Cement-augmented anterior screw fixation of Type II odontoid fractures in elderly patients with osteoporosis

Background contextClosed reduction and internal fixation by an anterior approach is an established option for operative treatment of displaced Type II odontoid fractures. In elderly patients, however, inadequate screw purchase in osteoporotic bone can result in severe procedure-related complications.PurposeTo improve the stability of odontoid fracture screw fixation in the elderly using a new technique that includes injection of polymethylmethacrylat (PMMA) cement into the C2 body.Study designRetrospective review of hospital and outpatient records as well as radiographs of elderly patients treated in a university hospital department of orthopedic surgery.Patient sampleTwenty-four elderly patients (8 males and 16 females; mean age, 81 years; range, 62–98 years) with Type II fractures of the dens.Outcome measuresComplications, cement leakage (symptomatic/asymptomatic), operation time, loss of reduction, pseudarthrosis and revision surgery, patient complaints, return to normal activities, and signs of neurologic complications were all documented.MethodsAfter closed reduction and anterior approach to the inferior border of C2, a guide wire is advanced to the tip of the odontoid under biplanar fluoroscopic control. Before the insertion of one cannulated, self-drilling, short thread screws, a 12 gauge Yamshidi cannula is inserted from anterior and 1 to 3 mL of high-viscosity PMMA cement is injected into the anteroinferior portion of the C2 body. During polymerization of the cement, the screws are further inserted using a lag-screw compression technique. The cervical spine then is immobilized with a soft collar for 8 weeks postoperatively.ResultsAnatomical reduction of the dens was achieved in all 24 patients. Mean operative time was 64 minutes (40–90 minutes). Early loss of reduction occurred in three patients, but revision surgery was indicated in only one patient 2 days after primary surgery. One patient died within the first eight postoperative weeks, one within 3 months after surgery. In five patients, asymptomatic cement leakage was observed (into the C1–C2 joint in three patients, into the fracture in two). Conventional radiologic follow-up at 2 and 6 months confirmed anatomical healing in 16 of the19 patients with complete follow-up. In two patients, the fractures healed in slight dorsal angulation; one patient developed a asymptomatic pseudarthrosis. All patients were able to resume their pretrauma level of activity.ConclusionsCement augmentation of the screw in Type II odontoid fractures in elderly patients is technically feasible in a clinical setting with a low complication rate. This technique may improve screw purchase, especially in the osteoporotic C2 body.     

Febrile urinary tract infection after pediatric kidney transplantation: a multicenter,prospective observational study

Background

Febrile urinary tract infections (fUTIs) are common after kidney transplantation (KTx); however, prospective data in a multicenter pediatric cohort are lacking. We designed a prospective registry to record data on fUTI before and after pediatric KTx.

Methods

Ninety-eight children (58 boys and 40 girls)?≤?18 years from 14 mid-European centers received a kidney transplant and completed a 2-year follow-up.

Results

Posttransplant, 38.7 % of patients had at least one fUTI compared with 21.4 % before KTx (p?=?0.002). Before KTx, fUTI was more frequent in patients with congenital anomalies of kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) vs. patients without (38 % vs. 12 %; p?=?0.005). After KTx, fUTI were equally frequent in both groups (48.7 % vs. 32.2 %; p?=?0.14). First fUTI posttransplant occurred earlier in boys compared with girls: median range 4 vs. 13.5 years (p?=?0.002). Graft function worsened (p?<?0.001) during fUTI, but no difference was recorded after 2 years. At least one recurrence of fUTI was encountered in 58 %.

Conclusion

This prospective study confirms a high incidence of fUTI after pediatric KTx, which is not restricted to patients with CAKUT; fUTIs have a negative impact on graft function during the infectious episode but not on 2-year graft outcome.

     

Treatment of intractable lupus nephritis with total lymphoid irradiation

Ten patients with lupus nephritis and marked proteinuria (3.9 g or more/d) that did not respond adequately to treatment with prednisone alone or prednisone in combination with azathioprine were treated with total lymphoid irradiation in an uncontrolled feasibility study. Within 6 weeks after the start of total lymphoid irradiation, the serum albumin level rose in all patients in association with a reduction in the serum level of anti-DNA antibodies, an increase in the serum complement level, or both. Improvement in these variables persisted in eight patients followed for more than 1 year, with the stabilization or reduction of the serum creatinine level. Urinary leakage of albumin was substantially reduced in all patients. Side effects associated with radiotherapy included transient constitutional complaints in ten patients, transient blood element depressions in three, localized viral and bacterial infections in four, and ovarian failure in one. The results suggest that total lymphoid irradiation may provide an alternative to cytotoxic drugs in the treatment of lupus nephritis.     

A systematic review of cardiovascular effects after atypical antipsychotic medication overdose

As the use of atypical antipsychotic medications (AAPMs) increases, the number of overdoses continues to grow. Cardiovascular toxicity was common with older psychiatric medications but seems uncommon with AAPM. We conducted a systematic literature review to describe the cardiovascular effects reported after overdose of 5 common AAPM: aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone. We included case reports and case series describing overdose of these 5 medications identified in a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and abstracts from major toxicology meetings. We found 13 pediatric cases (age, <7 years), 22 adolescent cases (age, 7-16 years), and 185 adult cases. No pediatric case described a ventricular dysrhythmia or a cardiovascular death. In the adolescent and adult cases, we found numerous reports of prolonged corrected QT interval and hypotension, but there were only 3 cases of ventricular dysrhythmia and 3 deaths that may have been due to direct cardiovascular toxicity. The results from case series reports were similar to the single case report data. Our review suggests that overdose of AAPM is unlikely to cause significant cardiovascular toxicity.