We have found the use of a cage to achieve lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis does not confer any significant advantages in terms of restoration of lumbar lordosis, improvement in clinical symptoms, or relief of pain postoperatively.
ObjectivesThe prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing. Previous work has shown that suboptimal glycaemic control is associated with poor perioperative outcomes with increased rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality in several surgical specialities. Recently published UK guidelines have laid out the standards of perioperative care for patients with diabetes. Because an increasing number of patients with diabetes undergo surgery, it is important that these nationally agreed standards of care are adhered to.DesignA retrospective review of the standard of care of patients against existing audit standards laid down in national guidelines, and a comparison of outcomes with people without diabetes.SettingA single major orthopaedic department.ParticipantsFifty consecutive patients undergoing knee arthroplasty between July 2010 and June 2011.Main outcome measuresPostoperative complications; pre, peri and postoperative glucose control; hospital length of stay.ResultsAlthough there were no serious postoperative complications, the pre, peri and postoperative management was found to be suboptimal, particularly with reference to optimization of blood glucose control, both in terms of HbA1c preoperatively and blood glucose monitoring perioperatively. The average length of hospital stay was not different between groups; however, 36 patients with diabetes had at least one documented hyperglycaemic episode and four at least one hypoglycaemic episode.ConclusionsPerioperative care of diabetes in patients undergoing knee arthroplasty could be improved. Several changes have been made since this audit was carried out, in particular adoption of the comprehensive Joint British Diabetes Societies Guideline on the perioperative management of adult patients with diabetes.
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