Effectiveness of Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Combined with Intra-articular and Intravenous Tranexamic Acid: A Retrospective Analysis of Number of Doses and Dose Strength.

Introduction: Total hip arthroplasty is a very effective reconstructive surgery but is often associated with massive perioperative bleeding, which leads to anemia. Tranexamic acid (TXA) minimizes bleeding and the need for blood transfusion. However, no universal standard TXA dosing regimen has been established. The objectives of this study were (1) whether there was a difference in the amount of decrease in perioperative mean hemoglobin (Hb) level between a single topical administration of TXA and intravenous and topical combination administration, and we also investigated whether there was a difference in the amount of decrease in the perioperative mean Hb level due to the difference in the local dose of TXA. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 292 hips between June 2013 and October 2020. The decrease in Hb level (difference between the preoperative value and the 7-day postoperative value) was used to estimate total perioperative blood loss. The mean perioperative reduction in Hb was compared between hips that received intravenous TXA preoperatively and intra-articular TXA at wound closure (combination administration group) and those that received only intra-articular TXA (single dose group). It was also compared by different local doses of tranexamic acid. Results: The mean reduction in Hb was significantly smaller in the combination administration group than in the single dose group. However, no significant difference was observed due to the difference in the local dose of TXA administered at the time of wound closure. Conclusion: Reducing perioperative bleeding decreases the invasiveness of surgery, which is important from the perspective of medical safety.

Efficacy of preoperative autologous blood storage in one-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: One-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has the advantages of a single hospital stay, shorter rehabilitation, and reduced financial burden on patients. However, perioperative bleeding is greater with one-stage bilateral TKA than with unilateral TKA and is more likely to require allogeneic blood transfusion. At our hospital, we normally store autologous blood about 1 month before surgery to reduce the need for allogeneic blood transfusion and avoid its adverse reactions as much as possible. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of preoperative autologous blood storage for patients undergoing one-stage bilateral TKA. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the allogeneic blood transfusion avoidance rate and the perioperative decrease in hemoglobin (Hb) level in 166 patients according to whether or not they had preoperative autologous blood stored. The patients for whom blood was stored were then subdivided according to whether the amount of blood stored was 400 mL or 200 mL. RESULTS: Excluding allogeneic transfusion cases, the mean perioperative decrease in Hb was significantly lower in the patients with stored blood than in those without stored blood (3.5 g/dL vs 4.4 g/dL, p < 0.001). The allogeneic blood transfusion avoidance rate was significantly higher in the group with stored blood (98.5% vs 86.7%, p < 0.01). In the group with stored blood, the transfusion avoidance rate was higher, but not significantly, in the subgroup with 400 mL of blood stored than in those with 200 mL of blood stored (100% vs 97.5%) and the mean perioperative decrease in Hb was 3.5 g/dL in both blood storage volume groups. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative autologous blood storage can help increase the likelihood of avoiding allogeneic blood transfusion in patients undergoing one-stage bilateral TKA.

Screening for nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among patients scheduled to undergo orthopedic surgery: Incidence of surgical site infection by nasal carriage.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), including MRSA, is considered to be the leading cause of surgical site infection (SSI) after orthopedic surgery. We screened for nasal carriers of S. aureus among patients who were scheduled to undergo orthopedic surgery at our hospital to reveal the effect of nasal S. aureus carriage on SSI. Our study design clearly has the intent of finding S. aureus nasal carriage and eradicating MRSA when found, and this strategy is to verify whether it's effective for preventing orthopedic surgical infections. METHODS: Subjects were 4148 patients who underwent preoperative screening for nasal carrier and subsequently underwent orthopedic surgery during a 7-year period between April 2007 and March 2014. The incidence of SSI among patients who were operated in our department was investigated, and the rates were compared between patients with and without nasal carriage to reveal the effect of preoperative nasal carriage on SSI. RESULTS: In total, 1036 patients were nasal carriers of S. aureus (carriage rate, 25.0%), whereas 140 patients carried MRSA (carriage rate, 3.4%). SSI developed in 24 patients [incidence, 0.58% (24/4148)] consisting of 12 non-carriers [0.39% (12/3112)] and 12 carriers [1.16% (12/1036)] with a significant difference in the incidence between the groups. Among 24 cases of SSI, more than half (13 cases) were caused by bacterial species other than S. aureus or those that could not be detected by the tests used. Only 7 patients out of 24 SSI patients, S. aureus was the bacterium detected in preoperative nasal cultures and the causal bacterium for SSI (concordance rate of 29.2%). CONCLUSIONS: It was difficult to reduce the incidence rate of SSI in eradication group to the same level as nasal culture negative group. However, nasal carriage of S. aureus or MRSA may be a risk factor for SSI in orthopedic surgery.

Failure rates of Asian-type anatomic medullary locking stemmed metal-on-metal total hip replacement: A cause for adverse tissue reactions to metal debris (ARMD).

BACKGROUND: Adverse tissue reaction to metal debris (ARMD) as a secondary complication of Metal-on-metal total hip replacement (MoM THR) has been of concern. We have been performing cementless MoM THR using an Asian-type anatomic medullary locking (AML) stem. The purpose of this study is to examine the incident rate of ARMD, and the implant survival rate. METHODS: The study included 187 patients (211 hip joints) who underwent MoM THR between February 2007 and November 2009 at our hospital and who were followed up for a minimum of 6 years. The cases included 174 female joints and 37 male joints. The average age at the time of surgery was 68.4 years. The average postoperative follow-up period was 87.5 months. RESULTS: ARMD was observed in 23 joints postoperatively, and the incidence rate was 10.9%. Most of the instances occurred within the first 30 months postoperatively. Revision surgery was performed for 14 joints after conservative treatment failed, and we changed the bearing surface. During the intraoperative observation, black-colored deposition of metal debris on the head-neck junction was observed in 13 cases. Kaplan-Meier analysis using the replacement surgery as the end point showed that this implant has a survival rate of 93.8% 7 years after the primary surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the major cause of failure of Asian-type AML stemmed MoM THR is likely the breakage of the fixation between the taper neck and metal head at the head-neck junction.

Intradural lumbar disc herniation after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy: case report.

A 64-year-old man was referred to the authors with low-back pain (LBP) and right leg pain with a history of previously diagnosed lumbar disc herniation (LDH) at L4-5. He had undergone 2 percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomies (PELDs) for the herniation at another institution, and according to the surgical record of the second surgery, a dural tear occurred intraoperatively but was not repaired. Postoperative conservative treatments such as an epidural block and blood patch had not relieved his persistent LBP or right leg pain. Upon referral to the authors, MRI and myelography revealed an intradural LDH. The herniated mass was removed by durotomy, and posterior lumbar interbody fusion was performed. His symptoms were partially improved after surgery. Primary suture is technically difficult when a dural tear occurs during PELD. Therefore, close attention should be paid to avoiding such tears, and surgeons should increase their awareness of intradural LDH as a possible postoperative complication of PELD.

New surgical treatment using a docking nail for postoperative periprosthetic femoral fracture after total hip arthroplasty.

We report 2 cases of patients (75 and 81 years old) who had a femoral shaft fracture around the femoral prosthesis after total hip arthroplasty. Using information on the implanted stem and the preoperative radiographs, we cut and trimmed an ordinary supracondylar type intramedullary nail, after which we have termed a "docking nail." We then performed osteosynthesis using the docking nail, which is connected to the tip of the implanted stem to ensure proper alignment. Within 3 months, bony union with good alignment was observed in both patients without malunion or infection. Clinical and radiographic examination during the follow-up period showed good results. The advantages of this method are that it is less invasive and simpler compared with the conventional methods.