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Background: Cutibacterium acnes ( C acnes ) is a commensal skin bacterium, primarily found in sebaceous glands and hair follicles, with a high prevalence in the shoulder region. It is the most common pathogenic organism in prosthetic joint infections after shoulder arthroplasty. Because of its low virulence, its diagnosis remains difficult., Purpose: To evaluate the relative effects of topical preparations in reducing C acnes in shoulder surgery., Study Design: Meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 1., Methods: We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, and Cochrane Library databases in March 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any form of topical preparation in arthroscopic or open shoulder surgery were included. The primary outcome was a reduction in the number of positive C acnes cultures. Secondary outcomes were adverse events related to the application of topical preparations. We performed a network meta-analysis to facilitate simultaneous comparisons between multiple preparations across studies. We calculated differences between preparations using odds ratios and their 95% CIs. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool., Results: The search yielded 17 RCTs (1350 patients), of which 9 were suitable for the network meta-analysis (775 patients). Overall, 2 RCTs were deemed as having a low risk of bias, and 15 raised "some concerns" of bias. Preparations included benzoyl peroxide (BPO), BPO combined with clindamycin, chlorhexidine gluconate, hydrogen peroxide, povidone-iodine, and water with soap. Only BPO resulted in significantly lower odds of a positive C acnes culture compared with placebo or soap and water (odds ratio, 0.12 [95% CI, 0.04-0.36]). There was no statistically significant difference with all other topical preparations. The only adverse events were skin irritation from BPO and chlorhexidine gluconate in a small number of reported cases., Conclusion: BPO was the most effective topical agent in reducing the prevalence of C acnes in shoulder surgery. These results were limited by a combination of indirect and direct data. Future studies should focus on establishing the optimal frequency and duration of preoperative BPO to further reduce the burden of C acnes ., Registration: CRD42022310312 (PROSPERO)., Competing Interests: The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this contribution. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Background: To date, there are no systematic reviews on the utility of surgical management for plantar fasciitis to guide best practice. This review aimed to evaluate the operative options for plantar fasciitis and their effectiveness., Methods: A systematic review and network meta-analysis were carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A search strategy was conducted on the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Quality was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool., Results: 17 studies involving 865 patients were included. Surgical options considered were open and endoscopic plantar fasciotomy, gastrocnemius release, radiofrequency microtenotomy and dry needling. All interventions resulted in improvement in VAS and AOFAS scores. No major complications were seen from any treatment modality., Conclusions: Surgical interventions are effective in providing short- to medium-term symptomatic relief for plantar fasciitis refractory to non-operative management. Current evidence is equivocal regarding treatment choice. Further large randomised studies are required to establish long-term outcomes and a management algorithm., Level of Evidence: Level III., (© 2023. Crown.)

Background: Increasing numbers of patients are taking Direct Oral Anticoagulants at the time of hip fracture. Evidence is limited on how and if the effects of DOAC's should be reversed before surgical fixation. Wide variations in practice exist. We conducted a systematic review to investigate outcomes for three reversal strategies. These were: "watch and wait" (also referred to as "time-reversal"), plasma product reversal and reversal with specific antidotes., Methods: A systematic search was conducted using multiple databases. Results were obtained for studies directly comparing different DOAC reversal strategies in hip fracture patients and for studies comparing DOAC-taking hip fracture patients (including patients "reversed" using any method and "non-reversed" patients) against matched controls taking either a vitamin-K antagonist or not receiving anticoagulation therapy. This allowed construction of a network meta-analysis to indirectly compare outcomes between "reversed" and "non-reversed" DOAC patients. With respect to "watch and wait"/"time-reversal", a cut-off time to surgery of 36 hours was used to distinguish between "time-reversed" and "non time-reversed" DOAC patients. The primary outcome was early/inpatient mortality, reported as Odds Ratios (OR)., Results: No studies investigating plasma products or reversal agents specifically in hip fracture patients were obtained. Fourteen studies were suitable for analysis of "watch and wait"/"time- reversal". Two studies directly compared "time-reversed" and "non time-reversed" DOAC-taking hip fracture patients (58 "time-reversed", 62 "non time-reversed"). From 12 other studies we used indirect comparisons between "time-reversed" and "non time-reversed" DOAC patients (total, 357 "time-reversed", 282 "non time-reversed"). We found no statistically significant differences in mortality outcomes between "time-reversal" and "non time-reversal" (OR 1.48 [95%CI: 0.29-7.53]). We also did not find a statistically significant difference between "time reversal" and "non time-reversal" in terms of blood transfusion requirements (OR 1.16 [95% CI 0.42-3.23]). However, several authors described that surgical delay is associated with worse outcomes related to prolonged hospitalisation, and that operating within 36 hours is safe., Conclusions: We suggested against "watch and wait" to reverse the DOAC effect in hip fractures. Further work is required to assess the optimal timing for surgery as well as the use of plasma products or specific antidotes in DOAC-taking hip fracture patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None declared., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Reconstruction of the hip for peri-acetabular oncological disease remains a challenge. The objective of this study was to summarize the evidence and identify techniques utilized for primary and metastatic tumors of the acetabulum and hemipelvis., Methods: A systematic review of the published literature was carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases identified relevant articles. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The study was registered on PROSPERO., Results: 53 papers were included, 16 were suitable for meta-analysis. 909 patients had primary and 1140 metastatic disease. 1094 patients underwent reconstruction with conventional total hip arthroplasty (with or without cup-cage or cement augmentation) or modifications of the Harrington procedure, collectively termed 'non-complex'. 928 patients underwent 'complex' reconstructions with either a modular hemipelvic, saddle, reverse snow-cone, custom-made or 3D-printed endoprosthesis. The most common complication was deep infection (11%) followed by dislocation (5%). Mean MSTS scores were 61.9% for 'non-complex' versus 63.2% for 'complex' reconstruction. Meta-analysis suggested increased mortality for primary (OR 3.14; 95% CI 1.15-8.54) and trends toward reduced mortality for metastatic disease (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.26-3.29) following 'complex' versus 'non-complex' reconstruction. Reoperation rates were higher following 'complex' reconstruction for metastatic disease (OR 1.90; 95% CI 0.66-5.46) and similar for primary disease (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.45-2.14)., Conclusions: Peri-acetabular tumors are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Decisions regarding implant selection are multi-factorial with recent increase in the use of custom-made and 3D-printing technologies. Multiple factors contribute to the oncological outcome and patient function. Further research is required in order to guide optimal practice., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Hip fracture is a common condition of the older, frailer person. This population is also at risk from SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is important to understand the impact of coexistent hip fracture and SARS-CoV-2 for informed decision-making at patient and service levels., Methods: We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies of older (> 60 years) people with fragility hip fractures and outcomes with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary outcome was early (30-day or in-hospital) mortality. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay and key clinical characteristics known to be associated with outcomes after hip fracture., Results: A total of 14 cohort and five case series studies were included (692 SARS-CoV-2 positive, 2,585 SARS-CoV-2 negative). SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an overall risk ratio (RR) for early mortality of 4.42 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.42 to 5.82). Early mortality was 34% (95% CI 30% to 38%) and 9% (95% CI 8% to 10%) in the infected and noninfected groups respectively. Length of stay was increased in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients (mean difference (MD) 5.2 days (3.2 to 7.2)). Age (MD 1.6 years (0.3 to 2.9)); female sex (RR 0.83 (95% CI 0.65 to 1.05)); admission from home (RR 0.51 (95% CI 0.26 to 1.00)); presence of dementia (RR 1.13 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.43)); and intracapsular fracture (RR 0.89 (95% CI 0.71 to 1.11)) were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. There were statistically, but not clinically, significantly greater Nottingham Hip Fracture Scores in infected compared with non-infected patients (MD 0.7 (0.4 to 0.9))., Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with worse outcomes after hip fracture. This is not explained by differences in patient characteristics. These data can be used to support informed decision-making and may help track the impact of widespread adoption of system-level and therapeutic changes in management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open  2021;2(5):314-322.

Carers are known to have valuable information regarding patient functioning. It has been repeatedly cited that failure of communication between mental health services and the carers of patients is related to critical incidents and failures in patient care. Despite this, there are no structured interventions for carers to participate in patient care, let alone assist with measuring patient progress. This study builds upon and expands on a previous pilot study of a similar measure that was developed for a specific old-age population to create one suitable for general adult use. Development of the Carer Appraisal Scale was based on a grounded theory approach, beginning with semi-structured interviews with staff members working in the mental health service of a major tertiary referral center, with intent on refinement by focus groups, carer feedback, and eventual reduction in total number of items via factor analysis in order to create an accessible and brief measure suitable for regular clinical use. It is proposed that this measure provides additional value for services in engaging the carers of patients in a clinically meaningful way that will greatly impact on patient care., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2019.)