Valacyclovir in the treatment of acute retinal necrosis

Background: To report the outcome of oral valacyclovir as the sole antiviral therapy for patients with acute retinal necrosis (ARN). Methods: This study reports a retrospective, interventional case series of nine consecutive patients with ten eyes with newly diagnosed ARN treated with oral valacyclovir as the sole antiviral agent. Eight patients received oral valacyclovir 2 g tid (Valtrex, GlaxoSmithKline) and one patient with impaired renal function received oral 1 g tid. The main outcome measures were response to treatment, time to initial response to treatment, time to complete resolution of retinitis, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at final follow-up, retinal detachment and development of recurrent or second eye disease. Results: Retinitis resolved in ten of ten (100%) affected eyes. The median time to initial detectable response was seven days and the median time to complete resolution was 21 days. A final BCVA of 20/40 or better was achieved in 6/10 (60%) of eyes. 3/10 eyes (30%) developed a retinal detachment. No patients developed either disease reactivation or second eye involvement over the course of the study (mean follow up 31 weeks, range 7 to 104 weeks). Conclusions: Treatment with oral valacyclovir as the sole antiviral therapy resulted in complete resolution of retinitis. Final BCVA and retinal detachment rate were comparable with previously reported outcomes for intravenous acyclovi

Routine Use of Closed Suction Drains Following Revision Arthroplasty May Not be Necessary

BACKGROUND: There are numerous studies demonstrating that closed suction drainage (CSD) usage after primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has little to no benefit. There are little data on the role of CSDs after revision TJA. The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether there is any clinical advantage to CSD usage after revision TJA. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated the clinical records of 2,030 patients undergoing revision TJA between 2007 and 2021. CSD was used in 472 patients and not used in 1,558 patients. Primary outcome was blood transfusion rate and secondary outcomes included total blood loss (TBL), as determined by Gross formula, wound complications (hematoma, infection, and dehiscence), and length of hospital stay. Patients undergoing revision TJA for oncologic reasons or those with incomplete datasets were excluded. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in rates of allogeneic blood transfusion, TBL, and wound complications (hematoma, infection, and dehiscence) between the two groups (P = .159, .983, .192, .334, and .548, respectively). When adjusted for demographic and surgical confounders, there was no difference in transfusion and TBL rates between groups (Odds Ratio 1.04, 95% Confidence Interval 0.78-1.38, P = .780 and estimate -105.71 mL, 95% confidence interval -333.96 to 122.55, P = .364, respectively). CSD cohort had a shorter length of stay (4.30 versus 5.82 days, P \u3c .001). CONCLUSION: We acknowledge that there is a role for CSD usage in a selected group of patients. Nevertheless, our study revealed that routine use of CSD after revision TJA does not provide an additional clinical benefit

Outcomes of Birdshot Chorioretinopathy Treated With an Intravitreal Sustained-Release Fluocinolone Acetonide–Containing Device

To evaluate outcomes in birdshot chorioretinopathy following intravitreal implantation of a fluocinolone acetonide–containing drug delivery device. Retrospective, multicenter, interventional case study. University- and community-based tertiary care. Twenty-two HLA-A29+ birdshot patients (36 eyes) were implanted with a sustained-release corticosteroid device and followed for up to 3 years. Main outcome measures were Snellen acuity, intraocular inflammation, adjunctive therapy, cataract, ocular hypertension, or glaucoma. Paired Wilcoxon statistics were used to analyze visual acuities; paired McNemar statistics were used to analyze presence or absence of other outcomes. Nineteen of 22 patients (32 eyes) completed 12 months of follow-up with improvement in median visual acuity ( P = .015 ). Prior to implantation, 18 of 22 patients (82%) received immunosuppressive therapy versus 1 of 19 (5%) by 12 months ( P < .001). Eyes with zero vitreous haze increased from 7 of 27 scored eyes (26%) at baseline to 30 of 30 eyes (100%) by 12 months ( P < .001). Cystoid macular edema decreased from 13 of 36 eyes (36%) at baseline to 2 of 32 eyes (6%) at 12 months ( P = .006). Five of 24 phakic eyes at baseline exited the study before surgery; all other eyes received cataract surgery. One hundred percent of study eyes had ocular hypertension, required intraocular pressure–lowering therapy, or had glaucoma surgery by 12 months. Implantation of a fluocinolone acetonide–containing intraocular device in birdshot chorioretinopathy can improve vision, control inflammation, and eliminate systemic therapy. There is a high incidence of cataract progression and intraocular hypertension or glaucoma

Capsular Management of the Hip During Arthroscopic Acetabular Chondral Resurfacing: Pearls, Pitfalls, and Optimal Surgical Technique

Treatment of hip joint chondral damage is a well-recognized aspect of the arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Hip chondral resurfacing has evolved from microfracture to different forms of cartilage grafting, all with variable long-term outcomes. Recent literature has focused on techniques using different cartilage sources (native and synthetic products) that are available for clinicians to choose from during hip arthroscopy. None of the published reports on cartilage grafts have commented on hip joint capsular management as part of the procedure. This is likely because of the increased difficulty of capsular closure in the dry arthroscopic environment required for graft stabilization. However, potential iatrogenic hip instability induced by an unrepaired interportal capsulotomy can be detrimental to the existing joint architecture and possibly to the cartilage graft. This article presents a step-by-step approach, including tips and pearls, for capsular closure during arthroscopic acetabular chondral resurfacing with BioCartilage (Arthrex, Naples, FL). This method is a safe and reproducible way to close the joint capsule during chondral resurfacing in patients undergoing hip preservation that can potentially enhance the chances of a successful outcome

Arthroscopic Triple Reconstruction in the Hip Joint: Restoration of Soft-Tissue Stabilizers in Revision Surgery for Gross Instability

Gross hip instability in an active adult with previous normal hip anatomy is usually due to disruption of the static stabilizers of the hip joint. Although such a disruption can result from a high-grade injury, it can be iatrogenic after previous hip arthroscopy. The patient may present with a painful limp and recurrent subluxation sensation in the affected hip joint. Revision hip arthroscopy in this scenario is generally complicated, and it is not uncommon for all the soft-tissue stabilizers to be compromised. The labrum, ligamentum teres (LT), and capsule of the hip joint are often so damaged that reparation is not an option. Reconstruction of the torn LT is an established method to add secondary stability while addressing the labral pathology in the hip joint with microinstability. Concomitant reconstruction of all the static restraints has yet to be described addressing triple instability. This Technical Note presents a stepwise approach, including tips and pearls, for arthroscopic triple reconstruction of the labrum, LT, and capsule. We believe this method is a safe and reproducible way to effectively treat gross hip instability in young patients

Arthroscopic-Assisted Intraosseous Bioplasty of the Acetabulum

Intraosseous bioplasty (IOBP), has been previously described for arthroscopic-assisted treatment of subchondral bone cysts in the proximal tibia associated with early stages of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This technique entails combining bone marrow aspirate concentrate or concentrated platelet-rich plasma with demineralized bone matrix as a bone substitute before injecting into a subchondral bone defect under fluoroscopic guidance. The principles of IOBP as a procedure that combines core decompression with biologic bone substitute augmentation can be extended to treat subchondral bone marrow lesions such as acetabular and femoral cysts in degenerative hip OA. Intraosseous bioplasty of the hip, in particular the acetabulum, when done using this technique, is a useful alternative that can be beneficial in treating young patients with early hip arthritis to achieve successful outcomes while delaying more invasive procedures. The Technical Note described here presents a step-by-step approach, including tips and pearls for arthroscopic-assisted IOBP with decompression of the subchondral cyst in the acetabulum followed by bone substitute injection under fluoroscopic guidance. We believe this method is a safe and reproducible way to treat subchondral defects in young patients with signs of early osteoarthritis of the hip joint