Implant contamination as a cause of surgical site infection in spinal surgery: are single-use implants a reasonable solution? – a systematic review

Background: In spine surgery, surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the main perioperative complications and is associated with a higher patient morbidity and longer patient hospitalization. Most factors associated with SSI are connected with asepsis during the surgical procedure and thus with contamination of implants and instruments used which can be caused by pre- and intraoperative factors. In this systematic review we evaluate the current literature on these causes and discuss possible solutions to avoid implant and instrument contamination. Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed addressing implant, instrument and tray contamination in orthopaedic and spinal surgery from 2001 to 2019 was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. All studies regarding implant and instrument contamination in orthopaedic surgery published in English language were included. Results: Thirty-five studies were eligible for inclusion and were divided into pre- and intraoperative causes for implant and instrument contamination. Multiple studies showed that reprocessing of medical devices for surgery may be insufficient and lead to surgical site contamination. Regarding intraoperative causes, contamination of gloves and gowns as well as contamination via air are the most striking factors contributing to microbial contamination. Conclusions: Our systematic literature review shows that multiple factors can lead to instrument or implant contamination. Intraoperative causes of contamination can be avoided by implementing behavior such as changing gloves right before handling an implant and reducing the instruments' intraoperative exposure to air. In avoidance of preoperative contamination, there still is a lack of convincing evidence for the use of single-use implants in orthopaedic surgery

Psychological well-being of early and continuously treated phenylketonuria patients

Background Despite enormous advances in therapy, phenylketonuria (PKU) remains an incurable, inherited metabolic disease requiring life-long treatment with potential to negatively impact quality of life and psychological well-being. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen early diagnosed and continuously treated children with PKU on psychological strengths and behavioral difficulties. Methods Evaluation of psychological strengths and behavioral difficulties in 49 patients with PKU (23f, 2-17 years) by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; self-report 11-17 years and parent-report 2-17 years). Comparison to age, sex and BMI-matched healthy controls (n = 98; 46f). Results In patients with PKU and healthy controls median SDQ Total Difficulties Score and median scores of subscales were within the normal range in parent- and self-report, irrespective of sex and age group (children 2-10 years, adolescents 11-17 years). No influence of long-term metabolic control in PKU on SDQ could be revealed. The 2- to 10-year-old boys with PKU showed significantly higher scores in Prosocial Behavior compared to their healthy peers (P = .032). Likewise, adolescent boys with PKU showed fewer Conduct Problems (parent-report, P = .006). Adolescent girls with PKU rated themselves more often as abnormal in the subscale Emotional Problems compared to their healthy peers (P = .041). This subscale was also responsible for a significantly different Total SDQ Difficulties Score between patients and their parents' report (P = .008). Discussion SDQ represents a suitable instrument within the care for patients with PKU. Specific aspects, however, require separate consideration and evaluation with respect to this chronic disease. Special attention should be paid on adolescent PKU girls who seem to be at risk to develop emotional problem

A descriptive analysis of human milk dispensed by the Leipzig Donor Human Milk Bank for neonates between 2012 and 2019

BackgroundHuman milk banking has become an important aspect of Nutritional medicine. It is not just about the provision of mother’s own milk (MOM) or donor human milk (DHM) in the hospital, but also a strategy to encourage breastfeeding in the clinical setting and beyond.ObjectiveTo describe the feeding patterns of hospitalised infants including human milk dispensed by the Leipzig Donor Human Milk Bank (LMB).DesignA descriptive analysis of daily data on milk feeds dispensed by LMB for hospitalised infants distinguishing between MOM or DHM, either fresh or frozen, and raw/pasteurised milk from 2012–2019.ResultsWe included 2,562 infants with median hospitalisation of 23 days, for whom human milk was dispensed on median 76% of those days and other nutrition on the remaining days. Raw MOM and raw DHM comprised 52% and 8% of the dispensed milk, respectively. Dispensing exclusive DHM instead of MOM for at least one full day was required for 55% of the infants, mostly at the beginning but also later during hospitalisation. Exclusive raw DHM was dispensed on at least 1 day for 37% of the infants, in different birthweight strata <1,000 g: 10%, 1,000-1500 g: 11%, 1,500-2500 g: 13% and > 2,500 g: 3%. At discharge, MOM was dispensed for more than 60% of the infants.ConclusionDuring an infant’s hospital stay, LMB dispenses various human milk feeds with interspersed DHM resulting in complex intra-individual and time-variant feeding patterns. LMB dispenses raw MOM and especially raw DHM with the intention to retain the properties of human milk unlike a diet containing pasteurised DHM and/or formula. Although raw DHM comprises a small percentage of all dispensed milk, raw DHM is dispensed for a substantial portion of infants. Our results document that dispensing raw DHM, is possible in routine settings

The value of hepatic resection in metastasic renal cancer in the era of Tyrosinkinase Inhibitor Therapy

Background: The value of liver-directed therapy (LDT) in patients with metastasic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC) is still an active field of research, particularly in the era of tyrosinkinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. Methods: The records of 35 patients with MRCC undergoing LDT of metastasic liver lesions between 1992 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Immediate postoperative TKI was given in a subgroup of patients after LDT for metastasic lesions. Uni- and multivariate models were applied to assess overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Following primary tumor (renal cell cancer) resection and LDT, respectively, median OS was better for a total of 16 patients (41 %) receiving immediate postoperative TKI with 151 and 98 months, when compared to patients without TKI therapy with 61 (p = 0.003) and 40 months (p = 0.032). Immediate postoperative TKI was associated with better median PFS (47 months versus 19 months; p = 0.023), whereas in DFS only a trend was observed (51 months versus 19 months; p = 0.110). Conclusions: LDT should be considered as a suitable additive tool in the era of TKI therapy of MRCC to the liver. In this context, postoperative TKI therapy seems to be associated with better OS and PFS, but not DFS

Recommendations for return to sports after total hip arthroplasty are becoming less restrictive as implants improve

Introduction: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgeries are expected to exponentially increase in the upcoming years, likely because of the overall broader indication of THAs. With these developments, an increasing number of younger (< 50 years) and active patients will receive surgical interventions, and expectations for an active lifestyle will accordingly increase. In addition, surgeons now have a growing array of techniques and implant materials to choose from. Despite these developments, evidence to provide the best standard-of-care to patients with high expectations for return to sports (RTS) is scarce and urgently needed. What recommendations do arthroplasty surgeons currently make to patients with high return to sports expectations, what factors may influence their recommendations and what surgical techniques and implant specifications are considered favorable in the treatment of patients with a more active lifestyle? This study was conducted to analyze the current recommendations, patient assessment, and patient counseling after THA to identify trends and relevant factors for surgical decision-making in patients with high-RTS expectations. Material and methods: We designed a questionnaire comprising five general items and 19 specific items that included 46 sub-items for hip arthroplasty and conducted a survey among 300 German surgeons specialized in arthroplasty at the German Arthroplasty Society (AE) to assess expert opinions, recommendations, surgical decision-making, and patient counseling for patients with high expectations for RTS after THA. Results: The majority of surgeons (81.9%) were in favor of RTS after THA. Risks associated with sports after THA were considered minimal (1%), with periprosthetic fractures ranking highest, followed by hip dislocation and polyethylene wear. Some surgical decision-making was influenced by high-RTS expectations in regard to implant fixation, stem type, femoral head diameter, and bearing-surface tribology. We observed an increasingly liberal counseling of patients for high-impact sports. Conclusion: With the improvement of implants and surgical techniques, surgeons are more willing to encourage patients to adopt a more active lifestyle. However, the true long-term limitations need further investigation in future studies. Level of evidence: 5 Expert opinions

Charts and LMS Tables of Transfontanellar and Transvertical Ear-to-Ear Distances for Gestational Age

Introduction: To date cranial development has only been described by analyzing occipitofrontal circumference (OFC). More precise methods of determining head measurements have not been widely adopted. The use of additional measurements has the potential to better account for the three-dimensional structure of the head. Our aim was to put forward centile curves of such measurements for gestational age along with a compound head volume index. Methods: We created generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape of two ear-to-ear distances (EED), transfontanellar (fEED) and transvertical (vEED), from birth anthropometric data. Same was done for OFC, crown-heel length, and birth weight to allow for comparison of our models with growth charts by Voigt et al. and Fenton and Kim. Results: Growth charts and tables of LMS parameters for fEED and vEED were derived from 6,610 patients admitted to our NICU and 625 healthy term newborns. With increasing gestational age EEDs increase about half as fast compared to OFC in absolute terms, their relative growths are fairly similar. Discussion: Differences to the charts by Fenton and Kim are minute. Tape measurements, such as fEED or vEED can be added to routine anthropometry at little extra costs. These charts may be helpful for following and evaluating head sizes and growth of preterm and term infants in three dimensions

Uncemented femoral revision arthroplasty using a modular tapered, fluted titanium stem 5-to 16-year results of 163 cases

Background and purpose - Due to the relative lack of reports on the medium- to long-term clinical and radiographic results of modular femoral cementless revision, we conducted this study to evaluate the medium- to long-term results of uncemented femoral stem revisions using the modular MRP-TITAN stem with distal diaphyseal fixation in a consecutive patient series. Patients and methods - We retrospectively analyzed 163 femoral stem revisions performed between 1993 and 2001 with a mean follow-up of 10 (5-16) years. Clinical assessment included the Harris hip score (HHS) with reference to comorbidities and femoral defect sizes classified by Charnley and Paprosky. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were analyzed and the failure rate of the MRP stem for any reason was examined. Results - Mean HHS improved up to the last follow-up (37 (SD 24) vs. 79 (SD 19); p < 0.001). 99 cases (61%) had extensive bone defects (Paprosky IIB-III). Radiographic evaluation showed stable stem anchorage in 151 cases (93%) at the last follow-up. 10 implants (6%) failed for various reasons. Neither a breakage of a stem nor loosening of the morse taper junction was recorded. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a 10-year survival probability of 97% (95% CI: 95-100). Interpretation - This is one of the largest medium- to longterm analyses of cementless modular revision stems with distal diaphyseal anchorage. The modular MRP-TITAN was reliable, with a Kaplan-Meier survival probability of 97% at 10 years