Long-term outcomes of noninfectious uveitis treated with systemic immunomodulatory therapy: a retrospective case series.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with noninfectious uveitis (NIU) who are treated with systemic immunomodulatory therapy (IMT). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: All consecutive cases of adults with NIU under the care of 5 uveitis subspecialty tertiary care clinics between 2010 to 2021 were included. METHODS: Patient outcomes were assessed at initial presentation and at the latest available follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 418 NIU patients receiving IMT therapy with a median age of 46.0 years and 59.3% female were identified. Each patient required an average of 1.4 agents until achieving an optimal response. Following initial treatment with prednisone, patients were most commonly initiated on methotrexate. The top 3 treatments with the highest proportion of optimal treatment response when taken alone or in combination with other agents were infliximab (79.3%), cyclosporine (75%), and adalimumab (70%). The strongest predictors for requiring a greater number of IMTs trialed were younger age, panuveitis, and a chronic or recurrent disease course. Multivariable linear regression analysis suggested that baseline visual acuity at diagnosis was the only significant predictor of final visual acuity (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: NIU patients on IMT are often trialed on multiple therapeutic agents before achieving an optimal treatment response. Visual acuity at diagnosis is a predictor of final visual outcomes, whereas chronic or recurrent disease course, younger age, and panuveitis are predictors of requiring multiagent treatment regimens.

Characteristics of ocular hypertension and uveitic glaucoma among patients with noninfectious uveitis.

OBJECTIVE: Ocular hypertension and uveitic glaucoma are important downstream sequela of noninfectious uveitis (NIU). Herein, we describe the clinical outcomes of NIU cases with ocular hypertension and uveitic glaucoma. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: All adults (≥18 years) with NIU under the care of uveitis subspecialty tertiary care clinics between 2010 and 2021 were included. METHODS: The primary outcomes were baseline and final visual acuity. RESULTS: A total of 216 patients out of 914 (23.6%) cases with NIU had ocular hypertension or uveitic glaucoma over the study period. Of all patients with ocular hypertension or uveitic glaucoma, 46% were corticosteroid responders. Baseline and last median visual acuities were better for the ocular hypertension patients compared with patients with uveitic glaucoma (p < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients with uveitic glaucoma than patients with ocular hypertension required glaucoma surgery (p < 0.001). The regression analyses suggested that baseline visual acuity and anatomical classification are significant predictors of last visual acuity, whereas diagnosis of ocular hypertension versus uveitic glaucoma were significant predictors of requirement for glaucoma surgery (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A quarter of patients with NIU in this study developed ocular hypertension or uveitic glaucoma. Approximately half of the patients with ocular hypertension or uveitic glaucoma were deemed to be corticosteroid responders. Baseline and last visual acuity outcomes are better amongst ocular hypertension patients compared with those with uveitic glaucoma. Poor baseline visual acuity and panuveitis are predictors of worse vision at last follow-up. Additionally, diagnosis of uveitic glaucoma was a significant predictor of requirement for glaucoma surgery.

Clinical characteristics of non-infectious uveitis treated with and without systemic immunomodulatory therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the patient characteristics and long-term outcomes for those treated with and without systemic immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) for non-infectious uveitis (NIU). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: All consecutive adults with NIU receiving care at 5 uveitis subspecialty tertiary care clinics between 2010 and 2021. METHODS: Clinical outcomes were evaluated on initial presentation and at the last available follow-up. The main outcome measures were baseline characteristics and final visual acuity. RESULTS: A total of 914 NIU patients (418 IMT, 496 non-IMT) with a median age of 51.0 years and 57.4% female were identified. Over half the patients had bilateral disease, with a significantly higher proportion of bilateral cases in the IMT group compared with the non-IMT group (p < 0.001). The IMT group was more likely to have chronic uveitis (p < 0.001), with a higher proportion of patients experiencing cataracts and cystoid macular edema (p < 0.001 for both). A significantly higher proportion of non-IMT patients had anterior uveitis and an idiopathic etiology (p < 0.001). Overall, visual acuity improved significantly from baseline to last follow-up in the entire cohort (p < 0.001), with a slightly better improvement in the IMT group. Multivariable linear regression analysis suggested that baseline visual acuity and panuveitis were significant predictors of final visual acuity (p < 0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: NIU patients on IMT are often younger, suffer from bilateral and chronic uveitis, and are more likely to have ocular complications. Those in the non-IMT group are more likely to have anterior idiopathic NIU. Baseline visual acuity and panuveitis are the main predictors of final vision outcomes among patients with NIU.

Subtalar Joint Arthroscopy.

Subtalar arthroscopy is being more commonly utilized by surgeons who perform foot and ankle arthroscopy. The joint can be entered from an anterior lateral or posterior approach. There is unique pathology in the joint that can be repaired through an arthroscopic approach.

Arthroscopic Lateral Stabilization.

The indications and procedures for arthroscopy of the ankle and subtalar joints continues to increase. Lateral ankle instability is a common pathology that may require surgery to repair injured structures of patients nonresponsive to conservative management. Common surgical methods generally include ankle arthroscopy with subsequent open approach to repair/reconstruct the ankle ligament(s). This article discusses two different approaches to repairing lateral ankle instability through an arthroscopic approach. The arthroscopic modified Brostrom procedure creates a strong repair with minimal soft tissue dissection, and is a reliable, minimally invasive approach to lateral ankle stabilization. The arthroscopic double ligament stabilization procedure creates a robust reconstruction of the anterior talofibular and calcaneal fibular ligaments with minimal soft tissue dissection.

Peroneal Stabilization Via Tightening of the Peroneal Tendon Sheath.

Peroneal subluxation is a rare but debilitating pathology that can be the result of a superior peroneal retinaculum tear or intrasheath laxity. On clinical examination of both cases, the pathology is observed when the ankle is circumducted in eversion and dorsiflexion. With a superior peroneal retinaculum tear, the tendons dislocate from the peroneal groove, whereas with intrasheath laxity the tendons remain in the groove. In the present case series, peroneal stabilization was performed for both superior peroneal retinaculum tear and intrasheath laxity. With our technique, the fibro-osseous connections of the peroneal tendon sheath are detached from the distal one third of the fibula. Drill holes are made through the fibula for suture to be passed through and the peroneal tendon sheath is reattached to the fibula through horizontal mattress sutures via pants over vest technique to restore tension to the sheath. A total of 5 patients underwent peroneal stabilization, 100% (5/5) of which had preoperative pain with palpation along the peroneal tendons and a palpable click with range of motion of the ankle joint. Postoperatively, 100% (5/5) of the patients were fully weight-bearing, compared to 60% (3/5) preoperatively. No patients had residual subluxation of the peroneal tendons postoperatively or a need for revisional surgery. Residual peroneal tendonitis was present in 20% (1/5) of patients and sural neuritis occurred in 20% (1/5) of patients. The peroneal tendons are physiologically tightened within the peroneal tendon sheath to mitigate the pathologic subluxation, without sacrificing tendons for transfer or using allograft material.Clinical Level of Evidence: Therapeutic, Case Series, Level 4.

Retrocalcaneal Enthesophyte Resection With Functional Lengthening of the Achilles Tendon and Buried Knot Technique: A Case Series.

Retrocalcaneal exostosis can be debilitating and in severe cases, surgical resection is indicated. Complications can arise from surgical resection of the exostosis and reattachment of the Achilles tendon, including irritation of the suture knot, recurrence of the bony prominence, and dehiscence. The use of a buried knot technique with functional lengthening of the Achilles tendon and gastroc-soleal muscle complex can minimize these complications. Complete detachment of the Achilles tendon allows for aggressive and thorough resection of the exostosis and functional lengthening with reattachment. The buried cruciate knot technique allows for firm reattachment with buried knots to prevent soft tissue irritation. A total of fourteen patients (14 limbs) underwent retrocalcaneal enthesophyte resection with functional Achilles tendon lengthening, (8/14) of which had difficultly wearing shoe gear, (10/14) had edema, and (2/14) had erythema preoperatively. Postoperatively, (11/14) of patients returned to full activities and sports, and (11/14) returned to normal shoe gear. Complications included (1/14) of patients with Achilles tendon avulsion and (3/14) of patients with surgical site dehiscence requiring revisional surgery. Overall, this technique helps prevent short-term complications and long-term recurrence due to the functional lengthening mitigating insertional forces on the Achilles tendon.

Comparative clinical and cost analysis between surgical and non-surgical intervention for knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the management and costs of osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK), a progressive joint disease due to bone and cartilage degeneration, with significant personal and societal impact. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes and quantifiable cumulative direct costs of patients with OAK referred to our multidisciplinary OA program over a two year time period. One hundred thirty-one subjects were assessed. All demonstrated radiographic criteria for moderate to severe OAK. Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Minimal Clinically Important Improvement (MCII), and change in BMI were recorded and analyzed. Total medical and surgical direct costs for all subjects during the two year time period were determined. RESULTS: Five patients underwent total joint replacement during the two years of study. Among the group as a whole, a significant overall improvement in WOMAC scores was noted at the two year time point follow-up. After dividing the group into tertiles by baseline WOMAC scores, 46% achieved MCII. Significant weight loss was noted for individuals with baseline BMI of > 30. As all patients were considered "de facto" surgical candidates at referral, an average net savings of $9551.10 of direct costs per patient, or a potential total of $1,203,438.60 for the entire group, could be inferred as a result of medical as opposed to surgical management. CONCLUSION: These findings support the benefits of multidisciplinary medical management for patients with significant OAK. This approach is clinically beneficial and may provide significant cost savings. Such models of care can substantially improve the long-term outcome of this highly prevalent condition and reduce societal and financial burdens.

Flow diversion in vasculitic intracranial aneurysms? Repair of giant complex cavernous carotid aneurysm in polyarteritis nodosa using Pipeline embolization devices: first reported case.

Intracranial aneurysms in polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) are exceedingly rare lesions with unpredictable behavior that pose real challenges to microsurgical and endovascular interventions owing to their inflammatory nature. We introduce a safe and effective alternative for treating these aneurysms using Pipeline embolization devices (PEDs). A 20-year-old man presented with diplopia, headaches, chronic abdominal pain, and weight loss. Diagnostic evaluations confirmed PAN, including bilateral giant cavernous carotid aneurysms. Cyclophosphamide and steroids achieved significant and sustained clinical improvement, with a decision to follow the aneurysms serially. Seven years later the left unruptured aneurysm enlarged, causing a sudden severe headache and a cavernous sinus syndrome. Treatment of the symptomatic aneurysm was pursued using flow diversion (PED) and the internal carotid artery was successfully reconstructed with a total of four overlapping PEDs. At 6 months follow-up, complete exclusion of the aneurysm was demonstrated, with symptomatic recovery. This is the first description of using a flow-diverting technique in an inflammatory vasculitis. In this case, PEDs not only attained a definitive closure of the aneurysm but also reconstructed the damaged and fragile arterial segment affected with vasculitis.

Raman Spectroscopy Applied to the Noninvasive Detection of Monosodium Urate Crystal Deposits.

An off-the-shelf Raman Spectrometer (RS) was used to noninvasively determine the presence of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals on the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) of a single gout sufferer. The spectrum sourced from the clinically diagnosed gout sufferer was compared to that sourced from an age-matched healthy subject scanned using the same protocol. Minimal signal processing was conducted on both spectra. Peaks characteristic of MSU crystals were evident on the spectrum sourced from the gout sufferer and not on the spectrum from the healthy control.

Flow diversion in vasculitic intracranial aneurysms? Repair of giant complex cavernous carotid aneurysm in polyarteritis nodosa using Pipeline embolization devices: first reported case.

Intracranial aneurysms in polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) are exceedingly rare lesions with unpredictable behavior that pose real challenges to microsurgical and endovascular interventions owing to their inflammatory nature. We introduce a safe and effective alternative for treating these aneurysms using Pipeline embolization devices (PEDs). A 20-year-old man presented with diplopia, headaches, chronic abdominal pain, and weight loss. Diagnostic evaluations confirmed PAN, including bilateral giant cavernous carotid aneurysms. Cyclophosphamide and steroids achieved significant and sustained clinical improvement, with a decision to follow the aneurysms serially. Seven years later the left unruptured aneurysm enlarged, causing a sudden severe headache and a cavernous sinus syndrome. Treatment of the symptomatic aneurysm was pursued using flow diversion (PED) and the internal carotid artery was successfully reconstructed with a total of four overlapping PEDs. At 6 months follow-up, complete exclusion of the aneurysm was demonstrated, with symptomatic recovery. This is the first description of using a flow-diverting technique in an inflammatory vasculitis. In this case, PEDs not only attained a definitive closure of the aneurysm but also reconstructed the damaged and fragile arterial segment affected with vasculitis.

Thrombotic microangiopathy in a patient with adult-onset Still's disease.

BACKGROUND: Since there are many disorders that can present with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), establishing a correct diagnosis is important to offer the most appropriate therapy. CASE REPORT: A 26-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital with fragmentation hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney failure. History revealed that she was recently diagnosed with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) and received intraocular injections of bevacizumab to treat acute retinal artery occlusion. At our hospital, she underwent extensive investigations and was treated with high-dose steroids, hemodialysis, and therapeutic plasma exchange. For recurrent disease, she received a single dose of eculizumab. RESULTS: The patient's ADAMTS13 activity was normal and she had evidence of complement activation. Genetic testing identified a benign polymorphism in the C3 gene. Pathophysiology of TMA in AOSD is briefly discussed and an overview of the literature is presented. CONCLUSION: Work-up of a new fragmentation hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia should include careful review of past history, including medications, as well as relevant laboratory investigations with aim to establish a correct diagnosis. Occasionally, the correct diagnosis is not the obvious one and there could be multiple contributors to the pathogenesis. Establishing diagnosis is important for counseling patient on disease prognosis and to guide treatment.

First all-in-one diagnostic tool for DNA intelligence: genome-wide inference of biogeographic ancestry, appearance, relatedness, and sex with the Identitas v1 Forensic Chip.

When a forensic DNA sample cannot be associated directly with a previously genotyped reference sample by standard short tandem repeat profiling, the investigation required for identifying perpetrators, victims, or missing persons can be both costly and time consuming. Here, we describe the outcome of a collaborative study using the Identitas Version 1 (v1) Forensic Chip, the first commercially available all-in-one tool dedicated to the concept of developing intelligence leads based on DNA. The chip allows parallel interrogation of 201,173 genome-wide autosomal, X-chromosomal, Y-chromosomal, and mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphisms for inference of biogeographic ancestry, appearance, relatedness, and sex. The first assessment of the chip's performance was carried out on 3,196 blinded DNA samples of varying quantities and qualities, covering a wide range of biogeographic origin and eye/hair coloration as well as variation in relatedness and sex. Overall, 95 % of the samples (N = 3,034) passed quality checks with an overall genotype call rate >90 % on variable numbers of available recorded trait information. Predictions of sex, direct match, and first to third degree relatedness were highly accurate. Chip-based predictions of biparental continental ancestry were on average ~94 % correct (further support provided by separately inferred patrilineal and matrilineal ancestry). Predictions of eye color were 85 % correct for brown and 70 % correct for blue eyes, and predictions of hair color were 72 % for brown, 63 % for blond, 58 % for black, and 48 % for red hair. From the 5 % of samples (N = 162) with <90 % call rate, 56 % yielded correct continental ancestry predictions while 7 % yielded sufficient genotypes to allow hair and eye color prediction. Our results demonstrate that the Identitas v1 Forensic Chip holds great promise for a wide range of applications including criminal investigations, missing person investigations, and for national security purposes.

Subtalar joint arthroscopy.

Subtalar joint arthroscopy can be performed on a wide array of pathology. The procedure has progressed from a diagnostic test to a reconstructive procedure. Although it is not as popular as ankle arthroscopy, it is becoming more commonly discussed in the literature and is part of many arthroscopy courses. Better education along with improved instrumentation will allow more foot and ankle surgeons to treat pathology of the subtalar joint with arthroscopic techniques. This will lead to improved outcomes and lower complication rates in treating that pathology.