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To investigate the treatment outcomes of combined internal and external fixation surgery for patients with posterior lateral tibial plateau fractures and explore its safety. The study was conducted from February 2020 to February 2023 and included a total of 77 patients with Schatzker IV and Schatzker V type posterior lateral tibial plateau fractures. Patients were divided into control group and treatment group according to different treatment methods: the control group with 38 cases received treatment with dual-support plates, and the study group with 39 cases received treatment with internal fixation using medial plates combined with lateral locking plates. Clinical indicators during treatment, immediate postoperative and 12-month postoperative radiographic indicators, Rasmussen knee joint function scores before and 3 months after surgery, knee joint function recovery, quality of life, and postoperative complications were recorded and compared between the 2 groups. The inter-group comparisons were made for intraoperative blood loss, surgical duration, and the time to start weight-bearing postoperatively (P > .05). The study group had shorter postoperative hospital stays and fracture healing times compared to the control group (P < .05). Immediately postoperatively, the medial tilt angle and posterior tilt angle in both groups were compared (P > .05). At 12 months postoperatively, the medial tilt angle decreased and the posterior tilt angle increased in both groups compared to immediately postoperative values (P < .05), with no significant difference between the groups (P > .05). However, at 3 months postoperatively, the scores for various dimensions in both groups increased compared to preoperative values, and the study group had higher scores than the control group (P < .05). However, at 3 months postoperatively, the quality of life scores were higher than preoperative values in both groups, with the study group having higher scores (P < .05). The occurrence of complications during the treatment period was compared between the 2 groups (P > .05). The medial and lateral combined plate fixation has a good clinical effect in the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures, which can shorten the fracture healing time, help the recovery of knee joint function and improve the quality of life of patients after operation, and has high safety in the treatment process., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Distal femoral fractures account for less than 1% of all fractures. The therapy of choice is usually surgical stabilization. Despite advances in implant development over the past few years, complication rate remains comparatively high. The aim of this study is to analyze our results with plate fixation of distal femoral fractures with a focus on complication and fracture healing rates., Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients (> 18 years) with distal femoral fractures treated at an urban level I trauma center between 2015 and 2022 were analyzed., Results: In total, 206 patients (167 female, 39 male) with an average age of 75 (SD 16) years were diagnosed with a fracture of the distal femur. One hundred fourteen of these patients were treated surgically by means of plate osteosynthesis. In 13 cases (11.41%), a revision procedure had to be performed. The indication for surgical revision was mechanical failure in eight cases (7.02%) and septic complication in five cases (4.39%). Periprosthetic fractures were more likely to cause complications overall (19.6% versus 4.76%) and further included all documented septic complications. The analysis of modifiable surgical factors in the context of plate osteosynthesis showed higher complication rates for cerclage in the fracture area compared with plate-only stabilizations (44.44% versus 22.22%)., Conclusions: The data show an increased amount of revisions and a significantly higher number of septic complications in the treatment of periprosthetic fractures of the distal femur compared with non-periprosthetic fractures. The detected combination of plates together with cerclage was associated with higher complication rates. Level of evidence Level III retrospective comparative study., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Shewanella is an emerging human pathogen. It mostly causes skin and soft tissue infections. Osteosynthesis-associated infection involving Shewanella are rare and in most cases are secondary to direct contamination following open fractures in aquatic environments. Here, we present a rare case of hematogenous osteosynthesis-associated infection involving Shewanella algae affecting an 18-year-old patient who was operated on for 12 th thoracic vertebrae and 4th lumbar vertebrae fractures occurring in an aquatic environment. We performed surgical debridement with subsequent double course parenteral antibiotherapy that was then adapted to bacteria sensitivities for three weeks. After a follow-up of six months, the patient had no signs of recurrent infection. The presence of infected dermabrasions and the concordance between germs isolated in operative samples and in blood cultures presumes that the contamination was hematogenous., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2024 Masmoudi S et al.)

Aims: Pneumatic tourniquets are often used during the surgical treatment of unstable traumatic ankle fractures. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of reoperation after open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures with and without the use of pneumatic tourniquets., Methods: This was a population-based cohort study using data from the Danish Fracture Database with a follow-up period of 24 months. Data were linked to the Danish National Patient Registry to ensure complete information regarding reoperations due to complications, which were divided into major and minor. The relative risk of reoperations for the tourniquet group compared with the non-tourniquet group was estimated using Cox proportional hazards modelling., Results: A total of 4,050 ankle fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation between 15 March 2012 and 31 December 2016 were included, with 669 (16.5%) undergoing surgery with a tourniquet and 3,381 (83.5%) without a tourniquet. The overall reoperation risk was 28.2% with an adjusted relative risk of 1.46 (95% CI 0.91 to 2.32) for group comparison. The reoperation risk due to major complications was 3.1% with a tourniquet and 4.4% without a tourniquet, resulting in an adjusted relative risk of 1.45 (95% CI 0.91 to 2.32). For minor complications, there were 24.7% and 23.9% reoperations, resulting in an adjusted relative risk of 0.99 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.17)., Conclusion: We found no significant difference in the reoperation rate when comparing ankle fractures treated surgically with and without the use of pneumatic tourniquets., Competing Interests: None declared., (© 2024 The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery.)

Objectives: To identify factors that contribute to iatrogenic sciatic nerve palsy during acetabular surgery through a Kocher-Langenbeck approach and to evaluate if variation among individual surgeons exists., Design: Retrospective cohort., Setting: Level I trauma center., Patient Selection Criteria: Adults undergoing fixation of acetabular fractures (AO/OTA 62) through a posterior approach by 9 orthopaedic traumatologists between November 2010 and November 2022., Outcome Measures and Comparisons: The prevalence of iatrogenic sciatic nerve palsy and comparison of the prevalence and risk of palsy between prone and lateral positions before and after adjusting for individual surgeon and the presence of transverse fracture patterns in logistic regression. Comparison of the prevalence of palsy between high-volume (>1 patient/month) and low-volume surgeons., Results: A total of 644 acetabular fractures repaired through a posterior approach were included (median age 39 years, 72% male). Twenty of 644 surgeries (3.1%) resulted in iatrogenic sciatic nerve palsy with no significant difference between the prone (3.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9%-4.9%) and lateral (3.3%, 95% CI, 1.3%-8.1%) positions (P = 0.64). Logistic regression adjusting for surgeon and transverse fracture pattern demonstrated no significant effect for positions (odds ratio 1.0, 95% CI, 0.3-3.9). Transverse fracture pattern was associated with increased palsy risk (odds ratio 3.0, 95% CI, 1.1-7.9). Individual surgeon was significantly associated with iatrogenic palsy (P < 0.02)., Conclusions: Surgeon and the presence of a transverse fracture line predicted iatrogenic nerve palsy after a posterior approach to the acetabulum in this single-center cohort. Surgeons should perform the Kocher-Langenbeck approach for acetabular fixation in the position they deem most appropriate, as the position was not associated with the rate of iatrogenic palsy in this series., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

This systematic review and meta-analysis compare the incidences of complications, reoperations and hardware removal between anterior and dorsal plating after corrective osteotomy for dorsally angulated distal radial malunions. A total of 403 patients were included; 253 patients underwent anterior corrective osteotomy and 150 underwent dorsal corrective osteotomy. Mean follow-up was 30 months. Anterior plating was associated with fewer reoperations (9% vs. 28%), less hardware removal (3% vs. 18%) and comparable major complications (5% vs. 6%) compared to dorsal plating. The adjusted model showed a significant reduction (approximately 85%) in the odds of reoperation and hardware removal in the anterior group. There was no difference in major or minor complications between the groups. Surgeons should be fully aware of the increased risks when using dorsal plate fixation after corrective osteotomy for dorsally angulated distal radial malunions.

Purpose: This study shows the danger zone and the safety corridor in the lateral approach with bridge plating by measuring the distance between the lateral side of the plate positioned on the lateral aspect of the humerus and the radial nerve after it pierces the lateral intermuscular septum, in the different forearm positions., Methods: Forty arms of 20 human cadavers were used, the radial nerve was identified and marked on the lateral surface the radial nerve at the exit of the lateral intermuscular septum and anteriorisation of the nerve in relation to the humeral shaft and the lateral epicondyle was also marked. The distances were measured with a digital caliper. A submuscular extraperiosteal corridor was created, proximally between the biceps brachialis and deltoid muscle and distally between the triceps and brachioradialis muscle, followed by the positioning of the low contact large fragments contoured plate with 14 combined holes (fixed and cortical angle), inserted from distal to proximal. Measurements were performed in four positions (elbow flexion with forearm pronation, elbow flexion with forearm supination, elbow extension with forearm pronation and elbow extension with forearm supination)., Results: Significant statistical differences occurred with the different positions, and the elbow flexion with forearm supination was shown to be the position that provides the safest submuscular extraperiosteal corridor in a lateral approach of the humerus., Conclusion: The danger zone of radial nerve is an area that extends from 15 cm to 5 cm proximal to the lateral epicondyle and the safest way to create a submuscular and extraperiosteal corridor in the lateral region of the humerus is with the elbow in flexion and the forearm in supination., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Flexor pollicis longus rupture is an uncommon but potentially debilitating complication after volar locking plate fixation of distal radius fractures, occurring secondary to tendon attrition against the implant. This nature of tendon injury typically precludes primary repair. This paper will illustrate 2 reconstruction techniques, an interpositional tendon graft and a tendon transfer, that have been utilized successfully by the authors., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: C.J.D. is on the editorial board for HSS Journal. R.P.C. is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Hand Surgery. For the remaining authors none were declared., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To determine the effect of obesity on systemic complications after operative pelvic ring injuries., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Single level 1 trauma center., Patient Selection Criteria: All patients at a level 1 trauma center who underwent operative fixation of a pelvic ring injury from 2015 to 2022 were included. Patients were grouped based on body mass index (BMI) into 4 categories (normal = BMI <25, overweight = BMI 25-30, obese = BMI 30-40, and morbidly obese BMI >40)., Outcome Measures and Comparisons: Systemic complications including acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, sepsis, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, ileus, acute kidney injury (AKI), myocardial infarction, and mortality were recorded. Patients who developed a complication were compared with those who did not regarding demographic and clinical parameters to determine risk factors for each complication., Results: A total of 1056 patients underwent pelvic ring fixation including 388 normal BMI, 267 overweight, 289 obese, and 112 morbidly obese patients. The average age of all patients was 36.9 years, with a range from 16 to 85 years. Overall, 631 patients (59.8%) were male. The overall complication and mortality rates were 23.2% and 1.4%, respectively. BMI was a significant independent risk factor for all-cause complication with an odds ratio of 1.67 for overweight, 2.30 for obese, and 2.45 for morbidly obese patients. The risk of DVT and AKI was also significantly increased with every weight class above normal with ORs of 5.06 and 3.02, respectively, for morbidly obese patients (BMI >40)., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that among patients undergoing pelvic ring fixation, higher BMI was associated with increased risks of overall complication, specifically DVT and AKI. As the prevalence of obesity continues to increase in the population, surgeons should be cognizant that these patients may be at higher risk of certain postoperative complications during the initial trauma admission., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Proximal humerus fractures are common in the older population. A consensus on the optimal management of complex fractures requiring surgery has yet to be reached. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to compare clinical outcomes between reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF)., Methods: A systematic search of the literature was undertaken using the Medline ® , PubMed, Embase™ and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. Prospective and retrospective studies comparing clinical and patient reported results as primary outcome measures were included in this review, with secondary outcome measures including complications and revision surgery. A meta-analysis was conducted., Results: A total of 326 patients from 5 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. Superior Constant-Murley scores (mean difference [MD]: 13.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.2-20.6; p <0.001), Oxford shoulder scores (MD: 4.3, 95% CI: 1.2-7.4; p =0.007), simple shoulder test scores (MD: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.01-1.89; p =0.05) and DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) scores (MD: 5.1 [1 study], 95% CI: 2.1-8.1; p =0.034) were noted in patients receiving RTSA. Range of motion and revision surgery rates were also superior in this group., Conclusions: This study suggests that RTSA affords more favourable outcomes and lower revision rates than ORIF following proximal humerus fractures. Definitive conclusions are precluded, however, owing to small sample sizes and risk of bias in retrospective studies.

Background: Periprosthetic femur fracture (PFF) is one of the most common indications for reoperation following total hip arthroplasty., Methods/results: This article provides a review of a symposium on PFF that was presented at the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons 2023 annual meeting, including an overview of the Vancouver classification and its implications on treatment and subsequent complications, an updated approach to the management of intraoperative fractures, and finally, contemporary strategies for both osteosynthesis as well as revision arthroplasty for PFFs., Conclusion: As the incidence of PPF continues to increase, arthroplasty and trauma surgeons must be prepared to address this challenging complication with a contemporary understanding of the treatment options and their outcomes., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objectives: To identify the infection rate in patients with combined pelvic ring and bladder injuries. Secondary aims included identifying treatment and injury factors associated with infection., Design: Retrospective review., Setting: Single Level I Tertiary Academic Center., Patients Selection Criteria: All patients over a 12-year period with combined pelvic ring and bladder injuries were evaluated. Exclusion criteria were nonoperative management of the pelvic ring, isolated posterior fixation, and follow-up <90 days., Outcome Measure and Comparisons: Primary outcome measured was deep infection of the anterior pelvis requiring surgical irrigation and debridement., Results: In total, 106 patients with anterior stabilization of the pelvis in the setting of a bladder injury were included. Seven patients (6.6%) developed a deep infection and required surgical debridement within 90 days. Patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation with plating of the anterior pelvis and acute concomitant bladder repair had an infection rate of 2.2% (1/43). Patients undergoing closed reduction and anterior fixation with either external fixation or percutaneous rami screw after bladder repair had an infection rate of 17.6% (3/17). There was a higher infection rate among patients with combined intraperitoneal (IP) and extraperitoneal (EP) bladder injuries (23%) when compared with those with isolated EP (3.8%) or IP (9.1%) bladder injuries (P = 0.029)., Conclusions: Acute open reduction and internal fixation of the anterior pelvis in patients with combined pelvic ring and bladder injuries has a low infection rate. Patients with combined IP and EP bladder injuries are at increased risk of infection compared with those with isolated IP and EP injuries., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study evaluated the relationship between obesity and postoperative complications in patients undergoing ankle open reduction internal fixation (ORIF)., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: PearlDiver-Mariner All-Payor Database., Patient Selection Criteria: Patients who underwent ankle ORIF from 2010 to 2021 and had a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were identified using Current Procedural Terminology, ICD-9, and ICD-10 codes., Outcome Measures and Outcomes: Patients were stratified by body mass index into nonobese, obese, morbidly obese, and super-obese groups. Complication rates, including 90-day readmissions, infection, and post-traumatic osteoarthritis, were compared between obesity groups. Patients were additionally compared with a 1:1 matched analysis that controlled for demographics and comorbidities., Results: A total of 160,415 patients undergoing ankle ORIF from 2010 to 2021 were identified. The cohort consisted mostly of females (64.8%) and the average age was 52.5 (SD 18.4) years. There were higher rates of 90-day readmissions, UTIs, DVT/PE, pneumonia, superficial infections, and acute kidney injuries in patients with increasing levels of obesity (P < 0.001). There were increased odds of nonunion and post-traumatic arthritis in the matched analysis at 2 years in the obesity group [OR: 2.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.68-3.31, P < 0.001; OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.77-2.68, P < 0.001, respectively]., Conclusions: Postoperative medical complication rates in patients undergoing ankle ORIF, including infection, are higher in obese patients, even in the 1:1 matched analysis that controlled for demographic and comorbidity factors. Rates of nonunion and post-traumatic arthritis were higher in obese patients, as well. As such, it is important for surgeons to provide appropriate education regarding the risks after ankle ORIF in patients with obesity., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a notable complication following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for ankle fractures. The purpose of this study was to (1) compare baseline demographics of patients who did and did not develop SSIs within 90 days following ORIF for trimalleolar ankle fractures and (2) identify risk factors associated with SSIs in this setting. A retrospective analysis from 2010 to 2020 was completed using a national administrative database. The study group consisted of patients who underwent ORIF for trimalleolar ankle fractures and developed SSIs within 90 days postoperatively. Patients without SSIs served as the comparison cohort. Baseline demographics of the two cohorts were compared utilizing Pearson's Chi-Square Analyses. A multivariate binomial logistic regression model determined the association of various comorbidities on developing SSIs in this setting. Out of a total sample of 22,118 patients, 1000 individuals (4.52%) developed SSIs. The study revealed that the SSI cohort exhibited a greater burden of comorbidities, as evidenced by significant differences in various individual comorbidities and average Elixhauser-Comorbidity Indices scores. The most strongly associated risk factors for the development of SSIs following ORIF for trimalleolar ankle fractures were peripheral vascular disease (OR: 1.53, p < .0001), diabetes mellitus (OR: 1.26, p = .0010), iron deficiency anemia (OR: 1.24, p = .0010), male sex (OR: 1.22, p = .0010), and tobacco use (OR: 1.15, p = .0010). This study identified several patient risk factors that were associated with developing SSIs after ORIF for trimalleolar ankle fractures, recognizing potential patient-directed interventions that may reduce the rate of SSIs in this setting., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to report the incidence of iatrogenic sural nerve injury in a large, consecutive sample of surgically managed ankle fractures and to identify factors associated with sural nerve injury and subsequent recovery. We hypothesize that a direct posterior approach may be associated with higher risk of iatrogenic sural nerve injury., Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 265 skeletally mature patients who sustained ankle fractures over a 2-year period was done. All were treated with open reduction and internal fixation of fractured malleoli. Patient, injury, and treatment features were documented. The presence (n = 26, 9.8%) of sural nerve injury and recovery of sural nerve function were noted., Results: All 26 sural nerve injuries were iatrogenic, occurring postoperatively after open reduction and internal fixation. Patients who sustained sural nerve injuries had more ankle fractures secondary to motor vehicle collisions (23.1% versus 9.2%), more associated trimalleolar fractures (69.2% versus 33.9%), and more Orthopaedic Trauma Association/AO 44B3 fractures (57.7% versus 25.1%), all P < 0.05. A posterior approach to the posterior malleolus through the prone position was used in 20.4% of patients. All 26 of the sural nerve injuries (100%) occurred when the patient was placed prone for a posterior approach, P < 0.001. Therefore, 26 of the 54 patients (48%) treated with a posterior approach sustained an iatrogenic sural nerve injury. 62% of patients had full recovery of sural nerve function with no residual numbness, and patients with nerve recovery had fewer associated fracture-dislocations (23.1% versus 100%, P = 0.003)., Conclusions: A posterior approach for posterior malleolus fixation was associated with a 48% iatrogenic sural nerve injury rate, with 62% recovering full function within 6 months of injury. Morbidity of this approach should be considered, and surgeons should be cautious with nerve handling., Level of Evidence: Level III, Therapeutic., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

Background: The Internal Fixator (INFIX) is a popular method, known for its minimal invasiveness and short operation time, for treating anterior pelvic ring fractures. Studies have shown that postoperative complications may occur, including anterolateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury, the femoral nerve paralysis, and delayed fracture healing. These complications are believed to be related to surgical stimulation, an excessively long lateral end of the connecting rod, a small distance between the screw and bone surface, insufficient pre-bending of the connecting rod, and difficulties in fracture reduction., Case Presentation: We report two unique cases of lower abdominal pseudocyst complicated with suspected infection after INFIX treatment of pelvic fractures at our trauma center. Following surgical removal of the internal fixation, resolution of the cysts was observed in both patients, and subsequent postoperative follow-up revealed the absence of any residual sequelae. These cases have not been reported in previous literature reviews., Discussion: The lower abdominal cysts, potentially arising from the dead space created during intraoperative placement of the INFIX rod, may increase infection risk. The etiology remains uncertain, despite the presence of abnormal inflammation markers in both cases, and staphylococcus aureus found in one. These cysts were confined to the lower abdomen, not involving the internal fixation, and hence, only the INFIX was removed. Postoperative oral cefazolin treatment was successful, with resolved pseudocysts and no subsequent discomfort., Conclusion: We report two unprecedented cases of post-INFIX abdominal cysts, with a suspected link to intraoperative dead space. Despite uncertain etiology, successful management involved INFIX removal and oral cefixime therapy. These findings necessitate further exploration into the causes and management of such complications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: This study aimed to report the complication rate associated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of mandibular condyle fractures in Oman., Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted among patients who underwent ORIF of mandibular condyle fractures at Al-Nahdha Hospital and the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat, Oman, from January 2008 to December 2020. Data collected included patient demographics, fracture aetiology, fracture side and type, surgical approach and recorded complications and outcomes., Results: A total of 68 patients (59 males and 9 females; mean age of 30.1 years) with 83 mandibular condyle fractures underwent ORIF during the study period. Subcondylar fractures were the most common type, occurring in 62.7% of patients, while bilateral fractures were observed in 21 (30.8%) patients. The most common surgical approach was retromandibular, used in 42.2% of patients. The overall complication rate was 42.6%, with the most frequently reported complications being transient facial nerve palsy (18.1%), malocclusion (14.7%) and restricted mouth opening (10.3%). Subsequent surgical interventions to correct malocclusion were performed in 6 cases. There was no statistically significant association between the overall complication rate and the patients' clinical characteristics., Conclusion: Although ORIF of mandibular condyle fractures generally offers favourable outcomes, it carries a risk of complications., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© Copyright 2024, Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, All Rights Reserved.)

Purpose: The radial nerve may be painfully irritated or damaged by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of humeral fractures. Secondary radial nerve lesions after ORIF of humeral shaft fractures are described in up to 16%. Not only peripheral nerves but also orthopaedic instruments and osteosynthesis material are well visible by ultrasound. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound in assessing the relation between the bone overlapping screw tips and the radial nerve close to the humeral bone., Methods: Ultrasound-guided drilling was used to place screws as close as possible to the radial nerve in 8 humeral bones of four cadavers. The relation between the radial nerve and the screw tips was assessed by high-resolution ultrasound, and the overlap of all screw tips over the bone was measured by ultrasound and fluoroscopy. Thereafter, the findings were validated by anatomical dissection., Results: We could correctly identify all screw tips and their relation to the radial nerve by ultrasound. In 7 of 8 cases, the screw tip had direct contact with the radial nerve. The overlaying length of the screw tip was accurately measured by using ultrasound in all cases. In contrast fluoroscopy underestimated this length in 50% of cases., Conclusion: With this study, we show that ultrasound can reliable visualize the screw tips and its relation to the radial nerve. Ultrasound is a promising diagnostic tool to evaluate patients with radial nerve irritations or lesions after ORIF of humeral fractures. Furthermore, ultrasound could be an adequate tool to guide drilling., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The 5-item modified frailty index (mFI-5) has been established as a reliable indicator of poor postoperative outcomes following a variety of orthopaedic procedures. This study aims to determine whether the mFI-5 can be used by surgeons to predict the likelihood of postoperative complications in patients undergoing open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for tibial plateau fractures., Methods: From 2006 to 2019, patients aged 50 years or older undergoing ORIF for tibial plateau fracture were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. The mFI-5 was calculated based on the sum of the presence of 5 conditions: diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and dependent functional status. Chi-squared tests and multivariable regression analysis were used to evaluate the association of different mFI-5 scores with postoperative complications., Results: The study analyzed 2213 patients with an average age of 63 years. Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that in comparison to patients with a mFI-5 score of 0, those with a score of 1 had an increased risk of prolonged hospital stay (OR 1.31) and discharge to a non-home location (OR 1.50) while those with a score of 2 or greater were at an increased risk of readmission (OR 2.30), wound complication (OR 5.37), pulmonary complication (OR 4.56), urinary tract infection (OR 4.79), prolonged hospital stay (OR 1.89), and discharge to a non-home location (OR 3.01)., Conclusion: The mFI-5 is a reliable instrument for determining the likelihood of postoperative complications following ORIF for tibial plateau fracture repair., Level of Evidence: III., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Displaced intra-articular calcaneus fractures (DIACFs) are difficult injuries to treat and are often encountered by orthopedic surgeons. For DIACFs treated nonoperatively or with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), a common complication is painful subtalar arthritis and the need for a secondary subtalar fusion, which prolongs the overall recovery time. One treatment option to address this sequela involves ORIF with subtalar fusion as the primary treatment. We describe a reproducible, minimally invasive surgical technique for primary ORIF with subtalar fusion when the calcaneal tuberosity is amendable to cannulated screw fixation to treat these complex calcaneal fractures. Our technique offers advantages compared to other techniques in that it avoids screw traffic, allows easy bony compression of the subtalar joint, and minimizes soft tissue damage via percutaneous screw fixation. Fourteen fractured calcanei in 12 patients underwent our technique and all achieved bony union with a median time to fusion of 107.5 days (range, 54-530 days). Eight patients returned to work with the remaining 4 patients having an unknown work status at last follow-up, although 2 of these 4 patients resumed normal activities. Only 1 patient experienced a complication, which was an infection after achieving bony union, and was treated with successful hardware removal and our infection protocol. Overall, we conclude our surgical technique offers a successful option in the treatment of DIACFs when the calcaneal tuberosity is amendable to cannulated screw fixation., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: This study aimed to compare reoperation rate and clinical outcomes between revision open reduction and internal fixation and hip arthroplasty following failed subtrochanteric fracture fixation., Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients > 50 years old treated for failed fixation of subtrochanteric fractures with revision ORIF or hip arthroplasty from 2003 to 2023. Primary outcomes included rate of fracture union and reoperations after initial salvage therapy. Secondary outcomes included complications (infection, dislocation, bursitis, implant prominence, implant failure, nonunion), pain, and gait-aid requirements by final follow-up., Results: Forty-four patients were identified: 34 treated with revision ORIF and 10 with hip arthroplasty. The arthroplasty cohort was older (75.4 vs. 66.0 years, p = 0.016) but did not differ from the ORIF cohort in sex, type of initial fixation, or reason for fixation failure. Patients treated with revision ORIF and patients treated with arthroplasty had similar rates of fracture union (85.3% vs. 80.0%, p = 0.772) and reoperation (35.3% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.710). There was no significant difference in rate of additional complications not requiring reoperation (0.0% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.071). The arthroplasty cohort achieved full weightbearing in significantly shorter time than the revision ORIF cohort (3.8 vs. 6.8 weeks, p = 0.005)., Conclusion: Both revision ORIF and hip arthroplasty are acceptable options for salvage of failed subtrochanteric fracture fixation in patients greater than 50 years old, but patients should be counseled that although the rate of fracture union is high whether revision ORIF or hip arthroplasty is selected, the rate of reoperation can exceed 1-in-4 patients., Level of Evidence:  : Level III, Retrospective Comparative Study., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: The dynamic hip screw (DHS) and cannulated compression screws (CCS) have been the two implants most frequently employed for the fixation of femoral neck fractures. The objective of this study is to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes between patients treated with the FNS and those treated with CCS., Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of femoral neck fractures treated with FNS or CCS between May 2019 and June 2022. The study included 144 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Collected data encompassed age, sex, Garden fracture classification, Pauwels classification, duration of surgery, length of hospital stays, Harris Hip Score (HHS), complications, and injured side., Results: The FNS group comprised 70 patients, while the CCS group consisted of 74 patients. The operation time was 43.6 ± 12.09 min for the FNS group and 56.47 ± 22.42 min for the CCS group. At the end of the follow-up, the mean HHS was 87.07 ± 11.77 for the FNS group and 76.20 ± 13.64 for the CCS group. The mean reduction in hemoglobin levels from pre- to post-surgery was 1.05 mg/dl in the FNS group and 0.87 mg/dl in the CCS group. The reintervention rate was 8.1% for the CCS group and 2.85% for the FNS group., Conclusion: The FNS does not demonstrate superiority over CCS regarding femoral neck shortening, complication rate, and reduction in hemoglobin levels. However, FNS does appear superior to CCS in terms HHS, operation time, and reoperation rate., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The present retrospective study aimed to analyze patient characteristics, perioperative complications, and short-term outcomes of surgery for fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP)., Methods: We selected 42 patients who underwent surgery for FFP between October 2019 and October 2022 and could be followed for more than 6 months postoperatively, including one male patient and 41 female patients with an average age of 83.5 (65-96) years. The following demographic data were collected: Rommens classification, surgical method, reoperation rate, implant loosening, perioperative complications, interventional radiology (IVR) indication rate, perioperative blood transfusion indication rate, Parker Mobility Score (PMS) before surgery and at final follow-up, and numerical rating scale (NRS) score before surgery and on day 3 postoperatively., Results: Rommens classification was as follows: type IIa (n = 2), type IIb (n = 13), type IIIa (n = 8), type IIIc (n = 3), type IVb (n = 13), and type IVc (n = 3). For surgical procedure, 35 patients (83.3%) were successfully stabilized with percutaneous screw fixation alone, and 7 patients further required open plate fixation. Implant loosening was observed in 16 patients (38.1%), including minor cases, and implant removal was required in 1 patient. Minor perforation of the screw was observed as an intraoperative complication in 6 patients; there were no patients with neurological symptoms. At the time of injury, IVR was indicated in 3 patients (7.1%) because of hemorrhage. Thirty patients (71.4%) had medical complications at the time of admission. One patient died due to postoperative pneumonia. Mean PMS before injury and at final follow-up were 6.51 points and 5.38 points, respectively. Mean NRS scores before surgery and on day 3 postoperatively were 5.26 and 3.49, respectively, showing a significant improvement (p < 0.01)., Conclusion: We retrospectively reviewed 42 patients who required surgery for FFP. More than 80% of cases could be treated with percutaneous screw fixation, but it is always important to consider hemorrhagic shock at the time of injury and indications for IVR. Implant loosening was observed in 38.1% of patients, including minor cases, and was considered an issue to be improved on in the future, such as by using cement augmentation. A significant improvement in mean NRS score on day 3 postoperatively relative to the mean preoperative score was observed, suggesting that surgery may contribute to early mobilization., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Fractures of the distal tibial epiphysis in children are often accompanied by articular surface disruption. With increased displacement, internal fixation is frequently performed with an epiphyseal screw to close the fracture gap. Despite limited, high-level clinical evidence to support implant removal, epiphyseal screws are commonly removed after fracture healing due to potentially increased contact forces on the tibiotalar joint. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare outcomes and complications in children that underwent surgical treatment of distal tibial epiphyseal fractures with placement of an epiphyseal screw(s) and had the implant(s) retained versus removed at a minimum of 2-year postoperative follow-up., Methods: Children younger than 18 years from two urban tertiary care centers who underwent operative management of distal tibia Salter-Harris III and IV fractures using epiphyseal screws (2013-2020) were divided into two cohorts: retained epiphyseal screws and implant removed. Demographics, intraoperative, postoperative, and radiographic data were collected. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) questionnaires were collected at the final follow-up. Statistical analysis, including power analysis, was performed., Results: Fifty-two children were included (30 males, 22 females) with a mean age of 13.3 years at the time of injury (range, 7.7-16.4 years). Thirty-five children retained the implants; seventeen had implants removed. All completed the FAAM questionnaires at a mean follow-up of 4.4 ± 1.9 years, while 29 completed the SANE questionnaire at a mean follow-up of 4.4 ± 1.7 years. No statistically significant difference in patient demographics, surgical variables, or PROs was observed. Six children experienced complications from the initial surgery, including infections and complex regional pain syndrome, with no difference in complication rates between the cohorts ( P =0.08). Furthermore, no complication was observed as a result of implant removal., Conclusions: Children with retained epiphyseal implants have similar functional outcomes as compared with those who had implants removed after distal tibial epiphyseal fracture fixation and union., Level of Evidence: Level III-Retrospective comparative study., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Medial humeral condyle (MHC) fractures are easily overlooked in young patients. This can lead to delayed or incorrect diagnosis, resulting in delayed treatment, which is often associated with complications such as nonunion, osteonecrosis, fishtail deformity, and cubitus varus. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes in a cohort of paediatric patients who underwent delayed surgery for an untreated MHC fracture., Methods: From January 2017 to December 2022, we conducted a retrospective study of paediatric patients who underwent delayed treatment for a MHC fracture. In all cases, the initial diagnosis was incorrect and surgery was performed at least one week after injury. Patients were divided into two groups based on the time between trauma and surgery: Group 1 consisted of individuals who underwent early delayed treatment within seven to 30 days of injury, while Group 2 consisted of those who underwent late delayed treatment more than one month after injury. Elbow function was assessed using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and range of motion (ROM). The related literature was also reviewed (1970-2023)., Results: We enrolled 12 patients (7 boys, 5 girls); the average age at the time of surgery was 7.7 years (range, 2-14 years). Six patients underwent early delayed treatment (Group 1) while another six underwent late delayed treatment (Group 2). The mean time from injury to surgery was 17.7 days (range, 7-30 days) and 33.3 months (range, 70 days-9 years) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Open reduction and internal fixation were performed via a medial approach in 11 patients, while one patient underwent closing wedge osteotomy and internal fixation to correct cubitus varus deformity. The mean duration of follow-up was 39.4 months (range, 8-60 months). The average MEPS score was 98.3 in Group 1 (range, 95-100) and 94.2 in Group 2 (range, 85-100; P = 0.21). The following postoperative complications were recorded: heterotopic ossification (n = 2), fishtail deformity (n = 1), MHC necrosis (n = 1), and reduction of elbow ROM (n = 1); one complication occurred in Group 1 and five occurred in Group 2 (P = 0.18). We reviewed nine related studies (n = 14 patients)., Conclusions: Diagnosis of MHC fractures can be challenging in paediatric patients, especially in younger individuals with incompletely ossified trochlea. Patients requiring surgery for delayed MHC fractures with an unossified trochlea should undergo ORIF to prevent progressive varus deformity. On the other hand, in patients with cubitus varus and an already ossified trochlea, distal humeral osteotomy should be considered instead of ORIF. This will minimize the potential negative impact on joint mobility., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the breakage of tibio-fibular syndesmotic screws (SS)., Methods: 69 patients with unstable AO-Weber Type 44-B ankle fractures who underwent three cortex SS (3.5 mm ø) fixation were included. Patients were followed for at least one year (mean, 18.3 ± 7.6 months). At the final follow-up, patients with broken (Group I) and intact (Group II) SS were compared regarding age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, fracture type, SS length, location, and orientation. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the independent risk factors associated with SS breakage. The sensitivity, specificity, cut-off value, and area under the ROC curve were analyzed., Results: A stepwise backward logistic regression analysis revealed that age was the only independent predictor for SS breakage (OR = 0.938, 95% CI = 0.904-0.973, R 2  = 0.270). ROC curve analysis demonstrated that patients younger than 36 years were associated with seven times increased risk of SS breakage [Odds ratio (95% CI), 7.042 (2.251-22.031)]., Conclusion: Age under 36 years was the only significant risk factor for SS breakage. The higher incidence of breakage of the syndesmotic screw can be informed to patients younger than 36., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the rates of compartment syndrome and other early complications following outpatient open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of tibial plateau fractures., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort at a single US level I academic trauma centre of patients with tibial plateau fractures managed operatively. Inpatients received their definitive ORIF during their index hospital stay and were admitted post-operatively following ORIF. Outpatients were scheduled for ambulatory surgery during definitive ORIF. Exclusion criteria for outpatient surgery included compartment syndrome, polytrauma, open types IIIb/IIIc, and patients who received any internal fixation during index presentation. The primary outcome measure was post-operative compartment syndrome. Secondary outcomes were return to the 90-day return to the ED, 90-day readmission, surgical wound infection, thromboembolism, and 90-day mortality. An intention-to-treat (ITT) and as-treated (AT) analyses were performed., Results: Totally, 71 inpatients and 47 outpatients were included. There were no cases of post-operative compartment syndrome. In the ITT analysis, there were no differences for inpatients vs outpatients for 90-day re-admission (22.5% vs 12.8%, p = 0.275), 90-day return to the ED (35.2% vs 17.0%, p = 0.052), infection (12.7% vs 2.1%, p = 0.094), DVT (7% vs 4.3%, p = 0.819), or PE 1.4% vs 0.0%, p = 1.000). The AT analysis showed a significantly higher 90-day re-admission (26.9% vs 2.5%, p = 0.003) and 90-day ED visit (38.5% vs 7.5%, p = 0.001) rate in the inpatient group., Conclusions: Appropriately selected patients with isolated tibial plateau fractures can have non-inferior rates of compartment syndrome and post-operative complications when compared to inpatients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: With the current routine use of volar locking plates as the preferred surgical treatment option for distal radius fractures, the purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of postoperative complications following surgery and, second, investigate the correlation between demographic factors and the risk of complications., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who had been surgically treated for a distal radius fracture with open reduction and internal fixation using volar plating and screws during a 3-year period. Relevant demographic information and all postoperative complications of the 822 patients eligible for inclusion were recorded, with a mean follow-up time of 2.8 years., Results: We identified an overall complication rate of 12.3% (101 of the 822 patients), with 4.8% defined as experiencing major complications and 7.5% defined as experiencing minor complications. The most frequent were complications that led to hardware removal, observed in 2.7% (n = 22) of the patients; wound-related problems that did not require surgical revision, observed in 2.2% (n = 18) of the patients; and carpal tunnel syndrome, observed in 1.9% (n = 16) of the patients. Binary logistic regression modeling showed no correlation between demographic factors and the risk of complications., Conclusions: In conclusion, a low overall complication rate of 12.3% was found. Further, 4.8% of the patients experienced a major complication and 7.5% of the patients experienced a minor complication following open reduction and internal fixation using volar plating of distal radius fractures. Age, sex, fracture type, and time from trauma to surgery were not found to be associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Prognostic IV., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association between preoperative chronic steroid use and postoperative complications following open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for proximal humerus fractures (PHF)., Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried for all patients who underwent PHF ORIF between 2015 and 2021. A total of 6,273 patients were included in this study, of which 3.4% (n = 212) were in the chronic steroid use cohort. Patient characteristics including demographics, comorbidities, and 30-day postoperative complications after PHF ORIF were collected. Bivariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for all significantly associated variables, was conducted to investigate the relationship between preoperative chronic steroid use and postoperative complications., Results: Chronic steroid use was significantly associated with age ≥ 75 (p < 0.001), male gender (p =0.006), dependent functional status (p = 0.008), American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) ≥ 3 (p < 0.001), CHF (p = 0.007), hypertension (p < 0.001), COPD (p < 0.001), bleeding disorder (p = 0.007), ascites (p = 0.040), disseminated cancer (p< 0.001), and systemic sepsis (p < 0.001). After adjusting for all significantly associated variables, chronic steroid use was independently associated with major complication (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.06-2.43; p = 0.026), and non-home discharge (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.08; p = 0.014)., Conclusion: Preoperative chronic steroid use is associated with increasing rate of postoperative complications following PHF ORIF. Better understanding and characterizing chronic steroid use as a preoperative risk factor can aid physicians in risk stratification to reduce rates of postoperative complications following PHF ORIF., Level of Evidence: III. Retrospective Cohort Comparison; Prognosis Study., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Periprosthetic femoral fractures (PPFs) around the hip are challenging complications in orthopaedic surgery, particularly Vancouver type B2 (VTB2) fractures. The surgical management of these fractures is crucial and depends on various factors. Cementless short taper stem with plate osteosynthesis is an alternative surgical technique. This study aims to compare the outcomes of this surgical technique with revision arthroplasty (RA) with long stem in the treatment of VTB2 PPFs., Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a single medical institute from February 2010 to May 2019. Patients who had received either total hip arthroplasty or bipolar hemiarthroplasty and subsequently developed a VTB2 PPF were included; patients who sustained intra-operative fractures or received a cemented stem previously were excluded from the analysis. The patients were divided into two groups: group I received RA with cementless long stem, while group II underwent RA with cementless short taper stem with plate osteosynthesis. Demographic data, radiographic and functional outcomes, and complications were analyzed between the two groups., Results: A total of 85 patients diagnosed with VTB2 PPFs were included in the study. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic data, including age, gender, mean follow-up times, estimated blood loss, and operative times. The radiographic results showed that there was no significant difference in the incidence of subsidence and implant stability between the two groups. However, group II tended to have less subsidence and periprosthetic osteolysis. Patients in group II had significantly better functional scores (mean Harris hip score: post-operative: 60.2 in group I and 66.7 in group ii; last follow-up: 77.4 in group 1 and 83.2 in group II (both p < 0.05)). There were no significant differences in the overall complication rate, including infection, dislocation, re-fracture, and revision surgery, between the two groups., Conclusions: Both surgical techniques, cementless long stem and cementless short taper stem with plate osteosynthesis, are effective in the treatment of Vancouver B2 PPFs, with no significant differences in outcomes or complications. However, patients in cementless short taper stem with plate osteosynthesis had better functional scores at both post-operative and the last follow-up., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Prolonged operative duration is an independent risk factor for surgical complications in numerous subspecialties. However, associations between adverse events and operative duration of hip fracture fixation in older adults have not been well-quantified. This study aims to determine if prolonged operative duration of hip fracture surgery is related to adverse outcomes. We hypothesized that patients with high operative durations experience greater rates of 30-day complications., Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was retrospectively reviewed to identify older adults (55 years and above) who underwent hip fracture fixation between 2015-2019. Prolonged operative duration was defined as >75th percentile, and cases were matched using propensity scores based on demographic, surgical, and comorbidity factors. Univariate differences in adverse events (including readmission, reoperation, mortality, and organ-system complications) were analyzed. Multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were completed for statistically significant events., Results: A total of 8827 case-control pairs were identified for comparison. Rates of superficial surgical site infection (SSI) (p= 0.022), any SSI (p= 0.032), and any complication (p < 0.001) were elevated in those with prolonged surgical duration in univariate analyses. In multivariable models, prolonged operative time was associated with superficial SSI (OR 1.50, p= 0.019), any SSI (OR 1.35; p= 0.029) and any complication (OR 1.58; p < 0.001). In subgroup analyses, all findings persisted for IMN with operative time associated with superficial SSI (OR 1.98, p= 0.012), any SSI (OR 1.71; p= 0.019), and any complication (OR 1.84; p < 0.001). Operative time was associated only with any complication for hemiarthroplasty/internal fixation and sliding hip screw (OR 1.27 and 1.89, respectively; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that duration of surgery is an independent risk factor for superficial SSI, any SSI, and any complication. Notably, our findings suggest that high operative durations may be most concerning for SSIs in IMN fixation, which is currently the most common choice for hip fracture fixation in the US. However, the rate of any complication is significantly elevated when surgical duration is prolonged, regardless of surgery type., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to declare for this investigation., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: To determine the short-term complication rates following open reduction and internal fixation of scapula fractures, factors affecting the development of adverse events, and complication rates based on the anatomic location of the fracture., Methods: Thirty-day complication rates for patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of the scapula were compared between glenoid, body, coracoid, and acromion fracture locations, as identified by International Classification of Disease codes. Possible adverse events included postoperative surgical site infection, renal insufficiency, intubation, pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, urinary tract infection, wound dehiscence, stroke, and blood transfusion., Results: A total of 251 scapula fractures were identified, with 161 having known fracture locations: 105 glenoid, 20 body, 9 coracoid, and 27 acromial fractures. The rate of any adverse event for all scapular fractures was 2.0%, with no significant difference between anatomic locations (p = 0.79). The overall rates of transfusion, surgical site infection, and return to OR were 0.4%, 0.8%, and 3.98%. Steroid use associated with a significantly increased risk of any adverse event (OR: 55.57, p = 0.038) and outpatient status demonstrated a protective effect on reoperation (OR: 0.11, p = 0.014). There were no significant differences in the rates between groups [transfusion (p = 0.91); surgical site infection (p = 0.17); reoperation (p = 0.85)]., Conclusion: Complication rates within thirty days of ORIF for scapula fracture were low. Reoperation was the most common complication, followed by surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, stroke, transfusion, and pneumonia. Steroid use was a risk factor for developing any adverse event, and outpatient status was protective against reoperation. The 30-day complication profile of glenoid, body, coracoid, and acromial fractures was not significantly different. The low complication rates support the relative short-term safety of operative intervention with internal fixation., Level of Evidence: Level III., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The optimal treatment of open fractures complicated by soft tissue loss of pediatric tibial fractures remains inconclusive. The author described a protocol of concurrent plate fixation and pedicled flap coverage and retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of such injuries., Methods: A total of 25 pediatric cases with Gustilo lllB open tibial fracture were treated by single-stage plate fixation and pedicled flap reconstruction. The reviewed information consisted of time to fix and flap, type of plate, type of pedicled flap, fracture union time, postoperative complication and the clinical outcomes by objective scoring system., Results: Fix and flap was undergone between 7 and 12 days after injury with the average time of 8.2 days. Regarding the type of plate, narrow LCP was applied in 8, 3.5 mm precontoured LCP in 10, 5.0 mm precontoured in 2 and double LCP in 5. According to soft tissue reconstruction, the medial gastrocnemius flap was selected in 6 cases, myocutaneous medial gastrocnemius flap in 2, soleus flap in 3, hemisoleus flap in 5, reverse sural flap in 6 and combined medial gastrocnemius and hemisoleus flaps in 3. No flap-related complication was demonstrated. All cases established fracture union in between 12 and 24 weeks with an average time to union of 17.7 weeks. According to postoperative complications, infected plate occurred in 2 cases and implant irritation in 5. According to Puno functional score, excellent results were presented in 7 cases and good results in 18 cases., Conclusion: Single-stage plate fixation and pedicled flap coverage are a reliable regimen for pediatric open fractures complicated by soft tissue loss of the tibia., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: To investigate patient and radiographic factors that may correlate with the time to flexor tendon rupture following volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures., Methods: A total of 31 patients who underwent volar plate removal because of flexor tendon rupture were analyzed. Patient demographics and the interval from operative fixation until rupture were determined retrospectively. Volar tilt and lateral carpal alignment were measured radiographically. The Soong classification was used to grade volar plate prominence. The correlation between the duration to tendon rupture and volar tilt, carpal alignment, and age was evaluated., Results: There were 7 men and 24 women. Mean age at the time of hardware removal and flexor tendon management was 66 years (n = 31). Radiographs were classified as Soong 1 (n = 24) and Soong 2 (n = 3). The mean measured volar tilt was -4° (range, -20°-+7°). The mean interval from operative fixation until complete tendon rupture was 4.9 years, (range, 0.3-13.1 years; n = 30). There was no correlation between the time interval to rupture and the magnitude of tilt, carpal alignment, or age at the time of operative fixation., Conclusions: Although volar plate prominence was present in all patients with flexor tendon ruptures, radiographic parameters including the degree of dorsal tilt, lateral carpal alignment, and patient age did not correlate with the time interval from fixation to tendon rupture., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Prognostic IV., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Periprosthetic fracture following knee arthroplasty is a rare but devastating complication associated with significant morbidity. With unicompartmental knee arthroplasty being performed far less frequently than total knee arthroplasty, periprosthetic fracture following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty presents a particular challenge to orthopaedic surgeons, due to clinical unfamiliarity and sparsity of literature. An up-to-date review of the epidemiology, risk factors, and management strategies for PPF after UKA is presented., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they do not have any competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: A high incidence of ulnar nerve-related complications has been reported in open reduction and internal fixation for distal humerus fractures (DHFs). To minimise ulnar nerve damage, we used a percutaneous medial screw combined with a posterolateral plate in the elderly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative complications and functional outcomes of this method. Methods: Data from patients aged over 65 who underwent this surgical procedure for DHFs at a single Level I trauma centre from 2013 to 2021 were extracted. Postoperative complications, reoperations, mean range of motion, Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) scores and Hand20 scores were retrospectively evaluated. All patients in this study received postoperative rehabilitation by hand therapists at our hospital. Results: We identified 28 patients treated with this method. The mean follow-up period was 8.6 ± 3.7 months. The median intraoperative time was 125 minutes (interquartile range: 105-157 minutes). None of the patients developed ulnar nerve neuropathy, but one patient (3.7%) experienced radial nerve dysfunction. Two patients (7.4%) had nonunion. Implant failure occurred in three patients (11.1%) due to migration of the medial screw. One patient (3.7%) amongst them underwent reoperation. The mean flexion to extension arc was 97 ± 18°, 116 ± 19°, and 116 ± 19° at 1-, 3- and 6-month follow-ups, respectively. According to the MEPI, 20 patients achieved excellent results, seven patients achieved good results and one patient achieved a fair result at the last follow-up. The median Hand20 score was 4.3 (interquartile range: 2.1-14.0) at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: The posterolateral plate and medial screw method showed good functional outcomes and few nerve-related complications. This modified method might be a better option for DHFs in elderly patients. Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic).

Hip fracture is a common injury in older adults; however, the optimal timing of surgical treatment remains undetermined in Japan. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to ascertain the rate of early surgery among hip fracture patients and investigate its effectiveness, along with "regional clinical pathways" (patient plan of care devised by Japanese clinicians), in reducing the length of hospital stay (LOS) postoperatively. We hypothesized that performing early surgery along with a regional clinical pathway is effective to reduce the postoperative LOS and complications among hip fracture patients. We examined the data of patients diagnosed with femoral neck and peritrochanteric fractures retrieved from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database between April 2016 and March 2018. Patients were divided into the early (43,928, 34%; surgery within 2 days of admission) and delayed (84,237, 66%; surgery after 2 days of admission) surgery groups. The difference in postoperative LOS between the two groups was 3 days (early vs. delayed: 29 days vs. 32 days). The early surgery group had more cases of intertrochanteric fractures (57% vs. 43%) and internal fixation (74% vs. 55%) than did the delayed surgery group. In contrast, the delayed surgery group had more cases of femoral neck fractures (43% vs. 57%) and bipolar hip arthroplasty (25% vs. 42%) or total hip arthroplasty (1.2% vs. 3.0%). Moreover, the early surgery group showed a lower incidence of complications, except anemia (12% vs. 8.8%). Logistic regression analysis using the adjusted model revealed that early surgery and implementation of regional clinical pathways reduced LOS by 2.58 and 8.06 days, respectively (p<0.001). Early surgery and implementation of regional clinical pathways for hip fracture patients are effective in reducing postoperative LOS, allowing regional clinical pathways to have a greater impact. These findings will help acute care providers when treating hip fracture patients., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Nishimura et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: The incidence of fragility fractures of the pelvis is rising. Whereas the treatment for FFP type I, III, and IV is clear, the optimal treatment for FFP type II remains a topic of discussion. Traditionally these fractures have been treated conservatively. However, there is a shift toward early surgical stabilization with percutaneous screw fixation to reduce pain and promote mobility in an already frail patient population. High-quality evidence, however, is lacking. Therefore, a randomized clinical trial was designed to compare conservative management to early percutaneous screw fixation in patients with type II fragility fractures., Methods: This is a monocenter randomized controlled trial. All patients with a FFP type II are screened for inclusion. After obtaining informed consent, patients are randomized between conservative management and surgical stabilization. Conservative management consists of early mobilization under guidance of physiotherapy and analgesics. Patients randomized for surgical treatment are operated on within 72 h using percutaneous screw fixation. The primary endpoint is mobility measured by the DEMMI score. Secondary endpoints are other dimensions of mobility, pain levels, quality of life, mortality, and morbidity. The total follow-up is 1 year. The required sample size is 68., Discussion: The present study aims to give certainty on the potential benefit of surgical treatment. Current literature on this topic remains unclear. According to the volume of FFP at the study hospital, we assume that the number of patients needed for this study is gathered within 2 years., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04744350. Registered on February 8, 2021., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: To compare the iatrogenic radial nerve injury (iRNI) rate of different implant (plate vs. intramedullary nail) and surgical approaches during humeral shaft fracture surgery., Methods: The online PubMed database was used to search for articles describing iRNI after humeral fracture with a publication date from Jan 2000 to October 2023. The following types of articles were selected: (1) case series associating with adult humeral shaft fracture, preoperative radial nerve continuity, non-pathological fracture and non-periprosthetic fracture; (2) involving humeral shaft (OTA/AO 12) fractures. Articles where we were unable to judge surgical approach or fracture pattern (OTA/AO 12) were excluded. The data were analyzed by SPSS 27.0 and Chi-square test was performed to identify incidence of iRNI associated with different implant and surgical approaches., Results: Fifty-four articles with 5063 cases were included, with 3510 cases of the plate, 830 cases of intramedullary nail and 723 cases of uncertain internal fixation. The incidences of iRNI with plate and intramedullary nail were 5.95% (209/3510) and 2.77% (23/830) (p < 0.05). And iRNI incidences of different surgical approaches were 3.7% (3/82) for deltopectoral approach, 5.74% (76/1323) for anterolateral approach, 13.54% (26/192) for lateral approach and 6.68% (50/749) for posterior approach. The iRNI rates were 0.00% (0/33) for anteromedial MIPO, 2.67% (10/374) for anterolateral MIPO and 5.40% (2/37) for posterior MIPO (p > 0.05). The iRNI rates were 2.87% (21/732) for anterograde intramedullary nail and 2.04% (2/98) for retrograde intramedullary nail (p > 0.05). In humeral bone nonunion surgery, the rate of iRNI was 15.00% (9/60) for anterolateral approach, 16.7% (2/12) for lateral approach and 18.2% (6/33) for posterior approach (p  > 0.05)., Conclusion: Intramedullary nailing is the preferred method of internal fixation for humeral shaft fractures that has the lowest rate of iRNI. Compared with anterolateral and posterior approaches, the lateral surgical approach had a higher incidence of iRNI. The rate of iRNI in MIPO was lower than that in open reduction and internal fixation., Level of Evidence: Level IV., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Checkrein deformity of the hallux is commonly characterized by rigid flexion of the interphalangeal joint in ankle dorsiflexion but with flexibility in ankle plantarflexion which can be named as flexion checkrein deformity and as rare condition, extension checkrein deformity, characterized by rigid extension of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in ankle plantarflexion and flexibility in ankle dorsiflexion, has been reported. However, there has not reported coexistence of flexion and extension checkrein deformity. The patient, a 27-year-old male, was referred to our department 3 years after tibial and fibular fractures which was treated by open reduction and internal fixation at a previous hospital. His chief complaint was pain and impaired plantarflexion of the affected great toe. The diagnosis was double checkrein deformity characterized by simultaneous rigidity in both flexion and extension of the hallux due to the adhesion of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) muscle and the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon after a fracture. Surgical intervention was performed, which involved the transection of the FHL tendon using hindfoot endoscopy and transfer of the EHL to the extensor digitorum longus, resulting in a successful outcome with no postoperative complications. The patient demonstrated a favorable prognosis 2 years after the procedure. This report represents the first documented case of double checkrein deformity and underscores the importance of considering this condition and the potential advantages of surgical intervention.

Purpose: Few studies have focused on the risk factors leading to postoperative blood transfusion after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) in the elderly. Therefore, we designed this study to explore potential risk factors of blood transfusion after ORIF for PHFs. We have also established a nomogram model to integrate and quantify our research results and give feedback., Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of elderly PHF patients undergoing ORIF from January 2020 to December 2021. We have established a multivariate regression model and nomograph. The prediction performance and consistency of the model were evaluated by the consistency coefficient and calibration curve, respectively., Results: 162 patients met our inclusion criteria and were included in the final study. The following factors are related to the increased risk of transfusion after ORIF: time to surgery, fibrinogen levels, intraoperative blood loss, and surgical duration., Conclusions: Our patient-specific transfusion risk calculator uses a robust multivariable model to predict transfusion risk.The resulting nomogram can be used as a screening tool to identify patients with high transfusion risk and provide necessary interventions for these patients (such as preoperative red blood cell mobilization, intraoperative autologous blood transfusion, etc.)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Ankle fracture is a common injury and often requires operative treatment. This study investigated short-term (≤4 months) and long-term (>4 months) complications after ankle fracture surgery in a 23-year period with use of data from a comprehensive, nationwide, individual-level register., Methods: Data regarding patients who underwent operative treatment for ankle fracture were collected from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care and analyzed with use of logistic and Cox regression., Results: A total of 83,666 ankle fractures were operatively treated between 1998 and 2020. Of these, 36% were lateral malleolar fractures, 7% were medial malleolar fractures, 52% were bimalleolar or trimalleolar fractures, and 5% were other types of fractures. Fifty-one percent of the fractures were in female patients. The overall rate of short-term complications was 7.2%. Specifically, infection occurred in 4.4% of cases; thromboembolic complications,1.6% of cases; mechanical complications, 0.4% of cases; and other complications, 0.9% of cases. An age of >75 years was associated with a higher rate of short-term complications than an age of 51 to 75 years, with an odds ratio of 1.53 in the multivariable analysis (95% confidence interval, 1.39 to 1.67; p < 0.001). Short-term complications were also more prevalent in patients with diabetes (with or without associated complications); chronic pulmonary, kidney, or liver disease; or peripheral vascular disease. Mortality during the first 4 months after the ankle fracture operation was 0.6%. The most common reason for reoperation in the long term (>4 months after the index procedure) was fixation device removal, with a cumulative incidence of 17% within the first 3 years postoperatively. The risk of implant removal increased in younger patients and patients with bimalleolar or trimalleolar fractures. The cumulative incidence of ankle arthrodesis and arthroplasty was low., Conclusions: Although postoperative complications are relatively rare, their treatment can lead to considerable morbidity. The findings of this study allow us to identify patients who are prone to complications or reoperations after undergoing operative treatment for ankle fracture., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: Disclosure: There was no external funding for this study. The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article ( http://links.lww.com/JBJS/H988 )., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Rotational malleolar fractures result in a high prevalence of intra-articular pathologies; therefore, routine arthroscopic assessment may be beneficial in the surgical treatment of ankle fractures. However, the clinical studies regarding the effectiveness of arthroscopy thus far have mixed results. We investigated the efficacy of concurrent arthroscopy during the treatment of malleolar fractures using a large U.S. healthcare data set. Those who had arthroscopy were compared with those who did not, during the surgical treatment of malleolar fractures, while adjusting for covariates of clinical relevance. The analysis showed that concurrent arthroscopy is protective against postoperative repeat surgery (OR = 0.13, 95CI = 0.02-0.41) and wound dehiscence (OR = 0.18, 95CI = 0.03-0.56). The number of added arthroscopy cases needed to avoid one repeat surgery was 74, while that of wound dehiscence was 52. Further studies are needed to determine if routine use of arthroscopy is justifiable in the surgical treatment of malleolar fractures, given the additional costs and time to the healthcare system., (Copyright © 2024 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective:  The aim of this study was to report postoperative complications and long-term outcomes following transcondylar screw placement for humeral intracondylar fissure (HIF)., Study Design:  It was a retrospective single-centre case series. Medical records (2018-2022) were reviewed for dogs with HIF treated with transcondylar screw placement. Data collected included signalment, concurrent orthopaedic disease, partial or complete HIF, surgeon, surgical approach, surgical technique and implant type, transcondylar screw angulation, postoperative complications and outcomes. Long-term outcome was assessed with owner questionnaire, orthopaedic examination and follow-up radiography. Statistical analysis was performed to identify risk factors predisposing to a complication or a poor outcome., Results:  Forty-seven dogs (57 elbows) met the inclusion criteria; long-term follow-up was available in 41 dogs (50 elbows). Minor and major medical complications were noted in seven and three elbows respectively. The total complication rate was 17.5%. Increasing age was significantly associated with a reduced risk of postoperative complications ( p  = 0.0051). No other risk factors were identified. A postoperative complication was not associated with a less than full outcome ( p  = 0.5698)., Conclusion:  Transcondylar screw placement for HIF is associated with a low complication rate and good outcome., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Femoral neck fractures are common in individuals over 65, necessitating quick mobilization for the best outcomes. There's ongoing debate about the optimal femoral component fixation method in total hip arthroplasty (THA) for these fractures. Recent U.S. data shows a preference for cementless techniques in over 93% of primary THAs. Nonetheless, cemented fixation might offer advantages like fewer revisions, reduced periprosthetic fractures, lesser thigh pain, and enhanced long-term implant survival for those above 65. This study compares cementless and cemented fixation methods in THA, focusing on postoperative complications in patients aged 65 and older., Methods: We analyzed a national database to identify patients aged 65+ who underwent primary THA for femoral neck fractures between 2016 and 2021, using either cementless (n = 2,842) or cemented (n = 1,124) techniques. A 1:1 propensity-matched analysis was conducted to balance variables such as age, sex, and comorbidities, resulting in two equally sized groups (n = 1,124 each). We evaluated outcomes like infection, venous thromboembolism (VTE), wound issues, dislocation, periprosthetic fracture, etc., at 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years post-surgery. A P-value < 05 indicated statistical significance., Results: The cemented group initially consisted of older individuals, more females, and higher comorbidity rates. Both groups had similar infection and wound complication rates, and aseptic loosening. The cemented group, however, had lower periprosthetic fracture rates (2.5 versus 4.4%, P = .02) and higher VTE rates (2.9 versus 1.2%, P = .01) at 90 days. After 1 and 2 years, the cementless group experienced more aseptic revision surgeries., Conclusions: This study, using a large, national database and propensity-matched cohorts, indicates that cemented femoral component fixation in THA leads to fewer periprosthetic fractures and aseptic revisions, but a higher VTE risk. Fixation type choice should consider various factors, including age, sex, comorbidities, bone quality, and surgical expertise. This data can inform surgeons in their decision-making process., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Treatment of calcaneal fractures in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is challenging. The purpose of this study was to compare post-operative outcomes after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for calcaneus fracture in patients with complicated DM, uncomplicated DM, and patients without DM. A commercially available de-identified database was queried for all calcaneus fracture diagnoses undergoing ORIF from 2010 to 2021. The patients were separated into three groups for analysis: patients without DM (10,951, 82.6%), uncomplicated DM (1,500, 11.3%) and complicated DM (802, 6.1%). At 1 year, post-operative adverse events were assessed among the three groups. The odds of adverse event(s) for each group were compared between the three groups with and without characteristic matching. In the unmatched cohorts, patients with complicated DM, when compared with patients without DM and patients with uncomplicated DM, had significantly higher rates of all adverse events with exception of DVT. Rates of CNA were significantly higher in patients with complicated DM compared with no DM (OR 107.7 (CI 24.83-467.6) p < 0.0001) and uncomplicated DM (OR 44.26 (CI 3.86-507.93) p = 0.0002). After matching, non-union, AKI, sepsis, surgical site infection, and wound disruption were higher in patients with complicated DM compared with patients without DM. There were no significant differences in the three groups with regard to reoperation, DVT, MI, pneumonia, or below the knee amputation. Patients with DM who underwent ORIF for calcaneus fracture experienced higher rates of post-operative adverse events compared with those patients without DM., (© 2024 The Authors. Wound Repair and Regeneration published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wound Healing Society.)

Purpose: With this prospective randomized control trial (RCT), we aim to provide the outcome analyses of the three most used treatment modalities for distal end of radius (DER) fracture management in the elderly., Methods: A prospective randomized control trial was performed. Fifty-two patients with DER fractures (AO A2, A3, C1, or C2) were randomized to the casting (n = 17), percutaneous pinning (n = 18), and the volar plating group (n = 17). Radiological measurements measured were radial inclination (RI), radial height (RH), volar tilt (VT), and ulnar variance (UV). The outcome was measured based on range-of-motion, grip strength, Patient-Related-Wrist-Evaluation (PRWE) score, and the Quick-Disabilities-of-the-Arm-Shoulder-Hand (QDASH) score., Results: Immediate post-operative and 1-year-follow-up X-rays showed a significant difference measurement between the groups (p < 0.05). Pairwise comparisons of the casting and pinning groups (p < 0.05) and the casting and plating groups (p < 0.05) revealed significant differences at the 1-year follow-up, but not the pinning and plating groups (p > 0.05). The analysis found significant differences in clinical outcomes after 1 month of follow-up, with the plating group outperforming the other two (p > 0.05). However, after a year of follow-up, all groups had comparable outcomes; however, the plating group showed improved palmar flexion (p < 0.001), radial deviation (p < 0.001), and a lower PRWE score (p < 0.05), indicating better wrist function. Complications were more in casting group., Conclusion: The study found a radiologically significant difference between groups throughout the follow-up, but it did not affect functional results. Clinical outcomes were similar across the groups, with plating showing better palmar flexion and radial deviation. Grip strength was also better in the plating group, but statistically insignificant. The study suggests plating should be chosen over other treatments for high-demand patients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of the minimally invasive locking plate technique (Philos plate) and interlocking intramedullary nailing technique (TRIGEN intramedullary nail) in the treatment of Neer two-part and three-part proximal humeral fractures., Methods and Materials: The clinical data of 60 patients with Neer two-part and three-part proximal humerus fractures admitted to the hospital from April 2017 to April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-two patients were treated with the minimally invasive locking plate technique (minimally invasive plate group), and 28 patients were treated with the interlocking intramedullary nailing technique (intramedullary nail group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, fracture healing time, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. The ASES score and Constant-Murley score were used to evaluate the shoulder joint function of the two groups one year after surgery., Results: All 60 patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months, with an average of 16 months. There was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, or fracture healing time between the two groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the intramedullary nail group was significantly lower than that in the minimally invasive steel plate group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the ASES score or Constant-Murley score between the two groups one year after surgery (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: The use of the minimally invasive locking plate technique and interlocking intramedullary nailing technique in the treatment of Neer two-part and three-part proximal humerus fractures has the advantages of a small incision, less blood loss, and a high fracture healing rate, and both can achieve satisfactory clinical effects. The internal nail technique is more convenient than the minimally invasive locking plate technique in controlling postoperative complications., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)