The Efficacy of Biodegradable Temporising Matrix for Upper Limb Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy of the biodegradable temporising matrix (BTM) (NovoSorb; PolyNovo Biomaterials Pty Ltd, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) in the reconstruction of complex upper extremity wounds. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines assessing the efficacy of BTM in complex upper extremity wound reconstruction. The primary outcome measures were successful BTM integration and the proportion of wounds healed.

EarLy Exercise in blunt Chest wall Trauma: A multi-centre, parallel randomised controlled trial (ELECT2 Trial).

Introduction: The aim of this trial was to investigate the impact of early thoracic and shoulder girdle exercises on chronic pain and Health-Related Quality of Life in patients with blunt chest wall trauma, when compared to normal care.

Methods: A multi-centre, parallel, randomised controlled trial, in which adult patients presenting to hospital with blunt chest wall trauma were allocated to either control or intervention group. The intervention was an exercise programme consisting of four simple thoracic and shoulder girdle exercises, completed for one week.

A Systematic Review of the Learning Curves of Novices and Trainees to Achieve Proficiency in Laparoscopic Skills: Virtual Reality Simulator Versus Box Trainer.

Laparoscopic surgery, established in the 1980s, has become a primary treatment method across various surgical specialities due to its advantages over open surgery, including shorter recovery times and fewer complications. Mastery of laparoscopic skills is essential for novice and junior trainees, who must develop hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and instrument handling. This systematic review examines the learning curves of novices using box trainers compared to those using virtual reality (VR) simulators to attain proficiency in laparoscopic skills.

A Case of Hyperammonemia Not Attributable to Liver Disease and Treated With IV Ammonia Scavengers.

Hyperammonemia is a serious metabolic condition marked by elevated ammonia levels in the blood, leading to neurological damage and systemic complications if untreated. While often associated with liver dysfunction, inborn metabolic errors such as fatty acid oxidation defects, pyruvate metabolism disorders, urea cycle disorders (UCDs), urea splitting bacterial infections, hemato-oncological disorders, and portosystemic shunts are less commonly recognized but significant causes, particularly outside neonatal populations. These metabolic errors, due to partial enzyme deficiencies, may present later in life with atypical symptoms.

Hormone replacement therapy and non-gynaecological cancers.

Background: There is lack of knowledge and awareness about HRT use in non-gynaecological cancer survivors. The decision to advocate or discourage HRT in such women depends on various factors, including cancer type, hormone sensitivity, and individual patient characteristics. The paucity of available good quality clinical evidence and epidemiological data leads to lack of consensus in such cases.

Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis Associated With Contralateral Pansinusitis: A Case Report.

A healthy woman in her 60s presented acutely with right-sided periorbital edema, erythema, neck pain, and fever. Initial examination and investigations suggested right-sided orbital cellulitis with contralateral pansinusitis. Despite treatment with IV antibiotics, her symptoms worsened, and inflammatory markers continued to rise.

Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) in a 32-Year-Old Male Presenting With a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).

This case report describes a 32-year-old male with a familial history of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), presenting with right-sided weakness and visual disturbances. The symptoms, consistent with a transient ischemic attack (TIA), resolved spontaneously. Subsequent evaluation, including MRI brain imaging, revealed a high T2 signal in subcortical white matter in the frontal and parietal lobes, consistent with CADASIL.

Two-Centre Retrospective Analysis on Selective Sensory Denervation of Shoulder Joint by Means of Cooled Radiofrequency in Chronic Shoulder Pain.

Purpose: Radiofrequency ablation has been used to treat chronic shoulder pain with mixed results. Thanks to recent anatomical studies, the precise location of articular branches of the suprascapular, lateropectoral and axillary nerves has been determined. Cooled radiofrequency is a neuroablative modality of treatment which has been demonstrated as efficient in different anatomical locations, and targeting the aforementioned nerves could result in a complete and efficient denervation of the shoulder.

Trends in the incidence and mortality of cervical, ovarian, and corpus uteri cancers in Wales, UK: A joinpoint regression analysis from 2002 to 2021.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to examine the secular trends of cervical, ovarian, and corpus uteri neoplasm in Wales, UK, over the period from 2002 to 2021. We aimed to identify changes in the incidence and mortality rates of these cancers to inform future healthcare policies and cancer prevention programs.

Methods: We sourced incidence data from 2002 to 2019 and mortality data from 2002 to 2021 from the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit.

Assessment of the carbon footprint of total hip arthroplasty and opportunities for emission reduction in a UK hospital setting.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the carbon footprint associated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) in a UK hospital setting, considering various components within the operating theatre. The primary objective was to identify actionable areas for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable orthopaedic practices.

Methods: Using a life-cycle assessment approach, we conducted a prospective study on ten cemented and ten hybrid THA cases, evaluating carbon emissions from anaesthetic room to recovery.

Ethnic Diversity and Distinctive Features of Familial Versus Multifactorial Chylomicronemia Syndrome: Insights From the UK FCS National Registry.

Background: Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. This study aimed to study the genotype distribution of FCS-causing genes in the United Kingdom, genotype-phenotype correlation, and clinical differences between FCS and multifactorial chylomicronemia syndrome (MCS).

Methods: The study included 154 patients (FCS, 74; MCS, 80) from the UK FCS national registry and the UK arm of the FCS International Quality Improvement and Service Evaluation Project.

Materials-based incidence of urinary catheter associated urinary tract infections and the causative micro-organisms: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Both long (> 30 days) and short-term (≤ 30 days) catheterisation has been associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to the invasive nature of device insertion through the urethra. Catheter associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) are common (prevalence of ~ 8.5%) infections which can be treated with antibiotics; however, CAUTIs are both expensive to treat and contributes to the antibiotic usage crisis.

Artificial Intelligence as a Consent Aid for Carpal Tunnel Release.

Background Hand surgeons have been charged with the use of diverse modalities to enhance the consenting process following the Montgomery ruling. Artificial Intelligence language models have been suggested as patient education tools that may aid consent. Methods We compared the quality and readability of the Every Informed Decision Online (EIDO) patient information leaflet for carpal tunnel release with the artificial intelligence language model Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (GPT).

The prescription and monitoring of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs: British Society for Rheumatology guideline scope.

This guideline will provide up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations on the safe use of non-biologic DMARDs, also called conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARD), across the full spectrum of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The guideline will update the guideline published in 2017 and will be expanded to include people of all ages. Updated information on the monitoring of DMARDs and vaccinations will be included.

A Case of Pyocolpos in a Postmenopausal Woman With a History of Lichen Sclerosus and Postmenopausal Bleeding.

Pyocolpos refers to the buildup of pus within the vaginal cavity. Pyocolpos in the background of lichen sclerosis and postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) has not been previously described. A 69-year-old para 3 patient presented with a history of PMB with a long-standing history of lichen sclerosis.

Autoimmune hepatitis in teenage pregnancy with good obstetric outcome.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare liver disorder having long-standing inflammatory features. It classically affects women of reproductive age and can have adverse maternal and fetal outcomes during the pregnancy. The course of the disease is unpredictable and there have been flares even in stable patients.

Surgical management of the diabetic foot: The current evidence.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its associated complications, particularly diabetic foot pathologies, poses significant healthcare challenges and economic burdens globally. This review synthesises current evidence on the surgical management of the diabetic foot, focusing on the interplay between neuropathy, ischemia, and infection that commonly culminates in ulcers, infections, and, in severe cases, amputations. The escalating incidence of diabetes mellitus underscores the urgency for effective management strategies, as diabetic foot complications are a leading cause of hospital admissions among diabetic patients, significantly impacting morbidity and mortality rates.