Minimally invasive surgery of femoral periprosthetic fractures increases the rate of consolidation and decreases time to bone healing without a higher rate of complications.

BACKGROUND: Knee periprosthetic femoral fractures (KPPFF) are becoming more frequent due to the increasing number of arthroplasties and the aging population, for whom maintaining autonomy and function remains a challenge. The use of locking plates has improved functional results and promoted the development of "minimally invasive" surgical (MIS) approaches. Despite the availability of literature comparing between different types of osteosynthesis for KPPFF, there is a paucity of information available on the complications of osteosynthesis using locking plates, depending on the approach. We therefore carried out a retrospective multicenter study (nine centers: Dijon, Grenoble, Lille, Marseille, Nice, Paris, Saint-Étienne, Strasbourg, Colmar) as part of a Symposium of the French Society of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology (SOFCOT). Following osteosynthesis of KPPFF by locking plates carried out by a standard approach or by a minimally invasive approach (MIS), the objectives were: (1) to compare the complications, (2) to evaluate whether the radiological and clinical results (rate and time of consolidation, resumption of weight bearing, lack of reduction, postoperative autonomy) were comparable in the two groups. HYPOTHESIS: The hypothesis was that performing an MIS approach in these indications does not confer more complications than a standard approach, and rather, the MIS approach offers better functional and radiological results. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Five hundred and seventy-three patients presented with KPPFF over the periods studied (retrospective series from January 2012 to December 2016, then prospective series from January to December 2019). After applying the inclusion criteria (KPPFF by locking plate) and exclusion criteria (tumor context, infectious, intraoperative fractures, fractures on loose prostheses, other osteosynthesis methods, treatment by prosthetic revision, patients under the age of 18, follow-up less than 1-year, incomplete files), a global series of 306 patients was retained. Two groups were created according to the approach performed: a standard approach group (S, n=228) and a minimally invasive approach group (MIS, n=78). The demographic data of the population were recorded, as was the criteria for autonomy (Parker score, place of living). Postoperative complications were sought (infection, mechanical complication, surgical revision). Finally, the radiological and clinical results were evaluated (rate of, and time to consolidation, resumption of weight bearing, lack of reduction, postoperative autonomy). RESULTS: The comparison of the two subgroups, S and MIS, found complication rates are comparable in the two groups in terms of infections [S group: n=18 (7.9%), MIS group: n=2 (2.6%)], mechanical complications [S: n=23 (10.1%), MIS: n=2 (2.6%)], and surgical revision [S: n=33 (14.5%), MIS: n=7 (8.9%)], and a lack of difference in postoperative autonomy [Parker; S group: 4.7±2.4 (0-9) vs. MIS group: 5±2, 7 (0-9)]. On the other hand, the time to return to weight bearing was shorter in the MIS group [4.3±3.5weeks (0-12) versus 10.1±10.1weeks (0-110), p<0.001]. The rate of nonunion was lower in the MIS group [n=1 vs. n=20, i.e. 1.7% vs. 11.1% (p=0.031)] and the time to consolidation was shorter [7.5±4.3weeks (6-30) versus 15.2±9.4weeks (5-78) (p<0.001)]. CONCLUSION: Performing an MIS approach in the management of KPPFF by locking plate osteosynthesis does not cause any more complications than a standard approach. In addition, higher consolidation rates can be obtained in shorter periods of time. This study suggests that it proposing osteosynthesis using the MIS approach as a primary surgery is a reasonable choice when treatment using locking plates is chosen for a KPPFF, subject to technical expertise. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III; observational study.

Motivation to participate and attrition factors in a COVID-19 biobank: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The Biobanque québécoise de la COVID-19 (Quebec Biobank for COVID-19, or BQC19) is a provincial initiative that aims to manage the longitudinal collection, storage, and sharing of biological samples and clinical data related to COVID-19. During the study, BQC19 investigators reported a high loss-to-follow-up rate. The current study aimed to explore motivational and attrition factors from the perspective of BQC19 participants and health care and research professionals. METHODS: This was an inductive exploratory qualitative study. Using a theoretical sampling approach, a sample of BQC19 participants and professionals were invited to participate via semi-structured interviews. Topics included motivations to participate; participants' fears, doubts, and barriers to participation; and professionals' experiences with biobanking during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Interviews were conducted with BQC19 participants (n = 23) and professionals (n = 17) from 8 clinical data collection sites. Motivations included the contribution to science and society in crisis, self-worth, and interactions with medical professionals. Reasons for attrition included logistical barriers, negative attitudes about public health measures or genomic studies, fear of clinical settings, and a desire to move on from COVID-19. Motivations and barriers seemed to evolve over time and with COVID-19 trends and surges. Certain situations were associated with attrition, such as when patients experienced indirect verbal consent during hospitalization. Barriers related to human and material resources and containment/prevention measures limited the ability of research teams to recruit and retain participants, especially in the ever-evolving context of crisis. CONCLUSION: The pandemic setting impacted participation and attrition, either by influencing participants' motivations and barriers or by affecting research teams' ability to recruit and retain participants. Longitudinal and/or biobanking studies in a public health crisis setting should consider these factors to limit attrition.

Massive traumatic articular bone loss of the capitulum humeri treated by costal osteochondral autograft reconstruction: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Articular traumatic bone loss is a severe condition with heterogeneous outcomes, often necessitating complex technical solutions and posing challenges in managing both bone and cartilage loss. Thus, some surgeons have used a technique of osteochondral autograft using a rib to fix an articular bone loss to manage both of these tissue losses. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present the case of a 25-years-old patient, who had a complex open elbow injury. He presented an association of a terrible triad of the elbow injury with an open traumatic bone loss of the capitulum humeri and unfixable lesion of the lateral collateral ligament complex of the elbow. We initially managed these lesions with an external fixator for 2 months followed by a reconstruction of the capitulum humeri using a costal osteochondral autograft. Unfortunately, the patient was lost to follow-up after the 1 month post-operative consultation but he had some encouraging results. DISCUSSION: In this case report, we describe our technique using an osteochondral autograft to address complex bone and cartilaginous losses, thereby expanding the treatment options available to trauma surgeons. CONCLUSION: This case report shows that a reconstruction of the capitellum humeri for a traumatic bone loss with an osteochondral autograft using the eighth rib can be easily performed. More generally, this technique could even help to manage complex traumatic substance loss of both bone and cartilage in other locations.

Use of dual mobility cup cemented into a tantalum acetabular shell for hip revision with large bone loss can decrease dislocation risk without increasing the risk of mechanical failure.

BACKGROUND: Porous tantalum components and augments have demonstrated short to midterm fixation stability in acetabular total hip arthroplasty (THA) revision but do not offer a novel option to decrease the postoperative dislocation rate. Recently, dual mobility (DM) cups have gained interest to decrease the prevalence of recurrent hip instability after revision hip arthroplasty, but this issue was not confirmed combined with use of tantalum reconstruction devices. Therefore, we did a retrospective study aiming to: (1) evaluate at a 5-year minimum follow-up period the dislocation rate (and other intra- and postoperative complications), (2) assess radiographic results specifically looking at osseointegration and restoration of the hip center, (3) and also clinical results in a cohort of patients who underwent complex acetabular reconstruction with trabecular metal revision components associated with a cemented DM socket. HYPOTHESIS: Using a DM socket cemented in porous tantalum components can reach the low risk of hip dislocation reported with DM components in revision setting without increasing the risk of a mechanical failure. METHODS: A cross-sectional study identified 174 THA revision including an acetabular revision. Were excluded 118 revisions with acetabular defects Type 1, 2a or 2B according to Paprosky's classification, as well as 18 hips revised without a dual mobility and 3 patients (3 hips) lost to follow-up. Were thus included in this study 35 hips (35 patients) implanted with uncemented total hip arthroplasty revision using both trabecular metal acetabular cup-cage reconstruction and a cemented DM cup. Seven hips were classified Paprosky types 2C, 15 type 3A and 13 types 3B. Patients were followed with clinical and radiological evaluation regarding dislocation rate, infection, reoperation or re-revision, osseointegration and restoration of the hip center, and functional results according to the Harris hip score and psoas impingement presence. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 8.1±1.8 years (5.1-12.6), one dislocation was recorded, and one acute deep infection. No patient required a cup re-revision for septic or aseptic loosening. The survivorship at 8years regarding revision for any cause as an endpoint was 96.5% (CI95%: 92-99). Osseointegration of TM implants was analyzed and found no acetabular migration at the last follow-up in the cohort. The mean hip center position was optimized from 48±7mm (37-58) to 34±5mm (29-39) vertically and from 26±5mm (-18-36) to 24±8mm (7-31) horizontally without reaching significance (p=0.1). On the last follow-up X-rays, the mean acetabular inclination was 47̊±9̊ (32̊-61̊). According to the criteria of Hirakawa, 97.1% (34/35) of the hip centers were restored. One cup (2.9%) was more than 5mm proximally from the hip center, and none more than 10mm. Clinical results assessed a Harris Hip Score improved from 36±17 (23-62) preoperatively to 82±15 (69-93) at last follow-up (p<0.0001). Two patients (2/35, 5.7%) complained of psoas impingement. CONCLUSION: This study suggests effectiveness of DM cups in association with a tantalum-made acetabular shell for reconstruction of large bone defect in THRs for both solving postoperative instability and aseptic loosening without increasing the re-revision rate for any reason in a midterm follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; observational study.

Understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care experiences of people with mental-physical multimorbidity: protocol for a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Primary care and other health services have been disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the consequences of these service disruptions on patients' care experiences remain largely unstudied. People with mental-physical multimorbidity are vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic, and to sudden service disruptions. It is thus essential to better understand how their care experiences have been impacted by the current pandemic. This study aims to improve understanding of the care experiences of people with mental-physical multimorbidity during the pandemic and identify strategies to enhance these experiences. METHODS: We will conduct a mixed-methods study with multi-phase approach involving four distinct phases. Phase 1 will be a qualitative descriptive study in which we interview individuals with mental-physical multimorbidity and health professionals in order to explore the impacts of the pandemic on care experiences, as well as their perspectives on how care can be improved. The results of this phase will inform the design of study phases 2 and 3. Phase 2 will involve journey mapping exercises with a sub-group of participants with mental-physical multimorbidity to visually map out their care interactions and experiences over time and the critical moments that shaped their experiences. Phase 3 will involve an online, cross-sectional survey of care experiences administered to a larger group of people with mental disorders and/or chronic physical conditions. In phase 4, deliberative dialogues will be held with key partners to discuss and plan strategies for improving the delivery of care to people with mental-physical multimorbidity. Pre-dialogue workshops will enable us to synthesize an prepare the results from the previous three study phases. DISCUSSION: Our study results will generate much needed evidence of the positive and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care experiences of people with mental-physical multimorbidity and shed light on strategies that could improve care quality and experiences.

Being a Parent of Children with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Multi-Method Study of Health, Social Life, and Occupational Situation.

Parents of children with disabilities face challenges in their daily lives, but little is known about their experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the study was to explore the experiences of parents of children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, Canada. Forty parents of children with disabilities from Quebec, Canada (mean [SD] age: 41.2 [6.7]; 93% women) were selected from the Ma Vie et la pandémie (MAVIPAN) study. All 40 parents completed the MAVIPAN online questionnaires including the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing short 7-item scale (WEMWBS), Social Provisions Scale-10 item (SPS-10), and the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS). A multi-method analysis was used to summarize questionnaires and thematically explore parents' experiences. Parents reported deterioration in their mental (50.0%) and physical (27.5%) health, with moderate levels of depression, stress, and anxiety, yet moderately positive well-being. Additional experiences included reduction in available supports (71.4%) and feelings of social isolation (51.4%). Our results highlighted reduced mental and physical health, limited and modified access to certain services, and reduction of social supports for some parents of children with disabilities. Health professionals, policymakers, and governments should be mindful of these challenges experienced by parents of children with disabilities.

What treatment for humeral shaft non-union? Case-series assessment of a strategy.

INTRODUCTION: Humeral shaft non-union is frequent, with severe clinical impact. Management, however, is poorly codified and there is no clear decision-tree. HYPOTHESIS: Analyzing our experience over the last 15years could enable a reproducible strategy to be drawn up, with a decision-tree based on the 2 main causes: failure of internal fixation, and infection. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Sixty-one patients were included in a retrospective cohort, with a mean 94 months' follow-p. The treatment strategy was based on screening first for infection then for mechanical stability deficit in case of prior internal fixation. Any fixation revision was associated to cancellous autograft. In case of suspected or proven infection, 2-stage treatment was implemented. In case of primary non-operative treatment, the strategy was based on the non-union risk on the Non-Union Scoring System (NUSS), with internal fixation and possible graft. RESULTS: There were 6 failures, for a consolidation rate of 90%; excluding patients not managed according to the study protocol, the consolidation rate was 95%. There was 1 case of spontaneously resolving postoperative radial palsy, and 3 patients required surgical revision. DISCUSSION: The present strategy achieved consolidation in most cases, providing the surgeon with a decision-tree for these patients. Infectious etiologies are often overlooked and should be a focus of screening. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective or historical series.

Epistemic inclusion in the Qanuilirpitaa? Nunavik Inuit health survey: developing an Inuit model and determinants of health and well-being.

OBJECTIVE: At the request of Nunavik Inuit health authorities and organizations, the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik regional health survey included an innovative "community component" alongside youth and adult epidemiological cohort studies. The community component objective was to identify and describe community and culturally relevant concepts and processes that lead to health and well-being. METHODS: A qualitative, community-based research process involving workshops and semi-structured interviews was used to generate a corpus of data on health concepts and processes specific to Inuit communities in Nunavik. Thematic analysis and repeated community validation allowed for the identification of three key dimensions of health salient to Inuit experience and eight community-level health determinants. RESULTS: The health model consists of three linked concepts: ilusirsusiarniq, qanuinngisiarniq, and inuuqatigiitsianiq, which reflect distinct dimensions of Inuit health phenomenology. The determinants community, family, identity, food, land, knowledge, economy, and services were generated through analysis and reflect community-level sources of health and well-being. CONCLUSION: The development of the culturally grounded health models and determinants is an exercise of epistemic inclusivity through which researchers and Indigenous communities may form new and equitable paths of knowledge creation.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: À la demande des instances et des organisations de santé inuit du Nunavik, une « composante communautaire ¼ novatrice a été intégrée à l'enquête régionale de santé Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 en parallèle aux études épidémiologiques menées auprès des jeunes et des adultes. L'objectif de la composante communautaire était d'identifier et de décrire les concepts et les processus, pertinents d'un point de vue communautaire et culturel, qui contribuent à la santé et au bien-être. MéTHODES: Un processus de recherche adoptant une approche qualitative et axée sur la communauté a été employé, en menant notamment des ateliers et des entrevues semi-structurées, pour créer un corpus de données sur la conceptualisation et les processus de santé propres aux communautés inuit du Nunavik. L'analyse thématique des données et la validation des résultats par les communautés ont permis d'identifier trois dimensions clés de la santé qui sont essentielles à l'expérience qui en est faite par les Inuit, ainsi que huit déterminants de la santé au niveau communautaire. RéSULTATS: Le modèle de santé est composé de trois concepts étant intrinsèquement liés, ilusirsusiarniq, qanuinngisiarniq et inuuqatigiitsianiq, et qui structurent les dimensions les plus importantes de la phénoménologie de la santé inuite. Les déterminants suivants sont ressortis de l'analyse des données et reflètent les sources de santé et de bien-être au niveau communautaire : la communauté, la famille, l'identité, la nourriture, le territoire, le savoir, l'économie et les services. CONCLUSION: L'élaboration de modèles et de déterminants de la santé fondés sur la culture est un exercice d'inclusion épistémique qui permet aux chercheurs et aux communautés autochtones de former de nouvelles voies vers une création plus équitable des connaissances.

Accuracy of clinicians' ability to predict the need for renal replacement therapy: a prospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: Identifying patients who will receive renal replacement therapy (RRT) during intensive care unit (ICU) stay is a major challenge for intensivists. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of physicians in predicting the need for RRT at ICU admission and at acute kidney injury (AKI) diagnosis. METHODS: Prospective, multicenter study including all adult patients hospitalized in 16 ICUs in October 2020. Physician prediction was estimated at ICU admission and at AKI diagnosis, according to a visual Likert scale. Discrimination, risk stratification and benefit of physician estimation were assessed. Mixed logistic regression models of variables associated with risk of receiving RRT, with and without physician estimation, were compared. RESULTS: Six hundred and forty-nine patients were included, 270 (41.6%) developed AKI and 77 (11.8%) received RRT. At ICU admission and at AKI diagnosis, a model including physician prediction, the experience of the physician, SOFA score, serum creatinine and diuresis to determine need for RRT performed better than a model without physician estimation with an area under the ROC curve of 0.90 [95% CI 0.86-0.94, p < 0.008 (at ICU admission)] and 0.89 [95% CI 0.83-0.93, p = 0.0014 (at AKI diagnosis)]. In multivariate analysis, physician prediction was strongly associated with the need for RRT, independently of creatinine levels, diuresis, SOFA score and the experience of the doctor who made the prediction. CONCLUSION: As physicians are able to stratify patients at high risk of RRT, physician judgement should be taken into account when designing new randomized studies focusing on RRT initiation during AKI.

SARS-CoV-2 with Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing Staphylococcus aureus healthcare-associated pneumonia in the Indian Ocean.

At this time, the literature reports only one case of superinfection with Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-producing Staphylococcus aureus in a patient with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia. Here we report the first two cases of PVL-producing S. aureus healthcare-associated pneumonia in patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in the Indian Ocean region. The two isolated strains of S. aureus were found to belong to the ST152/t355 clone, a known PVL-producing S. aureus clone that circulates in Africa and is responsible for infections imported into Europe. Our two cases reinforce the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 infection favors the occurrence of PVL-producing S. aureus pneumonia. Production of PVL should be searched in patients returning from the Indian Ocean region who present with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia complicated by superinfection with S. aureus even in the case of late onset healthcare-associated pneumonia.

Resumption of complete weight bearing after osteosynthesis of bimalleolar fractures using locking plates.

INTRODUCTION: Bimalleolar fractures represent 9% of fractures and affect 187/100,000 people per year. The gold standard for osteosynthesis is a one-third tubular or lateral locking plate and compression screwing or use of tension band wiring, with complete weight bearing planned around the 6th week. The development of locking plates seems to allow earlier resumption of weight bearing. The objective of our study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results after internal fixation of bimalleolar fractures using locking plates with complete weight bearing authorized from the outset. The hypothesis was that this does not predispose to cutaneous or mechanical complications. HARDWARE AND METHOD: A continuous multi-operator retrospective study was performed. The clinical and radiological data of 55 patients operated on for bimalleolar fractures were collected. All underwent osteosynthesis with medial and lateral locking plates with authorization for weight bearing from the outset. RESULTS: Complete weight bearing was resumed at 27.4 days 14.7 [7-60] postoperatively. No non-union or malunion was found. Two patients presented with delayed medial healing without the need for hardware removal. Two patients required removal of the lateral Plate 1 month postoperatively due to infection. Seven patients presented with discomfort related to hardware, justifying its removal at 1 year. The Kitaoka score at 1 year was 94.6 7.7 [71-100]. CONCLUSION: The use of medial and lateral locking plates in bimalleolar fractures associated with complete weight bearing authorized from the outset allows complete consolidation. There was no increase in cutaneous or mechanical complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective study.

Failure analysis of articulating polymethyl methacrylate spacers in two-stage revision total hip arthroplasty.

AIMS: Two-stage exchange revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed in case of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) has been considered for many years as being the gold standard for the treatment of chronic infection. However, over the past decade, there have been concerns about its safety and its effectiveness. The purposes of our study were to investigate our practice, collecting the overall spacer complications, and then to analyze their risk factors. METHODS: We retrospectively included 125 patients with chronic hip PJI who underwent a staged THA revision performed between January 2013 and December 2019. All spacer complications were systematically collected, and risk factors were analyzed. Statistical evaluations were performed using the Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Our staged exchange practice shows poor results, which means a 42% mechanical spacer failure rate, and a 20% recurrent infection rate over the two years average follow-up period. Moreover, we found a high rate of spacer dislocation (23%) and a low rate of spacer fracture (8%) compared to the previous literature. Our findings stress that the majority of spacer complications and failures is reflecting a population with high comorbid burden, highlighted by the American Society of Anesthesiology grade, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and Lee score associations, as well as the cardiac, pulmonary, kidney, or hepatic chronic conditions. CONCLUSION: Our experience of a two-stage hip exchange revision noted important complication rates associated with high failure rates of polymethylmethacrylate spacers. These findings must be interpreted in the light of the patient's comorbidity profiles, as the elective population for staged exchange has an increasing comorbid burden leading to poor results. In order to provide better results for this specific population, our conclusion suggests that comparative strategy studies are required to improve our therapeutic indication. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(6):485-494.

For a structured response to the psychosocial consequences of the restrictive measures imposed by the global COVID-19 health pandemic: the MAVIPAN longitudinal prospective cohort study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures have caused important disruptions in economies and labour markets, changed the way we work and socialise, forced schools to close and healthcare and social services to reorganise. This unprecedented crisis forces individuals to make considerable efforts to adapt and will have psychological and social consequences, mainly on vulnerable individuals, that will remain once the pandemic is contained and will most likely exacerbate existing social and gender health inequalities. This crisis also puts a toll on the capacity of our healthcare and social services structures to provide timely and adequate care. The MAVIPAN (Ma vie et la pandémie/ My Life and the Pandemic) study aims to document how individuals, families, healthcare workers and health organisations are affected by the pandemic and how they adapt. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: MAVIPAN is a 5-year longitudinal prospective cohort study launched in April 2020 across the province of Quebec (Canada). Quantitative data will be collected through online questionnaires (4-6 times/year) according to the evolution of the pandemic. Qualitative data will be collected with individual and group interviews and will seek to deepen our understanding of coping strategies. Analysis will be conducted under a mixed-method umbrella, with both sequential and simultaneous analyses of quantitative and qualitative data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: MAVIPAN aims to support the healthcare and social services system response by providing high-quality, real-time information needed to identify those who are most affected by the pandemic and by guiding public health authorities' decision making regarding intervention and resource allocation to mitigate these impacts. MAVIPAN was approved by the Ethics Committees of the Primary Care and Population Health Research Sector of CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale (Committee of record) and of the additional participating institutions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04575571.

Comparison of morbidity-mortality and functional results between implant exchange and internal fixation by plate for periprosthetic femoral fracture in total knee arthroplasty: A 52-case series.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical options for periprosthetic femoral fracture in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are controversial. The present retrospective study compared morbidity, mortality and functional results between implant exchange (group IE) and internal fixation by plate (group IF). The study hypothesis was that implant exchange does not give rise to more complications than plate fixation and that functional results are equivalent. METHODS: Fifty-two femoral fractures in contact with a TKA implant were studied. The IE and IF groups (n 32 and 20, respectively), were comparable for age, gender and ASA score. Mean age was 80.5 years (range, 53-96 years). Morbidity and mortality were assessed on Clavien score; functional assessment used the KOOS questionnaire. RESULTS: Mortality was 50% in group IF and 40% in group IE (p=0.4817). One patient was lost to follow-up. Complications were seen in 15 group IF patients (48.4%) versus 5 in group IE (26.3%) (p=0.14760), with infection in 5 (16.1%) and 2 patients (10.5%) respectively (p=0.69475). In both groups, 9 patients (i.e., 28.1% and 40% respectively) showed grade 2 complications (p=1). Revision surgery was performed in 8 grade 3b patients (25%) in the IF group and in 3 (15%) in the IE group (p=1). Mean KOOS score was 40 (range, 20-72) in IF and 65 (range, 50-93) in IE (p=0.0004). CONCLUSION: Morbidity and mortality were comparable between implant exchange and plate fixation for periprosthetic femoral fracture in TKA. KOOS functional scores were better with implant exchange. Implant exchange may be suited to complex fracture with stable implant. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, observational study.

Initial PCV Chemotherapy Followed by Radiotherapy Is Associated With a Prolonged Response But Late Neurotoxicity in 20 Diffuse Low-Grade Glioma Patients.

Background: Study RTOG 9802 in high-risk diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGGs) showed the potential synergistic effect on survival of the procarbazine, CCNU, and vincristine (PCV) radiotherapy (RT) combination. Limited data on long-term neurocognitive impact and quality of life (QoL) have yet been reported. Patients and Methods: We described a monocentric series of patients treated at first line by the combination of PCV immediately followed by RT between January 01, 1982 and January 01, 2017. Radiological data were collected and included volume, velocity of diametric expansion (VDE), and MRI aspects. Long-term neurocognitive and QoL were analyzed. Results: Twenty patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The median response rate was 65.1% (range, 9.6%-99%) at the time of maximal VDE decrease corresponding to a median volume reduction of 79.7 cm3 (range, 3.1 to 174.2 cm3), which occurred after a median period of 7.2 years (range, 0.3-21.9) after the end of RT. An ongoing negative VDE was measured in 13/16 patients after the end of RT, with a median duration of 6.7 years (range, 9 months-21.9 years). The median follow-up since radiological diagnosis was 17.5 years (range, 4.8 to 29.5). Estimated median survival was 17.4 years (95% CI: 12; NR). After a long-term follow-up, substantial neurotoxicity was noticed with dementia in six progression-free patients (30%), leading to ventriculo-peritoneal shunt procedures in three, and premature death in five. Thirteen patients (65%) were unable to work with disability status. Successive longitudinal neurocognitive assessments for living patients showed verbal episodic memory deterioration. Conclusions: PCV-RT combination seems to have not only an oncological synergy but also a long-term neurotoxic synergy to consider before initial therapeutic decision.

Induction of thymic atrophy and loss of thymic output by type-I interferons during chronic viral infection.

Type-I interferon (IFN-I) signals exert a critical role in disease progression during viral infections. However, the immunomodulatory mechanisms by which IFN-I dictates disease outcomes remain to be fully defined. Here we report that IFN-I signals mediate thymic atrophy in viral infections, with more severe and prolonged loss of thymic output and unique kinetics and subtypes of IFN-α/ß expression in chronic infection compared to acute infection. Loss of thymic output was linked to inhibition of early stages of thymopoiesis (DN1-DN2 transition, and DN3 proliferation) and pronounced apoptosis during the late DP stage. Notably, infection-associated thymic defects were largely abrogated upon ablation of IFNαßR and partially mitigated in the absence of CD8 T cells, thus implicating direct as well as indirect effects of IFN-I on thymocytes. These findings provide mechanistic underpinnings for immunotherapeutic strategies targeting IFN-1 signals to manipulate disease outcomes during chronic infections and cancers.

Radiation Therapy Techniques and Treatment-Related Toxicity in the PORTEC-3 Trial: Comparison of 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy Versus Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.

PURPOSE: Radiation therapy techniques have developed from 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) to intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), with better sparing of the surrounding normal tissues. The current analysis aimed to investigate whether IMRT, compared to 3DCRT, resulted in fewer adverse events (AEs) and patient-reported symptoms in the randomized PORTEC-3 trial for high-risk endometrial cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data on AEs and patient-reported quality of life (QoL) of the PORTEC-3 trial were available for analysis. Physician-reported AEs were graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0. QoL was assessed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQC30, CX24, and OV28 questionnaires. Data were compared between 3DCRT and IMRT. A P value of ≤ .01 was considered statistically significant due to the risk of multiple testing. For QoL, combined scores 1 to 2 ("not at all" and "a little") versus 3 to 4 ("quite a bit" and "very much") were compared between the techniques. RESULTS: Of 658 evaluable patients, 559 received 3DCRT and 99 IMRT. Median follow-up was 74.6 months. During treatment no significant differences were observed, with a trend for more grade ≥3 AEs, mostly hematologic and gastrointestinal, after 3DCRT (37.7% vs 26.3%, P = .03). During follow-up, 15.4% (vs 4%) had grade ≥2 diarrhea, and 26.1% (vs 13.1%) had grade ≥2 hematologic AEs after 3DCRT (vs IMRT) (both P < .01). Among 574 (87%) patients evaluable for QoL, 494 received 3DCRT and 80 IMRT. During treatment, 37.5% (vs 28.6%) reported diarrhea after 3DCRT (vs IMRT) (P = .125); 22.1% (versus 10.0%) bowel urgency (P = 0039), and 18.2% and 8.6% abdominal cramps (P = .058). Other QoL scores showed no differences. CONCLUSIONS: IMRT resulted in fewer grade ≥3 AEs during treatment and significantly lower rates of grade ≥2 diarrhea and hematologic AEs during follow-up. Trends toward fewer patient-reported bowel urgency and abdominal cramps were observed after IMRT compared to 3DCRT.

Long-Term Toxicity and Health-Related Quality of Life After Adjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy or Radiation Therapy Alone for High-Risk Endometrial Cancer in the Randomized PORTEC-3 Trial.

PURPOSE: The survival results of the PORTEC-3 trial showed a significant improvement in both overall and failure-free survival with chemoradiation therapy versus pelvic radiation therapy alone. The present analysis was performed to compare long-term adverse events (AE) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS AND MATERIALS: In the study, 660 women with high-risk endometrial cancer were randomly assigned to receive chemoradiation therapy (2 concurrent cycles of cisplatin followed by 4 cycles of carboplatin/paclitaxel) or radiation therapy alone. Toxicity was graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0. HRQOL was measured using EORTC QLQ-C30 and CX24/OV28 subscales and compared with normative data. An as-treated analysis was performed. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 74.6 months; 574 (87%) patients were evaluable for HRQOL. At 5 years, grade ≥2 AE were scored for 78 (38%) patients who had received chemoradiation therapy versus 46 (24%) who had received radiation therapy alone (P = .008). Grade 3 AE did not differ significantly between the groups (8% vs 5%, P = .18) at 5 years, and only one new late grade 4 toxicity had been reported. At 3 and 5 years, sensory neuropathy toxicity grade ≥2 persisted after chemoradiation therapy in 6% (vs 0% after radiation therapy, P < .001) and more patients reported significant tingling or numbness at HRQOL (27% vs 8%, P < .001 at 3 years; 24% vs 9%, P = .002 at 5 years). Up to 3 years, more patients who had chemoradiation therapy reported limb weakness (21% vs 5%, P < .001) and lower physical (79 vs 87, P < .001) and role functioning (78 vs 88, P < .001) scores. Both treatment groups reported similar long-term global health/quality of life scores, which were better than those of the normative population. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a long-lasting, clinically relevant, negative impact of chemoradiation therapy on toxicity and HRQOL, most importantly persistent peripheral sensory neuropathy. Physical and role functioning impairments were seen until 3 years. These long-term data are essential for patient information and shared decision-making regarding adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk endometrial cancer.

Aging, Health and Place from the Perspective of Elders in an Inuit Community.

This paper explores perspectives of Inuit elders on the relationships between aging, health and place. Their views are important to consider in the context of a growing proportion and number of older people in Arctic communities, a new sociological condition. Developing policies and programs to promote healthy aging in Inuit communities is challenging as there is little known about the social and living conditions that promote healthy aging in the Arctic. In this study twenty Inuit aged between 50 to 86, from one community in Nunavut, participated to in-depth qualitative interviews. Themes discussed included aging and health, housing conditions, community conditions, land-based activities, medical and leisure travel outside of the community, and mobility and accessibility. Preliminary analyses of the qualitative data were validated in the community through a focus group with four participants and an interpreter. Interviews and the focus group transcripts were analysed using thematic content analyses and NVivo 12 qualitative data analysis program (QSR International Pty Ltd. 2017). Participants reported that spending time with children, having social support, living in houses adapted to aging health conditions, having access to community activities and services, and time spent on the land were the main resources supporting their health. Several factors limited the availability of these resources. These include: lack of accessibility to resources; structural factors impacting their availability; and natural and social changes in interpersonal relationships. Participants also stressed the importance of being able to grow old in their own community. Knowledge generated in this project contributes to policies and programs targeting housing and community conditions to support healthy aging, and aging in place, in Inuit Nunangat.

Presoaking of Semitendinosus Graft With Vancomycin Does Not Alter Its Biomechanical Properties: A Biomechanical In Vitro-Controlled Study Using Graft From Living Donors.

PURPOSE: To compare the biomechanical properties of human semitendinosus graft presoaked with or without vancomycin under a load to failure tensile test. METHODS: Thirty semitendinosus grafts harvested during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were included. These were dissected equally into 2 halves and subsequently randomly allocated to a vancomycin group and to a control group. A digital caliper was used to precisely measure each samples thickness, length, and width. For the vancomycin group, samples were presoaked in a solution of 5 mg/mL vancomycin for a duration of 10 minutes and the control group samples were presoaked in a physiological serum equally for 10 minutes. Mechanical testing was performed on a universal testing machine (Instron 5566-A) after a preconditioning of 10 cycles of 1 mm extension and a progression of 10 mm/min to failure for each sample. The stress-strain curve was obtained to determine the elastic modulus (Young's modulus), the ultimate tensile stress, the ultimate tensile elongation (UTE) before failure and the elasticity limit. RESULTS: For the control group, the average Young's modulus value was 4.8 ± 0.8, the average UTS was 25.2 ± 5.2 MPa, the average percentage of UTE was 78 ± 17%, and the average elasticity limit value was 17.3 ± 5.3 MPa. For the vancomycin group, the average Young's modulus value was 4.7 ± 0.9, the average ultimate tensile stress was 24.1 ± 6.1 MPa, the average percentage of UTE was 82 ± 14%, and the average elasticity limit value was 18.5 ± 5.9 MPa. No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups for all investigated parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Presoaking of human semitendinosus graft with vancomycin does not alter its biomechanical properties. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study demonstrates that vancomycin presoaking used to prevent post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction septic arthritis does not affect immediate biomechanical properties of semitendinosus tendons.