Restoring Functionality: Humeroradial Total Elbow Revision for Salvaging Total Elbow Arthroplasty Failure and Ulnar Bone Loss.

As the number of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) continues to increase worldwide, one might predict the number of revision TEA would rise as well. The most common indications for revision TEA include (a) loosening, (b) infection, and (c) periprosthetic fracture. Although the rate of revision TEA procedures continues to rise due to the infrequency in which they are performed compared to other arthroplasty surgeries, no gold standard algorithm or procedure for managing severe ulnar bone loss in revision TEA has been determined. Various surgical techniques and strategies including allograft-prosthesis composite, custom long prosthesis with or without allograft, and resection arthroplasty have all been employed in attempting to address severe ulnar bone loss in revision TEA. Though the reported outcomes are mixed at best between each treatment strategy with similar complication rates. Another option is implanting the ulnar component into the radius. In those patients with severe ulnar bone loss, a humeroradial TEA revision can provide stability, restore range of motion, and provide pain relief.

Oxidized Zirconium Bearing Surface Failure in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Unique Case Report of Isolated Medial Compartment with Catastrophic Results.

Introduction: Oxidized Zirconium (OXINIUM™) is a metal alloy with a ceramic surface, utilized to increase the longevity of knee and hip implantations and reduce polyethylene wear. Polyethylene-based spacers are effective in infection control and prosthetic stability. Therefore, understanding the interactions between the polyethylene spacer and metallic counterparts is essential in surgical decision-making. Furthermore, understanding how patients may present when catastrophic failure of these components arises is imperative. Herein, we present a unique case of atraumatic OXINIUM™ wear in a middle-aged female after uneventful primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), highlighting atypical clinical features and addressing the surgical management of this unexpected implant failure. Case Report: A 51-year-old African American female presented from an outside facility with persistent left knee pain after undergoing a TKA with a Smith and Nephew OXINIUM™ coated knee. The patient presented to the senior author's clinic with worsening symptoms 2-year postoperatively from her primary left TKA by another surgeon. After a thorough work-up which was essentially unremarkable-3 years from her initial surgery - the recommendation was made for surgical revision given clinical concern for instability. During the initial surgical approach, significant sparking of the tissue was noted on the use of electrocautery. Once the capsule was dissected, black synovial fluid with soft tissue involvement was noted. Intraoperative analysis of the polyethylene spacer revealed disintegration in the medial compartment with loss of the zirconium coating along the femoral component. There was no evidence of polyethylene spacer wear within the lateral compartment. The primary components were explanted and replaced with a nickel-free implant. Following revision, the patient reported complete resolution of her symptoms with improvement in active range of motion. Conclusion: This case illustrates a unique presentation of atraumatic prosthetic surface coating failure after an uneventful primary TKA with well-aligned post-operative radiographs. Instability in the posterior stabilized total knee caused the polyethylene liner to come out of place, causing articulation of femoral and tibial components, creating the metal debris. Patients who present with persistent symptoms-of unknown etiology - after primary TKA should be considered for enhanced screenings and early surgical intervention.

Subchondroplasty - A Viable Treatment Option for Transient Bone Marrow Edema Syndrome of the Navicular in an Adolescent: A Case Report.

Introduction: Transient bone marrow edema (TBME) is a condition that typically presents in middle-aged adults with a male to female ratio of 3:1. Cases have also been noted in females during the third trimester of pregnancy. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to this condition as the pathophysiology demonstrates poorly mineralized osteoid in presenting lesions. It is rare for a healthy child or adolescent to present with TBME introducing the purpose of this case study. This case report aims to provide medical and surgical education on TBME in a young and healthy adolescent. To our best knowledge, this is the first report on the use of subchondroplasty to treat transient bone marrow of the navicular in an adolescent male. Case Report: A 16-year-old adolescent male with foot and ankle pain is treated from September of 2017 to September of 2019. The patient failed initial conservative treatments. His treatment concluded with subchondroplasty of the navicular bone, typically contraindicated due to the risk of avascular necrosis (AVN). The patient received follow-up in March of 2020, which included additional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for long-term treatment outcome data. Conclusion: The patient was successfully treated with subchondroplasty after conservative therapy failed. In patients with TBME, subchondroplasty may not be the best option due to risk of AVN. At 1-year follow-up, our patient was asymptomatic and MRI showed reduction in edema.

Outcomes of anastrozole in oligozoospermic hypoandrogenic subfertile men.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the change in sperm parameters in subfertile hypoandrogenic men treated with anastrozole is correlated to the magnitude of increase in testosterone (T) to estrogen ratio in men responding to treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Male fertility clinic. PATIENT(S): The study group consisted of 86 subfertile hypoandrogenic men with low T/estradiol (E2) ratio (n = 78) or a prior aversive reaction to clomiphene citrate (n = 8). INTERVENTION(S): All patients were treated with 1 mg anastrozole daily, administered orally. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Hormone analysis and semen analysis before and after treatment were performed. Hormone analysis included measurements of total T, E2, sex-hormone binding globulin, albumin, FSH, and LH, and bioavailable T was calculated. Total motile sperm count was calculated from the semen analysis. RESULT(S): In all, 95.3% of patients had an increased serum T and decreased serum E2 after treatment with anastrozole. Sperm concentration and total motile counts improved in 18 of 21 subfertile hypoandrogenic oligozoospermic men treated with anastrozole. In these men the magnitude of total motile count increase was significantly correlated with the change in the T/E2 ratio. No improvement was seen in semen parameters of men with azoospermia, cryptozoospermia, or normozoospermia at presentation. CONCLUSION(S): Approximately 95% of men with hypoandrogenism responded with improved endocrine parameters, and a subset of oligozoospermic men (approximately 25% of all patients) displayed significantly improved sperm parameters. In that subset, increase in sperm parameters was correlated with the change in the T/E2 ratio, which argues for a physiologic effect of treatment.

Nocturia: Current Evaluation and Treatment for Urology.

Nocturia is a very common yet a highly underreported entity. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in nocturia because of its association with serious adverse health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, elevated BMI, and mortality. Frequency volume charts are the cornerstone of initial assessment and are pivotal in determining the type of nocturia and associated causes. The diagnostic evaluation is aimed at clarifying the underlying cause: sleep disturbances, reduced bladder capacity (functional or extrinsic), and increased urine production (nocturnal or daily). Obstructive sleep apnea is an important cause of nocturnal polyuria and should always been considered. Management is focused on treating the underlying cause; a range of behavioral and pharmacologic options are available.