Postoperative Spinal Epidural Hematoma: The Danger Caused by the Misuse of Thrombin-Containing Local Hemostatics

Study DesignRetrospective case-control study.PurposeTo examine the hypothesis that the misuse of thrombin-containing local hemostatics (TCLH) increases the risk of postoperative spinal epidural hematoma (POSEH).Overview of LiteratureMany studies have focused on hypocoagulability as a risk factor for POSEH. However, there are no prior reports on the increased risk of POSEH in hypercoagulable states.MethodsPosterior instrumented lumbar spine surgery cases over 2 consecutive years were divided into two groups: a study group (98 patients in whom TCLH was used) and a control group (176 patients in whom TCLH was not used). The excess TCLH matrix that was not associated with blood clot was not removed from the patients in the study group. The senior author decided whether to use TCLH or not. Suction drains were used in all patients. The demographics, coagulation-related factors, and intraoperative factors of the patients in the two groups were analyzed. The development of POSEH was compared between the two groups.ResultsThe two groups were homogenous in demographics (age and sex), coagulation-related factors (platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and platelet function analysis), and surgical factors (total blood loss, operation time, blood loss/10 minutes, number of fusion segments, posterolateral fusion/posterior lumbar interbody fusion, and virgin or revision surgery). POSEH developed more frequently in the patients in the study group than in those in the control group (14/98 patients, 14.3% vs. 3/176 patients, 1.7%, respectively; p=0.001; odds ratio, 17.1).ConclusionsTCLH causes blood clot not only at the edge of damaged vessels but also at the site of extravascular blood. Excess TCLH matrix not associated with blood clot at the epidural space can enhance POSEH development because early clotted hematomas do not drain through suction drains

Prognostic Factors of Neurological Complications in Spinal Surgeries

Study Design Retrospective study. Purpose To determine prognostic factors of neurological complications (NCs) of posterior thoracolumbar surgeries. Overview of Literature There have been few reports on the prognosis of NCs according to the causes and treatment methods. Methods The subjects were 65 patients who had NCs for 19 years (1995–2013) after posterior thoracolumbar surgeries in Seoul Sacred Heart General Hospital. The degree of neurological injury was assessed using numeric scales as follows: G1, increased leg pain or sensory loss; G2, hemiparesis; G3, paraparesis; G4, cauda equine syndrome; and G5, complete paraplegia. The relative degree of neurological recovery was evaluated using four numeric scales as follows: Gr1, complete recovery; Gr2, almost complete recovery with residual sensory loss or numbness; Gr3, partial recovery with apparent neurological deficit; and Gr4, no recovery. The prognostic factors were investigated in terms of demographic and surgical variables that were available in a retrospective review. Results The causes were as follows: epidural hematoma (EH), 25 patients (38.5%); insufficient decompression and fusion, 14 patients (21.5%); mechanical injury, 11 patients (16.9%); insufficient discectomy, four patients (6.2%); and unknown, 11 patients (23.1%). The grade of neurological injury was as follows: G1, 11 patients (16.9%); G2, 34 patients (52.3%); G3, 15 patients (23.1%); G4, three patients (4.6%); and G5, two patients (3.1%). Thirteen patients received conservative treatment, and 52 underwent revision surgeries. Neurological recovery was as follows: Gr1, 21 patients (32.3%); Gr2, 17 patients (26.2%); Gr3, 20 patients (30.8%); and Gr4, seven patients (10.8%). The prognosis depended on the causes (p =0.041). The subgroup analysis of the revision group revealed a significant correlation between the degree of neurological recovery and the timing of revision, irrespective of causes (r =0.413, p =0.002). Conclusions The prognosis of NC depended on the causes. EH was the best and unknown was the worst prognostic factor. Revision should be performed as soon as possible for a better prognosis

Comparison of Remifentanil and Fentanyl for Postoperative Pain Control after Abdominal Hysterectomy

Purpose: In this randomized, double-blind study, we investigated the analgesic efficacy and side effects of continuous constant-dose infusions of remifentanil after total abdominal hysterectomy and compared it to fentanyl. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six adult female patients scheduled for elective total abdominal hysterectomy were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups according to fentanyl (group F, n = 28) or remifentanil (group R, n = 28) for postoperative analgesia. Patients in group F were given fentanyl intravenously with an infusion rate of fentanyl 0.5 μg/kg/hr; group R was given remifentanil with an infusion rate of remifentanil 0.05 μg/kg/ min for 2 days. Pain intensity at rest, occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), dizziness, pruritus, and respiratory depression were assessed 1 hr after arrival at the post-anesthesia care unit, at 6; 12; 24; and 48 hr postoperation and 6 hr post-infusion of the study drug. Pain was evaluated by using visual analogue scale (VAS; 0- 10). The time that patients first requested analgesics was recorded as well as additional analgesics and antiemetics. Results: There were no significant differences in VAS, time to first postoperative analgesics, and additional analgesics between the 2 groups. The incidences and severities of PONV and opioid related side effects were not different between the groups; however, there were 3 episodes (10.7%) of serious respiratory depression in group R. Conclusion: Continuous infusion technique of remifentanil did not reveal any benefits compared to fentanyl. Furthermore, it is not safe for postoperative analgesia in the general ward

Design and Validation of Automated Femoral Bone Morphology Measurements in Cerebral Palsy

Accurate quantification of bone morphology is important for monitoring the progress of bony deformation in patients with cerebral palsy. The purpose of the study was to develop an automatic bone morphology measurement method using one or two radiographs. The study focused on four morphologic measurements-neck-shaft angle, femoral anteversion, shaft bowing angle, and neck length. Fifty-four three-dimensional (3D) geometrical femur models were generated from the computed tomography (CT) of cerebral palsy patients. Principal component analysis was performed on the combined data of geometrical femur models and manual measurements of the four morphologic measurements to generate a statistical femur model. The 3D-2D registration of the statistical femur model for radiography computes four morphological measurements of the femur in the radiographs automatically. The prediction performance was tested here by means of leave-one-out cross-validation and was quantified by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and by measuring the absolute differences between automatic prediction from two radiographs and manual measurements using original CT images. For the neck-shaft angle, femoral anteversion, shaft bowing angle, and neck length, the ICCs were 0.812, 0.960, 0.834, and 0.750, respectively, and the mean absolute differences were 2.52A degrees, 2.85A degrees, 0.92A degrees, and 1.88 mm, respectively. Four important dimensions of the femur could be predicted from two views with very good agreement with manual measurements from CT and hip radiographs. The proposed method can help young patients avoid instances of large radiation exposure from CT, and their femoral deformities can be quantified robustly and effectively from one or two radiograph(s).Y

In-situ Neutron Diffraction Analysis on Deformation Behavior of Duplex High Mn Steel Containing Austenite and ε-martensite

The deformation behavior of Fe-17Mn-0.02C steel containing E >-martensite within austenite matrix has been investigated via in-situ neutron diffraction study at 298 K and 77 K. Based on the analyses of changes in phase fraction and lattice strain, it has been shown that the steel shows the deformation-induced phase transformation of austenite -> E >-martensite -> alpha'-martensite and the direct transformation of austenite -> alpha'-martensite at both temperatures. However, the kinetics of such transformations vary with temperature, resulting in a higher and more persistent work hardening at 77 K than at 298 K.X111212sciescopuskc

Effectiveness of arthroscopically assisted surgery for ankle fractures: A meta-analysis

Introduction: This meta-analysis was performed to determine whether the arthroscopically assisted open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for ankle fractures is more beneficial than the conventional ORIF. Methods: Articles in electronic medial databases were searched between March 1983 and August 2016, including Pubmed and SCOPUS. We included the studies with comparative design comparing the surgical outcomes between the arthroscopically assisted ORIF for ankle fractures and the conventional ORIF. Finally, two RCTs and two retrospective comparative studies were included for analysis. Mean and standard deviation (SD) of postoperative functional scores, number of subjects, and P-values were extracted from the studies. In addition, postoperative follow-up period, fracture type, and study quality were collected. Results: The pooled effect size of the four studies 0.535 (95% CI, 0.247-0.823) in Hedges's g, which favored the arthroscopically assisted ORIF over conventional ORIF. There was no evidence of publication bias in funnel plot and in Egger's test (p = 0.534). Conclusion: The arthroscopically assisted ORIF for ankle fractures were more beneficial than the conventional ORIF in the current evidences. However, since it needs more medical cost and longer operation time, possible additional complications and cost effectiveness are to be validated in future studies. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.N

Intrasubject Radiographic Progression of Hallux Valgus Deformity in Patients With and Without Metatarsus Adductus: Bilateral Asymmetric Hallux Valgus Deformity

This study was to analyze intrasubject radiographic progression of the hallux valgus deformity by comparing the mildly and severely affected sides in patients with bilateral asymmetric hallux valgus in the whole group as well as the metatarsus adductus and the nonmetatarsus adductus subgroups. A total of 186 patients with bilateral asymmetrical hallux valgus deformity with a difference of 5 degrees or greater in the hallux valgus angle were included, and 11 radiographic measurements were analyzed. The radiographic differences between the mildly and severely affected sides were compared. Correlation between the changes in the hallux valgus angle and those in other measurements was analyzed, and multiple regression analyses were performed. The anteroposterior talo-second metatarsal angle showed no significant difference between the mildly and severely affected sides. Changes in the intermetatarsal angle and sesamoid rotation angle were significantly associated with the progression of hallux valgus angle in the whole group as well as the nonmetatarsus adductus subgroup. Change in the intermetatarsal angle (p = .006) was the significant factor associated with the progression of hallux valgus angle in the metatarsus adductus subgroup. The anteroposterior talo-second metatarsal angle might be useful in evaluating the overall foot shape in the hallux valgus deformity. Progression of the hallux valgus deformity might be pathophysiologically different between those with and without metatarsus adductus. (c) 2021 by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. All rights reserved.N

Inverse Relationship Between Radiographic Lateral Ankle Instability and Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus in Patients With Ankle Inversion Injuries

Background: Insufficient or excessive bony constraint surrounding the talus might contribute to the occurrence of ligamentous injury or bone contusion, respectively, at the time of ankle inversion injuries. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between radiographic lateral ankle instability and osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) following ankle inversion injuries. Methods: A total of 195 patients (113 men and 83 women; mean age, 38.7 years) with a history of ankle inversion injuries were included in this study. All patients underwent ankle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and stress radiography. The tibiotalar tilt angle on varus stress radiograph, anterior translation of the talus on anterior-drawer lateral radiographs, bimalleolar tilt angle, and fibular position were radiographically determined. The radiographic lateral ankle instability was defined as tibiotalar tilt angle >= 10 degrees, and the presence of OLT was confirmed on MR images. The relationship between the radiographic lateral ankle instability and the presence of OLT was statistically analyzed. Results: The presence of radiographic lateral ankle instability (tibiotalar tilt angle >= 10 degrees) showed an inverse relationship with that of OLT in the chi-squared test (P = .003). An increased tibiotalar tilt angle was associated with lower incidence of OLT (P = .011) in the multiple regression analysis, and the presence of OLT was associated with a decreased tibiotalar tilt angle (P = .016) in the binary logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: This study showed an inverse relationship between lateral ankle instability and the development of OLT following ankle inversion injury. The role of bony constraint in the development of sports injuries in the ankle should be considered with these injuries.N

Anatomical predisposition of the ankle joint for lateral sprain or lateral malleolar fracture evaluated by radiographic measurements

Background: Injury mechanism and the amount of force are important factors determining whether a fracture or sprain occurs at the time of an ankle inversion injury. However, the anatomical differences between the ankle fracture and sprain have not been investigated sufficiently. This study was performed to investigate whether an anatomical predisposition of the ankle joint results in a lateral malleolar fracture or lateral ankle sprain. Methods: Two groups of consecutive patients, one with lateral malleolar fracture (274 patients, mean age 49.0 years) and the other with lateral ankle sprain (400 patients, mean age 38.4 years), were evaluated. Ankle radiographs were examined for 7 measures: distal tibial articular surface (DTAS) angle, bimalleolar tilt (BT), medial malleolar relative length (MMRL), lateral malleolar relative length (LMRL), medial malleolar slip angle (MMSA), anterior inclination of tibia (AI), and fibular position (FP). After an interobserver reliability test, the radiographic measurements were compared between the 2 groups. Linear regression analysis was performed to correct for age and sex effects between the groups. Results: The fracture group and the sprain group showed significant differences in BT (P = .001), MMSA (P < .001), AI (P = .023), and FP (P < .001). In multiple regression analysis, after adjusting for age and sex effects, fracture and sprain groups showed a significant difference in BT (P = .001), MMRL (P < .001), MMSA (P < .001), and FP (P < .001). Conclusions: The lateral malleolar fracture group tended to show more bony constraint than that of the lateral ankle sprain group. Further 3-dimensional assessment of the bony structure and subsequent biomechanical studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of injury according to the various types of ankle fractures and ankle sprain.N

Radiographic measurements associated with the natural progression of the hallux valgus during at least 2 years of follow-up

Background: This study aimed to investigate the radiographic measurements associated with the progression of hallux valgus during at least 2 years of follow-up. Methods: Seventy adult patients with hallux valgus who were followed for at least 2 years and underwent weightbearing foot radiography were included. Radiographic measurements included the hallux valgus angle (HVA), hallux interphalangeal angle, intermetatarsal angle (IMA), metatarsus adductus angle, distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), tibial sesamoid position, anteroposterior (AP) talo-first metatarsal angle, and lateral talo-first metatarsal angle. Patients were divided into progressive and nonprogressive groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors that significantly affected the progression of hallux valgus deformity. The correlation between change in HVA and changes in other radiographic indices during follow-up was analyzed. Results: The DMAA (P = .027) and AP talo-first metatarsal angle (P = .034) at initial presentation were found to be significant factors affecting the progression of hallux valgus deformity. Change in the HVA during follow-up was significantly correlated with changes in the IMA (r = 0.423; P = .001) and DMAA (r = 0.541; P < .001). Conclusion: The change in the HVA was found to be significantly correlated with changes in the IMA and DMAA. A future study is required to elucidate whether this correlation can be explained by the progressive instability of the first tarsometatarsal joint. We believe special attention needs to be paid to patients with pes planus and increased DMAA. Level of Evidence: Level III, comparative study.N