Type IIIA Research Articles

Generalized pairwise comparisons of prioritized outcomes are a powerful and patient-centric analysis of multi-domain scores

BackgroundGeneralized pairwise comparisons (GPC) can be used to assess the net benefit of new treatments for rare diseases. We show the potential of GPC through simulations based on data from a natural history study in mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA (MPS IIIA).MethodsUsing data from a historical series of untreated children with MPS IIIA aged 2 to 9 years at the time of enrolment and followed for 2 years, we performed simulations to assess the operating characteristics of GPC to detect potential (simulated) treatment effects on a multi-domain symptom assessment. Two approaches were used for GPC: one in which the various domains were prioritized, the other with all domains weighted equally. The net benefit was used as a measure of treatment effect. We used increasing thresholds of clinical relevance to reflect the magnitude of the desired treatment effects, relative to the standard deviation of the measurements in each domain.ResultsGPC were shown to have adequate statistical power (80% or more), even with small sample sizes, to detect treatment effects considered to be clinically worthwhile on a symptom assessment covering five domains (expressive language, daily living skills, and gross-motor, sleep and pain). The prioritized approach generally led to higher power as compared with the non-prioritized approach.ConclusionsGPC of prioritized outcomes is a statistically powerful as well as a patient-centric approach for the analysis of multi-domain scores in MPS IIIA and could be applied to other heterogeneous rare diseases.

Congenital laryngo-tracheo-esophageal clefts: updates from a quaternary care pediatric airway unit

PurposeTo review the operative techniques, outcomes, and complications following surgery in pediatric patients with laryngo-tracheo-esophageal clefts (LTEC). We describe a new combined approach to treat long LTECs.MethodsTwenty-five patients underwent surgical repair for LTEC from March 2012 to July 2022 at our hospital. Every patient underwent a diagnostic endoscopy under general anesthesia and spontaneous ventilation to assess the LTEC and synchronous aero-digestive comorbidities/malformations. All patients underwent at least one surveillance endoscopy after the repair at our institution.ResultsThe patients had multiple other malformations, specifically gastro-intestinal, synchronous airway, and cardiac. The cleft distribution according to the modified Benjamin and Inglis classification was type I (n = 5, 20%), type II (n = 6, 24%), type IIIa (n = 8, 32%), type IIIb (n = 4, 16%), and type IVa (n = 2, 8%). The median follow-up was 44.6 months. Five patients (20%) had undergone previous cleft corrective surgery(s). Seven patients (28%) had partial to complete breakdown of the repair, needing additional intervention(s), and two required a combined—open plus endoscopic repair. Preoperatively, most patients (n = 18, 72%) needed a feeding assistance. At latest follow-up, feeding assistance was weaned off in 13 out of 18 patients, which was a 72% improvement. Ten patients (40%) needed ventilation assistance before the surgery. Post-operatively, ventilatory assistance was weaned off in 6 patients, meaning a 60% improvement.ConclusionLTEC are rare malformations, and their management needs precise diagnosis, appropriate surgical planning, and execution, and dedicated post-operative care. Primary and revision repair of long clefts with tracheal extension may require a combined approach.

Application value of high-frequency ultrasound combined with ultrasonography in the diagnosis of neonatal esophageal atresia.

To explore the application value of high-frequency ultrasound combined with ultrasonography in the diagnosis of neonatal esophageal atresia (EA). Seventy neonates with suspected EA who received healing in our hospital from August 2019 to April 2022 were retrospectively selected as the study subjects and their preoperative esophageal high-frequency ultrasound and ultrasound hydrography data were analysed. The diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound, ultrasound hydrography and combined detection in neonatal EA was analysed using intraoperative findings as the gold standard. (1) Among the 70 children with suspected EA, 62 were confirmed to be positive and 8 were negative; 59 were positive and 11 were negative by ultrasound hydrography alone; 61 were positive and 9 were negative by high-frequency ultrasound alone; 62 were positive and 8 were negative by combined detection.(2) The accuracy of combined detection was 97.14%, which was notably different from 92.86% by high-frequency ultrasound and 84.29% by ultrasound hydrography (P < 0.05).(3) The diagnostic AUC of ultrasound hydrography, high-frequency ultrasound, and combined detection for EA was 0.6125, 0.6500, and 0.6563, respectively (P < 0.05).(4) There was no significant variation in the distance between preoperative high-frequency ultrasound, ultrasound hydrography, and intraoperative measurements of distal and proximal blind ends of type IIIA and IIIB EA esophagus (P > 0.05). High frequency ultrasound and super fresh water injection angiography have good application value in the diagnosis of neonatal EA. There is no significant difference between the distance between the distal and proximal blind ends of the esophagus before and during the operation of type III EA and that during the operation of super fresh water injection angiography. However, in consideration of the risk of radiation and poisoning caused by esophagography, it is recommended that high-frequency ultrasound be selected first for diagnosis and if necessary, esophagography be supplemented for joint diagnosis.

Both Acetabular and Femoral Reconstructions With Impaction Bone Grafting in Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty: Case Series and Literature Review

BackgroundExtensive bone loss on femur and acetabulum posed a big challenge to orthopedists in total hip revision surgeries. Impaction bone grafting (IBG) as a valuable bone preservation technique could effectively address this problem. Either IBG revision on the femoral or acetabular side was well studied, while its use on both sides in one operation was not. The aim of this study is to present the outcomes of IBG on both femoral and acetabular sides at first-time hip revision. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 8 patients (mean follow-up of 5.8 years) undergoing first-time revision with IBG on both acetabular and femoral sides at our institution. The Paprosky classification system was used to classify bone defects. Freeze-dried allografts and cemented prostheses were used in all patients. Postoperative complications and rerevision rates were reported. ResultsFive patients presented a Paprosky type IIC acetabular defect, 3 with a type IIIB, IIIA, and IIC defect, respectively. Three patients presented with a type IV femoral defect, 3 with a type IIIB defect, and 2 with a type II defect. Two patients developed complications, while one had an intraoperative femoral fracture and one had delayed wound healing. At the latest follow-up, no patient had rerevisions or operations related to the prosthesis. ConclusionsIBG in combination with cemented prosthesis is a profitable biological reconstruction revision technique that could provide satisfying midterm outcomes. We first propose the use of blood clots mixed with bone grafts for potential bone incorporation enhancement, while its specific effects need to be verified in further studies.

Anaesthetic management for orthotopic liver transplantation in a patient with glycogen storage disease type IIIa

Anaesthetic management for orthotopic liver transplantation in a patient with glycogen storage disease type IIIa

Slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON) for use in ballistic and fire protection of military structures

The materials used for the architectural shielding of civil structures must protect against impacts, explosions, and fire. However, Portland cement-based concrete (OPC) degrades when exposed to high temperatures. These requirements and the limitations of OPC promotes research on alternative concretes for ballistic and fire protection uses. Therefore, this research analyzes the potential application of slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON) in constructing structures resistant to both fire and ballistic impacts. The SIFCON is based on the alkaline activation of ceramic waste (Ce) with the incorporation of short steel fibers (38 mm). Ballistic tests were conducted using 9 mm caliber ammunition with two types of weapons: the CZ 10P pistol (5 impacts) and the Beretta CX4 submachine gun (1 burst of 3 impacts). The results indicate that SIFCON-Ce exhibits greater thermal stability and fire resistance compared to SIFCON-OPC. Specifically, the residual flexural strength at 900 °C was 75.1 % for SIFCON-Ce and 46.1 % for SIFCON-OPC. Additionally, the inclusion of steel fibers enhanced the material's ability to resist impacts (9 mm caliber) generated by the CZ 10P pistol and Beretta CX4 submachine gun, leading to the classification of SIFCON as a suitable material for architectural armor, with protection levels of type II-A and III-A according to the NIJ 0108.01 standard.

Clinical Phenotype of Pediatric and Adult Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy With Four SMN2 Copies: Are They Really All Stable?

The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the clinical phenotypes associated with 4 SMN2 copies. Clinical phenotypes were analyzed in all the patients with 4 SMN2 copies as part of a nationwide effort including all the Italian pediatric and adult reference centers for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The cohort includes 169 patients (102 men and 67 women) with confirmed 4 SMN2 copies (mean age at last follow-up = 36.9 ± 19 years). Six of the 169 patients were presymptomatic, 8 were classified as type II, 145 as type III (38 type IIIA and 107 type IIIB), and 8 as type IV. The remaining 2 patients were asymptomatic adults identified because of a familial case. The cross-sectional functional data showed a reduction of scores with increasing age. Over 35% of the type III and 25% of the type IV lost ambulation (mean age = 26.8 years ± 16.3 SD). The risk of loss of ambulation was significantly associated with SMA type (p < 0.0001), with patients with IIIB and IV less likely to lose ambulation compared to type IIIA. There was an overall gender effect with a smaller number of women and a lower risk for women to lose ambulation. This was significant in the adult (p = 0.009) but not in the pediatric cohort (p = 0.43). Our results expand the existing literature on natural history of 4 SMN2 copies confirming the variability of phenotypes in untreated patients, ranging from type II to type IV and an overall reduction of functional scores with increasing age. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:1126-1135.

Vegetation description around the savanna flux measurement site at Benfontein Nature Reserve, South Africa

A flux tower with eddy covariance instruments was recently erected at Benfontein Nature Reserve (BNR) outside of Kimberley. An understanding of the landscape within the flux tower footprint, in this case natural vegetation, is necessary to interpret the data collected by the eddy covariance instruments. The tower was erected as part of the Expanded Freshwater and Terrestrial Environmental Observation Network (EFTEON) infrastructure initiative to establish long-term monitoring platforms focused on socially relevant terrestrial landscapes and their coupled hydrological systems. We sought to describe the vegetation within the flux tower footprint to set a baseline of the vegetation in the landscape at the inception of the long-term monitoring of flux measurements at BNR. Woody vegetation was surveyed in five square 1 ha plots while the herbaceous layer was sampled across 105 circular plots following the Socio-Ecological Observatory for Southern African Woodland (SEOSAW) protocol. Woody vegetation was quantified in terms of abundance, diversity and biomass, together with Size Class Distribution (SCD) methods to describe the woody vegetation structure. The herbaceous layer was described by species count, basal cover, biomass, and diversity which was assessed using the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index. Five tree species, dominated by Vachellia erioloba, were found in the plots. Recruits (0 and 1 m tall) were significantly more abundant than large trees (1.2–9.5 m high). The SCD for the woody vegetation yielded a Type IIIa curve i.e. populations missing one or more size classes, for all tree species except Ziziphus mucronata which yielded a Type IIIb curve representing a population missing small sized trees. The herbaceous layer was diverse, consisting of 10 grass and 32 forb species. Schmidtia pappophoroides was the dominant grass species in terms of count, basal cover and aboveground biomass. Herbaceous biomass was two times higher than that of woody vegetation, with the North plot contributing the highest biomass for herbaceous and woody vegetation. The results indicate that the vegetation around the flux tower represents a wooded grassland, which is a type of a savanna. These vegetation data will contribute to the interpretation of data collected by the flux tower instruments now and in the future. Furthermore, long-term data collection in this reserve is needed to capture the woody vegetation dynamics and its interaction with the herbaceous layer.

Alpha-Naphthoflavone as a Novel Scaffold for the Design of Potential Inhibitors of the APH(3')-IIIa Nucleotide-Binding Site of Enterococcus faecalis.

The spread of nosocomial infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecalis is one of the major threats to global health at present. While aminoglycosides are often used to combat these infections, their effectiveness is reduced by various resistance mechanisms, including aminoglycoside modifying enzymes, and there are currently no drugs to inhibit these enzymes. To address this issue, this study was conducted to identify potential aminoglycoside adjuvants from a database of 462 flavones. The affinity of these molecules with the nucleotide-binding site (NBS) of aminoglycoside phosphotransferase type IIIa of E. faecalis (EfAPH(3')-IIIa) was evaluated, and the five molecules with the highest binding energies were identified. Of these, four were naphthoflavones, suggesting that their backbone could be useful in designing potential inhibitors. The highest-ranked naphthoflavone, 2-phenyl-4H-benzo[h]chromen-4-one, was modified to generate two new derivatives (ANF2OHC and ANF2OHCC) to interact with the NBS similarly to adenine in ATP. These derivatives showed higher binding free energies, better stability in molecular dynamics analysis and superior pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles compared to the parent molecule. These findings suggest that these alpha-naphthoflavone derivatives are potential inhibitors of EfAPH(3')-IIIa and that this core may be a promising scaffold for developing adjuvants that restore the sensitivity of aminoglycosides.

External Fixator vs. Locking Compression Plate in “Supracutaneous” Mode for Open Distal Tibial Fractures: A Comparison on Economics, Union, Functional Outcome and Complications

Objectives Historically, in the pre-antiseptic era, there was a great fear of open tibial factors because of high incidence of infection eventually leading to amputation and in many cases septicemia and death. Despite improvements in surgical techniques in the last century, the optimum treatment for open type IIIa and Type II tibial farcture remains controversial. Literature available on use of Ex-fix as a definitive and permanent modality is very sparse and is not encouraging. In order to maintain biology of the fracture and to expedite the healing process many institutions and surgeons are using Locking compression plate as an external fixator which is fondly called as supracutaneous plating (SCP). Material and Methods The patients who had Gustilo and Anderson type II and IIIa # of distal Tibia were enrolled in this study. They were randomized into 2 groups. In one group (Ex-Fix) external fixator was applied in and in another group SCP was done. Four general indicators, including direct cost of hospitalization, first surgery time, time to full weight bearing, and time to complete union were compared between the groups. The functional outcome of the ankle was assessed. Presence of infection, Time to union was noted in both cases. Results Mean time to fracture union was statistically less in SCP group 5.84 months as compared to 7.21 months in Ex–fix group. Also, 12 patients in Ex-fix group had to undergo a reoperation as compare to only 1 in SCP group. This led to higher cost of expenditure and higher duration of stay in Ex-fix group. AOFAS Score, Teeny and Wiss were better in SCP group as compared to Ex-fix group. Conclusion Highlighting the role Of LCP in Supracutaneous mode as a definitive and final surgery , thus reducing the financial and psychological implication of reoperations in open grade and tibial fractures which are seen in patients managed with Ex-fix in definitive mode or as an interval for secondary nailing, we recommend the use of routine use of SCP in such tibial fractures after thorough debridement and diligent handling of soft tissue.

The use of an individual acetabular component for acetabular defect: a clinical case

BACKGROUND: The incidence of total hip replacements is increasing every year. Acetabular defects are becoming more frequent, with Paprosky type IIIA and above becoming more common. Recently, customized 3D-printed constructs have been used to remodel severe defects. We wanted to demonstrate the possibility of treating a patient with a severe acetabular defect by performing a one-stage revision endoprosthesis using a customized design.&#x0D; CLINICAL CASES DESCRIPTION: A 69-year-old patient underwent primary total hip replacement of the right hip joint with a Biomet endoprosthesis for coxarthrosis in 2010. In 2011 on the left side with a Zimmer endoprosthesis. In 2013 revision endoprosthesis of the right hip joint due to instability was preformed. In the postoperative period, there were repeated dislocations with subsequent closed repositioning. In 2015, revision endoprosthetic replacement with a Burkh-Schneider antiprotrusion ring was done for recurrent dislocation. In november 2017, she was diagnosed with instability of the right total hip joint, for which she underwent revision hip replacement with a customized acetabular component.&#x0D; HHS score before revision arthroplasty was 18 points, 1 month after surgery 75 points, after 3 months 65, after 6 months 82, after 4 years 74. Quality of life was assessed using the WOMAC scale: 92 points before surgery, 38 points 1 month after surgery, 31 points in 3 months, 15 points in 6 months, and 35 points in 4 years. As of the last visit, the patient moves with a cane, and still has a limp due to scar remodeling and gluteal muscles atrophy.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: In case of severe acetabular defects, the use of individual components allows achieving reliable "implantbone" fixation, which leads to improved functional results. However, in chronic pelvic bone integrity defects, the use of an individual acetabular component does not always achieve reliable stabilization. All existing methods for solving this problem are currently ambiguous and require further improvement.

Robotická chirurgie slinivky břišní v pankreatochirurgickém high-volume centru – první zkušenosti

Summary: Introduction: Robotic pancreatic surgery is still not widely used in the Czech Republic. On a global scale, it is gradually being systematically implemented, especially in high-volume centers. The study presents the first experiences with robotic pancreatic surgery in a pancreatic surgery high-volume center in the Czech Republic. Methods: Comparative analysis of the first ten patients operated on robotically for pancreatic pathology with a comparable group operated open (smaller procedures: left pancreatectomy with/without splenectomy, enucleation, central resection) evaluates age, length of hospitalization, ICU stay, blood loss and operative time using non-parametric Mann--Whitney U-test, and complications and rehospitalization using descriptive statistics. The results: The compared sets consist of 10 patients, 5 women, with a robotic procedure (5× enucleation, 4× distal pancreatectomy and central resection – median age 65.3 [46–76] years) and 10 patients, 5 women, with comparable open procedures (5× enucleation, 4× distal resection and central resection – median age 65.5 [52–78]years. Hospitalization length 4.5 days vs. 9 days (P = 0.0003) and operation time 275 min vs. 142 min (P = 0.004) were statistically different in the robotic vs open group. ICU stay and blood loss were lower in the robotic group, but not statistically significant, age was comparable. Complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification in the open group: 3× type II, 1× type IIIa, 1× type IIIb, in the robotic group 1× type II and 1× type IIIa. Rehospitalization in the open group was 2×, in the robotic group 1x, always for late postoperative complications. Conclusion: Robotic surgery of the pancreas is currently in its infancy in the Czech Republic. The experience so far with the first ten patients operated on using the DaVinci Xi robotic system has yielded promising results in form of shorter hospitalization, but at cost of longer operating time. Key words: pancreatectomy – enucleation – pancreas – robotics – minimal invasiveness – hospital stay – enhanced postsurgical recovery

Laparoscopic right hemi-hepatectomy plus total caudate lobectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma via anterior approach with augmented reality navigation: a feasibility study.

Right hemi-hepatectomy plus total caudate lobectomy is the appropriate procedure for type IIIa or partial type II pCCA. However, the laparoscopic implementation of this procedure remains technically challenging, especially hilar vascular dissection and en bloc resection of the total caudate lobe. Augmented reality navigation can provide intraoperative navigation to enhance visualization of invisible hilar blood vessels and guide the parenchymal transection plane. Eleven patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemi-hepatectomy plus total caudate lobectomy from January 2021 to January 2023 were enrolled in this study. Augmented reality navigation technology and the anterior approach were utilized in this operation. Routine operative and short-term postoperative outcomes were assessed to evaluate the feasibility of the novel navigation method in this operation. Right hemi-hepatectomy plus total caudate lobectomy was successfully performed in all 11 enrolled patients. Among the 11 patients, the mean operation time was 454.5 ± 25.0min and the mean estimated blood loss was 209.1 ± 56.1ml. Negative surgical margins were achieved in all patients. The postoperative course of all the patients was uneventful, and the mean length of postoperative hospital stay was 10.5 ± 1.2days. Laparoscopic right hemi-hepatectomy plus total caudate lobectomy via the anterior approach may be feasible and safe for pCCA with the assistance of augmented reality navigation.

Suggestion of a Novel Classification Based on the Anatomical Region and Type of Bilateral Fatigue Femoral Fractures.

Purpose: Bilateral fatigue femoral fractures (BFFF) represent an extremely rare clinical entity. The present study introduces a novel classification, in order to categorize the BFFFs and provide a thorough review of all these, so far in the literature, reported cases. Methods: The BFFF were classified taking into account the anatomical region of the femoral fracture; (fh): femoral head, (sc): sub-capital, (pt): peri-trochanteric, (st): sub-trochanteric, (s): shaft, (d): distal femur and the fracture type (complete or incomplete); type I: bilateral incomplete fractures, type II: unilateral incomplete fracture, and type III: bilateral complete fractures. Type III was further subdivided into type IIIA: bilateral non-displaced fractures, type IIIB: unilateral displaced fracture, and type IIIC: bilateral displaced fractures. Furthermore, a meticulous review of the PubMed and MEDLINE databases was conducted to locate all articles reporting these injuries. Results: A total of 38 patients (86.8% males), with a mean age of 25.3 years, suffering BFFFs were identified from the literature search. The mean time interval from symptoms' onset to diagnosis was 54 days. According to the proposed classification, 2.6% of the fractures were categorized as type I (h), 36.8% as type I (sc), 2.6% as type I(st/s), 7.9% as type I (s), 2.6% as type I (d), 5.4% as type II (fh), 26.3% as type II (sc), 2.6% as type IIIA (st), 2.6% as type IIIA (d), 5.4% as type IIIB (sc), 2.6% as type IIIB (d) and 2.6% as type IIIC (sc). Surgery was performed in 52.6%, while non-operative treatment was followed in 47.4% of the population. Regarding the fracture type, 75% of type I fractures were conservatively treated, while 91.7% and 66.6% of type II and III fractures were surgically treated. For patients treated conservatively, the mean time from diagnosis to return to previous status was 260 days, while for patients treated surgically, 343 days. Conclusions: BFFFs, although rare, may pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The present classification offers valuable information and may act as a guide for the management of these patients.

Comparison of cytokine levels in prostatic secretion between the IIIa and IIIb subtypes of prostatitis.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), also known as National Institutes of Health (NIH) type III prostatitis, is a common disorder with an unclear etiology and no known curative treatments. Based on the presence or absence of leukocytes in expressed prostatic secretion (EPS), CP/CPPS is classified further into IIIa (inflammatory) and IIIb (noninflammatory) subtypes. However, the severity of symptoms is not entirely consistent with the white blood cell (WBC) count. Following the preliminary finding of a link between inflammatory cytokines and CP/CPPS, we performed this clinical study with the aim of identifying cytokines that are differentially expressed according to whether the prostatitis subtype is IIIa or IIIb. We found that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were significantly elevated and interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) levels were downregulated in the EPS of patients with type IIIa prostatitis. In a word, it is a meaningful study in which we investigate the levels of various cytokines in EPS according to whether prostatitis is the IIIa or IIIb subtype. The combination of G-CSF, IL-18, MCP-1, IP-10, and PDGF-BB expression levels could form a basis for classification, diagnosis, and therapeutic targets in clinical CP/CPPS.

Application of a New Approach for Laparoscopic Resection of Bismuth IIIa Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) has a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis, and the best long-term prognosis can only be achieved by radical resection. However, the surgical steps are complicated, and the operating space is limited, making it hard to complete laparoscopically. So our team proposes a new surgical approach for laparoscopic left-liver-first anterior radical modular orthotopic right hemihepatectomy (Lap-Larmorh). In this way, we can simplify the operation steps and reduce the difficulty. Materials and Methods: We recorded and analyzed the clinical data of 26 patients with type IIIa HCCA, who underwent laparoscopic radical resection in our department from December 2018 to January 2023. According to the laparoscopic surgical approach, we divided the patients into the new approach (NA) group (n = 14) using the Lap-Lamorh and the traditional approach (TA) group (n = 12) not using the Lap-Lamorh. Results: All surgeries in this study were completed laparoscopically with no conversion to open surgery. The operation time in the NA group and TA group had statistically significant differences, which was 372.5 (332.8, 420.0) minutes versus 423.5 (385.8, 498.8) minutes (P = .019). The two groups showed no significant difference in other characteristics (P > .05). Only 1 patient suffered from transient liver failure due to portal vein thrombosis. Patients with pleural effusion or ascites were cured by catheter drainage and enhanced nutrition. Conclusion: Lap-Larmorh reduces the difficulty of serving the vessels at the second and third hepatic hilum by splitting the right and left livers early intraoperatively. The new approach is more suitable for the narrow space of laparoscopic surgery and reflects the no-touch principle of oncology.

Risk Factors for Wound Failure After Primary Closure of Type IIIA Open Tibia Fractures.

The objective of our investigation was to explore risk factors associated with primary closure of type IIIA tibial fractures resulting in subsequent flap coverage. A retrospective study identified 278 patients with acute type IIIA open tibial fractures who underwent primary closure at a single center during an 8-year period. Treatment factors, including the number of debridements before closure, duration of external fixation, and timing of wound closure, were reported. The primary outcome was complication requiring unplanned operation of the study injury resulting in flap coverage. Fifty-five (20%) patients underwent flap coverage following complication after attempted primary closure. Patients who required a flap experienced a 42% complication rate after delayed flap coverage. The limb salvage rate was 95% for the study population. Three significant complication predictors were identified: 3 or more debridements before closure (odds ratio [OR], 29.8; 95% CI, 5.9-150.1; P<.001), wound closure more than 2 days after injury (OR, 9.8; 95% CI, 1.6-60.2; P=.01), and external fixation more than 14 days (OR, 7.3; 95% CI, 1.6-34.6; P=.01). Patients who had 3 or more debridements before closure had a 70.7% chance of having a complication resulting in a flap (29 of 41) compared with only a 6.8% chance of complication for those who had 2 or fewer debridements (14 of 205; P<.001). Risk factors for complication after primary closure of type IIIA open tibial fractures include number of debridements, wound closure after 2 days, and external fixation use for more than 14 days. Wounds requiring 3 or more debridements failed 70.7% after closure, suggesting alternative approaches should be considered in more severe cases. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(2):108-112.].

Where Are We in 2022? A Summary of 11,000 Open Tibia Fractures Over 4 Decades.

To determine the infection and nonunion rates for open tibia fracture treatment over the past 4 decades since the introduction of the Gustilo-Anderson (GA) open fracture classification. PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were reviewed using the PRISMA checklist for articles between 1977 and September 2018. One hundred sixty-one articles meeting the following inclusion criteria: English language, published between 1977 and 2018, reported infection rates, reported nonunion rates, and fractures classified by the GA open fracture criteria were selected. All articles were thoroughly evaluated to extract infection and nonunion data for open tibia fractures. Due to variability in the data reviewed, statistical evaluation could not be reliably done. 11,326 open tibia fractures were reported with 17% type I, 25.2% type II, 25.3% type IIIA, and 32.5% type IIIB/C. The average infection rate over 4 decades was 18.3%, with 24.3% superficial, 11.2% deep, and 14.7% pin tract. The infection rate by decade was 14% for 1977-1986, 16.2% for 1987-1996, 20.5% for 1997%-2006%, and 18.1% from 2007 to 2017. The overall nonunion rate was 14.1%. The nonunion rate was 13% for 1977-1986, 17% for 1987-1996, 12.8% for 1997%-2006%, and 12.3% for 2007-2017. This in-depth summary has demonstrated that the percentage rate for infections and nonunion has remained similar over the past 40 years. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

A deep surgical site infection risk score for patients with open tibial shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nail

ObjectivesTo identify deep infection risk factors in patients with open tibial shaft fractures and to develop a scoring algorithm to predict the baseline deep infection risk in this patient population. MethodsA retrospective cohort study conducted at a single academic trauma center identified patients with open tibial shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nail fixation from December 2006 to October 2020. The primary outcome was a deep surgical site infection requiring surgical debridement. The outcome was identified by Current Procedural Terminology codes and confirmed with a medical chart review documenting evidence of a tibial draining wound or sinus tract. ResultsDeep surgical site infection occurred in 13% of patients (97/769). Factors that predicted deep surgical site infection were identified. Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB or IIIC was the strongest predictor with a 12-fold increase in the odds of deep infection (OR 11.8, p < 0.001). Additional factors included age >40 years (OR 1.7, p = 0.03), American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥3 (OR 1.9, p < 0.01), Gustilo-Anderson type IIIA vs. type I or II (OR 2.8, p = 0.004), and gunshot wounds (OR 2.9, p = 0.02). The risk scoring model predicted patients who would develop an infection with an acceptable level of accuracy (AUC 0.79). The risk score categorized patients from a low probability of deep infection 2%–6% with <10 points to high risk (58%–69%) with >40 points. ConclusionsThis risk score model predicts deep postoperative infection in patients with open tibial shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nails. The ability to accurately estimate deep infection risk at the time of presentation might aid patient expectation management and allow clinicians to focus infection prevention strategies on the high-risk subset of this population.

Treatment of Deep Mediastinal Infections Following Cardiac Surgery with Pectoral Muscle Flap

Introduction: Mediastinitis is a rare occurrence following cardiac surgeries; however, it is a significant cause of both mortality and morbidity. Given the significance of mediastinal infections, early diagnosis, and treatment become of paramount importance. The management of this condition necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, involving collaboration and coordination among various medical specialties. Patients and Methods: 21 patients with a diagnosis of deep mediastinal infection who were treated at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Medical Faculty Hospital between January 2015 and May 2021 were included in the study. Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, serial debridement, and vacuum-assisted closure were applied to all patients. Among the patients who exhibited negative blood cultures and developed granulation tissue, those with tissue losses that did not extend to the sternum incision sites were assessed for potential flap procedures in conjunction with plastic and reconstructive surgery. In such cases, closure of the wound was achieved using a pectoral muscle flap. All patients were followed for one year. Results: Among the patients, 14 (66.6%) were female and seven (33.3%) were male, with a mean age of 62.7 ± 6.5 (range: 41-76 years). Three of the 21 patients included in the study had type I, two had type II, and 16 had type IIIA mediastinitis. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was the most commonly isolated microorganism with 11 patients (52.3%). The right pectoralis major muscle was used in four patients (19%), the left pectoralis major muscle in four patients (19%), and the bilateral pectoralis major muscle in 13 patients (62%). There was no need for re-intervention in the follow-up of the patients. No mortality because of infection, surgical muscle flap closure, and/or cardiac causes was observed in any of the patients who were treated. Conclusion: Mediastinitis is a costly treatment, requiring prolonged hospitalization and carrying the risk of mortality. The main objective is to prevent the occurrence of mediastinitis. We believe that this objective should be pursued through a multidisciplinary approach involving cardiovascular surgery, infectious diseases, and plastic and reconstructive surgery units.