BACKGROUND: Chronic osteomyelitis is a debilitating bone infection, characterized by a persistent infection over months to years, poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its insidious nature and potential for severe bone and soft tissue destruction. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to review the literature on the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis in long bones and assess cure rates in single versus two-stage surgery.
METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021231237), this review included studies that reported on the management of chronic osteomyelitis in long bones using either a planned one-stage or two-stage surgical approach in adult patients. Databases searched included Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, HMIC, and AMED, using keywords related to osteomyelitis, long bones, and surgical management. Eligibility criteria focused on adults with chronic osteomyelitis in long bones, with outcomes reported after a minimum follow-up of 12 months. The meta-analysis utilized the random-effects model to pool cure rates.
RESULTS: The analysis included 42 studies with a total of 1605 patients. The overall pooled cure rate was 91% (CI 95%) with no significant difference observed between single-stage and two-stage surgeries (X2 = 0.76, P > 0.05). Complications were reported in 26.6% of cases in single-stage procedures and 27.6% in two-stage procedures, with prolonged wound drainage noted as a common issue. Dead space management techniques varied across studies, with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate beads used in 30.4% of cases.
CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis reveals no significant difference in cure rates between single and two-stage surgical treatments for chronic osteomyelitis in long bones, supporting the efficacy of both approaches. The current treatment strategy should include a combination of debridement, dead space management using local and systematic antibiotics and soft tissue reconstruction if necessary.

BACKGROUND: Traditional surgical strategies for dumbbell neuroblastoma entail, among others, high risk of spinal deformity. Less invasive procedures might reduce these sequelae, however, there is small evidence comparing different strategies. Indications of minimally invasive surgery in neuroblastoma are still developing. Our aim is to identify and analyze different surgical approaches described in the recent literature and to suggest a minimally invasive option.
METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in PubMed (Jan 2000-Dec 2021) to identify reports describing surgical resection of dumbbell neuroblastoma in children, according to the PRISMA guidelines. Only full-text articles were included.
RESULTS: 7 articles met the inclusion criteria which, added to the present case, represent a total of 43 patients. All were retrospective studies, most of them small series. Tumor location was mostly thoracic. Most of combined approaches were performed in two stages. Spinal deformity after surgery was reported in 3 patients. Minimally invasive approach was described in only one paper, with no reported cases of its use in a single-stage combined surgery. We also report, to our knowledge, the first single-stage posterior neurosurgical approach combined with thoracoscopy for resection of a dumbbell neuroblastoma in an infant.
CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection of dumbbell neuroblastomas is challenging. There is no consensus on best surgical approach. Dumbbell tumors should not be considered a contraindication for minimally invasive surgery. A single stage and minimally invasive strategy is proposed.

Urbaniak class III ring avulsion injuries involve significant soft tissue and bone loss. Management typically focuses on immediate, temporary soft tissue coverage followed by a planned trip to the operating room for either amputation or replantation. While soft tissue coverage is of utmost importance, maintenance of digital length, functionality, and cost-effectiveness of viable treatment options should also be considered. The use of soft tissue from amputated structures is well documented, especially in the case of planned surgical amputations. This method has also been known to be used in the case of hand injuries with severe soft tissue compromise; however, there are no known, documented reports of acute treatment of injuries such as ring avulsions with such methods. In this report, we present a case of a class III ring avulsion injury treated utilizing a single-stage, full-thickness skin graft obtained from an amputated part in the emergency department.

While advanced technology, increased medical knowledge and improved surgical technique has improved patient outcomes in total joint arthroplasty, prosthetic joint infection still remains one of the leading causes of increased healthcare costs, medical resources and societal burdens in orthopaedic care. Two stage arthroplasty revision remains the gold standard for treatment of prosthetic joint infection. Proponents of single stage revision arthroplasty for infection argue that it results in lower healthcare costs while improving patient reported functional outcomes and with equivalent success rates. Here we review the history of single stage revision arthroplasty, discuss the key principles, highlight the indications and contraindications, and review the reported outcomes with a focus on future developments of single stage revision arthroplasty for hip and knee periprosthetic joint infections.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in surgery, the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis remains complex and is often associated with a significant financial burden to healthcare systems. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the different single-stage procedures that have been used to treat adult chronic osteomyelitis and to evaluate their effectiveness.
METHODS: Ovid Medline and Embase databases were searched for articles on the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis over the last 20 years. A total of 3511 journal abstracts were screened by 3 independent reviewers. Following exclusion of paediatric subjects, animal models, non-bacterial osteomyelitis and patients undergoing multiple surgical procedures, we identified 13 studies reported in English with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed for all studies. Non-recurrence was defined as resolution of pain without recurrence of sinuses or need for a second procedure to treat infection within the described follow-up period.
RESULTS: A total of 505 patients with chronic osteomyelitis underwent attempted single-stage procedures. Following debridement, a range of techniques have been described to eliminate residual dead space including biologic and non-biologic approaches. These include musculocutaneous flaps, insertion of S53P4 glass beads or packing with antibiotic-loaded ceramic or calcium-sulphate pellets. The average follow-up ranged from 12 to 110 months. The most common organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus (35.2%). Non-recurrence ranged from 0 to 100%. Debridement alone was statistically significantly inferior to approaches that included dead space management (54.5% versus 90% non-recurrence). Biologic and non-biologic approaches to dead space management were comparable (89.8% versus 94.2% non-recurrence).
CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of single-stage procedures have been performed for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. In general, studies were small and observational with various reporting deficiencies. No one dead space management technique appears to be superior, but debridement alone that leaves residual dead space should be avoided.

Total Knee Arthroplasty is an increasingly common procedure and revision surgery, particularly for infection, is associated with significant morbidity and healthcare costs. The current gold standard is a two stage revision procedure but single stage revision is increasingly being used in some departments to improve patient outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to determine the up-to-date evidence underlying the use of a single stage knee approach in revision surgery. A total of 12 studies were included in this review amounting to 433 revision surgeries. This is the largest review of single stage knee revision surgery. The procedures described were heterogenous and included the \'two-in-one\' technique as well as other single stage revision procedures. There were also differences in implants and antibiotic regimens. The mean re-infection rates described in 10 studies was 9.4% (range 0-19.2%) after a mean follow-up of 40.3 months (range 7-180 months). The re-infection rates in the studies published over the last 30 years are falling, and this is not accounted for by any significant change in duration of follow-up during this period. The outcome scores varied, but patients generally showed an improvement. The Knee Society Score and the Oxford Knee Score were the most commonly used in five and three studies respectively. We conclude that the current evidence for single stage revision is variable and there is a lack of good quality evidence to address whether single stage revisions is thorough enough to eradicate deep infection and is able to restore adequate function. There is a need for larger prospective studies with standardised procedures and protocol, and with adequate follow-up. Till then, patients considered for a single stage approach should be thoroughly assessed and the surgery should be performed by a senior surgeon with experience in single stage knee revisions.

We present here the case of a patient with a major traumatic nasal loses who had a near-total nasal reconstruction as a single-stage procedure. A 35 year-old civil servant who was involved in a road traffic injury about two years before presentation. He sustained extensive and multiple facial injuries with complete loss of nasal cover and lining. Reconstruction was performed by using superiorly based, bilateral, nasolabial flaps to line the floor and the nasal septum, and a paramedian forehead flap for skin cover. The patient did well postoperatively and was discharged home on the 7(th) postoperative day. If the principles concerning cover, support, and lining are adhered to, excellent functional and aesthetic results can be achieved as we have obtained in our patient.