Accuracy of different diagnostic tests for early, delayed and late prosthetic joint infection.

BACKGROUND: A combination of laboratory, histopathological and microbiological tests for diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) have been strongly recommended. This study aims to characterize the accuracy of individual or group tests, such as culture of sonicate fluid, synovial fluid and peri-implant tissue, C-reactive protein (CRP) and histopathology for detection of early, delayed and late PJI. METHODS: A prospective study of patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty from February 2009 to February 2014 was performed in a Spanish tertiary health care hospital. The diagnostic accuracy of the different methods was evaluated constructing receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curve areas. RESULTS: One hundred thirty consecutive patients were included: 18 (13.8%) early PJI, 35 (27%) delayed PJI and 77 (59.2%) late PJI. For individual parameters, the area under the ROC curve for peri-implant tissue culture was larger for early (0.917) than for delayed (0.829) and late PJI (0.778), p = 0.033. There was a significantly larger difference for ROC area in the synovial fluid culture for delayed (0.803) than for early (0.781) and late infections (0.679), p = 0.039. The comparison of the areas under the ROC curves for the two microbiological tests showed that sonicate fluid was significantly different from peri-implant tissue in delayed (0.951 vs 0.829, p = 0.005) and late PJI (0.901 vs 0.778, p = 0.000). The conjunction of preoperative parameters, synovial fluid culture and CRP, improved the accuracy for late PJI (p = 0.01). The conjunction of histopathology and sonicate fluid culture increased the area under ROC curve of sonication in early (0.917 vs 1.000); p = 0.06 and late cases (0.901 vs 0.999); p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: For early PJI, sonicate fluid and peri-implant tissue cultures achieve the same best sensitivity. For delayed and late PJI, sonicate fluid culture is the most sensitive individual diagnostic method. By combining histopathology and peri-implant tissue, all early, 97% of delayed and 94.8% of late cases are diagnosed. The conjunction of histopathology and sonicate fluid culture yields a sensitivity of 100% for all types of infection.

Distal radius fractures: Should we use supplemental bone grafts or substitutites in cases of severe osteoporotic or conminution?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the need of bone graft or bone substitutes in unstable distal radius fractures (DRF) treated with locking compression plates (LCP) PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational and prospective study was conducted on 60 patients with DRF AO-type A3 and AO-type C3, treated surgically by LCP plates without bone grafts or substitutes. Ranges of motion in flexion (F), extension (E), pronation (P), and supination (S) were measured in the injured wrist and compared with the healthy contralateral wrist. X-ray parameters: palmar tilt (PT), radial inclination (RI), ulnar variance (UV), and radial height (RH) were calculated in the injured wrist one year after surgery and then compared, with those parameters in the healthy contralateral wrist and in the follow-up postoperative x-ray of the injured wrist. PRWE and DASH scores were used to evaluate patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The range of motion loss was F 12° ± 16.1°, E 9° ± 13.1°, P 2.5° ± 7.5°, and S 5°±10°, but they remained within functional parameters. Good results were also obtained in the PRWE and DASH scores (DASH 12.6 ± 14.16 and PRWE 9.5 ± 9.5). All the fractures were healed without significant collapse (IP 0.55 ± 1.7°, IR 0.31 ± 1.5°, VC 0.25±0.8mm, and AR 0.1 ± 0.9 mm). CONCLUSIONS: All fractures healed without problems or with significant loss of reduction. Bone graft and bone substitutes are not mandatory for treatment of unstable DRF with LCP plates. Their use increases the cost and is not exempt of morbidities. This study also reinforces the role of LCP plates in surgical treatment of unstable DRF.

[Treatment of proximal humeral fractures by reverse shoulder arthroplasty: mid-term evaluation of functional results and Notching]. / Evaluación de resultados funcionales y Notching tras el tratamiento de fracturas de húmero mediante artroplastia total invertida a medio plazo.

OBJECTIVE: An analysis was made on relationship between Notching and functional and radiographic parameters after treatment of acute proximal humeral fractures with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was performed on 37 patients with acute proximal humeral fracture treated by reversed shoulder arthroplasty. The mean follow-up was 24 months. Range of motion, intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Nerot's classification was used to evaluate Notching. Patient satisfaction was evaluated with the Constant Score (CS). Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between Notching and glenosphere position, or functional outcomes. RESULTS: Mean range of elevation, abduction, external and internal rotation were 106.22°, 104.46°, 46.08° and 40.27°, respectively. Mean CS was 63. Notching was present at 12 months in 29% of patients. Statistical analysis showed significance differences between age and CS, age and notching development, and tilt with notching. No statistical significance differences were found between elevation, abduction, internal and external rotation and CS either with scapular or glenosphere-neck angle. CONCLUSION: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is a valuable option for acute humeral fractures in patients with osteoporosis and cuff-tear arthropathy. It leads to early pain relief and shoulder motion. Nevertheless, it is not exempt from complications, and long-term studies are needed to determine the importance of notching.

Comparative study of the effect of PTH (1-84) and strontium ranelate in an experimental model of atrophic nonunion.

UNLABELLED: This study aimed to set up an experimental model of long bone atrophic nonunion and to explore the potential role of PTH-1-84 (PTH 1-84) and strontium ranelate (SrR). A model of atrophic nonunion was created in Sprague-Dawley rats at the femoral midshaft level. The animals were randomised into four groups. Group A1: control rodents, fracture without bone gap; Group A2: rodents with subtraction osteotomy (non-union model control) treated with saline; Group B: rodents with subtraction osteotomy treated with human-PTH (PTH 1-84); and Group C: rodents with subtraction osteotomy treated with strontium ranelate (SrR). The groups were followed for 12 weeks. X-rays were be obtained at weeks 1, 6 and 12. After sacrificing the animals, we proceeded to the biomechanical study and four point bending tests to evaluate the resistance of the callus and histological study. In second phase, the expression of genes related to osteoblast function was analysed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in rats subjected to substraction osteotomy and treated for 2 weeks. The animals were randomised into three groups: Group A2: rodents treated with saline; Group B: rodents treated with PTH 1-84 and Group C: rodents treated with SrR. RESULTS: No significant histological differences were found between animals subjected to subtraction osteotomy and treated with either saline or PTH (p=0.628), but significant difference existed between animals receiving saline or SrR (p=0.005). There were no significant differences in X-ray score between the saline and PTH groups at either 6 or 12 weeks (p=0.33 and 0.36, respectively). On the other hand, better X-ray scores were found in the SrR group (p=0.047 and 0.006 in comparison with saline, at 6 and 12 weeks, respectively). In line with this, biomechanical tests revealed improved results in the SrR group. Gene expression analysis revealed a slightly decreased levels of DKK1, a Wnt pathway inhibitor, in rats treated with SrR. CONCLUSIONS: SrR increases has a beneficial effect in this atrophic non-union model in rats. This suggests that it might have a role may have important implications for the potential clinical role in the treatment of fracture nonunion.

Fracturas de radio distal: ¿es necesario el aporte de injerto o sustitutivo óseo en los casos con osteoporosis o conminución severa? / Distal radius fractures: Should we use supplemental bone grafts or substitutites in cases of severe osteoporotic or conminution?

Objetivo: Evaluar la necesidad de injertos o sustitutivos óseos en el tratamiento quirúrgico de las fracturas de radio distal (FDR) con placas bloqueadas (LCP). Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo observacional de 60 pacientes con FDR A3 o C3 tratadas mediante placa LCP sin aporte de injerto o sustitutivo óseo. Se comparó la movilidad en flexión (F), extensión (E), supinación (S) y pronación (P) de la muñeca fracturada con respecto a la sana; y los parámetros radiográficos de inclinación palmar (IP), inclinación radial (IR), varianza cubital (VC) y altura radial (AR) de la muñeca fracturada al año de la cirugía respecto a la muñeca contralateral sana y a la fracturada en el postoperatorio. Evaluamos el grado de satisfacción del paciente mediante las escalas PRWE y DASH. Resultados: Las diferencias de movilidad de la muñeca fracturada con respecto a la muñeca contralateral sana fueron F 12° ± 16,1°, E 9° ± 13,1°, P 2,5° ± 7,5° y S 5° ± 10°, pero se mantuvieron dentro de rangos funcionales y obtuvimos un buen nivel de satisfacción de los pacientes (DASH 12,6 ± 14,16 y PRWE 6,31 ± 9,5). El 100% de FDR consolidaron sin colapso significativo (IP 0,55 ± 1,7°, IR 0,31 ± 1,5°, VC 0,25 ± 0,8 mm, AR 0,1 ± 0,9 mm). Conclusiones: Todas las fracturas consolidaron sin problemas y la pérdida de reducción no fue estadísticamente significativa. El uso de injertos o sustitutivos óseos no es imprescindible en el tratamiento de las FDR inestables con placas LCP, cuya utilización encarece el procedimiento y no está exenta de morbilidades. Como conclusión secundaria, el estudio afianza el papel de las placas LCP en el tratamiento de las FDR (AU)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the need of bone graft or bone substitutes in unstable distal radius fractures (DRF) treated with locking compression plates (LCP) Patients and Methods: An observational and prospective study was conducted on 60 patients with DRF AO-type A3 and AO-type C3, treated surgically by LCP plates without bone grafts or substitutes. Ranges of motion in flexion (F), extension (E), pronation (P), and supination (S) were measured in the injured wrist and compared with the healthy contralateral wrist. X-ray parameters: palmar tilt (PT), radial inclination (RI), ulnar variance (UV), and radial height (RH) were calculated in the injured wrist one year after surgery and then compared, with those parameters in the healthy contralateral wrist and in the follow-up postoperative x-ray of the injured wrist. PRWE and DASH scores were used to evaluate patient satisfaction. Results: The range of motion loss was F 12° ± 16.1°, E 9° ± 13.1°, P 2.5° ± 7.5°, and S 5°±10°, but they remained within functional parameters. Good results were also obtained in the PRWE and DASH scores (DASH 12.6 ± 14.16 and PRWE 9.5 ± 9.5). All the fractures were healed without significant collapse (IP 0.55 ± 1.7°, IR 0.31 ± 1.5°, VC 0.25 ± 0.8 mm, and AR 0.1 ± 0.9 mm). Conclusions: All fractures healed without problems or with significant loss of reduction. Bone graft and bone substitutes are not mandatory for treatment of unstable DRF with LCP plates. Their use increases the cost and is not exempt of morbidities. This study also reinforces the role of LCP plates in surgical treatment of unstable DRF (AU)

Evaluación de resultados funcionales y Notching tras el tratamiento de fracturas de húmero mediante artroplastia total invertida a medio plazo / Treatment of proximal humeral fractures by reverse shoulder arthroplasty: mid-term evaluation of functional results and Notching

Objetivo. Evaluar la relación entre el Notching y los resultados clínico-funcionales y radiológicos tras el tratamiento de las fracturas de húmero proximal con prótesis invertida de hombro (PTHi). Material y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de 37 pacientes con fracturas de húmero proximal tratadas mediante PTHi con seguimiento medio de 24 meses. Se evaluó: tipo de fractura, rango de movilidad postoperatoria (antepulsión [AP], abducción [ABD], rotación externa [RE] y rotación interna [RI]), complicaciones y grado de satisfacción del paciente mediante la escala de Constant (CS). Se constató desarrollo de Notching según la clasificación de Nerot. Análisis estadístico de la relación Notching-posición de la glenosfera y resultados funcionales. Resultados. Los rangos medios de movilidad fueron AP 106,22°, ABD 104,46°, RE 46,08° y RI 40,27°. Se produjo Notching en el 29% de los pacientes al año de seguimiento. El valor medio del CS fue de 63 a los 18 meses post-IQ. Fueron estadísticamente no significativas las relaciones: Notching - balance articular final, Notching - CS, Notching - ángulo del cuello de la escápula, Notching - ángulo de la glena, Notching - distancia del bulón al borde inferior de la glena. Se encontró significación estadística entre la edad y el desarrollo de Notching y el Notching y el Tilt glenoideo. Conclusiones. La PTHi es una opción en pacientes con osteoporosis y artropatía del manguito rotador que presentan fractura humeral proximal. Permite alivio rápido del dolor y una funcionalidad aceptable. No está exenta de complicaciones: son necesarios estudios a largo plazo para determinar la relevancia del Notching (AU)

Objective. An analysis was made on relationship between Notching and functional and radiographic parameters after treatment of acute proximal humeral fractures with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Methods. A retrospective evaluation was performed on 37 patients with acute proximal humeral fracture treated by reversed shoulder arthroplasty. The mean follow-up was 24 months. Range of motion, intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Nerot's classification was used to evaluate Notching. Patient satisfaction was evaluated with the Constant Score (CS). Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between Notching and glenosphere position, or functional outcomes. Results. Mean range of elevation, abduction, external and internal rotation were 106.22°, 104.46°, 46.08° and 40.27°, respectively. Mean CS was 63. Notching was present at 12 months in 29% of patients. Statistical analysis showed significance differences between age and CS, age and notching development, and tilt with notching. No statistical significance differences were found between elevation, abduction, internal and external rotation and CS either with scapular or glenosphere-neck angle. Conclusion. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is a valuable option for acute humeral fractures in patients with osteoporosis and cuff-tear arthropathy. It leads to early pain relief and shoulder motion. Nevertheless, it is not exempt from complications, and long-term studies are needed to determine the importance of notching (AU)