CT-guided fixation of pelvic fractures after high-energy trauma, by interventional radiologists: technical and clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate screw placement accuracy, safety, complications, and clinical outcomes including functional and pain score, in 32 patients treated with CT-guided pelvic ring fixation after high-energy trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who were treated by CT-guided fixation of sacral or acetabular fractures after high-energy trauma were included. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia, with dual CT and fluoroscopic guidance, by interventional radiologists. Fractures were minimally displaced or reduced unstable posterior pelvic ring disruptions, with or without sacroiliac disjunction (Tile B or C) and minimally displaced acetabular fractures. The primary outcome evaluated was screw accuracy. Secondary outcomes included patient radiation exposure, duration of the procedure, complications, clinical functional score (Majeed score), and pain scale (VAS, visual analog scale) evaluation during a follow-up period from 4 to 30 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included (mean age 46) and 62 screws were inserted. Screw placement was correct in 90.3% of patients (95% of screws). Mean procedure duration was 67 min and mean patient radiation exposure was 965 mGy cm. Mean follow-up was 13 months and no complications were observed. The mean Majeed score at final follow-up was 84/100 and the mean VAS was 1.6/10. CONCLUSION: This technique is an effective and safe procedure in specific cases of pelvic ring and acetabulum fractures. It allows accurate screw placement in a minimally invasive manner, leading to effective management of poly-traumatized patients. KEY POINTS: • CT-guided pelvic ring fixation, including sacroiliac and acetabular fractures, is an effective and safe procedure. • It allows accurate and minimally invasive screw placement, leading to effective management of poly-traumatized patients. • Multidisciplinary cooperation is essential to ensure efficiency and safety.

First isolation of Clostridium indolis in a patient with chronic osteitis: a case report and literature review of human infections related to Clostridium saccharolyticum group species.

Clostridium indolis is an anaerobic spore-forming Gram-positive bacillus belonging to the Clostridium saccharolyticum group. Its clinical significance in human remains poorly known. We describe the first case of osteitis related to C. indolis, identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and provide a literature review of human infections related to C. saccharolyticum group species.

Functional outcomes and center of rotation restoration in total hip arthroplasty after acetabular fracture: A review of 367 hips.

BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) after acetabular fracture is typically performed months or years later for posttraumatic arthritis after initial conservative treatment. But THA can be performed earlier after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the fracture. The aim of this study was to determine which strategy is best. The primary outcome measure was the radiological restoration of the hip's center of rotation (COR). The secondary outcome measures were the incidence of complications and the hip's functional scores. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter cohort was analyzed by splitting patients into three groups: group A (THA within 3weeks of fracture); group B (THA deferred after early ORIF); group C (THA more than 3weeks after fracture, without ORIF). Group B was separated into two subgroups: B- (THA less than 1year after ORIF) and B+ (THA more than 1year after ORIF). The demographics, surgical techniques, COR superior and lateral migration coefficient and functional scores (HHS, HOOS-PS and FJS) were recorded. The functional scores were gathered using PROMs. RESULTS: In all, 367 patients were included: 108 in group A, 69 in group B-, 113 in group B+ and 77 in group C. The mean follow-up was 5.8years [3.4 months-35years]. The mean age of the patients was 69.2years [SD 15; 26-101], 52years [SD 16; 19-83], 49years [SD 16; 16-85] and 58.1years [SD 17; 13-94], respectively (p<0.01). The mean ASA score was 2.13 [SD 0.70], 1.84 [SD 0.65], 1.67 [SD 0.63] and 1.79 [SD 0.60], respectively (p<0.01). A complex Letournel fracture was present in 63 patients (61%), 46 patients (71%), 48 patients (49%) and 38 patients (62%), respectively (p<0.01). A reinforcement cage was implanted in 38 patients (69%), 16 patients (62%), 5 patients (12%) and 19 patients (66%), respectively (p<0.01). Cement was used in 45 patients (45%), 23 patients (35%), 19 patients (18%) and 21 patients (32%), respectively (p<0.01). A graft was needed in 46 patients (46%), 35 patients (53%), 17 patients (16%) and 21 patients (48%), respectively (p<0.01). Posterior ORIF was done in 40 patients (46%), 32 patients (55%), 64 patients (61%) and 9 patients (82%), respectively (p<0.01). The COR lateral migration coefficient was significantly higher in group C with a mean of +0.17 (SD 0.85) [-0.27 to +6] compared to the other groups (p=0.02). The COR superior migration coefficient was comparable between groups, with a mean of +0.77 (SD 2.26) [-0.99 to 27], p>0.05. There were complications in 10 patients (9.2%), 6 patients (8.7%), 6 patients (5.3%) and 3 patients (3.9%), respectively, with no significant difference between groups. The PROMs were completed by 51% of patients. At the final review, the mean HHS was 79.2 (SD 21.8) and the mean HOOS-PS was 77.7 (SD 20.1) in the entire cohort, p>0.05. The mean FJS by group was 55.9 (30.2), 47.7 (SD 36.4), 66.1 (SD 30.4) and 65.8 (SD 30.3), respectively (p=0.02). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The B strategy (B+) yielded good outcomes in terms of function and COR restoration. When using this strategy, anterior ORIF preserves the native hip for a subsequent THA through a posterior approach. Strategy C also produces good functional outcomes but shifts the COR laterally. This study confirms the poor results of strategy A in previous publications. When the prognosis is poor, immediate mobilization after anterior ORIF followed by THA within 1year appears to be a good strategy (group B-). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, observational study.

One-stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty versus unilateral total hip arthroplasty: A retrospective case-matched study.

BACKGROUND: One-stage bilateral hip replacement has the advantage of involving a single anesthesia, single hospital admission and single rehabilitation program. The theoretic drawback is increased surgical risk. Few French series have been reported, and none with comparison versus unilateral arthroplasty. We therefore conducted a comparative case-control study between 1-stage bilateral (1B-THA) and unilateral total hip arthroplasty (U-THA), assessing (1) morbidity/mortality, (2) survival, and (3) functional scores and forgotten hip rates. HYPOTHESIS: In a selected ASA 1 or 2 population, 1B-THA shows complications rates and implant survival comparable to U-THA. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between 2004 and 2018, 327 patients were included: 109 with 1B-THA, 218 with U-THA. One 1B-THA patient was matched to 2 U-THA patients on age, gender, diagnosis, ASA score 1 or 2, and anterior or posterior approach. Minimum follow-up was 12 months. Complications were collected for all patients in both groups. Early (≤90 days) or late (>90 days) morbidity/mortality and implant survival were recorded for both groups. Secondary endpoints concerned blood-sparing strategy and blood loss, functional scores, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Mortality was zero in both groups. There was no significant difference in complications rates (1B-THA 38.5%, U-THA 40.8%) (p=0.69), whether early (8.3% [9/109] and 7.8% [17/218] respectively [p=0.89]) or late (30.3% [33/109] and 33.0% [72/218] respectively [p=0.61]). Limb-length discrepancy was significantly less frequent in 1B-THA (5.5% [6/109] versus 13.3% [29/218] [p=0.03]). Forgotten hip rate was significantly more frequent in 1B-THA (86% [94/109] versus 70% [152/218] [p=0.01]). Five-year Kaplan-Meier implant survival was 97.2% (95% CI [91.9-99.1]) in 1B-THA and 96.6% (95% CI [93.0-98.4]) in U-THA (p=0.08). DISCUSSION: One-stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty gave acceptable results in disabling bilateral osteoarthritis of the hip with low surgical risk in selected patients (ASA 1 or 2). Mortality, complications and implant survival were unaffected, but the 1-stage bilateral procedure allowed better control of limb-length and provided a higher rate of forgotten hip. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, matched case-control study.

Early and late mortality after pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusion.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to analyze morbidity and mortality and to determine the relative contribution of each of these potential prognosis variables for predicting morbidity and mortality in patients after pleurodesis by thoracotomy or thoracoscopy. METHODS: Between March 1, 1996, and January 31, 2001, a total of 70 patients underwent pleurodesis for recurrent malignant pleural effusion. Thoracoscopy was performed in 54 patients (77%); pleurodesis was achieved by pleural abrasion (n = 15), pleurectomy (n = 5), and talc insufflation (n = 34). Thoracotomy was performed in 16 patients (23%) who also needed pleurectomy and decortication for a trapped lung. RESULTS: Postoperative complications occurred in 24 patients (34%). Factors adversely affecting morbidity with univariate analysis included: three or four metastatic sites (p = 0.003), and thoracotomy (p = 0.009). Factors adversely affecting morbidity with multivariate analysis included: thoracotomy (p = 0.0005) and number of metastatic sites (p = 0.007). Six patient deaths (8.6%) occurred during hospitalization. Factors adversely affecting in-hospital mortality with univariate analysis included: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status 2 to 3 (p = 0.001), lower preoperative serum hemoglobin (p = 0.001), lower preoperative serum albumin (p = 0.0001), and thoracotomy (p = 0.03). Factors adversely affecting in-hospital mortality with multivariate analysis included: preoperative serum albumin less than 60 g/L (p = 0.007) and ECOG Performance Status 2 to 3 (p = 0.008). Twelve patients (17%) died within 90 days after surgery. Factors adversely affecting 3-month mortality with univariate analysis included: ECOG Performance Status 2 to 3 (p = 0.001), lower preoperative serum hemoglobin (p = 0.03), higher preoperative white cells (p = 0.03), lower preoperative serum albumin (p = 0.03), and preoperative thoracentesis more than once per month (p = 0.03). Factors adversely affecting 3-month mortality with multivariate analysis included: ECOG Performance Status 2 to 3 (p = 0.01), preoperative thoracentesis more than once per month (p = 0.03), three or four metastatic sites (p = 0.02), and preoperative white blood cell count > or = 12,000/mm3 (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Thoracotomy is not indicated in patients with a malignant effusion because of poor survival, a high frequency of complications, and prolonged hospital stay. Pleurodesis thoracoscopy is indicated in patients with good performance status coupled with good nutrition.