The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Aug 2008
Comparative StudyComparison of thoracolumbar motion produced by manual and Jackson-table-turning methods. Study of a cadaveric instability model.
Patients who have sustained a spinal cord injury remain at risk for further neurologic deterioration until the spine is adequately stabilized. To our knowledge, no study has previously addressed the effects of different bed-to-operating room table transfer techniques on thoracolumbar spinal motion in an instability model. We hypothesized that the conventional logroll technique used to transfer patients from a supine position to a prone position on the operating room table has the potential to confer significantly more motion to the unstable thoracolumbar spine than the Jackson technique. ⋯ This study addresses in-hospital patient safety. Performing the Jackson turn requires approximately half as many people as required for a manual logroll. This study suggests that the Jackson technique should be considered for supine-to-prone transfer of patients with known or suspected instability of the thoracolumbar spine.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Aug 2008
Trigger finger: prognostic indicators of recurrence following corticosteroid injection.
Corticosteroid injections are commonly used in the treatment of flexor tenosynovitis in adults. The present study was performed in an attempt to identify prognostic indicators of symptom recurrence one year after corticosteroid injection for the treatment of trigger digits. ⋯ At one year following injection, 56% of the digits had a recurrence of symptoms. Younger age, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, involvement of multiple digits, and a history of other tendinopathies of the upper extremity were associated with a higher rate of treatment failure. Symptoms often recurred several months after the injection.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Aug 2008
Multicenter StudyCell count and differential of aspirated fluid in the diagnosis of infection at the site of total knee arthroplasty.
Although there is no absolute diagnostic test for periprosthetic infection, the synovial fluid leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage have been reported to have high sensitivity and specificity. However, the cutoff values for these tests are not agreed upon. We sought to identify definite cutoff values for both the fluid leukocyte count and the neutrophil percentage that may help to diagnose infection at the site of a prosthetic joint. ⋯ The synovial fluid leukocyte count and differential are useful adjuncts to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the C-reactive protein level in the preoperative workup of infection at the site of a total knee arthroplasty. The present study identified cutoff values for the leukocyte count (>1100 cells/10(-3)cm(3)) and neutrophil percentage (>64%) that can be used to diagnose infection. Combining the peripheral blood tests with the synovial fluid cell count and differential can improve their diagnostic value.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Aug 2008
Multicenter StudyResults of internal fixation of Pauwels type-3 vertical femoral neck fractures.
It has been postulated that femoral neck fractures with a more vertical fracture line (i.e., a high Pauwels angle) may experience more shear forces and therefore may be predisposed to nonunion or loss of fixation. Although there is controversy regarding which fixation method is ideal, we are aware of no large clinical series in which the treatment outcomes of these fractures were evaluated. The purpose of this multicenter study was to evaluate a large consecutive series of high shear angle (>70 degrees) femoral neck fractures to learn more about the outcomes, complications, and performance of various internal fixation strategies. ⋯ Despite timely, excellent reduction and accurate implant placement in the vast majority of cases, the nonunion rate was 19% for fractures treated with cannulated screws alone and 8% for those treated with a fixed-angle device. Although these failure rates are not significantly different, we believe that this study documents the challenging nature of this fracture pattern and the ideal fixation device remains undefined.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Aug 2008
Changes in dynamic foot pressure after surgical treatment of valgus deformity of the hindfoot in cerebral palsy.
Calcaneal lengthening osteotomy and extra-articular arthrodesis of the subtalar joint are two methods used for the correction of valgus deformity of the heel and forefoot abduction. The purpose of this study was to compare the operative results of these procedures in patients with cerebral palsy who were able to walk. We focused primarily on changes in radiographic parameters and how altered mobility of the subtalar joint by the two operative methods would modify pressure distribution over the plantar surface of the foot. ⋯ Extra-articular subtalar arthrodesis appears to be an effective means to achieve predictable correction of severe valgus deformity of the heel in patients with cerebral palsy who are able to walk; however, supination deformity of the forefoot remains and calcaneal equinus is not corrected. On the other hand, we believe that the calcaneal lengthening osteotomy is the treatment of choice because postoperative foot-pressure distribution more closely approximates the normal foot-pressure distribution.