[Patient pathways in thrombosis prophylaxis after hip and knee replacement surgery : results of a survey]. / Patientenpfade in der Thromboseprophylaxe nach Hüft- und Kniegelenkersatz : Ergebnisse eines Surveys.

A key element of patient care after hip and knee replacement is medication-based thrombosis prophylaxis. Due to decreasing lengths of acute hospital stays the question arises to what extent outpatients are taking responsibility thrombosis prophylaxis (patient pathway analysis).To analyze patient pathways a telephone survey of 668 patients was conducted. On average patients were interviewed 38 days following surgery with a focus on low molecular weight heparins. The analysis showed that nearly 90% of patients need to carry out thrombosis prophylaxis in an outpatient or home environment for at least 1 day and for 47.2% of patients a linking period between acute and rehabilitation stay is relevant. The obviously existing quantitative importance of outpatient thrombosis prophylaxis is also reflected by its duration and 45.7% of interviewed patients needed at least 5 days of outpatient prophylaxis.Outpatient thrombosis prophylaxis clearly makes high demands on the patients, in particular when combined with the task of administering complex forms of injections. Those involved in inpatient and outpatient provision of care should not assume that all patients carry out the necessary prophylaxis at the required level of reliability. On the contrary initial evidence shows that the non-adherence of patients during ambulatory thrombosis prophylaxis presents a genuine challenge to care providers.

[Total knee replacement with ceramic femoral components: a national prospective multicenter study of clinical and radiological outcomes]. / Knieendoprothetik mit keramischen Femurkomponenten: Nationale prospektive Multicenterstudie zum klinischen und radiologischen Outcome.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of an unconstrained bicondylar total knee prosthesis with a new ceramic femoral component made of BIOLOX® delta. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty patients underwent cemented total knee arthroplasty in three hospitals/centers. Clinical and radiological evaluations were undertaken preoperatively and at 3 as well as 12 months postoperatively using the HSS, WOMAC, and SF-36 scores. RESULTS: During 12 months follow-up three patients had to undergo revision surgery due to non-implant-related reasons (infection, periprosthetic fracture, and retropatellar replacement). The mean preoperative HSS score amounted to 56.2±11.0 points. At 3 and 12 months follow-up the mean HSS score was 75.5±11.5 and 83.6±10.9 points, respectively. Therefore, HSS and WOMAC scores improved significantly from preoperative values at both postoperative evaluations. The first significant improvement of SF-36 score was seen after 12 months. Radiolucent lines around the femoral ceramic components were found in one case. CONCLUSION: Subsequent long-term studies must be carried out in order to clarify the potential benefits of ceramic femoral components and confirm the good early clinical result. Moreover, the specific material properties of ceramic implants must be considered during implantation.

[Parathyroid hormone injection to counteract delayed bone fractures]. / Parathormon bei verzögerter Frakturheilung.

CASE HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: Two women, aged 71 and 53 years with periprosthetic fractures of the left femur and an 18 year old man with a non-union of fracture of the left radius presented for assessment and treatment. INVESTIGATIONS: Serial radiographs showed that osteosynthesis and/or autogenous bone-grafting and multiple revisions had not resulted in healing of the fractures. TREATMENT AND CLINICAL COURSE: In all three patients parathyroid hormone (teriparatide), 20 to 60 microg, was injected subcutaneously once daily for 6 - 10 weeks. Subsequently a stable consolidation of the bone occurred in all of them. CONCLUSION: Administration of parathyroid hormone can induce stable consolidation of the bone in non-unions and delayed healing of bone fractures.

Scanning electron microscopic examinations on retarded bone defect healing in spontaneously diabetic BB/O(ttawa)K(arlsburg) rats.

To date, no detailed knowledge from animal experiments is available on the kind and extent of osseous and mineral metabolic disorders in genetically determined, insulin-dependent Type I diabetes. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the diabetic metabolic state in spontaneously diabetic BB/O(ttawa)K(arlsburg) rats on bone defect healing. Eighty spontaneously-diabetic BB/OK rats with a blood-glucose value of 391 +/- 106 mg% (mean +/- SD) at the time of manifestation were used in the study. Based on blood-glucose values at the time of surgery (mg%), postoperative blood-glucose course (mg%) and postoperative insulin requirements (IU/kg), the animals were divided into groups with well-compensated (n = 40, 170 +/- 101 mg%; 221 +/- 120 mg%; 2.1 +/- 1 IU/kg) or poorly compensated (n = 40; 371 +/- 158 mg%; 357 +/- 83 mg%; 5.2 +/- 1.4 IU/kg) metabolic state. Forty LEW.1A rats served as the normoglycemic controls (95 +/- 18 mg%). Using a 1-mm-diameter Kirschner wire, a hole of femoral bone ca. 1 cm proximal to the knee joint space was centrally drilled. Ten animals from each group were killed on postoperative days 7, 14, 24, and 42, and specimens were taken for analysis. Using SEM to measure regions of new bone semiautomatically and quantitatively, also determining the number, area, and circumference of regions not yet filled with new bone. Up to postoperative day 14, very significant differences (p < 0.0001) for all investigated characteristics were found between the spontaneously-diabetic BB/OK rats and the control animals--in favor of the controls--and up to postoperative day 24 within the group of spontaneously-diabetic BB/OK rats, where the well-compensated animals had significantly better results in terms of number and area of regions of bone not yet filled with new bone formations. Forty-two days postoperatively, SEM observations showed no differences between examination groups. The process of bone defect healing in spontaneously-diabetic rats was disturbed only in the early phase and exhibited retardation in its progression. After 42 days, bone defect healing was complete, regardless of the diabetic metabolic state; no differences were detected with the SEM between examination groups at this time point.

[Influence of intertrochanteric varisation osteotomy on the gait of children with Perthes disease]. / Einfluss der intertrochantären varisierenden Osteotomie beim Morbus Perthes auf das Gangbild von Kindern.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate possible effects of intertrochanteric varisation osteotomy on the gait of children with Perthes disease. PATIENTS: Clinical and radiographic examinations and gait analysis were conducted on 50 children. METHOD: Gait analysis was conducted using the GANGAS system. RESULTS: Despite predominantly very good or good results shown by the clinical and radiographic examinations, gait analysis detected various functional deficits. CONCLUSIONS: The examinations show that for the group of patients described, gait analysis is a valuable method of recording functional deficits and early recognition of the need for postoperative, physiotherapeutic treatment, thus helping to avoid chronificating alterations of the gait and, consequently, potential secondary damage.

Antimicrobial effectiveness of povidone-iodine and consequences for new application areas.

The microbicidal action spectrum of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) is broad - even after short onset times. Unlike local antibiotics and other antiseptic substances, no resistance develops. The high degree of bactericidal efficiency in respect of highly resistant gram-positive pathogenic micro-organisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and enterococcus strains, is particularly significant for hospital hygiene. An in vitro study with 10 genotypically different MRSA isolates showed an optimum bactericidal effect (logarithmic reduction factor value >5) without protein load after just 30 s exposure and even in a dilution of Betaisodona solution (Mundipharma GmbH) of 1%. With protein load (0.2% albumin), the optimum in microbicidal effectiveness shifts to concentrations > or = 10% Betaisodona solution referring to an exposure time of 30 s. Since recent results are now also available on the toxicological safety of PVP-I preparations for the ciliated epithelium of the nasal mucosa and the good tolerability on skin and other mucous membranes is a known factor, a controlled clinical study is currently being carried out to eliminate colonizations of MRSA. Evidence has also recently been produced of the antiviral activity of PVP-I against herpes simplex, adeno- and enteroviruses, as well as its high degree of efficiency against Chlamydia. Hence alongside the classical fields of application, such as the disinfection of the skin and hands, mucosa antisepsis and wound treatment, there are also useful indications for the substance, i.e. rinsing of body cavities and joints and application to the eye.

Postoperative analgesic value of the intra-articular instillation of bupivacaine and morphine after arthroscopic knee surgery.

This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was carried out with 320 patients, subdivided into 4 groups of 80 patients each, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during the time period from March 1995 to February 1997. Each of the 4 groups received a different solution: 15 ml of bupivacaine 0.5%, 5 mg of morphine in 15 ml of isotonic saline solution, 15 ml of bupivacaine 0.5% with epinephrine 0.0005%, or 15 ml of isotonic saline solution (control group). Within each study group, the following operations were performed: 15 cruciate ligament plasties with autologous patellar tendon grafts, 30 meniscus resections, 15 notch-plasties as preparation for anterior cruciate ligament surgery, and 20 other types of operation (plica resection, diagnostic biopsy, etc.). Pain intensity was assessed with the visual analogue scale obtained from questioning patients at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h postoperatively. In terms of reducing postoperative pain and decreasing the consumption of analgesics after arthroscopic knee surgery, bupivacaine 0.5% with epinephrine 0.0005% was found to be the most effective.

Cartilage and bone containing benign mesenchymoma of the thigh and popliteal fossa.

We report a case of a large cartilage and bone containing mesenchymoma of the thigh and popliteal fossa in a 56-year-old man. Mesenchymomas are rare tumors with a histologically benign pattern. They may be associated with morbidity as a result of local infiltrative growth.

[Potentials risks in drug prevention of thrombosis--low-molecular-weight heparin versus standard heparin]. / Gefahrenpotentiale in der medikamentösen Thromboseprophylaxe--niedermolekuläre Heparine versus Standardheparin.

INTRODUCTION: At present, low molecular-weight heparins are recommended for efficient prophylaxis of thrombembolic complications (TEC), especially in the high-risk areas of orthopedics and trauma surgery. In addition to improved efficacy, a markedly reduced risk of side-effects should also be of great advantage, particularly in terms of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II, a medicative side-effect which can be associated with severe to life-threatening complications. METHODS: In a prospective study, the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia HIT type II and the incidence of symptomatic TEC in high-risk orthopedic patients was investigated when the low molecular-weight heparin, enoxaparin, was applied. An analogous study using standard heparin (UFH) served as the comparison group. When the thrombocyte count dropped by 50% compared to the initial value, or when thrombembolic complications with clinical symptoms arose, the serum was examined in the heparin-induced platelet activation test (HIPA test). Phlebography was used to verify symptomatic TEC. RESULTS: 325 patients who had undergone surgery for total hip or knee arthroplasty or for the revision of hip and knee total endoprostheses took part in the study. 3 patients (0.92%) developed clinically symptomatic complications. No HIT type II was observed in the study population. The comparison group (UFH) consisted of 307 patients who had undergone analogous surgery. 13 patients (4.2%) developed clinically symptomatic TEC. In 10 patients (3.3%), these were associated with HIT type II The difference in the thrombosis rate and incidence of HIT type II between the two groups is highly significant. CONCLUSION: For the prophylaxis of thrombembolic complications--especially in the high-risk areas of orthopedics and trauma surgery--unfractioned standard heparin (UFH) is insufficiently effective and associated with a high risk of side-effects, particularly of HIT type II. Low molecular-weight heparins must thus be considered the preferred medication in thrombembolism prophylaxis.

[Prevention of thromboembolism as a cause of thromboembolic complications. A study of the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II]. / Thromboembolieprophylaxe als Auslöser thrombembolischer Komplikationen. Eine Untersuchung zur Inzidenz der Heparin-induzierten Thrombozytopenie (HIT) Typ II.

PROBLEM: A life-threatening complication of the thrombembolism prophylaxis with heparin is heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II. HIT type II is based on immunological mechanisms. Even low, subcutaneously applied doses may produce HIT type II. In those patients, continued application may cause thromboembolic complications. The most important symptom of HIT type II is a decrease of platelets. METHODS: In a prospective study, we investigated the incidence of HIT type II within the period from 01.07.95 to 30.06.96 in orthopedic patients. We also evaluated the importance of the daily platelet count from the fifth postoperative day for the early diagnosis of HIT type II and a possible reduction of the thrombosis rate. The study included 307 patients after primary implantation of hip and knee endoprosthesis and after hip endoprosthesis replacement. All patients received 3 x 5000 IU/d of unfractionated heparin subcutaneously. Whenever there was a decrease of platelets of at least 50% in relation to the preoperative value or whenever thrombembolic complications occurred, serum was analyzed by the heparin-induced platelet activation test (HIPA). RESULTS: 20 patients developed HIT type II. This corresponds to an incidence of 6.5%. 10 of the HIT type II antibody positive patients (50%) developed thrombembolic complications. 3 patients (0.9%) of the group studied developed clinically symptomatic thrombembolic complications without evidence of heparin antibodies. The total risk of getting thrombembolic complications was 4.2% (13 patients). 3.3% (10 patients) of the entire group developed HIT type II antibody associated thrombembolic complications; 1 patient died. The lethality in the HIT type II antibody positive patient group amounted to 5%. The patients with HIT type II received LMW heparinoid Orgaran (AKZO-Organon, The Netherlands) or hirudin (as a clinical trial). The comparison group (retrospective study from 17.10.92 to 16.10.93) was composed of 262 patients with the same operations and equal thromboembolism prophylaxis. The platelet count was made only as part of routine diagnostic tests. 21 patients (8.0%) developed clinically symptomatic thrombembolic complications. The difference in the thrombosis rate between these two groups of patients is statistically significant. Unrecognized HIT type II is probably the reason for the high thrombembolic complication rate in the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: The daily platelet count from the fifth postoperative day and from the first day in case of reexposure to heparin is an important measure for the early diagnosis of HIT type II.