Musculoskeletal surgery
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Musculoskeletal surgery · Dec 2014
Comparative StudyComparison of the POSSUM score and P-POSSUM score in patients with femoral neck fracture.
The ageing of the population in developed countries has led to an increased number of patients with hip fractures all over the world. POSSUM and P-POSSUM scores predict morbidity and mortality of patients who will be undergoing a surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate accuracy of these two scores in hip-fractured patients. ⋯ In our study, we have shown that on the one hand, the POSSUM score predicted accurately both the mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing surgery for the femoral neck fracture, while on the other hand, the P-POSSUM score underestimated them. For this reason, we believe that the POSSUM is indeed a good audit tool, which can accurately predict both mortality and morbidity in a cohort of patients.
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Musculoskeletal surgery · Jun 2014
Can the osteosynthesis with locking plates be a better treatment for unstable fractures of the proximal humerus?
The purpose of this study is to review our experience with proximal humeral locking plates, including complications, functional outcomes, strength recovery and predictors of successful treatment. ⋯ On the basis of the overall functional and clinical outcome obtained, it is possible to suggest that the ORIF of the proximal humerus fractures using locking plate represents a helpful option that can lead to a good clinical and functional outcome even in the most complex fractures.
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Coagulopathy is common in orthopedic surgery patients either due to acquired factors, such as surgery, trauma, medications, or hemorrhage. Perioperative monitoring of blood coagulation is critical to diagnose the causes of hemorrhage, guide hemostatic therapies, predict the risk of bleeding during surgical procedures, and reduce risk of postoperative cardiac and thromboembolic events. In contrast to previous interventions that measure specific portions of the clotting cascade (such as intrinsic or extrinsic pathways or platelet aggregation), "Point-of-care" coagulation monitoring devices assess the viscoelastic properties of whole blood. ⋯ Improved monitoring of coagulopathy is particularly important as new anticoagulant drugs emerge that affect the clotting cascade in novel ways, including the inhibition of intrinsic and extrinsic pathways and platelet function. It is important for orthopedic surgeons to understand the pharmacology and reversal of these drugs in the perioperative setting. The purpose of this review is to review the current techniques to monitoring perioperative coagulopathy and to identify the manner in which novel anticoagulant medications affect the clotting cascade with particular interest in trauma and spine surgery.
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Musculoskeletal surgery · Apr 2014
Comparative StudyHemiarthroplasty versus reverse shoulder arthroplasty: comparative study of functional and radiological outcomes in the treatment of acute proximal humerus fracture.
To compare functional and radiographic results of reverse prosthesis versus hemiarthroplasty after complex displaced proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients when adequate ORIF cannot be achieved and prosthetic shoulder replacement is required. ⋯ Reverse shoulder arthroplasty indication is steadily increasing in acute displaced proximal humeral fracture. Pain and articular movement results appear better than those with hemiarthroplasty. Our data are similar to the international literature.
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Musculoskeletal surgery · Dec 2013
ReviewPractical management of new oral anticoagulants after total hip or total knee arthroplasty.
Within the past 5 years, the oral anticoagulants rivaroxaban, apixaban, and dabigatran etexilate have been approved for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in adult patients after elective hip or knee arthroplasty in the European Union and many other countries worldwide. These agents differ from the previously available anticoagulants because they selectively and directly inhibit a single factor in the coagulation cascade-rivaroxaban and apixaban inhibit Factor Xa, and dabigatran inhibits Factor IIa (thrombin)-potentially enhancing the predictability of their anticoagulant effect. Currently, although some guidelines provide recommendations for the use of rivaroxaban, dabigatran etexilate, and apixaban in clinical practice, there are still questions regarding the optimal practical management of patients receiving these agents. This article briefly reviews the practical limitations associated with conventional anticoagulants, discusses potential issues with the practical management of the newer oral anticoagulants, and provides clinical experience from a single institution where rivaroxaban and dabigatran etexilate have been used within their approved indications.