Orthopedics
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Reamed locked intramedullary nailing remains the standard treatment for displaced tibial shaft fractures. Supra-patellar tibial nailing in the semiextended position has been suggested as a safe and effective surgical technique that allows mitigating certain challenges of the standard subpatellar approach. ⋯ Preliminary investigations have suggested that this technique is associated with a low rate of complications, including a reduced incidence of postoperative anterior knee pain. Further clinical investigations are necessary to establish overall complication rates and long-term subjective outcomes.
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Observational Study
Return to Work After Diskogenic Fusion in Workers' Compensation Subjects.
Lumbar fusion for degenerative disk disease (DDD) is associated with variable clinical outcomes. Patients with workers' compensation claims often have worse fusion outcomes than the general population. Few studies have evaluated the risk factors for poor outcomes within this clinically distinct population. ⋯ Of the study subjects, 76.8% (n=796) did not return to work and had considerably worse postoperative outcomes, highlighted by chronic opioid dependence and high rates of failed back syndrome, additional surgery, and new psychiatric comorbidity. The low return to work rates and other generally poor outcomes reported in this study may indicate a more limited role for lumbar fusion among patients with DDD who have workers' compensation claims. More studies are needed to determine whether fusion for DDD can improve function and quality of life in these patients.
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Review Meta Analysis
Unipolar Versus Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty for Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures in Elderly Patients.
Hip replacement using hemiarthroplasty (HA) is a common surgical procedure in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures. However, questions remain regarding the choice of unipolar or bipolar HA. A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to determine whether bipolar HA was associated with lower rates of dislocation, reoperation, acetabular erosion, mortality, and general complications, as well as lower Harris Hip Scores, compared with unipolar HA. ⋯ There were no differences in dislocation (RR=1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47 to 3.07), reoperation (RR=0.64; 95% CI, 0.33 to 1.26), acetabular erosion (RR=2.29; 95% CI, 0.85 to 6.12), mortality (RR=0.85; 95% CI, 0.63 to 1.13), and general complications (RR=1.05; 95% CI, 0.70 to 1.56). The authors found no difference in postoperative Harris Hip Scores between patients undergoing unipolar vs bipolar HA (WMD=-1.32; 95% CI, -3.29 to 0.65; P=.19). Unipolar and bipolar HA achieved similar clinical outcomes in patients with displaced femoral neck fractures.
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There has been much debate and controversy about the safety and efficacy of the topical use of tranexamic acid in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate whether there is less blood loss and lower rates of transfusion after topical tranexamic acid administration in primary TKA. A systematic review of the electronic databases PubMed, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Embase was undertaken. ⋯ The authors found a statistically significant reduction in blood loss and transfusion rates when using topical tranexamic acid in primary TKA. Furthermore, the currently available evidence does not support an increased risk of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism due to tranexamic acid administration. Topical tranexamic acid was effective for reducing postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements without increasing the prevalence of thromboembolic complications.
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Lumbar diskography (LD) is frequently used in the evaluation of patients with degenerative disk disease and diskogenic low back pain. Its safety and diagnostic accuracy are a topic of debate. No study has evaluated the efficacy of LD within the clinically distinct workers' compensation population. ⋯ Additional predictors of FBSS included the ability to remain at work within 1 week of index fusion (P=.02; odds ratio, 0.54), male sex (P=.03; odds ratio, 1.51), preoperative narcotic use for more than 1 year (P=.02; odds ratio, 1.53), and fusion technique (P=.03). Diskography should ideally help identify good candidates for lumbar fusion. However, the authors' study raises significant concerns regarding LD's current role within the workers' compensation population.