ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To compare presentation of infectious keratitis during COVID-19 lockdown with previous years, assess relative severity, and compare outcomes between COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 era groups. METHODS: Acute presentations of infectious keratitis during a strict government-mandated COVID-19 lockdown period were analysed retrospectively (March-May 2020). Data were compared with the same periods in 2018-2019. The clinical notes of patients undergoing corneal scrapes were reviewed, and data were collected on treatment, culture growth, surgical interventions, visual outcomes, admission rates, and risk factors. RESULTS: There were 37% fewer presentations of infectious keratitis to the ED in 2020 (N = 29, 47, and 45, respectively). Risk factor profiles and microbial data were similar across all periods. Admission rates and use of fortified antibiotics were lower in 2020. COVID-19 era cases recovered less vision (LogMAR 0.26, 0.67, and 0.45, respectively; p = 0.04) and were more likely to require surgical intervention (10%, 4%, and 2%, respectively; OR 3.4 (CI 0.7-17.9, p = 0.1)). CONCLUSION: A concerning fall in presentations of infectious keratitis to ED during the pandemic lockdown was observed. Though societal behaviour changed during the lockdown, our data suggest it is unlikely that the incidence of infectious keratitis fell significantly. It is unclear how and where these patients were treated. We postulate that lower levels of visual recovery and higher rates of surgical intervention may have been caused by delays in accessing care. To minimise avoidable ocular morbidity as COVID-19 resurges, we must communicate clearly with patients and health professionals on how to access available emergency eye care services.
ABSTRACT
AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Fibular autograft is a known technique for the reconstruction of traumatic and non-traumatic bone defects in both adult and paediatric populations. We aim to describe our outcomes using various stabilisation methods for non-vascularised fibular autograft to reconstruct both benign and malignant tumours in a paediatric population in a National Paediatric Centre over the past 14 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of 10 paediatric cases with non-traumatic primary bone defects in a National Paediatric Centre. Criteria for inclusion were all non-traumatic primary bone defects requiring reconstruction with a non-vascularised fibular autograft in the diaphyseal or metaphyseal regions of the bone. The primary outcome measures were union and time to union (weeks). Time to union was illustrated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative fracture, infection (deep and superficial), time to full weight-bearing and all-cause revision surgery. RESULTS: The mean length of follow-up was 63 months for the entire cohort (9-168, SD = 48.6). There was no loss to follow-up. Six lesions were located in the tibia, two in the femur and the remaining two were located in the ulna and third metacarpal. Union was ultimately achieved in 8 of the 10 patients using this donor autograft. The mean time to union was 28 weeks (10-99, SD = 29.8). There were four complications of autograft fracture. The mean time to fracture was 17 weeks (9-32, SD = 10.71). In all four of these cases, the patient achieved union at final follow-up. There were two superficial and two deep infections recorded. Three resolved with the use of antimicrobial therapy and one deep infection ultimately required insertion of an intercalary prosthesis to treat the infected non-union of the fibular graft site. CONCLUSION: The use of non-vascularised fibular autograft for the reconstruction of tumours is an effective surgical technique in a paediatric cohort. We report the largest known series of malignant paediatric tumours treated with this technique to date. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Non-vascularised fibular autograft is successful in the reconstruction of large bone defects secondary to malignant paediatric bone tumours. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Sheridan GA, Cassidy JT, Donnelly A, et al. Non-vascularised Fibular Autograft for Reconstruction of Paediatric Bone Defects: An Analysis of 10 Cases. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr 2020;15(2):84-90.
