Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with the Zenith stent graft: short to midterm results

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the short-term and mid-term results of endovascular aneurysm repair with the Zenith stent graft in a single-center prospective study. METHOD: Between October 1998 and July 2001, we used the Zenith stent graft for elective endovascular aneurysm repair in 116 patients, six of whom were women. The mean age was 75 years, and the mean aneurysm diameter was 60.3 +/- 8.8 mm. Stent grafts were oversized 10% to 20% relative to computed tomographic (CT) scan-based diameter measurements. All repairs were performed in the operating room through surgically exposed femoral arteries. The results were assessed before discharge with three-phase, contrast-enhanced CT scan and plain abdominal radiograph. These studies were repeated at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after operation. Follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 34 months. RESULTS: No failed insertions and no conversions to open surgery occurred. The diameter of the main body of the stent graft was 28 mm or more in 73 patients (63%). Additional stents were inserted during surgery to treat kinking in eight patients (6.9%) and renal artery encroachment in two patients (1.7%). Mean fluoroscopy time was 35.1 +/- 18.3 minutes, contrast load was 146 +/- 53 mL (350 mg/mL), and estimated blood loss was 249 +/- 407 mL. The major complication rate was 9.5%, and the minor complication rate was 10.3%. The perioperative complications were myocardial infarction in four patients, arrythmia in four patients, and pulmonary embolism, renal failure, stroke, small bowel obstruction, femoral stenosis, digital embolism, and graft limb thrombosis in one patient each. All 116 patients went home from the hospital, but one patient died 2 weeks later of a combination of pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction. Endoleak was seen on the first CT scan in 16 patients (15%); 15 were type II, and one was type III. No endoleaks of type I or IV were seen. Additional interventions were performed for each of the following conditions: type II endoleak (n = 4), type III endoleak (n = 1), femoral clamp injury (n = 1), renal artery stenosis (n = 1), and graft limb occlusion (n = 1). One patient had acute aneurysm dilatation and rupture caused by a type II endoleak through the inferior mesenteric artery 6 months after stent graft implantation. No cases were seen of late graft occlusion, stent graft migration, stent fracture, barb fracture, or secondary endoleak. CONCLUSION: The Zenith device is safe, versatile, and effective in the short to medium term. Most patients need wide stent grafts (>or=28 mm proximally and >or=16 mm distally) to achieve 10% to 20% oversizing to prevent type I endoleak.     

Displaced fractures of the cuboid

We report four cases of fracture of the cuboid treated by open reduction, bone grafting where necessary and internal fixation. We recommend this treatment where there is appreciable displacement of one or more of the articular surfaces. The preliminary results were better than those previously reported for conservative treatment or for later midtarsal fusion.     

Nutcracker fractures of the cuboid.

A case report is presented involving a nutcracker fracture of the cuboid and concomitant fractures of the navicular and calcaneus. A literature review of the mechanism and treatments of the nutcracker fracture is discussed. Also presented are the methods used to radiographically evaluate and surgically correct the compression fracture of the cuboid and its associated fractures.     

Clinical and radiological midterm results from using the Fixion expandable intramedullary nail in transverse and short oblique fractures of femur and tibia

Background  A locked nail is the principal method used to eliminate rotatory components in femoral and tibial fractures. Nevertheless, weight bearing is not directed onto the fracture site, slowing down the healing process; another possibility is to use a large-diameter nail and ream the canal to obtain as much adherence as possible and increase the grip, but this can cause a number of complications. The expandable nail is a new option that in theory should remove some problems with previous techniques. Materials and methods  This was a retrospective nonrandomized study encompassing 21 femoral fractures and 27 tibial fractures in 45 patients. They were classified according to the AO classification. Clinical and radiological checks were done at one, three, and six months and at one year from the surgery in order to check for signs of clinical and radiological healing. A good alignment was considered to be the presence of a deformity of less than 5° in the sagittal and lateral planes and the absence of rotatory clinically evident problems. This protocol was adhered to up to six months after surgery by all of the patients, while only 62.2% performed the last control. The mean follow-up was 15 months. A second group of 48 consecutive fractures (24 femural and 24 tibial) treated with locked nail was created to compare surgical times. Results  Appropriate alignment was observed in all cases; the healing process appeared slower: radiological healing occurred in most cases at six months. The following complications were reported: a case of intraoperative fracture widening with no effect on the treatment; a case of a lesion of the tip of the nail with pneumatic system rupture that necessitated nail substitution; two cases of retarded consolidation at six months, with both tibial fractures treated successfully by intralesion platelet gel; a case of incarcerated nail on 17 removals, resolved by shearing. We had no cases of clinically evident compartment syndrome or pulmonary embolism. Conclusions  The expandable Fixion nail presents significant advantages in the treatment of transverse and short oblique fractures of femur and tibia because it is easy to use, involves minimal X-ray exposure and can control rotations. Nevertheless, it high cost limits its use. We consider it as an alternative to locked nail.     

The midterm results of cardiac transplantation patients

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac transplantation is an important treatment option that increases the survival and decreases the limitations in effort capacity among patients with end-stage heart disease. In this study we have presented the midterm results of 13 patients who underwent cardiac transplantation between 2003 and 2007. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were 10 male and three female patients of mean age of 32 +/- 13.27 years (12 to 54). In one patient, we performed combined cardiac and renal transplantation. Ischemic cardiac disease was present in six patients and cardiomyopathy in seven patients. The mean age of the donors was 23.3 +/- 11.8 years (12 to 46). Corticosteroids, cyclosporine, and mycophenolate mofetil were used for immunosuppression. Sirolimus was employed in five cases due to impaired renal function. Patients were followed by echocardiography, endomyocardial biopsy, and dobutamine stress echocardiography. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 18.6 +/- 13.4 (1 to 38) months. In four patients, there was grade IIIA (II-R) rejection. In five patients, tacrolimus or cyclosporine was replaced with sirolimus due to elevated creatinine levels. Dobutamine stress echocardiography was positive in one patient, who displayed a severe left main coronary artery lesion. There was no operative mortality. There was only one hospital mortality (7.6%). Two patients died in the midterm. The overall mortality on follow-up was 3 (23.1%). The survival rates in the first, second, and third years were 92%, 88%, and 75%, respectively. Ejection fraction were more than 50%; all of posttransplant survivors showed good effort capacity. CONCLUSION: Cardiac transplantation is a definitive, safe, and effective treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure.     

Nutcracker fracture of the cuboid: management and results

Nutcracker fractures of the cuboid are rare and often missed at an initial visit. They can be difficult to manage and convey a high risk of long-term pain in the foot. During the last six years, 6 recent cuboid fractures in 6 patients were treated at our hospital by open reduction, allogeneic bone grafting (where necessary) and internal fixation. Shortening of the lateral column of the foot existed in all these fractures. At the time of follow-up the results concerning pain and function were good in 2 and fair in 4 patients. We recommend open treatment for cuboid fractures with shortening of the lateral column of the foot or articular displacement of more than 1 mm.     

Radiosurgery of glomus tumors: midterm results

Glomus tumors (GT) of the skull-base present a complex surgical challenge due to their delicate localization and specific vascular supply. This study is designed to evaluate the role of stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of GT. Thirteen patients with GT have been treated with the Gamma Knife. Radiosurgery was performed because of recurrences after surgical removal in six patients. Histology was not available in seven patients, thus, diagnosis was made from neuroradiological features only. Two of them had partial embolization before Gamma Knife treatment. Clinical and morphological data were collected from 11 patients, who had a representative follow-up of at least 12 months. Mean follow-up was 42 months (range 14 to 72 months). Within the follow-up period there was no tumor progression and no clinical deterioration in any of the patients. 64% of the patients had an improvement of their symptoms, and in 36% the volume of the lesion decreased in size. There was no radiation-related morbidity. It is suggested that radiosurgery seems to be safe and effective in the treatment of GT.     

Acutrak空心无头加压螺钉治疗腕舟骨骨折早期疗效分析

目的 评价采用Acutrak空心无头加压螺钉内固定治疗腕舟骨骨折早期疗效.方法 对自2010年1月～2011年3月收治并获得随访的13例腕舟骨骨折进行回顾性分析.所有骨折按Herbert-Fisher分型,术中采用Acutrak空心无头加压螺钉固定治疗,术后复查随访.结果 本组平均获随访14个月,骨折均获得愈合,未发生腕舟骨坏死.Mayo腕关节功能评分:优7例,良4例,中2例.结论 Acutrak空心无头加压螺钉内固定是治疗腕舟骨骨折有效的方法,能达到骨折复位和稳定固定的作用.     

Type III tibial fractures in the elderly: results of 23 fractures in 20 patients

A series of 23 type III fractures of the tibia in 20 elderly patients (over 60 years of age) presenting for combined plastic and orthopaedic surgical management over a period of 15 years are reviewed. Overall limb salvage was 53 per cent, with an average inpatient duration not significantly different from that for amputation, suggesting that an age of over 60 years is not necessarily a contraindication to attempts at limb salvage in type III injuries.     

微创椎体后凸成形术治疗12例高龄椎体压缩性骨折

目的探讨经皮球囊扩张椎体后凸成形术治疗骨质疏松性椎体骨折的临床效果。方法采用山东龙冠球囊扩张系列骨水泥充填对12例骨质疏松性椎体骨折患者（共13个椎体）,在C型臂X光机透视下行经皮椎弓根椎体后凸成形术,平均随访3个月。结果所有患者腰背痛症状均在术后2-24h缓解,第3天能下地行走,随访3个月后病情稳定。结论采用椎体后凸成形术治疗骨质疏松性椎体骨折较安全且能使椎体复张,缓解疼痛,早期下地行走。     

Balloon kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fractures in solid organ transplant recipients: results of treatment and comparison with primary osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Balloon kyphoplasty has become established as a useful treatment for vertebral compression fractures (VCF) associated with primary osteoporosis and osteolytic tumors. Organ transplant recipients are also at risk for VCF because of their underlying disease process and because they require long-term treatment with steroids and other immunosuppressive drugs. PURPOSE: To explore whether balloon kyphoplasty is an effective treatment for VCF that develop in solid organ transplant recipients. A secondary goal was to determine whether there are any differences between VCF in transplant patients and VCF in patients with primary osteoporosis, with respect to disease severity and new fracture development. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal clinical series. PATIENT SAMPLE: The transplant group included 10 consecutive transplant patients (9 liver and 1 kidney), with a total of 29 symptomatic VCFs. The comparison group included 10 consecutive patients with primary osteoporosis and no history of organ transplantation, with a total of 15 VCFs. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary clinical end point was back pain, measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which was recorded at baseline, and 1 and 12 months postprocedure. Radiographic evaluation included measurement of Cobb angles for each treated vertebral segment on preprocedure and 1-month postprocedure lateral radiographs. An improvement of >5 degrees was considered significant. The number of fractures seen at the time of diagnosis and the number of new fractures occurring during the follow-up period were recorded. METHODS: Balloon kyphoplasty was performed at all symptomatic levels. All fractures were treated within 3 months of onset. Patient follow-up was 12 months. RESULTS: The transplant group had significantly higher levels of pain at baseline, (mean VAS 9.3 and 7.7 for the transplant group and primary osteoporosis group, respectively: p=.013). After treatment, the VAS decreased to 3.2 in the transplant group and 1.5 in the comparison group. Improvement was highly significant in both groups (p<.001), and was maintained at 12-month follow-up. Sagittal alignment was improved by >5 degrees in three patients in each group (30%). There were no procedural complications in either group. Compared with the primary osteoporosis group, the transplant group was more likely to have multiple fractures at the time of diagnosis (2.9 vs. 1.5, p=.03), had a twofold greater incidence of new fractures during the follow-up period (40% vs. 20%), was more than a decade younger (64 vs. 75 years, p<.01), was much more likely to have received chronic immunosuppressive therapy with glucocorticoids and calcineurin phosphate inhibitors (100% vs. 0%, p<.001), and had a higher percentage of males (70% vs. 10%, p=.02), CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that balloon kyphoplasty can be performed safely in organ transplant recipients with VCFs. The degree of pain relief is equivalent to that seen in patients with primary osteoporosis. Results are durable at 12-month follow-up. Transplant patients developed earlier and more severe bony disease, with more severe baseline pain, a higher incidence of multiple fractures at the time of diagnosis, and a greater risk of new fracture development posttreatment, as compared with the primary osteoporosis group.