Recurrent Diffuse Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis in the Hand of a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report.

Diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis is characterized by synovial inflammation and hemosiderin deposition. It mainly occurs in adults, with the hip and knees being the most common sites of involvement. It is associated with high recurrence rates, with open synovectomy being the most common treatment method to avoid recurrences. Few cases of diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis have been reported in pediatric patients, especially in uncommon locations such as the hand. This case presents pathology-confirmed diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis in the hand of a pediatric patient with multiple recurrences despite adequate surgical margins. The patient underwent mass excision with adjuvant radiation treatment after his last recurrence, with excellent functional outcomes and no recurrence at the five-year follow-up.

Efficacy of an Opioid-Sparing Perioperative Multimodal Analgesia Protocol on Posterior Lumbar Fusion in a Hispanic Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Posterior lumbar fusion surgery has become more common amid an aging population, with degenerative disease as its most common indication. Historically, postoperative pain control for spine surgery has relied on opioids. However, opioid use is associated with adverse effects such as dependence, respiratory depression, and altered cognition. Our study aimed to determine whether an opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia regimen (ketorolac, orphenadrine, and gabapentin) could be a viable alternative to diminish opioid use compared with a standard opioid-based regimen in Hispanic patients undergoing posterior lumbar spinal fusion. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial of Hispanic patients scheduled to undergo elective posterior spinal fusion. Inclusion criteria included age 30 to 85 years, Hispanic ethnicity, lumbar stenosis between L1 and S1, elective posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation, American Society of Anesthesiologists Score <2, and consent to participate in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups, an experimental multimodal analgesia and control (opioid-based) treatment groups, and outcomes such as morphine milligram equivalents used, visual analog scale score, and length of hospital stay were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The MMA experimental group used significantly lower amounts of opioid (measured with morphine milligram equivalent) than the opioid-based group during the 12-hour and 24-hour postoperative periods ( P -value = 0.023 and P -value = 0.033, respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed in opioid use in the 48-hour postoperative period between both groups ( P -value = 0.066). The MMA group had significantly lower VAS scores reported at the 12-hour, 24-hour, and 48-hour postoperative periods compared with the opioid-based group ( P -values = 0.016, 0.020, and 0.020, respectively). No difference was observed in the length of hospital stay between groups ( P -value = 0.169). DISCUSSION: Implementing an MMA protocol in Hispanic patients undergoing posterior lumbar fusion resulted in decreased overall opioid use and decreased pain intensity compared with the opioid-based group. MMA is an effective alternative for pain control in patients who want to avoid opioid use. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Identifier: NCT05413902.

Is the whole-day use of surgical masks during the coronavirus pandemic increasing the contamination of surgeons' masks?

Evaluating the impact of surgical masks' conservation practices during the Coronavirus Disease pandemic in the bioburden of the operating room seems imperative, as they play a critical role against this pandemic. We demonstrate that surgeons' masks tend to be contaminated due to the conservation techniques to maximize protection equipment during the pandemic. Health institutions should highlight the importance of surgical mask exchange to avoid increments in surgical mask contamination.