"MORIEF Technique" for Schatzker Type II–III Tibial Plateau Fractures with Tension Blisters: A Retrospective Study of Seven Patients

Background: When tibial plateau fractures are combined with tension blisters, internal fixation surgery must be delayed. However, a prolonged delay may cause complications during fracture treatment. To combat this challenge, we innovatively proposed a minimally open reduction and Ilizarov external fixation (MORIEF) technology. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the treatment, safety, and efficacy of the MORIEF technique in Schatzker type II–III tibial plateau fractures with tension blisters.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of seven patients with Schatzker type II–III tibial plateau fractures with tension blisters treated at our hospital from September 2013 to March 2017. All patients (five males, two females; mean age: 38.1±8.2 [range: 28–50] years) underwent the MORIEF technique. The Knee Society Score (KSS) and assessment of bone status according to the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) scoring system were used to evaluate the knee joint function and bone healing condition.Results: The operative time was 108.6±14.6 (range: 90–135) min, blood loss was 104.3±50.4 (range: 50–200) ml, time from operation to discharge was 2.6±0.7 (range: 2–4) days, and the follow-up period was 20.6±1.8 (range: 18–22) weeks. The fractures healed in all patients at 11.9±1.1 (range: 10–14) weeks. Except for one case of needle tract infection, no other complications occurred. At the last follow-up, the KSS presented a clinical score of 80–95 (mean: 86.4±4.4) points and a functional score of 85–95 (mean: 87.9±3.6) points. According to ASAMI, four cases were classified as excellent, two as good, one as fair, and none as poor.Conclusions: The use of the MORIEF technology for the treatment of Schatzker type II–III tibial plateau fractures with tension blisters showed that the resulting incidence of infection is low, weight-bearing and walking can be resumed immediately, hospitalization time is shortened, economic burden of patients is reduced, and fracture healing and joint function recovery are not affected postoperatively. Therefore, this technique was shown to be a relatively safe and effective treatment method for the condition.

The Effect of Needle Tract Nursing Methods to Reduce Needle Tract Infection in Patients with Indwelling Percutaneous Bone Puncture

Percutaneous bone piercing needles are used in orthopedics, which play the role of needle fixation. Needle tract infection is a common complication during the use of percutaneous bone needles. How to prevent needle tract infection is an important topic, so it is necessary to explore better needle tract care methods during percutaneous bone needle indwelling, to provide a basis for clinical work. Based on this, the purpose of this article is to study the effects of needle tract nursing methods for patients with indwelling percutaneous bone puncture needle infections. In this article, through an overview of percutaneous bone needle tract infection, on this basis, a detailed analysis of its occurrence, causes, and main influencing factors are carried out. Experimental studies have shown that the incidence of needle tract infections is 23.64%, mainly mild needle tract infections. Mild needle tract infections account for 84.62% of all needle tract infections, of which grade 1 needle tract infections account for 50.00 of mild needle tract infections. Severe needle tract infections accounted for 15.38% of all needle tract infections. All severe needle tract infections were grade 4 needle tract infections. No patients had bone infections or osteomyelitis.

Ablating Aspiration Needle Tract Prior to Microwave Ablation Can Improve Therapeutic Outcomes for Predominantly Cystic Thyroid Nodules

PurposeTo investigate whether ablating the aspiration needle tract could improve the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) for predominantly cystic thyroid nodules.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study evaluated 41 predominantly cystic thyroid nodules that underwent MWA between June 2017 and August 2019. The nodules were stratified by different procedures into two groups: the aspiration needle tract was ablated before cyst fluid aspiration and MWA when treating 26 nodules in Group A, while the other 15 nodules in Group B underwent MWA directly after cyst fluid aspiration. Baseline characteristics, intervention time, hospital stays, nodules with intraoperative intracystic hemorrhage, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Volume, volume reduction rate (VRR), compressive score (CS), and aesthetic score (AS) were evaluated during follow-up.ResultsBoth groups achieved decreases in volume, CS, and AS, as well as an increase in VRR. The volumes and VRRs in Group A at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were significantly smaller and greater than those in Group B (p < 0.001). The incidence of intraoperative intracystic hemorrhage in Group A was significantly lower than that in Group B (p=0.035). Compared to Group B, hospital stays were much shorter in Group A (p=0.040). There were no significant differences in intervention time, cystic fluid volume or postoperative complications.ConclusionAspiration needle tract ablation dramatically reduces the incidence of intraoperative intracystic hemorrhage and markedly improves the efficacy of MWA for predominantly cystic thyroid nodules.

Hemostasis using re-radiofrequency ablation for hepatic tract bleeding after ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumors

Objective: To evaluate the hemostatic efficacy of re-radiofrequency ablation (re-RFA) for hepatic tract bleeding after ultrasound-guided RFA of hepatic tumors. Methods: A total of 4679 percutaneous ultrasound-guided RFA procedures were performed for hepatic tumors at Samsung Medical Center between January 2012 and December 2020. We identified patients who had hepatic tract bleeding after RFA by reviewing radiologic reports and ultrasound images and investigated the measures taken to control the bleeding and their outcomes. We also identified patients who had a significant peritoneal hematoma on immediate post-RFA CT or underwent transarterial embolization to control hepatic bleeding after RFA of hepatic tumors. Results: In total, 91 patients with tract bleeding after RFA were identified. As initial measures to control the bleeding, external compression, re-RFA, and observation were performed in 71 (78%), 17 (19%), and 3 (3%) patients, respectively. Hemostasis using re-RFA was attempted to control tract bleeding in 40 patients as an initial measure or an additional measure after other initial efforts. In all 40 patients, the bleeding stopped after re-RFA on Doppler ultrasound, and there was no active bleeding on the immediate follow-up CT. During the study period, in the years when re-RFA was performed frequently, the number of transarterial embolizations to control tract bleeding and significant peritoneal hematoma formation tended to be low. Conclusion: Hemostasis using re-RFA of the needle tract is effective in controlling tract bleeding after ultrasound-guided RFA of hepatic tumors. Advances in knowledge: Re-RFA is a simple, safe, and effective method to control tract bleeding.

Subclinical Needle Tract Seeding by Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration for Pancreatic Cancer

A 77-year-old woman with epigastralgia was referred to our hospital. Abdominal computed tomography showed a hypointense mass in the pancreatic tail. Abdominal and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) showed a hypo-echoic mass, 25 × 25 mm in size, with pancreatic duct dilatation. EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) was performed to the mass through gastric posterior wall. Pathological examination showed atypical cells growing papillary or tubular fashion, leading to the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Under the preoperative diagnosis of T2N0M0 pancreatic cancer, the patient underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. Macroscopic view of the resected specimen showed a presumed puncture-induced pancreatic pseudocyst adjacent to the pancreas. Pathological examination showed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and a pseudocyst with presumed migrated atypical cells in the pseudocyst wall. The patient recovered uneventfully and has been on outpatient follow-up with adjuvant TS-1 therapy. Optimal treatment of pancreatic cancer naturally needs preoperative definitive diagnosis more strictly than other solid malignancies due to its much higher operative harm to the patients. EUS-FNA is a safe and effective diagnostic method but needs careful attention to the needle tract seeding.

Establishment of a modified percutaneous CT-guided paraspinal intramuscular VX-2 squamous cell carcinoma dual tumor model in rabbits

Background The rabbit VX-2 tumor model is a commonly used transplanted tumor model and is widely used in surgical, radiological, and interventional studies. Most of the known tumor models for each site are single solid tumors. This study aimed to establish an accurate and stable intramuscular dual tumor model guided by computed tomography (CT). Methods In this study, we compared three different inoculation methods to select the most appropriate dual tumor model. Six New Zealand White rabbits were used as tumor-carrying rabbits for tumor harvesting. Thirty rabbits were divided into three groups as experimental rabbits. Group A applied the tumor cell suspension method, in which the suspension was injected into the designated location with a syringe under CT guidance. Groups B and C used tumor tissue strips obtained in vivo or under direct in vitro vision. The tumor tissue strips were implanted into the designated locations using a guide needle under CT guidance. The differences in tumorigenic rate, the size difference between bilateral tumors, and metastasis between the three methods were compared. Results It was found that group A obtained a 100% tumor survival rate, but the size of the tumor was more variable, and needle tract implantation metastasis occurred in 5 cases. In group B, tumor tissue strips were taken in vivo for implantation, in which one case failed to survive. Tumor tissue strips in group C were obtained in vitro under direct vision. The tumor tissue strips obtained in vitro by puncture using a biopsy needle in group C had a 100% tumorigenicity rate and stable tumor size. No significant needle tract implantation metastases were found in either group B or C. The variance of tumor size obtained in group A was significantly higher than in groups B and C. The variance of tumor size in group C was the smallest. Group C had high tumorigenicity and a more stable size and morphology of the formed tumors. Conclusion The results showed that the method of obtaining tumor tissue strips using in vitro direct vision puncture and implanting them into the muscle with CT guidance and guide needles can establish an accurate and stable dual tumor model. This dual tumor model can provide substantial support for relevant preclinical studies.