Ultrasound-guided aponeurotomy and interphalangeal joint capsular release for treatment of Dupuytren's disease.

This study describes a new ultrasound-guided surgical technique for aponeurotomy and interphalangeal joint capsular release in patients with Dupuytren's disease and analyses the clinical outcomes. We carried out a retrospective review of 70 digits in 35 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided aponeurotomy and interphalangeal joint capsular release, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The primary outcome was the correction of the deformity and the QuickDASH questionnaire score after surgery and at 1 and 2 years. The secondary outcome was the presence of residual contracture immediately after surgery. The mean QuickDASH score fell from 28 before surgery to 14 after surgery. A significant decrease of -63° was observed for the global contracture, -35° the metacarpophalangeal joint contracture and -28° for the proximal interphalangeal joint contracture. Ultrasound-guided aponeurotomy and interphalangeal joint capsular and palmar plate releases are highly accurate and safe.Level of evidence: IV.

Effect of the Implementation of a Surgical Care Bundle in the Incidence of Surgical Site Infection in Spine Surgery: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Quasi-experimental intervention study. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a clinical safety and quality improvement plan for patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery on the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In recent years, infection surveillance and control programs based on care bundles have been included in surgical protocols. These have proven to be essential tools for the prevention and control of SSI, providing indicators for improvement and allowing the characterization of related risk factors. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was carried out with analysis before and after the introduction of a preventive care bundle (clinical safety and quality improvement plan). Patients who underwent spinal fusion surgery were included. The incidence of SSI up to 90 days after surgery (maximum incubation period) was assessed. The effect of the intervention was evaluated with the adjusted odds ratio (oR) using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 1554 patients were included, 690 in the period 2007 to 2011 (before) and 864 during 2012 to 2018 (after). SSI incidence decreased from 4.2% to 1.9% after the plan (OR: 0.43; 95% confidence interval: 0.23-0.80; P  = 0.006). There was also an improvement in the adequacy of antibiotic prophylaxis, preoperative preparation, and hair removal procedure after the introduction of the care bundle. CONCLUSION: After implementation of the care bundle, the incidence of SSI in spine fusion surgery decreased significantly. Multivariate analysis showed that the care bundle was an independent protective factor. The implementation of these measures should be reinforced on the routine medical practice to reduce the SSI incidence.Level of Evidence: 3.

Floating clavicle after a high velocity biking accident: A case report of an acromioclavicular dislocation with simultaneous proximal clavicle fracture managed surgically.

INTRODUCTION: Clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular joint dislocations are very common injuries. However, the combination of both, known as "floating clavicle" is extremely rare, with approximately 40 cases reported. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a case of a healthy 51-year-old male who suffered a high-velocity biking accident, with a bipolar clavicle injury (type IV acromioclavicular joint dislocation and proximal clavicle fracture), with concomitant rib fractures and pulmonary contusion. He received early surgical treatment by open reduction and osteosynthesis of the proximal clavicle (distal ulna plate, Protean®) and open reduction and stabilization with a MINAR® implant for the acromioclavicular joint. After an initial one-month immobilization, he started physical therapy. In the 10-month follow-up he presented with a pain-free full range of motion, a good cosmetic result, and radiological consolidation. DISCUSSION: Bipolar clavicle injury is a rare clinical entity that encompasses a spectrum of combined clavicle fractures, acromioclavicular or sternoclavicular joint dislocations. They are sustained in a high-energy context, and accompanying injuries must be sought. Diagnosis is made through X-Ray and CT. Despite the lack of clinical guidelines, most authors agree on surgical management of at least one of the injuries, with multiple surgical techniques available. There is an emphasis in surgical treatment of the young and active patient. Conservative treatment is associated with poorer results. CONCLUSION: It is advisable to have a high index of suspicion for floating clavicle in a high-energy trauma patient, given possible life-threatening injuries, and long-term shoulder sequelae. Surgery should be considered in a young and active patient.

Surgical site infection in hip arthroplasty in a 10-year follow-up prospective study: Risk and factors associated.

BACKGROUND: The increased demand for hip arthroplasty means a growing number of postsurgical complications. This study aims to assess the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) in a teaching hospital; develop regional, national and international external comparisons; and evaluate SSI-related risk factors, particularly according to the timing of surgery (urgent/unplanned or elective). METHODS: Prospective cohort study from January 2008 to December 2018. Patients were followed up to 90 days after surgery. Primary endpoint was SSI incidence according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Multivariate analysis was conducted to find independently associated SSI risk factors. The association between risk factors and SSI incidence was assessed by reference to odds ratio (OR). Analyses were also performed among urgent/unplanned and elective patients to identify whether SSI risk factors differed between groups. RESULTS: The study population (n = 1,808) has an overall SSI rate of 3.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4-3.9). Timing of surgery caused an effect modification, so surgery duration> 75th percentile (OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.5-9.8) and inadequate preparation (OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.1-10.0) were independent risk factors in the urgent/unplanned group; National Healthcare Safety Network risk index≥ 2 (OR: 6.3; 95% CI: 0.1-19.2) and transfusion (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 1.1-11.9) in the elective group. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital infection surveillance systems allow identifying risk factors susceptible to change. Characterization of factors that caused an effect modification is key to identify areas of quality improvement, including reducing operating times, preventing perioperative blood transfusion, or improving patient preparation before surgery.

Nonunion of distal radius fracture and distal radioulnar joint injury: a modified Sauvé-Kapandji procedure with a cubitus proradius transposition as autograft.

The Sauvé-Kapandji (SK) procedure is indicated in distal radius nonunion or malunion and distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability. It can also be used to treat the rheumatoid wrist with severe degenerative changes in the DRUJ. The main objective is to allow a pain-free range of movement. We present a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and distal radius nonunion who, after three operations, was treated with the SK procedure. The clinical and radiological results were excellent. A 53-year-old woman diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis fell on her forearm at home 2 years ago. Examination at an outpatient clinic revealed a distal radius fracture classified as type V according to the Frykman classification. She had been operated three times with open reduction internal fixation using a plate, screws, and bone allograft. She came to our institution with a distal radius nonunion, positive post-traumatic ulnar variance, and ulnar nerve paresis. The range of movements was 20 degrees -10 degrees flexion-extension and 40 degrees -30 degrees pronation-supination, and she needed daily fentanyl. We performed a modified SK procedure with an autologous iliac crest bone graft and ulnar bone graft from the osteotomy area (cubitus proradius), bone morphogenetic protein, and a low profile distal radius plate. After 1 year of follow-up, the distal radius fracture has healed and the wrist is pain-free with a complete range of movement in flexion-extension and pronation-supination. The main indication for the SK procedure is post-traumatic positive ulnar variance and associated ulnocarpal impaction. The cubitus proradius bone graft transposition is an interesting technical note that makes this case a challenge for skilled orthopedic hand surgeons.

Surgical site infection incidence and risk factors in knee arthroplasty: A 9-year prospective cohort study at a university teaching hospital in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the complications posed by knee replacement surgery. Hospital-based infection surveillance systems may provide indicators of improvement and allow the characterization of risk factors critical to reduce infection. The aims of this study were to compare the incidence of SSI in our center with rates in the Madrid Region, Spain, and the United States, and to evaluate any possible SSI-related risk factor in knee replacement surgery. METHODS: All patients who underwent knee replacement surgery at a tertiary hospital in 2008-2016 were included. SSI was defined according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Infection rate was calculated. The association between risk factors and SSI incidence was assessed by reference to odds ratio (OR) with multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The study population (n = 1969) had a global SSI risk of 1.0%. We found a declining trend in the follow-up period, from an SSI risk of 1.8% in 2009 to 0.4% in 2016. Independent risk factors included hair removal (OR: 3.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27-7.50) and National Healthcare Safety Network risk index ≥ 2 (OR: 9.37, 95% CI: 2.90-30.26). CONCLUSION: This study identified risk factors that showed the necessity to strictly comply with wound decontamination and patient preparation protocols, reduce surgery duration, and identify patients who require comprehensive monitoring.

Pearls and tips in coverage of the tibia after a high energy trauma.

Coverage of soft-tissue defects in the lower limbs, especially open tibial fractures, is currently a frequently done procedure because of the high incidence of high-energy trauma, which affects this location. The skilled orthopedic surgeon should be able to carry out an integral treatment of these lesions, which include not only the open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture fragments but also the management of complications such as local wound problems that may arise. There is a wide variety of muscular or pedicled flaps available for reconstruction of lower limb soft-tissue defects. These techniques are not commonly used by orthopedic surgeons because of the lack of familiarity with them and the potential for flap failure and problems derived from morbidity of the donor site. We present a coverage management update for orthopedic surgeons for complications after an open tibial fracture. We choose and describe the most adequate flap depending on the region injured and the reliable surgical procedure. For proximal third of the tibia, we use gastrocnemius muscle flap. Middle third of the tibia could be covered by soleus muscle flap. Distal third of the tibia could be reconstructed by sural flaps, lateral supramalleolar skin flap, and posterior tibial perforator flap. Free flaps can be used in all regions. We describe the advantages and disadvantages, pearls, and tips of every flap. The coverage of the tibia after a major injury constitutes a reliable and versatile technique that should form part of the therapeutic arsenal of all the orthopedic surgeons, facilitating the integral treatment of complex lower limb injuries with exposed defects.

Versatility of the sural fasciocutaneous flap in coverage defects of the lower limb.

We present in this work, our experience with the sural fasciocutaneous flap to treat coverage defects following a lower limb posttraumatic lesion. This paper is a review of these flaps carried out in different centres between 2000 and 2005. The series consists of 14 patients, 12 men and 2 women with an average age of 38 years (23-54) and with a medium follow-up time of 2 years (12-48 months). In all of the cases, aetiology was a lower limb injury or its complications, most frequently a distal tibial fracture (eight patients), followed by sequelae from Achilles tendon reconstruction (two patients), fracture of the calcaneus (two patients) and osteomyelitis of the distal tibia secondary to an open fracture (two patients). Associated risk factors in the patients for performing the flap were diabetes (one case) and cigarette smoking (four cases). The technique is based on the use of a reverse-flow island sural flap with the superficial sural artery dependent on perforators of the peroneal arterial system. The anatomical structures which constitute the pedicle are the superficial and deep fascia, the sural nerve, short saphenous vein, superficial sural artery together with an islet of subcutaneous cellular tissue and skin. The flap was viable in 13 of 14 patients. Only one flap failed in, a diabetic patient. No patient showed signs of infection. Slight venous congestion of the flap occurred in two cases. No further surgical intervention of the donor site was required. In two cases partial necrosis of the skin edges occurred which resolved satisfactorily with conservative treatment. The sural fasciocutaneous flap is useful for the treatment of complex injuries of the lower limbs and their complications. Its technical advantages are: easy dissection with preservation of more important vascular structures in the limb, complete coverage of the soft tissue defect in just one operation without the need of microsurgical anastomosis. All this results in a well vascularised cutaneous islet and thus a reliable flap.