The Importance of Fracture Liaison Services to the Healthcare System: A Review.

Osteoporosis is an important public health concern, with secondary fragility fractures carrying a poor prognosis. The role of a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) is to identify fragility fracture patients via investigation and risk assessment. This serves to address the osteoporosis treatment care gap that exists where the majority of patients with a new fragility fracture over 50-years-old fail to receive a bone mass density (BMD) scan and osteoporosis treatment, ultimately receiving inadequate care. Osteoporosis medication is effective in reducing secondary fragility fractures. However, treatment adherence poses a problem. The FLS serves to prevent more serious secondary fragility fractures such as hip fractures. This minimises operative costs and the cost of postoperative care and results in fewer secondary care and care home admissions, increasing healthcare savings. Implementation of the FLS is effective in increasing investigation, treatment initiation, and adherence, with a corresponding decrease in refracture rate and mortality. This paper aims to evaluate the previous osteoporosis treatment care gap, the effectiveness of osteoporosis medications currently available, and finally, the cost and clinical effectiveness of the FLS serving as a secondary prevention tool.

A Systematic Review of the Impact of the First Year of COVID-19 on Obesity Risk Factors: A Pandemic Fueling a Pandemic?

Obesity is increasingly prevalent worldwide. Associated risk factors, including depression, socioeconomic stress, poor diet, and lack of physical activity, have all been impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This systematic review aims to explore the indirect effects of the first year of COVID-19 on obesity and its risk factors. A literature search of PubMed and EMBASE was performed from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 to identify relevant studies pertaining to the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (PROSPERO; CRD42020219433). All English-language studies on weight change and key obesity risk factors (psychosocial and socioeconomic health) during the COVID-19 pandemic were considered for inclusion. Of 805 full-text articles that were reviewed, 87 were included for analysis. The included studies observed increased food and alcohol consumption, increased sedentary time, worsening depressive symptoms, and increased financial stress. Overall, these results suggest that COVID-19 has exacerbated the current risk factors for obesity and is likely to worsen obesity rates in the near future. Future studies, and policy makers, will need to carefully consider their interdependency to develop effective interventions able to mitigate the obesity pandemic.

Modified negative pressure wound therapy as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of orthopaedic infected metalwork.

PURPOSE: Infected orthopaedic metalwork is challenging to treat. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with irrigation is an emerging therapy for infected wounds as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy. The senior author had devised a modified technique to augment its efficacy, utilising high-flow rate irrigation and skin closure over the standard NPWT dressing. This novel technique was originally evaluated in a different centre and produced 100% success in metalwork retention. The present study is a reproducibility test of the same technique. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 24 patients with infected orthopaedic metalwork, including 3 upper limb and 21 lower limb cases, for outcomes relating to implant retention and infection resolution. Patients underwent a modified NPWT technique as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement. Detailed medical and microbiology information were obtained from the patient records. RESULTS: 23 of 24 (96%) patients had successful metalwork retainment with healed wounds and resolution of infection, allowing fracture union. 27 infective organisms were identified in this cohort, and the antibiotic regimens for each patient are provided. The average follow-up was 663 days. No adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSION: This series supports the modified NPWT technique as a safe, reliable and effective adjunct therapy to resolve metalwork infection. The same results have been reproduced as the previous cohort in a different centre.

High Prevalence of Pre-Existing Liver Abnormalities Identified Via Autopsies in COVID-19: Identification of a New Silent Risk Factor?

A high prevalence of hepatic pathology (in 17 of 19 cases) was reported in post-mortem (PM) examinations of COVID-19 patients, undertaken between March 2020 and February 2021 by a single autopsy pathologist in two English Coronial jurisdictions. The patients in our cohort demonstrated high levels of recognised COVID-19 risk factors, including hypertension (8/16, 50%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (8/16, 50%) and evidence of arteriopathy 6/16 (38%). Hepatic abnormalities included steatosis (12/19; 63%), moderate to severe venous congestion (5/19; 26%) and cirrhosis (4/19; 21%). A subsequent literature review indicated a significantly increased prevalence of steatosis (49%), venous congestion (34%) and cirrhosis (9.3%) in COVID-19 PM cases, compared with a pre-pandemic PM cohort (33%, 16%, and 2.6%, respectively), likely reflecting an increased mortality risk in SARS-CoV-2 infection for patients with pre-existing liver disease. To corroborate this observation, we retrospectively analysed the admission liver function test (LFT) results of 276 consecutive, anonymised COVID-19 hospital patients in our centre, for whom outcome data were available. Of these patients, 236 (85.5%) had significantly reduced albumin levels at the time of admission to hospital, which was likely indicative of pre-existing chronic liver or renal disease. There was a strong correlation between patient outcome (length of hospital admission or death) and abnormal albumin at the time of hospital admission (p = 0.000012). We discuss potential mechanisms by which our observations of hepatic dysfunction are linked to a risk of COVID-19 mortality, speculating on the importance of recently identified anti-interferon antibodies.

How UK health care professionals conceptualise parental experiences of the diagnostic process for autism spectrum disorder: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: Much of the literature on diagnostic experiences of autism focuses on parental perspectives. Few studies have explored how health care professionals conceptualise parental experiences of the diagnostic process. The current study examines clinical perspectives of the diagnostic process with a focus on the perceived impact of assessment on families. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 health care professionals from various National Health Service child and adolescent mental health services and general practices in the United Kingdom. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and data were analysed using a thematic approach. RESULTS: Two main themes were identified: (1) stress and the autism spectrum disorder diagnostic process and (2) expectations of the diagnostic pathway. The main sources of stress perceived by the health care professionals related to diagnostic delay and ambiguity around the diagnostic process, with parents facing significant hurdles in understanding their child's behaviour. Many health care professionals also reported a struggle to navigate differing expectations of the diagnostic process between parents and clinicians, as well as managing objectivity in the face of significant distress. Parent internalised stigma and guilt was a key component of the health care professional's perception of sources of stress around the diagnostic process. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of clinicians recognised the diagnostic pathway as a significant source of stress for parents, with many hurdles and battles to finalise the process.

Open Pilon Fracture Postoperative Outcomes with Definitive Surgical Management Options: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pilon fractures represent one of the most surgically challenging fractures in orthopaedics. Different techniques exist for their management, with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and External fixation (Ex-Fix) the most widely used. Whilst there is a plethora of data regarding these strategies for Pilon fractures as a whole, very limited data exists solely on the management of open Pilon fractures. This study aimed to elucidate how surgical management options can influence postoperative complications, and if this can influence future management protocols. METHODS: We conducted a search in PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL for postoperative complications and functional outcomes in open pilon fractures in those treated with Ex-Fix vs ORIF (PROSPERO-CRD42020184213). The postoperative complications measured included non-union, mal-union, delayed union, bone grafting, amputation, osteoarthritis, deep infection and superficial infection. Functional outcomes in the form of the AOFAS score was also measured where possible. We were able to carry out a meta-analysis for both deep infections and non-unions. RESULTS: The search yielded 309 results and a total of 18 studies consisting of 484 patients were included. All fractures included were open, and consisted of 64 Gustilo-Anderson Type I, 148 Type II, 103 Type IIIa, 90 Type IIIb and 9 Type IIIc. 60 Type III fractures could not be further separated and 12 were ungraded. Both ORIF and Ex-Fix were found to have statistically similar AOFAS scores (P=0.682). For all included studies, the Ex-Fix group had significantly higher rates of superficial infections (P=0.001), non-unions (P=0.001), osteoarthritis (P=0.001) and bone grafting (P=0.001). The meta-analysis found no significant difference in non-union (pooled OR=0.25, 95% CI: 0.03 to 2.24, P=0.44) or deep infection rates (pooled OR=1.35, 95% CI: 0.11 to 16.69, P=0.12) between the ORIF and Ex-fix groups. CONCLUSION: Based on our study, while Ex-Fix and ORIF have similar functional outcomes, Ex-Fix appears to have a significantly higher risk of postoperative complications which must be considered by surgeons when choosing surgical management options. Further research, ideally in a randomised control trial format, is required to definitively demonstrate ORIF superiority in the management of open pilon fractures.

Iatrogenic Complications of Compulsory Treatment in a Patient Presenting with an Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder and Self-Harm.

Attempted suicide and deliberate self-harm are common and challenging presentations in the emergency department. A proportion of these patients refuse interventions and this presents the clinical, legal, and ethical dilemma as to whether treatment should be provided against their will. Multiple factors influence this decision. It is difficult to foresee the multitude and magnitude of complications that can arise once it has been decided to treat individuals who do not consent. This case illustrates a particularly complex chain of events that occurred after treating someone against their will who presented with self-harm and suicidal ideation. These consequences are contrasted with those of not intervening when similar situations arose with the same patient.

Severe Aplastic Anemia Presenting as Neutropenic Sepsis.

A 40-year-old female with aplastic anemia presented with a gum abscess deteriorating into neutropenic sepsis. Infection is an incredibly rare initial manifestation of aplastic anemia even on a background of significant neutropenia, hence the uniqueness of this case. The patient's initial complaints were of a subacute history of heavy vaginal bleeding and unexplained bruising, however on examination in the emergency department the patient was also noted to be pyrexial with gingival hyperplasia and a left sided submandibular lymphadenopathy. Initial blood results were phoned through from the lab reporting pancytopenia, confirming clinical suspicion of neutropenic sepsis. Antibiotic therapy was commenced and maxillofacial review for her unrelenting jaw pain revealed a gum abscess ultimately requiring tooth extraction. The patient underwent bone marrow biopsy showing hypocellular marrow with erythroid-dominant, dysplastic hematopoiesis. A thorough panel of investigations to rule out secondary causes led to the diagnosis of aplastic anemia, for which the patient is currently being managed with oral ciclosporin plus eltrombopag-bridging therapy, plus counselling for the potential requirement for stem cell transplant.