Purpose
Septic arthritis is a significant complication following arthroscopic surgery, with an estimated overall incidence of less than 1%. Despite the low incidence, an appropriate diagnostic and ...therapeutic pathway is required to avoid serious long-term consequences, eradicate the infection, and ensure good treatment outcomes. The aim of this current review article is to summarize evidence-based literature regarding diagnostic and therapeutic options of post-operative septic arthritis after arthroscopy.
Methods
Through a literature review, up-to-date treatment algorithms and therapies have been identified. Additionally, a supportive new algorithm is proposed for diagnosis and treatment of suspected septic arthritis following arthroscopic intervention.
Results
A major challenge in diagnostics is the differentiation of the post-operative status between a non-infected hyperinflammatory joint versus septic arthritis, due to clinical symptoms, (e.g., rubor, calor, or tumor) can appear identical. Therefore, joint puncture for microbiological evaluation, especially for fast leukocyte cell-count diagnostics, is advocated. A cell count of more than 20.000 leukocyte/µl with more than 70% of polymorphonuclear cells is the generally accepted threshold for septic arthritis.
Conclusion
The therapy is based on arthroscopic or open surgical debridement for synovectomy and irrigation of the joint, in combination with an adequate antibiotic therapy for 6–12 weeks. Removal of indwelling hardware, such as interference screws for ACL repair or anchors for rotator cuff repair, is recommended in chronic cases.
Level of evidence
IV.
Purpose
Most elbow dislocations can be treated conservatively, with surgery indicated in special circumstances. Surgical options, apart from fracture fixation, range from repair or reconstruction of ...the damaged ligaments to static external fixation, usually entailing either a long period of immobilization followed by carefully monitored initiation of movement or dynamic external fixation. In general, no consensus regarding surgical treatment has been reached. A new method of open ligament repair and augmentation of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament using a non-absorbable suture tape in cases of acute and subacute elbow instability following dislocations has been described here, which allows an early, brace-free initiation of the full range of motion. This is the first description of the technique of internal bracing of the lateral elbow with preliminary patient outcome parameters for acute treatment of posterolateral rotatory instability.
Methods
Seventeen patients (14 males and 3 females) with acute or subacute posterolateral elbow instability as a result of dislocation or fracture dislocation were treated in our centre (Sporthopaedicum, Straubing, Regensburg, Germany) from 2014 to 2015 with open LUCL re-fixation and non-absorbable suture tape augmentation. The elbows were actively mobilized immediately after the operation and a maximum bracing period of 3 days.
Results
At 10 month median follow-up, none of the patients showed clinically apparent signs of instability or suffered subluxation or re-dislocation. One patient required re-operation for heterotopic ossification. The median range of motion was from 10° (0–40) to 130° (90–50) and median Oxford, Mayo Elbow Performance score, Simple Elbow Value, and DASH Scores were 41(29–48), 100 (70–100), 83% (60–95), and 18.5 (1.6–66), respectively. All patients reported a complete return to pre-injury level of activity.
Conclusion
Augmentation with a non-absorbable suture tape acting as an ‘Internal Brace’ following an elbow dislocation is a safe adjunct to primary ligament repair and may allow the early mobilization and recovery of elbow stability and range of motion.
Level of evidence
IV.
Unicompartimental and total knee arthroplasty is one of the most successful and most performed operations worldwide. In the last years the number of primary knee arthroplasty increased constantly. ...The aim of this study is to analyze the rising numbers of primary knee arthroplasty and to see how it is used in Germany. In this retrospective study data, provided by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany from 2008 to 2018 was analyzed, using operation codes from the German procedure classification system and characteristics like age, sex and type of the prosthesis. We found a slight increase of unicompartimental and total knee arthroplasty over the investigated 10 years from 150.504 in 2008 up to 168.479 procedures in 2018, with a maximum of 169.334 in 2017. Most patients were female and over 65 years old. Interestingly, there was an obvious decrease of regular TKA in the year 2013, with a relevant impact on the total number of procedures. In the following years the number rised again reaching the former level in 2015 and is still increasing. The highest increase was found in partial knee arthroplasty, with a constant rise every year, starting with 7988 in 2008 up to 21.072 in 2018. In contrast, we found a relevant reduction of constrained prosthesis in primary TKA, whereas the number of semi-constrained prosthesis in primary TKA is again rising after a decrease in 2015. We found that the number of bicondylar TKA and especially UKA increased from 2008 to 2018. Regarding an aging population, we can expect a rising number for Primary knee arthroplasty and in consequence a rising number of revision arthroplasty in the future. This will be a challenging cost factor for the healthcare system in Germany.
Introduction
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) shows promising short- and mid-term results in cuff tear arthropathy. However, functional impairments are described in long-term findings. ...Micromorphological changes in the periarticular musculature could be in part responsible for this, but have not yet been analysed. Thus, histological changes of the deltoid muscle and their association to the functional outcome were evaluated in this study.
Material and methods
A total of 15 patients treated with RSA were included in this prospective study. Functional outcome was assessed using the Constant Score (CS) and the DASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) Score before RSA and after a mean follow-up of 12 months. Deltoid muscle biopsies were harvested intraoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Mean deltoid muscle fibre area (MMFA) was calculated histologically after haematoxylin–eosin staining.
Results
Postoperative shoulder function significantly improved within 12 months (CS: Δ 37.4 ± 22.6,
p
= 0.001; DASH: Δ 27.1 ± 29.1,
p
= 0.006). The MMFA significantly decreased (
p
= 0.02), comparing the results from the intraoperative biopsy (MMFA: 8435.8 µm
2
, SD ± 5995.9 µm
2
) to the 12 months biopsy (MMFA: 5792. µm
2
, SD ± 3223.6 µm
2
). No correlation could be found between the functional score results and MMFA.
Conclusion
Signs of deltoid muscle changes in terms of a reduced MMFA can be detected 1 year after RSA and thus already a long time before long-term functional impairments become apparent. Further studies with larger patient series and longer follow-up periods as well as extended histological assessments and simultaneous radiological examinations are required.
Abstract
Background
For the treatment of unstable thoraco-lumbar burst fractures, a combined posterior and anterior stabilization instead of a posterior-only instrumentation is recommend in the ...current literature due to the instability of the anterior column. Data on restoring the bi-segmental kyphotic endplate angle (BKA) with expandable vertebral body replacements (VBR) and on the mid- to long-term patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) is sparse.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study of patients with traumatic thoraco-lumbar spinal fractures treated with an expandable VBR implant (Obelisc™, Ulrich Medical, Germany) between 2001 and 2015 was conducted. Patient and treatment characteristics were evaluated retrospectively. Radiological data acquisition was completed pre- and postoperatively, 6 months and at least 2 years after the VBR surgery. The BKA was measured and fusion-rates were assessed. The SF-36, EQ-5D and ODI questionnaires were evaluated prospectively.
Results
Ninety-six patients (25 female, 71 male; age: 46.1 ± 12.8 years) were included in the study. An AO Type A4 fracture was seen in 80/96 cases (83.3%). Seventy-three fractures (76.0%) were located at the lumbar spine. Intraoperative reduction of the BKA in
n
= 96 patients was 10.5 ± 9.4° (
p
< 0.01). A loss of correction of 1.0 ± 2.8° at the first follow-up (t1) and of 2.4 ± 4.0° at the second follow-up (t2) was measured (each
p
< 0.05). The bony fusion rate was 97.9%. The total revision rate was 4.2%. Fifty-one patients (53.1% of included patients; age: 48.9 ± 12.4 years) completed the PROM questionnaires after 106.4 ± 44.3 months and therefore were assigned to the respondent group. The mean ODI score was 28.2 ± 18.3%, the mean EQ-5D VAS reached 60.7 ± 4.1 points. Stratified SF-36 results (ISS < and ≥ 16) were lower compared to a reference population.
Conclusion
The treatment of traumatic thoraco-lumbar fractures with an expandable VBR implant lead to a high rate of bony fusion. A significant correction of the BKA could be achieved and no clinically relevant loss of reduction occurred during the follow-up. Even though health related quality of life did not reach the normative population values, overall satisfactory results were reported.
Background
Antibiotic-containing cement and bone graft substitute-coated orthopedic implants provide the advantages of simultaneous local antibiotic delivery and internal stable fixation, aiding in ...both infection eradication and osseous healing. Standardized protocols pertaining to implant coating techniques in various clinical and particularly intraoperative settings are scarce, and available literature is limited. This systematic review aims to provide a summary of the available current literature reporting on custom-made coating techniques of orthopedic implants, indications, outcomes, and associated complications in clinical use.
Methods
A systematic search of the literature in PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Articles reporting specifically on custom-made coating techniques of orthopedic implants in a clinical setting were eligible.
Results
A total of 41 articles with a cumulative total number of 607 cases were included. Indications for treatment mostly involved intramedullary infections after previous plate osteosynthesis or nailing. A variety of implants ranging from intramedullary nails, plates, wires, and rods served as metal cores for coating. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement was most commonly used, with vancomycin as the most frequently added antibiotic additive. Chest tubes and silicone tubes were most often used to mold. Common complications are cement debonding and breakage of the metallic implant.
Conclusion
Adequate coating techniques can reduce the burden of treatment and be associated with favorable outcomes. Lack of general consensus and heterogeneity in the reported literature indicate that the perfect all-in-one implant coating method is yet to be found. Further efforts to improve implant coating techniques are warranted.
Level of evidence
III.
ZusammenfassungFrakturassoziierte Infektionen sind gefürchtete Komplikationen nach operativer Frakturversorgung. Vor allem der distale Unterschenkel ist (z. B. bei Pilon-tibiale-Frakturen) aufgrund ...der schlechten Weichteildeckung einem hohen Infektionsrisiko ausgesetzt. Im besonderen Maße gilt dies v. a. für offene Frakturen in diesem Bereich. Frakturassoziierte Infektionen mit bedeutsamen Weichteilschaden bedürfen, neben der Behandlung der frakturassoziierten Infektion selbst, einer besonderen Aufmerksamkeit aufgrund des Weichteildefekts. Generell gilt das Prinzip, dass ohne eine suffiziente Weichteildeckung eine Ausheilung der frakturassoziierten Infektion nicht möglich ist. Daher gilt es, sowohl den Weichteilschaden als auch die frakturassoziierte Infektion von Anfang an in ein schlüssiges Behandlungskonzept zu bringen. Hierzu ist oftmals eine Kooperation zwischen Unfallchirurgie und Plastischer Chirurgie notwendig und sinnvoll. In Fällen, bei denen das Osteosynthesematerial bzw. Knochen freiliegen, ist die mittel- oder gar langfristige Anwendung von vakuumassistierter Wundtherapie nicht sinnvoll, da diese mit einem höheren Reinfektionsrisiko verbunden ist. Daher sollte in einer interdisziplinären Behandlungsstrategie aus Unfallchirurgie mit Plastischer Chirurgie ein frühzeitiger Weichteilverschluss („ortho-plastic approach“) angestrebt und durchgeführt werden. Sollte dies in der eigenen Klinik nicht möglich sein, so ist eine frühzeitige Verlegung des betroffenen Patienten indiziert, um eine optimale interdisziplinäre Therapie mit zeitnahem Weichteilverschluss und gleichzeitiger unfallchirurgischer Therapie zur Kontrolle der Infektion und knöcherner Ausheilung zu gewährleisten. Freie fasziokutane oder Muskellappenplastiken in Kombination mit adäquater unfallchirurgischer und antibiotischer Therapie führen zu guten und verlässlichen Ergebnissen in diesen Situationen.
We aimed to evaluate the impact of knee periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) by assessing the patients' long-term quality of life and explicitly their psychological wellbeing after successful ...treatment.
Thirty-six patients with achieved eradication of infection after knee PJI were included. Quality of life was evaluated with the EQ-5D and SF-36 outcome instruments as well as with an ICD-10 based symptom rating (ISR) and compared to normative data.
At a follow-up of 4.9 ± 3.5 years the mean SF-36 score was 24.82 ± 10.0 regarding the physical health component and 46.16 ± 13.3 regarding the mental health component compared to German normative values of 48.36 ± 9.4 (
< 0.001) and 50.87 ± 8.8 (
= 0.003). The mean EQ-5D index reached 0.55 ± 0.33 with an EQ-5D VAS rating of 52.14 ± 19.9 compared to reference scores of 0.891 (
< 0.001) and 68.6 ± 1.1 (
< 0.001). Mean scores of the ISR revealed the psychological symptom burden on the depression scale.
PJI patients still suffer from significantly lower quality of life compared to normative data, even years after surgically successful treatment. Future clinical studies should focus on patient-related outcome measures. Newly emerging treatment strategies, prevention methods, and interdisciplinary approaches should be implemented to improve the quality of life of PJI patients.
We aimed to evaluate the long-term impact of fracture-related infection (FRI) on patients' physical health and psychological wellbeing. For this purpose, quality of life after successful surgical ...treatment of FRIs of long bones was assessed.
A total of 37 patients treated between November 2009 and March 2019, with achieved eradication of infection and stable bone consolidation after long bone FRI, were included. Quality of life was evaluated with the EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D) and German Short-Form 36 (SF-36) outcome instruments as well as with an International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (ICD)-10 based symptom rating (ISR) and compared to normative data.
With a mean follow-up of 4.19 years (SD 2.7) after the last surgery, the mean SF-36 score was 40.1 (SD 14.6) regarding the physical health component and 48.7 (SD 5.1) regarding the mental health component, compared to German normative values of 48.4 (SD 9.2) (p < 0.001) and 50.9 (SD 8.8) (p = 0.143). The mean EQ-5D index reached 0.76 (SD 0.27) with a mean EQ-5D visual analogue scale (VAS) rating of 65.7 (SD 22.7) compared to reference scores of 0.88 (p < 0.001) and 72.9 (p < 0.001). Mean scores of the ISR did not reveal significant psychological symptom burden, while an individual analysis showed moderate to severe impairments in 21.6% (n = 8) of the patients.
Even a mean 4.2 years (SD 2.7) after surgically successful treatment of FRI of long bones, patients report significantly lower quality of life in comparison to normative data. Future clinical studies on FRIs should focus on patient-related outcome measures enabling best possible shared treatment decision-making. Prevention methods and interdisciplinary approaches should be implemented to improve the overall quality of life of FRI patients. Cite this article:
2021;10(5):321-327.
Clinical and radiological outcomes of operatively treated unstable pelvic ring fractures are well documented, whereas little is known about the patient's related outcome. The purpose of this study is ...to evaluate the patient-reported outcome after minimal invasive treatment of pelvic ring fractures using the SF-36 and EQ-5D medical outcome scores.
Patients with unstable pelvic ring fractures treated in our trauma department with a minimal invasive screw-rod system between 01/2004 and 12/2014 were included. Next to patient data (sex, age), injury related details (fracture type, additional injuries, Injury Severity Score (ISS)) as well as operation details (method, time to operation, general complications, adverse events associated with the surgical procedure, revision surgery, fracture reduction) were assessed. The patient related outcome was evaluated using the SF-36 and the EQ-5D score.
A total of 105 patients (57 men; 48 women; mean age 56 ± 21 years) were identified as candidates for the study. 60 patients completed the SF-36 and EQ-5D score after a mean follow-up of five years (60.5 months (14-142 months)). Of these patients 77% were multiply injured with a mean ISS of 26 ± 19. Within the respondent group 22% showed type B and 78% type C pelvic ring fractures. In 82% the dorsal pelvic ring fracture was stabilized using a minimally invasive transiliac internal fixator, in 18% an iliolumbar fixation was performed respectively. The mean physical component score of the SF-36 was 37.9 ± 12.0, the mean mental component score was 49.8 ± 12.5. The mean EQ-5D VAS reached 70.5 ± 24.4.
Patients being multiply injured and treated with minimal invasive treated dorsal pelvic ring fractures were suffering more especially concerning physical domains compared to the healthy reference population. Nevertheless, the overall patient-related outcome is comparable to pelvic ring fractures in general.
Clinical Trial Registry University of Regensburg Z-2017-0878-3 . Registered 22. July 2017. Retrospectively registered.
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