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Introduction: A minority of geriatric hip fracture patients pursue non-operative treatment. Compared with surgical patients, non-operative patients have higher mortality rates. However, patient satisfaction following non-operative vs operative treatment has not been investigated extensively. The purpose of this study was to compare satisfaction among non-operatively vs operatively treated hip fracture patients., Methods: We identified patients aged 60+ years with proximal femur fractures treated over a 10-year period. Excluded were patients with isolated greater/lesser trochanteric fractures. Patients or relatives were asked to complete a 6-question survey about their treatment satisfaction., Results: Survey responses from 56 operative and 28 non-operative patients were recorded. Overall, 91.1% of operative and 82.1% of non-operative patients were satisfied with their treatment course ( P = 0.260). However, only 71.4% of non-operative patients were satisfied with treatment option explanations vs 83.9% of operative patients ( P = 0.014). While only 64.3% of non-operative respondents were satisfied with the ultimate treatment outcome (vs 85.7% of operative patients, P = 0.025), 89.3% of patients in each cohort would choose the same treatment plan again., Discussion: Our findings highlight the complexity of defining patient satisfaction, particularly in a geriatric hip fracture population. Unlike previous studies, we chose a direct approach to quantifying patient satisfaction by asking participants specifically about satisfaction with treatment outcome and the overall treatment course. Additional survey questions were then included to assess factors considered important in treatment satisfaction, such as health care provider treatment explanations, post-treatment mobility, and palliative care service involvement., Conclusions: We identified significant differences between non-operatively and operatively treated geriatric hip fracture patients regarding satisfaction with the explanation of treatment options, and ultimate treatment outcomes. There was no significant difference in overall satisfaction with the treatment course or likelihood of choosing the same treatment again. Further research investigating patient satisfaction following geriatric hip fracture treatment is warranted., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Joint replacement surgery is common in older adults, leading to increasing periprosthetic fracture (PPFx) occurrence. We reviewed all PPFx seen over a 4-year period at an academic hospital. Clinical osteoporosis could be diagnosed based on existing data in 104 (67%) at the time of PPFx. Periprosthetic fractures are generally osteoporosis-related., Purpose: Periprosthetic fractures (PPFx) cause morbidity, mortality, and cost. This study's purpose was to describe osteoporosis-related data available at the time of PPFx., Methods: The electronic medical record (EMR) of PPFx patients seen over 4 years in a university orthopedic practice were reviewed. Demographic data and osteoporosis relevant parameters were collected. Prior DXA studies were reviewed, and L1 Hounsfield unit (HU) measurements were performed on CT scans obtained within 2 years before PPFx. Clinical osteoporosis was defined as prior diagnosis, prescribed osteoporosis treatment, T-score ≤  - 2.5, HU ≤ 100, or prior fracture., Results: Records of 156 PPFx patients (115 F/41 M), mean (SD) age 75.4 (11.9), were reviewed. Almost all 153/156 (98%) of these fractures were femoral. Falls caused 139 (89%); 12 (8%) were spontaneous. Mean time post-arthroplasty was 7.9 (6.3) years. Prior fragility fracture(s) occurred in 72 (46%); 14 were PPFx. Osteoporosis was previously diagnosed in 45 (29%) and medications prescribed in 41 (26%). Prior to PPFx, DXA data were available in 62, mean (SD) lowest T-score was - 1.9 (0.9) and was ≤  - 2.5 in 19. CT data were available in 46; mean (SD) L1 HU was 79.0 (29.4) and was ≤ 100 in 35. Based on existing data, clinical osteoporosis could have been diagnosed in 104 (67%) at the time of PPFx., Conclusion: Periprosthetic fractures are osteoporosis-related. They occur in older adults, often female, and result from falls; BMD, when assessed, is low. Data available at the time of PPFx often allows osteoporosis diagnosis; this should prompt evaluation and pharmacologic treatment consideration., (© 2024. International Osteoporosis Foundation and Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.)

Open fracture management is a common challenge to orthopaedic trauma surgeons and a burdensome condition to the patient, health care, and entire society. Fracture-related infection (FRI) is the leading morbid complication to avoid during open fracture management because it leads to sepsis, nonunion, limb loss, and overall very poor region-specific and general functional outcomes. This review, based on a symposium presented at the 2022 OTA International Trauma Care Forum, provides a practical and evidence-based summary on key strategies to prevent FRI in open fractures, which can be grouped as optimizing host factors, antimicrobial prophylaxis, surgical site management (skin preparation, debridement, and wound irrigation), provision of skeletal stability, and soft-tissue coverage. When it is applicable, strategies are differentiated between optimal resource and resource-limited settings., Competing Interests: The authors attest that they have no conflicts of interest in regards to this review, and there was no funding for this study., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.)

Objective: To determine whether intrawound vancomycin changes the bacteriology of surgical site infection pathogens and investigate the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens., Design: Secondary analysis of phase III, prospective, randomized clinical trial., Setting: Thirty-six US trauma centers., Patient Selection Criteria: Patients who became infected after fixation of tibial plateau or pilon fracture., Outcome Measures and Comparisons: Pathogen types and bacterial susceptibilities as determined from routine clinical culture in the operating room., Results: Seventy-four patients were studied who were 67.5% male with a mean age of 48.6 years. A lower proportion of gram-positive cocci was observed in the vancomycin powder compared with the standard-of-care group (3.7% vs. 8.0%, P = 0.01). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection incidence was comparable in both the vancomycin powder and the standard-of-care groups, but rates of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus infections were lower in the treatment group (1.4% vs. 4.8%, P = 0.01). The incidence of coagulase-negative Staphylococci and gram-negative rod infections were similar in both groups. There was no significant difference in susceptibilities between groups in rates of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus., Conclusions: Topical vancomycin powder decreases the likelihood of gram-positive infections consistent with the biologic activity of vancomycin. Fewer methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococci infections were observed in the group treated with vancomycin powder. An effect of vancomycin powder on methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection risk was not detected given the low incidence in both the intrawound vancomycin and the standard-of-care groups. There was no emergence of gram-negative rod infections or increased resistance patterns observed. Use of topical vancomycin powder does not seem to produce infections in these patients with greater antibiotic resistance than would have occurred without its use., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II. 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.)

Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. ICMJE forms for all authors are available online.

Pelvic ring injuries typically occur from high-energy trauma and are often associated with multisystem injuries. Prompt diagnosis of pelvic ring injuries is essential, and timely initial management is critical in the early resuscitation of polytraumatized patients. Definitive management of pelvic ring injuries continues to be a topic of much debate in the trauma community. Recent studies continue to inform our understanding of static and dynamic pelvic ring stability. Furthermore, literature investigating radiographic and clinical outcomes after nonoperative and operative management will help guide trauma surgeons select the most appropriate treatment of patients with these injuries., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.)

Objective: To compare the mortality rate between geriatric patients with hip fracture treated nonoperatively and a matched cohort treated operatively., Design: Retrospective Observational Matched Cohort Study., Setting: Academic Level 1 Trauma Center., Patients: Geriatric patients who sustained femoral neck and intertrochanteric/peritrochanteric fractures, excluding isolated greater trochanteric fractures. All patients older than 65 years with hip fractures over a 10-year period were identified. Operative patients were matched at a 2:1 ratio, when possible, to nonoperative patients based on Charlson Comorbidity Index and American Society of Anesthesiologists score., Intervention: Nonoperative treatment or operative treatment (femoral neck fractures: cannulated screw fixation or hemiarthroplasty; intertrochanteric/peritrochanteric fractures: sliding hip screw or cephalomedullary nail fixation; or proximal femoral locking plate)., Main Outcomes: Mortality calculated at 30 and 90 days, and 1-year after injury. Mortality was compared between groups using logistic regression while controlling for age, CVA/TIA, and dementia., Results: Seven hundred seventy-two patients (171 nonoperative and 601 operative) were initially identified. After applying the matching algorithm, 128 nonoperative and 239 operative patients were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences in age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, or American Society of Anesthesiologists score between the cohorts. Nonoperative patients had a significantly higher 1-year mortality rate than operative patients [46.1% vs. 18.0%, Odds Ratio (95% confidence interval): 3.85 (2.34-6.41), P < 0.001]., Conclusions: Geriatric patients with hip fracture treated nonoperatively had a 1-year mortality rate of 46.1%, more than double the rate among operative patients., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Tibial plateau fractures with an ipsilateral compartment syndrome are a clinical challenge with limited guidance regarding the best time to perform open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) relative to fasciotomy wound closure. This study aimed to determine if the risk of fracture-related infection (FRI) differs based on the timing of tibial plateau ORIF relative to closure of ipsilateral fasciotomy wounds., Methods: A retrospective cohort study identified patients with tibial plateau fractures and an ipsilateral compartment syndrome treated with 4-compartment fasciotomy at 22 US trauma centers from 2009 to 2019. The primary outcome measure was FRI requiring operative debridement after ORIF. The ORIF timing relative to fasciotomy closure was categorized as ORIF before, at the same time as, or after fasciotomy closure. Bayesian hierarchical regression models with a neutral prior were used to determine the association between timing of ORIF and infection. The posterior probability of treatment benefit for ORIF was also determined for the three timings of ORIF relative to fasciotomy closure., Results: Of the 729 patients who underwent ORIF of their tibial plateau fracture, 143 (19.6%) subsequently developed a FRI requiring operative treatment. Patients sustaining infections were: 21.0% of those with ORIF before (43 of 205), 15.9% at the same time as (37 of 232), and 21.6% after fasciotomy wound closure (63 of 292). ORIF at the same time as fasciotomy closure demonstrated a 91% probability of being superior to before closure (RR, 0.75; 95% CrI, 0.38 to 1.10). ORIF after fasciotomy closure had a lower likelihood (45%) of a superior outcome than before closure (RR, 1.02; 95% CrI; 0.64 to 1.39)., Conclusion: Data from this multicenter cohort confirms previous reports of a high FRI risk in patients with a tibial plateau fracture and ipsilateral compartment syndrome. Our results suggest that ORIF at the time of fasciotomy closure has the highest probability of treatment benefit, but that infection was common with all three timings of ORIF in this difficult clinical situation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interests None., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The field of orthopedic surgery continues to grow rapidly in popularity. Ninety percent of orthopedic residents pursue fellowship training after residency, representing the highest rate of subspecialty training among surgical specialties. The goal of this study was to determine the factors considered most important by pediatric orthopedic fellowship program directors (PDs) in evaluating applicants and determining a rank list. A web-based survey was sent to all 42 US pediatric orthopedic fellowship programs. The PDs were contacted through publicly accessible email addresses found on program websites or the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America website. Respondents were asked to indicate the fellowship program size and the number of applicants interviewed and ranked each year. The PDs were then asked to rank a list of 12 factors to reflect the relative importance of these criteria in evaluating fellowship applicants. Three emails were sent: 1 at the initial survey release and 2 reminder emails at 2 and 4 weeks. Surveys were anonymous. The overall response rate was 69% (29 of 42). Of the responding PDs, 48% (14 of 29) indicated that the interview was the most important factor in ranking fellowship applicants, whereas 31% (9 of 29) considered the applicant's letters of recommendation most important. Personal connections to the applicant or letter writer and research experience were each considered most important by 10% of responding PDs. Nearly half (48%) of responding PDs considered in-person interviews the most important factor in ranking fellowship applicants. Our results provide useful information for medical students and orthopedic residents planning to pursue fellowship training in pediatric orthopedics. [ Orthopedics . 2022;45(4):e207-210.].

Abstract: Globally, the burden of musculoskeletal conditions continues to rise, disproportionately affecting low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The ability to meet these orthopaedic surgical care demands remains a challenge. To help address these issues, many orthopaedic surgeons seek opportunities to provide humanitarian assistance to the populations in need. While many global orthopaedic initiatives are well-intentioned and can offer short-term benefits to the local communities, it is essential to emphasize training and the integration of local surgeon-leaders. The commitment to developing educational and investigative capacity, as well as fostering sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships in low-resource settings, is critical. To this end, global health organizations, such as the Consortium of Orthopaedic Academic Traumatologists (COACT), work to promote and ensure the lasting sustainability of musculoskeletal trauma care worldwide. This article describes global orthopaedic efforts that can effectively address musculoskeletal care through an examination of 5 domains: clinical care, clinical research, surgical education, disaster response, and advocacy., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJS/G840)., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate rates of complications in patients with bilateral femur fractures treated with intramedullary nailing (IMN) during either 1 single procedure or 2 separate procedures., Design: A multicenter retrospective review of patients sustaining bilateral femur fractures, treated with IMN in single or 2-stage procedure, from 1998 to 2018 was performed at 10 Level-1 trauma centers., Setting: Ten Level-1 trauma centers., Patients/participants: Two hundred forty-six patients with bilateral femur fractures., Interventions: Intramedullary nailing., Main Outcome Measures: Incidence of complications., Results: A total of 246 patients were included, with 188 single-stage and 58 two-stage patients. Gender, age, injury severity score, abbreviated injury score, secondary injuries, Glasgow coma scale, and proportion of open fractures were similar between both groups. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurred at higher rates in the 2-stage group (13.8% vs. 5.9%; P value = 0.05). When further adjusted for age, gender, injury severity score, abbreviated injury score, Glasgow coma scale, and admission lactate, the single-stage group had a 78% reduced risk for ARDS. In-hospital mortality was higher in the single-stage cohort (2.7% compared with 0%), although this did not meet statistical significance (P = 0.22)., Conclusions: This is the largest multicenter study to date evaluating the outcomes between single- and 2-stage IMN fixation for bilateral femoral shaft fractures. Single-stage bilateral femur IMN may decrease rates of ARDS in polytrauma patients who are able to undergo simultaneous definitive fixation. However, a future prospective study with standardized protocols in place will be required to discern whether single- versus 2-stage fixation has an effect on mortality and to identify those individuals at risk., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To identify the incidence of distal articular fractures in a series of distal third tibia shaft fractures and to report the utility of both computed tomography (CT) scans and Radiographic Investigation of the Distal Extension of Fractures into the Articular Surface of the Tibia (RIDEFAST) ratios for identification of articular involvement., Design: Retrospective cohort., Setting: Level 1 trauma center., Patients: Four hundred seventeen patients with distal third tibia shaft fractures were included in the study., Intervention: Intramedullary nail or plate fixation., Main Outcome Measures: Type of articular fracture, time of diagnosis, and RIDEFAST ratios., Results: One hundred one of the 417 distal third fractures (24%) had a fracture of the distal tibia articular surface. Of these 101 fractures, 41 (41%) represented an extension of the primary fracture line and 60 (59%) were separate malleolar fractures. Of the 101 articular fractures, 95 (94%) were identified preoperatively and 6 (6%) were identified intraoperatively. Of the 95 fractures identified preoperatively, 87 (92%) were identified on plain radiographs and 8 (8%) by CT scan. Thirty-five preoperative CT scans were performed on distal third tibia shaft fractures in search of an intra-articular fracture. In 27 patients (77%), no articular fracture was present, representing an overall yield of 23% among CT scans performed to rule out an articular fracture in distal third tibia shaft fractures. RIDEFAST ratios for all 101 distal tibia shaft fractures with articular involvement and 100 fractures with no articular involvement were not significantly different (P > 0.05) using both coronal and sagittal plane measurements., Conclusions: CT scans performed on distal third tibia shaft fractures in search of articular fractures had a low yield (23%). Widespread use of CT scan to diagnose fractures of the distal tibia articular surface in the setting of distal tibia shaft fractures does not seem warranted. No statistically significant differences in RIDEFAST ratios were found between fractures with and without articular involvement, indicating that more work is necessary before RIDEFAST can be used to reliably rule out articular involvement in this setting., Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the factors that influence the timing of definitive fixation in the management of bilateral femoral shaft fractures and the outcomes for patients with these injuries., Methods: Patients with bilateral femur fractures treated between 1998 to 2019 at ten level-1 trauma centers were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were grouped into early or delayed fixation, which was defined as definitive fixation of both femurs within or greater than 24 hours from injury, respectively. Statistical analysis included reversed logistic odds regression to predict which variable(s) was most likely to determine timing to definitive fixation. The outcomes included age, sex, high-volume institution, ISS, GCS, admission lactate, and admission base deficit., Results: Three hundred twenty-eight patients were included; 164 patients were included in the early fixation group and 164 patients in the delayed fixation group. Patients managed with delayed fixation had a higher Injury Severity Score (26.8 vs 22.4; p<0.01), higher admission lactate (4.4 and 3.0; p<0.01), and a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (10.7 vs 13; p<0.01). High-volume institution was the most reliable influencer for time to definitive fixation, successfully determining 78.6% of patients, followed by admission lactate, 64.4%. When all variables were evaluated in conjunction, high-volume institution remained the strongest contributor (X 2 statistic: institution: 45.6, ISS: 8.83, lactate: 6.77, GCS: 0.94)., Conclusion: In this study, high-volume institution was the strongest predictor of timing to definitive fixation in patients with bilateral femur fractures. This study demonstrates an opportunity to create a standardized care pathway for patients with these injuries., Level of Evidence: Level III., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To measure the effectiveness of the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) Fin nail for achieving satisfactory postoperative radiographic alignment following femoral shaft fractures., Methods: Femoral shaft fractures stabilized with the SIGN Fin nail were identified using the SIGN Online Surgical Database. A random number generator was used to identify 500 femur fractures fixed within 6 weeks of injury for which postoperative radiographs were available. Fractures were classified using OTA/AO and Winquist-Hansen classification systems. Deviation from anatomic alignment was measured on anterior-posterior and lateral radiographs using an on-screen protractor tool. Other clinical variables recorded in the SIGN Online Surgical Database were also analyzed. Simple logistic regression was used to assess for associations between subject and surgical characteristics and misalignment status. Intra- and inter-rater agreement was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)., Results: The overall rate of malalignment >5° was 9.4%. Factors associated with increased incidence of malalignment include older age, increased time to surgery, distal diaphyseal location, closed (vs open) reduction, degree of comminution, and fracture classification. Intra-rater ICC was 0.70 (0.52, 0.82) in the coronal plane and 0.55 (0.32, 0.72) in the sagittal plane. Inter-rater ICC was 0.37 (0.08, 0.60) and 0.32 (0.05, 0.54), respectively., Conclusion: The SIGN Fin nail is an effective implant for fixation of femoral shaft fractures in resource-limited regions, achieving rates of satisfactory postoperative alignment comparable to that of the standard SIGN nail as well as femoral shaft fractures treated in North American Trauma Centers. Further research is required to investigate rotational alignment and long-term clinical outcomes for the SIGN Fin nail., Level of Evidence: IV., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.)

Study Design: Cross-sectional study., Objective: To determine which factors spine surgery fellowship program directors (PDs) consider most important when ranking applicants., Summary of Background Data: Spine surgery is a popular orthopedic subspecialty. As such, the spine fellowship match process is highly competitive. Surveys of fellowship PDs in orthopedic sports medicine and hand surgery have demonstrated differing opinions regarding factors considered most important when ranking fellowship applicants. The factors considered important to spine surgery fellowship PDs have not been evaluated., Methods: A web-based questionnaire was sent to the PDs of all spine surgery fellowships participating in the San Francisco (SF) Match Program. The questions were designed to identify criteria considered most important in ranking spine surgery fellowship applicants. A list of 12 criteria was presented and PDs were asked to rank these in order of importance. A weighted score for each criterion was calculated using the following scale: 5 points for each criterion ranked 1st, 4 points for 2nd, 3 points for 3rd, 2 points for 4th, and 1 point for 5th., Results: Of the 73 PDs queried, 52 responded (71% response rate). The interview was the most important factor when ranking fellowship applicants. The other criteria deemed most important in order of weighted scoring were letters of recommendation and personal connections to the applicant and/or familiarity with the applicant's letter writer(s)., Conclusion: Spine surgery fellowship PDs consider the interview, letters of recommendation, and personal connections with the applicant/letter writers to be the most important factors when ranking candidates. These results may be valuable to orthopedic residents and mentors of those pursuing fellowship training in spine surgery.Level of Evidence: 4., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Despite the widespread use of systemic antibiotics to prevent infections in surgically treated patients with fracture, high rates of surgical site infection persist., Objective: To examine the effect of intrawound vancomycin powder in reducing deep surgical site infections., Design, Setting, and Participants: This open-label randomized clinical trial enrolled adult patients with an operatively treated tibial plateau or pilon fracture who met the criteria for a high risk of infection from January 1, 2015, through June 30, 2017, with 12 months of follow-up (final follow-up assessments completed in April 2018) at 36 US trauma centers., Interventions: A standard infection prevention protocol with (n = 481) or without (n = 499) 1000 mg of intrawound vancomycin powder., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was a deep surgical site infection within 182 days of definitive fracture fixation. A post hoc comparison assessed the treatment effect on gram-positive and gram-negative-only infections. Other secondary outcomes included superficial surgical site infection, nonunion, and wound dehiscence., Results: The analysis included 980 patients (mean [SD] age, 45.7 [13.7] years; 617 [63.0%] male) with 91% of the expected person-time of follow-up for the primary outcome. Within 182 days, deep surgical site infection was observed in 29 of 481 patients in the treatment group and 46 of 499 patients in the control group. The time-to-event estimated probability of deep infection by 182 days was 6.4% in the treatment group and 9.8% in the control group (risk difference, -3.4%; 95% CI, -6.9% to 0.1%; P = .06). A post hoc analysis of the effect of treatment on gram-positive (risk difference, -3.7%; 95% CI, -6.7% to -0.8%; P = .02) and gram-negative-only (risk difference, 0.3%; 95% CI, -1.6% to 2.1%; P = .78) infections found that the effect of vancomycin powder was a result of its reduction in gram-positive infections., Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with operatively treated tibial articular fractures at a high risk of infection, intrawound vancomycin powder at the time of definitive fracture fixation reduced the risk of a gram-positive deep surgical site infection, consistent with the activity of vancomycin., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02227446.

Objectives: To assess the impact of various reduction techniques on postoperative alignment following intramedullary nail (IMN) fixation of tibial shaft fractures., Design: Retrospective comparative study., Setting: Level I trauma center., Patients: Four hundred twenty-eight adult patients who underwent IMN fixation of a tibial shaft fracture between 2008 and 2017., Intervention: IMN fixation with use of one or more of the following reduction techniques: manual reduction, traveling traction, percutaneous clamps, provisional plating, or blocking screws., Main Outcome Measures: Immediate postoperative coronal and sagittal plane alignment, measured as deviation from anatomic axis (DFAA); coronal and sagittal plane malalignment (defined as DFAA >5° in either plane)., Results: Four hundred twenty-eight patients met inclusion criteria. Manual reduction (MR) alone was used in 11% of fractures, and adjunctive reduction aids were used for the remaining 89%. After controlling for age, BMI, and fracture location, the use of traveling traction (TT) with or without percutaneous clamping (PC) resulted in significantly improved coronal plane alignment compared to MR alone (TT: 3.4°, TT+PC: 3.2°, MR: 4.5°, P  = .007 and P  = .01, respectively). Using TT+PC resulted in the lowest rate of coronal plane malalignment (13% vs 39% with MR alone, P  = .01), and using any adjunctive reduction technique resulted in decreased malalignment rates compared to MR (24% vs 39%, P  = .02). No difference was observed in sagittal plane alignment between reduction techniques. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) results indicated excellent intraobserver reliability on both planes (both ICC>0.85), good inter-observer reliability in the coronal plane (ICC = 0.7), and poor inter-observer reliability in the sagittal plane (ICC = 0.05)., Conclusions: The use of adjunctive reduction techniques during IMN fixation of tibia fractures is associated with a lower incidence of coronal plane malalignment when compared to manual reduction alone., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.)

Background: Orthopedic fellowship positions continue to be increasingly competitive, with most orthopedic residency graduates pursuing fellowship after completion of residency. Shoulder and elbow fellowship training represents an increasingly competitive and relatively smaller cohort of applicants than other subspecialties; there are only 29 programs with a total of 40 offered positions. The purpose of this survey is to identify and rank factors considered most important by shoulder and elbow fellowship directors when identifying potential fellowship candidates., Methods: A web-based survey was emailed to all 29 orthopedic shoulder and elbow fellowship directors recognized by American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. Demographic information was collected regarding program size, total number of applicants interviewed, and total number of applicants subsequently ranked. The survey also included a list of twelve applicant characteristics which each program director was asked to rank in a sequential order (most important to least). The median score of each factor was calculated, and a weighted score was applied to the top five (of twelve) categories selected by each program. Five points were given to the top-ranked factor. Four points were given to factors ranked 2 nd , three points to factors ranked 3 rd , two points to factors ranked 4 th , and one point to factors ranked 5 th . The weighted scores were then used to determine the most highly desired applicant characteristics., Results: Twenty-two of 29 (76%) orthopedic shoulder and elbow fellowship programs responded to the survey. Fourteen of 22 (64%) programs interview 20 or fewer applicants each year. No programs ranked more than 25 applicants. Twelve of 22 (55%) of program directors rated the interview as the most important factor, whereas 6 of 22 (27%) selected letters of recommendation. Based on the weighted score calculation, interviews, letters of recommendation, and personal connections to the applicant/letter writers comprised the top three categories, respectively, and captured 193 of 330 (58%) of the total available points in the weighted score. Strength of shoulder/elbow experience in residency, ties to the geographical area, and comments made regarding technical competence scored among the lowest factors., Conclusion: Orthopedic shoulder and elbow fellowship directors consistently ranked interviews, letters of recommendation, and personal connection to applicant/letter writer higher than other factors when ranking applicants. This information provides both program directors as well as applicants with important information to consider when navigating the shoulder and elbow fellowship application process., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Objectives: To determine whether Hounsfield units (HUs) measured on perioperative computed tomographic scans are associated with radiographic outcomes and reoperations after femoral neck fracture fixation., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Level I trauma center., Patients: One hundred fourteen patients age ≥18 years, who presented to a Level I trauma center, and who underwent surgical fixation of intracapsular femoral neck fracture and had perioperative computed tomographic scans and adequate follow-up., Intervention: None., Main Outcome Measurements: Screw penetration, femoral neck shortening >5 mm, and revision surgery., Results: A median follow-up was 23 months. An HU measurement of the femoral head was significantly associated with screw penetration and femoral neck shortening but not revision surgery. Patients with middle femoral head HU measurements <146 had 17 times (95% confidence interval: 4.32-78.9, P < 0.001) increased odds of screw penetration. Greater than 5 mm shortening was seen in patients with HUs <212.5 in the low head section by an odds ratio of 7.8 (95% confidence interval: 2.15-33.0, P = 0.014)., Conclusion: Outcome differences regarding screw penetration and femoral neck shortening related to the HU or densities of femoral head and neck at the time of fracture are significant. These findings can help the clinician with developing a treatment plan for either arthroplasty or fixation of a femoral neck fracture based on objective bone quality measurements rather than relying on an arbitrary age recommendation., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: R. V. O′Toole is a paid consultant for CoorsTek, Imagen, and Smith & Nephew, receives stock options from Imagen, and receives royalties from CoorsTek, not related to this study. The remaining authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: More than 90% of orthopaedic surgery graduates pursue fellowship training after residency. Previous investigations have examined factors considered important by orthopaedic sports medicine and hand surgery fellowship program directors (PDs). This study sought to identify which factors orthopaedic trauma fellowship PDs deem most important when evaluating applicants., Methods: A web-based survey was sent to all 59 orthopaedic trauma fellowship PDs. PDs were given a list of 12 factors, which they ranked in order of importance. A weighted score for each factor was calculated. PDs could also write-in additional factors they considered important when ranking applicants., Results: The overall response rate was 83% (49/59 PDs). Forty-five percent of responding PDs listed the interview as the most important factor when ranking applicants. Other factors considered most important included letters of recommendation, personal connections to the applicant and/or letter writers, and the applicant's background in trauma. Results of the weighted score calculation again identified the interview as the most important factor when ranking applicants, followed by letters of recommendation, personal connections to the applicant/letter writers, the applicant's residency program, strength of the applicant's background in trauma, and research experience., Discussion: Orthopaedic trauma fellowship PDs consider the interview, letters of recommendation, and personal connections to the applicant/letter writers to be the most important factors when ranking fellowship applicants., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

Purpose: The Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nail was designed for use in resource limited settings which often lack fluoroscopy, specialized fracture tables, and power reaming. A newer design iteration, the SIGN Fin nail, was developed to further simplify retrograde femoral nailing by making proximal interlocking screw placement unnecessary. Instead, the leading end of the Fin nail achieves stability through an interference fit within the proximal femoral canal. While the performance of the traditional SIGN nail has been reported previously, no large series has examined long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of femoral shaft fractures treated with the SIGN Fin nail., Methods: The SIGN online surgical database was used to identify all adult femoral shaft fractures treated with the SIGN Fin nail since its introduction. All patients with minimum 6 month clinical and radiographic follow-up were included in the analysis. Available demographic, injury, and surgical characteristics were recorded. Fracture alignment was evaluated on final follow-up radiographs using a previously validated on-screen protractor tool. Coronal and sagittal plane alignment measurements were recorded as deviation from anatomic alignment (DFAA), with units in degrees. Fracture healing was assessed on final follow-up radiographs, with union defined as any bridging callus and/or cortical remodeling across one cortex on orthogonal views. Clinical outcomes available in the database included knee range of motion (ROM) greater than 90° and weight-bearing status at final follow-up. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were then compared between patients with united and nonunited fractures., Results: The database query identified 249 femoral shaft fractures stabilized with the Fin nail in 242 patients who had minimum 6 month clinical and radiographic follow-up. Final follow-up radiographs were performed at an average of 48 weeks postoperatively. Average coronal and sagittal plane alignment measured on final follow-up radiographs were 2.18° and 2.58°, respectively. The rate of malalignment (DFAA > 10° in either plane) at final follow-up was 6%. Two hundred twenty-nine fractures (92%) were united at final follow-up. Overall, 209 (84%) of patients achieved full weight bearing and 214 (86%) achieved knee ROM >90° at final follow-up. Compared to patients with united fractures, those with nonunion were less likely to achieve full weight bearing (20% vs 90%, P  < .001) and knee ROM >90° (30% vs 91%, P  < .001). There was no significant difference in mean DFAA between united and nonunited fractures in the coronal (2.1° vs 3.8°, P  = .298) or sagittal (2.5° vs 3.5°, P  = .528) planes., Conclusion: The SIGN Fin nail achieves satisfactory radiographic alignment and clinical outcomes at minimum 6 month follow-up. The overall union rate is comparable to that achieved with the standard SIGN nail. Ease of implantation makes the Fin nail an attractive option in resource-limited settings., Competing Interests: The authors have no other conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.)

Background: Variables considered by hip and knee arthroplasty fellowship program directors (PDs) to select fellowship candidates are not well known., Methods: A web-based questionnaire containing 5 questions was developed and sent to all 92 adult reconstruction fellowship PDs via email. Three questions collected program information including the number of positions available, the number of candidates interviewed, and ranked annually. PDs were then given a list of 12 factors and asked to rank them in the order of importance. A weighted score for each factor was calculated using the following scale: 5 points each time a factor was ranked 1st, 4 points each time a factor was ranked 2nd, 3 points for each 3rd place rank, 2 points for each 4th place rank, and 1 point for each 5th place rank. PDs were also allowed to write in other factors they considered important when ranking fellowship candidates., Results: The overall response rate was 34.8% (32/92). Seventy-five percent of responding programs indicated that they interview between 21 and 40 applicants per year for their fellowship position(s). The interview was ranked as the most important variable in selecting applicants by 53.1% of responding PDs, followed by letters of recommendation (ranked first by 25% of PDs) and personal connections to the applicant and/or letter writer(s) (ranked first by 9% of PDs). A positive correlation was identified between the program size and an applicant's geographical ties to the city/town of the fellowship program ( r s  = 0.472; P  = .006)., Conclusions: According to hip and knee arthroplasty fellowship PDs, the interview, letters of recommendation, and personal connections to the applicant and/or letter writers are the most important factors considered in selecting arthroplasty fellowship candidates., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Background: In an era of shared decision making, patient expectations for education have increased. Ideal resources would offer accurate information, digital delivery and interaction. Mobile applications have potential to fulfill these requirements. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate adoption of a patient education application (app: http://bit.ly/traumaapp) at multiple sites with disparate locations and varied populations., Methods: A trauma patient education application was developed at one trauma center and subsequently released at three new trauma centers. The app contains information regarding treatment and recovery and was customized with provider information for each institution. Each center was provided with promotional materials, and each had strategies to inform providers and patients about the app. Data regarding utilization was collected. Patients were surveyed about usage and recommendations., Results: Over the 16-month study period, the app was downloaded 844 times (70%) in the metropolitan regions of the study centers. The three new centers had 380, 89 and 31 downloads, while the original center had 93 downloads. 36% of sessions were greater than 2 min, while 41% were less than a few seconds. The percentage of those surveyed who used the app ranged from 14.3% to 44.0% for a weighted average of 36.8% of those having used the app. The mean patient willingness to recommend the app was 3.3 on a 5-point Likert scale. However, the distribution was bimodal: 60% of patients rated the app 4 or 5, while 32% rated it 1 or 2., Discussion: The adoption of a trauma patient education app was successful at four centers with disparate patient populations. The majority of patients were likely to recommend the app. Variations in implementation strategies resulted in different rates of download. Integration of the app into patient education by providers is associated with more downloads., Level of Evidence: Level III care management., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Funding to develop the app was provided through the MetroHealth Foundation Nash Endowment for Orthopaedic Education., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: To identify the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carrier rate among surgical patients on an orthopaedic trauma service and to determine whether screening is an effective tool for reducing postoperative MRSA infection in this population., Design: Prospective., Setting: Level 1 trauma center., Patients/participants: Two hundred forty-eight patients with operatively managed orthopaedic trauma conditions during the study period. Two hundred three patients (82%) had acute orthopaedic trauma injuries. Forty-five patients (18%) underwent surgery for a nonacute orthopaedic trauma condition, including 36 elective procedures and 9 procedures to address infection., Intervention: MRSA screening protocol, preoperative antibiotics per protocol., Main Outcome Measurements: MRSA carrier rate, overall infection rate, MRSA infection rate., Results: Our screening captured 71% (175/248) of operatively treated orthopaedic trauma patients during the study period. The overall MRSA carrier rate was 3.4% (6/175). When separated by group, the acute orthopaedic trauma cohort had an MRSA carrier rate of 1.4% (2/143), and neither MRSA-positive patient developed a surgical site infection. Only one MRSA infection occurred in the acute orthopaedic trauma cohort. The nonacute group had a significantly higher MRSA carrier rate of 12.5% (4/32, P = 0.01), and the elective group had the highest MRSA carrier rate of 15.4% (4/26, P < 0.01). The odds ratio of MRSA colonization was 10.1 in the nonacute group (95% confidence interval, 1.87-75.2) and 12.8 for true elective group (95% confidence interval, 2.36-96.5) when compared with the acute orthopaedic trauma cohort., Conclusions: There was a low MRSA colonization rate (1.4%) among patients presenting to our institution for acute fracture care. Patients undergoing elective surgery for fracture-related conditions such as nonunion, malunion, revision surgery, or implant removal have a significantly higher MRSA carrier rate (15.4%) and therefore may benefit from MRSA screening. Our results do not support routine vancomycin administration for orthopaedic trauma patients whose MRSA status is not known at the time of surgery., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Objectives: (1) To determine the infection rate after fixation of open tibial shaft fractures using the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nail in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and (2) to identify risk factors for infection., Design: Prospective cohort study using an international online database., Setting: Multiple hospitals in LMICs worldwide., Patients/participants: A total of 1061 open tibia fractures treated with the SIGN nail in LMICs between March 2000 and February 2013., Intervention: Intravenous antibiotic administration, surgical debridement, and definitive intramedullary nailing within 14 days of injury., Main Outcome Measurements: Deep or superficial infection at follow-up, implant breakage/loosening, angular deformity >10 degrees, repeat surgery, radiographic union, weight bearing, and ability to kneel., Results: The overall infection rate was 11.9%. Infection rates by the Gustilo and Anderson classification were type 1: 5.1%, type II: 12.6%, type IIIa: 12.5%, type IIIb: 29.1%, and type IIIc: 16.7% (P = 0.001 between groups). Patients who developed infection had a longer mean time from injury to definitive surgery (4.7 vs. 3.9 days, P = 0.03) and from injury to wound closure (13.7 vs. 3.6 days, P < 0.001). Distal fractures had a higher infection rate than midshaft fractures (13.3% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.03). Infection rates were not associated with time from injury to initial debridement, time from injury to initial antibiotic administration, or total duration of antibiotics., Conclusions: Open tibia fractures can be managed effectively using the SIGN intramedullary nail in LMICs with an overall infection rate of 11.9%. Risk factors for infection identified include more severe soft-tissue injury, delayed nailing, delayed wound closure, and distal fracture location., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Purpose: In developing countries, long bone fractures following trauma are a significant contributor to morbidity, and operating room resources are often limited in these settings. The Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) Fin nail may reduce the challenges of retrograde intramedullary nailing of femoral fractures without fluoroscopy. In contrast to the traditional SIGN nail placed in a retrograde fashion, the Fin nail does not require proximal interlocking screws. Instead, the nail achieves stability through an interference fit within the proximal femoral canal. The purpose of this study is to compare postoperative alignment in femoral shaft fractures treated with either a retrograde SIGN Fin nail or a standard retrograde SIGN nail., Method: Using the SIGN online surgical database, we identified all femoral shaft fractures treated with a retrograde SIGN Fin nail at 2 African hospitals. Two examiners independently classified fracture patterns using the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification system. Using an on-screen protractor tool, postoperative coronal and sagittal plane alignment were measured and recorded as deviation from anatomic alignment (DFAA), with units in degrees. Available patient demographics and surgical details were also recorded. Fin nail cases were matched in a 1:1 ratio to retrograde standard SIGN nail cases based on AO/OTA fracture type., Results: Twenty-eight retrograde Fin nail cases were identified, and 28 matched retrograde SIGN nail cases were selected. The Fin nail and retrograde SIGN nail groups were well matched in terms of demographics, AO/OTA fracture type, and surgical characteristics. There was no significant difference in postoperative coronal or sagittal plane alignment between the groups. There were no cases in either group of average postoperative malalignment >5° in any plane., Conclusion: The SIGN Fin nail appears to achieve satisfactory radiographic alignment without the need for proximal interlocking screws, making it an attractive implant for retrograde femoral shaft fracture fixation in resource-limited settings. Further research is required to validate these findings and determine long-term Fin nail clinical outcomes., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.)

Purpose: Orthopaedic residents are increasingly seeking international health electives (IHEs) during training, many of which involve providing paediatric orthopaedic care. However, little is known about the availability of IHEs during orthopaedic fellowship training. Our study sought to assess the global health opportunities available to North American paediatric orthopaedic fellows., Methods: We conducted an online, REDCap-based survey of paediatric orthopaedic fellowship programme directors (PDs) in the United States and Canada. The survey link was sent by the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) Evidence-Based Medicine Committee to all POSNA-approved paediatric orthopaedic fellowship PDs. Follow-up reminder emails were delivered at set time intervals., Results: The overall response rate was 55% (26/47). Only three of 26 responding programmes (11.5%) offered a structured global health programme but 42.3% of programmes (11/26) reported fellow IHE participation within the last ten years. In all, 91% of PDs reported that fellows were extremely satisfied with their IHE, and 91% agreed that IHEs are valuable for trainees. Perceived barriers to fellow participation in IHEs included lack of funding, lack of established partner sites, lack of interest among fellows and concerns related to time away compromising clinical/call coverage. In all, 65.4% of PDs agree that IHE participation during training plays a major role in shaping fellows' future volunteer activities., Conclusion: There are limited global health opportunities among North American paediatric orthopaedic fellowship programmes, with only 11.5% offering a structured global health programme. Greater efforts to establish sustainable funding and international partnerships may increase opportunities for IHEs during paediatric orthopaedic fellowship training., Level of Evidence: Level II.

This study sought to evaluate the outcomes of patients with osseous defects exceeding 5 cm following open femur fractures. Size of the osseous defect, method of internal fixation (plate vs. intramedullary nail), patient demographics, medical comorbidities, and surgical complications were collected. Twenty-seven of the 832 open femur fracture patients had osseous defects exceeding 5 cm. Mean osseous defect size was 8 cm, and each patient had an average of four operations including initial debridement. Average time from injury to bone grafting was 123.7 days. The overall complication rate was 48.1% ( n = 13). The most common complications were infection (26.0%, n = 7) and nonunion (41.0%, n = 11). Smoking, diabetes, ASA score, and defect size did not independently increase the risk of a complication. Management of open femur fractures with osseous defects greater than 5 cm is associated with high complication rate, driven primarily by infection and nonunion. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 27(3):203-208, 2018).

Purpose: We sought to conduct the largest retrospective study to date of open tibia fractures and describe the incidence of complications and evaluate the potential predictive risk factors for complications., Methods: Patients with open tibia fractures treated with reamed intramedullary nail (IMN) across a 10-year period were evaluated. Patient charts were reviewed for demographics, type of open fracture (T), comorbidities, and postoperative complications. A multivariate model was conducted to determine the risk factors for each type of complication., Results: Of the 486 patients with open tibia fractures, 13 % (n = 64) had infections, 12 % (n = 56) had nonunions, and 1 % (n = 7) had amputations. TIII fractures had much higher rates of each complication than TI and TII fractures. Fracture type was the only significant risk factor for both nonunion and infection., Conclusion: Our study found that the Gustilo grade of open tibia fracture is by far the greatest predictor of nonunion and infection.

In this study, we sought to retrospectively evaluate union and infection rates after treatment of distal femur nonunions using a combined nail/plate construct with autogenous bone grafting obtained from the ipsilateral femur using a reamer irrigator aspirator system. Ten (10) patients treated at a Level I trauma center for nonunion of a femoral fracture using a combined nail/plate construct from 2004 to 2014 were included in the study. Union rate and postoperative infection rates were recorded. Mean interval from index surgery to nonunion repair was 12 months (range 4-36 months). Follow-up at 24 months indicated that the entire cohort of 10 patients achieved clinical union and radiographic union based on radiograph union score in tibias (RUST) criteria. Treatment of distal femur nonunions with a combined nail/plate construct and autogenous bone grafting results in a high rate of union with a low complication rate.

Purpose  The purpose of this study was to compare complication rates following inpatient versus outpatient distal radius fracture ORIF and identify specific complications that occur at increased rates among inpatients. Methods  Using the 2005-2013 ACS-NSQIP, we collected patient demographics, comorbidities, surgical characteristics, and 30-day postoperative complications following isolated ORIF of distal radius fractures. A propensity score matched design using an 8-to-1 "greedy" matching algorithm in a 1:4 ratio of inpatients to outpatients was utilized. Rates of minor, major, and total complications were compared. A multinomial logistic regression model was then used to assess the odds of complications following inpatient surgery. Results  Total 4,016 patients were identified, 776 (19.3%) of whom underwent inpatient surgery and 3,240 (80.3%) underwent outpatient surgery. The propensity score matching algorithm yielded a cohort of 629 inpatients who were matched with 2,516 outpatients (1:4 ratio). After propensity score matching, inpatient treatment was associated with increased rates of major and total complications but not with minor complications. There was an increased odds of major complications and total complications following inpatient surgery compared with outpatient surgery. There was no difference in odds of minor complications between groups. Conclusion  Inpatient operative treatment of distal radius fractures is associated with significantly increased rates of major and total complications compared with operative treatment as an outpatient. Odds of a major complication are six times higher and odds of total complications are two and a half times higher following inpatient distal radius ORIF compared with outpatient. Quality improvement measures should be specifically targeted to patients undergoing distal radius fracture ORIF in the inpatient setting.

Objectives: To document the current state of pelvic and acetabular surgery in the developing world and to identify critical areas for improvement in the treatment of these complex injuries., Design: A 50-question online survey., Setting: International, multicenter., Patients/participants: One hundred eighty-one orthopaedic surgeons at Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) hospitals, which represent a cross-section of institutions in low- and middle-income countries that treat high-energy musculoskeletal trauma., Interventions: Administration and analysis of 50-question survey., Main Outcome Measures: Surgeon training and experience; hospital resources; volume and patterns of pelvic/acetabular fracture management; postoperative protocols and resources for rehabilitation; financial responsibilities for patients with pelvic/acetabular fractures., Results: Complete surveys were returned by 75 institutions, representing 61.8% of the global SIGN nail volume. Although 96% of respondents were trained in orthopaedic surgery, 53.3% have no formal training in pelvic or acetabular surgery. Emergency access to the operating room is available at all responding sites, but computed tomography scanners are available at only 60% of sites, and a mere 21% of sites have access to angiography for pelvic embolization. Cannulated screws (53.3%) and pelvic reconstruction plates (56%) are available at just over half of the sites, and 68% of sites do not have pelvic reduction clamps and retractors. 21.3% of sites do not have access to intraoperative fluoroscopy. Responding hospitals see an average of 38.8 pelvic ring injuries annually, with 24% of sites treating them all nonoperatively. Sites treated an average of 22.5 acetabular fractures annually, with 34.7% of institutions treating them all nonoperatively. Patients travel up to 1000 km or 20 hours for pelvic/acetabular treatment at some sites. Although 78.7% of sites have inpatient physical or occupational therapy services, only 17% report access to home physical therapy, and only 9% report availability of nursing or rehabilitation facilities postdischarge. At over 80% of hospitals, patients and their families are at least partially responsible for payment of surgical, implant, hospital, and outpatient fees. Government aid is available for inpatient fees at over 40% of sites, but outpatient services are subsidized at only 28% of sites., Conclusions: We report the current state of pelvic and acetabular surgery in low- and middle-income countries. Our results identify significant needs in surgeon training, hospital resources, availability of instruments and implants, and access to appropriate postoperative rehabilitation services for pelvic and acetabular surgery in the developing world. Targeted programs designed to overcome these barriers are required to advance the care of pelvic and acetabular fractures in the developing world.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate damage control plating (DCP) as an alternative to external fixation (EF) in the provisional stabilization of open tibial shaft fractures. Through retrospective analysis, the study found 445 patients who underwent operative fixation for tibial shaft fractures from 2008 to 2012. Twenty patients received DCP or EF before intramedullary nailing with a minimum follow-up of 3 months. Charts and radiographs were reviewed for postoperative complications. Hospital charges were reviewed for implant costs. Nine patients (45%) with DCP and 11 patients (55%) with EF were analyzed. There was no significant difference in the complication rates. The mean implant cost of DCP was $1028, whereas mean EF construct cost was $4204. Therefore, DCP resulted in significant cost savings with no difference in complication rates, making it a valuable alternative to EF for the provisional stabilization of open tibial shaft fractures.

Purpose: The impact of obesity on outcomes has been documented extensively in the elective orthopaedic literature, but little is known about the impact of obesity on outcomes following orthopaedic trauma surgery. Utilizing the ACS-NSQIP database, we sought to investigate the relationship between BMI and perioperative complications in orthopaedic trauma patients., Methods: 53,219 orthopaedic trauma patients were identified using a CPT code search between 2005 and 2013 in the NSQIP database. Patient demographics, and perioperative complications (including minor, major, and total) were collected. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to control for baseline demographics and comorbidities., Results: Compared with patients of normal weight, underweight patients had significantly greater odds of minor [OR 1.12, 95 % CI (1.0, 1.26), p = 0.04], major [OR 1.20, 95 % CI (1.1, 1.3), p = 0.0009], and total complications [OR 1.18, 95 % CI (1.1, 1.3), p = 0.0003]. Morbidly obese patients had significantly greater odds of major [OR 1.22, 95 % CI (1.0, 1.5), p = 0.023] and total complications [OR 1.18, 95 % CI (1.0, 1.4), p = 0.023] compared to normal weight patients. When wound-related complications were examined independently, obesity was associated with increased odds of superficial [OR 1.67, 95 % CI (1.3, 2.1), p < 0.0001] and deep wound infection [OR 1.52, 95 % CI (1.075, 2.144), p = 0.018], and morbid obesity was associated with increased odds of wound dehiscence [OR 2.29, 95 % CI (1.1, 4.9), p = 0.034] and deep infection [OR 2.51, 95 % CI (1.6, 3.9), p < 0.0001]., Conclusions: Morbidly obese patients have significantly greater odds of wound dehiscence, deep wound infection, major complications, and total complications compared to patients of normal weight. Additionally, BMI under 18.5 is associated with increased odds of minor, major, and total perioperative complications. Interventions aimed at decreasing complication rates should be targeted at these high-risk patient populations on both ends of the BMI spectrum.

Objectives: To identify the negative predictive value of examination under anesthesia (EUA) for determining pelvic ring stability and union without further displacement., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Two academic Level 1 trauma centers., Patients/participants: Thirty-four adult patients with closed pelvic ring injuries treated over a 5-year period., Interventions: Pelvic stress EUA., Main Outcome Measures: Pelvic ring union and pelvic ring displacement at final follow-up., Results: Thirty-four patients with closed pelvic ring injuries who underwent pelvic EUA during the study period and had a negative examination (indicating a stable pelvis) were identified. Mean age was 38 years (range 16-76), and 19 patients (55.9%) were male. Twenty-two patients (64.7%) had Young-Burgess lateral compression (LC)-1 injuries with complete sacral fractures, 4 patients (11.8%) had LC-2 injuries, and 8 patients (23.5%) had anteroposterior compression (APC)-1 injuries. Eight patients (23.5%) had associated injuries requiring restricted weight-bearing on one or both lower extremities and were excluded from the analysis. Immediate weight-bearing as tolerated was permitted bilaterally in the remaining 26 patients. Mean pelvic ring displacement at the time of injury was 3.8 mm (range 1-15 mm) for LC injuries and 9.1 mm (range 2-20 mm) for APC injuries. Patients were followed for a mean of 8 months (range 3-34 months). At final follow-up, mean displacement was 3.7 mm (range 0-17 mm) for LC injuries and 7.1 mm (range 2-19 mm) for APC injuries. Mean change in displacement from injury to union was -0.1 mm for LC injuries and -2.0 mm for APC injuries, indicating decreased pelvic ring displacement at union. All patients were able to tolerate full weight-bearing bilaterally with no pain, and there were no instances of delayed operative fixation after negative EUA., Conclusions: Negative pelvic EUA after closed pelvic ring injury accurately predicts pelvic stability and union without displacement after nonoperative treatment with full weight-bearing bilaterally. Unless otherwise dictated by associated injuries, immediate weight-bearing as tolerated seems safe in patients with pelvic ring injuries who have had a negative EUA., Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

SummaryIn this study, we sought to retrospectively evaluate union and infection rates after treatment of distal femur nonunions using a combined nail/plate construct with autogenous bone grafting. 10 patients treated at a Level I Trauma Center for nonunion of a femoral fracture using a combined nail/plate construct from 2004 to 2014 were included in the study. Union rate and postoperative infection rate were recorded.10 patients underwent treatment for nonunion of the distal femur. Mean interval from index surgery to nonunion repair was 12 months (range 4-36 months). All 10 patients achieved union at an average of 3.9 months (range 2.3-8 months) after initial nonunion repair. Treatment of distal femur nonunions with a combined nail/plate construct and autogenous bone grafting results in a high rate of union with a low complication rate. This technique combines two straightforward procedures familiar to orthopaedic trauma surgeons and offers distinct advantages including: availability of adequate bone graft volume, absence of donor site morbidity, and increased construct stability that may permit earlier weight-bearing.

Objectives: To report on the immediate postoperative alignment of distal tibia fractures (within 5 cm of the tibial plafond) treated with suprapatellar intramedullary nail (IMN) insertion compared with the infrapatellar technique. Primary outcomes include alignment on both the anteroposterior and lateral radiographic views., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Two urban level I trauma centers., Patients: A total of 266 skeletally mature patients with a distal tibia fracture were treated with an IMN. One hundred thirty-two patients underwent this procedure through a suprapatellar technique., Intervention: Intramedullary nail placement., Main Outcome Measures: Alignment., Results: The 2 treatment groups were evenly matched with respect to age, gender, fracture grade, and the presence of open fracture. Within the suprapatellar group, the fibula was intact, fixed, and remained fractured in 6 (4.5%), 22 (16.7%), and 104 (78.8%) cases, respectively. The fibula was intact, repaired, and remained fractured in 9 (6.7%), 32 (23.9%), and 93 (69.4%) cases, respectively, in the infrapatellar group. There was no difference in the rate of fibular fixation between the groups (P = 0.2). Primary angular malalignment of ≥5 degrees occurred in 35 (26.1%) patients with infrapatellar IMN insertion and in 5 (3.8%) patients who underwent suprapatellar IMN insertion (P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: This is the largest patient series directly comparing the suprapatellar with infrapatellar IMN insertion technique in the treatment of distal tibia fractures. In the treatment of distal tibia fractures, suprapatellar IMN technique results in a significantly lower rate of malalignment compared with the infrapatellar IMN technique., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Purpose: As US healthcare expenditures continue to rise, there is significant pressure to reduce the cost of inpatient medical services. Studies have estimated that over 70% of routine labs may not yield clinical benefits while adding over $300 in costs per day for every inpatient. Although orthopaedic trauma patients tend to have longer inpatient stays and hip fractures have been associated with significant morbidity, there is a dearth of data examining pre-operative labs in predicting post-operative adverse events in these populations. The purpose of this study was to assess whether pre-operative labs significantly predict post-operative cardiac and septic complications in orthopaedic trauma and hip fracture patients., Methods: Between 2006 and 2013, 56,336 (15.6%) orthopaedic trauma patients were identified and 27,441 patients (7.6%) were diagnosed with hip fractures. Pre-operative labs included sodium, BUN, creatinine, albumin, bilirubin, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase, white count, hematocrit, platelet count, prothrombin time, INR, and partial thromboplastin time. For each of these labs, patients were deemed to have normal or abnormal values. Patients were noted to have developed cardiac or septic complications if they sustained (1) myocardial infarction (MI), (2) cardiac arrest, or (3) septic shock within 30 days after surgery. Separate regressions incorporating over 40 patient characteristics including age, gender, pre-operative comorbidities, and labs were performed for orthopaedic trauma patients in order to determine whether pre-operative labs predicted adverse cardiac or septic outcomes., Results: 749 (1.3%) orthopaedic trauma patients developed cardiac complications and 311 (0.6%) developed septic shock. Multivariate regression demonstrated that abnormal pre-operative platelet values were significantly predictive of post-operative cardiac arrest (OR: 11.107, p=0.036), and abnormal bilirubin levels were predictive (OR: 8.487, p=0.008) of the development of septic shock in trauma patients. In the hip fracture cohort, abnormal partial thromboplastin time was significantly associated with post-operative myocardial infarction (OR: 15.083, p=0.046), and abnormal bilirubin (OR: 58.674, p=0.002) significantly predicted the onset of septic shock., Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate the utility of pre-operative labs in predicting perioperative cardiac and septic adverse events in orthopaedic trauma and hip fracture patients. Particular attention should be paid to haematologic/coagulation labs (platelets, PTT) and bilirubin values., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Biomechanical studies suggest that augmenting anterior fixation of the pelvic ring with posterior fixation increases stability. Prior clinical studies have assessed radiographic outcomes following plate fixation of the symphysis. However, to our knowledge, none have directly compared the radiographic and clinical outcomes of anterior plate fixation alone with the outcomes of such plate fixation with the addition of posterior percutaneous screw fixation in the treatment of a partially disrupted hemipelvis. We attempted to determine whether use of an anterior symphyseal plate alone is adequate to control sagittal and coronal plane rotation and prevent malunion of an anteroposterior compression type-2 (APC-2) pelvic ring injury., Methods: The records of all skeletally mature patients with a traumatic pelvic disruption treated from 2004 to 2014 with an anterior symphyseal plate with or without a posterior iliosacral screw were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with an APC-2 pelvic ring injury evidenced by computed tomography (CT) were included in the study and divided into 2 groups: (1) fixation of the symphysis with an anterior 3.5-mm 6-hole plate alone and (2) the same anterior fixation supplemented posteriorly with a percutaneous partially threaded 7.0 or 7.3-mm iliosacral screw. Postoperative CT scans were reviewed to assess the reduction of the pelvic ring and the position of all implants. The patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months or until the fixation failed. Examined data included demographic factors, type of and time to fixation failure, and presence of malunion. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were completed., Results: One hundred and thirty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. Ninety-two (69%) underwent combined anterior and posterior fixation, and 42 (31%) had anterior fixation alone. The average age and duration of follow-up were 38 years and 7.2 months, respectively. Anterior plate fixation failed in 5 patients (5%) in the combined-fixation group and in 17 patients (40%) in the anterior-only group (p < 0.0001). Malunion was identified in 1 patient (1%) in the combined group and in 15 (36%) in the anterior-only cohort (p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Our study indicated that use of an anterior plate and a supplemental posterior screw for fixation of APC-2 pelvic ring injuries significantly decreases the rate of anterior plate failure and malunion compared with use of an anterior plate alone. The potential for selection and detection bias introduced by our study design limited the strength of this conclusion., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., (Copyright © 2016 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Orthopedic trauma results in systemic physiologic changes that predispose patients to venous thromboembolism (VTE). In the absence of prophylaxis, VTE incidence may be as high as 60%. Mechanical and pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis are effective in decreasing rates of VTE. Combined mechanical and pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is more efficacious for decreasing VTE incidence than either regimen independently. If pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is contraindicated, mechanical prophylaxis should be used. Patients with isolated lower extremity fractures who are ambulatory, or those with isolated upper extremity trauma, do not require pharmacologic prophylaxis in the absence of other VTE risk factors., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Cardiovascular complications constitute morbidity and mortality for hip fracture patients. Relatively little data exist exploring risk factors for post-operative complications. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement (ACS-NSQIP) database, we identified significant risk factors associated with adverse cardiac events in hip fracture patients and provide recommendations for practising orthopaedists., Methods: A cohort of 27,441 patients with hip fractures from 2006 to 2013 was identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Cardiac complications were defined as cardiac arrests or myocardial infarctions occurring within 30 days after surgery. Bivariate analysis was run on over 30 patient and surgical factors to determine significant associations with cardiac events. Multivariate logistical analysis was then performed to determine risk factors most predictive for cardiac events., Results: Of the 27,441 hip fracture patients, 594 (2.2%) had cardiac complications within 30 days post-operatively. There was no significant association with respect to type of hip fracture surgery and adverse cardiac event rates (p = 0.545). After multivariate analysis, dialysis use (OR: 2.22, p = 0.026), and histories of peripheral vascular disease (OR: 2.11, p = 0.016), stroke (OR: 1.83, p = 0.009), COPD (OR: 1.69, p = 0.014), and cardiac disease (OR: 1.55, p = 0.017) were significantly predictive of post-operative cardiac events in all hip fracture patients., Conclusion: Orthopaedic trauma surgeons should be aware of cardiac disease history and atherosclerotic conditions (PVD, stroke) in risk stratifying patients to prevent cardiac complications. Our recommendations to reduce cardiac events include simple pre-operative lab-work to full-fledged cardiac work-up and referrals to specific medicine disciplines based on the specific risk factors present.

Background: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are recognized as major causes of morbidity and mortality in orthopaedic trauma patients. Despite the high incidence of these complications following orthopaedic trauma, there is a paucity of literature investigating the clinical risk factors for DVT in this specific population. As our healthcare system increasingly emphasizes quality measures, it is critical for orthopaedic surgeons to understand the clinical factors that increase the risk of DVT following orthopaedic trauma., Objectives: Utilizing the ACS-NSQIP database, we sought to determine the incidence and identify independent risk factors for DVT following orthopaedic trauma., Patients and Methods: Using current procedural terminology (CPT) codes for orthopaedic trauma procedures, we identified a prospective cohort of patients from the 2006 to 2013 ACS-NSQIP database. Using Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests where appropriate, patient demographics, comorbidities, and operative factors were compared between patients who developed a DVT within 30 days of surgery and those who did not. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and identify independent risk factors for DVT. Significance was set at P < 0.05., Results: 56,299 orthopaedic trauma patients were included in the analysis, of which 473 (0.84%) developed a DVT within 30 days. In univariate analysis, twenty-five variables were significantly associated with the development of a DVT, including age (P < 0.0001), BMI (P = 0.037), diabetes (P = 0.01), ASA score (P < 0.0001) and anatomic region injured (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis identified several independent risk factors for development of a DVT including use of a ventilator (OR = 43.67, P = 0.039), ascites (OR = 41.61, P = 0.0038), steroid use (OR = 4.00, P < 0.001), and alcohol use (OR = 2.98, P = 0.0370). Compared to patients with upper extremity trauma, those with lower extremity injuries had significantly increased odds of developing a DVT (OR = 7.55, P = 0.006). The trend toward increased odds of DVT among patients with injuries to the hip/pelvis did not reach statistical significance (OR = 4.51, P = 0.22). Smoking was not found to be an independent risk factor for developing a DVT (P = 0.1217)., Conclusions: This is the largest study to date using the NSQIP database to identify risk factors for DVT in orthopaedic trauma patients. Although the incidence of DVT was low in our cohort, the presence of certain risk factors significantly increased the odds of developing a DVT following orthopaedic trauma. These findings will enable orthopaedic surgeons to target at-risk patients and implement post-operative care protocols aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with DVT in orthopaedic trauma patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary (IM) nail in distal tibial metaphyseal fractures., Design: Retrospective Case Series., Setting: Three Level I trauma centers in 3 different developing countries from 2009 to 2013., Patient/participants: One hundred sixty patients with 162 distal tibial metaphyseal fractures (AO/OTA 43-A)., Intervention: SIGN IM nailing was performed using hand reaming and without the use of an image intensifier., Main Outcome Measurements: The primary outcome measures were the rate of union and complications. The secondary outcome measures were the effect of open fractures on outcomes, effectiveness and safety of open reduction of closed fractures, and risk factors for the development of malalignment and possible solutions., Results: The average age of patients was 35.3 years. Seventy-nine percent were male. Sixty percent of the fractures were closed. The mean time to surgery was 4.1 days. Fracture union occurred in 97.3% of fractures with an average time to union of 105 days. Open reduction of closed fractures was performed in 51 fractures. Nonunion occurred in 3 patients (1.8%). Acceptable alignment (<5 degrees deformity) was found in 134 fractures (83%). Infection occurred in 14 patients (8.6%). Revision surgery was required in 10 fractures (6.2%)., Conclusions: In developing settings, distal metaphyseal tibial fractures can be managed successfully with the SIGN IM nail. There is an increased risk for complications (P = 0.001) and infection (P = 0.0004) in open fractures. Open reduction of closed distal tibia fractures is safe and effective. Malalignment can be improved with fibula stabilization but indications remain unclear. For surgeons interested in international mission work, the SIGN IM nail is an effective tool in managing distal tibial fractures., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Objectives: As our healthcare system moves toward bundling payments, orthopaedic trauma surgeons will be increasingly benchmarked on perioperative complications. We therefore sought to determine financial risks under bundled payments by identifying adverse event rates for (1) orthopaedic trauma patients compared with general orthopaedic patients and (2) based on anatomic region and (3) to identify patient factors associated with complications., Design: Prospective., Setting: Multicenter., Patients/participants: A total of 146,773 orthopaedic patients (22,361 trauma) from 2005 to 2011 NSQIP data were identified., Interventions: Minor and major adverse events, demographics, surgical variables, and patient comorbidities were collected., Main Outcome Measurements: Multivariate regressions determined significant risk factors for the development of complications., Results: The complication rate in the trauma group was 11.4% (2554/22,361) versus 4.1% (5137/124,412) in the general orthopaedic group (P = 0.001). When controlling for all variables, trauma was a risk factor for developing complications [odds ratio (OR): 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57-1.81]. After controlling for several patient factors, hip and pelvis patients were 4 times more likely to develop any perioperative complication than upper extremity patients (OR: 3.79, 95% CI: 3.01-4.79, P = 0.01). Lower extremity patients are 3 times more likely to develop any complication versus upper extremity patients (OR: 2.82, 95% CI: 2.30-3.46, P = 0.01)., Conclusions: Our study is the first to show that orthopaedic trauma patients are 2 times more likely than general orthopaedic patients to sustain complications, despite controlling for identical risk factors. There is also an alarming difference in complication rates among anatomic regions. Orthopaedic trauma surgeons will face increased financial risk with bundled payments., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Introduction: Although several studies have advocated the use of regional versus general anaesthesia as a means of reducing peri-operative complications from hip fracture surgery, the ideal method of anaesthesia remains controversial. Our purpose was to investigate the association between anaesthesia type and peri-operative complications in hip fracture surgery., Methods: From the 2005-2011 ACS-NSQIP database, all patients with operatively treated hip fractures were identified using CPT codes, and fifteen peri-operative complications were recorded and categorized as either minor or major. Rates of minor, major, and total complications by anaesthesia type were compared using chi-square and Fischer's exact tests. A multivariate model was used to determine odds of minor, major, and total complications between anaesthesia types. Multivariate analysis was then repeated after combining patients who received regional nerve blocks or spinal anaesthesia., Results: A total of 7,764 hip fracture patients were included in our analysis. Spinal anaesthesia had the highest total complication rate (19.6%), followed by general (17.9%) and regional nerve blocks (12.6%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that spinal anaesthesia was associated with significantly greater odds of minor complications and total complications compared with general anaesthesia. After combining the regional nerve block and spinal anaesthesia groups, multivariate analysis again showed significantly greater odds of minor and total complications with regional versus general anaesthesia., Conclusions: Using a large multi-centre database, we demonstrate that regional anaesthesia was associated with significantly greater odds of minor and total peri-operative complications compared with general anaesthesia. Our results challenge the notion that regional anaesthesia is the preferred method of anaesthesia for hip fractures in the elderly.

Background: Among surgical patients, follow-up visits are essential for monitoring post-operative recovery and determining ongoing treatment plans. Non-adherence to clinic follow-up appointments has been associated with poorer outcomes in many different patient populations. We sought to identify factors associated with non-attendance at follow-up appointments for orthopedic trauma patients., Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review at a level I trauma center identified 2,165 patients who underwent orthopedic trauma surgery from 2008 to 2009. Demographic data including age, sex, race, tobacco use, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score, insurance status, distance from the hospital, and follow-up time were collected. Injury characteristics including fracture type, anatomic location of the operation, length of hospital stay, living situation and employment status were recorded. Attendance at the first scheduled follow-up visit was recorded. Multivariable log-binomial regression analyses were used with statistical significance maintained at p < 0.05., Results: Of the 2,165 patients included in the analysis, 1,449 (66.9 %) attended their first scheduled post-operative clinic visit. 33.1 % (717) were not compliant with keeping their first clinic appointment after surgery. Patients who used tobacco, lived more than 100 miles from the clinic site, did not have private insurance, had an ASA score >2, or had a fracture of the hip or pelvis were significantly less likely to follow-up. Age, sex, and race were not significantly associated with failure to follow-up., Discussion: Follow-up appointments are essential for preventing complications among orthopedic trauma patients. By identifying patients at risk of failure to follow-up, orthopedic surgeons can appropriately design and implement long-term treatment plans specifically targeted for high-risk patients.