Total hip arthroplasty following failed fixation of proximal hip fractures

Background:

Most proximal femoral fractures are successfully treated with internal fixation but a failed surgery can be very distressing for the patient due to pain and disability. For the treating surgeon it can be a challenge to perform salvage operations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term functional outcome and complications of total hip arthroplasty (THA) following failed fixation of proximal hip fracture.

Materials and Methods:

In a retrospective study, 21 hips in 20 patients (13 females and seven males) with complications of operated hip fractures as indicated by either established nonunion or fracture collapse with hardware failure were analysed. Mean age of the patients was 62 years (range 38 years to 85 years). Nine patients were treated for femoral neck fracture, 10 for intertrochanteric (I/T) fracture and two for subtrochanteric (S/T) fracture of the hip. Uncemented THA was done in 11 cases, cemented THA in eight hip joints and hybrid THA in two patients.

Results:

The average duration of follow-up was four years (2-13 years). The mean duration of surgery was 125 min and blood loss was 1300 ml. There were three dislocations postoperatively. Two were managed conservatively and one was operated. There was one superficial infection and one deep infection. Only one patient required a walker while four required walking stick for ambulation. The mean Harris Hip score increased from 32 preoperatively to 79 postoperatively at one year interval.

Conclusion:

Total hip arthroplasty is an effective salvage procedure after failed osteosynthesis of hip fractures. Most patients have good pain relief and functional improvements inspite of technical difficulties and high complication rates than primary arthroplasty.     

Congenital spinal tuberculosis associated with asymptomatic endometrial tuberculosis: A rare case report

Spinal tuberculosis constitutes 50% of all musculoskeletal tuberculosis. However, literature regarding congenital spinal tuberculosis is very scanty. Congenital spinal tuberculosis was diagnosed in a two-month-old child on the basis of age at presentation (gibbus since three weeks of age), hepatomegaly, raised ESR, radiological destruction of D10-D11 vertebrae, asymptomatic maternal endometrial tuberculosis and tuberculous histopathology from CT guided biopsy specimen from D10 vertebra. Both child and mother were treated by antitubercular treatment. Child improved symptomatically, gibbus became less prominent and ESR became normal at the end of one year of treatment. Patient had no recurrence during last two years of follow-up. This is the first case of congenital tuberculosis of spine with a documented source of infection from asymptomatic maternal endometrial tuberculosis. CT guided core biopsy from vertebra/aspiration from the paravertebral abscess help in early diagnosis and treatment to reduce neurological morbidity and mortality. Endometrial biopsy help in establishing the diagnosis of congenital tuberculosis and adequate antitubercular treatment in such cases may provide protection to fetus in subsequent pregnancy.     

Mechanisms of ENaC regulation and clinical implications

The epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) transports Na+ across tight epithelia, including the distal nephron. Different paradigms of ENaC regulation include extrinsic and intrinsic factors that affect the expression, single-channel properties, and intracellular trafficking of the channel. In particular, recent discoveries highlight new findings regarding proteolytic processing, ubiquitination, and recycling of the channel. Understanding the regulation of this channel is critical to the understanding of various clinical phenomena, including normal physiology and several diseases of kidney and lung epithelia, such as blood pressure (BP) control, edema, and airway fluid clearance. Significant progress has been achieved in this active field of research. Although ENaC is classically thought to be a mediator of BP and volume status through Na+ reabsorption in the distal nephron, several studies in animal models highlight important roles for ENaC in lung pathophysiology, including in cystic fibrosis. The purpose of this review is to highlight the various modes and mechanisms of ENaC regulation, with a focus on more recent studies and their clinical implications.     

Endonasal Ethmoidectomy and Bifrontal Craniotomy with Craniofacial Approach for Resection of Frontoethmoidal Osteoma Causing Tension Pneumocephalus

Tension pneumocephalus is an unusual, potentially life-threatening complication of frontal fossa tumors. We present an uncommon case of a frontoethmoidal osteoma causing a tension pneumocephalus and neurological deterioration prompting a combined endonasal ethmoidectomy and bifrontal craniotomy with craniofacial approach for resection. A 68-year-old man presented with a 1-week history of worsening headache, slowness of speech, and increasing confusion. Standard computed tomography scan revealed a marked tension pneumocephalus with ventricular air and 1-cm midline shift to the right. Further studies showed a calcified left ethmoid mass and a left anterior cranial-base defect. A team composed of neurosurgery and otolaryngology performed a combined endonasal ethmoidectomy and bifrontal craniotomy with craniofacial approach to resect a large frontoethmoid bony tumor. No abscess or mucocele was identified. The skull base defect was repaired with the aid of a transnasal endoscopy, a titanium mesh, and a pedunculated pericranial flap. Postoperatively, the pneumocephalus and the patient's symptoms completely resolved. Pathology was consistent with a benign osteoma. This is an uncommon case of a frontoethmoidal osteoma associated with tension pneumocephalus. Recognition of this entity and timely diagnosis and treatment, consisting of an endonasal ethmoidectomy and a bifrontal craniotomy with craniofacial approach, may prevent potential life-threatening complications.     

Autocystectomy following extensive genitourinary tuberculosis: Presentation and management

Genitourinary tuberculosis is an important cause of morbidity in developing and developed countries. We describe a case of extensive genitourinary tuberculosis in which there was complete destruction of the right kidney, stricture of the entire left ureter and an autocystectomized bladder. He presented in azotemia with urinary incontinence and was managed by right nephroureterectomy, ileal replacement of left ureter and ileal neobladder after a preliminary nephrostomy and antituberculous chemotherapy.     

Hyperglycemia exaggerates ischemia-reperfusion-induced cardiomyocyte injury: reversal with endothelin antagonism

OBJECTIVES: We have previously demonstrated an importance of endothelin-1 in diabetic patients undergoing bypass surgery. Recent evidence suggests that cardiomyocytes might also produce endothelin-1, which might directly impair myocyte contractility by increasing intracellular calcium levels. Because hyperglycemia is a potent stimulus of endothelin-1 production, we hypothesized that increased production, action, or both of endothelin-1 might be a mediator of direct cardiomyocyte injury in diabetes. Therefore we studied the effects of endothelin receptor blockers (BQ-123 and bosentan) on hyperglycemia-induced endothelin-1 production and cellular injury after ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: Using a human ventricular heart cell model of simulated ischemia-reperfusion, we studied the effects of normoglycemia (5 mmol/L, 48 hours) and hyperglycemia (25 mmol/L, 48 hours) on cellular injury and endothelin-1 production. Furthermore, the effects of selective endothelin-A and mixed endothelin-A/B receptor antagonism (with BQ-123 and bosentan, respectively) were evaluated. RESULTS: Cellular injury, as assessed by means of trypan blue uptake, was higher in human ventricular heart cells subjected to hyperglycemia and simulated ischemia-reperfusion injury (P =.01); this effect was prevented with both BQ-123 and bosentan (P =.01). In addition, heart cells from the hyperglycemic group elaborated more endothelin-1 after ischemia-reperfusion (P =.02). CONCLUSIONS: Endothelin-1 production and cellular injury were greater in human ventricular heart cells subjected to hyperglycemic conditions and simulated ischemia-reperfusion. These effects are mediated by endothelin-A receptors because both BQ-123 and bosentan exerted similar degrees of protection. Endothelin receptor blockade is a novel strategy to improve the resistance of the diabetic heart to cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion.     

Antegrade Versus Retrograde Locked Intramedullary Nailing for Femoral Fractures: Which Is Better?

Abstract Background: Locked intramedullary nailing or interlocking nailing (ILN) is a proven mode of treatment for femoral shaft fractures. It can be inserted via the antegrade or retrograde approach. Retrograde approach is technically less demanding especially if the patient is overweight. But there are concerns with regard to the violation of the knee and its effect on subsequent knee function. Methods: We studied consecutive cases of femoral shaft fractures treated with locked intramedullary nailing at the Penang General Hospital, from 1st June 2004 to 1st June 2005. We looked at radiological and clinical union rates, union of fractures, alignment of the operated limb, and the knee function, using the Thoresen scoring system. Results: There were a total of 77 cases of femoral interlocking nails during the study period. Forty-two cases were antegrade nails and 35 cases were retrograde nails. Both groups of patients eventually achieved union of the fracture and retrograde nailing group showed significantly earlier union rate (p = 0.032). There is no significant difference between both groups, in regards to knee pain, swelling, and range of motion as well as postnailing femoral alignment. Conclusions: Both methods of nailing achieved excellent union rates with good alignment of the limb. Contrary to popular belief, we found that retrograde nailing does not give rise to a higher rate of knee complications. Therefore, we strongly recommend this approach of nailing as it is technically less demanding.     

“Extended length” endoscopic harvest of the great saphenous vein for coronary artery bypass grafting

Introduction The endoscopically harvested vein from thigh usually falls short by half to one length in patients requiring multiple conduits. Increased risk of complications precludes routine endoscopic vein harvest from the leg and an extra incision for open technique is often required thereby nullifying the sole purpose of the former. We employed the endoscope to harvest this extra length of vein from the upper half of the leg with little or no extra risk. Methods From January 2006 to September 2006 we endoscopically harvested the vein in thigh as well as the leg using the same entry point incision over the medial epicondyle in 40 cases. The only exclusion criterion for the study was a superficial location and subcutaneous visibility of the vein in the leg. We made 3 incisions in each patient of average size 2.5 cm. Results Five patients required conversion to the open technique. The average harvest time was 59 minutes. Average length of the conduit was 48 cms. Complications included 1 minor wound infection, 1 case of superificial wound dehiscence, 1 haematoma requiring aspiration and minor erythema at the incision site in 2 patients. Most common complication observed was ecchymosis in 6 patients (5 high; 3 leg). None of the patient developed lymphoedema and none required re-hospitalization for vein harvest related wound complications. Conclusion “Extended endoscopic vein harvest” and avoidance of the open incision was possible in most patients with no additional risk and that the procedure could be routinely employed in patients requiring multiple conduits.     

Single-stapled double-pursestring anastomosis after anterior resection of the rectum

BACKGROUND: Single-stapled double-pursestring technique for colorectal anastomosis to the mid-rectum or upper rectum is the most commonly used technique in the single institution reported here. The investigators evaluate single-stapled double-pursestring anastomosis after anterior resection of the rectum performed at a single institution. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent single-stapled double-pursestring anastomosis between January 2000 and May 2005 were analyzed to identify postoperative anastomotic complications. Patients with previous radiation, diverting stoma, coloanal, and hand-sewn and double-stapled anastomoses were excluded. The primary goal was to identify postoperative anastomotic complications. RESULTS: Of 160 patients, 153 (96%) no septic complications. One patient (.6%) developed anastomotic leak requiring diversion. Of the 4 patients with pelvic abscesses (2.5%), 2 were treated with antibiotics and 2 with computed axial tomography-guided drainage. CONCLUSIONS: Single-stapled double-pursestring anastomosis is reliable, with very low rates of leak, subsequent diversion, and pelvic abscess (.6%, .6%, and 2.5% respectively).     

Double insurance atlantoaxial fixation

BACKGROUND: An alternative technique of atlantoaxial fixation is described, which combines the trans-articular method of fixation described by Magerl in 1982 and the interarticular technique described by us in 1988. METHODS: Between January 2001 and January 2005, 18 patients underwent the discussed method of fixation at the Department of Neurosurgery at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India. Fifteen patients had congenital craniovertebral anomaly and 3 patients had posttraumatic atlantoaxial instability. Fourteen patients had basilar invagination with "fixed" atlantoaxial dislocation, and 4 patients had mobile and reducible atlantoaxial dislocation. The mean follow-up period was 22 months (range, 3-50 months). RESULTS: Successful atlantoaxial stabilization was achieved in all patients and was documented with dynamic radiography. There was no incidence of implant rejection. There were no neurological, vascular, or infective complications. CONCLUSION: The described method of atlantoaxial fixation that incorporates the advantages of the 2 currently more frequently used techniques of lateral mass fixation could be an alternative method of fixation.