Mechanisms of COVID-19-induced kidney injury and current pharmacotherapies

The COVID-19 pandemic created a worldwide debilitating health crisis with the entire humanity suffering from the deleterious effects associated with the high infectivity and mortality rates. While significant evidence is currently available online and targets various aspects of the disease, both inflammatory and noninflammatory kidney manifestations secondary to COVID-19 infection are still largely underrepresented. In this review, we summarized current knowledge about COVID-19-related kidney manifestations, their pathologic mechanisms as well as various pharmacotherapies used to treat patients with COVID-19. We also shed light on the effect of these medications on kidney functions that can further enhance renal damage secondary to the illness.

     

Validation of a Novel Surgical Data Capturing System Following Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background

The OrthoMiDaS (Orthopedic Minimal Data Set) Episode of Care (OME) database was developed in an effort to advance orthopedic outcome measurements on a national scale. This study was designed to evaluate if the OME data capture system would increase the quality of data collected in the context of primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) compared to conventional operative notes.

Masquelet technique for the treatment of bone defects: tips-tricks and future directions

Reconstruction of diaphyseal bone defects still represents a major clinical challenge. Several approaches are used with the common objective to regenerate bone loss and restore function. The methods most commonly used are the vascularised fibula autograft and the Ilizarov bone transfer technique. Recently, Masquelet proposed a procedure combining induced membranes and cancellous autografts. The aim of this article was to briefly describe the technique, to review the current evidence and to discuss the tips and tricks that could help the surgeons to improve outcome. Future directions to increase its effectiveness and expand its application are also being discussed. However, predicting the outcome of reconstruction of bone defects remains difficult; and the patient should always be informed that, although potential complications are mostly predictable, in most of the cases the reconstruction process is long and difficult.     

Prevalence of complications of open tibial shaft fractures stratified as per the Gustilo-Anderson classification

The aim of the present study was to comparatively analyse certain outcome measures of open tibial fractures, stratified per grade of open injury and method of treatment. For this purpose, a systematic review of the English literature from 1990 until 2010 was undertaken, comprising 32 eligible articles reporting on 3060 open tibial fractures. Outcome measures included rates of union progress (early union, delayed union, late union and non-union rates) and certain complication rates (deep infection, compartment syndrome and amputation rates). Statistical heterogeneity across component studies was detected with the use of Cochran chi-square and I² tests. In the absence of significant statistical heterogeneity a pooled estimate of effect size for each outcome/complication of interest was produced. All component studies were assigned on average a moderate quality score. Reamed tibial nails (RTNs) were associated with significantly higher odds of early union compared with unreamed tibial nails (UTNs) in IIIB open fractures (odds ratio: 12, 95% CI: 2.4–61). Comparing RTN and UTN modes of treatment, no significant differences were documented per grade of open fractures with respect to both delayed and late union rates. Surprisingly, nonunion rates in IIIB open fractures treated with either RTNs or UTNs were lower than IIIA or II open fractures, although the differences were not statistically significant. Significantly increased deep infection rates of IIIB open fractures compared with all other grades were documented for both modes of treatment (RTN, UTN). However, lower deep infection rates for IIIA open fractures treated with RTNs were recorded compared with grades I and II. Interestingly, grade II open tibial fractures, treated with UTN, presented significantly greater odds for developing compartment syndrome than when treated with RTNs. Our cumulative analysis, providing for each grade of open injury and each particular method of treatment a summarised estimate of effect size for the most important outcome measures of open tibial fractures, constitutes a useful tool of the practicing surgeon for optimal decision making when operative treatment of such fractures is contemplated.     

Effects of epilepsy surgery on quality of life: a controlled study in a Middle Eastern population

The purpose of this study was to investigate which areas of quality of life (QOL) change after epilepsy surgery and generate QOL data specific to the Lebanese population. The QOL of 20 consecutive patients 1 year after surgery was compared (using the ESI-55 scale) with that of 20 matched patients who underwent the same presurgical evaluation, but no surgery. Overall QOL improved in both groups, but was greater in the surgery group (85% seizure free as compared to 0% in nonsurgery group). Significant differences were noted within the "well-being" domain including health perception (5/9 items), energy-fatigue (2/4), and emotional well-being (2/5). Differences were less common in the "functioning" domain including physical (1/10 items), social (1/2), and cognitive (0/5) functioning scales, and in the role limitation domain (1/17 items). Our patients experienced, 1 year after epilepsy surgery, improvements similar to those reported in Western populations after a similar period: they had marked improvements in overall QOL, health perception, well-being, and cognitive functioning areas. They had less remarkable improvements in social functioning and role limitation areas.     

Effects of a Total Knee Arthroplasty Care Pathway on Cost,Quality, and Patient Experience: Toward Measuring the Triple Aim

BackgroundCare pathways are increasingly important as the shift toward value-based care continues; however, there is an inconsistent literature regarding their efficacy. The authors hypothesized that a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) care pathway, at a multihospital health system, would decrease cost, length of stay (LOS), discharges to inpatient facilities, postoperative complications at 90 days, and improve patient experience.MethodsA historical control study with multivariable regression was used to determine the association of an evidence-based care pathway with episode of care cost, LOS, discharge disposition, 90-day postoperative complications, and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores.ResultsIn total, 6760 primary TKA surgeries were analyzed. Multivariable regression demonstrated that the full protocol period was associated with a decrease in episode of care costs (?8.501%, 95% confidence interval [CI] ?9.639 to ?7.350), a decrease in LOS (?26.966%, 95% CI ?28.516 to ?25.382), and an increase in discharges to home (odds ratio [OR] 3.838, 95% CI 3.318-4.446). The full protocol was not associated with a change in 90-day complications (OR 1.067, 95% CI 0.905-1.258) or patient willingness to recommend (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.72-1.55). Adjusted episode of care cost savings, normalized to average national Medicare reimbursement, were $2360 per patient.ConclusionTKA care pathways are an effective tool for standardizing care and reducing costs across a large health system. Further investigations are needed to develop interventions to consistently reduce complications. National scale implementation of care pathways in TKA could lead to estimated cost reductions of approximately $1.6 billion annually.