Acta Orthop Belg
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We undertook this study to determine the amount of scattered radiation received by the primary surgeon, assistant and patient during dynamic hip screw fixation for proximal femoral fractures. Data was collected from fifty patients. Five registrars were included as operating surgeon and four senior house officers as assistant surgeon. ⋯ A dosimeter on the unaffected hip of patients measured the radiation to the patient. The results show that the surgeon's dominant hand receives the highest dose of radiation and radiation exposure is dependent on the experience of the operator. Our study concludes that exposure to radiation during this procedure is well below the toxic levels; however greater awareness is needed for harmful effects of exposure to long term low dose radiation.
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The effectiveness of Tranexamic Acid (TXA, antifibrinolytic drug) in reducing allogeneic blood transfusion requirements has not been tested in revision total knee arthroplasty. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of TXA after two intravenous doses of 1 g each. Between April 2006 and February 2010, 68 consecutive patients (19 male, 49 female) of 74 +/- 6 [m +/- SD] years of age were included and divided into three groups: control (28 patients), in which TXA was not administered but was not contraindicated; TXA (19 patients) who received TXA, and NO-TXA (21 patients), who were not administered TXA because of a contraindication. ⋯ Mean total estimated blood loss was 1693 mL (SD: 689) in the control group, 1196 mL (SD: 665) in the TXA group and 2454 mL (SD: 2166) in the NO-TXA group, (p = 0.015). No adverse events were reported. TXA administration appeared as an effective and safe means of reducing blood transfusion requirements and blood loss in revision total knee arthroplasty.
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Concerns have been renewed regarding the possible long-term effects of elevated circulating levels of cobalt and chromium as a direct result of implantation of large femoral head diameter metal-on-metal bearings. In order to establish whether metal ion levels remain persistently elevated, we compared metal ion levels before and after revision surgery in patients with large head diameter (greater than 38 mm) metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty or hip resurfacing arthroplasty. At greater than one year post removal of a large-diameter metal-on-metal hip implant for the indication of symptomatic metallosis, metal ion levels were found to fall to almost normal levels.
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Intramedullary nailing of proximal tibial fractures can be difficult when using the standard entry portal. We evaluated the suprapatellar portal, using a midline quadriceps tendon incision, to perform intramedullary nailing of the tibia. Seven patients were treated with this adaptation of the standard intramedullary nailing procedure. ⋯ Although the patients did not complain of patellofemoral discomfort after the suprapatellar nailing, definitive scuffing of the cartilage in the lower part of the femoral trochlea was visible. Introduction of a locked tibial nail via the suprapatellar approach was found to be possible and even advantageous for some complex upper tibial shaft fractures in compromised limbs. Some possible downsides of this approach need to be taken into account but, in some cases, they can be outweighed by the benefits.
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The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the clinical and radiographic results obtained with the Bryan disc prosthesis (Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis, TN) in 20 consecutive patients with single-level or two-level cervical degenerative disc disease. All patients were followed up for at least two years. The mean Neck Disability Index and the visual analogue scale for neck and arm pain scores were significantly reduced for all postoperative periods compared with the mean preoperative values. ⋯ There was no heterotopic ossification at the implanted levels, no adjacent level degeneration and no prosthesis subsidence or excursion. Cervical disc replacement using the Bryan disc prosthesis appeared to be safe and demonstrated encouraging clinical and radiological outcomes. However, further studies are required to assess the long-term efficacy of this prosthesis and its protective influence on adjacent levels.