Unstable intertrochanteric fractures are associated with a greater hemoglobin drop during the perioperative period: a retrospective case control study.

BACKGROUND: With an increase in the elderly population, the occurrence of hip fractures, femoral neck fractures, and intertrochanteric fractures (ITFs) is also increasing. It is important to establish effective perioperative methods that would help reduce the morbidity and mortality rates associated with ITFs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of ITFs according to the AO classification for perioperative hemoglobin drop. METHODS: Seventy-six patients with ITFs classified as AO 31-A1 or A2 and fixated with intramedullary nails participated in this retrospective cohort study. Medical records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed from September 2016 to August 2018. The perioperative hemoglobin drop was chosen as the main outcome measure and calculated as the difference between pre- and postoperative hemoglobin levels. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed and included the following variables: AO classification (A1.1-A2.1 [stable] vs. A2.2-A2.3 [unstable]), time interval between injury and surgery, age, body mass index, and the use of anticoagulants. RESULTS: Among the 76 patients who met the inclusion criteria, a significantly higher hemoglobin drop was observed in the AO 31 A2.2-A2.3 (unstable) group than in the AO 31 A1.1-A2.1 (stable) group (p = 0.04). The multivariate analysis also showed a greater hemoglobin drop in the unstable group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with unstable ITFs exhibited a greater hemoglobin drop and a hidden blood loss was suspected around the fracture site. We believe that this should be taken into consideration when presurgical blood transfusion is being planned for patients with unstable ITFs, to reduce associated postoperative complications, especially in patients with severe anemia or high risk of mortality.

Outcomes of FETD versus UBE in the treatment of L5S1 foraminal stenosis: A comparative study.

Background: The L5S1 level exhibits unique anatomical features compared with other levels. This makes minimally invasive surgery for L5S1 foraminal stenosis (FS) challenging. This study compared the surgical outcomes of full endoscopic transforaminal decompression (FETD) and unilateral biportal endoscopy with the far-lateral approach (UBEFLA) in patients with L5S1FS. Methods: In this retrospective study, 49 patients with L5S1FS were divided into two groups. Of these, 24 patients underwent FETD, 25 patients underwent UBEFLA. The study assessed demographic data, leg pain visual analog scale (VAS) score, back pain VAS score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), modified MacNab outcome scale, and radiographic parameters including postoperative lateral facet preservation (POLFP). Results: The Mann-Whitney U test revealed that the UBEFLA group exhibited a higher VAS score for back pain at one week after the operation, whereas the FETD group exhibited a higher leg pain VAS score 6 weeks after the operation. All four undesired MacNab outcomes in the FETD group were attributed to residual leg pain, whereas all five undesired MacNab outcomes in the UBEFLA group were due to recurrent symptoms. Radiographically, the FETD group exhibited greater POLFP. Conclusions: When L5S1FS is performed, there may be challenges in adequately clearing the foraminal space in FETD. On the other hand, UBEFLA allowed for a more comprehensive clearance. However, this advantage of UBEFLA was associated with spinal instability as a future outcome.

Teriparatide treatment shows faster healing than sacroplasty for postmenopausal women with sacral insufficiency fracture.

Objectives: Sacral insufficiency fracture (SIF) is not an uncommon osteoporosis fracture among the elderly. Aside from traditional treatments, sacroplasty and teriparatide (TPTD) injection have been introduced. This report aims to compare the effects of sacroplasty and teriparatide on clinical outcomes of SIF. Methods: Thirty-one elderly patients with SIF were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. Four male patients were excluded. Fourteen patients who received TPTD for 6 months were classified into the TPTD group (TT), and 13 who underwent sacroplasty were classified into the sacroplasty group (SS). All patients in both groups were instructed to take calcium and vitamin D supplements daily. Their symptoms and signs, visual analog score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and radiographic studies were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The TT group showed significantly lower VAS than SS group after 3 (P < 0.001) and 6 months of treatment (P < 0.001). The TT group also has significant lower ODI than SS group after 1 (P = 0.010), 3 (P = 0.005) and 6 months (P < 0.001) of treatment. Upon generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis, the TT group showed significantly more reduction in both VAS and ODI compared to the SS group at 1 month (P = 0.022, P = 0.001), 3 months (P < 0.001, P < 0.001), and 6 months (P < 0.001, P < 0.001) post-treatment. Conclusions: Postmenoposal woman with SIF who received TPTD healed better than those who underwent sacroplasty after 1 month treatment.

Nail-stem construct method for periprosthetic humeral fractures with recalcitrant nonunion after total elbow arthroplasty: A surgical technique.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the surgical technique using an innovative nail-stem construct in treatment of periprosthetic humeral fractures with recalcitrant nonunion after total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with humeral recalcitrant nonunion in periprosthetic fractures and stem loosening after TEA were retrospectively recruited between 2018 and 2019. The demographic data and related clinical outcomes were recorded. We use a cutting length of the nail pushing into the humeral canal and then pull back distally to dock the tip of the humeral stem. The cement was packed into the humeral canal, and the periprosthetic bone defect was impacting with harvested allograft chip. Results: Patient age, gender, lesion site, number of previous surgeries, and the time period from the primary TEA to the nail-stem reconstruction were allocated. Moreover, the range of motion, degree of elbow stability, and level of pain were evaluated for each patient following this procedure. All the four patients achieved an optimal range of motion and secure stability with painless elbow at final follow-up. Conclusion: Our proposed nail-stem construct with double allogenous bone plate is a feasible alternative for revisional TEA in patients with implant loosening, periprosthetic humeral fractures, and recalcitrant nonunion.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Versus Conservative Treatment for Cervical Angina Conservative Treatment.

STUDY DESIGN: This study employed a retrospective study design. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the outcomes of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), and those of conservative treatment for patients with cervical angina. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cervical angina is typically characterized by intolerable and paroxysmal angina-like precordial pain, which is caused by cervical disk degeneration in patients without definitive cardiovascular abnormalities. Diagnosis is either delayed or neglected because of its various clinical manifestations. Whether conservative or surgical treatment is appropriate remains controversial because of the lack of comparative studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2009 to 2016, 163 patients with cervical angina with advanced chest pain, tightness, or palpitation were retrospectively studied. Twenty-three patients underwent ACDF, and the other 140 patients were treated nonsurgically by medication, physical therapy, collar immobilization, or stellate ganglion block. Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and 20-point autonomic nervous system (ANS) score were assessed pretreatment and posttreatment. Patients' satisfaction was assessed using the Odom criteria. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 50 years, and most of them were females. The average follow-up was 25.5 months. The pretreatment JOA and 20-point ANS scores in the conservative and ACDF groups were 13.3 versus 11.7 (P=0.110) and 13.0 versus 13.3 (P=0.928), respectively. Generalized estimating equation analysis showed that posttreatment JOA and ANS scores at each observation interval improved significantly in the ACDF group (P<0.001). Angina-like symptoms also improved significantly in the ACDF group (P<0.001). During an average 2-year follow-up, good or excellent results were obtained in 78.2% of surgical patients and 35% of nonsurgical patients. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conservative therapy, surgical treatment with ACDF for cervical angina provided better and more consistent relief from angina-like symptoms and overall sympathetic symptoms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

HLA-B27-mediated activation of TNAP phosphatase promotes pathogenic syndesmophyte formation in ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of axial inflammation. Over time, some patients develop spinal ankylosis and permanent disability; however, current treatment strategies cannot arrest syndesmophyte formation completely. Here, we used mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from AS patients (AS MSCs) within the enthesis involved in spinal ankylosis to delineate that the HLA-B27-mediated spliced X-box-binding protein 1 (sXBP1)/retinoic acid receptor-ß (RARB)/tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) axis accelerated the mineralization of AS MSCs, which was independent of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2). An animal model mimicking AS pathological bony appositions was established by implantation of AS MSCs into the lumbar spine of NOD-SCID mice. We found that TNAP inhibitors, including levamisole and pamidronate, inhibited AS MSC mineralization in vitro and blocked bony appositions in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the serum bone-specific TNAP (BAP) level was a potential prognostic biomarker to predict AS patients with a high risk for radiographic progression. Our study highlights the importance of the HLA-B27-mediated activation of the sXBP1/RARB/TNAP axis in AS syndesmophyte pathogenesis and provides a new strategy for the diagnosis and prevention of radiographic progression of AS.

Earlier Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Compression Fracture May Minimize the Subsequent Development of Adjacent Fractures: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is widely used to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). The influence of timing (early vs. late) of PVP on the development of adjacent vertebral fractures (AVF) has rarely been discussed. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the incidence of AVF among patients who received early PVP (= 30 days after symptom onset, EPVP) or late PVP (> 30 days after symptom onset, LPVP) in the thoracolumbar region (T10 to L2) after a 1-year follow up. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Department of Orthopedic, an affiliated hospital of a medical university. METHODS: Patients who had single-level, T-score = -2.5 of lumbar bone mineral density (BMD), primary OVCF in the thoracolumbar region (T10 to L2) and who received PVP between July 2012 and June 2014 were included in the study. They were divided into early PVP and late PVP groups according to the interval between symptom onset and treatment. The risk factors associated with subsequent AVFs were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 225 patients reviewed, 124 met the criteria and were followed for a minimum of 1 year. Eleven patients (14.1%) in the EPVP group (n = 78) and 18 patients (39.1%) in the LPVP group (n = 46) experienced an AVF during the first year following vertebroplasty. Outcomes were significantly better in patients with higher bone mineral density, lower cement volume, and without cement leakage (P < 0.01). Cox regression indicated an increase risk for AVF for LPVP, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 6.08 (95% confidence interval: 2.50-14.81). LIMITATION: The incidence of AVFs could be over estimated due to this being a retrospective study with a small case number and lack of either biomechanical study of intra-vertebral cement distribution by times to support the result. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with later interventions, PVP performed within 30 days after fracture development may be associated with a lower risk of adjacent fractures in the thoracolumbar region. KEY WORDS: Percutaneous vertebroplasty, osteoporosis, osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture, adjacent vertebral fracture.

Fracture liaison services improve outcomes of patients with osteoporosis-related fractures: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the outcomes of patients with osteoporosis-related fractures managed through fracture liaison services (FLS) programs. METHODS: Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched (January 2000-February 2017 inclusive) using the keywords 'osteoporosis', 'fractures', 'liaison', and 'service' to identify randomised controlled trials and observational studies of patients aged ≥50years with osteoporosis-related fractures in hospital, clinic, community, or home-based settings who were managed using FLS. Risk of bias was assessed at outcome level. Meta-analysis followed a random-effects and fixed-effects model. Outcomes of interest were incidence of bone mineral density (BMD) testing, treatment initiation, adherence, re-fractures, and mortality due to osteoporosis treatment. RESULTS: A total of 159 publications were identified for the systematic literature review; 74 controlled studies (16 RCTs; 58 observational studies) were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, 41 of 58 observational studies and 12 of 16 RCTs were considered of high quality. Compared with patients receiving usual care (or those in the control arm), patients receiving care from an FLS program had higher rates of BMD testing (48.0% vs 23.5%) and treatment initiation (38.0% vs 17.2%) and greater adherence (57.0% vs 34.1%). Unweighted average rates of re-fracture were 13.4% among patients in the control arm and 6.4% in the FLS arm. Unweighted average rates of mortality were 15.8% in the control arm and 10.4% in the FLS arm. Meta-analysis revealed significant FLS-associated improvements in all outcomes versus non-FLS controls, with BMD testing increased by 24 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18-0.29), 20 percentage points for treatment rates (95% CI 0.16-0.25), and 22 percentage points for adherence (95% CI 0.13-0.31) and absolute risk of re-fracture reduced by five percentage points (95% CI -0.08 to -0.03) and mortality reduced by three percentage points (95% CI -0.05 to -0.01). CONCLUSION: FLS programs improved outcomes of osteoporosis-related fractures, with significant increases in BMD testing, treatment initiation, and adherence to treatment and reductions in re-fracture incidence and mortality.

The development of Taiwan Fracture Liaison Service network.

Osteoporosis and its associated fragility fractures are becoming a severe burden in the healthcare system globally. In the Asian-Pacific (AP) region, the rapidly increasing in aging population is the main reason accounting for the burden. Moreover, the paucity of quality care for osteoporosis continues to be an ongoing challenge. The Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) is a program promoted by International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) with a goal to improve quality of postfracture care and prevention of secondary fractures. In this review article, we would like to introduce the Taiwan FLS network. The first 2 programs were initiated in 2014 at the National Taiwan University Hospital and its affiliated Bei-Hu branch. Since then, the Taiwan FLS program has continued to grow exponentially. Through FLS workshops promoted by the Taiwanese Osteoporosis Association (TOA), program mentors have been able to share their valuable knowledge and clinical experience in order to promote establishments of additional programs. With 22 FLS sites including 11 successfully accredited on the best practice map, Taiwan remains as one of the highest FLS coverage countries in the AP region, and was also granted the IOF Best Secondary Fracture Prevention Promotion award in 2017. Despite challenges faced by the TOA, we strive to promote more FLS sites in Taiwan with a main goal of ameliorating further health burden in managing osteoporotic patients.

Changes in excursion and strain in the rat sciatic nerve under cauda equina compression induced by epidural balloon inflation.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Healthy nerves are able to stretch and glide as responses to normal physiological movement. Injury to the nerve may alter the nerve's mechanical properties and result in neuropathy. Whether cauda equina compression alters the mechanical properties of the sciatic nerve is still unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the changes in excursions and strains of the sciatic nerve in vivo after acute cauda equina compression was induced by epidural balloon compression. STUDY DESIGN: An animal comparative study with induced cauda equina compression was designed for in situ measurements of nerve properties. METHODS: Twenty-six adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. The balloon group (n=10) underwent epidural compression induced by inflation of an embolectomy balloon catheter that was inserted through an L6 laminotomy. The control group (n=10) underwent laminotomy but without compression. The normal group (n=6) received no back surgery. This model of neuropathy was confirmed with electrophysiological examination. The excursions and strains of the sciatic nerve in response to the modified straight leg-raising (SLR) test were measured in situ and analyzed. RESULTS: The scales of the excursions were lower in the balloon group than in the other two groups, in both 90° flexion and extension of the knee. The balloon group was more sensitive to positional changes. The strain was significantly higher under the condition of epidural balloon compression. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that cauda equina compression decreased the excursion and increased the strain of the sciatic nerve in response to a modified SLR test. These findings might indicate one of the mechanisms of the pain provoked by the SLR test and also possibly contribute to an understanding of the pathogenesis of the neuropathy in the lower limbs of patients with cauda equina compression.

Epidural abscess caused by Haemophilus aphrophilus misidentified as Pasteurella species.

Haemophilus aphrophilus is one of the normal oropharyngeal flora and rarely implicated as a pathogen of spinal infection. A case of H. aphrophilus bacteremia complicated with epidural abscess, psoas muscle abscess, and spondylodiscitis is described in this report. The pathogen was mis-identified as Pasteurella spp. at the very start, and was confirmed by the molecular method. He was successfully treated with adequate antibiotics and surgery. The clinical features of sixteen previously reported cases of spinal infection caused by H. aphrophilus are reviewed.

Fiberoptic intubation with patients in sitting position.

Flexible fiberoptic endoscope is the most valuable tool for anesthesiologists to manage difficult airways. Correctly positioning of the patient during fiberoptic intubation aids the clinician to rapidly secure the airway, because it not only saves time, but also minimizes the risk of repeated attempts of intubation with possible serious consequences in the wake. In general, fiberoptic intubation is carried out with the patient in the supine position, but there are situations in which the intubation requires the subjects to be in the sitting position. The sitting position also changes the position of performing anesthesiologist relative to the patient, presenting an inverse view contrary to that of traditional laryngoscopy. We can often obtain a superior view from fiberoptic intubation. Fiberoptic intubation in the sitting position can be applied to all patients, as long as there is no contraindication of having a patient be sat.

A posterior tether for fusionless modulation of sagittal plane growth in a sheep model.

STUDY DESIGN: This was an in vivo and in vitro investigation of a minimally invasive posterior tether system for fusionless modulation of sagittal plane growth in an immature sheep model. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether fusionless modulation of spinal growth in the sagittal plane of an immature sheep model can be successfully performed. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Scheuermann's disease has been reported to affect 1% to 8% of the pediatric population. Varying degrees of spinal bone growth modulation has been successfully performed in the coronal plane of animal models. This represents the first attempt to modulate spinal growth in the sagittal plane in an animal model. Modulation of spinal growth in the sagittal plane may play a role in the treatment of pediatric kyphosis when brace treatment is unsuccessful. METHODS: There were nine immature sheep posteriorly tethered and five control animals, all with identical follow-ups. Pedicle screws were placed in adjacent vertebrae, bilaterally, at the thoracolumbar junction and the lower lumbar spine. Polyethylene cords were passed subcutaneously, and tensioned to 20 lbs. Tethers were released in four sheep at 6 months and four at 12 months. At 12 months and 2 weeks, all animals were sacrificed. RESULTS: At 13 months after surgery, the tethered groups had significantly less kyphosis and vertebral body wedging than the control group. In both the tethered groups, at 13 months after surgery, there was significantly less vertebral body wedging compared with the preoperative values. There was no evidence of facet arthropathy, but heterotopic ossification was seen in several specimens. Tethered spines had significantly less motion than control spines. Histologic evaluation demonstrated no detrimental results. CONCLUSIONS: Fusionless modulation of sagittal plane growth in an immature sheep model was successfully performed with changes in the overall sagittal profile of the instrumented segments and vertebral body wedging. Increased stiffness of the instrumented segments posttether release was thought to be related to heterotopic ossification. Results suggest that this may be a potential treatment for adolescents with Scheuermann's disease.