Adolescent tracheal intubation in an adult urban emergency department: a retrospective, observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Tracheal intubation is the cornerstone of advanced emergency airway management in children and adults and there is good-quality data characterizing intubation in both groups. There are, however, few published studies on emergency tracheal intubation in adolescents. We carried out an observational study to characterize tracheal intubation in adolescents. METHODS: We analysed data from a previously collected Emergency Department Intubation Registry. We included all attempts at tracheal intubation performed in our adult emergency department between 1999 and 2011. We recorded the indication for intubation, the staff involved, the technique and drugs used, and the rates of successful intubation and adverse events. We classified patients into three age groups: 13-16 years (adolescent), 17-24 years (young adult) and at least 25 years (older adult). RESULTS: Trauma was the most common indication for intubation in adolescents, and rapid sequence induction was used in 88% of cases. Ninety-nine percent of tracheal intubations in adolescent patients were successful on the first or the second attempt, no adolescent underwent more than three attempts and none required a surgical airway. The initial intubation attempt in adolescents was more likely to be performed by an anaesthetist (P<0.005). The first attempt success rate was higher (P<0.01) and adverse event rate was lower (P<0.05) in adolescents than in adults. Hypotension was the only adverse event recorded in adolescents; this occurred in three patients (4.5%). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the airway in adolescent patients can be managed successfully and safely in an adult emergency department where there is close collaboration between anaesthetists and emergency physicians.

Laminoplasty: a review of its role in compressive cervical myelopathy.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The currently accepted surgical treatments for compressive cervical myelopathy include both anterior and posterior decompression. Anterior approaches including multilevel discectomy with fusion or vertebral corpectomy with strut grafting, both with and without instrumentation, have enjoyed successful outcomes, but have been associated with select postoperative complications. Laminoplasty has been developed to decompress the spine posteriorly while avoiding the spinal destabilization seen after laminectomy. PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the various techniques, biomechanical basis, predictive value of imaging modalities, clinical outcomes, and postoperative complications associated with cervical laminoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: A review of the literature. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review using Medline was performed identifying relevant articles that addressed the techniques, clinical outcomes, and complications after cervical laminoplasty, as well as preoperative radiographic predictors of outcome. RESULTS: The various modifications of cervical laminoplasty have generally been associated with excellent clinical outcomes when used for myelopathy secondary to cervical spondylosis or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Recent long-term studies have identified issues with this technique including axial neck pain, canal restenosis, nerve root palsy, diminished cervical motion, and loss of cervical lordotic alignment. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical laminoplasty remains a reliable procedure for posterior decompression of the spine, but the optimal approach to cervical myelopathy must take into account both patient and disease characteristics, as well as the capabilities and experience of the surgeon.

Biostructural augmentation for the treatment of osteonecrosis: rationale, technique, and case example.

Avascular necrosis of the hip is a common disease that usually affects a young and active patient population. As the disease progresses, the undermined structural integrity of the subchondral bone leads to articular collapse and subsequent osteoarthrosis. The ideal treatment is one that hinders or arrests the progression of the disease, averting articular collapse and joint replacement surgery. A surgical strategy is described that attempts to address the multiple factors involved in the progression of the disease. This is accomplished through a modified core decompression procedure combined with the insertion of two interference screws into the subchondral plate to provide structural support and the use of osteoinductive material (i.e., demineralized bone matrix) in an effort to accelerate the bone healing process.