Mycotic Aneurysm of the Thoracoabdominal Aorta: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Mycotic aortic aneurysms (MAAs) are a rare form of aortic aneurysms that are associated with catastrophic outcomes if not diagnosed and treated on time. However, MAAs are a diagnostic challenge owing to their often nonspecific presentation. In this study, we present a case of a 42-year-old female with a pertinent history of intravenous drug use who presented with generalized body pain for two weeks and was found to have a mycotic thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) extensively involving adjacent structures, including lungs with pleural cavity and upper renal pole. Not only does this case highlight the difficulty in early diagnosis and complex pathology of a mycotic TAAA, but it also illustrates the multidisciplinary approach required to effectively treat them.

Breast cancer in a Hispanic patient with Werner syndrome.

Werner Syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive condition characterized by premature aging and increased risk of malignancies due to gene mutations associated with DNA stability. We present the first case report of a 29-year-old Hispanic female with WS diagnosed with breast cancer. Diagnostic mammography and ultrasound, breast MRI and PET examinations revealed two lesions biopsy proven as invasive ductal carcinoma. The patient underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical mastectomy. Recurrence occurred 10 months postoperatively with molecular analysis demonstrating TP53 mutations. The multifactorial assessment of breast cancer in this case study is crucial towards optimizing screening, diagnosis and management of this disease in patients with WS.

Is it Safe to Continue Clopidogrel in Elective Hip and Knee Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: No evidence-based guidelines exist for the perioperative use of clopidogrel in elective hip and knee arthroplasty patients. This study compares the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative outcomes of total hip and knee arthroplasty in patients maintained on clopidogrel and with patients whose clopidogrel was held before surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 158 patients taking clopidogrel before undergoing elective total hip or knee arthroplasty. Patients were stratified for having clopidogrel held or continued, based on the interval between latest dose and date of surgery. The primary end points were receipt of transfusion and readmission within 90 days of surgery. Secondary end points were the incidence of complications such as bleeding, infection, re-operation, and major cardiac or neurologic events such as myocardial infarction or stroke during the 90-day postoperative period. RESULTS: The two cohorts had similar demographics. Patients who continued clopidogrel were more likely to receive a blood transfusion postoperatively (9.1% vs 0%, P = .005), but there was no difference in wound drainage (P = .65), wound infection (P = .24), readmission (P = .74), major complications (P = .64), length of stay (P = .70), or mortality (P = .42). Patients who continued clopidogrel before surgery were more likely to have received general anesthesia (P < .001) per anesthesia protocol, however, three such patients did receive spinal anesthesia without any complications. With cementless implants, blood loss was not different between clopidogrel groups. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing elective total hip and knee arthroplasty may be safely maintained on clopidogrel without an increased risk of wound complications, infections, length of stay, readmission, reoperation, major medical complications, or mortality. Further prospective research is warranted to confirm the effects of continuing clopidogrel in patients undergoing elective hip and knee arthroplasty.

Complex Total Hip Arthroplasty in a Patient with Klippel-Trénaunay Syndrome: A Case Report.

CASE: Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome (KTS) carries manifestations including skeletal dysplasia and prominent vascular malformations. This report details a case of hip dysplasia in the setting of KTS treated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) requiring preoperative embolization, intraoperative angiography for placement of an iliac artery occlusive balloon, and modular hip arthroplasty components for femoral and acetabular dysplasia. Perioperatively, the patient rehabilitated well and was walking painlessly and unassisted at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Successful THA for dysplasia and degenerative changes associated with KTS is possible but requires a complex multidisciplinary perioperative approach.

Comparison of Cruciate-Sacrificing vs Posterior-Stabilized Total Knee Replacement Using a Contemporary Total Knee System.

BACKGROUND: The use of highly conforming polyethylene tibial inserts in cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often requires posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) release/sacrifice for balancing (CS TKA). The CS TKA relies on the posterior capsule, collateral ligaments, and articular conformity without a cam or post to achieve stability. Using prospectively collected data we compared clinical outcomes of CS TKA to posterior-stabilized (PS) TKA utilizing a contemporary TKA system. METHODS: Sixty-nine consecutive CS TKAs were compared to 45 consecutive PS TKAs at 2-year minimum follow-up. CS knees were balanced with the PCL released. Preoperative/postoperative range of motion (ROM), Knee Society Scores (KSS), stair function, and squatting ROM were analyzed. RESULTS: At minimum 2-year follow up, CS and PS TKA demonstrated significant improvement in ROM (P < .001), KSS (Pain, P < .001; Function, P < .001), and KSS stair function (P < .001), with no revisions. There was no difference in preoperative to postoperative improvements for passive knee ROM (10° (0°-20°) vs 13° (5°-25°); P = .16), KSS Pain (34 (21-42) vs 38 (24-46); P = .22), KSS Function (35 (30-50) vs 35 (18-50); P = .34), and KSS stair function (10 (10-20) vs 10 (0-20); P = .37) for CS and PS TKA, respectively. CS TKA had higher squatting ROM (P = .02) at minimum 2-year follow-up compared to PS TKA. CONCLUSION: Both PS and CS TKA provided significant improvement in clinical outcomes, with no differences in passive ROM, KSS, or stair function postoperatively. Our data support that with proper articular conformity and balancing, cruciate-retaining TKA in a PCL-deficient knee (CS TKA) is appropriate. This may be design specific and further prospective randomized studies are needed to corroborate these findings.