Partial revision of a dislocated periprosthetic tibial fracture after total ankle replacement with a stemmed implant and plate fixation: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAR) procedures have become more reliable and incidence is increasing. A growing number of postoperative complications can be expected and should be correctly addressed. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 43-year-old woman suffering from severe ankle osteoarthritis underwent TAR (Stryker's Infinity with Prophecy alignment guides, uncemented tibial component and cemented talus component). After a fall, one month after the surgery, she presented with a fracture of the medial malleolus and an anterior periprosthetic fracture of the tibia, with anterior dislocation of the tibial prosthetic component. Fracture fixation and partial revision surgery was planned using the same anterior surgical access. To restore length, rotation and joint articulation, the medial malleolus was first reduced and synthesized with a plate and 6 screws through additional minimally invasive medial ankle incisions. Once the medial malleolus was stabilized, the already mobilized tibial component was removed. Freehand cuts under fluoroscopic guidance on the anterior surface of the tibia were performed. After a final check with a trial component, a Stryker's Inbone II stem, which matched the previously inserted talar component, was implanted and partially cemented to fill the remaining bone gaps. DISCUSSION: Only few case reports of periprosthetic ankle fractures exist, and none of them were similar to ours. There are no published precedents for this revision approach from a stemless to a stemmed tibial implant without changing the talar implant. CONCLUSION: Partial revision after a complex periprosthetic fracture results in a satisfactory outcome if surgery is performed in specialized centers.

Chondroprotective effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on human cartilage explants.

This study investigated the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on proteoglycan (PG) metabolism of human articular cartilage explants from patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Human cartilage explants, recovered from lateral and medial femoral condyles, were classified according to the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) and graded based on Outerbridge scores. Explants cultured in the absence and presence of IL-1ß were treated with PEMF (1.5 mT, 75 Hz) or IGF-I alone or in combination for 1 and 7 days. PG synthesis and release were determined. Results showed that explants derived from lateral and medial condyles scored OA grades I and III, respectively. In OA grade I explants, after 7 days exposure, PEMF and IGF-I significantly increased (35) S-sulfate incorporation 49% and 53%, respectively, compared to control, and counteracted the inhibitory effect of IL 1ß (0.01 ng/ml). The combined exposure to PEMF and IGF-I was additive in all conditions. Similar results were obtained in OA grade III cartilage explants. In conclusion, PEMF and IGF-I augment cartilage explant anabolic activities, increase PG synthesis, and counteract the catabolic activity of IL-1ß in OA grades I and III. We hypothesize that both IGF-I and PEMF have chondroprotective effects on human articular cartilage, particularly in early stages of OA.

Patella resurfacing in posterior stabilised total knee arthroplasty: a follow-up study in 56 patients.

Patellar resurfacing in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. This study evaluates the results of resurfacing and non-resurfacing of the patella. Fifty-six patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee were enrolled in a prospective randomised clinical trial using a posterior-stabilised TKA. Evaluations were done preoperatively and after 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Disease specific (Knee Society Score or KSS) and functional (patella-related activities) outcomes were measured. Patient satisfaction and anterior knee pain questionnaires were completed. No patients were lost to follow-up. No significant differences were found between groups with regard to the clinical part of the Knee Society score (KSS) not even in obese patients, the ability of performing daily activities involving the patellofemoral joint, and patient satisfaction. Significant differences were found regarding the functional section of the KSS, passive flexion, anterior knee pain and patellar tilt and subluxation. In conclusion, the authors believe that, for the implant studied, patellar resurfacing can be indicated.

Extrapyramidal symptoms and residual psychopathology with low-dose neuroleptics.

Residual psychopathology associated with EPS has been mainly assessed in experimental studies where neuroleptics were administered at standard, fixed dosages. The present study evaluates residual psychopathology in 69 schizophrenic patients treated with moderate, flexible doses of neuroleptics (430 mg eq. CPZ) at the out-patient Community Mental Health Services (CMHSs) in Bologna. Akathisia was present in 27.5 per cent of patients and parkinsonism in 27.5 per cent. A more severe psychopathological state was associated with both side-effects, as seen by significantly higher BPRS global scores. This severity was due to tension and anxiety-depression symptoms in patients with akathisia and to negative symptomatology in patients with parkinsonism, as shown by significant associations with BPRS subscales ANS-DEP and NEG, respectively. In conclusion, the present study underlines that EPS are frequent even in an out-patient setting where moderate neuroleptic doses are employed, and more importantly shows that in these conditions, the residual psychopathology resulting from EPS is clinically very significant. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Clinical experience with polyclonal IgM-enriched immunoglobulins in a group of patients affected by sepsis after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency, in terms of decreasing overall mortality (primary endpoint), of an immunoglobulin M (IgM)-enriched, polyclonal intravenous immunoglobulin preparation (IVIg) (Pentaglobin; Biotest AG, Dreieich, Germany) in the treatment of a group of patients affected by sepsis after cardiac surgery. A secondary endpoint was to evaluate which subgroup, on the basis of the infectious state when the patient enrolled, could benefit the most from the treatment. Another secondary endpoint was the evaluation of an improvement in the severity score or in other variables such as Glasgow Coma Scale; arterial pressure (systolic, average, and diastolic); heart rate; central venous pressure; cardiac index; respiratory rate; PaO(2), F(I)O(2), and the ratio of PaO(2) to F(I)O(2); pH, base excess, and bicarbonate; C reactive protein and leukocytes; platelets, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, and anti-thrombin III; creatinine; and bilirubin. DESIGN: Retrospective case-controlled study. SETTING: Cardiovascular intensive care unit of a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-six patients who developed sepsis in the postoperative period after cardiac surgery were admitted to the cardiovascular intensive care unit from June 1, 2001, to June 30, 2003: 30 patients (45.5%) had valvular surgery, 18 (27.5%) had myocardial revascularization, 14 (21%) had thoracic aorta surgery, and 4 (6%) had other surgery. INTERVENTIONS: From the 66 patients diagnosed with sepsis, 22 patients (IVIg group) received IgM-enriched immunoglobulins in addition to the conventional therapy, whereas the other 44 patients (control group) were treated only with conventional therapy. The decision as to whether or not to administer the immunoglobulins was made by physicians in the intensive care unit. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 66 patients, 8 patients (3 from the IVIg group and 5 from the control group) had sepsis, 47 patients (15 from the IVIg group and 32 from the control group) had severe sepsis, and 11 patients had septic shock (4 from the IVIg group and 7 from the control group). The overall mortality rate was 31.8% without significant differences between groups (22.7% IVIg group v 36.4% control group, p = not significant). Among the 47 patients affected by severe sepsis, those from the control group had a mortality rate significantly higher than that of the IVIg group (12/32 [37.5%] v 1/15 [6.6%], p = 0.036 [2-sided Fisher exact test]). The 70-day survival rate was significantly higher in the IVIg group than in the control group (log-rank test, p < 0.04). No significant differences were found between study groups in Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II or SOFA scores. CONCLUSIONS: The polyclonal IgM-enriched immunoglobulins did not significantly reduce the mortality rate in the overall study population. However, in the subgroup of patients with severe sepsis, they improved the survival rate significantly.