Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.Objective: We aimed to evaluate the improvement in neurological deficit following early versus late decompression and stabilization of thoracolumbar junctional fractures. Methods: This is a retrospective evaluation of all patients with a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) from T11 to L2 treated at a teaching hospital between 2010 and 2017. Grouped analysis was performed comparing the cohort of patients who received early surgery within 24 hours (group 1) with those operated within 24 to 72 hours (group 2) and more than 72 hours after SCI (group 3). The primary outcome was the change in ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) motor score at 12-month follow-up. Results: There were 317 patients (225 males and 92 females with mean age of 31.55 + 12.43 years). A total of 144, 77, and 96 patients belonged to groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Improvement of at least 1 grade on ASIA classification was observed in 80, 45, and 33 patients in groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively (P ¼ .001). Overall, 32, 12, and 10 patients improved 2 grades on ASIA classification in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P ¼ .069). On logistic regression analysis, early surgery and severity of initial injury (complete [ASIA A] vs incomplete SCI [ASIA B-D]) were found to significantly influence the potential for neurologic improvement (P ¼ .004 and P < .0001, respectively). Conclusion: We believe that the earlier the decompression, the better. The 72-hour cutoff represents the most promising time window during which surgical decompression has the potential to confer a neuroprotective effect in the setting of incomplete SCI (ASIA B-D) in the distal region of the spinal cord (conus medullaris).

An 18-year-old man presented with complaints of pain and swelling around the left ankle region. Local examination revealed diffuse, hard, mildly tender swelling with ill-defined margins over the medial aspect of the left ankle joint just below the medial malleolus. Radiographic and computed tomographic assessment revealed osteolytic lesion with moderately defined margins. Provisional diagnosis of Campanacci grade 2 giant cell tumor was made, which was later confirmed on histopathology. Extended intralesional curettage and reconstruction with polymethylmethacrylate cement was done under spinal anesthesia. Full weight bearing was allowed at 4 weeks when the below knee back slab was removed. Radiographic assessment was done every 3 months during the first year of follow-up and then every 6 months. No evidence of recurrence of tumor, collapse of talus, or avascular necrosis was found during follow-up. Managing such rare form of bone tumors with extended intralesional curettage and bone cement is an appropriate treatment and gives good functional results. Level of Evidence: Level V

BACKGROUND Orthopedic infections are difficult to manage. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most dangerous and harmful bacteria and is difficult to eradicate because of its changing strains as well as sensitivity to different antibiotics. The main aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pathogens, especially MRSA, associated with orthopedic wounds and their sensitivity to different antibiotics. METHODS A prospective study was conducted from September 2015 to August 2016. Pus samples of 1,350 patients who presented at the out-patient department or admitted with a wound infection after an orthopedic intervention were taken with the help of culture swab and were sent for culture and sensitivity according to hospital protocol. Data analyses were made using the SPSS software, version 17 (IBM). RESULTS Adults aged between 15 and 30 years were most affected, with 444 (32.9%) cases. Of the patients, 268 (19.9%) had negative cultures. Among the patients with positive cultures, the gram-positive cocci and gram-negative rods were 497 (36.8%) and 377 (27.9%), respectively. The most common pathogen was MRSA (240; 17.8%), followed by Escherichia coli and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. CONCLUSIONS Multiple pathogens are involved in patients having an orthopedic surgical intervention. The high occurrence of MRSA and E. coli has an increasing economic burden on patients because of these pathogens high resistance to antibiotics. Thus, proper preventive measures should be done to decrease the occurrence of such infections as well as their associated morbidity.

ABSTRAK ABSTRACTBackground: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stabilizes the joint during hyperextension and prevents anterior translation over femur. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting ACL injury by taking arthroscopy as gold standard in patients with traumatic knee injury.

Among orthopedics trauma, the Olecranon fractures are one of the most commonly seen in the emergency room. The cause of such injuries are either fall or road traffic accident. The coronoid process stabilizes the humerus against the distal ulna. There is loss of extensor mechanism at the elbow joint whenever there is fracture of Olecranon. So, its management is always operative. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine the functional outcome of patients with olecranon fractures treated with tension band wiring and K-wires. Study Design: Descriptive case Series. Setting: Department of Orthopedics and Spine centre, Ghurki Trust teaching Hospital, Lahore. Period: 25th March 2016 to 30th September 2016. Materials and Methods: 85 patients were selected using Non Probability/ Consecutive sampling technique. Informed consent was taken and demographic information was noted. Surgery was performed by single team of orthopedics surgeons. Patient was followed after 06 weeks. Post-operatively for the assessment of functional outcome in terms of very good to good, fair and poor according to Murphy’s system. All the collected data was entered and analyzed on SPSS version 20. Results: In our study the mean age of the patients was 36.62±14.09 years, the male to female ratio of the patients was 0.7:1. The mean value of total Murphy’s score of the patients was 5.98±2.03. In this study the good functional outcome was observed in 35(41.18%) patients, fair outcome was observed in 46(54.12%) patients. Conclusion: The tension band wiring with K-wires shows good and satisfactory functional outcome for the management of olecranon fractures.