Removal of plates is a procedure commonly performed by orthopaedic surgeons and stripped screws are probably the most common problem encountered during this procedure. Stripped screws are caused by slippage between the screwdriver and the screw. Due to the inherent difficulty in removing such screws, surgeons should be knowledgeable in techniques for their removal and should be equipped with the proper instruments to expedite the procedure. There are few published articles about such techniques. This report describes a technique for removal of plates with stripped screws. The tip of a stripped screw is approached from the far cortex and then reamed with a trephine reamer in the direction of the screw until both cortices are cleared. The plate is then removed with stripped screws attached. All the removals utilizing this technique to date have been successful with no complications, and this method is safe, efficient and technically easy to learn.
Necrotizing fasciitis is a life and limb threatening soft tissue infection with a high mortality rate. This study tries to identify the possible risk factors that contribute to mortality in patients with necrotizing fasciitis involving a lower limb. We prospectively reviewed 41 patients that presented with necrotizing fasciitis of the lower limb over a period of one year. Results show that the mortality rate for necrotizing fasciitis of the lower limb is quite high at 19.5%. Comparison among necrotizing fasciitis patients reveals that higher mortality rate is seen among those patients with advanced age and those presented with initial high pre-operative creatinine levels. Sex, pre-morbid diabetes mellitus, duration from initial symptoms to presentation for treatment and presence of streptococcus group A were not associated with an increased mortality rate. Neither were admission vital signs, subcutaneous gas on radiograph, prior antibiotic treatment on admission or clinical note of bullae formation.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a spinal deformity that affects patients’ self image and confidence. Surgery is offered when the curvature is greater than 50 degrees based on the likelihood of curvature progression. Outcome measures for scoliosis correction can be described in terms of radiological improvement or improvement of health related quality of life scores. The Scoliosis Research Society 22 (SRS-22) and Scoliosis Research Society 24 (SRS-24) questionnaires are widely accepted and used to characterize clinical results. Therefore, this prospective study of 38 patients aims to investigate how the SRS-24 and SRS-22 questionnaires compare to each other in terms of scoring when the same group of patients is evaluated. The SRS-22 questionnaire tends to give an inflated value in the overall score, pain and self image domain compared to the SRS-24 questionnaire.
We report here a rare presentation of an extra-nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Both clinical presentation radiological findings were suggestive of psoas abscess. Surgical debridement was performed and histopathological examination of the tissue sample revealed the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is therefore important to note that non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can mimic psoas abscess and that psoas lesion with vertebral involvement does not necessarily indicate infection. It is always advisable to obtain needle biopsy to establish diagnosis before embarking on surgical intervention. The practice to send any suspicious tissue obtained intra-operatively for histopathological examination is also warranted.
The evolution of instrumentation methods for C1-C2 fusion from the use of posterior wiring methods to transarticular screws and C1 lateral mass with C2 pedicle screw construct have improved fusion rates to almost 100%. However, the C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screw technique is technically demanding. This is a prospective review of a series of ten patients who was planned for C1-C2 fusion using C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screw technique between January 2007 and June 2009. The procedure was converted to occipital cervical fusion due to a fracture of a hypoplastic lateral mass-posterior arch complex in one patient and Gallie fusion due to a vertebral artery injury in another. Eight patients underwent the C1-C2 fusion using C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screw successfully without any complications. The union rate was 100% with an average union time of 5.3 months (range from 3 to 8 months). Postoperatively, the patients achieved an average of one Frankel grade neurological improvement. In conclusion, this technique provides an excellent union rate and good neurological recovery.
Chance fracture is an unstable vertebral fracture, which usually results from a high velocity injury. An elderly lady with a previously healed osteoporotic fracture of the T12 and L1 vertebra which resulted in a severe kyphotic deformity subsequently sustained a Chance fracture of the adjacent L2 vertebrae after a minor fall. The previously fracture left her with a deformity which resulted in significant sagittal imbalance therefore predisposing her to this fracture. This case highlights the importance of aggressive treatment of osteoporotic fractures in order to prevent significant sagittal imbalance from resultant (i.e. kyphotic) deformity.
Chondrosarcoma of the spine is rare; it presents predominantly in very young males and presentation with neurological deficit is uncommon. Treatment of this type of tumour is mainly through surgery as adjuvant therapy is ineffective. En bloc resection of tumours in the spine are difficult although it remains the recommended treatment for chondrosarcoma. We report here presentation of a female with paresis (Frankel C) whom was diagnosed with a large chondrosarcoma of the T2 vertebra extending to the right upper thoracic cavity. The patient underwent radical xcision through an anterior and posterior approach to the spine.
Background:
Prevention of hypothermia in patients undergoing major posterior approach spinal surgery can be difficult, as a
large body surface is exposed to the cold environment of the operating theatre. We compared the efficacy of a
new under-body forced-air warming blanket with that of a resistive heating blanket in preventing hypothermia.
Methods:
Sixty patients undergoing major posterior approach spinal surgery lasting for more than 2 hours were randomly
assigned to warming with a full under-body forced-air warming blanket or three segments of resistive heating
blankets, both set at 42°C. The ambient temperature was kept near 20°C. Nasopharyngeal, rectal and axillary
temperatures were measured at regular intervals. Changes in core temperature (average of nasopharyngeal
and rectal) over time were compared by the independent t-test.
Results:
The characteristics of the patients were comparable. The baseline core temperature was 36.36 ±0.38°C in the
forced-air group and 36.27 ± 0.46°C in the resistive heating group. During the first hour, the core temperature
decreased similarly from baseline in both groups. From 100 minutes after induction until the end of the surgery,
core temperature rose in both groups. At the end of surgery, the core temperature was increased by 0.08
± 0.09°C from baseline in the forced-air group but decreased by 0.40 ±0.04°C from baseline in the resistive
heating group. The difference in the change of the core temperature, at the end of the surgery, between the
two groups is statistically significant (P
A 20- year-old female student was involved in a motor vehicle accident. She sustained a severe friction injury to the left knee that resulted in considerable soft tissue and bone loss. There was also damage to the knee extensor mechanism, tibialis anterior muscle, femoral trochlea, the anterior half of the tibial plateau extending distally to the proximal tibia and skin. However, there was no crushing of the limb or resultant neurovascular deficit but cancellous bone and the remainder of the joint were exposed. Repeated surgical debridement was performed and was followed by covering of the soft tissue using a latissimus dorsi free flap and skin grafts. The bony defect was reconstituted with antibiotic bone cement to prevent flap adherence and shrinkage, enhance stability and prevent fracture. The cement was later removed at the time of arthrodesis at which time an ipsilateral double barrel vascularised fibular graft supplemented with autogenously cancellous bone and a ring fixator was used. Computer tomography confirmed union at three months post procedure. The fixator was then removed and a tibialis posterior transfer was performed.
Interlocked intramedullary nailing is accepted as the gold standard for femoral shaft fractures. However for Winquist type I and II femoral fractures at the isthmus region, unlocked intramedullary nailing (Küntscher nailing) is still a good option. We performed a retrospective study on 86 patients with a total of 88 femoral shaft fractures around the isthmus that presented at our institution between 1 January 1988 and 31 August 2003. All patients (84.1% Winquist type I and 15.9% Winquist Type II fractures) were treated with unlocked intramedullary nail. The average time to union was 16 weeks with 97.7% rate of union. There were two cases (2.3%) of infection and non-union each. Overall results were comparable to standard interlocking intramedullary nailing. We conclude that unlocked intramedullary nailing is a good treatment option for Winquist Type I and II femoral fracture around the isthmus with its good union rate and minimal complications.