Factors affecting mortality in nonagenarian population following surgery for fragility hip fractures: An experience from a tertiary level trauma center in India

Introduction: Fragility hip fractures in nonagenarian patients pose a great challenge in management. To the best of our knowledge, no study has previously evaluated the outcomes and risk factors for mortality after hip fractures in this subgroup of population from the Indian subcontinent. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed on nonagenarian patients (aged ?90) who underwent surgery for hip fractures between March 2016 and March 2019. The patients were divided into two groups: “survivor group” (Group A) and “mortality group” (Group B). The demographic data, type of fracture, side of fractured limb, preinjury ambulatory status, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status, comorbidities, time interval from injury to surgery, operative time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative ambulatory status were recorded from hospital medical records and were studied between the two groups. The follow-up duration of the study was 1 year. Results: Thirty-four patients were included in the study. Both the groups had 17 patients each. Cardiac dysfunction was the most common cause of mortality. The time interval from injury to surgery (odds ratio [OR] = 11.2), gender (OR = 0.23) and postoperative mobility status (OR = 0.07) were found to be significantly different between the two groups. No significant difference in ASA grade, comorbidities, fracture type, preinjury ambulatory status, operative time, and length of hospital stay was seen between the two groups. Conclusions: Risk factors for mortality after hip fracture surgery in the nonagenarian population are male gender, delay in surgery (>3 days) and poor ambulatory status in the postoperative period. Hence, the aim for such patients with hip fractures should be to perform an early surgery and encourage an early ambulation.

Protocolo de estudo para relatar a eficácia da terapia de realidade virtual em combinação com o protocolo de fisioterapia para melhorar o equilíbrio em amputados traumáticos de membros inferiores / Study protocol to report the effectiveness of virtual reality therapy in combination with physical therapy protocol for improving balance in traumatic lower limb amputees: A parallel, open-label, randomized controlled trial

INTRODUÇÃO: A intervenção em realidade virtual (RV) foi viável em amputados de membros inferiores (AMI). Até onde sabemos, não existe um estudo controlado randomizado disponível sobre a reabilitação do AMI usando RV. As evidências sugerem que são necessárias mais pesquisas para reabilitação de amputados usando VR. OBJETIVO: Comparar a eficácia da terapia de RV como um complemento terapêutico adicional com o protocolo de fisioterapia nos limites de estabilidade e estabilidade postural, dor e qualidade de vida entre os AMI. MÉTODOS: Um total de 100 AMI foi recrutado por amostragem aleatória simples (gerador de número aleatório) do JPN Apex Trauma Center, AIIMS, para participar de um ensaio clínico randomizado. O AMI recrutado foi dividido aleatoriamente em dois grupos: terapia de realidade virtual juntamente com o grupo protocolo de fisioterapia (VRT-PTP) e o grupo protocolo de fisioterapia (PTP). A duração do tratamento será de 30 minutos em uma sessão / dia, durante 4 dias / semana, durante 3 semanas. Assim, cada AMI receberá 12 sessões no total. O Sistema de Equilíbrio Biodex para medir o equilíbrio dinâmico, NPRS para dor e qualidade de vida pelo WHOQOL-BREF da OMS (WHOQOL-BREF) são as medidas de resultado que serão registradas na linha de base, no final do período pós-intervenção de três semanas. O acompanhamento será realizado na 6ª e 9ª semana após a inscrição. RESULTADOS: A normalidade dos dados coletados será confirmada pelo teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov. A significância estatística intra e inter grupos será determinada por testes apropriados. O tamanho do efeito e a análise de potência serão realizados. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo apresentará dados para a eficácia do VRT na melhora do equilíbrio e da marcha, além do PTP.

INTRODUCTION: Virtual reality (VR) intervention was found to be feasible in lower limb amputees (LLA). To best of our knowledge, only there is no randomized controlled trial available regarding the rehabilitation of LLA using VR. Evidence suggest that more researches for amputee rehabilitation using VR is warranted. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of VR therapy as an additional therapeutic adjunct with physical therapy protocol on limits of stability and postural stability, pain and quality of life among LLA. METHODS: A total of 100 LLA will be recruited by the simple random sampling (random number generator) from JPN Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS to participate in randomized controlled trial. Recruited LLA will be randomly divided into two groups, virtual reality therapy along with physical therapy protocol (VRT-PTP) group and physical therapy protocol (PTP) group. Duration of the treatment will be 30 minutes in one session/day for 4 days/week for 3 weeks. Thus, each LLA will receive 12 sessions in total. The Biodex Balance System for measuring dynamic balance, NPRS for pain and quality of life by WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) are the outcome measures will be recorded at baseline, end of 3-week post-intervention period. The follow-up will be taken at 6th and 9th week after enrollment. RESULTS: Normality of the collected data will be confirmed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Statistical significance within and between the groups will be determined. Effect size and power analysis will be performed. CONCLUSION: This study will present data for the efficacy of the VRT in improving balance and gait in addition to PTP.

Outcome of application of primary versus secondary Illizarov's fixator in open tibial shaft fractures / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to compare outcome of primary and secondary Illizarov''s fi xator application as a treatment method for type Ⅲ open tibial fractures in terms of non-union and wound infection.METHODS: This prospective study was done in a tertiary care center. Forty-eight type Ⅲ tibial fractures were treated with Illizarov''s apparatus between 2008 and 2011. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the treatment protocol, timing of wound closure and Illizarov''s application, primary (n=28) and secondary (n=20).RESULTS: In the primary group, healing was achieved in all 28 patients. The median time to recovery was 24 weeks, and the median number of operations was 3. There were 6 patients with a bone defect. In the secondary group, complete recovery was achieved in 18 out of 20 patients. The median time to recovery was 30 weeks, and the median number of operations 5. There were 9 patients with a bone defect. The median time to recovery and the number of operations were signifi cantly smaller in patients undergoing primary operation. Union was 100％ in the primary group and more than 95％ in the secondary group. Chronic osteomyelitis persisted in one patient and below amputation was done in one patient in the secondary group.CONCLUSION: Primary wound closure and Illizarov''s fixation required a smaller number of operations and shorter time to recovery than secondary wound closure and Illizarov''s fi xation, mostly due to a signifi cantly less number of patients with a bone defect in the primary group.

Implementation of a short course of prophylactic antibiotic treatment for prevention of postoperative infections in clean orthopaedic surgeries.

Background & objectives: Perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis constitutes the bulk of antimicrobial consumption in any hospital. This study was conducted at a level 1 Trauma Centre of a tertiary care hospital of India to assess the efficacy of a short (24 h) course of perioperative antibiotic prophylactic regimen in preventing surgical site infections (SSI) in open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of closed fractures of limbs and to assess if the same can be implemented as a general policy. Methods: Patients of either sex, aged 18 yr or more, who were scheduled for ORIF and were willing and able to give informed consent, were included in the study. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Group 1 (n=100) received 3 doses of 1 g i.v. cefuroxime perioperatively spaced 12 h apart and group 2 (n=97) received the conventional existing regimen [5 days of i.v. antibiotics (cefuroxime 1 g twice daily along with amikacin 15 mg/kg in 2 divided doses), followed by oral cefuroxime, 500 mg twice daily till suture removal]. Results: Of the 197 patients, four patients developed a surgical site infection (three with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and one Acinetobacter baumanii). Of these, two patients were in group 1 and the remaining two in group 2. These patients were treated with i.v. antibiotics based on the culture and antimicrobial sensitivity reports. The cost of the short course treatment was ` 150 per patient as compared to ` 1,900 per patient for conventional regimen. Interpretation & conclusions: There was no significant difference in rates of SSI among the two groups in our study. Cost evaluation revealed that shorter course was less expensive than conventional long course regimen. Implementation of a short course perioperative regimen will go a long way in reducing antimicrobial resistance, cost and adverse reactions to antimicrobials.