Intraoperative Femur Fracture Risk During Primary Direct Anterior Approach Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty With and Without a Fracture Table.

Background: There is no study to date comparing intraoperative femur fractures (IFFs) in the direct anterior approach (DAA) with and without a fracture table. We hypothesize that there is no significant difference in the IFF with and without a fracture table when performed by experienced DAA hip surgeons.

Methods: This study is a 1-year retrospective review of patients who underwent DAA total hip arthroplasty by 2 surgeons: one surgeon uses a flat table and manually elevates the femur with a large bone hook, while the other surgeon uses a fracture table and a mechanical femoral elevator.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Patients with a History of Total Joint Replacement.

As the population ages and people remain active into the 7th and 8th decades of life, the frequency of total joint replacement is increasing. Following joint replacement surgery, patients inevitably require various invasive procedures as part of their routine health maintenance, including, but not limited to, dental care, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, and cardiac catheterization. There is scant evidence to support the use of periprocedural prophylactic antibiotics in the prevention of late total joint infection.

Effects of Tranexamic Acid Cytotoxicity on In Vitro Chondrocytes.

Use of topical tranexamic acid (TXA) in orthopedic surgery has been expanding over the past decade, with increasing evidence confirming reductions in perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirements, but there is minimal evidence regarding effects of TXA on native cartilage. We conducted a study to understand the in vitro effects of TXA on bovine cartilage and murine chondrocytes and ultimately to expand the clinical application of topical TXA to include scenarios with retained native cartilage, such as hemiarthroplasty. Bovine cartilage explants were exposed to TXA at a concentration of 100 mg/mL, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) release and cell viability were measured at 8, 24, and 48 hours.

Paralytic ileus in the orthopaedic patient.

Paralytic ileus is marked by the cessation of bowel motility. This condition is a major clinical concern that may lead to severe patient morbidity in orthopaedic surgery and trauma patients. Ileus most commonly occurs following spinal surgery, traumatic injury, or lower extremity joint reconstruction, but it may also occur following minor orthopaedic procedures.

J-splint use for temporizing management of pediatric femur fractures: a review of 18 cases.

Objectives: Pediatric femoral fractures are common injuries encountered in the field and in emergency departments. Currently described temporizing management strategies include skeletal traction, skin traction, traction splinting, and posterior splinting, all of which are suboptimal in some instances. J-splinting femur fractures may be advantageous in temporizing management of pediatric femur fractures.

Cost benefit analysis of topical tranexamic acid in primary total hip and knee arthroplasty.

The purpose of this study was to provide a cost-benefit analysis of topical tranexamic acid (TXA) in primary total hip and knee arthroplasty patients. A retrospective cohort of 591 consecutive patients, 311 experimental and 280 control, revealed a transfusion rate reduction from 17.5% to 5.

Primary knee arthrodesis for severe crystalline arthropathy.

Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis involving deposition of monosodium urate crystals within a diarthroidal joint. In this article, we report the case of a 54-year-old man who had severe, uncontrolled gout and presented with a 10-year history of knee pain. On consideration of all patient factors, including age, desired functional level, significant bone loss, periarticular soft-tissue masses, significant ligamentous instability, and difficult access to health care, knee arthrodesis was the surgery of choice.

Predicting pulmonary embolus in orthopedic trauma patients using the Wells score.

The decision to perform computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) to rule out pulmonary embolism (PE) in orthopedic trauma patients is challenging. The Wells score is a commonly used clinical probability tool developed to determine the likelihood of PE and assist in determining the need for CTPA examination. This study evaluated the usefulness of the Wells score for predicting PE in patients admitted to the orthopedic trauma service.

Rehabilitation for total joint arthroplasty.

Total hip and knee replacement are two of the most common and successful elective surgeries preformed in the United States each year. Preoperative medical preparation and postoperative rehabilitation are equally important to a successful outcome. Physical deconditioning, tobacco use, obesity and medical co-morbidities can adversely affect outcomes and should be addressed before any elective procedure.

Current thoughts on ankle arthritis.

The ankle is the most commonly injured joint in athletic and work activities. In contrast, osteoarthritis of the ankle joint is relatively rare and is typically post-traumatic or inflammatory in nature. Common symptoms that prompt an orthopaedic consultation include pain, disability and altered gait mechanics.

Management of the 'young' patient with hip disease.

Although hip arthritis typically affects older patients, there is a rapidly growing population of "young" patients experiencing debilitating symptoms from hip disease. Most commonly, osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis affect this population, but a variety of other primary structural and metabolic causes can also occur. The expectations of these younger patients are often distinct from geriatric patients, and the challenges in optimizing their care are unique in this demanding population.