Burden of complications after giant cell tumor surgery. A single-center retrospective study of 192 cases.

BACKGROUND: Surgical complications are frequent with giant cell tumor of bone; recurrence is the best known and most widely studies; other causes of failure have been less well investigated. We therefore performed a retrospective study to identify and assess the main reasons for surgical revision. HYPOTHESIS: Recurrence is the main cause of surgical revision in giant cell tumor of bone, but other complications, such as mechanical issues or infection, are underestimated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective study included 192 patients (included from 2000 to 2016) undergoing first giant cell tumor of bone surgery in a bone tumor reference center. Surgery consisted in curettage for 152 patients (79%) and resection for 40 (21%). The 3 main reconstruction techniques were filling (136 patients; 71%), prosthesis (18 patients; 9%), and fusion (14 patients: 7%). Filling used cement in 9 cases (7%) and bone graft in 127 (93%). Cumulative incidence functions were calculated. RESULTS: There were 171 revision procedures in 92 patients: 43 for mechanical reasons, 30 for infection, 86 for tumor recurrence, 12 for other causes. Cumulative incidence of revision at 10years was 36% (95% CI: 27-44) for recurrence, 26% (95% CI: 17-36) for mechanical causes, and 13% (95% CI: 9-19) for infection, for overall cumulative incidence of revision of 61% (95% CI: 50-69). DISCUSSION: Risk of all-cause surgical revision in giant cell tumor of bone was 61% at 10years, with recurrence accounting for only half of cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Live Surgery: A retrospective study on the outcomes and complications of 7 orthopedic live surgery events.

INTRODUCTION: Live surgery has always been an invaluable part of medical education. Live Surgery Events (LSE) have recently been criticized in France, arguing that unnecessary risks have been placed on the patients. HYPOTHESIS: We want to report our experience in organizing the last 7 shoulder LSE over the past 12 years focusing on the results and complications during and after the surgeries performed during these courses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 190 patients benefited from live shoulder surgery between 2005 and 2017. 11 of them were lost to follow up, thus 179 patients were included. The mean follow-up was 7,5 years for the instability group, 6,7 years for the rotator cuff group, 7,5 years for the arthroplasty group and 6,8 years for the nerve group. This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. We report the epidemiology of the surgeries perfomed and analyzed the patient outcomes: peri and postoperative complications. We evaluated the educational benefit for the attendees of this shoulder LSE through a questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 6 (3.1%) peri or immediate postoperative complications. There were 33 (18%) long term complications needing 26 (14%) revisions. 90% of the surgeons audience attending the events evaluated the educational benefit from good to very good. DISCUSSION: Over the years, we have standardized the organization of the meeting to ensure maximum safety, while still respecting patient integrity and anonymity. Our complications rates seem within the ranges found in the current literature for each procedure. Our LSE has been an instrument for education, but also for matching patients with complex problems with experienced surgeons, to the benefit of the patient. Our experience has shown that LSE may induce potential dangers and complications can arise. However, these events should follow rigorous rules and not just recommendations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Endoscopic brachial plexus neurolysis in the management of infraclavicular nerve injuries due to glenohumeral dislocation.

INTRODUCTION: Infraclavicular brachial plexus (BP) injury secondary to glenohumeral joint (GHJ) dislocation is a rather common complication, which may be accountable for long-lasting deficits. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential benefits of BP neurolysis in such presentation, using an endoscopic approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent endoscopic BP neurolysis in the setting of infraclavicular BP palsy due to GHJ dislocation were included. Preoperative physical examination was conducted to classify the observed motor and sensitive deficits into nerves and/or cord lesions. Six weeks after the trauma, examination was repeated and endoscopic BP neurolysis was elected if no significant improvements were observed. If nerve ruptures and/or severe damages were identified during surgery, nerve reconstructions were conducted within a month; in other cases, follow-up examinations were conducted at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months to assess the course of postoperative recovery. RESULTS: Eleven patients were included, including 6 men and 5 women, with a mean age of 43 ± 23 years (16;73). Six patients had at least one cord involved, four patients had isolated axillary nerve palsy, and one patient had a complete BP palsy. In 7 patients with cord lesions and/or isolated axillary nerve palsy, at least grade-3 strength, according to the British Medical Research Council grading system, was noted in all affected muscles within 6 weeks following the neurolysis; after 3 months of follow-up, grade-4 strength was observed in all muscles, and all but patients but one had fully recovered within 6 months. In 3 patients with isolated axillary nerve palsy, complete nerve ruptures (n=2) and severe damages (n=1) were identified under scopic magnification; secondary nerve transfers were conducted to reanimate the axillary nerve, and all patients fully recovered within a year. In one patient with complete BP palsy, improvements started after 6 months of follow-up, and full recovery was yielded after 2 years. No intra- and/or postoperative complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: At the cost of minimal additional morbidity, endoscopic BP neurolysis appears to be a safe and reliable procedure to shorten recovery delays in most patients presenting with BP palsy due to GHJ dislocation.