Increased Duration of Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty Surgery Increases the Risk of Post-Operative Urinary Retention: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Post-operative urinary retention (POUR) is a common complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Spinal anaesthetic has been associated with an increased risk of POUR, whilst other risk factors remain unclear. This study aims to identify modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of POUR for THA and TKA patients. Methods: A single-centre retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to our hospital over the course of 6 weeks from September to October 2021 for a THA or TKA. All patients who underwent elective THA/TKA were included, and trauma cases were excluded. Results: Ninety-two consecutive patients were included in this study. The overall rate of POUR was 17%. A shorter operative duration resulted in a reduced risk of POUR (median duration of non-retention patients, 88 min vs. 100 min POUR patients; odds ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99, p = 0.018). The median bladder volume of patients with urinary retention at the point of diagnosis was 614 mL (range, 298-999 mL). The arthroplasty type, anaesthetic technique, pre-operative morphine use, body mass index, age, cardiovascular disease, and renal disease were found to have no significant association with POUR. Conclusions: A reduced operative time of arthroplasty surgery is associated with a decreased risk of POUR. Patients with a prolonged operative time should have an increased frequency of micturition monitoring in the immediate post-operative period.

Multifocal stress fractures in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Stress fractures are often associated to activities that requires repetitive stress such as running. However, insufficiency-type stress fractures can also occur in patients with risk factors such as rheumatoid arthritis. Diagnosis of stress fracture would require a thorough clinical evaluation along with radiological imaging. However, this may be difficult due to how it mimics other musculoskeletal problems. The case of a woman in her 60s presenting with 2 months of severe ipsilateral right knee and ankle pain is used as an example. Based on initial clinical assessment and plain radiograph, her provisional diagnosis was osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis secondary to rheumatoid disease. However, MRI scan revealed that she had multifocal stress fractures in her knee, ankle and foot. Hence, we hope that this case study can allow clinicians to consider multifocal stress fracture as a possible diagnosis in patients with risk factors and to have lower threshold in performing MRI scans.

The Use of Synthetic Graft for MPFL Reconstruction Surgery: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Outcomes.

(1) Background: Acute patella dislocation (APD) is a prevalent knee injury, with rates between 5.8-77.8 per 100,000. APD often results in repeat lateral patella dislocations due to the instability of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). Non-operative treatments have a 50% recurrence rate. While autologous grafting for MPFL has been favored, surgeons are now exploring synthetic grafts. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of synthetic grafts in MPFL reconstruction surgeries for repeated patellar dislocations; (2) Methods: Our research was based on a thorough search from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence Healthcare Databases, using the Modified Coleman Methodology Score for quality assessment; (3) Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 284 patients and 230 knees were included. Seventy-five percent of patients were graded to have excellent-good clinical outcomes using the Crosby and Insall Grading System. International Knee Documentation Committee score and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score scores showed 59% and 60% post-operative improvement, respectively; (4) Conclusions: All studies showed improvement in post-operative functional outcomes and report no serious adverse events. The 6 mm, LARS (Orthomedic Ltd., Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC, Canada) proved to have the most improvement in post-operative outcomes when used as a double bundle graft.

Use of PerClot® in head and neck surgery: a Scottish centre experience.

OBJECTIVE: PerClot® is a biocompatible, polysaccharide haemostatic system recommended for surgical procedures. It is an absorbable modified polymer that is non-pyrogenic and is derived from purified plant starch. Our goal was to evaluate the safety, efficacy and usefulness of PerClot® in head and neck surgery (H&N) in our department. METHODS: All patients who received PerClot® after their neck operation over 1-year period (2019-2020) were prospectively investigated. The information collected included demographics, admission and discharge dates, type of operation, operative details, postoperative complications and their management. The data were collected and analysed using Excel. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients (males = 26, females = 31) with mean age of 51 (range 19-83) were identified. None of the patients developed primary or secondary haemorrhage. Ten patients suffered from post-operative wound complications (18%). Wound infection was noticed in 9/57 (16%) of patients. 1/57 patients had seroma. CONCLUSIONS: PerClot® is safe, effective in reducing the postoperative bleeding and would appear to be useful in head and neck surgery with minimal adverse effects.