Alternative to the finger in the dike: use of the vascular closure button to control postdialysis bleeding in a haemodialysis access conduit.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case series is to describe the application of a vascular closure button (VCB) for the repair of haemodialysis access bleeding. The VCB's main function is not to assist in bleeding control, but instead to provide easy access for removal of tightly placed sutures in the repair. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing ED repair of persistent bleeding from puncture sites in haemodialysis access conduits (HACs) using a VCB was conducted. Study patients were collected from ED visits to Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, New Jersey, USA, between May 2013 and August 2017. Patients were followed until the time of definitive repair of the underlying pathology or until the end of the study period. RESULTS: Seventeen VCBs were used to control persistent bleeding from HACs in the ED. Sixteen bleeds were the result of recent haemodialysis punctures, while one was from a bleeding site ulcer. All repairs were successful at controlling the bleeding with preserved HAC function in the ED and no delayed thrombosis. Follow-up time ranged from 1 day to 778 days. CONCLUSION: Vascular control buttons provide an effective means to control HAC postdialysis bleeding and allow for ease of suture removal without disruption of a repair with no long-term complications.

Operative compared with nonoperative treatment of a thoracolumbar burst fracture without neurological deficit: a prospective randomized study with follow-up at sixteen to twenty-two years.

BACKGROUND: Studies comparing operative with nonoperative treatment of a stable burst fracture of the thoracolumbar junction in neurologically intact patients have not shown a meaningful difference at early follow-up. To our knowledge, longer-term outcome data have not before been presented. METHODS: From 1992 to 1998, forty-seven consecutive patients with a stable thoracolumbar burst fracture and no neurological deficit were evaluated and randomized to one of two treatment groups: operative treatment (posterior or anterior arthrodesis) or nonoperative treatment (a body cast or orthosis). We previously reported the results of follow-up at an average of forty-four months. The current study presents the results of long-term follow-up, at an average of eighteen years (range, sixteen to twenty-two years). As in the earlier study, patients at long-term follow-up indicated the degree of pain on a visual analog scale and completed the Roland and Morris disability questionnaire, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire, and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey. Work and health status were obtained, and patients were evaluated radiographically. RESULTS: Of the original operatively treated group of twenty-four patients, follow-up data were obtained for nineteen; one patient had died, and four could not be located. Of the original nonoperatively treated group of twenty-three patients, data were obtained for eighteen; two patients had died, and three could not be located. The average kyphosis was not significantly different between the two groups (13° for those who received operative treatment compared with 19° for those treated nonoperatively). Median scores for pain (4 cm for the operative group and 1.5 cm for the nonoperative group; p = 0.003), ODI scores (20 for the operative group and 2 for the nonoperative group; p <0.001) and Roland and Morris scores (7 for the operative group and 1 for the nonoperative group; p = 0.001) were all significantly better in the group treated nonoperatively. Seven of eight SF-36 scores also favored nonoperative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: While early analysis (four years) revealed few significant differences between the two groups, at long-term follow-up (sixteen to twenty-two years), those with a stable burst fracture who were treated nonoperatively reported less pain and better function compared with those who were treated surgically.

Interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility of powers ratio for assessment of atlanto-occipital junction: comparison of plain radiography and computed tomography.

Powers ratio, as assessed on plain radiographs or computed tomography (CT) images, appears to have clinical and prognostic value. To date, the validation of this assessment tool has been limited to a small number of observers at a single site. No study has examined the intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver reliability of the Powers ratio measurement on plain radiographs or CT images among a large cohort of spine surgeons. This type of validation is critical to allow for the broader use of the Powers ratio methodology in research studies and clinical applications. Plain radiographs and spiral CT images of the cervical spine of 32 patients were assessed, and the Powers ratio was determined by five spine surgeons. Each surgeon performed three readings, 7 months apart. In the first round of measurements, the observers used only the Powers' method of instruction. The second and third measurement sets were obtained after an interactive teaching session on the methodology. The order of the images was altered for the second and third set of measurements. The coefficient of variation (Cv) was calculated to determine the intraobserver repeatability and interobserver reliability for each imaging technique. A Bland-Altman plot was then used to assess the agreement between the two imaging techniques. For interobserver reliability, the mean Cv of the Powers ratio was 9.09 and 4.31% for plain radiographs and CT, respectively. The Cv mean value for intraobserver reproducibility averaged 4.95% (range 1.39-9.08) when CT scans were used and 14.17% (range 7.54-34.30) when plain radiographs were used. For intraobserver reproducibility, the lowest and highest Cv mean value of five raters was 1.39 and 9.08% using CT scans and 7.54 and 34.3% using plain radiographs. The Bland-Altman plot, demonstrated that the two methods were in close agreement on the -0.8 and 0.89% interval for limits of agreement (bias +/- 1.96sigma). The intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver reliability of Powers ratio measurement was acceptable (<5%) with CT scans but not with plain radiographs. However, despite the statistically inferior reliability and repeatability, the Bland-Altman plot analysis showed that given the -0.8 and 0.89% limits of agreement, the two methods may be used interchangeably in clinical practice.

Results of arthroscopic medial retinacular release for treatment of medial subluxation of the patella.

BACKGROUND: Medial subluxation of the patella is a rare, disabling condition that has iatrogenic and traumatic causation. To date, only open reconstructions have been reported for operative treatment of this condition, but these procedures have a high rate of complications, revisions, and subsequent surgery. This is the first study to present the results of arthroscopic medial retinacular release for treatment of this problem. HYPOTHESIS: Arthroscopic release will alleviate painful medial patellar subluxation. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Nine knees (7 patients) with painful, recurrent medial subluxation of the patella that occurred spontaneously (2 knees) or after a lateral release (5 knees) or an injury (2 knees) were treated with an arthroscopic medial retinacular release. The retinaculum was released 2 cm medial to the superior pole of the patella down to the anteromedial portal. At a mean follow-up of 2.7 years (range, 1-8 years), all knees were evaluated, and the results were graded according to the Merchant and Mercer rating scale. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 25 years (range, 15-38 years), and the mean duration of the subluxations before surgery was 28 months (range, 6-48 months). In all 7 patients (9 knees), the medial release relieved their medial subluxation and knee pain, and there were 6 excellent and 3 good results. There were no complications or further realignment surgery needed after this procedure. CONCLUSION: An arthroscopic medial retinacular release will successfully treat painful medial subluxation of the patella.

Complications associated with multiple, sequential osteotomies for children with cerebral palsy.

Children with cerebral palsy often require multiple, major reconstructive procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether multiple, major surgeries could be performed in a single setting with an acceptable complication rate. The medical records of 94 patients with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy operated on between the dates of 1993 and 1997 were reviewed. Patients were followed for a mean of 44.9+/-1.92 months. The average number of procedures per surgical session was 3.63+/-0.09 and the most common procedure performed was osteotomy of the proximal femur. The major complication rate was 24.4%. This institution's experience indicates that performance of multiple major bony procedures in one session is complicated but safe, and can be done with acceptable blood loss, infection rates and recurrence rates in a modern, multidisciplinary setting dedicated to the care of severely disabled children.

Canine cranial reconstruction using autologous bone marrow stromal cells.

Limited-sized transplants of culture-expanded autologous or allogeneic bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) form cortico-cancellous bone in rodent models. Initiation of clinical studies using autologous BMSC transplantation requires effective bone formation among sizable transplants in a large animal model as well as noninvasive techniques for evaluating transplant success. Here, we obtained bone marrow from the femurs of six dogs and expanded BMSCs in tissue culture. Autologous BMSC-hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP) transplants were introduced into critical-sized calvarial defects and contralateral control skull defects received HA/TCP vehicle alone. At intervals ranging from 2 to 20 months, transplants were biopsied or harvested for histological and mechanical analysis. Noninvasive studies, including quantitative computed tomography scans and ultrasound, were simultaneously obtained. In all animals, BMSC-containing transplants formed significantly more bone than their control counterparts. BMSC-associated bone possessed mechanical properties similar to the adjacent normal bone, confirmed by both ultrasound and ex vivo analysis. Evaluation by quantitative computed tomography confirmed that the extent of bone formation demonstrated by histology could be discerned through noninvasive means. These results show that autologous cultured BMSC transplantation is a feasible therapy in clinical-sized bone defects and that such transplants can be assessed noninvasively, suggesting that this technique has potential for use in patients with certain bone defects.

Femoral osteotomies for avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head affects 10,000 to 20,000 people every year and often these patients are in their 30s and 40s. The natural history of this disease is important to understand because the rate of femoral head collapse and treatment options are related to multiple factors including the cause of the disease, its stage at initial presentation, and the size and location of the lesion. Various treatment options have been purposed for different stages of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Nonoperative treatments include protected weightbearing, electrical stimulation, and pharmacologic treatments. Operative treatment includes core decompression with or without grafting, debridement and grafting, osteotomy, fusion, hemiresurfacing, hemiarthroplasty, and total hip arthroplasty. The purpose of the current study was to discuss the history, indications, techniques, and results of proximal femoral osteotomies for the treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Revision total knee arthroplasty with cemented components and uncemented intramedullary stems.

Sixty-three failed total knee arthroplasties in 60 patients (27 females, 33 males; average age, 66 years) were treated consecutively with revision using cemented component fixation and an uncemented stem. Patients were followed for a mean of 5.75 years (range, 2-10 years); none were lost to follow-up. There were 12 (19%) re-revisions: 6 (10%) were revised for aseptic loosening, 4 (6%) for recurrent infection, and 2 (3%) for instability. Knee Society Pain Scores improved from 56 to 81, and function scores improved from 49 to 62 points. Latest radiographs in retained knees showed none with definite femoral loosening but 4 with tibial component loosening. Combining those revised for aseptic loosening and radiographic aseptic loosening, mechanical failure occurred in 10 patients (16%).

Cervical burners in the athlete.

Back pain in the pediatric athlete is rare compared to the adult population. However, the diagnosis should be accurate as most have specific etiologies and treatment. Nearly 50% of the time, the cause of the pain is an injury to the pars interarticularis. A thorough history and careful physician examination should guide the physician to a working differential diagnosis. Based on this, appropriate laboratory and imaging work-up is pursued to arrive at a timely diagnosis and subsequent treatment regimen.