The value of suction drainage fluid culture during aseptic and septic orthopedic surgery: a prospective study of 901 patients.

There are no guidelines on the value of suction drainage fluid culture (SDC), and it is difficult to determine whether the organisms cultured from suction drainage fluid samples are pathogenic or simply contaminants. We performed 2989 cultures of suction drainage fluid samples obtained, during a 1-year period, from 901 patients who underwent aseptic or septic orthopedic surgery (946 operations). The culture results were analyzed to evaluate their ability to detect postoperative infection after aseptic operations or to detect either a persistent or new episode of sepsis in patients known to have infection.

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) for the treatment of osteomyelitis: evaluation of efficacy, tolerance and cost.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and cost of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) in the treatment of osteomyelitis.

Subjects: 39 patients with an osteomyelitis requiring parenterally administered antibiotics for more than 4 weeks, and able to receive antibiotics at home.

Methods: All patients had a totally implanted catheter.

Combined injuries in the upper cervical spine: clinical and epidemiological data over a 14-year period.

Concomitant traumatic injuries in the upper cervical spine are often encountered and rarely reported. We examined the data concerning 784 patients with cervical spine injuries following trauma, including 116 patients with upper cervical spine injuries. Twenty-six percent of patients with upper cervical spine injuries (31 cases) were found to have combined injuries involving either the upper or the upper and lower cervical spine.

[Acute compartment syndrome in the thigh: 3 cases].

We report three cases of compartment syndrome in the thigh related to drug intoxications. Compartment syndrome is an uncommon condition often diagnosed late as it may occur in unconscious patients. The typical clinical presentation begins with pain of the lower limb refractory to major antagesics.

[MacFarland fractures. A series of 24 cases].

Purpose Of The Study: MacFarland fracture is a joint fracture of the ankle in children. The fracture line passes through the medial part of the lower epiphyseal disk of the tibia. Prognosis is dominated by later risk of malalignment and osteoarthritis.