Mortality Following Hip Fracture Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic Compared to Pre-COVID-19 Period: A Case Matched Cohort Series.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to report on clinical outcomes and 30-day mortality of patients with neck of femur fracture during COVID-19 pandemic and compare the outcomes in a cohort during the same period prior to the pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 66 patients with hip fracture over the age of 60 years, presented between 1st March and 15th May 2020 and matched with the patients with hip fractures (75 patients) managed during the corresponding period in 2019 as control. Data was collected on demographics, comorbidities, COVID-19 status, procedures and mortality and complications. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality following hip surgery was 13.6% during COVID-19 pandemic with all the mortalities in patients with ASA Grade 3 and 4. Mortality was considerably high for intracapsular fracture (20%) but highest in cemented hemiarthroplasty (20%). One third of the hip fractures operated in COVID-19 designated theatre died within 30 days of surgery. Thirty-day mortality rate for COVID-19 positive hip fracture patients were 55.5%. There has been higher 30-day mortality for hip surgeries during COVID-19 pandemic with positive correlation between patient's COVID-19 test status and 30-day mortality following hip surgeries. CONCLUSION: There is strong association between 30-day mortality and the designated theatre (Clean/COVID) where the patients were operated on with higher mortality for intracapsular neck of femur fractures with significant mortality associated with cemented hemiarthroplasty particularly among symptomatic or COVID-19 positive patients. Therefore, adoption of a multidisciplinary approach is recommended to optimally balance the risk-benefit ratio for planning of management of hip fractures while considering patient's peri-operative outcomes.

Mortality Following Hip Fracture Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic Compared to Pre-COVID-19 Period: A Case Matched Cohort Series

@#Introduction: This study aims to report on clinical outcomes and 30-day mortality of patients with neck of femur fracture during COVID-19 pandemic and compare the outcomes in a cohort during the same period prior to the pandemic. Materials and methods: The study included 66 patients with hip fracture over the age of 60 years, presented between 1st March and 15th May 2020 and matched with the patients with hip fractures (75 patients) managed during the corresponding period in 2019 as control. Data was collected on demographics, comorbidities, COVID-19 status, procedures and mortality and complications. Results: Thirty-day mortality following hip surgery was 13.6% during COVID-19 pandemic with all the mortalities in patients with ASA Grade 3 and 4. Mortality was considerably high for intracapsular fracture (20%) but highest in cemented hemiarthroplasty (20%). One third of the hip fractures operated in COVID-19 designated theatre died within 30 days of surgery. Thirty-day mortality rate for COVID-19 positive hip fracture patients were 55.5%. There has been higher 30-day mortality for hip surgeries during COVID-19 pandemic with positive correlation between patient’s COVID-19 test status and 30-day mortality following hip surgeries. Conclusion: There is strong association between 30-day mortality and the designated theatre (Clean/COVID) where the patients were operated on with higher mortality for intracapsular neck of femur fractures with significant mortality associated with cemented hemiarthroplasty particularly among symptomatic or COVID-19 positive patients. Therefore, adoption of a multidisciplinary approach is recommended to optimally balance the risk-benefit ratio for planning of management of hip fractures while considering patient’s peri-operative outcomes.

Standard preoperative analgesia with or without fascia iliaca compartment block for femoral neck fractures.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual analogue score (VAS) for pain in patients with femoral neck fracture who received standard preoperative analgesia with or without fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB). METHODS: In patients with femoral neck fracture, 69 patients who received standard preoperative analgesia (regular paracetamol 1g 4 times a day, codeine 60 mg 4 times a day, and opioid 10 mg 2 hourly as required) were compared with 50 patients who received standard preoperative analgesia plus FICB. VAS for pain at rest and on movement (hip flexion) was assessed before FICB and 15 minutes, 2 and 8 hours after FICB. The amount of additional opioid required and the incidence of opioid overdose (necessitating administration of naloxone) were determined. RESULTS: VAS for pain was significantly lower after standard analgesia plus FICB than standard analgesia alone (p=0.001). The analgesic effect (pre-score minus post-score) of standard analgesia plus FICB did not differ between genders (p=0.57) or fracture patterns (p=0.79). 19 (38%) patients with standard analgesia plus FICB required no additional opioid analgesia. Compared with standard analgesia alone, addition of FICB reduced the mean dose of opioid from 6.2 to 2.0 (p=0.001) and the number of opioid overdose from 7.2% to 0% (p=0.001). No patient had any complication following FICB. CONCLUSION: In patients with femoral neck fracture, FICB reduced the need for additional opioid analgesia and avoided the risk of opioid overdose and respiratory depression.

Two-stage revision for infected total knee arthroplasty: our experience with interval prosthesis.

INTRODUCTION: To review our practice of performing two-stage revision for infected total knee arthroplasty using articulating interval prosthesis and to compare the incidence of the recurrence of infection and re-operation rate in patients undergoing two-stage revision as planned with the group of patients who choose not to proceed to the second stage. METHOD: This study is a retrospective review of 60 consecutive patients undergoing a two-stage revision for infected total knee arthroplasty using articulating interval prosthesis. All cases managed by a single surgeon using a uniform peri-operative protocol, and short-course parenteral antibiotic therapy. RESULT: Thirty-four patients (57%) (Group 1) underwent the two-stage revision as planned. However, twenty-six patients (43%) (Group 2) opted not to have a second-stage procedure as the first-stage and interval prosthesis had eradicated the infection, resolved the pain and achieved good functional outcome. There were five cases of recurrent infection in the 60 patients (8%) at a mean follow-up 5 years. In those completing the two-stage revision, two patients had recurrent infection. Of the patients who retained the interval prosthesis, there were three recurrent infections. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of recurrence of infection or re-revision. CONCLUSION: Two-stage revision with interval prostheses represents a safe and reliable method of treating infected knee prosthesis; however, there may be a role for one-stage revision in selected cases.