Final Postoperative Outcome Research Articles

Outcomes of Concomitant Glenohumeral Stabilization After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair in Military Patients Younger Than 40 Years.

While concomitant rotator cuff and inferior labral tears are relatively uncommon in young civilians, military populations represent a unique opportunity to study this injury pattern. To (1) evaluate the long-term outcomes after combined arthroscopic rotator cuff and inferior labral repair in military patients <40 years and (2) compare functional outcomes with those after isolated arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Military patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between January 2011 and December 2016 and had a minimum of 5-year follow-up data were included in this study. The patients were categorized into those who had undergone combined arthroscopic rotator cuff and inferior labral repair (RCIL cohort) and those who had isolated arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR cohort). Pre- and postoperative outcome measures-visual analog scale for pain, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder score, Rowe Instability Score, and range of motion-were compared between the groups. A total of 50 shoulders (27 in the RCIL cohort and 23 in the ARCR cohort) were assessed. The RCIL and ARCR groups were similar in terms of age (mean, 33.19 years [range, 21-39 years] vs 35.39 years [range, 26-39 years], respectively) and sex (% male, 88.46% vs 82.61%, respectively). All patients were active-duty military at the time of surgery. The mean final follow-up was at 106.93 ± 16.66 months for the RCIL group and 105.70 ± 7.52 months for the ARCR group (P = .75). There were no differences in preoperative outcome scores between groups. Postoperatively, both groups experienced statistically significant improvements in all outcome scores (P < .0001 for all), and there were no significant group differences in any final postoperative outcome measures. At the final follow-up, 26 (96.30%) patients in the RCIL cohort and 20 (86.96%) in the ARCR cohort had returned to unrestricted active-duty military service (P = .3223). The study findings indicate that concomitant glenohumeral stabilization does not prevent worse outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in this military cohort. Combined repair produced statistically and clinically significant improvements in outcome scores at the long-term follow-up, indicating that simultaneous repair of combined lesions was an appropriate treatment option in this patient population.

Effect of Repetitive Corticosteroid Injection on Tennis Elbow Surgery

Background: Lateral epicondylitis is a chronic tendinopathy of humeral origin of the common extensor tendon. Most patients show improvement after nonoperative treatment. However, 4% to 11% of patients require surgical treatment. Although corticosteroid injection is one of the most commonly applied nonoperative treatment methods, to the authors’ knowledge, no study has reported the effect of the number of preoperative corticosteroid injections on the final postoperative outcome. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of the number of preoperative corticosteroid injections on postoperative clinical outcomes. Hypothesis: The number of corticosteroid injections before surgical treatment does not affect postoperative clinical outcomes. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: As a retrospective review, from January 2007 to December 2019, a total of 99 patients who had undergone surgical treatment of lateral epicondylitis with a modified Nirschl technique were enrolled. The number of preoperative corticosteroid injections was investigated by medical record review. Outcome measurements included visual analog pain scale; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score; Mayo Elbow Performance Score; and the Nirschl and Pettrone grade. Grip power and wrist extension power were measured using a digital dynamometer. Results: A total of 99 patients were included in this study. The mean total number of injections of patients was 4.37 ± 2.46 times (range, 1-15 times). Total duration of nonoperative treatment before surgery was 25.4 ± 20.5 months (range, 4-124.8 months). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 42.8 ± 28.0 months (range, 12-110 months). For all injection numbers, clinical scores showed significant improvement in visual analog pain scale, DASH score, Mayo elbow score, grip power, and wrist extension power after surgery. Regression analysis showed that the degree of improvement according to the injection number was not statistically significant. The Nirschl and Pettrone grade was excellent in 82 (82.8%) patients, good in 14 (14.1%) patients, fair in 2 (2%) patient, and failure in 1 (1%) patient. Conclusion: The number of preoperative corticosteroid injections does not appear to affect postoperative clinical outcomes of patients with lateral epicondylitis who undergo surgery with a modified Nirschl technique.

Patient-Reported Outcomes and Factors Associated with Achieving the Minimal Clinically Important Difference After ACL Reconstruction: Results at a Mean 7.7-Year Follow-up.

Background:Analyzing outcomes and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is of increased interest in the orthopaedic literature. The purposes of this study were to report outcomes after ACLR at medium to long-term follow-up, identify the threshold preoperative outcome values that would be predictive of achieving the MCID postoperatively, and analyze outcome maintenance at medium to long-term follow-up after ACLR.Methods:Active athletes who underwent ACLR were identified in an institutional ACL registry. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were administered preoperatively and at the 2-year and >5-year postoperative follow-up; measures included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form, the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS), and Lysholm scale. We calculated the MCID from baseline to each of the 2 follow-up periods (2-year and mean 7.7-year). Logistic regression was performed to investigate factors associated with achievement of the MCID.Results:A total of 142 patients (mean follow-up, 7.7 years [range, 6.6 to 9.1 years]) underwent ACLR. The mean age and body mass index at the time of surgery were 27.2 ± 13.0 years and 23.2 ± 3.0 kg/m2, respectively. Final postoperative outcome scores improved significantly from baseline for the IKDC (50.9 ± 14.7 to 87.9 ± 11.2), SF-12 PCS (41.6 ± 8.9 to 55.6 ± 3.2), and Lysholm scale (62.2 ± 17.6 to 90.5 ± 10.3) (p < 0.0001), while the SF-12 MCS did not improve significantly (54.2 ± 8.0 to 54.4 ± 6.0) (p = 0.763). Between 2- and >5-year follow-up, the SF-12 PCS showed significant improvement (54.6 ± 4.5 to 55.6 ± 3.2; p = 0.036), while no change was noted in the IKDC (87.6 ± 11.1 to 87.9 ± 11.2), SF-12 MCS (55.5 ± 5.3 to 54.4 ± 6.0), and Lysholm scale (89.8 ± 10.6 to 90.5 ± 10.3) (p ≥ 0.09). At the time of final follow-up, the MCID was achieved by 94.7% of patients for the IKDC, 80.8% for the Lysholm, 79.0% for the SF-12 PCS, and 28.2% for the SF-12 MCS. At 2-year follow-up, 95.3% of patients were either “very” or “somewhat” satisfied with their surgery, compared with 88.6% at the time of final follow-up.Conclusions:We found a high level of maintained function following ACLR. The IKDC, SF-12 PCS, and Lysholm scores improved significantly after ACLR at the time of final follow-up and were not significantly different between follow-up periods. Approximately 95% and 89% of patients reported being satisfied with the outcome of surgery at the 2-year and final follow-up, respectively.Level of Evidence:Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Accuracy of computer-assisted mandibular reconstructions with free fibula flap: Results of a single-center series

ObjectivesWe evaluated the accuracy of computer-assisted mandibular reconstructions. Patients and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed data for 26 patients who had mandibular reconstruction with a microvascular free fibula flap, January 2015 to June 2018. Postoperative mandible models were obtained from computed tomography scans. After registering the models to the corresponding preoperative plan, we performed comparative measurements. Patients were grouped by condylar involvement and subdivided based on number of fibular segments used for reconstruction. For each segment, we measured length and osteotomy angles. For the final postoperative outcome, we compared intercoronoid, intergonial, and anteroposterior distances and intersegmental plane shift. ResultsMeans (SD) for deviation of each osteotomy angle and fibular segment length were 1.98° (2.98) and 1.78 mm (2.69), respectively, remaining constant across subgroups. Other mean values were as follows: intercoronoid distance deviation, 3.86 mm (range, 0.20–11.21 mm); intergonial distance deviation, 3.14 mm (range, 0.05–8.28 mm); anteroposterior distance deviation, 2.92 mm (range, 0.03–8.49 mm); and intersegmental plane shift, 11.00° (range, 2.76–24.15°). Where the condyle was preserved, the intercoronoid and intergonial deviation means differed significantly (respectively 5.02 mm and 4.88 mm, both P < 0.05) for one-segmented and three-segmented fibular reconstructions. Furthermore, reconstructions involving the condylar region compared with condyle preservation showed significantly different intersegmental plane shifts (7.18°; P < 0.05). ConclusionComputer-assisted surgery provides cutting guides for obtaining accurate fibular segments, but current fixation methods lead to inaccuracies and reproducibility errors. In multisegmental transfer with condylar involvement, computer-assisted fixation is recommended to ensure accuracy of the preoperative plan.

Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Midfoot Arthrodesis Using Different Fixation Methods

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: Midfoot arthritis is a disabling condition, causing chronic foot pain and functional disability. The goals of midfoot arthrodesis are to a plantigrade, stable, and pain-free foot. The procedure can be technically demanding and associated with a number of complications. The use of midfoot-specific plate fixation has become more popular as an alternative to screw-only fixation. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes following midfoot arthrodesis using different fixation methods. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all midfoot arthrodeses performed at a single institution between January 2005 and December 2014. Patients qualified if they had a minimum of 12 months follow-up, specifically with patient-reported outcomes. Demographic and surgical information were collected. Final post-operative outcomes were reviewed and consisted of patient-reported functional measures, union rate, complications, and radiographic outcomes. Patient-reported functional measures included the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) midfoot scale, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and Lower Extremity Functional Score (LEFS). Radiographic outcomes included alignment in the antero-posterior (AP) and lateral views, as measured by the talo-first metatarsal angle during the pre-operative and final follow-up visits. Outcomes were compared among the following groups: Screw fixation group (SFG), plate fixation group (PFG), and combined fixation group (CFG), which had screw and plate fixation. Results: A total of 79 midfoot fusions in 75 patients had a mean follow-up of 61 months (range 13-122) with patient-reported outcome measures. At final follow-up, the SFG had a higher median LEFS (72.5 versus 53 in the PFG and 56 in the CFG; p&gt;0.1) and a higher mean AOFAS score (87 versus 78 in the PFG and 77 in the CFG; p&gt;0.15). The complication and nonunion rate was highest in the PFG, with 13 (50%) and 4 (50%) cases, respectively; however, the differences were not statistically significant. The talo-first metatarsal angle improved in all three groups from a median of 6.4 degrees pre-operatively to 3.9 degrees on final post-operative imaging. Conclusion: Although not statistically significant, there was a trend towards higher patient-reported outcomes, union rate, and less complication rate in midfoot fusions treated with screw fixation compared to plate fixation and combined fixation. There was no difference in radiographic correction among the difference fixation methods. Although new techniques and implants continue to be introduced, we found no significant difference in outcomes when compared to the traditional technique of screw fixation.

Surgical Outcome of Intermittent Exotropia With Improvement in Control Grade Subsequent to Part-time Preoperative Occlusion Therapy.

To evaluate the effect of improvement in the control grade of intermittent exotropia using part-time occlusion therapy on the final postoperative outcome. Control of intermittent exotropia was graded as good, fair, or poor in 89 consecutive patients with intermittent exotropia during their first visit. The patients were reevaluated after part-time preoperative occlusion therapy and divided into two groups (improvement and no improvement) according to whether they showed improvement in control grade. The surgical success rate was compared retrospectively between the two groups. The mean angle of deviation on the first visit was 27.61 ± 5.40 prism diopters (PD) at distance and 29.82 ± 5.28 PD at near. There were significant improvements in the angles of deviation for distance (26.17 ± 5.09 PD) and near (27.26 ± 5.56 PD) after part-time occlusion (both P < .001). The 49 patients who had a significantly improved control grade had a significantly better surgical success rate (77.6%) than the 40 patients who did not (50%; P = .007). Part-time occlusion therapy improves the control grade of intermittent exotropia, leading to a better likelihood of successful surgery and a reduction of the angles of deviation for distance and near. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2018;55(1):59-64.].

The Functional and Economic Outcome of Lumber Discectomy: A Comparative Study of Fenestration Discectomy Versus Hemilaminectomy and Discectomy

Background: Lumber disc prolapse accounts for only 5% of all low back pain problems but is the most common cause of radiating nerve root pain which called sciatica. In the 20th century, techniques were developed to remove the herniated disc with minimal invasiveness, with these minimally invasive techniques; authors demonstrated decreased soft tissue manipulation, operative time, blood loss, and hospital stay, allowing early recovery. Patients and methods: This is a prospective study carried in Sulaimaniyah Teaching hospital for 111 patients (72 male and 39 female) complained from lumber disc prolapse from May 2010 till May 2015. Two different surgical discectomy procedures were done to these patients as follows: 1. Fenestration discectomy was performed to 53 patients through 2-5 cm skin incision. 2. Hemilaminectomy and discectomy had done to 58 patients through skin incision 4-7 cm. 3. The patients were evaluated preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively by PROLO score. Results: 111 patients (72 male and 39 females with ratio 1.8:1) underwent surgical discectomy. The mean age of the patient was 36.2 + 6.2 years. Fenestration discectomy group: 53 patients (47.7%) underwent fenestration discectomy. The operation time was ranging from 48–92 min with mean operative duration 69.13 ± 8.96 min. The mean hospital stay was 1.31 ± 0.73 days ranging from 16 hours to 3 days. According to PROLO score, fair results were reported in four (7%) patients while good result obtained in 12 patients (23%) and 37 patients (70%) showed excellent result. No patient expressed poor result. Hemilaminectomy and discectomy group: 58 patients (52.3%) underwent hemilaminectomy and discectomy. The operation time was ranging from 56–103 min with mean operative time 78.66 ± 10.31 min. The mean hospital stay was 2.46 ± 1.42 days ranging from 1 day to 10 days. According to PROLO score, 9 patients (16%) obtained fair results while reliable results obtained in 15 patients (26%) and excellent results founded in 34 patients (58%). No patient showed poor results. Discussion: Duration of the operation and hospital stay were significantly shorter in fenestration discectomy group than hemilaminectomy and discectomy one (p-value less than 0.001). Through PROLO score both procedures showed significant improvement postoperatively in both economic and functional assessments. Most of our patients gain excellent results according to PROLO score in both surgical procedures. In this series 92% of patients treated with fenestration discectomy improved postoperatively with good or excellent score, while 85% of the patients treated with hemilaminectomy have that improvement. Conclusion: Both fenestration discectomy and hemilaminectomy with discectomy showed the same final postoperative outcome but the fenestration discectomy is superior since the operation duration, hospital stay is less and overall improvement is relatively better.

English

BACKGROUND: Ileostomy is often constructed in emergency surgical conditions like enteric or tubercular perforations when patients present late in the course of illness to preclude primary closure. But the ileostomy carries with it lot of morbidity making the quality of life poor. The early closure of ileostomy can minimize the associated morbidity and help the patient to enjoy better quality of life sooner. METHODOLOGY: In this retrospective study, hospital data was collected between November 2010 and October 2013, of the patients whose ileostomy was closed within 3-6 weeks from the time of initial surgery. Demographic, operative and complication data were recorded and reviewed as to the final post-operative outcome. RESULTS: Total 22 patients were taken up for ileostomy closure between 3-6 weeks with the mean of 33.6 days. Stoma related complications occurred in 22.7% of patients, skin excoriation being the commonest (13.6%). No difficulty was encountered during stoma closure surgery. Post-op complications occurred in 27.3% of patients, and wound infection was the commonest (18.2%). Other complications were paralytic ileus (9.1%), intestinal obstruction (4.5%), and incisional hernia (4.5%). There was no instance of anastomotic leak, intra-abdominal abscess, entero-cutaneous fistula or mortality. CONCLUSION: The present study clearly highlights the potential advantages of early closure of ileostomy without any added morbidity or mortality, and is a feasible alternative to a more conventional delayed approach, provided careful selection of patients is done. This significantly cuts down the convalescence period of the patient and helps him to live a better quality of life much earlier.

Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation and Anteromedialization for Isolated Patellar Articular Cartilage Lesions

Background: Isolated chondral lesions of the patella are particularly challenging to treat, and long-term studies of treated isolated patellar lesions are limited. Previous short-term studies have reported favorable outcomes of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) of the patella and/or trochlea, with a trend toward improvement when anteromedialization (AMZ) of the tibial tubercle was performed with the procedure. Hypothesis: Autologous chondrocyte implantation with concomitant AMZ for symptomatic isolated patellar lesions provides functional and symptomatic improvement in patients at a minimum 5-year follow-up. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Patients with failed primary treatment of isolated patellar full-thickness articular cartilage defects and patellofemoral malalignment who were treated with ACI and AMZ of the tibial tubercle at least 5 years prior were contacted for final postoperative outcome scores. Outcome scales including the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm, modified Cincinnati Knee Rating System, and 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) scores were assessed at baseline and final follow-up. Results: Of 27 eligible patients, 23 (25 knees) were available for assessment at a mean follow-up of 7.6 years (range, 5.1-11.4 years). Significant improvements from baseline to final follow-up were observed in the IKDC score (from 42.5 to 75.7; P < .0001), modified Cincinnati Knee Rating System score (from 3.0 to 7.0; P < .0001), Lysholm score (from 40.2 to 79.3; P < .0001), and SF-12 score (physical component score: from 41.2 to 47.6; P = .002; mental component score: from 48.1 to 60.7; P = .0001). Most patients (83%; 19/23) rated their surgery as good or excellent. The overall reoperation rate was 40% (10/25) largely because of periosteal hypertrophy (33%). One patient failed at 5.9 years postoperatively and underwent patellofemoral arthroplasty. Conclusion: Combined ACI and AMZ resulted in significant improvements in symptoms and function with a low incidence of adverse events in patients with isolated symptomatic patellar chondral defects after a mean follow-up of more than 7 years.

New Classification of Polydactyly of the Foot on the Basis of Syndactylism, Axis Deviation and Metatarsal Extent of Extra-Digit

Background Polydactyly of the foot is one of the most frequent anomalies of the limbs. However, most classification systems are based solely on morphology and tend to be inaccurate and less relevant to surgical methods and results. The purpose of this study is to present our new classification of polydactyly of the foot, which can serve as a predictor of treatment and prognosis. Methods To find a correlation between the various morphologic traits of polydactyly of the foot and the treatment plan and outcomes, we reviewed 532 cases of polydactyly of the foot in 431 patients treated in our hospital, expanding on our previous study that described polydactyly based on the importance of metatarsal bone status and varus deformity. The records of patients were evaluated and compared with previous studies at other centers. Results Unsatisfactory results were seen in 36 cases, which included 5 cases of incomplete separation due to syndactylism, 23 cases of axis deviation, and 8 cases of remnants of extra-digit metatarsal bones. The locus of the polydactyly, or the digit which was involved, did not seem to affect the final postoperative outcomes in our study. Three factors-syndactylism, axis deviation, and metatarsal extension-are the major factors related to treatment strategy and prognosis. Therefore, we developed a new classification system using three characters (S, A, M) followed by three groups (0, 1, 2), to describe the complexity of polydactyly of the foot, such as S1A2M2. Conclusions Our new classification could provide a communicable description to help determine the surgical plan and predict outcomes.

New Classification of Polydactyly of the Foot on the Basis of Syndactylism, Axis Deviation, and Metatarsal Extent of Extra Digit

BackgroundPolydactyly of the foot is one of the most frequent anomalies of the limbs. However, most classification systems are based solely on morphology and tend to be inaccurate and less relevant to surgical methods and results. The purpose of this study is to present our new classification of polydactyly of the foot, which can serve as a predictor of treatment and prognosis.MethodsTo find a correlation between the various morphologic traits of polydactyly of the foot and the treatment plan and outcomes, we reviewed 532 cases of polydactyly of the foot in 431 patients treated in our hospital, expanding on our previous study that described polydactyly based on the importance of metatarsal bone status and varus deformity. The records of patients were evaluated and compared with previous studies at other centers.ResultsUnsatisfactory results were seen in 36 cases, which included 5 cases of incomplete separation due to syndactylism, 23 cases of axis deviation, and 8 cases of remnants of extra-digit metatarsal bones. The locus of the polydactyly, or the digit which was involved, did not seem to affect the final postoperative outcomes in our study. Three factors-syndactylism, axis deviation, and metatarsal extension-are the major factors related to treatment strategy and prognosis. Therefore, we developed a new classification system using three characters (S, A, M) followed by three groups (0, 1, 2), to describe the complexity of polydactyly of the foot, such as S1A2M2.ConclusionsOur new classification could provide a communicable description to help determine the surgical plan and predict outcomes.

Dynamics of Improvement Following Total Lumbar Disc Replacement

Prospective clinical study of total lumbar disc replacement (TDR) with ProDisc II (Synthes, Paoli, PA). To examine whether baseline variables VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) and ODI (Oswestry Disability Index) correspond with late and final postoperative outcome parameters and to identify early predictors of late outcome following total lumbar disc replacement (TDR). Previously published TDR studies reported on the pooled data averages collected from various cohort sizes. The individual patient's prognosis as well as prognostic factors of postoperative improvement remain unestablished. Data were accumulated prospectively and included VAS and ODI scores. The subjective outcome evaluation was based on a 3-scale grading system ("highly satisfied," "satisfied," "not satisfied"). An analysis was performed to ascertain whether the late and final outcome following TDR can be predicted based on preoperative and early postoperative data from the 3 and 6 month follow-up (FU). The overall results from 161 patients with an average FU of 4 years (mean: 45.5 months, range: 24.1-94.4 months) revealed a significant and maintained improvement of VAS and ODI scores (P < 0.0001). The most pronounced changes occurred within the early postoperative period (P < 0.0001) with no significant changes thereafter (P > 0.05).Baseline ODI levels were significantly correlated with VAS/ODI scores and patient satisfaction rates at the final FU (P < 0.0001).After surgery, early and late ODI levels were highly significantly correlated with each other (r = 0.84, P < 0.0001). Similar associations were observed between early and late VAS scores and patient satisfaction rates (P < 0.006).The individual patient's subjective outcome evaluation revealed stable postoperative results. An improvement or a deterioration by 2 classes on a 3-scale grading system was only observed in 3.1% (n = 5/161) of all cases overall. Patients with an early "highly satisfactory" result (n = 83) maintained either a satisfactory (15.7%, n = 13/83) or a highly satisfactory outcome (79.5%, n = 66/83) in 95.2% of all cases (n = 79/83).Conversely, the probability that patients with an "unsatisfactory" outcome would still achieve a "highly satisfactory" result after the early postoperative period was 5.0%. Baseline ODI and early postoperative outcome parameters (< or =6 months) revealed significant and strong associations with the final results following TDR. While the vast majority of patients with an early highly satisfactory outcome maintained satisfactory results at later FU stages, any significant improvement considered as "highly satisfied" is unlikely in a group of patients which reported early unsatisfactory results. In summary, any clinically relevant changes are unlikely to occur after the early postoperative period.The current findings offer a foundation for weighing both the patients and the spine surgeons expectations against possible realistic achievements. Although the data show that the midterm outcome at a FU of 4 years (mean: 45.5 months, range: 24.1-94.4 months) is predictable following TDR, the long-term results of lumbar disc replacements still need to be established.

Partial cricotracheal resection in children: Potential pitfalls and avoidance of complications

Objectives To delineate the various factors contributing to failure or delay in decannulation after partial cricotracheal resection (PCTR) in children. Study Design Case series. Setting Academic tertiary medical center. Subjects and Methods A retrospective case review of 100 children who underwent PCTR between 1978 and 2008 for severe subglottic stenosis using an ongoing database. Results Ninety of 100 (90%) patients were decannulated. Six patients needed secondary tracheostomy. The results of the preoperative evaluation showed grade II stenosis in four patients, grade III in 64 patients, and grade IV in 32 patients. The overall decannulation rate was 100 percent in grade II, 95 percent in grade III, and 78 percent in grade IV stenosis. Fourteen (14%) patients required revision open surgery. The most common cause of revision surgery was posterior glottic stenosis. Partial anastomotic dehiscence was seen in four patients. Delayed decannulation (>1 year) occurred in nine patients. Overall mortality rate in the whole series was 6 percent. No deaths were directly related to the surgery. No iatrogenic recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was present in the entire series. Conclusion Comorbidities and associated syndromes should be addressed before PCTR is planned to improve the final postoperative outcome in terms of decannulation. Perioperative morbidity due to anastomotic dehiscence, to a certain extent, can be avoided by intraoperative judgment in the selection of double-stage surgery when more than five tracheal rings need to be resected. Subglottic stenosis with glottic involvement continues to pose a difficult challenge to pediatric otolaryngologists, often necessitating revision procedures.

쇄골 전위성 간부 골절에서 조기 고정술 군과 지연 재건술 군 간의 결과 비교

Purpose: Several authors have reported excellent results of delayed reconstruction of non-union & malunion in displaced mid-shaft fractures of the clavicle and these results were equal to that of immediate fixation. But direct comparison between these treatments is rare. We evaluated the results between the immediate fixation group and delayed reconstruction group for treating displaced mid-shaft fractures of the clavicle. Materials and Methods: We studied the results of 18 cases with immediate fixation of displaced mid-shaft fractures of the clavicle and 15 cases with delayed reconstruction of non-union & malunion after conservative management, and these cases were seen from March 2000 to February, 2006. The final postoperative outcome was analyzed according to the clinical outcomes with using the Constant score and the radiological findings of bony union. Results: The constant score was low in the delayed reconstruction group compare to that of the immediate fixation group (p value=0.045). For the pain score & the activities of daily living score, a statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups (p 0.05). Radiological findings of bony union were seen for both groups at an average of 8.8 weeks for the immediate fixation group and at an average of 9.8 weeks for the delayed reconstruction group. Conclusion: Though the delayed reconstruction group was shown good clinical and radiological results, the immediate fixation group had a significantly better pain score, a better activities of daily living score and a better Constant score. It is important to choose the initial treatment option for displaced mid-shaft fractures of the clavicle after sufficient explanation to patients about the merits and demerits between these two treatment options.

Complications of revision hip arthroplasty using fresh bone allografts

General and specific complications of revision hip arthroplasty using fresh bone allografts may affect the postoperative functional outcome to different extent. The aim of this paper was to estimate the incidence and types of intraoperative and early postoperative complications after revision hip arthroplasty, and to clinically and radiographically evaluate their influence on the final postoperative outcome. The most frequent general intraoperative complications were: femoral fracture (6.7%) and lesion of the superior gluteal artery. Anterior dislocation of the prosthesis (6.7%) and superficial infection (3.3%) were the two most frequent early postoperative complications. Of all general complications taken into account, femoral fracture, either intra or postoperative, has the worst prognosis. Bone allograft resorption, as the only specific complication encountered in this study, has a bad prognosis only if it is very extensive. The use of fresh bone allografts, prepared in a special manner, is clinically safe for revision total hip arthroplasty, if a bone bank is not available.

A report of 18 blackthorn injuries of the upper limb

This study aims to analyse various manifestations and to evaluate the clinical outcome in the patients who had exploratory procedures following blackthorn ( Prunus spinosus) injury. We performed a retrospective review of a consecutive series of 18 patients admitted between April 1997 and March 2001 to a District General Hospital of the UK. In all the cases, the site of injury was the upper limb. The mean age at presentation was 39.1 years. There was a male predominance (83.33%) and a marginal right side preponderance. The majority of the patients (83.33%) presented between March and August, which correlates with hedge-cutting time. The mean delay in presentation was 3 days (range: 1–14 days). The final postoperative outcome was satisfactory in all cases. We conclude that conservative treatment alone failed to resolve the symptoms. We recommend that all patients presenting with a history of blackthorn injury should undergo an immediate and thorough exploration to avoid undue complications.

Intraoperative rupture of cerebral aneurysms and use of temporary arterial occlusion

The aim was to analyze the risk factors for intraoperative rupture (IR) of cerebral aneurysm and for temporary clips (TC) use, as well as their influence on the final postoperative outcome. Retrospective study was done 72 IR patients, and on 75 TC patients. For patients with or without IR, as well as for the patients with or without TK, outcome of the treatment, aneurysm size and localization, preoperative clinical state and operative timing was analyzed, and statistical significance of obtained differences was tested. IR occurred in 40% of anterior cerebral artery aneurysms and in 16.7% of internal carotid artery aneurysms (p > 0.05), while TCs were used in 52% of middle cerebral artery aneurysms and 34.8% of internal carotid artery aneurysms (p > 0.05). Average size was 17.3 mm for aneurysms with IR and 11.7 mm for those without IR (p > 0.05). Aneurysms were significantly larger in patients with TCs, than in patients without TCs (16.7 mm and 9.4 mm respectively, p < 0.05). Preoperative period was 10.2 days for patients with IR, and 16.8 days for patients without IR (p < 0.05). Favorable outcome was observed in 71.4% of patients with IR and in 70.6% of those without IR, as well as in 76.4% of patients who required TC and in 75.6% of cases without TC (p > 0.05). Average duration of temporary occlusion was 5.8 min for patients with favorable outcome and 15 min for patients with poor outcome (p < 0.05). Incidence of IR mostly depended on the duration of preoperative interval, while the frequency of TC use depended mostly on aneurysm size. IR did not influence the surgical outcome, as well as TC use, if the occlusion was shorter than 8-10 min.