Corticosteroid Injection With and Without Local Anesthetic for the Treatment of Trigger Finger: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to report pain during and following injection for trigger finger as well as failure to resolve triggering. We hypothesized that a corticosteroid injection alone would be equally or less painful compared with the standard combination of corticosteroid and lidocaine for the treatment of trigger fingers, and there would be no difference in the resolution of triggering. METHODS: Our study was a prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial at a single institution, comprising 76 patients with a diagnosis of trigger finger. Each treatment group consisted of 38 patients. Patients were randomized to receive either a betamethasone (1 mL, 6 mg) injection without lidocaine or a betamethasone injection (1 mL, 6 mg) with 1% lidocaine (1 mL). Patients were assessed during injection and at 1 hour, 6 hours, 2 days, and 6 weeks after the injection. The primary outcome was pain measured using a numerical rating scale. The secondary outcome was the rate of failure to resolve symptoms at 6 weeks. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in pain scores between the lidocaine and betamethasone versus betamethasone-only injections during administration (4.6 vs 6.2) and after 1 hour (1.3 vs 2.5). There was no statistically significant difference in pain scores after 6 hours (1.5 vs 2.0) and 2 days (0.7 vs 0.6) or in failure rate at the 6-week time point (21% vs 18%). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there is a statistically significant difference in pain during and shortly after injection when using a steroid with lidocaine versus steroid alone for the treatment of trigger finger, but that difference may not be clinically relevant. There was no significant difference in the failure rate between the treatments. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic II.

Management of a Retained Rare Earth Magnetic Finger Mass Sustained from a Semiconductor Explosion Injury: A Case Report.

CASE: We present a case of a 51-year-old man with a retained supercharged rare earth magnetic finger mass sustained from an explosion injury at a semiconductor processing facility. The patient underwent excision of the rare metal mass, subsequently maintaining digital function without mass recurrence. CONCLUSION: Common to the semiconductor industry, neodymium is a rare earth metal and powerful magnet. Particulates are highly combustible, representing a potential explosive biohazard. To date, its toxicity and bioreactivity within the hand have not been thoroughly investigated. This is the first report of the successful surgical treatment of a retained rare earth neodymium magnetic hand mass.

Effectiveness of Quickcast Versus Custom-Fabricated Thermoplastic Orthosis Immobilization for the Treatment of Mallet Fingers: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Mallet finger is a common injury involving a detachment of the terminal extensor tendon from the distal phalanx. This injury is usually treated with immobilization in a cast or splint. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes of mallet fingers treated with either a cast (Quickcast) or a traditional thermoplastic custom-fabricated orthosis. METHODS: Our study was a prospective, assessor-blinded, single-center randomized clinical trial of 58 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of bony or soft tissue mallet finger treated with immobilization. Patients were randomized to either an orfilight thermoplastic custom-fabricated orthosis or a Quickcast orthosis. Patients were evaluated at 3, 6, and 10 weeks for bony and 4, 8, and 12 weeks for soft tissue mallets. Skin complications, pain with orthosis, compliance, need for surgical intervention, and extensor lag were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Both bony and soft tissue mallet finger patients experienced significantly less skin complications (33% vs 64%) and pain (11.2 vs 21.6) when using Quickcast versus an orfilight thermoplastic custom-fabricated orthosis. The soft tissue mallet group revealed a greater difference in pain, favoring Quickcast (6.2 vs 22). No significant difference in final extensor droop or need for secondary surgery was found between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Quickcast immobilization for the treatment of mallet finger demonstrated fewer skin complications and less pain compared with orfilight custom-fabricated splints.

Pediatric Perioperative Pain Management.

Effective perioperative pain control in pediatric patients undergoing orthopedic surgery remains a challenge. Developing a successful pain control regimen begins preoperatively with assessment of the patient and discussion with the patient and family regarding expectations. Perioperative pain control regimens are customized based on the type of surgery, patient characteristics, and anticipated severity and duration of the postoperative pain. Recent study focuses on multimodal strategies and regional anesthesia options, allowing for decreased opioid use. This article provides an evidence-based overview of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative pain control for the pediatric orthopedic patient.

Method of intraoperative tissue sampling for culture has an effect on contamination risk.

PURPOSE: This prospective study was designed to determine whether exposure of intraoperative tissue samples to the operating room environment affects subsequent culture results. METHODS: A prospective study conducted on 125 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty was conducted from August 2013 to December 2015. During surgery, three samples from the infrapatellar fat pad were obtained. The first sample was obtained using clean instruments and placed directly into a specimen cup (direct). The second sample was obtained using clean instruments, placed in the palm of an assistant, then placed in the hands of the scrub nurse, and finally transferred into a specimen cup (glove). The third sample was obtained with clean instruments, placed on a gauze pad on the back table, and transferred to a specimen cup at the time of skin closure (table). RESULTS: There were two (1.6 %) positive cultures in the direct transfer group, none (0.0 %) in the glove contact group, and eight (6.4 %) in the exposed (table) group; there was a statistically significant difference between the glove contact and table samples (p = 0.01). The organisms isolated were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in five samples, Proprionibacterium acnes in two samples, Staphylococcus epidermidis in one sample, Pediococcus pentosaceus in one sample, and Corynebacterium in one sample. CONCLUSIONS: Contamination of tissue samples obtained for culture can occur if samples are exposed to the operating room environment. To prevent potential contamination, samples obtained for culture should be retrieved using clean instruments, transferred to a culture bottle directly, and transported to the microbiology laboratory as soon as possible. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Pediatric Open Fractures.

Open fractures in children are rare and are typically associated with better prognoses compared with their adult equivalents. Regardless, open fractures pose a challenge because of the risk of healing complications and infection, leading to significant morbidity even in the pediatric population. Therefore, the management of pediatric open fractures requires special consideration. This article comprehensively reviews the initial evaluation, classification, treatment, outcomes, and controversies of open fractures in children.

Complications and Mortality in Chronic Renal Failure Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Comparison Between Dialysis and Renal Transplant Patients.

BACKGROUND: In total joint arthroplasty (TJA) literature, there is a paucity of large cohort studies comparing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) vs non-CKD/ESRD patients. Thus, the purposes of this study were (1) to identify inhospital complications and mortality in CKD/ESRD and non-CKD/ESRD patients and (2) compare inhospital complications and mortality between dialysis and renal transplantation patients undergoing TJA. METHODS: We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for patients with and without diagnosis of CKD/ESRD and those with a renal transplant or on dialysis undergoing primary or revision total knee or hip arthroplasty from 2007 to 2011. Patient comorbidities were identified using the Elixhauser comorbidity index. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes were used to identify postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs), wound complications, deep vein thrombosis, and transfusions. RESULTS: Chronic kidney disease/ESRD was associated with greater risk of SSIs (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; P<.001), wound complications (OR, 1.1; P=.01), transfusions (OR, 1.6; P<.001), deep vein thrombosis (OR, 1.4; P=.03), and mortality (OR, 2.1; P<.001) than non-CKD/ESRD patients. Dialysis patients had higher rates of SSI, wound complications, transfusions, and mortality compared to renal transplant patients. CONCLUSION: Chronic kidney disease/ESRD patients had a greater risk of SSIs and wound complications compared to those without renal disease, and the risk of these complications was even greater in CKD/ESRD patients receiving dialysis. These findings emphasize the importance of counseling CKD patients about higher potential complications after TJA, and dialysis patients may be encouraged to undergo renal transplantation before TJA.

Is neuraxial anesthesia safe in patients undergoing surgery for treatment of periprosthetic joint infection?

BACKGROUND: There is concern that neuraxial anesthesia in patients undergoing surgery for treatment of a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) may increase the risk of having a central nervous system infection develop. However, the available data on this topic are limited and contradictory. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We wished to determine whether neuraxial anesthesia (1) is associated with central nervous system infections in patients undergoing surgery for a PJI, and (2) increases the likelihood of systemic infection in these patients. METHODS: All 539 patients who received neuraxial or general anesthesia during 1499 surgeries for PJI from October 2000 to May 2013 were included in this study; of these, 51% (n = 764) of the surgeries were performed in 134 patients receiving neuraxial anesthesia and 49% were performed in 143 patients receiving general anesthesia. Two hundred sixty-two patients received general and neuraxial anesthesia during different surgeries. We used the International Classification of Diseases, 9(th) Revision codes and the medical records to identify patients who had an intraspinal abscess or meningitis develop after surgery for a PJI. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the effect of type of anesthesia (neuraxial versus general) on postoperative complications. RESULTS: There were no cases of meningitis, but one epidural abscess developed in a patient after neuraxial anesthesia. This patient underwent six revision surgeries during a 42-day period. Patients who received neuraxial anesthesia had lower odds of systemic infections (4% versus 12%; odds ratio, 0.35; 95% CI, 023-054; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Central nervous system infections after neuraxial anesthesia in patients with a PJI appear to be exceedingly rare. Based on the findings of this study, it may be time for the anesthesiology community to reevaluate the risk of sepsis as a relative contraindication to the use of neuraxial anesthesia.

Total joint arthroplasty in transplant recipients: in-hospital adverse outcomes.

This study aims to determine in-hospital complications and mortality in transplant recipients following total joint arthroplasty. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was queried for patients with history of transplant and joint arthroplasty (primary or revision) from 1993 to 2011. Kidney transplant increased risk of surgical site infection (SSI) and wound infections (OR=2.03), systemic infection (OR=2.85), deep venous thrombosis (OR=2.07), acute renal failure (ARF) (OR=3.48), respiratory (OR=1.34), and cardiac (OR=1.21) complications. Liver transplant was associated with SSI/wound infections (OR=2.32), respiratory complications (OR=1.68), cardiac complications (OR=1.34), and ARF (OR=4.48). Other transplants grouped together were associated with wound complications (OR=2.13), respiratory complications (OR=2.06), and ARF (OR=4.42). Our study suggests these patients may be at increased risk of in-hospital complications, particularly ARF in renal and liver transplant patients.

Leukocyte esterase strip test: matched for musculoskeletal infection society criteria.

BACKGROUND: The presence of leukocyte esterase in the synovial fluid has recently been proposed as a marker for periprosthetic joint infection. However, the sensitivity and specificity of leukocyte esterase has not been determined when matched for the current, most inclusive Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria for periprosthetic joint infection. METHODS: The presence of leukocyte esterase was prospectively evaluated in synovial joint aspirates from hips and knees from May 2009 to May 2013. The cohort consisted of 189 hip and knee aspirations (fifty-two positive and 137 negative for infection). If the aspirate was bloody, a centrifuge was used to precipitate red blood cells and obtain clear synovial fluid. A standard chemical test strip (graded as negative, trace, +, or ++) was used to detect the presence of leukocyte esterase. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the leukocyte esterase strip test were calculated using ++ and ++/+ as two positive strip result scenarios. RESULTS: Synovial fluid was obtained from 221 joints that underwent revision total hip or total knee arthroplasty for either mechanical failure or periprosthetic infection. Due to the lack of adequate criteria for MSIS criteria classification, thirty-two joints were excluded. The leukocyte esterase test with a threshold of +/++ had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 79.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 65.9% to 89.2%), 80.8% (95% CI, 73.3% to 87.1%), 61.8% (95% CI, 49.2% to 73.3%), and 90.1% (95% CI, 84.3% to 95.4%), respectively. Using the ++ as a positive leukocyte esterase result, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 66.0% (95% CI, 51.7% to 78.5%), 97.1% (95% CI, 92.6% to 99.2%), 89.7% (95% CI, 75.8% to 97.1%), and 88.0% (95% CI, 81.7% to 92.7%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: When matched to the current MSIS criteria, the leukocyte esterase strip test yielded a high specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and moderate sensitivity. These results demonstrate that leukocyte esterase is an accurate, effective marker of periprosthetic joint infection as defined by the MSIS criteria. The leukocyte esterase strip test is a valuable tool that can be used in conjunction with the current battery of diagnostic tests available.