Efficacy of Antiosteoporotic Medications in Patients With Rebound-Associated Fractures After Denosumab Discontinuation

Denosumab discontinuation results in rapid bone loss and increased risk of multiple rebound-associated vertebral fractures (RAVFs). The optimal treatment for patients who have sustained such fractures is currently unknown. We aimed to investigate the bone mineral density (BMD) changes achieved with various regimens in postmenopausal women who had sustained RAVFs after denosumab discontinuation in everyday clinical practice. In this multicenter, retrospective observational study, 39 Greek postmenopausal women from six regional bone centers throughout Greece with RAVFs after denosumab discontinuation were included. We collected BMD and fracture data before and 1 year after treatment with denosumab (n = 20), teriparatide (n = 8), zoledronate (n = 8) or teriparatide/denosumab combination (n = 3). Both lumbar spine (LS)-- and femoral neck (FN)-BMD were preserved with all regimens used. With the exception of zoledronate, a trend towards increase was observed with all regimens in LS-BMD. Three patients sustained additional fractures despite treatment reinstitution (2 with zoledronate and 1 with teriparatide). Among patients with RAVFs following denosumab discontinuation both antiresorptive (zoledronate and denosumab) and anabolic (teriparatide) treatment as well as the combination of denosumab with teriparatide seem to be effective in terms of BMD response.     

Short- and Long-Term Outcome after Emergent Cardiac Surgery during Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Objective: Our study aimed to evaluate short- and long-term outcomes of patients who required emergent conversion from transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) to open surgery. Besides, the reasons and procedural settings of emergent cardiac surgery (ECS) were also reported.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the patients who underwent TAVI in our institution between 2012 and 2019 and collected the clinical data of cases who converted from TAVI to bail-out surgery. Telephone and outpatient follow-ups were performed.Results: Of 516 TAVI patients, 20 required ECS, and the bail-out surgery occurred less frequently with the increase in TAVI volume. The most common reason for conversion was left ventricular perforation (7/20, 35.0%). Thirty-day mortality was 35.0% in ECS patients. Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that the cumulative survival rate was 65.0% at 1 year, 50.1% at 5 years in all ECS patients, and 77.1% at 5 years in patients who survived over 30 days after conversion.Conclusion: Although the bail-out operation was performed immediately after TAVI abortion, ECS still associated with high 30-day mortality. The long-term survival benefit was seen in patients surviving from bail-out surgery. An experienced TAVI team is of crucial importance in avoiding ECS-related life-threatening complications and providing effective salvage surgery.     

Relationships between anthropometric adiposity indexes and bone mineral density in a cross-sectional Chinese study

Background ContextPrevious studies have reported conflicting results for the relationships between anthropometric adiposity indexes and bone mineral density, based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, few studies were published based on quantitative computed tomography (QCT), especially for Chinese population.PurposeTo evaluate the associations of spine bone mineral density (BMD) with body mass index (BMI), waist circumstance (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and a body shape index (ABSI) using QCT.Study Design/SettingA Cross-sectional study.Patient SampleAround 3,457 participants in multiple communities across 7 administrative regions of China.Outcome MeasuresSpine BMD was measured using QCT, and the classification of osteoporosis was defined as follows: 1) osteoporosis if BMD <80mg/cm³, 2) osteopenia if BMD 80–119 mg/cm³, and 3) normal bone mass if BMD≥120 mg/cm³.MethodsThis study was conducted using convenient sampling between 2013 and 2017. Multivariable linear regression model and logistic regression models were used for the associations of continuous and categorical BMD, respectively.ResultsAround 3,405 participants were included in the final analyses, including 1,272 males and 2,133 females, with spine BMD of 111.00±35.47 mg/cm³ and 99.38±40.60 mg/cm³, respectively. Spine BMD decreased significantly with the increase of ABSI in females (adjusted β, ?5.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], ?8.50 to ?2.98), and this trend also was kept in females aged at less than 60 years (adjusted β, ?14.54; 95% CI, ?20.40 to ?8.68), and females with age ≥60 years (adjusted β, ?7.59; 95% CI, ?10.91 to ?4.28). However, this inverse association was observed only in males with age ≥ 60 years (adjusted β, ?5.19; 95% CI, ?10.08 to ?0.29). Except ABSI, negative associations of Spine BMD with WC (adjusted β, ?0.46; 95% CI, ?0.77 to ?0.15), WHR (adjusted β, ?6.25; 95% CI, ?10.63 to ?1.86), WHtR (adjusted β, ?6.80; 95% CI, ?11.63 to ?1.97) were shown in females aged at <60 years, and positive association with BMI in males with age ≥60 years (adjusted β, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.29–1.55).ConclusionsABSI had more remarkable association with spine BMD, compared with the other four indexes.     

Do larger reductions yield larger returns? patient-reported outcomes as a function of specimen weight in bilateral reduction mammoplasty

BackgroundPatients undergoing breast reduction mammoplasty for symptomatic macromastia have a significantly improved quality of life postoperatively. However, there are no data that examine the effect of reduction mammoplasty on quality of life as a function of the weight of tissue removed. Because the process by which insurance providers consider patients’ candidacy for this breast reduction mammoplasty is most often based on the proposed weight of tissue to be removed, this gap in our understanding is particularly glaring. We therefore designed a prospective trial with the intent of investigating the correlation between breast reduction specimen weight and postoperative pain and quality of life.MethodsAfter obtaining institutional review board (IRB) approval, patients presenting for breast reduction mammoplasty at a single academic medical center between January 2016 and September 2019 were prospectively enrolled in the study. Study participants completed the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and the BREAST-Q at set time points (preoperatively, 1 week/1 month/3 months/6 months postoperatively). Patients were divided into three cohorts based on breast reduction specimen weights: small (<500 g reduction), intermediate (500–1000 g reduction), and large (>1000 g reduction). The surveys were then analyzed while controlling for demographic factors and complications.ResultsA total of 85 women were enrolled in the study and completed pre- and postoperative surveys (small reduction n = 21 (25%), intermediate n = 45 (53%), and large n = 19 (22%)). Regardless of reduction specimen weight, patients reported decreased overall pain and increased satisfaction with their breasts, as well as improved psychosocial, sexual, and physical well-being at each postoperative visit. Preoperative SF-MPQ pain scores were significantly lower in the small specimen weight group compared with either the intermediate or the large group (p = 0.001). Postoperatively, both the intermediate and large groups reported significant improvement in pain at each time point. The small specimen weight group did not report significant pain improvement until 3 months postoperatively.ConclusionsPatients undergoing breast reduction mammoplasty experience decreased pain and improved quality of life regardless of reduction specimen weight. Improvement in these parameters manifests as early as 1 week postoperatively and maintained at 3 months postoperatively. These data suggest that many patients who are denied coverage for reduction mammoplasty on the basis of low projected reduction specimen weight would derive significant benefit from the procedure.     

Modified partial penile disassembly repair for improved functional and cosmetic outcome in isolated male epispadias

Introduction and objectiveThe objective of the study was to evaluate the functional and cosmetic outcome of single-stage modified partial penile disassembly repair in isolated male epispadias.Materials and methodsA retrospective analysis of 15 cases of primary epispadias repair, from June 2015 to December 2018, was performed. Patients were classified by the type of epispadias, urinary incontinence, chordee, and rotation.Surgical techniquePenile degloving with the mobilization of the urethral plate from the ventral to the dorsal aspect with the preservation of blood supply at both ends, distally up to the level of mid-glans and proximally up to the pubic symphysis is done. Tubularization of urethral plate followed by spongioplasty, corporoplasty with medial rotation of corporeal bodies, and glanuloplasty with meatoplasty was done to bring the meatus ventrally. The skin cover is done by the rotation of the ventral flaps and the z-plasty whenever required.ResultsAge of the patients varied from 4 months to 21 years with a mean of 11 years. Thirteen patients had excellent cosmetic outcome while two patients had minimal residual chordee but did not require any surgery in a follow-up. Five patients with partial incontinence in the study group achieved continence after surgery. None of the patients developed complications such as fistula or stricture. All five male patients in the post-pubertal group reported normal erections and successful ejaculations after the surgery. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 18 months.ConclusionsModified partial penile disassembly incorporates all the benefits of Cantwell Ransley repair and needs less extensive dissection than total penile disassembly. Both functional and cosmetic results are good with a low complication rate.     

Anterior tibial artery injury is not the contraindication of medial plantar flap: digital subtraction angiography evidence and clinical application

The medial plantar artery (MPA) is often sacrificed as the vascular pedicle of the medial plantar flap (MPF). However, for patients with ankle soft tissue defect caused by traffic accident, the anterior tibial artery (ATA) could be damaged and the blood supply of the distal foot would only come from the MPA and the lateral plantar artery (LPA). In this case, sacrificing the MPA for the MPF means that the LPA will become the mainly source of blood supply of the distal foot. Whether the blood supply of the distal foot is adequately guaranteed remains to be discussed. A total of seven patients with ankle soft tissue defect and ATA injury were enrolled in the study. The digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed to observe the hemodynamics of the ipsilateral foot. The MPF was harvested only when the foot arterial network consisting of the MPA, the LPA, the deep plantar arch, and the deep plantar artery of DPA, and the blood redistribution existed. DSA results showed the blood from the posterior tibial artery was redistributed to the ipsilateral foot and the MPA is not the dominant artery in the foot. Seven MPFs were harvested, and all flaps survived completely. No complications, such as pain, ulcer, and necrosis, occurred in the ipsilateral toes. The DSA could accurately and intuitively evaluate the hemodynamics of foot in patients with ATA injury. The DSA data and clinical practice proved that the ATA injury is not the contraindication of the MPF.