Catastrophic skin necrosis after total knee arthroplasty: a case report and review of the literature.

Introduction and importance: There have been few cases of post total knee arthroplasty (TKA) skin necrosis reported. Here, the authors present our patient with skin necrosis post TKA on account of its extreme rarity, considerable risk factors, and importance of its treatment. Case: This is a cautionary report on the rule of including previous single longitudinal incision in surgical approach. The authors included previous medial incision in ours and performed arthroplasty through medial parapatellar incisions. After noticing skin necrosis in front of patella, reoperation including flap and skin graft was done, leading to complete recovery. Clinical discussion: While skin necrosis post TKA is not common, it can be present in high-risk patients who should be considered for a decrease in their risk factors. Preoperatively, underlying diseases should be under control. Intraoperation risk factors, in particular incision selection, and considerations about lateral retinacular release are important. Conclusion: A balance must be achieved between the ability to expose the knee through a prior incision and avoiding extensive undermining of the subcutaneous flaps in patients with previous knee surgery. It may be a better approach to ignore medial incisions and use the classic midline incision.

Treatment of Simultaneous Femoral Supracondylar Nonunion and Tibial Plateau Malunion along with Stiff Knee in a Young Patient: A Case Report.

A 41-year-old man underwent Total Knee Arthroplasty with NexGen Legacy Constrained Condylar Knee (LCCK) system to treat his nonunion of distal femur, stiff knee, and malunion of tibia plateau. The treatment involved femoral and tibial stems and PS polyethylene. As a result, his knee range of motion improved, and he no longer experienced pain. After two years, he resumed work without any signs of loosening or stiffness.

Comparison of Combined Intraarticular and Intravenous Administration of Tranexamic Acid with Intraarticular and Intravenous Alone in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty without Drainage Catheter: A Clinical Trial Study.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the most effective route for Tranexamic acid (TXA) administration among Intraarticular (IA), Intravenous (IV), and combined IA/IV for Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) surgeries. Methods: A double-blinded clinical trial was run on 147 TKA candidates. Blood loss and hemoglobin (Hb) drop were evaluated using the Gross and Nadler formula in three matched case groups administered TXA during the TKA through IV, IA, or combined IA/IV route. Tourniquet was used on all operations for controlling intraoperative blood loss. No drainage catheter was used for the cases. Results: The combined group showed an average blood loss of 630±252 ml, which was significantly lower than that in the IV group (878±268 ml, P<0.01) and the IA group (774±288 ml, P=0.03). Furthermore, the mean Hb and hematocrit drop were significantly lower in the combined group, compared to the other two groups, 48 and 72 h postoperatively (P<0.05). Conclusion: The combined IA/IV route had a 28% and 19% reduction of blood loss, compared to the IV or IA methods, respectively. Therefore, using TXA via the combined IA/IV route may be more effective for reducing perioperative blood loss following TKA surgery using a tourniquet without drain placement.

Recent Trends and Hotspots in Knee Arthroplasty: A Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization Study of the Last Five-Year Publications.

Objectives: Bibliometric analysis is one of the most prevalent methods for analyzing and predicting the research trends of particular subjects. Through a bibliometric analysis, this study sought to look into and depict the hotspots and research trends in knee arthroplasty research over the previous five years. Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection database was used to find research articles on knee arthroplasty published between 2018 and 2022. The VOS viewer, Cite Space, and Bibliometrix were used to carry out the bibliometric study and network visualization. Results: During the previous five years, 7,422 included knee arthroplasty publications were cited 57,087 times. The United States and the Journal of Arthroplasty were the top countries and journals regarding the number of articles. The top 10 global high-impact documents were determined using the citation ranking and citation burst. The most frequently referenced article revealed that the epidemiological characteristics of knee arthroplasty, perioperative care in knee arthroplasty, prosthetic joint infections, and opioid medications were the hot topics in knee arthroplasty research. Keyword burst analysis showed that the research trends in knee arthroplasty through 2022 were racial disparity, limb alignment, tibial slope, and meniscectomy. The analysis of the subject areas revealed the close connections and relationships between different subject areas, as demonstrated by the figures. Conclusion: The knee arthroplasty research community is highly productive and centralized. Recent hotspots in knee arthroplasty research were unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, periprosthetic joint infection, kinematic alignment, outpatient total knee arthroplasty (TKA), bariatric surgery, payment model, tranexamic acid, Robotic-Assisted TKA, patient-reported outcome measures, metaphyseal cone, opioid use, and patient-specific instrumentation. Research trends in knee arthroplasty research were racial disparity, limb alignment, tibial slope, and meniscectomy.

Predictors of Core Decompression Success in Patients with Femoral Head Avascular Necrosis.

Background: Avascular necrosis of the femoral head typically occurs in the young population. Core decompression in the precollapse stage provides pain relief and preservation of the femoral head. The results of core decompression vary considerably despite the early diagnosis. Clinicians concur that primary treatment should focus on preserving the natural surface of the joint. This study investigated the predictive risk factors of failure in femoral head decompression. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 135 patients and 207 hips (77 male (127 hips) and 58 female (80 hips)) who underwent core decompression (mean age: 34.7 years [age range: 21-71]) from April 2010 to December 2017. All patients were followed by a mean of 57 months. All hips were in the precollapse stage (Ficat I, II). Results: A total of 207 hips were treated with core decompression surgery, and the overall success rate was 58%. The higher grade of Kerboul, Ficat, ARCO classifications, multifocal avascular necrosis of the femoral head, smoking, opium, and corticosteroids were significantly associated with a higher failure rate after core decompression in univariate analysis. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the Kerboul and Ficat classifications, alcohol consumption, and multifocal avascular necrosis of the femoral head were significantly correlated with core decompression failure. The most common predictive factors in core decompression failure were Ficat II, Kerboul stage 3, multifocal avascular necrosis of the femoral head, and alcohol consumption. Conclusion: In conclusion, we had an overall 58 % success rate in core decompression of femoral head avascular necrosis. Based on the results of this study, imaging evaluation and imaging-based classifications are the most valuable predictor factors for the success of core decompression. Consistent with previous reports, corticosteroid was not a significant predictor of core decompression failure.

Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients with Hemophilia: What Do We know?

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the mainstay therapy for terminally hemophilic arthropathy patients. Hemophilic patients have distinguishing characteristics, including the increased likelihood of bleeding, younger age, restricted pre-operative joint motion, disrupted anatomy, and more post-operative side effects. The present study aimed to assess the THA sequels in hemophilic patients from various perspectives, including indications, challenges, factor replacement post-operative outcomes, and other complications.

The Effect of Intramedullary vs Extramedullary Tibial Guides on the Alignment of Lower Extremity and Functional Outcomes Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been known as a definitive treatment for advanced knee osteoarthritis. Both intramedullary (IM) and extramedullary (EM) tibial guides have been used to restore the desired extremity alignment. However, controversy exists regarding the superiority of either technique We aimed to compare the functional outcomes and accuracy of IM and EM tibial guides in providing neutral alignment after TKA. Methods: In a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, we studied 98 patients undergoing primary TKA in two groups of IM and EM. We measured the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), varus angle (VA), and joint-line convergence angle with normal ranges of 90°±3°, 0-2°, and 0±3°, respectively, on a three-joint alignment view after three months. We also assessed the functional outcomes at the last follow-up. Finally, we compared these outcomes between the two groups. Results: Eighty-four patients (IM=42, EM=42) were included in the final analysis (16 males, 68 females, mean age: 63.9±8.6 years, mean follow-up: 13±2.9 months). The mean postoperative (post-op) alignment angles showed no significant difference, although MPTA outliers were significantly more frequent in the EM group (26.2% vs. 9.5% in IM, P=0.04). None of the functional outcomes showed a significant difference between the two groups. However, the mean increase in knee range of motion (ROM) was significantly higher in the knees with VAs within ±3° of neutral than those outside this range (30.8 vs. 27.4, respectively, P=0.039). Conclusion: We conclude that both techniques were not different regarding the mean alignment angles and functional outcomes. However, fewer MPTA outliers can be seen with the IM technique. A post-op mechanical axis within ±3° of neutral can result in a more ROM increase after one year.

Job satisfaction, Career Burnout, and Work-Related Well-Being Prevalence among Orthopedic Surgeons: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Burnout is a well-known consequence of chronic stress. Orthopedic surgery is among the most desired specialty among Iranian medical students. The nature of the job, the income, and the ability to deal with stress can all be stressful factors for orthopedic surgeons. Nonetheless, little is known about how these medical doctors work and live in Iran. The present study aimed to assess job satisfaction, engagement, and burnout among Iranian orthopedists. Methods: A nationwide online survey was conducted in Iran. Job satisfaction, engagement, and burnout were evaluated using the job description index (JDI), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and Maslach Burnout Scale. They were also asked some additional questions related to career choice. Results: A total of 456 questionnaires (41% response rate) were retrieved. Overall, 56.8% of the participants experienced burnout. The burnout levels significantly differed based on age, years from graduation, working in public hospitals, operating more than 10 patients in a week, monthly income, having less than two children, and being single (P<0.05). They scored higher on work questions on the present job and jobs in general but lower scores on pay and opportunities for promotion. Conclusion: In a national study of orthopedic surgeons, their primary concern in JDI was "pay and promotion." Burnout was substantially associated with respondents' characteristics, such as younger age and having fewer children. This will lead to impaired performance, increased patient complaints, and the tendency to immigrate.

Broken pin removal from hip joint using arthroscopic grasper - A technical note and review of literature.

Guidewire breakage during a surgical procedure is uncommon but still challenging for orthopedic surgeons. Due to the potential for harmful complications, surgeons prefer to remove broken wires near the joint surface or neurovascular bundle in the hip region. Due to the depth of the location, the retrieval procedure is arduous, time-consuming, and potentially dangerous. This study describes a case of a sub-capital femoral neck fracture that was fixed with a cannulated screw. However, three years later, the distal portion of the guidewire broke and migrated into the hip joint, where it became entrapped. This study describes a method for removing a broken wire from the hip region and a relevant literature review. In brief, initially, we untightened the screw and removed it. Afterward, the broken wire was reached by reaming in the direction of the screw. Ultimately, we advanced the arthroscopic grasper to the broken wire for removal under fluoroscopic guidance. The study's findings indicate that this method could provide a promising outcome with minimal complications.

The Perioperative Management of Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Drugs in Hip Fractures: Do the Surgery as Early as Possible.

Hip fractures are among the most common fractures operated by orthopedic surgeons. Many elderly patients, who account for a significant percentage of hip fractures, suffer from medical conditions requiring antiplatelet and anticoagulant administration. Meanwhile, considerable evidence recommends early surgery within 48b hours of admission. We aim to review the existing evidence regarding the perioperative management of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs in hip fractures. It was concluded that surgery for hip fractures in patients with antiplatelet drug consumption should not be delayed unless a clear contraindication exists. Active reversal strategies are indicated for patients with hip fractures and warfarin therapy. However, evidence for the safety of these agents in pregnancy, breastfeeding state, and adolescence has not yet been established. Little data exists about perioperative management of direct-acting oral anticoagulants in hip fractures. Early surgery after 12-24 hours of drug cessation has been suggested in studies; however, it should be employed cautiously. Despite extensive research, the importance of the issue necessitates additional higher-quality studies.

Surgical Treatment for Bisphosphonate-related Atypical Femoral Fracture: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Atypical femoral fractures are the femoral fractures located anywhere between the lesser trochanter and the supracondylar flare of the femur. Long-term bisphosphonates, as the most common preventive and treatment medications for osteoporosis, are thought to have an important role in these fractures. Most of the fractures should be treated surgically, and the complications are considerable. METHODS: We searched Medline, CENTRAL, Embase, and DART on February 26, 2020. One author reviewed and retrieved citations from these four databases for irrelevant and duplicate studies, and two other authors independently extracted data from the studies and rated their quality.Patients with surgical treatment of bisphosphonate-related atypical femoral fracture, according to the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research definition, were included. Animal studies, case reports, studies with high-energy trauma, pathological fracture, or malignancy-related fractures were excluded. RESULTS: In total, 316 patients (348 fractures) were included in this study. Mean age of patients was 70.47 years, and 97.5% of them were female. Duration of using bisphosphonates was 4.04 to 8.8 years, and Alendronate was the most common type. Moreover, 65.27% and 34.72% of the reported fractures were in diaphyseal and subtrochanteric, respectively. Moreover, the most common fixation type was intramedullary. Rate of complication was 17.52%, and the most frequent one was non-union, followed by implant failure. The main limitation of this research was that most of the studies did not have a high level of evidence. CONCLUSION: An increase in the rate of atypical femoral fracture with its challenging management makes it an important issue to be noted by orthopedic surgeons. Based on the results of this study, subtrochanteric fractures might have more complications post-operatively and are suggested to be operated on by more experienced surgeons. It was also found that extra-medullary fixation increases the risk of complications. Future studies on union time, outcomes of different surgical methods, and teriparatide therapy may help shed more light on the surgical management of these fractures.

Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients with Hemophilia: What Do We Know?

Total knee arthroplasty is considered as the treatment of choice for those with end stage hemophilic arthropathy. Compared to other patients undergoing TKA, these patients have specific features such as bleeding tendency, younger age, pre-operative restricted range of motion (ROM), altered anatomy, and increased complications. This narrative review of literature is going to investigate several issues regarding the TKA in hemophilic patients including indications, perioperative factor replacement, surgical challenges, postoperative rehabilitation, outcomes, and complications.

Intra-articular versus Intravenous Tranexamic Acid in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can cause excessive blood loss requiring allogenic transfusions. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been increasingly used for lowering blood loss. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of intravenous (IV) and intra-articular (IA) administrations of TXA in TKA patients who receive aspirin as chemoprophylaxis and uses no drain post-operative. METHODS: In this prospective randomized clinical trial, 49 TKA patients were intravenously given 15 mg/kg dose of TXA, and 49 patients intraarticularly received 15 mg/kg of TXA. Demographic information, pre-operative and post-operative hemoglobin values of the patients were used for assessing total perioperative blood loss by GOOD & NADLER formulae. RESULTS: There was not any significant difference between the IV TXA and IA TXA groups concerning blood loss (P=0.102). However, the decrease in hemoglobin level at 48 hours post-operation compared to the preoperative level in the IV TXA group was significantly higher than that in the IA TXA group (-2.3 ±0.8 vs. -1.9 ±1.0 g/dL; P=0.038). No blood transfusion was needed, and the deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolization were not observed in either of the groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that during TKA, the IA TXA is equally safe and effective as its IV infusion concerning decreased blood loss and adverse effects. The use of TXA during TKA is safe for patients who receive less potent chemoprophylaxis agents such as aspirin.

Twelve Lessons on Hospital Leadership during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Coronavirus pandemic has been announced by World Health Organization Director General on March 11th, 2020. Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, was one the first referral hospitals in the capital city of Tehran, I.R.Iran that entered the crisis and started a serious battle with the disease. The hospital had to change many routine operations to cope with the situation and during this journey, we used published leadership principles and reached to some new experiences. As this is probably the most severe health-related crisis in Iran in the past 100 years, we gathered our lessons learned in the first fifty days of epidemic from the leadership point of view to share those with all colleagues worldwide. We know that leadership is of pivotal role in such a massive crisis and focused leadership experiences can help health care providers to manage the crisis while we are in the middle of it.

Chromic phosphate-32 colloid radiosynovectomy for the treatment of haemophilic synovitis: A long-term follow-up study.

AIM: We previously reported the outcome of chromic phosphate-32(32 P) colloid synoviorthesis in 53 haemophilic patients with an average follow-up of 31 months. The purpose of the present study was the long-term follow-up of the same cohort on both clinical and radiographic features. MATERIALS: Nine patients failed to attend the recall appointment. The mean follow-up for the remaining 44 patients (52 procedures) was 15 years (range, 14.6-15.5). The mean age at the time of reassessment was 31 years (range, 18-43). RESULTS: The haemarthrosis frequency was not statistically significant at the latest follow-up years compared with 31 months (0.8 vs 0.4 per week, P = .3). There was no significant change in the clinical severity of haemophilic arthropathy (P = .5). Most of the treated joints still are in stage III of Fernandez-Palazzi and Caviglia classification. There was a trend towards the radiologic deterioration of arthritis with nearly 50% of patients at Arnold-Hilgartner Stage V. 13% of patients underwent a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The age at which the initial radiosynovectomy was performed was significantly higher in patients who had a TKA than those who had not (22 vs 15 years, P < .002). CONCLUSION: The bleeding control effect of 32P on the target joint remains over time; however, it did not appear to halt the progression of radiographic changes in haemophiliacs. It could delay the need for TKA if it performs at the right time.

Effects of collagen/ß-tricalcium phosphate bone graft to regenerate bone in critically sized rabbit calvarial defects.

Bone defects remain a significant health issue and a major cause of morbidity in elderly patients. Composites based on collagen/calcium phosphate have been widely used for bone repair in clinical applications, owing to their comparability to bone extracellular matrix. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a scaffold of collagen/calcium phosphate (COL/ß-TCP) on bone formation to assess its potential use as a bone substitute to repair bone defects. Bilateral full-thickness critically sized calvarial defects (8 mm in diameter) were created in New Zealand white rabbits and treated with COL/ß-TCP or COL scaffolds. One defect was also left unfilled as a control. Bone regeneration was assessed through histological evaluation using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining after 4 and 8 weeks. Alizarin Red staining was also utilized to observe the mineralization process. Our findings indicated that COL/ß-TCP implantation could better enhance bone regeneration than COL and exhibited both new bone growth and scaffold material degradation.

Comparison of Clinical Results between Patellar Resurfacing and Non-resurfacing in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Short Term Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: There is no difference in the functional outcomes 6 months after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for knee osteoarthritis between patellar resurfacing and non-resurfacing. Thus, we have performed this study to compare the short-term clinical outcomes of TKA performed with and without the patella resurfacing. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) were randomized to receive patellar resurfacing (n=24; resurfaced group) or to retain their native patella (n=26; non-resurfaced group) based on envelope selection and provided informed consent. Disease specific outcomes including Knee Society Score (KSS), Knee Society Function Score (KSKS-F), Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), Short Form 36 (SF-36), and functional patella-related activities were measured within six months of follow-up. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the resurfaced and non-resurfaced groups in pre and post-operative improvement of range of motion (ROM) (P=0.421), KSS (P=0.782, P=0.553), KSKS-F (P=0.241, P=0.293), AKPS (P=0.128, P=0.443), WOMAC (P=0.700, P=0.282), and pain scores (P=0.120, P=0.508). There was no difference in ROM between resurfaced and non-resurfaced group pre (15.24° and 15.45°) and post-operative (18.48° and 18.74). No side effects related to patella was observed in any of the groups. Revision was required in none of the participants. CONCLUSION: The results showed no significant difference between patellar resurfacing and non-resurfacing in TKA for all outcome measures in a short term.Level of evidence: I.