Modified Frailty Index as a Predictor of Adverse Outcomes in Elective Primary Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective The objective was to evaluate the modified frailty index as a predictor of early (within 30 days) postoperative complications in total joint arthroplasty patients, in a low middle-income country. Material and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out which included patients with ages ranging from 23 to 86 years, who underwent elective primary Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasties (TKA or THA) between December 2021 and February 2023. Modified frailty index (mFI-5) was calculated and 30-day morbidity and mortality were recorded. Post-operative complications were categorized as either surgical or medical and recorded. Results A total of 175 patients were included, amongst whom the majority were females (68.6%, n=120) and the mean age was 60.5 ± 13.2 years. 85 patients (48.6%) had a mFI-5 score of one while 48 patients (27.4%) had a score of two. Superficial surgical site infection was the most common complication overall in 6 patients (3.4%); however, no case of prosthetic joint infection was noted. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was the most common medical complication (1.7%, n=3). 5 patients (2.9%) required re-admission and two mortalities were recorded within the 30-day interval. A significant association was noted between post-operative surgical complications and mFI-5 score (p-value = < 0.001), with the risk of complications increasing with a higher mFI-5 score. Smoking was noted to be a risk factor for post-operative medical complications as well as 30-day mortality. Conclusion The current study shows that the mFI-5 index can effectively be used as a predictor of postoperative complications in the South Asian region such as Pakistan. This should be calculated routinely and can be used as a tool for pre-operative assessment and counseling.

Rate and Predictors of Patient Satisfaction After Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Low-to-Middle-Income Country.

Objective This study aimed to assess the rate of patient satisfaction after primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) using a validated satisfaction measure. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted, including all patients who underwent primary TJA between December 2021 and February 2023. The age of the study population was found to range from 23 to 86 years. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a validated tool comprising four questions and a quality of life (QoL) question. Results A total of 197 patients were included, with a mean age of 60.9 ± 12.7 years. Total knee replacement (TKR) was performed in 124 patients (62.9%), and total hip replacement (THR) in 73 patients (37.1%). The mean patient satisfaction score was 86.6 ± 14.4 out of a maximum of 100. A significant negative correlation was observed between the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the overall satisfaction score (p-value = 0.029). The majority of the patients (52.3%, n = 103) answered that their QoL had greatly improved, and a similar level of improvement was noted in elderly vs. adult patients (p-value = 0.17). A significantly higher proportion of male patients reported improvement more than they ever expected compared to female patients, the majority of whom reported their QoL was greatly improved (p-value = 0.025). Conclusion Total joint arthroplasty has been shown to achieve good patient satisfaction and an improvement in QoL. However, an increased comorbidity index and female gender were identified as factors for reduced satisfaction. Hence, it is recommended to consider these factors and counsel patients accordingly based on local patient data.

Giant cell tumour of the sacrum: function-preserving surgery with extended curettage and ilio-lumbar fusion.

Giant cell tumours of the sacrum pose a unique therapeutic challenge due to the inaccessibility of the tumour, significant intra-operative blood loss from extensive vascularity, high rate of local recurrence with conservative surgery, and loss of neurological function and mechanical instability with en-bloc excision. We present a case where successful outcome was achieved by tailoring treatment in consideration of the above issues. A 28 year old male diagnosed on biopsy to have giant cell tumour of the sacrum presented to us with low-back pain, left-sided S1 radiculopathy, ankle weakness and urinary incontinence. MRI showed a tumour involving the S1 and S2 vertebral segments, breaching the posterior cortex and compressing the neural elements. An angiographic tumour embolization was performed followed by surgery through a posterior approach whereby an extended curettage was done, carefully freeing the sacral nerve roots and abrading the bone using high-speed burr. An ilio-sacro-lumbar fusion was done employing iliolumbar instrumentation and bone grafting. Post-operatively, within a week the patient was ambulated with a lumbar corset. At 9 months follow-up, the patient was completely pain free, had no ankle weakness, and had normal continence. This treatment approach resulted in preservation of neurologic function and maintenance of spinal stability, thus the patient returned to full function.

Fourth-generation spinal instrumentation: experience with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the radiological and functional outcome of surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using fourth-generation posterior spinal instrumentation at The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. DESIGN: Case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital after a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were recruited into the study and evaluated for radiological and functional outcome. The study period was from 2000 to 2005. Radiological outcome was assessed using Cobb angle measurement pre and postoperatively, hence assessing percentage correction. The lower instrumented vertebra was taken as the neutral vertebra and the level was recorded. Functional outcome was determined using the Scoliosis Research Society patient administered questionnaire. All patients were called to the clinic and asked to fill in the form. Those patients who were out of the city were mailed the forms and requested via telephone to complete and return. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients operated on, twelve were female and eight were male. The average age at operation was 12.7 years. The mean Cobb angle was 69° preoperatively and 20° postoperatively, representing a percentage correction of 71%. The average duration of follow-up was 3.6 years. There was one major complication involving neurological injury post-op and two minor complications involving wound infection. The average Scoliosis Research Society score (on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being best) for pain was 4.5, self-image was 4.2, functional status was 4.1, mental status was 3.8, and satisfaction was 4.4. There was no relationship between the percentage correction of scoliosis and the functional outcome. Those patients with a high preoperative Cobb angle tended to have a better outcome for functional and mental status postoperatively. There was no relation between the lower instrumented vertebra and functional outcome. CONCLUSION: In the correct indications, fourth-generation posterior instrumentation and fusion is a reliable and satisfactory technique to treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Aortic flap valve presenting as neurogenic claudication: a case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of a patient who presented with pain in both lower limbs related with walking and standing as a result of an unusual vascular etiology. OBJECTIVES: To describe the pathology and treatment of an unusual case of vascular claudication. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Symptoms of neurogenic claudication may be mimicked by intermittent vascular claudication. Not infrequently, arterial disease coexists with spinal canal stenosis. Determination of correct diagnosis is the prerequisite for effective treatment. METHODS: The patient was a 64-year-old woman who presented with bilateral buttock pain spreading to the calves. The symptom was related to walking and climbing stairs and relieved by sitting down. MRI of the lumbosacral spine corroborated severe spinal stenosis at L3-L4 and L4-L5. Based on findings on physical examination of the peripheral pulses, an aortogram revealed a flap in the lumen functioning like a valve as the cause of her lower limb ischemic pain. RESULTS: The patient was managed by insertion of a self-expandable metallic stent with complete resolution of her symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case that was diagnosed as neurogenic claudication on clinical features and MRI evidence. However, subsequent to an aortogram the diagnosis was revised. Intermittent claudication is often difficult to distinguish from neurogenic claudication. There are no sensitive discriminators based on history alone. In the presence of poor or absent peripheral pulses, an arteriogram is necessary to ascertain the relative importance of the peripheral arterial circulation.