Risk factors for unsuccessful removal of central venous access ports implanted in the forearm of adult oncologic patients

Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors for unsuccessful removal of a central venous access port (CV port) implanted in the forearm of adult oncologic patients. Materials and methods: This study included 97 adult oncologic patients (51 males, 46 females; age range, 30–88 years; mean age, 63.7 years) in whom removal of a CV port implanted in the forearm was attempted at our hospital between January 2015 and May 2021. Gender, age at removal, body mass index, and diagnosis were examined as patient characteristics; and indwelling period, indwelling side, and indication for removal were examined as factors associated with removal of a CV port. These variables were compared between successful and unsuccessful cases using univariate analysis. Then, multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for unsuccessful removal of a CV port using variables with a significant difference in the univariate analysis. A receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve was drawn for significant risk factors in the multivariate analysis and the Youden index was used to determine the optimum cut-off value for predicting unsuccessful removal of a CV port. Results: Removal of CV ports was successful in 79 cases (81.4%), but unsuccessful in 18 cases (18.6%) due to fixation of the catheter to the vessel wall. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the indwelling period (odds ratio 1.048; 95% confidence interval 1.026–1.070; P  60 months had unsuccessful removal. Conclusion: The indwelling period is an independent risk factor for unsuccessful removal of a CV port implanted in the forearm of adult oncologic patients, with a cut-off of 41 months

Higher incidence of aseptic loosening caused by a lower canal filling ratio with a modified modular stem in total hip arthroplasty

Purpose: Although a cementless modular prosthesis has shown reliable results, cases of unstable fixation and revision due to aseptic loosening were observed in our institute. The purpose of this study was to clarify the causes of unstable fixation of the prosthesis.Methods: A total of 144 patients (154 hips) who underwent total hip arthroplasty using the modular prosthesis were retrospectively investigated. For the cohort study, 97 patients (104 hips) were included. The femoral component survival rate and sleeve fixation were assessed at a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups, including stable and unstable fixation groups,by sleeve fixation. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were compared. Results: The Kaplan-Meier survival rate at 9 years was 93% with revision for any reason as the endpoint in study cohort. The reasons for revision were recurrent dislocation (1 hip) and aseptic loosening of the stem (5 hips). A total of 88 hips (84.6%) showed stable fixation, and 16 hips (15.4%) showed unstable fixation at final follow-up. There was no significant difference in clinical outcomes between the 2 groups at final follow-up. The canal flare index was significantly higher, and the canal filling ratio was significantly lower in the unstable fixation group. Conclusion: Although the modified modular prosthesis was useful for treating anatomically difficult patients, we need to pay attention to both proximal/distal mismatch of the intramedullary canal and the canal filling ratio to achieve stable fixation and good long-term results

Risk factors for radiation pneumonitis caused by whole breast irradiation following breast-conserving surgery

We evaluated risk factors of radiation pneumonitis (RP) after whole breast irradiation following breast-conserving surgery. Four hundred and seventy-two cases underwent whole breast irradiation with tangential field following breast-conserving surgery in our hospital, between January 2005 and April 2007. Of these cases, we performed statistical analyses for 423 breasts of 413 patients, using a pulmonary dose-volume histogram. Patient characteristics, treatment regimens and irradiation methods were included as variables in the analyses on risk factors of RP. As a result, 89 breasts of 84 cases (21%) were diagnosed with RP. The version 3.0 of the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events was used to evaluate the grade of pneumonitis : 77 cases (18.2%) were diagnosed as Grade 1 RP, 10 cases (2.3%) as Grade 2, and 2 cases (0.5%) as Grade 3. Multivariate analysis indicated that the significant risk factors for RP were central lung distance (CLD) (>1.8 cm) and the short axis length of the radiation field. The incidence of radiationinduced bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) syndrome significantly correlated only with CLD. The lung volume within the radiation field was shown to be a significant risk factor for RP and radiation-induced BOOP syndrome

High risk of elevated metal concentrations with 9/10-mm stem trunnions and highly cross-linked polyethylene grafted with poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) in total hip arthroplasty

Background: The risks of metal release due to fretting and corrosion at the head–neck junction and consequent adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) have concerns in metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) total hip arthroplasty (THA). Although trunnions have become thinner in diameter to increase the range of motion, it has remained unclear whether this change affects metal release and ALTR in vivo. This study aimed to investigate serum metal concentrations and the prevalence of ALTR in MoP THA with a 9/10-mm stem trunnion.Patients and methods: A consecutive series of 37 hips that underwent THA using MoP grafted with poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) with a 9/10-mm trunnion stem were retrospectively reviewed. Serum metal levels were assessed and compared with those in MoP THA with a 10/12-mm trunnion stem. ALTR was diagnosed with serum metal levels and cross-sectional images. The factors associated with serum metal levels were also assessed.Results: The median serum cobalt and chromium levels were 1.5 μg/L and 1.0 μg/L in the 9/10-mm group and 0.2 μg/L and 0.4 μg/L in the 10/12-mm group, respectively. ALTR was found in 5 hips of 3 patients. Revision surgery was performed in 4 hips, and all stem trunnions and femoral heads showed severe corrosion. Postoperative walking ability was associated with serum metal levels.Conclusion: It was found that a 9/10-mm stem trunnion with MoP grafted with PMPC had high risks of metal release in primary THA. Careful follow-up and cross-sectional imaging are needed to detect ALTR for early revision

Percutaneous drainage of psoas and iliopsoas muscle abscesses with a one-step technique under real-time computed tomography fluoroscopic guidance

PURPOSE : To evaluate the utility and safety of drainage catheter installation for psoas/iliopsoas muscle abscesses using a one-step technique under the guidance of real-time computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy. MATERIALS and METHODS : Ten psoas or iliopsoas muscle abscesses in 7 patients that were treated with percutaneous drainage were included in this study. All drainage procedures were carried out using a one-step technique under real-time CT fluoroscopic guidance. RESULTS : The drainage catheter insertion was performed successfully with the one-step technique in all lesions. Improvements in the patients’ symptoms and blood test results were seen after the drainage procedure in all cases. In addition, postoperative CT scans demonstrated that the abscesses had reduced in size or disappeared in all but one patient, who was transferred to another institution while the drainage catheter was still in place. No major complications were seen in any case. CONCLUSION : The one-step procedure is simple to perform. The percutaneous drainage of psoas or iliopsoas muscle abscesses with the one-step technique under real-time CT fluoroscopic guidance is accurate and safe. Moreover, compared with the two-step technique the one-step procedure results in a shorter drainage procedure and exposes the patient and operator to lower amounts of radiation

High risk of elevated metal concentrations with 9/10-mm stem trunnions and highly cross-linked polyethylene grafted with poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) in total hip arthroplasty

Abstract Background The risks of metal release due to fretting and corrosion at the head–neck junction and consequent adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) have concerns in metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) total hip arthroplasty (THA). Although trunnions have become thinner in diameter to increase the range of motion, it has remained unclear whether this change affects metal release and ALTR in vivo. This study aimed to investigate serum metal concentrations and the prevalence of ALTR in MoP THA with a 9/10-mm stem trunnion. Patients and methods A consecutive series of 37 hips that underwent THA using MoP grafted with poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) with a 9/10-mm trunnion stem were retrospectively reviewed. Serum metal levels were assessed and compared with those in MoP THA with a 10/12-mm trunnion stem. ALTR was diagnosed with serum metal levels and cross-sectional images. The factors associated with serum metal levels were also assessed. Results The median serum cobalt and chromium levels were 1.5 μg/L and 1.0 μg/L in the 9/10-mm group and 0.2 μg/L and 0.4 μg/L in the 10/12-mm group, respectively. ALTR was found in 5 hips of 3 patients. Revision surgery was performed in 4 hips, and all stem trunnions and femoral heads showed severe corrosion. Postoperative walking ability was associated with serum metal levels. Conclusion It was found that a 9/10-mm stem trunnion with MoP grafted with PMPC had high risks of metal release in primary THA. Careful follow-up and cross-sectional imaging are needed to detect ALTR for early revision