Three-dimensional printed models can reduce costs and surgical time for complex proximal humeral fractures: preoperative planning, patient satisfaction, and improved resident skills.

BACKGROUND: Proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) are still controversial with regards to treatment and are difficult to classify. The study's objective is to show that preoperative planning performed while handling a three-dimensional (3D) printed anatomical model of the fracture can ensure a better understanding of trauma for both surgeons and patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients (group A, cases) with complex PHF were evaluated preoperatively by reproducing life-size, full-touch 3D anatomical models. Intraoperative blood loss, radiographic controls, duration of surgery, and clinical outcomes of patients in group A were compared with 20 patients (group B, controls) who underwent standard preoperative evaluation. Additionally, senior surgeons and residents, as well as group A patients, answered a questionnaire to evaluate innovative preoperative planning and patient compliance. Cost analysis was evaluated. RESULTS: Intraoperative radiography controls and length of operation were significantly shorter in group A. There were no differences in clinical outcomes or blood loss. Patients claim a better understanding of the trauma suffered and the proposed treatment. Surgeons assert that the planning of the definitive operation with 3D models has had a good impact. The development of this tool has been well received by the residents. The surgery was reduced in length by 15%, resulting in savings of about EUR 400 for each intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer intraoperative radiography checks, shorter surgeries, and better patient compliance reduce radiation exposure for patients and healthcare staff, enhance surgical outcomes while reducing expenses, and lower the risk of medicolegal claims. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, prospective randomized case-control study.

Dithiotreitol pre-treatment of synovial fluid samples improves microbiological counts in peri-prosthetic joint infection.

PURPOSE: Synovial fluid cultures of periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) may be limited by bacteria living in the fluids as biofilm-aggregates. The antibiofilm pre-treatment of synovial fluids with dithiotreitol (DTT) could improve bacterial counts and microbiological early stage diagnosis in patients with suspected PJI. METHODS: Synovial fluids collected from 57 subjects, affected by painful total hip or knee replacement, were divided into two aliquots, one pre-treated with DTT and one with normal saline. All samples were plated for microbial counts. Sensitivity of cultural examination and bacterial counts of pre-treated and control samples were then calculated and statistically compared. RESULTS: Dithiothreitol pre-treatment led to a higher number of positive samples, compared to controls (27 vs 19), leading to a statistically significant increase in the sensitivity of the microbiological count examination from 54.3 to 77.1% and in colony-forming units count from 1884 ± 2.129 CFU/mL with saline pre-treatment to 20.442 ± 19.270 with DTT pre-treatment (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the ability of a chemical antibiofilm pre-treatment to increase the sensitivity of microbiological examination in the synovial fluid of patients with peri-prosthetic joint infection. If confirmed by larger studies, this finding may have a significant impact on routine microbiological procedures applied to synovial fluids and brings further support to the key role of bacteria living in biofilm-formed aggregates in joint infections.

Correlation between traumatic pelvic ring injuries and sexual dysfunctions: a multicentric retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Among the functional impairments associated with pelvic ring injuries (PRI), sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common clinical issue. The aim of this study is to investigate correlations between traumatic PRI, genitourinary, and sexual dysfunctions, for a proper multidisciplinary treatment. METHODS: We performed an observational, multicentric study, from January 2020 to 2022. We conducted a follow-up after surgery at three, six, 12, and 24 months by measuring the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI), the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), the Majeed Score, and the SF-12. Descriptive statistics was conducted on T-test, Whelc's test, and one-way ANOVA which were performed when appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 76 patients (mean age 42.17 ± 15 years) were included in the study and allocated into three groups (A, B, and C). Tile A group revealed good sexual outcomes, similar to that of healthy patients. Tile B group demonstrated worsen SD than the previous group. In Tile C group, there was a longer average duration of the orthopaedic surgery when compared to group B. However, in terms of SDs, statistical significance could not be demonstrated between groups C and B. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a progressive spontaneous recovery of sexual function, corresponding to each PRI group. Moreover, men classified as B2 had milder SDs than B1 male patients.

Proximal humeral fractures treated with a low-profile plate with enhanced fixation properties.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of proximal humeral fractures treated with a new generation plating system and compare results with a meta-analysis of recent literature. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2017, 93 patients (18 males, 75 females) with proximal humerus fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using a Pantera® Plate. These low-profile plates are anatomically shaped and include "cross-elements" that form a three-dimensional scaffold in bone to enhance fixation stability. According to Neer classification, there were 24 two-part fractures, 49 three-part fractures and 20 four-part fractures (4 with dislocated heads). X-rays and Constant Shoulder Scores (CSS) were used to evaluate healing, complications, and clinical outcomes. Results were compared with a meta-analysis of similar studies reported in literature over the last 10 years. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients with a minimum follow-up of 2 years had a mean CSS of 72 (53-90) graded as excellent for 23 patients (28%), good for 35 (42%), fair for 14 (17%), and poor for 11 (13%). Fractures healed without complication in 75 (91%) patients. Eight (9%) complications were observed, i.e., three avascular necrosis of the humeral head, one case of implant loosening, two cases of subacromial impingement and two superficial infections. There was no significant correlation between Neer fracture stage and patient outcome (p = 0.257). Compared to the literature, this method had a lower complication grade (p = 0.03), though it did not significantly differ in its clinical outcomes (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: The investigated plating system includes design features that can potentially increase utility for ORIF of proximal humeral fractures. While the complication profile was signficantly less than reported in the literature for standard proximal humerus plates, clinical outcomes were similar. Further studies will be required to better understand the role of plate design on treatment of these challenging fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, therapeutic study.

A novel biplanar medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy: the Z-shaped technique. A case series at 7.2 years follow-up.

BACKGROUND: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) provides reliable and good long-term results, if performed with correct indications, but different techniques and types of fixation have been described. The purpose of this study is to present a novel modified biplanar medial opening-wedge (MOW) HTO technique where the osteotomies are performed in a Z-shaped fashion, and to present the medium-term clinical and radiographic results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a case series of 75 patients (80 knees) with mean age of 45.8 years, affected by isolated medial knee osteoarthritis and symptomatic varus knee malalignment, who underwent novel biplanar Z-shaped MOWHTO. Clinical and radiological outcomes were collected, retrospectively before surgery and at median follow-up of 7.2 years (95% CI 5.6-9.2 months) after surgery. Clinical results and satisfaction were assessed by visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Likert scale. Radiological assessment involved the evaluation of the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), tibial slope (TS), Caton-Deschamps index, and knee osteoarthritis grade according to Ahlbäck classification. Pre- and postoperative results were compared using the two-tailed t-test or Wilcoxon's test of independent samples for paired data or nonparametric analog. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: At medium-term follow-up, Z-shaped MOWHTO showed a survival rate of 95 ± 1.7% with failure occurring in four knees due to symptom recurrence and osteoarthritis progression. No perioperative complications were observed (intraarticular fracture, delayed union or nonunion, and neurological injury). Mean bone healing time was 12 weeks. Clinical scores showed significant improvement at last follow-up and a good grade of satisfaction. MPTA increased significantly, while Caton-Deschamps index decreased significantly. No significant TS increase was found. CONCLUSIONS: Modified biplanar Z-shaped MOWHTO is a safe and reliable technique that offers satisfactory clinical and radiological medium-term outcomes with low knee arthroplasty conversion rate. The unique three-dimensional geometrical conformation potentially provides a favorable environment for bone healing, increased anteroposterior and rotational stability, and safer opening-wedge loading force application with low lateral hinge fracture risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective observational case series study. Trial registration The study protocol was approved by the Internal Review Board of our Institution (authorization number 54/2019, 20 November 2019).

No clinical differences at the 2-year follow-up between single radius and J-curve medial pivot total knee arthroplasty in the treatment of neutral or varus knees.

PURPOSE: Modern total knee arthroplasty (TKA) systems are designed to reproduce the normal knee kinematics and improve patient outcome. The authors compared two different third-generation medial pivot TKA implants, having a single-radius or a J-curve design in their sagittal plane, hypothesizing no clinical differences. METHODS: Two cohorts of 50 patients who underwent primary TKA were first preoperatively matched by sex, deformity, body mass index (BMI), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Knee society score (KSS) and range of motion (ROM) and then statistically analyzed at a minimum follow-up (FU) of 2 years. An identical surgical technique, which aimed to reproduce a slightly tighter medial than lateral compartment, was used in all knees. RESULTS: At a minimum follow-up of 2 years (range 24-34 months) there were no statistically significant differences in OKS and KSS between the two implant groups. The final ROM differed statistically between the two groups: the average maximum active flexion was 123° in the J-curve femoral design group with an adapted "medially-congruent" polyethylene insert, and 116° in the single radius femoral design with a medial "ball-in-socket" articulation. CONCLUSION: No clinical and radiological differences were found when the two cohorts of patients were compared. This study showed that the implant design played a minor role in the final outcome as opposed to a precise surgical technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective case-control study, Level III.

Clinical and radiological outcomes and analysis of failures of modular revisions stems at long-term follow-up: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Increasingly hip replacements at young age exposes the patient to an increased risk of failure of the implant over the years. In case of failure, revision specific stems were designed to overcome bone loss. Modularity of these devices is an important resource for the surgeon as they allow the new implant to be better adapted to the patient's anatomy. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide data about the outcome at long-term follow-up (>8 years) of hip modular revision femoral stems. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement guidelines. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were systematically and independently searched, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two reviewers performed the data extraction independently. In case of disagreement, the senior authors were sought to resolve the divergences. Quality of the involved studies was evaluated with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines (eight-item list) and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). Primary and secondary outcomes were evaluated. The statistical analysis of this meta-analysis was performed by using Excel Microsoft and the software STATA. Results: The primary outcome was the re-revision rate of modular revision stems at long-term follow-up. It ranged from 1.4% to 45.6%: random effect pooled estimate was 5.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 4% to 7%], with a I2 of 12.3% (P=0.332). Mean Harris Hip Score (HHS) was 83 [min: 79; max: 87.6; standard deviation (SD): 3.55]. Secondary evaluated outcomes were: subsidence >5 mm, rate of periprosthetic infection or fractures (intra- and post-operative) and dislocations. The mean value for the NICE tool was 5.5 (SD: 1.13) and 7.3 (SD: 0.79) for the NOS tool. The survival rate was >90% at long-term follow-up (min: 60%; max: 97%). Conclusions: The modular femoral revision stems have demonstrated good long-term reliability and efficacy. This meta-analysis demonstrates that the re-revision rate after 8 years of follow-up is low and 90% of the implants did not fail.

Bacteria Living in Biofilms in Fluids: Could Chemical Antibiofilm Pretreatment of Culture Represent a Paradigm Shift in Diagnostics?

Biofilms are multicellular aggregates of bacteria immersed in an extracellular matrix that forms on various surfaces, including biological tissues and artificial surfaces. However, more and more reports point out the fact that even biological fluids and semifluid, such as synovial liquid, blood, urine, or mucus and feces, harbor "non-attached" biofilm aggregates of bacteria, which represent a significant phenomenon with critical clinical implications that remain to be fully investigated. In particular, biofilm aggregates in biological fluid samples have been shown to play a relevant role in bacterial count and in the overall accuracy of microbiological diagnosis. In line with these observations, the introduction in the clinical setting of fluid sample pretreatment with an antibiofilm chemical compound called dithiothreitol (DTT), which is able to dislodge microorganisms from their intercellular matrix without killing them, would effectively improve the microbiological yield and increase the sensitivity of cultural examination, compared to the current microbiological techniques. While other ongoing research continues to unveil the complexity of biofilm formation in biological fluids and its impact on infection pathogenesis and diagnosis, we here hypothesize that the routine use of a chemical antibiofilm pretreatment of fluid and semi-solid samples may lead to a paradigm shift in the microbiological approach to the diagnosis of biofilm-related infections and should be further investigated and eventually implemented in the clinical setting.

Tenoplasty in suspension with or without tendon interposition: A prospective randomized study in the treatment of advanced thumb carpometacarpal arthritis.

Introduction: The aim of this prospective and randomized study is to analyze and compare the outcomes of two surgical techniques for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis (Eaton-Littler grade III and IV). Materials and methods: 52 consecutive patients underwent surgical intervention by two different surgical techniques and checked for subjective outcomes (DASH, NPRS), objective outcomes (ROM, opposition test, grinding test, pulp pinch, hand grip) and radiographic outcomes. Surgical time was calculated. Results: 26 patients underwent suspension arthroplasty using abductor pollicis longus tendon interposition (Ceruso procedure) and 26 patients underwent arthroplasty using suspension tenoplasty of the flexor radialis carpi (Altissimi procedure). Both techniques were performed by a single surgeon and showed good and satisfactory results, with best outcome reported in Altissimi procedure regarding DASH and ROM (p = 0.011 and p = 0.012, respectively), with reduced surgical time (about 6 min less, p = 0.03). The proximal shift between scaphoid and the base of first metacarpal did not influence the final results of the cases treated. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that trapeziectomy in combination with both tendon suspension arthroplasty and tendon interposition are two surgical procedures useful to solve advanced basal joint arthritis. Patients who underwent suspension tenoplasty without tendon interposition seemed to be generally more satisfied with significantly better symptomatic and functional outcomes.

Does anterior plus posterior interosseus neurectomy lead to better outcomes than isolated posterior interosseus denervation in the treatment of chronic wrist pain? A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Partial wrist denervation can be performed by isolated posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) or combined PIN plus (+) anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) neurectomy procedures. The purpose of the current systematic review is to investigate any differences in clinical outcomes and failures in patients undergoing AIN + PIN vs isolated PIN neurectomy. Methods: A review of the English Literature was performed on Medline, WOS and Scopus according to PRISMA protocol combining 'wrist denervation', 'PIN neurectomy', 'AIN neurectomy', anterior interosseous nerve neurectomy' and 'posterior interosseous nerve neurectomy'. Studies were assessed with a modified Coleman Methodology Score (CMS). The primary outcome for meta-analysis was 'Failures', including all patients who have required a second surgery or those who are left with pain (defined as 'bad'). Results: Overall, 10 studies totalling 347 wrists were included in this systematic review, with a 'moderate' CMS. The isolated PIN neurectomy technique showed a 15.1% pooled failure rate at a median follow-up of 22 months, while the combined AIN+PIN denervation had a pooled failure rate of 23.6% at a follow-up with a median of 29 months. The combined analysis of both procedures did not show significantly better results in favour of either technique, with a general failure rate of 21.6% (P = 0.0501). Conclusion: Partial denervation for chronic wrist pain is a salvage procedure that leads to an overall success of 78.4% for pain relief, with no substantial complications. Apparently, performing the neurectomy also of the AIN does not offer greater advantages compared to the isolated PIN neurectomy.

Hip joint osteochondroma treated with short stem total hip arthroplasty: a case report.

The purpose of this report is to present the clinical and radiological findings of a young patient affected by proximal femoral and acetabular osteochondroma. This benign primary tumor of the long bones occurs in childhood and is localized in the proximal femur only with low incidence. As far as we know, there are only 30 other cases in the literature of an osteochondroma involving the entire hip joint. Out of these 30, only 17 patients were treated with lesion excision and joint replacement. However this is the first patient treated with a short stem total hip replacement. The innovative short stems allow the bone saving of the proximal femur, a necessary condition to have a good bone stock in the event of a future prosthetic revision in a highly demanding young patient. Preoperative planning and specific rehabilitation are mandatory to achieve good outcomes.

Histological and clinical analysis of knee cyclops lesions.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cyclops Syndrome, first described by Jackson and Schaefer in 1990, is known as a complication of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However further researches have demonstrated that cyclops can be present even without symptoms and/or in absence of ACLR, simply configuring itself as a lesion in patients with rupture of the native ligament. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study in which we report our experience of 13 cyclops lesions found between 126 patients during a primary arthroscopic ACLR. Preoperative examination with tests of joint stability and range of movement measurement was performed and recorded. Accurate joint examination was performed during arthroscopy and the cyclops lesions found were removed and analyzed with haematoxylin-eosin coloration. Post-operative clinical examination was performed until 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Histological analysis showed proliferation of dense fibroelastic polypoid nodules with a macroscopically histological aspects of a "blue eye", hence the name Cyclops. At 6 months of follow-up after surgery, none of the patients reported pain at terminal extension or instability and they were all able to resume their previous activities. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed that surgical reconstruction of the ACL is not the only condition in which the Cyclops Syndrome develops; in fact our histological analysis indicate that the Cyclops lesions develop like a reactive fibroproliferative process following the rupture of the native ACL fibers, as scar reaction to the trauma: for this reason an accurate arthroscopic detection of these Cyclops lesions is crucial during primary ACL reconstruction in order to obtain the best surgical outcomes.

Microfracture- and Xeno-Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis for Treatment of Focal Traumatic Cartilage Defects of the Knee: Age-Based Mid-Term Results.

The aim of this study was to investigate clinical and instrumental outcomes of the autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) technique for the treatment of isolated traumatic condyle and femoropatellar cartilage lesions. A total of 25 patients (12 males, 13 females, mean age 47.3 years) treated between 2018 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed and subdivided into two groups based on age (Group A, age < 45 years; Group B, age > 45 years). A clinical evaluation was performed using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm score and Visual Analogue Score (VAS). Cartilage regeneration was evaluated via magnetic resonance (1.5 Tesla) and classified according to a Magnetic resonance Observation of CArtilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) scoring system. At a minimum follow-up of 2 years, Group A patients obtained greater instrumental results in comparison to group B: in fact, the MOCART score was statistically significantly correlated with IKDC (r = 0.223) (p < 0.001) exclusively in group A. Nevertheless, a significant improvement in clinical functionality was shown in Group B (p < 0.001), demonstrating that this technique is safe, reproducible and capable of offering satisfactory clinical results regardless of age.

Versatility of the perforator radial artery flap in the reconstruction of the upper limbs and comparison of the outcomes with the "classic" radial flap, a retrospective study.

Introduction: Radial forearm flap, first described in the early eighties in China, is a well-known and handy flap to cover soft tissue defects of the distal upper limb. It has, though, some inconveniences, such as the sacrifice of the radial artery and non-neglectable esthetic sequelae in the donor site. In the following years, a similar flap based on the perforators of the radial artery has been described as achieving similar results, allowing to spare a main vessel. The authors reviewed retrospectively the patients that underwent surgery with one of those two flaps in their center to compare outcomes. Materials and methods: Patients operated between January 2016 and January 2022 have been reviewed. Ten had a classic radial artery flap, and ten had a radial artery perforator flap. Twelve weeks after surgery, Vancouver Scar Scale was used to assess the results at the donor site and over the flap. Reintervention and failure rate within one year and patient satisfaction -using a visual analog scale ranging from 0 to ten-at 12 months were also assessed. Results: All classic radial artery flap group patients had "successful" surgery, and none needed secondary surgery. On the other side, three patients required a second surgery in the perforator flap group, and nine out of ten ended up with "successful" flaps. Mean Vancouver Scar Scale results regarding the flap are comparable, whereas those at the donor site are significantly better in the patients with the perforator flap. Patients' satisfaction results are similar in both groups. Conclusion: The radial artery perforator flap is an important flap to be held in mind by all surgeons approaching reconstruction of the elbow, the forearm, and the hand, and should be preferred, when possible, to the classic radial forearm flap.

Outcomes at 2 years follow-up of sacral fractures associated with unstable vertical pelvic ring injuries in obese patients: a multicentric retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Sacral fractures with concomitant unstable pelvic ring injuries are severe conditions which occur in patients involved in high-energy trauma. When operative treatment is required, high surgical experience on the field is mandatory, especially in a sub-polpulation of obese patients which have increased risk of complications. The aim of this multicentric retroscpective study was to describe and analyze clinical and radiological outcomes of sacral vertical fractures in obese patients with a minimum of 2 years follow-up.   Methods: A total of 121 pelvic fractures admitted to Emergency Departments of three II level trauma centres from April 2015 to April 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, injury mechanism, surgical data and complications were collected. The quality of life and the pelvic function were respectively measured by SF-12 questionnaires, Denis Work Scale and Majeed Score. The inter-rater agreement between the clinical scores and the Denis Work Scale was assessed.   Results: A total of 19 patients were included in the study. The average follow up was 41.16 months. The average BMI was 38.63 and the mean abdominal circumference was 128.10 cm. The average Majeed and SF-12 scores were respectively 66.47 and 74.32. Five patients were able to return to their previous employment. The post traumatic life's quality and related dysfunctions are influenced by the high BMI.   Conclusions: Faster recovery and early weight-bearing should be persued in order to minimize complications, expecially in obese patients. In these sample of patients, "triangular osteosynthesis" was the best treatment choice for sacral vertical fractures.

Pentraxin 3, a new biomarker for the diagnosis and management of PJI in primary and revision hip arthroplasty.

Background/Aim of the study: The periprosthetic or superficial site infections are one of the most catastrophic and difficult to manage complications following total hip arthroplasty. Recently, in addition to well know systemic markers of inflammation, the blood and synovial fluid biomarkers are focused to have a possible role in the infection diagnosis. The long Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) seems to be a sensitive biomarker of acute phase inflammation. The objectives of this prospective and multicentre study were (1) to establish the plasma trend effectiveness of PTX3 in patients undergoing primary hip replacement, and (2) to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of blood and synovial PTX3 in patients undergoing prosthetic revision of infected hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Human PTX3 was measured by ELISA in two cohorts of patients, 10 patients undergoing primary hip replacement for osteoarthritis and 9 patients with infected hip arthroplasty. RESULTS: The Authors were able to demonstrate that PTX3 is a viable biomarker for acute phase inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in PTX3 protein concentration in the synovial fluid of patients undergoing implant revision has a strong diagnostic capacity for periprosthetic joint infection, showing 97% specificity.

Could Short Stems THA Be a Good Bone-Saving Option Even in Obese Patients?

Short femoral stems, with preservation of the femoral bone stock, are commonly used in recent years for hip replacement in younger and more active patients. Obesity is increasingly spreading even in the younger population. The aim of this case-series study is to evaluate short stems compared to traditional hip prostheses in the obese population. A total of 77 consecutive patients with a BMI greater than or equal to 30 Kg/m2 were enrolled in this prospective study and were divided into two groups: 49 patients have been implanted with short stems while 28 patients were implanted with traditional stems. All the patients were treated for primary osteoarthritis or avascular necrosis and all the stems were implanted by the same surgeon using a posterior approach. Clinical (Harris Hip Score­HHS, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index­WOMAC, visual analogue scale­VAS, 12-item Short Form Health Survey­SF-12) and radiographic outcomes were recorded. Radiological evaluations were carried out by three different blinded surgeons. A statistical analysis was performed (chi-square, t-test, Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test, 2-factor ANOVA). At a mean follow-up of 42.6 months both groups showed a marked improvement in pain and in the clinical scores between pre- and post-surgical procedures (p < 0.05) with no significant differences between the two groups at last follow-up (p > 0.05). The radiological evaluations, with high concordance correlation between the three blinded surgeons (ICC consistently >0.80), showed good positioning and osseointegration in all cases, with no significant differences in the restoration of the joint geometry and complications. No revisions were recorded during the follow-up period. In conclusion, short stems appear to be a good option for bone preservation even in obese patients, showing comparable results to traditional implants.

What Is the Inpatient Cost of Hip Replacement? A Time-Driven Activity Based Costing Pilot Study in an Italian Public Hospital.

The emphasis on value-based payment models for primary total hip replacement (THA) results in a greater need for orthopaedic surgeons and hospitals to better understand actual costs and resource use. Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) is an innovative approach to measure expenses more accurately and address cost challenges. It estimates the quantity of time and the cost per unit of time of each resource (e.g., equipment and personnel) used across an episode of care. Our goal is to understand the true cost of a THA using the TDABC in an Italian public hospital and to comprehend how the adoption of this method might enhance the process of providing healthcare from an organizational and financial standpoint. During 2019, the main activities required for total hip replacement surgery, the operators involved, and the intraoperative consumables were identified. A process map was produced to identify the patient's concrete path during hospitalization and the length of stay was also recorded. The total inpatient cost of THA, net of all indirect costs normally included in a DRG-based reimbursement, was about EUR 6000. The observation of a total of 90 patients identified 2 main expense items: the prosthetic device alone represents 50.4% of the total cost, followed by the hospitalization, which constitutes 41.5%. TDABC has proven to be a precise method for determining the cost of the healthcare delivery process for THA, considering facilities, equipment, and staff employed. The process map made it possible to identify waste and redundancies. Surgeons should be aware that the choice of prosthetic device and that a lack of pre-planning for discharge can exponentially alter the hospital expenditure for a patient undergoing primary THA.

Pisiform Bone Dislocation in a Pediatric Patient: What is the Best Treatment? Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Traumatic dislocation of the pisiform bone (PB) is a rare injury of the carpal bones, especially in pediatric patients. A few cases were reported, and there is no consensus about the treatment. Each author supports his own method, such as an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) approach or a closed reduction. However, failures of both techniques with recurrent dislocation of the PB have been reported in the literature. In this article, a fracture dislocation of the PB was treated with ORIF in an 11-year-old boy with a greenstick radial fracture. In addition, a review of the literature about pisiform fracture dislocation in children has been made.

Debridement, antibiotic pearls, and retention of the implant in the treatment of infected total hip arthroplasty.

In this article the authors describe a modified surgical technique developed to enhance the classical irrigation and debridement procedure to improve the possibilities of retaining a total hip arthroplasty (THA) undergoing acute periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). This technique, debridement antibiotic pearls and retention of the implant (DAPRI), aims to remove the intra-articular biofilm allowing a higher and prolonged local antibiotic concentration by using calcium sulphate antibiotic-added beads. The combination of 3 different surgical techniques (tumour-like synovectomy, Argon Beam application and chlorhexidine gluconate brushing) might enhance the disruption and removal of the bacterial biofilm which is the main responsible of antibiotics and antibodies resistance. The timing of the diagnosis (6 weeks from the original surgery or 1 week from clinical symptoms appearance in the case of an hematogenous infection) and the preoperative isolation of the germ are fundamental in order to obtain a satisfactory outcome. A 12-week course of postoperative antibiotic therapy (6 weeks I.V. and 6 weeks oral) complete the postoperative protocol used by the authors.The DAPRI technique might represent a safe and more conservative treatment for acute and early hematogenous PJI.