphocytopenic, and chemotherapy patients seem to have proven beneficial during this process. We operated on 10 biopsy patients, 15 primary bone sarcomas, 9 soft tissue sarcomas, and 82 trauma patients within this time frame. Only three patients were suspected to have COVID-19 before admission. The early identification, strict isolation, and effective treatment of these patients prevented any nosocomial infections and disease-related comorbidities. This success is the result of the multidisciplinary cooperation of the Ministry of Health, our hospital, and our clinic.     

Preoperative Patient Education Class During an Orthopedic Mission Trip: Effects on Knowledge,Anxiety, and Informed Consent

BackgroundPatient knowledge about arthritis and risks, benefits, and outcomes of joint arthroplasty in developing countries is unknown. We evaluated the effectiveness of a preoperative class on improving knowledge and decreasing anxiety during a surgical mission trip offering total joint arthroplasty.MethodsA team of US health care providers taught a preoperative class to 41 patients selected for total joint arthroplasty during a surgical mission trip to Guyana. Participants completed a 32-point survey about arthritis; indications, risks, and benefits of joint arthroplasty; and postoperative, in-patient rehabilitation expectations. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure participant anxiety. Participants completed identical surveys before and after class. Matched-pairs Student t tests were used to compare means between preclass and postclass surveys. Significance was accepted at P < .05.ResultsSeventy-eight percent of patients (31 of 41) scored less than 12 of 32 possible points (40%) on the preclass knowledge questionnaire. Mean ± standard deviation knowledge scores improved from 14.0 ± 4.5 before the class to 16.5 ± 6.5 after the class (P = .008). Anxiety scores (n = 33) improved from 35 ± 13 before the class to 33 ± 12 after the class (P = .047).ConclusionOn this surgical mission trip, underserved patients' knowledge about total joint arthroplasty increased only modestly after taking a preoperative class. Greater understanding of how to educate patients and reduce their anxiety on medical missions is needed.     

骨科大手术患者中医体质类型与静脉血栓栓塞症相关性研究

目的:探讨骨科大手术患者中医体质类型分布特点及其与静脉血栓栓塞症(VTE)的相关性。方法:选取220例骨科大手术患者,其中术后3个月内并发VTE患者102例为观察组,术后3个月内未发生VTE患者118例为对照组。对两组患者进行中医体质判定并分析。结果:220例骨科大手术患者中,平和质64例(29.09%),偏颇体质156例(70.91%)。骨科大手术患者最常见体质类型为气虚质、血瘀质、平和质。观察组最常见体质类型为气虚质、血瘀质,对照组最常见体质类型为平和质、气虚质。Logistic回归分析发现气虚质、血瘀质与VTE具有显著相关性(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:偏颇体质是骨科大手术患者的中医体质类型特征;气虚质、血瘀质是骨科大手术并发VTE患者的危险因素。     

骨科护理带教应用情景模拟教学法对教学质量的影响

目的探讨在骨科护理带教中应用情景模拟教学法对教学质量的影响。方法按照随机采样的方式,将我院2018年1月—2020年1月骨科接收的实习护生110名作为研究对象。根据教学方式的差异,将其划分为对照组(n=55,采取传统护理带教方案)、观察组(n=55,采取情景模拟教学法)。从理论知识掌握状况和操作能力水平来进行教学质量评估,且评估两组护生对带教的满意度。结果观察组实习护生的理论知识与操作能力评分相较于对照组更高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组实习护生对护理带教满意度高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论在骨科护理带教中,运用情景模拟教学法,能够有效地优化教学质量和护生的学习态度。