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Biomedical subjects

Boaz Liberman

Publications and source records attributed to Boaz Liberman.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Management of periprosthetic femoral fractures after total knee arthroplasty using a distal femoral allograft.

This study is a review and discussion of 12 consecutive patients who were revised with a distal femoral allograft for periprosthetic supracondylar fractures of the femur associated with poor bone quality by the same surgeon between 1990 and 2001. Two were lost to follow-up. The average age was 65 years, and the mean follow up was 6 years. Charts were reviewed to identify complications and graft survivorship. Functional assessment consisted of the modified Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score and the MOS 36-ITEM Short Form Health Survey. Radiographs were evaluated by 3 independent observers to determine graft union, resorption, and component loosening. The average postoperative HSS score and SF-36 were 75 and 88, respectively. Mean flexion was 100 degrees. Nine patients achieved union and were able to fully bear weight. Three patients required more surgery as a result of postoperative complications. Radiographs showed no migration, no loosening, and good interface union in 9 of the 10 patients available for follow-up. We concluded that this is a viable salvage procedure for this type of injury.

Aged↗

Lymph node metastasis in soft tissue sarcoma in an extremity.

For patients with soft tissue sarcoma in an extremity, the outcome is thought to be poor if lymph node metastasis develops. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of lymphatic involvement from soft tissue sarcoma on patient survival. Thirty-nine (3.7%) of 1066 patients who had surgery for soft tissue sarcoma in an extremity had lymph node metastases develop. Three (20%) of 15 patients with epithelioid sarcoma, four (19%) of 21 patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, two (11.1%) of 18 patients with clear cell sarcoma, and two (11.1%) of 18 patients with angiosarcoma had lymphatic involvement. Thirty patients who had resection of involved lymph nodes had an estimated 5-year survival of 57%, whereas nine patients treated without surgery all died within 30 months. An estimated 4-year survival of 71% for patients with isolated lymph node metastases was significantly better than 21% for patients with synchronous systemic and lymph node involvement. There was no difference in outcome for patients with isolated lymphatic involvement compared with patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage III extremity sarcomas. These results suggest that long-term survival is possible after surgical resection of lymphatic metastases from soft tissue sarcoma. The American Joint Committee on Cancer should consider separating isolated nodal metastases from systemic involvement in patients with Stage IV sarcoma.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of septic arthritis of the hip joint by repeated ultrasound-guided aspirations.

Arthrotomy of the hip joint followed by a variable period of drainage or continuous irrigation and drainage is considered the accepted treatment of septic arthritis of the hip joint (SAHJ). The authors reviewed the results of a cohort of children with SAHJ with repeated aspirations of the hip joint. Thirty-four children diagnosed with SAHJ were treated with repeated aspirations of the hip joint. The aspirations were performed under ultrasound guidance and topical anesthesia or under sedation. After the aspiration the joint was irrigated using the same needle, and the procedure was repeated daily. Six of the patients were operated on and then treated with aspirations because of drain dislodgement or clogging. Twenty-eight of the patients were treated primarily with repeated aspirations. Four of those patients did not improve and underwent arthrotomies, and 24 were treated only by repeated aspirations and healed completely. The mean number of aspirations was 3.6 (range 3-5), and 75% of the patients resumed walking after 24 hours. The mean follow-up time was 7.4 years (range 3-18). No complications were seen. Repeated aspiration is a safe and efficacious method of treatment for SAHJ. This method of treatment is not associated with surgery and its complications and prevents scarring of the skin and the need for general anesthesia. Faster return to normal activity was noted in this series.

Adolescent↗