Clinic of Hope: bridging infectious disease and orthopaedic surgery in prosthetic joint infection management.

Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) following total joint arthroplasty are a significant and costly complication. To address fragmented care typically seen with separate management, we established a combined infectious disease and orthopaedic surgery clinic at Duke Health in July 2020. This clinic focuses on patients experiencing acute deterioration or multiple PJI episodes, often at the stage where amputation is the only option offered. From July 2021 to March 2024, the clinic completed 974 visits with 319 unique patients. The clinic maintained a low no-show rate of 5.0%. Treatment plans included procedures such as debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (38%), as well as implant explantation and one-stage exchange (32% each), with amputation required in only 4% of cases. The integrated clinic model facilitated real-time, multidisciplinary care, improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency. This approach offers a promising model for managing complex infections.

Patient Perceptions and Experiences With Maggot Debridement Therapy for Managing Chronic Wounds.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe patient experiences and satisfaction with use of maggot debridement therapy (MDT) for hard-to-heal wounds. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The sample comprised 60 participants, 60% were male (n = 36). Their mean age was 62.9 (SD = 20) years. Almost half of participants had lower extremity wounds (n = 26; 43.3%), diabetic foot ulcers (n = 18; 30%), and pressure injuries (n = 9; 15%). Most received maggot therapy via biobags (n = 36; 60%). METHODS: Participants completed a questionnaire designed for purposes of the study that queried demographic and pertinent clinical characteristics, current health status including current topical therapies, and duration of their chronic wound. Nine items queried emotional responses prior to MDT, the amount and method of the maggot therapy, discomfort experienced during therapy, and sources of information regarding this treatment. RESULTS: Emotional responses before starting MDT included disgust (n = 30, 50%), anxiety (n = 26, 43.3%), doubts about its effectiveness (n =20, 33.3%), and disbelief (n = 11, 18.3%). Approximately one-third of participants reported feelings of biting, itching, and fear of the maggots. Despite these feelings, a majority (n = 38, 63.3%) indicated that they were pleased with treatment outcome and willing to undergo additional MDT if needed. CONCLUSIONS: While a majority of participants with nonhealing chronic wounds reported negative emotions association with MDT, more than half indicated that they were pleased with the outcome of treatment and willing to undergo repeat treatment if indicated.

Meta-analysis finds recurrent infection is more common after endovascular than after open repair of infected abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: Controversy has continued regarding the use of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) vs open aneurysm repair (OAR) for infected abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). In the present study, we investigated the comparative outcomes of EVAR and OAR for the treatment of infected AAAs. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through May 2021. We included studies that had described both EVAR and OAR for the treatment of infected AAAs. The primary endpoints were the rates of recurrent infection and related rupture and/or death. Perioperative and 1-year mortality and readmissions and reinterventions were also analyzed. RESULTS: Fourteen observational studies describing a total of 1203 patients (EVAR, 359 [29.8%]; OAR, 844 [70.2%]) were eligible for qualitative analysis. The baseline characteristics included diabetes mellitus (33.2%), fever at presentation (71.6%), rupture at diagnosis (26.1%), and positive blood cultures (52.5%). The mean follow-up period ranged from 12 to 40 months. The use of EVAR became more prevalent in recent years (2016-2020, 32.4%) compared with the former period (2010-2015, 13.8%; P < .0001). Fenestrated, branched, or concomitant visceral debranching EVAR was performed in 6.1% of cases. In OAR, surgical debridement was consistently performed, and in situ reconstruction was applied in 82.2% and an omental flap in 51.5%. In nine studies considered for quantitative analysis, the patients' background (EVAR, n = 264; OAR, n = 274) were statistically balanced. The crude rates of recurrent infection and related rupture or death were 13.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.8%-18.5%) and 4.9% (95% CI 1.8%-8.0%), respectively. The pooled analyses depicted significantly higher rates of recurrent infection after EVAR than after OAR (relative risk [RR], 2.42; 95% CI, 1.80-3.27; P < .0001; I2 = 0%). Recurrent infection-related rupture or death (RR, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.70-3.23; P = .29; I2 = 0%), perioperative death (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.39-1.65; P = .55; I2 = 35%), 1-year mortality (hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.97-1.28; P =.13; I2 = 0%), and readmission or reintervention (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.74-1.82; P =.52; I2 = 0%) were not significantly different statistically between the two groups. Funnel plots showed no evidence of publication bias. Sensitivity analyses of leave-one-out meta-analysis confirmed higher rates of recurrent infection after EVAR. CONCLUSIONS: EVAR has become more prevalent as the initial treatment of infected AAAs. Although operative and 1-year survival were similar between OAR and EVAR groups, recurrent infection was more frequent after EVAR. This limitation should be weighed in selecting patients for EVAR in infected AAAs. Postoperative graft and infection surveillance are critical, especially after EVAR.

Impacto da COVID-19 no perfil cirúrgico dos pacientes de cirurgia vascular em serviço de referência em Curitiba / Impact of COVID-19 on the surgical profile of vascular surgery patients at a tertiary hospital in Curitiba, Brazil

Resumo Contexto Na pandemia de covid-19, os serviços de saúde diminuíram os atendimentos e procedimentos eletivos. Pacientes de cirurgia vascular são grupo de risco para adquirir formas graves da infecção, ao mesmo tempo que são suscetíveis a apresentar complicações de suas doenças de base caso não tenham acompanhamento rotineiro. Dessa forma, faz-se necessário entender os impactos e as consequências diretas e indiretas da pandemia com relação aos pacientes vasculares. Objetivos Avaliar o impacto de 1 ano de pandemia em um serviço de Cirurgia Vascular, assim como a mudança do perfil de cirurgias no mesmo período. Métodos Foi feita a análise de prontuários de pacientes submetidos a cirurgias eletivas e de urgência entre 2019 e 2021. Em conjunto, foi realizada uma revisão de literatura com as palavras-chave "cirurgia vascular", "covid-19" e "amputações". Os dados foram analisados com o programa computacional Stata/SE v.14.1 (StataCorpLP, EUA). Resultados Foram identificadas 1.043 cirurgias no período de estudo, sendo 51,6% pré-pandemia e 48,4% durante a pandemia. Observou-se redução no número de cirurgias eletivas e aumento no número de amputações de membros inferiores e desbridamentos cirúrgicos. Foi possível observar também aumento de pacientes com doença arterial obstrutiva periférica com classificação de Rutherford avançada, assim como de casos de pé diabético. Conclusões A diminuição dos atendimentos eletivos e o receio dos pacientes em procurar os serviços de saúde durante o período da pandemia são os prováveis motivos que justificam o aumento da gravidade dos quadros dos pacientes, com maior necessidade de amputação de membros inferiores, desbridamento cirúrgico e mudanças no perfil de cirurgia do serviço.

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare services reduced the number of elective procedures performed. Vascular surgery patients are a group at risk of contracting severe forms of the infection, but are also susceptible to complications of their underlying diseases if they do not receive routine care. It is therefore necessary to understand the direct and indirect impacts and consequences of the pandemic on vascular patients. Objectives To assess the impact of 1 year of the pandemic on a vascular surgery service and changes to the profile of surgeries during the same period. Methods An analysis was conducted of the medical records of patients who underwent elective and emergency surgery from 2019 to 2021. A review of the literature was also conducted, using the search terms "vascular surgery", "COVID-19", and "amputations". Data were analyzed with Stata/SE v.14.1 (StataCorpLP, United States). Results A total of 1,043 surgeries were identified during the study period, 51.6% conducted pre-pandemic and 48.4% performed during the pandemic. There was a reduction in the number of elective surgeries and an increase in the number of lower limb amputations and surgical debridements. Increases were also observed in the proportion of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease with advanced Rutherford classifications and in the number of cases of diabetic foot. Conclusions The reduction in elective care and patients' reluctance to seek health services during the pandemic are the probable causes of increased severity of patient status, with greater need for lower limb amputation and surgical debridement and changes to the profile of the surgery performed at the service.

Maggot Debridement Therapy for Chronic Leg and Foot Ulcers: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: To critically analyze the existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the clinical, economic, and psychological implications of maggot debridement therapy (MDT). DATA SOURCES: An exhaustive literature search for English-language publications was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed. STUDY SELECTION: Keywords used for the search were based on the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) framework. The titles, abstracts, and relevant full-text articles were screened. Seven RCTs were selected after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Data pertaining to the primary and secondary outcomes of each study were extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS: The data extracted were evaluated and categorized into clinical, economic, and psychological outcomes pertaining to MDT. A judicious evaluation of these outcomes was made, and the following conclusions were drawn. CONCLUSIONS: There exists heterogeneity in the extant RCTs, but MDT appears to be effective for a quick early debridement. For diabetic foot ulcers, MDT improves debridement, controls infection, and enhances wound healing. In chronic peripheral vascular disease ulcers, it aids in early debridement, but the final outcome is equivocal. Further robust integrated health economic and parallel qualitative assessment studies are recommended to understand the cost-effectiveness and patient acceptability and experience.

Retroperitoneoscopic debridement and internal fixation for the treatment of lumbar tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT: To describe the retroperitoneoscopic debridement technique and evaluate the clinical outcome of internal fixation for the treatment of lumbar tuberculosis.Twenty-eight patients were performed conventional laparoendoscopic technique (n = 17) or laparoendoscopic single-site technique (n = 11). Antituberculosis chemotherapy and thoracolumbosacral orthosis were given to all patients. The clinical outcomes were evaluated with preoperative and postoperative Visual Analog Scale, and radiographs with respect to sagittal angle and fusion status.Average time of the 28 procedures was 220.6 ±â€Š50.9 min (180-365 min). The average intraoperative blood loss was 108.6 ±â€Š95.3 mL (50-400 mL). All patients showed significant improvement of their Visual Analog Scale back pain score at follow-up and were classified as having a radiographic fusion in this study. The mean sagittal angle was 11.2 ±â€Š3.6° before operation, significantly improved to 3.7 ±â€Š2.4° after operation. There were no recurrent infections during the follow-up period. Complications included loosening of anterior fixation and temporary deficit of the sympathetic nerve.Retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach with CO2 insufflation technique is a challenging but safe and effective procedure for lumbar spine tuberculosis. Retroperitoneal laparoendoscopic single-site can be used for anterior lumbar spine surgery, offer exposure for L1 through L5.

An Outcomes Review of 330 Sternal Wound Reconstructions: Timing of Closure Does Make a Difference.

BACKGROUND: Sternal wound infection and dehiscence following cardiac surgery remain difficult clinical problems with high morbidity. Older classification systems regarding timing to reconstruction do not take into account recent improvements in critical care, wound vacuum-assisted closure use, or next-generation antibiotic therapies, which may prolong time to reconstruction. METHODS: Records of patients undergoing sternal wound reconstruction performed by the senior author (J.A.A.) from 1996 to 2018 at a high-volume cardiac surgery center were reviewed. Indications included sternal wound infection or dehiscence. All patients underwent single-stage removal of hardware, débridement, and flap closure. Patients were divided into two groups based on timing of wound closure after cardiac surgery: less than 30 days or greater than or equal to 30 days. RESULTS: Of the 505 patients identified during the study period, 330 had sufficient data for analysis. Mean time to sternal wound surgery was 15.7 days in the early group compared to 64.4 days (p < 0.01) beyond 30 days. Postdébridement cultures were positive in 72 percent versus 62.5 percent of patients (p = 0.11), whereas rates of postoperative infection were significantly higher in the delayed group: 1.9 percent versus 9.5 percent (p < 0.01). Partial wound dehiscence rates were also higher after 30 days (1.9 percent versus 11.3 percent; p < 0.01), whereas total length of stay was decreased. Use of wound vacuum-assisted closure was significantly associated with reconstruction beyond 30 days (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although performing sternal wound reconstruction more than 30 days after initial cardiac surgery was associated with a shorter overall hospital length of stay and higher extubation rates in the operating room, these patients also had elevated postoperative infection and wound complication rates. The authors thus recommend not delaying definitive surgical reconstruction when possible. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Bias Does Not Exist in Treating Knee Periprosthetic Joint Infection Among Patients With Substance Use Disorder.

Debridement, antibiotics with implant retention (DAIR), and 2-stage revision are standard surgical interventions for treating knee periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Patients with substance use disorder (SUD), especially addictive drug use disorder (DUD), have been shown to receive inferior medical care in many specialties compared with nonusers. The authors identified patients with a diagnosis of PJI after knee arthroplasty who received either DAIR or 2-stage revision with the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2010 to 2014. Patients were stratified into 2 groups, patients with DUD and nonusers, based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, criteria. Descriptive analysis was conducted to show the national trend for knee PJI treatment among the 2 patient groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare the prevalence of DAIR and 2-stage revision between these 2 groups, adjusted for likely confounders, including age, sex, income, race, and comorbidities. Among the 11,331 patients with knee infection, 139 (1.23%) had DUD. Compared with nonusers, patients with DUD were significantly younger (P<.001), had more chronic conditions (P<.001), and were predominantly in lower income quartiles (P=.046). The 2 groups did not differ in sex and race (P=.072 and P=.091, respectively). The authors found that 30.22% of patients with DUD and 36.36% of nonusers received DAIR. The difference in these proportions was not statistically significant (P=.135). The results did not change after adjustment for confounding factors (P=.509). The findings suggested that bias does not exist among orthopedic surgeons who choose DAIR or 2-stage revision for knee PJI among patients with DUD. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(3):e385-e389.].

Low-energy Gunshot-induced Tibia Fractures: What Proportion Develop Complications?

BACKGROUND: Gunshot injuries of the extremities are common in the United States, especially among people with nonfatal gunshot wounds. Controversy persists regarding the proper management for low-energy gunshot-induced fractures, likely stemming from varying reports on the likelihood of complications. There has yet to be published a study on a large cohort of patients with gunshot-induced tibia fractures on which to base our understanding of complications after this injury. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What percentage of patients with low-energy gunshot-induced tibia fractures developed complications? (2) Was there an association between deep infection and fracture location, injury characteristics, debridement practices, or antibiotic use? METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective study. Between January 2009 and December 2018, we saw 201 patients aged 16 years or older with a gunshot-induced fracture who underwent operative treatment; 2% (4 of 201) of those screened had inadequate clinical records, and 38% (76 of 201) of those screened had inadequate follow-up for inclusion. In all, 121 patients with more than 90 days of follow-up were included in the study. Nonunion was defined as a painful fracture with inadequate healing (fewer than three cortices of bridging bone) at 6 months after injury, resulting in revision surgery to achieve union. Deep infection was defined according to the confirmatory criteria of the Fracture-Related Infection Consensus Group. These results were assessed by a fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeon involved with the study. Complication proportions were tabulated. A Kaplan-Meier chart demonstrated presentations of deep infection by fracture location (proximal, shaft, or distal). Univariate statistics and multivariate Cox regression were used to examine the association between deep infection and fracture location, entry wound size, vascular injury, intravenous (IV) antibiotics in the emergency department (ED), deep and superficial debridement, the duration of postoperative IV antibiotics, and the use of topical antibiotics, while adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and BMI. A power analysis for the result of deep infection demonstrated that we would have had to observe a hazard ratio of 4.28 or greater for shaft versus proximal locations to detect statistically significant results at 80% power and alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: The overall complication proportion was 49% (59 of 121), with proportions of 14% (17 of 121) for infection, 27% (33 of 121) for wound complications, 20% (24 of 121) for nonunion, 9% (11 of 121) for hardware breakage, and 26% (31 of 121) for revision surgery. A positive association was present between deep infection and deep debridement (HR 5.51 [95% confidence interval 1.12 to 27.9]; p = 0.04). With the numbers available, we found no association between deep infection and fracture location, entry wound size, vascular injury, IV antibiotics in the ED, superficial debridement, the duration of postoperative IV antibiotics, and the use of topical antibiotics. CONCLUSION: In this multicenter study, we found a higher risk of complications in operative gunshot-induced tibia fractures than prior studies have reported. Infection, in particular, was much more common than expected based on prior studies. Consequently, surgeons might consider adopting the general management principles for nongunshot-induced open tibia fractures with gunshot-induced fractures, such as the use of IV antibiotics both initially and after surgery. Further research is needed to test and validate these approaches. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Safety of enzymatic debridement in extensive burns larger than 15% total body surface area.

OBJECTIVES: Bromelain-based enzymatic debridement has emerged as an alternative to surgical eschar removal. Indications include partial thickness, mixed pattern, and full-thickness burns. Enzymatic debridement has been approved by the European Medicines Agency for treating burn wounds affecting <15% total body surface area (TBSA). Data and evidence for the treatment of areas >15% TBSA in one session is scarce. The aim of this retrospective study was to retrospectively analyze off-label use of enzymatic debridement in a single burn center for large TBSA burns. METHODS: Between 01/2017 and 12/2018, 59 patients with partial- to full-thickness burns underwent enzymatic debridement in a single center study. Patients were categorized into two groups: the regular use group with a treated area less than 15% TBSA and the off-label group (OG) with larger TBSA debrided in one session. Treatment was evaluated for systemic inflammatory reaction, bleeding, hemodynamic instability and electrolyte shifts. RESULTS: In total, 49 patients were treated in the regular use group with a median application area of 6% (IQR 2.5-9.5) and 10 patients were treated in the off-label group with a median application area of 18% (IQR 15-19) TBSA. We found no significant differences regarding blood pressure, body temperature or hemodynamic stability during and after enzymatic debridement. No treatment-related serious adverse events were observed in either group. Catecholamine use was similar in both groups. No differences in leukocyte counts, CRP, PCT and lactate prior to application and during the following three days were observed. Sodium, potassium, chloride and phosphate levels did not differ. We found no evidence of an electrolyte shift. Survival was 49 of 49 patients (100%) in the RG and 7 of 10 patients (70%) in the OG (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Enzymatic debridement did not result in any expected or unexpected side effects in the patient groups investigated. These preliminary results indicate the potential safety of bromelain-based enzymatic debridementin the treatment of burns greater than 15% TBSA.

Efficacy of maggot debridement therapy on refractory leg ulcers of Behçet disease: an open-label study.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous ulcers of Behçet disease (BD) are rare but have high morbidity and resistance to conventional therapies. An important and essential aspect of ulcer management is debridement. Regarding maggot therapy (MT), excretions of the green bottle fly, Lucilia sericata, have been shown to have the ability to remove necrotic debris and promote healing. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of MT for cutaneous ulcers of BD. METHODS: In this open-label trial, patients with BD with refractory leg ulcers suitable for MT were enrolled. Maggot application was performed until complete debridement was achieved, and all patients were followed up for 12 months afterwards to assess the total healing of ulcers. RESULTS: In total, 24 patients with 32 ulcers were enrolled. Using MT, 91.6% of all ulcers were completely debrided. Mean time to debridement was 14.9 days and mean number of cycles required was 5.3. Mean ulcer size was decreased by 23% with treatment. Time to debridement was positively correlated with pretreatment ulcer size and ulcer duration (P = 0.01 and P < 0.01) but not with ulcer depth, comorbidities, smoking, age or sex (P > 0.05 for all). During follow-up, 79.1% of all ulcers healed completely. Mean time required for total healing was positively correlated with ulcer duration, pretreatment and post-treatment ulcer area, ulcer depth and mean time to total debridement (P < 0.03, P = 0.00, P = 0.04 and P < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, the findings presented in this first and unique study may provide key answers about factors affecting success rate of MT in BD cutaneous ulcers.

Underutilization of Operative Capacity at the District Hospital Level in a Resource-Limited Setting.

INTRODUCTION: Improving surgical care in a resource-limited setting requires the optimization of operative capacity, especially at the district hospital level. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of the acute care surgery registry at Salima District Hospital in Malawi from June 2018 to November 2019. We examined patient characteristics, interventions, and outcomes. Modified Poisson regression modeling was used to identify risk factors for transfer to a tertiary center and mortality of patients transferred to the tertiary center. RESULTS: Eight hundred eighty-eight patients were analyzed. The most common diagnosis was skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) at 35.9%. 27.5% of patients were transferred to Salima District Hospital, primarily from health centers, with a third for a diagnosis of SSTI. Debridement of SSTI comprised 59% of performed procedures (n = 241). Of the patients that required exploratory laparotomy, only 11 laparotomies were performed, with 59 patients transferred to a tertiary hospital. The need for laparotomy conferred an adjusted risk ratio (RR) of 10.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.1, 14.3) for transfer to the central hospital. At the central hospital, for patients who needed urgent abdominal exploration, surgery had a 0.16 RR of mortality (95% CI 0.05, 0.50) while time to evaluation greater than 48 h at the central hospital had a 2.81 RR of death (95% CI 1.19, 6.66). CONCLUSIONS: Despite available capacity, laparotomy was rarely performed at this district hospital, and delays in care led to a higher mortality. Optimization of the district and health center surgical ecosystems is imperative to improve surgical access in Malawi and improve patient outcomes.

Sacral and Ischial Pressure Ulcer Management With Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy With Instillation and Dwell.

BACKGROUND: The addition of topical fluid instillation, a programmable "dwell" time and a novel foam-wound interface to the established wound healing benefits of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) works synergistically to benefit patients with complex wounds. This engineering breakthrough for wound care has been termed NPWT with instillation and dwell (NPWTi-d), and the new foam dressings are reticulated open cell foam dressings specifically designed for use with NPWTi-d. This combined technology has shown promise in chronic, complex wounds and has potential for the management of sacral and ischial pressure wounds. METHODS: A qualitative comprehensive review was performed analyzing articles from PubMed and Medline that reported on the use of NPWTi-d in sacral or ischial pressure ulcers. Case series and case reports were predominant, and results of cases specific to sacral and ischial pressure wounds were extracted from larger studies and summarized for presentation. RESULTS: Compared with conventional NPWT alone, NPWTi-d has been shown to help irrigate the wound, remove fibrinous debris, and promote granulation tissue formation. This is associated with a decreased number of operative debridements and decreased hospital length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: This technology is rapidly demonstrating expanded utilization in hospitalized patients with chronic sacral and ischial pressure ulcers. When used correctly, NPWTi-d serves as an effective "bridge to defined endpoint": whether that is a flap reconstruction, skin grafting, or discharge home with a stable chronic wound and simplified wound care.

Effects of Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy With Instillation versus Standard of Care in Multiple Wound Types: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Large randomized controlled trials that evaluate the effects of negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation of a topical solution and dwell time (NPWTi-d) are lacking. There is a need to synthesize existing data across multiple studies to provide a more precise estimate of the clinical effects of NPWTi-d. METHODS: A systematic literature review and a meta-analysis of comparative studies were performed to determine the effects of NPWTi-d versus control therapy in the adjunctive management of complex wounds. Weighted standardized mean difference or odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to pool study and control group results in each publication for analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen studies comprising 720 patients were included in the analysis. Significantly fewer surgical debridements were performed in NPWTi-d patients versus control patients (P = 0.01). Wounds in the NPWTi-d group were ready for closure faster than control wounds (P = 0.03). The odds of reducing bacterial count from baseline in the NPWTi-d group was 4.4 times greater than control group wounds (P = 0.003), and percent reduction of bacterial count in NPWTi-d wounds was evident in all studies that captured that endpoint. There was a significantly shorter length of therapy in NPWTi-d patients versus control patients (P = 0.03). Wounds in NPWTi-d group were 2.39 times more likely to close than control group wounds (P = 0.01). Length of hospital stay was not significantly reduced for NPWTi-d patients compared with that for control patients (P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Results of this meta-analysis show a positive effect with use of NPWTi-d in various wound types.

Open Tibial Shaft Fractures: Treatment Patterns in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Open tibial shaft fractures are an important source of disability in Latin America. High-income countries (HICs) worldwide have established standardized treatment protocols for open tibial fractures, but less is known about their treatment in middle-income countries (MICs) in Latin America. This survey of Latin American orthopaedic surgeons characterizes open tibial fracture treatment patterns. METHODS: Orthopaedic surgeons from 20 national orthopaedic societies throughout Latin America completed an online survey assessing their treatment of open tibial fractures. Demographic information was collected. Treatment patterns were queried according to 2 groupings of Gustilo-Anderson (GA) fracture types: treatment of type-I and type-II fractures (GA-I/II) and treatment of type-III fractures (GA-III). Treatment patterns were evaluated across 4 domains: antibiotic prophylaxis, irrigation and debridement, fracture stabilization, and wound management. Summary statistics were reported; analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: There were 616 survey participants from 20 Latin American countries (4 HICs and 16 MICs). Initial external fixation followed by staged internal fixation was preferred for GA-I/II (51.0%) and GA-III fractures (86.0%). Nearly one-third (31.5%) of GA-IIIB fractures did not receive a soft-tissue coverage procedure. Stratifying by country socioeconomic status, surgeons in MICs more commonly utilized delayed internal fixation for GA-I/II (53.3% versus 22.0%, p < 0.001) and GA-III fractures (94.0% versus 80.4%, p = 0.002). Surgeons in MICs more commonly used primary closure for GA-I/II (88.9% versus 62.8%, p < 0.001) and GA-III fractures (32.6% versus 9.8%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This survey reports Latin American orthopaedic surgeons' treatment patterns for open tibial shaft fractures. Surgeons in MICs reported higher delayed internal fixation use for all fracture types, while surgeons in HICs more routinely avoid primary closure. Soft-tissue coverage procedures are not performed in nearly one-third of GA-IIIB fractures because of a lack of operative personnel and training.

Risk Factors for Reoperation After Debridement of Acute Pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with a high mortality rate. This study evaluated the incidence of and risk factors for reoperation after debridement of AP. METHODS: This retrospective study included 168 patients diagnosed with AP who had undergone debridement between January 2007 and December 2017 at our hospital. Patients were divided into single-operation and reoperation groups separately. RESULTS: Sixty-eight (40.24%) patients underwent reoperation after AP debridement. The main procedure for reoperation was debridement of necrosis. In univariate analysis, the risk factors for reoperation included younger age; higher admission temperature and heart rate; higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), blood urea nitrogen and creatinine; higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score and rate of continuous renal replacement therapy; shorter operation interval; lower postoperative albumin level; and high incidence of preoperative and postoperative complications. Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that independent risk factors for reoperation included higher levels of C-reactive protein and creatinine in admission, preoperative percutaneous catheter drainage, and postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: The general characteristics and clinical procedures of patients with AP after debridement might affect prognosis and reoperation. The identification of risk factors could help clinicians to provide specific treatment, better ward management, and stratification of reoperation risk.

Association between fluid creep and infection in burned children: A cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Aggressive fluid resuscitation has been extensively discussed after the establishment of fluid creep phenomenon as a morbidity and mortality factor in burn children. Sepsis is currently the leading cause of death in survivors of burn shock. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between fluid creep and infection in burn children exposed to two different fluid resuscitation strategies with the use of albumin. METHODS: A cohort of 46 burn children with 15-45% of body surface area (BSA) admitted up to 12 h after the incident were evaluated. Patients from early albumin group (n = 23) received 5% albumin between 8 and 12 h from injury and patients from delayed albumin group (n = 23) received 5% albumin after 24 h. Outcomes analysed were development of fluid creep, length of stay in the hospital, number of surgery procedures and infection until hospital discharge. RESULTS: Compared to the delayed group, patients that received early albumin had a shorter length of stay in the hospital (p = 0.007), less fluid creep (4.3% × 56.5%) (p < 0.001), less skin graft procedure (47.8% × 78.3%) (p = 0.032) and less debridement (73.9% × 100%) (p = 0.022). Both length of stay in the hospital and fluid creep arising were associated with infection (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Fluid creep, surgery procedures and length of stay in hospital parameters showed better results in burn children treated with early albumin. Fluid creep and length of stay in the hospital were associated with infection, providing a negative prognosis.

Enzymatic debridement as an effective treatment for combined flame and chemical burns caused by e-cigarettes.

Since its introduction on the market in 2007, the number of reports on injuries caused by the ignition or explosion of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has increased significantly. Two male patients have been treated at our burn center, the for ENDS-related injuries. Their batteries came into contact with metal objects stored in their pants pockets, resulting in a short circuit and finally ignition. In both patients, the combined flame and chemical burn wounds were initially irrigated with water upon arrival at the emergency department, leading to increased levels of pain. In our burn center, the wounds were extensively cleansed which led to a subsequent drop in NRS-scores. Laser Doppler Imaging showed a clear indication for surgery as both patients suffered a partial-thickness burn, with one patient having a patch of full-thickness burn as well. We swiftly performed an enzymatic debridement in both patients, followed by conservative wound management. Although enzymatic debridement is not generally recommended in the treatment of chemical burns, we successfully made use of this treatment option. Different authors advocate the use of mineral oils to irrigate or cover alkali burns, as contact between the chemical compounds and water can set off an exothermic reaction, leading to further injury. We believe that a hypertonic rinsing solution could be recommended as well in an emergency setting and we want to stress the importance of rapid removal of the chemical compounds in suspected chemical burns as well as swift debridement.

Relationship Between Patient Characteristics and Number of Procedures as well as Length of Stay for Patients Surviving Severe Burn Injuries: Analysis of the American Burn Association National Burn Repository.

This study establishes important, national benchmarks for burn centers to assess length of stay (LOS) and number of procedures across patient profiles. We examined the relationship between patient characteristics such as age and total body surface area (TBSA) burned and number of procedures and LOS in the United States, using the American Burn Association National Burn Repository (NBR) database version 8.0 (2002-2011). Among 21,175 surviving burn patients (TBSA > 10-60%), mean age was 33 years, and mean injury size was 19.9% TBSA. Outcomes included the number of debridement, excision, autograft procedures, and LOS. Independent variables considered were: age (linear, squared, and cubed to account for nonlinearity), TBSA, TBSAs of partial-thickness and mixed/full-thickness burns, sex, hospital-acquired infection, other infection, inhalation injury, and diabetes status. Regression methods included a mixed-effects model for LOS and ordinary least squares for number of procedures. A backward stepwise procedure (P <0.2) was used to select variables. Number of excision and autografting procedures increased with TBSA; however, this relationship did not hold for debridement. After adjusting for sex, age, and comorbidities, predicted LOS for adults (18+) was 12.1, 21.7, 32.2, 43.7, and 56.1 days for 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% TBSA, respectively. Similarly, predicted LOS for pediatrics (age < 18) was 8.1, 18.8, 33.2, 47.6, and 56.1 days for the same TBSA groups, respectively. While average estimates for adults (1.12 days) and pediatrics (1.01) are close to the one day/TBSA rule-of-thumb, consideration of other important patient and burn features in the NBR can better refine predictions for LOS.