Clinical orthopaedics and related research
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Nov 2001
Comparative StudyComparative strength of three methods of fixation of transverse acetabular fractures.
With the advent of percutaneously placed lag screws for fixation of acetabular fractures, this study evaluated the strength of lag screw fixation compared with traditional fixation techniques of transverse acetabular fractures. Ten formalin-treated human, cadaveric pelvic specimens with bilateral, transtectal transverse acetabular fractures were used for this study. The right acetabular fractures were fixed with a five-hole plate and four screws with the central hole spanning the posterior fracture site. ⋯ This study showed there is greater strength of fixation with a plate and screw construct, possibly secondary to supplementary fixation distal to the quadrilateral plate. However, lag screw fixation provided relatively greater stiffness, which may account for its clinical success. Percutaneous lag screw fixation of appropriate transverse acetabular fractures is a viable option.
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The purpose of the current retrospective review was to compare the results of 1498 patients having 1090 simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasties and 958 unilateral total knee arthroplasties in a 3-year period, focusing on perioperative complications, length of hospital stay, and discharge disposition. Gender, age, diagnosis, and weight were similar between the groups. Patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasties had statistically significant higher amounts of intraoperative blood loss, with more patients requiring blood transfusion, and a higher average number of units of blood transfused compared with patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty. ⋯ Patients having simultaneous bilateral arthroplasties who were 80 years or older had significantly higher incidences of pulmonary, neurologic, and cardiac complications than patients younger than 80 years in that same group. These results suggest that age, not procedure, has a more significant role in the perioperative morbidity of total knee arthroplasty. Based on the results from the current study and previous literature documenting patient preference, patient satisfaction, efficacy, and outcomes comparable with those of patients having unilateral total knee arthroplasty, the authors continue to offer patients the option of simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasties.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Nov 2001
Comparative StudyPain control after knee arthroplasty: intraarticular versus epidural anesthesia.
The current study compared the effectiveness of a pain control infusion pump with patient-controlled epidural anesthesia in managing pain after primary total knee arthroplasty. Two protocols using the infusion pump or epidural anesthesia were reviewed retrospectively. Eighty-six consecutive patients (91 knees) treated with the infusion pump were compared with 82 consecutive patients (91 knees) treated with epidural anesthesia. ⋯ Significantly more acetaminophen, propoxyphene napsylate, and ketorolac were used by patients with an infusion pump. Similar amounts of other analgesics were used in each group. Prolonged wound drainage (> 3 days) was more common in the patients with an infusion pump (four patients; five knees) versus patients with epidural anesthesia (no patients).