Pararectus Approach in Acetabular Fractures in Patients Older Than 65 years. Is it Possible to Improve the Technique?

OBJECTIVES: Review clinical results of the treatment for acetabular fractures using the pararectus approach and analyze surgical variations of the traditional approach. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS: 46 patients over 65 years of age who sustained an acetabular fracture and underwent surgery using the pararectus approach. INTERVENTION: Fractures were treated using a pararectus approach. Three variations of the original technique were performed: (1) Ligature of the deep iliac circumflex artery and vein, (2) separation of the psoas and iliacus muscles, and (3) isolation of the spermatic cord in men and round ligament in women together with the iliac and epigastric vessels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes measures included surgical, demographic, and clinical data, and information related to follow-up. RESULTS: Duration of surgery, 125 minutes (95-210). Quality of reduction on postoperative computed tomography (CT) scan; anatomic in 22 patients (47.8%), incomplete in 16 (34.8%), and poor in 8 (17.4%). In patients in whom the hip was preserved (n = 41), functional status was excellent in 15 patients (36.5%), good in 17 (41.4%), fair in 6 (14.7%), and poor in 3 (7.4%), with mean functional score of 16 points (7-18). Seven patients (15.2%) developed posttraumatic osteoarthritis and 4 of these patients underwent total hip replacement. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports positive outcomes in fracture reduction and clinical outcomes with low complications in older patients who suffered acetabular fractures and were treated using a pararectus approach. Small variations in the technique, such as those proposed in this study, may help to widen access to the surgical site and simplify the technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Pelvic post-traumatic asymmetry: Assessment and sequenced treatment.

The most common cause of post-traumatic pelvic asymmetry is, by far, initial nonoperative treatment.Open reduction and internal fixation of unstable pelvic fractures are recommended to avoid pelvic nonunion or subsequent structural deformities.The most common symptom is pelvic pain. Pelvic instability is another symptom, as well as persistent urogenital problems and neurological sequelae.Preoperative evaluation of these patients requires careful clinical and functional assessment, in addition to a complete radiological study.Surgical treatment of pelvic fracture nonunions is technically demanding and has potentially serious complications.We have developed a new classification that modifies and completes Mears and Velyvis's classification in which we highlight two types of post-traumatic sequelae with different clinical conditions and whose basic differentiating element is whether pelvic deformity is present or not. Based on this classification, we have established our strategy of surgical treatment. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3 DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170069.

Surgical Infection after Posterolateral Lumbar Spine Arthrodesis: CT Analysis of Spinal Fusion.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of infection after instrumented lumbar spine surgery, the demographic and surgical variables associated with acute infection, and the influence of infection and debridement on the consolidation of spinal fusion. METHODS: After obtaining approval from the hospital ethics committee, an observational study was made on a prospective cohort of consecutive patients surgically treated by posterolateral lumbar spine arthrodesis (n = 139, 2005-2011). In all cases, the minimum follow-up period was 18 months. The following bivariate analysis was conducted of demographic and surgical variables: non-infection group (n = 123); infection group (n = 16). Fusion rates were determined by multislice CT. Logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Incidence of deep infection requiring debridement: 11.51% (95% confidence interval, 5.85-17.18]). Bivariate analysis: differences were observed in hospital stay (7.0 days [range, 4-10] vs 14.50 days [range, 5.25-33.75]; P = 0.013), surgical time (3.15 h vs 4.09 h; P = 0.004), body mass index (25.11 kg/m2 [22.58-27.0] vs 26.02 kg/m2 [24.15 to 29.38]; P = 0.043), Charlson comorbidity index (median, 0 vs 1; P = 0.027), and rate of unsuccessful consolidation according to CT (18.4% vs 72.7%; P = 0.0001). In a model of multivariate logistic regression, taking as the dependent variable unsuccessful arthrodesis after 1 year, and adjusting for the other independent variables (infection, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, and surgical time), the only variable that was significantly associated with an outcome of unsuccessful spinal fusion after 1 year was infection, with OR = 12.44 (95% confidence interval, 2.50-61.76). CONCLUSION: Deep infection after instrumented lumbar spine arthrodesis is a common complication that compromises the radiographic outcome of surgery. Patients who develop a postoperative infection and require debridement surgery are 12 times less likely to achieve satisfactory radiological fusion.

Arthroscopic treatment for internal contracture of the shoulder secondary to brachial plexus birth palsy: report of a case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: Internal rotation contracture of the shoulder is a common complication in children with brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP), causing early functional limitation and glenohumeral dysplasia. Arthroscopic arthrolysis has recently been described as a treatment for the sequelae of this condition. METHODS: Review of five patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy by anterior capsulotomy and partial tenotomy of the subscapularis. Both clinical and functional assessments were made (Mallet classification). Perioperative monitoring was conducted using MRI and ultrasound. RESULTS: The diagnosis was BPBP of the upper trunks (C5-C6) in all five patients (four girls and one boy, with a mean age of 2.8 years). The mean follow-up period was 19.9 months (range 12.8-39.9). The mean improvement obtained was 3.8 points according to the Mallet classification, 48° of external rotation and 54° of shoulder abduction. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic arthrolysis of the shoulder in children with BPBP sequelae (internal rotation contractures) is a safe and effective procedure that produces clinical improvement in function and mobility.

Trapezio-metacarpal arthrodesis: procedure and results.

The high prevalence of trapezio-metacarpal joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis leads to develop techniques to improve surgical outcomes when conservative treatment has failed. We have evaluated 18 patients with Eaton III TMJ osteoarthritis, who underwent an arthrodesis. Using a dorsal-radial curved shaped skin incision the TMJ was exposed through the space between the abductor pollicis longus and the extensor pollicis brevis muscles. The articular capsule was divided and the TMJ was opened. Neat curettage was then performed in both joint surfaces by removing all the articular cartilage until some cancellous bone hints appeared underneath. The joint was then fixed in the optimal position by a 1.6 mm Kirschner wire and a 1.1 mm guide wire. A cannulated drill for the guide wire was used and matched to a cannulated lag screw. Then, a cylinder-shaped cancellous bone autograft harvested from the distal radius by a percutaneous approach was applied in the hole by drilling backwards in order to spread the bone about onto the hole walls. The joint was then definitively fixed by the cannulated lag screw. The K wires were removed by that time. DASH score changed from an average of 68 in the preoperative assessment to 39.4 at the end of the evolution time. The evolution of pain has decreased from 9.2 points preoperatively to 3.9 points in the postoperative using the visual analogue scale. In terms of mobility, it has decreased from 4 points preoperatively to 3.9 postoperatively, 14 patients got opposition of the thumb to the fifth finger, two of them to the head of the fifth metacarpal bone, one patient to the fourth finger, and one to the third. This slight decrease of mobility had no effect on performing activities of daily life, as expressed by the patients. The grip strength increased from 17 to 21.7 kg and the thumb opposition from 7.8 to 11.2 kg. All patients, except one, would have the operation again after knowing the final results. This patient said that results did not meet previous expectations. On the radiographic evaluation, consolidation has been achieved in 17 patients. When thumb carpo-metacarpal arthrodesis is indicated, the procedure provides a reliable and lasting treatment with satisfactory results. The development of new implants and the possibility of introducing autologous graft percutaneously as is described using this technique leads to improve the results.