Spontaneous resolution of posterior ankle joint loose bodies after total ankle replacement: A case report.

Late stage ankle osteoarthritis often presents with debilitating pain. It is common to find osteophytes and loose body formation around the joint. Total ankle arthroplasty can preserve joint mobility and pain relieve for such patient. However, when trying to remove the osteophytes and loose bodies at the posterior ankle joint, there is risk of damaging posterior structures such as the neurovascular bundle during the procedure. We are presenting a case where the posterior loose bodies remained untouched during the operation, and patient showed spontaneous resolution of the lesions with time. Patient enjoyed good function outcome after the surgery.

Wrist Arthroscopy under Portal Site Local Anesthesia (PSLA) without Tourniquet.

UNLABELLED: Purpose wrist arthroscopy is typically performed under general or regional anesthesia with the aid of a tourniquet to maintain a bloodless field. We have been using portal site local anesthesia (PSLA) for wrist arthroscopy without a tourniquet since 1998. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy, safety, and complications of PSLA and whether this can be recommended for routine wrist arthroscopy. Method We conducted a retrospective study, identifying 111 consecutive cases of wrist arthroscopies performed from January 2007 to December 2009. All cases were performed under PSLA. The effectiveness of PSLA was assessed by analyzing whether the procedure required adjuvant forms of anesthesia. The subjective effectiveness was assessed via phone questionnaires. Results Sixty-eight male and 43 female patients were identified. The average age was 43.2 (range 16-77). The indications included chronic wrist pain of unknown origin (30), posttraumatic arthritis (27), rheumatoid arthritis (5), ganglion (30), triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury (14), infectious (1), and carpal instability (4). The average duration of the procedures was 73 minutes (range 20-255 minutes). Therapeutic procedures were performed in all 111 cases in addition to a routine diagnostic assessment. These included arthroscopic debridement (82) synovectomy (6), ganglionectomy (30), TFCC repair (3), TFCC debridement (11), radial styloidectomy (2), wafer procedure (4), thermal shrinkage (2), distal scaphoidectomy (1), and synovial biopsy (4). All procedures could be completed uneventfully. Most patients tolerated the procedure well throughout the operation, and the satisfaction level was high. No complication was encountered. Discussions We concluded that PSLA technique is a feasible mode of anesthesia in selected patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Factors affecting mortality in Hong Kong patients with upper limb necrotising fasciitis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictive factors for mortality of patients with upper limb necrotising fasciitis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Six hospitals in Hong Kong. PATIENTS: Clinical records of 29 patients treated in the hospitals were traced and analysed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Possible predictive factors for mortality as evaluated by application of Fisher's test. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 28%. Digital infections conferred a lower mortality, but progressive necrosis necessitated amputation. Vibrio vulnificus was the commonest organism identified in association with marine injury and in patients with cirrhosis. Prognostic indicators with decreasing significance include deranged renal and liver function, thrombocytopaenia, proximal involvement (elbow or above) initially, and presence of hypotension upon admission. CONCLUSION: With a P value of less than 0.05, deranged renal and liver function, thrombocytopaenia, initial proximal involvement, and hypotension on admission were predictors of mortality in necrotising fasciitis affecting the upper limbs. The ALERTS (Abnormal Liver function, Extent of infection, Renal impairment, Thrombocytopenia, and Shock) score with a cutoff of 3 appeared to predict mortality.