Under 2$ hand anesthesia? Our first 800 cases with Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) in hand surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The Wide-Awake-Local-Anesthesia-No-Tourniquet (WALANT) technique is being used progressively more and more in hand surgery as it avoids tourniquet-related complications and saves money. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, we analyzed our cases of carpal tunnel syndrome or trigger finger operated upon with this technique from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022. RESULTS: We obtained 822 cases (426 carpal tunnel syndrome, 396 trigger finger) with an overall anesthesiologic efficacy (no need of additional anesthetic) of 97.8%. Patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the anesthetic choice in 99.8% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: We believe WALANT to be a safe and effective technique that every hand surgeon should have in his/her repertoire.

Which patient benefit most from minimally invasive direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty in terms of perioperative blood loss? A retrospective comparative study from a cohort of patients with primary degenerative hips.

INTRODUCTION: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a successful surgery, but despite the advancements in anesthesiology and orthopedics, sometimes blood transfusions are required to manage the anemia due to the blood loss, involving a substantial number of patients. The aim of this retrospective comparative study is to define how the choice of the surgical approach, either direct anterior (DA) or posterolateral (PL), may influence the postoperative blood loss and the need for transfusion in THA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data collection was carried out retrospectively of THAs performed between 2016 and 2021 on primary hip osteoarthritis treated by DA or with PL approach. Clinical and perioperative anesthetic data were collected. Preoperative hemoglobin levels were compared with the lowest detected level by calculating ΔHb (hemoglobin decrease). Then, data from the two groups were cross-checked: duration of surgery, whether premedication with tranexamic acid, duration of the hospitalization, rate of need for hemotransfusions, and amount of blood transfused. The two samples were subdivided into subgroups according to age, BMI, tranexamic acid prophylaxis, and chronic treatment with drugs that alter coagulative properties. RESULTS: Time of surgery was longer for patients treated with DA access (mean DA: 78.8 min; mean PL: 74.8 min; p: 0.05; 95% CI), but the length of hospitalization was shorter for patients treated with DA group with a mean time of 6.23 days versus 7.12 days for the PL group (p < 0.01). DA THA resulted advantageous mainly in patients between 66 and 75 years, showing a reduced postoperative transfusion requirement in the postoperative period (DA: 13.43%-mean: 1.33 units; PL: 26.82%-mean: 1.18 units; p: 0.044, 95% CI). Patients that assume blood-altering drugs showed a higher transfusion rate (p < 0.01), but comparison of the two subgroups showed that the choice of the surgical approach did not significantly affect the transfusion rate in these patients (p: 0.512). Prophylaxis with tranexamic acid reduced the transfusion rate (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients treated by minimally invasive direct anterior approach undergo a significantly shorter hospitalization. From the analysis of patient's subgroups those aged between 66- and 75-years benefit from the DA approach mainly for the minor blood loss with less frequent transfusion requirement.

How to perform correct templating in total hip replacement.

Templating plays a key role in surgery that is often underestimated. There is a difference between planning and templating: in the first not only the hip is considered but involves the evaluation of the patient in its entirety. Templating instead consists of calculating the position of the implant in order to place it in the best possible position. Fundamental is a correct X-ray of the pelvis, which must follow certain standards. For traditional templating, drawings on appropriately enlarged transparent implants were provided by the prosthesis manufacturer. The implementation of digital software into clinical practice has improved the accuracy and reproducibility of templating, which in most surgical units is performed by standard 2D radiographic images. Thanks to digital preoperative templating in a digital radiology environment, the hip reconstructive surgeon can perform preoperative planning and implant sizing quickly, consistently, and affordably. Currently, 3D templating can also be performed by software used initially to create personalized stems for THA. Aim of the current review is to outline the essentials of correct templating in THA performance, and to report the updates since the introduction of digital and 3D technologies in this setting.

[Celiac disease and cystic fibrosis: casual association?]. / Malattia celiaca e fibrosi cistica: associazione casuale?

The authors describe a case of association cystic fibrosis coeliac disease, which they have observed. The frequency of this association in the general population is of 1:2,000,000. M.A. presents little growth in terms of height and weight and intestinal alterations (an abundance of fatty and mucous stool). The initial diagnosis was that of coeliac disease. After two months of diet without gluten one observed an increase in weight, but o result for the intestinal disturbances. The positive result revealed from the sweat-test and the study of genomic mutation (delta F508) showed the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis associated with coeliac disease. The specific treatment of both syndromes resolved intestinal alterations and caused the diminution of the acute bronchitis frequent during the first and the second infancy.