Heterotopic Ossification around the Elbow Revisited.

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the process of ectopic bone formation in the periarticular soft tissues and is usually formed in the elbow, hip and knee joint as a complication of trauma, burns, brain injury or surgical procedures. The development of HO around the elbow joint can cause a severe limitation of range of motion (ROM) and may affect daily activities of the patient. Treatment of ectopic bone formation around the elbow is a challenge for many surgeons. Non-operative treatment usually fails to restore the ROM of the elbow joint; thus, surgery is necessary to restore the function of the joint. In the past, many surgeons suggested that a delayed excision of HO, until maturation of the ectopic bone, is the best option in order to avoid any possible recurrence. However, many authors now suggest that this delay may lead to complications such as muscular atrophy and formation of soft tissue contractures that can cause a greater impairment of elbow function; thus, early excision is a better option and can better restore the elbow ROM. We performed a literature research of articles that investigated which is the best time of HO excision and we also evaluated if the tethering effect of HO can lead to a greater impairment of the elbow function. We found numerous studies suggesting that a limitation in ROM of the elbow can appear from the tethering of the ectopic bone formation and not only from primary HO. Concerning the HO excision, there were no significant differences between patients who underwent delayed and early excision, concerning the recurrence rate of HO around the elbow. Patients who underwent early excision had better restoration of elbow ROM; thus, early excision, combined with a rehabilitation program, is reported to be the best option for these patients.

Topical use of tranexamic acid: Are there concerns for cytotoxicity?

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has revolutionized modern blood management in orthopaedic surgery, especially in total joint arthroplasty, by significantly reducing blood loss and transfusion rates. It is an antifibrinolytic agent and a synthetic derivative of the amino acid lysine, which can inhibit the activation of plasminogen and the fibrin breakdown process. The administration of TXA can be intravenous (IV), topical, and oral. In patients where the IV administration is contraindicated, topical use is preferred. Topical administration of the drug theoretically increases concentration at the operative site with reduced systemic exposure, reduces cost, and gives the surgeon the control of the administration. According to recent studies, topical administration of TXA is not inferior compared to IV administration, in terms of safety and efficacy. However, there are concerns regarding the possible toxicity in the cartilage tissue with the topical use of TXA mainly in hemiarthroplasty operations of the hip, unilateral knee arthroplasties, total knee arthroplasties where the patella is not resurfaced, and other intraarticular procedures, like anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The purpose of the present review is to present all the recent updates on the use of TXA focusing on the toxicity on chondrocytes and the articular cartilage that may or may not be provoked by the topical use of TXA.

Gastrocnemius pedicled muscle flap for knee and upper tibia soft tissue reconstruction. A useful tool for the orthopaedic surgeon.

Soft tissue defect coverage has always been a challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. Over the last decades the surgery of flaps has completely changed the prognosis for large defects. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively review our experience with the gastrocnemius muscle as pedicled local flaps for reconstruction of knee and upper third of the tibia soft tissue defects. Twenty-seven patients underwent reconstruction of soft tissue defects around the knee using pedicled gastrocnemius muscle flaps. There were eighteen men and nine women ranged in with a mean age of 50.3 years. Medial gastrocnemius was used in 21 cases, and lateral gastrocnemius in 5 cases. In one patient, soleus and medial gastrocnemius were transferred simultaneously. All but one had at the same time split thickness skin graft for coverage of the muscle. All muscle flaps transferred were successful. There were no complications and all flaps survived completely without vascular compromise, satisfactory coverage of the defect, and good primary wound healing. There has been no recurrence of osteomyelitis. The donor sites healed perfectly with no remarkable resultant functional disability. A mean follow-up of 4.4 years revealed acceptable cosmetic results with high patient satisfaction. Our results indicate that the gastrocnemius muscle transfer is a useful technique for coverage of soft tissue defects in the upper tibia and around the knee in our orthopaedic practice. It is a reliable option for the coverage of exposed bone, the filling up of deep cavities and the treatment of bone infection. The principal advantage of a muscle flap is to bring a real blood supply to the recipient site and to improve the trophicity of the surrounding tissues. The pedicled muscle flap is our preference for the management of soft tissue defects around the knee, when no other procedure, apart from free flap is suitable. The pedicle flap is easier, quicker and with less complications than a free flap. Orthopaedic surgery has gained much from the use of island flap, however, it requires knowledge of the vascular anatomy and its variations promoted through cadaveric dissections and flap dissection courses.