Analysis of 13 early failures of the mobile bearing Oxford phase III unicompartmental knee prosthesis

The use of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty appears to be increasing despite a significant number of early revisions. This study looks at a consecutive series of such procedures. We retrospectively reviewed thirteen patients who had a revision of a unicompartmental knee replacement between January 2003 and March 2008 inclusively. During the study period, a total of 141 UKAs were performed in the reporting unit, of those 9 were revised to TKA. The indication for revision to TKA was determined from clinical records and radiographs. All patients who underwent revision were followed up using Oxford Knee Score. No preoperative Oxford Knee Scores were available. The study group consisted of six men and seven women. The preoperative diagnosis was osteoarthritis in all cases. The mean follow-up time was 16.4 ± 10.7 months (range: 2–36 months). The mean age of the patients at time of revision was 60.8 ± 9.7 years (range: 50–77 years). All patients had undergone medial UKA. The mean time interval between primary surgery and revision surgery was 21.5 ± 13.4 months (range: 5–48 months). The indications for revision included loosening of the tibial and/or femoral component (n = 7), progression of osteoarthritis to lateral compartment (n = 2), unexplained medial knee pain (n = 2) patellofemoral symptoms (n = 1), and insert dislocation (n = 1). The mean postoperative Oxford Knee Score at the latest follow-up evaluation was 14 ± 6.5 (range: 5–26). For the majority of patients, UKA provides reliable and reproducible results. However, UKA is a demanding procedure that needs special experience and includes a risk of early failure.     

Restless legs syndrome: diagnosis and review of management options

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is one of the commonest movement disorders affecting sleep and also daytime functioning. The prevalence may be 8%–10% of the white Caucasian population. The diagnosis is simple and is based on a well-validated clinical questionnaire, yet misdiagnosis is common and the condition remains underdiagnosed and consequently inappropriately treated, often causing great distress to the sufferers. In spite of robust evidence for effective treatment of RLS, patients may often be told to “put up with the symptoms” and suffer the consequence of years of poor sleep which may lead to major lifestyle changes. This review addresses the diagnostic issues, the differential diagnosis, and the evidence base for treatment of the common condition.     

Evaluation of morbidity,mortality and outcome following cervical spine injuries in elderly patients

We analysed the morbidity, mortality and outcome of cervical spine injuries in patients over the age of 65 years. This study was a retrospective review of 107 elderly patients admitted to our tertiary referral spinal injuries unit with cervical spine injuries between 1994 and 2002. The data was acquired by analysis of the national spinal unit database, hospital inpatient enquiry system, chart and radiographic review. Mean age was 74 years (range 66–93 years). The male to female ratio was 2.1:1 (M = 72, F = 35). The mean follow-up was 4.4 years (1–9 years) and mean in-hospital stay was 10 days (2–90 days). The mechanism of injury was a fall in 75 and road traffic accident in the remaining 32 patients. The level involved was atlanto-axial in 44 cases, sub-axial in 52 cases and the remaining 11 had no bony injury. Multilevel involvement occurred in 48 patients. C2 dominated the single level injury and most of them were type II odontoid fractures. Four patients had complete neurology, 27 had incomplete neurology, and the remaining 76 had no neurological deficit. Treatment included cervical orthosis in 67 cases, halo immobilization in 25, posterior stabilization in 12 patients and anterior cervical fusion in three patients. The overall complication rate was 18.6% with an associated in-hospital mortality of 11.2%. The complications included loss of reduction due to halo and Minerva loosening, non-union and delayed union among conservatively treated patients, pin site and wound infection, gastrointestinal bleeding and complication due to associated injuries. Among the 28.9% patients with neurological involvement, 37.7% had significant neurological recovery. Outcome was assessed using a cervical spine outcome questionnaire from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Sixty-seven patients (70%) completed the form, 20 patients (19%) were deceased at review and 8 patients (7%) were uncontactable. Functional disability was more marked in the patients with neurologically deficit at time of injury. Outcome of the injury was related to increasing age, co-morbidity and the severity of neurological deficit. Injuries of the cervical spine are not infrequent occurrence in the elderly and occur with relatively minor trauma. Neck pain in the elderly patients should be thoroughly evaluated to exclude C2 injuries. Most patients can be managed in an orthosis but unstable injuries require rigid external immobilization or surgical stabilization.     

On-table Endoscopy Following Laparoscopic Fundoplication

Background Laparoscopic fundoplication represents the gold standard in the surgical management of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). The achievement of long-lasting symptomatic and physiological control of reflux is the goal of therapy, as well as the minimization of troubling sequelae, in particular, dysphagia. On-table endoscopy after fundoplication was introduced in this Unit as a quality initiative in an attempt to minimize dysphagia and technical errors, and the aim of this study is to report the experience to date, and compare outcomes with the previous 100 cases performed by an experienced team. Methods Eighty patients who underwent laparoscopic Rosetti-Nissen fundoplication and on-table endoscopy (group 2) were compared with 100 consecutive prior cases (group 1). Patients were prospectively evaluated and had pre- and postoperative symptom scoring and analysis of complications (all patients), and manometry and 24-h pH testing in 120 patients (60 in each group). Results Both groups were similar with respect to demographics, esophagitis, pH score, and dysmotility. No bougie was used in either group. On-table endoscopy resulted in technical modifications in 4 (5%) patients. Early grade 2 or 3 dysphagia was evident in 4 (5%) patients in group 2, compared with 15 (15%) in group 1 (p < 0.001). Late dysphagia was evident in one patient (1.5%) in group 2 compared with 7 (7%) in group 1 (p < 0.05). Dilatation was performed in four patients (5%) in group 2, compared with 11 (11%) in group 1 (p < 0.05). Conclusions These data suggest that on-table endoscopy may be a useful quality assurance adjunct in laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery, in particular, reducing the incidence of dysphagia and reinterventions.     

Does a ureteral access sheath facilitate ureteroscopy?

PURPOSE: Ureteral access sheaths were initially developed to facilitate difficult ureteroscopic access. However, to our knowledge no formal evaluations have been performed to assess the routine use of ureteral access sheaths. Therefore, we prospectively analyzed intraoperative time, symptomatic outcome, major complications, stone-free rate and overall costs related to the routine use of a new ureteral access sheath during standard ureteroscopic procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing 6.5Fr semirigid or 7.5Fr flexible ureteroscopy were prospectively randomized to unaided ureteroscopy with no access sheath or ureteroscopy via a 12-14Fr ureteral access sheath. Patients who required ureteral dilatation were randomized to the ureteral access sheath used as a dilator or a standard 18Fr ureteral balloon dilator. Patients were evaluated postoperatively on days 0, 1 and 6 with a questionnaire to assess pain, irritative symptoms and complications. The stone-free rate and long-term complications were determined by excretory urography or computerized tomography at 3 months. RESULTS: Enrolled in the study were 59 consecutive patients, who underwent a total of 62 ureteroscopic procedures. Of the 47 patients (76%) who did not require ureteral dilatation 23 (49%) underwent ureteroscopy via the ureteral access sheath and 24 (51%) underwent unaided ureteroscopy. Seven of the 15 patients (28%) who required ureteral dilatation underwent access sheath dilatation, while balloon dilatation was performed in 8. There was no significant difference in postoperative symptoms, complication rate or stone-free status in the access sheath and nonaccess sheath groups in patients not requiring ureteral dilatation (p <0.05). A significant increase in postoperative symptoms was noted when the balloon was used as a dilator compared to the access sheath. Operative time and costs in all patients who underwent access sheath dilatation were less than in those in whom the access sheath was not used. In the 15 patients who required dilatation 71% of access sheath and 100% of balloon dilatations were successful. CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of a ureteral access sheath appears to facilitate semirigid and flexible ureteroscopy by decreasing operative time and costs, allowing direct visualization of ureteroscope insertion with simple ureteral re-entry and assisting renal and ureteral access with minimal associated morbidity. A ureteral access sheath should be considered for routine ureteroscopic procedures.     

Reoperative CABG using left thoracotomy: a tailored strategy

BACKGROUND: Reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) through a left thoracotomy is a challenging operation with no one dominant approach. We developed a tailored strategy for this difficult group of patients, integrating the currently available newer technologies for each patient indication. METHODS: Between October 1991 and October 1999, 50 consecutive patients underwent reoperative CABG through a left thoracotomy. Age was 65 +/- 9 years, 40 (80%) were men, and preoperative ejection fraction was 40 +/- 13. In 36 patients (72%) the left internal mammary artery had been placed to the left anterior descending coronary artery during the primary CABG and in 25 of 36 patients (70%) this left internal mammary artery-left anterior descending coronary artery graft was patent. The mean duration from previous CABG was 8.0 +/- 4.8 years. Three approaches were used: (1) conventional cardiopulmonary bypass using fibrillatory or circulatory arrest (n = 33, 66%); (2) Heartport endoaortic balloon occlusion (n = 4, 8%); and (3) off-pump beating heart techniques (n = 13, 26%). RESULTS: The off-pump CABG technique was used in the majority of recent patients and 1 (7.7%) had to be converted to cardiopulmonary bypass due to hemodynamic instability. When cardiopulmonary bypass was used its duration was 122 +/- 59 minutes and mean temperature on bypass was 24 degrees +/- 6 degrees C. In the 4 patients in whom the Heartport system was used, the median endoaortic occlusion duration was 49 minutes. Patients received an average of 1.4 grafts/patient. In 60 of 70 patients (89%) distal anastomoses were performed to an anterolateral coronary target. There were 3 of 50 (6%) operative deaths, 2 in the conventional group and 1 in the endoaortic balloon occlusion group. The mean length of stay in the 47 survivors was 7.8 +/- 3.9 days (median, 7 days). CONCLUSIONS: Reoperative CABG by left thoracotomy remains a challenging operation. Several techniques, including off-pump CABG, conventional cardiopulmonary bypass, circulatory arrest, and endoaortic balloon occlusion, should be in the surgeon's armamentarium to allow a tailored approach for each operation based on patient indications.     

Safety and efficacy of a novel polyethylene glycol hydrogel sealant for watertight dural repair

OBJECT: The authors prospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of a novel polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel sealant in patients undergoing elective cranial surgery with documented cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage after sutured dural repair. METHODS: The PEG hydrogel sealant was used at 11 different study sites in 111 patients with documented intraoperative CSF leakage after neurosurgical dural repair for a variety of conditions. Intraoperative CSF leakage was either spontaneous or induced by a Valsalva maneuver. Patients were monitored for 3 months postoperatively with physical examinations, clinical laboratory analyses, and diagnostic imaging. The PEG hydrogel sealant was 100% effective in stopping CSF leakage in all patients. There were no sealant-related adverse events and all clinical outcomes were consistent with expectations for seriously ill patients undergoing prolonged neurosurgical procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The PEG hydrogel sealant provides a safe and effective watertight closure when used as an adjunct to sutured dural repair during cranial surgery.