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Background: Allogenic blood transfusions increase the risk of multiple complications. We evaluated the influence of restricting transfusions in adults with osteoarthritis that underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) with severe postoperative anemia. Material and methods: Patients that underwent THA/TKA for osteoarthritis with postoperative hemoglobin (Hb) ≤ 8 g/dl were retrospectively identified. We evaluated characteristics and adverse postoperative outcomes of patients not transfused and compared them to those of patients who received postoperative transfusion. Adverse outcomes were 90-day readmission, reoperation, infection, and falls, as well as inpatient cardiovascular events and deaths. Results: One thousand eighty-seven patients meeting inclusion criteria underwent THA and TKA. The 399 patients (36.7%) who did not undergo transfuion were younger (67.4 vs 69.5 years, P = .008), healthier (American Society of Anesthesiologist ≤ 2: 64.2% vs 56%, P = .006), comprised a lower proportion of cardiovascular disease patients (13.8% vs 24.7%, P < .001), a lower proportion of patients with Medicare/Medicare Managed Care (57.2% vs 65.5%, P = .05), received tranexamic acid more frequently (66.4% vs 52.9%, P < .01), had a shorter procedure time (92.7 vs 103.1, P < .01), a lower postoperative drop in Hb (4.0 vs 4.2 g/dl, P = .022), a later drop in Hb (2.6 vs 2.2 days, P = .003), and a shorter length of stay (3.5 vs 4.8, P < .01). TKA patients underwent transfusion more frequently than THA patients (67.5% vs 59%, P = .004). There were no postoperative deaths. Adverse events were similar between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Findings suggest that younger and healthier patients that have lower Hb later during their hospital stay need not undergo transfusion solely based on Hb levels. Routine transfusion triggers can be avoided even in more anemic patients.

Background: Instability is a common indication for revision after total knee arthroplasty. Replacement of multiple components is the current standard, but isolated polyethylene liner exchange (IPE) may present a less-morbid alternative. This study aims to determine (1) whether IPE results in similar rerevision frequency to component revision in select patients with symptomatic instability and (2) the effect of increasing constraint on the outcome. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 117 patients revised for symptomatic total knee arthroplasty instability from January 2016 to December 2017. The component revision (60 patients) or IPE (57 patients) cohorts were further stratified based on whether constraint was increased or not. The primary objective was to compare rerevision rates 2 years after component revision vs IPE. The secondary objectives consisted of evaluating reasons for rerevision, preoperative and postoperative patient-reported outcome measures, and range of motion. Results: The rerevision rate was 18%, with no statistical difference between component and IPE cohorts. Cases where level of constraint increased due to revision, a significantly lower rate of rerevision was detected (9 of 77) (12%) than in cases where constraint did not increase (12 of 39) (31%) (P=0.012). This association was also noted in the component revision cohort but not in the IPE cohort (P=0.011). Conclusions: Rerevision occurred at similar frequencies 2 years after IPE or component revision for total knee arthroplasty instability. For component revision, increased constraint was associated with significantly fewer rerevisions.

Modern polyethylene components for total hip arthroplasty have shown excellent long-term wear properties. However, among 204 primary total hip arthroplasty procedures performed by one surgeon using the Exactech Connexion GXL Liner, we identified 5 cases of severe polyethylene wear and osteolysis which occurred within 5 years of the index surgery. Among the 5 cases, all patients had a size 36 head with an acetabular component from size 52 to 56 mm. All patients had a UCLA activity scale score of at least 6 at the time that the osteolysis was detected. The average wear rate was 0.265 mm ± 0.207 mm per year. This review of 5 cases of catastrophic early polyethylene wear demonstrates a concerning trend with the use of the Exactech Connexion GXL liner. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate material characteristics which may have caused this accelerated wear and to prevent recurrences of this complication in the future.

A comprehensive strategy is important for ensuring reproducible and safe acetabular component sizing and positioning. Presented here is our approach for anatomic acetabular component positioning in direct anterior total hip arthroplasty. This strategy has evolved with our understanding of the ramifications of socket sizing and positioning on instability and impingement. Data collected by a single surgeon (J.A.R.) between 2009 and 2011 influenced our current paradigm. We compare the sizing and positioning parameters of the anterior and posterior approach, thus demonstrating how the 2 are different. By highlighting these differences, we hope to provide a clear, defined approach to acetabular placement and sizing for direct anterior-approach total hip arthroplasty. Keywords: Total hip arthroplasty, Acetabular size, Acetabular positioning, Impingement, Dislocation

A 45-year-old woman with a partial atrioventricular canal presented with an iatrogenic interventricular shunt after implantation of a mechanical mitral prosthesis. The shunt was occluded percutaneously with an Amplatzer Duct Occluder II. This is the first reported percutaneous closure of a ventricular septal defect in an atrioventricular canal defect. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)

Summary:. Electrical burns are capable of damaging cells through both thermal and nonthermal mechanisms. The complexity of these wounds, the deterioration in time, and the conversion during the first days make managing them a challenge. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a technology that can be used as a tool to improve outcomes in patients with burns in the acute and reconstructive phases of the treatment. We describe 2 cases in which we apply this technology in electrical injuries. We present 2 cases of patients with electrical burns who underwent NPWT with instillation (NPWTi) with saline solution in the acute phase, to block the conversion of the burn and to improve the granulation tissue and in the reconstructive phase, as a tool to improve the grafts take. Both patients showed early formation of granulation tissue adequate for surgical reconstruction, and neither of them presented loss of skin grafts. In the acute phase, NPWT with instillation when applied in these patients showed fast formation of granulation tissue adequate for early reconstruction, whereas NPWT in the reconstructive phase when applied to bolster grafts showed improvements in grafts take. NPWT is a useful tool to support the surgical management of the electrical injuries during the acute phase to prepare the wound for early reconstruction and after the skin grafts reconstruction to improve the grafts take.

Summary:. Evolution of breast reduction techniques has been a result of combining different skin marking patterns with a wide variety of pedicles. Despite the many differences that may exist among these procedures, they all rely on a few key principles. To make surgery more expeditious and minimize technical challenges, these principles can be incorporated into simple surgical strategies. The authors present a step-by-step approach to help to achieve a successful cosmetic breast reduction for patients with small to moderate breast hypertrophy. Special emphasis is given to intraoperative clues that make this procedure more reproducible and straightforward.