Subtrochanteric shortening in total hip arthroplasty: biomechanical comparison of four techniques.

Safe reduction of the femoral head into the true acetabulum requires a certain amount of femoral shortening in patients with high dislocation of the hip. In subtrochanteric shortening applications, to reduce complications it is necessary to maintain a stable fixation at the osteotomy line. The purpose of this study is to investigate frequently used methods from a biomechanical point of view. Four osteotomy groups were created with composite femurs to investigate subtrochanteric osteotomies; transverse, oblique, z-subtrochanteric and double Chevron. All loading tests were carried out with two implant types both with and without strut graft and cable fixation. No single inherent feature increasing the stability of the investigated osteotomy types was found. Additionally graft application did not have a significant contribution to stability.

Ischaemic preconditioning attenuates haemodynamic response and lipid peroxidation in lower-extremity surgery with unilateral pneumatic tourniquet application: a clinical pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: The harmful effects of ischaemia-reperfusion on skeletal muscle during extremity surgery can be diminished by using medications or ischaemic preconditioning METHODS: Twenty patients undergoing lower-limb surgery with use of a tourniquet for at least 1 hour were included in the study and randomised into two groups: a control group with only tourniquet application (T group; n=10); and an ischaemic preconditioning plus tourniquet group (IP-T group; n=10). Blood samples were obtained from the femoral vein of the relevant extremity before tourniquet application (baseline), immediately after tourniquet deflation (TD), at 10 minutes after the tourniquet deflation (TD(10min)) in the T group and additionally after ischaemic preconditioning in the IP-T group. Venous blood pH, partial oxygen pressure (P(vO2)), partial carbon dioxide pressure (P(vCO2)), lactate, potassium, sodium and glucose levels were analysed using a blood gas analyser. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, an index of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, was measured. Heart rate, noninvasive mean arterial pressure (MAP) and spontaneous breathing rate (SBR) were recorded at baseline, at TD, and TD(1min), TD(5min) and TD(10min). RESULTS: MAP decreased and SBR increased significantly at TD, TD(1min) and TD(5min) compared with baseline, and venous blood TBARS level significantly increased at TD and TD(10min) compared with baseline in the T group (all P<0.05). No significant changes were observed in the IP-T group. Ischaemic preconditioning caused a rise in PvO2 and a decrease in venous blood pH, P(vCO2), and lactate levels, which was significant compared with baseline (P<0.05) CONCLUSION: Ischaemic preconditioning attenuates haemodynamic response and lipid peroxidation during lower-extremity surgery with unilateral tourniquet application.

Medial transposition of the radial nerve for anterolateral plate fixation of the humerus: cadaveric study.

In the operative treatment of humeral shaft fractures the radial nerve may be injured during the reduction of fracture fragments or the application of plate and screws. Also, secondary surgical explorations due to delayed or non-union carry a high risk of radial nerve injury because of the scarring of the neighboring tissue and proximity of the nerve to the implants. Consequently, the need for the transposition of the radial nerve to a safer position arises. A total of 22 (11 right, 11 left) cadaveric upper extremities were studied to evaluate the medial transposition of the radial nerve during the open reduction and anterolateral plate fixation of humeral fractures. The radial nerve was transposed medially in a distal plate fixated humeral fracture model. Distance measurements of the radial nerve and the division points of its branches were carried out in the transposed position and in the original course of the nerve. There was no statistically significant difference between the original course and medially transposed measurements. The distances from the reference point to the division points of other branches (posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve, motor branch to brachioradialis, most distal motor branch to triceps) were not altered. The mean length of the radial nerve was 185.2 +/- 14.3 mm in its original course and 183.7 +/- 13.8 mm in the medially transposed course. In conclusion, the present study shows that medial transposition of the radial nerve through the fracture line does not increase the nerve's length and may be utilized in cases in which anterolateral plate fixation is indicated.

Report of experience in 190 patients with the use of closed suction drainage in arthroscopic knee procedures.

The goal of this study is to report our experience with the use of suction drainage for various arthroscopic knee procedures. One hundred and ninety patients who underwent arthroscopic knee procedures participated in the study, and were divided into two groups (Group 1: Suction drainage, Group 2: No suction drainage). For every patient, the following parameters were recorded: age, gender, operative time, tourniquet or pump use, the amount of fluid collected in the hemovac drain, presence of meniscal tear, type of the operative procedure, date of the operation, and presence of effusion at the follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed to detect any significant statistical difference between the amount of fluid collected in the hemovac drain and the other mentioned parameters in Group 1; and these patients were divided into four subgroups to facilitate the statistical evaluation between the procedures and the amount of fluid collected in the hemovac drain. The partial meniscectomy subgroup had significantly lower amounts of collected fluid when compared to the subtotal meniscectomy subgroup. Drilling of the osteochondral faces led to significantly higher amounts of fluid when compared to non-drilling cases. Use of an infusion pump during surgery and shorter operation time led to lower amounts of fluid to be collected. No case in either main group suffered from effusion at the follow-up. Our investigation demonstrated that in different arthroscopic interventions, variable amounts of fluid can be collected in the hemovac drains. Subtotal meniscal resection, drilling of the osteochondral faces and longer duration of the operation increase the amount of fluid. In cases of partial meniscal resection and/or chondral debridement, limited synovial and plica resection, suction drainage is unnecessary.