Enhanced recovery programme after colorectal surgery in high-income and low-middle income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols strive to optimise outcomes following elective surgery; however, there is a dearth of evidence to support its equitable application and efficacy internationally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the uptake and impact of ERAS with the aim of highlighting differences in implementation and outcomes across high-income countries (HICs) and low-middle income countries (LMICs). The primary outcome was characterisation of global ERAS uptake. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay (LOS), 30-day readmission, 30-day mortality and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-seven studies with considerable heterogeneity were included in the analysis (291 from HICs, and 46 from LMICs) with a total of 110 190 patients. The weighted median number of implemented elements were similar between HICs and LMICs ( P =0·94), but there was a trend towards greater uptake of less affordable elements across all aspects of the ERAS pathway in HICs. The mean LOS was significantly shorter in patient cohorts in HICs (5·85 days versus 7·17 days in LMICs, P <0·001). The 30-day readmission rate was higher in HICs (8·5 vs. 4·25% in LMICs, P <0·001, but no overall world-wide effect when ERAS compared to controls (OR 1·00, 95% CI: 0·88-1·13). There were no reported differences in complications ( P =0·229) or 30-day mortality ( P =0·949). CONCLUSION: Considerable variation in the structure, the implementation and outcomes of ERAS exists between HICs and LMICs, where affordable elements are implemented, contributing towards longer LOS in LMICs. Global efforts are required to ensure equitable access, effective ERAS implementation and a higher standard of perioperative care world-wide.

Safety and effectiveness of live broadcast of surgical procedures: systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Live Broadcast of Surgical Procedures (LBSP) has gained popularity in conferences and educational meetings in the past few decades. This is due to rapid advancement in both Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) that enable transmission of the entire operative field and transmission ease and technology to help broadcast the operation to a live audience. The aim of this study was to update the evidence with specific emphasis on the patient safety issues related to LBSP in MIS. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed using Medline, Embase and Pubmed using defined search terms related to LBSP in educational events across all surgical specialities, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. We also consolidated the prior guidelines and position statements on this topic. Outcomes included reports on the educational value of LBSP as well as patient safety outcomes and ethical issues that were captured by clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total 1230 abstracts were identified with 27 papers meeting the inclusion criteria (13 original articles and 14 position statements/guidelines). All studies highlighted the educational benefits of LBSP but without clear measure of these benefits. Clinical outcomes were not compromised in 9 studies but were inferior in the remaining 4, including lower completion rate of endoscopic surgery and higher rate of re-operation. Only nine studies complied with dedicated consent forms for LBSP with no consistent approach of reporting on maintaining patient confidentiality during LBSP. There was a lack of recommendation on standardised approach of reporting on LBSP including the outcomes across the 14 published guidelines and positions statements. CONCLUSIONS: Live Broadcast of Surgical Procedures can be of educational value but patient safety may be compromised. A standardised framework of reporting on LBSP and its outcomes is required from an ethical and patient safety perspective. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42021256901.

Intraprosthetic Dislocation of Dual-Mobility Total Hip Arthroplasty: The Unforeseen Complication.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful and widely accepted orthopedic procedures. Instability after THA is one of the most significant postoperative complications. Dual-mobility THA components were introduced in 1974 to overcome the risk of instability by increasing the jump distance. Dual-mobility bearings couple two articulations, namely, one between a 22-28 mm prosthetic head and polyethylene liner and another larger articulation between the polyethylene liner and the metal cup. Dislocation of the polyethylene liner and the consequent direct articulation between the prosthetic head and metal cup is recognized as intraprosthetic dislocation (IPD). This mode of THA failure is specific to dual-mobility implants. Despite the reduced incidence of IPD in modern dual-mobility implants compared to the early designs, iatrogenic IPD can occur during closed reduction of dislocated polyethylene liner-metal cup articulation. IPD requires timely diagnosis and early surgical intervention to minimize the necessity of major revision surgeries. This study presents a comprehensive review for dual-mobility-bearing THA, including the history and biomechanics, and focuses on the pathomechanics, diagnosis, and management of IPD.

Rationalization of Orthopaedic Surgical Instrument Trays: Three Years' Experience of a Practical Approach to Cut Down Unnecessary Costs.

Background This study aimed to rationalize the surgical instrument trays (SITs) used in some trauma and orthopedic (T&O) procedures to reduce unnecessary costs. Methods SITs for several T&O procedures at our trust were assessed to judge the utility of each instrument. SITs for hip, knee, and shoulder arthroscopy, dynamic hip screw (DHS), rotator cuff repair, shoulder stabilization, total shoulder arthroplasty (TSR), and proximal humerus fracture fixation were reviewed. Infrequently used and irrelevant instruments were removed to minimize the number of used trays for each procedure. A qualitative survey was conducted following SIT rationalization to assess the practicality and suitability of these changes. Results The number of SITs was rationalized from four to two for DHS, three to one for hip, knee, and shoulder arthroscopy, five to two for rotator cuff repair and shoulder stabilization, three to one for TSR, and proximal humerus fracture fixation. Based on the local database figures for these procedures, the estimated number of used trays reduced from 2,785 to 1.015 (36.4%) trays per year. Based on the sterilization cost of £35 per tray, annual savings amounted to about £61,950. Qualitative analysis of theatre staff feedback showed increased time efficiency and a positive feeling of practicality. Conclusion The critical appraisal of the departmental operating practice is an effective tool to achieve cost-efficient practice. The rationalization of SITs for orthopedic procedures can result in significant savings by reducing sterilization costs alone.

Clinical Presentation, Imaging Features, and Management of Müller-Weiss Disease.

Müller-Weiss disease (MWD) is a rare condition of unclear pathogenesis that causes navicular bone collapse and fragmentation. MWD can be challenging to diagnose and presents with midfoot and hindfoot pain and deformities. Although its incidence is unknown, MWD more commonly affects women aged between 40 and 60 years. This study reviews and summarizes the published literature on MWD to allow a better understanding of the pathomechanics, presentation, imaging modalities, and treatment options for MWD.

How to manage scaphoid waist fractures? Introduction of pragmatic imaging efficient pathway and literature review of the recent evidence.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The scaphoid bone sustains about 90 % of carpal bone fractures and is the second-highest bone at risk of post-traumatic osteonecrosis. Delayed diagnosis and treatment could lead to non-union and advanced carpal bones collapse. This study aimed to introduce an imaging efficient and practical scaphoid waist fracture management pathway (SWFMP) and measure its efficacy in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SWFMP was introduced in January 2020. Suspected occult fractures were approached by early orthopaedic clinical assessment and subsequent urgent MRI scan without repeating scaphoid X-rays. Scaphoid waist fractures displaced < 2 mm were treated with 8 weeks below elbow cast immobilization followed by CT scan if delayed union was suspected. Waist fractures displaced > 2 mm were managed with surgical fixation. Adult patients referred from the emergency department (ED) to the Virtual Fracture Clinic (VFC) with acute scaphoid injury from January 2019 to October 2019 (Pre SWFMP, n = 29), were identified and compared to those managed from January 2020 to October 2020 (Post SWFMP, n = 33). RESULTS: Mean age was 37.9 (SD = 20.61) and 36.2 (SD = 17.06) years in the pre-SWFMP and post-SWFMP cohorts respectively. Fiften patients (51.7%) had the right side affected in the pre-SWFMP cohort and twenty-three patients (69.7%) in the post-SWFMP cohort. Scaphoid X-rays requested by ED have increased from 19 (65.5%) to 31 (94%) and repeated X-rays reduced from 17 (58.6%) to 10 (30.3%) after the introduction of the SWFMP. Mean wrist cast immobilization for patients without scaphoid fractures dropped from 16.9 days (SD = 5.57) to 3.6 days (SD = 6.24) after the SWFMP (p = 0.001). In the pre-SWFMP cohort, 24 patients had no fracture, 4 achieved full healing and 1 developed non-union. In the post-SWFMP cohort, 29 patients had no fracture, 1 achieved full union and delayed union was detected in 3 patients at 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The SWFMP has improved the clinical practice by reducing unnecessary ionizing radiation, unnecessary cast immobilization, and by using a timely fracture fixation intervention.

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis: Are Muscle Transfers a Satisfactory Treatment Option to Restore Shoulder Abduction in Delayed Adult Brachial Plexus Injuries?

Brachial plexus injuries usually result in significant upper limb disabilities and shoulder joint instability. Primary nerve reconstruction procedures are more effective if performed within six months from the injury. Secondary procedures, including muscle transfers, are usually indicated for delayed presentation (>6 months) or when the outcomes of primary procedures are unsatisfactory. A comprehensive systematic search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, PubMed, and Cochrane databases was conducted in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data, including demographic information, time to surgery, the extent of brachial plexus injury, surgical techniques, follow-up duration, and functional outcomes were collected and tabulated. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4 software ([Computer program]. Version 5.3. Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2014). Seven studies were eligible to be included in this review, with a total of 218 patients. The average patient age was 28.39 ± 3 years, with a mean time to surgery of 29.87 ± 18 months. Forty-six (46) patients (21.10%) were treated as delayed presentation and 172 patients (78.89%) had muscle transfer performed as a secondary procedure. The mean time at follow-up was 18.86 ± 13.5 months. Upper trapezius muscle transfer was the most common transferred muscle (100%) either in isolation (n=159, 72.93%) or in combination with lower trapezius transfer (n=59, 27.06%). The mean preoperative and postoperative shoulder abduction were 12.22 ± 10.09 degrees and 58.36 ± 32.33 degrees, respectively (p < 0.05). Meta-analysis shows a statistically significant difference (CI at 95%, p<0.05) favoring postoperative shoulder abduction. Muscle transfers especially upper trapezius transfer could be a satisfactory secondary procedure to restore shoulder abduction and enhance shoulder joint stability.

Open Reduction and Internal Fixation Versus Radial Head Arthroplasty for Mason III Radial Head Fractures: Appraising the Current Literature Evidence.

Fractures of the radial head are common and account for one-third of elbow fractures. Management has evolved over the past few decades as have the techniques and implants used to treat them. However, no standardized treatment protocol exists because of the complexity with which these fractures may present. The complex, unstable, displaced, and multi-fragmentary fractures, also known as Mason type III fractures, remain one of the most challenging fractures to treat, especially if associated with other elbow injuries. There are various surgical treatment options available, including open reduction and internal fixation or radial head arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the current literature that assessed open reduction and internal fixation compare to radial head replacement to identify the best surgical treatment protocol for the management of Mason type III radial head fracture. All published clinical trials claiming to evaluate or cited elsewhere as being authoritative regarding the surgical treatment of radial head fractures were identified and evaluated. Studies in foreign languages (not in English) were excluded. Based on two randomized controlled trials, this review showed some weak evidence that arthroplasty results in better functional elbow outcomes and lower complication rates as compared to open reduction and internal fixation. There is a scarcity of good quality comparative studies and multicenter randomized controlled trials should be considered.

Evaluation of Triple Neurotization Technique as a Single Procedure in Adult Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Brachial plexus injuries are common and result in significant disabilities. This study evaluated the outcome of triple neurotization as a single procedure for upper trunk brachial plexus injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Some 25 adult consecutive patients with injured upper trunk brachial plexus who underwent microscopic reconstructive surgery using triple neurotization technique in the authors' institute were recruited in this study. Data on operative and functional outcomes were captured. Modified Narkas scale was used to evaluate the shoulder function in addition to Waikakul scale which was used to evaluate the elbow function. Data were analyzed with respect to short and long term with a median follow-up duration of two years. RESULTS: Assessment of the recovered shoulder abduction was excellent in 48% (n=12), good in 24% (n=6), fair in 16% (n=4), and poor in 12% of cases (n=3). Shoulder external rotation recovery was excellent in 48% (n=12), good in 12% (n=3), fair in 12% (n=3), and poor in 28% of cases (n=7). Recovery of elbow flexion was excellent in 60% (n=15), good in 12% (n=3), fair in 12% (n=3), and poor in 16% of cases (n=4). The mean value of recovered shoulder abduction was 111.26 degrees (range: 70-150). The mean value of restored shoulder external rotation was 57.5 degrees (range: 45-70). The mean value of restored elbow flexion was 75 degrees (range: 55-120). CONCLUSION: Triple neurotization technique can be effective to restore elbow flexion, shoulder abduction, and external rotation in adult patients with upper trunk brachial plexus injury.