Implementing screening for myocardial injury in non-cardiac surgery: perspectives of an ad-hoc interdisciplinary expert group

Objectives. Perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) is increasingly recognised as an important complication of non-cardiac surgery, with often clinically silent presentation, but detrimental prognosis. Active screening for PMI, involving the detection of dynamic and elevated levels of cardiac troponin, has recently been advocated by an increasing number of guidelines; however, active PMI screening has not been reflected in clinical practice. Design. As consensus on a common screening and management pathway is lacking, we synthesise the current evidence to provide suggestions on the selection of patients for screening, organisation of a screening program, and a potential management pathway, building upon a recently published perioperative screening algorithm. Results. Screening should be performed using high-sensitivity assays both preoperatively and postoperatively (postoperative Days 1 and 2) in patients at high-risk of experiencing perioperative complications. Conclusion. This expert opinion piece by an interdisciplinary group of predominantly Norwegian clinicians aims to assist healthcare professionals planning to implement guideline-recommended PMI screening at a local level in order to improve patient outcomes following non-cardiac surgery.publishedVersio

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo

Isolated gastrocnemius tightness in foot pathology: diagnostics, treatment and outcomes

Several case series report on the connection between isolated tightness of the m. gastrocnemius and different foot overload conditions. However, insufficient data exist to describe the diagnostic method, as well as expected clinical and biomechanical outcomes after the procedure. The aims of the thesis were to assess patient reported results after gastrocnemius recession for patients with different foot and ankle condition. Further to evaluate the properties of the clinical Silfverskiöld test and a new device developed for the purpose, by testing and retesting patients and healthy participants. Another aim was to evaluate the clinical and biomechanical results for patients with chronic heel pain. A randomized controlled trial was conducted and patient related outcome measures as well as tests for Achilles function, ankle motion and plantar foot pressures were evaluated. The clinical Silfverskiöld test had a low inter- and intrarater reliability, but the new ankle motion device demonstrated good properties. Patients with chronic heel pain that were operated by gastrocnemius recession scored better on all outcome scores than the control group receiving stretching exercises. Ankle motion increased and plantar foot pressures also increased. No differences regarding strength or endurance could be observed between the groups at follow up and no serious complications were observed. Gastrocnemius recession effectively relieve symptoms for patients with chronic heel pain with a low risk of complications and preserved strength

Laterale ankelligamentskader

Laterale ankelligamentskader oppstår i forbindelse med inversjonstraumer og er en av de vanligste skadene både i den generelle befolkningen og blant aktive idrettsutøvere. En lateral ankelligamentskade svekker stabiliserende strukturer i ankelen og kan disponere for vedvarende instabilitet i ankelleddet. Akutte laterale ankelligamentskader uten mistanke om brudd kan behandles og følges opp konservativt i primærhelsetjenesten. I denne kliniske oversikten understreker vi viktigheten av tilstrekkelig og adekvat fysisk opptrening før henvisning til MR og ortoped for videre vurdering. Pasienter med kronisk instabilitet som ikke responderer på adekvat konservativ behandling, bør henvises for vurdering av kirurgi

Non-operative versus operative treatment of suprasyndesmotic ankle fractures: protocol for a prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled trial

Introduction Surgery is widely recognised as the treatment of choice for suprasyndesmotic ankle fractures, because of the assumption that these injuries yield instability of the ankle joint. Stability assessment of ankle fractures using weightbearing radiographs is now used regularly to guide the treatment of transsyndesmotic and infrasyndesmotic ankle fractures. Patients with a congruent ankle joint on weightbearing radiographs can be treated non-operatively with excellent results. Weightbearing radiographs are, however, rarely performed on suprasyndesmotic fractures due to the assumed unstable nature of these fractures. If weightbearing radiographs can be used to identify suprasyndesmotic fractures suitable for non-operative treatment, we may save patients from the potential burdens of surgery.Our aim is to compare the efficacy of operative and non-operative treatment of patients with suprasyndesmotic ankle fractures that reduce on weightbearing radiographs.Methods and analysis A non-inferiority randomised controlled trial involving 120 patients will be conducted. A total of 120 patients with suprasyndesmotic ankle fractures with an initial radiographic medial clear space of <7 mm will be subjected to weightbearing radiographs. If the tibio-talar joint is completely reduced, we will randomise in a 1:1 ratio to either operative treatment including reduction and fixation of the syndesmosis or non-operative treatment with an orthosis. The primary study outcome is patient-reported ankle function and symptoms as measured by the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score at 2-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes include the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire, range of motion, radiographic results and rates of adverse events.Ethics and dissemination The Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research South East, group A (permission number: 169307), has granted ethics approval. The results of this study will provide valuable insights for developing future diagnostic and treatment strategies for a common fracture type. The findings will be shared through publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences.Trial registration number NCT04615650

The Anatomy and Function of the Individual Bands of the Deltoid Ligament—and Implications for Stability Assessment of SER Ankle Fractures

Background: Deltoid ligament injury occurs often with supination-external rotation (SER) ankle trauma. SER fibula fractures with concomitant deltoid ligament injury are considered unstable—requiring operative fixation. Recent studies have questioned this general practice with emphasis on better defining the medial side ankle ligamentous injury. The function of the individual bands of the deltoid ligament, and the interplay between them, are not fully understood. We undertook this study to develop a better understanding of these complex ligamentous structures and ultimately aid assessment and treatment choice of SER ankle fractures with concomitant deltoid ligament injuries. Methods: Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric foot and ankle specimens were studied. We identified the various ligament bands and did a functional analysis by assessment of ligament length and tension at predefined angles of ankle dorsi-plantarflexion combined with valgus/varus and rotation. The results were determined by manual evaluation with calipers and goniometers, manual stress, and direct visualization. Results: We recorded primarily 5 different bands of the deltoid ligament: the tibionavicular (TNL; 10/10) tibiospring (TSL; 9/10), tibiocalcaneal (TCL; 10/10), deep anterior tibiotalar (dATTL; 9/10), and deep posterior tibiotalar (dPTTL; 10/10) ligaments. The tibiospring ligament was tense in plantarflexion, while the tibiocalcaneal and deep posterior tibiotalar ligaments were tense in dorsiflexion. The superficial layer ligaments and the deep anterior tibiotalar ligament length and tension were largely affected by changes in varus/valgus and rotation. The deep posterior tibiotalar ligament length and tension was altered predominantly by changes in dorsi-plantarflexion; varus/valgus positioning had a minor effect on this band. Conclusions: We confirmed the finding of previous studies that dorsi-plantarflexion affects the tensile engagement of the separate ligament bands differently. Likewise, combined movements with varus/valgus and rotation seem to affect the separate ligament bands differently. Our results suggest that the TNL, TSL, and dATTL are at risk of injury, whereas the TCL and particularly the dPTTL are protected in the event of an SER-type ankle fracture mechanism of injury. Level of Evidence Level V, cadaveric study

Effect of Plate and Screw Fixation on Stability of Weber B/Supination-External Rotation Fractures with Partial Deltoid Ligament Injury (SER4a): Robotic-Based Joint Testing

Category: Trauma; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Fibular fractures with signs of concomitant deltoid ligament injury have been operated on with plate and screw fixation of the fibula for decades. More recently, clinical studies have suggested that some fibular fractures have only partial deltoid ligament injury and that the deep posterior tibiotalar ligament may be intact (SER4a), allowing for nonoperative treatment. The purpose was to determine whether fibula fracture fixation using plate and screws improves stability and restores normal joint kinematics in such fractures. It was hypothesised that fixation of the fibula fracture does not add significantly to the stability of SER4a models or restore normal joint kinematics. Methods: Fifteen cadaveric foot and ankle specimens underwent biomechanical testing using a six-degrees-of-freedom force- movement robotic arm in three states: intact joint, SER4a model (anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament sectioned + oblique trans syndesmotic fibular osteotomy + superficial layer of deltoid ligament sectioned + deep anterior tibiotalar ligament sectioned) and SER4a model + plate and screw fixation of the fibula. Joint stability was measured in lateral translation, valgus, and talar internal- and external rotation in three talocrural joint positions: 20° plantarflexion, neutral, and 10° dorsiflexion. Fluoroscopy was used to measure isolated talar lateralisation and talar tilt. The foot was rigidly fixed to a custom pedestal, while the tibia was rigidly fixed to the robot arm through a load cell. Talar lateral translation at neutral ankle position was the primary outcome. Results: Fixation of the fibular fracture reduced lateral translation by 0.16 millimetres (P = .101) at neutral ankle position (See Figure 1). In general, the tests for lateral translation and valgus showed no differences between the SER4a models and the SER4a models with fibular fracture fixation. As for talar internal rotation, the fixation only slightly increased stability. But, when the talus was externally rotated, the fixation provided stability. Although the fixation improved stability during rotations, it did not fully restore the native ankle kinematics. Conclusion: The results suggest that plate and screw fixation of the fibular fracture does not significantly reduce instability or restore intact joint stability in SER4a models. These results support the nonoperative treatment of these fractures, as suggested by previous clinical studies