Characterizing the need for tracheostomy placement and decannulation after cervical spinal cord injury

Purpose

There have been few reports on the risk factors for tracheostomy and the possibility of patients for decannulation. The purpose of this study was to identify factors necessitating tracheostomy after cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and detect features predictive of successful decannulation in tracheostomy patients.

Methods

One hundred and sixty four patients with cervical fracture/dislocation were retrospectively reviewed. The patients comprised 142 men and 22 women with a mean age of 44.9 years. The clinical records were reviewed for patients’ demographic data, smoking history, level of cervical spine injury, injury patterns, neurological status, evidence of direct thoracic trauma and head injury, tracheostomy placement, and decannulation. Risk factors necessitating tracheostomy and factors predicting decannulation were statistically analysed.

Results

Twenty-five patients (15.2 %) required tracheostomy. Twenty-one patients were successfully decannulated. Smoking history (relative risk [RR], 3.05; p = 0.03) and complete SCI irrespective of injury level (C1–4 complete SCI: RR, 67.55; p < 0.001, C5–7 complete SCI: RR, 57.88; p < 0.001) were significant risk factors necessitating tracheostomy. C1–4 complete SCI was more frequent among those who could not be decannulated. However, even in patients with high cervical complete SCI at the time of injury, patients regaining sufficient movement to shrug their shoulders within 3 weeks after injury could later be decannulated.

Conclusions

The risk factors for tracheostomy after complete SCI were a history of smoking and complete paralysis irrespective of the level of injury. High cervical level complete SCI was found to be a risk factor for the failure of decannulation in patients without shoulder shrug within 3 weeks after injury.     

Arm Squeeze Test: a new clinical test to distinguish neck from shoulder pain

Purpose

Objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic values of the Arm Squeeze Test. The test consists in squeezing the middle third of the upper arm.

Methods

1,567 patients were included in this study. Diagnosis of cervical nerve root compression or shoulder disease was clinically formulated and confirmed with imaging before performing test. 350 healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. The test was positive when score on a VAS Scale was 3 points or higher on squeezing the middle third of the upper arm compared to acromioclavicular (AC) joint and anterolateral-subacromial area.

Results

Patients were subdivided as follows: 903 with rotator cuff tear, 155 with shoulder adhesive capsulitis, 101 with AC joint arthropathy, 55 with calcifying tendonitis, and 48 affected by glenohumeral arthritis. The study sample included 305 patients with cervical nerve root compression from C5 to T1 with shoulder radicular pain. The test was positive in 295/305 (96.7 %) of patients with cervical nerve root compression, compared to 35/903 (3.87 %), 3/155 (1.93 %), 0/101 (0 %), 1/55 (1.81 %) and 4/48 (8.33 %) of those with rotator cuff tear, adhesive capsulitis, AC arthropathy, calcifying tendonitis and glenohumeral arthritis, respectively. A positive result was obtained in 14/350 asymptomatic subjects (4 %). If patients with cervical nerve root compression were compared to controls and patients with shoulder diseases, the test had sensitivity of 0.96 and specificity from 0.91 to 1.

Conclusions

The Arm Squeeze Test may be useful to distinguish cervical nerve root compression from shoulder disease in case of doubtful diagnosis. A positive result to this test may lead to cervical etiology of the shoulder pain.     

Documentation of outcomes for sacroiliac joint fusion: does prior spinal fusion influence the outcome?

Purpose

The purpose of this prospective case series (level II) was to determine the clinical outcomes of anterior SIJ fusion, comparing the outcomes of patients who had prior spinal fusions at any level compared to patients who have not.

Methods

This prospective study included 25 patients who underwent SIJ fusion with anterior plate fixation. All patients had failed non-operative treatment, had a positive Patrick test, and positive response to intra-articular SIJ injections with greater than 50 % pain relief. Patients had follow-up at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months where they completed Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA) surveys. Outcome data are available for 19 patients who completed pre-operative and 12-month follow-up surveys. Their average time of the final follow-up was 1.1 years (range 10–33 months).

Results

Significant improvements between pre-operative and the final follow-up in ODI (p = 0.007) and SMFA (p = 0.01) were observed; the ODI assessed outcomes in patients who had previous spinal fusion surgery were significantly worse than those that did not at the final follow-up (p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Patients who have not undergone prior spinal fusion surgery, regardless of age, gender, and BMI have better outcomes following anterior SIJ fusion.     

RETRACTED: A new test for acromio-clavicolar pathology

Background

A prospective study was established to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the new Saccomanni (SAC) test for isolated AC pathology, and compare with 4 commonly used clinical tests.

Materials and methods

The Saccomanni (Sac) test is essentially the cross-adduction test, with the addition of attempted elevation against resistance. In a positive test, this results in some pain and the inability of the patient to maintain the arm in the adducted and elevated position against resistance. Fifty-eight patients with isolated AC joint symptoms were assessed in random order with the Saccomanni test and 4 other tests. A corticosteroid and local anaesthetic injection was administered into the AC joint space. The Saccomanni test and 4 other tests were then repeated following the injection. After the injection, a symptom free clinical examination was used as a measure of true positive tests.

Study design

Case series.

Results

The SAC test showed a sensitivity of 98% and specificity is 91.7%. All 4 other tests were less sensitive.

Conclusion

The SAC test is a highly sensitive test in patients presenting with isolated AC related symptoms.This study is an innovation for clinical tests in the world. The primary aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic sensitivity of my newly described SAC test. From the present study, it can be concluded that the easy-to use SAC is a highly sensitive test to evaluate AC joint pathology, when compared to other standard tests.

Clinical relevance

Level III, Diagnostic Study of Nonconsecutive Patients.     

膝关节外伤性脱位2例诊治分析

膝关节外伤性脱位临床罕见。笔者自2011年11月至2012年5月共收治2例,对其进行分析总结,现报告如下。     

组配式桡骨头假体置换治疗MasonⅢ和Ⅳ型桡骨头骨折

目的：观察采用组配式桡骨头假体置换治疗MasonⅢ和Ⅳ型桡骨头骨折的早期疗效。方法：2009年1月至2012年3月,应用组配式桡骨头假体治疗16例MasonⅢ和Ⅳ型桡骨头骨折患者,男9例,女7例;年龄31～57岁,平均43岁。评价患者肘关节屈伸活动及前臂旋转活动范围,并根据Mayo肘关节功能评估评分（Mayo elbow perfor-mance score,MEPS）评价肘关节总体功能;对影像学进行测量,评价桡骨头假体高度及假体松动程度。结果：14例患者得到随访,时间12～33个月,平均23个月。关节活动范围与健侧比较,患侧肘关节屈伸度及前臂旋转活动度明显较差（P＜0．01）。MEPS评分90±16（45～100）;分级评定：优9例,良2例,可2例,差1例。按照Grewal分级,4例出现轻度的透亮线,1例中度透亮线。结论：组配式桡骨头假体置换治疗难以内固定可靠重建的MasonⅢ和Ⅳ型桡骨头骨折早期疗效满意,中、远期疗效仍有待于进一步研究。     

残端悬吊包绕肌腱移植物重建前交叉韧带

目的:探讨残端悬吊包绕肌腱移植物重建前交叉韧带的价值。方法:2009年6月至2011年6月对76例前交叉韧带损伤的患者采用残端悬吊包绕肌腱移植物重建前交叉韧带治疗。男59例,女17例;年龄15～46岁,平均29岁。其中运动伤32例,训练伤20例,交通事故伤16例,其他损伤8例。受伤至手术时间平均3周(2～5周)。术前前抽屉试验阳性72例,Lachman试验阳性76例,IKDC主观评分45.9±3.6,Lysholm评分54.3±4.5。结果:术后患者切口均Ⅰ期愈合,无相关并发症发生。69例获得随访,时间17～31个月,平均23个月。末次随访Lachman试验均呈阴性;IKDC评级A级36例,B级30例,C级3例,D级0例;IKDC主观评分91.5±3.4,较术前提高;Lysholm评分92.4±3.8,较术前提高。结论:采用残端悬吊包绕肌腱移植物重建前交叉韧带有助于移植肌腱的修复,临床疗效满意。     

后外侧入路在Pilon骨折治疗中的应用

目的:评价在Pilon骨折治疗中后外侧入路的作用和并发症。方法:2009年8月至2011年3月,分期手术治疗15例Pilon骨折,AO/OTA分类B3型2例,其余均为C型骨折,均合并明显移位的后踝骨折。其中男12例,女3例,平均年龄37.9岁(21～51岁)。所有患者I期急诊手术使用超关节外固定架固定,Ⅱ期固定时首先通过后外侧入路固定腓骨,同时辅助复位和固定胫骨远端的后方骨折块,通过前内侧或前外侧入路复位和固定胫骨远端。结果:15例患者均获随访,平均随访时间14.2个月(12～17个月),13例骨折顺利愈合,2例需Ⅱ期自体髂骨植骨。后外侧伤口均未出现软组织并发症。术后影像学检查,14例关节面残留移位小于2mm。根据Baird-Jackson评价,优2例,良7例,可4例,差2例。结论:作为Pilon骨折前方入路的辅助切口,通过后外侧入路可以有效显露及固定后踝骨块及腓骨骨折,为前方骨折块的复位提供了标志,操作安全、简单、有效。     

关节镜下保留残端纤维的前交叉韧带单束解剖重建术

目的:探讨关节镜下保留残端纤维的前交叉韧带单束解剖重建术的方法及临床效果。方法:自2007年10月至2009年11月,对17例前交叉韧带断裂患者进行保留残端纤维的前交叉韧带单束解剖重建术。其中男10例,女7例;年龄28～62岁,平均39.3岁。致伤原因:交通事故9例,日常生活摔倒受伤6例,运动创伤2例。伤后至手术时间平均8.5d(2～14d)。采用国际膝关节文献委员会(IKDC)分级及Lysholm评分等评估患者手术疗效。结果:17例均获随访,时间24～39个月,平均29.5个月。所有患者未发现腘窝动脉、胫神经或腓总神经损伤等并发症。12例膝关节活动度达到正常;1例出现关节僵硬,术后6个月予以关节镜下松解,术后积极功能锻炼,术后膝关节屈曲20°缺失,伸直正常;3例有屈曲5°～10°缺失;1例有5°过伸受限。17例后抽屉试验和Lachman试验均阴性。17例IKDC评分均达到或接近正常。IKDC总评分16例正常,1例接近正常。末次随访时IKDC主观评分为94.3±5.1,Lysholm评分为94.7±3.1。结论:关节镜下保留残端纤维的前交叉韧带单束解剖重建术可获得良好的临床效果。