INTRAOPERATIVE EVALUATION AND LEVEL OF CONTAMINATION DURING TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY.

Introduction: Despite numerous articles on intraoperative contamination in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures, the available data on tissue contamination are scarce and mainly based on evaluating bacteriological swabs. Methods: Two hundred and forty specimens, divided between bone and soft tissue, were obtained from 40 consecutive unilateral primaries TKAs. The specimens were evaluated for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial growth. Colony-forming units/gram (CFU/g) were calculated on the contaminated specimens to determine the level of contamination. Results: The contamination rate in intraoperative specimens was 15% during TKA. The contamination level had a mean of 10.6 and a median of 5, ranging from 1-70 CFU/g. The most common contaminating organisms in all samples were Staphylococcus aureus (38.9%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (30.6%). No clinical infections were detected in TKAs in the follow-up period. Conclusion: The contamination rate during TKA is relatively high, despite the practice of standard preventive measures. Contamination levels, measured by CFU/g, are considered low when compared to the infection threshold of 105 reported in the literature. However, contamination should not be underestimated due to the presence of foreign bodies (implants), which are known to significantly lower this threshold. Level of evidence IV; case series .

Introdução: Apesar dos inúmeros artigos sobre a contaminação intraoperatória em procedimentos de artroplastia total do joelho (ATJ), os dados disponíveis sobre a contaminação tecidual são escassos e baseiam-se principalmente na avaliação de swabs bacteriológicos. Métodos: Duzentos e quarenta espécimes, divididos entre ossos e tecidos moles, foram obtidos de 40 ATJ primárias unilaterais consecutivas. Os exemplares foram avaliados quanto ao crescimento bacteriano aeróbio e anaeróbio. As unidades formadoras de colônias/grama (UFC/g) foram calculadas nas amostras contaminadas para determinar o nível de contaminação. Resultados: A taxa de contaminação em espécimes intraoperatórios foi de 15% durante a ATJ. O nível de contaminação teve uma média de 10,6 e uma mediana de 5 variando de 1-70 UFC/g. Os organismos contaminantes mais comuns em todas as amostras foram Staphylococcus aureus (38,9%) e Staphylococcus epidermidis (30,6%). Nenhuma infecção clínica foi detectada nas ATJ durante o período de acompanhamento. Conclusão: A taxa de contaminação durante a ATJ é relativamente alta, apesar da prática de medidas preventivas padrão. Os níveis de contaminação, medidos por UFC/g, são considerados baixos quando comparados ao limiar de infecção de 105, relatado na literatura. No entanto, a contaminação não deve ser negligenciada devido à presença de corpos estranhos (implantes) que são conhecidos por reduzir significativamente esse limiar. Nível de evidência IV; series de casos.

Arthroscopic management of synovial chondromatosis of the shoulder: a systematic review of literature.

Background: Synovial chondromatosis (SC) of the shoulder is rare, with limited literature on its management. This systematic review of literature aimed to characterize common arthroscopic techniques for the treatment of shoulder SC and patient outcomes. We hypothesized that arthroscopy is an effective operative modality for the management of shoulder SC. Methods: PubMed and Embase databases were searched for articles on arthroscopic management of shoulder SC, published before 6 August 2020. All articles meeting inclusion criteria received an independent full-text review by two authors. Results: An initial search found 64 articles. Following duplicate removal and title, abstract, and full-text reviews, 27 articles (48 patients) remained eligible. The mean age of patients was 33.0 years, with 2:1 male-to-female ratio. The mean follow-up was 41.8 months. SC was found to affect various intra- and extra-articular locations of the shoulder. Overall, arthroscopic treatment of shoulder SC was successful in 70.8%. Treatment failure was common in SC involving the bicipital tendon sheath. Disease recurrence was seen in 14.7%. Conclusion: Literature on arthroscopic management of shoulder SC is limited, and significant heterogeneity in arthroscopic techniques was observed. Although arthroscopic management of shoulder SC is effective, further optimization is necessary to minimize treatment failure and disease recurrence.

Intraoperative evaluation and level of contamination during total knee arthroplasty / Avaliação e nível de contaminação intra-operatória durante a artroplastia total do joelho

ABSTRACT Introduction: Despite numerous articles on intraoperative contamination in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures, the available data on tissue contamination are scarce and mainly based on evaluating bacteriological swabs. Methods: Two hundred and forty specimens, divided between bone and soft tissue, were obtained from 40 consecutive unilateral primaries TKAs. The specimens were evaluated for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial growth. Colony-forming units/gram (CFU/g) were calculated on the contaminated specimens to determine the level of contamination. Results: The contamination rate in intraoperative specimens was 15% during TKA. The contamination level had a mean of 10.6 and a median of 5, ranging from 1-70 CFU/g. The most common contaminating organisms in all samples were Staphylococcus aureus (38.9%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (30.6%). No clinical infections were detected in TKAs in the follow-up period. Conclusion: The contamination rate during TKA is relatively high, despite the practice of standard preventive measures. Contamination levels, measured by CFU/g, are considered low when compared to the infection threshold of 105 reported in the literature. However, contamination should not be underestimated due to the presence of foreign bodies (implants), which are known to significantly lower this threshold. Level of evidence IV; case series .

RESUMO Introdução: Apesar dos inúmeros artigos sobre a contaminação intraoperatória em procedimentos de artroplastia total do joelho (ATJ), os dados disponíveis sobre a contaminação tecidual são escassos e baseiam-se principalmente na avaliação de swabs bacteriológicos. Métodos: Duzentos e quarenta espécimes, divididos entre ossos e tecidos moles, foram obtidos de 40 ATJ primárias unilaterais consecutivas. Os exemplares foram avaliados quanto ao crescimento bacteriano aeróbio e anaeróbio. As unidades formadoras de colônias/grama (UFC/g) foram calculadas nas amostras contaminadas para determinar o nível de contaminação. Resultados: A taxa de contaminação em espécimes intraoperatórios foi de 15% durante a ATJ. O nível de contaminação teve uma média de 10,6 e uma mediana de 5 variando de 1-70 UFC/g. Os organismos contaminantes mais comuns em todas as amostras foram Staphylococcus aureus (38,9%) e Staphylococcus epidermidis (30,6%). Nenhuma infecção clínica foi detectada nas ATJ durante o período de acompanhamento. Conclusão: A taxa de contaminação durante a ATJ é relativamente alta, apesar da prática de medidas preventivas padrão. Os níveis de contaminação, medidos por UFC/g, são considerados baixos quando comparados ao limiar de infecção de 105, relatado na literatura. No entanto, a contaminação não deve ser negligenciada devido à presença de corpos estranhos (implantes) que são conhecidos por reduzir significativamente esse limiar. Nível de evidência IV; series de casos.

Zoledronic Acid Versus Denosumab for Prevention of Spinal Cord Compression in Advanced Cancers With Spine Metastasis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). OBJECTIVES: The aim was to analyze the efficacy of zoledronic acid (ZA) versus denosumab in the prevention of spinal cord compression in patients with spine metastases from advanced cancers, by evaluating all available RCTs on this subject. METHODS: A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed and MEDLINE) was performed to identify all published RCTs comparing ZA with denosumab in prevention of spinal cord compressions in spine metastases. Risk of bias of the studies was assessed. The primary outcomes evaluated were spinal cord compression. RESULTS: Three RCTs (5274 patients) were included. Denosumab was not significantly superior to ZA in reducing the likelihood of spinal cord compression, when all tumor types were combined (odds ratio [OR] 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI; 0.66, 1.28], P = .66). Denosumab was not significantly favored over ZA in endodermal origin (breast and prostate; OR 0.72, 95% CI [0.43, 1.19], P = .20) and mesodermal origin tumors (solid tumors and multiple myeloma; OR 1.10, 95% CI [0.72, 1.69], P = .66). CONCLUSION: Denosumab does not significantly reduce the likelihood of spinal cord compressions in comparison to ZA in patients with spine metastases. When spinal cord compressions were grouped by tumor origin (endodermal or mesodermal), there remained no significant difference between denosumab and ZA. Further long-term studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of these treatment regimens.

Bone cement spacer: a novel technique for treating a complicated case of developmental dysplasia of the hip with an injured acetabulum: Case report with 7-year follow-up.

RATIONALE: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) has an incidence of 5 per 1000 newborns and its management depends on various factors. We present a rare case of DDH with soft tissue obliteration and a bony prominence in the center of the acetabulum after failed open reduction and acetabuloplasty. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 20-month-old girl presented to our clinic with right hip stiffness after undergoing open reduction and acetabuloplasty at another hospital. DIAGNOSES: The diagnosis of DDH was made using a computed tomography scan that revealed a right hip dislocation with soft tissue obliteration and a bony prominence in the center of the acetabulum. INTERVENTIONS: We used a novel technique for treating the rare presentation of complicated DDH with massive soft tissue obliteration and bony prominence in the center of the acetabulum after failed open reduction and acetabuloplasty. The right hip was surgically explored. The acetabulum was deepened and resurfaced. Bone cement was applied over the acetabulum to prevent future ankylosis. OUTCOMES: At the follow-up 7 years after the last surgery, the patient had regained full range of motion and a properly reduced right hip with optimal acetabular coverage on radiographs. LESSONS: Care must be taken in any patient with DDH who presents with hip redislocation after open reduction. If deepening and resurfacing of the acetabulum are required, bone cement could be used as a temporary spacer for 8 weeks; this was key in treating our patient.

Knee Arthroscopy for the Treatment of Lipoma Arborescens: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Lipoma arborescens is a rare, intra-articular benign lesion characterized by hyperplastic formation of villous projections that commonly presents as nonspecific mechanical knee pain. The treatment of choice for lipoma arborescens of the knee is open or arthroscopic synovectomy. However, data are lacking on the success of arthroscopic treatment, despite its increasingly widespread use. We aimed to systemically review the outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of lipoma arborescens. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were searched by 2 reviewers independently on October 9, 2018, and all relevant articles in the English and French languages up to and including that date were considered. The search terms "lipoma arborescens," "knee," "arthroscopy," and "arthroscopic" were used. Articles were screened on the basis of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. RESULTS: Among the 110 initial studies that were retrieved, 28 satisfied the inclusion criteria. A total of 71 knees in 65 patients ranging from 13 to 78 years of age underwent arthroscopic synovectomy for the treatment of lipoma arborescens. The duration of follow-up ranged from 3 weeks to 84 months. The recurrence rate was 2.8%, and 2 patients underwent conversion to open surgery. One patient had postoperative hematoma that required evacuation, and another patient reported persistent residual pain at the time of the latest follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of this uncontrolled, systematic review, arthroscopic synovectomy is a safe and effective treatment for lipoma arborescens of the knee, with a success rate of >95%. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Epilepsy monitoring units in Saudi Arabia: Where do we stand compared to developed countries?

OBJECTIVE: To descriptively assess Epilepsy Monitoring Units (EMUs) and the provided services in Saudi Arabia and compare them based on the geographic region. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, an electronic questionnaire was emailed to all directors of EMUs in Saudi Arabia from July 2013 to January 2016, with constant updates being made by all respondents throughout the period of data collection. RESULTS: All EMU directors participated. There were 11 EMUs in KSA operating in 8 hospitals; 8 (54.5%) EMUs in Riyadh, 2 (18.2%) in Dammam, 2 (18.2%) in Makkah and 1 (9.1%) in Jeddah. Five (54.5%) EMUs were shared for adults and pediatrics, 3 (27.3%) were devoted to adult patients, and 3 (27.3%) to pediatric patients. The average waiting time was 11 weeks (range: 2-52 weeks). The mean percentage of patients coming from an outside region was 30.6%. The average length of stay was 7 days. Less than 100 patients were monitored annually in 54.5% of the EMUs. Seven EMUs (63.6%) admitted less than 100 patients for seizure characterization. Intracranial monitoring was available in all EMUs. Most EMUs (54.5%) admitted less than 100 patients for pre-surgical workup while 36.4% admitted 100-199, and 9.1% admitted more than 300 patients per year. Epilepsy surgeries were performed for less than 50 patients annually in 81.8% of the hospitals. CONCLUSION: There are 11 EMUs in Saudi Arabia fully equipped to serve epileptic patients. However, they are underutilized considering the number of admitted patient and the number of epilepsy surgeries per year. Also, they are unequally distributed throughout the kingdom.

Asymmetric bilateral traumatic hip dislocation: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic hip dislocation is a severe injury with the potential for significant morbidity and mortality. Bilateral hip dislocation is rare representing 1.25% of all hip dislocations. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: A 19-year-old male had a high-speed motor vehicle accident. After stabilizing the patient, it was noticed that the position of the right lower limb was in adduction and internal rotation while the left was in external rotation and abduction. Pelvis x-ray showed right superior posterior and left anterior inferior hip dislocations. Closed reduction was performed within 3 hours from the trauma for both sides. The post reduction CT scan showed adequate reduction of both hips with no associated fractures. During his three-year follow-up, he never had any complaints and the clinical examination and radiographs did not reveal any abnormalities. DISCUSSION: Early reduction of hip dislocations minimizes the risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The current recommendations state that a hip dislocation must be reduced within 6 hours. CONCLUSION: This is a rare case of bilateral asymmetric hip dislocations with no concomitant fractures. It is important to reduce hip dislocation within 6 hours from the time of injury to prevent osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Hamstring autografts are associated with a high rate of contamination in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: To quantitatively evaluate the rate, type, and level of contamination of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) hamstring autografts after harvesting and preparation or dropping onto the operating room (OR) floor. METHODS: Two hamstring autograft specimens were prospectively retrieved from each graft in a consecutive series of 50 patients undergoing primary isolated ACL reconstruction (100 specimens total). One specimen was retrieved immediately after harvesting and dropped onto the OR floor (dropped group). The other was retrieved just after graft implantation and before fixation (control group). Each specimen was incubated for aerobic and anaerobic growth, and the number of colony-forming units (CFU)/g was measured. Patients' clinical course was monitored for signs of surgical site infection (SSI). RESULTS: The control and dropped groups had positive culture rates of 11/50 (22%) and 16/50 (32%), respectively, with no significant difference between groups (n.s.). The most common organism in the control group was Staphylococcus epidermidis (45.5%) followed by S. aureus (36.4%). In the dropped group, the most common organism was S. epidermidis (31.3%) followed by Bacillus species (25%). The median (range) CFU/g among positive specimens in the dropped and control groups was 65 (8-150) and 10 (2-60), respectively (P = 0.0003). No patient developed postoperative SSI. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative hamstring autograft contamination rates were high. Hence, routine prophylactic decontamination of all hamstring autografts after harvesting and preparation and before implantation is recommended. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Controlled laboratory study.

Knowledge around back pain and spinal disorders among Saudi patients: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge of patients about low back pain and spinal disorders. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2015 to February 2016, and comprised patients presenting with lower back pain. The low back pain knowledge questionnaire was translated to Arabic and distributed, after adding more questions, among patients. The scores were calculated as per the published guidelines. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: There were 153 patients in the study. The reliability test revealed a Cronbach's alpha score of 0.834 for all items. The overall mean age was 40.2±19.3 years (range: 15-76 years). Besides, 61(39.9%) participants were males and 92(60.1%) were females. The overall median score was 9 (interquartile range: 0-19) out of 24 points. Both educational level and monthly income were found to be dependent variables (p<0.001; p=0.007). . CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with lower back pain had limited knowledge about their condition and the related complications.

Occupational injuries among pediatric orthopedic surgeons: How serious is the problem?

In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed all pediatric orthopedic surgeons in Saudi Arabia using an anonymous electronic questionnaire composed of 23 items to identify the rate of occupational injuries and obtain other relevant information. Thirty-nine participants completed the questionnaire (response rate: 83%). Participants who sustained occupational injuries throughout their careers represented 82.5%. The most injured areas were the hands, eyes, and back by 54.5%, 24.2%, and 15.2%, respectively. Approximately 11.1% were injured while operating on infected patients. Approximately 30.3% reported their injuries to their institution. We concluded that the rate of occupational injuries among pediatric orthopedic surgeons is very high and underreported.

The validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire: Can we implement it in Saudi Arabia?

BACKGROUND: The Japanese Orthopedic Association designed their back pain evaluation questionnaire (JOABPEQ) which was proven to be feasible, reliable and valid. The questionnaire's validity and reliability were confirmed when it was implemented in patients with different cultural background. Since the JOABPEQ still has not been utilized in any of the Arabic countries, we present the Arabic version with its validity and reliability. METHODS: After ensuring an optimal forward-backward translation of the JOABPEQ, the Arabic version was distributed among 151 patients visiting our clinics from December 2015 to February 2016. The reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha. The convergent validity was assessed through aggregating and correlating the questionnaire's items with their previously designed and validated subscales described in the JOABPEQ validity study by Fukui et al. (four items for social function, seven for mental health, six for lumbar function, five for walking ability and four for low back pain); Spearman's correlation matrix was used. The correlation coefficient had to be greater than 0.40 for each item with its corresponding subscale to be satisfactory. Scores underwent descriptive analysis, and Mann-Whitney u test was performed to compare between categorical subgroups. RESULTS: 151 spine patients completed the questionnaire. The mean age (range) was 34.9 (10-72) years. The male respondents were 61 (40.4%) and the females were 90 (59.6%). The result of Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency (reliability) was 0.87 for the 25 items. The validity was confirmed since the correlation coefficient was greater than 0.4 for each item with only its relevant subscale. CONCLUSION: the Arabic version of the JOABPEQ is valid, reliable and feasible in assessing patients with spine disorders. We believe the JOABPEQ with its different versions are suitable questionnaires to be used across nations and can serve as a unified tool in conducting research and exchanging information in the future.

Urological injuries associated with pelvic fractures: A case report of a detached bone segment inside the bladder.

INTRODUCTION: Urological injuries in pelvic fractures are noticed in 6-15% of the cases. The bladder, due to its anatomical position, is prone to rupture in pelvic fractures. The majority of urinary bladder injuries are either extraperitoneal or intraperitoneal. Nonetheless, both types can occur simultaneously in 6% of the cases. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: A 45-year-old male was brought to our emergency department after being struck by an automobile. In the absence of signs of urethral injury, a Foley's catheter was inserted revealing gross hematuria. The radiological assessment showed bilateral non-displacement sacral wing fractures, bilateral non-displacement anterior column fractures and bilateral comminuted superior and inferior pubic rami fractures, with a detached pubic bone fragment displaced posteriorly. A CT cystogram was performed showing intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal extravasation of contrast. The patient was taken to surgery. A sharp-edged bony fragment was discovered inside the bladder. A two-layer closure of the bladder was performed. DISCUSSION: Pelvic fractures with concomitant lower urinary tract injuries are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The signs indicative of bladder rupture include a more than one centimeter diastasis of the symphysis pubis and a displaced fracture of more than one centimeter involving the obturator ring. However, the signs may not be present as in our case. CONCLUSION: This unusual case illustrates the potential risk of bladder injury following stable pelvic fractures through a detached bone segment. It also emphasizes on having a high index of suspicion. The teamwork and multidisciplinary approach are essential for an optimal outcome.

Epilepsy services in Saudi Arabia. Quantitative assessment and identification of challenges.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the epilepsy services and identify the challenges in hospitals without epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs). In addition, comparisons between governmental and private sectors, as well as between regions, are to be performed. METHODS: A cross sectional study conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to the secondary and tertiary hospitals without EMUs throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study was conducted from September 2013 to September 2015 and regular updates from all respondents were constantly made. Items in the questionnaire included the region of the institution, the number of pediatric and adult neurologists and neurosurgeons along with their subspecialties, the number of beds in the Neurology Department, whether they provide educational services and have epilepsy clinics and if they refer patients to an EMU or intend to establish one in the future. RESULTS: Forty-three institutions throughout the Kingdom responded, representing a response rate of 54%. The majority of hospitals (58.1%) had no adult epileptologists. A complete lack of pediatric epileptologists was observed in 72.1% of hospitals. Around 39.5% were utilizing beds from internal medicine. Hospitals with an epilepsy clinic represented 34.9% across all regions and sectors. Hospitals with no intention of establishing an EMU represented 53.5%. Hospitals that did not refer their epileptic patients to an EMU represented 30.2%. CONCLUSION: Epilepsy services in KSA hospitals without EMUs are underdeveloped.

Late reconstruction of the patellar tendon in rheumatoid arthritis using bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft.

INTRODUCTION: chronic patellar tendon rupture is rare and its incidence and prevalence are unknown. Furthermore, the data about late reconstruction of the patellar tendon in rheumatoid arthritis is limited. Such condition, if not managed properly, can substantially affect the patient's activities of daily living. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of chronic patellar tendon rupture in a 49 years old lady who has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for over 20 years. She presented with an inability to extend the right knee which started suddenly a year and a half ago without any history of trauma. She underwent reconstruction of the patellar tendon using a massive BTB allograft. Three years after surgery, the patient had an active range of motion between -20 and 120° and was walking normally without any external support. DISCUSSION: When the primary repair of the patellar tendon is not possible, it is necessary to either repair with autologous augmentation or use a graft to reconstruct the tendon. We believe autografts may not be suitable in the presence of rheumatoid arthritis since the disease is associated with excessive levels of collagenase that could contribute to the degeneration of the tendons. CONCLUSION: Late patellar tendon reconstruction in rheumatoid arthritis is a challenging procedure, and we believe it is best performed using an allograft to achieve the desired outcome.

A case report of the management and the outcome of a complete epiphyseal separation and dislocation with left anterior column fracture of the acetabulum.

INTRODUCTION: Femoral head and neck fractures in children are uncommon, accounting for fewer than 1% of all pediatric fractures and fewer than 8% of all hip fractures. Furthermore, traumatic transphyseal hip fracture is rare to present in daily practice especially when associated with an acetabular fracture. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: A twelve years old boy, not known to have any chronic illnesses, presented to the emergency department as a case of polytrauma after a road traffic accident. Signs of left hip dislocation were discovered upon physical examination. X-rays and CT scans, revealed a complete transphyseal posterior dislocation and a left anterior column fracture of the acetabulum with a minimal displacement. Within five hours, the patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation by two cannulated screws. The acetabular fracture was managed conservatively. After six months, there were clear signs of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. DISCUSSION: A high-energy trauma in children and adolescents can lead to simultaneous epiphyseal and acetabular fractures which are associated with a poor prognosis. The age seems to play a role as patients older than ten years have a higher risk of developing AVN after sustaining a hip dislocation regardless of the time of intervention. CONCLUSION: Epiphyseal fracture with dislocation of the femoral head is rare among children and adolescents, especially when associated with an acetabular fracture. AVN in such cases can develop, and it represents a challenge to orthopedic surgeons due to the poor prognosis and the future functional limitations of the joint.