Utilidad de una escala de riesgo basada en la procalcitonina sérica para la discriminación temprana entre fascitis necrosante y celulitis de las extremidades / Usefulness of a risk scale based on procalcitonin for early discrimination between necrotising fasciitis and cellulitis of the extremities

Fundamento y objetivo: Valorar la utilidad de una la escala de riesgo basada en la procalcitonina sérica (PCT) comparada con la escala Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) en la discriminación precoz entre la fascitis necrosante (FN) y la celulitis en las extremidades. Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes consecutivos con diagnóstico confirmado de FN en una extremidad (n=11). Ese grupo de estudio fue comparado con 23 pacientes consecutivos con diagnóstico de celulitis severa en miembros en el mismo periodo. Se analizaron los datos clínicos y los parámetros rutinarios de laboratorio, siendo la variable principal el nivel sérico de PCT al ingreso. La capacidad de discriminación para el diagnóstico de FN de los dos métodos -nivel de PCT y puntuación de la escala LRINEC- fue evaluada mediante la curva COR y determinada por el cálculo del área bajo la curva (ABC). Resultados: El ABC fue significativamente mayor con la medición de la PCT, tanto como variable continua como cuando el riesgo era categorizado. El punto de corte para el nivel de PCT con mayor ABC bajo la curva fue a partir de 0,87ng/ml (sensibilidad 90,9%; especificidad 82,6%), mientras que alcanzaba una puntuación de 5 en la escala LRINEC (sensibilidad 72,7%; especificidad 82,6%). Conclusión: La medición de la PCT fue un método más efectivo que la escala LRINEC para discriminar precozmente entre FN y celulitis de las extremidades. Un nivel bajo de PCT, asociado al cuadro clínico y a la exploración física, es de especial utilidad para descartar el diagnóstico precoz de FN

Background and objective: To assess the usefulness of a risk scale based on serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared to the Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotising Fasciitis (LRINEC) scale in the early discrimination between necrotising fasciitis (NF) and cellulitis of the extremities. Materials and methods: Retrospective study of consecutive patients with confirmed diagnosis of NF in one limb (n=11). This study group was compared with 23 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of severe limbs cellulitis during the same period. The clinical data and laboratory parameters were analysed, the main variable was the serum level of PCT upon admission. The capacity for NF diagnosis of the two methods, PCT level and LRINEC scale score, were evaluated by ROC curve and determined by the calculation of the area under the curve (AUC). Results: The AUC was significantly higher with PCT measurement, both as a continuous variable and when the risk was categorised. The cut-off point for the PCT level with the highest AUC under the curve was from 0.87ng/ml (sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 82.6%), whereas it was a score of 5 on the LRINEC scale (sensitivity 72.7%, specificity 82.6%). Conclusion: PCT measurement was a more effective method than the LRINEC score for early discrimination between NF and cellulitis of the extremities. A low level of PCT, associated with the patient's clinical status and physical examination is especially useful to rule out an early diagnosis of NF

Usefulness of a risk scale based on procalcitonin for early discrimination between necrotising fasciitis and cellulitis of the extremities. / Utilidad de una escala de riesgo basada en la procalcitonina sérica para la discriminación temprana entre fascitis necrosante y celulitis de las extremidades.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of a risk scale based on serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared to the Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotising Fasciitis (LRINEC) scale in the early discrimination between necrotising fasciitis (NF) and cellulitis of the extremities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of consecutive patients with confirmed diagnosis of NF in one limb (n=11). This study group was compared with 23 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of severe limbs cellulitis during the same period. The clinical data and laboratory parameters were analysed, the main variable was the serum level of PCT upon admission. The capacity for NF diagnosis of the two methods, PCT level and LRINEC scale score, were evaluated by ROC curve and determined by the calculation of the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: The AUC was significantly higher with PCT measurement, both as a continuous variable and when the risk was categorised. The cut-off point for the PCT level with the highest AUC under the curve was from 0.87ng/ml (sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 82.6%), whereas it was a score of 5 on the LRINEC scale (sensitivity 72.7%, specificity 82.6%). CONCLUSION: PCT measurement was a more effective method than the LRINEC score for early discrimination between NF and cellulitis of the extremities. A low level of PCT, associated with the patient's clinical status and physical examination is especially useful to rule out an early diagnosis of NF.

Cementless modular neck stems: are they a safe option in primary total hip arthroplasty?

PURPOSE: The objective was to assess aseptic complications and functional outcome using a primary total hip arthroplasty with modular neck. METHODS: Prospective cohort of 317 consecutive patients. The mean age was 61.1 (range, 41-84) years. The H-Max-M model (Lima, Italy) system was used in all patients. The functional assessment was made by the Harris Hip Score, Short Form-36 (SF-36), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and visual analogue scale for pain. Radiological outcomes were also assessed, and adverse events and complications were noted. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 6.1 (range, 2-8) years. Functional outcome significantly improved in most patients. There were 3 deep infections (0.9%) and 17 aseptic complications (5.3%) including 1 intraoperative acetabular fracture, 3 later periprosthetic femoral fractures, 1 broken ceramic insert, 1 acetabular loosening, 3 femoral loosening and 1 broken titanium modular neck in a obese patient. No pseudotumors or elevated serum levels of metal ions were found among the patients with radiolucent lines or aseptic loosening. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in the present study showed that the H-MAX-M stem provided satisfactory functional outcome in most patients with a low rate of complications attributable to the modular neck design. We consider that using this novel modular neck-stem coupling design can be an alternative to the conventional monoblock stems in patients without overweight.