BackgroundConversion to total hip arthroplasty (CTHA) is a relatively common procedure after a failed dynamic hip screw (DHS) or proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) fixation of intertrochanteric fractures, but there have been far fewer reports specifically describing the long-term results of CTHA after failed treatments of stable intertrochanteric fractures with DHS or PFNA. The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of CTHA after failed PFNA or DHS fixations of stable intertrochanteric fractures after a minimum follow-up of 3 years.MethodsBetween January 2005 and April 2014, we retrospectively reviewed 142 active elderly patients treated at our institution (a single institution study). A total of 72 patients (72 hips; 41 women, 31 men; mean age 76.9 years old; range 60–92 years old) who underwent conversion of a failed PFNA to a THA were compared with 70 patients (70 hips; 36 women, 34 men; mean age 75.0 years old; range 60–90 years old) who underwent CTHA after a failed DHS fixation. The mean follow-up periods were 48 (range 43–52) and 48 (range 44–52) months for the DHS and PFNA groups, respectively. Clinical and radiologic evaluations were performed on all patients. The primary outcome was the Harris Hip Score (HHS). The secondary outcomes were the complication rates.ResultsThe Harris Hip Score (HHS) improved from 50.61 ± 3.23 preoperatively to 85.28 ± 4.45 at the last follow-up in the PFNA group and from 51.46 ± 3.90 to 84.50 ± 4.34 in the DHS group, with no significant differences noted between the groups at each follow-up (P > 0.05). However, the complication rate in the converted DHS patients was significantly higher (42.9%) than that in the converted PFNA patients (20.8%; P = 0.003). Thirty-seven PFFs (2.4%) occurred during a mean follow-up of 44.4 months. The incidence of periprosthetic fractures was found to be significantly higher (P = 0.021) for the DHS group (15.7%) than for the PFNA group (4.2%).ConclusionsCTHA after failed DHS fixations of stable intertrochanteric fractures might be associated with a significantly higher complication rate than CTHA after failed PFNA fixations. Therefore, PFNA patients with stable intertrochanteric fractures may be more suitable for CTHA.

BackgroundAvascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVNFH) typically constitutes 5 to 15% of all complications of low-energy femoral neck fractures, and due to an increasingly ageing population and a rising prevalence of femoral neck fractures, the number of patients who develop AVNFH is increasing. However, there is no consensus regarding the relationship between blood lipid abnormalities and postoperative AVNFH. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the relationship between blood lipid abnormalities and AVNFH following the femoral neck fracture operation among an elderly population.MethodsA retrospective, comparative study was performed at our institution. Between June 2005 and November 2009, 653 elderly patients (653 hips) with low-energy femoral neck fractures underwent closed reduction and internal fixation with cancellous screws (Smith and Nephew, Memphis, Tennessee). Follow-up occurred at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months after surgery. Logistic multi-factor regression analysis was used to assess the risk factors of AVNFH and to determine the effect of blood lipid levels on AVNFH development. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were predetermined to focus on isolated freshly closed femoral neck fractures in the elderly population. The primary outcome was the blood lipid levels. The secondary outcome was the logistic multi-factor regression analysis.ResultsA total of 325 elderly patients with low-energy femoral neck fractures (AVNFH, n = 160; control, n = 165) were assessed. In the AVNFH group, the average TC, TG, LDL, and Apo-B values were 7.11 ± 3.16 mmol/L, 2.15 ± 0.89 mmol/L, 4.49 ± 1.38 mmol/L, and 79.69 ± 17.29 mg/dL, respectively; all of which were significantly higher than the values in the control group. Logistic multi-factor regression analysis showed that both TC and LDL were the independent factors influencing the postoperative AVNFH within femoral neck fractures.ConclusionsThis evidence indicates that AVNFH was significantly associated with blood lipid abnormalities in elderly patients with low-energy femoral neck fractures. The findings of this pilot trial justify a larger study to determine whether the result is more generally applicable to a broader population.

ObjectiveTo evaluate long-term radiographic and functional outcomes between dynamic hip screw (DHS) and proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) fixation for treatment of osteoporotic type 31-A1 intertrochanteric femoral fractures (IFFs) among elderly patientsMethodsA retrospective comparative study was carried out. Follow-up was performed at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively and yearly thereafter. The primary outcome was the radiographic outcome, and the secondary outcome was the functional outcome.ResultsA significant difference in radiographic complications was observed between the DHS group (n = 45, 40.2%) and PFNA group (n = 15, 13.6%). The risk of femoral shaft fracture after implant removal at the 1-year follow-up was increased by 0.9% (n = 1) and 6.3% (n = 7) in the PFNA and DHS groups, respectively. This difference persisted with rates of 3.6% (n = 4) and 12.5% (n = 14) at the final follow-up. Additionally, significant differences were present in the Harris hip score at each visit.ConclusionOur results indicate that PFNA yields better outcomes than DHS fixation among elderly patients with osteoporotic type 31-A1 IFFs.

Percutaneous cryoablation under imaging guidance has been proved to be a safe and effective method for ablation and debulking of tumors, providing radical cure or palliation, as the case may be, for patients with different stages of disease. The local control rate is high with cryoablation, and the complications are usually controllable, making it a reasonable choice in lung cancer treatment. In this paper the technique and mechanism of action of cryoablation are summarized, and studies performed on the application of percutaneous cryoablation in various stages of lung cancer are reviewed. Its emerging application in the treatment of pure ground-glass nodules (GGNs) is also introduced.

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