Long-term patient reported sexual and urological dysfunction in males after operatively treated pelvic ring injuries Do generic outcome measures identify genitourinary health problems?

BACKGROUND: A consecutive series of 177 male patients, with high energy pelvic ring injuries, were treated operatively in our institution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term sexual and urological dysfunction in these patients using validated disease specific patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), and identify if sexual and urological dysfunction is detectable from generic outcome scores used in the assessment of pelvic ring injury at a minimum of 10 years follow-up (range 10-22). METHODS: Surviving patients were contacted to complete validated PROMs to examine genitourinary and global functional outcome. Fifty-two male participants, had a mean age of 44-years-old (range,16-69) and ISS of 17 at time of injury. Mean duration follow-up of 15 years. The primary outcome measures were the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) and the Modular Questionnaire for Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (MLUTS). Secondary outcomes were the EQ-5D and Short Form 36. Responses were tested for correlation between generic and disease-specific PROMs and analyzed for association with genitourinary injury and age as risk factors of poor outcome. RESULTS: Genitourinary injuries occurred in 7 patients (13%), and ten patients (19%) had documented neurological dysfunction following injury. Satisfactory general functional outcome was reported with EQ-5D-3L VAS score of 71. However, 80% report some level of sexual dysfunction with 37% reporting it as severe. MLUTS mean symptom score was 9 (range, 0 - 26) and bothersomeness score was 21 (range, 0-90). There was poor correlation between urological and sexual dysfunction scores and between the disease specific and generic scores. CONCLUSION: In operatively treated pelvic ring injuries, validated disease specific PROMs, (SHIM and MLUTs) identified a significant impact to both sexual and urological patient health, with 37% reporting severe sexual dysfunction. Longstanding sexual and/or urological dysfunction can be a source of significant psychological impact that this study has shown is not identifiable using generic PROMs; EQ-5D-3L and SF-36. To gain a holistic understanding of the functional outcome of patients following a pelvic injury, urological and sexual dysfunction must not be overlooked.

Prolonged operative time increases risk of blood loss and transfusion requirements in revision hip surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Revision hip surgery is well documented to have a high association with substantial blood loss and the associated need for a blood transfusion. This exposes the patient to increased risk of transfusion reaction and blood borne infection. There are many strategies to minimize allogeneic transfusion rates in revision surgery such as pre-operative autologous donation, peri-operative tranexamic acid, thrombin sealants, normovolaemic haemodilution, intra-operative blood salvage and the use of post-operative autologous drains. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively looked at 177 consecutive cases performed at one centre by a single surgical and anaesthetic team to identify which patient and operative factors were most significant in minimizing the requirement for an allogeneic blood transfusion. RESULTS: Our results identified the duration of surgery as being the only significant variable affecting the level of blood loss. We noted a 3% increase in the probability of massive blood loss (> 2000 mls) for every minute of increased surgical time in our series. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that measures to minimize the duration of surgery would be beneficial in reducing blood loss and the risks of requiring blood transfusions in revision hip surgery.

Long-Term Patient-Reported Functional Outcome of Polytraumatized Patients With Operatively Treated Pelvic Fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To report the long-term functional outcome of a cohort of patients with operatively treated unstable pelvic fractures using validated patient-reported outcome measures. DESIGN: Long-term observational study using prospective and retrospective data. SETTING: Tertiary referral pelvic trauma center, Bristol, United Kingdom. PATIENTS: Seventy-four polytraumatized patients with operatively treated unstable pelvic ring injuries (50 OTA/AO type B and 24 OTA/AO type C, mean Injury Severity Score 17) treated between 1994 and 2005. INTERVENTION: Sixty-four (86%) patients were treated with internal fixation. The remaining 10 patients (14%) were treated with either combined percutaneous posterior fixation and anterior external fixation or external fixation in isolation. MAIN OUTCOME: Patient-reported functional outcome. MEASUREMENTS: Short Form-36, with UK norm-based comparator scores and EQ-5D-3L. RESULTS: Patients were between 11 and 22 years after injury (mean 15 years). We found no significant association between fracture classification and outcome score, but compared with age- and sex-matched scores for a UK population, differences were statistically significant in 3 of the 8 domains of health: physical function (P = 0.04), bodily pain (P = 0.001), and vitality (P = 0.001). The level of disability remained constant for these patients compared with their patient-reported outcome measure scores reported 8 years previously. CONCLUSION: Patients who sustain an unstable pelvic fracture continue to have significant functional limitations compared with an uninjured population. These changes were not found to be related to age, injury pattern, genitourinary injury, or neurological injury. Functional outcome scores did not change over the 2 long-term time points. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Management of distal radius fractures in emergency departments in England and Wales.

AIMS: To examine variations and consistencies in the emergency management of distal radial fractures across England and Wales. METHODS: A survey was conducted of emergency departments (ED) in England and Wales regarding the acute management of patients with distal radius fractures. The study investigated the use of anaesthesia, the person performing both the anaesthetic and the manipulation, the use of resuscitation facilities and monitoring, the cast applied, the follow-up and the management of complex injuries or those in younger patients. RESULTS: Surveys were conducted in 105 units, giving a response rate of 91% of ED in England and Wales. The most frequent anaesthetic types were haematoma block (50%), intravenous benzodiazepines (20%), Bier's block (17%) and a small minority using other techniques such as brachial plexus blocks (2%). Basic cardiorespiratory monitoring was variable, and 10% of trusts did not routinely monitor patients undergoing Bier's blocks or manipulation with sedatives. Only 50% of ED would manipulate comminuted fractures or fractures in young adult patients. CONCLUSION: There are significant regional variations. The use of monitoring is highly variable and there are no consistent standards when administering potentially potent anaesthetic medications. The low percentage of units attempting reduction of complex fractures or fractures in young patients will disadvantage training in ED as well as patients. Guidelines are required to improve care, which is highly inconsistent at present.

Headless compression screw fixation prevents symptomatic metalwork in arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis.

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (AAA) is a recognised salvage procedure for end-stage arthritis. Its reported disadvantages include a high rate of re-operation for symptomatic prominence of metalwork. We propose that the use of a headless screw would reduce this re-operation rate. METHODS: We reviewed 32 AAAs, using the Acutrak™6/7 mm headless screw fixation system, to determine peri-operative parameters and complication rates. RESULTS: At an average of 22 months follow-up, 28 (88%) had united radiologically. There were 2 stable fibrous non-unions not requiring further intervention. Of the other 2, one was successfully revised using an open technique, and the other patient died of unrelated causes. There were no other complications in this series, with no cases of metalwork removal for prominence or pain. CONCLUSIONS: Using a headless screw fixation for arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis prevents symptomatic metalwork prominence and the requirement for removal.

High rates of sexual and urinary dysfunction after surgically treated displaced pelvic ring injuries.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic ring injuries may be associated with genitourinary injury (GUI) and result in urinary or sexual dysfunction. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We determined (1) incidence of new sexual and urinary dysfunction after surgically treated pelvic ring injuries, (2) association of sexual or urinary dysfunction to fracture type and GUI, and (3) incidence and association between new sexual and urinary dysfunction in male and female patients without GUI. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 151 patients by postal questionnaire after pelvic reconstruction. Presence, type, and severity of new sexual dysfunction and urinary dysfunction were related to GUI and type of pelvic fracture using the Young and Burgess classification. Minimum followup was 1 year (median, 5 years; range, 1-12 years). RESULTS: New sexual dysfunction occurred in 61 of 143 (43%) and urinary dysfunction in 61 of 150 (41%) responding patients. Neither new sexual nor urinary dysfunction was associated with sex or GUI. In patients with no GUI, new sexual dysfunction was associated with chronologic age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04/year; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07) and pelvic fracture type. Lateral compression injury was less likely to result in new sexual or urinary dysfunction compared with AP type (sexual OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 0.67-4.47; urinary OR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.15-7.66) and vertical shear type (sexual OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.02-6.64; urinary OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.81-11.73). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest new sexual and urinary dysfunction occur at relatively high rates after pelvic fracture in patients with or without GUI. We recommend early assessment and referral for specialist treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, prognostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Is clopidogrel stopped prior to hip fracture surgery--A survey of current practice in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Clopidogrel is an anti-platelet agent which causes an increase in bleeding time. An increasing number of patients presenting with an acute femoral neck fracture take clopidogrel in combination with other anti-platelet agents as regular prescription medication. Such patients may be at higher risk of increased peri-operative bleeding. No guidelines or recommendations currently exist regarding the routine discontinuation of clopidogrel in patients with fracture of the femoral neck awaiting surgery. METHODS: A telephone questionnaire was undertaken to examine the current practice amongst 110 orthopaedic departments in the UK regarding the discontinuation of clopidogrel prior to trauma surgery for femoral neck fractures. This was compared to the practice of discontinuing aspirin and warfarin in the same patient groups in these departments. RESULTS: There appears to be significant variation in practice amongst orthopaedic departments with 43.6% having a policy of discontinuing clopidogrel. This compares to 37.3% of trusts having a policy of stopping aspirin and 97.3% stopping warfarin. CONCLUSION: There is wide variation in practice regarding the discontinuation of clopidogrel preoperatively in patients due to undergo surgery for femoral neck fractures. These findings highlight the need to develop guidelines for the preoperative management of these patients.