Orthopedics
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Lower-extremity amputations in the presence of soft tissue loss represent an unresolved conundrum because surgeons must consider sacrificing bone length to obtain adequate soft tissue coverage. Local flaps and microvascular soft tissue transfers are established strategies for maintaining residual limb length. However, the use of skin grafts remains controversial due to the presumed inferiority compared with flaps with regard to enabling prosthetic fitting and full weight bearing. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that split-thickness skin grafts represent a safe and feasible option to preserve bone length in lower-extremity amputations with critical soft tissue loss.
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Corrective surgery for scoliosis is an extensive procedure with well-known problems of postoperative pain control. Additional problems with nausea, vomiting, ileus, and sedation can result in delayed mobilization and a prolonged inpatient hospital stay. ⋯ The use of intravenous acetaminophen has been a helpful adjunct to our armamentarium of pain medication in this patient population. We present an illustrative case of our use of multimodal analgesia beginning intraoperatively and continuing during the acute inpatient postoperative period.
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Joint stiffness is a common complication of elbow trauma. Treating elbow stiffness is challenging, especially in patients with severe elbow stiffness with distal humeral nonunion. To improve treatment outcomes, the authors applied a hinged external fixator after performing open reduction and internal fixation and evaluated the clinical outcome. ⋯ Mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score also significantly improved from 59 points preoperatively to 87.2 points postoperatively, and 6 patients were scored as excellent (more than 90 points), 3 good (75-90 points), and 2 fair (60-74 points) according to the Mayo Elbow Performance Score. A stiff elbow with distal humeral nonunion can be treated successfully using a unilateral hinged external fixator to supplement the open reduction and internal fixation. A hinged external fixator was an effective rehabilitation method for improving range of motion and maintaining joint stability.
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Because the sciatic nerve leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic notch underneath the piriformis muscle, any pathology of the piriformis muscle could result in entrapment of the sciatic nerve; this is widely known as piriformis muscle syndrome. Pyomyositis of the piriformis muscle may be a cause of piriformis muscle syndrome. Piriformis muscle syndrome caused by pyomyositis of the piriformis muscle in pediatric patients is rare. ⋯ The endopelvic fascia provides a route for infection from the pelvis to the piriformis. The pyomyositis of the piriformis muscle in the current case may have occurred secondary to the pyoarthritis of the sacroiliac joint. Endopelvic infections involving the piriformis muscle may mimic hip diseases in pediatric patients.
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Between 2010 and 2011, a perioperative pain protocol for primary total hip and knee replacement at one Florida medical center replaced preoperative oral analgesics with intravenous methocarbamol and intravenous acetaminophen. This is a retrospective cohort study of 300 patients, with 150 patients using the new pain protocol and 150 patients using a 2008 pain protocol that did not include these medications. The 2 cohorts were similar in patient gender, age, and body mass index. ⋯ Physical therapy progress of knee flexion, average walking distance, and maximum walking distance were significantly improved. Hospital discharge was shorter in the 2011 group (4.0±1.1 days in 2008 group and 3.6±1.0 days in 2011 group). This study shows significant improvement in patient care from 2008 to 2011 that is at least partially due to the change to the use of preoperative intravenous methocarbamol and intravenous acetaminophen.