Acta Orthop Belg
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Comparative Study
Autologous blood transfusion after primary unilateral total knee replacement surgery.
A prospective study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and financial cost of the use of an autologous blood transfusion device in the reduction of allogeneic blood requirements of patients undergoing primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Forty-nine consecutive patients received either the CellTrans blood salvage device (group A of 32 patients) or the Redivac high vacuum drainage system (group B of 17 patients). The preoperative and postoperative haemoglobin levels were recorded at 72 or 96 hours. ⋯ There was an average saving of 1.1 unit of allogeneic blood per patient in group A (p<0.001). The total cost per patient was about Euro 111 less for the group A patients. Autologous re-infusion was found in this study to be an effective method of reducing allogeneic blood requirements and to afford significant cost savings in primary unilateral knee arthroplasty.
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Case Reports
Complex dorsal subluxation of the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb requiring open reduction: a case report.
The authors present an case of a thumb metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation which was made complicated by the interposition of the sesamoid bone which required open reduction. The intact volar plate prevented closed reduction. The anatomy and surgical management of this unusual case is described.