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The elderly have conventionally been defined as individuals over the age of 65 and are projected to represent about 21% of the United States (US) population by the year 2030. Distal radius fractures (DRF) in particular are one of the most common fractures among elderly patients and their incidence continues to rise in part due to increased activity levels among the elderly, increased life expectancy, rising rates of obesity, changes to dietary habits, and the prevalence of osteoporosis. Although various treatment options exist for these injuries, nonsurgical treatment of distal radius fractures remains a mainstay among elderly patients with mounting evidence of its non-inferiority to surgical fixation in the literature. Here, we summarize the overall approach to nonsurgical treatment of distal radius fractures in the elderly population while examining its supporting data and highlighting potential risks and limitations to it.

This study's objective was to identify a difference in maximum temperature change during forward versus oscillating drilling of cadaveric bone. Paired femurs were dissected from the soft tissue of five cadavers. Each cadaver had one femur assigned to forward and the other to oscillation. The first drill hole was 2.5 cm distal to the lesser trochanter and the remaining 10 holes were evenly spaced 2 cm apart. A System 7 drill and 3.5 mm drill bit were attached to an Instron 5500R to provide a progressive force of 50 Newtons per minute for each drill hole. A thermal camera recorded each drilling. A new drill bit was used for each femur. Fifty bicortical drillings were analyzed in each group. The average time to complete forward drilling (45.0 seconds) was shorter compared to oscillation (55.5 s, p0.001). The average force required for forward drilling (27.7 N) was lower than for oscillation (44.3N, p0.001). The maximum change in temperature during the drilling process was similar (oscillating 100.2° F vs. forward 100.7° F, p = 0.871). The maximum change in temperature at the near cortex was lower for oscillation (78.1°F) compared to forward drilling (89.1°F, p = 0.011), while the maximum change at the far cortex was lower for forward drilling (89.3°F) compared to oscillation (95.8°F, p = 0.115) but not significantly. Overall, there is no difference in the thermal output between techniques. Oscillation may be beneficial in proximity to vital structures or to navigate narrow bony corridors, but it requires additional time and force. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 31(4):233-236, 2022).

SUMMARY Distal radius fractures are common in the geriatric population; however, treatment of these fractures remains controversial. Patients undergoing operative fixation may experience a quicker recovery with increased grip strength, which is beneficial in the active geriatric patient. Treatment options include fragment-specific fixation, volar locked plating, and dorsal bridge plating. External fixation alone leads to poor outcomes and is indicated in patients with soft tissue compromise or as a supplemental aid. Implant selection should be tailored to fracture parameters. With a thoughtful surgical algorithm and rehabilitation protocol, good outcomes can be achieved with a high rate of patient satisfaction.

Chlorhexidine skin antisepsis is frequently recommended for most surgical procedures; however, it is unclear if these recommendations should apply to surgery involving traumatic contaminated wounds where povidone-iodine has previously been preferred. We aimed to compare the effect of aqueous 10% povidone-iodine versus aqueous 4% chlorhexidine gluconate on the risk of surgical site infection in patients who required surgery for an open fracture.We conducted a multiple-period, cluster-randomised, crossover trial (Aqueous-PREP) at 14 hospitals in Canada, Spain, and the USA. Eligible patients were adults aged 18 years or older with an open extremity fracture treated with a surgical fixation implant. For inclusion, the open fracture required formal surgical debridement within 72 h of the injury. Participating sites were randomly assigned (1:1) to use either aqueous 10% povidone-iodine or aqueous 4% chlorhexidine gluconate immediately before surgical incision; sites then alternated between the study interventions every 2 months. Participants, health-care providers, and study personnel were aware of the treatment assignment due to the colour of the solutions. The outcome adjudicators and data analysts were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was surgical site infection, guided by the 2017 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network reporting criteria, which included superficial incisional infection within 30 days or deep incisional or organ space infection within 90 days of surgery. The primary analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle and included all participants in the groups to which they were randomly assigned. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03385304.Between April 8, 2018, and June 8, 2021, 3619 patients were assessed for eligibility and 1683 were enrolled and randomly assigned to povidone-iodine (n=847) or chlorhexidine gluconate (n=836). The trial's adjudication committee determined that 45 participants were ineligible, leaving 1638 participants in the primary analysis, with 828 in the povidone-iodine group and 810 in the chlorhexidine gluconate group (mean age 44·9 years [SD 18·0]; 629 [38%] were female and 1009 [62%] were male). Among 1571 participants in whom the primary outcome was known, a surgical site infection occurred in 59 (7%) of 787 participants in the povidone-iodine group and 58 (7%) of 784 in the chlorhexidine gluconate group (odds ratio 1·11, 95% CI 0·74 to 1·65; p=0·61; risk difference 0·6%, 95% CI -1·4 to 3·4).For patients who require surgical fixation of an open fracture, either aqueous 10% povidone-iodine or aqueous 4% chlorhexidine gluconate can be selected for skin antisepsis on the basis of solution availability, patient contraindications, or product cost. These findings might also have implications for antisepsis of other traumatic wounds.US Department of Defense, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, McMaster University Surgical Associates, PSI Foundation.

Background: Recent studies have reported that targeting a center-center position at the distal tibia during intramedullary nailing (IMN) may result in malalignment. Although not fully understood, this observation suggests that the coronal anatomic center of the tibia may not correspond to the center of the distal tibia articular surface. Questions/Purposes: To identify the coronal anatomic axis of the distal tibia that corresponds to an ideal start site for IMN placement utilizing intact cadaveric tibiae. Methods: IMN placement was performed in 9 fresh frozen cadaveric tibiae. A guidewire was used to identify the ideal start site in the proximal tibia and an opening reamer allowed access to the canal. Each nail was then advanced without the use of a reaming rod until exiting the distal tibia plafond. Cadaveric and radiographic measurements were performed to determine the center of the nail exit site in the coronal plane. Results: Cadaveric and radiographic measurements identified the IMN exit site to correspond with the lateral 59.5% and 60.4% of the plafond, respectively. Conclusions: Tibial nails inserted using an ideal start site have an endpoint that corresponds roughly to the junction of the lateral and middle third of the plafond. Further studies are warranted to better understand the impact of IMN endpoint placement on the functional and radiographic outcomes of tibia shaft fractures.

SUMMARY Treatment of periprosthetic distal femur fractures remains challenging due to assuring adequate distal fixation. Traditional treatment options include lateral locked plating and retrograde nailing, although recently dual implant constructs have been explored with promising results. Allowing immediate weight-bearing in this patient population has benefits with regards to rehabilitation and outcome. Recent literature has focused on nail-plate constructs, however plate-plate constructs are preferred at our institution as they do not require arthroplasty component compatibility, facilitate the coronal plane reduction, and allow for immediate weight-bearing.

SUMMARY Distal femur fractures in the elderly have been historically treated with locked plating or retrograde intramedullary nailing with good, reliable results. However, in certain more complex fracture patterns (native or periprosthetic), increased density of fixation via dual-plate or nail plate combination can help achieve immediate weight-bearing. It can also potentially increase rates of union by shifting and maintaining the neutral axis, distributing forces more evenly across the fracture site. Here, we discuss the indications, pros and cons of both dual-plate and nail plate combination techniques in a concise case-based format.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the diagnostic performance of perfusion pressure (PP) thresholds for fasciotomy. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING Seven Level-1 trauma centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS One hundred fifty adults with severe leg injuries and ≥2 hours of continuous PP data who had been enrolled in a multicenter observational trial designed to develop a clinical prediction rule for acute compartment syndrome (ACS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS For each patient, a given PP criterion was positive if it was below the specified threshold for at least 2 consecutive hours. The diagnostic performance of PP thresholds between 10 and 30 mm Hg was determined using 2 reference standards for comparison: (1) the likelihood of ACS as determined by an expert panel who reviewed each patient's data portfolio or (2) whether the patient underwent fasciotomy. RESULTS Using the likelihood of ACS as the diagnostic standard (ACS considered present if median likelihood ≥70%, absent if

To compare the retrospective decision of an expert panel who assessed likelihood of acute compartment syndrome (ACS) in a patient with a high-risk tibia fracture with decision to perform fasciotomy.Prospective observational study.Seven Level 1 trauma centers.One hundred eighty-two adults with severe tibia fractures.Diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and receiver-operator curve) of an expert panel's assessment of likelihood ACS compared with fasciotomy as the reference diagnostic standard.The interrater reliability of the expert panel as measured by the Krippendorff alpha. Expert panel consensus was determined using the percent of panelists in the majority group of low (expert panel likelihood of ≤0.3), uncertain (0.3-0.7), or high (0.7) likelihood of ACS.Comparing fasciotomy (the diagnostic standard) and the expert panel's assessment as the diagnostic classification (test), the expert panel's determination of uncertain or high likelihood of ACS (threshold0.3) had a sensitivity of 0.90 (0.70, 0.99), specificity of 0.95 (0.90, 0.98), PPV of 0.70 (0.50, 0.86), and NPV of 0.99 (0.95, 1.00). When a threshold of0.7 was set as a positive diagnosis, the expert panel assessment had a sensitivity of 0.67 (0.43, 0.85), specificity of 0.98 (0.95, 1.00), PPV of 0.82 (0.57, 0.96), and NPV of 0.96 (0.91, 0.98).In our study, the retrospective assessment of an expert panel of the likelihood of ACS has good specificity and excellent NPV for fasciotomy, but only low-to-moderate sensitivity and PPV. The discordance between the expert panel-assessed likelihood of ACS and the decision to perform fasciotomy suggests that concern regarding potential diagnostic bias in studies of ACS is warranted.Diagnostic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Treatment of periprosthetic fractures above total knee arthroplasty remains challenging because of assessment of implant stability and the short segment of often osteoporotic bone available for distal fixation. Fractures with significant medial comminution should undergo retrograde intramedullary nailing or dual-implant fixation, as isolated lateral locked plating is not indicated. There are a multitude of objective and subjective factors incorporated into the decision to proceed with retrograde nailing including assessment of the patient's functional status, fracture morphology, implant stability, and compatibility of the prosthesis with retrograde nailing. Here, we review the steps to success in using retrograde intramedullary nailing in the treatment of specific periprosthetic fractures about total knee arthroplasty.

Objectives To report on our results using a proximal femoral locking plate for the treatment of peritrochanteric femur fractures. Design Retrospective study. Setting Level I Academic Medical Center. Patients Sixty-eight patients with 68 fractures. Intervention Demographics, fracture morphology, preoperative imaging, rationale against nailing, and outcomes were collected. Main outcome measurements Outcomes were grouped into no complication, minor complication, or major complication. Minor complications included healed fractures with implant failure or change in alignment from immediate postoperative radiographs, which did not require intervention or elective implant removal. Major complications included any case that required revision for nonunion or implant failure. Results Nine patients were lost to follow-up. Of the 59 fractures, 16 had complications (27%): 9 minor and 7 major. Active tobacco use (P = 0.020) and fractures with an associated intracapsular femoral neck component (P = 0.006) correlated with complications. Conclusions Proximal femoral locking plates continue to be associated with a high complication rate. However, based on our experience, proximal femoral locking plates may be considered in highly selected cases when absolutely no other implant is deemed appropriate, based on the degree of comminution and the complexity of the fracture pattern. Patients must be informed about the possibility of revision surgery based on the inherent limitations of these devices. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Femoral neck fractures in the physiologically young patient are challenging injuries to manage. A tenuous blood supply and the intrasynovial nature of the fracture create a challenging biological environment. To make matters worse, the biomechanics are equally problematic. Frequently, these fractures in younger populations are high Pauwel angle fractures that see considerable force, especially shear. These factors combine to make nonunion and avascular necrosis all too common. In the current study, we will highlight the challenges inherent to managing these injuries and will discuss techniques and implants that may help mitigate some of these challenges.

Background Radiographic loosening is frequently seen around the radial head (RH) implant. The hypothesis of this study was that radiographic loosening will be more frequent in patients in which the RH prosthesis was implanted due to elbow trauma leading to instability that required lateral collateral ligament repair (LCL). Materials and methods A retrospective review of the patients who had RH implantation between 2012 and 2019 was performed. Evaluation included evidence of radiographic loosening, stress shielding, formation of heterotopic ossification, and rate of removal of the implant. Range of motion of the elbow at the latest follow up was also recorded. Results At a mean follow up of 18 months (range 1.4 – 80) eight out of 25 patients had radiographic loosening around the implant. The radial head implant was removed in 8 patients (in 3 due to painful radiographic loosening, in 4 due pain without radiographic loosening and in 1 due to infection). Radiographic loosening around the RH implant had no association with LCL repair (p=0.18) or future removal of implant (p=0.18) or the diagnosis of Monteggia lesion (p=0.68). In addition, removal of the RH implant had no association with prior LCL repair (p=0.60) or the diagnosis of Monteggia lesion (p=0.15). Stress shielding was seen in 5 patients and was of no clinical significance. Heterotopic ossification was seen in 12 patients and was classified as Class I in 3, IIA in 3, IIC in 6, according to the Hastings Classification. The average flexion-extension arc was 23° to 130°, and average pronation-supination was 76° to 69°. Conclusion One third of the patients had radiographic loosening around the RH implant at a mean follow up of 18 months. Pain with or without radiographic loosening were the main reasons for removal of the implant. No associations were found between the development of radiographic loosening and LCL repair at the time of RH replacement. Limitations of this study are: (a) the retrospective design (b). the small sample size and the possibility of a type II statistical error.

Vancouver B1 periprosthetic fractures undergoing operative fixation remain difficult to treat due to a short proximal segment that offers limited options for fixation. The trochanteric hook plate addresses this issue by maximizing proximal purchase and utilizing the entire lateral surface area of the greater trochanter. A surgical technique that prioritizes proximal fixation and adheres to basic principles resulted in all fractures healing in a small case series. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 29(4):199-201, 2020).

The objective of this study was to describe examples and review the literature of distal humerus fracture reconstruction in the setting of severe bone loss. Four individuals (ages 19-59 years) were treated with either fibular strut allograft or fresh frozen osteochondral allograft in the setting of unreconstructable periarticular bone loss. The radiographs were evaluated for evidence of union. Pain and degrees of range of motion were reported when available. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 42 months. While additional surgery was often needed, union was ultimately obtained in each case. Normal range of motion was not obtained, but two of the four patients were near normal upon union. Two of the four patients were pain free, and the other two had mild pain. All were limited in their activities, even after union. This case series describes satisfactory results with the use of allograft in this difficult clinical problem. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 29(2):65-72, 2020).

Treatment of periprosthetic distal femur fractures remains challenging due to assuring adequate distal fixation. Traditional treatment options include lateral locked plating and retrograde nailing, although recently dual implant constructs have been explored with promising results. Allowing immediate weight-bearing in this patient population has benefits with regards to rehabilitation and outcome. Recent literature has focused on nail-plate constructs, however plate-plate constructs are preferred at our institution as they do not require arthroplasty component compatibility, facilitate the coronal plane reduction, and allow for immediate weight-bearing.

The early generations of proximal tibial locking plates demonstrated inferior results when compared to dual plating in bicondylar tibial plateau fractures with posteromedial fragments (PMF). Modern plates have multiple rows of locking screws and variable angle technology -which tote the ability to capture the PMF. The purpose of this study was to determine if the modern plates could capture the PMF in a large series of bicondylar tibial plateau fractures.Axial computer topography (CT) scans of 114 bicondylar tibial plateau fractures with PMF were analyzed. Five proximal tibia locking plates-in seven total configurations-were applied to radiopaque tibiae models. All possible screws were placed. Templates of screw trajectories were created based on the model CT scans. These were superimposed onto patient CT scan images to assess for screw penetration into the PMF. Number of screws fully within the PMF were recorded. Capture of the PMF was defined as having at least two screws within the fragment.On average, all plates were able to capture 81.6% of PMF with an average of 3.77 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 3.47-4.07] screws. However, their ability to capture all fragments varied greatly, from 55.7%-95.2% in fixed angle constructs. Overall, variable angle constructs had a significantly higher capture rate (98.5% vs. 74.9%; p0.0001) and more screws in the PMF (5.88 [95% CI: 5.58-6.17] vs 2.93 [95% CI: 2.62-3.24]; p0.0001) when compared to fixed angle constructs.Newer generation locking plates vary greatly in their ability to capture the PMF. Variable angle technology dramatically increases the ability to capture the majority of PMFs. Prior biomechanical and clinical studies may yield substantially different results if repeated with these newer implants. Use of newer generation locked plates should not replace thorough preoperative planning.

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficiency, radiation exposure to surgeon and patient, and accuracy of C-arm versus O-arm with navigation in the placement of transiliac-transsacral and iliosacral screws by an orthopaedic trauma fellow, for a surgeon early in practice. METHODS Twelve fresh frozen cadavers were obtained. Preoperative computed tomography scans were reviewed to assess for safe corridors in the S1 and S2 segments. Iliosacral screws were assigned to the S1 segment in dysmorphic pelvises. Screws were randomized to modality and laterality. An orthopaedic trauma fellow placed all screws. Time of procedure and radiation exposure to the cadaver and surgeon were recorded. Three fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeons rated the safety of each screw on postoperative computed tomography scan. RESULTS Six normal and 6 dysmorphic pelvises were identified. Eighteen transiliac-transsacral screws and 6 iliosacral screws were distributed evenly between C-arm and O-arm. Average operative duration per screw was significantly shorter using C-arm compared with O-arm (15.7 minutes ± 6.1 vs. 23.7 ± 8.5, P = 0.014). Screw placement with C-arm exposed the surgeon to a significantly greater amount of radiation (3.87 × 10 rads vs. 0.32 × 10, P < 0.001) while O-arm exposed the cadaver to a significantly greater amount of radiation (0.03 vs. 2.76 rads, P < 0.001). Two S2 transiliac-transsacral screws (1 C-arm and 1 O-arm) were categorized as unsafe based on scoring. There was no difference in screw accuracy between modalities. CONCLUSIONS A difference in accuracy between modalities could not be elucidated, whereas efficiency was improved with utilization of C-arm, with statistical significance. A statistically significant increase in radiation exposure to the surgeon using C-arm was found, which may be clinically significant over a career. The results of this study can be extrapolated to a fellow or surgeon early in practice. The decision between use of these modalities will vary depending on surgeon preference and hospital resources.

Author(s): Pogorzelski, David; Nguyen, Uyen; McKay, Paula; Thabane, Lehana; Camara, Megan; Ramsey, Lolita; Seymour, Rachel; Goodman, J Brett; McGee, Sheketha; Fraifogl, Joanne; Hudgins, Andrea; Tanner, Stephanie L; Bhandari, Mohit; Slobogean, Gerard P; Sprague, Sheila; PREP-IT Investigators Executive Committee:; Steering Committee; Adjudication Committee; Data and Safety Monitoring Committee; Research Methodology Core; Patient Centred Outcomes Core; Orthopaedic Surgery Core; Operating Room Core; Infectious Disease Core; Military Core; McMaster University Methods Center; University of Maryland School of Medicine Administrative Center; University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, The PATIENTS Program; PREP-IT Clinical Sites: Lead Clinical Site (Aqueous-PREP and PREPARE); Aqueous-PREP and PREPARE; Aqueous-PREP; PREPARE; PREP-IT Investigators Executive Committee | Abstract: IntroductionPragmatic trials in comparative effectiveness research assess the effects of different treatment, therapeutic, or healthcare options in clinical practice. They are characterized by broad eligibility criteria and large sample sizes, which can lead to an unmanageable number of participants, increasing the risk of bias and affecting the integrity of the trial. We describe the development of a sampling strategy tool and its use in the PREPARE trial to circumvent the challenge of unmanageable work flow.MethodsGiven the broad eligibility criteria and high fracture volume at participating clinical sites in the PREPARE trial, a pragmatic sampling strategy was needed. Using data from PREPARE, descriptive statistics were used to describe the use of the sampling strategy across clinical sites. A Chi-square test was performed to explore whether use of the sampling strategy was associated with a reduction in the number of missed eligible patients.Results7 of 20 clinical sites (35%) elected to adopt a sampling strategy. There were 1539 patients excluded due to the use of the sampling strategy, which represents 30% of all excluded patients and 20% of all patients screened for participation. Use of the sampling strategy was associated with lower odds of missed eligible patients (297/4545 (6.5%) versus 341/3200 (10.7%) p l 0.001).ConclusionsImplementing a sampling strategy in the PREPARE trial has helped to limit the number of missed eligible patients. This sampling strategy represents a simple, easy to use tool for managing work flow at clinical sites and maintaining the integrity of a large trial.

We recorded measurements of muscle perfusion using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and intramuscular pressure (IMP) in a study designed to develop a decision rule for predicting acute compartment syndrome (ACS). The purpose of this study was to report our experience measuring NIRS data in the context of this broader investigation and to explore factors related to variations in data capture.One hundred and eighty-five patients with lower-leg injuries had data consisting of continuous NIRS measurement of the O2 saturation in the anterior compartment of the injured limb and the contralateral (control) limb, and continuous IMP recording in the anterior and deep posterior compartments of the injured leg as part of their participation in an institutional review board-approved multicenter trial. All monitoring was done for a prescribed period of time. For both types of data, the percentage of valid data capture was defined as the ratio of the minutes of observed data points within a physiological range to the total minutes of expected data points. Clinically useful NIRS data required simultaneous data from the injured and control limbs to calculate the ratio. Statistical tests were used to compare the 2 methods as well as factors associated with the percent of valid NIRS data capture.For the original cohort, clinically useful NIRS data were available a median of 9.1% of the expected time, while IMP data were captured a median of 87.6% of the expected time (p0.001). Excluding 46 patients who had erroneous NIRS data recorded, the median percentage was 31.6% for NIRS compared with 87.4% for IMP data (p0.00001). Fractures with an associated hematoma were less likely to have valid data points (odds ratio [OR], 0.53; p = 0.04). Gustilo types-I and II open fractures were more likely than Tscherne grades C0 and C1 closed fractures to have valid data points (OR, 1.97; p = 0.03).In this study, NIRS data were not collected reliably. In contrast, IMP measurements were collected during85% of the expected monitoring period. These data raise questions about the utility of current NIRS data capture technology for monitoring oxygenation in patients at risk of ACS.

Background Intra-articular Pilon fractures remain therapeutically challenging due to osteochondral fracturing and comminution, marginal impaction, and insult to the soft tissue envelope. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of anterolateral distal tibial locking plates in capturing main fracture fragments in tibial plafond fractures. Methods From May 2011 to Dec 2015, 169 OTA C-type pilon fractures met inclusion and exclusion criteria with computed tomographic (CT) scans performed prior to definitive fixation. For each patient, the fracture lines were mapped, digitized, and graphically superimposed to create a compilation of fracture lines. Based on these average measurements, three distal tibia sawbones had three different anterolateral plates applied. Axial CT scan images were used to determine the efficacy of screw purchase in main fracture fragments in pilon fractures. Results The Smith & Nephew PERI-LOC plate secured the largest number of fracture lines (90.1%) but missed the Volkmann fragment with greatest frequency at 3.6%. The Synthes 2.7/3.5 mm VA-LCP captured 87.3% of the fracture lines while missing the Volkmann fragment 3.2% of the time. The Synthes 3.5 mm LCP captured 86.5% of the fracture lines but was the best at securing the Volkmann fragment (1.2% missed). All three implants were deficient in capturing the medial malleolar fragment. The PERI-LOC and 2.7/3.5 mm VA-LCP did not differ with respect to percentage of fragments captured (p = 0.721) but both outperformed the 3.5 mm LCP (p = 0.021 and p = 0.05, respectively). Conclusions This study was consistent with prior literature in defining three main fracture fragments: anterior, medial, and posterior. All three plates were deficient in capturing the medial malleolar fragment. The Smith and Nephew PERI-LOC plate secured the most number of fracture lines, while the Synthes 3.5 mm LCP was least likely to miss the Volkmann fragment and most likely to miss the medial malleolar fragment. No plate was found to be superior to the other in capturing all fracture lines of the OTAC3 pilon fragments. Level of evidence Three.

The impact of the Trauma Collaborative Care (TCC) program on surgeon confidence in managing the psychosocial sequelae of orthopaedic trauma was evaluated as part of a larger prospective, multisite, cluster clinical trial. We compared confidence and perceived resource availability among surgeons practicing in trauma centers that implemented the TCC program with orthopaedic trauma surgeons in similar trauma centers that did not implement the TCC.Prospective cohort design.Level-I trauma centers.Attending surgeons and fellows (N = 95 Pre and N = 82 Post).Self-report 10-item measure of surgeon confidence in managing psychosocial issues associated with trauma and perceived availability of support resources.Analyses, performed on the entire sample and repeated on the subset of 52 surgeons who responded to the survey at both times points, found surgeons at intervention sites experienced a significantly greater positive improvement (P0.05) in their (1) belief that they have strategies to help orthopaedic trauma patients change their psychosocial situation; (2) confidence in making appropriate referrals for orthopaedic trauma patients with psychosocial problems; and (3) belief that they have access to information to guide the management of psychosocial issues related to recovery.Initial data suggest that the establishment of the TCC program can improve surgeons' perceived availability of resources and their confidence in managing the psychosocial sequelae after injury. Further studies will be required to determine if this translates into beneficial patient effects.Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The optimal technique for a transtibial amputation in a young, active, and healthy patient is controversial. Proponents of the Ertl procedure (in which the cut ends of the tibia and fibula are joined with a bone bridge synostosis) argue that the residual limb is more stable which confers better prosthetic fit and improved function especially among high-performing individuals. At the same time, the Ertl procedure is associated with longer operative and healing time and may be associated with a higher complication rate compared with the standard Burgess procedure. The TAOS is a prospective, multicenter randomized trial comparing 18-month outcomes after transtibial amputation using the Ertl versus Burgess approach among adults aged 18 to 60. The primary outcomes include surgical treatment for a complication and patient-reported function. Secondary outcomes include physical impairment, pain, and treatment cost.

To evaluate orthopedic resident perceptions of a didactic curriculum presented in traditional and case-based formats.Prospective cohort study using anonymous web-based survey after each conference evaluating resident perceptions of faculty participation, didactic delivery, content, and overall conference value. Conferences were structured as primarily case-based or traditional lecture. Logistic analysis was performed to determine factors predictive of rating a conference as valuable time spent.Orthopedic residency training program at single institution over an academic year.Orthopedic residents in postgraduate training year 1 to 5 attending mandatory didactic conference.Cased-based conferences received higher Likert ratings on residents' perception of faculty participation, instructor delivery, and improvement in topic understanding when compared to traditional lecture-based conferences (p0.0001 for each factor). Residents also were more likely to rate case-based conferences as valuable time spent (p0.0001). In our logistic model, factors associated with a negative likelihood of rating a conference as valuable were lecture format (odds ratio [OR] = 0.155, 95% CI: 0.115-0.208), PGY-2 level presenter (OR = 0.288, 95% CI: 0.169-0.490), and PGY-3 level presenter (OR = 0.433, 95% CI: 0.269-0.696). Timing in the year, surgical subspeciality, and conference identity were not significant predictors of conference value rating.Longitudinal resident feedback demonstrates highly favorable resident perceptions toward case-based formats in didactic sessions. Junior levels residents are not perceived as effective as senior residents and faculty in presenting material in either format. These methods allow for a dynamic approach to identifying strengths and weaknesses in a resident curriculum as a well as a means for more focused and real-time improvements.

Long-bone deformity may be significantly symptomatic. A uniplanar corrective osteotomy uses a single cut to correct coronal, sagittal, and axial plane deformity simultaneously. Careful preoperative planning is required in addition to a comprehensive understanding of the magnitude and plane of the true deformity of the bone. With precise operative technique and intraoperative assessment of correction, good results can be achieved.

Objectives To compare the compressive force achieved and retained with the lag versus positional screw technique at various angles of screw application. Methods Sixty humeral sawbones were stratified into 6 groups based on the technique (lag or positional) and fixation angle (30, 60, or 90 degrees relative to the fracture plane). A sensor was placed between fragments to record compressive force. Absolute screw force is the final screw force. Normalized force is the final screw force minus force generated by reduction forceps. Retained force is the quotient of absolute force relative to reduction forceps force. Results Lag screws attained higher force than positional at 60 degrees (absolute force 41% higher, P = 0.041; normalized force 1300% higher, P = 0.008; retained force 60% higher, P = 0.008) and 90 degrees (absolute force 86% higher, P = 0.006; normalized force 730% higher, P = 0.005; retained force 70% higher, P = 0.011), but not at 30 degrees. For lag screws, compressive force was similar at 60 and 90 degrees (absolute force P = 0.174, normalized force P = 0.364, and retained force P = 0.496), but not 30 degrees. For positional screws, no difference was found between the 3 angles of fixation for absolute force (P = 0.059). Normalized force and retained force were similar at 60 and 90 degrees (P = 0.944 and P = 0.725, respectively), but not 30 degrees. Conclusions Lag screw technique compressive force was superior to positional screw technique at 60 and 90 degrees. Comparison of force at angles of 60 and 90 degrees showed no significant difference for both techniques. Indicating 30 degrees deviation from perfect technique is tolerated without significant decrease in compressive force.

Importance Numerous studies have demonstrated that long-term outcomes after orthopedic trauma are associated with psychosocial and behavioral health factors evident early in the patient’s recovery. Little is known about how to identify clinically actionable subgroups within this population. Objectives To examine whether risk and protective factors measured at 6 weeks after injury could classify individuals into risk clusters and evaluate whether these clusters explain variations in 12-month outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective observational study was conducted between July 16, 2013, and January 15, 2016, among 352 patients with severe orthopedic injuries at 6 US level I trauma centers. Statistical analysis was conducted from October 9, 2017, to July 13, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures At 6 weeks after discharge, patients completed standardized measures for 5 risk factors (pain intensity, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse, and tobacco use) and 4 protective factors (resilience, social support, self-efficacy for return to usual activity, and self-efficacy for managing the financial demands of recovery). Latent class analysis was used to classify participants into clusters, which were evaluated against measures of function, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and self-rated health collected at 12 months. Results Among the 352 patients (121 women and 231 men; mean [SD] age, 37.6 [12.5] years), latent class analysis identified 6 distinct patient clusters as the optimal solution. For clinical use, these clusters can be collapsed into 4 groups, sorted from low risk and high protection (best) to high risk and low protection (worst). All outcomes worsened across the 4 clinical groupings. Bayesian analysis shows that the mean Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment dysfunction scores at 12 months differed by 7.8 points (95% CI, 3.0-12.6) between the best and second groups, by 10.3 points (95% CI, 1.6-20.2) between the second and third groups, and by 18.4 points (95% CI, 7.7-28.0) between the third and worst groups. Conclusions and Relevance This study demonstrates that during early recovery, patients with orthopedic trauma can be classified into risk and protective clusters that account for a substantial amount of the variance in 12-month functional and health outcomes. Early screening and classification may allow a personalized approach to postsurgical care that conserves resources and targets appropriate levels of care to more patients.

Background The purpose of this study was to perform an epidemiological evaluation and an economic analysis of 90-day costs associated with non-fatal gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the extremities, spine and pelvis requiring orthopaedic care in the United States. Methods A retrospective epidemiological review of the Medicare national patient record database was conducted from 2005 to 2014. Incidence, fracture location and costs associated where evaluated. Those patients identified through International Classification of Disease (ICD)-9 revision codes and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Codes who sustained a fracture secondary to a GSW. Any type of surgical intervention including incision and drainage, open reduction with internal fixation, closed reduction and percutaneous fixation, etc. were identified to analyze, and evaluate costs of care as seen by charges and reimbursements to the payer. The 90-day period after initial fracture care was queried. Results A total of 9,765 patients required surgical orthopaedic care for GSWs. There was a total of 2,183 fractures due to GSW treated operatively in 2,201 patients. Of these, 22% were femur fractures, 18.3% were hand/wrist fractures and 16.7% were ankle/foot fractures. A majority of patients were male (83.3%) and under 65 years of age (56.3%). Total charges for GSW requiring orthopedic care were $513,334,743 during the 10-year study period. Total reimbursement for these patients were $124,723,068. Average charges per patient were highest for fracture management of the spine $431,021.33, followed by the pelvis $392,658.45 and later by tibia/fibula fractures $342,316.92. Conclusions The 90-day direct charges and reimbursements of orthopedic care for non-fatal GSWs are of significant amounts per patient. While the number of fatal GSWs has received much attention, non-fatal GSWs have a large economic and societal impact that warrants further research and consideration by the public and policy makers.

Introduction Variation in practice among resident physicians is a barrier to providing consistent, high-quality care to patients with musculoskeletal injuries. Materials and methods A multidisciplinary group at an academic center developed a checklist for managing suspected extremity injuries in adults. Simulation testing was conducted in which 17 Emergency Medicine residents were randomized by year of training into cohorts of 8 “checklist” residents and 9 “no checklist” residents. Each resident performed 2 case simulations and was evaluated based on adherence to 12 predefined critical process measures. Results Usage of the checklist resulted in a decrease in delay of care events (8.3 vs 27.3%, p < 0.01) and decrease in potential medical errors (5.7 vs 22.2%, p < 0.01). All levels of training demonstrated improvements, and first-year residents using the checklist performed significantly better than third-year residents without the checklist, demonstrating decrease in delay of care events (8.3 vs 26.4%, p < 0.05) and decrease in potential medical errors (5.6 vs 18.1%, p < 0.05). Conclusion Implementation of a simple checklist can reduce delays in care and potential medical errors in the management of extremity injuries by resident physicians. Hamid KS, Nwachukwu BU, Nicks BA, Dutta S, Carroll EA. Management of Extremity Injuries by Residents: Can We improve Quality and Efficiency through a Simple Checklist? The Duke Orthop J 2016;6(1):7-11. IRB statement This simulation was undertaken as part of an institutional quality improvement project and was granted Institutional Review Board exemption.

Exchange nailing has proven to be a reliable surgical technique for the management of aseptic femoral shaft nonunions. Similar to primary intramedullary nail fixation for femur fractures, exchange nailing for aseptic hypertrophic nonunions of the femur relies on successful navigation of the starting point and proper nail trajectory to minimize coronal and sagittal plane deformities. Compared with the supine position, the lateral decubitus position has the advantage of allowing gravity to displace the soft tissue around the piriformis start site to facilitate nail entry. In addition, the C-arm position and access to the affected limb from both sides by the surgeon and surgical assistant facilitate visualization of existing deformities and the ability to perform correction maneuvers. The purpose of this review is to highlight technical pearls associated with exchange nailing in a lateral decubitus position. Although other techniques are available, and should be used when indicated, exchange nailing provides patients with the opportunity to an early return to activity, improvement in pain and disability, and ultimate bony union.

Management of intraarticular distal radius fractures requires precise reconstruction of the articular surface to optimize outcomes. Treatment goals also include restoration of alignment, rotation, and angulation in both the coronal and sagittal planes of the metaphyseal component of these fractures. Surgical management with open reduction and internal fixation with a volar plate is often the preferred method of open treatment. However, a variety of different techniques have been described, and the preferred technique may be determined on an individual basis by the fracture characteristics, patient-dependent factors, or surgeon experience.

The goal of treatment for distal radius fractures is anatomic articular reduction and restoration of coronal and sagittal plane alignment, rotation, and angulation of the metadiaphyseal component of these fractures. This article presents a reproducible technique for restoring coronal plane alignment of the metadiaphyseal component of the fracture using an indirect reduction maneuver leveraging the volar locking plate as an indirect reduction aid. After applying an appropriately sized volar locking plate, the first screw is placed in the center of the shaft of the plate. Next, the distal row of subarticular locking screws is placed to neutralize a reduced articular surface. The shaft screw is subsequently loosened, and two Freer elevators are used to rotate the plate, indirectly translating the distal articular block and achieving improved coronal plane alignment. Last, the remaining diaphyseal screws are applied to appropriately neutralize the fracture. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 27(2):160-163, 2018).

Elderly patients represent the fastest growing and most difficult to treat population sustaining acetabular fractures. When treated surgically, isolated extrapelvic or combined intrapelvic-extrapelvic constructs may be used. No biomechanical or clinical study has compared the merits of these 2 techniques in cadaveric models. This research aims to biomechanically quantify the additional benefit of intrapelvic fixation to a standard extrapelvic fixation construct.Ten cadaveric pelves underwent standardized anterior column and quadrilateral plate fracture creation. One hemipelvis from each subject received isolated extrapelvic fixation, whereas the other received adjunctive intrapelvic fixation. Specimens were then subjected to a 50% of body weight (BW) nondestructive stiffness test followed by loading to failure. For the 50% BW test, displacement at 50% BW and stiffness were calculated. For the load to failure test, stiffness, elastic energy, and plastic energy were calculated. Yield point, force at clinical failure (defined at 2 mm of displacement), and maximum force were also identified. A Wilcoxon matched-pairs t test was used to compare fixation groups.The addition of an intrapelvic plate improved construct performance for all test parameters. A statistically significant difference (P0.05) was reached for yield force, maximum force, and plastic energy.These findings demonstrate that the addition of intrapelvic plating may offer distinct advantages in prevention of catastrophic construct failure in situations in which significant lateral to medial force is applied to the greater trochanter such as patient falling.

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of distal interlocking during intramedullary nailing using a freehand technique versus an electromagnetic field real-time system (EFRTS). DESIGN A prospective, randomized controlled trial. SETTING Level I academic trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS Patients older than 18 years who sustained a femoral or tibial shaft fracture amenable to antegrade intramedullary nailing were prospectively enrolled between August 2010 and November 2011. Exclusion criteria included injuries requiring retrograde nailing and open wounds near the location of the distal interlocks (distal third of the femur, knee, or distal tibia). INTERVENTION Each patient had 2 distal interlocking screws placed: one using the freehand method and the other using EFRTS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT Techniques were compared on procedural time and number of interlocking screw misses. Two time points were measured: time 1 (time to find perfect circles/time from wand placement to drill initiation) and time 2 (drill initiation until completion of interlocking placement). RESULTS Twenty-four tibia and 24 femur fractures were studied. EFRTS proved faster at times 1 and 2 (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0002) and total time (P < 0.0001). This difference was larger for junior residents, though reached statistical significance for senior residents. Senior residents were faster with the freehand technique compared with junior residents (P < 0.004), but the 2 were similar using EFRTS (P = 0.41). The number of misses was higher with free hand compared with EFRTS (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION These results suggest that EFRTS is faster than the traditional freehand technique and results in fewer screw misses. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Transabdominal gunshot wounds (GSWs) of the hip and pelvis are those that traverse the gastrointestinal system before entering the pelvis and/or hip. These injuries may be contaminated by bowel contents. Some require urgent surgical intervention; others can be managed nonsurgically. A primary survey with attention to hemodynamic status is of utmost priority. After obtaining hemodynamic stability and addressing abdominal injuries, careful attention must be paid to evaluating hip joint involvement and injuries to the genitourinary and vascular systems. The available literature shows that transabdominal GSW with intra-articular contamination should be urgently debrided and irrigated; extra-articular transabdominal GSW with stable fracture patterns may be managed with observation and empiric antibiotics. Extent of soft-tissue injury dictates the need for wound debridement. Bullets lodged in intra-articular locations should be removed, but retained bullets in other anatomic locations do not necessarily warrant removal.

Lessons learned from battle have been fundamental to advancing the care of injuries that occur in civilian life. Equally important is the need to further refine these advances in civilian practice, so they are available during future conflicts. The Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium (METRC) was established to address these needs.METRC is a network of 22 core level I civilian trauma centers and 4 core military treatment centers-with the ability to expand patient recruitment to more than 30 additional satellite trauma centers for the purpose of conducting multicenter research studies relevant to the treatment and outcomes of orthopaedic trauma sustained in the military. Early measures of success of the Consortium pertain to building of an infrastructure to support the network, managing the regulatory process, and enrolling and following patients in multiple studies.METRC has been successful in maintaining the engagement of several leading, high volume, level I trauma centers that form the core of METRC; together they operatively manage 15,432 major fractures annually. METRC is currently funded to conduct 18 prospective studies that address 6 priority areas. The design and implementation of these studies are managed through a single coordinating center. As of December 1, 2015, a total of 4560 participants have been enrolled.Success of METRC to date confirms the potential for civilian and military trauma centers to collaborate on critical research issues and leverage the strength that comes from engaging patients and providers from across multiple centers.

The past century has seen many changes in the management of the polytraumatized orthopaedic patient. Early recommendations for non-operative treatment have evolved into early total care (ETC) and damage control orthopaedic (DCO) treatment principles. These principles force the treating orthopaedist to take into account multiple patient parameters including hypothermia, coagulopathy and volume status before deciding upon the operative plan. This requires a multidisciplinary approach involving critical care physicians, anesthesiologists and others.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate midterm outcomes after both bone forearm fractures. A retrospective review of patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) at three level 1 trauma centers was completed. Eligible patients were sent three questionnaires: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Short Form-12 (SF-12), and questions about postinjury experience. Twenty-nine patients with an average age of 45 years returned the materials. The forms were completed an average of 60 months after ORIF. The mean DASH was 22 for all respondents. Twenty-one subjects participated in physical therapy (72%). Eight patients (28%) screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The mean SF-12 physical component score was 39 and the SF-12 mental component score was 40, both of which were lower than the non-PTSD group, indicating a lower subjective level of health (p.05). The data suggest that, years after surgery, patients have decreased functional outcomes.

Vascular injury associated with extremity trauma occurs in

Study design Retrospective chart review of 311 anterior cervical procedures. Objectives To assess the incidence and variables that predispose to an airway complication in a large series of anterior cervical surgical procedures. Summary of background data A rare but potentially lethal complication after anterior cervical spine surgery is respiratory compromise and airway obstruction. Some risk factors are thought to include two-level corpectomy in myelopathic patients with a history of heavy smoking and asthma. No previous study in the literature has been directed at examining the factors specifically related to airway complications after anterior cervical spine surgery. Methods Each chart was examined for patient characteristics and pathology, anesthetic parameters and problems, operative procedure, and postoperative course and management. Statistical analysis was performed. Results Nineteen patients (6.1%) had an airway complication and six (1.9%) required reintubation. One patient died. Symptoms developed on average 36 hours postoperatively. All complications except for two were attributable to pharyngeal edema. Variables that were found to be statistically associated with an airway complication (P 300 mL, exposures involving C2, C3, or C4, and an operative time >5 hours. A history of myelopathy, spinal cord injury, pulmonary problems, smoking, anesthetic risk factors, and the absence of a drain did not correlate with an airway complication. Conclusions Patients with prolonged procedures (i.e., >5 hours) exposing more than three vertebral levels that include C2, C3, or C4 with more than 300-mL blood loss should be watched carefully for respiratory insufficiency.