Bacteriophage therapy and current delivery strategies for orthopedic infections: A SCOPING review.

OBJECTIVES: Interest in phages as adjunctive therapy to treat difficult infections has grown in the last decade. However, phage dosing and delivery for orthopedic infections have not been systematically summarized. METHODS: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a SCOPING review through September 1st, 2023, of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane Central. RESULTS: In total, 77 studies were included, of which 19 (24.7%) were in vitro studies, 17 (22.1%) were animal studies, and 41 (53.2%) were studies in humans. A total of 137 contemporary patients receiving phage therapy are described. CONCLUSIONS: Direct phage delivery remains the most studied form of phage therapy, notably in prosthetic joint infections, osteomyelitis, and diabetic foot ulcers. Available evidence describing phage therapy in humans suggests favorable outcomes for orthopedic infections, though this evidence is composed largely of low-level descriptive studies. Several phage delivery devices have been described, though a lack of comparative and in-human evidence limits their therapeutic application. Limitations to the use of phage therapy for orthopedic infections that need to be overcome include a lack of understanding related to optimal dosing and phage pharmacokinetics, bacterial heterogeneity in an infection episode, and phage therapy toxicity.

Comparison of Short-Term Clinical Outcomes of Hook Plate and Continuous Loop Double Endobutton Fixations in Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) fixation with hook plate (HP) and continuous loop double endobutton fixation (CLDE) in the treatment of acute ACJ dislocation. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on eight patients with HP and nine patients with CLDE fixations for acute ACJ dislocations. The subjects were evaluated by various criteria, including disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment (ASES), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale, Shoulder Constant score, Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and coracoclavicular (CC) distance. RESULTS: The differences between the mean scores of the visual analog scale for pain, DASH, ASES, UCLA shoulder rating scale, and Shoulder Constant, and SST were statistically significant in favor of the CLDE group. Mean difference of CC distance was 8.6±0.9 mm in the HP group; however, it was 11.6±1.2 mm in the CLDE group. The operation time was shorter in the HP fixation, compared to that in the CLDE fixation (51±13.3 versus 105±9.7 min; P<0.001 and P=0.008). There were six concomitant subacromial erosions and osteoarthritis in the ACJ of the HP group. CONCLUSION: The CLDE fixation was reported with better clinical outcomes than HP fixation; however, it was a technically demanding procedure. The HP maintained the CC distance better than CLDE with a technically easy application. The HP requires a second surgery for the removal and development of subacromial erosion and osteoarthritis of the ACJ that can be regarded as major concerns.

Massive Emphysema and Pneumothorax Following Shoulder Arthroscopy under General Anaesthesia: A Case Report.

The patient was a 61-year-old female with massive rotator cuff tear who had no history of smoking, COPD, asthma, or other pulmonary diseases. Four hours following shoulder arthroscopy, the patient developed progressive dyspnea, which was diagnosed as pneumothorax with subcutaneous emphysema extending to the neck and face. Chest tube was inserted promptly. The patient was discharged with a good condition after 7 days. Follow up of the patient for the next 3 months was uneventful.