Lesion size and varus malalignment are the major determinants leading to poorer clinical outcomes after combined microfracture treatment for focal cartilage lesions during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the clinical effects of microfracture (MFX) performed for Outerbridge grade 3 or 4 focal cartilage lesion during the same surgery with arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and to analyze the major determinants of these potential effects on the clinical outcome. The clinical and radiographic data of 119 patients were evaluated. The mean follow-up time was 32.6 ± 6 months. Isolated arthroscopic ACL reconstruction was performed in 70 patients (Group 1), whereas MFX for Outerbridge grade 3 or 4 chondral lesion during ACL surgery was performed in 49 patients (Group 2). Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Lysholm knee score, and Tegner activity scale were the instruments used as outcome measures to evaluate the clinical status of the patients. Routine X-ray and MRI were also performed for all patients pre-operatively as well as at the latest follow-up visit. Lineer regression analysis was performed to determine major factors predicting the poorer clinical outcome. Clinical outcomes were similar between isolated ACL reconstruction and combined procedure. On the other hand, according to lineer regression analysis, cartilage lesion size > 2 cm2 and > 5 degrees of varus alignment were detected as the major determinants leading to poorer outcomes in combined ACL reconstruction and MFX.Level of evidence: III - Retrospective Comparative Study.

Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Outcomes of Microfracture Plus Chitosan/Blood Implant vs Microfracture for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes of arthroscopic microfracture (MF) plus chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood implant and MF alone for the treatment of the osteochondral lesions of the talus (OCLTs). METHODS: Patients who underwent either MF plus chitosan (group 1, n = 32) or MF alone (group 2, n = 31) between 2015 and 2019 in 2 separate time periods were retrospectively analyzed. Visual analog scale (VAS) score and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score were used for clinical evaluation. The magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) system was used for MRI evaluation. The mean follow-up time was 32 ± 13 months (range, 12-61 months). RESULTS: Postoperatively, we detected significant improvements in both groups in terms of VAS and AOFAS scores. However, we observed no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of clinical scores, except the mean VAS function score, which was significantly higher in group 1 (P = .022). According to MOCART scale, complete repair with the filling of the chondral defect and intactness of the surface of the repair tissue were more common in group 1. However, these parameters did not significantly differ between groups (P = .257 and .242, respectively). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic MF plus chitosan glycerol phosphate/blood implant did not result in better clinical and MRI outcomes compared with MF alone in the treatment of OCLTs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Does Adductor Tenotomy Need During Closed Reduction Have a Prognostic Value in the Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Between 6 and 12 Months of Age? "Adductor Tenotomy in the Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia''.

BACKGROUND: Adductor tenotomy is needed for clinically complex hips with soft-tissue contractures. It may be proposed that the patients who need adductor tenotomy during closed reduction would have poorer prognosis than the ones without need for adductor tenotomy. The main purposes were to compare the normalization of acetabular index angle (AI), to determine the incidence of femoral head avascular necrosis (AVN), and to predict the need for any secondary surgical intervention between the patients who need adductor tenotomy and those who do not during closed reduction for developmental dysplasia of the hip. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 65 hips treated between 6 and 12 months of age. The mean age at the time of surgery was 8.1 ± 1.4 (6-12) months and the mean follow-up was 4.2 ± 1.5 years. Improvement of AI, rate and severity of AVN, and need for secondary surgery with its predictors were evaluated. RESULTS: Adductor tenotomy was performed in 22 hips (Group 1), but not in 43 hips (Group 2). Normalization of the AI was - 14.8° ± 3.5° versus - 14.3° ± 3.2°. The overall incidence of AVN was 18.4%. The rate of secondary surgical intervention was higher in Group 1 (63.1% versus 36.9%) (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was detected regarding the improvement of AI as well as the incidence of AVN between the groups. The need for adductor tenotomy during closed reduction was one of the main predictors of the possible secondary surgery.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Acute Septic Arthritis of the Hip Joint in Pediatric Patients Aged 10 Years or Younger.

PURPOSE: To present the results of arthroscopic treatment of acute septic arthritis of the hip joint in children aged 10 years or younger. METHODS: Patients with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years who underwent arthroscopic treatment (anterolateral and medial subadductor 2-portal approach) of acute septic arthritis of the hip joint between January 2014 and January 2017 were included in this retrospective case-series study. The exclusion criteria included fungal infection, late presentation (≥5 days after the onset of the symptoms), presence of concomitant osteomyelitis, osseous pathologic conditions on radiography suggesting osteomyelitis, immunocompromised condition, history of surgery or infection surgery from the affected extremity, immobility owing to neuromuscular pathologic conditions, and identification of inflammatory or reactive arthritis during follow-up. The diagnosis of septic arthritis was confirmed according to the Waldvogel criteria. Clinical outcomes were assessed according to the Bennett score and Harris Hip Score. RESULTS: We evaluated 15 hips in 15 patients (6 female and 9 male patients) with a mean age of 5.2 years (range, 2-10 years) in this study. The mean hospital stay was 4.2 days (range, 3-7 days), and the mean antibiotic-use period was 34 days (range, 26-45 days). The most causative pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (40%) (including methicillin-sensitive S aureus) and was isolated and cultured in all patients. All patients had full range of motion of the hip joint. All of the Bennett scores were excellent; the mean Harris Hip Score was 96.3 (range, 92.5-100) after a minimum follow-up period of 24 months (mean, 26.1 ± 3.2 months; range, 24-35 months). No patient needed additional surgical intervention. No degenerative changes or avascular necrosis developed. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, arthroscopic treatment is an effective choice for the treatment of acute septic arthritis of the hip joint in children aged 10 years or younger. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Effects of postoperative osteoporosis treatment on subsequent fracture and the 5-year survival rates after hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture.

According to the literature, only 20-30% of patients are screened for osteoporosis after a hip fracture. Osteoporosis treatment may have a potential protective effect on the 5-year mortality rate. Our results demonstrated that 5-year survival is higher in patients who received osteoporosis treatment after hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture compared with those who did not. PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the status of osteoporosis treatment in patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty for an osteoporotic hip fracture and to compare subsequent fractures and the 5-year survival rates of these patients with those who did not receive the osteoporosis treatment. METHODS: Patients > 65 years of age who underwent hemiarthroplasty for an osteoporotic hip fracture were included in this retrospective multicenter study. Patients who died within 12 months postoperative, who were lost to follow-up, and those with malignancy and secondary osteoporosis were excluded. Group I comprised patients who had no postoperative osteoporosis screening and treatment, and Group II comprised those who received the screening and treatment. RESULTS: A total of 460 of 562 patients (82%) did not receive osteoporosis treatment after hip fracture. No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of subsequent fracture numbers and fracture sites (p = 0.296 and 0.240, respectively). Mean 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in Group II (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, elderly patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty for an osteoporotic hip fracture were not commonly screened or treated for osteoporosis. Our results demonstrated no significant difference between the groups in terms of subsequent fracture. However, we observed a significant high 5-year survival rate among patients who received the osteoporosis treatment.

Comparative evaluation of postoperative health status and functional outcome in patients treated with either proximal femoral nail or hemiarthroplasty for unstable intertrochanteric fracture.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare functional recovery and change in morbidity status from the preoperative levels among patients who underwent two different surgical treatments for unstable intertrochanteric fracture. METHODS: This retrospective comparative study enrolled 140 patients (aged >80 years) who were referred to two hospitals. Of these, 64 were treated using proximal femoral nail (PFN) and 76 were treated using hemiarthroplasty (HA). To evaluate functional recovery, primary outcome measures were cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS) score to evaluate changes in morbidity status, activity of daily living (ADL) index, and mobility scores. RESULTS: The proportion of patients who experienced increased CIRS scores in the HA group was higher at the 3-month follow-up (p = 0.02) but similar at the 6-month follow-up (p = 0.2) in comparison to the PFN group. Treatment with HA, American Society of Anesthesiologists scores of 3-4, and lower, preoperative ADL indexes were the major predictors of increased postoperative CIRS score. Impaired ambulatory ability and the need for walking aids were significantly higher in the PFN group at the 3-month follow-up (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively) but similar at the 6-month follow-up with respect to the HA group. PFN treatment and high patient body mass index were the major predictors of decreased ambulatory ability at postoperative 3 months. CONCLUSION: HA has several advantages, including early mobilization and decreased dependency. However, it is associated with greater blood loss, a higher need for blood transfusion, and longer surgical duration than PFN, all of which are predisposing factors for significantly higher risk of reduced CIRS scores.

Arthroscopic versus open, medial approach, surgical reduction for developmental dysplasia of the hip in patients under 18 months of age.

Background and purpose - The value of arthroscopic surgical reduction in developmental hip dysplasia is poorly known. We compared the clinical and radiographic efficacy of arthroscopic and medial open surgical reduction in patients less than 18 months of age with developmental hip dysplasia. Patients and methods - 54 patients with a mean age of 11 months who were treated by Ludloff's medial open reduction technique (28 hips, Group L) or arthroscopic surgical reduction technique (26 hips, Group A) were evaluated in this case series. Data on age, sex, preoperative Tönnis grade, operative time, estimated blood loss, residual leg length discrepancy, range of motion (ROM), acetabular index (AI) angle, coverage ratio of the femoral head, continuity of Menard-Shenton line, re-dislocation rate, McKay classification, and Kalamchi-MacEwen avascular necrosis (AVN) classification were collected. Results - Preoperatively, the mean AI angle was 39° in Group L and 37° in Group A. At the latest follow-up, the mean AI was 26° in both groups. The mean femoral head coverage ratio was 79% in Group L and 80% in Group A. The Menard-Shenton line was intact in all patients. Residual leg length discrepancy or limited ROM was not detected in any patients. 4 patients in Group L and 2 in Group A were diagnosed with type 2 AVN. Interpretation - Arthroscopic surgical reduction in patients aged 6-18 months revealed promising clinical and radiographic outcomes similar to medial open reduction using Ludloff's technique.

Predictors of allocation to surgery in patients older than 50 years with partial-thickness rotator cuff tear.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive factors for allocation to surgery in patients older than 50 years with symptomatic chronic partial-thickness rotator cuff tear (PTRCT). METHODS: Patients older than 50 years with a confirmed diagnosis of unilateral isolated PTRCT were included in this retrospective study. In the minimum follow-up of 2 years, eventual allocation to surgical or nonsurgical treatment was determined individually. Patients who underwent surgery were defined as failed conservative management and allocation to surgery. Data pertaining to patients' demographics, functional comorbidity index values, duration of symptoms, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores were collected from our medical records. Tear side and Ellman classification, subacromial spur, and acromiohumeral intervals were also noted. A regression analysis was performed to determine the major predictors of allocation to surgery. RESULTS: There were 202 patients with a mean age of 62 years in group I (no-surgery group) and 70 patients with a mean age of 57 years in group II (surgery group). The mean age and functional comorbidity index values were significantly higher in group I than in group II (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). Bursal-sided tears were significantly more common in group II (P = .026). According to the findings of regression analysis, tear side and functional comorbidity index were the major predictors of allocation to surgery (P = .015 and P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study results indicate that in patients older than 50 years with PTRCTs, those with fewer comorbidities and bursal-sided PTRCTs were significantly more likely to undergo surgery.

Should orthopedic surgeons consider reducing the negative effects of Outerbridge grade 2 patellofemoral chondral lesion on early postoperative recovery during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to comparatively evaluate the effectiveness of intra-articular PRP and HA injections applied as the treatment of Outerbridge grade 2 chondral lesions in patellofemoral joint during arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. METHODS: The clinical and radiographic data of 61 patients between 18 and 45 years of age were evaluated. The patients were separated into three groups. Hyaluronic acid injection was applied in 22 knees (Group 1), PRP injection was applied in 18 knees (Group 2), and 21 knees did not have any specific treatment except ACL reconstruction (Group 3). All patients were followed clinically at least for 12 months. Clinical examination of the operated knee, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Lysholm knee score, and Tegner activity scale were the outcome measures. Routine X-ray and MRI were also performed for all patients at 12-month postoperative follow-up visit. RESULTS: Although the mean VAS and Lysholm scores at 3-month follow-up were better in Group 1 and 2 than Group 3, the efficacy of intra-articular PRP on healing process regarding progression of the mean VAS and Lysholm scores through 6- and 12-month follow-ups was significantly better and longer than HA. No statistically significant differences were detected according to Tegner activity scale between the groups at 3 and 6 months; however, Group 2 had better activity level than both Group 1 (p < 0.001) and 3 (p < 0.001) at the end of 12 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Intra-articular PRP injection applied as the treatment of concomitant Outerbridge grade 2 chondral lesion in patellofemoral joint during ACL reconstruction revealed better and durable clinical outcomes via decreasing the potentially negative effects of chondral pathology on postoperative healing with respect to HA injection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III-retrospective comparative study.

Comparison of freeze-dried tibialis anterior allograft and four-strand hamstring autograft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the patients who underwent primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery with either hamstring autograft or freeze-dried tibialis anterior allograft, which performed by the same surgeon using the same fixation technique. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients who had primary ACL reconstruction using either four-strand hamstring autograft (FSH) or freeze-dried irradiated tibialis anterior allograft (FDT) between 2012 and 2015 were evaluated. Patients who were skeletally mature with a minimum follow-up of 24 months and who had no previous surgery from the affected knee were included; patients who had multiple ligament injuries or chondral lesions over Outerbridge grade 2 were excluded from the study. Patients were grouped according to the graft type used in ACL reconstruction. Tegner activity scale and Lysholm knee scoring scale were used to assess patients' activity levels and functional status preoperatively and at the final follow-up. KT-2000 arthrometer measurements were done at the final follow-up to evaluate anterior laxity. RESULTS: There were 27 patients (mean age 27 ± 8.9 years) in the FSH group and 36 patients (mean age 27.1 ± 6.7 years) in the FDT group. The mean follow-up time was 38.2 ± 3.5 months for the FSH group and 41 ± 6.1 months for the FDT group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups when preoperative and postoperative Tegner-Lysholm scores were compared (Tegner P = 0.583, 0.742; Lysholm P = 0.592, 0.249). The mean anteroposterior laxity and side-to-side differences measured by KT-2000 were 4.1 mm and 2.1 mm for the FSH group, respectively; 4.2 mm and 2.2 mm for the FDT group, respectively. There was not a statistically significant difference (P = 0.745, 0.562 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Primary ACL reconstruction with a single loop freeze-dried irradiated tibialis anterior allograft revealed comparable results with four-strand hamstring autograft in non-athlete patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Therapeutic study.

Clinical and radiographic outcomes of chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood implant are similar with hyaluronic acid-based cell-free scaffold in the treatment of focal osteochondral lesions of the knee joint.

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical and radiographic efficacy of chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood implant versus hyaluronic acid-based cell-free scaffold in patients with focal osteochondral lesion of the knee joint. METHODS: Clinical data of 46 patients surgically treated using either chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood implant (25 patients, Group 1) or hyaluronic acid-based cell-free scaffold (21 patients, Group 2) in combination with microfracture were retrospectively evaluated. All lesions were Outerbridge grade III or IV with a mean lesion size of 3.3 ± 0.7 cm2. The mean follow-up time was 24.4 months. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Lysholm knee score, and Tegner activity scale were the instruments to evaluate the clinical status. Magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) system was used to analyze the characteristics of repair tissue. RESULTS: No significant differences were detected between the groups regarding VAS, Lysholm, and Tegner scores at any time interval during the whole follow-up. The mean post-operative VAS and Lysholm scores at the latest follow-up was significantly better in cases with the lesion size ≤ 3 cm2 in Group 1 (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). However, no significant differences according to the lesion size were detected in Group 2 (n.s.). Complete repair with the filling of the defect was achieved in 7 (28%) of the knees in Group 1 and it was 7 (33.3%) of the knees in Group 2 according to MOCART system at the latest follow-up. CONCLUSION: Single-stage regenerative cartilage surgery using chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood implant combined to microfracture for focal osteochondral lesions of the knee revealed similar clinical and radiographic outcomes with hyaluronic acid-based cell-free scaffold at short-term follow-up. However, clinical outcomes of hyaluronan scaffold were less sensitive to defect size than chitosan. With the advantages of no hypertrophic repair tissue formation as well as no need to arthrotomy during surgery, chitosan is an effective choice especially in patients with the lesion size ≤ 3 cm2. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Obesity-related metabolic and endocrine disorders diagnosed during postoperative follow-up of slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Background and purpose - Patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) are phenotypically overweight or obese and may therefore require clinical follow-up of obesity-related disorders. We evaluated obesity-related disorders such as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and vitamin-D deficiency during the postoperative period in patients with SCFE. Patients and methods - 51 patients who were operated and followed-up for SCFE and 62 healthy adolescents without SCFE (control group) were included in this retrospective study. Patients' BMI, serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglyceride), fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and serum vitamin D levels were evaluated. Results - At the time of surgery, 45 patients in the SCFE group were overweight or obese (BMI >25). At the latest follow-up, 42 patients in the SCFE group and 53 patients in the control group were overweight/obese. Abnormal serum lipid profile and ratio of total dyslipidemia were similar between the groups. 8 patients had abnormal HbA1c levels in the SCFE group and mean HbA1c levels were significantly higher in the SCFE group (p = 0.03). All patients and controls had low levels of vitamin D. Interpretation - Although serum lipid profile and vitamin D levels were detected as similar in SCFE and control groups, the potential risk of type 2 DM identified via abnormal HbA1c levels was significantly higher in patients with SCFE. We recommend that patients diagnosed with SCFE should be considered as potential candidates for type 2 DM; thus follow-up after surgical treatment should include not only orthopedic outcomes but also evaluation of future risk for DM.

Predictors of the clinical outcome and survival without degenerative arthritis after surgical treatment of femoroacetabular impingement.

BACKGROUND: The main purposes of the present study were to evaluate the functional improvement, to identify the predictors of the clinical outcome after open surgical management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in mid-term, and to determine 5-year survival rate. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the clinical data of 33 patients (34 hips) were evaluated. Sex, age, body mass index (BMI), type of FAI, duration of symptoms up to surgical treatment, internal rotation of the affected hip, improvement of the Harris hip score (HHS) in the first 2 years, joint space narrowing evaluated radiographically and classified according to Kellgren-Lawrence classification, and any labral tear were the independent variables. Harris hip score and degenerative arthritic changes at the latest follow-up were identified as outcome measures. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. The mean post-operative follow-up was 6 years. RESULTS: Harris hip scores at the latest follow-up were significantly worse in patients with a pre-operative age >35 years, BMI ≥25 kg/m2, internal rotation of the hip ≤10°, grade 1 or 2 joint space narrowing, labral tear, and <15 points improvement of the HHS at the first 2 years follow-up. According to multivariate analysis; major predictors of the outcome were BMI, labral tear, and improvement of the HHS at the first 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: A pre-operative BMI ≥25 kg/m2, labral tear, and <20 points improvement of the HHS in the first 2 years of surgery should be considered as the major predictors of the clinical outcome after open surgical management of idiopathic FAI.

Operative Treatment of the Ingrown Toenail With a Less-Invasive Technique: Flashback to the Original Winograd Technique.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the partial nail plate excision and curettage of nail bed and matrix (the original Winograd technique) in patients with ingrown toenail. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with ingrown toenail who were treated surgically from May 2014 to June 2015, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year were included in this study. Those who had previous ingrown toenail surgery were excluded. Partial nail plate excision with curettage of nail bed and nail matrix was performed for all patients. Rifampicin soaked sterile gauze was placed onto the wounds after the procedure. RESULTS: The study population included 100 males and 89 females with a mean age of 30 years. Eight patients (4.2%) had stage 1, 71 patients (37.6%) had stage 2, and 110 patients (58.2%) had stage 3 ingrown toenails. The mean operation time was 4.8 minutes. No complication occurred during the procedure. It was found that 15 patients (7.9%) had recurrence during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: The original Winograd technique is an efficient and less-invasive technique for the treatment of ingrown toenail, with lower rates of recurrence and complications. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Case Series Study, Level IV.

Is talon tibial intramedullary nailing clinically superior compared to conventional locked nailing?

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare the results of talon tibial intramedullary (IM) nailing with the results of conventional distal locked tibial IM nailing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 60 patients (37 males, 23 females; mean age 42.2 years; range 18 to 92 years) who underwent tibial IM nailing with the diagnosis of unilateral, closed or open (Gustilo-Anderson type 1) tibial diaphyseal fracture (Orthopaedic Trauma Association 42) between January 2013 and January 2016. Patients were separated into two groups as talon tibial IM nailing group (group 1, n=30) and distal locked tibial IM nailing group (group 2, n=30). All patients' operative and total radiation exposure times were recorded. At last control, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and Tegner Lysholm scores were evaluated for clinical outcomes. All complications were recorded. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 43.8 minutes in group 1 and 50.2 minutes in group 2. Mean radiation exposure time in group 1 was 5.4 minutes, which was three times shorter than the time of group 2, which was 17.5 minutes. Mean time until union was 16.9 weeks in group 1 and 12.2 weeks in group 2. Statistically significant differences were present between two groups in operative, radiation exposure time and time until union (p=0.019, p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively). When American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and Tegner Lysholm scores were compared, there were no statistically significant differences (p=0.951 and p=0.896). CONCLUSION: Talon tibial IM nailing is an easier and safer alternative to conventional distal locked tibial IM nailing with shorter operative and radiation exposure times. However, it should be kept in mind that the time until radiographic union may be longer compared to conventional tibial IM nailing.

Posterior-Only Approach with Pedicle Screws for the Correction of Scheuermann's Kyphosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study (level of evidence: level 3). PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of the posterior-only approach with pedicle screws for the treatment of Scheuermann's kyphosis (SK). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The correction of SK with instrumentation can be performed using posterior-only or combined anterior-posterior procedures. With the use of all-pedicle screw constructs in spine surgery, the posterior-only approach has become a popular option for the definitive treatment of SK. In a nationwide study involving 2,796 patients, a trend toward posterior-only fusion with lower complication rates was reported. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients who underwent posterior-only correction for SK between January 2005 and May 2013. Patients with a definite diagnosis of SK who fulfilled the minimum follow-up criterion of 24 months were included. The thoracic kyphosis (T5-T12), lumbar lordosis (L1-S1), and thoracolumbar junction (T10-L2) angles were measured from preoperative, postoperative, and last control radiographs. Sagittal balance, thoracic length, thoracic diameter, Voutsinas index and the sacral slope, pelvic tilt, proximal junction kyphosis, and distal junction kyphosis angles were also measured. RESULTS: Forty-five patients underwent surgery for the treatment of SK between 2005 and 2013. After applying the exclusion criteria, 20 patients (18 males and 2 females) with a mean age of 19 years were included. The mean thoracic kyphosis angle was 79.8 degrees preoperatively, 44.6 degrees postoperatively, and 44.9 degrees at the last control. There were statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative values in the thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis angles, thoracic length, thoracic diameter, and Voutsinas index (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and radiological results of the current study suggest that posterior-only fusion is an efficient technique for the treatment of SK.

Predictive factors for early hospital readmission and 1-year mortality in elder patients following surgical treatment of a hip fracture.

BACKGROUND: Early hospital readmission after surgically treated hip fracture is a common entity, often involving an adverse event and causing strains on an already overburdened healthcare system. The main purposes of the present study were to determine the 30-day readmission rate, analyze the predictive factors for early hospital readmissions, and assess 1-year mortality following surgical treatment of hip fracture in elderly patients. Retrospective case-control study. METHODS: In total, 517 patients with a mean age of 74 years were evaluated. The rate of early readmission, age, gender, body mass index, fracture type, pre-fracture mobility status, preoperative time to surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, implant type, postoperative intensive care unit stay, total length of postoperative hospital stay, comorbidities, and the main reasons for readmission were the criteria for data collection. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the main predictors of early hospital readmission. Mortality within the first year after surgery was also assessed. RESULTS: A higher prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiac arrhythmia or ischemic heart disease, diabetes, and dementia or Parkinson's disease was detected in readmitted patients. Advanced age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade ≥3, postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and pre-existing cardiac arrhythmia or ischemic heart disease were identified as the main predictors. The 1-year mortality rate for the readmitted group was 53.9%, whereas it was 24% for those patients who were not readmitted. CONCLUSION: The readmission rate following surgical treatment of hip fracture in elder patients was 12%, and its main predictive factors were advanced age, ASA grade ≥3, postoperative ICU stay, and pre-existing cardiac arrhythmia or ischemic heart disease. Hospital readmission within the first 30-day period following initial discharge was significantly correlated with an increased 1-year mortality rate.

What Are the Determinants of Mortality After Cemented Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty for Unstable Intertrochanteric Fractures in Elderly Patients?

BACKGROUND: Primary hemiarthroplasty is proposed for the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients with the advantages of early mobilization, acceptable functional results, and lower failure rates. The 1-year mortality rates demonstrated high variance in the literature, whereas, the factors related to 1-year mortality were not widely investigated. The main purpose of the present study was to determine predictive factors related to 1-year mortality after primary cemented calcar-replacement bipolar hemiarthroplasty performed for unstable intertrochanteric fracture. METHODS: One hundred six patients with the mean age of 80.7 years were included in this retrospective study. Age, gender, body mass index, comorbid diseases, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, total hospitalization time, time from injury to surgery, operation time, estimated blood loss, postoperative mobilization time, and decrease in Koval ambulatory categories were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine major predictors of 1-year mortality. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to construct the cumulative survival rate. RESULTS: Three or more American Society of Anesthesiologists scores, presence of ≥3 comorbid diseases, and postoperative mobilization time of ≥2 days were significantly correlated with 1-year mortality. Presence of ≥3 comorbid systemic diseases was identified as the major predictive factor for 1-year mortality. The overall 5-year cumulative survival rate was 5.6%. CONCLUSION: Having three or more comorbid systemic diseases has been detected as the major determinant of 1-year mortality after primary cemented calcar-replacement bipolar hemiarthroplasty performed for unstable intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients.

Pregabalin does not affect fracture healing adversely.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the radiographic, histological, and biomechanical effects of pregabalin on fracture healing in a rat model of femur fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 female Wistar-Albino rats (mean age 12±1 weeks; mean body weight 236±12 grams) were randomized into four groups with eight rats in each group. Groups A and B were the control groups whereas C and D were the treatment groups. Drugs were delivered by oral gavage. Radiographic, histological and biomechanical evaluations were performed after sacrificing the rats in groups A and C on 15th postoperative day and the rats in groups B and D on 30th postoperative day. RESULTS: Although radiographic results were better in groups A and B than groups C and D at the end of 15th day, no significant difference was detected at the end of 30th day. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups on 15th and 30th days in terms of histological or biomechanical evaluation. CONCLUSION: Administration of pregabalin did not affect fracture healing process adversely in rats.

Can Teicoplanin Be an Effective Choice for Antibiotic-Impregnated Cement Spacer in Two-Stage Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty?

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty using a teicoplanin-impregnated cement spacer for infected primary total knee replacements. Twenty-five patients operated between 2005 and 2012 were included in this study. At the clinical status analysis, rate of infection eradication was assessed, physical examination was performed, Knee Society Score (KSS) was noted, isolated microorganisms were recorded, and the radiographic evaluation was performed. The mean KSS improved from 40 (range, 25-69) preoperatively to 77 (range, 32-96) at the latest follow-up (p < 0.05). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated in 9 of 25 patients as the most frequently isolated pathogen, and the other isolated pathogens were methicillin-susceptible S. epidermidis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Infection was successfully eradicated in 24 of 25 patients. Two-stage revision of the infected primary knee replacement is a time-consuming but a reliable procedure with high rates of success. Teicoplanin was found to be an effective choice for antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer applied for the eradication of the infection.