Augmentation of elastic stable intramedullary nail with external fixator in the management of comminuted shaft femur fracture in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The management of adolescent femur fractures continues to evolve and remains controversial. Currently, operative fixation methods are favoured, offering options such as external fixator, flexible and locked intramedullary nailing, compression and locked plating. Our study aims to introduce a novel approach for treating adolescent femoral shaft fractures by combining an external fixator with an elastic stable intramedullary nail. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 32 patients aged 11-16 years with femoral shaft fractures treated using an external fixator augmented elastic intramedullary nail at our institution from August 2015 to January 2019. RESULTS: All patients achieved bony union. We analysed patient's results both clinically and radiologically. On average, the surgery took 77.34 minutes to complete with an average time to union of 13.9 weeks. External fixator and elastic nail removal took an average of 3.59 months and 26.5 months, respectively. At the final follow-up, knee range of motion averaged 131.88 degrees. According to the Flynn criteria, functional outcomes were excellent in 18 patients, satisfactory in 11 patients and poor in 3 patients. Pin site infection occurred in 3 patients, malunion in 4 patients, limb length shortening < 1 cm in 3 patients, distal nail tip prominence and knee stiffness in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: The management of femur fractures in adolescents using an elastic nail augmented with an external fixator is a minimally invasive procedure that provide secure fracture stabilization and predictable outcomes.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis: experience at a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a necrotizing infection of the renal parenchyma, collecting system and/or perinephric tissues, characterized by gas accumulation. We describe clinical, laboratory and imaging characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients with EPN. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was carried out at BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh between 2014 and 2020. RESULTS: We followed 20 patients (mean age 49.4 years; females 70%). Risk factors for EPN were diabetes mellitus (in 100%) and renal stones (in 10%). Fever, loin pain, vomiting and dysuria were common. Complications included acute kidney injury (AKI, 70%; mostly stage 1, 78.6%), hyponatraemia (55%) and bacteraemia (15%). Escherichia coli was the most common (60%) urinary isolate. Most patients (80%) had class 2 EPN, with 15% class 3B and 5% class 3A. Besides medical management, four (20%) required surgery (nephrectomy in 3). Nephrectomised patients had a higher radiological class (p = 0.032) and incidence of AKI (p = 0.034). No deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: EPN occurred predominantly in female diabetic patients, who presented with fever, loin pain, vomiting and dysuria. Two-thirds of patients had AKI and one-fifth required surgery, and there were no deaths.

South Asian consensus guideline: Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists during Ramadan: Update 2016 Revised Guidelines on the use of GLP-1A in Ramadan.

This guidance is an update to the South Asian Consensus Guideline: Use of GLP1RA in Diabetes during Ramadan, published in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2012. A five country working group has collated evidence and experience to suggest guidelines for the safe and rational use of glucagon-like peptide1 receptor agonists during Ramadan. The suggestions contained herewith are based upon recently published evidence as well as available basic pharmacological data.

Unstable Intertrochanteric Fracture Fixation - Is Proximal Femoral Locked Compression Plate Better Than Dynamic Hip Screw.

BACKGROUND: Intertrochanteric fractures are one of the most common fractures encountered in our practice. Most of them need operative intervention and union is achieved. As per the literature dynamic hip screw (DHS) is the gold standard for the treatment of these fractures, however problem arises with maintenance of neck shaft angle and proper reduction in unstable intertrochanteric fractures. The situation gets more complex when "cut out" of femoral head screw occurs either alone or in combination with varus collapse when they are treated with DHS. Here we are giving results of unstable intertrochanteric fractures treated with Proximal Femoral Locked Compression Plate (PFLCP) as compared with similar patients treated with Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included a total of 27 patients (17 males, 10 females) with unstable intertrochanteric fractures who were subjected to PFLCP treatment from March 2011 to November 2012 in one group. Another was a similar group of 35 patients treated with DHS from March 2008 to February 2010. Results of group 1 were compared with group 2. Detailed clinical conditions of all patients, duration of surgery, blood loss, length of incision and duration of image intensifier use were recorded. Patients were revisited at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after operation. Results were evaluated clinically by Harris hip Score and radiologically for fracture union. Progress of union and complications (limb shortening, varus collapse, cut out of femoral head screw and medialization of distal fragment) were recorded. RESULTS: Among 27 patients treated with PFLCP, one patient expired 6 week postoperatively and one patient lost to follow up, so 25 patients were evaluated for final outcome of which 23 (92%) showed union at follow up of 12 months. One patient developed bending of proximal screws and three developed varus collapse. Among the group treated with DHS, eight patients developed varus collapse, seven developed medialization and three had femoral head screw cut out. According to Harris hip Score 88% cases had good to excellent result in PFLCP group whereas only 60% cases in the DHS group had good to excellent result. CONCLUSION: Treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures with proximal femoral locked plate (PFLCP) can give good healing, with a limited occurrence of complication.

Management of Idiopathic Clubfoot by Ponseti Technique in Children Presenting After One Year of Age.

We conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of the Ponseti technique in the management of idiopathic congenital clubfoot in patients older than 1 year of age. A total of 19 patients with 28 clubfeet (16 males [84.2%], 3 females [15.8%]) were included in the present study. The mean age at presentation was 2.7 (range 1 to 3.5) years. The results of treatment using the Ponseti technique were evaluated using the Pirani and Dimeglio scoring systems. The mean precorrection total Pirani score was 4.84 (range 3.5 to 5.5) and the mean precorrection Dimeglio score was 12.96 (range 10 to 14). The mean postcorrection total Pirani score was 0.55 (range 0 to 1), and the mean postcorrection Dimeglio score was 2.32 (range 2 to 3). These differences were statistically significant (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively). In 92.8% of the feet, satisfactory correction of the deformity was achieved. The mean number of casts applied was 8 (range 5 to 12). All but 1 (3.6%) of the clubfeet required tenotomy to achieve correction. The mean follow-up duration was 2.7 (range 1.5 to 3.5) years. We have concluded that the Ponseti technique is an effective method for the management of idiopathic congenital clubfoot, even in toddlers.