How we do it: shifting MR arthrogram compounding from the fluoroscopy suite to the sterile pharmacy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of shifting arthrogram injectate compounding from the fluoroscopy suite to the main hospital sterile pharmacy on cost, examination delays, and infection rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All arthrograms from the 12 months before (629 in total) and the 12 months after (699 in total) the change in arthrogram preparation procedure were compared to identify differences in examination delays and infection rate. The arthrogram formulation was sent to the Compounder's International Analytical Laboratory for stability testing. Finally, cost per injection analysis was performed to compare fluoroscopy suite with sterile pharmacy compounding. RESULTS: In the 699 arthrograms performed in the 12 months following transfer of arthrogram preparation to the main hospital pharmacy, there were 0 reported examination delays, 0 reported infections, and a 53% decrease in the material cost per arthrogram. There were three recorded instances of fluoroscopy suite preparation of arthrogram injectate due to unexpected add-on patients. Outside stability testing determined that the arthrogram injectate retained at least 90% potency 30 h post-preparation. CONCLUSION: Shifting the compounding of the arthrogram injectate from the fluoroscopy room to the main hospital sterile pharmacy provides a modest cost saving and can be accomplished without examination delays or any increase in infection rate. It brought our practice into compliance with USP797, which is the current guideline for compounding practitioners, by transferring the compounding preparation of the arthrogram injectate from a procedure room to the sterile pharmacy.

Adrenal insufficiency secondary to tuberculosis: the value of telemedicine in the remote diagnosis of Addison's disease in Ebeye, Republic of the Marshall Islands.

A young Marshallese woman presented with the insidious development of fever, cough, fatigue, profound weakness, massive weight loss, cachexia, alopecia, amenorrhea, and periumbilical hyperpigmentation. Limited laboratory studies revealed anemia, leukocytosis, and hyponatremia. Imaging studies, as well as digital photographs, transmitted over the Internet, using the secure Pacific Island Health Care Project (PIHCP), store-and-forward telemedicine system, suggested the diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis, and antimycobacterial antibiotics were begun. Sputum cultures eventually grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Based on the constellation of clinical signs and symptoms, the transmitted images, and limited laboratory data, adrenal tuberculosis (Addison's disease) with adrenal insufficiency was diagnosed and corticosteroids were initiated. The patient responded dramatically This case underscores the utility of telemedicine in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with unusual conditions, rarely seen today in the United States, from remote sites in the Developing World.

Accuracy of Ultrasound-Guided Intra-articular Hip Injections Performed in the Orthopedic Clinic.

Intra-articular hip injections have proven clinical value for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Historically, these injections have been performed by radiologists using fluoroscopic guidance. This necessitates a radiology referral, delays the injection, and represents lost productivity for the orthopedist. Ultrasound-guided intra-articular hip injections have been described in the radiology literature with excellent accuracy. These injections were performed by radiologists. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of ultrasound-guided hip injections performed in the orthopedic clinic by orthopedic surgeons and orthopedic physician assistants. Fifty ultrasound-guided hip injections were performed using a standard technique. Contrast was included, and an anteroposterior pelvis radiograph was obtained immediately following injection. Diagnosis, body mass index, procedure time, and visual analog scale scores were recorded. Radiographs were reviewed independently by a musculoskeletal radiologist and an orthopedic surgeon to determine intra-articular placement of the injection. A total of 50 hips were injected. There was no identifiable contrast in 2 patients, leaving 48 hips for analysis. Of these, contrast was injected intra-articularly in 46 hips for an accuracy of 96%. Average procedural time was 2.6 minutes, and the average visual analog scale score was 1.9 during the procedure. Revenue value units ranged from 1.72-2.55 for ultrasound-guided hip injections. These findings indicate ultrasound-guided intra-articular hip injections performed in the orthopedic clinic by surgeons or physician assistants are accurate, efficient, and patient-friendly. Additionally, they preserve patient continuity and maintain productivity within the orthopedic clinic. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(2):96-100.].

Subtrochanteric Femoral Insufficiency Fracture in Woman on Bisphosphonate Therapy for Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis.

We present the case of an 85-year-old woman who sustained a subtrochanteric femoral shaft insufficiency fracture after receiving bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis. After more than 6 years of taking risedronate sodium (Actonel) and daily supplemental calcium carbonate and vitamin D, the patient developed right anterior thigh pain that was worse with weight-bearing. A small, pyramidal ridge of cortical bone was demonstrated by radiographs and CT along the antero-lateral subtrochanteric region of the right femoral shaft. On MRI, there was focally increased T2 signal in the adjacent bone marrow. Radionuclide bone scan showed moderately-intense, focally-increased uptake. The lesion was recognized as a potential stress riser for fracture; however, before a prophylactic intramedullary rod could be placed, the patient suffered a low-energy insufficiency fracture through the lesion. In the setting of bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis, a painful pyramidal projection of cortical bone in the subtrochanteric femoral shaft should be recognized as an impending insufficiency fracture and treated expeditiously.

Subtrochanteric Femoral Insufficiency Fracture Following Bisphosphonate Therapy for Osseous Metastases.

We present the case of an insufficiency fracture of the femoral shaft in a 61-year-old man who had received bisphosphonate therapy to reduce the fracture risk from lytic renal cell carcinoma metastases to the spine. Approximately 1.5 years after beginning monthly intravenous infusions of zoledronic acid (Zometa), the patient complained of persistent thigh pain. Radionuclide bone scan showed mildly increased activity in the lateral subtrochanteric cortex of the right femur, where there was focally increased T2 signal on MRI and a small, triangular ridge or cortical beak on radiographs. The lesion was initially thought to represent a metastasis, but after the patient returned with a transverse femoral shaft fracture through the ridge following minimal trauma, MRI and biopsy of the lesion failed to show any evidence of tumor. We suggest that this fracture is similar to the low-energy proximal femoral shaft fractures recently reported in postmenopausal women who have received oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. Suppression of bone turnover may play a role in the development of these fractures.

Multicentric Osteoid Osteoma Presenting a Diagnostic Dilemma.

We present a case of a relatively common benign tumor that was a diagnostic dilemma because of its atypical appearance in multiple imaging modalities. Our patient was a 22-year-old man who presented with complaint of three months of shin pain with running. The radiographically demonstrated sclerotic lesion in his right tibia initially was thought most likely to be a stress fracture, but on further evaluation, it had features that suggested a subacute osteomyelitis or Brodie's abscess with focal sequestra. It was in fact, biopsy proven to be an osteoid osteoma with multiple, closely adjacent nidi. Its elongate, multicentric, "string of beads" arrangement as well as its intramedullary location is uncommon and it was larger than normally expected. Because of the unusual presentation and appearance of this lesion it caused a diagnostic dilemma. This lesion was evaluated with a full spectrum of modalities including radiographs, CT, MRI, Technetium 99m-MDP bone scan and Indium-111 white blood cell scan. After biopsy achieved a definite diagnosis, this tumor was successfully treated with radiofrequency ablation of all nidi in one session.