Tehran University Medical Journal

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Background: Pin loosening and infection in skeletal traction are important problems in orthopedic surgery and methods which are usually used to manage these problems, are costly and sometimes complicated. In this study, the efficacy of using cast support in infection and loosening of proximal tibial pin was investigated.

Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 60 patients referring to Rasul-e- Akram hospital from 1383 to 1384, who needed to have proximal tibial pin for at least one month, were studied. All patients were treated with oral antibiotic until 24 hours after pin insertion. Depending on using cast support or not, they were randomly categorized into two groups (30, 30). The rate of pin loosening and infection between these two groups were compared.

Results: In the group without cast support infection rate was about %26.7 while this rate was %13.3 in the group with cast support, which means no significant difference (.33). In addition, although the rate of loosening in the group without cast support was more than the other group, it had no statistical meaning. (%20 compared with %10, p= 0.47)

Conclusions: Cast support doesn't affect the rate of pin loosening and pin site infection. However, considering correct technique for pin insertion including prevention of thermal injury and local hematoma is very important. Therefore, the use of cast support is an optional choice up to surgeons' preference.

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Background: Dabigatran etexilate is one of the few direct thrombin inhibitors with anti-coagulant activities and the following distinctive features: taken orally, no need to closely monitor for complications, and no need for regular dose adjustments. Relying on the above mentioned valuable advantages, dabigatran etexilate can be considered as a premier choice for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after knee replacement arthroplasty.

Methods: Forty five patients undergoing 50 knee replacement surgeries were included in this case-series study undertaken in Hazrat Rasool Akram and Khatam-alanbia Hospitals during 2010. Dabigatran etexilate was administered for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after knee arthroplasty in doses of 110 mg in the first 1-4 h after surgery followed by daily doses of 220 mg for 10 days. Patients were examined 3 times and a color Doppler sonography was performed on the 11th day to check for venous thrombosis. Finally, the patients were re-examined at the end of the 1st and the 3rd months postoperatively.

Results: Only one out of 45 patients was diagnosed to have venous thrombosis on sonography done on the 11th day but the patient did not have any symptoms and repeat sonographies at the end of the 1st and the 3rd months postoperatively showed no venous thrombosis either. No complications were witnessed in the patients in the 3-month follow-up period.

Conclusion: Dabigatran etexilate (220 mg/d for 10 days) can be an effective drug against venous thrombosis after total knee replacement surgeries.

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Background: Pain is one of the greatest concerns of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) which is severe and intolerable within 72 hours post-surgery. Appropriate pain management is a key factor in patient's early mobilization, launching physiotherapy, less hospital length of stay and more importantly, patient's satisfaction. New studies with the infiltration of combined analgesic agents peri and intra-articularly has shown encouraging results in pain reduction, good clinical outcome and patient's satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic effect of locally infiltrated analgesia (I) compared with single injection femoral nerve block (F) and its impact on pain relief, patient's satisfaction, morphine consumption and clinical outcome.

Methods: This research was a double-blind randomized clinical trial on 36 consecutive patients undergone TKA divided into group (F) in which the ipsilateral femoral nerve in the inguinal area was blocked by a single injection of 20 ml ropivacaine (10 mg/ml) and group (I) which a combination of ketorolac, ropivacaine and epinephrine was injected peri and intra-articularly on the knee during TKA. Pain intensity measured by visual analog scale (VAS), clinical outcome (based on range of motion), morphine consumption and patient's satisfaction of pain management after TKA were compared between the two groups.

Results: Pain intensity score (VAS) and Morphine consumption were statistically less in group I than group F during the first 6 hours and 24 hours post surgery respectively (P< 0.05) however, group F had 12-hour VAS score of 5 which was less than group (I) by 1 grade in pain scale (VAS) (P< 0.05). Other parameters were not statistically different in the two groups and patients' response to our pain management protocols proved to be satisfactory in both groups.

Conclusion: Lower level of pain and morphine consumption in group (I) during the first 24 hours post-surgery in contrast to group (F) and its ease of use by a surgeon intra-operatively, introduce local infiltration analgesia as an effective method to decrease the patient's pain and improve patient's satisfaction in early post-surgery period after total knee arthroplasty.