6 research outputs found
Achieving 62-day targets in the management of skin cancer: Lessons learned and future directions for the post-COVID era.
Management of Seymour Fractures in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
PURPOSE
Seymour fractures are injuries with a potentially high risk of infection and osteomyelitis. The optimal management of this pediatric open fracture is unknown. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the best evidence for these fractures and determine their optional management based on primary clinical studies.
METHODS
A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. A comprehensive search strategy was applied to the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, and gray literature databases (from May 1966 to April 15, 2020). Studies describing patients under the age of 18 years with Seymour fractures were included. Treatment was grouped based on debridement and antibiotic status as well as the timing of these interventions. The primary outcome was infection. The secondary outcomes included malunion, physeal disturbance, and nail dystrophy.
RESULTS
The searches helped identify 56 records, of which 10 nonrandomized studies met our inclusion criteria, comprising 352 patients and 355 fractures. Early (<48 hours) debridement was associated with significantly less risk of infection (risk ratio [RR]Â = 0.28 [95% CI, 0.12-0.64]) and malunion (RRÂ = 0.25 [95% CI, 0.07-0.99]). Prophylactic (<24 hours) antibiotics significantly reduced the risk of infection (RRÂ = 0.21 [95% CI, 0.10-0.43]). In addition, prophylactic antibiotics and debridement were associated with a 70% reduction in the risk of infection (RRÂ = 0.30 [95% CI, 0.11-0.83]). Over one-third of patients with delayed presentation (median 8.5 days) were infected at presentation.
CONCLUSIONS
The high-risk nature of Seymour fractures may be mitigated by prompt recognition and early, basic interventions, which can usually be performed in any setting.
TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Therapeutic IV
The optimal management of Seymour fractures in children and adolescents: a systematic review protocol
BACKGROUND: Seymour fractures are open, displaced juxta-epiphyseal fractures of the distal phalanx, with an overlying nail bed laceration that occur in children and adolescents with an open physis. This fracture occurs rarely, but its potential consequences are clinically significant. Due to anatomical particulars and proximity to the growth plate, this open fracture may result in soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis, leading to growth arrest and persistent mallet deformity. At present, there is no consensus as to the optimal management of Seymour fractures. The objective of this study will be to systematically evaluate the existing evidence on the management of Seymour fractures in children and adolescents and to establish what are the most important factors pertaining to an uncomplicated recovery.
METHODS: We designed and registered a study protocol for a systematic review of randomised controlled trials and observational studies. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted (from inception to present) in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Library databases. Grey literature will be identified through searching Open Grey and dissertation databases using an exhaustive search strategy. All clinical studies examining the management of Seymour fractures will be included. The interventions (irrigation and debridement; prophylactic antibiotics) and their timings (early vs late) will be compared to no antibiotics and no debridement. Primary outcome measures will be the incidence of superficial and deep infection. Secondary outcomes will include other adverse events such mal-union, non-union, need for re-operation, physeal disturbance and nail dystrophy/atrophy. Two independent reviewers will screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. Conflicts will be resolved through discussion. The study methodological quality (or bias) will be appraised using an appropriate tool. A narrative synthesis will be performed. If data permits, we will conduct random-effects meta-analysis where appropriate.
DISCUSSION:
This review will provide evidence for the management of Seymour fractures, based on a cumulation of existing smaller studies. Due to the rarity of this fracture pattern, included studies are expected to be mainly observational and prone to bias; however, there is value in summarising the evidence to guide clinicians.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION:
Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020153726
Wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) vs regional or general anaesthesia for flexor tendon repair in adults: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Flexor tendon injuries most commonly occur following a penetrating injury to the hand or wrist. These are challenging injuries and the standard treatment is surgical repair under general or regional anaesthesia. 'Wide-awake' surgery is an emerging technique in hand surgery where a conscious patient is operated on under local anaesthetic. The vasoconstrictive effect of adrenaline (epinephrine) creates a 'bloodless' operating field and a tourniquet is not required. The potential advantages include intra-operative testing of the repair; removal of the risks of general anaesthesia; reduced costs; no aerosol generation from intubation therefore reduced risk of COVID-19 spread to healthcare professionals. The aim of this study will be to systematically evaluate the evidence to determine if wide-awake surgery is superior to general/regional anaesthetic in adults who undergo flexor tendon repair.
METHODS
We designed and registered a study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative and non-comparative studies. The primary outcome will be functional active range of motion. Secondary outcomes will be complications, resource use (operative time) and patient-reported outcome measures. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted (from 1946 to present) in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. Grey literature will be identified through Open Grey, dissertation databases and clinical trials registers. All studies on wide-awake surgery for flexor tendon repair will be included. The comparator will be general or regional anaesthesia. No limitations will be imposed on peer review status or language of publication. Two investigators will independently screen all citations, full-text articles and abstract data. Potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion or referral to a third author when necessary. The study methodological quality (or bias) will be appraised using an appropriate tool. If feasible, we will conduct a random effects meta-analysis.
DISCUSSION
This systematic review will summarise the best available evidence and definitively establish if function, complications, cost, or patient-reported outcomes are improved when flexor tendons are repaired using wide-awake technique. It will determine if this novel approach is superior to general or regional anaesthesia. This knowledge will help guide hand surgeons by continuing to improve outcomes from flexor tendon injuries.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42020182196
Global incidence of incomplete surgical excision in adult patients with non-melanoma skin cancer: Study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
Background:
Non-melanoma skin cancer, which includes basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, is the commonest malignancy worldwide. The mainstay of treatment is surgical excision. Despite this being an exceptionally common procedure, it is not known what the accepted standard is for incomplete excision. Multiple single-centre, regional and national studies have previously reported their incidence of incomplete excision in isolation. Furthermore, is it not known what effect potential risk factors such as the operating group, location of lesions, type of reconstruction, histological components or use of loupe magnification have on the incidence of incomplete excisions. The objective of this study will be to systematically evaluate observational data that present incidence of incomplete surgical excision amongst adult patients with non-melanoma skin cancer worldwide.
Methods:
We designed and registered a study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of descriptive epidemiology data. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted (from January 2000 onwards) in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, EMCare and Cochrane Library. Grey literature will be identified through searching Open Grey, dissertation databases (e.g. Open Access Theses and Dissertations) and clinical trial registers (e.g. WHO ICTRP). Observational studies (cohort, cross-sectional, case series and clinical audits) reporting the incidence of incomplete surgical excision and conducted in adult patients with non-melanoma skin cancer will be included. The primary outcome will be the incidence of incomplete surgical excision (defined as residual tumour at either the peripheral or deep margin). Secondary outcomes will be risk factors that may affect incomplete excision (e.g. operating group, location of lesions, types of reconstruction, histological components). Data will not be extracted if the study uses other surgical techniques such as Mohs micrographic surgery, intra-operative frozen section, incision, shave or punch biopsies. Two investigators will independently screen all citations, full-text articles and abstract data. Potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion. No limitations will be imposed on publication status or language of publication. The study methodological quality (or bias) will be appraised using an appropriate tool. If feasible, we will conduct a random effect meta-analysis of observational data. Incidence estimates will be stratified according to cancer type (e.g. basal cell carcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma) and operating group (e.g. dermatology, plastic surgery and general practice). Additional analyses will be conducted to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity (e.g. methodological quality, sample size).
Discussion:
This systematic review will summarise the best available evidence and definitively establish the incidence of incomplete surgical excision in non-melanoma skin cancer. It will determine if there is variation observed amongst different operating groups and provide some evidence for potential other factors causing this difference. This knowledge will provide a standard for future audits and will contribute to improving the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer treatment.
Systematic Review Registration:
PROSPERO CRD4201915793