Patients with proximal femoral fractures (PFFs) are often multimorbid, thus unplanned readmissions following surgery are common. We therefore aimed to analyze 30-day and one-year readmission rates, reasons for, and factors associated with, readmission risk in a cohort of patients with surgically treated PFFs across Austria. Data from 11,270 patients with PFFs, treated surgically (osteosyntheses, n = 6,435; endoprostheses, n = 4,835) at Austrian hospitals within a one-year period (January to December 2021) was retrieved from the Leistungsorientierte Krankenanstaltenfinanzierung (Achievement-Oriented Hospital Financing). The 30-day and one-year readmission rates were reported. Readmission risk for any complication, as well as general medicine-, internal medicine-, and surgery/injury-associated complications, and factors associated with readmissions, were investigated.Aims
Methods
The aim of this prospective study was to assess the long-term clinical, radiological, functional, and quality of life (QoL)-related outcome of patients treated with the synthetic Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) device for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. A total of 41 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with the LARS device (mean age 39.8 years (SD 12.1 ); 32% females (n = 13)) were prospectively included between August 2001 and March 2005. MRI scans and radiographs were performed at a median follow-up of 2.0 years (interquartile range (IQR) 1.3 to 3.0; n = 40) and 12.8 years (IQR 12.1 to 13.8; n = 22). Functional and QoL-related outcome was assessed in 29 patients at a median follow-up of 12.8 years (IQR 12.0 to 14.0) and clinically reconfirmed at latest median follow-up of 16.5 years (IQR 15.5 to 17.9). International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Tegner scores were obtained pre- and postoperatively, and Lysholm score postoperatively only. At latest follow-up, range of motion, knee stability tests, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and IKDC scores were ascertained. Complications and reoperations during follow-up were documented.Aims
Methods
The aims of the study were to analyze differences in surgical and oncological outcomes, as well as quality of life (QoL) and function in patients with ankle sarcomas undergoing three forms of surgical treatment, minor or major limb salvage surgery (LSS), or amputation. A total of 69 patients with ankle sarcomas, treated between 1981 and 2017 at two tumour centres, were retrospectively reviewed (mean age at surgery: 46.3 years (SD 22.0); 31 females (45%)). Among these 69 patients 25 were analyzed prospectively (mean age at latest follow-up: 61.2 years (SD 20.7); 11 females (44%)), and assessed for mobility using the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (PLUS-M; for amputees only), the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Score. Individual QoL was evaluated in these 25 patients using the five-level EuroQol five-dimension (EQ-5D-5L) and Fragebogen zur Lebenszufriedenheit/Questions on Life Satisfaction (FLZ).Aims
Methods
Our aim was to develop and validate nomograms that would predict the cumulative incidence of sarcoma-specific death (CISSD) and disease progression (CIDP) in patients with localized high-grade primary central and dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. The study population consisted of 391 patients from two international sarcoma centres (development cohort) who had undergone definitive surgery for a localized high-grade (histological grade II or III) conventional primary central chondrosarcoma or dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. Disease progression captured the first event of either metastasis or local recurrence. An independent cohort of 221 patients from three additional hospitals was used for external validation. Two nomograms were internally and externally validated for discrimination (c-index) and calibration plot.Aims
Methods
This study is a prospective, non-randomized trial for the treatment of fractures of the medial malleolus using lean, bioabsorbable, rare-earth element (REE)-free, magnesium (Mg)-based biodegradable screws in the adult skeleton. A total of 20 patients with isolated, bimalleolar, or trimalleolar ankle fractures were recruited between July 2018 and October 2019. Fracture reduction was achieved through bioabsorbable Mg-based screws composed of pure Mg alloyed with zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca) ( Mg-Zn0.45-Ca0.45, in wt.%; ZX00). Visual analogue scale (VAS) and the presence of complications (adverse events) during follow-up (12 weeks) were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes. The functional outcomes were analyzed through the range of motion (ROM) of the ankle joint and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Fracture reduction and gas formation were assessed using several plane radiographs.Aims
Methods
The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence
of local argyria in patients with silver-coated megaprostheses and
to identify a possible association between argyria and elevated
levels of silver both locally and in the blood. Between 2004 and
2011, 32 megaprostheses with silver coatings were implanted in 20
female and 12 male patients following revision arthroplasty for
infection or resection of a malignant tumour, and the levels of
silver locally in drains and seromas and in the blood were determined.
The mean age of the patients was 46 years (10 to 81); one patient
died in the immediate post-operative period and was excluded. Seven patients (23%) developed local argyria after a median of
25.7 months (interquartile range 2 to 44.5). Patients with and without
local argyria had comparable levels of silver in the blood and aspiration
fluids. The length of the implant did not influence the development
of local argyria. Patients with clinical evidence of local argyria
had no neurological symptoms and no evidence of renal or hepatic
failure. Thus, we conclude that the short-term surveillance of blood
silver levels in these patients is not required. Cite this article:
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), responsible
for extracellular matrix remodelling and angiogenesis, might play
a major role in the response of the growth plate to detrimental
loads that lead to overuse injuries in young athletes. In order
to test this hypothesis, human growth plate chondrocytes were subjected
to mechanical forces equal to either physiological loads, near detrimental
or detrimental loads for two hours. In addition, these cells were
exposed to physiological loads for up to 24 hours. Changes in the
expression of MMPs -2, -3 and -13 were investigated. We found that expression of MMPs in cultured human growth plate
chondrocytes increases in a linear manner with increased duration
and intensity of loading. We also showed for the first time that
physiological loads have the same effect on growth plate chondrocytes
over a long period of time as detrimental loads applied for a short
period. These findings confirm the involvement of MMPs in overuse injuries
in children. We suggest that training programmes for immature athletes
should be reconsidered in order to avoid detrimental stresses and
over-expression of MMPs in the growth plate, and especially to avoid
physiological loads becoming detrimental. Cite this article:
