We report a significant decrease of 39% in the number of inappropriate discharge prescriptions for PPIs during the study period; however, the percentage of inappropriate use of PPIs remains high. There is room for improvement in cost-effective use of PPIs.

Laboratory controlled study level 2.

Perilunate dislocations are a devastating injury to the carpus that carry a guarded long-term prognosis. Mayfield type 4 perilunate dislocations are rare, high-energy injuries that carry a risk for avascular necrosis (AVN) of the lunate. When AVN ensues and the carpus collapses, primary treatment with a proximal row carpectomy or arthrodesis has been advocated. This case reports a successful clinical result and revascularization of an extruded lunate with open reduction and internal fixation. This type 4, Gustilo grade 1 open perilunate dislocation exhibited complete avulsion of all lunate ligamentous attachments. Management included open reduction and internal fixation as well as carpal tunnel release through a combined dorsal and volar approach. Despite concerns for lunate AVN due to complete disruption of lunate vascularity, a 10-month postoperative clinical and radiographic examination demonstrated no pain with activities of daily living as well as a revascularized lunate.

Placement of vancomycin powder into the surgical wound prior to closure has been shown to reduce postoperative infections in spine surgery. This study examines the effect of vancomycin powder on formation of epidural fibrosis (EF). Twenty-two rats underwent a two-level lumbar laminectomy. A control group, a low-dose and a high dose vancomycin powder (applied prior to closure) group was formed. Rats were sacrificed at 30 days and a blinded fellowshiptrained pathologist evaluated the laminectomy segments for EF. 50% of the samples in the high-dose vancomycin group were EF grade 3, compared to 20% of the low-dose and 16.7% of control samples. The average fibrosis grade for the high dose, low dose and control groups were 2.4, 1.4 and 1.8, respectively. There were more grade 3 EF specimens in the high dose vancomycin group. While the average EF grade was also higher in this group, there was not a statistical difference compared with the other groups.

No abstract