Predatory and Scam Journals

For some years now, and empowered by digitalisation and open access publication, a large number of falsely named scientific journals have appeared whose aim it is to take advantage of scientists' need to progress in their academic and hospital careers through ''publish or perish'. Basedon several digital platforms,these journals, which have been called predatory and which we could call scam journals,facilitate the whole process of publication in a journal with a suggestive and appealing title which usually imitates that of a serious and consolidated journal to which they usu ally add an ending such as and ¨ research, and clinicalor ¨ a beginning such as American, ¨ British, International, etc..¨. They state that the text sent will be submitted to percep tive peer-review, which is actually nonexistent, in exchangefor a payment to publis

Rheumatoid nodule mimicking an olecranon bursitis as the primary manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis

Olecranon bursitis is a relatively common condition, being most of the cases idiopathic. Less commonly it is caused by infection, by a systemic inflammatory process or by a crystal-deposition disease such as gout or pseudogout. We present a case that was referred as olecranon bursitis, in which the diagnose of rheumatoid nodule was stablished after histological study of the resected tissue

Minimally invasive bone grafting of simple cyst of the femoral head in femoroacetabular impingement

Femoral head and neck cysts are a common finding among patients with femoroacetabular impingement. However, their exact role in this pathology has not been yet clarified. We report herein the case of a 45-year-old male presenting with femoroacetabular impingement in which the treatment of a femoral simple bone cyst resolved the symptomatology

Long-term functional outcomes of the terrible triad of the elbow

Introduction: The published literature regarding the terrible triad of the elbow has historically shown a high rate of unacceptable outcomes. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the long-term functional outcomes and repercussions in patients who suffered the terrible triad of the elbow. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively-recruited consecutive series of cases registered from August 2005 to August 2009, involving 27 patients from which 16 complied with inclusion criteria for the study. The mean follow-up period was 8.6 years (range: 6.9 to 10.6). Two different final quality of life evaluation questionnaires were performed by telephone: the EuroQol Five Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D) and the patient answered questionnaire portion of the Liverpool Elbow Score (PAQ-LES). Results: Fifteen (93.7%) patients were intervened surgically whereas only 1 case was treated conservatively. EQ-5D-rated outcome averaged 0.87 (range: 0.36 to 1) and the PAQ-LES averaged 33.5 (range: 17 to 36). Five (31.2%) presented pain or discomfort, 4 (25.0%) had some kind of difficulties in their daily activity and 3 (18.7%) founded some limitations with their personal hygiene. Only 6 cases (37.5%) declared to be fully asymptomatic. Conclusion: The terrible triad of the elbow remains a challenging injury that entails the presence of chronic pain and discomfort in almost one third of the cases at a long-term follow-up

Size Does Matter: The Role of Patient's Body Surface Predicting Surgical Difficulty in Total Knee Replacement.

Introduction: Total knee replacement (TKR) is a frequently performed surgery with reported very positive outcomes. However, the difficulty of TKR surgery can vary greatly between patients. Many factors have been related to higher surgical difficulty in TKR, but the role of patient anthropometry is still unclear. Although patient Body Mass Index (BMI) is known to affect the postoperative outcome after TKR, it has not proved to be a reliable predictor of surgical difficulty. The aim of this work was to state whether if the patient's overall size, measured with the patient's body surface, had a direct impact on surgical difficulty. Material and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 250 patients who underwent TKR surgery in our center from January 2014 to October2014. The following data were collected from the pre-anesthesia evaluation sheet: age (in years), weight (in kilograms), height (in centimeters),BMI (using the formula weight/height2), body surface (using Dubois' formula [20], x = 0.007184 x weight (kg)0.425 x height (cm)0.725) expressed in m2, and surgical times. Statistical analyses were performed. Results: After the analyses we found there wasn't association between high BMI and higher surgical times. However, there was a direct relation between surgical times and patient body surface values. These findings were statistically significant. Conclusion: In our experience, the patient's body surface is a reliable predictor of surgical difficult

The relationship between ACL reconstruction and meniscal repair: quality of life, sports return, and meniscal failure rate 2- to 12-year follow-up.

Background: Few studies have approached in a long-term follow-up of meniscal repair at an amateur level, specially studying variables as a quality of life and failure rate. The purpose of this review is to study medium to long-term clinical results in patients at amateur sports patients, that have required meniscal sutures at our center, with or without ACL reconstruction. We evaluate the objective function of the knee, as well as patients' return to sports activities, quality of life, and the rate of failed repair and study of the possible reasons. Methods: This was an observational retrospective study. Ninety-two patients who regularly perform amateur sports activities (Tegner 4 to 7) were assessed, with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years, divided into 2 groups: group 1, isolated meniscal suture (43 cases) and group 2, associated to ACL reconstruction (49 cases). Each patient made this test in 2019: Lysholm and Tegner (validated for Spanish) before a knee injury and after surgery, motivation to return to sports activity (Likert scale with 3 items: low, regular, or high), and quality of life through SD-12 test. Results: High return to amateur sports rate (92%) was even higher in the isolated meniscal repair group in comparison to the group with associated ACL. We have not found statistically significant differences between sports return and age, gender, injured meniscus, chondral injuries, preoperative Tegner score, or motivation. No significant differences in physical or mental health fields between both groups. Meniscal repair failed in 12 patients (13%). Higher rate of failure in isolated bucket-handle tear injuries (p < 0.0062). No statistically significant association was found between the other variables studied. Conclusions: Good results with 92% of sports return, low rate of complications, and low retear rate, even lower when is associated with ACL reconstruction and in external meniscus repair, and high values at SF-12 between 2 groups

Patient safety culture in orthopaedics surgery. Influence of a training activities plan

Objetivo: Conocer las características de la cultura de seguridad clínica en cirugía ortopédica y traumatología, valorando la influencia de una intervención formativa en su tendencia evolutiva. Población y metodología: Estudio observacional ecológico con intervención formativa. La población objeto de estudio fueron los profesionales del Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología del Hospital Clínic Universitario de Barcelona. Se utilizó la versión española del cuestionario HSOPS para valorar la cultura de seguridad clínica. Resultados: El porcentaje de respuestas válidas obtenidas fue superior al 60% en las dos mediciones de la cultura realizadas. Las 12 dimensiones consideradas mejoraron su tendencia. El trabajo en equipo dentro del servicio se identificó como una dimensión de fortaleza del modelo. Conclusiones: La intervención formativa ha consolidado una tendencia favorable. La mejora de la cultura de seguridad clínica requiere tiempo y actuaciones periódicas

Implant retention and prologued antibiotic treatment for an infected total hip replacement causing fungal periacetabular osteolysis.

We present a periprosthetic fungal infection with massive acetabular osteolysis due to a prologued treatment with antibiotics of a primary infection of a total hip arthroplasty (THA). This case exemplifies how this inadequate approach can lead to a severe complication. The resolution of the case was performed with a 2-stage revision of the THA

Surgical anatomy and technique for the treatment of Dubberley type 1, 2 and 3 capitellar fractures via a limited anterior approach to the elbow

Coronal plane fractures of the elbow can affect the capitellum, the trochlea (or a combination of the two), the radial head and the coronoid processes.The Kocher lateral approach is the most commonly used for open reduction of this type of fractures, although an arthroscopic technique has been used in some cases. When the fracture extends to the trochlea, the Kocher lateral approach may be inadequate for the correct visualisation, reduction and fixation of the fracture. In such cases an associated medial elbow approach may be required, or a posterior transolecranon approach may be preferred. We think that the limited anterior approach to the elbow could be a valid option when treating these types of fractures, as it does not involve the de-insertion of any muscle group or ligament, thereby facilitating the recovery process. In cases involving trochlear fracture (which may or may not be dissociated) the approach can be extended medially. We can also treat associated injuries such as fractures of the radial head or coronoid process with this approach. In the present study we describe the dissection of the medial and lateral cubital fossa of the elbow in extension in 4 specimens, paying attention to the neurovascular structures of the area. We also describe the surgical technique for the limited approach to the medial and lateral cubital fossa. We demonstrate the accessibility via the cubital fossa to the capitellum, trochlea, radial head, and coronoid process

Can the intra-operative measurement of the diameter of the femoral head help surgeons to choose the best size of the acetabular cup?

Purpose: We hypothesized that the intra-operative measurement of the femoral head may increase the accuracy of the acetabular cup size optimal selection in total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this clinical research was to analyze the correlation between the estimated cup size from intra-operative measurement of the femoral head and the pre-operative templated cup size. Methods: A prospective observational single-center study was conducted from June 2019 to January 2020 including primary THA (n = 100). All cases were pre-operatively templated. The measurement of the anterior-posterior diameter of the femoral head was routinely intra-operatively performed. Any definitive implanted cup was considered as 'oversized' when the size was > 4 mm than the diameter of the native head. Results: The median (interquartile range) size of the implanted cup, pre-operative planned cup size, and diameter of the femoral head were measured 52 (50-54) mm, 50 (48-54) mm and 49 (45-51) mm, respectively. Pre-operative planned size cup accurately predicted the implanted cup or differed in only one size (2 mm) in 77 (78%) cases. Otherwise, intra-operative femoral head measurement method accurately predicted the implanted or differed in only one size (2 mm) in 51 (87%) cases (p = 0.097). Conclusion: The intra-operative femoral head measurement is a simple and reliable tool to help the surgeons choose the best size of the acetabular cup and is as reliable as the pre-operative templating in order to avoid cup oversizing in THA. Utmost caution is warranted whenever the cup reamer is > 4 mm than the anterior-posterior diameter of the native head