Infection after fracture fixation: Current surgical and microbiological concepts

One of the most challenging complications in trauma surgery is infection after fracture fixation (IAFF). IAFF may result in permanent functional loss or even amputation of the affected limb in patients who may otherwise be expected to achieve complete, uneventful healing. Over the past decades, the problem of implant related bone infections has garnered increasing attention both in the clinical as well as preclinical arenas; however this has primarily been focused upon prosthetic joint infection (PJI), rather than on IAFF. Although IAFF shares many similarities with PJI, there are numerous critical differences in many facets including prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Admittedly, extrapolating data from PJI research to IAFF has been of value to the trauma surgeon, but we should also be aware of the unique challenges posed by IAFF that may not be accounted for in the PJI literature.This review summarizes the clinical approaches towards the diagnosis and treatment of IAFF with an emphasis on the unique aspects of fracture care that distinguish IAFF from PJI. Finally, recent developments in anti-infective technologies that may be particularly suitable or applicable for trauma patients in the future will be briefly discussed.     

A mathematical simulation of the tip-apex distance and the calcar-referenced tip-apex distance for intertrochanteric fractures reduced with lag screws

BackgroundAs a predictor of the risk of lag screw cutout, it was recommended that keeping tip-apex distance (TAD) < 25 mm and placing the screw centrally or inferiorly, but positioning the lag screw too inferiorly in the head would produce TAD > 25 mm. We aim to simulate various positions of the lag screw in the femoral head and identify whether 25 mm is a suitable cut-off value that favours all sizes of femoral heads with intertrochanteric fractures of the hip.MethodsUsing a general mathematical software, the positions of the screw tip points were simulated. The virtual anterior–posterior and lateral views were then visualised, and the locus of the screw tips was projected into a Cartesian coordinate system according to the TAD and calcar-referenced tip-apex distance (CalTAD) formulas. Each original virtual anterior–posterior and lateral image was zoomed and compiled to match a calculated average image. The screw tip points were recorded, traced and compiled into volumes which could be used to visualise the screw's movements and positioning within the femoral head. The extracted volumes were calculated when 10 mm < TAD < 25 mm and 10 mm < CalTAD < 25 mm, and the region where these two volumes overlapped was also calculated. Suitable positions for the screw tip were then assessed.ResultsFor the TAD calculation, the shape of the traced screw tip points had a pancake-like appearance, while the CalTAD plot produced a teardrop-shaped region. The volume ratios of TAD, CalTAD and overlapping region relative to the femoral head volume were respectively 3.51 ± 1.30%, 5.19 ± 1.62% and 2.64 ± 1.32%. The volumes of the traced TAD, CalTAD and overlapping regions increased slower than the volume of an idealised sphere.ConclusionPositioning the lag screw should address geometrical effects of both tip-apex distance and femoral head size, with an emphasis on measuring the position of the screw tip for the suitable zone by volume ratio. The previous 25 mm TAD cut-off value should be adjusted according to the individual femoral head size.     

Incremental benefit of three‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the assessment of left atrial appendage aneurysm leading to severe extrinsic compression of a coronary artery

Left atrial appendage aneurysm (LAA AN) is a rare disease entity, which can be congenital or acquired in nature. We report an adult patient with LAA AN presenting with anginal chest pain in whom live/real time three‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE) provided incremental value over the two‐dimensional (2D) technique in providing a more comprehensive assessment of the lesion. A literature review of the salient features of LAA AN is also provided in a tabular form.     

What is the role of amnioinfusion in modern day obstetrics?

Amniotic fluid (AF) is a dynamic medium that plays a significant role in fetal well-being. It is production and amount varies with gestational age. It plays a vital role in fetal life as it contains antimicrobial factors, growth factors and it help the fetal lung to grow and expand. Amnioinfusion can be performed either transabdominally or transvaginal. Amnioinfuion can be done antenatally and during labor. Aminoinfusion can be used for diagnostic purposes to enable better visualization of the fetus as liquor is very important acoustic widow for better fetal examination. Amnioinfusion have some therapeutic benefits in conditions like early premature rupture of membrane and may help cases of external cephalic version for breech presentation at term. Amnioinfusion has been shown to reduce the incidence of variable deceleration due to cord compression, reduces the risk of meconium aspiration and it will help reduce cesarean delivery.     

股骨近端抗旋髓内钉治疗老年股骨转子间骨折

正2014年6月~2015年6月,我科采用股骨近端抗旋髓内钉(PFNA)治疗24例老年股骨转子间骨折患者,疗效满意,报道如下。1材料与方法1.1病例资料本组24例,男9例,女15例,年龄60~85(69.6±5.7)岁。骨折按Evans-Jensen分型:Ⅰ型2例,Ⅱ型5例,Ⅲ型11例,Ⅳ型6例。入院至手术时间2~10(6±2.3)d。1.2治疗方法患者入院后予以患肢股骨髁上牵引,早期行低分子肝素皮下注射结合患肢主动踝泵锻炼,高血压、高血糖患者术前调整血压、血糖等。手术采用全身麻醉或腰硬联合麻醉。在C     

个体化护理干预对颈椎骨折伴高位截瘫患者压疮预防管理的影响

目的探讨个体化护理干预对颈椎骨折伴高位截瘫患者压疮预防的作用。方法将84例颈椎骨折伴高位截瘫患者随机分成观察组和对照组,每组各42例。对照组给予常规压疮护理,观察组在常规护理基础上以整体护理模式为理论框架,采用"Barden压疮风险评估表"进行评估,并对评分结果给予个体化针对性护理干预。出院前评价两组患者压疮发生情况。结果对照组42例患者中发生压疮8例,压疮发生率为19%,观察组发生压疮2例,压疮发生率为4.8%,差异有统计学意义(x~2=4.725,P0.05)。结论个体化护理干预能有效降低颈椎骨折伴高位截瘫患者的压疮发生,改善患者生活质量。     

Atorvastatin-loaded micelles with bone-targeted ligand for the treatment of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common bone disorder where the declined bone mass is far more than normal physiological status and usually associated with enhanced fracture risk, reduced bone strength and even deteriorated quality of life. Recent studies showed that statins could exert beneficial effects on bones via promoting osteoblastic activity mediated by increased expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and also by suppressing osteoclast proliferation. In this study, we developed atorvastatin-loaded tetracycline-poly (ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (TC-PEG-PLGA/ATO) micelles for the targeted treatment of osteoporosis. The TC-PEG-PLGA was synthesized under the action of coupling reagents and then ATO was encapsulated through solvent diffusion method with encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of 89.32?±?2.48% and 8.20?±?0.53%, respectively. The release of ATO from micelles could be maintained for more than 48?h in pH 7.4 PBS. Pharmacokinetic results further demonstrated that TC-PEG-PLGA micelles could effectively shield ATO leakage from micelles and prolong their circulation time. Benefiting from TC specifically binding to hydroxyapatite (HAp), TC-PEG-PLGA/ATO micelles exerted good bone-targeted ability, as demonstrated by in vitro HAp affinity assay and biodistribution. Pharmacodynamic studies showed that TC-PEG-PLGA/ATO micelles could effectively improve bone mineral density and bone mechanical strength in osteoporotic rats. These results suggest that TC-PEG-PLGA/ATO micelles hold significant promise for the targeted treatment of osteoporosis.     

中西医结合治疗开放性胫腓骨骨折的疗效及术后感染分析

目的分析中西医结合治疗开放性胫腓骨骨折的临床疗效及术后感染等并发症。方法选取开放性胫腓骨骨折患者164例,随机分为观察组和对照组各82例,观察组予中西医结合治疗,对照组仅予抗菌药物等西药治疗,比较两组患者骨痂生长情况、治疗优良率及并发症发生率。结果观察组术后10周内骨痂出现率为91.46%,对照组为67.07%,观察组患者术后10周内骨痂出现率明显高于对照组;观察组患者临床疗效优良率为92.68%,明显高于对照组的78.05%;观察组并发症总发生率为12.41%;明显高于对照组的25.61%,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论中西医结合方法治疗开放性胫腓骨骨折,骨痂生长快,疗效优良率高,术后并发症少,较少出现术后感染。