To determine the effectiveness of various types of antibiotic-coated intramedullary implants in the treatment of septic long bone nonunion.
Retrospective chart review.
Level 1 trauma center.
...Forty-one patients with septic long bone nonunion treated with an antibiotic cement-coated intramedullary implant.
Surgical debridement and placement of a type of antibiotic-coated intramedullary implant.
Union and need for reoperation.
At an average 27-month follow-up (6-104), 27 patients (66%) had a modified radiographic union score of the tibia of 11.5 or greater, 12 patients (29%) a score lower than 11.5, and 2 patients (5%) underwent subsequent amputation. Six patients underwent no further surgical procedures after the index operation. Patients treated with a rigid, locked antibiotic nail achieved earlier weight-bearing (P = 0.001), less frequently required autograft (P = 0.005), and underwent fewer subsequent procedures (average 0.38 vs. 3.60, P = 0.004) than those treated with flexible core antibiotic rods.
Antibiotic-coated intramedullary implants are successful in the treatment of septic nonunions in long bones. In our cohort, rigid, statically locked nails allowed faster rehabilitation, decreased the need for autograft, and decreased the number of additional surgical procedures. Further study is needed to confirm these findings.
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
To analyze radiographic changes in intertrochanteric (IT) fracture alignment after treatment with either a single sliding lag screw or an integrated compressed and locked, dual screw, ...cephalomedullary nail construct.
Retrospective comparative study.
Level 1 regional trauma center.
1004 OTA/AO 31A, 31B2.1 fractures treated with either a single screw cephalomedullary nail (Gamma 3) or an integrated dual screw cephalomedullary nail (InterTAN) between February 1, 2005, and June 30, 2013. Four hundred thirteen remained after exclusion criteria; 130 were treated with a single screw device (79 stable and 51 unstable), and 283 with an integrated dual screw device (155 stable and 128 unstable).
Cephalomedullary nail insertion.
Radiographic analysis included fracture pattern, fracture reduction, neck-shaft angle (NSA), and femoral neck shortening (FNS) differences at 3, 6, and 12 months. Measurements were normalized using known lag screw dimensions, digitally corrected for magnification. Rotation between x-rays was controlled using a ratio of known to measured dimensions. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis.
The single screw device resulted in 2.5 times more varus collapse (NSA) and 2 times more FNS over 1 year, as compared to the locked, integrated dual screw device, regardless of stability (P < 0.001). NSA and FNS changes were greater for both devices in unstable fracture patterns, but significantly less movement occurred with the dual screw device (P < 0.001).
A cephalomedullary nail with 2 integrated proximal screws that can be compressed and then locked seems to maintain initial IT fracture reduction and subsequent position over time, with less varus collapse and less shortening than a single screw device.
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
To determine the outcomes after acute versus staged fixation of complete articular tibial plafond fractures.
Retrospective cohort study.
Single Level 1 Trauma center.
98 skeletally mature patients ...with OTA/AO 43C type fractures who underwent definitive fixation with plate and screw constructs and had a minimum 6 months of follow-up.
Acute open reduction internal fixation (aORIF) versus staged (sORIF) definitive fixation.
Rates of wound dehiscence/necrosis and deep infection.
Acute (N = 40) versus staged (N = 58) ORIF groups had comparable rates of vascular disease, renal disease, and substance/nicotine use, but aORIF patients had higher rates of diabetes mellitus (10% vs. 0%, P < 0.001), which correlated with higher American Society of Anaesthesiologist scores (>American Society of Anaesthesiologist 3: 37.5% vs. 13.8%, P = 0.02). Both groups achieved anatomic/good reductions, as determined by postoperative CT scans, at rates greater than 90%; however, the sORIF group required modestly longer operative times to achieve this outcome (aORIF vs. sORIF: 121 vs. 146 minutes, P = 0.02). Postoperatively, both groups had similar rates of wound dehiscence (2.5% vs. 6.9%, P = 0.65), superficial infections (10% vs. 17.2%, P = 0.39), and deep infections (10% vs. 8.6%, P = 0.99). While the injury pattern itself required free flap coverage in 1 patient in each group, unplanned free flap coverage occurred in 10.0% and 10.3% of aORIF and sORIF groups, respectively. Overall, rates of unplanned reoperations, excluding ankle arthrodesis, did not differ between groups (aORIF vs. sORIF:12.5% vs. 25.9%, P = 0.13).
In select patients managed by fellowship-trained orthopaedic traumatologists, acute definitive pilon fixation can produce acceptable outcomes.
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Hip dislocations, most often caused by motor vehicle accidents or similar high-energy trauma, traverse a large subset of distinct injury patterns. Understanding these patterns and their associated ...injuries allows surgeons to provide optimal care for these patients both in the early and late postinjury periods. Nonoperative care requires surgeons to understand the indications. Surgical care requires the surgeon to understand the benefits and limitations of several surgical approaches. This article presents the current understanding of hip dislocation treatment, focusing on anatomy, injury classifications, nonoperative and operative management, and postinjury care.
To evaluate whether augmenting traditional fixation with a femoral neck buttress plate (FNBP) improves clinical outcomes in young adults with high-energy displaced femoral neck fractures.
Multicenter ...retrospective matched cohort comparative clinical study.
Twenty-seven North American Level 1 trauma centers.
Adult patients younger than 55 years who sustained a high-energy (nonpathologic) displaced femoral neck fracture.
Operative reduction and stabilization of a displaced femoral neck fracture with (group 1) and without (group 2) an FNBP.
Complications including failed fixation, nonunion, osteonecrosis, malunion, and need for subsequent major reconstructive surgery (early revision of reduction and/or fixation), proximal femoral osteotomy, or arthroplasty.
Of 478 patients younger than 55 years treated operatively for a displaced femoral neck fracture, 11% (n = 51) had the definitive fixation augmented with an FNBP. One or more forms of treatment failure occurred in 29% (n = 15/51) for group 1 and 49% (209/427) for group 2 ( P < 0.01). When FNBP fixation was used, mini-fragment (2.4/2.7 mm) fixation failed significantly more often than small-fragment (3.5 mm) fixation (42% vs. 5%, P < 0.01). Irrespective of plate size, anterior and anteromedial plates failed significantly more often than direct medial plates (75% and 33% vs. 9%, P < 0.001).
The use of a femoral neck buttress plate to augment traditional fixation in displaced femoral neck fractures is associated with improved clinical outcomes, including lower rates of failed fixation, nonunion, osteonecrosis, and need for secondary reconstructive surgery. The benefits of this technique are optimized when a small-fragment (3.5 mm) plate is applied directly to the medial aspect of the femoral neck, avoiding more anterior positioning .
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
To compare fracture patterns and associated injuries for young patients with high- versus low-energy intertrochanteric hip fractures and to report on factors associated with complications after ...surgical fixation of high-energy fractures.
Retrospective comparative study.
Academic Level 1 Trauma Center.
A total of 103 patients 50 years of age or younger were included: 80 high-energy fractures and 23 low-energy fractures.
Cephalomedullary nailing (N = 92) or a sliding hip screw (N = 11).
Radiographic characteristics of fracture morphology, implant position, and reduction quality and postoperative complications were the main outcome measures.
Compared with young patients with low-energy fractures, those with high-energy fractures had more fracture comminution ( P = 0.013) and higher ISS scores ( P < 0.003) and were more likely to require open reduction ( P < 0.001). Patients with low-energy fractures from a ground-level fall had higher rates of alcohol abuse (0.032), cirrhosis (0.010), and chronic steroid use (0.048). Overall reoperation rate for high-energy fractures was 7%, including 2 IT fracture nonunions (5%) and 1 deep infection (2%). For high-energy fractures, ASA class ( P = 0.026), anterior lag screw position ( P = 0.001), and varus malreduction ( P < 0.001) were associated with malunion. Four-part fracture (OTA/AO 31A2.3/Jensen 5) ( P = 0.028) and residual calcar gap >3 mm ( P = 0.03) were associated with reoperation.
Surgical treatment of high-energy IT fractures in young patients is technically demanding with potential untoward outcomes. Injury characteristics and severity are significantly different for young patients with high-energy IT fractures compared with low-energy fractures. For young patients with a high-energy IT fracture, surgeons can anticipate a high rate of associated injuries and complex fracture patterns requiring open reduction. For young patients with a low-energy IT fracture, comanagement with a hospitalist or a geriatrician should be considered because they may be physiologically older.
Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
While internet search engines have been the primary information source for patients' questions, artificial intelligence large language models like ChatGPT are trending towards becoming the new ...primary source. The purpose of this study was to determine if ChatGPT can answer patient questions about total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA) with consistent accuracy, comprehensiveness, and easy readability.
We posed the 20 most Google-searched questions about THA and TKA, plus ten additional postoperative questions, to ChatGPT. Each question was asked twice to evaluate for consistency in quality. Following each response, we responded with, "Please explain so it is easier to understand," to evaluate ChatGPT's ability to reduce response reading grade level, measured as Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). Five resident physicians rated the 120 responses on 1 to 5 accuracy and comprehensiveness scales. Additionally, they answered a "yes" or "no" question regarding acceptability. Mean scores were calculated for each question, and responses were deemed acceptable if ≥ four raters answered "yes."
The mean accuracy and comprehensiveness scores were 4.26 (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.19 to 4.33) and 3.79 (95% CI 3.69 to 3.89), respectively. Out of all the responses, 59.2% (71/120; 95% CI 50.0% to 67.7%) were acceptable. ChatGPT was consistent when asked the same question twice, giving no significant difference in accuracy (t = 0.821; p = 0.415), comprehensiveness (t = 1.387; p = 0.171), acceptability (χ
= 1.832; p = 0.176), and FKGL (t = 0.264; p = 0.793). There was a significantly lower FKGL (t = 2.204; p = 0.029) for easier responses (11.14; 95% CI 10.57 to 11.71) than original responses (12.15; 95% CI 11.45 to 12.85).
ChatGPT answered THA and TKA patient questions with accuracy comparable to previous reports of websites, with adequate comprehensiveness, but with limited acceptability as the sole information source. ChatGPT has potential for answering patient questions about THA and TKA, but needs improvement.
To investigate recent trends in the orthopaedic trauma workforce and to assess whether supply of orthopaedic trauma surgeons (OTS) matches the demand for their skills.
Supply estimated using ...Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) membership and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons census data. The annual number of operative pelvic and acetabular fractures reported by American College of Surgeons verified trauma centers in the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) was used as a surrogate of demand. Because surrogates were used, the annual rate of change in OTA membership versus rate of change in operative injuries per NTDB center was compared.
From 2002 to 2012, reported operative pelvic and acetabular injuries increased by an average of 21.0% per year. The number of reporting trauma centers increased by 27.2% per year. The number of OTA members increased each year except in 2009, with mean annual increase of 9.8%. The mean number of orthopaedic surgeons per NTDB center increased from 7.98 to 8.58, an average of 1.5% per year. The annual number of operative pelvic and acetabular fractures per NTDB center decreased from 27.1 in 2002 to 19.03 in 2012, down 2.0% per year.
In the United States, from 2002 to 2012, the number of OTS trended upward, whereas operative pelvic and acetabular cases per reporting NTDB center declined. These trends suggest a net loss of such cases per OTS over this period.
To analyze the rate of postoperative infection and nonunion after tibial fractures in patients treated for acute compartment syndrome (ACS) using (1) single-incision versus (2) dual-incision ...fasciotomy technique.
Retrospective.
Level I trauma center.
Review of all adult tibial fractures operatively treated (n = 2756) over a 12-year period identified 175 patients with concurrent ACS requiring fasciotomy. Of 60 patients treated with intramedullary nails, 36 patients had single-incision fasciotomy and 24 had dual-incision fasciotomy. Of 81 patients treated with plate fixation, 59 patients had single-incision fasciotomy and 22 had dual-incision fasciotomy.
Tibial fixation with fasciotomy for ACS.
Occurrence of postoperative infection and nonunion.
Both fasciotomy groups were similar across recorded patient and treatment characteristics. Need for skin graft was similar between fasciotomy groups. For patients treated with intramedullary nail (n = 60), 1 infection (2.8%) occurred in single-incision group versus 2 (8.3%) in dual-incision group (P = 0.558). Seven nonunions (19.4%) occurred in single-incision group versus 3 (12.5%) in dual-incision group (P = 0.726). For plate fixation patients (n = 81), 15 infections (25.4%) occurred with single-incision fasciotomy versus 5 infections (22.7%) with dual-incision fasciotomy (P = 1.000). Seven nonunions (11.9%) occurred with single-incision group versus 4 nonunions (18.2%) with dual-incision group (P = 0.479).
This is the first study to compare a single-incision fasciotomy technique to a dual-incision technique in the setting of tibial fractures with ACS, with similar infection and nonunion rates with either technique. The choice of fasciotomy technique can be based on surgeon experience or patient condition as opposed to a suspected elevated infection or nonunion risk with either technique.
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
To assess the operative results of femoral neck fractures (FNFs) in young adults in a large multicenter series, specifically focusing on risk factors for treatment failure.
Large multicenter ...retrospective cohort series.
Twenty-six North American Level 1 trauma centers.
Skeletally mature patients younger than 50 years with displaced and nondisplaced FNFs treated between 2005 and 2017.
Operative repair of FNF.
The main outcome measure is treatment failure: nonunion and/or failed fixation, osteonecrosis, malunion, and need for subsequent major reconstructive surgery (arthroplasty or proximal femoral osteotomy). Logistic regression models were conducted to examine factors associated with treatment failure.
Of 492 patients with FNFs studied, a major complication and/or subsequent major reconstructive surgery occurred in 45% (52% of 377 displaced fractures and 21% of 115 nondisplaced fractures). Overall, 23% of patients had nonunion/failure of fixation, 12% osteonecrosis type 2b or worse, 15% malunion (>10 mm), and 32% required major reconstructive surgery. Odds of failure were increased with fair-to-poor reduction odds ratio (OR) = 5.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.41-13.31, chronic alcohol misuse (OR = 3.08, 95% CI = 1.59-6.38), comminution (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.69-4.13), multiple screw constructs (vs. fixed-angle devices, OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.30-2.95), metabolic bone disease (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.17-2.67), and increasing age (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01-1.06). Women (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.37-0.88), Pauwels angle ≤50 degrees (type 1 or 2; OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.41-0.98), or associated femoral shaft fracture (OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.10-0.33) had lower odds of failure.
FNFs in adults <50 years old remain a difficult clinical and surgical problem, with 45% of patients experiencing major complications and 32% undergoing subsequent major reconstructive surgery. Risk factors for complications after treatment of displaced FNFs were numerous.
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
