As uptake of robotic-assisted arthroplasty increases there is a need for economic evaluation of the implementation and ongoing costs associated with robotic surgery. The aims of this study were to describe the in-hospital cost of robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) and robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (RA-UKA) and determine the influence of patient characteristics and surgical outcomes on cost. This prospective cohort study included adult patients (≥ 18 years) undergoing primary unilateral RA-TKA and RA-UKA, at a tertiary hospital in Sydney between April 2017 and June 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGreen roofs have been increasingly used to improve stormwater management, but poor vegetation performance on roof systems, varying with vegetation type, can degrade discharge quality. Biochar has been suggested as an effective substrate additive for green roofs to improve plant performance and discharge quality. However, research on the effects of biochar and vegetation on discharge quality in the long term is lacking and the underlying mechanisms involved are unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This study compares the symptomatic 90-day venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates in patients receiving aspirin to patients receiving low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), after total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
Methods: Data were collected from a multi-centre cohort study, including demographics, confounders and prophylaxis type (aspirin alone, LMWH alone, aspirin and LMWH, and DOACs). The primary outcome was symptomatic 90-day VTE.
Objective: This study aims to compare the relative reliability and accuracy of TT-TG measurements in EOS with that of MRI in a paediatric population.
Methods: Patients were included if they underwent both an MRI and EOS scans and were under the age of 16. Two authors recorded the TT-TG distances on each modality at two separate time points.
Background: Acute heart failure (AHF) hospitalization presents an opportunity to optimize pharmacotherapy to improve outcomes.
Objectives: This study's aim was to define eligibility for initiation of guideline-directed medical therapy and newer heart failure (HF) agents from recent clinical trials in the AHF population.
Methods: The authors analyzed patients with an AHF admission within the CAN-HF (Canadian Heart Failure) registry between January 2017 and April 2020.
Background: Aspirin and enoxaparin are commonly used for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis following total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to compare non-adherence after discharge to aspirin or enoxaparin following THA or TKA.
Methods: A subset of participants in the CRISTAL study were selected for participation.
Background: Owing to its association with prosthetic joint infection, persistent wound drainage has become an important clinical entity after THA or TKA. The association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis and persistent wound drainage has not been extensively reported before but has potentially important clinical implications.
Questions/purposes: (1) Is the type of VTE prophylaxis (enoxaparin or aspirin) used after hip arthroplasty or knee arthroplasty associated with a higher risk of persistent wound drainage? (2) In patients who experience persistent wound drainage, is the type of VTE prophylaxis associated with a longer time taken to achieve a dry wound? (3) Is type of VTE prophylaxis associated with a higher risk of joint-related reoperation within 6 months?
Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from an earlier cluster-randomized trial conducted through the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry; data were drawn from two participating hospitals from that study.
Winter deicers, though essential for maintaining safe pavement conditions in winter, increase chloride (Cl) concentrations in receiving water bodies above recommended environmental guidelines. Zero-exfiltration or lined permeable pavement is an important technological innovation for controlling particulate-bound pollutants at the source. As stormwater does not infiltrate into the ground, soluble pollutants like Cl are ultimately discharged into receiving water bodies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOver the past several decades, the value of drinking water treatment residuals (WTRs), a byproduct of the coagulation process during water purification, has been recognized in various environmental applications, including sustainable remediation of phosphorus (P)-enriched soils. Aluminum-based WTRs (Al-WTRs) are suitable adsorbent materials for P, which can be obtained and processed inexpensively. However, given their heterogeneous nature, it is essential to identify an easily analyzable chemical property that can predict the capability of Al-WTRs to bind P before soil amendment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderstanding the failure modes and the fracture resistance is critical in evaluating the performance of an adhesive for sternal fixation. In this paper, a fracture mechanics testing methodology was used to assess the adhesion of a bioactive glass-based adhesive to bovine bone in terms of a measured mode I critical strain energy release rate (G). Reinforced double cantilever beam (DCB) samples were observed to produce repeatable values of G.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This a priori statistical analysis plan describes the analysis for CRISTAL.
Methods: CRISTAL (cluster-randomised, crossover, non-inferiority trial of aspirin compared to low molecular weight heparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in hip or knee arthroplasty, a registry nested study) aims to determine whether aspirin is non-inferior to low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in preventing symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) following hip arthroplasty (HA) or knee arthroplasty (KA). The study is nested within the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.
Objectives: To investigate patient demographics, injury characteristics, radiographic outcomes, and identify risk factors for developing posttraumatic arthritis in high-energy transsyndesmotic ankle fracture dislocations or "logsplitter" injuries.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Setting: Academic level one trauma center.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare but increasingly recognised cause of acute coronary syndrome. While numerous risk factors are associated with SCAD, one potential cause is coronary artery vasospasm. The use of cabergoline-an ergot derivative and dopamine agonist that may induce vasospasm-has been associated with SCAD in one other case report worldwide.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To trial the use of three-dimensional (3D) printed skull models to guide safe pin placement in two patients with diastrophic dysplasia (DTD) requiring prolonged pre-fusion halo-gravity traction (HGT).
Methods: Two sisters aged 8 (ML) and 4 (BL) with DTD were planned for staged fusion for progressive kyphoscoliosis. Both sisters were admitted for pre-fusion HGT.
Background: Aspirin is perceived to be non-inferior to enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin, for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following elective arthroplasty of the hip or knee and is recommended in clinical guidelines internationally. Previous systematic reviews of aspirin as VTE prophylaxis have been limited by the inclusion of heterogenous studies where aspirin is commenced after the initial high-risk postoperative period. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy and associated harms of aspirin and enoxaparin when used as VTE prophylaxis in the initial postoperative period following elective arthroplasty of the hip or knee.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious complication following hip arthroplasty (HA) and knee arthroplasty (KA). This study aims to determine whether aspirin is non-inferior to low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in preventing symptomatic VTE following HA and KA.
Methods And Analysis: This is a cluster randomised, crossover, non-inferiority, trial nested within the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR).
Stainless steel wires are the standard method for sternal closure because of their strength and rigidity, the simplicity of the process, and the short healing time that results from their application. Despite this, problems still exist with sternal stability due to micromotion between the two halves of the dissected and wired sternum. Recently, a novel glass-based adhesive was developed which, in cadaveric trials and in conjunction with wiring, was shown to restrict this micromotion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Research has shown that inpatients may not accurately report interacting with a pharmacist.
Objective: To determine accuracy of patients' recollection of meeting with a pharmacist at 2 acute care teaching hospitals in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Methods: Retrospective review of 391 surveyed patients discharged from April 2013 to March 2014.