Nonunion In Patients Research Articles

Valgus Osteotomy Outcome for Treating Femoral Neck Nonunion in Young and Active Patients

Background: Femoral neck fracture nonunion is a frequent and challenging complication, with several surgical options. Objectives: The present study reported the outcome of valgus osteotomy for treating femoral neck nonunion in patients aged <65 years. Methods: This case series research included young patients who underwent valgus osteotomy for treating femoral neck nonunion or device failure of the index surgery. The fixation of the osteotomy site was performed using either a dynamic hip screw or a fixed angle blade. The union of the neck and osteotomy site (subtrochanteric region) was evaluated by monitoring callus formation in the postoperative radiographs. Limb length discrepancy, Pauwels’ angle, and the neck-shaft angle were evaluated before the surgery and at the last follow-up. Postoperative complications were extracted from the explored patients’ profiles. Results: Twenty patients with a Mean±SD age of 27.2±10.8 years were examined in this study‎. The Mean±SD follow-up time of the patients was 6.1±3.9 years. The femoral neck was united in 18 patients in a Mean±SD period of 5.1±2.3 months. The Mean±SD limb length discrepancy was measured as 1.3±0.8 cm before and 0.5±0.7 cm after the ‏osteotomy. The Mean±SD Pauwels’ angle was calculated as 65.5±16.9º before and 32.4±16.2º after the osteotomy. The Mean±SD neck-shaft angle was computed to be 121.9±22.8º before and 144.5±17.7º after the osteotomy. Revision surgery was performed for 6 (30%) patients. This measure included device removal in 4 and total hip arthroplasty in 2 patient. Conclusion: Valgus osteotomy is a safe and efficient technique for managing femoral neck nonunion. Therefore‎, this approach is suggested as a good alternative for total hip arthroplasty, particularly in young and active patients‎.

Surgical management of humeral shaft nonunions. Success of a consistent protocol over 17 years

IntroductionSurgical treatment of humeral shaft nonunions is characterized by variability of fixation methods, graft choices, and rates of union and iatrogenic radial nerve palsy. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the union rate of humeral shaft aseptic nonunions and the rate of postoperative complications following a consistent management protocol. Patients and methodsThis is a retrospective review of 41 consecutive adult patients (23 female and 18 male with a mean age of 42 years) with aseptic nonunions of the humeral shaft treated by the senior author in our institution over a 17-year period. Nonunions were located in the middle third of the diaphysis in 33 patients, in the distal third in 6, and in the proximal third in 2 patients. Comorbidities were present in 49% of patients and the most common were smoking in 27% and diabetes mellitus in 17% of patients. Patients were treated at an average of 24 months after their injury. Surgical protocol consisted of careful dissection of the radial nerve, debridement of the nonunion site, stable plate fixation and augmentation of local biology. ResultsThirty-eight patients had mean clinical and radiographic follow-up of 9.4 months. All 38 nonunions healed at a mean time of 3.5 months. There were no persistent nonunions and no failures of fixation. None of the 40 patients with an intact radial nerve preoperatively developed any signs of radial nerve compromise after surgery. Complications consisted of one superficial infection (2%) that resolved with oral antibiotics and one deep infection (2%) that required implant removal and debridement. The mean pain score on the visual analog scale was 0.7. Mean elbow range of motion was 125 degrees with a mean extension deficit of 5 degrees and mean flexion of 130 degrees. ConclusionsOur surgical protocol achieved consistent healing of nonunions of the humeral shaft with a low complication rate and no iatrogenic radial nerve palsy, even in long-standing nonunions in patients with comorbidities.

Risk factors associated with delayed and aseptic nonunion following tibial diaphyseal fractures managed with intramedullary nailing.

AimsThe primary aim of this study was to identify independent predictors associated with nonunion and delayed union of tibial diaphyseal fractures treated with intramedullary nailing. The secondary aim was to assess the Radiological Union Scale for Tibial fractures (RUST) score as an early predictor of tibial fracture nonunion.MethodsA consecutive series of 647 patients who underwent intramedullary nailing for tibial diaphyseal fractures were identified from a trauma database. Demographic data, comorbidities, smoking status, alcohol consumption, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and steroid use were documented. Details regarding mechanism of injury, fracture classification, complications, and further surgery were recorded. Nonunion was defined as the requirement for revision surgery to achieve union. Delayed union was defined as a RUST score < 10 at six months postoperatively.ResultsThere were 41 nonunions (6.3%), of which 13 were infected (31.7%), and 77 delayed unions (11.9%). There were 127 open fractures (19.6%). Adjusting for confounding variables, NSAID use (odds ratio (OR) 3.50; p = 0.042), superficial infection (OR 3.00; p = 0.026), open fractures (OR 5.44; p < 0.001), and high-energy mechanism (OR 2.51; p = 0.040) were independently associated with nonunion. Smoking (OR 1.76; p = 0.034), open fracture (OR 2.82; p = 0.001), and high-energy mechanism (OR 1.81; p = 0.030) were independent predictors associated with delayed union. The RUST score at six-week follow-up was highly predictive of nonunion (sensitivity and specificity of 75%).ConclusionNSAID use, high-energy mechanisms, open fractures, and superficial infection were independently associated with nonunion in patients with tibial diaphyseal fractures treated with intramedullary nailing. The six-week RUST score may be useful in identifying patients at risk of nonunion.Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(4):227–235.

Breaking Barriers: Studying Fracture Healing in the BONES Program.

The Bioventus Observational Noninterventional EXOGEN Studies (BONES) Program includes 3 concurrent studies designed to estimate the incidence of fracture nonunions in patients treated with the EXOGEN Ultrasound Bone Healing System compared with those receiving standard fracture care. This article outlines the design and methodology within the fifth metatarsal fracture study; similar approaches are taken in the second and third BONES Program studies, which examine nonunions of the tibia and scaphoid. The BONES Program is an external comparator design and incorporates several unique, fit-for-purpose components to strengthen the approach and allow it to be submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be considered for a label expansion. BONES consisted of 2 cohorts: (1) EXOGEN-treated patients recruited into a patient registry and (2) comparator patients from a large administrative health claims database. The study used International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, nonunion diagnosis codes reported by the treating clinician for the primary outcome measure. Many data sources (medical and billing records, patient-reported health data, usage data from the device itself, and commercial product complaint system) were used on the registry side, alongside insurance claims data to source the external comparator cohort, to achieve broader understanding of factors predisposing patients to the development of nonunions. In step with the FDA's increasing acceptance of real-world evidence for use in regulatory decision making and coupled with the infeasibility of a randomized clinical trial in this setting, the innovative study design of the BONES Program allowed for both an evaluation of the effect of EXOGEN in mitigating nonunions in a real-world setting and an assessment of the patient experience with EXOGEN treatment.

Intramedullary Canal-creation Technique for Patients with Osteopetrosis

ABSTRACTAimWe present details of a surgical technique to create an intramedullary canal to allow intramedullary fracture fixation in patients with osteopetrosis. Clinical cases are used to facilitate the description.BackgroundOsteopetrosis is a rare, hereditary condition characterised by hard, brittle, “marble bone;” primarily due to osteoclast dysfunction. Patients are prone to fractures and subsequently nonunions, periprosthetic fractures, and metal-ware failure are commonly seen. Due to the increased bone density, deformity, and obliteration of the medullary cavity, fracture fixation is also technically demanding.TechniqueCreation of a medullary canal allows the use of intramedullary fixation rather than plate and screws for long-bone fractures.Key factors:A new sharp drill bit should be used for each case as blunt drills are more likely to break.Bone is drilled in a pulsatile fashion, with withdrawal every 2–4 seconds for bone swarf to be removed.Constant cooling of the drill bit with saline to help prevent bone necrosis and drill breakage.Regular exchanging of drill bit sizes to expand the canal. The smaller drills start the canal and are used to direct progress. Sequential expansion during canal creation is preferred.Regular use of orthogonal radiographs to ensure correct canal positioning and prevent perforation.ConclusionThe creation of an intramedullary canal allows intramedullary fracture fixation. In our experience, this technique gives the orthopaedic surgeon a safe and effective method for treating long-bone fractures in patients with osteopetrosis.Clinical relevanceFractures and nonunions in patients with osteopetrosis are difficult to manage; and by detailing this technique, a further option is now available for surgeons when deciding upon fixation method.How to cite this articleKent J, Ferguson D. Intramedullary Canal-creation Technique for Patients with Osteopetrosis. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr 2019;14(3):155–162.

Plate-Assisted Intramedullary Nailing of Gustilo Type IIIB Open Tibial Diaphyseal Fractures: Does Adjunctive Plate Retention Affect Complication Rate?

To investigate the complication rates after use of retained adjunctive plate (RAP) fixation with intramedullary nailing of Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB open tibia fractures, as part of a 2-stage orthoplastic approach. Consecutive cohort study. One hundred and thirty-seven consecutive patients with a Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB open diaphyseal tibia fracture (OTA/AO 42) treated between May 2014 and January 2018. Ninety-eight patients (RAP = 67; non-RAP = 31) met the inclusion criteria and underwent 2-stage reconstruction. All patients were treated using a small fragment adjunctive plate to hold the fracture reduced before intramedullary nailing. At stage 2, the temporary small fragment (in-fix) plate was removed and the site further thoroughly debrided. After this, the fracture is reduced and held with a new small fragment plate to facilitate the definitive intramedullary nailing. This new plate was either retained (RAP) as part of the definitive fixation at second stage or removed before wound coverage. The main outcome measures were reoperation rate, deep infection, nonunion, and flap-related complication. Six patients (6/98, 6.1%) proceeded to nonunion (RAP 5/67, non-RAP 1/31). This was not significant (P = 0.416). Two hundred twelve operations were undertaken, and the median was 2. Sixteen (16/212, 7.5%) complication-related reoperations were undertaken, affecting 8 patients (8/67, 11.9%) in the RAP group. Eight patients (8/98, 8.2%) developed a deep infection (RAP 6/67, non-RAP 2/31). This was not significant (P = 0.674). In the context of an orthoplastic approach, the use of a RAP with definitive intramedullary nailing does not seem to significantly increase the rate of deep infection or nonunion in patients with type IIIB open tibial shaft fractures. Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Association of Three-Month Radiographic Union Score for Tibia Fractures (RUST) with Nonunion in Tibial Shaft Fracture Patients.

ObjectivesNonunions of tibial shaft fractures have profound implications on patient quality of life and are associated with physical and mental suffering. Radiographic Union Score for Tibia Fractures (RUST) may serve as an important prognostic tool for identifying patients at a high risk of nonunion.DesignWe used data from the Study to Prospectively Evaluate Reamed Intramedullary Nails in Patients with Tibial Fractures (SPRINT) and Fluid Lavage of Open Wounds (FLOW) trials to explore the association of three-month RUST scores with nonunion in patients with tibial shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nailing. We performed a retrospective cohort study nested within two multi-center, randomized controlled trials.ParticipantsThe patients included in the current study: (1) sustained a tibial shaft fracture and were enrolled in the SPRINT or FLOW randomized trials, (2) had initial operative management with intramedullary nailing, (3) showed radiographic evidence of an unhealed fracture at the three-month follow-up, and (4) their healing status (union or nonunion) was captured at 12-months postoperatively.InterventionMultivariable binary logistic regression was carried out to identify factors associated with nonunion, including open versus closed injury, fracture severity, fracture gap, and three-month RUST score. We determined the concordance statistic (c statistic) for our regression model both with and without the RUST score.Outcome Measurements and ResultsOf the 155 tibial fracture patients with complete data available for analysis, the overall rate of nonunion at 12 months was 30% (n=47). The mean three-month RUST score in patients with nonunion at 12 months was 4.8 (standard deviation (SD) 1.1) as compared to 6.3 (SD 1.7) for those healed at 12 months. In our multivariable regression analysis, open fractures conferred five-fold greater odds of nonunion at 12 months as compared to closed fractures (odds ratio (OR) 4.76, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.71-13.30). Further, three-month RUST scores of 4 and 5-6 were associated with a 47% (95% CI: 18%-73%) and 23% (4.5-51.5%) absolute risk increase of nonunion as compared to a score of ≥ 7, respectively. The addition of RUST scores to our adjusted regression model improved the c statistic from 0.70 (95%CI: 0.61-0.79) to 0.81 (95%CI: 0.74-0.88).ConclusionA third of patients with tibial shaft fractures who have failed to heal by three months will show nonunion at one year. Open fractures and lower three-month RUST scores are strongly associated with a higher risk of nonunion at one year. Further research is needed to establish whether prognosis in this high-risk group can be modified.

Nonunion in Patients with Tibial Shaft Fractures: Is Early Physical Status Associated with Fracture Healing?

BackgroundNonunions of tibial shaft fractures have devastating physical and psychological consequences for patients. It remains unknown if early functional status can identify patients at risk for nonunion.Questions/PurposesTo determine if functional status at three months after surgery, as measured by either the short form 36 (SF-36) or the short form 12 (SF-12) health survey physical component summary (SF-12 PCS) score, can serve as a prognostic indicator for nonunion at one year in patients with fractures of the tibial shaft.Patients/MethodsThis study was an observational cohort study nested within two multicenter, randomized controlled trials. Patients who met the following eligibility criteria were included: (1) sustained a tibial shaft fracture that was treated with intramedullary nailing, (2) were unhealed at the three-month follow-up, (3) had a reported SF-36 or SF-12 PCS score at three months, (4) had the final 12-month follow-up with a reported radiographic healing status (bone union or nonunion), and (5) were enrolled in either the Study to Prospectively Evaluate Reamed Intramedullary Nails in Patients with Tibial Shaft Fractures (SPRINT) or Fluid Lavage of Open Wounds (FLOW) randomized trials. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between healing status at 12 months and seven prognostic variables (open fracture, fracture pattern, nailing technique, smoking, fracture gap, three-month PCS score, and FLOW vs. SPRINT trial).ResultsA total of 940 patients were included in this study with an overall rate of radiographic nonunion of 13.3% (n=125) at the 12-month follow-up. Absolute nonunion risk increased with incrementally lower PCS scores (8.2%, 12.8%, 15.9%, 23.7% for scores ≥ 40, 30.0-39.99, 20.0-29.99, and < 20, respectively). In the multivariable regression analysis, PCS scores of < 20 were associated with a 2.6-times greater odds and 10% absolute risk increase of non-union, as compared to scores of ≥ 40 (OR 2.58, 95%CI: 1.02-6.53, ARI: 10.3, 95% CI: 0.1 - 28.2), whereas scores between 20 and 30 were associated with a nearly two-times greater odds of nonunion and a 6.4% absolute risk increase of nonunion (OR 1.94, 95%CI: 1.08-3.49, ARI: 6.4, 95% CI 0.6 - 15.3). Open fractures also conferred a 2.8-fold increase in odds of nonunion as compared to closed injuries (OR 2.77, 95%CI: 1.58-4.83), as did complex fractures when compared to simple fractures (OR 2.57, 95%CI: 1.64-4.02).ConclusionA considerable portion of patients with fractures of the tibial shaft treated with intramedullary nailing will experience nonunion at one-year postoperatively. Nonunion can be accurately predicted by patient functional recovery at three months as measured by the PCS of the SF-36 and SF-12 instruments.

Hip displacement in Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome: Report on three cases and review of associated musculoskeletal pathologies.

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome is a rare genetic disease caused by a chromosomal deletion of the distal short arm of Chromosome 4. It is associated with multisystem abnormalities, including delayed growth, characteristic facial features, epilepsy, and skeletal abnormalities. We report three patients who developed hip displacement, and describe the occurrence of delayed and nonunion in patients who underwent corrective proximal femoral osteotomy for hip displacement. We also performed a literature review identifying common musculoskeletal presentations associated with the condition. Patients with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome are at risk of hip displacement (subluxation), and we would advocate annual hip surveillance in this patient group.

Trochanteric femoral nonunion in patients aged over 60 years treated with dynamic condylar screw

IntroductionNonunions of trochanteric femoral fractures are uncommon due to a good blood supply of the cancellous bone of the trochanteric region. Nevertheless, if a nonunion occurs, complex revision procedures usually become necessary. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a series of aseptic trochanteric nonunions in patients aged 60 years or older, looking at outcomes regarding healing rate, implant-related complications and secondary surgeries. Material and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with aseptic femoral trochanteric nonunions aged over 60 years. Nonunion treatment consisted of implant removal, debridement of the nonunion, and restoration of the neck shaft angle, followed by DCS plating. An additional 4.5-mm limited contact dynamic compression plate was placed in twelve patients anteriorly. The primary outcome measure was bony healing and time to healing in months. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative complications related to the index procedure, range of motion of the affected hip and postoperative mobility. ResultsA total of 21 patients with a mean age of 69.1 years met the inclusion criteria. After a mean follow-up of 21.62 months, 17 of the 21 nonunions healed successfully. The mean healing time was 6.59 months. A total of six of the 21 patients needed secondary revision surgery. At the final follow-up, a full range of motion of the hip was seen in 17 of the 21 hips. ConclusionsDCS treatment and preservation of the patient's femoral head can be successful for patients aged over 60 years with a well-preserved femoral head and acetabulum. However, preservation of the hip joint and revision plating might be associated with higher revision rates.

Retrospective Radiographic Evaluation of AugmentTM Bone Graft Fusion

Category:Ankle, Ankle Arthritis, Hindfoot, Midfoot/ForefootIntroduction/Purpose:Augment is the first Food and Drug Administration approved synthetic bone substitute specifically formulated for foot and ankle procedures and have shown results comparable to autograft. Initial studies on the use of Augment for fusion procedures of the foot and ankle are encouraging but there remains a lack of radiographic outcomes on its use. The purposes of this study were to report on the radiographic fusion rate of Augment and identify risk factors for nonunion in patients treated with Augment.Methods:After institutional review board approval, a retrospective study was performed of all patients ages 18-85 who underwent arthrodesis of the ankle, hindfoot, or midfoot and used Augment alone or in combination with autograft and/or allograft. Patients were excluded if they did not have regular radiographic follow-up. Each operative report was examined for procedure performed and location of the foot involved. Post-operative radiographs were reviewed to look at union rate following surgery. Patient charts were reviewed for age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking history, and diabetes to examine potential risk factors for nonunion. Continuous variables were reported in means ± standard deviations and differences determined between those that fused and those that did not using a Wilcoxon Rank Sums test. Categorical variables reported as number of patients (percent of patients) and differences determined between those that fused and those that did not using a Fisher’s exact test.Results:A total of 71 patients (average age at injury 57±14 years; 35 males (49%), 36 females (50%); BMI 31±6) underwent 33 (46%) midfoot arthrodesis, 41 (58%) hindfoot arthrodesis, and 27 (38%) ankle arthrodesis. A total of 58 patients (82%) went on to achieve fusion while 13 (18%) did not. There was no difference in gender (p=0.135), age (p=0.345) or BMI (p=0.196) between those who achieved fusion and those who did not. Patients with diabetes had a greater risk of nonunion compared to those who did not (p=0.033) while current smoking status or revision fusion did not pose a risk factor (p=1.000) (Table 1). There were no differences in part of the foot/ankle involved (p=0.445) or bone graft used (p=0.303).Conclusion:This the first study to examine the radiographic follow up of union using Augment. The most important finding of this study is that the rate of fusion in foot and ankle arthrodesis using Augment is near 82%. Diabetes is a risk factor for nonunion when using Augment. Smoking, gender, age, BMI, autograft vs allograft, and part of the foot or ankle fused did not pose a risk factor.

Usefulness of serum D‑dimer for preoperative diagnosis of infected nonunion after open reduction and internal fixation.

PurposeInfected nonunion after open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) is a serious complication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of serum D-dimer for preoperative diagnosis of infected nonunion.Patients and methodsPatients undergoing debridement and external fixation for infected nonunion (n=32) and replacement of internal fixation due to aseptic failure (n=34) were enrolled and compared in this retrospective study. The optimum cutoff value of D-dimer for identification of infected nonunion was determined by calculating the Youden J statistic. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of four preoperative laboratory parameters—serum D-dimer level, white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)—for diagnosis of infected nonunion were compared.ResultsSerum D-dimer level was significantly higher in patients with infected nonunion than in patients with aseptic nonunion: 2.62 mg/mL (range, 0.13–11.90 mg/mL) vs 0.35 mg/mL (range, 0.07–6.46 mg/mL; p<0.001). WBC count, CRP, and ESR demonstrated sensitivity of 12.5% (95% CI: 4.08–29.93), 40.6% (95% CI: 24.22–59.21), and 56.3% (95% CI: 37.88–73.16), respectively, and specificity of 94.1% (95% CI: 78.94–98.97), 88.2% (95% CI: 71.61–96.16), and 85.3% (95% CI: 68.17–94.46), respectively. Using the Youden index, 1.70 mg/mL was determined as the optimal threshold value for serum D-dimer for the diagnosis of infected nonunion. The sensitivity and specificity of serum D-dimer (>1.70 mg/mL) were 75.0% (95% CI: 56.25–87.87) and 91.2% (95% CI: 75.19–97.69).ConclusionsSerum D-dimer level may be useful for preoperative prediction of infected nonunion in patients after ORIF.

Early versus delayed corpectomy in thoracic and lumbar spine trauma. A long-term clinical and radiological retrospective study

Summary and background dataMany authors have demonstrated the necessity of reconstruction of the anterior column in spinal trauma with vertebral body collapse or nonunion. There is no publication comparing the result depending on the time between trauma and anterior reconstruction of the vertebral body. ObjectiveTo compare long-term clinical and radiological results between early and late anterior vertebral body reconstruction with expandable cages in patients with thoracic and lumbar spine trauma. HypothesisAn early anterior reconstruction of thoracolumbar fractures provides better clinical and radiological outcomes than a delayed one. Materials and methodsA retrospective clinical study was carried out with 44 consecutive patients with injuries of the thoracic and lumbar spine treated operatively with combined posterior stabilization and anterior reconstruction with an expandable implant for vertebral body replacement. All patients were evaluated with EOS full-spine radiograph and CT-scan. The mean follow-up was 5.1 years. Clinical result was evaluated with ODI, SF12, VAS back pain, return to work and sport. Radiological result was evaluated with regional kyphosis angle (RKA) evolution, fusion rate and sagittal alignment. In Group A, twenty-nine patients underwent an early anterior reconstruction within 3 weeks after trauma. The indication of vertebral body reconstruction was placed after post-operative CT-scan for a Mc Cormack score≥7. In Group B, fifteen patients underwent a late anterior reconstruction after diagnosis of nonunion by the combination of pain and CT-scan after 1 year. ResultsClinical scores and scales were significantly better for patients operated early in Group A. Return to work and activities were significantly more important in Group A too. The mean RKA correction with posterior reduction was 9.3°. The secondary anterior approach permit to reduce 2.9° more. At last follow-up, the loss of reduction was 4.3°. There was no significant difference between groups for those results. No difference in fusion rate was observed between groups. There was no significant difference between groups in the sagittal alignment excepted for SVA that was higher for Group B while remaining under a normal value of 50mm. ConclusionEarly anterior vertebral body reconstruction for fractures gives better clinical results than delayed reconstruction for patients with diagnosis of nonunion in patients with thoracic and lumbar spine trauma. Moreover, the shorter the time from trauma to operation, the better the sagittal reduction of kyphosis. The use of expandable titanium cage is a good way to perform and maintain this reduction. Level of evidenceIV, retrospective study.

Predictors of fracture healing in patients with recalcitrant nonunions treated with autologous culture expanded bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells.

ABSTRACTThe study reports the prospective outcome of treating severe recalcitrant fracture nonunion in patients with autologous bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSC) from 2003 to 2010 and analyze predictors of union. Autologous BMSC were culture expanded and inserted at nonunion site with or without carriers in addition to surgical stabilization of the fracture. Radiological union was ascertained by musculoskeletal radiologists on plain radiographs and/or CT scans. A logistic regression analysis was performed with cell‐expansion parameters (cell numbers, cell doubling time) and known clinical factors (e.g., smoking and diabetes) as independent variables and fracture union as the dependent variable to identify the factors that influence bony healing. An Eq5D index score assessed the effect of treatment on general quality of health. A total of 35 patients (mean age 51+/−13 years) with established nonunion (median 2.9 years, 1–33) and, at least one failed nonunion surgery (median 4,1–14) received treatment. Fracture union was achieved in 21 patients (60%; 95%CI 44–75) at 2.6 years. Multiple penalized logistic regression revealed faster cell doubling time (p = 0.07), absence of diabetes (p = 0.003), less previous surgeries (p = 0.008), and lower age at cell implantation (p = 0.02) were significant predictors for fracture union. A significant increase in Eq5D index (p = 0.01) was noted with a mean rise of the score by 0.34 units (95%CI 0.11–0.58) at 1 year following the study. In summary, the study revealed cell doubling time as a novel in vitro parameter in conjunction with age, multiple surgeries, and diabetes as being significant predictors of the fracture union. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:1303–1309, 2019.

Arthroscopic posterior subtalar arthrodesis for salvage of posttraumatic arthritis following calcaneal fractures

BackgroundSubtalar arthrodesis is a treatment option for pain due to posttraumatic arthritis following calcaneal fractures. The goal of this study is to examine the results of arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis for posttraumatic arthritis following calcaneal fractures.Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective case series reviewing 37 consecutive patients (36 male) treated for posttraumatic arthritis following calcaneal fractures by arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis. The fractures were due to high-energy injuries in 81% of cases, and 12 fractures (32.4%) had been previously treated with internal fixation. Average follow-up was 57.5 months. ResultsAverage American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores significantly improved from 49.0 ± 10.9 points preoperatively to 76.0 ± 8.0 points at final follow-up. Average time to union was 12.5 weeks. Six patients (16.2%) suffered complications: superficial wound infection (2.7%), symptomatic hardware that warranted removal (5.4%) and nonunion (8.1%) presented nonunion. All three cases had prior internal fixation through an extensile lateral approach, and fused after a repeat surgery. ConclusionArthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis offers consistent improvement in cases of posttraumatic arthritis following calcaneal fractures, with a union rate similar to published series of open arthrodesis. We observed more nonunions in patients who had been treated previously with internal fixation. In spite of this, we continue to recommend arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis, as it preserves the soft tissue envelope better than open techniques.

Does Concurrent Distal Tibiofibular Joint Arthrodesis Affect the Nonunion and Complication Rates of Tibiotalar Arthrodesis?

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Tibiotalar arthrodesis is generally a successful treatment option for patients with end stage ankle arthritis. However, there is a 9% risk of nonunion in patients undergoing primary tibiotalar arthrodesis. To date, it is unclear whether concurrent distal tibio-fibular joint arthrodesis affects this nonunion rate as there have been no studies directly comparing patients with and without arthrodesis of the distal tibio-fibular joint. The purpose of this clinical study is to compare the rate of nonunion in patients with a distal tibio-fibular fusion to those without a distal tibio-fibular fusion in the setting of a primary, open ankle arthrodesis. The hypothesis of this study was that the addition of a distal tibio-fibular fusion would decrease the nonunion rate in patients undergoing open ankle arthrodesis. Methods: This is a retrospective review of 521 consecutive patients from October 2002 to April 2016. 366 ankles from 354 unique patients met inclusion criteria. All patients underwent primary, open tibiotalar arthrodesis. 250 patients underwent open tibiotalar arthrodesis with a distal tibio-fibular fusion and 116 patients underwent open tibiotalar arthrodesis without a distal tibio-fibular fusion. Age, gender, body mass index, smoking, and preoperative radiographic deformity were controlled. The primary outcome measure was nonunion rate of tibiotalar arthrodesis. Secondary outcome measures were time to union, rate of wound complications, and rate of development of post-operative deep vein thrombosis (DVT)/Pulmonary embolism (PE). Results: Average age of the patients was 56.2 +/- 14.2 years. Mean follow-up time was 33.8 months. Unions were assessed on routine post-operative radiographs and by clinical examination. If there was a concern for nonunion, computerized tomography scan was utilized for further assessment. Nonunion rate of patients who had the distal tibio-fibular joint included was 19/250 (8%) and nonunion rate of those who did not have the distal tibio-fibular joint fused was 14/116 (12%) (p=0.16). There was no significant difference between those who had the distal tibio-fibular joint included versus who did not in wound complication rate (27% vs 31%, p=0.40), time to union (4.9 weeks versus 5 weeks, p =0.54), and DVT/PE rate (5% vs 3%, p=0.41), respectively [Table 1]. There were no major complications. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study directly comparing nonunion rates and complication rates in patients who underwent primary, open ankle arthrodesis with and without distal tibio-fibular joint arthrodesis. In this study, inclusion of the distal tibio-fibular joint in tibiotalar arthrodesis does not affect nonunion rate in patients undergoing primary, open ankle arthrodesis. Additionally, inclusion of the distal tibio-fibular joint does not affect rate of wound complication, time to union, and DVT/PE rate.

Comparison of Non-Union and Complication Rates in Primary versus Revision Tibiotalar Arthrodesis

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Tibiotalar arthrodesis is generally a successful treatment option for patients with end stage ankle arthritis. However, there is a 9% risk of nonunion in patients undergoing primary tibiotalar arthrodesis. Patients with a nonunion often undergo revision ankle arthrodesis, as it is the most common salvage procedure in this situation. To date, only a few studies have evaluated outcomes in patients with revision ankle arthrodesis. The purpose of this clinical study is to directly compare the rate of union and complications in primary versus revision tibiotalar arthrodesis. The hypothesis of this study was that there would be no difference in rate of union and complications between primary and revision ankle arthrodesis. Methods: This is a retrospective review of 455 consecutive patients that underwent either primary or revision tibiotalar arthrodesis between March 2002 to November 2014. Three-hundred eighty-five patients underwent primary arthrodesis and 70 patients underwent revision arthrodesis. Age, gender, body mass index, smoking, and preoperative radiographic deformity were controlled. The primary outcome measure was union rate of tibiotalar arthrodesis. Secondary outcome measures were time to union, rate of wound complications, rate of return to operating room, and rate of development of post-operative deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Results: Average age of the patients was 56 +/- 15 years (range 18-89). The mean follow-up time was 38.3 +/- 27.4 months (range 12-150.4 months). All patients had a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Unions were assessed on routine post-operative radiographs. If there was a concern for nonunion, patients were further assessed with a computerized tomography scan. The nonunion rate of patients who had primary arthrodesis was 37/385 (9.6%) and revision arthrodesis was 6/70 (8.5%) (p=0.74) (Table 1). Additionally, there was not a significant difference between those who had primary versus revision ankle arthrodesis surgery in rate of wound complication, return to the operating room, and post-operative DVT (Table 2). There were no major complications in this study. Conclusion: This is the largest study to directly compare union rates and complication rates in patients who underwent primary versus revision ankle arthrodesis. In this study, primary versus revision tibiotalar arthrodesis does not affect union rate, time to union, rate of wound complications, rate of return to operating room, and rate of development of post-operative DVT.

Fracture Site Mobility at 6 Weeks After Humeral Shaft Fracture Predicts Nonunion Without Surgery.

To assess the presence of fracture site gross motion on physical examination to predict humeral shaft fracture progression to nonunion in patients managed nonoperatively. Retrospective cohort study. Single trauma level 1 institutional center. Eighty-four consecutive patients undergoing nonoperative treatment of a diaphyseal humeral shaft fracture were identified. The average age of the population was 48.3 years, and 50% of the cohort was men. Clinical examination for fracture stability was routinely performed on patients by the treating physicians and documented it in the medical record. Patients were followed until union or surgery for persistent fracture mobility. Stability was graded if there was motion at the site (1: motion of any kind and 0: moved as a unit). Seventy-three patients (87%) healed their fracture within our study cohort by 6 months postfracture. Of the remaining 11 patients, after discussion with their treating physicians about the option of surgical intervention, 8 chose to undergo open reduction internal fixation at an average of 8 months, 1 proceeded nonsurgical interventions, and 2 were lost of follow-up. If the humeral shaft fracture site was mobile at 6 weeks follow-up visit, it identified future fracture nonunion with 82% sensitivity and 99% specificity (only 1 patient with motion at 6 weeks proceeded to fracture union). With a high negative predictive value, clinical examination of fracture motion at 6 weeks should be assessed in every patient to determine which patients should obtain closer follow-up for the risk of nonunion progression. Knowledge of gross fracture motion can be used in the shared decision-making model in counseling about early surgical options. Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Cost of Non-Union In Patients with Lower Leg Fractures

Cost of Non-Union In Patients with Lower Leg Fractures

Adolescent clavicle nonunions: potential risk factors and surgical management

Clavicle nonunions in adolescent patients are exceedingly rare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a series of clavicle nonunions from a pediatric multicenter study group to assess potential risk factors and treatment outcomes. A retrospective review of all clavicle nonunions in patients younger than 19 years was performed at 9 pediatric hospitals between 2006 and 2016. Demographic and surgical data were documented. Radiographs were evaluated for initial fracture classification, displacement, shortening, angulation, and nonunion type. Clinical outcomes were evaluated, including rate of healing, time to union, return to sports, and complications. Risk factors for nonunion were assessed by comparing the study cohort with a separate cohort of age-matched patients with a diaphyseal clavicle fracture. There were 25 nonunions (mean age, 14.5 years; range, 10.0-18.9 years) identified, all of which underwent surgical fixation. Most fractures were completely displaced (68%) initially, but 21% were partially displaced and 11% were nondisplaced. Bone grafting was performed in 24 of 25 cases, typically using the hypertrophic callus. Radiographic healing was achieved in 96% of cases. One patient (4%) required 2 additional procedures to achieve union. The primary risk factor for development of a nonunion was a previous history of an ipsilateral clavicle fracture. Clavicle nonunions can occur in the adolescent population but are an uncommon clinical entity. The majority occur in male patients with displaced fractures, many of whom have sustained previous fractures of the same clavicle. High rates of union were achieved with plate fixation and the use of bone graft.