Optimizing Rapid Recovery After Anterior Hip Arthroplasty Surgery: A Comparative Study of Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block and Local Infiltration Analgesia

BackgroundMultimodal pain therapy combining analgesics, local infiltration analgesia (LIA) and peripheral nerve blocks, such as fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB), can improve postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting (PONV) and ambulation in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). We hypothesized that addition of FICB would decrease opioid requirements and length of stay (LOS) but could create a motor block.MethodsThis is a single center, prospective, blinded randomized controlled study of 152 patients undergoing elective THA via direct anterior approach from October 2019 till August 2021. Three patient groups were defined: patients receiving only spinal anesthesia (control group, n = 53); spinal anesthesia with LIA perioperatively (n = 50); and spinal anesthesia with FICB on the recovery unit (n = 49). Outcome measures consisted of postoperative pain scores, PONV, length of hospital stay, opioid requirements and mobility.ResultsOverall pain scores were low for all patient groups, with a lower pain score for LIA in comparison to the control group until 4 hours postoperatively (P < .05). Length of hospital stay, postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting (PONV) scores and quadriceps muscle strength did not differ significantly between groups. The control group showed higher scores at 12 hours postoperatively in comparison to FICB regarding rehabilitation potential, use of walking aids and activities of daily living (P < .05), but all groups reached the same endpoint 48 hours postoperatively. The LIA and FICB groups required less opioids until 24 hours postoperatively.ConclusionLIA is a beneficial adjuvant therapy to spinal anesthesia in THA patients as it may decrease pain scores and the need for opioid consumption. Adjuvant FICB only provided lower opioid requirements.     

The epiphyseal scar joint line distance and age are important factors in determining the optimal screw length for medial malleoli fractures

AimThe screw length is important to achieve a stable fixation for medial malleoli fractures. We aimed to evaluate the optimal screw length for different age groups in surgically treated medial malleoli fractures. The second aim was to identify the utility of the distance of epiphyseal scar to joint line or joint line to medullary space for assessment of screw length.Material method368 X-rays and computed tomography (CT) images of ankle joints were retrospectively evaluated for optimal screw length, epiphyseal scar to joint line distance, joint to medullary space distance. The mean screw length for each decade was calculated. The correlations of screw length with age, screw length with distance of epiphyseal scar to joint line, and screw length with distance of joint line to medullary space were evaluated.ResultsThe optimal screw length was obviously decreased in patients in 61–70 and >70 years old group (p = 0.002). As the distance of epiphyseal scar from joint line was increased, the optimal length of screw was also increased (p = 0.001). The distance of epiphyseal scar from joint line was decreased by age (p = 0.011).ConclusionThe optimal screw length was decreased by age and the epiphyseal scar to joint line distance could be a clue for optimal screw length in medial malleoli fractures.     

筋膜间隔综合征的高压氧治疗与血浆纤粘素变化的关系

本文首次报道采用253kPa的高压氧治疗24例创伤后筋膜间隔综合征(PACS)病人并采用免疫单扩散法检测了治疗前后血浆纤粘素(FN)的变化与预后的关系。30例健康人作为血浆FN的对照组。结果表明:16例早期PACS病人,经3～5次高压氧治疗,症状和体征逐渐好转,无1例作筋膜切开减压。6例筋膜切开减压后行高压氧治疗者,水肿、炎症消退,体温降低,临床症状好转。2例坏死期PACS虽然临床症状好转,但效果差。高压氧治疗后,病人血浆FN显著高于治疗前。分别较治疗前高43(18.9％;P<0.01)、61(24.7％;P<0.01)、49(17.2％;P<0.01)、57(17.4％;P<0.05)和55mg/L(16.6％;P<0.05)。根据本组研究的结果,提示高压氧是治疗早期PACS的有效非手术疗法和筋膜减压后有效辅助疗法。     

Dopaminergic transmission in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus to produce acupuncture analgesia in correlation with the pituitary gland

Acupuncture analgesia (AA) caused by low frequency stimulation of the acupuncture point (AP) was abolished by hypophysectomy and adrenalectomy. Termination of the AA producing pathway from the AP to the pituitary gland was in the medial hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (M-HARN). The origin of the descending pain inhibitory system associated with AA was in the posterior HARN (P-HARN). AA in the hypophysectomized rats, and enhanced neuronal activity in the P-HARN that were abolished during acupuncture stimulation, were both restored by intraperitoneal microinjection of 0.5 mg/kg morphine or 0.1 micrograms beta-endorphin into the P-HARN during acupuncture stimulation. Of the analgesia produced by dopamine or beta-endorphin injected into the P-HARN, that caused by beta-endorphin disappeared after denervation of the M-HARN. The P-HARN neurons that responded to acupuncture stimulation also responded to iontophoretic dopamine, but not to iontophoretic morphine nor ultramicroinjected beta-endorphin. The transmission between the M-HARN and P-HARN may be dopaminergic, and beta-endorphin might presynaptically modulate this transmission. Reduction of sodium ions may have been the reason for abolition of AA after adrenalectomy.     

建立筋膜间室综合征模型的新方法

目的：建立一种更符合临床的筋膜间室综合征动物模型，以便于基础及临床研究。方法：用宽度和犬小腿肌腹长度相当的袖带包绕小腿，然后充气使实验肢体全长受压、缺血。12只犬随机分为两组，I组：袖带充气至40kPa，压迫8h；Ⅱ组：袖带充气至80kPa，压迫8h。结果：动态监测组织压并对神经、肌肉行组织学检查，发现实验动物肢体胫前筋膜间室内组织压远远超过4.0kPa，神经、肌肉发生不可逆变性、坏死。结论：用充气袖带压迫法建立的动物模型是成功的，各项指标均达到筋膜间室综合征的诊断标准。     

膝关节镜下膝后侧腔室联合手术入路的探讨

[目的]探讨在关节镜下膝关节后侧腔室联合手术入路的重要性和可操作性。[方法]经过前内侧、前外侧和股骨髁切迹以及后内侧、后外侧和后纵隔内切口联合入路分别入镜、入器械，进行膝关节后侧腔室的探查和手术操作。[结果]216例（239膝）应用联合入路探查和治疗，其中5例膝因关节僵硬操作失败；175例膝用于治疗后侧腔室疾病，膝关节后侧腔室手术视野显著改善，探查和手术操作完善，均达到手术目的。1例膝内侧隐神经不全损伤，没有腘后神经、腓总神经、腘后血管、交叉韧带等重要组织损伤。[结论]膝关节后侧腔室病变较多，是检查和治疗的重要部位，并非“技术盲区”。这种联合手术入路，手术风险低，具备可操作性，可以提高手术效率和质量，可作为膝关节镜下常规手术入路。     

Laparoscopic Medial-to-lateral Colon Dissection: How and Why

Laparoscopic colectomy is a difficult procedure with a long learning curve. We describe in this study our technique for right- and left-sided laparoscopic medial-to-lateral colectomy. The medial approach involves division of the vascular pedicle first, followed by mobilization of the mesentery toward the abdominal wall, and finally freeing of the colon along the white line of Toldt. This approach allows immediate identification of the plane between the mesocolon and the retroperitoneum and renders the dissection fast and safe. Our series of 50 consecutive laparoscopic colectomies supports this concept. We believe that surgeons familiar with this technique will have an important tool in their armamentarium to circumvent some of the challenges of laparoscopic colectomy.     

Extacorporeal shock wave therapy unsuccessful for chronic medial epicondylitis

Medial epicondylitis is a chronic noninflammatory condition resulting from mechanical injury. Despite many treatment options, including rest, medications, physiotherapy and operative interventions, the results are too often poor; thus new treatment options are sought. We treated 4 men with chronic epicondylitis (5 affected joints) with extracorporeal shock wave therapy after failed attempts of other treatments. The patients’ complaints were graded with the Nirschl scoring system prior to and six months after therapy. The treatment consisted of three sessions, at 20-day intervals, of 3000 pulses of ultrasonic shock waves from a Piezolith 3000 unit (energy dosage was gradually increased to reach step 10 equaling 0.9 mJ/mm²). At the 6-month follow-up, no patient was pain free. Three cases had slightly lower Nirschl scores than prior to the procedure but the patients rated this difference as insignificant; two cases were unchanged. No complications were observed but all patients rated the procedure as very unpleasant. The well recognized biologic effects of ultrasonographic waves (heat generation, oscillations, cavitation, etc.) that result in functional and structural changes of cellular membranes with sonochemical reactions (acceleration of normal metabolism, oxygenation and reduction in water solutions, polymer degradation, etc.), even if present in our cases, did not result in a noticeable decrease of symptoms, even though we used high energy and more impulses per session. Significant variations in methodology make inconclusive the results of numerous reports on the use of extracorporeal shock waves in epicondylar degenerative problems, although ineffectiveness of such therapy is the conclusion of a review by Haake and colleagues.