Cartilage‐forming lesions include tumours that can vary in severity from benign enchondromas to high‐grade malignant chondrosarcomas. Chondrosarcoma is the second most frequent malignant bone tumour, accounting for 20–30% of all malignant bone neoplasms. Surgery is the standard treatment for cartilage tumours (CTs); however, their incidental diagnosis and the difficult differentiation of low‐grade lesions like chondrosarcoma grade I from benign entities like enchondroma are challenges for clinical management. In this sense, the search for circulating biomarkers for early detection and prognosis is an ongoing interest. Targeted metabolomics is a powerful tool that can propose potential biomarkers in biological fluids as well as help to discover disturbed metabolic pathways to reveal tumour pathogenesis. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomic serum profile of patients with CTs contrasted with healthy controls. Forty‐one metabolites were identified and quantified; the multivariate statistical methods principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis reveal a clear separation of the CT group, that is, the differential metabolites that were involved in two main metabolic pathways: the taurine and hypotaurine metabolism and synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies. Our results represent preliminary work for emergent serum‐based diagnostics or prognostic methods for patients with chondrogenic tumours.

Resultados: Se incluyeron 319 sujetos con fracturas mandibulares, jóvenes (32.5 años), con predominio del sexo masculino (89.7%), la mayoría desarrollaba algún oficio (64.2%), el 14.4% con alguna comorbilidad y el 76% presentaba alcoholismo al momento de la lesión. El sitio anatómico más afectado fue el ángulo mandibular, seguido de la parasínfisis. La causa más frecuente de lesión fue por agresión física. Conclusiones: Las fracturas mandibulares en nuestro servicio de urgencias suelen ser simples y afectar el ángulo de la mandíbula, presentándose principalmente en hombres en la tercera década de la vida. Las agresiones son el mecanismo de lesión mas frecuente y por lo general se asocian al consumo de sustancias tóxicas.

Objective: To evaluate the study habits in the academic performance of residents of the specialties of Orthopaedics and Trauma (OT) and Family Medicine (MF). Methods: An observational study was carried out with OT and MF medical residents. An online survey was applied to them, with response options on the Likert scale, to evaluate study habits. For the statistical analysis, measures of central tendency and dispersion were used, as well as correlations, P < 0.05. Results: A sample of 112 participants. 51% of participants were male. Mean age of 30.1±3. 75% of participants were single. 84.8% study one hour. 84.8% of respondents answered that they were pursuing the specialty they wanted. 80.4% always or constantly understand what they read. 45.5% of participants draw diagrams or charts. Writing summaries (82.1%) is the most used technique for memorisation. 93.7% always or constantly attend classes on a regular basis. 94.6% of participants strongly agree or agree that study habits can influence academic performance. 58% presented regular habits, 22% good habits and 18% bad habits. It was found that there is a correlation between age and average academic performance (P = 0.016). Conclusions: Age and marital status had a direct association with academic performance. Most of the residents are satisfied with the specialty they are studying. Memorisation and writing summaries are the most used study habits. In general, residents have regular study habits.

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Objective: To identify the cost effectiveness of vancomycin powder in the prophylaxis of posterior lumbar spine instrumentation, seeking potential savings. Methods: A retrospective, observational study was performed to evaluate the cost effectiveness. Data were retrieved from patients’ files from March 2016 to April 2017; costs were considered for the procedures, as well as which antibiotic was used. Results: A total of 184 patients were included. Of these, 102 received prophylactic treatment with 1g of cephalothin and 82 received 1g of cephalothin and 1g of vancomycin powder, which was applied to the wound prior to tissue closure. Of the 184 patients, 110 were women (59%) and 74 were men (41%), and the mean age was 55 years (24-77). The participants had a median BMI of 28.9 kg/m2 (19-39). The average cost per hospitalized patient was $3974 USD and the average cost of rehospitalization due to infection was, on average, $7700 USD. The use of vancomycin powder led to cost savings of $75,008.79 USD per 100 posterior spinal fusions performed for degenerative spine. Conclusion: The use of vancomycin powder is a cost-effective option for prophylaxis of surgical site infection in spine fusion. Level of evidence III; Economic and decision analysis.