Implant-associated Complications Research Articles

Transcutaneous versus percutaneous bone-anchored hearing aids: A quality of life comparison

PurposeTo determine whether patients have improved quality of life outcomes with percutaneous bone conduction implant (p-BCI) versus transcutaneous bone conduction implant (t-BCI). Materials & methodsRetrospective chart review of patients who have undergone placement of a BCI in the Ascension St John Providence Health System from 2013 to 2018. Patient satisfaction of t-BCI and p-BCI was measured using a questionnaire that incorporated the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and BAHA, aesthetic, hygiene & use (BAHU) survey. Key outcome variables were separated into 2 categories: (1) evaluation of wound healing and implant-associated complications, and (2) quality of life improvements. ResultsComparative analysis of the 27 p-BCI patients and 10 t-BCI patients showed overall positive benefit with no statistically significant difference on quality of life improvement between the two groups. Total complication rates for p-BCI (48.1 %) vs t-BCI (10 %) was marginally significant (p = 0.056). Rate of revision for p-BCI versus t-BCI was 14.8 % vs 0 %, respectively. ConclusionThis study provides a much-needed comparative insight in patient's experience with these two devices. Understanding which device is preferable in the patient's view will offer helpful information for guiding proper implant selection.

Laser Microperforation Assisted Drug-Elution from Biodegradable Films.

In a modern high-tech medicine, drug-eluting polymer coatings are actively used to solve a wide range of problems, including the prevention of post-surgery infection, inflammatory, restenosis, thrombosis and many other implant-associated complications. For major assumptions, the drug elution mechanism is considered mainly to be driven by the degradation of the polymer matrix. This process is very environmentally dependent, unpredictable and often leads to a non-linear drug release kinetic. In the present work, we demonstrate how the laser microperforation of cargo-loaded biodegradable films could be used as a tool to achieve zero-order release kinetics with different elution rates. The effects of the laser-induced hole’s diameter (10, 18, 22, 24 µm) and their density (0, 1, 2, 4 per sample) on release kinetic are studied. The linear dynamics of elution was measured for all perforation densities. Release rates were estimated to be 0.018 ± 0.01 µg/day, 0.211 ± 0.08 µg/day, 0.681 ± 0.1 µg/day and 1.19 ± 0.12 µg/day for groups with 0, 1, 2, 4 microperforations, respectively. The role of biodegradation of the polymer matrix is reduced only to the decomposition of the film over time with no major influence on elution rates.

Identifying Public Perceptions, Attitudes, and Concerns about Breast Implants and Their Complications: A National Survey.

Aesthetic and reconstructive implant-based breast operations are among the most common plastic surgery procedures. This study assessed the baseline knowledge of common breast implant-associated complications, and their influence on consideration of breast implants among adult laywomen within the United States. Five hundred women were recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Respondents self-reported demographics and experience with breast implants. Questions were asked addressing respondents' understanding of complications and concerns regarding breast implants. Of the authors' cohort (average age, 37.8 ± 11.7 years), 12.0% had received breast implants, 72.8% knew someone with implants, and nearly 50% would consider receiving implants in the future. As many as 82.2% reported at least one concern influencing their consideration of implants: safety (75.2%), cost (70.0%), unnatural shape (43.3%), and feel (45.2%). Respondents not considering implants were significantly concerned by foreign body implantation ( P < 0.001). Almost 75% believed that implants last longer than 10 years. Following education about risks of capsular contracture and implant rupture, one-third of respondents considering implants and half of those unsure were "less likely" to receive implants. The majority were unchanged in their likelihood after learning about infection (74.4%) and implant migration (69.2%). Respondents with a history of implants were significantly less likely to believe there is strong evidence supporting the aforementioned complications ( P < 0.001). The rising awareness surrounding breast implant safety has the potential to significantly impact perceptions and receptivity. This study identifies public perceptions of common breast implant-associated complications and primary long-term concerns, highlighting the importance of education on postoperative complications in informed consent and surgical decision-making.

Experience in the treatment of implant-associated wound complications after spinal surgery

Objective: Improvement of the treatment results of patients with implant-associated complications in the surgical site (SSI) by developing treatment tactics depending on the type of complication.Material and methods: The analysis of the treatment results of 245 patients with implant-associated complications of SSI was carried out in patients with various pathologies of the spine who underwent inpatient treatment in the neurosurgical department no. 3 in Scientific Research Institute – Ochapovsky Regional Clinical Hospital no. 1 in the period from 2015 to 2020.Results: Out of the 245 wound complications identified in clinic, partial or complete resolution of the problems was achieved in 241 (98.36%) cases. In 4 patients (1.63%), a negative trend was noted, even though the removal of the metal structure and the application and change of vacuum assisted closure (VAC) dressings were carried out in a timely manner. In these 4 cases, the generalization of the infectious process led to lethal outcome.Conclusion: In a neurosurgical department with a high surgical activity, wound complications after spinal surgery using spinal implants, occur in no more than 2.36% of cases, provided that a set of preventive measures are carried out. More often, such complications develop after operations on the lumbar spine from the posterior access for infectious (16.58%) or oncological diseases (11.76%). The depth of suppuration, the period of the complication development from the moment of surgery, as well as the presence or absence of an interbody bone or fibrous block play a crucial role in the decision on the implants removal. In patients with implant-associated infections of the area of surgical intervention on the spine, the use of the proposed tactics and VAC bandages allowed to achieve positive treatment results in 98.36% of cases.

Efficacy and Safety of Goel-Harms Technique in Upper Cervical Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The main purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the incidence of implant-associated complications and fusion rates for the Goel-Harms technique (GHT) and to show potential factors affecting the complications and nonunion development. A systematic search of the PubMed database according to PRISMA guidance was performed. The main inclusion criteria comprised description of fusion rate and/or implant-associated complications rate. This systematic review included 86 articles focused on the results of surgery in 4208 patients. The rate of screw-related complications was as follows: 1) vertebral artery (VA) injury, 2.8%; 2) screw malposition in the direction of the VA, 5.8%; and 3) C2 nerve root irritation, 6.1%. The nonunion rate was 4.2%. Transpedicular screw insertion to the C1 and C2 vertebrae were the safest regarding VA injury and correlated with lower blood loss. For C1-C2 fusion, there was no statistical difference for the different bone graft localization. C2 nerve root irritation rate did not depend on screw insertion technique. The use of a freehand technique did not correlate with a high rate of screw-related complications. The Goel-Harms technique is a promising method of C1-C2 fusion, with a relatively low nonunion and VA injury rate. It can be performed safely without C-arm or navigation system assistance. Transpedicular screw insertion trajectories to the C1 and C2 vertebrae were safest regarding VA injury and blood loss volume. Further comparative studies of various C1-C2 stabilization methods with a high level of significance should be carried out to identify the optimal approach.

Cervical vertebral body replacement using a modern in situ expandable and angulable corpectomy cage system: early clinical and radiological outcome

Purpose Vertebral body replacement (VBR) cages are commonly implanted to reconstruct the cervical vertebrae in cases of tumour, trauma, spondylodiscitis, and degeneration. Expandable cages have been widely used for this purpose; however, the lacking congruence at the implant-bone interface and consequent implant displacement were considered as a serious drawback of such systems. Aim of this study is to evaluate the early clinical and radiological outcome of a modern in situ not only expandable but also angulable cervical corpectomy cage system. Methods A total of 42 patients who underwent a single or multilevel cervical VBR procedure were included and retrospectively evaluated in this single-centre case series. The neurological status was assessed using American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score. Complications were categorized into surgical (including implant-associated) and general medical. Radiographic parameters included regional angulation, segmental height, and coronal alignment. Results Mean age was 59.5 ± 20.6 years. The recorded ASIA score improved postoperatively by 10 points (p 0.0001). Surgical including implant-associated complication rates were 19.05%. Radiographic evaluation showed a height gain of 11.2 mm (p < 0.0001), lordotic correction of 7° (p < 0.0001), and coronal alignment of 3° (p < 0.0001). At the last follow-up, loss of angulation correction of 1.9° (p 0.0002), subsidence of 1.92 mm (p 0.0006), and fusion rates of 68.42% were observed. Conclusions The use of an in situ angulable and expandable cage system in cervical VBR seems to offer better results compared to conventional static or expandable cages regarding segmental height gain, lordotic correction, and clinical improvement as well as low complication and revision rates. Significant height gain in multilevel surgeries is associated with higher rates of implant-associated complications.

Long-term clinical and radiological outcomes following surgical treatment for symptomatic pediatric flexible flat feet: a systematic review.

Background and purposeAlbeit pediatric flexible flat foot (FFF) is a common condition, only a minority of patients become symptomatic. Long-term outcomes of surgically treated pediatric patients with symptomatic FFF are largely unknown. In this systematic review, studies providing outcomes at a mean follow-up of at least 4 years after the procedure in these patients were analyzed.Material and methodsA PubMed search was undertaken involving original articles published up to July 2021 on outcome in children aged 6 to 14 with surgically treated FFF and mean (or minimum) follow-up of at least 4 years. Radiographic and clinical outcomes were analyzed.ResultsOf initially 541 entries, 10 could be included in the systematic review (all level IV), involving 846 pediatric patients with 1,536 symptomatic FFF. Pooled mean radiological (n = 8) and clinical follow-up (n = 10) was 5.3 (range 0.5–15) and 7.0 (range 4.1–15) years, respectively. Surgical procedures included arthroereisis (n = 8), lateral column lengthening (n = 1), and Horseman procedure (n = 1). Overall relative frequency of implant-associated complications and wound-healing problems was 3.2% and 1.3%, as well as 2.8% and 1.6% following subtalar arthroereisis only. From preoperative to latest radiological assessment following subtalar arthroereisis (including 3 studies with radiological follow-up < 48 months), pooled median decrease in talonavicular coverage angle (TNCA; –9.2°), anteroposterior talocalcaneal angle (A-TCA; –6.5°), lateral talocalcaneal angle (L-TCA; –3.5°), talar declination angle (TDA; –14°), Moreau Costa Bertani angle (MCB; –13°), and talo-firstmetatarsal angle (L-T1MA; –10°) was observed, as was an increase in calcaneal pitch (4.5°).InterpretationIn symptomatic pediatric FFF patients, surgery is associated with a manageable complication profile, and results in satisfactory long-term clinical as well as radiological outcome. Yet scientific evidence is low, warranting larger scaled studies in the future.

Patellar luxation and concomitant cranial cruciate ligament rupture indogs - Areview.

Apatellar luxation and concomitant cranial cruciate ligament rupture isacommon pathology indogs. Diagnosis isbased onclinical evidence ofapatellar luxation and stifle joint instability. However, diagnostic imaging isrequired toassess the number ofskeletal deformities and signs ofinstability. Surgical options include both soft tissue and osseous techniques, although, inmost cases, acombination ofmultiple procedures isnecessary tocorrect the patellar luxation and restore the stifle joint stability. Complication rates are generally low, but can include reluxation and implant-associated complications.This article describes the patellar luxation and cranial cruciate ligament rupture signs indogs, including the clinical presentation and diagnosis, and discusses current treatment options.

Transosseous Suture With an All-FiberWire Technique in Patellar Fracture Fixation

Background: Patellar fractures account for 0.5% to 1.5% of all bone fractures. Tension band wiring with heavy gauge steel wire and K-wires is traditionally procedure for treating patellar fractures. However, this method is associated with implant-related complications. Present study aimed to evaluate functional clinical outcomes of patellar fracture fixation with transosseous suture using an all-FiberWire technique. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 16 patellar fractures patients were repaired by open reduction and internal fixation with FiberWire using a 3-transosseous tunnel technique. The functional outcomes were evaluated with Tegner-Lysholm and Bostman scoring. We also evaluated clinical and radiologic outcomes. Results: The mean time to bony union was 8.87±1.54 weeks (range, 7 to 12 wk). The mean Bostman score at final follow-up was 27.13±2.5 (range, 21 to 30), and mean Lysholm score at final follow-up was 90.69±5.75 (range, 83 to 100). Fractures healed in all patients, with no fixation failures. Minor loss of reduction (&lt;2 mm) were observed in 3 patients (18.75%). No patient has reoperation. One patient developed knee stiffness, with an infected hematoma 10 weeks postoperatively. None of patients developed anterior knee pain postoperatively. Two patients (12.5%) developed mild localized pain from prominent suture knots. There were no significant implant-related complications and no repeat surgery was necessary. Conclusions: The use of nonmetallic sutures with an all-FiberWire technique in patellar fracture fixation avoids implant-associated complications and possibility of a second surgery to remove metal implants. Nonmetallic high-resistance FiberWire matches traditional metallic fixation, with a reduced risk of postoperative complications. Level of Evidence: Level IV (therapeutic).

Діагностична роль остеосцинтиграфії у хворих на ревматоїдний артрит при ендопротезуванні кульшових суглобів

Актуальність. Ревматоїдний артрит є одним з найбільш поширених хронічних запальних захворювань суглобів. Поширеність захворювання серед дорослого населення у різних країнах світу становить від 0,6 до 5 %. Хворіють частіше люди працездатного віку. Пік захворювання припадає на 40–50 років, при цьому жінки хворіють у 2–4 рази частіше, ніж чоловіки. Захворюваність на ревматоїдний артрит у жінок збільшується після 30 років, досягаючи найбільших показників у 45–75 років. Мета: визначити діагностичну роль остеосцинтиграфії у хворих на ревматоїдний артрит при ендопротезуванні кульшових суглобів. Матеріали і методи. Остеосцинтиграфію проводили на томографічній сцинтиляційній однодетектерній гамма-камері «Тамара-301 Т» після внутрішньовенного введення 99m-Tc-пірофосфату активністю 550–770 МБк. Результати. Усіх хворих розподілили на три діагностичні групи. До першої групи було включено 34 (45 %) пацієнтів, у яких відсоток накопичення радіофармпрепарату в проекції ураженого суглоба дорівнював +10–80 %, до другої — 27 (36 %) хворих, у яких відсоток накопичення індикатору в проекції ураженого суглобового комплексу становив +81–150 %, третя група нараховувала 13 (19 %) пацієнтів із накопиченням індикатору в проекції ураженого суглобового комплексу більше ніж +150 %. Через 1 рік після ендопротезування ураженого кульшового суглоба у хворих першої діагностичної групи післяопераційних ускладнень не зафіксовано. У 3 (11 %) пацієнтів другої діагностичної групи та 19 (30 %) пацієнтів третьої діагностичної групи через рік після ендопротезування розвинулось імплант-асоційоване інфекційне ускладнення. ­Висновки. Чим вище відсоток включення радіофармпрепарату в проекції ураженого ревматоїдним артритом суглобового комплексу при остеосцинтиграфії в доопераційний період, тим вище вірогідність виникнення післяопераційних імплант-асоційованих ускладнень після ендопротезування (p &lt; 0,05).

New approaches in the study of risk factors and treatment of implant-associated complications in pelvic organ prolapse

Aim. To assessment of risk factors for erosion of the vaginal mucosa after the use of mesh prostheses to correct genital prolapse.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The authors of this article evaluated modifiable and unmodifiable risk factors for erosion of the vaginal mucosa after the use of a mesh implant to correct pelvic prolapse. The analysis of the relationship between the indicators of obstetric-gynecological, somatic anamnesis in women with an implant-associated complication (erosion of the vaginal mucosa, n=25) and in women with successful surgical treatment of genital prolapse using a mesh prosthesis (n=58) was carried out. The STATISTICA 10.0 and EViews 12.0 software packages were used for statistical processing of the obtained results.&#x0D; Results. Statistical analysis revealed the relationship of vaginal erosion after the use of a mesh prosthesis in the surgical correction of genital prolapse with the presence of factors such as: premenopausal age at the time of surgery (p=0.002; odds ratio OR 4.7, relative risk RR 2.79), vaginal delivery over the age of 35 years (p=0.003; OR 6.35, RR 2.78), episiotomy in the anamnesis (p0.0001; OR 11.2, RR 6.19), perineal ruptures III degrees in anamnesis (p0.0001; OR 19.7, RR 6.57), hypertension (p=0.049; OR 2.79, RR 2.19), type 2 diabetes mellitus (p=0.007; OR 4.99, RR 1.82).&#x0D; Conclusion. The formation of a high-risk group for erosion of the vaginal mucosa will allow us to develop a set of preventive measures and improve the outcomes of surgical treatment of genital prolapse.

Outcomes and Cost Comparison Between Generic and Conventional Cephalomedullary Nails in the Treatment of Peritrochanteric Femur Fractures.

Although generic orthopaedic implants have been available for several years, there has been slow adoption of this cost-saving option. We hypothesize equivalent outcomes between generic and conventional cephalomedullary nails (CMN) in the treatment of peritrochanteric femur fractures. We evaluated 419 patients undergoing CMN for peritrochanteric femur fracture with a minimum 6-month follow-up. Demographic data, radiographic assessment, and clinical outcomes were compared. Ninety patients were treated with generic implants and 329 patients with conventional implants. The overall complication rate was 7.0%, with a revision surgery rate of 5.4%. No significant differences were seen in demographic variables or surgical factors. Although there was an increased incidence of postoperative infections with conventional nails (P = 0.045), no significant differences were seen in other complications. At our institution, generic nails cost approximately 38% less than their conventional counterparts. There seems to be no increased rate of implant-associated complications with the use of generic CMNs, although allowing for notable cost savings.

Biomimetic Cell-Substrate of Chitosan-Cross-linked Polyaniline Patterning on TiO2 Nanotubes Enables hBM-MSCs to Differentiate the Osteoblast Cell Type.

Titanium-based substrates are widely used in orthopedic treatments and hard tissue engineering. However, many of these titanium (Ti) substrates fail to interact properly between the cell-to-implant interface, which can lead to loosening and dislocation from the implant site. As a result, scaffold implant-associated complications and the need for multiple surgeries lead to an increased clinical burden. To address these challenges, we engineered osteoconductive and osteoinductive biosubstrates of chitosan (CS)-cross-linked polyaniline (PANI) nanonets coated on titanium nanotubes (TiO2NTs) in an attempt to mimic bone tissue's major extracellular matrix. Inspired by the architectural and tunable mechanical properties of such tissue, the TiO2NTs-PANI@CS-based biofilm conferred strong anticorrosion, the ability to nucleate hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, and excellent biocompatibility with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs). An in vitro study showed that the substrate-supported cell activities induced greater cell proliferation and differentiation compared to cell-TiO2NTs alone. Notably, the bone-related genes (collagen-I, OPN, OCN, and RUNX 2) were highly expressed within TiO2NTs-PANI@CS over a period of 14 days, indicating greater bone cell differentiation. These findings demonstrate that the in vitro functionality of the cells on the osteoinductive-like platform of TiO2NTs-PANI@CS improves the efficiency for osteoblastic cell regeneration and that the substrate potentially has utility in bone tissue engineering applications.

Scheuermann’s disease surgery. Major problems: non-systematic literature review (part I).

Objective. To perform multivariate comparison of two surgical strategies in the treatment of patients with severe Scheuermann’s disease.Material and Methods. The search of sources (in Scopus and Web of Science databases) revealed 56 publications containing the required information. The literature data were analyzed in four directions: the results of one- and two-stage interventions are compared in terms of the magnitude of achieved correction and its preservation, the complication rate, the surgery duration and the volume of intraoperative blood loss, and the quality of life of patients in the postoperative period.Results. The magnitude of the achieved correction of kyphotic deformity and postoperative loss of correction in patients after one- and two-stage operations are almost identical. Implant-associated complications are more often observed after one-stage operations, and purulent, neurological and other complications – after two-stage operations. Surgery duration and intraoperative blood loss volume are greater in two-stage operations. The quality of life assessed by various questionnaires is significantly improved, regardless of the type of surgery.Conclusion. Two-stage surgical correction of Scheuermann’s kyphosis has no noticeable advantages over one-stage surgery, however, new studies with long (more than 15–18 years) postoperative follow-up are needed.

Fixation stability and implant-associated complications in periacetabular osteotomy: a comparison of screw and K-wire fixation

AimsThe aim of this study was to compare the fixation stability and complications in patients undergoing periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) with either K-wire or screw fixation.Patients and methodsWe performed a retrospective study to analyze a consecutive series of patients who underwent PAO with either screw or K-wire fixation. Patients who were treated for acetabular retroversion or had previous surgery on the ipsilateral hip joint were excluded. 172 patients (191 hips: 99 K-wire/92 screw fixation) were included. The mean age at the time of PAO was 29.3 years (16–48) in the K-wire group and 27.3 (15–45) in the screw group and 83.9% were female. Clinical parameters including duration of surgery, minor complications (soft tissue irritation and implant migration) and major complications (implant failure and non-union) were evaluated. Radiological parameters including LCE, TA and FHEI were measured preoperatively, postoperatively and at 3-months follow-up.ResultsDuration of surgery was significantly reduced in the K-wire group with 88.2 min (53–202) compared to the screw group with 119.7 min (50–261) (p < 0.001). Soft tissue irritation occurred significantly more often in the K-wire group (72/99) than in the screw group (36/92) (p < 0.001). No group showed significantly more implant migration than the other. No major complications were observed in either group. Postoperative LCE, TA and FHEI were improved significantly in both groups for all parameters (p = < 0.0001). There was no significant difference for initial or final correction for the respective parameters between the two groups. Furthermore, no significant difference in loss of correction was observed between the two groups for the respective parameters.ConclusionK-wire fixation is a viable and safe option for fragment fixation in PAO with similar stability and complication rates as screw fixation. An advantage of the method is the significantly reduced operative time. A disadvantage is the significantly higher rate of implant-associated soft tissue irritation, necessitating implant removal.Level of evidenceIII, retrospective trial.

Growth arrest: leg length correction through temporary epiphysiodesis with a novel rigid staple (RigidTack).

Temporary epiphysiodesis (ED) is commonly applied in children and adolescents to treat leg length discrepancies (LLDs) and tall stature. Traditional Blount staples or modern two-hole plates are used in clinical practice. However, they require accurate planning, precise surgical techniques, and attentive follow-up to achieve the desired outcome without complications. This study reports the results of ED using a novel rigid staple (RigidTack) incorporating safety, as well as technical and procedural success according to the idea, development, evaluation, assessment, long-term (IDEAL) study framework. A cohort of 56 patients, including 45 unilateral EDs for LLD and 11 bilateral EDs for tall stature, were prospectively analyzed. ED was performed with 222 rigid staples with a mean follow-up of 24.4 months (8 to 49). Patients with a predicted LLD of ≥ 2 cm at skeletal maturity were included. Mean age at surgery was 12.1 years (8 to 14). Correction and complication rates including implant-associated problems, and secondary deformities as well as perioperative parameters, were recorded (IDEAL stage 2a). These results were compared to historical cohorts treated for correction of LLD with two-hole plates or Blount staples. The mean LLD was reduced from 25.2 mm (15 to 45) before surgery to 9.3 mm (6 to 25) at skeletal maturity. Implant-associated complications occurred in 4/56 treatments (7%), and secondary frontal plane deformities were detected in 5/45 legs (11%) of the LLD cohort. Including tall stature patients, the rate increased to 12/67 legs (18%). Sagittal plane deformities were observed during 1/45 LLD treatments (2%). Compared to two-hole plates and Blount staples, similar correction rates were observed in all devices. Lower rates of frontal and sagittal plane deformities were observed using rigid staples. Treatment of LLD using novel rigid staples appears a feasible and promising strategy. Secondary frontal and sagittal plane deformities remain a potential complication, although the rate seems to be lower in patients treated with rigid staples. Further comparative studies are needed to investigate this issue. Cite this article: Bone Joint J2021;103-B(8):1428-1437.

Growth modulation through hemiepiphysiodesis : Novel surgical techniques: risks and progress

The correction of angular deformities of the lower limb is a key task in paediatric orthopaedic surgery. The growth potential of the physis can be employed for the correction of these malalignments in childhood and adolescence. Hemiepiphysiodesis (HED) is asurgical technique used for growth modulation by permanent or temporary asymmetrical arrest of the growth plate. In permanent HED, exact timing of the procedure is mandatory to achieve optimal correction. Temporary HED through tension band devices such as two-hole-plates or flexible staples has been established as the treatment of choice for growth guidance with excellent results. Implant-associated complications have been significantly reduced through implant modifications. Several experimental procedures have the potential to achieve growth modulation even without the requirement of surgical intervention.

A biomechanical comparison of steel screws versus PLLA and magnesium screws for the Latarjet procedure

IntroductionThe fixation of the coracoid process onto the glenoid is an important step of the Latarjet procedure, and implant-associated complications are a relevant and severe problem. This study compares the fixation strength and failure mode of two biodegradable materials with stainless-steel screws.Methods24 Fresh-frozen cadaveric scapulae were divided into three groups of equal size and received a coracoid transfer. Cadavers were matched according to their bone mineral density (BMD). In group 1, small-fragment screws made of stainless steel were used. In the second group, magnesium screws were used, and in the third group, screws consisted of polylactic acid (PLLA). A continuously increasing sinusoidal cyclic compression force was applied until failure occurred, which was defined as graft displacement relative to its initial position of more than 5 mm.ResultsAt 5-mm displacement, the axial force values showed a mean of 374 ± 92 N (range 219–479 N) in group 1 (steel). The force values in group 2 (magnesium) had a mean of 299 ± 57 N (range 190–357 N). In group 3 (PLLA), failure occurred at 231 ± 83 N (range 109–355 N). The difference between group 1 (steel) and group 2 (magnesium) was not statistically significant (P = 0.212), while the difference between group 1 (steel) and group 3 (PLLA) was significant (P = 0.005).ConclusionStainless-Steel screws showed the highest stability. However, all three screw types showed axial force values of more than 200 N. Stainless steel screws and PLLA screws showed screw cut-out as the most common failure mode, while magnesium screws showed screw breakage in the majority of cases.EvidenceControlled laboratory study.

The Surgical Treatment of Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis using Carbon-Fiber–Reinforced Polyether Ether Ketone Implants: Personal Experience of a Series of 81 Consecutive Patients

Pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PSD) is a complex disorder that often required postoperative imaging. Carbon-fiber-reinforced polyether ether ketone (CFRP) is radiolucent and offers an optimal assessability of anatomic structures. A retrospective file review of patients who were operated on for PSD using CFRP implants was performed to assess the clinical outcome, implant-associated complications, and revision surgery. A minimum follow-up of 3 months was required for evaluation of clinical and radiographic data, which included computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment, to determine implant stability and assessability of soft tissue and nerve structures using a grading system. Eighty-one consecutive patients with a mean of 69.5 years were identified. Debridement and stabilization were performed in 8 cervical, 17 thoracic, and 57 lumbar procedures; 72 interbody fusion procedures using cages were performed. Intraoperatively, no implant-associated complication was noted. The mean follow-up was 7 months, at which 52 patients attended. Improved mobility and reduced pain levels were reported by 87%, and MRI assessability was graded ideal. Residual sign of infection was seen in 5 cases, which influenced antibiotic therapy. Asymptomatic radiolucent zones were identified in 13 patients (16%) and screw loosening in 2 (2.4%). In 1 patient, the pedicle screw tip broke and remained within the vertebral body. A repeated procedure because of progressive vertebral body destruction, implant loosening, or subsidence was performed in 5 patients (6.1%). The surgical treatment of PSD using CFRP is safe. The repeat procedure rate as a result of implant loosening is 6.1%. Minimal artifacts offer ideal assessability of soft tissue structures on an MRI.

Understanding Silicone Breast Implant-Associated Complications for Radiologists

미용적 성형 및 유방암 수술 후 재건의 목적으로 사용되는 실리콘 보형물의 사용이 국내외에서 크게 증가함에 따라 진료 영역에서 실리콘 보형물 삽입술을 받은 환자들을 어렵지 않게 접하게 되었다. 기존에 알려져 있던 보형물의 파열이나 구축과 같은 합병증 외에 최근에는 유방 보형물 연관 역형성 대세포 림프종과 같은 악성 종양과의 연관성도 보고되면서 보형물 관련한 영상 검사가 증가하고 있다. 이러한 상황에서 영상의학과 의사들은 보형물 삽입술을 받은 환자에 대해 어떤 검사가 필요하고 어떤 영상 소견이 보형물 관련 합병증을 시사하는지에 관한 충분한 지식을 갖추고 있어야 할 것이다. 본 종설에서는 영상의학과 의사들이 알아야 하는 실리콘 보형물의 다양한 합병증과 이들의 영상 소견에 대해 다루고자 한다.