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Background: The utility of routine x-rays after the osteosynthesis of distal radius fractures and ankle fractures is questionable. We performed a trial to determine whether such x-rays are justified in patients who have undergone standardized imaging with C-arm fluoroscopy during surgery. Methods: Patients requiring surgery for a distal radius fracture or an ankle fracture were candidates for inclusion in this prospective, randomized, controlled, non-blinded trial. Standardized intraoperative images were obtained with C-arm fluoroscopy and stored at the end of the operation. The next day, patients in the control group underwent imaging with a standard postoperative x-ray, while those in the intervention group did not. The primary endpoint was a change in the treatment plan, defined as additional imaging or a second operation. The secondary endpoints included the range of motion, pain as rated on the Visual Analog Scale, and a functional outcome analysis (PRWE/FAOS). Results: 316 patients were included in the trial (163 in the control group, 153 in the intervention group), of whom 202 (64%) had radius fractures and 114 (36%) had ankle fractures. The treatment plan changed in twelve patients (3.8%; four in the control group and eight in the intervention group), seven of whom (2.2%; three in the control group and four in the intervention group) underwent a second operation. The frequency of changes in the treatment plan and of reoperations was comparable in the two groups (p = 0.36). On follow-up at six weeks and one year, the results with respect to functional outcomes and pain were comparable. Conclusion: In this trial, routine postoperative x-rays after the osteosynthesis of distal radial fractures and ankle fractures did not improve the care of patients who had undergone standardized intraoperative imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To establish normative data, long-term patient-reported functional outcome and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) after operative treatment of bicondylar tibial plateau fractures. Secondly, to identify risk factors associated with functional outcome and HrQoL.Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study at two Level I trauma centers. All adult patients with AO/OTA 41-C or Schatzker V/ VI tibial plateau fractures treated between 2001 and 2016 (n = 450) by open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). The survey was completed by 214 patients (48%). Primary outcome was patient-reported functional outcome assessed with the PROMIS Physical Function (PROMIS PF). Secondary outcomes were HrQoL measured with the EuroQol 5-Dimensions 3-Levels (EQ-5D-3 L), infection rate, and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) rate.Results: Infection occurred in 26 cases (12%) and TKA was performed in 6 patients (3%). The median PROMIS PF scores was 49.8 (IQR;42-54). The median EQ-5D-3 L was 0.83 (IQR;0.78-1.0).%). The multivariable regression model revealed female gender, diabetes, and worse HrQoL were correlated with worse functional outcome. The multivariable regression model revealed smoking, diabetes, and the subsequent need for TKA to be correlated with worse HrQoL.Conclusion: The PROMIS PF and EQ-5D-3L did not reach a minimum clinically important difference. The PROMIS PF items revealed patients had no difficulty in walking more than a mile or climbing a flight of stairs. However, patients were limited in doing vigorous activities and patients should be counseled about the expected long-term outcomes. This study emphasizes the correlation between injury specific functional outcome measures and general health measures.Level Of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adequate pain control is essential in the treatment of patients with traumatic rib fractures. Although epidural analgesia is recommended in international guidelines, the use remains debatable and is not undisputed. The aim of this study was to describe the efficacy and safety of epidural analgesia in patients with multiple traumatic rib fractures.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Patients with ≥3 rib fractures following blunt chest trauma who received epidural analgesia between January 2015 and January 2018 were included. The main outcome parameters were the success rate of epidural analgesia and the incidence of medication-related side effects and catheter-related complications.Results: A total of 76 patients were included. Epidural analgesia was successful in a total of 45 patients (59%), including 22 patients without and in 23 patients with an additional analgesic intervention. In 14 patients (18%), epidural analgesia was terminated early without intervention due to insufficient sensory blockade (n=4), medication-related side effects (n=4), and catheter-related complications (n=6). In 17 patients (22%), the epidural catheter was removed after one or multiple additional interventions due to insufficient pain control. Minor epidural-related complications or side effects were encountered in 36 patients (47%). One patient had a major complication (opioid intoxication).Conclusion: Epidural analgesia was successful in 59% of patients; however, 30% needed additional analgesic interventions. As about half of the patients had epidural-related complications, it remains debatable whether epidural analgesia is a sufficient treatment modality in patients with multiple rib fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First rib resection for thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is clinically successful and safe in most patients. However, long-term functional outcomes are still insufficiently known. Long-term functional outcome was assessed using a validated questionnaire. A multicenter retrospective cohort study including all patients who underwent operations for TOS from January 2005 until December 2016. Clinical records were reviewed and the long-term functional outcome was assessed by the 11-item version of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. Sixty-two cases of TOS in 56 patients were analyzed: 36 neurogenic TOS, 13 arterial TOS, 7 venous TOS, and 6 combined TOS. There was no 30-day mortality. One reoperation because of bleeding was performed and five patients developed a pneumothorax. Survey response was 73% (n = 41) with a follow-up ranging from 1 to 11 years. Complete relief of symptoms was reported postoperatively in 27 patients (54%), symptoms improved in 90%, and the mean QuickDASH score was 22 (range, 0-86). Long-term functional outcome of surgical treatment of TOS was satisfactory, and surgery was beneficial in 90% of patients, with a low risk of severe morbidity. However, the mean QuickDASH scores remain higher compared with the general population, suggesting some sustained functional impairment despite clinical improvement of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Historically rib fractures have been typically treated non-operatively. Recent studies showed promising results after osteosynthesis of rib fractures in trauma patients with flail segments or multiple rib fractures. However, there is a paucity of data on rib fixation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study evaluated the outcomes of patients who received rib fixation after CPR., Methods: Adult patients who received surgical fixation of rib fractures sustained during CPR between 2010 and 2020 were eligible for inclusion in this retrospective study. Outcome measures included complications, quality of life (EQ 5D 5L) and level of dyspnea., Results: Nineteen patients were included with a mean age of 66.8 years. The mean number of fractured ribs was ten, seven patients additionally had a sternum fracture. Pneumonia occurred in 15 patients (74%), of which 13 were diagnosed preoperatively and 2 post-operatively. Six patients developed a postoperative pneumothorax, none of which required revision surgery. One patient showed persistent flail chest after rib fixation and required additional fixation of a concomitant sternum fracture. One infection of the surgical site of sternal plate occurred, while no further surgery related complications were reported. Mean EQ-5D-5L was 0.908 and the average EQ VAS was 80. One patient reported persisting dyspnea., Conclusion: To date, this is the largest reported cohort of patients who received rib fixation for fractures sustained during CPR. No complications associated with rib fixation were reported whereas one infection after sternal fixation did occur. Current follow-up demonstrated a good long-term quality of life after fixation, warranting further studies on this topic. Deeper knowledge on this subject would be beneficial for a wide spectrum of physicians., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Van Veelen, Buenter, Kremo, Peek, Leiser, Kestenholz, Babst, Paulus Beeres and Minervini.)

Background: In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the treatment of patients with rib fractures. However, the current literature on the epidemiology and outcomes of rib fractures is outdated and inconsistent. Furthermore, although it has been suggested that there is a large heterogeneity among patients with traumatic rib fractures, there is insufficient literature reporting on the outcomes of different subgroups., Methods: A retrospective cohort study using the National Trauma Data Bank was performed. All adult patients with one or more traumatic rib fractures or flail chest who were admitted to a hospital between January 2010 and December 2016 were identified by the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision diagnostic codes., Results: Of the 564 798 included patients with one or more rib fractures, 44.9% (n=2 53 564) were patients with polytrauma. Two per cent had open rib fractures (n=11 433, 2.0%) and flail chest was found in 4% (n=23 388, 4.1%) of all cases. Motor vehicle accidents (n=237 995, 51.6%) were the most common cause of rib fractures in patients with polytrauma and flail chest. Blunt chest injury accounted for 95.5% (n=5 39 422) of rib fractures. Rib fractures in elderly patients were predominantly caused by high and low energy falls (n=67 675, 51.9%). Ultimately, 49.5% (n=2 79 615) of all patients were admitted to an intensive care unit, of whom a quarter (n=146 191, 25.9%) required invasive mechanical ventilatory support. The overall mortality rate was 5.6% (n=31 524)., Discussion: Traumatic rib fractures are a marker of severe injury as approximately half of patients were patients with polytrauma. Furthermore, patients with rib fractures are a very heterogeneous group with a considerable difference in epidemiology, injury characteristics and in-hospital outcomes. Worse outcomes were predominantly observed among patients with polytrauma and flail chest. Future studies should recognize these differences and treatment should be evaluated accordingly., Level of Evidence: II/III., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: A trend has evolved towards rib fixation for flail chest although evidence is limited. Little is known about rib fixation for multiple rib fractures without flail chest. The aim of this study is to compare rib fixation with nonoperative treatment for both patients with flail chest and patients with multiple rib fractures., Methods and Analysis: In this study protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study, all patients with three or more rib fractures admitted to one of the five participating centres will be included. In two centres, rib fixation is performed and in three centres nonoperative treatment is the standard-of-care for flail chest or multiple rib fractures. The primary outcome measures are intensive care unit length of stay and hospital length of stay for patients with a flail chest and patients with multiple rib fractures, respectively. Propensity score matching will be used to control for potential confounding of the relation between treatment modality and length of stay. All analyses will be performed separately for patients with flail chest and patients with multiple rib fractures without flail chest., Ethics and Dissemination: The regional Medical Research Ethics Committee UMC Utrecht approved a waiver of consent (reference number WAG/mb/17/024787 and METC protocol number 17-544/C). Patients will be fully informed of the purpose and procedures of the study, and signed informed consent will be obtained in agreement with the General Data Protection Regulation. Study results will be submitted for peer review publication., Trial Registration Number: NTR6833., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Many publications report outcomes of surgical treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS); however, high-quality reviews and meta-analyses are lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes and compares the outcomes and major complications of the surgical procedures for the 3 types of TOS: arterial, venous, and neurogenic., Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for papers published between January 1980 and February 2015, using the keywords thoracic outlet syndrome, and treatment and surgical. Articles were eligible for inclusion if the following criteria were met: studies describing outcomes of surgery for TOS, published in English, human studies, and available full-text. The exclusion criteria were case-series and case reports (n < 5), reviews, abstracts, and studies of endoscopic-assisted or robotic endoscopic-assisted transaxillary first rib resection., Results: A total of 12 papers met our inclusion criteria and were finally included in this systematic review. All included articles showed improvement of complaints after surgical treatment. In our meta-analysis, improvement to Derkash's classification category excellent/good was achieved in 90% of the arterial and venous TOS groups. Preoperative and postoperative Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores show improvement of 28.3 points after operative treatment of neurogenic TOS., Conclusions: In conclusion, surgical treatment of TOS seems to be beneficial in most patients and is relatively safe. The largest challenge remains the diagnosis of TOS, especially neurogenic TOS, because standardized diagnostic criteria are lacking. Future studies should focus on the diagnostic work-up of TOS., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)