Tocilizumab use during Covid-19 should alert an orthopaedic surgeon for the surgical management of arthroplasty patients: A narrative review

The crisis of Covid-19 has shaken the world healthcare systems. The intensive care resources to manage the medical conditions associated with Covid-19 are consistently found to be inadequate with exploration and implementation of newer treatment avenues for an early recovery. Presently, the use of Tocilizumab (TCZ) in severe to critical affection of Covid-19 is being practiced as an off-label therapy. A narrative review of present knowledge regarding TCZ pharmacology, indications of its use, and potential side effects with clinical implications for an orthopedic surgeon is presented. The article discusses the clinicopathological factors required to be monitored during the perioperative management of an orthopedic patient who may have received TCZ for Covid-19 related illness. The implications of its usage should alert the orthopaedic surgeons for future management of their arthritic surgical patients. The commonly associated side effects and complications in the post-operative phase following an arthroplasty or any orthopaedic surgery are an area of concern and considerable uncertainty. In the post-Covid-19 recovery phase, when surgeons need to plan a surgical intervention then a thorough evaluation of their Covid-19 medical management history may be warranted. Practical guidelines for the management of arthritic surgical patients have been postulated. With an unregulated increased usage of TCZ during Covid-19 management, an orthopaedic surgeon should worry and needs to be aware of the possible consequences in the perioperative period for the post-surgery management. Future research to gain more insights will confirm the implied concerns.

Marika Daniilidou, MD. The First Female Orthopaedic Surgeon in Greece

Dr Marika Daniilidou was born in 1902 in Asia Minor. Her family was forced to immigrate to Greece, in 1922. Despite the horrendous difficulties of the era, she pursued undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the University of Berlin, Germany, and she specialized in orthopaedic surgery. In 1937, she became the first female certified orthopaedic surgeon in Greece. In 1947, she was the only female orthopaedic surgeon among the 22 founders of the Hellenic Association of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (HAOST). She became a true role model for the next generations of Greek women surgeons.

Determining Reasons Affecting the Late Treatment of Congenital Talipes Equinovarus: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: Neglected congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) is a serious problem commonly found in developing countries. This deformity has fatal impacts, including disabilities and educational limitations. Moreover, cases of neglected CTEV are still frequent in Indonesia as one of the developing countries. Thus, this study aims to investigate the reasons behind the late treatment of CTEV. METHODS: This is a qualitative study conducted throughout September 2019. The subjects are six parents of patients with neglected CTEV who are currently being treated in our hospital. The study was conducted by performing an in-depth interview with the patient’s parents to analyze why they delay checking their child to an orthopaedic surgeon. The results were then grouped into themes. RESULTS: The reasons for the delay were multifactorial. Four subjects had more than one reason why they delayed checking their child to an orthopaedic surgeon. The reason for the delay were socioeconomic factors (3 subjects), medical-related problems (3 subjects), intentionally delayed or refused to seek medical care (2 subjects), and misinformation from the previous physician (3 subjects). CONCLUSIONS: The reasons for the late treatment of CTEV were socioeconomic factors, medical-related problems, intentional factors, and misinformation.

Patient gender does not influence referral to an orthopaedic surgeon by advanced practice orthopaedic providers: a prospective observational study in Canada

Background The role of an advanced practice physiotherapist has been introduced in many countries to improve access to care for patients with hip and knee arthritis. Traditional models of care have shown a gender bias, with women less often referred and recommended for surgery than men. This study sought to understand if patient gender affects access to care in the clinical encounter with the advanced practice provider. Our objectives were: (1) To determine if a gender difference exists in the clinical decision to offer a consultation with a surgeon; (2) To determine if a gender difference exists in patients’ decisions to accept a consultation with a surgeon among those patients to whom it is offered; and, (3) To describe patients’ reasons for not accepting a consultation with a surgeon. Methods This was a prospective study of 815 patients presenting to a tertiary care centre for assessment of hip and knee arthritis, with referral onward to an orthopaedic surgeon when indicated. We performed a multiple logistic regression analysis adjusting for severity to address the first objective and a simple logistic regression analysis to answer the second objective. Reasons for not accepting a surgical consultation were obtained by questionnaire. Results Eight hundred and fifteen patients (511 women, 304 men) fulfilled study eligibility criteria. There was no difference in the probability of being referred to a surgeon for men and women (difference adjusted for severity = − 0.02, 95% CI: − 0.07, 0.02). Neither was there a difference in the acceptance of a referral for men and women (difference = − 0.05, 95% CI: − 0.09, 0.00). Of the 14 reasons for declining a surgical consultation, 5 showed a difference with more women than men indicating a preference for non-surgical treatment along with fears/concerns about surgery. Conclusions There is no strong evidence to suggest there is a difference in proportion of males and females proceeding to surgical consultation in the model of care that utilizes advanced practice orthopaedic providers in triage. This study adds to the evidence that supports the use of suitably trained alternate providers in roles that reduce wait times to care and add value in contexts where health human resources are limited. The care model is a viable strategy to assist in managing the growing backlog in orthopaedic care, recently exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Management of acute scaphoid fractures: a pragmatic approach for the non-specialist

Scaphoid fractures are common and can cause significant morbidity if treated incorrectly. Thus, a working knowledge of the initial assessment and management of scaphoid fractures by non-specialists is crucial to allow quick diagnosis and avoid potentially catastrophic complications of scaphoid fracture. This article summarises the anatomy of the scaphoid, discusses methods to assess for scaphoid fractures and delineates management plans (conservative or operative) for fractures of the scaphoid based on location of vascular compromise. This article can also help the clinician predict which fractures may not unite with conservative management and therefore need referral to a specialist orthopaedic surgeon for possible surgery.