Impact of PEEK implant surface design on postoperative complications in cranioplasty: a retrospective review

BackgroundDecompressive craniectomy (DC) may be performed in patients with acutely raised intracranial pressure due to traumatic brain injury or stroke. It is later followed by a cranioplasty procedure (CP) in the surviving patients. This procedure is associated with a high frequency of post-operative complications. Identifying risk factors for these adverse events is important in order to improve the clinical outcome. This study examines possible predictive parameters for post-operative complications in CP.MethodsRetrospective, single institution review of all patients undergoing a DC for acutely raised intracranial pressure over a 10 year period at Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, Norway. Subsequent CP using autologous bone flaps or synthetic implants were registered along with all post-operative complications. Predictors of post-operative complications were identified using uni –and multivariable regression analyses.ResultsA DC was carried out in 125 patients, of whom 33 died, 4 were lost to follow-up, and 1 (an infant) later underwent cranial remodeling. A CP was performed in the remaining 87 patients. Post-operative complications were recorded in 31 (36 %) patients of whom 22 lost their primary implant. Surgical site infection (SSI) and bone flap resorption (BFR) were the two most common complications, affecting 8 (9.2 %) and 14 (19.7 %) patients, respectively. Only BFR was associated with some of the recorded variables. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, young age (OR = 0.94, 95 % CI 0.88-1.00, p = 0.04), bone flap fragmentation (OR = 14.3, 95 % CI 2.26-89, p = 0.005), long storage time (OR = 1.03, 95 % CI 1.00-1.04, p = 0.02) and Glasgow Outcome Scale at the time of cranioplasty (OR = 2.55, 95 % CI 1.04-6.23, p = 0.04) were found to be significant risk factors for bone flap resorption.ConclusionsCranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy carries a high rate of complications. In this study, SSI and BFR were the two most common complications of which predictive clinical parameters could be identified for BFR only. The results indicate that synthetic implants may be considered in pediatric patients and in cases with fragmented bone flaps or delayed time to cranioplasty. Although the rate of complications was high, 73 % had a successful reinsertion of the autologous graft at a low cost. We feel this result justifies the continued use of cryopreserved bone flaps.

Because of concerns related to breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, smooth implants are being increasingly used instead of textured breast implants. However, lack of sufficient lower-pole support for smooth implants using the dual-plane method may give rise to complications, including rippling, implant malposition, and bottoming out. Therefore, the authors developed a modified bimuscular flap technique. In the presented technique, the pectoralis major muscle is split through the intramuscular space to dissect the lateral and medial muscular flap, the inferomedial costal origins are released, and the pectoralis major is released through a T-shaped incision and adjusted to accommodate the required pocket volume. Long-term complications were compared between the modified and dual-plane techniques in patients who were followed up for at least 6 months. A total of 275 patients undergoing bilateral breast augmentation with the modified technique using smooth implants were included. Their average body mass index was 18.50 kg/m 2 . Among the 253 patients followed up, the following postoperative complications were recorded: grade 3 capsular contracture (0.6%), mild muscle contraction-associated deformity (7.1%), lateral rippling (3.2%), implant malposition (1%), and bottoming out (0.2%). The rates of lateral rippling, implant malposition, bottoming out, and revision surgery were significantly reduced compared with the dual-plane technique. This modified bimuscular flap technique incorporates implant coverage and appearance control while balancing muscle release and support, achieving satisfactory long-term outcomes. The lower rates of rippling, implant malposition, and bottoming out make it preferable for very thin patients or those using large implants. Therapeutic, III.

Noncemented primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) compromises over 14% of all primary TKA procedures reported in the American Joint Replacement Registry. While studies have indicated similar outcomes for cemented and noncemented TKA in obese individuals, the efficacy and safety of noncemented TKA in morbidly obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg/m2) remain unexplored. This study compares short-term postoperative outcomes and complications between noncemented and cemented TKA in morbidly obese patients. A retrospective review of 605 cases of patients with a BMI of at least 40 kg/m2 (22.5% of 2,691 total cases at a single tertiary center) who underwent TKA was conducted. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Data collected included age, BMI, sex, race, ethnicity, American Society of Anesthesiologists status, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Postoperative complications were tracked, including 90-day readmission, 1-year mortality, 1-year revision surgery, wound complications, fractures, and infections. Categorical variables were analyzed with chi-square tests and continuous variables with t-tests. Of the included patients with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2, 40 (6.6%) received noncemented TKA. The noncemented TKA group had a lower mean BMI (43.3 ± 3.1 vs. 45.0 ± 4.4; P = 0.012) and a higher proportion of male patients compared with the cemented group (n = 17 [42.5%] vs. n = 143 [25.3%]; P = 0.028). Surgical time was shorter for noncemented TKA (97 ± 27 minutes) than for cemented TKA (118.0 ± 39.4 minutes; P = 0.001). No significant differences were found in length of stay and postoperative complications, including 90-day readmission, 1-year mortality, revision surgery rates, wound complications, fractures, and infections. The findings of the study suggest that noncemented TKA may be a feasible, safe alternative and not inferior to the standard cemented TKA in patients with morbid obesity with the benefit of decreasing surgical time.

Decompressive craniectomies (DCs) are routinely performed neurosurgical procedures to emergently treat increased intracranial pressure secondary to multiple aetiologies, such as subdural haematoma, epidural haematoma, or malignant oedema in the setting of acute infarction. The DC procedure typically induces epidural fibrosis post-cranial resection, resulting in adherence of the dura to both the brain internally and skin flap externally. This becomes especially problematic in the setting of skull flap replacement for cranioplasty as adherences can lead to bridging vein tear, damage to the underlying brain cortex, and other postoperative complications. Dural adjuvants, which can contribute to decreased rate of adherence formation, can thereby reduce both postoperative cranioplasty complications and operative duration. Dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (DHACM) allografts (AMNIOFIX, MIMEDX Group Inc., US) have been shown to reduce the rate of dural scar tissue formation in re-exploration of posterior lumbar interbody fusion operations which require entry into the epidural space. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether or not the use of DHACM in the setting of emergent craniectomies decreased the rate of dural adhesion formation and subsequent cranioplasty complications. Patients (n=7) who underwent emergent craniectomy and intraoperative placement of DHACM were evaluated during replacement of either an autologous skull cap or a custom-made implant, at which point the degree of adhesions was qualitatively assessed. Placement of DHACM below and on top of the dura resulted in negligible adhesion being found during the defect exposure, and there were no intraoperative complications during cranioplasties. Reported estimated blood loss across the seven patients averaged 64.2ml, total operative time averaged 79.2 minutes, and time dedicated to exposing defect for bone flap placement was <3 minutes.

Nutritional status has become increasingly important in optimizing surgical outcomes and preventing postoperative infection and wound complications. However, currently, there is a paucity in the orthopaedics literature investigating the relationship between nutritional status and wound complications following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of (1) postoperative infections, (2) wound complications, (3) concomitant infection with wound (CoIW) complication, and (4) infection followed by wound complication by using (1) albumin, (2) prealbumin, and (3) transferrin levels as indicators of nutritional status. These four different outcome measures were chosen as they are encountered commonly in daily clinical practice. A retrospective review of a national private payer database for patients who underwent TKA with postoperative infections and wound complications stratified by preoperative serum albumin (normal: 3.5-5 g/dL), prealbumin (normal: 16-35 mg/dL), and transferrin levels (normal: 200-360 mg/dL) between 2007 and 2015 was conducted. Patients were identified by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), International Classification of Disease, ninth revision (ICD-9) codes, and Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC). Linear regression was performed to evaluate changes over times. Yearly rates of infection, as well as a correlation and odds ratio analysis of nutritional laboratory values to postoperative complications, were also performed. Our query returned a total of 161,625 TKAs, of which 11,047 (7%) had postoperative wound complications, 18,403 (11%) had infections, 6,296 (34%) had CoIW, and 4,877 (4%) patients with infection developed wound complications. Albumin was the most commonly ordered laboratory test when assessing complications (96%). Wound complications, infections, CoIW, and infection with wound complications after were higher in those below the normal range: albumin <3.5 g/dL (9, 14, 6, and 5%), prealbumin <15 mg/dL (20, 23, 13, and 12%), and transferrin <200 mg/dL (12, 17, 6, and 6%). Preoperative albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin values falling below the normal range represented an increased risk for postoperative complications. Those patients who were in the normal range, however, did not have an increased risk. Therefore, our results suggest that preoperative nutritional optimization can play an important role in reducing the risk for postoperative complications.

135. Is there a difference in patient outcomes based on drain duration or output?

Patients Aged 50 Years and Older Have Greater Complication Rates After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Large Database Study

Literature review

Cranioplasty and Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement after Decompressive Craniectomy: Staged Surgery Is Associated with Fewer Postoperative Complications

Post-Operative Complications and Readmissions Associated with Smoking Following Bariatric Surgery

Decompressive craniectomy is a potentially life-saving procedure used in the treatment of medically refractory intracranial hypertension, most commonly in the setting of trauma or cerebral infarction. Once performed, surviving patients are obligated to undergo a second procedure for cranial reconstruction. The complications following cranial reconstruction are not well described in the literature and may very well be underreported. A review of the complications would suggest measures to improve the care of these patients. A retrospective chart review was undertaken of all patients who had undergone cranioplasty during a 7-year period. Demographic data, indications for craniectomy, as well as preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters following cranioplasty, were recorded. Perioperative and postoperative complications were also recorded. Patients were classified as having no complications, any complications, and complications requiring reoperation. The groups were compared to identify risk factors predictive of poor outcomes. The authors identified 62 patients who had undergone cranioplasty. The immediate postoperative complication rate was 34%. Of these, 46 patients did not require reoperation and 16 did. Of those requiring reoperation, 7 were due to infection, 2 from wound breakdown, 2 from intracranial hemorrhage, 3 from bone resorption, and 1 from a sunken cranioplasty, and 1 patient's cranioplasty procedure was prematurely ended due to intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia. The only factor statistically associated with need for reoperation was the presence of a bifrontal cranial defect (bifrontal: 8 [67%] of 12, requiring reoperation; unilateral: 8 [16%] of 49 requiring reoperation; p < 0.01) Cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy is associated with a high complication rate. Patients undergoing a bifrontal craniectomy are at significantly increased risk for postcranioplasty complications, including the need for reoperation.

Commentary: Encouraging reduction in postoperative complications with minimally invasive esophagectomies: Prompting further granular investigation

Nutrition screening tools and the prediction of postoperative infectious and wound complications: comparison of methods in presence of risk adjustment

This was a large database study. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of complications and reoperation rates between the most common surgical treatments for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM): anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF), and posterior laminectomy and fusion (Lamifusion). CSM is a major contributor to disability and reduced quality of life worldwide. Humana insurance database was queried for CSM diagnoses between 2007 and 2016. The initial population was divided based on the surgical treatment and matched for age, sex, and Charlson Comorbidity index. Specific postoperative complications or revisions were analyzed at individual time points. Pearson χ2 analysis with Yate continuity correction was used. Lamifusion had significantly higher rates of wound infection/disruption than ACDF or ACCF (5.03%, 2.19%, 2.29%; P=0.0008, 0.002, respectively) as well as iatrogenic deformity (4.75%, 2.19%, 2.10%; P=0.0036, 0.0013). Lamifusion also had a significantly higher rate of shock and same-day transfusion than ACDF (4.75%, 2.01%, P=0.0005), circulatory complications (2.01%, <1%, P=0.0183), and C5 palsy (4.84%, 1.74%, P≤0.0001). Compared with ACDF, Lamifusion had higher rates of hardware complication (3.29%, 2.01%, P=0.0468), and revision surgery (8.23% 5.85%, P=0.0395). Lamifusion had significantly lower rates of dysphagia than either ACDF (3.93% vs. 6.58%, P=0.0089) or ACCF (3.93% vs. 8.59%, P<0.0001). When comparing ACCF to ACDF, ACCF had significantly higher rates of circulatory complications (2.38%, <1%, P=0.0053), shock/same-day transfusion (3.2%, 2.0%, P=0.59), C5 palsy (3.47%, 1.74%, P=0.0108), and revision surgery (9.51%, 5.85%, P=0.0086). The data shows that posterior Lamifusion has higher overall rate of complications compared with ACDF or ACCF. Furthermore, when comparing the anterior approaches, ACDF was associated with lower rate of complication and revision. ACCF had the highest overall rate of revision surgery.

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infections in Adult Patients