Outcomes of total hip arthroplasty surgery in heart and lung transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, arthroplasty in heart and lung transplant patients has been undertaken to manage transplant-related complications. More recently, arthroplasty is increasingly being performed for end-stage osteoarthritis. This study reviewed short-term outcomes and complications of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in heart and lung transplant recipients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of heart and lung transplant recipients who underwent THA was identified using ICD-10 coding. Post-operative complications and hospital outcomes were collected using the patient medical record. RESULTS: Thirteen patients underwent 17 primary THA between 2008 and 2017, including five for osteoarthritis and 12 for femoral head avascular necrosis. Of the 13 patients, nine were bilateral sequential lung transplant recipients and four were orthotopic heart transplant recipients. The mean patient age was 61 years, with nine being male. Overall, five patients had one post-operative complication with eight having two or more complications. Surgical complications included three intraoperative fractures, three patients with superficial infection and one with deep infection requiring surgery. Seven patients had significant bleeding requiring blood transfusion. Prosthetic dislocations occurred in two patients, with one patient requiring revision surgery (developing a joint infection). Other complications included one pulmonary embolism, two episodes of pneumonia and six episodes of acute kidney injury, whilst three patients developed post-operative delirium. At 6-week follow-up, five patients had ongoing pain and seven had limitations with mobility. At 12-month follow-up, three patients reported ongoing pain. CONCLUSION: Complications following THA after transplant are common. The risks and benefits of THA should be carefully considered preoperatively in this cohort.

Ewings sarcoma of patella: A rare entity treated with a novel technique of extensor mechanism reconstruction using tendoachilles auto graft.

We report a case of Ewings sarcoma (ES) involving the patella in a young female. ES of patella is a rare entity. The patient was presented with anterior knee pain and swelling arising from the patella. She was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by wide excision of the patella and reconstruction of the extensor mechanism using split tendoachilles auto graft. The patella is an uncommon site for primary or metastatic tumors of the bone. ES, though rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis of swellings arising from the patella. Auto graft from the tendoachilles is a good alternative for reconstructing the extensor mechanism of the knee.

Efficacy of directly observed treatment short-course intermittent regimen in spinal tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Most important cause of treatment failure and emergence of drug resistance in the treatment of tuberculosis is noncompliance. Compliance can be improved by direct observation of drug intake, intermittent therapy, and short-course treatment. The efficacy of Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) strategy advocated by World Health Organization (WHO) in spinal tuberculosis is not yet proven. We conducted a prospective clinical study on a consecutive series of patients with spinal tuberculosis treated by Category I Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) regimen based on DOTS strategy of WHO from 2004 to 2007 to evaluate the efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine consecutive patients of spinal tuberculosis were treated with short-course intermittent chemotherapy under Category I RNTCP/DOTS strategy. Patients were followed up for a minimum period of 2 years. Surgery was done if the patient presented with significant neurologic deficit or when the drug treatment failed. Outcome was assessed by clinical, radiologic, and laboratory criteria, and graded into excellent, good, fair, and poor based on various parameters. RESULTS: 63.4% (n=26) of the patients had excellent results. 14.6% (n=6) of the patients had good and fair results. Three patients (7.3%) had poor results 48.7% (n=20) of the patients had but only one of them was severe enough to warrant change of drug. CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy of DOTS was comparable with other standard regimens. There was a significant reduction in adverse side effects when compared with daily regimens. Study showed that the outcome was better in those treated early.

Hallux saltans due to flexor hallucis longus entrapment at a previously unreported site in an unskilled manual laborer: a case report.

Triggering of the big toe, or hallux saltans, is commonly due to stenosing tenosynovitis of the flexor hallucis longus at the fibro-osseous tunnel below the sustentaculum tali. It is a rare condition described mainly in female ballet dancers. This is hypothesized to be due to the en pointe position used in ballet, which puts enormous supraphysiologic loads on the flexor hallucis longus, predisposing it to injury. Trigger hallux is extremely uncommon in the general population. We are reporting a case of hallux saltans in an unskilled manual laborer, with the site of tendon entrapment just proximal to the medial malleolus in the distal leg, a hitherto unreported location of stenosis.