Antibiotic prophylaxis before tissue biopsy has no effect on culture results in presumed aseptic revision total hip arthroplasty.

Background: Antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) is considered to be the gold standard for revision total hip arthroplasty (R-THA) due to the high incidence of prosthetic joint infection (PJI). To diagnose PJI, intraoperative tissue biopsies for culture are of particular importance. However, antibiotic interference could theoretically lead to less reliable culture results. Currently, there is no consensus on whether AP should be administered before or after tissue biopsy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of AP timing on culture results and PJI rates in presumed aseptic R-THA. Methods: A retrospective single-center cohort study among 490 patients was performed; 61 patients received AP pre-incision, and 429 patients received AP post-biopsy. At least three intraoperative tissues were sampled for each patient and cultured for a minimum of 2 weeks. Minimum follow-up was 6 months. Epidemiological and clinical data (including culture results and incidence of PJI during follow-up) were gathered and analyzed. Results: Positive (4.9 % vs. 5.4 %, p=0.89) and contaminated culture results (23.0 % vs. 22.6 %, p=0.95) were not significantly different between pre-incisional and post-biopsy AP administration. Post-operative PJI incidence during follow-up was 1.6 % and 3.0 %, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (p=0.54). Conclusion: Pre-incisional AP administration does not yield fewer culture results compared to post-biopsy AP administration. Although statistically not significant, PJI during follow-up was almost twice as high when AP was withheld until after tissue biopsy. Other literature also supports the additional protective benefit of pre-incisional AP. Therefore, we believe pre-incisional AP administration is preferable for presumed aseptic R-THA.

[Do not overlook Lisfranc injuries]. / Mis het Lisfranc-letsel niet.

BACKGROUND: Lisfranc injury is rare and often very subtle. Subsequently, 20-50% of injuries are initially missed. Late or missed diagnosis increases the risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. CASE: A 51-year old men visited our surgical outpatient clinic with plantar hematoma and inability to bear weight on the right foot after he tripped three weeks earlier. Initial visitation to the emergency department after trauma led to the diagnosis contusion or ligament injury of the foot/ankle. After additional CT-scan of the foot, the final diagnosis of subtle/stable Lisfranc injury was made. Twelve weeks after trauma, the patient still experienced pain and was dissatisfied with the course of treatment. CONCLUSION: Timely diagnosis of Lisfranc injury is important to ensure adequate treatment may take place immediately. This achieves the most optimal prognosis. Always think of Lisfranc joint injury in case of plantar hematoma together with an inability to bear weight of the foot.

Voxel based morphometry-detected white matter volume loss after multi-modality treatment in high grade glioma patients.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy are components of standard multi-modality treatment of high grade gliomas (HGG) aimed at achieving local tumor control. Treatment is neurotoxic and RT plays an important role in this, inducing damage even distant to the RT target volume. PURPOSE: This retrospective longitudinal study evaluated the effect of treatment on white matter and gray matter volume in the tumor-free hemisphere of HGG patients using voxel based morphometry (VBM). METHOD: 3D T1-weighted MR images of 12 HGG patients at multiple timepoints during standard treatment were analyzed using VBM. Segmentation of white matter and gray matter of the tumor-free hemisphere was performed. Multiple general linear models were used to asses white matter and gray matter volumetric differences between time points. A mean RT dose map was created and compared to the VBM results. RESULTS: Diffuse loss of white matter volume, mainly throughout the frontal and parietal lobe, was found, grossly overlapping regions that received the highest RT dose. Significant loss of white matter was first noticed after three cycles of chemotherapy and persisted after the completion of standard treatment. No significant loss of white matter volume was observed between pre-RT and the first post-RT follow-up timepoint, indicating a delayed effect. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated diffuse and early-delayed decreases in white matter volume of the tumor-free hemisphere in HGG patients after standard treatment. White matter volume changes occurred mainly throughout the frontal and parietal lobe and grossly overlapped with areas that received the highest RT dose.