Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and neck of femur fractures: Standardising the perioperative management and time to surgery

Demographic projections for hip fragility fractures indicate a rising annual incidence by virtue of a multimorbid, ageing population with more noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are characterised by slow progression and long duration ranging from ischaemic cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to various cancers. Management of this disease burden often involves commencing patients on oral anticoagulants to reduce the risk of thromboembolic events. The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in clinical practice has increased due to their rapid onset of action, short half-life and predictable anticoagulant effects, without the need for routine monitoring. Safe and timely surgical intervention relies on reversal of anticoagulants. However, the lack of specific evidence-based guidelines for the perioperative management of patients on DOACs with hip fractures has proved challenging; in particular, the accessibility of DOAC-specific assays, justification of the cost-benefit ratio of targeted reversal agents and indications for neuraxial anaesthesia. This has led to potentially avoidable delays in surgical intervention. Following a literature review of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics of commonly used DOACs in our region including the role of surrogate markers, we propose a systematic, evidence-based guideline to the perioperative management of hip fractures DOACs. We believe this standardised protocol can be easily replicated between hospitals. We recommend that if patients are deemed suitable for a general anaesthesia, with satisfactory renal function, optimal surgical time should be 24 h following the last ingested dose of DOAC.     

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging improves the nodal yield in neck dissection in oral cavity cancer – A randomized study

IntroductionLymph node yield (LNY) in neck dissection has been identified as a prognostic factor in oral cavity cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of additional use of optical imaging on LNY in therapeutic ND in oral cancer.MethodsConsecutive patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma with clinical neck metastasis planned for primary tumor resection were randomized to conventional neck dissection or near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF)-guided neck dissection, respectively. In the intervention group, patients were injected with ICG-Nanocoll prior to surgery. Intraoperatively, an optical hand-held camera system was used for lymph node identification. Also, NIRF imaging of the neck specimen was performed, and optical signals were pinned with needle markings to guide the pathological examination. The endpoint of the study was LNY per neck side in levels Ib-III.Results31 patients were included with 18 neck sides in the control group and 18 neck sides in the intervention group for evaluation. During NIRF-guided ND, individual lymph nodes could be identified by a bright fluorescent signal and individual tumor-related drainage patterns could be observed in the neck. The LNY in the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the control group (p = 0.032) with a mean of 24 LN (range: 12–33 LN in levels Ib-III compared to 18 LN (range: 10–36 LN) in the control group, respectively.ConclusionsNIRF-guided ND significantly improved the nodal yield compared to the control group. Intraoperative real-time optical imaging enabled direct visualization of tumor-related drainage patterns within the neck lymphatics.     

Vacuum myofascial therapy device for non-specific neck pain. A single blind randomized clinical trial

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a vacuum myofascial therapy device (VT) for improving pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), range of motion (ROM), neck pain-related disability, pain, and quality of life in patients with non-specific neck pain.MethodsA randomized controlled trial in which thirty-eight participants with non-specific neck pain (NP) were randomly assigned to either an experimental (VT) or a comparison physical therapy program (PTP) group. The VT group (n = 19) received five sessions of treatment with a vacuum myofascial therapy device while the PTP group (n = 19) received five sessions of massage, ultrasound therapy (US), and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) over two weeks. The outcome measures were the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), range of motion, quality of life (SF-12), neck disability Index (NDI), and PPTs at the end of treatment and at one-month follow-up.ResultsAlthough both groups experienced improvements in pain, neck disability, range of motion, and pressure pain, these only were statistically significant in the VT group. At one-month follow-up, the VT group still showed improvements in pain, neck disability, and range of motion.DiscussionVacuum myofascial therapy applied with a device offers similar results to other vacuum-based techniques such as cupping therapy. Moreover, in this device the parameters are digitally controlled, which allows for the precise reproduction of treatment.     

CT引导下胶原酶注射颈椎间盘溶解术的临床研究

目的:研究CT引导下胶原酶注射颈椎间盘溶解术治疗颈椎间盘突出症的价值。方法:对15例颈椎间盘突出症患者在CT引导下行胶原酶注射颈椎间盘溶解术。结果:15例均成功,随访1~16个月,优良率93.3%,未见并发症发生。结论:CT引导下行胶原酶注射颈椎间盘溶解术治疗颈椎间盘突出症安全有效,值得进一步研究。     

胫骨骨条植骨结合多根克氏针内固定治疗股骨颈骨折

从1985年起,应用胫骨骨条植骨结合多根克氏针内固定治疗股骨颈骨折21例,经随访7个月—48个月,优17例、良3例、差1例。通过临床观察,用自体胫骨骨条植骨提供活的骨细胞及诱导成骨,能促进加速骨折愈合。本手术方法简单、安全     

全厚皮片移植修复颈部瘢痕挛缩畸形

应用全厚皮片移植修复治疗183例颈部烧伤后瘢痕挛缩畸形患者,术后经3～5年随访观察效果确切.并对全厚皮片术后易发生收缩的问题,进行讨论.     

颈淋巴结清扫手术后乳糜漏的处理

目的 :探讨颈淋巴结清扫手术后乳糜漏的处理方法。方法 :回顾分析颈淋巴结清扫手术 12 85例术后发生乳糜漏 2 1例的临床资料。结果 :乳糜漏的发生率为 1.6 % ,18例经保守治疗治愈 ,3例经再次手术治愈。结论 :对颈淋巴结清扫术后的乳糜漏应及早诊断 ,术中应加强预防并及时处理     

An unusual neck lump: intramuscular haemangioma of the sternocleidomastoid muscle

Neck lumps can often present a diagnostic dilemma, with a wide pre-operative differential diagnosis. We present an unusual case of an intramuscular haemangioma arising in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Pre operative diagnosis is often difficult, as these lesions are extremely rare in the head and neck region and only few sporadic cases have been reported in the literature. We report the presentation diagnosis and management of intramuscular haemangiomas of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.