Randomised controlled trial of a comprehensive protocol for preventing constipation following total hip arthroplasty.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a comprehensive protocol for constipation prevention. BACKGROUND: Constipation is a common problem for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), yet sparse evidence is available to guide constipation prevention after THA. DESIGN: Randomised controlled superiority clinical trial. METHODS: This randomised controlled study was carried out according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). A total of 80 THA patients were randomised to receive only preoperative education about lifestyle or the combination of education with postoperative abdominal massage and polyethylene glycol 4,000 (Forlax®). Efficacy outcomes included rates of postoperative constipation and enema rescue, as well as time to first postoperative defecation and readmission within 30 days. Safety outcomes were number and type of adverse events. RESULTS: Patients who received combination treatment showed a significantly lower rate of postoperative constipation during hospitalisation than patients who received only preoperative education (25% versus 55%), and they showed a significantly lower rate of enema rescue (12.5% versus 40%). Many more patients receiving combination treatment experienced their first defecation within two postoperative days than patients who received only preoperative education (62.5% versus 35.9%). In contrast, the two groups were similar in terms of constipation rate on postoperative days 15 and 30, rate of readmission within 30 days and rate of postoperative adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that our comprehensive protocol can relieve constipation after THA, reduce the need for enema rescue and shorten time to first defecation without sacrificing safety. More work is needed to optimise and develop this protocol further. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Constipation is a distressing problem that frequently occurs after THA. This study confirmed that a comprehensive protocol including preoperative education, postoperative abdominal massage and polyethylene glycol 4,000 can effectively relieve constipation after THA without sacrificing safety.

What is the optimal approach for tranexamic acid application in patients with unilateral total hip arthroplasty?

PURPOSE: In the total hip arthroplasty (THA), the optimal administration route of tranexamic acid (TXA) remains controversial. This study was designed to investigate the impact of topical injection of TXA on blood loss during primary unilateral THA as well as short-term safety and adverse side effects compared with intravenous administration of TXA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 75 patients who underwent unilateral THA were randomly divided into 3 groups receiving intra-articular TXA (IA group), intravenous TXA (IV group) or no TXA (control group C). Blood loss, postoperative drainage, covert blood loss, total blood volume, the number of blood transfusions after surgery and transfusion rate, incidence of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism were recorded and evaluated in the three groups after 1 week and 1 month. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the quantity of postoperative drainage, covert blood loss, total blood volume, the number of blood transfusions after surgery and transfusion rates between the three groups (P < 0.05), but blood loss during surgery showed no significant differences among the three groups (P > 0.05). In the IV group, 1 patient suffered from deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs and in the C group, 2 patients suffered from superficial venous thrombosis of the lower limbs 2 and 4 days after surgery, respectively. In the IA group no complications occurred during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Preoperative intravenous TXA and postoperative topical TXA significantly reduced postoperative blood loss and transfusion rates among the patients who underwent primary unilateral THA and the short-term safety was good. The data suggest that topical injection of TXA is safer and more effective, without postoperative complications.

[Application of "diamond concept" in treatment of femoral shaft fractures nonunion after intramedullary fixation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of the treatment under the guidance of "diamond concept" for femoral shaft fractures nonunion after intramedullary fixation. METHODS: Between January 2014 and December 2016, 21 cases of femoral shaft fractures nonunion after intramedullary fixation were treated with auxiliary plate fixation combined with autogenous iliac graft, and autologous bone marrow concentrate and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel under the guidance of the "diamond concept". There were 13 males and 8 females, with an average age of 32.5 years (range, 17-48 years). All fractures were closed femoral shaft fractures. Four patients underwent internal fixation with plate and resulted in nonunion, then they were fixed with intramedullary nails, but did not heal either. The rest 17 patients were fixed with intramedullary nailing. Fracture nonunion classification: 4 cases of hypertrophic nonunion, 17 cases of atrophic nonunion; the length of bone defect was 1-3 mm; the duration from the last treatment to the current treatment was 10-23 months (mean, 14.3 months). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, the time between operation and full loading, fracture healing time, and complications were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the imaging system of fracture healing of the extremities (RUST) of patients before operation and at last follow-up were recorded to evaluate the fracture healing; the function of the affected limb was evaluated according to the Schatzker-Lambert efficacy score standard at last follow-up. RESULTS: The operation time was 105-160 minutes, with an average of 125.6 minutes; the intraoperative blood loss was 160-580 mL, with an average of 370.5 mL. All incisions healed by first intention, without vascular or nerve injury. All patients were followed up 22-46 months (mean, 26.5 months). All the fractures healed, with a fracture healing time of 3-7 months (mean, 4.8 months). During the follow-up, there was no infection, loosening, implant breakage, re-fracture, and other complications. The VAS score at last follow-up was 0.8±0.3, showing significant difference ( t=7.235, P=0.000) when compared with preoperative score (5.2±3.7); the RUST score was 3.4±0.3, which was significantly higher than the preoperative score (1.5±0.7) ( t=8.336, P=0.000). According to the Schatzker-Lambert effectiveness evaluation standard, the limb function was excellent in 16 cases, good in 4 cases, fair in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 95.42%. CONCLUSION: Nonunion after intramedullary fixation of femoral fracture treated with auxiliary plate combined with autogenous iliac graft, autogenous bone marrow concentration and PRP gel in accordance with the "diamond concept" can not only restore the stability of the fracture ends, but also improves the biological environment of the fracture site, and can improve the rate of fracture healing.