A Retrospective, Long-term Follow-up of the Clinical Outcomes and Cost-effectiveness of Single-anesthetic Multiple Total Joint Procedures in Hemophilic Arthropathy

OBJECTIVE

Although total joint replacement (TJR) procedures are efficacious, perioperative high-dose factors replacement therapy (FRT) to avoid catastrophic bleeding represents a significant hurdle, particularly for patients with multiple joint affection. Double simultaneous bilateral TJRs were reported as safe and cost-effective. However, little is known about multiple TJRs. The feasibility and effects remain debatable. Surgeons need to weigh the high cost of FRT against safety. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of single-anesthetic multiple-joint procedures of lower limbs in end-stage hemophilic arthropathy.

METHODS

Our retrospective cohort study retrieved data from an inpatient database of patients with hemophilia who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total hip arthroplasty (THA), and/or ankle arthrodesis from January 2000 to April 2016. Complications, hospital stays, transfusion, doses of clotting factor, medical costs, range of motion (ROM), Harris hip scores (HHSs) and Hospital for special surgery knee scores (HSSs) were recorded. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

A total number of 81 patients were included in this study, among which 89 TKAs and 52 THAs were performed. Compared to the single TJR group, the simultaneous multiple TJR group showed a significantly higher rate of blood transfusions (P < 0.05). But no significant differences were found in the length of hospital stays, factor consumption, hospitalization costs excluding prosthesis expenses, and total complication rates. Finally, similar postoperative ROM, HHS, and HSS were witnessed in two groups (P value > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our data indicated that simultaneous multiple TJRs are a safe and cost-effective choice for treating hemophilic patients with multiple HA-affected lower limb joints.

Comparison of the anterior and posterior approach in treating four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy

BACKGROUND

The optimal surgical approach for four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes and complications between the anterior and posterior approaches for four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

METHODS

A total of 19 patients underwent anterior decompression and fusion and 25 patients underwent posterior laminoplasty and instrumentation in this study. Perioperative information, intraoperative blood loss, clinical and radiological outcomes, and complications were recorded. Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, 36-item short form survey (SF-36) score and cervical alignment were assessed.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in JOA scores between the anterior and posterior group preoperatively (11.6 ± 1.6 vs. 12.1 ± 1.5), immediately postoperatively (14.4 ± 1.1 vs. 13.8 ± 1.3), or at the last follow-up (14.6 ± 1.0 vs. 14.2 ± 1.1) (P > 0.05). The JOA scores significantly improved immediately postoperatively and at the last follow-up in both groups compared with their preoperative values. The recovery rate was significantly higher in the anterior group both immediately postoperatively and at the last follow-up. The SF-36 score was significantly higher in the anterior group at the last follow-up compared with the preoperative value (69.4 vs. 61.7). Imaging revealed that there was no significant difference in the Cobb angle at C2-C7 between the two groups preoperatively (-2.0° ± 7.3° vs. -1.4° ± 7.5°). The Cobb angle significantly improved immediately postoperatively (12.3° ± 4.2° vs. 9.2° ± 3.6°) and at the last follow-up (12.4° ± 3.5° vs. 9.0° ± 2.6°) in both groups compared with their preoperative values (P = 0.00). Three patients had temporary dysphagia in the anterior group and four patients had persistent axial symptoms in the posterior group.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the anterior and posterior approaches were effective in treating four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy in terms of neurological clinical outcomes and radiological features. However, the JOA score recovery rate and SF-36 score in the anterior group were significantly higher. Persistent axial pain could be a major concern when undertaking the posterior approach.

[Protective effect and mechanism of mild hypothermia on liver injury after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pigs]

Objective: To investigate the effect of mild hypothermia therapy on liver after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Methods: Thirty-three inbred Chinese Wuzhishan (WZS) minipigs, weighted (28±2) kg, were used to establish a ventricular fibrillation model. And 30 animals survived after cardiopulmonary resuscitation reached basic life support. The surviving animals were randomly divided into two groups: mild hypothermia group (group M, n=15) and conventional treatment group (group C, n=15). All the animals were observed for 24 hours. Blood samples were extracted at baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h after successful resuscitation. The concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected at the time points. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The data were compared between the two groups, LSD test was used when the variance was homogeneous, and Tamhane T2 test was used when the variance was uneven. Results: Eleven pigs (73.3%) in the group M and 8(53.3%) in the group C survived at 24 h after successful resuscitation, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ(2)=1.229, P=0.225). After successful resuscitation, the AST, ALT increased in both group but less in M group (all P<0.05). After successful resuscitation, the concentrations of TFN-α and IL-6 in the blood increased in both groups, reached the peak at 4h, and then decreased gradually. The concentrations of TFN-α in group M were lower than those in group C at 0.5, 2, 4 and 6 h after successful resuscitation (t=0.01, 0.01, 0.87, 0.86, all P<0.05). The concentrations of IL-6 in the group M were lower than those in group C at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 h after successful resuscitation (t=0.23, 0.78, 0.11, 0.80, all P<0.05). Conclusions: After successful resuscitation, the release of inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α and IL-6, and cell apoptosis may involve in liver ischemia reperfusion injury. After successful resuscitation, the liver undergoes ischemia-reperfusion injury, which may be related to the release of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL-6. Mild hypothermia therapy can prevent the release of TNF-α, IL-6 to reduce the degree of liver damage after resuscitation.

Transfusion-transmitted infections in hemophilia patients who underwent surgical treatment: a study from a single center in north China

INTRODUCTION

Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) continue to be a major challenge among hemophilia patients. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of TTIs including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis in patients with hemophilia who received surgical treatment due to bone or joint lesions in the Department of Orthopedics.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present study was conducted from July 1996 to November 2016 in Beijing, China. A total of 189 patients who underwent orthopedic procedures were enrolled. Blood samples were obtained from the patients and were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV Ab) and human immunodeficiency virus antibody (HIV Ab).

RESULTS

Among 189 hemophilia patients included in the study, 54 (28.6%) tested positive for TTI. Seroprevalence for HBsAg was found in 8 (4.2%) cases, HCV Ab in 48 (25.4%) cases, HIV Ab in 2 (1.1%) cases, and syphilis in 1 (0.5%) case. No statistically significant difference in the numbers of patients with positive HCV Ab was seen between hemophilia A (26.0%) and B (20.0%) (p = 0.786). The seroprevalence of HCV Ab (12.1%) in 66 hemophilia patients diagnosed after 1995 was significantly lower than that (32.5%) among hemophilia patients diagnosed before or in 1995 (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Though few patients have become positive for HBsAg and HIV Ab, HCV is still the major virus of concern for hemophiliacs who have undergone orthopedic procedures. Hepatitis B vaccination should be given to the high-risk population including hemophilia patients as soon as possible.

Incidence of Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Hemophilia Undergoing Hip and Knee Joint Replacement without Chemoprophylaxis: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

To establish the prevalence of clinically significant venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in hemophilia patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) without chemoprophylaxis and a modified coagulation factor substitution.

METHODS

A cohort of patients who underwent THA and TKA from June 2002 to April 2017 were included. Based on World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) guidelines, a modified coagulation factor substitution regimen was adopted. All patients were under a standardized postoperative protocol with routine mechanical prophylaxis against VTE. None of the patients received prophylactic anticoagulation. Only symptomatic patients were referred for radiological examination to exclude VTE. We evaluated the patient demographics and calculated the prevalence of VTE in our cohort.

RESULTS

A total of 98 patients were reviewed. The patients were all men. Thirty-one patients underwent primary THA with 39 hip arthroplasties (only 1 case with hemophilia B) and 67 patients underwent primary TKA with 101 knee arthroplasties (5 cases with hemophilia B). The mean age was 34.2 ± 7.8 years. The mean body mass index was 21.2 ± 5.7 kg/m² . There was 100% compliance to mechanical prophylaxis. The mean time to ambulation was 6.8 days (±2.5 days), and the mean hospital stay was 32.4 days (±7.1 days). There was only 1 hemophilia B patient with clinically significant VTE. None of the other 97 surgical cases had symptomatic VTE within 6 months after the procedure. This translates to a prevalence of 1.02%.

CONCLUSION

Given the low incidence (1.02%) of clinically significant VTE in our cohort, routine chemoprophylaxis in hemophilia patients undergoing THA and TKA may not be needed.

Total Hip Arthroplasty in Hemophilia Patients: A Mid-term to Long-term Follow-up

OBJECTIVE

To report the results of mid-term to long-term follow-up after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in hemophiliacs and to hypothesize that THA can provide satisfactory outcomes in these patients.

METHODS

Twenty-four primary THA performed in 21 hemophilia patients between 2002 and 2012 were reviewed retrospectively, including 20 cases of hemophilia A and 1 case of hemophilia B. The standard lateral approach was used for all implantations. Substitution therapy for factor VIII and activated prothrombin complex concentrates were administered to patients with hemophilia A and B, respectively. Total and hidden blood loss were calculated. Outcomes were assessed using the Harris hip score before surgery and at the final follow-up visit. Complications were recorded by clinical and radiographic assessment and then compared to those in previous reports.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 113 months (range, 5-15 years). The average total blood loss was 3559 mL (range, 1494-7506 mL). The mean amount of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion was 4.4 U (range, 0-14 U). The mean amount of clotting factor used in the perioperative period for management of hemophilia was 14 031.3 U (range, 8100-25 200 U). Harris hip scores improved from 37 points (range, 15-81) before surgery to 90 points (range, 70-96) at the last follow-up. No signs of loosening, infection or other complications of the implant components occurred after discharge. The overall survivorship of the implants was 100% for all patients, and no revision surgery was performed.

CONCLUSIONS

With modern techniques and hematological management, THA in patients with hemophilia leads to significant improvement in joint function with a relatively low incidence of complications. Increased blood loss and substitution therapy have no obvious negative influences on the mid-term to long-term results of THA.

Relationship between the small cervical vertebral body and the morbidity of cervical spondylosis

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the size of the cervical vertebral body and the morbidity of cervical spondylosis, and to examine the characteristics of spondylosis patients with small cervical vertebral bodies.The clinical data and the sagittal reconstructions of computed tomography images of 182 patients with cervical spondylosis were collected retrospectively. Patients included 74 males and 108 females, with a mean age of 31.8 years (range 20-40 years). The Torg-Pavlov ratio and the sagittal diameter of the vertebral body were measured. A Torg-Pavlov ratio above 1.2 was regarded as a small cervical vertebral body (SCVB), and below 1.2 as a nonsmall vertebral body (NSCVB).The NSCVB group was more prone to neurological symptoms than was the SCVB group (P < .05). There was no significant difference in neck pain between the 2 groups (P > .05). Conservative treatment achieved similar recovery rates in the SCVB group and the NSCVB group (81.8% vs 93.6%; P > .05). The rate of symptom (eg, axial neck pain) recurrence and persistence in the SCVB group was significantly higher than in the NSCVB group (P < .05).Our study found that smaller size of the cervical vertebral body is an attributing factor for cervical spondylosis. Patients with smaller cervical vertebral bodies are prone to persistent axial neck pain, but not neurological symptoms.

Effect of Resveratrol on Preventing Steroid-induced Osteonecrosis in a Rabbit Model

Background:

Prevention of osteonecrosis (ON) has seldom been addressed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on preventing steroid-induced ON in rabbits.

Methods:

Seventy-two rabbits were divided into four groups: (1) NEC (ON) group: thirty rabbits were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) once, then with methylprednisolone (MPS) daily for 3 days; (2) PRE (prevention) group: thirty rabbits were given one dose of LPS, then MPS daily for 3 days, and resveratrol on day 0 and daily for 2 weeks; (3) RES (resveratrol) group: six rabbits were given resveratrol for 2 weeks but without LPS/MPS; (4) CON (control) group: six rabbits were given alcohol for 2 weeks but without LPS/MPS. Levels of plasma tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), thrombomodulin (TM), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), maximum enhancement (ME) by magnetic resonance imaging, and ON incidence were evaluated.

Results:

The PRE group had a lower ON incidence than the NEC group, but with no significant differences at 2 weeks and 12 weeks. The RES and CON groups did not develop ON. TM and VEGF were significantly higher in the NEC group compared with the PRE group at weeks 1, 2, and 4 (TM: 1 week, P = 0.029; 2 weeks, P = 0.005; and 4 weeks, P = 0.047; VEGF: 1 week, P = 0.039; 2 weeks, P = 0.021; 4 weeks, P = 0.014), but the difference disappeared at 12 weeks. The levels of t-PA and PAI-1 were not significantly different between the NEC and PRE groups. The TM, t-PA, PAI-1, and VEGF concentrations in the RES and CON groups did not change over time. Compared to the baseline, ME in the NEC group decreased significantly (P = 0.025) at week 1, increased significantly (P = 0.021) at week 2, and was decreased at week 12. The variance was insignificant in the PRE group.

Conclusions:

Resveratrol may improve blood supply to bone in a rabbit model of ON of the femoral head via anti-inflammatory effects to protect the vascular endothelium and reduce thrombosis.

Case of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis That Mimics Meningioma in CT and MRI

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder histologically characterized by the proliferation of Langerhans cells. Here we present the case of a 13-year-old girl with LCH wherein CT and MRI results led us to an initially incorrect diagnosis of meningioma. The diagnosis was corrected to LCH based on pathology findings. An intracranial mass was found mainly in the dura mater, with thickening of the surrounding dura. It appeared to be growing downward from the calvaria, pressing on underlying brain tissue, and had infiltrated the inner skull, causing a bone defect. The lesion was calcified with the typical dural tail sign. The dural origin of the lesion was verified upon surgical dissection. There are no previous reports in the literature describing LCH of dural origin presenting in young patients with typical dural tail signs and meningioma-like imaging findings. The current case report underscores the need for thorough histological and immunocytochemical examinations in LCH differential diagnosis.

[Experimental study of three dimensional navigation assisted spinal surgery by multi-segment registration technology based on structured light scanning]

OBJECTIVE

To study the registration method based on structured light scanning for navigation assisted spinal surgery and assess its accuracy so as to construct a registration system for the navigation assisted spinal surgery using structured light scanning.

METHODS

Both the computed tomographic (CT) dataset and the structured light scanning images of thoracic vertebra were obtained. The pre-registration and multi-segment iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm were used for the registration of CT images and structured light images. Four segmentations were selected from the surface of thoracic vertebra and placed into different combinations. The accuracy for each combination was studied. Noise and perturbation were exerted to structured light and registration accuracy was studied. And calf vertebra was used for further verification.

RESULTS

A combination of pre-registration and multi-segment iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm was competent for the registration of CT scanning data and the structured light scanning data. The registration error was less than 1 mm when two and more segments were selected for registration combination. The registration error was less than 1 mm when noise was exerted.

CONCLUSION

With a high accuracy and a perturbation resistance, a combination of pre-registration and multi-segment registration algorithm based on structured light scanning is competent for the registration of CT scanning data and structured light scanning data.

[Acetabular revision arthroplasty using antiprotrusio cage]

OBJECTIVE

To study the efficacy of acetabular antiprotrusio cage for the reconstruction of acetabular bone defect in revision hip arthroplasty.

METHODS

Twelve cases of severe acetabular bone defect after total hip arthroplasty were revised with antiprotrusio cage and bone grafting from February 2003 to October 2008. Clinical and radiological data before and after revision surgery were collected and compared for assessment.

RESULTS

The classification of acetabular bone defect of this group of patients according to Paprosky classification was: 2 cases of type IIB, 6 cases of type IIIA and 4 cases of type IIIB. The average postoperative follow-up period was 37 months (9 - 71 months). Mean Harris score of all cases was 35.2 before revision surgery, 80.9 at the first time follow-up and 84.6 at latest follow-up. There were no prosthesis loosening and breakage. There was mild radiolucent line in Delee & Charnley III zone of the acetabulum in one patient 6 month after revision, but no deterioration was found during further follow-up. No further revision was needed in this group of patients during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Reconstruction of acetabular bone defect using antiprotrusio cage and bone grafting is a useful method to restore the bone defect and stability of the acetabulum. The outcome via short to middle term follow-up is encouraging.