Long-Term Outcome Analysis of Surgically Treated Talus Fractures in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Aim The present study aims to look at the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of surgically treated talus fractures. We have compared the outcomes and complications between simple and complex talar fracture patterns. Additionally, patients' ability to return to activity following surgical treatment of these fractures was also analysed. Materials and methods Retrospective analysis of surgically treated talus fractures at the PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research from 2012 to 2015. The fractures were classified as neck and body fractures. The fractures were classified anatomically (neck and body) based on their severity (simple and complex) fracture patterns. A radiological assessment was done at follow-up to assess for complications of malunion, avascular necrosis (AVN), and arthritis. The outcomes were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and the Maryland foot score (MFS). Results Twenty patients were included in the analysis. There were 12 talar neck and eight body fractures, subclassified into simple (10) and complex fracture patterns (10). The surgical approach involved either a medial malleolus osteotomy/via fractured medial malleolus (55%) or a non-osteotomy-based approach (anteromedial (AM)/anterolateral (AL)/combined AM and AL) (45%). The average AOFAS score was 71.34, while the MFS was 74.35. The outcomes were consistently unfavourable for patients with complex fractures with a higher propensity for complications, but no difference was observed when comparing neck and body fractures. There was a 10% incidence of malreduction in the non-osteotomy-based approach group. AVN was found in 35% of cases, and post-traumatic arthritis occurred in 75% of cases during the five-year follow-up period. Conclusion The findings of the present study consistently reiterate the propensity for complex talus fractures to develop complications like AVN and post-traumatic arthritis in the long term. This study serves to help predict talus fractures based on their severity, with poor outcomes noted with more complex fracture types. We also advocate a more extensile medial malleolus osteotomy-based approach to better visualise complex body fractures of the talus and obtain more anatomical reduction.

The use of custom-made negative pressure wound therapy to manage acute wound infections: a retrospective outcomes study.

BACKGROUND: NPWT has been used to treat various wounds. Scant evidence exists on the use of custom-made NPWT for infected wounds. NPWT dressings promote wound healing by increasing local blood flow and antibiotic concentration, and by removing exudates from the wound. OBJECTIVE: To report the use of custom-made NPWT dressings to manage complex infected wounds of the lower limb. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 43 patients with complex infected wounds of the lower limb treated with debridement and low-cost, custom-made NPWT dressing connected to wall suction from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020, at PSG Medical College Hospital, Coimbatore, India. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients with infected wounds of the lower limb were treated with the custom-made NPWT dressings. Second-look debridement was required in 5 patients. An average of 5 dressing changes were required for optimal wound granulation, with 23% of patients (n = 10) requiring secondary suturing and 62% (n = 27) requiring STSG for definitive coverage of the wound. Healing by secondary intention was achieved in 6 patients. The average duration from the start of therapy until the wound was ready for coverage (STSG or secondary suturing) was 2.5 weeks (range, 1-5 weeks), with an average time to complete wound healing of 5 weeks (range, 3-7 weeks). The most common wound isolate was Staphylococcus aureus (60%). No complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Custom-made NPWT dressings are safe to use in complex infected lower limb wounds. These dressings keep the wound dry and promote healing. Wound debridement followed by NPWT combined with antibiotic therapy can act synergistically to promote wound healing and control infection.

Catastrophic Coronavirus Disease COVID Infection Leading to Gangrene of Foot in Peripartum Women.

Introduction: Pregnancy is a physiologically hypercoagulable state and a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection adds to this burden by accentuating the coagulopathy. We report two cases of severe peri-partum COVID infection leading to extremity gangrene secondary to a pro-thrombotic coagulopathy. Case One: A 37-year-old lady, day-2 postpartum, was brought with severe COVID infection & and respiratory failure. She developed progressive gangrene of the foot. A computed tomography (CT) angiogram confirmed the presence of thrombosis of the left external iliac & and common femoral artery. She was managed with catheter- directed thrombolysis and fasciotomy. The dry gangrene of the foot was managed with a Boyd's amputation. At 1-year follow-up, she is ambulant with a healthy stump. Case Two: A 34-year-old lady, 36 weeks of gestation, presented with fulminant COVID infection with respiratory failure and pulmonary embolus. The lady developed gangrene of the B/L toes. A CT angiogram revealed thrombosis below the popliteal trifurcation in both limbs along with segmental pulmonary thrombo-embolism involving the right lung and multiple splenic infarcts. She succumbed to the overwhelming infection and sepsis. Discussion: The pathogenesis of coagulopathy in pregnant COVID patients is attributed to the hypercoagulable effect, which leads to thrombo-embolisms and limb ischemia following a cytokine storm syndrome in severe infections. To date, this is the first experience detailing distal limb gangrene in fulminant COVID infection in peri-partum women. Although, cases have been reported on distal limb gangrene in severe COVID infection among non-pregnant individuals. Conclusion: A multidisciplinary team must manage COVID infections in the third trimester. A prompt recognition of any forms of lethal coagulopathy and vigilant treatment will prevent loss of life.