Partial hand replantation using free microsurgical replantation with staged heterotopic banking of amputated parts: towards improving long term outcomes.

In hand trauma, the uninjured forearm has been touted as the ideal site for ectopic banking in digit/hand amputations. Here, we describe the temporary ectopic implantation and subsequent replantation of a partially amputated hand and highlight the "Three R's" - Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Revision over the first year of recovery.

Pain Control after Reduction Mammaplasty with Combination Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone Regional Block: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: There are many approaches to pain control in reduction mammaplasty. Preoperative bupivacaine regional blocks control pain relatively inexpensively ($0.07/mL), but last only 8 hours. A liposomal bupivacaine formulation lasts 72 hours but can be costly ($17.21/mL). Orthopedic and thoracic operations have demonstrated that dexamethasone ($0.44/mL) plus bupivacaine can prolong analgesia. The authors conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial to determine whether dexamethasone plus bupivacaine regional block improves postoperative pain control, reduces inpatient narcotic use, and improves patient satisfaction. METHODS: Female patients were randomized into control and experimental groups. Both groups received preoperative modified block of the pectoral nerves: bupivacaine plus saline (control group) or bupivacaine plus dexamethasone (experimental group). Postoperative pain regimens were standardized. Vital signs, pain scores, narcotic consumption, and antiemetic use were recorded throughout the hospitalization. Quality-of-life surveys were distributed at the first postoperative visit. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients completed the study: 25 control and 26 experimental group patients. The experimental group averaged lower pain scores, although there was no statistically significant difference overall or at each 4-hour interval. Postoperative narcotic use was significantly lower in the experimental group (mean, 23.2 oral morphine equivalents versus 36.6 oral morphine equivalents per patient; P = 0.026). There were no differences in 4-hour interval vital signs, antiemetic use, or length of stay. Survey results showed enhanced quality of life in the experimental group, but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of dexamethasone to bupivacaine in the preoperative modified block of the pectoral nerves block before bilateral reduction mammaplasty resulted in significantly less narcotic consumption in the hospital. This can be a cost-effective adjunct for postoperative pain control. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, II.

Preoperative delay of more than 1 hour increases the risk of surgical site infection.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective institutional database review. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether preoperative in-room time is a risk factor for surgical site infection (SSI). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Prior to spine surgery, while the patient is in the operating room, several procedures may be performed that may delay surgery. During this time, the sterile field may be exposed and may become contaminated. The hypothesis of this study was that the length of time in the operative room prior to surgical incision (anesthesia ready time [ART]) was related to the risk of SSI. METHODS: From 2005 to 2009, we identified 276 patients who developed SSI out of 7991 cases that underwent spine surgery from 2005 to 2009. Patient demographic factors, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, wound classification, number of levels, anatomic region, type of surgical approach, and length of surgery were extrapolated. ART was calculated as the time after the patient was brought into the operating room prior to surgical incision. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for SSI. RESULTS: Mean ART was significantly (P = 0.001) higher in patients with infection (68 min) compared with those without infection (60 min). The infection rate was higher in cases with ART more than 1 hour compared with those with less than 1 hour (4.9% vs. 2.3%, P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, ART more than 1 hour was an independent risk factor for SSI, along with number of levels, American Society of Anesthesiologists score and posterior approach. The highest percentage of cases with ART more than 1 hour occurred in August and September. CONCLUSION: Preoperative in-room time prior to the start of surgical incision is an independent risk factor for SSI. All possible steps should be taken prior to entry into the operating theater to reduce in-room time and opening of surgical sterile instrumentation be delayed until the surgery is ready to proceed.