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Abstract Background Thrombotic complications are synergistic and associated with orthopedic procedures, trauma, and malignancy. Because cancer enhances coagulation activity and vice versa, we assessed preoperative biomarkers for survival and complications after treatment of pathologic fractures in non-spinal skeletal metastases. Patients/methods Our study population comprised 113 actual or impending pathologic fractures in 100 patients admitted to two referral centers. Laboratory variables were collected retrospectively from patient records and analyzed related to incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and mortality (Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses and biomarker quartiles). Results Preoperative coagulation variables were high without exceptions. PE occurred in 12 patients at 36 post-operative days at incidence of 11% in the lower and 13% in the upper extremity fractures. Patients with fibrinogen exceeding 5 g/l (log-rank 0.022) developed PE earlier (5 to 15 days postoperatively) than others. Also, mean patient survival with normal fibrinogen range (2–4 g/l) was 34 months, whereas it halved upon elevated fibrinogen (log-rank p = 0.009). Survival in patients with FVIII levels under 326 IU/dl (Q3) was 22 months, but only 7 months if FVIII exceeded 326 IU/dl (log-rank p = 0.002). Combined elevated fibrinogen and FVIII predicted survival: for patients with levels below threshold limits was 22 months versus only 7 months when both variables exceeded the ranges (log-rank p

Background and purpose — There has been increasing alarm regarding metal-on-metal (MoM) joint replacements leading to elevated levels of metal ions and adverse reactions to metal debris (ARMDs). There is little information available concerning the prevalence of and risk factors for these adverse reactions, except with MoM hip joint replacements. We determined the levels of metal ions in blood and the rate of revision due to ARMDs in patients treated with MoM hinge total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients and methods — 22 patients with TKAs and MoM hinge connecting mechanisms were studied for whole-blood chromium and cobalt levels at 6 months, 1 year, and/or ≥2 years after surgery. Possible ARMDs were investigated by MRI. 12 patients with TKAs and metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) connecting mechanisms served as controls. Results — The cobalt levels were over 5 ppb in 19 of the 22 patients in the MoM group and in 1 of the 12 patients in the MoP group. The chromium levels were over 5 ppb in 11 of the 22 patients in the MoM group and in none of the 12 patients in the MoP group. Pseudotumors were operated in 4 of the 22 patients in the MoM group and in none of the patients in the MoP group. Interpretation — Our results clearly show that the MoM hinge TKA carries a high risk of increased levels of systemic metal ions and also local ARMD, leading to complicated knee revisions. We therefore discourage the use of MoM hinge TKA.

Purpose — We wanted to examine the potential of the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG) Central Register, and evaluate referral and treatment practice for soft-tissue sarcomas in the extremities and trunk wall (STS) in the Nordic countries. Background — Based on incidence rates from the literature, 8,150 (7,000–9,300) cases of STS of the extremity and trunk wall should have been diagnosed in Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden from 1987 through 2011. The SSG Register has 6,027 cases registered from this period, with 5,837 having complete registration of key variables. 10 centers have been reporting to the Register. The 5 centers that consistently report treat approximately 90% of the cases in their respective regions. The remaining centers have reported all the patients who were treated during certain time periods, but not for the entire 25-year period. Results — 59% of patients were referred to a sarcoma center untouched, i.e. before any attempt at open biopsy. There was an improvement from 52% during the first 5 years to 70% during the last 5 years. 50% had wide or better margins at surgery. Wide margins are now achieved less often than 20 years ago, in parallel with an increase in the use of radiotherapy. For the centers that consistently report, 97% of surviving patients are followed for more than 4 years. Metastasis-free survival (MFS) increased from 67% to 73% during the 25-year period. Interpretation — The Register is considered to be representative of extremity and trunk wall sarcoma disease in the population of Scandinavia, treated at the reporting centers. There were no clinically significant differences in treatment results at these centers.

Background and purpose — Surgery for metastases of renal cell carcinoma has increased in the last decade. It carries a risk of massive blood loss, as tumors are hypervascular and the surgery is often extensive. Preoperative embolization is believed to facilitate surgery. We evaluated the effect of preoperative embolization and resection margin on intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and survival in non-spinal skeletal metastases of renal cell carcinoma. Patients and methods — This retrospective study involved 144 patients, 56 of which were treated preoperatively with embolization. The primary outcome was intraoperative blood loss. We also identified factors affecting operating time and survival. Results — We did not find statistically significant effects on intraoperative blood loss of preoperative embolization of skeletal non-spinal metastases. Pelvic localization and large tumor size increased intraoperative blood loss. Marginal resection compared to intralesional resection, nephrectomy, level of hemoglobin, and solitary metastases were associated with better survival. Interpretation — Tumor size, but not embolization, was an independent factor for intraoperative blood loss. Marginal resection rather than intralesional resection should be the gold standard treatment for skeletal metastases in non-spinal renal cell carcinoma, especially in the case of a solitary lesion, as this improved the overall survival.

Service user involvement (SUI) is a principal and a guideline in social and health care and also in mental health and substance abuse work. In practice, however, there are indicators of SUI remaining rhetoric rather than reality. The purpose of this study was to analyse and describe service users' conceptions of SUI in mental health and substance abuse work. The following study question was addressed: what are service users' conceptions of service user involvement in mental health and substance abuse work? In total, 27 users of services participated in the study, and the data was gathered by means of interviews. A phenomenographic approach was applied in order to explore the qualitative variations in participants' conceptions of SUI. As a result of the data analysis, four main categories of description representing service users' conceptions of service user involvement were formed: service users have the best expertise, opinions are not heard, systems make the rules, and courage and readiness to participate. In mental health and substance abuse work, SUI is still insufficiently achieved and there are obstacles to be taken into consideration. Nurses are in a key position to promote and encourage service user involvement.

LBGTQ+ students often miss the support and information they need in the school nursing, but little is known about junior high school (JHS) nurses' work with LGBTQ+ students. 15 JHS nurses were interviewed in focus groups about their perceptions of supporting LGBTQ+ students. Four interconnected themes were identified with inductive thematic analysis: (1) JHS nurses' professional identity and practice; (2) Recognition of sexual and gender diversity in school; (3) Family acceptance process; and (4) LGBTQ+ students as school nursing clients. JHS nurses self-identified as accepting professionals, but having limited skills, knowledge, and education needed in supporting LGBTQ+ students. Supporting LGBTQ+ students is a complex phenomenon, and to enhance JHS nurses' competence in providing care for these students, sexual and gender diversity needs to be included in evidence-based nursing information sources, covered in nursing education, and the school needs to be secured as LGBTQ+ safe place.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common treatment for osteoarthritis and is also performed for other conditions, such as secondary arthritis due to developmental dysplasia of the hip. Various THA types may be complicated by osteolysis and an inflammatory pseudotumor due to an adverse reaction to metal debris. Rarely, THA has been associated with malignant tumors, but their causality remains unclear. In this case report, we describe a female patient with developmental dysplasia of the hip. She had undergone left metal-on-polyethylene THA, acetabular revision of the THA, and left total knee arthroplasty. In addition, she had a history of dyslipidemia and telangiectasia of the eyes, anemia, hiatal hernia, and pleuritis. A THA-associated mass (suspected to be a pseudotumor) had been detected during a previous hospital admission due to pleuritis. She was hospitalized due to swelling in her left lower limb, fatigue, and bruises. A clinical examination revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, and growth of the suspected pseudotumor. Within 6 weeks, she presented with bleeding of the oral mucosa, hemoptysis, melena, severe thrombocytopenia that did not respond to treatment, elevated D-dimer and C-reactive protein levels, severe pain, increased osteolysis, and fractures around the THA. Infection or malignancy was suspected, but two trocar biopsies suggested an inflammatory pseudotumor. Since her anemia and thrombocytopenia were considered to have been caused by an inflammatory process within the suspected pseudotumor, her suspected pseudotumor and all THA components were surgically removed. However, she developed severe alveolar hemorrhaging and hypoxia and died 2 weeks after her surgery. Histopathological analysis of her surgical and autopsy samples revealed highly malignant angiosarcoma. Although individual cases of malignancies associated with THA have been reported, the literature lacks a clear association between THA and increased cancer risk. Most pseudotumors are non-malignant. The patient's case presented in this report exemplifies the challenges to the differential diagnosis of a THA-associated pseudotumor and rare angiosarcoma. Atypically rapid tumor growth, severe osteolysis, and deterioration in the general wellbeing suggest a malignant disease.

Abstract Background Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are the second most common fractures, after hip fractures, seen in clinical practice. The high incidence of low-energy trauma DRFs in elderly patients raises questions about the best treatment method in terms of function, pain, and quality of life. Although the majority of these fractures are treated non-operatively with cast immobilization, valid scientific evidence of the optimal cast immobilization is lacking. In addition, several publications, including Cochrane review have outlined the need for more evidence to determine the most appropriate method of cast immobilization. Methods This study is a pragmatic, prospective, randomized, multi-centre trial. The trial is designed to compare two widely used cast positions (volar flexion-ulnar deviation position and functional position) for the non-operative treatment of DRF in patients over 64 years of age. The main hypothesis of the trial is that function position yields corresponding functional outcome, pain relief and quality of life when compared to the volar flexion-ulnar deviation position. The primary outcome measure is Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score and the secondary outcome measures will be the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), 15-dimensional (15D) value and rate of surgical interventions. The results of the trial will be analysed after 1 and 2-years. Discussion This publication presents a prospective, pragmatic, randomized, national multi-centre trial study protocol. It provides details of patient flow, randomization, follow-up and methods of analysis of the material as well as publication plan. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02894983 22 August 2016.

Clear cell chondrosarcoma is a rare bone neoplasm with low-grade clinical course and the potential to metastasize to the skeleton and lungs. The aim of this report is to present a case that is extremely rare, but in accordance with the literature where the clear cell chondrosarcoma reportedly has a tendency for late metastases. In our patient the primary surgery was intralesional, since it was mistakenly interpreted as a benign tumour in the early 80s. The local recurrence and lung metastases occurred, however, 29 years after the initial treatment. The local recurrence was resected with wide margins, no additional surgery or oncological treatments were given, and two and half years postoperatively patient is doing well and there is no progression in the disease. In conclusion, it is important to have a long follow-up to the clear cell chondrosarcoma patients even for decades or lifelong, because the malignancy tends to metastasize or recur after an extended period. The course of metastasized disease may be unusually slow, so relatively aggressive treatment in metastasized and recurring cases is justified.