Myometrial thickness overlying cesarean scar pregnancy is significantly associated with isthmocele formation in the third month of the postoperative period.

OBJECTIVE: To determine some associated factors for isthmocele formation 3 months after the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective consecutive case series of CSP managed by fertility preservation modalities at a single tertiary care center from May 2016 to March 2019 (n=95). Patients with a diagnosis of CSP were identified and followed prospectively to collect data on the patients' demographics; detailed medical, surgical, and social history; symptoms; imaging and laboratory parameters at the time of CSP diagnosis and during treatment; treatment modalities, myometrial thickness; and outcomes in terms of isthmocele formation. RESULTS: Mean myometrial thickness overlying scar pregnancy was significantly lower in the group with isthmocele formation, and the mean gestational age of scar pregnancy was also significantly lower in the group with isthmocele formation following treatment of scar pregnancy (p<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine associations between certain variables and isthmocele development, which revealed that the gestational age of scar pregnancy and myometrial thickness were significantly associated with isthmocele formation. CONCLUSION: Myometrial thickness and gestational age of scar pregnancy were significantly associated with isthmocele formation 3 months after treatment.

Locking compression plate fixation versus intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures: which one is better? A single-centre prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: To compare the radiological and clinical outcomes of interlocking nail (ILN) and locking plate fixation (LCP) for humeral shaft fractures. METHODS: A total of 63 patients with displaced humeral shaft fractures between October 2014 and January 2017 were evaluated prospectively. They were divided randomly into two as LCP fixation (group 1) and interlocking nail (ILN) (group 2). Functional outcomes were evaluated using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scores, and Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires, and pain was assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: After fracture callus was radiologically observed, DASH, ASES, and UCLA scores as well as SF-36 questionnaires and VAS results were noted to have no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.109, p = 0.082, p = 0.146, p = 0.322, and p = 0.175, respectively). At the last follow-up (post-operative 24 months), the UCLA score was significantly better in group 1 (p = 0.034), whereas VAS result was significantly worse in group 2 (p = 0.017). DASH, ASES scores, and SF-36 questionnaires had no difference (p = 0.193, p = 0.088, p = 0.289). Other parameters revealed no significant differences. Fracture consolidation was observed at a mean of four months in both groups (3 to 7 months in group 1 and 3 to 8 months in group 2) (p = 0.189). Four patients in group 1 and five patients in group 2 underwent surgery for nonunion (p = 0.725). Post-operative radial nerve palsy was seen in one patient in group 2. Two patients in group 1 with superficial infection were treated with antibiotics, and they recovered. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding our results, the LCP group had significantly better shoulder function than the ILN group, whereas the ILN group had significantly less pain, with similar complication rates. Therefore, both procedures are favourable surgical options for patients with humeral shaft fractures.

Does Not Use of Closed Suction Drainage in Total Knee Arthroplasty with Tranexamic Acid Reduce Blood Loss?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in patients who received intravenous tranexamic acid just before and after total knee arthroplasty with or without drains and to analyze whether there is any difference in terms of blood loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Between March 2017 and March 2019, 97 knees of 94 consecutive patients with osteoarthritis were divided into two groups (Group 1, with drain; and 2, without drain). Drainage group (53 knees; average age, 66,1±7,0 years; male, 10; female, 43) and a drainless group (44 knees; average age, 63,7± 7,5 years; male, 4; female, 40). All patients received systemic tranexamic acid (in 100 mL saline infusion iv in 30 minutes prior to the tourniquet inflation and 3 hours after the operation). Blood loss, allogeneic blood transfusion rates, complications such as swelling of the cruris, infection (deep or superficial), thromboembolic incidents (Deep venous thrombosis or pulmoner thromboembolism) and length of hospital stay were assessed postoperatively. RESULTS: There was no difference in demographic parameters, body mass index, side ofsurgery, ASA score and anesthesia type between 2 groups. The preoperative Hb levels were comparable but on the postoperative day one, Hb level was lower in the drain group (p=0,017). Total blood loss (TBL) and allogeneic transfusion rates were lower in the drainless group, although did not differ significantly between the two groups [TBL: 1360,9±502,5 / 646,1-2641,6 (1251,6) mL in the Group 1, 1205,6±505,0 / 396,6-2521,0 (1157,5) mL in Group 2 (p=0,134); Transfusion rates: 11 out of 53 cases (%20,8) in group 1 and 5 out of 44 cases (%11,4) in group 2]. The infection rate and length of hospital stay were lower in the drainless group. But there were no statistical difference was found in terms of complications and length of hospital stay between 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Performing Total Knee Arthroplasty with preoperative and postoperative ivtranexamic acid and without drain decreased postoperative reduction in Hb level on the day after surgery in the current study. 2. But blood loss and blood transfusion rates when compared to patients with drain, no significant difference was found. 3. Drain use in knee replacements does not offer an advantage over drainless TKAs regarding the findings of our study. 4. Future studies with longer follow-up are needed in our opinion.

Parathyroid function following total thyroidectomy using energy devices.

LigaSure precise (LP) and harmonic scalpel (HS) are two energy-based devices used in thyroidectomy surgery. We aimed to compare the effect of these two devices in patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy, by highlighting the post-operative parathyroid function. A total of 201 consecutive patients for whom total thyroidectomy had been planned were prospectively classified into two groups. There were 104 patients in LP group and 97 patients in HS group. Hypoparathyroidism was followed up by serially measuring the levels of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and serum calcium. The early iPTH level was 29 (8-50) pg/mL in group LP, and 17 (4-43) pg/mL in group HS. The early iPTH level was significantly lower in the HS group (p < 0.001). However, these levels were within the reference interval in both groups. The early iPTH level was lower than 20 pg/mL in 23 (23.1 %) patients in HS group, and 15 (13.7 %) patients in LP group (p < 0.001). Also, the late iPTH levels were not statistically significance between two groups. The early and late serum calcium levels were not statistically significant between groups. However, the amount of calcium replacement was higher in the HS group than the LP group and the duration of treatment was longer in the HS group than the LP group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although parathyroid hormone levels impaired in the HS group more than LP group in the early period, these levels were in the normal limits in both groups. These levels were not significant between groups in the long time period.

The effect of stapes fixation on hearing results in tympanosclerosis treated by mobilization.

We aimed to investigate the effect of stapes fixation on hearing results in patients who underwent mobilization surgery due to tympanosclerosis (TS). Seventy-nine patients were retrospectively analyzed and divided into two groups. Forty-four (55.7%) patients with mobile stapes were classified as group 1, and 35 (44.3%) patients with fixed stapes were classified as group 2. Improvement of the air-bone gap (ABG) to become less than 20 dB and the pure-tone average (PTA) by at least 10 dB postoperatively were accepted as success criteria. The PTA and ABG levels were significantly improved in both groups. The pre- and post-operative PTAs were 46.57 ± 15.55 and 25.84 ± 15.47 dB, respectively, in group 1 (p = 0.001). The pre- and post-operative PTAs were 55.64 ± 12.69 and 36.20 ± 14.47 dB, respectively, in group 2 (p = 0.001). The pre- and post-operative ABG levels were 35.36 ± 10.53 and 16.91 ± 8.54 dB, respectively, in group 1 (p = 0.001). The pre- and post-operative ABG levels were 41.68 ± 8.78 and 22.20 ± 10.03 dB, respectively, in group 2 (p = 0.001). A gain ≥10-dB in the PTA in groups 1 and 2 was found in 34 (77.2 %) and 23 (65.7%) patients, respectively, and the difference between the groups was not significant (p = 0.684). The post-operative AGB in groups 1 and 2 was less than 20 dB in 32 (72.7%) and 21 (60%) patients, respectively, and the difference between the groups was not significant (p = 0.733). No significant negative effect of stapes fixation on post-operative hearing results in TS was detected. Successful results can be obtained with a mobilization procedure, even if the stapes is fixed.

Surgery of isolated malleus fixation due to tympanosclerosis.

The aim of the present study was to describe our surgical approach for isolated malleus fixation in patients with tympanosclerosis and to analyze the postoperative results. A total of 30 patients presented with isolated malleus fixation were operated. The fixation was reached via canalplasty. Fixated areas were cleaned without damaging the ossicle. Pre- and postoperative audiometric results were evaluated for each patient. Improvement of the pure-tone average (PTA) by at least 10 dB and an air-bone gap (ABG) of less than 20 dB after 12 months of follow-up was accepted to indicate success. The recovery of the postoperative PTA and ABG measurements was significant. Pre- and postoperative PTA was 48.00 ± 11.86 and 24.90 ± 12.45 dB, respectively (p < 0.001). According to PTA measurements, 40-50 dB recovery was achieved in four (13.3 %) patients, 31-40 dB in six (20 %) patients, 21-30 dB in ten (33.3 %) patients, and 11-20 dB in five (16.6 %) patients, with a total success rate of 25/30 (83.2 %). Pre- and postoperative ABG levels were 38.95 ± 9.92 and 16.10 ± 7.79 dB (p < 0.001), respectively. The ABG level was between 0 and 10 dB for 8 (26.6 %) patients, and 11-20 dB for 16 (53.3 %), with a total success rate of 24/30 (80 %). In cases of isolated malleus fixation with tympanosclerosis, performing a canalplasty to clean the sclerotic plaques without damaging the normal anatomy of the ossicle system using a diamond burr is a safe surgical option that provides significant recovery in hearing levels.