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BACKGROUND CONTEXT Prophylactic drain placement is common practice in the prevention of interstitial fluid collection, hematoma, and/or pseudomeningocele after spine surgery. However, there is no standard protocol for the management of drains, specifically regarding when they should be removed. PURPOSE To compare surgical outcomes based on drain duration and quantity of drain output before removal. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE Patients >18 years of age who underwent lumbar spinal surgery with drain placement and available drain output data. OUTCOME MEASURES Thirty- and 90-day readmission, number of surgical take-backs during readmission, wound complication rate, and infection rate. Methods A retrospective review of patients at a single academic institution undergoing lumbar surgery from April 2017 to March 2020 was performed. Patient demographics, 8-hour drain output before removal, and duration of drain were retrospectively reviewed. Cohorts were dichotomized by the 3rd quartile for last 8-hour drain output (≥40cc or 2 days or ≤2 days). Results A total of 1,166 patients were included in the analysis. The mean duration of drains was 2.45 days, last 8-hour shift output was 29.5 mL, levels fused 1.93, and length of stay was 3.76 days. The readmission rate was 9.51% with 69.4% occurring in the first 30 days and 28.8% within 90 days after discharge. The prevalence of infection was 1.63% and wound complication was 0.6%. Of total patients, 342 had ≥40 cc output over last 8-hour shift prior to removal, and 825 patients had less than 40 cc. The mean output for each group was 65.3 mL and 14.7 mL, respectively. Patients in the ≥40 cc group were younger age (p 2 days group and 687 patients in the ≤2 days group. Drains remaining for >2 days were associated with older (p=0.03) and female (p=0.01) patients, with a greater number of levels fused (p Conclusions The duration of drain placement or output at removal after lumbar spine surgery does not appear to influence the rates of infection, wound complications, readmission, or revision surgery. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

Significance: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are associated with high morbidity, mortality, and health costs. Standard care (SC) associated with nonsurgical offloading is the mainstay treatment for DFUs, but it has high recurrence and infection rates. Metatarsal head resection (MHR) has been proposed as an effective surgical offloading technique for the treatment of plantar neuropathic DFUs, but with no evidence synthesis yet. Recent Advances: Based on PRISMA guidelines, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy of MHR. Four electronic databases were searched for. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 477 patients (494 feet and 593 neuropathic forefoot ulcers). The studies included three retrospective comparative studies and eight case series. Critical Issues: Meta-analytical results of comparative studies on recent noninfected DFUs showed MHR having significantly better rates of healing, time to healing, ulcer recurrence, and infection than SC. Failure to heal, recurrence, and infection rates were 4 times higher in the SC group than in the MHR group, and the amputation rate was two times higher in the SC group than in the MHR group. The outcomes of the meta-analysis of case series on chronic and recalcitrant ulcers treated with MHR were similar. Future Directions: Considering the natural history of DFUs treated conservatively and the satisfactory outcomes with a significantly low complication rate of MHR, physicians should consider the use of MHR more often and include this technique in the early management of DFUs. Scope and Significance: DFU impose great public health burden around the globe. Standard of care using in-office debridement and topical agents is the usual mainstay of treatment. However, such conservative care is known to result in high rates of ulcer recurrence and complications. In this systematic review, we quantitatively investigate the outcomes of a surgical off-loading technique, the MHR in the treatment of chronic plantar neuropathic wounds. Translational Relevance: Many biochemical factors are implicated in the complex process of wound healing. In the case of diabetic neuropathic ulcers of the forefoot, additional mechanical factors induced by the presence of diabetic neuropathy lead to high pressure loads of the metatarsal heads on the plantar skin. With time, such chronic loads could favor ulcer formation. Removal of the causal mechanical factor could alleviate the pressure and allow wound healing. Clinical Relevance: Neuropathic plantar ulcers are difficult-to-heal wounds and chronicity is associated to frequent hospitalizations, higher rates of amputation, and mortality. Early removal of the indirect causal agent, the resection of the metatarsal head, after failure of a well-conducted conservative standard of care could be a needed solution for wound healing and consequently a potential for reducing complications and costs.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a finite element (FE) model of the patellofemoral (PF) joint to characterize patellofemoral instability, and to highlight the effect of lateral retinacular release in combination with tibial tuberosity transfer with respect to contact pressures (CP), contact area (CA), and kinematics during knee flexion. Methods A comprehensive, dynamic FE model of the knee joint was developed and validated through parametric comparison of PF kinematics, CP, and CA between FE simulations and in vitro, cadaveric experiments. Using this FE model, we characterized the effect of patellar instability, lateral retinacular release (LR), and tibial tuberosity transfer (TTT) in the setting of medial patellofemoral ligament injury during knee flexion. Results There was a high level of agreement in CP, CA, lateral patellar displacement, anterior patellar displacement, and superior patellar displacement between the FE model and the in vitro data (P values 0.19, 0.16, 0.81, 0.10, and 0.36, respectively). Instability conditions demonstrated the greatest CP compared to all of the other conditions. During all degrees of flexion, TTT and concomitant lateral release (TTT + LR) decreased CP significantly. TTT alone shows a consistently lower CA compared to nonrelease conditions with subsequent lateral release further decreasing CA. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that the FE model described reliably simulates PF kinematics and CP within 1 SD in uncomplicated cadaveric specimens. The FE model is able to show that tibial tubercle transfer in combination with lateral retinacular release markedly decreases patellofemoral CP and CA and increases lateral patellar displacement that may decrease bony stabilization of the patella within the trochlear groove and promote lateral patellar instability. Clinical Relevance The goal of surgical correction for patellar instability focuses on reestablishing normal PF kinematics. By developing an FE model that can demonstrate patient PF kinematics and the results of different surgical approaches, surgeons may tailor their treatment to the best possible outcome. Of the surgical approaches that have been described, the biomechanical effects of the combination of TTT with lateral retinacular release have not been studied. Thus, the FE analysis will help shed light on the effect of the combination of TTT with lateral retinacular release on PF kinematics.

Pseudoaneurysms (PA) are rare complications following ankle arthroscopy (AA). Delay in diagnosis is reported to be frequent and could lead to serious complications. Evidence synthesis on the clinical context of such complication lacks in the literature. A systematic review is conducted to locate all relevant papers. In total, 23 case reports were included in the review. Data of 23 patients with a mean of 40.9 ± 10.3 years were extracted and analyzed. Outcomes included comorbidities, portals and procedure types performed during AA, PA location and size, time to diagnosis and treatment, and therapeutic modalities. The results showed that d-ATA and the dorsal pedis artery (DPA) were involved in 18 and 4 cases, respectively. A single case of PA of the fibular artery was described. The mean PA size was found to be 4.2 × 3.9 × 2.1 cm. Five of the 14 patients (35.7%) with a reported detailed medical history were treated for a cardiovascular or hemostasis condition. Delay in PA diagnosis was found to be at a mean time of 50.45 ± 74.6 days. The most commonly reported surgical indications were anterior synovectomy and removal of anterior osteophytes. Ligation was the most common procedure in treating PA. While portal placement might be a minor factor, the variability of the d-ATA and/or DPA anatomical position and its affection with foot position and distraction during AA could play a role in the arterial injury. Synovectomy and removal of anterior, particularly big-sized, osteophytes could be considered as risk factors as well. A state of hypocoagulability might affect injury healing and consequently PA formation. PA diagnosis should be raised whenever a non-resolving or pulsatile swelling over a portal incision is observed.

Introduction: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) remains a therapeutic challenge for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). The majority of these patients are young with high functional demand, and show an increased risk of dislocation following surgery than patients with osteoarthritis. The use of double mobility cup (DMC) has been linked with lower rates of complications when compared to conservative cups; however, the literature is scarce over DMC results in patients with ONFH. The aim of the study is to report the early outcomes of patients with ONFH treated with THA-DMC. Materials: A retrospective analysis of patients suffering from ONFH who underwent THA using DMC (THA-DMC) from 2006 to 2015 were evaluated for functional status and risk of post-operative complications. Thirty THA-DMC in 26 patients with a mean follow-up of 51 months were evaluated clinically (modified Hip Harris Score) and radiologically. Results: The mean age of the included patients was 54.9 years. At final follow-up, the mean modified Hip Harris score was 98.7 ± 2.7 and no dislocation episodes or revision surgeries were recorded. The radiological assessment revealed no signs of migration/tilting, radiolucent lines, periprosthetic osteolysis or heterotopic ossification over the DMC component and the femoral stem. The survival rate over 51 months of follow-up was 100%. Discussion: The use of the new generation of dual mobility cup in patients with ONFH showed excellent functional early results with no major complications such as dislocation.

Introduction: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) remains a therapeutic challenge for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). The majority of these patients are young with high functional demand, and show an increased risk of dislocation following surgery than patients with osteoarthritis. The use of double mobility cup (DMC) has been linked with lower rates of complications when compared to conservative cups; however, the literature is scarce over DMC results in patients with ONFH. The aim of the study is to report the early outcomes of patients with ONFH treated with THA-DMC.Materials: A retrospective analysis of patients suffering from ONFH who underwent THA using DMC (THA-DMC) from 2006 to 2015 were evaluated for functional status and risk of post-operative complications. Thirty THA-DMC in 26 patients with a mean follow-up of 51 months were evaluated clinically (modified Hip Harris Score) and radiologically.Results: The mean age of the included patients was 54.9 years. At final follow-up, the mean modified Hip Harris score was 98.7 ± 2.7 and no dislocation episodes or revision surgeries were recorded. The radiological assessment revealed no signs of migration/tilting, radiolucent lines, periprosthetic osteolysis or heterotopic ossification over the DMC component and the femoral stem. The survival rate over 51 months of follow-up was 100%.Discussion: The use of the new generation of dual mobility cup in patients with ONFH showed excellent functional early results with no major complications such as dislocation.

Optimal positioning of the patellar component is crucial for the success of a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Usually, the patellar component is placed empirically over the presumed centre of the patellar cut. Medialization of the prosthetic patella has been recommended; however, no evidence-based guidelines have been reported. This anatomical study aims to quantify a pre-defined optimal location for positioning of the patellar component with regard to the centre of the patellar cut. Intra-operative measurements of the patellar cut of a series of 129 TKA were conducted in order to measure the distance between the optimal centre of prosthetic patella (OCPP) and the centre of the patellar cut, and that over the vertical (proximal-distal) axis and the horizontal axis (medial-lateral). Our results demonstrated that, (a) a significant morphological difference of the patellar cut exists between men and women (P

The patella remains one of the main sources of post-operative complication following total knee arthroplasty surgery. Optimal positioning of the patellar component is still a controversy with no clear-cut guidelines. Instead of choosing an empirical position, we described a novel surgical technique to better locate the patellar button based on the individual patellar anatomy of each patient.