Treatment Of Fractures Research Articles

Nonoperative Treatment of Humeral Shaft Fractures With Immediate Functional Bracing Versus Coaptation Splinting and Delayed Functional Bracing: A Retrospective Study.

To compare radiographic and clinical outcomes in nonoperative management of humeral shaft fractures treated initially with coaptation splinting (CS) followed by delayed functional bracing (FB) versus treatment with immediate FB. Retrospective cohort study. Academic Level 1 Trauma Center. Patients with closed humeral shaft fractures managed nonoperatively with initial CS followed by delayed FB or with immediate FB from 2016 to 2022. Patients younger than 18 years and/or with less than 3 months of follow-up were excluded. The primary outcome was coronal and sagittal radiographic alignment assessed at the final follow-up. Secondary outcomes included rate of failure of nonoperative management (defined as surgical conversion and/or fracture nonunion), fracture union, and skin complications secondary to splint/brace wear. Ninety-seven patients were managed nonoperatively with delayed FB (n = 58) or immediate FB (n = 39). Overall, the mean age was 49.9 years (range 18-94 years), and 64 (66%) patients were female. The immediate FB group had less smokers ( P = 0.003) and lower incidence of radial nerve palsy ( P = 0.025), with more proximal third humeral shaft fractures ( P = 0.001). There were no other significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics ( P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in coronal ( P = 0.144) or sagittal ( P = 0.763) radiographic alignment between the groups. In total, 33 (34.0%) humeral shaft fractures failed nonoperative management, with 11 (28.2%) in the immediate FB group and 22 (37.9%) in the delayed FB group ( P = 0.322). There were no significant differences in fracture union ( P = 0.074) or skin complications ( P = 0.259) between the groups. This study demonstrated that nonoperative treatment of humeral shaft fractures with immediate functional bracing did not result in significantly different radiographic or clinical outcomes compared to treatment with CS followed by delayed functional bracing. Future prospective studies assessing patient-reported outcomes will further guide clinical decision making. Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Postoperative Care and Outcomes in Solid-Organ Transplant Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Fracture Treatment.

To determine the postoperative outcomes in solid-organ transplant (SOT) patients undergoing operative treatment of lower extremity fractures. Retrospective comparative study. Academic Level 1 trauma center. Patients who underwent SOT and operative treatment of lower extremity fracture from 2013 to 2021 were identified, excluding pathologic fractures. Postoperative complications, length of stay, time to death, 90-day and 1-year readmission rates, readmission causes, discharge location, and immunosuppressive regiments. Sixty-one patients with an average age of 67 years (range 29-88) were included. The mortality rate was 37.7%. The average follow-up was 15.2 months (range of 2 weeks-10 years). The majority of patients (32.8%) had received a liver transplant, and femoral neck fractures constituted the largest fracture group. The average length of stay was 10 days, with the shortest being 1 day and the longest being 126 days (SD 18). The majority of patients (57.3%) were not discharged home. Only 2 suffered from a postoperative complication requiring another procedure: hardware removal and liner exchange for periprosthetic joint infection, respectively. There was a 27.9% 90-day readmission rate with 2 deaths within that period with the most common being altered mental status (29.4%), genitourinary infections (17.6%), repeat falls (11.8%), and low hemoglobin requiring transfusion (11.8%). The longest average time to death analyzed by transplant type was found among lung transplant patients (1076 days, 62.5% mortality), followed by liver transplant patients (949 days, 35.0% mortality), and then kidney transplant patients (834 days, 38.9% mortality). The shortest time to death was 71 days from index procedure. Family members of SOT patients undergoing operative treatment of lower extremity fractures should be made aware of the high risk for 90-day readmission postoperatively (27.9%) and overall mortality (12.5%). Providers should be aware of the need for multidisciplinary involvement for inpatient care, monitoring postoperative complications, and facilitating discharge planning. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Study of Nonoperative Versus Operative Treatment for High-Energy Midshaft Clavicle Fractures.

Evaluate if nonoperative or operative treatment of displaced clavicle fractures delivers reduced rates of nonunion and improved Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores. Multicenter, prospective, observational. Seven Level 1 Trauma Centers in the United States. Adults with closed, displaced (100% displacement/shortened >1.5 cm) midshaft clavicle fractures (Orthopaedic Trauma Association 15.2) were treated nonoperatively, with plates and screw fixation, or with intramedullary fixation from 2003 to 2018. DASH scores (2, 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months), reoperation, and nonunion were compared between the nonoperative, plate fixation, and intramedullary fixation groups. Four hundred twelve patients were enrolled, with 203 undergoing plate fixation, 26 receiving intramedullary fixation, and 183 treated nonoperatively. The average age of the nonoperative group was 40.1 (range 18-79) years versus 35.8 (range 18-74) in the plate group and 39.3 (range 19-56) in the intramedullary fixation group (P = 0.06). One hundred forty (76.5%) patients in the nonoperative group were male compared with 154 (75.9%) in the plate group and 18 (69.2%) in the intramedullary fixation group (P = 0.69). All groups showed similar DASH scores at 2 weeks, 12 months, and 24 months (P > 0.05). Plate fixation demonstrated better DASH scores (median = 20.8) than nonoperative (median = 28.3) at 6 weeks (P = 0.04). Intramedullary fixation had poorer DASH scores at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months than plate fixation and worse DASH scores than nonoperative at 6 months (P < 0.05). The nonunion rate for nonoperative treatment (14.6%) was significantly higher than the plate group (0%) (P < 0.001). Operative treatment of displaced clavicle fractures provided lower rates of nonunion than nonoperative treatment. Except at 6 weeks, no difference was observed in DASH scores between plate fixation and nonoperative treatment. Intramedullary fixation resulted in worse DASH scores than plate fixation at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months and worse DASH scores than nonoperative at 6 months. Implant removal was the leading reason for reoperation in the plate and intramedullary fixation groups, whereas surgery for nonunion was the primary reason for surgery in the nonoperative group. Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Subtrochanteric Femur Fractures: The Association Between Obesity and Perioperative, Clinical, and Radiographic Outcomes.

To evaluate the association between obesity and treatment approaches, perioperative factors, and clinical and radiographic outcomes following subtrochanteric fracture fixation. Retrospective Cohort. Academic Medical Center. Patients operatively treated for an AO/OTA 32Axa, 32Bxa, or 32Cxa subtrochanteric femur fracture. Injury characteristics, perioperative parameters, fixation information, postoperative complications, and clinical and radiographic outcomes. Univariate analyses were conducted between the obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) and the nonobese (BMI <30 kg/m2) cohorts. Regression analyses were performed to assess BMI as a continuous variable. Of 230 operatively treated subtrochanteric fracture patients identified, 49 (21%) were obese and 181 (79%) were nonobese. The average age of the obese cohort was 69.6 ± 17.2 years, with 16 (33%) male and 33 (77%) female. The average age of the nonobese cohort was 71.8 ± 19.2 years, with 60 (33%) male and 121 (77%) female. Aside from BMI, there were no significant differences in demographics between the obese and nonobese (age [P = 0.465], sex [P = 0.948], American Society of Anesthesiology Score [P = 0.739]). Both cohorts demonstrated similar injury characteristics including mechanism of injury, atypical fracture type, and AO/OTA fracture pattern (32A, 32B, 32C). Obese patients underwent more open reduction procedures (59% open obese, 11% open nonobese, P < 0.001), a finding further quantified by a 24% increased likelihood of open reduction for every 1 unit increase in BMI (OR: 1.2, 95% CI, 1.2-1.3, P < 0.001). There was no difference in average nail diameter, 1 versus 2-screw nail design, or number of locking screws placed. The obese cohort was operated more frequently on a fracture table (P < 0.001) when compared with the nonobese cohort that was operated more frequently on a flat table (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences (P > 0.050) in postoperative complications, mortality/readmission rates, hospital quality measures, fixation failure, or time to bone healing. The treatment of subtrochanteric fractures in obese patients is associated with a higher likelihood of surgeons opting for open fracture reduction and the use of different operating room table types, but no difference was observed in postoperative complications, mortality or readmission rates, or healing timeline when compared with nonobese patients. Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Navicular bone fractures in horses: Prognosis after conservative and surgical treatment

The aim of this retrospective study is to describe and compare conservative and surgical treatment of navicular fractures in horses. An attempt is made to identify critical points that can favorably influence the prognosis of this orthopedic disease. All horses treated for a navicular fracture at the Equine Clinic, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich between 2005 and 2017 were included in this study. The severity of lameness at initial examination, radiographic assessment, hoof conformation, treatment (conservative or surgical), complications and outcome were determined from the medical records. Conservative and surgical treatment consisted of stable rest, a controlled exercise program and therapeutic orthopedic shoeing. During surgical treatment, fracture reduction was also carried out with a cortical screw. Computer assisted surgery were used in five horses and computer tomography in three horses. Follow-up examinations included clinical and radiographic examinations. The outcome was divided into three categories: 1 = very good; 2 = good; 3 = poor. Twelve horses met the inclusion criteria; Four horses were treated conservatively and eight were treated surgically. After conservative treatment, two horses (50 %) had a very good outcome and two (50 %) had a good outcome. After surgical treatment, four horses (50 %) had a very good outcome and four (50 %) had a poor outcome. Overall, 67 % of horses had a very good or good outcome, although radiographic signs of bone healing was not present in any of these cases. Various complications were identified, such as the fracture of a screw, the fragmentation of the small navicular bone fragment, the development of osteoarthrosis in the coffin joint and progressive podotrochosis. This study shows that the prognosis of navicular fractures is generally cautious and that degenerative changes to the navicular apparatus worsen the prognosis. In the present study, surgical treatment did not improve the prognosis of navicular fractures despite the intrasurgical use of three-dimensional imaging. However, technical advances could reduce the complication rate in the future.

Developing a core outcome set for acetabular fractures: a systematic review protocol

BackgroundClinical trials investigating acetabular fractures are heterogeneous in their investigated outcomes and their corresponding measurements. Standardization may facilitate comparability and pooling of research results, which would lead to an increase in knowledge about the optimal treatment of acetabular fractures, resulting in long-term evidence-based treatment decisions and improvements in patient care. The aim of this systematic review is to identify the reported outcomes and their measurements from studies on treatments for acetabular fractures to develop a core outcome set which contains the most relevant outcome measures to be included in future studies.MethodsStudies published in English and German including patients aged 16 years and older, with a surgically treated acetabular fracture, will be included. Studies with nonsurgical treatment, pathologic fractures, polytraumatized patients, and patients younger than 16 years of age will be excluded because other outcomes may be of interest in these cases. Any prospective and retrospective study will be included. Systematic reviews will be excluded, but their included studies will be screened for eligibility. The literature will be searched on MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP. Risk of selective reporting of outcomes will be assessed using the Outcome Reporting Bias in Trials classification system. Heterogeneously defined outcomes that measure the same outcome will be grouped and subsequently categorized into outcome domains using the taxonomy of the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials Initiative.DiscussionIt is expected that a high number of studies will be included, and many outcomes will be identified using different definitions and measurement instruments. A limitation of this systematic review is that only previously investigated outcomes will be detected, thus disregarding potentially relevant outcomes.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42022357644

Introduction of an order set after hip fracture improves osteoporosis medication initiation and persistence: a population-based before-after analysis.

A treatment gap exists after osteoporosis-related fractures. Introducing standardized care can improve treatment. We evaluated the impact of a hip fracture order set (OS) on anti-osteoporosis medication (AOM) initiation, persistence, and secondary fracture prevention. In 2015, one hospital in Manitoba, Canada, introduced a hip fracture OS including recommendations for the initiation of AOM (OS group). A control group was identified from the other hospitals in the same region. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using linked administrative health data. All individuals 50 + years with surgical treatment for low-energy hip fracture between 2010 and 2019 were included and followed for AOM initiation, medication persistence at 1year, and secondary fractures. Between-group differences for each year were assessed using chi-square tests. Logistic regression models tested the impact of socio-demographic and clinical factors on initiation, persistence of AOM. Cox regression tested the risk of secondary fracture. No baseline differences between OS group (813 patients) and control group (2150 patients) were observed in demographics, socioeconomic factors, or comorbidities. An increase in post-fracture AOM initiation was seen with OS introduction (OS group year before 16.7% versus year after 48.6%, p < 0.001). No change was seen in the control group. Persistence on AOM also increased (OS group year before 17.7% versus year after 28.4%, p < 0.001). No difference in secondary fractures was observed (OS group 19.8% versus control group 18.8%, p = 0.38). Introduction of a hip fracture OS significantly increased AOM initiation and persistence at 1-year post-fracture. There was no significant difference in secondary fractures.

Conservative fracture treatment in old people

The numbers of osteoporotic fractures will increase due to the demographic change, which particularly affects the proximal femur, pelvis, proximal humerus, wrist and vertebral column. Surgical treatment is superior to conservative treatment of proximal femoral fractures. Non-dislocated fractures of the wrist can also be treated with a plaster cast but studies suggest that the results in the first 12months are better after surgical treatment. The situation is similar for fractures of the proximal humerus and non-dislocated fractures in particular can also be treated conservatively. Ascore and classification were recently developed for making decisions on the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Fractures of the anterior and posterior pelvic ring can be treated conservatively with the patient under sufficient analgesia as long as there is no substantial dislocation. The highest priority in geriatric traumatology is fast remobilization.

Is nail-plate docking worth the effort? A biomechanical analysis of docking a plate and a nail in peri-implant femur fractures.

The ideal treatment of peri-implant femur fractures (PIFFs) remains unclear due to the thin clinical and biomechanical evidence concerning the most suitable form of osteosynthesis. The purpose of the present study was thus to determine the biomechanical stability that results from combining a cephalomedullary nail and a plate for proximal PIFFs, especially when the nail-plate docking technique is applied. Twenty four PIFFs were simulated in both 12 foam and 12 composite specimens and were stabilized via a combination of a cephalomedullary nail and a plate. The control group (n = 6) had a nail and a plate without a connection, while the intervention group (n = 6) had a screw that connected the plate with the interlocking screw hole of the nail, thereby creating a nail-plate docking system. The specimens were evaluated under axial and torsional loading using a material-testing machine and a 3D metrology system. The data regarding stiffness, failure load, and failure displacement showed significantly higher stability for specimens without nail-plate docking. For docked specimens, a non-significant trend toward a higher resistance to torque was observed. Both techniques displayed no significant difference in fracture gap displacement or total displacement. The present study suggests that nail-plate docking of a cephalomedullary nail, and a plate significantly decreases the stiffness and stability of osteosynthesis under axial loading. However, there seems to be a tendency toward higher resistance to torque. Therefore, surgeons should consider this technique if higher torsional stability is necessary, and they should decide against it, if axial stability is preferred.

Most elite athletes return to preinjury competitive activity after surgical treatment for medial malleolus stress fractures.

To provide return-to-performanceoutcomes after surgical treatment for medial malleolus stress fractures in the elite athlete. Additionally, to describe an individualised surgical approach in the management of medial malleolus stress fractures. Five athletes (six ankles) underwent surgical treatment for a medial malleolus stress fracture. The surgical technique was based on the extent of the fracture line in steps with first arthroscopic debridement of bony spurs, microfracturing of the fracture line and screw fixation. Return-to-performance data includedtime to return to sport-specific training, normal training, first competitive activity, performanceand the return-to-performance rate. Patients returned to sport-specific training at a median of 10 weeks. They started normal training at 16 weeks postoperativelyand returned to their first competitive activity after 19 weeks. All patients had bony spurs on the distal tibia which were arthroscopically debrided. One patient received arthroscopic debridement of bony spurs alone. Four patients received additional microfracturing of the fracture line and three patients received screw fixation. All patients achieved clinical and radiographic union on follow-up computed tomography scan at 3 months postsurgery. At latest follow-up, no refractures nor hardware complications, nor any other complications were observed. Arthroscopic debridement of bony spurs, debridement and microfracturing of the fracture lineand screw fixation are all viable surgical tools in the management of medial malleolus stress fractures in elite athletes. The surgical approach containing these options should be tailored to the individual athlete based on the fracture line in the sagittal plane. While most athletes return to full competitive activity in 3-4 months, time to self-reported return to full performance is often much longer. Level IV.

Proximal femoral fractures in patients with COVID-19 : Pneumonia and admission from anursing home are the strongest predictors of mortality.

Proximal femoral fractures are severe injuries in geriatric patients. Additionally, geriatric patients are at ahigh risk of death due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To identify predictors of mortality in geriatric patients with COVID-19 and concurrent proximal femoral fractures. Patients who underwent surgical treatment for proximal femoral fractures and also tested positive for COVID-19 were included. The age, gender, the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score and the admission from anursing home were considered as variables. The rate of reoperations, the mortality at 3 months and discharge home were evaluated as outcomes. In this study 46 patients with COVID-19 (female/male 31/15, median age87.0 years with an interquartile range [IQR] of 9.8 years) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 32patients (69.6%) had to be cared for in the intensive care unit and 26 patients (56.5%) had asevere course of COVID-19 with pneumonia. The median length of hospital stay for survivors was 19 (IQR 17.5) days and 4 of the patients (8.7%) required surgical revision. The in-hospital and 3‑month mortality were 40.0% (n = 17) and 43.5% (n = 20), respectively. The factors which influenced the in-hospital and 3‑month mortality rates were admission from anursing home, the presence of pneumonia (increased the risk of death) and female gender (protective). The occurrence of COVID-19 in patients with proximal femoral fractures has ahigh mortality. Admission from anursing home and the presence of pneumonia increased the risk of death, whereas women were at lower risk.

Emilin2 marks the target region for mesenchymal cell accumulation in bone regeneration

BackgroundRegeneration of injured tissue is dependent on stem/progenitor cells, which can undergo proliferation and maturation processes to replace the lost cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). Bone has a higher regenerative capacity than other tissues, with abundant mesenchymal progenitor cells in the bone marrow, periosteum, and surrounding muscle. However, the treatment of bone fractures is not always successful; a marked number of clinical case reports have described nonunion or delayed healing for various reasons. Supplementation of exogenous stem cells by stem cell therapy is anticipated to improve treatment outcomes; however, there are several drawbacks including the need for special devices for the expansion of stem cells outside the body, low rate of cell viability in the body after transplantation, and oncological complications. The use of endogenous stem/progenitor cells, instead of exogenous cells, would be a possible solution, but it is unclear how these cells migrate towards the injury site.MethodsThe chemoattractant capacity of the elastin microfibril interface located protein 2 (Emilin2), generated by macrophages, was identified by the migration assay and LC–MS/MS. The functions of Emilin2 in bone regeneration were further studied using Emilin2–/– mice.ResultsThe results show that in response to bone injury, there was an increase in Emilin2, an ECM protein. Produced by macrophages, Emilin2 exhibited chemoattractant properties towards mesenchymal cells. Emilin2–/– mice underwent delayed bone regeneration, with a decrease in mesenchymal cells after injury. Local administration of recombinant Emilin2 protein enhanced bone regeneration.ConclusionEmilin2 plays a crucial role in bone regeneration by increasing mesenchymal cells. Therefore, Emilin2 can be used for the treatment of bone fracture by recruiting endogenous progenitor cells.

Tip-apex distance as a risk factor for cut-out in cephalic double-screw nailing of intertrochanteric femur fractures.

Proximal femur fractures treatment can involve anterograde nailing with a single or double cephalic screw. An undesirable failure for this fixation is screw cut-out. In a single-screw nail, a tip-apex distance (TAD) greater than 25 mm has been associated with an increased risk of cut-out. The aim of the study was to examine the role of TAD as a risk factor in a cephalic double-screw nail. A retrospective study was conducted on 112 patients treated for intertrochanteric femur fracture with a double proximal screw nail (Endovis BA2; EBA2) from January to September 2021. The analyzed variables were age, sex, BMI, comorbidities, fracture type, side, time of surgery, quality of reduction, pre-existing therapy with bisphosphonate for osteoporosis, screw placement in two different views, and TAD. The last follow-up was at 12 months. Logistic regression was used to study the potential factors of screw cut-out, and receiver operating characteristic curve to identify the threshold value. A total of 98 of the 112 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 65 patients were female (66.3%), the mean age was 83.23 years (SD 7.07), and the mean follow-up was 378 days (SD 36). Cut-out was observed in five patients (5.10%). The variables identified by univariate analysis with p < 0.05 were included in the multivariate logistic regression model were screw placement and TAD. The TAD was significant with an odds ratio (OR) 5.03 (p = 0.012) as the screw placement with an OR 4.35 (p = 0.043) in the anteroposterior view, and OR 10.61 (p = 0.037) in the lateral view. The TAD threshold value identified was 29.50 mm. Our study confirmed the risk factors for cut-out in the double-screw nail are comparable to those in the single screw. We found a TAD value of 29.50 mm to be associated with a risk of cut-out in double-screw nails, when good fracture reduction is granted. This value is higher than the one reported with single-screw nails. Therefore, we suggest the role of TAD should be reconsidered in well-reduced fractures treated with double-screw intramedullary nail.

An anti-infection and biodegradable TFRD-loaded porous scaffold promotes bone regeneration in segmental bone defects -experimental studies.

Addressing segmental bone defects remains a complex task in orthopedics, and recent advancements have led to the development of novel drugs to enhance the bone regeneration. However, long-term oral administration can lead to malnutrition and poor patient compliance. Scaffolds loaded with medication are extensively employed to facilitate the restoration of bone defects. Inspired by the local use of total flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae (TFRD) in the treatment of fracture, a novel 3D-printed HA/CMCS/PDA/TFRD scaffold with anti-infection, biodegradable and induced angiogenesis was designed, and to explore its preclinical value in segmental bone defect of tibia. The scaffold exhibited good degradation and drug release performance. In vitro, the scaffold extract promoted osteogenesis by enhancing bone-related gene/protein expression and mineral deposition in BMSCs. It also stimulated endothelial cell migration and promoted angiogenesis through the upregulation of specific genes and proteins associated with cell migration and tube formation. This may be attributed to the activation of the PI3k/AKT/HIF-1α pathway, facilitating the processes of osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Furthermore, the HA/CMCS/PDA/TFRD scaffold was demonstrated to alleviate infection, enhance angiogenesis, promote bone regeneration, and increase the maximum failure force of new formed bone in a rat model of segmental bone defects. Porous scaffolds loaded with TFRD can reduce infection, be biodegradable, and induce angiogenesis, presenting a novel approach for addressing tibial segmental bone defects.

Comparative Interrupted Time Series Analysis of Medical Expenses in Patients with Intertrochanteric Fracture Who Underwent Internal Fixation and Hemiarthroplasty.

The objective of this study was to assess postoperative direct medical expenses and medical utilization of elderly patients who underwent either hemiarthroplasty (HA) or internal fixation (IF) for treatment of a femoral intertrochanteric fracture and to analyze differences according to surgical methods and age groups. Data from the 2011 to 2018 Korean National Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service database were used. Risk-set matching was performed for selection of controls representing patients with the same sex, age, and year of surgery. A comparative interrupted time series analysis was performed for evaluation of differences in medical expenses and utilization between the two groups. A total of 10,405 patients who underwent IF surgery and 10,405 control patients who underwent HA surgery were included. Medical expenses were 18% lower in the IF group compared to the HA group during the first year after the fracture (difference-in-difference [DID] estimate ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77-0.87, P<0.001), and 9% lower in the second year (DID estimate ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.99, P=0.018). Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the IF group compared to the HA group during the first two years after time zero in the age ≥80 group. A noticeable increase in medical expenses was observed for patients who underwent HA for treatment of intertrochanteric fractures compared to those who underwent IF over a two-year period after surgery. Therefore, consideration of such findings is critical when designing healthcare policy support for management of intertrochanteric fractures.

Early Complications of a Novel Retrograde Intramedullary Femoral Nail in the Treatment of Femur Fractures.

To determine the early implant failure rate of a novel retrograde intramedullary femoral nail. Retrospective cohort study. Academic level 1 trauma center. Patients aged 18 years and older with an acute OTA/AO 32-A, 32-B, 32-C, and 33-A fractures or periprosthetic distal femur fracture from April 2018 to April 2022 were included in the study. The 2 interventions compared were the Synthes Expert retrograde/antegrade femoral nail (or control implant) versus the next-generation retrograde femoral nail (RFN)-advanced retrograde femoral nail (RFNA or experimental implant) (Synthes, West Chester, PA). Early implant-related complications between the experimental and control implants were assessed including locking screw back out, screw breakage, intramedullary nail failure, need for secondary surgery, and loss of fracture reduction. Three hundred fourteen patients were identified with a mean age of 31.0 years, and 62.4% of the patients being male. Open fractures occurred in 32.5% of patients with 3.8% of injuries being distal femur periprosthetic fractures. Fifty-six patients were in the experimental group and 258 patients in the control group. Mean follow-up was 46.8 weeks for the control cohort and 21.0 weeks for the experimental cohort. Distal interlocking screw back out occurred in 23.2% (13 of 56) of the experimental group patients and 1.9% (5 of 258) of the control group patients ( P < 0.0001). Initial diagnosis of interlocking screw back out occurred at an average of 3.2 weeks postoperatively (range, 2-12 weeks). Fifty-four percent of patients who sustained screw back out underwent a secondary operation to remove the symptomatic screws (12.5% of all patients treated with the experimental implant required an unplanned secondary operation due to screw back out). A logistic regression model was used to predict screw back out and found the experimental implant group was 4.3 times as likely to experience distal locking screw back out compared with the control group ( P = 0.01). The retrograde femoral nail-advanced implant was associated with a significantly higher rate of screw back out with a substantial number of unplanned secondary surgeries compared with the previous generation of this implant. Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Greco-Nice-Lag: Lag Screw and Double Nice Knot Fixation for Spiral Proximal Phalanx Fractures-Connecting the Shoulder to the Finger.

A colorful array of fixation options exists for the management of operative long oblique or spiral proximal phalanx fractures. These include lag screws, intramedullary devices, Kirschner wires, dorsal or lateral plating, and cerclage wiring. The "Nice double-suture knot," described by Boileau and colleagues, is a sliding, self-stabilizing knot initially created for tuberosity fixation in the shoulder. Nice knot cerclage has been described in shoulder arthroplasty, as well as for comminuted patella fractures. Here we describe a technique utilizing a single lag screw with 2 Nice knot cerclage sutures for the treatment of a spiral proximal phalanx fracture in a 65-year-old active smoker with osteopenia.

Patient Preferences for Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment of LC1 Pelvis Fracture: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

To quantify how patients with lateral compression type 1 (LC1) pelvis fracture value attributes of operative versus nonoperative treatment. Discrete choice experiment. Three US Level 1 trauma centers. Adult survivors of an LC1 pelvis treated between June 2016 and March 2023 were identified from institutional registries. The choice experiment was administered as a survey from March through August 2023. Participants chose between 12 hypothetical comparisons of treatment attributes including operative or nonoperative care, risk of death, severity of pain, risk of secondary surgery, shorter hospital stay, discharge destination, and independence in ambulation within 1 month of injury. The marginal utility of each treatment attribute, for example, the strength of participants' aggregate preference for an attribute as indicated by their survey choices, was estimated by multinomial logit modeling with and without stratification by treatment received. Four hundred forty-nine eligible patients were identified. The survey was distributed to 182 patients and collected from 72 patients (39%) at a median 2.3 years after injury. Respondents were 66% female with a median age of 59 years (IQR, 34-69 years). Before injury, 94% ambulated independently and 75% were working; 41% received operative treatment. Independence with ambulation provided the highest relative marginal utility (21%, P < 0.001), followed by discharge to home versus skilled nursing (20%, P < 0.001), moderate versus severe postdischarge pain (17%, P < 0.001), shorter hospital stay (16%, P < 0.001), secondary surgery (15%, P < 0.001), and mortality (10%, P = 0.02). Overall, no relative utility for operative versus nonoperative treatment was observed (2%, P = 0.54). However, respondents strongly preferred the treatment they received: operative patients valued operative treatment (utility, 0.37 vs. -0.37, P < 0.001); nonoperative patients valued nonoperative treatment (utility, 0.19 vs. -0.19, P < 0.001). LC1 pelvis fracture patients valued independence with ambulation, shorter hospital stay, and avoiding secondary surgery and mortality in the month after their injury. Patients preferred the treatment they received rather than operative versus nonoperative care.

Technique for Minimally Invasive, Arthroscopic-assisted Distal Radius Fracture Fixation.

Distal radius fractures are common injuries that often require surgical intervention. Commonly, these fractures are fixed using open reduction internal fixation with plating and screws. This often requires a more extensive soft tissue dissection and exposure. In contrast for certain cases, percutaneous headless compression screws may be appropriate. We present a technique for minimally invasive arthroscopic-assisted reduction and percutaneous screw fixation with an extremity traction device. A case is provided to demonstrate the technique as a viable option for the treatment of intra-articular distal radius fractures.

Erector Spinae Plane Block as an Analgesic Intervention in Acute Rib Fractures

Erector Spinae Plane Block as an Analgesic Intervention in Acute Rib Fractures