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Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the German Health Ministry has issued restrictions applying to the field of orthopaedics and trauma surgery. Besides postponement of elective surgeries, outpatient consultations have been drastically reduced. Parallel to these developments, an increase in telemedical consultations has reflected efforts to provide sufficient patient care. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a clinical examination of the hip joint and pelvis by way of a telemedical consultation.Twenty-nine patients of a German university clinic were recruited and assessed in both telemedical and conventional examinations. Agreement between the two examinations was then assessed, and connections between the observed agreement and patient-specific factors such as age, BMI and ASA classification were investigated.The inspections agreed closely with a mean Cohen's kappa of 0.76 ± 0.37. Palpation showed adequate agreement with a mean Cohen's kappa of 0.38 ± 0.19. Function showed good agreement with a mean Cohen's kappa of 0.61 ± 0.26 and range of motion showed adequate agreement with a mean Cohen's kappa of 0.36 ± 0.19. A significant positive correlation was observed between the number of deviations in the different examinations and age (p = 0.05), and a significant positive correlation was shown between the number of non-feasible examinations and age (p 0.01), BMI (p 0.01) and ASA classification score (p 0.01).Inspection and function can be reliably evaluated, whereas the significance of palpation, provocation and measurement of range of motion is limited. The small sample size puts limitations on the significance of a statistically relevant correlation between patient-specific factors such as age, BMI and ASA classification score and valid and successful implementation of a telemedical examination. The authors recommend targeted patient selection. If, however, patients are being evaluated who are very old ( 75 years), obese (BMI 30) or with multiple comorbidities (ASA 3 and above), caution is advised. Large, prospective studies are needed in the future to fully validate telemedical consultations in the fields of orthopaedics and trauma surgery.A telemedical examination of the hip joint and pelvis can be performed with certain limitations. Patient-specific factors such as age, BMI, and extent of comorbidities appear to have a relevant impact on validity and execution of the examination. Patients with multiple comorbidities (ASA 3 and above), advanced age ( 75 years) or obesity (BMI 30) should, whenever possible, be examined in a conventional outpatient setting.Aufgrund der aktuellen COVID-19-Pandemie erfolgten Einschränkungen im Fach der Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie durch das Gesundheitsamt. Neben der Verlegung von elektiven operativen Eingriffen erfolgte auch die drastische Reduktion der Sprechstunden. Hierdurch kam es zu einem deutlichen Anstieg von telemedizinisch durchgeführten Sprechstunden zur Gewährleistung der Patientenversorgung. Die Zielsetzung dieser Arbeit ist, die Umsetzbarkeit einer klinisch-orthopädischen Untersuchung der Hüfte und des Beckens durch telemedizinische Verfahren im Rahmen einer Videosprechstunde zu untersuchen.Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Auswertung wurden 29 stationäre Patienten eines deutschen Universitätsklinikums rekrutiert und im Rahmen einer Videosprechstunde und konventionell untersucht. Anschließend wurde die Übereinstimmung der erhobenen Befunde ausgewertet und Zusammenhänge mit patientenspezifischen Daten wie Alter, BMI und ASA-Klassifikation untersucht.Es zeigte sich eine gute Übereinstimmung der Inspektion mit einem durchschnittlichen Cohens Kappa von 0,76 ± 0,37, eine angemessene Übereinstimmung der Palpation mit einem durchschnittlichen Cohens Kappa von 0,38 ± 0,19, eine gute Übereinstimmung der Funktion mit einem durchschnittlichen Cohens Kappa von 0,61 ± 0,26 und eine angemessene Übereinstimmung der Bewegungsausmaße mit einem Cohens Kappa von 0,36 ± 0,19. Es zeigte sich ein signifikanter positiver Zusammenhang zwischen Anzahl der Abweichungen der verschiedenen Untersuchungen und Alter (p = 0,05) und ein positiver signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen Anzahl der nicht durchführbaren Untersuchungen und Alter (p 0,01), BMI (p 0,01) und ASA-Klassifikationswert (p 0,01).Vor allem die Inspektion und Funktion sind gut untersuchbare Parameter während Palpation, Provokation und die Erfassung der Bewegungsausmaße eine limitierte Aussagekraft zeigen. Bei begrenzter Anzahl der Probanden ist die Aussagekraft eines statistisch relevanten Zusammenhangs zwischen patientenspezifischen Faktoren wie Alter, BMI und ASA-Klassifikationswert und der validen und erfolgreichen Durchführung einer telemedizinischen Untersuchung limitiert. Die Autoren sprechen sich für eine gezielte Patientenselektion aus. Sollten dennoch sehr alte ( 75 Jahren), adipöse (BMI 30) oder stark vorerkrankte Patienten (ab ASA 3) untersucht werden, ist Vorsicht geboten. Es bedarf in der Zukunft weiterer großangelegter, prospektiver Studien, um eine ausreichende Validierung einer telemedizinischen Untersuchung in der Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie zu erreichen.Die telemedizinische Untersuchung von Hüftgelenk und Becken ist mit Einschränkungen möglich. Patientenspezifische Faktoren wie Alter, BMI und Grad der Vorerkrankungen scheinen einen relevanten Einfluss auf die Validität und die Durchführung zu haben. Patienten, die stark vorerkrankt (ab ASA 3) sind, ein hohes Lebensalter haben ( 75 Jahre) und/oder adipös sind (BMI 30), sollten, wenn möglich, in eine herkömmliche Sprechstunde einbestellt werden.

BACKGROUND Ankle arthropathy is a frequent complication of haemophilia, reducing the patients' quality of life. Despite intensive conservative therapy, end-stage arthropathy requires surgical treatment, either by ankle fusion (AF) or total ankle replacement (TAR). METHODS Eleven consecutive AFs were performed in nine patients and 11 TARs were implemented in 10 patients. Outcomes were assessed clinically by AOFAS score and radiologically by the Pettersson and Gilbert scores. RESULTS The mean age of the patients in these groups were 35.7 years and 49.4 years, respectively. Of the 11 ankles that underwent fusion, 10 showed bony consolidation not later than 12 weeks after surgery, whereas one still showed non-union after 6 months. VAS pain scores decreased significantly in both groups. Mean AOFAS scores also improved significantly, from 28.1 before to 80.3 after AF and from 21.5 before to 68.0 after ankle replacement. No perioperative complications were observed in either group. Late deep infection was observed in two patients that underwent TAR, which required removal of the implant. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that both AF and TAR result in significantly reduced pain in patients with haemophilia with end-stage haemophilic arthropathy. While TAR is associated with a higher risk of deep infection and minimal persistent pain, it preserves the pre-operative range of motion. AF on the other hand is associated with the risk of non-union and a longer post-operative recovery period but results in greater pain reduction.

Background: Color-coded duplex sonography (CCDS) is useful for perforator flap design showing the highest sensitivity in identifying microvessels. This prospective study evaluates the feasibility of different ultrasound (US) modes applied by the microsurgeon in daily practice suggesting quantifiable reference values. Methods: Twenty-four patients aged between 17 and 68 years (mean 43.3± 14.2 years) with 18 anterolateral thigh (ALT) and 6 superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIP) flaps were included. Indications were traumatic (n = 12), infectious (n = 6), ischemic (n = 4), or tumor-associated defects (n = 2). Different US modes were evaluated regarding applicability using multifrequency linear probes (5–15 MHz). Vessels diameter, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistance index (RI) were measured. Preoperative results were correlated to intraoperative findings. Results: In the examined patient group with 24 perforator flaps a 100% correlation was seen when comparing perforators detected with CCDS/PD with intraoperative findings using optimized US settings. Sensitivity, PPV, and accuracy of CCDS were 100% respectively. Mean PSV of 16.99 ± 6.07 cm/s, mean EDV of 5.01 ± 1.84 cm/s and RI of 0.7 ± 0.07 were measured in microvessels (PW-mode). CCDS proved to be superior compared to PD in correct diameter assessment showing a mean diameter of 1.65 ± 0.45 mm, compared to PD-mode 1.31 ± 0.24 mm. Mean PSV and EDV were higher in ALT than in SCIP flaps, RI was slightly higher in SCIP flaps (p > .05). There were no significant differences in size of different flaps' perforators (p > .05). Conclusion: CCDS represents a highly valuable tool in the daily practice of free flap reconstructions using optimized low flow US settings and multifrequency linear probes.

Periprosthetic joint infection is among the most common and severe complications in total joint arthroplasty. Today, a combination of different methods is used for diagnosis because no single method with sufficient sensitivity and specificity is available. In this study, we explored the usability of single-molecule microscopy to characterize synovial fluid samples from periprosthetic joint infections. Patients (n = 27) that needed revision arthroplasty underwent the routine diagnostic procedures for periprosthetic joint infection of the University Hospital in Bonn. Additionally, the diffusion rate of two probes, dextran and hyaluronan, was measured in small volumes of periprosthetic synovial fluid samples using single-molecule microscopy. To evaluate the suitability of single-molecule microscopy to detect PJI the AUC for both markers was calculated. The diffusion rate of hyaluronan in periprosthetic synovial fluid from patients with septic loosening was faster than in samples from patients with aseptic loosening. Single-molecule microscopy showed excellent diagnostic performance, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.93, and allowed the detection of periprosthetic joint infection in patients that would be challenging to diagnose with current methods. For the first time, single-molecule microscopy was used to detect periprosthetic joint infection. Our results are encouraging to study the value of single-molecule microscopy in a larger patient cohort. The speed and accuracy of single-molecule microscopy can be used to further characterize synovial fluid, potentially allowing intraoperative diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infections in the future.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Contains fulltext : 79856.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) BACKGROUND: The k(e)(0) value is the first order rate constant determining the equilibration of drugs between plasma or end-tidal concentration and effect-site (e.g., brain) concentration. Parametric and semiparametric approaches have been used for estimating individual k(e)(0) values and describing the drug-response curve. In this study, we introduce a new semiparametric approach calculating k(e)(0) values for isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane by maximizing the prediction probability P(K). METHODS: Data from 45 patients scheduled for a radical prostatectomy were analyzed. After lumbar epidural catheterization, patients received remifentanil and propofol solely for induction of anesthesia. Thereafter, epidural analgesia was initiated, and isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane (15 patients each) was added to maintain unconsciousness. At least 45 min later, end-tidal concentrations were varied between 0.5 and 2 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration. We estimated an individual k(e)(0) value for each patient by optimizing the prediction probability P(K) (P(K)-based k(e)(0)) or by minimizing the area within the hysteresis loop (area-based k(e)(0)). Data are mean +/- sd. RESULTS: Both semiparametric approaches led to comparable k(e)(0) values with 0.18 +/- 0.06 min(-1) (P(K) based) and 0.15 +/- 0.04 min(-1) (area based) for isoflurane and 0.17 +/- 0.08 min(-1) (P(K) based) and 0.16 +/- 0.11 min(-1) (area based) for sevoflurane. k(e)(0) values for desflurane (P(K) based: 0.30 +/- 0.17min(-1); area based: 0.32 +/- 0.25 min(-1)) were significantly higher than for isoflurane and sevoflurane. CONCLUSION: Maximizing the prediction probability P(K) for estimating k(e)(0) seems to be a promising method that researchers could use on an exploratory basis.