Compliance with hand disinfection in the surgical area of an orthopedic university clinic: results of an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Hand hygiene using alcoholic hand rub solution is essential for the prevention of surgical site infections. There are several opportunities for hygienic hand disinfection (termed "hand hygiene" in the following) during immediate pre-, intra- and postoperative orthopedic patient care. However, the level of hand hygiene compliance among surgical and anesthesia staff in this context is unclear. Therefore, we conducted an observational study in operating theatres of an orthopedic university clinic in northern Germany during July and August 2020. METHODS: One trained person directly and comprehensively observed hand hygiene compliance of surgical and anesthesia staff according to the WHO "My 5 moments for hand hygiene" model (WHO-5). In addition to cross-tabulations with Chi2 tests, multiple logistic regression models were used to study associations between occupational group, medical specialty, and compliance (both overall and for each WHO-5 indication). Models were adjusted for hand hygiene opportunities being associated with female or male healthcare workers, being located within or outside the operation room, and occurring in adult or pediatric surgery. RESULTS: In total, 1145 hand hygiene opportunities during 16 surgeries were observed. The overall compliance was 40.8% (95% CI 37.9-43.6%), with a larger difference between surgical versus anesthesia staff (28.4% vs. 46.1%, p < 0.001) than between physicians versus nurses (38.5% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.13). Adjusting for sex, place of observation, and adult versus pediatric operation theatre, logistic regression analyses revealed a significant interaction between medical specialty and occupational group (p < 0.001). In particular, the odds for compliance were higher for anesthesiologists (47.9%) than for surgeons (19.6%) (OR = 4.8, 95% CI 3.0-7.6). In addition, compliance was higher in pediatric surgery (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.4-2.6). In general, WHO-5-stratified results were in line with these overall patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Hygienic hand disinfection compliance was approximately 41%. Notably, surgeons performed worse than anesthesiologists did. These results indicate that hand hygiene compliance in orthopedic surgery needs to be improved. Tailored interventions promise to be an appropriate way to address each occupational group's specific needs.

Determinants of orthopedic physicians' self-reported compliance with surgical site infection prevention: results of the WACH-trial's pilot survey on COM-B factors in a German university hospital.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs), which due to their long-term consequences are especially critical in orthopedic surgery, entails compliance with over 20 individual measures. However, little is known about the psychosocial determinants of such compliance among orthopedic physicians, which impedes efforts to tailor implementation interventions to improve compliance. Thus, for this professional group, this pilot survey examined psychosocial determinants of self-reported compliance, which have been theoretically derived from the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behavior) model. METHODS: In 2019, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in a tertiary care university orthopedic clinic in Hannover, Germany, as a pilot for the WACH-trial ("Wundinfektionen und Antibiotikaverbrauch in der Chirurgie" [Wound Infections and Antibiotics Consumption in Surgery]). Fifty-two physicians participated (38 surgeons, 14 anesthesiologists; response rate: 73.2%). The questionnaire assessed self-reported compliance with 26 SSI preventive measures, and its psychosocial determinants (COM-B). Statistical analyses included descriptive, correlational, and linear multiple regression modeling. RESULTS: Self-reported compliance rates for individual measures varied from 53.8 to 100%, with overall compliance (defined for every participant as the mean of his or her self-reported rates for each individual measure) averaging at 88.9% (surgeons: 90%, anesthesiologists: 85.9%; p = 0.097). Of the components identified in factor analyses of the COM-B items, planning, i.e., self-formulated conditional plans to comply, was the least pronounced (mean = 4.3 on the 7-point Likert scale), while motivation was reported to be the strongest (mean = 6.3). Bi-variately, the overall compliance index co-varied with all four COM-B-components, i.e., capabilities (r = 0.512, p < 0.001), opportunities (r = 0.421, p = 0.002), planning (r = 0.378, p = 0.007), and motivation (r = 0.272, p = 0.051). After mutual adjustment and adjustment for type of physician and the number of measures respondents felt responsible for, the final backward regression model included capabilities (ß = 0.35, p = 0.015) and planning (ß = 0.29, p = 0.041) as COM-B-correlates. CONCLUSION: Though based on a small sample of orthopedic physicians in a single hospital (albeit in conjunction with a high survey response rate), this study found initial evidence for positive correlations between capabilities and planning skills with self-reported SSI preventive compliance in German orthopedic physicians. Analyses of the WACH-trial will further address the role of these factors in promoting SSI preventive compliance in orthopedic surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This survey was conducted as part of the research project WACH ("Wundinfektionen und Antibiotikaverbrauch in der Chirurgie" [Wound Infections and Antibiotic Consumption in Surgery]), which has been registered in the German Clinical Trial Registry ( https://www.drks.de/ ; ID: DRKS00015502).

Incidence and risk factors of surgical site infection after total knee arthroplasty: Results of a retrospective cohort study.

Knee arthroplasty is commonly performed in the case of advanced osteoarthritis, and deep joint infections represent a severe complication following surgery. A 4-year retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the incidence and risk factors for such surgical site infections. Of the 2439 patients included in the study, 84 of them (3.4%) developed infections. Postoperative bleeding, Ahlbäck's disease, obesity, smoking, and male gender were independent risk factors that should be considered when caring for those patients.

[A special instrument: the halo fixator]. / Das besondere Instrument: Der Halo-Fixateur.

OBJECTIVE: Installation of an external fixator in combination with a body cast for temporary or definitive immobilization and retention of unstable fractures of the craniocervical junction and upper part of the cervical spine. Further established applications include presurgical extension treatment of paralytic scoliosis and temporary retention within complex spine deformity operations after ventral release or mobilized osteotomies. INDICATIONS: Closed reposition and temporary retention of unstable injuries of the cervical spine up to operation. Extension treatment for careful reposition of fresh or dated malpositions of the cervical spine. Conservative treatment of injuries of the craniocervical junction and the upper part of the cervical spine. Presurgical extension of paralytic scoliosis. Temporary extension after ventral release. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Cranial fractures and intracranial injuries. Soft-tissue infections of the skull. Children < 3 years. Adiposity, chest injuries and paraplegia as relative contraindications using the halo body cast. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Halo traction is applied in two stages; first, the head ring is attached to the skull, then, the body cast and suspension assembly are added. Local anesthesia, depending on circumstances. Sizing of the components; the optimal size of the ring is about 1.5" larger than the circumference of the patient's head. Patient in sitting or supine position. The halo ring is held in proper position by stabilizer plates; the lower margin of the ring should be just above the ears and about 0.4" above the eyebrows. The anterior pins are placed in shallow groove on the forehead between supraorbital ridges and frontal protuberances. Threaded skull pins are screwed with defined torque (4-8"/pounds) in the lamina externa of the cranial calotte without perforating the lamina interna. To avoid side-to-side drifting, the diagonally opposite pins should be tightened simultaneously. Finally, connection of the halo ring with a body cast or putting on an extension device. RESULTS: Secure external stabilization of unstable injuries of upper cervical spine. Improvement of correction results of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis who underwent surgical treatment. Disadvantages are procedure-specific complications (infection and loosening of head pins) with different published frequencies and decreased patient's acceptance at longer therapy duration.

[Management of posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the upper ankle joint by implantation of the S.T.A.R. ankle prosthesis]. / Die Versorgung der posttraumatischen Arthrose des oberen Sprunggelenks durch die S.T.A.R.-Sprunggelenkprothese.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the upper ankle joint by implantation of an uncemented total ankle joint prosthesis. INDICATIONS: Painful osteoarthritis of any kind affecting the upper ankle joint with adequate joint stability, without significant bone deformity of the ankle axes (deviation of the lower leg axis in the distal third in the horizontal and sagittal planes < or = 20 degrees ), without manifest osteoporosis, with normal peripheral vascularity, correct alignment of the hindfoot, minimal sports expectations on the part of the patient, and good residual range of motion. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Avascular talus necrosis > or = 25%. Degenerative neuropathic joint disease (Charcot's joint). Acute or chronic ankle joint infection. Sensory or motor dysfunction of the foot. Preceding arthrodesis of the ankle with resection of the malleoli. Medial instability of the upper ankle joint. Tibiotalar varus or valgus deformity > 20 degrees . SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Anterior approach to the upper ankle joint. Resection of the distal tibial joint surface and the cranial talar surface including the sides of the talus. Uncemented implantation of the talar cap, and the tibial component. Insertion of a polyethylene sliding core. RESULTS: From January 2004 to March 2005, 13 patients with posttraumatic osteoarthritis were treated by implantation of an uncemented S.T.A.R. ankle prosthesis (Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement). The indication for total joint replacement in all cases was advanced osteoarthritis of the upper ankle joint that could no longer be managed by conservative treatment. In one patient, the medial malleolus fractured intraoperatively and had to be stabilized with a screw. There was neither deep nor superficial infection. One patient developed persistent chronic regional pain syndrome without radiologic evidence. After an average follow-up period of 6.8 months (3-12 months), the range of motion had improved in all patients from 10-0-20 degrees to 15-0-30 degrees on average. The AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) Hindfoot Score improved from 53 to 89 points.

Improved implantation technique for resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip.

OBJECTIVE: Prevention of incorrect positioning of the surface replacement, whereby the center of the femoral head for the implantation of the replacement surface is ascertained by central drilling of the femoral neck under image intensifier control. INDICATIONS: An arthritically damaged, but not too severely deformed femoral head that can be reamed without injuring the femoral neck. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hip ankylosis. Femoral head necrosis. Severe deformity of the femoral head. State after varus osteotomy. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Using a 6-mm drill bit, the femoral neck of the affected hip is drilled from lateral to medial under anteroposterior and lateral imaging deliberately perforating the femoral head. The hip joint is exposed through a minimized invasive anterolateral, lateral, or posterior approach and dislocated. A guide rod corresponding in size to the 6-mm drill channel is inserted into the drill hole; it serves as a guide for all subsequent preparations of the femoral head, depending on the type of prosthesis. After implantation of the corresponding acetabular component, resurfacing of the femoral head is done. Reduction of the joint completes surgery. RESULTS: In the first 14 hips the midpoint of the femoral head was ascertained by using the manufacturer's centering device. In 31 subsequent hips the midpoint of the femoral head was found by central drilling of the femoral neck. Using the centering device, the average deviation of the angle of the prosthesis from the preoperative CCD angle was 7 degrees (+/- 5.7 degrees ); for central drilling of the femoral neck it was only 3 degrees (+/- 3.4 degrees ). The exact alignment of the resurfacing component is crucial for the success of surgery. It is achieved with greater precision with central drilling of the neck than with the manufacturer's centering device.

Risk evaluation of thermal injury to the cervical spine during intradiscal laser application in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate temperature distribution during laser and its possible thermal damage to the neurovascular structures. BACKGROUND DATA: Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) is now being performed as a minimally invasive intradiscal technique for the operative therapy of non-sequestered herniated cervical discs. As yet, no experimental basic research has been reported with regard to temperature rise and distribution in the cervical region during laser radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An in vitro laser procedure was performed on human cervical intervertebral discs under standardized conditions. A thermo-camera was used to monitor in real-time the zones sensitive to temperature increase. RESULTS: Average intervertebral disc volume was 2000 mm3. With a total energy conduction of 600 Joules, a temperature increase of around 30 degrees C was shown with an initial temperature of 28 degrees C at the posterior longitudinal ligament lying immediately in front of the myelon. The defect volume was less than 1% of the total intervertebral disc volume. CONCLUSION: If, during laser application, the total amount of conducted energy is too high, with an unfavorable position of the fibers in the intervertebral space, there is a risk of thermal damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Osteotomy of the humerus to improve external rotation in nine patients with brachial plexus palsy.

Malfunction of the infraspinatus muscle and teres minor muscle illustrate the typical clinical picture in patients with brachial plexus palsy. The arm hangs down in an inwardly rotated position and elbow flexion is hindered by striking of the lower arm against the thorax. Between 1995 and 2000, we have done external rotational osteotomy of the humerus for nine patients with brachial plexus palsy. The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 29 years (range 15 to 42). The mean follow-up time was 24 (6 to 69) months. Preoperatively, the patients all had appreciable deficits of external rotation (mean deficit 37 degrees, range 10 degrees to 70 degrees). As a result of osteotomy, external rotation was improved in all patients, the mean increase being 42 degrees (range 25 degrees to 60 degrees). All patients were subjectively content with the improved position of the arm and its function. They were able to move their hands to their faces without striking the lower arm against the chest on elbow flexion, or without compensatory evasive movement of the shoulder.

Transposition of local muscles to restore elbow flexion in brachial plexus palsy.

Between 1994 and 2001, triceps to biceps transfers were done in 10 men and a transfer of the forearm flexors and extensors (Steindler procedure) in nine. All had suffered from a post-traumatic lesion of their brachial plexus, resulting in loss of elbow flexion. Their mean age at the time of the original accident was 27 years (range 16-50 years) and at the time of muscle transfer 35 years (range 22-56 years), with a mean observation period of 20 months (range 6-51 months). In 16 patients, a neurosurgical procedure had been performed after the trauma, and in 22 patients other reconstructive operations had been done. Transfer of the forearm flexors and extensors resulted in active elbow flexion with a mean of 94 degrees (range 70-130 degrees ). After triceps to biceps transposition a mean of 109 degrees (range 70-140 degrees ) was reached. A mean deficit of passive extension of 12 degrees (range 0-30 degrees ) remained after the Steindler procedure, and of 5 degrees (range 0-10 degrees ) after triceps to biceps transposition. Two complications occurred with the Steindler procedure. The transfer of the triceps muscle to the tendon of the biceps and the transfer of the forearm flexors or extensors on loss of elbow flexion, therefore, resulted in adequate movement and strength. Both procedures involve operating close to the elbow joint and had minimal complications. The triceps to biceps transfer is particularly suitable for co-contraction of triceps and biceps.