Exogenous application of platelet-leukocyte gel during open subacromial decompression contributes to improved patient outcome

Background: Platelet-leukocyte gel (PLG) is being used during various surgical procedures in an attempt to enhance the healing process. We studied the effects of PLG on postoperative recovery of patients undergoing open subacromial decompression (OSD). Methods: PLG was produced from platelet-leukocyte-rich plasma (P-LRP), prepared from a unit of whole blood. Forty patients were included in the study. Self-assessed evaluations, using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scoring system of activities of daily living (ADL), joint instability, pain levels, pain medications, and clinical evaluations for range of motion were conducted. Results: Platelet and leukocyte counts were significantly increased in the P-LRP compared to baseline counts. Treated patients demonstrated decreased visual analog scales for pain and used significantly less pain medication, had an improved range of motion during passive forward elevation, external rotation, external rotation with arm at 90 degrees abduction, internal rotation, and cross body adduction compared to control patients (p < 0.001). No differences in the instability score were observed between the groups. Furthermore, treated patients performed more ADL (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In the PLG-treated group, recovery was faster and patients returned earlier to daily activities and also took less pain medication than control subjects

Evidence in peroneal nerve entrapment: A scoping review

peer reviewedBackground and purpose: Daily management of patients with foot drop due to peroneal nerve entrapment varies between a purely conservative treatment and early surgery, with no high-quality evidence to guide current practice. Electrodiagnostic (EDX) prognostic features and the value of imaging in establishing and supplementing the diagnosis have not been clearly established. Methods: We performed a literature search in the online databases MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Of the 42 unique articles meeting the eligibility criteria, 10 discussed diagnostic performance of imaging, 11 reported EDX limits for abnormal values and/or the value of EDX in prognostication, and 26 focused on treatment outcome. Results: Studies report high sensitivity and specificity of both ultrasound (varying respectively from 47.1% to 91% and from 53% to 100%) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; varying respectively from 31% to 100% and from 73% to 100%). One comparative trial favoured ultrasound over MRI. Variable criteria for a conduction block (>20%–≥50) were reported. A motor conduction block and any baseline compound motor action potential response were identified as predictors of good outcome. Based predominantly on case series, the percentage of patients with good outcome ranged 0%–100% after conservative treatment and 40%−100% after neurolysis. No study compared both treatments. Conclusions: Ultrasound and MRI have good accuracy, and introducing imaging in the standard diagnostic workup should be considered. Further research should focus on the role of EDX in prognostication. No recommendation on the optimal treatment strategy of peroneal nerve entrapment can be made, warranting future randomized controlled trials. © 2021 European Academy of Neurolog

The use of autologous platelet-leukocyte gels to enhance the healing process in surgery, a review

Background: The therapeutic use of autologously prepared, platelet-leukocyte-enriched gel (PLG) is a relatively new technology for the stimulation and acceleration of soft tissue and bone healing. The effectiveness of this procedure lies in the delivery of a wide range of platelet growth factors mimicking the physiologic wound healing and reparative tissue processes. Despite an increase in PLG applications, the structures and kinetics of this autogenously derived biologic material have not been observed. Methods: A review of the most recent literature was performed to evaluate the use of PLG in various surgical disciplines. Results: The review showed that the application of PLG has been extended to various surgical disciplines including orthopedics, cardiac surgery, plastic and maxillofacial surgery, and recently also endoscopic surgery. Conclusion: This review demonstrates the usefulness of PLG in a wide range of clinical applications for improvement of healing after surgical procedures

Development and validation of the Brabant Hip Fracture Score for 30-day and 1-year mortality

Background: Hip fractures in the elderly are associated with advanced comorbidities and high mortality rates. Mortality prediction models can support clinicians in tailoring treatment for medical decision making in frail elderly patients. The aim of this study was to develop and internally validate the Brabant Hip Fracture Score, for 30-day (BHFS-30) and 1-year mortality (BHFS-365) after hip fracture. Material and methods: A cohort study was conducted in 2 hospitals on operatively treated patients of 65 years and older with a hip fracture. Manual backward multivariable logistic regression was used to select independent predictors of 30-day and 1-year mortality. Internal validation was performed using bootstrapping techniques. Model performance was assessed with: (1) discrimination via the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC); (2) explained variance via Nagelkerke’s R 2 ; (3) calibration via Hosmer-Lemeshow (H&L) test and calibration plots. Results: Independent predictors of 30-day mortality were: age, gender, living in an institution, Hb, respiratory disease, diabetes and malignancy. In addition, cognitive frailty and renal insufficiency, were selected in the BHFS-365. Both models showed acceptable discrimination after internal validation (AUC = 0.71 and 0.75). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated no lack of fit (p > 0.05). Discussion: We demonstrated that the internally validated and easy to use BHFS in surgically treated elderly patients after a hip fracture showed acceptable discrimination and adequate calibration. In clinical practice a cutoff of BHFS-30 ⩾ 24 could identify frail elderly patients at high risk for early mortality and could support clinicians, patients and families in tailoring treatment for medical decision making

Bone Remodeling and Hydroxyapatite Resorption in Coated Primary Hip Prostheses

Hydroxyapatite coatings for THA promote bone ongrowth, but bone and coating are exposed to stress shielding-driven osteoclastic resorption. We asked: (1) if the resorption of hydroxyapatite coating and bone ongrowth correlated with demographics; (2) if the resorption related to the stem level; and (3) what happens to the implant-bone interface when all hydroxyapatite coating is resorbed? We recovered 13 femoral components from cadaveric specimens 3.3 to 11.2 years after uneventful primary THA. Three cross sections (proximal, medial, distal) of the hydroxyapatite-coated proximal implant sleeve were analyzed by measuring the percentage of residual hydroxyapatite and bone ongrowth on the implant perimeter. Hydroxyapatite resorption was independent of patient age but increased with time in vivo and mostly was gone after 8 years. Bone ongrowth was independent of time in vivo but decreased with aging patients. Only in the most proximal section did less residual hydroxyapatite correlate with less bone ongrowth. Hydroxyapatite resorption, which was more proximal than distal, showed no adverse effects on the implant-bone interface

Risk factors for accelerated polyethylene wear and osteolysis in ABG I total hip arthroplasty

We analysed data from 155 revisions of identical cementless hip prostheses to determine the influence of patient-, implant- and surgery-related factors on the polyethylene wear rate and size of periprosthetic osteolysis (OL). This was calculated by logistic regression analysis. Factors associated with an increased/decreased wear rate included position of the cup relative to Kohler’s line, increase in abduction angle of the cup, traumatic and inflammatory arthritis as a primary diagnosis, and patient height. Severe acetabular bone defects were predicted by an increased wear rate (odds ratio, OR = 5.782 for wear rate above 200 mm3/y), and increased height of the patient (OR = 0.905 per each centimetre). Predictors of severe bone defects in the femur were the increased wear rate (OR = 3.479 for wear rate above 200 mm3/y) and placement of the cup outside of the true acetabulum (OR = 3.292). Variables related to surgical technique were the most predictive of polyethylene wear rate