Clinical outcomes of patients undergoing a cardiac implantable electronic device implantation following a recent non-device-related infection.

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcomes of patients undergoing a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation following a recent non-device related infection are unknown. AIM: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with recent infection before CIED implantation. METHODS: Consecutive patients (N = 1237) were classified as patients with recent infection (N = 72) and without recent infection (N = 1165). A recent infection was established by reviewing medical records, including symptoms and clinical manifestations, diagnosis of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score. Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of in-hospital all-cause mortality. FINDINGS: During nearly three years of follow-up, 17 patients had CIED infection (1.4%), and the incidence of CIED infection did not significantly differ between patients with and without recent infection according to symptoms and clinical manifestations (2.8% vs 1.3%, respectively; not significant). However, patients with recent infection had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate compared to those without recent infection (22.2% vs 0.9%, respectively; P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, predictors of in-hospital mortality were recent infection before CIED implantation (odds ratio: 20.3; 95% confidence interval: 8.4-49.3; P < 0.001) and end-stage renal disease (4.3; 1.4-12.8; P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: A CIED implantation is feasible in patients with recent infection if the patient is afebrile and has received an adequate duration of antibiotic therapy. Participants in shared decision-making before implant should be advised that recent infection increases in-hospital mortality risk, especially in patients with a qSOFA score of ≥2.

Bundled skin antiseptic preparation for complex cardiac implantable electronic device infection: a propensity-score matching cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection, a major complication of a CIED implant procedure, can prolong hospitalization and cause mortality. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of a bundled skin antiseptic preparation for preventing infection after implantation of a complex CIED. METHODS: This study analysed 1163 consecutive patients who had received a bundled skin antiseptic preparation before CIED implantation from July 2012 to December 2017. According to the complexity of the CIED implant procedure, the patients were divided into a complex CIED group (N = 370) and a non-complex CIED group (N = 793). A complex procedure was defined as a pacemaker replacement, implantation of implantable cardioverter defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy, device upgrade, or lead revision. FINDINGS: During a mean follow-up of 2.9 ± 1.7 years, CIED infection developed in 15 patients (1.3%), and the incidence of minor and major infection was 1.1% and 0.2%, respectively. The incidence of CIED infection did not significantly differ between the complex CIED group and the non-complex CIED group (1.1% vs 1.4%, respectively; non-significant). Multivariate analysis indicated that procedural complexity was not an independent predictor of CIED infection. After 2:1 propensity score matching, the matched non-complex CIED group and the matched complex CIED group still showed no significant difference in the incidence of CIED infection. CONCLUSION: Bundled skin antiseptic preparation is an effective and widely applicable strategy for decreasing infection risk after a complex CIED implantation.

Large volume osteosarcomas of the femur treated with total femoral replacement.

UNLABELLED: Patients with extensive malignancies involving the femur often require total femoral replacement when their limbs can be salvaged. Reported series are small and involve heterogeneity of tumours. We present nine patients with osteosarcomas of the femur treated at our institution between 2003 and 2010 with a mean follow-up of 27 (6 to 56) months. Their ages ranged from 9 to 17 (mean 14 years). They had large volume tumours (mean 911 cm3) and presented late with a mean of 5.5 months from the onset of symptoms to definitive treatment. All patients underwent resection and total femur replacement. Six patients have died and two are alive with good function at the time of this report. One was lost to follow-up. These patients require a high level of treatment care and have a guarded prognosis. KEY WORDS: Large osteosarcomas, femur, total femoral replacement.

Large Volume Osteosarcomas of the Femur Treated with Total Femoral Replacement

Patients with extensive malignancies involving the femur often require total femoral replacement when their limbs can be salvaged. Reported series are small and involve heterogeneity of tumours. We present nine patients with osteosarcomas of the femur treated at our institution between 2003 and 2010 with a mean follow-up of 27 (6 to 56) months. Their ages ranged from 9 to 17 (mean 14 years). They had large volume tumours (mean 911 cm3 ) and presented late with a mean of 5.5 months from the onset of symptoms to definitive treatment. All patients underwent resection and total femur replacement. Six patients have died and two are alive with good function at the time of this report. One was lost to follow-up. These patients require a high level of treatment care and have a guarded prognosis

Symptoms indicating imminent breakage of a femoral interlocking nail: a case report.

UNLABELLED: Fractures of the femoral shaft treated with interlocking nails will ultimately result in breakage of the nail if the bone does not unite. Further management requires removal of the broken nail which may be a difficult process for the distal segment. If we can identify the symptoms just before the nail breaks, an exchange nailing becomes much easier. We present a patient with fibromatosis who underwent repeated surgery as well as radiotherapy at the age of 16. Six years later, she had a pathological fracture of the upper third of the femur for which an interlocking nail was inserted. The femur did not unite and the nail subsequently broke. Over a period of 12 years, three nails broke and had to be replaced. Two to 3 months before each breakage, the patient experienced the same set of symptoms for each episode. Knowing that her fracture was not going to heal will now alert us to do an exchange nailing before the nail broke again. It is well known that where there is evidence of non-union, pre-emptive treatment is necessary before implant failure. KEY WORDS: Femur nonunion, interlocking nail, symptoms before breakage of nail.

Intraosseous synovial sarcoma of the proximal femur: Case report.

ABSTRACT: Synovial sarcoma is primarily a soft tissue malignancy that most often affects adolescents and young adults. It very rarely presents as a primary bone tumour and has only been reported in nine other cases to date. We report a case of primary synovial sarcoma arising from the proximal femur in a 57-year-old man. KEY WORDS: Synovial sarcoma, primary bone tumour.

Non-bacterial chronic recurrent osteomyelitis of the clavicle.

ABSTRACT: This report details the case of a 12-year-old girl with a painful, progressive swelling of the medial portion of the clavicle with no history of trauma or other constitutional symptoms. All laboratory investigations were normal except for an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Initial plain radiographs showed a destructive lesion with magnetic resonance imaging showing features of malignancy. Biopsies revealed osteomyelitis, but with negative bacterial cultures and no evidence of malignancy. Treatment with antibiotics did not result in a favourable response. Over time, the swelling increased in size with episodic exacerbations of pain. Follow-up radiographs showed sclerosis and hyperostosis. After five years, this was recognized as non-bacterial chronic recurrent osteomyelitis of the clavicle. KEY WORDS: Nonbacterial, chronic recurrent, osteomyelitis, clavicle.

A simple method for removal of the distal segment of a broken femoral intramedullary nail: a case report.

ABSTRACT: We report a method for removing the distal segment of a broken locked intramedullary nail secondary to nonunion of the femur following radiotherapy for fibromatosis. A Kirschner wire with one tip fashioned into a hook was used to remove the distal segment without opening with the nonunion site. Details of the procedure are described. KEY WORDS: Broken intramedullary nail, removal of distal segment.

Prevalence and cardiovascular disease risk differences for erectile dysfunction patients by three metabolic syndrome definitions.

There is growing evidence of a link between ED, metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study was to explore the prevalence of MS using three different definitions (World Health Organization (WHO), International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) and Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III)), and to compare the association of CVD in ED outpatients using these definitions. This study enrolled 254 participants with a mean age of 55.3 ± 0.9 years (range, 21 to 81 years) with ED as diagnosed by International Index of Erectile Function score. All participants underwent MS evaluation based on the three criteria. Differences of MS prevalence, demographical characteristics, biochemical profiles, pro-inflammatory and inflammatory markers, echocardiographic characteristics and the association with Framingham cardiac risk score (FCRS) were compared. The presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the WHO group and high waist girth in the IDF group were significant because of the necessity of respective criteria. The MS prevalence in the WHO, IDF and ATP III groups was 30.7, 34.3 and 36.6%, respectively (P = 0.367). The degrees of agreement among each definition were substantial to perfect. No significant findings in echocardiographic characteristics, biochemical, inflammatory and pro-inflammatory markers were noted. The FCRS showed borderline nonsignificant difference (17.9 ± 0.4, 16.8 ± 0.4 and 16.9 ± 0.4, P = 0.079); however, the FCRS was more closely correlated with the WHO than with the IDF and ATP III (Spearman's correlation coefficients were 0.522, 0.531 and 0.462, respectively; P = 0.021). In patients < 55 years of age and those who smoke, the Spearman's correlation in the WHO group was significantly higher than in the IDF and ATP III groups. The prevalence of the MS using different definitions in ED patients was not different. The WHO-defined MS was more closely associated with CVD.

Cryptococcal osteomyelitis of the femur: A case report and review of literature

Fungal osteomyelitis is a rare opportunistic infection. It exhibits some clinical and radiological similarities to several other bone pathologies. A diagnostic delay may result in significant increase in morbidity. We report a case of a 37-year-old man with underlying hypogammaglobulinaemia presented with isolated cryptococcal osteomyelitis of the femur.

Clear Cell Sarcoma of the Knee. A Report of Two Rare Cases

Clear cell sarcoma of soft tissue is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma. It is derived from melanoblast like cells located within subcutaneous tissue, tendon and aponeuroses. The tumour is also known as malignant melanoma of soft parts because it has similar morphology to malignant melanoma. Unlike malignant melanoma, however, it is not associated with a cutaneous lesion. We report here two cases of this tumour occurring in young adults.

Curettage and Cementation in Giant Cell Tumour of the Distal Tibia Using Polypropylene Mesh for Containment: A Case Report

Giant cell tumours of bone are best treated by extended curettage and filling in of the defect with cement or bone graft. In more advanced stages, when there is extensive loss of cortical bone cover, containment of the filling material is not possible and resection and reconstruction is required. We report a case of a recurrent giant cell tumour of the distal tibia in a 21 year old female with extensive cortical bone loss in which polypropylene surgical mesh was used to contain the bone cement, thus avoidi

Synovial Sarcoma of the Extremities. A Diagnosis that is Easily Missed

Synovial sarcoma of the extremities is an uncommon type of soft tissue sarcoma occurring predominantly in young adults at the para articular regions. We present a series of 10 patients with an average age of 44 years and include a follow up of 39 months. Eight patients had a surgical procedure for a mistaken benign lesion. In contrast to other soft tissue sarcomas, the swellings were associated with pain and most were fixed to the underlying structures. Five patients had a local recurrence after many years, stressing the necessity for close and long term follow up in these patients.

Reconstruction with Composite Cement Autoclaved Autograft after a Near Total Excision of the Humerus for Osteosarcoma: A Case Report

Osteosarcoma occurring in the humerus is often confined to the proximal part, in which case, reconstruction after excision is less daunting. When the tumour spreads down the medullary cavity distally, a total humeral replacement is often required. This is costly and beyond the means of the average patient in a developing country. An amputation is often the procedure of first resort. We report a 13 year old boy with osteosarcoma originating from the left proximal humerus, with involvement of the marrow reaching down to the distal diaphyseal metaphyseal junction, leaving only 6 cm of the distal humerus intact after wide resection. Reconstruction of the defect was done with a composite cement autoclaved autograft fixed to the remaining humerus with a plate. At 40 months of follow up, the patient is well with normal function of the elbow, wrist and hand. Salvaging the limb despite near total involvement of the humerus by high grade osteosarcoma is possible using material available in the average orthopaedic operating room.

Squamous cell carcinoma involving the tibia treated by reimplantation of autoclaved resected bone

We present an elderly patient with a squamous cell carcinoma over the subcutaneous aspect of the leg involving the tibia. En bloc resection of the tumour together with a 10 centimetre segment of the tibia was done. The resected bone was autoclaved, replaced in its original position and stabilized with bone cement and a locked nail. This allowed early ambulation with minimal cost.

Methods used for reconstruction in aggressive bone tumours: an early experience

Improvements in the overall treatment of patients with aggressive, large tumours involving the bone have made it possible to preserve and salvage limbs instead of amputating them. Each patient is unique in his clinical presentation and social circumstance. The different reconstructive options available allow us to choose the most appropriate method suited to the particular patient and with minimal delay, even when resources are limited. The patient and the relatives actively participate in the choice. The early experience of the different techniques for reconstructing these bone defects at our hospital are presented in this paper.