Vancomycin Powder Use in Fractures at High Risk of Surgical Site Infection.

Objectives: To determine if the use of intrawound vancomycin powder reduces surgical-site infection after open reduction and internal fixation of bicondylar tibial plateau, tibial pilon, and calcaneus fractures.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: Level I trauma center.

Topical Vancomycin Powder Decreases the Proportion of Staphylococcus aureus Found in Culture of Surgical Site Infections in Operatively Treated Fractures.

Objectives: To determine whether patients with operatively treated fractures and surgical site infection after use of topical vancomycin powder have a lower proportion of Staphylococcus aureus infections than patients who did not receive topical vancomycin powder.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Level I trauma center.

Volar capsulodesis of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint at the time of basal joint arthroplasty: a surgical technique using suture anchors.

Purpose: To document the long-term results of our volar metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint capsulodesis technique that is completed concomitantly with basal joint arthroplasty and involves a suture anchor placement, short-term pinning, and a rigid hand therapy protocol.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review to examine results over a 30-month period of our volar capsulodesis technique. Follow-up results were recorded 26 to 48 months after surgery.

Latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for massive, irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears: surgical technique.

Massive rotator cuff tears remain a complex and challenging problem for both the patient and the surgeon. Although significant advancements in surgical techniques as well as technology for arthroscopic and mini-open rotator cuff repairs have been made, many massive tears result in failed repair with continued progressive tendon retraction and degeneration. In cases when primary tendon to bone healing is impractical, latissimus dorsi tendon transfer provides promising and reproducible clinical results.

Risk stratified usage of antibiotic-loaded bone cement for primary total knee arthroplasty: short term infection outcomes with a standardized cement protocol.

Efficacy of antibiotic cement (ALBC) in primary knee arthroplasty (pTKA) has been debated. The study's purpose was to examine efficacy of ALBC versus plain cement (PBC) in preventing infection in high-risk patients undergoing pTKA. 3292 consecutive pTKAs were divided into three cohorts: (1) patients receiving only PBC, (2) patients receiving only ALBC, and (3) only high-risk patients receiving ALBC.

Lateral lumbar interbody fusion for the correction of spondylolisthesis and adult degenerative scoliosis in high-risk patients: early radiographic results and complications.

Background: Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is not associated with many of the complications seen in other interbody fusion techniques. This study used computed tomography (CT) scans, the radiographic gold standard, to assess interbody fusion rates achieved utilizing the LLIF technique in high-risk patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent LLIF between January 2008 and July 2013.

Establishing a role for vancomycin powder application for prosthetic joint infection prevention-results of a wear simulation study.

Topical vancomycin powder (VP) has shown efficacy and safety in decreasing post-operative spine infections. VP use in arthroplasty has not been established. Concerns remain for third-body wear with the addition of crystalline substrate at the implant interface.

Interscapulothoracic (forequarter) amputation for malignant tumors involving the upper extremity: surgical technique and case series.

Background: Forequarter amputation (FQA) is reserved for large, multifocal, or recurrent tumors affecting the shoulder and upper extremity. Although it is performed less frequently with the advancement of limb salvage surgery, FQA remains an important treatment in select patients. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the surgical technique in a case series of 4 patients.

Pain dominates summed scores for hindfoot and ankle trauma.

Background: Outcomes in clinical orthopaedic research are often presented as a summed functional score, without the individual component scores. Thus, there is little information about the effect of each component score on the overall score in hindfoot and ankle trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine which subscores were most responsible for the overall variation in summed scores and to evaluate the correlation of multiple scoring systems after foot and ankle fractures or reconstruction.

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors of the foot and ankle.

Background: Peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) are soft tissue neoplasms found in intimate association with a peripheral nerve. They are rarely seen in the foot and ankle where they have an innocuous appearance, but these tumors have the potential to become malignant. This study reports a large series of foot and ankle PNSTs surgically treated at a single institution.

The surgical management of symptomatic peripheral nerve sheath tumors.

Objective: To determine the clinical presentation and morbidity of the surgical management of peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs).

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of surgically treated PNSTs at the University of Miami between 1991 and 2008.

Results: There were a total of 140 cases, including 87 schwannomas, 34 neurofibromas, and 19 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs).

Creation of a drug-coated glaucoma drainage device using polymer technology: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Objective: To create and test a slow-release antifibrotic drug-coated glaucoma drainage device using in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Methods: A slow-release device incorporating mitomycin C in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) disks was developed using redox-polymerization techniques. A standardized preparation of this drug delivery device was attached to the Ahmed glaucoma valve (model FP7; New World Medical, Inc, Rancho Cucamonga, California).

Fungating soft-tissue sarcomas. Treatment implications and prognostic importance of malignant ulceration.

Background: Several variables have been reported as being prognostic with regard to the outcomes of soft-tissue sarcomas. Although the tumors are subjectively ominous, no prior study has been performed to evaluate the treatment or prognosis of fungating soft-tissue sarcomas.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all soft-tissue sarcomas treated at our institution between 1989 and 2004 that had been followed for a minimum of two years or until the death of the patient.

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma in a cesarean-section scar presenting as a fungating mass.

We report a case of a benign multicystic mesothelioma, which presented as a fungating mass through the anterior abdominal wall and arose in a cesarean-section scar without direct peritoneal involvement. A wide local excision was done and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient is asymptomatic at 3 years' follow-up.