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Abdulkadir Aydın,1 Ramazan Atiç2 1Prosthetics and Orthotics Department, Dicle University Medical School, Diyarbakir, Turkey; 2Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Dicle University Medical School, Diyarbakır, Turkey Background: Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) and wrist-extensor splints (WESs) are two commonly used methods in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. In this study, the efficacy of these two methods was compared. Methods: The study was planned as a prospective randomized controlled study. A total of 67 patients were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 received ESWT (32 patients) and group 2 received WES (35 patients). Patients in group 1 underwent four sessions of ESWT once every week. In each session, an ESWT device at 10–12 Hz, 2,000 pulses, and 1.6–1.8 bar pressure was used. Patients in group 2 used a wrist splint, holding the wrist at 30°–45° extension for 4 weeks. Patients were assessed for handgrip strength, pain at rest, pain while working, and quality of life. Data were collected before and after treatment (at weeks 4, 12, and 24). A visual analog scale was used to evaluate pain at rest and while working, a hand dynamometer for handgrip strength, subscales of the SF36 Health Survey to evaluate quality of life, and the Turkish version of the patient-rated tennis-elbow evaluation was used to evaluate functioning of the affected arm during various daily life activities. Results: In both ESWT and WES groups, although there were considerably significant improvements (P0.05). Conclusion: Both ESWT and WES applications were found to yield significantly superior results when compared to pretreatment values. In comparison of the two groups, on the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference. Keywords: Lateral epicondylitis, elbow pain, shockwave therapy, orthosis, quality of life

OBJECTIVE: Floating elbow, which refers to a humerus fracture in the supracondylar region and a forearm fracture, is a very unusual injury. The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical results of patients with "floating elbows" who underwent surgical therapy and who were given forearm immobilization with a splint as follow-up care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients who had been diagnosed with floating elbow owing to trauma were scanned retrospectively and followed up for at least a year. Eight individuals who suffered from broken forearms underwent surgical repair. After initial treatment, a lengthy arm splint was used to immobilize seven patients' arms. The modified Flynn criteria were used to analyze the data, and comparisons were made between the groups. RESULTS: The median age and mean follow-up time for patients whose forearms were conservatively followed was 6.1 years and 13.8 months, respectively. The median age of the patients who underwent forearm surgery was 8.5 years, and the average follow-up was 14.2 months. Five of the seven patients whose forearms underwent conservative follow-up had outstanding clinical outcomes, while two had poor and moderate outcomes. Four individuals who got surgical treatment for their forearms had excellent and good clinical outcomes, while the other four had intermediate and poor outcomes. Between the two groups, there was no discernible difference (p = 0.60). CONCLUSIONS: In the pediatric population with floating elbow injuries, using a cast for forearm fractures may not necessarily result in worse outcomes compared to surgical management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:  We compare the radiologic and clinical results between the short-segment fixation and the long-segment fixation in the thoracolumbar junction distraction fractures., Methods:  We retrospectively reviewed the prospectively recorded data of patients who underwent posterior approach and pedicle fixation treatment for thoracolumbar distraction fracture (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association AO/OTA 5-B) with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. A total of 31 patients were operated on; they were divided into two groups: (1) patients treated with short-level fixation (SLF; one level above and below the fracture level) and (2) patients treated with long-level fixation (LLF; two levels above and below the fracture level). The clinical outcomes were evaluated with the neurologic status, operation time, and time to surgery. The functional outcomes were evaluated with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS) at the final follow-up. Radiologic outcomes were measured with the local kyphosis angle, anterior body height, posterior body height, and sagittal index of the fractured vertebra., Results:  SLF was performed in 15 patients and LLF was performed in 16 patients. The average follow-up period was 30.13 ± 11.3 months for the SLF group and 35.3 ± 17.2 months for group 2 ( p  = 0.329). The two groups were similar in regard to age, gender, follow-up period, fracture level, fracture type, and pre- and postoperative neurologic status. The operating time was significantly shorter in the SLF group than in the LLF group. There were no significant differences between the groups in all radiologic parameters, ODI score, and VAS., Conclusion:  SLF was associated with a shorter operation time and allowed the preservation of two or more segments of vertebral motion., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine whether synthetic grafts are a satisfactory treatment option for pathological proximal femoral fractures in children., Methods: Paediatric patients treated for pathological fractures of the proximal femur between 2013 and 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. 17 patients with a mean age of 10.7 years (range 6-16 years) were assessed. The definitive histopathological diagnoses were SBC (simple bone cyst) (12) and ABC (aneurysmal bone cyst) (5). The median duration of follow-up was 37 months (range 12-70 months)., Results: All patients returned to their normal daily routine within 3-8 months following surgery. The mean post-op recovery time was 3.2 months (range 3-6 months). Graft was incorporated at approximately 12 months. No significant radiographic healing was observed in 2 patients. In the remaining 15 patients, the mean duration of healing was 14 months (range 8-24 months)., Conclusion: Synthetic grafts are a satisfactory treatment option for pathological proximal femoral fractures in children., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

BACKGROUND Suicide attempts that involve jumping from a great height may not be fatal but can result in lumbosacral facture-dislocations. This retrospective study aimed to present the experience from a single center in Turkey of 21 patients with lumbosacral facture-dislocations, or suicidal jumper fractures, treated with lumbosacral fixation between 2015 and 2022. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 21 patients. The diagnosis was established through X-ray and computed tomography (CT) examinations. Neurological damage was assessed using the Gibbons score. Among the patients, 2 were classified as Roy-Camille type 1, 12 as Roy-Camille type 2, and 7 as Roy-Camille type 3. Morphologically, 8 patients had H-type fractures, 7 had T-type fractures, and 6 had U-type fractures. Bilateral spinopelvic fixation was performed. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the Majeed score. RESULTS The average Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 31.6±12.2. The mean duration of surgery was 123.6±44.9 minutes. According to the Majeed score, excellent results were observed in 8 individuals (40%), good results in 5 individuals (25%), fair results in 5 individuals (25%), and poor results in 2 individuals (10%). Out of 18 patients with neurological deficits, 14 showed improvement after surgery, while 4 continued to experience deficits. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study highlight the importance of obtaining a clear history of the cause of lumbosacral facture-dislocation, as attempted suicide by jumping from a height can cause specific types of injury to the lumbar spine and sacrum that require rapid diagnosis and management to reduce the incidence of permanent paraplegia.

BACKGROUND Non-union of distal tibia fractures is a challenge in orthopedic surgery and can be due to open fractures, osteopenia, infection, or failure of surgical devices. This retrospective study aimed to describe 8 patients with non-union of distal tibial fractures treated with distal tibial nail and screw fixation. MATERIAL AND METHODS According to the Gustilo-Anderson classification, 3 patients had type 2 open fractures, 1 had a type 3 open fracture, 1 had a type 1 open fracture, and 3 had closed fractures. The Association of Osteosynthesis AO classified 4 patients as A2, 2 as B2, and 2 as C2. Seven patients received distal supporting bolt-locking-screw nails (DSBLS) and 1 received DSBLS nail and plate in their most recent operation. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and Olerud-Molander scores. RESULTS All 8 patients were male, with a mean age of 35.5±14.6 years. Six patients had atrophic non-union, 1 had hypertrophic non-union, and 1 had infected non-union. Union was achieved in all patients. The average union time was 25.1 (range, 12-60) months, and the follow-up duration was 3.6 (range, 2-6) years. The mean Olerud-Molander score was 92.5 (range 85-100), and the mean AOFAS score was 91.2 (range, 85-100). There was no evidence of rotational deformity or shortening. CONCLUSIONS Distal tibial non-unions benefit from nails with DSBLS system due to their excellent biomechanical properties. These nails facilitate union and allow patients to bear weight early in the postoperative period, enabling a quicker return to normal activities.

BACKGROUND This retrospective study aims to compare the efficacy of computed tomography-guided percutaneous excision and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of osteoid osteoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS We evaluated 40 patients with osteoid osteoma who underwent either percutaneous excision or radiofrequency ablation between 2012 and 2015. The cohort consisted of 10 female and 30 male patients, with a mean age of 15.1 years (range: 4-27 years) and a mean follow-up time of 19.02 months (range: 11-39 months). Percutaneous excision was performed in 20 patients, while radiofrequency ablation was performed in the remaining 20 patients. RESULTS The success rates of percutaneous excision and radiofrequency ablation were comparable, with unsuccessful outcomes observed in 10% and 5% of patients, respectively. The reasons for failure in the percutaneous excision group were attributed to a marking error and incomplete excision of the wide-based nidus. Complications were limited to pathological fracture (n=1) and deep infection (n=1) in the percutaneous excision group, while no complications were encountered in the radiofrequency ablation group. CONCLUSIONS Both percutaneous excision and radiofrequency ablation demonstrate high success rates in treating osteoid osteoma. However, radiofrequency ablation offers the advantage of a quicker return to daily activities without the need for activity restrictions or splints. While being a more cost-effective option, percutaneous excision should be considered cautiously to minimize potential complications.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is thought that healthcare workers are most exposed to musculoskeletal disorders. However, there are limited studies in the literature examining the musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic., Objective: The aim of this study was to examine musculoskeletal problems and psychological disorders in healthcare personnel working at Dicle University Faculty of Medicine and Research Hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic and to come up with solutions for rehabilitation., Methods: The Cornell Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire (CMDQ) was used to assess musculoskeletal problems in the past week. Additionally, Beck depression inventory (BDI) was used to evaluate the psychological state of the participants. Questions on demographic characteristics, habits, the presence and localisation of musculoskeletal system (MSS) diseases, severity and duration of pain, chronic diseases, trauma history and working conditions were included in the questionnaire prepared by the researchers., Results: The study included 74 nurses, 42 residents, 26 specialists, 24 technicians, 16 dentists, 12 physiotherapists, and 26 other allied health personnel. Dentists had the highest total CMDQ score (160.73) whereas resident doctors had the lowest total CMDQ score (98.33). Low back, neck and back pain were the most common MSS problems. BDI was highest in nurses and 70.27% of the nurses were women. The total workplace ergonomics score was found to be 25.91%, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was highest in nurses (6.72)., Conclusions: While MSS pain is concentrated on the waist, neck and back regions in all healthcare workers. We concluded that the uncertainty associated with the pandemic, delay in preventive measures such as vaccination and medication, rapid and strong transmission of the disease and increasing number of deaths have led to an increase in stress, depression and burnout among healthcare workers.

Introduction and Objective: Ankle injuries are the most common musculoskeletal injuries. Its incidence is also high among sports injuries. Direct X-ray, ultrasound and MRI can be requested after the history and physical examination in the patient who presents with ankle ligament injury. Some classifications are used for requesting direct X-ray after ankle injury. Since clear limits are not specified in the literature for MRI, the rate of unnecessary MRI examinations is high. We argue that the decision can be made according to the AOFAS score to be checked before MR is requested, and thus unnecessary MR requests can be reduced., Material and Method: Ankle MRI images of patients who underwent ankle MRI due to ankle trauma between January 2018 and December 2020 were scanned. 328 patients who met the criteria were included in the study. Patients with AOFAS scores in their outpatient clinic records were identified. AOFAS scores of patients with at least one ligament injury and those with normal MR images were statistically compared. Sensitivity and specificity were determined for the AOFAS score using ROC analysis., Results: Patients with ligament damage as a result of MRI examination were 21.3% (n=70), and patients without any ligament damage were 78.7% (n=258). There was a statistically significant difference in terms of AOFAS between the group with ligament damage and the group without ligament damage (p< 0.05). In the ROC analysis, the AOFAS threshold value for MR request was determined as 80.5 (84.3% sensitivity and 72.3% specificity). Based on the determined threshold value, 73 patients who had unnecessary MRI would have been eliminated, thus reducing the number of MRIs by 42.6%., Conclusion: The AOFAS scores of patients with ligament damage were statistically significantly lower than those of patients without ligament pathology. Unnecessary MRI can be significantly prevented by using the AOFAS score in ankle traumas without bone fractures.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare clinical and demographic characteristics, functional status and quality of life among patients who underwent amputation for the most common reason in our region., Methods: Demographic data, level of and reasons for undergoing amputation and clinical data on the use of prostheses in 126 patients were recorded. The amputees were divided into three groups: vascular, trauma and landmine. Variables related to clinical and demographic characteristics, daily life activities and quality of life were investigated. Duration of prosthesis use, daily walking distance with prosthesis, 10-m walking speed with the prosthesis and 6-min walking distance of the amputees were recorded. The Short Form-36, Turkish version of the Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales and Beck Depression Inventory were used to evaluate the patients' quality of life. The residual limb pain scale was used to evaluate the severity of pain., Results: Comparison between the amputees in the trauma and vascular groups showed highly significant results (P< 0.001) in amputees in the trauma group with respect to all parameters of daily life activities, functional status and quality of life. Comparison between the vascular and landmine amputees showed significant results (P< 0.001) in the landmine amputees with respect to all parameters except emotional role functioning, social functioning and mental health. Comparison between the amputees in the trauma and landmine groups showed no significant results (P> 0.05) with respect to all parameters expect emotional role functioning and mental health., Conclusions: While the clinical and demographic characteristics, functional status and quality of life parameters were similar in the amputees in the trauma and landmine groups, they showed statistically significant differences in almost all parameters compared with those in vascular amputees.

Background: The treatment of open fractures leads to major problems which may be due to various reasons. It mainly causes soft tissue problems due to the absorption of a large amount of energy by the soft tissues and bone tissues. Although some recent treatment protocols have eliminated many problems regarding delayed soft tissue closure, it still remains a big challange. This study uses a method called the internal fixator technique with noncontact locking plate (NC-LP) which involves the use of a combination of advantages of open and closed fixation techniques., Materials and Methods: 42 patients (32 men and 10 women) having a mean age of 34.11 years (range 17-56 years) with open fractures operated using internal fixator technique between 2007 and 2012 were included in this study. A retrospective chart review was conducted to record the following: age, gender, anatomic region of fractures, fracture etiology, classification of open fractures by Gustilo-Anderson and AO classification, surgeries, length of hospitalization, location and pattern of fracture, length of followup, and complications., Results: The fractures were caused by traffic accidents, shotgun injuries, falls from heights, and industrial crush injuries. Based on the Gustilo-Anderson classification, 31 fractures were Type III and 11 were Type II, where 23 were localized in the tibia and 19 in the femur. Patients delay for a mean of 13.5 h (range 6-24 h) for operation and the mean followup interval was 27.8 months (range 16-44 months). The mean union time was 19.7 weeks (range 16-29 weeks). One patient had delayed union and implant failure, one patient had osteomyelitis, five suffered from surface skin necrosis, and one patient had an angulation of 17° in the sagittal plane, for which no additional intervention was performed., Conclusions: This case series demonstrates that an "internal fixator technique" is an acceptable alternative to the management of open fractures of the femur or tibia in adult patients. The NC-LP method provided opportunities to achieve a stable fixation with noncontact between the implant and the bone tissues, and the fractures were sufficiently stabilized to allow union with a low complication rate., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: There is no consensus on the materials and the techniques to use in fixing pathologic fractures secondary to osteomyelitis. This study reports the results of the fixation of pathologic fractures secondary to osteomyelitis using the "internal fixator technique.", Methods: The internal fixator technique was performed on 11 children and adolescents with fractures secondary to osteomyelitis between 2003 and 2010. A retrospective chart review was conducted to record the following: age, sex, the anatomic region of infection, the time delay from symptom onset to fracture, the classification of chronic osteomyelitis, the Cierny-Mader classification, the causative organism, surgeries, the length of hospitalization, the location and the pattern of fracture, the duration of infection, the length of follow-up, and complications., Results: The patients included 7 male and 4 female patients with a mean age of 8.7 (range, 6 to 13) years. Pathologic fractures were as follows: 7 femur and 4 tibia. Nine of them were in the metaphysis and 2 others were located in the diaphysis. The time delay from symptom onset to fracture was 3.36 (1 to 9) months. The anatomic region of infection was the diaphysis in 2 cases and the metaphysis in 9 cases. Fractures patterns were short oblique and transverse. The length of hospitalization was a mean of 7 days. The duration of infection ranged from 1 to 12 (mean, 4.38) months. The mean duration of follow-up was 57.09 (range, 36 to 73) months from the initial presentation. Only 2 patients developed shortening, for which no additional intervention was performed., Conclusions: This case series demonstrates that the "internal fixator technique" is an acceptable alternative to the management of pathologic fractures of the femur or the tibia in children and adolescents with unresolved acute and chronic osteomyelitis. Infections were resolved in all cases and fractures were sufficiently stabilized to allow union with a low complication rate., Level of Evidence: Level IV-therapeutic.

Introduction: The main objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of social media and Internet usage of orthopaedists and to determine its effects on patient-physician communication., Methods: Data were collected by e-mail from 321 orthopaedists who filled out the questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of a total 25 items pertaining to personal information, which social media tool they use, their overall views of and expectations from social media, the effects of social media on patient-physician relationship and communication., Results: The rates of keeping in contact with patients and "often" helping patients to manage their treatments over social media increased with age ( p  < 0.05). It was found that the rate of helping patients to manage their treatments over social media was significantly higher in academicians compared to that in specialist physicians ( p  = 0.040). The rates of having a personal website and being a member of online physician platform and social-networking sites were higher in participants working in the private sector than participants working in the public sector ( p  = 0.001). It was found that the rate of finding it useful to be in contact with patients over social media was higher in physicians working in the private sector compared to that in those working in the public sector ( p  < 0.01)., Conclusion: Social media tools and Internet are commonly used by orthopaedists to communicate with their patients. Even though there are beneficial effects in patient-physician relationship, effective standards and regulations should be developed to enable a safe communication and to resolve ethical and legal uncertainties.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare CT-assisted percutaneous excision, which is a closed, economic method and a more cosmetic approach, and open surgery in the treatment of osteoid osteoma., Materials and Methods: Fifty-three patients (12 female and 41 male patients) who had percutaneous excision (n = 24) and open surgery (n = 29) were evaluated retrospectively. The mean age was 16.6 years and the mean duration of follow-up was 53.5 months. During percutaneous excision, a trephine was advanced through the labeling wire and the site, including the nidus, was excised en-bloc and the incision walls were curetted. During the open surgery, the localization of the nidus was marked using c-arm X-ray and the nidus was accessed by lifting the cortical bone, layer-by-layer, using burr. The nidus was excised and its cavity curetted., Results: The result was successful in 22 and a failure in three patients who had closed excision. The result was successful in 20 and a failure in nine patients who had open surgery. The mean duration of operation was 44.37 minutes in the percutaneous excision group and 80.6 minutes in the open surgery group. There was no difference in the pre-operative VAS values between the two groups, whereas the post-operative VAS values were statistically significantly different. There was also a statistically significant difference in the duration of the operation and the length of the hospital stay between the groups., Conclusion: Percutaneous excision with trephine is a more successful, effective, minimally invasive, safe and a better cosmetic approach in the treatment of osteoid osteoma. This method is also a cheap method that does not require expensive equipment.

Background: The common purpose of almost all methods used to treat the osteochondral injuries is to produce a normal cartilage matrix. However current methods are not sufficient to provide a normal cartilage matrix. For that reason, researchers have studied to increase the effectiveness of this methods using chondrogenic and chondroprotective molecules in recent experimental studies. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and hyaluronic acid (HA) are two important agents used in this field. This study compared the effects of IGF-1 and HA in an experimental osteochondral defect in rat femora., Materials and Methods: The rats were divided into three groups (n = 15 per group) as follows: The IGF-1 group, HA group, and control group. An osteochondral defect of a diameter of 1.5 mm and a depth of 2 mm was created on the patellar joint side of femoral condyles. The IGF-1 group received an absorbable gelatin sponge soaked with 15 μg/15 μl of IGF-1, and the HA group received an absorbable gelatin sponge soaked with 80 μg HA. The control group received only an absorbable gelatin sponge. Rats were sacrificed at the 6(th) week, and the femur condyles were evaluated histologically., Results: According to the total Mankin scale, there was a statistically significant difference between IGF-1 and HA groups and between IGF-1 and control groups. There was also a significant statistical difference between HA and control groups., Conclusion: It was shown histopathologically that IGF-1 is an effective molecule for osteochondral lesions. Although it is weaker than IGF-1, HA also strengthened the repair tissue.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of internal fixation with Non-Contact Plating (NCP) after deep infection caused by previous surgeries of the tibia or femur fractures. The study included 15 patients (4 female and 11 male). The mean age patients was 36.6 years (range, 21-64 years). There were 6 femur and 9 tibia fractures. The mean follow-up period was 25.7 months (range, 15-45 months). The study comprised 11 open and 4 closed fractures. External fixator was used in 3, plate in 4, and intramedullary nail in 8 patients for index surgery. Deep infection was diagnosed via clinical findings, laboratory parameters, and microbiological evaulation. Deep infection was diagnosed within a mean period of 5.5 weeks (range, 2-10 weeks). The infecting organism was methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in 5, methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in 6, pseudomonas auroginosa in 2, and enterobacteriacea in 2 patients. Union achieved in all patients. Mean time to union was 17 (range, 11-38) weeks. Delayed union was observed in 3 patients who required additional surgeries. Of these one patient developed osteomyelitis. The NCP is an effective alternative method in the treatment of deep infection encountered after internal or external fixation for the tibia, or femur fractures.