Management of Chronically Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty With Severe Bone Loss Using Static Spacers With Intramedullary Rods

BackgroundTwo-stage revision with static antibiotic spacers is the preferred treatment for chronically infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA) associated with severe bone loss. Intramedullary rods to reinforce static spacers have been described. On those, however, bacterial colonization may occur and hamper infection control. This study reports the microbiological findings on the spacer rods and the treatment outcome among these patients.MethodsWe reviewed 97 infected TKA with extensive bone loss treated with antibiotic-loaded cement spacers reinforced with intramedullary rods. Mean interim period with the spacer in situ was 9 weeks (range: 6-24 weeks). Intraoperative cultures and sonicated spacer rods were analyzed. Mean follow-up after TKA reimplantation was 41 months (range: 27-56 months). Treatment success was defined using the modified Delphi consensus criteria.ResultsTwenty-two patients (23%) had treatment failure, including 3 reinfections caused by the same organism, 9 reinfections caused by a different organism, 9 patients required interim spacer exchange, and 1 patient died in the early postoperative course. Sonication cultures of the spacer rods were positive in 2 cases (2%), and none of them failed. Host and limb status was significantly worse in patients who sustained reinfection. At the latest follow-up, all patients had a TKA in place, and 2 patients received chronic antibiotic suppression.ConclusionTwo-stage revision with the use of intramedullary rods is a safe and efficient treatment for chronically infected TKA with severe bone loss. Most reinfections grew different organisms compared with initial infection. Compromised hosts and extremities may be subjected to chronic antibiotic suppression.     

Early-onset scoliosis: challenges and current management options

Early-onset scoliosis is one of the most challenging conditions facing spinal and paediatric surgeons and clinicians. The ultimate goal of treatment is to improve the children’s quality of life and to give them the best chance to develop to independent adults. However, the road to these goals is not an easy one. There are obstacles to be overcome, risks to be encountered; and difficult decisions to be inevitably made. The young age of the patients means they have significant growth potential. Managing the growing child means not only controlling and correcting the spinal deformity; but also preserving the motion and development of the spine, chest cavity and the cardiopulmonary system. Different treatment modalities exist to help these ambitions. These include observation, casting, bracing and surgery. However, nothing is more worthy of emphasis than the importance of a multi-team approach; with the involvement of surgeons, physicians, neurologists, nutritionists and physiotherapists. In this review we aim to shed some light on different management strategies; examining the principles behind them, their advantages and drawbacks; and some of the results reported in the literature. We will also explore some currently promising advances that might play a future role in managing early-onset scoliosis.     

Evaluation of Arterial Impairment after Experimental Gelatin Sponge Embolization in a Rabbit Renal Model

ObjectiveArterial stenosis is a major obstacle for subsequent interventional procedures. We hypothesized that the stenosis is caused by gelatin sponge embolization and performed an experimental study in a rabbit renal model.ResultsGelatin sponge particles were mainly observed in the segmental and interlobar arteries. Transmural inflammation of the embolized arterial wall and mild thickening of the media were observed 1 week after embolization. Resorption of the gelatin sponge and organization of thrombus accompanied by foreign body reactions, were observed from 2 to 4 weeks after embolization. Microscopic images of the 3 weeks group showed vessel lumens filled mostly with organized thrombi, resulting in severe stenosis. Additionally, vessels showed a thickened intima that contained migrating smooth muscle cells and accompanying interruption of the internal elastic lamina. The migrating smooth muscle cells were distributed around the recanalized arterial lumen.ConclusionGelatin sponge embolization may induce arterial stenosis by causing organized thrombus and intimal hyperplasia, which consists of migrating smooth muscle cells and intimal collagen deposits.     

可吸收止血流体明胶预防术后脑脊液漏

目的:探索可吸收止血流体明胶预防术后脑脊液漏的有效性。方法:对2013年3月至9月有硬脊膜撕裂脑脊液漏的脊柱损伤17例患者进行回顾性分析,男16例,女1例;年龄16～67岁,平均(39.6±15.4)岁;颈椎1例,胸椎9例,胸腰段4例,腰椎3例;爆裂骨折4例,骨折脱位13例。神经损伤ASIA分级:A级12例,B级2例,D级2例,E级1例。车祸伤2例,高处坠落伤10例,重物砸伤4例,地震时从楼梯滚落1例。术中应用可吸收止血流体明胶封堵以预防术后脑脊液漏。记录术后每日的引流量。结果:17例患者有15例术后无脑脊液漏出现。2例术后出现脑脊液漏者引流管保留至术后第6～7天。术后未出现头痛、头晕、发热、颈项抵抗、皮疹、切口不愈合、切口感染、血肿、神经症状加重等并发症。随访9个月均未见到切口周围有异常现象。结论:术中应用可吸收止血流体明胶封堵硬脊膜撕裂预防术后脑脊液漏是有效的方法。     

Rapid construction of sigmoid bladder augmentation using absorbable staples: Long-term results and comparison to standard colocystoplasty in children with neurogenic bladder

ObjectiveAbsorbable staples facilitate detubularization and reconfiguration of the bowel when performing augmentation colocystoplasty. We compared the outcomes of stapled sigmoid augmentation with standard sutured colocystoplasty.Materials and methodsBetween 2003 and 2011, 108 children underwent bladder augmentation at our institution. Colocystoplasty was used in 30 patients (27.8%). Medical charts of children who underwent stapled (n = 8) or sutured (n = 22) sigmoid augmentation were compared with regard to patient demographics and surgical complications, including anastomotic leak and urolithiasis.ResultsEight children with underwent stapled sigmoid colocystoplasty. Average age at surgery was 8 years (range 4–17 years). Time to detubularize and refashion the bowel segment prior to augmentation was consistently under 5 min. Average length of follow-up was 44 months (range 12–80 months). One patient experienced anastomotic leak. Two of eight children (25%) in the stapled anastomosis cohort developed bladder stones. Twenty-two patients underwent standard sigmoid augmentation during the same time period (average age 8.2 years; range 4–16 years). One of 22 (4.5%) experienced anastomotic leak. Seven of 22 (31.8%) developed cystolithiasis.ConclusionsComplications from stapled sigmoid anastomosis are similar to those from standard colocystoplasty. Use of absorbable staples decreases operating time by avoiding bowel spatulation and suturing, and should be considered in pediatric patients undergoing colocystoplasty.     

Prevalence of 6 putative periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque samples from Romanian adult periodontitis patients

Abstract The aim of the present study was to determine by standard cultivation procedures the detection frequencies of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides forsythus, and Capnocytophaga species as well as various enteric rods in subgingival plaque samples form Romanian adult periodontitis patients. DNA probe analysis (Affirm^TM DP Microbial Identification Test) was also used, parallel to cultivation, to identify P. gingivalis. A. actinomycetemcomitans, and B. for- sythus, in deep (≥6 mm) and intermediate (4–5 mm) pockets in some of the subjects investigated. Paper points were used to sample 86 deep pockets in 36 patients and 27 intermediate pockets in 9 of the 36 patients. The x² test was used to test for significance of differences between results obtained by cultivation and DMA analysis in both intermediate and deep pockets. P. gingivalis was recovered in a high percentage of the patients (75,8%) and sites (63.6%) examined, followed by P. intermedia, F. nucleatum, and A. actinomycetemcomitans, respectively. Capnocytophaga species were present in almost all subjects. Enteric rods were recovered in 61.1% of the patients and 55.8% of the sites. Except for this high prevalence of enteric rods, the present group of patients had the periodontal species monitored in %s similar to those commonly perceived in the West. The Affirm M DP Test and cultivation showed poor correlation in detecting P. gingivalis. A. actinomycetemcomitans, and B. forsythus. The cultivation prevalence of P. gingivalis and P. intermedia in deep pockets was similar to their prevalence in intermediate ones. Overall, the prevalence of the periodontal pathogens investigated in the present Romanian periodontitis patients is similar to what has been revealed in matching Norwegian and other Western periodontitis patient populations. The high prevalence of enteric rods in the Romanian patients may have been an artifact resulting from prolonged transport of the samples in VMGA III.     

基于可吸收生物膜的软腭后退腭裂修复方案及其临床应用

目的:为解决常规腭裂修复术存在的问题,利用组织引导再生技术的原理,设计基于膜引导的腭裂整复方案,为需要后退软腭的腭裂修复提供新的途径或方法。方法:使用聚-DL-乳酸制成厚0.5mm、有一定强度与韧性的可吸收生物膜。先行软腭成形术,然后剖开硬腭裂隙边缘,于口腔侧骨膜瓣与腭骨水平板间形成一间隙,将膜植于其中并固定,利用膜的引导再生特性与桥梁支架作用,引导两侧软组织向中线生长而关闭裂隙。选择3-10岁需行软腭后退的腭裂患者19例,于全麻下行软腭后退成形术及硬腭裂隙植膜的临床试验,临床追踪观察6个月,了解腭裂修复的临床效果。结果:该腭裂修复方案切实可行,全部患者均按设计方案实施了腭裂修复术,方法简单,操作容易。3个月后19例患者均获临床一期愈合,6个月时临床观察软腭形态佳,腭咽闭合良好,达到腭裂硬腭软组织缺损修复、保证软腭充分后退的目的。结论:基于膜引导组织再生技术的后退软腭的腭裂修复方案,是一个创新的腭裂修复方案,手术操作简单、实用,临床效果满意,为腭裂修复提供了新的途径及方法。     

The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for rapid bacterial identification in patients with smear-positive bacterial meningitis

ObjectivesTo assess the potential of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) in rapid identification of bacteria from smear-positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a cohort of patients with meningitis.MethodsSingle-centre observational study, including adults and children with community-acquired or postneurosurgical bacterial meningitis. Meningitis was defined using established criteria. Samples of CSF that had a positive CSF Gram stain were directly examined by MALDI-TOF-MS. Identification was considered accurate when identical to the CSF culture or PCR results (species and genus level). Laboratory workers performing the MALDI-TOF-MS and interpreting its results were blinded to the direct smear results, except for the fact that it was positive. MALDI-TOF-MS results were not conveyed to clinicians.ResultsMALDI-TOF-MS was tested on 44 CSF samples; ten samples were obtained from patients with community-acquired meningitis, and 34 samples were from patients with postneurosurgical meningitis. The assay identified bacteria correctly in 17/21 of the samples with Gram-negative rods observed on the direct smear, all obtained from patients who had undergone neurosurgery, (sensitivity 81%, 95% CI 64.2%–97.7%). In the postneurosurgical group, Gram-positive cocci were identified correctly in only 1/11 (9.1%) of the samples, and Candida species were not identified in two samples. Among patients with community-acquired meningitis, the assay did not identify Streptococcus pneumoniae in eight of eight samples, Neisseria meningitidis in one sample (1/1), and Streptococcus agalactiae in one sample (1/1).ConclusionsWe found MALDI-TOF-MS to be useful in the rapid identification of Gram-negative rods directly from smear-positive CSF samples, but not of Gram-positive bacteria.