Treatment Of Fractures Research Articles

Functional outcome and risk of non-union for 5th metatarsal base fractures.

Treatment of 5th metatarsal fractures via direct discharge from virtual fracture clinic (VFC) has become common practice in the NHS. We aim to assess the functional outcome and incidence of non-union in a series of 5th metatarsal base fractures, exposed to 1-year of follow-up. 194 patients who sustained a fracture between the period February 2019 to April 2020 were included, referred via the VFC pathway. Radiographs were reviewed to classify in which zone, the fracture occurred along with union on subsequent follow-up. Telephone follow-up was used to measure patient functional outcomes (EQ-5D & FAAM survey) and satisfaction with the VFC service. Off 194 patients, 53 (27.3%) had zone 1, 99 (51%) had zone 2, and 42 (21.6%) had zone 3 fractures. 80 were discharged directly from VFC, with 114 patients being offered at least one face to face clinic follow-up. Six (3.1%) patients had clinical and radiological evidence of non-union; 4 in zone 2, and 2 in zone 3. No zone 1 injuries were identified as a non-union. Only 2 patients had surgery, 1 of which was for symptomatic non-union. Of the 6 non-union patients, 1 had surgery, 4 did not wish to have surgery and the final non-union patient was deemed unsuitable for surgery. The VFC is an effective way of managing 5th metatarsal fractures, with high patient satisfaction. Conservative management has excellent outcomes, with a low percentage of zone 2 and 3 injuries developing a symptomatic non-union. Functional outcome surveys provide further reassurance.

Time to Mobility Is Associated With Pulmonary Complications in Patients With Spine Fractures.

Treatment of spine fractures may require periods of prolonged immobilization which prevents effective pulmonary toileting. We hypothesized that patients with longer time to mobilization, as measured by time to first physical therapy (PT) session, would have higher pulmonary complications. We performed a retrospective review of all trauma patients with cervical and thoracolumbar spinal fractures admitted to a level 1 trauma center over a 12-month period. Demographic data collection included age, gender, BMI, pulmonary comorbidities, concomitant rib fractures, admission GCS, Injury Severity Score (ISS), GCS at 24h, treatment with cervical or thoracolumbar immobilization, and time to first PT evaluation. The primary outcome was the presence of any one of the following complications: unplanned intubation, pneumonia, or mortality at 30days. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess significant predictors of pulmonary complication. In total, 491 patients were identified. In terms of overall pulmonary complications, 10% developed pneumonia, 13% had unplanned intubation, and 6% died within 30days. In total, 19% developed one or more complication. Overall, 25% of patients were seen by PT <48h, 33% between 48 and 96h, 19% at 96h to 1week, and 7% > 1week. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that time to PT session (OR 1.010, 95% CI 1.005-1.016) and ISS (OR 1.063, 95% CI 1.026-1.102) were independently associated with pulmonary complication. Time to mobility is independently associated with pulmonary complications in patients with spine fractures.

Comparison of Clinical Effects of Intramedullary Nail Internal Fixation and Traditional Steel Plate Internal Fixation in the Treatment of Zhang-Hou Fracture

&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Objective: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;The objective of this study was to analyse and compare of the clinical effects of two surgical methods in the treatment of Zhang-Hou fracture; &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Method&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: A total of 34 patients with Zhang-Hou fracture diagnosed in our hospital from 2020.08 to 2022.06 were reviewed. Among them, 17 patients were treated with tibial intramedullary nail internal fixation and 17 patients with traditional steel plate internal fixation. The blood loss, operation time, fracture healing time, excellent rate of affected limb function and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Result&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and fracture healing time were shorter in the intramedullary nail group, and the excellent rate of limb function in the intramedullary nail group was higher than that in the plate group 6 months after operation, but there was no significant difference between the two groups 12 months after operation. All the patients in the intramedullary nail group hadn’t serious complications after operation. Among the 17 patients in the plate group, 1 patient had wound infection and 1 patient had delayed fracture healing. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Conclusion&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: In the clinical treatment of Zhang-Hou fracture, tibial intramedullary nail internal fixation not only has the advantages of short operation time, less trauma and quick recovery after operation, but also has better functional recovery of the affected limb and less postoperative complications. However, clinicians&amp;apos; learning curve of tibial intramedullary nail internal fixation is relatively long.

Comparison of Conventional Locking Titanium Miniplates and Three-dimensional Locking Titanium Miniplates in Treatment of Mandibular Fractures

Comparison of Conventional Locking Titanium Miniplates and Three-dimensional Locking Titanium Miniplates in Treatment of Mandibular Fractures

Bone Advisor: AI-guided Bone Regeneration Prediction and Recommendations

The bone is a major component of the human body. Bone provides the ability to move the body. Bone fractures are common in the human body. Although external fixation is being widely used by orthopedic surgeons in treatment of bone fractures, the surgical procedure and recovery includes the possible complications which can significantly decrease the treatment’s efficiency and effectiveness. In this project we propose the improvement of a fixation device design by introducing the machine learning and deep learning technology. The Bone Regeneration Prediction and Recommendation System project represents a paradigm shift in orthopedic care. Through the integration of predictive modeling and machine learning, the system forecasts bone regeneration outcomes with maximal accuracy. Beyond predictions, the system generates personalized recommendations, to the individuals based on the patient data given to the model. Keywords: Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Recommendation system, prediction system, orthopedic

Posterior Approaches in the Treatment of Tibial Pilon Fractures

Posterior Approaches in the Treatment of Tibial Pilon Fractures

Arthroscopic Assisted Reduction of Talus Fractures Leads to Improved Clinical Outcomes at Mid- Term Follow-Up

Introduction/Purpose: Talus fracture is an uncommon and challenging pathology to treat due to its relationship with articular cartilage, ligamentous network, and avascular nature. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical outcomes after arthroscopic talar fracture fixation, compare to conventional open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), and analyze the quality and level of evidence of the included studies. Methods: A systematic review of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in June 2023. Articles were included if they evaluated outcomes following arthroscopic treatment of talus fractures, were written in English, were peer-reviewed, had a minimum of 2 patients per cohort, had human patients, and had a minimum 6-month follow-up. Inclusion criteria consisted of: Studies reporting clinical data following arthroscopy for the treatment of talus fractures were included and assessed. Results: Seven studies were analyzed, including 4 case series, 1 retrospective cohort, and 2 retrospective comparative studies. 237 patients treated with arthroscopic assisted reduction were compared to 76 patients treated with ORIF. Amongst arthroscopically treated patients, the AOFAS score improved from 71.2 ± 5.2 preoperatively to 89.9 ± 4.3 postoperatively. The SF-36 score improved from 73.2 ± 30.3 preoperatively to 104.5 ± 19.3 postoperatively. In total, 6 complications (3.0%) were observed in arthroscopically treated patients, of which the most common was peri-talar osteoarthritis in 2 patients (0.84%). In comparative cohorts, ORIF patients experienced a 13.0% complication rate in 6 patients (talar necrosis, malunion, nonunion, infection, and post-traumatic arthritis), compared to 2.2% in 1 patient (malunion) in the arthroscopic cohort. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that arthroscopic assisted reduction of talar fractures results in good clinical outcomes with lower complication rates. This minimally invasive approach had lower complications than ORIF, with no cases of talar necrosis and decreased postoperative traumatic arthritis. This technique provides adequate exposure without additional osteotomy, while decreasing trauma to local anatomical trauma, minimizing the risk of postoperative complications, and improving fracture healing assessment of concomitant lesions. These findings indicate arthroscopic treatment of talus fractures is an efficacious and safe procedure with comparable or improved clinical and postoperative outcomes as compared to conventional ORIF.

Surgical treatment of nasal fractures may benefit from intraoperative 3D imaging

This retrospective study aimed to assess the effects of the use of intraoperative three-dimensional (3D) imaging on outcomes in surgical treatment of nasal fractures. Furthermore, we investigated whether the use of intraoperative imaging improves outcomes and decreases the frequency of corrective surgeries compared to published literature. This retrospective descriptive study included patients who underwent operative treatment for nasal fractures with the use of intraoperative 3D imaging between January 2015 and January 2020at a University Hospital. The primary outcome measure was patient satisfaction, which was assessed through patient charts about subjective esthetic problems and nasal obstruction. The secondary outcome measures were the number of intraoperative images and necessity of intra- and postoperative revisions. All the outcomes were evaluated using regression analysis. Of the 172 patients, secondary rhinoplasty and intraoperative revision were performed in 10 (6 %) and 93 (54 %) patients, respectively. Postoperatively, 19 (11 %) and 12 (7 %) patients complained of subjective esthetic problems and nasal obstruction, respectively. The intraoperative revision rate in patients undergoing surgical treatment of nasal fractures with intraoperative 3D imaging was >50 %. However, the incidence of postoperative secondary revision, nasal obstruction, and subjective esthetic problems was lower than that reported in the literature not having an intraoperative imaging. Our findings suggest that prompt quality control of the operative result enables immediate correction and prevents postoperative revision.

Intramedullary nailing for irreducible spiral subtrochanteric fractures: A comparison of cerclage and non-cerclage wiring

PurposeIntramedullary nailing is the preferred internal fixation technique for the treatment of subtrochanteric fractures because of its biomechanical advantages. However, no definitive conclusion has been reached regarding whether combined cable cerclage is required during intramedullary nailing treatment. This study was performed to compare the clinical effects of intramedullary nailing with cerclage and non-cerclage wiring in the treatment of irreducible spiral subtrochanteric fractures. MethodsPatients with subtrochanteric fractures admitted to our center from January 2013 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were enrolled in the case-control study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and divided into the non-cerclage group and the cerclage group. The patients' clinical data, including the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, reoperation rate, fracture union time, and Harris hip score, were compared between these 2 groups. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Continuous variables with normal distribution were presented as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed with Student's t-test. Non-normally distributed variables were expressed as median (Q1, Q3) and assessed using the Mann-Whitney test. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. ResultsIn total, 69 patients were included in the study (35 patients in the non-cerclage group and 34 patients in the cerclage group). The baseline data of the 2 groups were comparable. There were no significant difference in the length of hospital stay (z = -0.391, p = 0.696), operative time (z = -1.289, p = 0.197), or intraoperative blood loss (z = -1.321, p = 0.186). However, compared with non-cerclage group, the fracture union time was shorter (z = -5.587, p < 0.001), the rate of nonunion was lower (χ2 = 6.030, p = 0.03), the anatomical reduction rate was higher (χ2 = 5.449, p = 0.03), and the Harris hip score was higher (z = -2.99, p = 0.003) in the cerclage group, all with statistically significant differences. ConclusionsIntramedullary nailing combined with cable cerclage wiring is a safe and reliable technique for the treatment of irreducible subtrochanteric fractures. This technique can improve the reduction effect, increase the stability of fracture fixation, shorten the fracture union time, reduce the occurrence of nonunion, and contribute to the recovery of hip joint function.

The role of kyphoplasty and expandable intravertebral implants in the acute treatment of traumatic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures: a systematic review.

The aim of the study was to assess the role of kyphoplasty and expandable intravertebral implants in the treatment of traumatic vertebral compression fractures. This is a systematic review. A bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed/MEDLINE database according to PRISMA guidelines regarding kyphoplasty and expandable intravertebral implants in the treatment of traumatic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures. A total of 611 records were screened. In total, 51 studies were obtained referring to traumatic vertebral fractures treated with kyphoplasty; however, of these, only studies addressing traumatic burst fractures were selected, resulting in 12 studies: 10 about kyphoplasty and 2 regarding armed kyphoplasty. In all studies, there was a statistically significant improvement in clinical and functional parameters, restoration of vertebral height and decreasing of vertebral and segmental kyphosis. Overall, there was only a residual loss of height and a slight increase in kyphosis throughout the follow-up period, while complications consisted essentially of cement leakage, all with no clinical repercussions. After the discussion, where we address the concepts of direct and indirect reduction, the association of kyphoplasty with pedicle fixation, the potential advantages of expandable intravertebral implants, as well as the vertebral body type of filling in kyphoplasty, it is concluded that kyphoplasty demonstrates favorable outcomes as a method of posterior percutaneous transpedicular access for reconstruction of the anterior column in burst fractures. It allows for the reconstruction of the vertebral body closer to its original anatomy, carried out in a minimally invasive and safe way, which provides a clinical-functional and imaging improvement maintained at the medium-long term.

Finite element analysis of the stability of retrograde intramedullary nail and plate-screw combinations for periprosthetic femoral fractures following total knee replacement.

Periprosthetic fractures following total knee replacement are rare but challenging. The goal of the treatment is to achieve the most stable fixation that allows early mobilization. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical results of the use of different fixation systems in the treatment of distal femur periprosthetic fractures with finite element analysis. A total knee prosthesis was implanted in Sawbone femur models. A transverse fracture line was created in the supracondylar region and was fixed in four different groups. In group 1, fracture line fixation was fixed using retrograde intramedullary nailing. In group 2, fixation was applied using a lateral anatomic distal femoral. In group 3, in addition to the fixation made in group 1, a lateral anatomic distal femoral plate was used. In group 4, in addition to the fixation made in group 2, a 3.5 mm Limited Contact Dynamic Compression Plate (LC-DCP) was applied medially. Computed Tomography (CT) scans were taken of the created models and were converted to three-dimensional models. Axial and rotational loading forces were applied to all the created models. The least deformation with axial loading was observed in the double plate group. Group 3 was determined to be more advantageous against rotational forces. The greatest movement in the fracture line was found in group 2. The application of the medial plate was determined to reduce the tension on the lateral plate and increase stability in the fracture line. Combining a lateral anatomic plate with intramedullary nailing or a medial plate was seen to be biomechanically more advantageous than using a lateral plate or intramedullary nailing alone in the treatment of distal femoral periprosthetic fractures.

No Difference in Clinical and Hospital Quality Outcomes in Treatment of Reverse Obliquity Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures (AO/OTA 31.A3) Based on Cephalomedullary Nail Length

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes following reverse obliquity (RO) intertrochanteric hip fractures based on the use of short cephalomedullary nails (CMNs) compared to long CMNs for fixation. MethodsAn IRB-approved prospectively collected hip fracture registry at an urban academic medical center was queried for all AO/OTA 31A3.1-3 reverse obliquity intertrochanteric (RO) fractures. One hundred and seventy patients with age > 55 years old and minimum 6-month follow-up were identified for analysis. Data was collected for patient demographics, injury details, intraoperative radiographic parameters, perioperative physiologic parameters, hospital quality measures, and outcomes including radiographic time to healing, need for reoperation, nonunion, and mortality. Comparative analyses were conducted between cohorts. Additional multivariable binary logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate for factors independently associated with short and long nail usage. ResultsThe mean age of the entire cohort was 80.91±10.09 years: 103 patients had a long CMN implanted, and 67 patients had a short CMN implanted. There were no demographic differences or differences in radiographic time to healing, rates of mortality, readmission, nonunion, and need for reoperation. Univariable analysis revealed that short CMN had lower intraoperative blood loss (111.19±83.97mL vs 176.72±161.45mL, p=0.002), decreased need for transfusion (37% vs. 55%, p=0.022), and shorter procedures (118.67±57.87min vs. 148.95±77.83min, p=0.002. Multivariable analysis revealed that short nail usage was associated with decreased intraoperative blood loss, decreased need for transfusion, and shorter operative times. ConclusionNail length does not affect healing or hospital quality outcomes in the treatment of RO hip fractures. The use of short CMNs for these fractures did correlate with lower intraoperative blood loss, operative time, and need for blood transfusion, with non-inferior outcomes and similar hospital quality measures when compared to long CMNs.

Effect of structural support size and position on depressed tibial plateau fractures: A finite element analysis

ObjectiveStructural support for depressed tibial plateau fractures is receiving increasing attention. Currently, there has been little biomechanical evaluation of structural support. This work aimed to investigate the effect of structural support size and position on fracture fixation stability. MethodsA split-depressed tibial plateau fracture model was created according to the fracture map. Cortical screws combined with structural filler were used for fracture fixation. The filler diameter was set to small, medium and large, and the filler position was set to the center and offset by 1, 2 and 3 mm to study the effect of position and size on stability. ResultsThe maximum stress on the implant in all scenarios occurs at the lower contact surface between the anterior screw and the filler. Increased support size resulted in increased mean maximum screw stress, depressed fragment axial displacement and separated fragment transverse displacement (screw stress: 266.6 ± 37.7 MPa vs. 266.7 ± 51.0 MPa vs. 273.8 ± 41.5 MPa; depressed displacement: 0.123 ± 0.036 mm vs. 0.133 ± 0.049 mm vs. 0.158 ± 0.050 mm; separated displacement: 0.402 ± 0.031 mm VS 0.412 ± 0.047 mm VS 0.437 ± 0.049 mm). The larger the offset of the support position was, the larger the peak screw stress and the larger the reduction loss of depressed and separated fragment reduction, regardless of the support size. The medium support combined with the central position presented the minimum of peak stress and reduction loss. Cortical bone was below 2 % and trabecular strain was below 10 % for all scenarios. ConclusionCentral placement of structural support provides superior stability for the treatment of depressed tibial plateau fractures compared to the eccentric placement. When a support is placed centrally, optimal stability is achieved when the diameter matches the diameter of the depressed region. Thus, the utilization of equal-diameter fillers to provide central support appears to be an ideal selection for depressed tibial plateau fractures.

Bilateral Flexion-Type Supracondylar Humerus Fracture.

Supracondylar humerus fractures are common in the pediatric population, but flexion fractures are very rare in this population. The need for open reduction in these fractures is high and can be challenging for orthopaedic surgeons. In this article, we report a 9-year-old patient with bilateral flexion-type humeral fracture treated with closed reduction, which, to our knowledge, is the first report in the literature. We concluded that the first step in the treatment of flexion-type supracondylar fractures should be closed reduction with the help of an experienced assistant surgeon and that successful results can be obtained even in bilateral flexion-type fractures with appropriate treatment and follow-up.

Risk Factors for Undergoing Surgical Intervention for Vertebral Compression Fractures: An Analysis of 703,499 Patients

Study DesignRetrospective Cohort ObjectivesVertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are typically treated nonoperatively, but can be treated with either kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty when indicated. The decision to treat patients with/without surgical intervention is dependent on the severity of deformity and patient risk profile. The aims of this study were to: 1) compare baseline patient demographics, 2) identify risk factors of patients undergoing operative versus nonoperative management, and 3) identify patient-specific risk factors associated with post-operative re-admissions. MethodsThis retrospective database study used patient information from January 1st, 2010, to October 31st, 2021. Cohorts were identified by patients diagnosed with VCFs through International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), ICD-10 codes, identifying those undergoing kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty via Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. The two research domains utilized in this investigation were baseline demographic profiles of patients who underwent kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty for treatment of VCFs, and those who underwent nonoperative management served as the control cohort. ResultsOf the 703,499 patients diagnosed with VCFs, 76,126 patients (10.8%) underwent kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty within 90 days of diagnosis of a VCF. Univariate analysis demonstrated female sex was associated with increased risk of undergoing surgical management for VCF (p<0.0001). Several co-morbidities were significantly associated with increased rates of readmission including hypertension, tobacco use, coronary artery disease, and COPD (p <0.0001 for all). ConclusionsThis study highlights specific comorbidities that are significantly associated with higher rates of kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty for the treatment of thoracolumbar wedge compression fractures and increased risk for 90-day post-operative hospital readmission.

Safety and exposure area in three different posteromedial surgical approaches for the treatment of ankle fractures. A cadaveric study

IntroductionThis study aimed to compare the degree of posterior malleolar exposure, the tension of the flap containing the posteromedial neurovascular bundle (NVB), and the distance between the surgical incision and the NVB using three different posteromedial ankle approaches. MethodsThree approaches were compared: medial posteromedial (MePM) modified posteromedial (MoPM) and posteromedial (PM). We measured the minimal tension of the flap containing the NVB that allowed proper exposure. In the second stage, an axial cut was performed, and we measured the degree of posterior malleolar exposure and the distance between the incision and the NVB ResultsThere were significant differences between the three approaches examined regarding the degree of posterior malleolar exposure and distance from the incision to the NBV,favoring the PM approach (71,00% ± 1.83 and 25.50 mm ± 4.20). The PM approach provided a significantly lower tension to the flap containing the posteromedial NVB (6.18 N ± 1.28) compared to the other two approaches ConclusionThe PM approach achieved the highest degree of posterior malleolar exposure, the lowest tension to the posteromedial NVB, and the greatest distance between the incision and the NBV. Thus, we believe it should be considered the approach of choicefor large fractures of the posteromedial aspect of the PM.

Percutaneous fixation versus open reduction and internal fixation in treatment of medial malleolus fracture

Background: Medial malleolus fractures are common orthopedic injuries that require prompt and effective treatment. This study aimed to compare two treatment approaches, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and closed reduction and percutaneous fixation (CRPF), for isolated medial malleolus fractures in adults. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 30 patients with isolated medial malleolus fracture who were assigned to either the ORIF or CRPF group using a simple randomization method. Surgical procedures were performed as described in the study, and post-operative management included splinting and regular clinical assessments. Results: Intraoperatively, CRPF demonstrated significantly lower operative time (33±5 min vs. 50±11 min, P &lt; 0.001) but higher X-ray exposure (33±9 vs. 25±7, P=0.014) compared to ORIF. Post-operatively, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of delayed union, pain with movement, soft tissue infection, or time to full union. Conclusions: Both ORIF and CRPF are viable treatment options for isolated medial malleolus fractures in adults. CRPF offers advantages in terms of shorter operative time but requires increased fluoroscopy usage. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

Definitive internal fracture fixation followed by staged free flap coverage (“fix followed by flap” protocol) for open Gustilo type IIIB fractures

BackgroundAlthough the concept of the “fix and flap” approach, in which definitive fracture fixation and flap coverage are completed in a single procedure at the earliest opportunity may seem ideal for the treatment of Gustilo type IIIB open fractures, the individual circumstances of patients, such as polytrauma or multiple fracture cases may not allow for the immediate fracture fixation and flap coverage (“fix and flap” approach). In our hospital, patients with Gustilo type IIIB open fractures are treated with definitive internal fixation of the fracture followed by staged flap coverage (“fix followed by flap” protocol) when the “fix and flap” approach was not feasible due to the patient's condition or difficulty in coordinating surgery schedules. The “fix followed by flap” protocol provides benefits in terms of flexibility in adjusting the surgical timetable, simplifying the planning of flap coverage following fracture fixation, and minimizing individual surgical invasion. MethodsWe reviewed 10 cases of severe open fractures treated with the “fix followed by flap” protocol and evaluated their outcomes. All surgical procedures, including wound debridement, fracture fixation, and flap coverage, were performed by orthoplastic surgeons specializing in both fracture surgery and microsurgery including soft tissue reconstruction. ResultsAll free flaps survived, and no partial necrosis was observed. None of the patients developed postoperative deep infection up to the last follow-up. Fracture union was achieved in all patients with or without autologous bone grafts. The median time for union was 9.4 months (range, 4–12 months). ConclusionsThis study presents favorable outcomes of treatment for Gustilo type IIIB open fractures with fracture fixation followed by staged flap coverage (“fix followed by flap” protocol). Despite a delay in flap coverage, the consistency of treatment provided by orthoplastic surgeons may have contributed to the favorable outcomes in this study.

Mid-term results of total elbow arthroplasties in the treatment of geriatric distal humerus fractures

BackgroundWhile double plate fixation is the gold standard treatment for distal humerus fractures in the general population, it is the source of many complications in the elderly. Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) has been proposed as an alternative treatment, with satisfactory short-term functional outcomes. However, little is known about the longevity of the implant and the mid- and long-term complications of this procedure. Materials and methodsA total of 58 TEAs were performed in 57 patients with comminuted distal humerus fractures between September 2008 and September 2019. All patients were clinically (ranges of motion, Mayo Elbow Performance Score [MEPS] and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand [QuickDASH] functional scores) and radiographically assessed. The minimum follow-up was 2years, and the mean follow-up was 4.7years. ResultsThe overall complication rate was 20.7%, with ulnar nerve damage, complex regional pain syndrome, and severe stiffness being the main complications. The mean MEPS was 85.3, and the mean QuickDASH was 28.1. The mean flexion was 122°, and the mean extension was −23.5°. There were no prosthetic revisions. Of these patients, 17% had radiolucent lines, and 13% had bushing wear at the last follow-up. DiscussionTEA is an effective technique for treating comminuted distal humerus fractures in the geriatric population. The prosthesis's mid-term survivorship was highly satisfactory, with a complication rate that remained low and was generally lower than that of osteosynthesis, with identical functional outcomes. TEAs are indicated in elderly patients, for whom maintaining the fullest possible autonomy is paramount. Our findings suggest that TEAs have sufficient longevity to guarantee a functional, pain-free elbow with no need for reoperation. Level of evidenceIV; case series.

Arthroscopic management of pediatric ankle fractures: a systematic review.

Arthroscopic-assisted treatment of ankle fractures has proven useful in the adult population, but little evidence exists for the utilization of arthroscopic-assisted ankle fracture fixation in the pediatric population. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the management of pediatric ankle fractures using arthroscopy. A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and MEDLINE from database inception to February 22nd, 2023. Inclusion criteria for this systematic review was pediatric population less than age 18, arthroscopic surgery management, and ankle fracture. A total of 19 articles (n=30 patients) out of 176 articles met final inclusion criteria with all articles consisting of case reports or case series. The average patient age was 13.8±1.6 years. Sixteen of the patients (53%) had arthroscopic surgery along with an adjunct surgery as indicated, whereas 14 patients (47%) had arthroscopic surgery with or without percutaneous fixation. A high majority of patients demonstrated full range-of-motion and large improvements in function. Arthroscopy is used with percutaneous fixation or in adjunct to open approaches for pediatric ankle fracture management with good results. More research is needed to determine the utility of arthroscopy in the management of pediatric ankle fractures.