Silver-Coated Distal Femur Megaprosthesis in Chronic Infections with Severe Bone Loss: A Multicentre Case Series.

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) and fracture-related infections (FRI) of the distal femur (DF) may result in massive bone defects. Treatment options include articulated silver-coated (SC) megaprosthesis (MP) in the context of a two-stage protocol. However, there is limited evidence in the literature on this topic. A retrospective review of the prospectively maintained databases of three Institutions was performed. Forty-five patients were included. The mean follow-up time was 43 ± 17.1 months. Eight (17.8%) patients had a recurrent infection. The estimated recurrence-free survival rate was 91.1% (93.5% PJI vs. 85.7% FRI) 2 years following MP implantation, and 75.7% (83.2% PJI vs. 64.3% FRI; p = 0.253) after 5 years. No statistically relevant difference was found according to the initial diagnosis (PJI vs. FRI). Among possible risk factors, only resection length was found to significantly worsen the outcomes in terms of infection control (p = 0.031). A total of eight complications not related to infection were found after reimplantation, but only five of them required further surgery. Above-the-knee amputation was performed in two cases (4.4%), both for reinfection. Articulated DF SC MP in a two-stage protocol is a safe and effective treatment for chronic knee infection with severe bone loss.

Does Surgical Approach Influence Complication Rate of Hip Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fractures? A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Femoral neck fractures are an epidemiologically significant issue with major effects on patients and health care systems, as they account for a large percentage of bone injuries in the elderly. Hip hemiarthroplasty is a common surgical procedure in the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures. Several surgical approaches may be used to access the hip joint in case of femoral neck fractures, each with its own benefits and potential drawbacks, but none of them has consistently been found to be superior to the others. This article aims to systematically review and compare the different approaches in terms of the complication rate at the last follow-up. Methods: an in-depth search on PubMed/Scopus/Web of Science databases and a cross-referencing search was carried out concerning the articles comparing different approaches in hemiarthroplasty and reporting detailed data. Results: A total of 97,576 hips were included: 1030 treated with a direct anterior approach, 4131 with an anterolateral approach, 59,110 with a direct lateral approach, and 33,007 with a posterolateral approach. Comparing the different approaches, significant differences were found in both the overall complication rate and the rate of revision surgery performed (p < 0.05). In particular, the posterolateral approach showed a significantly higher complication rate than the lateral approach (8.4% vs. 3.2%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the dislocation rate in the posterolateral group was significantly higher than in the other three groups considered (p < 0.026). However, the posterolateral group showed less blood loss than the anterolateral group (p < 0.001), a lower intraoperative fractures rate than the direct anterior group (p < 0.035), and shorter mean operative time than the direct lateral group (p < 0.018). Conclusions: The posterolateral approach showed a higher complication rate than direct lateral approach and a higher prosthetic dislocation rate than the other three types of surgical approaches. On the other hand, patients treated with posterolateral approach showed better outcomes in other parameters considered, such as mean operative time, mean blood loss and intraoperative fractures rate. The knowledge of the limitations of each approach and the most common associated complications can lead to choosing a surgical technique based on the patient's individual risk.

Mid-Term Results of Single-Stage Surgery for Patients with Chronic Osteomyelitis Using Antibiotic-Loaded Resorbable PerOssal® Beads.

This retrospective study reports on the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with local debridement combined with PerOssal®. The diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis was confirmed in all cases and classified according to the Cierny-Mader (C-M) classification. The primary outcome was the eradication of infection at a minimum of one year after surgery. A total of 93 patients (median age: 40 years) were included. The most represented sites were the femur (24, 25.8%) and tibia (52, 55.9%). Twenty-six patients (28.0%) had significant local or systemic comorbidities (C-M Class B hosts). According to anatomic type, 31 cases were type I, 13 type II, 21 type III and 28 type IV. Vancomycin was added to PerOssal® in most cases (80, 86.0%). In 24 (25.8%) cases, Vancomycin and Rifampicin were combined. In 32 (34.4%) cases, intraoperative cultures were negative. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 39 (63.9%) patients, and Gram-negative bacteria were isolated in 12 cases. The median follow-up was 21 months (range 12-84). A total of 21 (22.6%) patients developed an infection recurrence (IR) after a median follow-up of 11 months (range: 1-47). PerOssal® holds several practical advantages compared to other bone void fillers. Thus, due to its good biocompatibility and sufficient antibiotic release, it represents a viable adjuvant treatment in chronic osteomyelitis.

Megaprosthesis in Non-Oncologic Settings-A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Modular megaprostheses (MPs) are commonly used after bone-tumor resection, but they can offer a limb salvage solution in massive bone defects. The aim of this systematic review of the Literature is to provide a comprehensive data collection concerning the use of MPs in non-oncologic cases, and to provide an overview of this topic, especially from an epidemiologic point of view. Three different databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched for relevant articles, and further references were obtained by cross-referencing. Sixty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on cases of MP in non-oncologic cases. A total of 2598 MPs were retrieved. Among these, 1353 (52.1%) were distal femur MPs, 941 (36.2%) were proximal femur MPs, 29 (1.4%) were proximal tibia MPs and 259 (10.0%) were total femur MPs. Megaprostheses were most commonly used to treat periprosthetic fractures (1158 cases, 44.6%), in particular in the distal femur (859, 74.2%). Overall, complications were observed in 513 cases (19.7%). Type I (soft tissue failures) and type IV (infection) according to the Henderson classification were the most frequent (158 and 213, respectively). In conclusion, patients with severe post-traumatic deformities and/or significant bone loss who have had previous septic complications should be considered as oncologic patients, not because of the disease, but because of the limited therapeutic options available. The benefits of this treatment include relatively short operative times and immediate weight-bearing, thus making MP particularly attractive in the lower limb.

A Planned Multidisciplinary Surgical Approach to Treat Primary Pelvic Malignancies.

The pelvic anatomy poses great challenges to orthopedic surgeons. Sarcomas are often large in size and typically enclosed in the narrow confines of the pelvis with the close proximity of vital structures. The aim of this study is to report a systematic planned multidisciplinary surgical approach to treat pelvic sarcomas. Seventeen patients affected by bone and soft tissue sarcomas of the pelvis, treated using a planned multidisciplinary surgical approach, combining the expertise of orthopedic oncology and other surgeons (colleagues from urology, vascular surgery, abdominal surgery, gynecology and plastic surgery), were included. Seven patients were treated with hindquarter amputation; 10 patients underwent excision of the tumor. Reconstruction of bone defects was conducted in six patients with a custom-made 3D-printed pelvic prosthesis. Thirteen patients experienced at least one complication. Well-organized multidisciplinary collaborations between each subspecialty are the cornerstone for the management of patients affected by pelvic sarcomas, which should be conducted in specialized centers. A multidisciplinary surgical approach is of paramount importance in order to obtain the best successful surgical results and adequate margins for achieving acceptable outcomes.

Epidemiology of Fungal Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Fungal prosthetic joint infection (fPJI) is a rare complication; nonetheless, it represents a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. There are no official guidelines on the most effective approach to identify and treat fPJIs. This systematic review aims to review the current literature on fPJI management and provide a comprehensive overview of this topic, especially from an epidemiologic point of view. Studies eligible for this systematic review were identified through an electronic systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until 30 September 2022. Further references were obtained by cross-referencing. Sixty-three studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on 372 cases of fPJI; such cases were described mostly in case reports and small case series with only a few larger cohort studies. Diagnosis of fPJI is challenging because of its chronic and indolent clinical course; it is further complicated by the technical difficulty of harvesting fungal cultures. A two-stage revision was the primary procedure in 239 (64.2%) patients whereas DAIR and one-stage approaches were reported in 30 (8.0%) and 18 (4.8 %) cases. In conclusion, our study highlights the heterogeneity of the reported treatments of fPJI, particularly in terms of medical management. With concern to a surgical approach, a two-stage revision arthroplasty is generally suggested, considering fPJI a delayed or late infection. The need for multicenter, prospective studies to provide standardized protocols and improve the treatment of fungal PJI clearly emerges.

CXCR3/CXCL10 expression in the synovium of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

The accumulation of T cells in the synovial membrane is the crucial step in the pathophysiology of the inflammatory processes characterizing juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). In this study, we evaluated the expression and the pathogenetic role in oligoarticular JIA of a CXC chemokine involved in the directional migration of activated T cells, i.e. IFNgamma-inducible protein 10 (CXCL10) and its receptor, CXCR3. Immunochemistry with an antihuman CXCL10 showed that synovial macrophages, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells bear the chemokine. By flow cytometry and immunochemistry, it has been shown that CXCR3 is expressed at high density by virtually all T lymphocytes isolated from synovial fluid (SF) and infiltrating the synovial membrane. Particularly strongly stained CXCR3+ T cells can be observed close to the luminal space and in the perivascular area. Furthermore, densitometric analysis has revealed that the mRNA levels for CXCR3 are significantly higher in JIA patients than in controls. T cells purified from SF exhibit a definite migratory capability in response to CXCL10. Furthermore, SF exerts significant chemotactic activity on the CXCR3+ T-cell line, and this activity is inhibited by the addition of an anti-CXCL10 neutralizing antibody. Taken together, these data suggest that CXCR3/CXCL10 interactions are involved in the pathophysiology of JIA-associated inflammatory processes, regulating both the activation of T cells and their recruitment into the inflamed synovium.