Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Iliotibial Band Release for External Coxa Saltans: A Cadaveric Study.

The surgical treatment of external coxa saltans is not standardized. Many techniques for iliotibial release have been described, both open and arthroscopic. No technique describes ultrasound release. In this cadaveric study, we describe a minimally invasive technique for percutaneous iliotibial release with ultrasound guidance, designed to be performed under local anesthesia. The future objective would be to perform an active intraoperative test of the snapping hip to confirm adequate release, thus reducing the risk of recurrence.

Antibiotic sensitivities of coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus in hip and knee periprosthetic joint infections: does this differ if patients meet the International Consensus Meeting Criteria?

INTRODUCTION: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are the main pathogens responsible for prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). As normal inhabitants of human skin, it is often difficult to define if they are contaminants, or if they have an active role in initiating infection. This study aims to evaluate differences in CoNS organisms (Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus warneri) and Staphylococcus aureus in terms of isolation rate and antimicrobial susceptibility from patients who met the International Consensus Meeting (ICM) criteria for PJIs and those who did not. METHODS: Staphylococci isolates from January 2014 to December 2015 retrieved from patients undergoing revision joint arthroplasty were classified in accordance with criteria established by the ICM of Philadelphia. RESULTS: As per the consensus classification, 50 CoNS and 39 S. aureus infections were recognized as pathogens, while 16 CoNS and four S. aureus were considered as contaminants. Frequency of isolation of S. aureus was significantly higher in infected patients than in those without infection, while no significant differences were observed among CoNS. Resistance to levofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamicin trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and rifampicin was significantly more frequent in S. haemolyticus than in the other species, as well as resistance to erythromycin and gentamicin in S. hominis. In comparison to S. aureus, CoNS were significantly more resistant to daptomycin and gentamicin and more susceptible to rifampicin. CONCLUSION: CoNS, other than Staphylococcus epidermidis, are frequently isolated from PJIs, and their infective role and antimicrobial susceptibility need to be assessed on an individual patient basis. S. haemolyticus seems to emerge as responsible for PJI in a large volume of patients, and its role needs to be further investigated, also considering its pattern of resistance.

Cost-benefit analysis of antibiofilm microbiological techniques for peri-prosthetic joint infection diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Implant-related infections, including those of peri-prosthetic joint (PJIs), osteosynthesis and other biomaterials, are biofilm-related. Pathogen identification is considered the diagnostic benchmark; however, the presence of bacterial biofilms makes pathogen detection with traditional microbiological techniques only partially effective. To improve microbiological diagnostic accuracy, some biofilm debonding techniques have been recently proposed. Aim of this health economics assessment study was to evaluate their economic impact on hospital costs. METHODS: Direct and indirect hospital costs connected with the routine introduction of sonication and dithiothreitol treatment applied to hip and knee PJIs and of tissue cultures were examined. In particular the consequences of diagnostic inaccuracy, the opportunities, costs, and risks of each technique were calculated. RESULTS: Considering an average of five samples per patient, processed separately with traditional tissue culture with or without sonication of prosthetic components, or pooled together using the MicroDTTect device (a close system for sample collection, transport and treatment with Dithiothreitol for microbial release from biofilm), the overall mean direct cost per patient was € 397 and € 393 for sonication or MicroDTTect, respectively, compared to € 308 for traditional tissue cultures. In terms of opportunity costs, MicroDTTect was the most effective technique, allowing for a 35% or 55% reduction in time required for sample treatment, compared to tissue cultures combined or not with sonication, respectively. Pooling together direct and indirect costs associated with false positive and negative results of the different diagnostic techniques, unnecessary medical treatments and possible medical claims, MicroDTTect or sonication become increasingly cost-effective when the extra-costs, generated by diagnostic inaccuracy of traditional tissue culture, took place, respectively, in 2% or 20% or more of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study specifically focused on the economic impact of the routine clinical use of microbiological antibiofilm sampling and processing techniques in orthopaedics. Although our results may suffer from a potential country and hospital bias, as the data collection process for direct and indirect costs is specific to each institution and country, this analysis highlights the potential economic advantage to hospitals associated with the routine introduction of antibiofilm techniques for microbiological diagnosis of PJI.

Managing large bone defects in children: a systematic review of the 'induced membrane technique'.

Thirty years after its description by Masquelet in 1986, this is the first systematic review aiming to critically evaluate the 'induced membrane technique' effectiveness in achieving bone union in children. Only six papers fulfilled our inclusion criteria (54 patients). The relatively small number of reported cases did not allow a formal meta-analysis. The tibia was the most involved bone. Most frequent aetiologies were congenital pseudoarthrosis and tumour resections. Although effective in achieving bone healing in ∼91% of the patients (bone defects ≤24 cm long), the induced membrane technique was associated with a high rate of complications (54% of patients). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Predicting lower limb periprosthetic joint infections: A review of risk factors and their classification.

AIM: To undertook a systematic review to determine factors that increase a patient's risk of developing lower limb periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). METHODS: This systematic review included full-text studies that reviewed risk factors of developing either a hip or knee PJI following a primary arthroplasty published from January 1998 to November 2016. A variety of keywords were used to identify studies through international databases referencing hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty, infection, and risk factors. Studies were only included if they included greater than 20 patients in their study cohort, and there was clear documentation of the statistical parameter used; specifically P-value, hazard ratio, relative risk, or/and odds ratio (OR). Furthermore a quality assessment criteria for the individual studies was undertaken to evaluate the presence of record and reporting bias. RESULTS: Twenty-seven original studies reviewing risk factors relating to primary total hip and knee arthroplasty infections were included. Four studies (14.8%) reviewed PJI of the hip, 3 (11.21%) of the knee, and 20 (74.1%) reviewed both joints. Nineteen studies (70.4%) were retrospective and 8 (29.6%) prospective. Record bias was identified in the majority of studies (66.7%). The definition of PJI varied amongst the studies but there was a general consensus to define infection by previously validated methods. The most significant risks were the use of preoperative high dose steroids (OR = 21.0, 95%CI: 3.5-127.2, P < 0.001), a BMI above 50 (OR = 18.3, P < 0.001), tobacco use (OR = 12.76, 95%CI: 2.47-66.16, P = 0.017), body mass index below 20 (OR = 6.00, 95%CI: 1.2-30.9, P = 0.033), diabetes (OR = 5.47, 95%CI: 1.77-16.97, P = 0.003), and coronary artery disease (OR = 5.10, 95%CI: 1.3-19.8, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: We have highlighted the need for the provider to optimise modifiable risk factors, and develop strategies to limit the impact of non-modifiable factors.

"Combined Diagnostic Tool" APPlication to a Retrospective Series of Patients Undergoing Total Joint Revision Surgery.

Background: Differentiating between septic and aseptic joint prosthesis may be challenging, since no single test is able to confirm or rule out infection. The choice and interpretation of the panel of tests performed in any case often relies on empirical evaluation and poorly validated scores. The "Combined Diagnostic Tool (CDT)" App, a smartphone application for iOS, was developed to allow to automatically calculate the probability of having a of periprosthetic joint infection, on the basis of the relative sensitivity and specificity of the positive and negative diagnostic tests performed in any given patient. Objective: The aim of the present study was to apply the CDT software to investigate the ability of the tests routinely performed in three high-volume European centers to diagnose a periprosthetic infection. Methods: This three-center retrospective study included 120 consecutive patients undergoing total hip or knee revision, and included 65 infected patients (Group A) and 55 patients without infection (Group B). The following parameters were evaluated: number and type of positive and negative diagnostic tests performed pre-, intra- and post-operatively and resultant probability calculated by the CDT App of having a peri-prosthetic joint infection, based on pre-, intra- and post-operative combined tests. Results: Serological tests were the most common performed, with an average 2.7 tests per patient for Group A and 2.2 for Group B, followed by joint aspiration (0.9 and 0.8 tests per patient, respectively) and imaging techniques (0.5 and 0.2 test per patient). Mean CDT App calculated probability of having an infection based on pre-operative tests was 79.4% for patients in Group A and 35.7 in Group B. Twenty-nine patients in Group A had > 10% chance of not having an infection, and 29 of Group B had > 10% chance of having an infection. Conclusion: This is the first retrospective study focused on investigating the number and type of tests commonly performed prior to joint revision surgery and aimed at evaluating their combined ability to diagnose a peri-prosthetic infection. CDT App allowed us to demonstrate that, on average, the routine combination of commonly used tests is unable to diagnose pre-operatively a peri-prosthetic infection with a probability higher than 90%.

One-Stage Exchange Arthroplasty: A Surgical Technique Update.

BACKGROUND: Standard surgical treatment for a periprosthetic knee infection has been based on a staged surgical technique, in order to assure infection eradication prior to implantation of a new prosthesis. METHODS: In this article, we discuss our surgical technique in undertaking a single-stage exchange of a chronic knee periprosthetic infection. RESULTS: This technique, which is based on the fundamental principles of controlling infection, preventing recurrence, and restoring function, has been shown to deliver high success rates. CONCLUSION: As demonstrated, when undertaken under appropriate circumstances, a single-stage exchange combined with local and systemic antibiotic delivery can result in infection eradication comparable to a 2-staged exchange.

Early cardiology assessment and intervention reduces mortality following myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS).

BACKGROUND: Myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) is defined as troponin elevation of ≥0.03 ng/mL associated with 3.87-fold increase in early mortality. We sought to determine the impact of cardiology intervention on mortality in patients who developed MINS after general thoracic surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in patients over 5 years. Troponin was routinely measured and levels ≥0.04 ng/mL classified as positive. Data acquisition and mortality status was obtained via medical records and NHS tracing systems. Thirty-day mortality was compared on MINS cohort using Fisher's exact square testing and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Troponin levels were measured in 491 (96%) of 511 patients. Eighty (16%) patients fulfilled the MINS criteria. Sixty-one (76%) received early cardiology consult and "myocardial infarction" stated in four (5%) patients. Risk assessment (for AMI) was undertaken; 20 (25%) patients were commenced on aspirin, four (5%) on ß-blockers and one (1%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Forty-nine (61%) patients received primary risk factor modifications and 26 (33%) had outpatient follow-up. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients who died within 30 days post-operatively in the MINS group of 2.6% compared to the non-MINS group of 1.6% (P=0.625). The odds ratio for 30-day mortality in the MINS group was 1.69 (95% CI: 0.34 to 8.57, P=0.522). CONCLUSIONS: MINS is common after general thoracic surgery. Early cardiology intervention reduced the expected hazard ratio of early death from 3.87 to an odds ratio of 1.69 with no significant difference in 30-day mortality for patients who developed MINS.

Masquelet technique: myth or reality? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The induced membrane technique (IMT) or Masquelet technique, is a two-step surgical procedure used to treat pseudoarthroses and bony defects. Many authors have introduced variants to the technique. This study aims to compare the surgical variants of IMT and to evaluate its efficacy in achieving infection eradication and bone union. METHODS: A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed and other medical databases were explored using keywords "Masquelet technique" and "induced membrane technique". Articles were included if written in English, French or Italian, dealing with IMT employed to long bones in adults, reporting at least 5 cases with a 12 months-mean follow-up. Patients' clinical features, bone defect features, aetiologies, surgical data, complications, reinterventions, union rates and infection eradication rates were searched. Fischer's exact test, chi-square test and unpaired t-test were used for the statistical analysis on the individual patient's data. RESULTS: Seventeen papers met the inclusion criteria (427 patients). Among these, only 10 studies reported individual patient's data (137 cases). The union rate was 89.7% and the infections rectified in 91.1% of cases. The bone defect length ranged from 0.6 to 26 cm. The main complications were superficial (21; 4.9%) and deep surgical site infections (19; 4.4%), failure of one of the IMT steps (persistence of infections or non unions, 77, 18%), with subsequent requirement for further surgery. The surgical variants included the use of antibiotic-coated spacers, internal fixation during the first step, use of Reamer-Irrigator-Aspirator technique, iliac crest grafting, bone substitutes and growth factors. However, univariate analysis only showed a positive correlation of the need for reinterventions with poorer bone union rates (p = 0.005) and complications (p <0.001), while patients undergoing IMT because of bone infections had a higher risk of surgical complications (p <0.001). DISCUSSION: IMT aims to achieve bone union and infection eradication, but persistence of infection or non-union was noted in 18% of cases necessitating re-interventions. This may be related to the different anatomical sites that the technique has been applied and different local and patient related conditions. We believe the choice of a surgical technique to achieve union should be tailored to the individual patient's needs. This systematic review was limited by the few studies meeting our inclusion criteria, and their high variability in data reporting, making it impossible to undertake a meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: Further studies are needed to demonstrate the role the patients' clinical features and IMT variants have upon achieving bone union and infection eradication.

Single-Stage Hip and Knee Exchange for Periprosthetic Joint Infection.

Periprosthetic joint infections following hip and knee arthroplasty are challenging complications for Orthopaedic surgeons to manage. The single-stage exchange procedure is becoming increasingly popular with promising results. At our Institute we have demonstrated favourable or similar outcomes compared to the 'gold-standard' two-stage exchange, and other published single-stage results. The aim of this study is to describe the patient selection criteria and perioperative steps in a single-stage exchange for hip and knee arthroplasty undertaken at our Institute. The outlined protocol can be performed using standard debridement, attention to detail and well-recognised reconstructive techniques.

A rare presentation of foot pain: bilateral navicular-medial cuneiform coalition.

In this case report, we discuss a rare tarsal coalition occurring bilaterally between the navicular and the medial cuneiform in a 15-year-old girl and highlight the management of such cases.

Periprosthetic joint infection in total hip arthroplasty: prevention and management.

Periprosthetic joint infection is a devastating complication. Orthopaedic surgeons must prevent, anticipate, rapidly diagnose and effectively manage such patients in the multidisciplinary setting. This review discusses current strategies in the management of these patients following total hip arthroplasty.

Surgical management of periprosthetic joint infections: two-stage exchange.

The presence of a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following knee arthroplasty is devastating to the patient, with significant loss of function and independence, with risk of systemic compromise with sepsis and organ failure, and loss of life. This article reviews the management of knee PJIs, with particular emphasis on the two-stage exchange arthroplasty.