Short-term risk factors for a second hip fracture in a UK population.

INTRODUCTION: A hip fracture carries significant morbidity and mortality-a second fracture of the contralateral hip carries even higher complications. Most second hip fractures occur within 48 months of the first. The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyse all identifiable variables that may increase the risk of a contralateral hip fracture within this time period. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 1242 consecutive patients with hip fractures presenting to our institution. All patient-related, surgery-related and inpatient variables were collected from the index admission. We then identified patients with a subsequent contralateral hip fracture in the following 2 years. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with a second fracture. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients (5.3%) had a contralateral hip fracture in the 2 years following initial hip fracture. Mean age at first presentation was 81 years, and mean time to second fracture was 305 days. Following multivariate analysis, the patients at highest risk of a second fracture were those with dementia, acute inpatient chest infection, urinary tract infection and multiple comorbidities as measured by the Charlson score. Discharge destination after initial fracture was not associated with the risk of a second fracture. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a number of discrete risk factors that are associated with a short- to medium-term risk of contralateral hip fracture that may be useful in screening for patients at risk and provide them with focused medical rehabilitation.

There is no weekend effect in hip fracture surgery - A comprehensive analysis of outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that some patient groups suffer adverse outcomes if they are acutely admitted to hospital over a weekend. We aimed to investigate this 'weekend effect' at our centre in patients presenting with a hip fracture. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing acute hip fracture surgery were identified from a prospective database. Patient demographics, co-morbidities, fracture type, admission blood parameters were examined. Outcomes analysed included 30-day, 90-day and 1-year mortality as well as length of stay, re-operations and delay to surgery. The data were analysed with regards to day of admission and day of surgery separately. RESULTS: A total of 1326 patients were included, of which 368 patients were admitted over a weekend and 411 patients had their operation over a weekend. Overall 30-day mortality was 7.6% (101 patients), whilst the 90-day and 1-year mortalities were 15.3% and 26.8% (203 and 356 patients). There were no significant differences in any of the outcomes based on the day of admission or the day of surgery. Multivariate analysis for 30-day mortality demonstrated the following variables to be significant predictors: admission urea levels (hazard ratio (HR) 1.042, p = 0.027), age (HR 1.058, p < 0.001), admission source (HR 1.428, p < 0.001), surgical delay >48 h (HR 1.853, p = 0.004), male gender (HR 1.967, p = 0.003), previous stroke (HR 2.261, p = 0.038), acute chest infection (4.240, p < 0.001) and chronic liver disease (HR 4.581, p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: This data suggests that there is no significant weekend effect in hip fracture surgery and mortality is affected by patient co-morbidities and delay to surgery.

Achieving hip fracture surgery within 36 hours: an investigation of risk factors to surgical delay and recommendations for practice.

BACKGROUND: The UK hip fracture best practice tariff (BPT) aims to deliver hip fracture surgery within 36 h of admission. Ensuring that delays are reserved for conditions which compromise survival, but are responsive to medical optimisation, would help to achieve this target. We aimed to identify medical risk factors of surgical delay, and assess their impact on mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospectively collected patient data was obtained from the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD). Medical determinants of surgical delay were identified and analysed using a multivariate regression analysis. The mortality risk associated with each factor contributing to surgical delay was then calculated. RESULTS: A total 1361 patients underwent hip fracture surgery, of which 537 patients (39.5 %) received surgery within 36 h of admission. Following multivariate analyses, only hyponatraemia was deduced to be a significant risk factor for delay RR = 1.24 (95 % CI 1.06-1.44). However, following a validated propensity score matching process, a Pearson chi-square test failed to demonstrate a statistical difference in mortality incidence between the hypo- and normonatraemic patients [χ (2) (1, N = 512) = 0.10, p = 0.757]. CONCLUSIONS: Hip fracture surgery should not be delayed in the presence of non-severe and isolated hyponatraemia. Instead, surgical delay may only be warranted in the presence of medical conditions which contribute to mortality and are optimisable. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Cloning and expression of antiviral/ribosome-inactivating protein from Bougainvillea xbuttiana.

A full-length cDNA encoding ribosome-inactivating/antiviral protein (RIP/AVP)from the leaves of Bougainvillea x buttiana was isolated. The cDNA consisted of 1364 nucleotides with an open reading frame (ORF)of 960 nucleotides encoding a 35.49 kDa protein of 319 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence has a putative active domain conserved in RIPs/AVPs and shows a varying phylogenetic relationship to the RIPs from other plant species. The deduced protein has been designated BBAP1 (Bougainvillea x buttiana antiviral protein1). The ORF was cloned into an expression vector and expressed in E.coli as a fusion protein of approximately 78 kDa. The cleaved and purified recombinant BBAP1 exhibited ribosome-inhibiting rRNA N-glycosidase activity,and imparted a high level of resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV).

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Causes and Predictors of 30-Day Mortality Following Hip Fracture Surgery.

BACKGROUND: A fracture neck of femur is the leading cause of injury-related mortality in the elderly population. The 30-day mortality figure is a well utilised marker of clinical outcome following a fracture neck of femur. Current studies fail to analyse all patient demographic, biochemical and comorbid parameters associated with increased 30-day mortality. We aimed to assess medical risk factors for mortality, which are easily identifiable on admission for patients presenting with a fractured neck of femur. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively populated database was undertaken to identify all consecutive patients with a fracture neck of femur between October 2008 and March 2011. All factors related to the patient, injury and surgery were identified. The primary outcome of interest was 30-day mortality. Univariate and subsequent multivariate analyses using a backward stepwise likelihood ratio Cox regression model were performed in order to establish all parameters that significantly increased the risk of death. RESULTS: A total of 1,356 patients were included in the study. The 30-day mortality was 8.7%. The most common causes of death included pneumonia, sepsis and acute myocardial infarction. Multiple regression analysis revealed male gender, increasing age, admission source other than the patient's own home, admission haemoglobin of less than 10 g/dL, a history of myocardial infarction, concomitant chest infection during admission, increasing Charlson comorbidity score and liver disease to be significant predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study has elucidated risk factors for mortality using clinical and biochemical information which are easily gathered at the point of hospitalization. These results allow for identification of vulnerable patients who may benefit from a prioritisation of resources.

Salmonella osteomyelitis of the calcaneum bone in an immunocompetent child.

Salmonella osteomyelitis occurs infrequently in healthy children and can manifest in the subacute form. This condition has only been reported in few cases previously. We report the first case of primary subacute haematogenous osteomyelitis of the calcaneum in a healthy 12-year-old child. The patient made uneventful recovery following surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy. Histology of the tissue biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of Salmonella livingstone infection. Although the diagnosis of Salmonella osteomyelitis of the calcaneum can be difficult to establish, it should be considered as an aetiological factor even in healthy children.

Congenital insensitivity to pain in a child attending a paediatric fracture clinic.

Congenital insensitivity to pain is a rare condition that is often undiagnosed until patients present with a variety of musculoskeletal problems. A major sequel of these orthopaedic manifestations is the development of heterotopic ossification and callus formation following fractures, eventually leading to the development of a Charcot's joint. This case reports on a 7-year-old child who was diagnosed with congenital insensitivity to pain type V, after he presented in our clinic with fractures of the metatarsals in his left foot while continuing to weight bear, without any discomfort. The patient failed to attend the follow-up in paediatric neurology clinic despite multiple invitations. This case highlights the importance of establishing an early diagnosis and keeping a close eye on this rare entity, which can present for the first time in a paediatric fracture clinic.

PCL tibial avulsion with an associated medial meniscal tear in a child: a case report on diagnosis and management.

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries from tibial avulsions are rare in the paediatric setting. One would need a high index of suspicion as clinical examination may be difficult, especially in the early period. Magnetic resonance imaging is an excellent diagnostic modality for this condition and other associated injuries within the knee. We report a rare case in which the patient had a PCL avulsion off the tibial insertion site with an associated posterior horn medial meniscal tear off the posterior capsule. He was treated through open reduction and internal fixation of the avulsed fragment with suture repair of the meniscal tear. We emphasize the importance of diagnosing and managing associated intra-articular injuries when dealing with the rare condition of PCL tibial avulsion in the paediatric setting.

Cystatins may confer viral resistance in plants by inhibition of a virus-induced cell death phenomenon in which cysteine proteinases are active: cloning and molecular characterization of a cDNA encoding cysteine-proteinase inhibitor (celostatin) from Celosia cristata (crested cock's comb).

Cystatins (cysteine proteinase inhibitors) have been recently used in plants as antiviral strategy against those viruses whose replication involves cysteine proteinase activity. We proposed an idea that cystatins may confer resistance by inhibition of a virus-induced cell-death phenomenon in which cysteine proteinases are active. To test this idea, a full-length cDNA library was constructed from the preflowering stage of Celosia cristata (crested cock's comb) leaves, and a cDNA clone with cystatin domain was isolated using an oligonucleotide probe designed on the basis of the conserved peptide of plant cystatins. It was expressed in an Escherichia coli expression system as a fusion protein. The purified recombinant product, termed 'celostatin' (Celosia cystatin), inhibited the enzymatic activity of papain indicating its cystatin activity and prevented TMV (tobacco mosaic virus)-induced hypersensitive-response cell death in Nicotiana glutinosa (a wild species of tobacco) leaves by 65-70% at the concentration of approx. 50 ng/ml. It also offered resistance against TMV and caused normal growth of the test plant. Since the activity of cysteine proteinases is not involved in the TMV replication process, we speculated that inhibition of the hypersensitive response by celostatin may be due to the inactivation of proteolysis involved in the plant cell death programme, a phenomenon that has already been reported in animal systems.