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.     

Thyroarytenoid botulinum toxin injection for refractory laryngeal contact granuloma

BackgroundAlthough there are many treatments for laryngeal contact granuloma (LCG), some patients still fail treatment. Botulinum toxin A injection vocal cords may be a salvage therapy.ObjectivesTo study the efficacy of thyroarytenoid botulinum toxin A injection for the treatment of refractory LCG.Material and methodsFrom May 2021 to March 2022, 23 male patients with refractory idiopathic LCG were treated by injection of botulinum toxin A into the thyroarytenoid muscle via the thyrohyoid membrane approach. Inspiratory-phase laryngoscopy images were collected before treatment and 3 months after injection treatment. The lesion size was evaluated with the Farwell granuloma endoscopic grading system and Image J software.ResultsThe average age of 23 patients was 49 years. The dose of botulinum toxin injection ranged from 2.5 to 5 units. Three months after injection, 17 patients were cured, 2 patients showed marked improvement, and 4 patients did not experience any effect. The total efficacy rate was 82.61% (19/23), and no serious complications occurred. Almost all patients experienced hoarseness within one week after injection; they gradually recovered after one month, and their voice returned to baseline at 3 months.ConclusionsThyroarytenoid botulinum toxin injection is an effective method for resolving refractory LCG.     

The effect of drugs on implant osseointegration- A narrative review

ObjectiveThis narrative review aims to investigate the effects of drugs on implant osseointegration, analyzing their potential positive or negative impact on the direct structural and functional connection between bone and load-carrying implants.BackgroundThe review seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of osseointegration, which refers to the successful integration of an implant with living bone, resulting in no progressive relative movement between them. Exploring the effects of drugs on implant osseointegration is crucial for optimizing outcomes and enhancing patient care in orthopedic implant procedures.MethodsRelevant studies on the effects of drugs on implant osseointegration were identified through a literature search. Electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, were utilized, employing appropriate keywords and MeSH terms related to osseointegration, implants, and drug interventions. The search was limited to English studies.DiscussionThis overview presents a detailed analysis of the effects of drugs on implant osseointegration. It explores drugs such as bisphosphonates, teriparatide, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, nitrites, and thiazide diuretics as promoters of osseointegration. Conversely, loop diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, cyclosporine A, cisplatin, methotrexate, antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antiepileptics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and anticoagulants are discussed as inhibitors of the process. The role of vitamin D3 remains uncertain. The complex relationship between drugs and the biology of implant osseointegration is emphasized, underscoring the need for further in vitro and in vivo studies to validate their effectsConclusionThis narrative review contributes to the literature by providing an overview of the effects of drugs on implant osseointegration. It highlights the complexity of the subject and emphasizes the necessity for more extensive and sophisticated studies in the future. Based on the synthesis of the reviewed literature, certain drugs, such as bisphosphonates and teriparatide, show potential for promoting implant osseointegration, while others, including loop diuretics and certain antibiotics, may impede the process. However, additional research is required to solidify these conclusions and effectively inform clinical practice.     

Trauma Risk Score Matching for Observational Studies in Orthopedic Trauma

ObjectivesTo determine if matching by trauma risk score is non-inferior to matching by chronic comorbidities and/or a combination of demographic and patient characteristics in observational studies of acute trauma in a hip fracture model.DesignRetrospective cohort studySettingLevel-1 Trauma CenterPatients1,590 hip fracture [AO/OTA 31A and 31B] patients age 55 and over treated between October 2014 and February 2020 at 4 hospitals within a single academic medical center.InterventionRepeatedly matching randomized subsets of patients by (1) Score for Trauma Triage in Geriatric and Middle-Aged (STTGMA), (2) Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), or (3) a combination of sex, age, CCI and body mass index (BMI).Main Outcome Measurements“Matching failures” where rate of significant differences in variables of matched cohorts exceeds the 5% expected by chance.ResultsSTTGMA and combination matching resulted in no “matching failures”. Matching by CCI alone resulted in “matching failures” of BMI, ASA class, STTGMA, major complications, sepsis, pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, and 90-day readmission.ConclusionsSTTGMA matching in observational cohort studies is less likely to yield significant differences of demographics and outcomes than CCI matching. STTGMA matching is noninferior to matching a combination of demographic variables optimized for each treatment cohort. STTGMA matching is apt to reflect equipoise of health at admission and outcome likelihood in observational cohort studies of orthopedic trauma, while maintaining consistent weighting of demographic and injury characteristic variables that may expand the generalizability of these studies.Level of EvidenceLevel III     

硬膜下积液治疗经验总结（附27例临床分析）

目的总结不同类型硬膜下积液治疗经验。 方法对解放军总医院第六医学中心神经外科自2009年1月至2014年10月手术治疗并完整随访的27例硬膜下积液患者进行回顾性分析。根据术前影像学特征鉴别积液是否为血性，将患者分为血性硬膜下积液患者（9例）和非血性硬膜下积液患者（18例）。根据积液是否为血性选择个性化治疗方案，观察其疗法。 结果9例血性硬膜下积液患者接受钻孔外引流手术，8例积液消退，另外1例无效，之后接受硬膜下腹腔分流后治愈。非血性硬膜下积液患者中14例接受硬膜下腹腔分流，12例有效，2例术后出现脑积水，经脑室-腹腔分流术治愈；2例术前合并脑积水接受脑室-腹腔分流术，均有效；另外2例最初接受积液外引流，无效，之后行硬膜下腹腔分流后积液消退。 结论对于硬膜下积液患者，术前需仔细评估积液是否为血性，是否合并脑积水。血性积液采取钻孔外引流，非血性积液采取硬膜下腹腔分流，合并脑积水的积液采取脑室-腹腔分流手术方式，给予个体化治疗，可获得满意疗效。     

改良三点式重睑成形术的临床应用研究

目的:探讨改良三点式重睑术的临床应用疗效。方法:2012年6月-2019年6月,共165例单睑患者采用了改良三点式重睑术,沿术前标记线将三点处皮肤切开,剪刀将切口下唇的眼轮匝肌适当去除,同时将切口与切口在皮下层打通,剪除切口与切口之间的眼轮匝肌,6-0可吸收线挂睑板前筋膜或提上睑肌腱膜及切口下唇皮下组织缝合,三点切口各缝1针。再用6-0单丝尼龙线按照常规重睑线缝合方法挂切口下唇皮肤、睑板前筋膜或提上睑肌腱膜及切口上唇皮肤缝合打结,三点切口各缝1针。伴内眦赘皮者同时行内眦赘皮矫正术。结果:152例患者获得随访,随访患者大部分获得了比较满意的重睑,睁眼重睑流畅、自然,闭眼刀口痕迹不明显。2例患者出现内侧重睑线变浅,1例患者出现外侧重睑线变浅,所有患者均未出现重睑消失。5例患者双侧重睑线有轻度不对称。患者总体满意率为94.7%(144/152)。结论:改良三点式重睑术具有创伤小、并发症少、效果逼真、不易脱落、手术痕迹不明显等优点,值得推广应用。     

Impact of Hepatitis B virus infection on postoperative complications and length of stay in elderly patients with hip fracture: A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundOsteoporosis and subsequent fractures are common in the chronic hepatitis B (CHB) population, especially in the elderly. This study investigated the effects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on postoperative outcomes following hip fracture surgery.MethodsThe study identified elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery at three academic tertiary care centres between January 2014 and December 2020. Propensity score matching was performed to compare the outcomes of 1,046 patients with HBV infection to 1,046 controls.ResultsThe seroprevalence of HBV among elderly patients undergoing hip surgery was 4.94%. The HBV cohort had significantly higher rates of medical complications (28.1 vs. 22.7%, p = 0.005), surgical complications (14.0 vs. 9.7%, p = 0.003), and unplanned readmissions (18.9 vs. 14.5%, p = 0.03) within 90 days of surgery. Patients with HBV infection were more likely to have increased length of stay (6.2 vs. 5.9 days, p = 0.009) and in-hospital charges (¥52,231 vs. ¥49,832, p < 0.00001). Multivariate logistic regression suggested that liver fibrosis and thrombocytopenia were independent risk factors for major complications and extended LOS.ConclusionPatients with HBV infection were at greater risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. We should pay more attention to the considerable burden of perioperative management of CHB patients. Due to the high proportion of undiagnosed patients in the Chinese elderly population, universal HBV screening should be considered preoperatively.     

实验动物标准颞骨切片规范

颞骨切片技术是观察和评估实验性内耳病理学改变的重要手段。由于内耳复杂的迷宫式立体结构,从不同方向和角度获取的颞骨切片很难进行相互间的组织病理学比较。因此,统一颞骨标准切片技术规范,对于评判内耳听觉感受器和前庭各个平衡感受器以及耳蜗和前庭周边神经元的病变部位和病变程度十分重要,因为只有统一了规范的颞骨样品制备和切片角度,才有可能对实验性内耳病变做出正确的比较和评判。颞骨切片的标准方向是将切片平面平行于外耳道和内听道的水平面,从上鼓室向下鼓室方向依次收集到的需要进行重点评估的切片层次分别为上半规管壶腹嵴和外半规管壶腹嵴、椭圆囊斑和球囊斑及前庭上神经元、球囊斑和前庭下神经元、耳蜗中轴、内淋巴管及内淋巴囊、以及后半规管壶腹嵴。本文还根据作者的实践经验讨论了颞骨切片样品制备过程中有关样品固定、脱钙、颞骨整体染色、渗透和定向包埋等技术细节,期望能对从事内耳病理学研究的同道有所帮助。