Surgical Site Infections in Posterior Lumbar Surgery: A Controlled-Cohort Study of Epidural Steroid Paste.

Study Design: A retrospective, single-center cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing posterior lumbar decompression between 2007 and 2013 was conducted.

Objective: To compare rates of surgical site infection between matched cohorts of patients undergoing lumbar surgery with and without intraoperative application of epidural steroid pastes.

Summary Of Background Data: Epidural steroid agents reduce postoperative pain and inflammation following lumbar surgery, reducing the use of postoperative narcotics and improving McGill pain scores.

Tibiotalocalcaneal Fusion for Severe Deformity and Bone Loss.

Tibiotalocalcaneal fusion is an effective salvage procedure for combined end-stage ankle and subtalar arthrosis and for the management of severe planar deformities of the ankle and hindfoot. Although the procedure results in a rigid ankle and hindfoot, it is often the only means of providing patients with a stable and painless foot and ankle for ambulation. Some patients who require the procedure have substantial bone loss that can be managed with a variety of autograft and allograft options.

Special note: preliminary findings--epidural steroid paste in posterior lumbar surgery: surgical site complications in a case-controlled cohort.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis of consecutive, case-matched patients.

Objective: To determine the risk of acute postoperative complications in patients receiving epidural steroid paste.

Summary Of Background Data: Epidural steroid agents reduce postoperative pain and inflammation after lumbar surgery, reducing postoperative narcotic use and improving McGill pain scores.

Synovial inflammation in patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy: molecular characterization and relationship to symptoms.

Objective: Traumatic and degenerative meniscal tears have different anatomic features and different proposed etiologies, yet both are associated with the development or progression of osteoarthritis (OA). In established OA, synovitis is associated with pain and progression, but a relationship between synovitis and symptoms in isolated meniscal disease has not been reported. Accordingly, we sought to characterize synovial pathology in patients with traumatic meniscal injuries and determine the relationships between inflammation, meniscal and cartilage pathology, and symptoms.