The benefits of a percutaneous supplemental screw to reinforce the hinge of a medial open wedge tibial osteotomy.

INTRODUCTION: Our earlier studies reported that an additional lag screw placed from the opposite side increases the stability of the fixation construct in medial open wedge high tibia osteotomy (MOWHTO). The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical relevance of the use of a supplemental screw with immediate post-operative full weight-bearing and its benefits in terms of functional outcome, radiographic outcome and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed comparing the historical cohort (MOWHTO without opposite screw) (group A) with the current cohort (MOWHTO with opposite screw) (group B). The patients underwent clinical and radiological assessments. We evaluated the WOMAC (The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) score, IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) scores, and Lysholm knee score. Patients' return to sports and work were also recorded. RESULTS: We included 123 knees receiving MOWHTO alone (group A) with 114 knees (group B) receiving MOWHTO with an opposite screw. A shorter bone union time (18.3 ± 2.1 weeks v.s. 11.5 ± 2.6 weeks, p < 0.001), earlier return to sports (6.1 months vs. 4.6 months, p < 0.001) and return to works (3.2 months vs. 2.3 months, p < 0.001) and better 6-month functional outcomes were found in group B (p < 0.001). The complications were similar in both groups. One patient experienced irritation at the site of the screw entrance and the screw was removed after union. CONCLUSION: The current study evaluated the clinical efficacy of a supplemental lag screw placed from the opposite side in MOWHTO. Comparing to the plate alone, the additional opposite screw improved the implant and fixation stability under immediate weight-bearing without causing complications. A shorter time for returning to sports and work was noted, and a better functional outcome at 6-month follow-up was registered.

Radial distraction may reduce the incidence of ulnar-sided wrist pain in ulna-plus morphology intraoperatively following distal radius fractures fixation.

INTRODUCTION: Fixed-angle plate fixation can be an effective treatment for distal radius fractures (DRFs). However, patients with existing ulnar positive variance might be at risk of developing symptoms of ulnar-sided wrist pain (USWP). Ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) is one of the main treatment options for USWP. We hypothesized that a limited radial distraction at the fracture site at the time of surgery for DRF would be functionally equivalent to an indirect USO and that if this were done in a patient with an ulnar plus morphology it could potentially decrease the risk of USWP. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at a single institution and all the surgeries were performed by single surgeon. A total of 136 patients (92 women and 44 men) with a mean age of 55 years were enrolled with 57 patients in the distraction group (from 2014 to 2017) and 79 patients (from 2011 to 2013) in the non-distraction group. Patients were assessed USWP. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, grip strength, and range of motion for the wrist. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 37.9 months (range, 28-61 months). The radiographs at postoperative 2-year follow-ups showed the mean ulnar positive variance was 1.3 mm (range, 1-2 mm) in the distraction group and 3.5 mm (range, 2-5 mm) in the non-distraction group. The average of the distraction length was 2.32 mm (range, 2-3 mm). At the 2-year follow-ups, USWP presented in 7% (four patients) in the distraction group, which was significantly less than the incidence of 28% (22 patients) in the non-distraction group. The distraction group exhibited significantly better DASH scores and grip strength and less subsequent ulnar-shortening osteotomy for ulnar-sided wrist pain. CONCLUSIONS: The radial distraction procedure performed during DRFs fixation could possibly reduce the occurrence of postoperative USWP and improve the functional outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Therapeutic.

Is there a role for cementless primary stem in hip arthroplasty for early or late fixation failures of intertrochanteric fractures?

BACKGROUND: The choice of femur stems during the hip arthroplasty procedures for patients with treatment failure of intertrochanteric fractures (ITF) remains controversial. We aimed to compare the surgical complication and reoperation rates between cementless primary and revision stems in the early (≤3 months) and late (> 3 months) fixation failures of ITF. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cohort study conducted in a single, tertiary referral hospital of Taipei, Taiwan. We included hip arthroplasty procedures for failed ITF using cementless primary or revision stems. There were 40 and 35 patients who had early and late fixation failure of ITF, respectively. The patient demographics, time to fixation failure, surgical complications and medical complications were recorded for analysis. RESULTS: We included 75 patients that underwent hip arthroplasty procedure for failed ITF using cementless primary (n = 38) or revision (n = 37) stems. The mean age was 79.3 years and 56% of the patients were female. In the early fixation failure group, the complication rate was similar between the primary and revision stems (44% vs. 29%, p = 0.343). However, there was a trend toward a higher reoperation rate (31% vs. 8%, p = 0.061) of using the primary stem, compared with the revision stem. In the late fixation failure group, the rate of complication and reoperation was similar between the two stem types. CONCLUSION: For early fixation failures of ITFs, we caution against the use of cementless primary stems due to a trend towards an increased risk of reoperations compared to the use of cementless revision stems. However, in late fixation failures of ITFs, there is a role for cementless primary stems. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, retrospective cohort study.

Does suprascapular nerve release provide additional benefits for rotator cuff repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is still a lack of consensus regarding whether suprascapular nerve decompression should be routinely performed with rotator cuff repair. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether additional suprascapular nerve release (SSNR) could improve shoulder functional outcomes and pain relief more than rotator cuff repair alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a literature review of electronic databases for noncomparative and comparative studies investigating the effect of SSNR in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair. The primary outcome was the change in shoulder function scores from the preoperative status, and the secondary outcome was the change in the visual analog scale (VAS) score of pain after surgery. A subgroup analysis was conducted based on the study design (noncomparative studies vs. comparative studies). RESULTS: Nine studies comprising 279 participants were included. Our analysis demonstrated that the group that underwent SSNR had a better shoulder functional score after surgery than at preoperative assessment (standardized mean difference [SMD], 1.333, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.708-1.959). No significant differences were identified in shoulder function improvement between those with and without SSNR, with an SMD of 0.163 (95% CI, -0.091 to 0.418). Likewise, the group with SSNR showed a decreased VAS score after surgery compared to their preoperative status (SMD, 0.910; 95% CI, 0.560-1.260). However, there was no significant difference in VAS change between those with and without SSNR, with an SMD of 0.431 (95% CI, -0.095 to 0.956). CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis revealed that SSNR might not be routinely needed in rotator cuff tendon repair as no additional benefits in functional improvement or pain relief were identified compared to rotator cuff tendon repair alone.

Comparing radial lengthening osteotomy with ulnar shortening osteotomy to treat ulnar impaction syndrome after distal radius fracture malunion.

INTRODUCTION: Distal radius mal-unions often cause radius shortening and ulnar impaction syndrome. The modern treatments of ulnar impaction syndrome following distal radius mal-union are ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) and distal radius lengthening osteotomy (DRLO). However, there are few studies to compare long-term outcomes of these two treatments. This study compares isolated USO to DRLO for the treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome following distal radius mal-union. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 68 patients with extra-articular distal radius mal-unions treated by isolated USO in 36 patients and DRLO in 32 patients. Pain visual analog scale (VAS), wrist motion, grip strength, radiographic parameters including sigmoid inclination, DASH score, and perioperative complications were analyzed. Mean follow-up was 62.6 months. RESULTS: The postoperative VAS scores for pain on exertion were less in the DRLO group than the USO group (1.2 vs. 2.8, p = 0.02). The DASH scores were 16.7 and 29.8 in the DRLO and USO groups, respectively (p = 0.02). The reduction of pain and improvement of function showed significantly better in the DRLO group. The mean operative time was shorter in the USO group. Most of the sigmoid inclinations were changed in DRLO. There were two re-operations following USO for painful nonunion and two patients had subsequent DRUJ osteoarthritis at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Although both treatments improved range of motion, grip strength, and VAS for pain, DRLO was found in better reduction of pain and improvement of function. USO is a simpler procedure with a shorter operative time but it has an increased potential to cause subsequent osteoarthritis of the DRUJ as its incongruity of DRUJ after USO especially in reverted inclination. DRLO can be a preferred method for treating USWP in relevant distal radial mal-union.

Is double-crossed retrograde elastic stable intramedullary nailing an alternative method for the treatment of diaphyseal fractures in the adult humerus?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare two techniques for the surgical treatment of diaphyseal fractures in the adult humerus: double-crossed retrograde elastic stable intramedullary nailing (DCR-ESIN) and limited-contact dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP). METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted at a single hospital. We included 122 patients with diaphyseal fractures of the humerus who had received DCR-ESIN or LC-DCP from January 2011 to January 2017. We compared union rates, union times, disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) scores at the postoperative 1-year follow-up, and complications between the two groups. RESULTS: Plating management was performed in 63 patients, while DCR-ESIN was performed in 59 patients. The union rate was higher in the DCR-ESIN group than in the LC-DCP group (100% vs. 90.5%; p = 0.052). The union time was shorter in the DCR-ESIN group than in the LC-DCP group (12.0 weeks vs. 14.8 weeks; p < 0.001). The intraoperative blood loss and operative time were less in the DCR-ESIN group than in the LC-DCP group (76.4 min vs. 129.5 min; p < 0.001; 60.9 ml vs. 244.8 ml; p < 0.001, respectively). The DCR-ESIN had superior results for the rate of overall complications (p = 0.006). At the 1-year follow-up, the DCR-ESIN group had better DASH scores than the LC-DCP group (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The DCR-ESIN technique, used to treat diaphyseal fractures of the humerus, has shorter operative times, less intra-operative blood loss, shorter union times, and better functional outcomes at 1-year follow-up than the LC-DCP technique. DCR-ESIN may be an alternative method for the surgical treatment of diaphyseal humeral fractures in adults.

Postoperative spinal orthosis may not be necessary for minimally invasive lumbar spine fusion surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: With the progress and success in minimally invasive surgery of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF), the musculoskeletal injury was minimized. However, the role of postoperative orthosis in MIS TLIF has not been established and there is little evidence supporting the routine use of orthosis in MIS TLIF. METHODS: This is a prospective randomized clinical study. 90 patients who underwent MIS TLIF were randomly divided into groups A (with postoperative spinal orthosis) and B (without postoperative spinal orthosis). Patients were followed up for an average of 12.6 months. Clinical outcome was assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS). Fusion rate was classified with the BSF scale system at postoperative 6-month, and 12-month. RESULTS: Both groups had similar patient demographics. The use of postoperative spinal orthosis had no significant influence on instrumentation-related complications or radiological parameters at each follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we conclude that postoperative spinal orthosis is not necessary for MIS TLIF. Patients without postoperative spinal orthosis had the same fusion rates and improvement of VAS and ODI scores.

Risk factors and modes of failure in the modern dual mobility implant. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this meta-analysis were to: (1) validate the outcome of modern dual mobility (DM) designs in patients who had undergone primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures and (2) to identify factors that affect the outcome. METHODS: We searched for studies that assessed the outcome of modern DM-THA in primary and revision procedures that were conducted between January, 2000 to August, 2020 on PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Reviews and Embase. The pooled incidence of the most common failure modes and patient reported outcomes were evaluated in patients who have received: (1) primary THA, (2) revision THA for all causes or (3) for recurrent dislocation. A meta-regression analysis was performed for each parameter to determine the association with the outcome. The study design of each study was assessed for potential bias and flaws by using the quality assessment tool for case series studies. RESULTS: A total of 119 studies (N= 30016 DM-THAs) were included for analysis. The mean follow-up duration was 47.3 months. The overall implant failure rate was 4.2% (primary: 2.3%, revision for all causes: 5.5%, recurrent dislocation: 6.0%). The most common failure modes were aseptic loosening (primary: 0.9%, revision for all causes: 2.2%, recurrent dislocation: 2.4%), septic loosening (primary:0.8%, revision for all causes: 2.3%, recurrent dislocation: 2.5%), extra-articular dislocation (primary:0.6%, revision for all causes:1.3%, recurrent dislocation:2.5%), intra-prosthetic dislocation (primary:0.8%, revision for all causes:1.0%, recurrent dislocation:1.6%) and periprosthetic fracture (primary:0.9%, revision for all causes:0.9%, recurrent dislocation:1.3%). The multi-regression analysis identified younger age (ß=-0.04, 95% CI -0.07 - -0.02) and female patients (ß=3.34, 95% CI 0.91-5.78) were correlated with higher implant failure rate. Age, gender, posterolateral approach and body mass index (BMI) were not risk factors for extra-articular or intra-prosthetic dislocation in this cohort. The overall Harris hip score and Merle d'Aubigné score were 84.87 and 16.36, respectively. Level of evidence of this meta-analysis was IV. CONCLUSION: Modern dual-mobility designs provide satisfactory mid-term implant survival and clinical performance. Younger age and female patients might impact the outcome after DM-THA. Future research directions should focus on, (1) long-term outcome of modern dual-mobility design, including specific concerns such as intra-prosthetic dislocation and elevated metal ion, and (2) cost-effectiveness analysis of dual-mobility implant as an alternative to conventional THA for patients who are at high risk of dislocation.

Ellipse method for measuring Liaw's anteversion of the acetabular component after total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Several cup anteversion measurements for post-operative total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgery have been described. We developed the standardized Liaw's trigonometric method to eliminate the influence of patient position, which is the most accurate method for cup anteversion measurement. We then developed an ellipse method using the Elliversion software and reported an interobserver error reduction in 2013. In this study, we attempted to apply this ellipse method in the clinic and compared its accuracy with the standard trigonometric version. METHODS: In the present study, we attempted to incorporate the ellipse method with Liaw's standardized anteversion in the simulated cup position. We measured standardized Liaw's anteversion for 434 radiographs in the clinic using the ellipse method. Repeated standard deviation (RSD) was calculated for accuracy evaluation. Furthermore, paired t-test was used for comparison with the interobserver and intraobserver errors. RESULTS: We found that the standardized Liaw's anteversion measured using the ellipse method showed lower RSD than the radiographic version. RSD was 0.795 in the standardized Liaw's anteversion with ellipse method group. The p-values of the paired t-test were all higher than 0.05 when measuring the interobserver and intraobserver errors. It indicated that the ellipse method was a precise and simple tool for cup anteversion measurement. CONCLUSION: We believe that this ellipse measurement can assist surgeons while placing the acetabulum cup into the precise position and enable early diagnosis of acetabulum loosening.

The efficacy of continuous versus single-injection femoral nerve block in Total knee Arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Continuous femoral nerve block (cFNB) has been developed to extend the analgesic effect since the efficacy of single-injection femoral nerve block (sFNB) is often limited to approximately 16-24 h. The aim of this meta-analysis was to validate the add-on effect of cFNB in the setting of a multimodal analgesic protocol. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature review on Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library and PubMed. Eight randomized controlled trials (N = 626) that compared the efficacy of cFNB with sFNB were included. The primary outcome domains consist of visual analog scale (VAS) score at postoperative 24 and 48 h. The secondary outcome domains include opioid consumption, length of hospital stay and incidence of nausea. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that cFNB was associated with a lower VAS score at 24 h (SMD: -0.277;95% CI - 0.503 to - 0.05). However, the difference of VAS score did not meet the minimal clinically importance difference for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). VAS score at 48 h was similar between the cFNB and sFNB group. The cFNB group was associated with less amount of opioids consumed at both 24(SMD: -1.056;95% CI - 1.737 to - 0.375) and 48 h(SMD: -1.040;95% CI - 1.790 to - 0.289). Length of hospital stay and incidence of nausea were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In the setting of a multimodal analgesic protocol, patients might benefit from cFNB with regards to a reduced need of opioids in the early postoperative period. However, we did not find a clinically significant difference in pain scores at different time points between the cFNB and sFNB group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I; meta-analysis.

Is short-course systemic antibiotic therapy using an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer safe after resection for infected total knee arthroplasty? A comparative study.

BACKGROUD/PURPOSE: Most patients who undergo two-stage exchange arthroplasty surgery for total knee arthroplasty prosthetic joint infection (TKA-PJI) receive a six-week course of systemic antibiotic treatment after the first stage procedure. However, the optimal duration of therapy has not been conclusively determined. METHODS: We included 64 patients with periprosthetic knee infection who had undergone two-stage exchange arthroplasty. Between March 2003 and December 2009, 21 patients were given a short-course (less than 1 week) antibiotic treatment, and 43 were given a standard-course (4-6 weeks) treatment during the interim period. We compared length of hospital stay, duration of intravenous and overall systemic antibiotic treatments, and rate of recurrent periprosthetic knee infection between groups. RESULTS: Short-course antibiotic treatment was associated with a shorter hospital stay and a shorter duration of intravenous and systemic antibiotic treatment. Implant survival regarding re-resection arthroplasty and chronic oral antibiotic suppression as primary endpoints was not significant different statistically between two groups (p = 0.317). The 1-year implant survival rates were 91.7% in the short-course group and 89.8% in the standard-course group. The 5-year implant survival rates were 85.2% and 74.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: After the first stage of resection arthroplasty for a two-stage exchange arthroplasty, a short course of antibiotic treatment had similar implant survival rates in comparison to the standard 6-week course. With radical debridement combined with an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer along with serial monitoring of the patient, a short course antibiotic treatment may be adequate in patients with TKA-PJI.

The efficacy and safety of continuous versus single-injection popliteal sciatic nerve block in outpatient foot and ankle surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Continuous popliteal sciatic nerve block (CPSNB) has been performed in outpatient foot and ankle surgery as a regional anesthesia method to relieve postoperative pain. Its efficacy as well as safety is yet to be established. There are two purposes of this study: (1) to validate the efficacy of CPSNB with regards to better pain relief and reduced analgesics consumption; (2) to assess the safety of CPSNB. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature review on Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, PubMed and Embase and only included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Five RCTs that compared the efficacy and safety of CPSNB with the single-injection popliteal sciatic nerve block group were included. The primary outcome parameters were visual analog scale (VAS) scores at postoperative 24, 48 and 72 h. The secondary outcome parameters were amount of oral analgesics consumed, overall patient satisfaction and need of admission after surgery. A sensitivity analysis was performed to explore the consistency of the results. RESULTS: In comparison with the single-injection group, CPSNB was associated with a lower VAS score at postoperative 24 and 48 h (p < 0.05). There were no neuropathic symptoms or infection events after the nerve block. However, there were several minor complications associated with the pump and catheter system, with drug leakage being the most common complication (N = 26 of 187, 13.9%). CONCLUSION: CPSNB is an effective method in pain management for outpatient foot and ankle surgery. Both methods appear to be safe as none of the patients experienced neuropathic symptoms or infection. Further studies with larger sample size are needed to compare the risk of major complications between the two methods. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I; meta-analysis.

The efficacy of intraoperative periarticular injection in Total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Periarticular injection (PAI) is a regional analgesia method performed in total hip arthroplasty (THA) for postoperative pain relief. However, its efficacy and safety is still inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to assess the safety of PAI and to determine if PAI provides better pain relief and reduce the consumption of opioids after THA. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and the Cochrane Library comprehensively. Only randomized control trials were included in our meta-analysis. Eleven studies that compared the efficacy of PAI with the control group were included. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and Jadad score were applied to assess the quality of the included studies. We used the recommendations by the Cochrane Collaboration to reduce bias and to ensure our results were reliable and veritable. RESULTS: Our analysis demonstrated that PAI was more effective than the control group with a lower visual analog scale (VAS) score during rest at 24 h (P = 0.003), 48 h (P = 0.002), and VAS score with activity at 24 h (P = 0.04). There was also less amount of opioid consumption (P = 0.01). There were no differences in length of hospital stay (P = 0.526) and postoperative nausea rate (P = 0.153). CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, PAI showed better pain relief and less amount of opioid consumption after THA. Our meta-analysis suggests that PAI is a safe and effective multimodal analgesia technique that can be used for THA.

Application of two-parameter scoliometer values for predicting scoliotic Cobb angle.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, in which obvious curves are visible in radiographic images, is also seen in combination with lumps in the back. These lumps contribute to inclination, which can be measured by a scoliometer. To the authors' knowledge, there are no previous formulas combining thoracic and lumbar scoliometer values simultaneously to predict thoracic and lumbar Cobb angles, respectively. This study aimed to create more accurate two-parameter mathematical formulas for predicting thoracic and lumbar Cobb angles. METHODS: Between Dec. 2012 and Jan. 2013, patients diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis in an outpatient clinic were enrolled. The maximal trunk rotations at the thoracic and lumbar regions were recorded with a scoliometer. Right asymmetry hump was deemed positive (+), and left asymmetry hump was deemed negative (-). The Cobb angles were measured with a Picture Archiving and Communication System. Statistical analysis included Pearson's correlation coefficient, multivariate regression and Bland-Atman analysis. RESULTS: One-hundred and one patients were enrolled in our study. The average thoracic curve (TC) was 23.3 ± 1.8°, while the average lumbar curve (LC) was - 23.3 ± 1.4°. The thoracic inclination (TI) and lumbar inclination (LI) were 4.5 ± 0.7 and - 5.9 ± 0.6, respectively. The one-parameter formula for the thoracic curve was TC = 2.0 TI + 14.3 (r = 0.813); for the lumbar curve, it was LC = 0.9 LI - 16.9 (r = 0.409). By multivariate regression, the two-parameter formulas for the thoracic and lumbar curves were TC = 2.6 TI - 1.4 LI (r = 0.931) and LC = - 1.5 TI + 2.0 LI (r = 0.874), respectively. The two-parameter formulas were more accurate than the one-parameter formulas. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of these two-parameter formulas for thoracic and lumbar curves, the Cobb angles can be predicted more accurately by the readings of the scoliometer. Physicians and other healthcare practitioners can thus evaluate patients with scoliosis more precisely than before with a scoliometer.

Effectiveness of suture anchor and transosseous suture technique in arthroscopic foveal repair of the triangular fibrocartilage complex: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there were two major surgical methods for arthroscopic triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) foveal repair: suture anchor (SA) and transosseous suture (TOS). The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the relevant outcome improvement and safety of SA and TOS technique. METHODS: Literature review of electronic databases for studies investigating the effects of SA and TOS in patients undergoing arthroscopic TFCC foveal repair was performed. We compared the pre-operative and postoperative functional outcomes, clinical outcomes [pain, range of motion (ROM) and grip strength], and complications of two methods. Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was used to determine clinically meaningful improvement. RESULTS: There were 1263 distinct studies identified, with 26 (904 patients) meeting the inclusion criteria. The mean age of participants ranged from 21.4 to 41 years, and the mean follow-up time ranged from 6 to 106 months. Both SA and TOS groups reported significant improvement in the modified mayo wrist score, the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score, quick DASH score, patient-reported wrist evaluation (PRWE) score, and the visual analog scale (VAS) score. According to MCID, all the studies from both groups reporting DASH, quick DASH, PRWE and VAS score achieved clinically meaningful improvement. (MCID: 10 for DASH, 14 for quick DASH, 14 for PRWE and 1.6-18 for VAS). The ROM changes in both groups varied from improvement to deterioration. Grip strength improved in both SA and TOS group. Most complications were self-limited. The reoperation rates in SA and TOS ranged from 0 to 20% and 0 to 27.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both SA and TOS technique for arthroscopic TFCC foveal repair could achieve improvement in postoperative functional outcomes, pain, and grip strength with low reoperation rate. However, the ROM improvement was still inconclusive. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: Systematic review of level III and IV studies.

Does the Addition of iPACK Block to Adductor Canal Block Provide Improved Analgesic Effect in Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The interspace between popliteal artery and the capsule of posterior knee (iPACK) block was proposed in recent years to relieve posterior knee pain. Since adductor canal block (ACB) and iPACK involve different branches of the sensory nerves, it is theoretically feasible to combine iPACK block and ACB to relief pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We aim to validate the efficacy of adding iPACK block to ACB in the setting of a multimodal pain management protocol following TKA. A comprehensive literature review on Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and PubMed was performed. Eight studies (N = 1,056) that compared the efficacy of iPACK block + ACB with ACB alone were included. Primary outcomes consisted of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at rest or during activity at various time points. Secondary outcomes include opioids consumption, walking distance, and length of hospital stay (LOS). Compared to ACB alone, VAS scores at rest (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.05 to -0.30) and during activity (SMD: -0.26; 95% CI: -0.49 to -0.03) on the day of surgery were lower in the iPACK block + ACB group. However, the difference did not reach the minimal clinically important difference. Opioids consumption at postoperative 24 hours was lower in the iPACK + ACB group (SMD: -0.295; 95% CI: -0.543 to -0.048). VAS score on postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD2, opioids consumption from 24 to 48 hours, walking distance, and LOS were not different. In conclusion, the addition of iPACK block to ACB in a multimodal pain management protocol can effectively reduce opioids consumption in the early postoperative period. This is a level III, meta-analysis study.

The safety and cost-analysis of simultaneous versus staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty in a Taiwan population.

BACKGROUND: In patients with advanced osteoarthritis (OA) of the bilateral knees, uncertainty remains as to whether simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (SiTKA) or staged TKA (StTKA) is the treatment of choice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and relative cost of SiTKA vs StTKA in Taiwan patients. METHODS: Using the Big Data Center of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, we retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent SiTKA or StTKA due to OA or spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee from January 2011 to December 2016. We assessed length of stay, transfusion rate, early postoperative complications, 30- and 90-day readmission rate, 1-year reoperation rate, and the indication for reoperation. Furthermore, we analyzed the total cost of the two groups, including reimbursement from the national health insurance (NHI), cost of the procedures, and net income from each case. RESULTS: A total of 2016 patients (1565 SiTKA and 451 StTKA) were included in this study. The two groups had no significant differences in rates of complications, 30- and 90-day readmission, or 1-year reoperation. The length of stay was on average 5.0 days longer for StTKA ( p < 0.01). In terms of cost, all categories of medical costs were significantly lower for SiTKA, while the net hospital income was significantly higher for StTKA. CONCLUSION: SiTKA is a safe and cost-effective surgery. Both SiTKA and StTKA have similar rates of postoperative complications, readmission and reoperation, but SiTKA significantly reduces medical expenses for both the patient and the NHI.

Efficacy of Povidone Iodine Solution in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in Minimally Invasive Instrumented Spinal Fusion Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case-controlled study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate overall infection rate and adverse event after harvesting bone graft soaking and surgical wound irrigation by povidone iodine solution (PVI) in the minimally invasive instrumented spinal fusion surgery. In order to reduce the rate of surgical site infection in spinal surgery, surgical wound irrigation by povidone iodine solution has been well-established. However, the efficacy of autologous bone graft soaking by PVI has not been evaluated before. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study. 120 patients were enrolled in the PVI group and compared with 124 patients in the historical cohort. In the PVI group, the harvesting autologous bone graft was soaking and the surgical wound was also irrigated by diluted PVI solution. The outcome measures were overall infection rate, superficial wound infection and deep infection. In addition, the delayed union of the fusion mass was also evaluated through the radiograph evaluation. RESULTS: Both groups shared similar patient demographics instead of body mass index. The use of PVI solution had decreased the overall infection rate (0% versus 4.03%, p = 0.026) and deep infection rate (0% versus 3.23%, p = 0.047). In addition, there was no delayed bone healing in the PVI group after autologous bone graft soaking. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we conclude that harvested autologous bone graft after PVI soaking in spinal fusion surgery can decrease the incidence of deep infection.

Cementless primary or revision stem in revision hip arthroplasty for aseptic stem loosening with Paprosky type I/II femoral defect?

BACKGROUND: The use of primary or revision stem during revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) for aseptic stem loosening with Paprosky type I/II femoral defect remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent revision THA with a primary or revision stem. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 78 patients who received revision THA for aseptic stem loosening using primary (N = 28) or revision stems (N = 50). The bone defects were classified as Paprosky type I or II. The mean follow-up duration was 72.3 ± 34.7 months. The primary outcome domains included surgical complications and implant failures. The secondary outcome domains included medical complications, 30- and 90-day readmission, and Harris hip score (HHS). RESULTS: The use of revision stem was associated with a higher incidence than primary stem of patient complications (60.0% vs. 32.1%, p = 0.018), including intraoperative femur fracture (28.0% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.029) and greater trochanter fracture (16.0% vs. 0%, p = 0.045). The implant survival rate was comparable between groups. HHS at the final follow-up was similar. CONCLUSION: With a lower risk of surgical complications and a similar rate of mid-term implant survival, cementless primary stem appears superior to revision stem in revision THA for aseptic stem loosening with Paprosky type I/II femoral defect.