PURPOSE OF THE STUDY In treatment algorithm of developmental dysplasia of the hip, posteromedial limited surgery is placed between closed reduction and medial open articular reduction. The aim of the present study was to assess the functional and radiologic results of this method. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study was performed in 37 Tönnis grade II and III dysplastic hips of 30 patients. The mean age of the patients at operation was 12.4 months. The mean follow-up time was 24.5 months. Posteromedial limited surgery was applied when sufficient stable concentric reduction was not achieved by closed technique. No pre-operative traction was applied. Postoperatively, human position hip spica cast was applied for 3 months. Outcomes were evaluated regarding modified McKay functional results, acetabular index and presences of residual acetabular dysplasia or avascular necrosis. RESULTS Thirty-six hips had satisfactory and one hip had poor functional result. The mean pre-operative acetabular index was 34.5 degrees. It improved to 27.7 and 23.1 degrees at the postoperative 6th month and the last control X-Rays. The change in acetabular index was statistically significant (p<0.05). At the last control, 3 hips had findings of residual acetabular dysplasia and 2 hips had avascular necrosis. CONCLUSIONS Posteromedial limited surgery for developmental dysplasia of the hip is indicated when closed reduction remains insufficient and medial open articular reduction remains unnecessarily invasive. This study, in line with the literature, provides evidences that this method might decrease the incidences of residual acetabular dysplasia and avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Key words: developmental dysplasia of the hip, posteromedial limited surgery, closed reduction, medial open reduction.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Tranexamic acid as a haemostatic agent is commonly used in multiple medical branches. Over the last decade, there has been a steep rise in the number of studies evaluating its effect, i.e. blood loss reduction in specific surgical procedures. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of tranexamic acid on reducing intraoperative blood loss, postoperative blood loss into the drain, total blood loss, transfusion requirements, and development of symptomatic wound hematoma in conventional single-level lumbar decompression and stabilization. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included patients who had undergone a traditional open lumbar spine surgery in the form of single-level decompression and stabilisation. The patients were randomized into two groups. The study group received a 15 mg/kg dose of tranexamic acid intravenously during the induction of anaesthesia and then again 6 hours later. No tranexamic acid was administered to the control group. In all patients, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative blood loss into the drain, and therefore also total blood loss, transfusion requirements and potential development of a symptomatic postoperative wound hematoma requiring surgical evacuation were recorded. The data of the two groups were compared. RESULTS The cohort includes 162 patients, 81 in the study group and the same number in the control group. In the intraoperative blood loss assessment, no statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed; 430 (190-910) mL vs. 435 (200-900) mL. In case of post-operative drain blood loss, a statistically significantly lower volume was reported after the tranexamic acid administration; 405 (180-750) mL vs. 490 (210-820) mL. When evaluating the total blood loss, a statistically significant difference was also confirmed, namely in favour of the tranexamic acid; 860 (470-1410) mL vs. 910 (500- 1420) mL. The reduction of total blood loss did not result in a difference in the number of administered transfusions; transfusions were given to 4 patients in each group. A postoperative wound hematoma requiring surgical evacuation developed in 1 patient in the group with the tranexamic acid and in 4 patients in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant with respect to the insufficient group size. No patient in our study experienced complications associated with tranexamic acid application. DISCUSSION The beneficial effect of tranexamic acid on reducing blood loss in lumbar spine surgeries has already been confirmed by numerous meta-analyses. The question remains in what types of procedures, at what dose and route of administration its effect is significant. To date, most of the studies have explored its effect in multi-level decompressions and stabilizations. Raksakietisak et al., for instance, report significant reduction in total blood loss from 900 (160, 4150) mL to 600 (200, 4750) mL following an intravenous injection of 2 bolus doses o
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY A global bibliometric comparison of the level of scientific interest and output in the two research areas hip and knee arthroscopy (H-ASC and K-ASC) was carried out. In addition, the different degrees of publication activity in the countries and institutes performing this research were investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS Publications from 1945-2020 listed in the Web of Science Core Collection were included in the study. Using the web application Science Performance Evaluation (SciPE), quantitative and qualitative aspects were evaluated. Subsequently, the date of publication, author information, and other metadata were analysed. RESULTS Since 1945, 3,924 studies have been published on K-ASC and 2,163 on H-ASC. The majority of the publications which have appeared since 2016 dealt with the topic of H-ASC (H-ASC: 241.2 publications/year; K-ASC: 217.4 publications/year). The USA published the most on both topics (H-ASC: 1,123 publications; K-ASC: 1,078 publications). More countries and institutes participated in K-ASC (3,008 institutes, 82 countries) than in H-ASC (103 institutes, 57 countries). The ten institutes with the most publications accounted for 36.71% and 12.34% of all publications on H-ASC and K-ASC, respectively. H-ASC received 78.12% of its funding from private sponsors while K-ASC was supported mainly by governmental/nonprofit sponsors (70.92%). CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first scientific comparison between H-ASC and K-ASC. Measured by qualitative and quantitative aspects, K-ASC was the most flourishing research area overall. In the last ten to five years, interest has shifted towards HASC with an increasing number of publications and a higher rate of citations. Key words: knee arthroscopy, hip arthroscopy, bibliometric comparison.