Efficacy and Safety of Tranexamic Acid in Reducing Blood Loss of Lower Extremity Osteotomy in Peri-acetabulum and High Tibia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing total blood loss and transfusion, and the risk of thromboembolic events in patients undergoing periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) and high tibial osteotomy (HTO). METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase (Ovid), Medline (Ovid), and Web of Science. ClinicalTrials.gov, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) conference proceedings were also searched to gain more eligible studies. The primary outcome measure was total blood loss and the blood transfusion rate of the TXA group versus control. The meta-analysis was conducted using the RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0 software. RESULTS: A total of six studies were included involving 665 patients. Three studies were PAO, and the other three were HTO. The total blood loss in PAO (WMD, -330.49; 95% CI, -390.16 to -270.83; P < 0.001) and HTO (WMD, -252.50; 95% CI, -356.81 to -148.18; P < 0.001) and hemoglobin decline (WMD, -0.74; 95% CI, -1.09 to -0.38; P < 0.001) were significantly less in the TXA group than in the control group. TXA could reduce transfusion rates in PAO (RR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.75; P = 0.01) but had no effect on HTO (RR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.01 to 4.10; P = 0.30). The wound complications (RR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.13 to 2.94; P = 0.54) had no significant difference between TXA and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrated that TXA reduces total blood loss and hemoglobin decline in patients undergoing PAO and is safe, but it has little benefit in regard to reducing transfusion rates or wound complications in HTO, so TXA might be unwarranted for routine use for HTO.

[Vein Nerve Conduit Supported by Vascular Stent in the Regeneration of Peripheral Nerve in Rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of autologous vein nerve conduit supported by vascular stent in repairing a 10 mm gap peroneal nerve in white New Zealand rabbits. METHODS: 30 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: autologous nerve group (group A),conventional autologous vein nerve conduit group (group B),autologous vein nerve conduit supported by vascular stent group (group C). 10 mm common peroneal nerve was cut off. In groups A,the peroneal nerve was turned 180 ° before suturing. In group B and group C,20 mm long external jugular vein was cut and removed. After dilution of venous retraction,the venous bridge filled the gap of the nerve defect in group B. In group C,a blood vessel stent was placed for accessing the external jugular vein,and then connected to the nerve defect. Ulnar ulcer was observed after operations. Reflex score of left foot toe was recorded. The nerve regeneration and functional recovery was assessed through electrophysiological examinations,comparison of wet mass ratio between the left and right hind limb gastrocnemius,morphological observations,transmission electron microscopy 12 weeks after operations. RESULTS: Group B had the lowest scoring of toespreading reflex,whereas Group A had the highest scoring of toespreading reflex. There was a statistically significant difference in the scoring of toespreading reflex between group A and group C. In terms of the diameter of regenerated nerve fiber and the thickness of regenerated myelin sheath,no statistically significant ( P>0.05) difference was found between group A and group C,whereas the difference was significant ( P<0.05) between groups A/C and group B. The presence of peripheral nerves found in light microscopic examinations revealed normal characteristics of myelinated fibers in all groups. The myelinated axon profile was almost equal between group B and group C under electron microscopic examinations. However,more degenerated axons with disturbed contoursin were found in group B compared with group C. CONCLUSION: Autologous vein nerve conduit supported by vascular stent increases regeneration of nerves.

[Comparison of USS Combined with Sacroiliac Screw and CMAS Iliosacral Fixation in the Treatment of Unstable Sacral Fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of two lumbopelvic fixation procedures for treating unstable sacral fractures. METHODS: The clinical data of 47 patients were treated for unstable sacral fractures in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2010 to December 2014 were reviewed. Twentytwo patients (28 sides) were treated with USS combined with iliosacral screw (group A),while 25 patients (39 sides) were treated with closed multiaxial screws (CMAS) iliosacral fixation system combined with Posterior Segmental Spinal Fixation system (group B). The outcomes of the two procedures were compared using the following indicators: length of operations,amount of intraoperative blood loss,MATTA score of fracture reduction,MAJEED function score one year postoperation,postoperative complications,and GIBBONS Classification of sacral nerve injury in patients with sacral nerve symptoms. RESULTS: Group A had longer operations [(121.4±5.1) min] than group B [(110.6±4.5) min, P<0.05]. Group A had larger intraoperative blood loss [(618±45) mL] than group B [(570±40) mL, P<0.05]. Both groups had two cases of wound infection after operations that were cured by debridement and antibiotic therapy. According to the MATTA scoring criteria,group A had 92.9% excellent and good fracture reduction,compared with 97.5% in group B ( P<0.05). According to the MAJEED functional scoring criteria,group A had 86.4% excellent and good clinical functions,compared with 92.0% in group A ( P<0.05). The GIBBONS criteria indicated that neurological functions of both groups improved significantly after operations ( P<0.05),but no significant difference appeared between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION: CMAS iliosacral fixation system is better for treating unstable sacral fractures compared with USS combined with iliosacral screws.