The Safety and Efficacy of Tranexamic Acid in Oncology Patients Undergoing Endoprosthetic Reconstruction and a ROTEM-Based Evaluation of Their Hemostatic Profile: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: An endoprosthetic reconstruction in musculoskeletal oncology patients is associated with significant blood loss. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA) for these patients and to assess any changes in their hemostatic profile using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed including 61 patients with primary or metastatic bone tumors who underwent surgery. Group A (n = 30) received both intravenous and local TXA whereas Group B (n = 31) was the control group. The primary outcomes were perioperative blood loss and blood unit transfusions and the secondary outcomes included the incidence of thromboembolic complications and a change in blood coagulability as reflected by ROTEM parameters. RESULTS: The median difference in blood loss between the two groups was 548.5 mL, indicating a 29.2% reduction in the 72 h blood loss following TXA administration (p < 0.001). TXA also led to a reduced transfusion of 1 red blood cell (RBC) unit per patient (p < 0.001). The two groups had similar rates of thromboembolic complications (p = 0.99). The antifibrinolytic properties of TXA were confirmed by the significantly higher INTEM, FIBTEM and EXTEM LI60 (p < 0.001, p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively) values in the TXA group. CONCLUSION: Tranexamic acid was associated with a significant reduction in perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirements without a complete shutdown of the fibrinolysis. Larger studies are warranted to assess the frequency of these outcomes in musculoskeletal oncology patients.

Higher coagulation activity in hip fracture patients: A case-control study using rotational thromboelastometry.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma-induced coagulopathy has been extensively investigated in the multitrauma setting, but only sparsely following moderate orthopedic trauma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the hemostatic profile of patients with hip fractures, using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). METHODS: 198 patients with hip fractures who underwent surgery were included in the study. A matched group of 52 healthy individuals was also enrolled. Demographics, conventional laboratory assays, and ROTEM parameters were recorded and compared between patients and healthy adults. The preoperative and postoperative ROTEM values of fractured patients were also compared. RESULTS: The conventional coagulation assays were similar for the 2 groups. However, several ROTEM parameters including EXTEM MCF (P < .001), EXTEM alpha angle (P < .001), INTEM MCF (P < .001), INTEM A10 (P < .001), and INTEM alpha angle (P < .001) significantly differed between the 2 groups indicating a higher coagulation potential following hip fractures. Also, fractured patients had significantly lower INTEM and EXTEM CT values (P = .008 and P = .012, respectively) and significantly lower INTEM and EXTEM CFT values (P < .001). Adjusted analysis for confounders further confirmed the direct relationship between hip fracture and higher coagulation activity. Last, INTEM CT and CFT significantly decreased (P = .008 and P < .001, respectively), while INTEM MCF, A10, and alpha angle significantly increased (P < .001) postoperatively, indicating that surgery further increases the coagulation potential. CONCLUSION: A higher coagulation activity following hip fractures and surgical treatment can be detected by ROTEM shortly after the injury, even when this is undetectable by conventional coagulation assays.

Similar function and complications for patients with short versus long hip nailing for unstable pertrochanteric fractures.

PURPOSE: To compare short with long intramedullary hip nailing for elderly patients with unstable pertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: We prospectively studied 50 patients (33 women, 17 men; mean age, 80 years; range, 74-93 years) with unstable pertrochanteric fractures admitted and treated with a short (group A) or a long (group B) intramedullary hip nail from January 2013 to 2017. The patients were randomly allocated into each group according to their order of admission. The mean follow-up was 2 years (range, 1-5 years). We evaluated operative time, function, fracture healing, varus/valgus loss of reduction, and distance between the distal line of the fracture and the distal locking screw of the nail. RESULTS: Operative time was significantly shorter in group A. Function, fracture healing and varus/valgus loss of reduction was similar between the two groups. The mean distance between the distal fracture line and distal locking screw was 7.2 cm (range, 3-10 cm) in patients of group A; in all patients of group B, an appropriate nail length was chosen so that the distal locking screw was inserted at least 3 times the diameter of the bone at the distal fracture line. Complications included periprosthetic fracture (one patient of group A), and z-effect phenomenon (one patient of group B); complications rate was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Short intramedullary hip nailing is associated with similar function and complications, but shorter operative time compared to long intramedullary hip nails for patients with unstable pertrochanteric fractures.

Trans-Scaphoid Transcapitate Perilunate Fracture-Dislocation.

Trans-scaphoid transcapitate (TSTC) perilunate fracture-dislocation (PLFD) is a rare type of perilunate injury. Because of the rarity and complexity of this entity, initial diagnosis may be delayed and the extent of osseous and ligamentous lesions underestimated. Early surgical treatment by open reduction and fracture stabilization is recommended to avoid complications such as avascular necrosis, nonunion, posttraumatic arthritis, and functional impairment. In this article, we report the case of a 32-year-old man who sustained a TSTC-PLFD. We describe the radiographic and intraoperative findings, review the current surgical principles for reduction and stabilization of this injury, and assess the clinical and radiologic outcomes.

Complications After Hip Nailing for Fractures.

Pertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients represent a major health issue. The available surgical options are fixation with extramedullary devices, intramedullary nailing, and arthroplasty. Intramedullary nailing for hip fractures has become more popular in recent years. Advantages of intramedullary nailing for hip fracture fixation include a more efficient load transfer due to the proximity of the implant to the medial calcar, less implant strain and shorter lever arm because of its closer positioning to the mechanical axis of the femur, significantly less soft tissue disruption and periosteal stripping of the femoral cortex, shorter operative time and hospital stay, fewer blood transfusions, better postoperative walking ability, and lower rates of leg-length discrepancy. Compromise of the posteromedial cortex and/or the lateral cortex, a subtrochanteric extension of the fracture, and a reversed obliquity fracture pattern represent signs of fracture instability, warranting the use of intramedullary nailing. However, the use of intramedullary nailing, with its unique set of clinical implications, has introduced a new set of complications. The reported complications include malalignment, cutout, infection, false drilling, wrong lag screw length and drill bit breakage during the interlocking procedure, external or internal malrotation (≥20°) of the femoral diaphysis, elongation of the femur (2 cm), impaired bone healing, periprosthetic fracture distal to the tip of the nail, fracture collapse, implant failure, lag screw intrapelvic migration, neurovascular injury, secondary varus deviation, complications after implant removal, trochanteric pain, and refracture. Many of these complications are related to technical mistakes. This article reviews intramedullary nailing for the treatment of pertrochanteric femoral fractures, with an emphasis on complications.

Bifid Median Nerve Complete Transection at the Wrist.

A 17-yr-old male patient was admitted with a transverse sharp transection caused by broken glass at the volar aspect of his left wrist. Clinical examination showed loss of sensation at the distribution of the median nerve to the thumb, index, and middle finger and an inability to flex the middle finger. Under regional anesthesia and a high humerus tourniquet, surgical exploration of the wound with binocular loupe magnification showed a bifid median nerve with a persistent thin median artery running between the two nerve trunks. The bifid median nerve was sharply and transversely transected, slightly proximal to the transverse carpal ligament. The palmaris longus tendon and the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon of the middle finger were also cut. The flexor digitorum tendon was sutured with a two-strand technique augmented with a running epitendinous suture. The two trunks of the bifid median nerve were repaired separately using microsurgical technique and 8-0 nylon epineural sutures. Postoperatively, the hand was immobilized in a palmar short-arm splint that was removed at 40 d. A progressive Tinel sign was evident 30 d postoperatively. At 3 mo, the patient experienced light touch sensation at the tip of the index and middle fingers. At the last follow-up, 2.5 yr after his injury, the patient has complete nerve functional recovery without atrophy of the thenar muscles and with strong thumb opposition.

The effect of osteoporotic treatment on the functional outcome, re-fracture rate, quality of life and mortality in patients with hip fractures: a prospective functional and clinical outcome study on 520 patients.

Numerous high quality studies have shown the positive effects of various osteoporotic medical treatment regimens on bone mass and on the reduction of risk for new spinal, hip and non-spinal fractures in osteoporotic patients. However, the effect of osteoporotic treatment on the functional and clinical outcome of patients who have sustained hip fractures and been treated surgically has not yet been addressed. Five hundred and twenty patients out of 611 who were admitted (2009-2011), operated on due to a hip fracture and completed their follow-up evaluations were included in this study. Data related to functional outcome scores, re-fracture rate, quality of life and mortality rate were prospectively recorded, analysed and correlated to osteoporotic medical treatment. There were 151 (25%) men and 369 (71%) women with a mean age of 80.7 years (range, 60 to 90 years). At a mean follow-up of 27.5 months (range, 24 to 36 months) a mortality rate of 23.6% at 2 years was recorded. Mean values of functional and quality of life scores were found to have progressively improved within two years after surgery. Seventy-eight (15%) patients were taking osteoporotic treatment before their hip fracture and 89 (17.1%) started afterwards. Osteoporotic treatment proved to be an important predictor of functional recovery (all p values<0.05), re-fracture rate (p=0.028) and quality of life (EQ-5D, all dimensions, p values<0.05). Osteoporotic treatment did not affect post-fracture mortality rates. Osteoporotic treatment taken before or initiated after fracture is a strong predictor of functional and clinical outcome in patients with hip fractures treated surgically.

Axonal regeneration stimulated by erythropoietin: an experimental study in rats.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of erythropoietin to the collateral sprouting by using systemically delivered erythropoietin in an end-to-side nerve repair model. Forty-five rats were evaluated in four groups: (A) end-to-side neurorrhaphy only, (B) end-to-side neurorrhaphy and erythropoietin administration, (C) end-to-end neurorrhaphy and (D) nerve stumps buried into neighboring muscles. In all animals, the contralateral healthy side served as control. Functional assessment of nerve regeneration was performed at intervals up to 5 months using the Peroneal Function Index. Evaluation 150 days after surgery included peroneal and tibial nerve morphometric examination, and wet weights of the tibialis anterior muscle. During the first three weeks after surgery, when erythropoietin was regularly administered, functional evaluation showed that erythropoietin may facilitate peripheral nerve regeneration. However, there was rapid deterioration in the functional recovery when erythropoietin's administration was discontinued. As a consequence, at the end of this study, erythropoietin failed to maintain its initial stimulating effect in axonal regeneration. The results of wet muscle weights revealed statistically significant differences between Groups A and C, and Group B. Furthermore, data on axonal counting showed significant difference between Groups A and C, and Group B. Erythropoietin appears to facilitate peripheral nerve regeneration at the initial phase of its administration. Further investigation will be necessary to optimise the conditions (dose, mode of administration) in order to maintain its effects.