[Continuous vs. intermitent intravenous analgesia for primary total knee replacement: analysis of the quality of the pain control, hospital stay and costs]. / Analgesia endovenosa continua versus analgesia endovenosa intermitente para reemplazo total de rodilla primario: análisis de la calidad analgésica, tiempo de hospitalización y costos económicos.

BACKGROUND: The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Total knee arthroplasty is one of the orthopedic surgeries that manifests more pain in the first 24-48 hours, needing a multimodal analgesic therapy. The objective of this work is to compare two different intravenous analgesic modes applied to patients undergoing a primary total knee arthroplasty, analyzing the quality of pain control, hospital stay and costs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Simple blind, comparative and prospective study comprised of 42 patients operated of total knee arthroplasty secondary to degenerative arthritis in the period between May 2016 and May 2017. RESULTS: The distribution of pain showed significant differences (p 0.0401) between both groups, indicating that the application of continuous pump for analgesia controls this symptom early. The hospital stay, on average, was different in the groups (p = 0.001), estimating about 15 hours less following the use of continuous pump. This strategy is globally more economic. DISCUSSION: The continuous infusion pump of analgesia compared with intermittent formal intravenous regimen showed better control of pain, decreasing the perception of pain by the patient, bettering the tolerance to physical therapy and reducing, on average, 15 hours of hospital stay, and thus, the final costs of the surgery.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La Asociación Internacional para el Estudio del Dolor (IASP, por sus siglas en inglés) define el dolor como una experiencia sensorial y emocional desagradable asociada a un daño tisular real o potencial. La artroplastía total de rodilla es una de las cirugías ortopédicas que cursa con más dolor en las primeras 24-48 horas, por lo que precisa de una terapia multimodal de analgesia. El objetivo de este trabajo es comparar dos modos analgésicos endovenosos diferentes aplicados a pacientes sometidos a cirugía de artroplastía total de rodilla primaria, analizando la calidad analgésica, el tiempo de hospitalización y los costos económicos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo, comparativo y simple ciego conformado por 42 pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente de artroplastía total de rodilla secundaria a artrosis degenerativa en el período comprendido entre Mayo de 2016 y Mayo de 2017. RESULTADOS: La distribución del dolor mostró diferencias significativas (p 0.0401) entre ambos grupos, indicando que la aplicación de analgesia mediante bomba continua controla este síntoma de manera temprana. El tiempo de hospitalización promedio fue diferente en los grupos (p = 0.001); se estimaron alrededor de 15 horas menos siguiendo el protocolo de bomba continua. Además, esta estrategia es globalmente más económica. CONCLUSIÓN: La bomba de infusión continua de analgesia compara da con la analgesia endovenosa reglada intermitente logró un mejor control del dolor, disminuyendo la percepción del mismo por parte del paciente, con una mejor tolerancia a la fisioterapia y reduciendo, en promedio, 15 horas de hospitalización y, por ende, los costos finales aproximados de la cirugía.

Current management options for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures: Non-operative, ORIF, minimally invasive reduction and fixation or primary ORIF and subtalar arthrodesis. A contemporary review.

BACKGROUND: Management of Displaced Intra-articular Calcaneal Fractures (DIACFs) continues to be technically demanding. The literature has not been definitive in its guidance for surgeons dealing with these injuries. Recent publications have further added to the lack of clarity. This review is intended to summarise the present state of knowledge, and provide some genuine guidance for clinicians. OBJECTIVES: To review previous research, focussing on articles published within the last fifteen years, and summarise the findings to aid surgeons in managing DIACFs with choosing best management for patients. METHODS: We reviewed the best evidence and literature, focussing on articles published within the last fifteen years, and summarised findings into workable recommendations. Variables of (1) patient, (2) the associated soft tissue injury and (3) the fracture characteristics were used to aid surgeons in choosing the best of the available options for each patient that presents with a DIACF. AUTHORS SUMMARY: Management of DIACFs can best be divided into four broad categories: (i) non-operative management, (ii) open reduction and internal fixation, (iii) minimally invasive reduction and fixation, and (iv) primary subtalar arthrodesis. The evolution of the literature would suggest orthopaedic surgeons managing calcaneus fractures should have an expert's knowledge, surgical expertise and the latest techniques to cover these four options, to tailor the treatment of DIACFs to the individual patient.