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Introduction: The purpose of this study was first, to assess the relationship between preoperative INR (international normalised ratio) and postoperative complication rates in patients with a hip fracture, and second, to establish a threshold for INR below which the risk of complications is comparable to those in patients with a normal INR. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and found 35,910 cases who had undergone surgery for a hip fracture between 2012 and 2018. Cases were stratified into 4 groups based on their preoperative INR levels: <1.4; ⩾1.4 and <1.6; ⩾1.6 and <1.8 and ⩾1.8. These cohorts were assessed for differences in preoperative factors, intraoperative factors, and postoperative course. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk of transfusion, 30-day mortality, cardiac complications, and wound complications adjusting for all preoperative and intraoperative factors. Results: Of the 35,910 cases, 33,484 (93.2%) had a preoperative INR < 1.4; 867 (2.4%) an INR ⩾1.4 and <1.6; 865 (2.4%) an INR ⩾ 1.6 and <1.8 and 692 (1.9%) an INR ⩾ 1.8. A preoperative INR ⩾ 1.8 was independently associated with an increased risk of bleeding requiring transfusion. A preoperative INR ⩾ 1.6 was associated with an increased risk of mortality. Conclusions: We found that an INR of <1.6 is a safe value for patients who are to undergo surgery for a hip fracture. Below this value, patients avoid an increased risk of both transfusion and 30-day mortality seen with higher INR values. These findings may allow adjustment of preoperative protocols and improve the outcome of hip fracture surgery in this group of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States. Outcomes of this elective procedure may be improved via preoperative optimization of modifiable risk factors. Purposes: We sought to summarize the literature on the clinical implications of preoperative risk factors in TJA and to develop recommendations regarding preoperative optimization of these risk factors. Methods: We searched PubMed in August 2019 with an update in September 2020 for English-language, peer-reviewed publications assessing the influence on outcomes in total hip and knee replacement of 7 preoperative risk factors—obesity, malnutrition, hypoalbuminemia, diabetes, anemia, smoking, and opioid use—and recommendations to mitigate them. Results: Sixty-nine studies were identified, including 3 randomized controlled trials, 8 prospective cohort studies, 42 retrospective studies, 6 systematic reviews, 3 narrative reviews, and 7 consensus guidelines. These studies described worse outcomes associated with these 7 risk factors, including increased rates of in-hospital complications, transfusions, periprosthetic joint infections, revisions, and deaths. Recommendations for strategies to screen and address these risk factors are provided. Conclusions: Risk factors can be optimized, with evidence suggesting the following thresholds prior to surgery: a body mass index <40 kg/m2, serum albumin ≥3.5 g/dL, hemoglobin A1C ≤7.5%, hemoglobin >12.0 g/dL in women and >13.0 g/dL in men, and smoking cessation and ≥50% decrease in opioid use by 4 weeks prior to surgery. Surgery should be delayed until these risk factors are adequately optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opsoclonus consists of bursts of involuntary, multidirectional, back-to-back saccades without an intersaccadic interval. We report a 60-year-old man with post-concussive headaches and disequilibrium who had small amplitude opsoclonus in left gaze, along with larger amplitude flutter during convergence. Examination was otherwise normal and brain MRI was unremarkable. Video-oculography demonstrated opsoclonus predominantly in left gaze and during pursuit in the left hemifield, which improved as post-concussive symptoms improved. Existing theories of opsoclonus mechanisms do not account for this eye position-dependence. We discuss theoretical mechanisms of this behavior, including possible dysfunction of frontal eye field and/or cerebellar vermis neurons; review ocular oscillations in traumatic brain injury; and consider the potential relationship between the larger amplitude flutter upon convergence and post-traumatic ocular oscillations., (© 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)