ABSTRACT
Background A distal femur fracture (DFF) around the native or prosthetic knee is commonly seen in the osteoporotic elderly population. Surgical management is required to restore the function. Fracture fixation requires a period of restricted weight-bearing; however, distal femoral replacement (DFR) allows immediate weight-bearing and quicker recovery. Methods All patients who underwent distal femur replacement from 2020 to 2023 at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Data related to the patient's demographics, medical comorbidities, preinjury mobility status, perioperative management and length of stay were collected. Results Eleven patients with 13 distal femoral replacements were included. There were 10 periprosthetic and 3 native fractures around the distal femur. Two patients had bilateral periprosthetic fractures. The median age was 84 years (range 62-95) with all patients being females. Eight patients were living in their homes while three were care home residents. The median duration of surgery was 120 min. The mean blood loss was 350 ml. Patients were mobilised out of bed at a median of three days and were able to walk for 2 meters with a frame at a mean of 10 days (range 3-15) except for two patients whose mobility was limited to the chair. The mean length of hospital stay was 32 days (range 8-54). All patients were discharged back to their original destination except for one who was shifted to a care home instead of her own home. Conclusion In our opinion, distal femur replacement provided a more favourable outcome with respect to pain management, early rehabilitation with full weight-bearing immediately following the surgery and fewer complications. Furthermore, in our hands, the surgical time was short with limited blood loss.
ABSTRACT
Background: T1-T2 intervertebral disc prolapse (IVDP) is a rare clinical condition. Horner's syndrome is an extremely rare clinical finding in these patients. Case Description: A 56-year-old man presented with the left C8 T1 radiculopathy, left hand grip weakness, and ipsilateral Horner's syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed a contrast-enhancing lesion in the left T1 foramen compressing the left T1 nerve root. He underwent left T1 hemilaminectomy, upper half of left T2 hemilaminectomy and removal of the left foraminal lesion. A biopsy of the lesion was sent for histopathological diagnosis which revealed tissue consistent with disc material. Postoperatively, he had near-complete recovery with residual minimal Horner's syndrome. Conclusion: T1-T2 IVDP should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a patient presents with C8 T1 radiculopathy and Horner's syndrome.
ABSTRACT
Background: Ceftriaxone is a commonly used antibiotic in a wide range of local and systemic infections. Encephalopathy is a rare complication of ceftriaxone, often seen in older adults and those with renal insufficiency. Case Description: A 73-year-old lady with prior history of hypertension and dyslipidemia presented with the complaints of slurred speech, gait imbalance, nocturnal vomiting, and progressively worsening headache. A magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed two intracerebral lesions involving the right frontal and temporal lobes, suggestive of multicentric glioma. She underwent craniotomy and excision of these lesions. The biopsy was reported as intra-axial tumors with features suggestive of the WHO Grade IV glioma. Postoperatively, she did not wake up. An electroencephalogram demonstrated triphasic waves suggestive of encephalopathy. The probable diagnosis of ceftriaxone-induced encephalopathy was made after ruling out other causes of delayed awakening after surgery. Ceftriaxone was discontinued and the patient improved within 2 days of withdrawal of ceftriaxone. Conclusion: Drug-induced encephalopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with delayed awakening after surgery. Discontinuation of the drug leads to the recovery of these patients.
