Monoclonal Antibody Disrupts Biofilm Structure and Restores Antibiotic Susceptibility in an Orthopedic Implant Infection Model.

Bacterial biofilms on orthopedic implants are resistant to the host immune response and to traditional systemic antibiotics. Novel therapies are needed to improve patient outcomes. TRL1068 is a human monoclonal antibody (mAb) against a biofilm anchoring protein.

Reconstructive Science in Orthopedic Oncology.

Limb salvage is widely practiced as standard of care in most cases of extremity bone sarcoma. Allograft and endoprosthesis reconstructions are the most widely utilized modalities for the reconstruction of large segment defects, however complication rates remain high. Aseptic loosening and infection remain the most common modes of failure.

Outpatient Posterior Lumbar Fusion: A Population-Based Analysis of Trends and Complication Rates.

Study Design: A retrospective case-control study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the nationwide trends and complication rates associated with outpatient posterior lumbar fusion (PLF).

Summary Of Background Data: Outpatient lumbar spine fusion is now possible secondary to minimally invasive techniques that allow for reduced hospital stays and analgesic requirements.

Ambulatory anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is associated with a higher risk of revision surgery and perioperative complications: an analysis of a large nationwide database.

Background Context: With the changing landscape of health care, outpatient spine surgery is being more commonly performed to reduce cost and to improve efficiency. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is one of the most common spine surgeries performed and demand is expected to increase with an aging population.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the nationwide trends and relative complication rates associated with outpatient ACDF.

Intraoperative Hypothermia is Common, but not Associated With Blood Loss or Transfusion in Pediatric Posterior Spinal Fusion.

Background: Intraoperative hypothermia may be associated with increased blood loss due to the effects of temperature on clotting but this has not been evaluated in the setting of pediatric posterior spinal fusion (PSF). The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation exists between intraoperative hypothermia and estimated blood loss (EBL) or transfusion requirements in pediatric patients undergoing PSF.

Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing PSF for scoliosis at a single institution between 6/2004 and 3/2012 was performed.

Fever is common postoperatively following posterior spinal fusion: infection is an uncommon cause.

Objective: To determine the frequency and clinical significance of postoperative fever in pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF).

Study Design: A retrospective chart review was performed for consecutive patients undergoing PSF at a single institution between June 2005 and April 2011, with a minimum of 2-year follow up. Exclusion criteria were previous spine surgery, a combined anterior-posterior approach, and delayed wound closure at the time of surgery.

Effect of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on mouse resistance to systemic Candida albicans infection.

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana, is known to suppress the immune responses to bacterial, viral and protozoan infections, but its effects on fungal infections have not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the effects of chronic Δ9-THC treatment on mouse resistance to systemic Candida albicans (C. albicans) infection.