Three-stage limb salvage in tibial fracture related infection with composite bone and soft-tissue defect

Introduction Managing critical-sized tibial defects is one of the most complex challenges orthopedic surgeons face. This is even more problematic in the presence of infection and soft-tissue loss. The purpose of this study is to describe a comprehensive three-stage surgical protocol for the reconstruction of infected tibial injuries with combined bone defects and soft-tissue loss, and report the clinical outcomes. Materials and methods A retrospective study at a specialized limb reconstruction center identified all patients with infected tibial injuries with bone and soft-tissue loss from 2010 through 2018. Thirty-one patients were included. All cases were treated using a three-stage protocol: (1) infected limb damage control; (2) soft-tissue coverage with a vascularized or local flap; (3) definitive bone reconstruction using distraction osteogenesis principles with external fixation. Primary outcomes: limb salvage rate and infection eradication. Secondary outcomes: patient functional outcomes and satisfaction. Results Patients in this series of chronically infected tibias had been operated upon 3.4 times on average before starting our limb salvage protocol. The mean soft-tissue and bone defect sizes were 124 cm2 (6–600) and 5.4 cm (1–23), respectively. A free flap was performed in 67.7% (21/31) of the cases; bone transport was the selected bone-reconstructive option in 51.7% (15/31). Local flap failure rate was 30% (3/10), with 9.5% for free flaps (2/21). Limb salvage rate was 93.5% (29/31), with infection eradicated in all salvaged limbs. ASAMI bone score: 100% good/excellent. Mean VAS score was 1.0, and ASAMI functional score was good/excellent in 86% of cases. Return-to-work rate was 83%; 86% were “very satisfied” with the treatment outcome. Conclusion A three-stage surgical approach to treat chronically infected tibial injuries with combined bone and soft-tissue defects yields high rates of infection eradication and successful limb salvage, with favorable functional outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Changes in Treatment Patterns and Globe Salvage Rate of Advanced Retinoblastoma in Korea: Efficacy of Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy

(1) Background: To analyze changes in treatment patterns for advanced retinoblastoma over time and differences in globe salvage rates; (2) Methods: Retrospective, observational case-control study of 97 eyes of 91 patients with advanced retinoblastoma (Group D and E).; (3) Results: Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they were treated before or after intraarterial chemotherapy (IAC) was introduced in our center in 2010. Before 2010, primary treatment pattern was enucleation, which was performed in 57.6% of cases, whereas primary treatment pattern after 2010 was IAC combined with intravenous chemotherapy (IVC), which was performed in 78.1%. Intravitreal chemotherapy (IVitC) has been performed to treat vitreous and subretinal seeding since 2015. The 5-year globe salvage rate of IVC alone was 24.0% for Group D and 0% for Group E, whereas that of IVC–IAC was 50.4% for Group D and 49.7% for Group E. Whether IVitC was performed or not did not significantly contribute to globe salvage rate. There was one metastatic death in the IVC alone group.; (4) Conclusions: Primary treatment pattern changed from enucleation to IAC-based treatment, which can now save nearly half of eyes with advanced retinoblastoma with excellent safety profile and survival rate.

Penetrating Scrotal Injuries: A War Time Experience in a Civilian Setup

AIM: To present our experience in managing testicular involvement in penetrating scrotal injuries, trying to highlight a possible role for conservative management of selected cases. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively all-penetrating scrotal injuries presented to Alyarmook teaching hospital for the period between January 2009 and November 2015, including only those injured victims who reached the hospital alive. Patients’ charts reviewed regarding their demographic data including age, status being civilian or military, and married or single. We documented as well the cause of injury (bullets vs. explosive devices), laterality, associated injured organs, and type of management performed whether operative or non-operative conservative approach. Postoperative complications were recorded while in-patient and after a follow-up period of at least 1 month. RESULTS: Thirty-one penetrating scrotal injuries were identified, resulted in 34 injured testicles. The patients’ mean age was 34.35 years (±12.89standard deviation [SD]) (18–70 years). Most of the victims 24 (77.4%) were civilians. Explosive devices were the cause of injury in 23 patients (74.2%), while bullets were the cause in the remaining 8 patients (25.8%). Orchidectomy needed to be done in 17 (50%) testicles, while 11 (32.4%) injured testes were repaired by suturing. Six cases (17.6%) were treated conservatively without any surgical intervention. The overall testicular salvage rate was (50%). Twenty-one patients (68%) had associated injuries, mostly fractures. Complications occurred in 10 (32.2%) patients, including two mortalities. CONCLUSIONS: Management of genitourinary injuries continues to be a challenging task. In our penetrating testicular injured series, we succeeded to salvage 50% of the injured testes. Non -surgical treatment is feasible in selected patients, an approach that needs further study and longer follow-up.

Vascular Care Services during the Covid-19 Pandemic in a South Asian Country: Implications for Limb Salvage

Objective: Covid-19 continues its negative impact on limb salvage in patients with limb ischemia and vascular trauma. Bangladesh fought the 1st and 2nd waves of the Covid-19 pandemic during April through August, 2020 and in April-May, 2021, respectively. Infections have been rising once again since early June 2021 to reach a positivity rate over 30%. With limited resources, vascular surgical care during the pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge for a developing country like Bangladesh. As a small vascular community, we have adopted a strategy focused on conserving essential resources including manpower while delivering essential vascular care. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of our pandemic-time guideline-based working strategy with a focus on limb salvage. Methods: Essential vascular services were provided by customized teams throughout the Covid-19 pandemic at two referral centers according to our working guidelines. Data were analyzed and key limb salvage outcomes compared between the two pandemic waves by chi-square test. Results: A total of 1792 vascular surgical cases were addressed during the pandemic- over 90% of which involved limb or life-saving procedures. Overall mortality was 0.6% and overall limb salvage rate for acute and Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia (CLTI) were 95.3% and 76.8%, respectively. Limb salvage rate for CLTI was significantly higher in the 2nd wave compared with the 1st (P<0.05). Rate of Covid-19 infection among vascular workforce was about 20%. Conclusion: Emergency-focused altered working guideline has produced satisfactory results in terms of continuing emergency vascular services, improving limb salvage and safeguarding vascular workforce during Covid-19 pandemic in a developing country. Conservation of resources including manpower remains relevant in the context of a highly probable 3rd wave of infection.

Hybrid Technique for Acute on chronic Lower Limb Ischemia, A single centre study

Background Several methods have been postulated for the treatment of acute on chronic lower limb ischemia; among them, the hybrid procedure (combined open thrombectomy and angioplasty) is gaining popularity .It is aimed at clearing the vessel and treating the underlying vessel lesion in one step. Patients and Methods A total of 23 patients admitted to the vascular department were eligible for inclusion in this study. They were subjected to thromboembolectomy, followed by endovascular balloon dilatation with or without stenting. Data regarding the risk factors, procedure success, and complications were recorded. Results Hybrid procedures showed 91.6% immediate technical success and 82.6% primary limb salvage rate up to 6 months with accepted minor complications. and no major complications Conclusion The hybrid procedure provides an accepted outcome in treating immediately limb- threatening acute on chronic lower limb ischemia.

Limb Salvage in Early Versus Delayed Revascularization of Acute Lower Limb Ischemia

Aim: To compare the limb salvage rate in early versus late presenting patients of Rutherford class IIB acute lower extremity ischemia undergoing revascularization. Study Design: Comparative/observational study Place and duration of study: Department of Surgery, CMH Peshawar from January 2019 to March 2021 Methodology: Twenty eight patients of both genders with ages 20 to 70 years presented with Rutherford class IIB acute lower limb ischemia were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I (presented after 6 hours of onset of symptoms) consisted of 20 patients and group II (presented within 6 hours of onset of symptoms) consisted of 8 patients. All the patients underwent femoral embolectomy. Limb salvage rate between both groups was examined at postoperative 3rd month. Data was analyzed by SPSS 24.0. P-value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: There were 16(80%) male and 4(20%) females with mean age 50.52±11.74 years in group I, in group II 6(75%) were male and 2(25%) were females with mean age 50.08±10.94 years. No significant difference was observed between both groups regarding age and gender with p-value >0.05. In group I, limb salvage found in 19(95%) patients while in group II limb salvage found in 5(62.5%) patients, a significant difference was observed regarding limb salvage rate between both groups (p-value <0.05). Mortality rate was high in group II (delayed presentation) as compared to group I (12.5% Vs 0%) with p-value <0.05. Conclusion: The limb salvage rate was high in early presenting patients than late presenting patients with a significant difference. 30 days mortality rate and amputation rate were significantly high in delayed presentation as compared to early presented cases. Keywords: Acute lower limb ischemia, revascularization, limb salvage

Can concomitant above-knee femoropopliteal bypass with artificial graft affect the outcome of femorofemoral bypass with artificial graft?

Objectives Few have studied the effect of concomitant femoropopliteal (FEM-POP) bypass surgery on the outcome of femorofemoral (FEM-FEM) bypass in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This study was aimed to analyze the risk relationship of concomitant FEM-POP bypass on the patency of FEM-FEM bypass. Methods From March 2009 to April 2020, a total of 27 patients who underwent FEM-FEM bypass surgery using polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were retrospectively analyzed according to concomitant FEM-POP bypass surgery. The mean follow-up duration was 38.20 ± 34.56 months. Results The overall primary patency of the FEM-FEM bypass grafts in all 27 patients was 83.7, 78.5, and 72.0 at one, two, and 3 years, respectively. The overall limb salvage rate was 100, 94.1, and 86.9 at one, two, 3 years, respectively. Among them, ten patients underwent FEM-FEM bypass only (group 1). The other 17 patients needed a concomitant FEM-POP bypass and these patients were classified into three groups (group 2, ipsilateral FEM-POP, n = 5; group 3, crossover FEM-POP, n = 6; and group 4, bilateral FEM-POP, n = 6) The comparison of the primary patency of group 1 with the concomitant FEM-POP groups (sum of groups 2, 3, and 4, that is, group 5, n = 17) revealed a statistically significant improved patency for FEM-FEM bypasses not requiring concomitant infra-inguinal bypass ( p = .036). Among the concomitant FEM-POP groups, group 2 had the lowest primary patency of the FEM-FEM bypass significantly ( p = 0.07). The limb salvage rate of group 4 was significantly low. Conclusions A concomitant FEM-POP bypass influenced the outcome of FEM-FEM bypass surgery. In conclusion, compromised infra-inguinal runoff at either extremity requiring concomitant FEM-POP bypass significantly worsens long-term FEM-FEM bypass patency. In addition, a concomitant bilateral FEM-POP bypass is a risk factor affecting the limb salvage rate in FEM-FEM bypass.

Technical Success and Mid-Term Outcomes of Endovascular Revascularization of Tibio-Peroneal Trunk Lesions

Tibio-peroneal trunk (TPT) lesions are usually categorized as ‘complex’ in anatomical classifications, which leads to the perception that endovascular therapy (EVT) will be challenging and the outcome most likely poor. This multicenter, retrospective cohort study investigates the efficacy of the EVT of TPT lesions in patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) or an infrapopliteal bypass at risk. The primary endpoint was limb-salvage. The secondary outcomes were technical success, freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR), overall survival, and amputation-free survival. A total of 107 TPT lesions were treated in 101 patients. At 3 years, the limb-salvage rate was 76.4% (95% CI 66.0–86.8%). Technical success was achieved in 96.3% of cases. The freedom from CD-TLR, amputation-free survival, and overall survival at 3 years were 53.0% (95% CI 38.1–67.9%), 33.6% (95% CI 23.0–44.2%), and 47.7% (95% CI 36.1–59.3%), respectively. Reintervention significantly increased the hazard ratio for amputation by 7.65 (95% CI 2.50–23.44, p < 0.001). Our results show that the EVT of both isolated and complex TPT lesions is associated with high technical success and acceptable limb-salvage rates, with reintervention being a major risk factor for amputation. Moreover, mid-term mortality rate was relatively high. In future revisions of the anatomical grading scales, the classification of TPT lesions as highly complex should be reconsidered.

Post-traumatic arteriovenous fistulae of the extremities: a case series

Post-traumatic AVF can lead to congestive heart failure, and limb ischemia. The objective of the study is to determine presentations, interventions and outcomes (morbidity and mortality) of the patients treated with traumatic AVF at a university hospital between Jan 1995 to December 2018. Nine patients (M: F 8:1) with median age of 30 [IQR 24.5] years were included in the study. They presented as ‘missed injuries’ with median delay of 4 [IQR 55.25] months. Most had penetrating injuries and presented with painful limb swelling, pain and venous ulcer. Superficial femoral (33.3%) and popliteal (22.2%) vessels were the most involved vessels. Seven (77.7%) patients had surgery while two (22.2%) had endovascular interventions. Arterial reconstruction with interposition vein (44.4%) or with prosthetic (11.1%) grafts was done. There was no peri-operative morbidity or 30-day mortality. All patients had smooth recovery with 100% limb salvage rate. Continuous..