Fracture Cohort Research Articles

Comparing the Exactech Equinoxe Reverse TSA for Fracture versus Degenerative Conditions: Five-Year Minimum Follow-Up

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) has become the operative treatment of choice for acute proximal humerus fractures in the elderly population, but little data exists on the long-term outcomes or how they compare to rTSA done for degenerative conditions. The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients undergoing rTSA for acute fracture versus degenerative conditions with a minimum 5-year follow-up. Data was extracted from an international registry of patients with the Exactech Equinoxe rTSA implant from 2007-2018. Patients with a minimum follow-up of 5 years were then split into fracture and degenerative cohorts and matched 1:3 based on age, sex, and follow-up duration. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were compared between the cohorts including range of motion (ROM), patient-reported outcome measures (PROM), VAS pain score, complication and revision rates, implant characteristics, and scapular notching. This data was analyzed using Welch's t-test, Fisher's exact test, or Wilcoxon rank sum test. There were 384 total patients included in the study, with 96 fractures and 288 degenerative. At a mean follow-up of 6.4 years, the degenerative cohort had significant improvements in all PROMs and ROM, compared to their preoperative status. At the latest follow-up, the mean ASES score was 83 and the mean VAS pain score was 1.1 for both cohorts. Patients with degenerative indications had greater forward elevation which did not meet the minimally clinically important difference and greater internal rotation which did not meet the substantial clinical benefit threshold. Patient satisfaction was very high for both cohorts, with 97% in the degenerative cohort and 91% in the fracture cohort satisfied with the procedure (p=0.276). Complication and revision rates were similar between the two cohorts. Patients in the fracture cohort had a larger glenosphere diameter (p=0.045) and greater combined liner/tray offset (p=0.05). Patients in the elective cohort more frequently required an augmented baseplate (p<0.001). Scapular notching was 11% in the degenerative cohort and 9% in the fracture cohort (p=0.82). This study demonstrates no significant differences in the clinical or radiographic outcomes at a minimum of 5 years follow-up for patients undergoing rTSA for acute fracture versus degenerative conditions. Patients undergoing rTSA for either indication have similar rates of complications, revisions, and scapular notching, with high patient satisfaction. Patients undergoing rTSA for an acute fracture can expect similar results to those undergoing rTSA for degenerative conditions at minimum 5-year follow-up.

Comparison of intracompartment pressure changes in tibial plateau fractures and controlled people: A pilot study.

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a serious medical condition that can be encountered in tibial plateau fractures. However, no studies of compartment pressure changes in patients with tibial plateau fractures compared to patient without fractures have been reported. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the pressure changes in patients with fractures, we monitored and recorded the compartment pressure and attempted to reveal the potential pressure release function of the human fascia. Cohorts of 43 normal individuals and 23 patients (initial 33, 10 were excluded due to inclusion criteria) and include the number of patients who completed the study with closed tibial fractures (the fracture group, FG, which comprised 6 men and 17 women) were included in this retrospective research. Compartment pressures were measured with Icare, a device that is traditionally used to measure intraocular pressure. Results of measurements at 6 different locations in the lower limb were recorded and compared for three days (days 2, 3, and 4 post fracture) between normal cohort (CG) and fracture cohort (FG) patients. The compartment pressures were comparable at each pressure measurement site (upper, middle and lower) in patients of the CG and the FG. Compared with the CG patients, there was a significant increase in compartment pressure at the upper lateral location in 18-45-year-old patients in the FG (P = 0.013) and at the upper lateral (P = 0.004) and medial locations (P = 0.005) in 46-69-year-old patients, and the values tended to normalize over time. Compared with the contralateral normal limb of patients in the FG, there was a significant increase in compartment pressure at the upper lateral location in 18-45-year-old patients (P = 0.009) and at the upper lateral (P = 0.015) and medial locations (P = 0.016) in 46-69-year-old patients on the fractured side. Based on different fracture classifications, there were no significant differences in compartment pressure at the medial (upper, middle and lower) locations when compared with pressures at the corresponding lateral sites of measurement. The results of this study revealed that the fascial compartment as a whole can release the increased intracompartment pressure after fracture to prevent complications such as acute compartment syndrome caused by a continued increase in pressure. The Icare as a portable device, is potentially useful in compartmental pressure measurement especially in emergency room.

Do Children With Accidental Gunshot-related Fractures Experience Greater Risk of Mental Illness and Psychiatric Disorders? A Propensity-matched Study.

Firearm violence is the leading cause of death and is a major source of morbidity for children in the United States. While gunshot wounds (GSWs) are known to cause lasting psychological repercussions beyond physical injury, these effects are not well documented compared with the physical implications. Our study explores the association between accidental gunshot-related fractures in children and subsequent psychiatric outcomes. Relative to non-GSW-related fractures, do children sustaining an accidental GSW-related fracture experience higher risk of mental illness and psychiatric disorders? This study utilized the TriNetX US Collaborative Network as it provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient data, longitudinal follow-up, and complete medical records across different facilities, closely reflecting real-world patient outcomes in orthopaedic practice. We retrospectively evaluated children diagnosed with an accidental GSW-related fracture and compared mental health diagnoses to children who experienced non-GSW-related fractures. Between January 1, 2003, and March 1, 2023, a total of 5071 children in the United States without preexisting anxiety, mood, psychotic, substance use, or insomnia disorders were reported to have experienced an accidental GSW-related fracture. Among these patients, 55% (2773) had a follow-up period of at least 1 year and met the inclusion criteria for the exposure cohort. In the non-GSW-related fracture cohort, a total of 61% (985,070) of children among 1,613,891 without the preexisting aforementioned conditions had a minimum follow-up period of 1 year and met the inclusion criteria. A total of 2769 children were successfully matched in each cohort using a greedy nearest neighbor propensity score-matching algorithm. Matching was based on age, gender, race, fracture location, and BMI, as these characteristics were identified through a regression analysis as potentially associated with psychiatric outcomes (p < 0.01). The mean ± SD age was 15 ± 4 years, and 16% (451) in the GSW cohort were girls. In the non-GSW cohort 17% (474) were girls. With respect to race and ethnicity, 62% (1709 in the GSW cohort; 1679 in the non-GSW cohort) were Black and 14% (384 in the GSW cohort; 386 in the non-GSW cohort) were Hispanic. Outcomes of interest were recorded for up to 3 years after the index event. The accidental GSW-related fracture cohort experienced a greater hazard of developing anxiety disorders (HR 3.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.2 to 4.6]; p < 0.001), substance use disorders (HR 3.6 [95% CI 3.0 to 4.2]; p < 0.001), mood disorders (HR 2.4 [95% CI 1.9 to 3.1]; p < 0.001), non-mood psychotic disorders (HR 2.4 [95% CI 1.5 to 3.9]; p < 0.001), and insomnia (HR 1.8 [95% CI 1.4 to 2.3]; p < 0.001). Orthopaedic surgeons should implement early psychiatric screenings and integrate mental health support for children with gunshot-related fractures to address elevated risk of anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, substance abuse, and insomnia. Future studies should focus on identifying effective interventions that mitigate these long-term psychological outcomes, with an emphasis on practical, targeted approaches in clinical care. Level III, prognostic study.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of orbital fractures: a sex-based cohort analysis

PurposeThis study aims to identify clinical similarities and differences between males and females presenting with orbital fracture. MethodsPatient charts of adult orbital fracture cases diagnosed via computed tomography and referred by a level 1 trauma center to the McGill University Health Centre between August 2015 to January 2018 were examined and analyzed. Clinical parameters included age, sex, mechanism of injury, morphology of orbital fracture, symptoms and examination features, and rates of ocular pathology. Comparative analyses were performed via Student's t-test and chi-square to assess for sex-related differences. ResultsThe study included 176 males (mean age: 46.2 years) and 68 females (mean age: 58.5 years). The most common etiology of orbital fracture was assault among males (32%) and fall from own or standing height among females (38%). Males had a higher prevalence of bilateral fractures than females (17% vs 6%; p = 0.02) and had more orbital walls fractured per orbit than females (2.0 vs 1.5; p < 0.01). Males were more likely to have their orbital roof fractured (28% vs 15%; p = 0.03) and were more likely to be intubated after their trauma (22% vs 7%; p = 0.004). Post-traumatic ocular pathology occurred in 11% of males versus 9% of females (p = 0.56). ConclusionIn our cohort of adult orbital fractures, males were more prevalent, more likely to have bilateral fractures, more extensive fracture per orbit, and higher prevalence of orbital roof fractures and intubation. Despite these differences, rates of ocular pathology did not differ significantly between males and females, highlighting the importance of a careful assessment in both groups.

Lower Extremity Trauma is Associated with an Increased Rate of New Mental Disorder Diagnosis and Suicide Attempt.

To evaluate the risk of developing a new mental disorder diagnosis within two years of lower extremity fracture. Design: Retrospective cohort study. National insurance claims database. Included were patients between the ages of 18 and 65 with lower extremity, pelvis and acetabular fractures without prior mental disorders as defined with ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes. Mental disorders evaluated included alcohol use disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, drug use disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide attempt.Outcome Measures and Comparisons: The individual lower extremity fracture cohorts were matched 1:4 with non-fracture controls. The specific groups of interest were pelvis fractures, acetabulum fractures, proximal femur fractures, femoral shaft fractures, distal femur fractures, patella fractures, tibia plateau fractures, tibia shaft fractures, ankle fractures, pilon fractures, calcaneus fractures, and Lisfranc fractures. Rates of mental disorders after primary lower extremity fractures within two years were compared using multivariable logistic regression. Overall, the 263,988 patient fracture group was 57.2% female with an average age of 46.6 years. Compared to controls with no fracture, patients who sustained pelvis, acetabulum, proximal femur, femoral shaft, distal femur, patella, tibia plateau, tibia shaft, pilon, calcaneus, or Lisfranc fracture had a statistically significant increased risk of being diagnosed with a queried mental disorder within two years of fracture. When comparing all fracture patients by location, those suffering from fractures proximal to the knee joint, including pelvis fractures (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.39-1.64) and proximal femur fractures (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.26-1.47), demonstrated greater risk of developing any of the queried mental disorders compared fractures distal to the knee, including ankle fractures (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.95-1.03) and pilon fractures (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.81-1.36). When comparing specific fracture patients to patients without fracture by mental disorder, patients demonstrated an increased risk of suicide attempt following fracture of the pelvis, acetabulum, femoral shaft, distal femur, and calcaneus, as well as patients suffering a Lisfranc fracture. There is an increased risk of being diagnosed with a new mental disorder following lower extremity trauma in patients without prior mental disorder diagnosis compared to matched individuals without a lower extremity fracture. Among the fractures studied, those that were more proximal, such as pelvis and proximal femur fractures, carried the greatest risk compared to more distal fracture sites, including ankle and pilon fractures. Patients who experienced certain lower extremity fractures had a significantly higher rate of suicide attempt compared to patients without fracture. Physicians should consider increased mental health screening and potential referral for mental health evaluation for patients following lower extremity trauma. Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Atypical Hangman's Fractures: An Institutional Study of 51 Patients With Atypical Traumatic Spondylolisthesis of C2.

Retrospective cohort study. Atypical hangman's fractures are associated with increased risk for neurologic injury due to involvement of the posterior cortex of the axis body. We present the largest single-center cohort of atypical hangman's fractures with the goal of guiding treatment decisions and outcomes based on fracture classification. We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients with atypical hangman's fractures treated at a single Level I trauma center between January 2010 and September 2023. 51 patients met inclusion criteria and demographic, treatment, and radiographic data were recorded and compared across the Type I and II fracture groups. Final treatment modalities varied significantly between the groups (P < 0.01), with hard cervical collar and invasive halo immobilization being the most prevalent treatments for fracture Types I and II respectively. One Type I fracture patient and four Type II fracture patients failed non-operative treatment, requiring surgery. Across both groups, posterior cervical fusion (73%) was the most common surgical approach. Median length of stay varied significantly between the two fracture groups (2.0 (1.0-7.0) vs 5.0 (3.0-8.0) days; P = 0.01). Irrespective of fracture type, longer hospital length of stay was associated with increased patient age (IRR = 1.02; P < 0.01), non-white race (IRR = 2.47; P = 0.01), injury caused by MVC (IRR = 1.93; P < 0.01), and the presence of non-spine orthopedic injuries (IRR = 1.72; P = 0.03). While atypical Type I hangman's fractures may be managed effectively non-operatively with a hard cervical collar, atypical Type II fractures managed with a hard cervical collar are at greater risk of requiring subsequent surgical intervention.

Talar head fractures: An observational study of 33 talar head fractures derived from the Swedish Fracture Register

BackgroundReports in the literature on talar head fractures are rare and limited to case reports and small case series. Questions/PurposesThis study aimed to describe a national cohort of talar head fractures for fracture characteristics, associated injuries, treatment, and reoperations. MethodsWe reviewed all radiographs of patients enrolled in the SFR between 2011 and 2021 showing talar head fractures (AO/OTA 81-A3). We excluded those with talar head avulsion fractures, misclassified, multiple registrations, or with a privacy notice in their medical records. The cohort was reviewed using medical records and radiographs at a minimum 2-year follow-up. ResultsThe study included 32 patients (33 fractures) ≥18 years of age. The median age was 32 (range 18–65) years, 84 % were men, and the main trauma mechanisms were motor vehicle accidents (28 %) and falls from heights (28 %) and graded as high-energy injuries in 50 % of the cases. 18 (55 %) were displaced and 15 (45 %) had comminuted fractures. 14 talar head fractures (42 %) had multiple injuries to the same foot. 21 patients (66 %) underwent surgical treatment, most commonly with screw fixation. Surgery was performed in 15 of 18 patients with displaced fractures. Four patients were reoperated, one with arthrodesis of the talonavicular joint and three for implant removal. No cases of avascular necrosis were identified. ConclusionsTalar head fractures are rare and occur mainly in men. They are associated with other foot injuries. Most talar head fractures are treated operatively. In this case series, we did not identify any case of avascular necrosis. Levels of EvidenceIV, retrospective observational cohort study

Relationship between physical activity metrics and Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) among Proximal Femoral Fracture cohort: Mobilise D dataset

Relationship between physical activity metrics and Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) among Proximal Femoral Fracture cohort: Mobilise D dataset

Fall Trajectories in Older Men: Trajectories of Change by Age and Predictors for Future Fall Risk.

Very little is known about specific trajectories or patterns of falls over time. Using the well-characterized cohort of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS), we classified individuals by fall trajectories across age and identified predictors of group assignment based on characteristics at baseline. Using an analysis sample of 5976 MrOS participants and 15 years of follow-up data on incident falls, we used group-based trajectory models (PROC TRAJ in SAS) to identify trajectories of change. We assessed the association of baseline characteristics with group assignment using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the outcome of the high risk fall trajectory groups compared to the low risk groups. Changes in rates of falls were relatively constant or increasing with five distinct groups identified. Mean posterior probabilities for all five trajectories were similar and consistently above 0.8 indicating reasonable model fit. Among the five fall trajectory groups, two were deemed high risk, those with steeply increasing fall risk and persistently high fall risk. Factors associated with fall risk included body mass index, use of central nervous agents, prior history of diabetes and Parkinson's disease, back pain, grip strength, and physical and mental health scores. Two distinct groups of high fall risk individuals were identified among five trajectory groups, those with steeply increasing fall risk and persistently high fall risk. Statistically significant characteristics for group assignment suggest that future fall risk of older men may be predictable at baseline.

Impact of Intraoperative Femoral Fractures During Cemented Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fractures

BackgroundThere have been several studies on intraoperative femoral fractures (IFFs) during primary total hip arthroplasty, but it is not well understood how this complication affects the patient population undergoing cemented hemiarthroplasty. This study aimed to analyze the impact of IFFs sustained during cemented hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of femoral neck fractures. MethodsA retrospective review was conducted of all patients who were treated for Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association 31B fractures with cemented hemiarthroplasty between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2021, at a single academic level 1 trauma center. An initial cohort was constructed of all patients who sustained an IFF during their surgery, yielding 31 patients after excluding those who sustained a pathologic fracture or had incomplete data. These patients were matched 1:2 on age, sex, and body mass index to patients in a control cohort. The primary outcome measure was implant failure. Secondary outcome measures included complications, all-cause mortality, and radiographic outcomes (subsidence, femoral component loosening, acetabular wear, and heterotopic ossification) postoperatively. ResultsSubsequent implant revision was required in 3.2% (n = 1) of patients who sustained an IFF and 1.6% (n = 1) of patients who did not. After adjusting for comorbidities, there was no observed excess risk of implant failure in the fracture cohort when compared to the control cohort (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.30, P = 0.740). There was no observed excess risk of morbidity (HR = 0.69, P = 0.621) or all-cause mortality (HR = 0.23, P = 0.330). Radiographic outcomes also did not significantly differ between the 2 cohorts (P > 0.05). ConclusionsIntraoperative fractures during cemented hemiarthroplasty do not contribute to an increased risk of secondary surgery, morbidity, or mortality after surgery. They also do not adversely affect radiographic outcomes postoperatively. Level of EvidenceLevel III, Retrospective Comparative Study.

Health-economic evaluation of orthogeriatric co-management for patients with pelvic or vertebral fragility fractures

BackgroundOrthogeriatric co-management (OGCM) addresses the special needs of geriatric fracture patients. Most of the research on OGCM focused on hip fractures while results concerning other severe fractures are rare. We conducted a health-economic evaluation of OGCM for pelvic and vertebral fractures.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we used German health and long-term care insurance claims data and included cases of geriatric patients aged 80 years or older treated in an OGCM (OGCM group) or a non-OGCM hospital (non-OGCM group) due to pelvic or vertebral fractures in 2014–2018. We analyzed life years gained, fracture-free life years gained, healthcare costs, and cost-effectiveness within 1 year. We applied entropy balancing, weighted gamma and two-part models. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.ResultsWe included 21,036 cases with pelvic (71.2% in the OGCM, 28.8% in the non-OGCM group) and 33,827 with vertebral fractures (72.8% OGCM, 27.2% non-OGCM group). 4.5–5.9% of the pelvic and 31.8–33.8% of the vertebral fracture cases were treated surgically. Total healthcare costs were significantly higher after treatment in OGCM compared to non-OGCM hospitals for both fracture cohorts. For both fracture cohorts, a 95% probability of cost-effectiveness was not exceeded for a willingness-to-pay of up to €150,000 per life year or €150,000 per fracture-free life year gained.ConclusionWe did not obtain distinct benefits of treatment in an OGCM hospital. Assigning cases to OGCM or non-OGCM group on hospital level might have underestimated the effect of OGCM as not all patients in the OGCM group have received OGCM.

Prevalence of pelvic CT angiography (CTA) and angiographic embolization in geriatric patients with pelvic ring fractures presenting to two level I trauma centers

ObjectivesHemorrhage in osteoporotic pelvic ring fractures is a rare, but serious complication. Most bleeding comes from the bone or venous plexuses, but arterial injury does occur. The purpose of this study was to characterize a large geriatric pelvic fracture cohort and determine the prevalence of pelvic CT angiography (CTA) and subsequent need for arterial embolization. MethodsA cohort of geriatric pelvic fracture patients at two level 1 trauma centers was reviewed. Many epidemiologic and patient factors were collected for cohort characterization. The primary outcome was if patients underwent a CTA of the pelvis and subsequently underwent arterial embolization. ResultsThere were 457 patients included and mean age was 83.1 years (range 65–100). Most patients had a low energy mechanism (91.4 %). In-hospital mortality was recorded for 30 cases (6.6 %). Of these deaths, two received a pelvic CTA and two had an embolization procedure. Pelvic CTA was performed on 33 patients (7.2 %). Fourteen patients (3.0 %) had an arterial embolization procedure. A high energy mechanism of injury was associated with receiving a pelvic CTA (p = 0.0067). Mechanism of injury was not associated with undergoing an embolization procedure (p = 0.685). DiscussionIn the geriatric population, even patients with stable pelvic fractures can present with life-threatening arterial bleeding. A non-insignificant percentage of patients will require CTA for suspected bleeding (7.2 %) and embolization to treat confirmed arterial bleeding (3.0 %). ConclusionsBleeding events in geriatric pelvic ring injuries is a previously under researched area of orthopedic trauma. Further research is needed to elucidate the exact pathomechanisms of arterial injury and what patients or injury patterns are most significantly associated. Specifically, larger cohort sizes and evaluating our existing cohort with different injury classification systems may yield useful results.

Health-economic evaluation of orthogeriatric co-management for patients with forearm or humerus fractures: an analysis of insurance claims data from Germany

Orthogeriatric co-management (OGCM) describes a collaboration of orthopedic surgeons and geriatricians for the treatment of fragility fractures in geriatric patients. While its cost-effectiveness for hip fractures has been widely investigated, research focusing on fractures of the upper extremities is lacking. Thus, we conducted a health economic evaluation of treatment in OGCM hospitals for forearm and humerus fractures.In a retrospective cohort study with nationwide health insurance claims data, we selected the first inpatient stay due to a forearm or humerus fracture in 2014–2018 either treated in hospitals that were able to offer OGCM (OGCM group) or not (non-OGCM group) and applied a 1-year follow-up. We included 31,557 cases with forearm (63.1% OGCM group) and 39,093 cases with humerus fractures (63.9% OGCM group) and balanced relevant covariates using entropy balancing. We investigated costs in different health sectors, length of stay, and cost-effectiveness regarding total cost per life year or fracture-free life year gained.In both fracture cohorts, initial hospital stay, inpatient stay, and total costs were higher in OGCM than in non-OGCM hospitals. For neither cohort nor effectiveness outcome, the probability that treatment in OGCM hospitals was cost-effective exceeded 95% for a willingness-to-pay of up to €150,000.We did not find distinct benefits of treatment in OGCM hospitals. Assigning cases to study groups on hospital-level and using life years and fracture-free life years, which might not adequately reflect the manifold ways these fractures affect the patients’ health, as effectiveness outcomes, might have underestimated the effectiveness of treatment in OGCM hospitals.

Biopsies from patients with sacral insufficiency fracture are characterized by low bone matrix mineralization and high turnover.

Sacral insufficiency fractures are known to occur primarily in older women without adequate trauma. While an association with low bone mineral density (ie, osteoporosis) has been reported, more detailed information on local bone quality properties in affected patients is not available. In the present study, core biopsies were obtained from the S1 sacral ala in patients with a bilateral sacral insufficiency fracture (type IV according to the fragility fractures of the pelvis classification) who required surgical stabilization. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and laboratory bone metabolism analyses were performed. For comparison, control biopsies were acquired from skeletally intact age- and sex-matched donors during autopsy. A total of 31 biopsies (fracture: n = 19; control: n = 12) were evaluated by micro-computed tomography, histomorphometry on undecalcified sections, and quantitative backscattered electron imaging (qBEI). DXA measurements showed mean T-scores in the range of osteoporosis in the fracture cohort (T-scoremin -2.6 ± 0.8). Biochemical analysis of bone metabolism parameters revealed high serum alkaline phosphatase and urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine levels. In the biopsies, a loss of trabecular microstructure along with increased osteoid values were detected in the fracture patients compared with controls (osteoid volume per bone volume 5.9 ± 3.5 vs. 0.9 ± 0.5%, p <.001). We also found evidence of microfractures with chronic healing processes (ie, microcallus) as well as pronounced hypomineralization in the biopsies of the fracture cohort compared with the controls as evidenced by lower CaMean measured by qBEI (22.5 ± 1.6 vs. 24.2 ± 0.5wt%, p =.003). In conclusion, this high-resolution biopsy study provides evidence of local hypomineralization in patients with sacral insufficiency fractures, pointing to reduced fracture resistance but also a distinct phenotype other than the predominant loss of trabeculae as in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Our data highlight the importance of therapies that promote bone mineralization to optimally treat and prevent sacral insufficiency fractures.

Postoperative Medial Malleolar Fractures in Total Ankle Replacement Are Associated With Decreased Medial Malleolar Width and Varus Malalignment: A Case-Control Study.

There are limited data regarding risk factors associated with periprosthetic medial malleolar fractures in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). This case-control study aimed to identify the risk factors and analyze the effect of prophylactic screw fixation in preventing a medial malleolar fracture after TAA. A case-control study was conducted on 149 patients who underwent primary TAA. Twenty patients with postoperative medial malleolar fractures >4 weeks postoperatively (cases) were identified. An additional 129 patients (controls) were randomly selected from the TAA database. Radiographic evaluation included tibial component coronal alignment and postoperative medial malleolar width. Demographics and radiographic variables were compared between cohorts. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between medial malleolar fracture and postoperative coronal alignment, medial malleolar width, and prophylactic fixation of the medial malleolus. Mean (SD) medial malleolar width was significantly smaller in the fracture cohort (8.52 mm [1.6]) than in the control group (11.78 mm [1.74]) (P < .001). Mean (SD) tibial component coronal alignment was 92.17 degrees (2.77) in the fracture cohort and 90.21 degrees (1.66) in the control group (P = .002). Regression analysis identified a significant negative association between postoperative medial malleolar width and the probability of fracture (OR = 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.26, P < .001). Varus malalignment of the tibial component was positively associated with the probability of fracture (OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.27, 2.86, P = .002). Prophylactic screw fixation resulted in more than 90% reduction in the odds of a fracture (OR = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01, 0.45, P = .01). ROC curve analysis determined a medial malleolar width of 10.3 mm as a potential threshold for predicting fracture. Decreased medial malleolar width and postoperative varus malalignment were associated with an increased risk of postoperative medial malleolar fracture. Therefore, surgeons should consider prophylactic screw fixation in patients with a medial malleolar width <10.3 mm or at risk of postoperative varus deformity.

Risk factors for subsequent fractures in hip fracture patients: a nested case-control study

BackgroundThe risk factors for subsequent fractures following an initial hip fracture are not entirely understood. This study examined the clinical characteristics of hip fracture patients to identify potential risk factors associated with a higher risk of experiencing subsequent fractures.MethodsWe conducted a nested case-control study using data from the Chinese PLA General Hospital Hip Fracture Cohort between January 2008 and March 2022. The cases were individuals who experienced subsequent fractures following an initial hip fracture. Each case was matched with up to 2 controls who did not develop subsequent fractures. Important clinical factors were compared across groups, including traditional fracture risk factors and potential risk factors (e.g., comorbidities, falls risk, physical impairment, calcium or vitamin D use, and anti-osteoporosis medications). Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of these clinical features as potential risk factors for subsequent fractures.ResultsA total of 96 individuals who suffered from subsequent fractures were matched with 176 controls. The median time between the initial hip fracture and the subsequent fracture was 2.1 years. The overall proportion of patients receiving anti-osteoporosis treatment after initial hip fracture was 25.7%. In the multivariable regression analysis, living in a care facility (OR = 3.78, 95%CI: 1.53–9.34), longer hospital stays (OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.00–1.11), and falls after discharge (OR = 7.58, 95%CI: 3.37–17.04) were associated with higher odds of subsequent fractures.ConclusionsThis study showed that living in a care facility, longer hospital stays, and falls after discharge may be independent risk factors for repeat fractures following an initial hip fracture. These findings could be used to identify and manage patients at high risk of subsequent fractures.

Patients with Periprosthetic Femoral Hip Fractures are Commonly Classified as Having Osteoporosis Based on DXA Measurements

Periprosthetic femoral hip fractures are subject to an increasing incidence and are often considered to be related to osteoporosis. However, there are no available studies that have determined the frequency of osteoporosis in affected patients using gold standard dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In this retrospective comparative study, we analyzed the DXA results of 40 patients with periprosthetic femoral hip fractures who were treated surgically in our department. DXA measurements were performed at the total hip and the lumbar spine to determine bone mineral density T-scores. Data were compared to two age-, sex-, and BMI-matched control groups in which patients underwent DXA prior to aseptic revision surgery for other causes or primary THA (consisting of 40 patients each). The mean T-score in the periprosthetic fracture cohort was significantly lower (− 1.78 ± 1.78) than that of the aseptic revision (− 0.65 ± 1.58, mean difference − 1.13 [95% CI − 1.88 to − 0.37]; p = 0.001) and the primary THA cohort (− 0.77 ± 1.34, mean difference − 1.01 [95% CI − 1.77 to − 0.26]; p = 0.005). Accordingly, osteoporosis was detected more frequently (45%) in the fracture cohort compared to patients undergoing aseptic revision (12.5%) and primary THA (10%). In conclusion, almost half of the patients with periprosthetic femoral hip fractures have osteoporosis according to DXA measurements. A regular assessment of bone health in THA enables identification of patients with osteoporosis who likely benefit from initiation of osteoporosis medication and cemented stem fixation.

Opioid use in impending versus pathologic proximal femur fractures.

e24061 Background: Pathologic and impending fractures commonly occur in the proximal femur, and patients may be prescribed opioids prior to surgery and often require opioids for postoperative pain relief. This study compared postoperative opiate usage and ambulatory functional status in patients with impending versus pathologic fractures in the proximal femur. Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients using opioids postoperatively who underwent internal fixation for a pathologic or impending fracture between 2016 and 2022. Preoperative and postoperative opioid usage as well as ambulation status and risk factors at three and six months associated with postoperative opioid use were recorded. Results: Twenty-four pathologic fractures and twenty-three impending fractures were included. Preoperative opioid daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME) was significantly higher in the pathologic fracture group (p = 0.021), but there were no significant differences at three or six months. In the impending fracture group, daily MME at three months was significantly higher than preoperative daily MME (p = 0.018) but returned to preoperative levels at six months. There was statistically significant improvement in ambulation status in the combined cohort (p = 0.008) and impending fracture cohort (p = 0.016) at 6 months. Conclusions: Although patients did not experience a significant postoperative change in opioid use, patients with pathologic fractures notably required higher opioid dosages and there was overall improvement in function following fixation. Future studies should examine postoperative opioid use with careful consideration of concurrent pain management pain therapies and tumor characteristics.[Table: see text]

Hip fracture is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) shares a complex relationship with bone metabolism and few studies investigated the effect of impaired bone health on the risk of T2DM. This study was conducted to investigate the association between hip fractures and the risk of incident T2DM. MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study using data from the real-world hip fracture cohort. Hong Kong Chinese patients aged ≥ 65 years without T2DM who were admitted to public hospitals due to a fall between 2008 and 2015 were included in the study. Patients who sustained falls with and without hip fractures were matched by propensity score (PS) at a 1:1 ratio. Competing risk regression was used to evaluate the association between hip fracture and incident T2DM, with death being the competing event. ResultsA total of 23,314 hip fracture cases were matched to 23,314 controls. The median follow-up time was 5.09 years. The incidence rate of T2DM was 11.947 and 14.505 per 1000 person-years for the hip fracture and control group respectively. After accounting for the competing risk of death, the hip fracture group had a significantly lower risk of developing T2DM (HR: 0.771, 95% CI: 0.719–0.827). Similar results were observed in all subgroups after stratification by age and sex. ConclusionsHip fracture was found to be associated with a reduced risk of T2DM. These findings provide insight into the topic of bone and glucose metabolism and prompt further research in evaluating the role of bone health in the management of T2DM.

Basicervical femoral neck fractures: an observational study derived from the Swedish Fracture Register.

Limited research has been conducted on basicervical femoral neck fractures (bFNFs). The importance of displacement in clinical outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to characterize patient demographics, degree of displacement, treatment, treatment failures, and reoperations in a cohort of fractures from the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR). 1,260 fractures in 1,185 individuals ≥ 60 years who had a bFNF registered in the SFR at 6 orthopedic departments from 2011 to 2020 were screened through radiographic review. The final sample included 291 patients with a confirmed bFNF. The medical records of these 291 patients were reviewed. We assessed baseline characteristics, initial fracture dislocation, treatment methods, tip-apex distance, failures, reoperations, and mortality. The mean age was 82 years (range 60-101, 55% women). 98 (34%) were undisplaced and 193 (66%) displaced. All patients underwent operative treatment. In the undisplaced group 95 (97%) patients received internal fixation (IF) and 3 (3%) had primary hip arthroplasty. In the displaced group 149 (77%) received IF and 41 (21%) had primary hip arthroplasty. 33 (11%) suffered treatment failure. When treating an undisplaced bFNF with IF, only 3 (3%) experienced treatment failure, in contrast to the 24 (16%) failure rate for a displaced bFNF. Undisplaced bFNFs have a low failure rate when treated with IF. For displaced bFNF treated with IF the failure rate is considerably higher. There is a need for further investigation of classification, treatment, and outcome of bFNF.