Clinical orthopaedics and related research
-
Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Sep 2008
Sacral chordoma: can local recurrence after sacrectomy be predicted?
Surgical resection margins are reportedly the most important predictor of survival and local recurrence with sacral chordomas. We examined the relevance of invasion of the surrounding posterior pelvic musculature (piriformis and gluteus maximus) at initial diagnosis to local recurrence after sacrectomy. We retrospectively reviewed 18 patients with histologically verified sacral chordoma seen at our institution between 1998 and 2005. There were 14 men and four women with a mean age of 65.1 years (range, 31-78 years). The average overall followup was 4.4 years (range, 0.5-10 years), 5.4 years for the living patients (range, 3-10 years), and 2.8 years for the deceased (range, 0.5-5.4 years). Local recurrence occurred in 12 patients (66%) 29 months postoperatively (range, 2-84 months). Six of these patients had wide excisions at initial surgery, five had marginal excisions, and one had an intralesional excision. Ten patients had wide surgical margins, six of whom (60%) had local recurrences. Tumor invasion of adjacent muscles at presentation was present in 14 patients, 12 of whom (85%) had local recurrences. Sacroiliac joint involvement was seen in 10 patients, nine of whom (90%) had local recurrences. The findings suggest obtaining wide surgical margins posteriorly, by excising parts of the piriformis, gluteus maximus, and sacroiliac joints, may result in better local disease control in patients with sacral chordoma. ⋯ Level IV, prognostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
-
Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Sep 2008
Case ReportsCase reports: splenic rupture after anterior thoracolumbar spinal fusion through a thoracoabdominal approach.
The anterior approach in spinal deformity surgery has increased in popularity in recent years. The thoracoabdominal approach to the thoracolumbar spine is associated with numerous possible complications, including injury to vital intraabdominal structures in close proximity to the area of exposure, such as the spleen. ⋯ Because the suspected etiology of the splenic hemorrhage was related to retraction, surgeons using the anterior approach should consider intermittent release of retractors and inspection of intraabdominal structures. Splenic rupture should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis for patients with hemodynamic instability after anterior approaches to the thoracolumbar spine.
-
Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Aug 2008
Comparative StudyAllogeneic transfusion after predonation of blood for elective spine surgery.
The literature suggests preoperative autologous blood donation in total joint arthroplasty is associated with increased overall transfusion rates compared with nondonation and is not cost-effective for all patients. We asked whether the amount of intraoperative blood loss and blood replacement differs between autologous donors and nondonors in elective spine surgery and whether the rates of allogeneic blood transfusions differ between the two groups; we then determined the cost of wasted predonated units. We retrospectively reviewed 676 patients who underwent elective lumbar spine surgery and compared relevant data to that in a matched cohort of 51 patients who predonated blood and 51 patients who received only cell-saver blood and underwent instrumented spinal fusion. Patients who predonated blood had similar blood loss as patients who did not predonate, but they had more blood replacement (1391 cc compared with 410 cc). Patients who predonated blood also had a lower preoperative hemoglobin level and wasted a half unit of blood on average. There was no major difference in allogeneic blood transfusion rates between the two groups. Our data suggest for short, instrumented lumbar fusion surgeries in patients with a normal coagulation profile, preoperative blood donation is not beneficial. ⋯ Level II, therapeutic study.
-
Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Aug 2008
Low-severity musculoskeletal complaints evaluated in the emergency department.
Patients with musculoskeletal disorders represent a considerable percentage of emergency department volume. Although patients with acute or high-severity conditions are encouraged to seek care in the emergency department, patients with nonacute, low-severity conditions may be better served elsewhere. This study prospectively assessed patients presenting to the emergency department with nonacute, low-severity musculoskeletal conditions to test the hypothesis that these patients have access to care outside the emergency department. One thousand ten adult patients with a musculoskeletal complaint were identified, and a detailed questionnaire was completed by 862 (85.3%) during their emergency department stay. Three hundred fifty (40.6%) patients presented with nonacute, low-severity conditions. Patients with nonacute, low-severity problems were less likely to have a primary care physician (62.5% versus 72.3%) or to have medical insurance (82.5% versus 87.7%), but a majority had both (59.3%). Only 14.3% had neither. Forty-four percent of all patients with primary care physicians believed their primary care physician was incapable of managing musculoskeletal problems. Appropriate use of the emergency department by patients with musculoskeletal disorders may require not only increased access to insurance and primary care, but also improved public understanding of the scope of care offered by primary care physicians and the conflicting demands placed on emergency department providers. ⋯ Level I, prognostic study.
-
Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Jun 2008
ReviewMultidrug-resistant organisms in military wounds from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mortality from battlefield wounds has historically declined, thanks to better surgical management, faster transport of casualties, and improved antibiotics. Today, one of the major challenges facing U. S. military caregivers is the presence of multidrug-resistant organisms in orthopaedic extremity wounds. ⋯ Overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics may be an important factor in building resistant strains. Acinetobacter infections appear to hospital-acquired and not from an initial colonization of the injury. More research is required to give military physicians the tools they require to reduce the infection rate and defeat multidrug-resistant organisms.