BACKGROUND: Tranexamic acid (TXA) administration is supported by numerous evidence in reducing blood loss after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The combination of intravenous (IV) and intra-articular (IA) TXA administration revealed good result in blood loss reduction with less evidence of venous thromboembolism event (VTE). Several literature reviews portray that peri-articular (PA) administration yields similar hemostasis in comparison to IV route. However, there is no report on the clinical effect of combining PA + IA TXA in blood loss reduction and its complications, compared to combining IV + IA TXA after TKA.
METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing the use of PA + IA TXA administration and IV + IA TXA administration in 70 patients who were scheduled for unilateral primary TKA. Thirty-five patients were assigned for PA + IA injection (Group 1) and anoter 35 patients were assigned for IV + IA injection (Group 2). Primary outcomes included total blood loss at 48 h, and the need for blood transfusion. Secondary outcomes included thigh and leg circumference, degree of knee flexion, and postoperative complications.
RESULTS: The calculated blood loss at 48 h showed no difference between Groups 1 and 2 (617 ml vs. 632 ml, p = 0.425). The total hemoglobin and hematocrit changes were not different (1.89 g/dL vs. 1.97 g/dL, p = 0.371 and 5.66% vs. 5.87%, p = 0.391). There was no need for blood transfusion in either group. However, lower thigh swelling was significant in Group 1 (2.15 cm vs. 2.79 cm, p = 0.04). Leg circumferences at 48 h was also lower in Group 1 (42.12 cm vs. 42.77 cm, p = 0.04). There was no significant difference in knee flexion decrease between the two groups (38° vs. 37°, p = 0.425). There were no VTE complications or infections found in either group.
CONCLUSIONS: Combined PA + IA TXA administration had similar efficacy in blood loss reduction and blood transfusion when compared to combined IV + IA TXA. The first group displayed less soft tissue swelling. The combination of PA + IA TXA administration can be used as an alternative regimen to avoid IV TXA administration.

UNASSIGNED: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pathology is typically diagnosed and treated with fluoroscopy-guided intraarticular injections. Most practitioners use only an anteroposterior (AP) or oblique view. Although injection into the periarticular space may yield adequate pain relief, intraarticular needle placement is imperative to identify SIJ pathology and plan future management. This study highlights the importance of obtaining an additional lateral view during fluoroscopy to better evaluate SIJ disease.
UNASSIGNED: A retrospective review of 38 patients who underwent fluoroscopy guided SIJ injection was conducted, for which IRB approval was granted by the MetroWest Medical Center Institutional Review Board. Patient demographics (age, sex, BMI) and pre- and post-operative numerical rating scale (NRS) scores were collected, and initial needle location was reviewed. Patients were placed into groups according to initial needle location. Statistical analysis was conducted using a Mann-Whitney U-test with significance defined as p < 0.05.
UNASSIGNED: The 21 females and 17 males had a mean age and BMI of 70.5 years and 27.8 kg/m2, respectively. Thirty-one patients had initial intraarticular needle placement confirmed with lateral arthrogram, and 7 patients had initial periarticular needle placement, requiring needle readjustment in lateral confirmatory view. Both groups had similar demographic characteristics. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups\' mean NRS score improvement (p=0.108).
UNASSIGNED: Using only the AP or oblique view during needle placement results in miss rates of nearly 20% while adding a lateral view can lower miss rates to near 0%. While pain relief may be adequate in either case, proper diagnosis and future management relies upon accurate needle placement.

BACKGROUND: During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq most injuries to service members involved the musculoskeletal system. These wounds often occurred around joints, and in some cases result in traumatic arthrotomy-a diagnosis that is not always clear, especially when there is no concomitant articular fracture. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of peri-articular blast injuries without fracture.
METHODS: The study cohort included 12 consecutive patients (12 involved extremities) who sustained peri-articular blast wounds of the extremities without fractures. The diagnosis of penetrating articular injury was based on clinical examination, radiographic findings, or aspiration. A peri-articular wound was defined as any wound, or radio-opaque blast fragment, within 5 cm of a joint. The New Injury Severity Score (NISS) was calculated for each patient. Four patients had upper, and 8 patients had lower extremity injuries. Nine of 12 patients had joint capsular penetration and underwent joint irrigation and debridement.
RESULTS: Two patients had retained intra-articular metal fragments. One patient had soft tissue blast wounds within 5 cm of a joint but did not have joint capsule penetration. There were no significant differences (p = 0.23) between the distribution of wounds to upper versus lower extremities. However, there were a significantly greater number of blast injuries attributed to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) than from other blast mechanisms (p = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Extremity blast injuries in the vicinity of joints involving only soft tissues present a unique challenge in surgical management. A high index of suspicion should be maintained for joint capsular penetration so that intra-articular injuries may be appropriately treated.

Periarticular fractures are complex injuries affecting the joint articular surface, the subchondral area, the metaphyseal region, the surrounding soft tissue envelope and not infrequently the ligamentous structures. The management of these injuries has evolved over the years, from one stage to two stage procedures thus facilitating soft tissue resuscitation, adequate pre-operative planning and the use of biologics optimizing the conditions for definitive fixation for a successful long-term outcome. Provisional fixation constitutes an essential step in the surgical treatment of these fractures. Herein, the role of provisional fixation as well as strategies on how they should be applied are discussed. The aim is to revisit this important step of provisional fracture fixation since its introduction by Albin Lambotte, in the early 1900\'s.

A tumoral calcinosis is a rare benign pathology characterized by calcium deposits (calcium phosphate crystals) in the periarticular soft tissues, giving a truly pseudotumor appearance. The same patients with tumoral calcinosis may have manifestation of hyperostosis hyperphosphatemia syndrome. The association is called Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis which is the case with our patient. We present a unique case of a 10-year-old female child without any notable history. No notion of consanguinity, a non-painful swelling of the right elbow for the last 3 years. She was presented with tumoral calcinosis in the context of familial hyperphosphatemic calcinosis tumor in which the diagnosis of lymphangioma was evoked and then redressed.

BACKGROUND: 15-20% of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were not satisfied and the most common causes were residual pain and limited function. Epidural analgesia or peripheral nerve blocks have traditionally been used as analgesia.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of infiltration with epinephrine, ketorolac, morphine and ropivacaine solution in postoperative total knee replacement patients.
METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, retrospective and analytical cohort study. We included patients with gonarthrosis aged 18 to 100 years scheduled for total knee replacement surgery from May 2018 to August 2021; with documentation of their clinical, demographic, baseline, pre-surgical and postoperative pain data at 24 hours. Infiltrated patients were compared with those receiving intravenous analgesia.
RESULTS: A total of 66 patients with a mean age of 69.1 were included;65.2% were women. Forty-three point nine percent had left-sided involvement, 50% had a classification of Kellgren-Lawrence III and 31.8% had a grade IV. Thirty-six patients (54.5%) formed the control group, while 30 (45.5%)received the intervention with the analgesic cocktail. With regard to pain,a lower median pain was found by visual analog scale in patients with the intervention (2 vs 8 points, p < 0.001); most with the cocktail they found no pain (66.7%) or mild pain (23.3%) and no patient in the control group reached it (p < 0.001). All patients of the control group required rescue analgesia, while only 30% of the intervention group used it (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The use of trans-surgical local infiltration decreases postoperative pain and the requirement of analgesics and rescue analgesia during the first 24 hours.
UNASSIGNED: De 15-20% de los pacientes sometidos a una artroplastía total de rodilla no quedaron satisfechos y las causas más comunes fueron dolor residual y función limitada. De manera tradicional se ha utilizado analgesia epidural o bloqueos nerviosos periféricos como analgesia.
OBJECTIVE: Evaluar la eficacia de la infiltración con solución de epinefrina, ketorolaco, morfina y ropivacaína en pacientes postoperados de reemplazo total de rodilla.
UNASSIGNED: Estudio de cohorte observacional, transversal, retrospectivo y analítico. Se incluyeron pacientes con gonartrosis de 18 a 100 años de edad programados para cirugía de reemplazo total de rodilla de Mayo de 2018 a Agosto de 2021, con documentación de sus datos clínicos, demográficos, basales, prequirúrgicos y dolor postoperatorio a las 24 horas. Se compararon pacientes infiltrados con los que recibieron analgesia intravenosa.
RESULTS: Se incluyeron un total de 66 pacientes con una media de edad de 69.1; 65.2% fueron mujeres. Cuarenta y tres punto nueve por ciento tuvieron afectación del lado izquierdo, 50% tuvieron una clasificación de Kellgren-Lawrence III y 31.8% tuvieron un grado IV. Treinta y seis pacientes (54.5%) formaron el grupo control, mientras que 30 (45.5%) recibieron la intervención con el cóctel analgésico. Con respecto al dolor, se encontró una menor mediana del dolor por escala visual análoga en pacientes con la intervención (2 vs 8 puntos, p < 0.001); la mayoría con el cóctel se encontraron sin dolor (66.7%) o dolor leve (23.3%) y ningún paciente del grupo control lo alcanzó (p < 0.001). Todos los pacientes del grupo control requirieron analgesia de rescate, mientras que sólo en 30% del grupo de intervención se utilizó (p < 0.001).
UNASSIGNED: El uso de infiltración local transquirúrgica disminuye el dolor postoperatorio y el requerimiento de analgésicos y analgesia de rescate durante las primeras 24 horas.

UNASSIGNED: The purposes of this in vitro study were to investigate whether the addition of dexamethasone can compensate for any cytotoxic effects of the amide-type local anesthetics (LA) bupivacaine and ropivacaine and whether morphine and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) may be a safe alternative for peritendinous application.
UNASSIGNED: Biopsies of human biceps tendons (n = 6) were dissected and cultivated. Cells were characterized by the expression for tenocyte markers, collagen I, biglycan, tenascin C, scleraxis, and RUNX via reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Tenocytes were incubated with bupivacaine, ropivacaine, morphine, M6G, or a saline control with and without addition of dexamethasone for 15, 60, or 240 min. Cell viability was determined by quantifying the presence of adenosine-triphosphate.
UNASSIGNED: Significant time-dependent cytotoxic effects were observed for LA after all exposure times. After 15, 60, and 240 minutes, cell viability decreased to 81.1%, 49.4% and 0% (P < .001) for bupivacaine and to 81.4%, 69.6%, and 9.3% (P < .001) for ropivacaine compared to saline control. Dexamethasone did not compensate for these cytotoxic effects. Cell viability was not affected after 15, 60-min exposures to morphine and M6G but decreased significantly (P < .001) after 240 minutes compared to saline control. However, in combination with dexamethasone, tenocyte viability was significantly increased at all times for morphine (P < .01) and at 15 and 60 minutes for M6G (P < .01).
UNASSIGNED: The results showed that amide-type LA have a time-dependent cytotoxic effect on human tenocytes in vitro, which could not be compensated for by dexamethasone, whereas morphine and M6G had no cytotoxic effects on tenocytes after 15 and 60 minutes. The addition of dexamethasone to morphine and M6G had a positive effect on viability, which increased significantly compared to the opioids.
UNASSIGNED: It is known that amide-type local anesthetics used for local joint analgesia have chondrotoxic side-effects. The combined application of morphine and dexamethasone may be a safe alternative.

Periarticular hardware placement can be challenging and a source of angst for orthopaedic surgeons due to fear of penetrating the articular surface and causing undue harm to the joint. In recent years, many surgeons have turned to computed tomography (CT) and other intraoperative or postoperative modalities to determine whether hardware is truly extraarticular in areas of complex anatomy. Yet, these adjuncts are expensive, time consuming, and often unnecessary given the advancement in understanding of intraoperative fluoroscopy. We present a review article with the goal of empowering surgeons to leave the operating room, with fluoroscopy alone, assured that all hardware is beneath the articular surface that is being worked on. By understanding a simple concept, surgeons can extrapolate the information in this article to any joint and bony surface in the body. While targeted at both residents and surgeons who may not have completed a trauma fellowship, this review can benefit all orthopaedic surgeons alike.

Periarticular fractures of the lower extremity can be difficult injuries to stabilize effectively. Modern advances in technique and implant design now allow many of these fractures to be fixed with an extreme intramedullary nail. When nailing is not possible, less invasive plating through percutaneous incisions is a reliable option. The decision to perform extreme nailing is multifactorial and is based on the fracture pattern, the condition of the soft tissues, the medical condition of the patient, and the importance of earlier or immediate weightbearing.

OBJECTIVE: Local infiltration analgesia, an essential component of multimodal analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), can be classified into periarticular injection (PAI) and intra-articular injection (IAI) as per administration techniques. Currently, there is no definite answer of the optimal choice between the two techniques. This meta-analysis aims to determine whether PAI provides superiority of pain relief and functional recovery than IAI after TKA.
METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS: Comparative studies that compared PAI and IAI in patients after TKA were searched in the Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library databases. The primary outcomes were visual analog scale scores for pain and opioid consumption. The secondary outcomes were complications, function of recovery, and length of hospital stay.
RESULTS: Four randomized controlled trials and two case-controlled studies with a total of 769 patients were enrolled. There were no significant differences in mean visual analog scale scores at postoperative day 0 (P = .17) and day 1 (P = .27), maximum visual analog scale scores at day 0 (P = .89) and day 1 (P = .82), total opioid consumption at day 1 (P = .96), opioid complications (P = .15), and length of hospital stay (P = .84) between PAI and IAI.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the available evidence, PAI does not offer superior effects at pain control and discharge than IAI after TKA. However, owing to the limited sample size and heterogeneity of the included studies, further large well-designed randomized controlled trials are still needed to validate this conclusion.
UNASSIGNED: The protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO international database under number CRD42020165138.