Staging and Surveillance of Myxoid Liposarcoma: Follow-up Assessment and the Metastatic Pattern of 169 Patients Suggests Inadequacy of Current Practice Standards.

BACKGROUND: Unlike other sarcoma subtypes, myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) has a propensity for extra-pulmonary metastases. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis has become an accepted practice for surveillance. However, recent literature suggests that this may be inadequate. This study aimed to assess the ability of current imaging methods to detect metastases adequately in this population. METHODS: The study identified 169 patients with MLS diagnosed between 2000 and 2016. The timing and location of metastases, the reasons leading to the MLS diagnosis, and the imaging methods were recorded. The locations of metastases were classified into the following categories: pulmonary, soft tissue, bone, retroperitoneal, intraperitoneal, solid organ, and lymph node. RESULTS: An initial diagnosis of metastasis was made at presentation with staging CT scan for 3 (10 %) of 31 patients, with a follow-up surveillance CT scan for 15 (48 %) of the patients or with subsequent imaging obtained in response to patient-reported symptoms for 13 (42 %) of the patients. The proportions of patients who had metastases in each location were as follows: soft tissue (84 %), pulmonary (68 %), intraabdominal (48 %), solid organ (48 %), bone (45 %), lymph node (32 %), and retroperitoneal (29 %). Although 14 patients had bone metastases, only 1 patient had a sclerotic/blastic presentation visualized on CT scan, and the diagnosis for the remaining 13 patients was determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CONCLUSION: Due to metastatic disease identified outside surveillance imaging for 58 % of the patients, the diversity of locations, and the significant failure of CT and bone scan to identify bone metastases, this study questioned the adequacy of CT scan for surveillance of MLS. Consideration should be given to the use of whole-body MRI for detection of metastasis in MLS.

Midterm Success of a Custom, Non-Fluted, Diaphyseal, Press-Fit Stem Used With a Tumor Megaprosthesis System.

BACKGROUND: High rates of aseptic loosening with cemented prostheses have led to increased utilization of uncemented stems in the setting of megaprosthetic reconstruction. Theoretic concerns of rotational instability resulted in early stem designs with de-rotational mechanisms such as flutes or side plates. However, these designs have their own associated complications, and mechanical data suggest they are unnecessary. The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes and survivorship of an unfluted diaphyseal press-fit stem in the setting of megaprosthetic reconstruction. METHODS: Forty-five patients (46 stems), with a minimum 3-year follow-up, underwent reconstruction using 1 of 2 fully porous coated, unfluted, press-fit stems between 2005 and 2013: revision stem with adapter to the megaprosthesis (revision stem), or custom megaprosthesis stem (custom stem). Complications were described using the Henderson classification system, and subanalyses evaluated stem-related failures and survival. Radiographic evaluation of stem fixation was determined via evidence of bone bridging, spot welding, resorption, subsidence, and pedestal formation. Four patients had early stem removal for local recurrence or infection and were thus excluded from the radiographic analyses. RESULTS: Twenty-eight femoral (15 revision stem, 13 custom stem) and 14 tibial (6 revision stem, 8 custom stem) stems were reviewed. Average follow-up was 81 months (range, 42-140 months). Revision for implant-related complications occurred in 7 of 41 (17%), all in revision stems (3 adapter failures, 4 polyethylene wear). At final follow-up, all stems were retained without evidence of aseptic loosening, although 7 of 41 (17%) exhibited mild stress shielding. CONCLUSION: A non-fluted, press-fit stem used with a tumor prosthesis provided a stable bone-prosthesis interface at midterm follow-up.

Guided-motion hinged knee replacement prosthesis: early survival rate and postoperative patient function and satisfaction.

Background: Literature on the survival rates and function of hinged total knee replacement (HTKR) prostheses is scarce, and to our knowledge there is not yet any published literature on the Legion HK Hinge Knee Replacement prosthesis (Smith & Nephew) with guided-motion articulation. The objective of this study was to establish the early survival rate of this modern HTKR at a single institution and to investigate postoperative patient function and satisfaction. Methods: This retrospective study included patients who received the Legion HTKR prosthesis with guided-motion inserts as a primary or revision implant between October 11 and March 2016 at a tertiary care centre in Manitoba, Canada. Preoperative and postoperative functional scores on the 12-item Oxford Knee Score and postoperative patient satisfaction were assessed. Results: Thirty-nine HTKR implantations (38 patients) were included in this study: 12 primary cases and 27 revision cases. Three revision surgeries and 4 perioperative complications were noted at a mean follow-up of 29.1 months. The 2-year survivorship of the HTKR system was 90.7%. Postoperative functional scores improved significantly and the majority of patients were satisfied or very satisfied at all follow-up time points. Conclusion: The early survival rate of a modern guided-motion HTKR prosthesis is similar to the survival rates of other hinged knee prostheses published in the literature. The prosthesis demonstrated substantial postoperative functional improvement when used in the setting of complex primary or revision total knee replacement.

Contexte: Il existe peu d'études sur le taux de survie et la fonction des prothèses totales de genou (PTG) à charnière, et, à notre connaissance, il n'y a pas encore d'étude publiée sur la prothèse Legion HK Hinge Knee (Smith & Nephew), qui guide le mouvement de l'articulation. Cette étude visait à déterminer le taux de survie à 2 ans de cette PTG à charnière moderne dans un seul établissement et à évaluer la fonction du genou et la satisfaction des patients après l'opération. Méthodes: Cette étude rétrospective portait sur des patients qui avaient reçu la PTG Legion HK guidant le mouvement lors d'une première opération ou d'une chirurgie de révision entre octobre 2011 et mars 2016 dans un centre de soins tertiaires du Manitoba, au Canada. On a évalué la fonction préopératoire et postopératoire du genou à l'aide du score Oxford d'évaluation du genou à 12 questions ainsi que la satisfaction des patients après l'opération. Résultats: Trente-neuf arthroplasties totales du genou (38 patients) ont été retenues pour l'étude : 12 cas de première opération et 27 chirurgies de révision. En tout, 3 chirurgies de révision et 4 complications périopératoires ont été notées lors d'une consultation de suivi se déroulant en moyenne à 29,1 mois. Le taux de survie à 2 ans de la PTG à charnière Legion HK était de 90,7 %. Les scores de fonction du genou se sont grandement améliorés après l'opération, et la majorité des patients se sont dit satisfaits ou très satisfaits lors de tous les suivis. Conclusion: Le taux de survie d'une PTG à charnière moderne guidant le mouvement est similaire à celui des autres prothèses à charnière étudiées dans la littérature. La prothèse a permis une amélioration fonctionnelle importante après l'opération lorsqu'elle était utilisée dans le cadre d'une première arthroplastie totale du genou complexe ou d'une chirurgie de révision.

Physical fitness of medical residents: Is the health of surgical residents at risk?

Background: Postgraduate medical residency programs are laborious and timeintensive, and can be physically, intellectually and emotionally demanding. These working conditions may lead to the neglect of personal health and well-being. The objective of this study was to compare the anthropometric and fitness characteristics of surgical and nonsurgical medical residents. We hypothesized that there is a difference in physical health between these 2 groups. Methods: Medical residents completed a demographic information questionnaire and were assessed by trained staff for height, weight, body fat percentage, muscular strength and endurance, and peak oxygen consumption (V̇ᴏ2peak). The average number of working hours per week was also documented. Results: Forty-five residents (21 surgical and 24 nonsurgical; 31 men and 14 women) participated in the study. Surgical residents worked more hours per week on average than nonsurgical residents (p = 0.02) and had a higher body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.04) and lower V̇ᴏ2peak (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Surgical residents worked more hours than nonsurgical residents, which may have contributed to their higher BMI and lower aerobic fitness levels. Despite a heavy workload, it is important for all medical residents to find strategies to promote a healthy lifestyle for both themselves and their patients to ensure long-term well-being.

Contexte: En médecine, les programmes de résidence postdoctoraux sont fastidieux et chronovores; et ils peuvent être exigeants physiquement, intellectuellement et émotivement. De telles conditions de travail forcent parfois les résidents à négliger leur santé et leur bien-être personnels. L'objectif de cette étude était de comparer les caractéristiques anthropométriques et la forme physique des résidents de chirurgie et d'autres spécialités médicales. Selon notre hypothèse, ces 2 groupes ne présentent pas le même état de santé physique. Méthodes: Les résidents ont répondu à un questionnaire démographique et des assistants dument formés ont mesuré leur taille, leur poids, leur pourcentage de graisse corporelle, leur force musculaire, leur endurance et leur consommation d'oxygène maximale (V̇ᴏ2max). Le nombre d'heures de travail hebdomadaires a aussi été pris en compte. Résultats: Quarante-cinq résidents (21 de chirurgie et 24 d'autres spécialités; 31 hommes et 14 femmes) ont participé à l'étude. Les résidents en chirurgie travaillaient en moyenne plus d'heures par semaine que les autres résidents (p = 0,02) et présentaient un indice de masse corporelle (IMC) plus élevé (p = 0,04) et une V̇ᴏ2max plus basse (p = 0,01). Conclusion: résidents en chirurgie travaillaient plus d'heures que les autres résidents, ce qui peut avoir contribué à leur IMC plus élevé et à leur moins bonne capacité aérobique. Malgré la lourdeur de leur fardeau de travail, il est important que tous les résidents en médecine trouvent des stratégies pour adopter de saines habitudes de vie pour eux-mêmes et leurs patients, et assurer leur mieux-être à long terme.