Ensayo clínico para determinar si el momento de administración del ácido tranexámico en la cirugía de prótesis total de rodilla con torniquete influye en el sangrado perioperatorio

Background and objectivesThe ideal timing of tranexamic acid administration in total knee arthroplasty with tourniquet remains unclear. Our primary objective was to prove if administering it before surgical incision, instead of before releasing the tourniquet, reduces postoperative bleeding. A second objective was to determine whether a second dose reduces post-operative bleeding.Material and methodsA prospective, double-blind clinical trial was performed on 212 patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty. They were randomised into 4 groups. Tranexamic acid was administered before the surgical incision in “pre-induction groups” (1 and 2), and just before the tourniquet release in “pre-release groups” (3 and 4). Groups 2 and 4 received a second dose 3 hours post-surgery. Main outcome was postoperative bleeding (visible blood loss and calculated total bleeding). Secondary outcomes were haemoglobin variations, complications and transfusion rate.ResultsThe mean calculated total bleeding was 1563 ml (95%CI: 1445 to 1681) in preinduction groups versus 1576 ml (95%CI: 1439 to 1713) in pre-release groups (P = .9); 1579 ml (95%CI: 1452 to 1706) in single-dose groups versus 1559 ml (95%CI: 1431 to 1686) in double-dose groups (P = .82). One patient was transfused. The mean haemoglobin at discharge was 10.4 g/dl (95%CI: 10.2 to 10.7) in singledose groups versus 10.8 (95%CI: 10.6 to 11.1) in double-dose groups (P = .06).ConclusionsThere were no differences in bleeding or transfusion regarding the time of tranexamic acid administration. The second dose had not impact on outcomes.Trial registration: EudraCT 2016-000071-24.     

Avanzando en la sistematización del benchmarking en servicios de salud pública

Continuous management improvement should be an aspiration for all public sector organizations. External comparison or benchmarking identifies good practices in similar organizations. For public health services, it is not easy to obtain such indicators. The objectives of this paper are to describe the process of conducting a benchmarking exercise for a public health agency, and to share its results. For this purpose, agencies that may be compared were identified, and their websites were searched for annual reports or other documents with indicators of the activities or results of public health services. Limitations and contextual aspects of the indicators of the different organizations were identified, as well as ways to improve their comparability. Finally, a set of 19 indicators is proposed, as an initial core for quality management comparisons.     

六西格玛在肿瘤标志物质量目标选择上的应用

目的应用6σ理论对肿瘤标志物项目的分析性能进行评价，并初步确定各项目的质量目标。 方法收集本实验室2018年1至12月室内质控数据和国家卫生健康委临床检验中心室间质量评价结果，以生物学变异导出的质量规范和国家室间质量评价标准作为允许总误差(TEa)计算6项肿瘤标志物的σ水平，并依据质量目标选择流程图和肿瘤标志物分析性能验证图评价肿瘤标志物的分析性能，进而为肿瘤标志物选择合适的质量目标。 结果应用不同层级的生物学变异导出的质量规范和国家室间质量评价标准，肿瘤标志物项目的σ水平存在显著差异；依据质量目标选择流程图：选择生物学变异导出的"适当的"质量规范作为CA125项目的质量目标，选择生物学变异导出的"最低的"质量规范作为t-PSA、CEA、AFP、CA199和CA153项目的质量目标。 结论6σ能够客观评价肿瘤标志物的分析性能，并为实验室质量目标的选择提供重要的参考价值。     

Prospective comparative study of intraoperative “Towel clip test” and “Vertical patella test” assessing lateral retinaculum tightness in patients undergoing TKA

BackgroundProper patellar tracking is one of the most important aspect of TKA to ensure good functional outcome. A patellar tracking problem noted intraoperatively serves as a warning sign and should prompt the surgeon to reassess position of each component. Various tests are there to assess lateral retinaculum tightness viz. "No thumb test", "Towel clip test". A new test "Vertical patella test" is described to assess lateral retinaculum tightness. A study was conducted to assess the effectiveness, correlation and validity of two techniques.Materials & MethodsPatients >50 years of age and with diagnosis of Osteoarthritis knee having less than 30 varus and flexion deformity going in for primary TKA were selected with a sample size of 100 knees in a tertiary care centre. Revision cases or patients with flexion contracture more than 30, complex knee surgery; with pre existing patellar tilt were excluded from study.ResultsResults of both tests were found to correlate in 75% of case with sensitivity of 96.65% and specificity of 75.00%. Kappa came out to be 0.634 which shows good agreement of vertical patella test and towel clip test. Result was computed using excel and SPSS and was found to be significant with p value< 0.05. Lateral retinaculum release was done in 8 knees.ConclusionsVertical patella test correlates with towel clip test, is easy to perform and saves time. The limitation of our study was small sample size.     

Acute total hip arthroplasty for older patients with acetabular fractures: A meta-analysis

ObjectiveMultiple treatment options for acetabular fractures in geriatric patients exist. However, no large-scale studies have reported the outcomes of acute total hip arthroplasty (THA) in this patient population. We systematically evaluated all available evidence to characterize clinical outcomes, complications, and revisions of acute THA for acetabular fractures in geriatric patients.MethodsMeta-analysis of 21 studies of 430 acetabular fractures with mean follow-up of 44 months (range, 17−97 months). Two independent researchers searched and evaluated the databases of Ovid, Embase, and United States National Library of Medicine using a Boolean search string up to December 2019. Population demographics and complications, including presence of heterotopic ossification (HO), dislocation, infection, revision rate, neurological deficits, and venous thromboembolic event (VTE), were recorded and analyzed.ResultsWeighted mean Harris Hip Score was 83.3 points, and 20% of the patients had reported complications. The most common complication was HO, with a rate of 19.5%. Brooker grade III and IV HO rates were lower at 6.8%. Hip dislocation occurred at a rate of 6.1%, 4.1% of patients developed VTE, deep infection occurred in 3.8%, and neurological complications occurred in 1.9%. Although the revision rate was described in most studies, we were unable to perform a survival analysis because the time to each revision was described in only a few studies. The revision rate was 4.3%.ConclusionsAcute THA is a viable option for treatment of acetabular fracture and can result in acceptable clinical outcomes and survivorship rates in older patients but with an associated complication rate of approximately 20%. Considering the limited treatment options, THA might be a viable alternative for appropriately selected patients.