Does THA Improve Social Status Among Turkish Women With Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?

BACKGROUND: In traditional societies, patients who reach adulthood with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) may be labeled "disabled" and may be considered "defective," causing them psychologic pain and problems with social interactions. In some patriarchal societies, women disproportionately experience these problems, because they may be seen as insufficient in terms of marriage and sexual intercourse owing to hip-related limitations, and they may be married through arranged marriages to people who also have disabilities. This patriarchal structure limits the ways women can engage in society and may lower their quality of life (QOL). The degree to which THA can improve the lives of women in these specific ways in a patriarchal culture has not, to our knowledge, been studied. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Does THA improve the social standing of young women with DDH in Turkey? (2) Does THA improve QOL of young women with DDH in Turkey? (3) Does THA improve pain and physical function in these patients? METHODS: This study was a retrospective, comparative study performed at Karabük University Research and Training Hospital in Karabük, Turkey, from 2012 to 2017. A total of 217 women with DDH were followed at our center between the study dates. All of these patients were evaluated for inclusion into the study. Among these, 175 women with DDH (aged 20-45 years) were included in the study according to inclusion/exclusion criteria. We offered THA to all patients in whom surgery was technically feasible; 84 chose to undergo THA, whereas 91 declined the procedure. Whether THA had any effects on the study questions was determined by comparison of the following findings at baseline and after intervention. The social standing of patients was assessed through their marital status and proportions of employment and depression; the patients' QOL was assessed with the SF-36 at baseline for all patients and at 1 year postoperatively for those who underwent THA; and pain and dysfunction were evaluated by determination of the proportion of patients who had scoliosis, knee valgus, and knee and lumbar pain. At baseline, patients were not different in regard to all parameters except knee and lumbar pain, which were greater in those who had decided to undergo THA. The SF-36 scores of patients who underwent THA were compared with their postoperative scores as well as with the baseline scores of patients who did not undergo THA. RESULTS: In terms of measures of social standing, women who underwent THA appeared better at followup than did the patients who did not undergo THA. Those who underwent THA had higher percentages of marriage and employment and less depression. Regarding QOL, postintervention comparisons revealed that women who underwent THA had higher SF-36 scores compared with the initial results of women who did not have surgery. Compared with preoperative scores, the highest improvements were found in social role function (mean difference ± standard error [SE] = 58.64 ± 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 56.91-60.37; p < 0.001) and mental health (mean difference ± SE = 53.00 ± 0.86; 95% CI, 51.31-54.69; p < 0.001) subdimensions of the SF-36. Finally, patients who underwent THA had improvements in pain and function as measured by Harris hip score than did patients who did not undergo THA. At initial evaluation, two groups were found to be similar in terms of Harris hip scores (THA: 61.6 ± 7.4 versus non-THA: 63.7 ± 7.6, p = 0.066), whereas the THA group was found to be superior at followup evaluation (THA: 83.5 ± 6.2 versus non-THA: 62.1 ± 7.8, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Young women with DDH are severely affected by social and cultural norms in Turkey, which is an example of a patriarchal culture. We believe that in this setting, some patients who improve their appearance, gait, and physical function through THA may benefit from a better social perception and higher self-esteem, which may, in turn, increase their QOL and provide more freedom in terms of life choices. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

The midterm psychological effect of cast removal procedures in children.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the course of anxiety change in children who used headphones during cast removal with controls in midterm follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients who underwent forearm fracture treatment with closed reduction and long arm casting between June 2021 and March 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the use of headphones (n=27; 21 males, 6 females; mean age: 8.0±1.8 years; range, 6 to 12 years) or not (n=39; 27 males, 12 females; mean age: 8.9±1.8 years; range, 6 to 12 years) during cast removal with an oscillating saw. Primary outcome measures included preprocedure, postprocedure, and six-month anxiety assessments with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS: There was an acute increase in the mean state anxiety scores after the procedure, which returned to below baseline at the six-month follow-up in the headphone (31.4±8.3, 33.3±8.7, and 25.1±4.1, respectively) and control groups (34.9±11.1, 37.4±9.5, and 27.3±5.3, respectively). The mean trait anxiety scores before the procedure, after the procedure, and at six months remained similar in the headphone (33.6±3.0, 34.6±3.2, and 32.4±2.8; p>0.05) and control groups (34.1±2.7, 33.7±3.0, and 33.7±3.0, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the acute anxiety during cast removal did not create anxiety sequelae in the sixth month regardless of headphone use.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Improves Functional Scores and Quality of Life in Patients Older Than 50 Years of Age.

Purpose: To evaluate quality of life changes and functional outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients older than 50 years of age with anterior cruciate ligament injury. Methods: Patients who were older than 50 years of age and had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with single-bundle hamstring tendon auto graft surgery between January 2016 and February 2018 were identified. Preoperative Tegner activity scores, Lysholm knee scores, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) 2000 scores, and Short-Form 36 scores were compared with results that were documented 1 year after surgery. Results: A total of 35 patients were included (20 male/15 female; mean age 52 years [range 50-59 years]). Patients' preoperative mean Tegner score was 1.48. Mean Tegner score at 1-year follow-up was 3.82. Preoperative mean Lysholm score was 45.8. Postoperative mean Lysholm score was 88. Preoperative mean IKDC 2000 score was 33. Postoperative mean IKDC 2000 score was 82. All of these changes were statistically significant (P < .05). All of the parameter changes at Short Form-36 except for role limitations due to emotional problems were statistically significant. Conclusions: Improved functional knee scores, quality of life, and psychological status were achieved at anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients older than 50 years of age. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Treatment of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children through an anterior approach is a safe and effective method.

In this prospective case series we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of using an anterior approach to paediatric supracondylar humerus fractures. We gathered data on 46 children that had a displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus. All the patients had sustained a Gartland type III extension fracture that could not be reduced by closed means. Open reduction through an anterior approach was performed and two Kirschner wires were used to fix the fracture to the medial and lateral sides. Patients were recalled for follow-up and were evaluated using Flynn's radiological and clinical criteria. Loss of extension and flexion was noted by clinical assessment and carrying angle measured on radiograms. A follow-up examination performed in the 24th postoperative week showed that all fractures had healed; the patients' outcomes were rated as excellent or good according to Flynn's criteria. As a result the anterior approach for open reduction of paediatric supracondylar humeral fractures is a safe and reliable method with very good results.

Evaluation of the anterolateral ligament of the knee by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visibility of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective case - control study compared 1.5 - T MRI scans for 50 patients with a chronic ACL rupture with those of a control group of 50 patients with an intact ACL. The ALL was evaluated in three portions: femoral, meniscal, and tibial. The status of each portion was classified as visualized or non-visualized. Two radiologists separately reviewed all the MRI scans to evaluate interobserver reliability. RESULTS: At least one portion of the ALL was visualized in 100% of the control group and 72% of the chronic ACL rupture group. All three portions of the ALL were identified in 72% of the control group but only 10% of the chronic ACL rupture group. In both groups, the most commonly visualized portion was the meniscal portion and the least visualized was the tibial portion. In 18% of the chronic ACL rupture group, no portion of the ALL was visualized. CONCLUSIONS: The visibility of the ALL of the knee was significantly lower in patients with a chronic ACL rupture than in those with an intact one.

A strong and reliable indicator for early postoperative major cardiac events after elective orthopedic surgery: Aortic arch calcification.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular events after orthopedic surgery may result in mortality. Therefore, predictors of early cardiovascular events after elective orthopedic surgery are required. AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between aortic arch calcification and 30-day major adverse cardiac events following elective orthopedic surgery. METHODS: Patients who had undergone orthopedic surgery were screened. Preoperative detailed anamnesis was taken. Echocardiography and standard chest x-ray were performed.Patients were followed in terms of perioperative 30-days major cardiac events and were classified into two groups according to development of perioperative major adverse cardiac events.Aortic arch calcification was evaluated by two cardiologists, blinded to study findings and was graded as 0 to 3 on chest x-ray. RESULTS: A total of 1060 patients were approached for the study participation. Of these 714 were included in the study (mean age: 70.43, 65% female). Cardiovascular events occurred in 33 patients. As compared to the patients without cardiac events, the prevalence of aortic arch calcification, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and smoking were higher in patients with cardiac events. In addition, Lee index, left ventricular end-systolic, end-diastolic and left atrial diameter were significantly higher, GFR values were significantly lower in the group with cardiac events.Multivariate regression analysis showed that smoking (OR 5.031, 95% CI 1.602 to 15.794), presence of hypertension (OR 5.133, 95% CI 1.297 to 20.308) and aortic arch calcification (OR 6.920, 95% CI 3.890 to 12.310) are independent predictors of major cardiac events within 30-day of elective orthopedic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of aortic arch calcification is associated with development of major cardiac events within 30-days after elective orthopedic surgery.

The combined use of oral and topical tranexamic acid is a safe, efficient and low-cost method in reducing blood loss and transfusion rates in total knee arthroplasty.

AIMS: The combined (IV (intravenous) + topical) use of tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to be a safe method and more effective than single (IV or topical) application. The optimal administration method of TXA is still being investigated and safety, efficiency and cost are the three main crucial parameters in achieving the best administration method. We aimed to determine whether combined (oral + topical) use of TXA reduced blood loss and transfusion rates more than single (topical) administration in TKA and whether oral + topical use is as safe and efficient as the IV + topical use, in addition to the main advantage of relatively low cost. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized study, 100 patients were randomly assigned to either the topical TXA group or the combined (oral + topical) TXA group. There were no significant differences between the groups in age, body mass index or gender. The haemoglobin and haematocrit levels of each patient were recorded preoperatively and on post-operative days 0, 1, 2 and 3. The post-operative suction drainage and blood transfusion volumes were also recorded. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the groups in haemoglobin and haematocrit levels on post-operative days 0, 1, 2 and 3 ( p < 0.05) in favour of the combined group. The post-operative drainage amounts ( p = 0.0001), measured blood loss volume ( p = 0.003) and transfusion rates ( p = 0.03) were lower in the combined (oral + topical) group compared to the topical group. CONCLUSIONS: Of the different methods of TXA administration, the combined use of oral and topical TXA is a safe, efficient and low-cost method in reducing blood loss and transfusion rates after TKA.

The outcome and parents-based cosmetic satisfaction following fixation of paediatric supracondylar humerus fractures treated by closed method with or without small medial incision.

Supracondylar humerus fractures are common in children. Displaced fractures are usually treated with closed reduction and cross pin fixation. But, medial pinning may cause the ulnar nerve injury. The aim of this study was to compare the parents-based cosmetic satisfaction of the incision scars in children with displaced supracondylar humerus fractures treated by closed reduction and cross pin fixation with or without small medial incision. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 72 children with displaced supracondylar humerus fractures treated two different closed reduction and percutaneous pinning methods at our institution from January 2010 through December 2013. A group has 36 patients treated with small medial incision and crossed K-wires fixation after closed reduction. The other group has 36 patients treated with closed reduction and K-wires fixation. At the final follow-up, the patients were evaluated radiologically and clinically with Flynn's criteria. Furthermore, a visual analogue scale was used to determine of the parents-based cosmetic satisfaction score. All fractures healed without major complications at the final clinical and radiological assessment. Although, between the two groups did not differ in terms of Flynn cosmetic and functional outcomes, there were statistically significant differences between both groups according to the parents-based cosmetic satisfaction scores. The closed reduction and crossed pin fixation without small medial incision should be preferred first because of better the parents-based cosmetic satisfaction.