Insertion of a urinary catheter on admission lowers acute kidney injury incidence in patients with hip fractures.

PURPOSE: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common adverse event in patients undergoing hip fracture repair surgery, increasing morbidity and mortality. Our study hypothesis was that routine insertion of a urinary catheter, on admission to the hospital or immediately before surgery, will reduce AKI incidence in hip fracture patients. METHODS: Determined by alternating days of admission, a urinary catheter was inserted routinely on admission (catheter group) or as needed (non-catheter group) in 250 consecutive patients who presented with a hip fracture to our emergency department. The incidence of AKI according to the KDIGO criteria and morbidity and mortality were compared between the study groups. RESULTS: The overall incidence of AKI was 11.6% (29/250). The catheter group (N = 122) had a significantly lower rate of AKI (6.6% vs. 16% p = 0.018). At 12-month follow-up, the overall mortality was 10.8% (27/250), in-hospital 7.4% (2/27), short-term (within 30 days) 7.4% (2/27), and long-term (30 days to 1 year) 85.8% (23/27). All in-hospital mortality occurred in the AKI group. Patients with no AKI had a better survival rate; however, the difference was not significant (p-value = 0.21). Mortality rate was lower in the catheter group but not significant (8.2% compared with 13.8% in the non-catheter group, p = 0.225). Post-operative respiratory and cardiac complications were more frequent in the AKI group (p = 0.02 and 0.043 accordingly). CONCLUSIONS: Insertion of a urinary catheter upon admission or before surgery lowered AKI incidence significantly. Peri-operative AKI was associated with higher rates of post-operative complications and worse survival.

Self-reported pain during the initial postoperative period following open lumbar spine fusion surgery does not correlate with the number of levels fused: A prospective trial of 40 patients.

BACKGROUND: Current spine postoperative pain control protocols consider the expected pain following spine fusion surgery to correlate with surgical extent, that is, the greater the number of operated vertebrae, the greater the postoperative pain. Due to this assumption, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are principally applied to minimally invasive and percutaneous spine surgery and less to open extensive spine fusion operations. The aim of this study was to determine whether postoperative pain does in fact correlate with the surgical extent, potentially opening the door to non-narcotic postoperative pain protocols for this patient subset. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty consecutive patients, undergoing open posterior spine surgery, were evaluated for postoperative pain during the first 72 after surgery. All patients were then divided into two groups according to the number of spine levels fused, and the correlation between the number of fusion levels and self-reported pain was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Self-reported pain levels were not found to correlate with the extent of the spine operation. CONCLUSIONS: As "bigger operation" does not necessarily equate with "bigger pain," adequate postoperative pain control after extensive spine fusion surgery might be achieved without the routine use of narcotic medication, as practiced after minimally invasive and percutaneous surgery. Additional prospective randomized trials are needed to further substantiate this conclusion.

Effectiveness of intra-venous steroids for preventing surgery for lumbo-sacral radiculopathy secondary to intervertebral disc herniation: a retrospective study of 213 patients.

The natural history of lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy is favorable, with 95% of patients expected to be pain-free within 6 months of onset. Despite the favorable prognosis, operative treatment is often chosen by patients unable to "ride out" the radicular episode. Prospective studies comparing surgical with non-surgical treatment have demonstrated similar long-term results. We conducted a retrospective case-series study of patients with a lumbar disc herniation and intractable radicular pain without significant neurological deficits treated with intra-venous dexamethasone. The primary outcome measure was whether the patient had undergone operative treatment within 1 year of receiving the intravenous steroid treatment. 213 patients met our inclusion criteria. 30 were lost to follow-up and 2 had died before completing 1 year of follow-up. Of the remaining 181 patients, 133 (73.48%) had not undergone surgery within 1 year of receiving intra-venous steroid treatment while 48 (26.51%) had undergone surgery. 6 (3.31%) of the patients had undergone surgery more than 1 year of receiving IV steroid treatment. Intravenous steroid treatment in our retrospective series was approximately 30% better at preventing the need for surgery than the reported outcomes of conservative treatment in randomized controlled trials previously published.

Inadequate deltoid muscle penetration and concerns of improper COVID mRNA vaccine administration can be avoided by injection technique modification.

BACKGROUND: Recent phase-3 clinical trials have demonstrated very encouraging results for mRNA based vaccines against COVID-19. Current FDA and manufacturer guidelines mandate intramuscular administration of these vaccines, as other administration routes may not provide the same levels of effectiveness and safety. Observing the vast amount of published media images of persons receiving their vaccines, the authors noted in many cases the injection technique involved skin bunching, raising concerns of inadequate deltoid muscle penetration and consequent lowered vaccine efficacy. Our study hypothesis was that skin bunching will increase the skin-to-muscle distance over 20 mm, the maximal distance allowing the required 5 mm muscle penetration with a 25 mm needle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 60 adult volunteers from our hospital staff were recruited, and using ultrasound, the skin-to-muscle distance measured in three positions: flat, skin bunching and muscle bunching. The skin-to-muscle distance difference and correlation with gender and BMI were calculated. RESULTS: Skin bunching significantly increased the skin-to-muscle distance in all subjects. In 6 (10%) subjects, this increase exceeded the 20 mm limit. Having a skin-to-deltoid distance of 20 mm or more strongly correlated with a BMI of 30 or more. CONCLUSIONS: Skin bunching will prevent adequate intramuscular injection of vaccines in a small percentage of persons, but as hundreds of millions are expected to receive mRNA vaccines in the coming months, the multiplied result can have significant personal and societal consequences for millions of people globally, especially in obese populations, and therefore this practice should be strictly discouraged.

Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Syria's War Victims: Experience from a Northern Israeli Hospital.

BACKGROUND: The collapse of the Syrian healthcare system during the civil war led numerous citizens to cross the Syrian-Israeli border to seek medical care. OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology of peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) sustained in war, their management, and short-term outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective case series study was conducted on 45 consecutive patients aged 25.7 ± 9.3 years. These patients were referred to the hand surgery unit of the department of orthopedic surgery and traumatology at Galilee Medical Center between December 2014 and June 2018. Median time between injury and presentation was 60 days. Injury pattern, additional injuries, surgical findings and management, complications, and length of hospital stay were extracted from medical records. RESULTS: Most injuries were blast (55.6%) followed by gunshot injuries (37.8%). There were 9 brachial plexus injuries, 9 sciatic nerve injuries, and 38 PNIs distal to the plexus: specifically 20 ulnar, 11 median, and 7 radial nerve injuries. In the latter group, neurotmesis or axonotmesis was found in 29 nerves. Coaptation was possible in 21 nerves necessitating cable grafting in 19. A tendon transfer was performed for 13 peripheral nerves, occasionally supplementing the nerve repair. The patients returned to their country after discharge, average follow-up was 53.6 ± 49.6 days. CONCLUSIONS: For nerve injuries sustained in war, early surgical treatment and providing adequate soft tissue conditions is recommended. Tendon transfers are useful to regain early function.

Percutaneous, PMMA-augmented, pedicle screw instrumentation of thoracolumbar ankylotic spine fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Fractures in the ankylotic spine may have an insidious presentation but are prone to displace with devastating consequences. The long lever arm of ankylosed spine fragments may lead to pulmonary and great vessel injury and is difficult to adequately immobilize. Conservative treatment will produce in many cases poor outcomes with high morbidity and mortality. Open surgical treatment is also fraught with technical difficulties and can lead to major blood loss and prolonged operative times. In recent years, percutaneous instrumentation of non-ankylotic spine fractures has gained popularity, producing similar outcomes to open surgery with shorter operative times and reduced blood loss and hospital length of stay. We describe our experience implementing these techniques in ankylotic spine patients. METHODS: We retrospectively retrieved from our hospital's electronic health records all patients treated for thoracolumbar spine fractures between 2008 and 2015 with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Operative and postoperative data, results, and complications were tabulated, and radiographic parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with ankylotic spine disease underwent percutaneous augmented instrumentation between 2008 and 2015. The mean age was 76. All patients had at least one comorbidity. The mean number of ankylosed levels was 14. Mean operative time was 131 min. The average postoperative hemoglobin decrease was 1.21 gr/%, with only 4 patients requiring blood transfusion. 45.8% of the patients had postoperative medical complications. One patient (4.2%) had a superficial postoperative infection, and one patient died in hospital. The average hospital length of stay was 14.55 days. All patients retained their preoperative ASIA grades, and 3 improved one grade. All patients united their fractures without losing reduction. CONCLUSIONS: PMMA-augmented percutaneous instrumentation is an attractive surgical option for this difficult patient subset, especially when compared to other available current alternatives.

Matching actual treatment with patient administration-route-preference improves analgesic response among acute low back pain patients-a randomized prospective trial.

BACKGROUND: Accommodating a patient's treatment preference has been reported to promote greater responsiveness and better clinical outcomes. The effect of administration route preference (ARP) on the individual analgesic response has not been extensively examined to date. This study aimed to investigate whether ARP-matched treatment, i.e., individualized intramuscular (IM) or oral (PO) analgesic administration according to patient choice, would increase the analgesic effect. METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, we collected 38 patients with acute low back pain (aLBP) presenting at the emergency room of the Galilee Medical Center (Naharia, Israel) and asked them to report their ARP for analgesics. Regardless of their reported preference, they received either PO or IM diclofenac according to the treating physician's preference. Pain intensity was self-reported using the numeric pain score (NPS) before and during the first hour after drug administration. RESULTS: Both groups receiving PO or IM administration reported similar initial pain on admission, (NPS 8.63 ± 1.5 and 8.74 ± 1.6, respectively) and the same magnitude of pain reduction. However, patients who received the drug in their desired route (oral or injection) had a significantly greater reduction in pain levels (4.05 ± 2.8) as compared with patients who received the undesired route (2.08 ± 1.8), p < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that individualized ARP-matched treatment in aLBP improves therapeutic outcomes, although further studies with larger cohorts are needed.

Nylon Skin Sutures Carry a Lower Risk of Post-Operative Infection than Metal Staples in Open Posterior Spine Surgery: A Retrospective Case-Control Study of 270 Patients.

Background: Controversy still exists regarding the optimal method for post-operative skin closure in orthopedic surgery. In total knee replacement, closure with metal staples is faster but carries a higher surgical site infection (SSI) risk. Other studies have found differing results in foot and ankle and hip surgery. Very little evidence exists on this subject after spine surgery. The aim of this study was to determine whether closure of the skin incision in open posterior spine surgery carries a different rate of post-operative SSI when using nylon sutures compared with metal staples. Methods: Up to 2006, virtually all skin incisions at our spine surgery unit were closed with metal staples and from 2006 onward with nylon sutures. This was a retrospective historical control study comparing the incidence of SSIs in patients operated on before (n = 127; staples) and after (n = 143; sutures) the transition date. Results: The staples group had an overall 11.8% combined deep and superficial infection rate whereas the nylon suture group had a 4.2% rate (p = 0.017). The two groups also differed in the type of antibiotic prophylaxis used, likelihood of incisional discharge, and the number of days the vacuum drains remained. Conclusions: In our departmental setting, closure of the skin incision with nylon sutures after open posterior spine surgery carried a significantly lower risk of post-operative SSI compared with metal staples. The generalizability of our findings is unclear, but they warrant further investigation.

Intra-discal drain insertion for culture and drainage of pyogenic spondylodiscitis: A one-step diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.

BACKGROUND: Pyogenic spondylodiscitis is diagnosed in recent years at higher rates due to the aging population, increased survival of chronic and immune suppressed patients, and the higher rate of invasive procedures leading to bacterial seeding or direct contamination of the disc space. Treatment guidelines encourage bacterial sampling before initiation of antibiotic therapy, and drainage of pus collections. We present our experience with percutaneous CT-guided drain insertion into the disc space itself as a one-step procedure for both culturing and subsequent continuous drainage of the infected disc space. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all cases of pyogenic spondylodiscitis admitted to our spine surgery unit during the past five years and treated with CT-guided percutaneous drain insertion into the infected disc space. All patients were followed until complete resolution of the infection. RESULTS: We retrieved electronic records of 12 patients, none presenting with neurological compression symptoms. Cultures taken at the time of drain insertion were positive in 10 patients (83.3%), much higher than the reported yield for needle aspiration (14-48%) and comparable to the yield of open biopsy. In all patients complete resolution of the infection was reached, determined by clinical, laboratory, and imaging parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective case series demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of intra-discal CT-guided drainage of an infected disc space. The procedure does not add much burden to current practice as disc-space sampling for culture is commonly performed anyway, and adds the benefit of direct drainage of the pus at its source.

Ulnar nerve monitoring during percutaneous pinning of supracondylar fractures in children.

BACKGROUND: Supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children are frequently managed by closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. Insertion of medial and lateral pins is more stable than lateral pinning alone, but carries an increased risk for ulnar nerve damage. This study describes the use of electrical stimulation concurrent with medial pin insertion as a monitoring technique for avoiding iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 138 children, mean age 5.6 years (SD±2.5), who were admitted to the hospital between 2007 and 2010 with uncomplicated supracondylar fractures, Gartland type II and above, and intact neurovascular presentation. The location of the ulnar nerve was identified and marked preoperatively by observing twitch contractions in response to electrical stimulation. The medial pin served as an active electrode during pin insertion, and repeated stimulation throughout the insertion process ensured no contact with the response of the ulnar nerve. After pin insertion, ulnar nerve stimulation was used again to ensure nerve continuity viability. RESULTS: All fractures were stabilized with 2 to 4 cross K-wires (size 1.6 mm), with number depending on stability of the fracture. The children were discharged home 2 days after fracture fixation, with no iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury observed in any of the children. The only postoperative complication involved 2 cases of anterior interosseus nerve neuropraxia, which resolved spontaneously after 4 to 6 months. Primary fracture healing was achieved without nonunions or delayed unions in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Ulnar nerve stimulation before and during the percutaneous pinning of supracondylar fractures in children is a simple, economical, and easy-to-implement technique that can prevent iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Percutaneous augmented instrumentation of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures.

BACKGROUND: Internal fixation of unstable thoracolumbar spine fractures requires correction of the lacking anterior column support. This usually entails insertion of a vertebral body replacement strut through an anterior approach, or a long posterior construct spanning at least two vertebrae above and two vertebrae below the fracture. Posterior short-segment pedicle instrumentation (SSPI)--one vertebra above and below--is suitable for approximately 40% of fractures, but not for all. METHODS: A total of 52 patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures meeting our inclusion criteria were instrumented using a novel approach, combining percutaneous SSPI, pedicle screw augmentation with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and fractured vertebra kyphoplasty. We retrospectively reviewed patient and fracture data, operative results and 1 year radiographic follow-up postoperatively in 40 of the patients. We reviewed operative complications of all 52 patients. RESULTS: Most fractures were AO/Magerl type A3.1, A3.2 and A3.3. They were instrumented within 72 h and ambulated without additional external bracing. Operative time averaged 2 h and blood loss was less than 50 cc in most cases. Complications were mostly related to PMMA leakage. On average, 3.3° (0-13) of correction was lost after 3 months, but remained constant afterward. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous augmented short-segment pedicle instrumentation of unstable thoracolumbar fractures can be done with short operative times, minimal blood loss and a low complication rate. The radiographical results at 1 year are equal to anterior stabilization and are better than other posterior-only techniques.

Cerebrospinal fluid leakage and pneumocephalus secondary to spine stab wounds.

Cerebro-spinal fluid leakage from a spinal stab wound is rare, and usually not a life-threatening injury. Pneumocephalus, a possible rare complication of traumatic cerebro-spinal fluid leakage, can potentially lead to intracranial hemorrhage and death. We describe two cases of spinal stab wounds complicated by cerebro-spinal fluid leakage, one of them developing into severe pneumocephalus. Both patients recovered completely with the following treatment protocol: (a) trendelenburg positioning of the patient, (b) insertion of a continuous-drainage cerebro-spinal fluid catheter into the lumbar thecal sac, (c) primary suture of the leaking skin wound, (d) IV antibiotic therapy.