Survival of patients with neck recurrence following radical neck dissection: Utility of a second neck dissection?

Treatment of neck recurrence following radical neck dissection is extremely difficult. Retrospective review of 699 radical neck dissections was performed. Recurrence rates, host, tumor, treatment factors, and survival were analyzed. One hundred nineteen patients who had undergone radical neck dissections had recurrence, 69 were considered candidates for salvage surgery. Factors that increased the risk of neck recurrence were neck node (N) status and no adjuvant radiotherapy. Factors associated with radical salvage treatment were young age, good general condition, and low recurrent N classification. Five-year survival for salvage neck dissection was 31%. Young patients and low T and N classification did well. Low recurrent N classification and salvage surgery were associated with good prognosis for recurrence. In our study, radical neck dissection has a regional failure rate of 20%, a third of recurrence cases were offered curative treatment. Of these, 31% were cured with salvage surgery.     

Planned neck dissection following chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer: Is it necessary for all?

In the absence of large-scale randomized trials evaluating dissection versus observation of the involved neck after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, there is a need to collect data that will either support or ultimately refute a role for planned posttreatment neck dissection. A significant percentage of patients with extensive (N2 or N3) neck disease who demonstrate a complete response to chemoradiation therapy may harbor residual occult metastases, and identification of this subset of patients remains a clinical challenge. Because surgical salvage rates are greatly diminished when occult nodal disease becomes clinically manifest, planned posttreatment neck dissection is advocated but may not be necessary in all patients. The role of positron emission tomography chemoradiotherapy (PET-CT) in this scenario remains unproven but holds promise in being able to identify which patients may be harboring residual disease in the neck after chemoradiotherapy. The implementation of as yet unidentified molecular tumor markers in combination with PET-CT may ultimately prove to be effective in identifying patients who will best benefit from posttherapy neck dissection. Correlation of imaging results and pathologic node status will be important in determining the accuracy and, therefore, the value of this imaging modality for predicting the presence or absence of residual disease.     

Is there still an indication for operative treatment of femoral neck fractures with a ceramic hemiprosthesis?

From 1985 to 1995, 417 patients with dislocated medial femoral neck fractures (Garden III–IV) were treated with hemiarthroplasty using a Biolox ceramic head. The average patient age at the time of operation was 81.5 years. A total of 140 survivors was available for follow-up examination with a mean prosthesis longevity of 55.8 months. The Harris hip score recorded a mean of 70.6 points. At the time of follow up, 5 patients had severe hip pain, and in 8 the roentgenographic examination revealed protrusio acetabuli. Five of these 8 patients underwent revision surgery for replacement of the cup, leaving the stem in situ. Received: 6 May 1999     

Valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy with single-angled 130° plate fixation for fractures and non-unions of the femoral neck

Non-union of femoral neck fractures may occur due to mechanical and biological factors. Valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy (VITO) alters hip biomechanics and enhances fracture union. The double-angled 120° plate is usually used for internal fixation of the osteotomy. It allows the osteotomy to heal with medialisation and verticalisation of the femoral shaft. This deformity causes medial ligament strain of the knee joint, genu valgum and ultimately osteoarthritis. This work presents our experience in treating vertical fractures and non-unions of the femoral neck by VITO and fixation by a single-angled 130o plate. Thirty-six patients presented with 19 recent vertical femoral neck fractures, and 17 non-unions were included. They were 26 men and ten women, and their ages averaged 37 years. Preoperative planning and VITO technique are described. Union was achieved in 35 patients (97%), and one recent fracture failed to unite (3%). Time to fracture union averaged four months in recent fractures and eight months in un-united fractures. All patients with united fractures had an almost normal configuration of the upper femur. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head was reported in five patients. Twenty-two patients (61%) were pain free, nine (25%) had hip pain on lengthy walks and the remaining five (14%) had persistent pain. Preoperative limb shortening averaged 2.5 cm, and post-operative shortening averaged 0.5 cm. We recommend VITO and fixation by a single-angled 130o plate for vertical femoral neck fractures and non-unions in relatively young adult patients.     

Should we use ceramic-on-ceramic coupling with large head in total hip arthroplasty done for displaced femoral neck fracture?

Intracapsular femoral neck fractures are very common orthopedic injuries; total hip arthroplasty has been demonstrated to be an optimal option, but one of the major concerns remains the fact that it may dislocate. The aim of this study is to retrospectively review patients with a displaced intracapsular femoral neck fracture who underwent total hip arthroplasty to realize whether the use of large-diameter ceramic-on-ceramic coupling has the potential to substantially reduce the risk of such a complication. Among 690 hip replacements performed in a period of 8 years, we have selected 86 total hip arthroplasties done for displaced intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck in 64 women and 22 men with a mean age at operation of 67.9 years. Ceramic-on-ceramic coupling was chosen in 38 cases, a 36-mm head was used in 36 cases. At the latest follow-up, there were no cases requiring revision surgery and periprosthetic osteolysis was undetectable. There were no cases of dislocations. New-generation ceramic-on-ceramic bearings with heads of large diameter should therefore be considered to address the problem of dislocation after total hip replacement is done for displaced femoral neck fracture.     

Two or three screws for fixation of femoral neck fractures?

This study compares the stability of 3 cannulated cancellous lag screws with that of 2 cannulated cancellous lag screws for fixation of subcapital femoral neck fractures. Using 10 matched pairs of human cadaveric femurs, subcapital femoral neck osteotomies were created, reduced, and then randomized to 1 of the 2 fixation methods. The constructs were tested with anterior loading to 500 N, incremental axial loading from 100 N to 1000 N, and cyclic loading at 1000 N. The specimens stabilized using 3 screws showed greater resistance to anterior loading, less inferior femoral head displacement, and less superior gapping at the osteotomy site. Although 2 screws may be an acceptable fixation method for this fracture type, the addition of a third screw provides supplemental stability and appears justified.     

Is radiograph glenopolar angle accurate for extraarticular scapular neck fractures?

BackgroundPlain radiographs still play a role in management of extraarticular scapular neck fractures. Glenopolar angle (GPA) is one of the radiograph measurements that is used to determine the necessity for surgery. Our aim was to establish reliability of GPA on plain radiograph in patients with extraarticular scapular neck fractures.MethodsWe performed a multicentre retrospective study including all patients with extraarticular scapular neck fractures with available imaging between 2006 and 2012. We excluded intra-articular glenoid fractures, scapular blade fractures, acromion fractures, and scapular spine fractures. We compared GPA on plain radiograph with three dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) measurement, as well as contribution of radiograph rotational error, glenoid inclination, and medial shortening of glenoid fragment towards GPA measurement.ResultsOne hundred patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean difference between the GPA measurements on radiographs and 3D CT was 6.1 ± 0.85° (95% confidence interval) as an absolute value. In terms of contribution to GPA values, GPA changed by one degree with ten degrees of radiograph rotational error, three degrees of glenoid inclination, and three millimetres of glenoid fragment medial shortening.ConclusionPlain radiograph can provide a clinician with a reasonable estimation of the GPA. Glenoid inclination has a greater influence on GPA compared to medial shortening.     

Has the risk of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty performed for displaced femoral neck fracture improved with modern implants?

Background

Displaced femoral neck fractures (DFNF) in the elderly can be treated with hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty (THA). One concern with utilizing THA in this setting is post-operative dislocation. The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence of hip dislocation following THA for DFNF and to identify risk factors for dislocation.

Are flexion extension films necessary for cervical spine clearance in patients with neck pain after negative cervical CT scan?

Background

There are variations in cervical spine (CS) clearance protocols in neurologically intact blunt trauma patients with negative radiological imaging but persistent neck pain. Current guidelines from the current Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma include options of maintaining the cervical collar or obtaining either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or flexion-extension films (FEF). We evaluated the utility of FEF in the current era of routine computerized tomography (CT) for imaging the CS in trauma.

Materials and methods

All neurologically intact, awake, nonintoxicated patients who underwent FEF for persistent neck pain after negative CT scan of the CS at our level I trauma center over a 13-mo period were identified. Their charts were reviewed and demographic data obtained.

Results

There were 354 patients (58.5% male) with negative cervical CS CT scans who had FEF for residual neck pain. Incidental degenerative changes were seen in 37%—which did not affect their acute management. FEF were positive for possible ligamentous injury in 5 patients (1.4%). Two of these patients had negative magnetic resonance images and the other three had collars removed within 3 wk as the findings were ultimately determined to be degenerative.

Conclusions

In the current era, where cervical CT has universally supplanted initial plain films, FEF appear to be of little value in the evaluation of persistent neck pain. Their use should be excluded from cervical spine clearance protocols in neurologically intact, awake patients.     

Does surgeon volume for total hip arthroplasty affect outcomes after hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture?

We conducted a study to compare complication rates in patients treated with hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture by surgeons with variable experience in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and revision THA. A cohort of Medicare beneficiaries (N = 115,352) was identified from Medicare part A claims from 1994 and 1995. All patients had undergone hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture. Patients were grouped according to surgeon procedure volume (how many primary and revision THAs surgeon performed per year): 0 (no volume), 1-5 (low volume), 6-24 (mid volume), and 25+ (high volume). Claims were evaluated up to 5 years after surgery to identify patient encounters for complications, such as mortality, dislocation, and infection. Compared with patients treated by no-volume surgeons, patients treated by high-volume surgeons had significantly lower rates of mortality, prosthetic dislocation, and superficial infection. The difference was significant for mortality at 30 days (5.6% vs 6.5%), 90 days (10.8% vs 12.8%), and 1 year (22.3% vs 23.8%); for prosthetic dislocation at 1 year (1.2% vs 1.7%); and for superficial infection at 90 days (1.1% vs 1.6%), 1 year (1.4% vs 1.9%), and 5 years (1.5% vs 2.0%). Revision surgery rates, however, were statistically higher for the high-volume group than for the no-volume group at 90 days (0.9% vs 0.7%), 1 year (3.3% vs 2.9%), and 5 years (8.4% vs 7.7%). There were no differences in rates of venous thromboembolism or deep infection between the groups. Surgical experience in primary and revision THA has a significant effect on patient outcomes after hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture.     

Incontinence following bladder neck reconstruction--is there a role for endoscopic management?

PURPOSE: Little has been reported concerning the efficacy of endoscopic injection of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid for the treatment of residual incontinence following bladder neck reconstruction. We present the experience of 2 institutions using endoscopic submucosal injection of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid to correct incontinence in patients who had previously undergone bladder neck reconstruction with or without concomitant enterocystoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed with patient demographics, indications for treatment and outcomes recorded. All patients had adequate bladder capacity and compliance on maximized medical therapy before injection. Continence was defined as at least a 3-hour daytime dry interval, while improvement was defined as an increase in the daytime dry interval to at least 2 hours. RESULTS: A total of 14 patients (10 females and 4 males) underwent 21 injections. At a median followup of 17 months 10 patients had successful results (6 continent, 4 improved). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic injection of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid to correct incontinence following bladder neck reconstruction appears safe and can increase the daytime dry interval in more than 70% of carefully selected patients. Continued followup is necessary to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of this treatment.     

Unipolar or bipolar hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fractures in the elderly?

This prospective randomized trial compared the efficacy of unipolar versus bipolar hemiarthroplasty in elderly patients (> or = 65 years) with displaced femoral neck fractures in terms of quality of life and functional outcomes. One hundred fifteen patients with a mean age of 82.1 years were enrolled in this study and randomized to either unipolar or bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Quality of life and functional outcomes were assessed using the Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment instrument and Short Form-36 health survey. Seventy-eight patients completed 1 year of followup. There were no differences between the groups in estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, mortality rate, number of dislocations, postoperative complications, or ambulatory status at 1 year. There also were no significant differences between the two groups at either point in postoperative Short Form-36 or Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment instrument scores. Results of this prospective randomized study suggest that the bipolar endoprosthesis provides no advantage in the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients regarding quality of life and functional outcomes.