Wound healing complications and infection following surgery for rheumatoid arthritis

Mid-term Outcomes of Distal Tibial Oblique Osteotomy for Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Ankle Arthropathy: A Comparison with Osteoarthritis Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Distal tibial oblique osteotomy (DTOO) has traditionally been contraindicated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, with advances in RA treatment, an increasing number of patients present with arthritis resembling osteoarthritis (OA), suggesting DTOO as a potential option. This study aimed to compare mid-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of DTOO between the patients with OA and RA.

METHODS

This study included 8 ankles of 7 the patients with OA (Stage IIIa-IIIb, Takakura-Tanaka classification) and 5 ankles of 5 patients with RA (equivalent to Stage IIIa). Clinical outcomes (JSSF ankle/hindfoot scale, SAFE-Q), radiographic parameters, ankle range of motion (ROM), and complications were assessed preoperatively and at the final follow-up.

RESULTS

Postoperative JSSF and SAFE-Q scores improved significantly in both groups, without intergroup differences. Radiographic parameters showed no significant differences pre-operatively or postoperatively, with consistent trends across groups. The patients with OA demonstrated significant postoperative ROM improvement, whereas the patients with RA maintained preoperative ROM. Complications included plate removal in one OA case due to discomfort and two RA cases due to infection.

CONCLUSIONS

DTOO provides good outcomes in the patients with RA with controlled disease activity, suggesting it as a viable joint-preserving surgical option for selected the patients with RA.

Soft-tissue coverage for wound complications following total elbow arthroplasty

Background

In patients with total elbow arthroplasty (TEA), the soft-tissue around the elbow can be vulnerable to soft-tissue complications. This study aims to assess the outcomes after soft-tissue reconstruction following TEA.

Methods

We retrospectively included nine adult patients who underwent soft-tissue reconstruction following TEA. Demographic data and disease characteristics were collected through medical chart reviews. Additionally, we contacted all four patients that were alive at the time of the study by phone to assess any current elbow complications. Local tissue rearrangement was used for soft-tissue reconstruction in six patients, and a pedicle flap was used in three patients. The median follow-up period was 1.3 years (range, 6 months–14.7 years).

Results

Seven patients (78%) underwent reoperation. Four patients (44%) had a reoperation for soft-tissue complications, including dehiscence or nonhealing of infected wounds. Five patients (56%) had a reoperation for implant-related complications, including three infections and two peri-prosthetic fractures. At the final follow-ups, six patients (67%) achieved successful wound healing and two patients had continued wound healing issues, while two patients had an antibiotic spacer in situ and one patient underwent an above-the-elbow amputation.

Conclusions

This study reports a complication rate of 78% for soft-tissue reconstructions after TEA. Successful soft-tissue healing was achieved in 67% of patients, but at the cost of multiple surgeries. Early definitive soft-tissue reconstruction could prove to be preferable to minor interventions such as irrigation, debridement, and local tissue advancement, or smaller soft-tissue reconstructions using local tissue rearrangement or a pedicled flap at a later stage.

Ischemic toe after surgery for lesser toe deformities: An algorithm

Ischemia after correction of lesser toe deformities is usually due to temporary vasospasm and can rarely cause gangrene. The published literature on dealing with the issue and been reviewed and used to suggest an algorithm for a logical step by step approach to a pale or white toe when encountered in the postoperative period.

Active rheumatoid arthritis in a mouse model is not an independent risk factor for periprosthetic joint infection

INTRODUCTION

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) represents a devastating complication of total joint arthroplasty associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Literature suggests a possible higher incidence of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is, however, no consensus on this purported risk nor a well-defined mechanism. This study investigates how collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a validated animal model of RA, impacts infectious burden in a well-established model of PJI.

METHODS

Control mice were compared against CIA mice. Whole blood samples were collected to quantify systemic IgG levels via ELISA. Ex vivo respiratory burst function was measured via dihydrorhodamine assay. Ex vivo Staphylococcus aureus Xen36 burden was measured directly via colony forming unit (CFU) counts and crystal violet assay to assess biofilm formation. In vivo, surgical placement of a titanium implant through the knee joint and inoculation with S. aureus Xen36 was performed. Bacterial burden was then quantified by longitudinal bioluminescent imaging.

RESULTS

Mice with CIA demonstrated significantly higher levels of systemic IgG compared with control mice (p = 0.003). Ex vivo, there was no significant difference in respiratory burst function (p = 0.89) or S. aureus bacterial burden as measured by CFU counts (p = 0.91) and crystal violet assay (p = 0.96). In vivo, no significant difference in bacterial bioluminescence between groups was found at all postoperative time points. CFU counts of both the implant and the peri-implant tissue were not significantly different between groups (p = 0.82 and 0.80, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated no significant difference in S. aureus infectious burden between mice with CIA and control mice. These results suggest that untreated, active RA may not represent a significant intrinsic risk factor for PJI, however further mechanistic translational and clinical studies are warranted.

'Should we stop or continue conventional synthetic (including glucocorticoids) and targeted DMARDs before surgery in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases?'

Total hip and total knee arthroplasty) remain important interventions to treat symptomatic knee and hip damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with little change in utilisation rates despite the increasingly widespread use of potent conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) and targeted DMARDs including Janus kinase inhibitors and biologics. The majority of patients are receiving these immunosuppressing medications and glucocorticoids at the time they present for arthroplasty. There is minimal randomised controlled trial data addressing the use of DMARDs in the perioperative period, yet patients and their physicians face these decisions daily. This paper reviews what is known regarding perioperative management of targeted and csDMARDs and glucocorticoids.

Antitumor necrosis factor alpha and an epidural abscess during a spinal cord stimulator trial: A case report

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is commonly utilized for treatment and management of chronic intractable low back and lower extremity pain. Although SCS is an overall low-risk procedure, there are potential life-threatening complications, including surgical site infections, such as an epidural abscess. Immunosuppression, a risk factor for epidural abscess, is becoming more common as an increasing number of patients are being treated with biologics for a multitude of autoimmune disorders. One class of commonly utilized biologics is antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) alpha. Whereas these drugs can provide tremendous benefit for treatment and management of autoimmune disorders, there is no clear understanding of the degree to which these medications increase a patient's risk for surgical site infection, including those associated with SCS-related procedures. We present a case of an epidural abscess that developed immediately following an SCS trial in a patient with multiple undisclosed risk factors, including the use of an anti-TNF alpha agent to treat ankylosing spondylitis. For an epidural abscess, early diagnosis is key to preventing devastating complications and the need for surgical intervention. Immunosuppression can be the result of multiple issues including cancer, HIV, and biologic agents, such as anti-TNF alpha for the management of autoimmune diseases. There is limited evidence pertaining to the development of epidural abscesses in patients on anti-TNF alpha medications who undergo SCS. Studies focused on infections in patients undergoing SCS trials and permanent implants while on anti-TNF alpha agents could provide recommendations and guidance.

Open pronation abduction ankle fractures associated with increased complications and patient BMI

INTRODUCTION

Pronation abduction (PA) ankle fractures are often associated with a medial tension failure wound. Though this injury pattern was defined based on the mechanism of injury, there is a paucity of literature evaluating risk factors for understanding which patients will sustain an open PA fracture. Furthermore, how patients with these types of fractures perform relative to other open ankle fractures has not been established. We hypothesized that open PA fractures are associated with obesity and increased number of reoperations.

METHODS

All patients at a single level one trauma center who received operative treatment for an ankle fracture between February 2012 to January 2019 were retrospectively identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Patients with open PA ankle fractures were identified. Demographic data, body mass index, medical comorbidities, time to surgery, and reoperations were compared between open PA ankle fractures and other open ankle fracture subtypes.

RESULTS

There were 22 open PA ankle fractures and 35 other open ankle fracture subtypes. The open PA fracture group had a significantly higher median and average BMI and percentage of patients with obesity. There was no difference in number of patients requiring reoperation between the two groups. When reoperation was required, patients with open PA ankle fractures were found to undergo significantly more reoperations and were significantly more likely to require arthrodesis or below knee amputation.

CONCLUSIONS

Open PA ankle fractures are more often associated with obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m²) than are other open ankle fractures caused by a different mechanism. When reoperation does occur, patients with open PA ankle fractures require more reoperations and are more likely to require arthrodesis or below knee amputation that patients with other open ankle fracture subtypes. Early identification of those patients or injuries at increased risk of complications can help ensure optimal outcomes.

Therapeutic failure and eventual solution for skin necrosis and exposed tendon of the dorsum of the foot: A case report

For the treatment of skin necrosis with exposed tendons in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) foot, we should perform microvascular free flap surgery at an early stage without conservative treatment considering the increased risk of infection and the decreased physical activity.

Perioperative Management of Rheumatoid Medications in Orthopedic Surgery

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disorder known to cause progressive joint destruction. Over time, untreated RA can lead to pain and increasing disability, making orthopedic intervention necessary. The treatment of RA revolves around a variety of medications that blunt the overall immune response. However, this may increase the risk of infection and impair wound healing. Given the nature of this disease, orthopedists frequently encounter patients with RA in the operative setting. To optimize surgical outcomes, orthopedists must carefully manage and pay special attention to the adverse side effects of the complicated medication regimens of these patients perioperatively. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(5):282-286.].

American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons® Clinical Consensus Statement: Perioperative Management

A wide range of factors contribute to the complexity of the management plan for an individual patient, and it is the surgeon's responsibility to consider the clinical variables and to guide the patient through the perioperative period. In an effort to address a number of important variables, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons convened a panel of experts to derive a clinical consensus statement to address selected issues associated with the perioperative management of foot and ankle surgical patients.

No difference in postoperative outcome after acute surgery whether the patients presented for first time or are known with Crohn’s disease

Purposes

Acute operations (within 48 h) or urgent (within 2–7 days) carry the risk of unfavorable outcome as the patient is not optimized, the operation is performed by trainees and the disease is severe necessitating acute/urgent intervention. However, Crohn’s disease (CD) patients who present as acute disease may have more favorable outcome because they did not receive medications, surgery is performed early and the disease is promptly controlled.

Aim

To investigate whether CD patients presented first time have more favorable outcome compared to those who are known with CD.

Method

Retrospective multi-center study. Rate of complications, duration of hospitalization and rate of re-admission were used as a measure of postoperative outcome. Univariate and multi-variate analyses were used.

Results

Sixty-one patients in whom acute CD was first presentation (group 1) did not have more favorable outcome compared to 167 patients known to have CD (group 2) and presented acute. Mean duration of hospitalization was 8.7 days in group 1 compared to 9.4 days in group 2. Complications occurred in 12/61 patients (19.7%) in group 1 compared to 39/167 patients (23.4%) in group 2: odds ratio 1 .113, CI [0.611–2.024]. No difference in intra-abdominal septic complications rate was found between the two groups: odds ratio 0.932, CI [0.369–2.355]. Re-admission was seen in six patients (9.8%) in group 1 vs. 23 (13.8%) in Group 2: odds ratio 1.464, CI [0.566–3.788].

Conclusion

Patients undergoing acute surgery for the first CD presentation did not have more favorable outcome compared to those undergoing acute intestinal resection for known CD.

Highlights

Controversies in total ankle replacement

Although there exist general guidelines regarding which patients are "suitable" candidates for total ankle replacement, these guidelines tend to be very conservative, much like those of knee and hip replacement from decades ago. There are also no direct comparison studies of one total ankle replacement design with another. Because of the paucity of data, surgeons are left to surmise the opinion based on limited studies, as well as industry-sponsored data and advertising material. This article examines several key, controversial issues that apply to total ankle replacement. Recommendations and points for thought are provided.

Surgical treatment approaches to second metatarsophalangeal joint pathology

The second metatarsophalangeal joint is prone to specific and varied pathology that is well understood and may exist in isolation or in combination with other forefoot abnormality. Surgical treatment options for managing end-stage second metatarsophalangeal abnormalities have been minimally studied and exist primarily in case studies and series in the literature. As a result, surgical approaches remain controversial and warrant further discussion.

[Peri-operative management of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs: recommendations based on a meta-analysis]

The objective of this paper is make recommendations for the perioperative management of antirheumatic treatment based on the best available evidence. A systematic review was performed including studies in which patients with rheumatic diseases treated with biological and non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) had undergone surgery. A total of 5,285 studies were recorded, of which 27 were finally included. These contained information on 5,268 patients and 7,933 surgeries. The majority were women (mean age 55 years) were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and the most studied drug was methotrexate (MTX). The final recommendations include: maintaining treatment with MTX or leflunomide in the perioperative period in the absence of other risk factors for postoperative complications (Level of Evidence 1c, Grade D recommendation). Biological DMARDs should be temporarily suspended, or the surgery scheduled as far as possible from the last dose, and, if there were other risk factors a space at least two doses (Level of Evidence 2c; Grade D recommendation).

Complications of digital and lesser metatarsal surgery

Complications associated with digital and lesser metatarsal surgical procedures have been well documented in the literature. These complications may stem from systemic medical, structural, biologic, biomechanical, or iatrogenic causes. The surgeon must be cognizant of all potential complications, including ways to prevent them from occurring and how to manage them when they do occur. This article discusses preventative measures through the preoperative evaluation of the patient, and examines the subsets of complications that may occur after lesser ray surgery that pose a particular management challenge, as well as special complications specific to particular operative techniques.

Scarf and Weil metatarsal osteotomies of the lateral rays for correction of rheumatoid forefoot deformities: a systematic review

Scarf osteotomy of the first ray combined with Weil distal oblique shortening osteotomies of the lateral rays has recently been proposed for the treatment of global rheumatoid forefoot deformities because of the perceived benefit of sparing the metatarsal-phalangeal joints. Furthermore, it has been proposed that undergoing this form of global forefoot reconstruction is reliable based on specific preoperative and intraoperative techniques used to realign the individual rays. Finally, it has been proposed that performing global forefoot reconstruction in the rheumatoid patient population can be safely performed and does not prevent the ability to perform revision surgery. The author undertook a systematic review of electronic databases and other relevant sources to identify material relating to Scarf osteotomy of the first ray combined with Weil distal oblique shortening osteotomies of the lateral rays for the treatment of global rheumatoid forefoot deformities. Information from peer-reviewed journals, as well as from non-peer-reviewed publications, abstracts and posters, textbooks, and unpublished works, was also considered. In an effort to procure the highest quality studies available, studies were eligible for inclusion only if they involved patients undergoing Scarf osteotomy of the first ray combined with Weil distal oblique shortening osteotomies of the lateral rays, evaluated patients at mean follow-up of 12-months or longer duration, commented on the reliability of metatarsal realignment, and included details of complications, as well as the incidence and severity of wound-healing complications. Two studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria involving only 8 patients (8 feet) with 1 patient undergoing surgical revision in the form of arthrodesis secondary to development of a septic first metatarsal-phalangeal joint. Partial incision dehiscence developed in 2 patients, 1 healed with local wound care and the other led to the septic first metatarsal-phalangeal joint mentioned previously. Finally, stress fracture of the third metatarsal and fourth metatarsals developed that healed without problems in one other patient. Rather than providing strong evidence for or against the use of Scarf osteotomy of the first ray combined with Weil distal oblique shortening osteotomies of the lateral rays for the treatment of global rheumatoid forefoot deformities, the results of this systematic review make clear the need for methodologically sound prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials that focus on the use of this form of surgical intervention.

Total ankle arthroplasty in the rheumatoid patient

Total ankle replacement in the rheumatoid patient is a feasible and effective treatment for ankle arthritis. The benefits of ankle prosthesis are good pain relief, acceptable function, and patient satisfaction. It is a joint-sparing procedure for restoring functionality. All investigators of total ankle replacement feel that, as clinicians gain experience with the procedure and related products, difficulties and risks associated with the procedure will decline. Following an early history of failure and poor patient satisfaction, more recent results have shown promise.

The complications encountered with the rheumatoid surgical foot and ankle

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, degenerative, systemic disease that leads to the destruction of articular cartilage of the joints. Complications, including infection, delays in wound healing, malunion, nonunion, implant failure, and degeneration of adjacent joints soon after primary fusion, have been described in the literature and are generally accepted as commonplace in reconstructive surgeries of the foot and ankle. The combined efforts of the surgeon and supporting physicians to maintain optimal health for the patient, along with the principles discussed in this article, can lead to superior outcomes with fewer complications in the postoperative course.

Perioperative management of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis

Familiarity with the systemic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis as well as familiarity with drug therapy used for the management of rheumatoid arthritis may be helpful in the avoidance of some postoperative complications. Drug effects on soft tissues and bone may complicate reduction, stabilization, and fixation of deformities. Evaluation of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis for extraarticular disease may also explain symptomatology, and reduce the incidence of complications by unrecognized contributions of soft tissue pathology of osseous and articular disorders.