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Introduction Periprosthetic femoral fractures (PPFs) represent a challenging clinical problem with a fast-rising incidence. Interprosthetic fractures (IPFs) represent one of its most difficult variants. There is a paucity of data regarding the financial burden of PPFs, and none for IPFs. This study aims to estimate the direct medical cost of the surgical treatment of IPFs in NHS, and analyse the factors influencing this when using different methods of surgical treatment. Methods A cohort of patients with IPFs treated in a single academic unit over a period of 8-years with different surgical methods was studied. In-hospital details, as well as outpatient follow-up data, were gathered relevant to their clinical and radiological outcome until discharge. Local and national NHS data were acquired from the financial department, as well as industry-related resources. The economic analysis was structured as a cost identification analysis (CIA) of the overall cohort, but also as a comparative best-case scenario (uncomplicated course till discharge) comparison between the 3 main different management strategies (a) revision arthroplasty (RTHA), b) plate fixation (ORIF), c) combination of implants (COMBO). Results Data from 28 patients (22 females) with IPFs were analysed with a median age of 78.4 years. The overall direct medical cost of treating this cohort of patients was £468,330, with a median of £15.625 (range £10,128 to 33,060). Comparing the three different surgical modalities, the median cost in groups a, b, and c was £20,793 (range £12,110 to £24,116), £12,979 (range £10,128 to £20,555), and £22,316 (range £10,938 to £23,081) respectively. In all groups, the 2/3 of the identified costs were relevant to the inpatient stay. Transfusions were the highest (3 units of cRBC on average) to the patients that received a revision THA vs the other two groups (p=0.022). There was statistically significant higher mean overall cost between the RTHA and the ORIF groups (£19,453 vs. £14,201, p=0.0242), but not when compared with the COMBO cases (£19,453 vs. £18,788, p=0.86). Conclusion The first cost identification study and “best case scenario” comparative analysis for IPFs demonstrated a significant overall direct medical cost, when managing these complex fractures with variable contemporary techniques. Evidence based reimbursement strategies should be developed to allow the sustainability of the clinical service we offer in this challenging patient population.

The course of road traffic collision (RTC) victims with femoral fractures (FFx) from injury to death was reviewed. We sought to correlate the presence of femoral fractures with the overall severity of injury from RTCs using objective indices and to identify statistically significant associations with injuries in other organs. A case–control study based on forensic material from 4895 consecutive RTC-induced fatalities, between 1996 and 2005. Injuries were coded according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale-1990 Revision (AIS-90), and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) was calculated. Victims were divided according to the presence of femoral fractures in all possible anatomic locations or not. Univariate comparisons and logistic regression analysis for probabilities of association as odds ratios (OR) were performed. The FFx group comprised 788 (16.1%) victims. The remaining 4107 victims constituted the controls. The FFx group demonstrated higher ISS (median 48 vs 36, p

Purpose To evaluate the available tibial fracture non-union prediction scores and to analyse their strengths, weaknesses, and limitations. Methods The first part consisted of a systematic method of locating the currently available clinico-radiological non-union prediction scores. The second part of the investigation consisted of comparing the validity of the non-union prediction scores in 15 patients with tibial shaft fractures randomly selected from a Level I trauma centre prospectively collected database who were treated with intramedullary nailing. Results Four scoring systems identified: The Leeds-Genoa Non-Union Index (LEG-NUI), the Non-Union Determination Score (NURD), the FRACTING score, and the Tibial Fracture Healing Score (TFHS). Patients demographics: Non-union group: five male patients, mean age 36.4 years (18–50); Union group: ten patients (8 males) with mean age 39.8 years (20–66). The following score thresholds were used to calculate positive and negative predictive values for non-union: FRACTING score ≥ 7 at the immediate post-operative period, LEG-NUI score ≥ 5 within 12 weeks, NURD score ≥ 9 at the immediate post-operative period, and TFHS Conclusion The LEG-NUI had the best combination of positive and negative predictive values for early identification of non-union. Based on this study, all currently available scores have inherent strengths and limitations. Several recommendations to improve future score designs are outlined herein to better tackle this devastating, and yet, unsolved problem.

The Vancouver classification is still a useful tool of communication and stratification of periprosthetic fractures, but besides the three parameters it considers, clinicians should also assess additional factors. Combined advanced trauma and arthroplasty skills must be available in departments managing these complex injuries. Preoperative confirmation of the THA (total hip arthroplasty) stability is sometimes challenging. The most reliable method remains intraoperative assessment during surgical exploration of the hip joint. Certain B1 fractures will benefit from revision surgery, whilst some B2 fractures can be effectively managed with osteosynthesis, especially in frail patients. Less invasive osteosynthesis, balanced plate–bone constructs, composite implant solutions, together with an appropriate reduction of the limb axis, rotation and length are critical for a successful fixation and uneventful fracture healing.Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:75-92. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200050

Sacral fractures are a heterogeneous group of fractures occurring in young people following road traffic accidents and falls from height, or in the elderly with osteoporosis following trivial trauma. This heterogeneity, combined with the low incidence of sacral fractures, determines a lack of experience amongst physicians, often leading to misdiagnosis, underestimation and inadequate treatment. The diagnosis should be made by assessing specific features during the clinical presentation, while computed tomography (CT) scan continues to be the choice of investigation. Sacral fractures can be treated non-operatively or surgically. Non-operative treatment is based on rest, pain relief therapy and early mobilization as tolerated. Surgical techniques can be split into two main groups: posterior pelvic fixation techniques and lumbopelvic fixation techniques. Anterior pelvic fixation techniques should be considered when sacral fractures are associated with anterior pelvic ring injuries, in order to increase stability and reduce the risk of posterior implant failure. To improve fracture reduction, different solutions could be adopted, including special positioning of the patient, manipulation techniques and use of specific reduction tools. Patients suffering from spinopelvic dissociation with associated neurologic lesions hardly ever recover completely, with residual lower-limb neurologic sequelae, urinary problems and sexual disfunction. Herein, we present issues, challenges and solutions related to the management of sacral fractures.Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2020;5:299-311. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.190064

Infected post-traumatic femoral defects are challenging to treat, and limited options exist. The case of a 20-year-old polytrauma male who sustained a segmental femur fracture involving the femoral neck, distal femur and an intermediate diaphyseal bone defect of 12 cm is presented. The patient declined a long-term frame in his femur. The 2-stage Masquelet procedure resulted in successful outcome with limb preservation., Highlights • Femoral bone defects are challenging to treat. • Patients do not tolerate bone transport well in this area. • Successful management of a 12cm femoral bone defect is reported in a 20-year old patient using the Masquelet technique.

The optimal time for the second stage is between 4 and 8 weeks.Multiple tissue biopsy specimens must be sent for microbiological analysis during both stages of the procedure.Recurrence of infection requires debridement of the membrane and surrounding soft tissues and reinitiation of the technique (r

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) refers specifically to musculoskeletal pain localised to the pelvic ring and can be present at its anterior and/or posterior aspects. Causes such as trauma, infection and pregnancy have been well-established, while patients with hypermobile joints are at greater risk of developing PGP. Research exploring this association is limited and of varying quality. In the present study we report on the incidence, pathophysiology, diagnostic and treatment modalities for PGP in patients suffering from Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) and Hypermobility-Type Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). Recommendations are made for clinical practice by elaborating on screening, diagnosis and management of such patients to provide a holistic approach to their care. It appears that this cohort of patients are at greater risk particularly of mental health issues. Moreover over, they may require a multidisciplinary approach for their management. Ongoing research is still required to expand our understanding of the relationship between PGP, HSD and hEDS by appropriately diagnosing patients using the latest updated terminologies and by conducting randomised control trials to compare outcomes of interventions using standardised patient reported outcome measures.

Aims To analyse the learning points from the first 30 days of the COVID-19 lockdown at our institution. Patients & methods Following ethical approval, data were collected prospectively on all patients admitted under orthopaedics between March 23, 2020, and April 22, 2020. This included baseline demographics (sex, age), biochemical (blood tests), radiological (chest X-ray (CXR), computed tomography (CT)), nature and mechanism of injury, comorbidities, regular medication, observations, specific respiratory symptoms of COVID-19, management, operations, time to theatre, and outcome including mortality incidence. The nature of injury and operations performed were compared to the same period of the previous year (2019). Results During the study period, 162 (74 males) patients were admitted, with a mean age of 60.7 (range 1-101, SD 2.1). On admission, 66 (41%) patients were tested for COVID, out of which eight (13.7%) patients tested positive. Subsequently, another four patients tested positive, who developed symptoms after admission. Four out 12 (33%) confirmed COVID patients died. During this period, 4/150 other patients also died of other causes (mortality incidence 2.6%). The average ages of COVID non-survivors vs survivors were 88, SD 1, vs 76, SD 12, respectively; 2/4 had concurrent diabetes and cancer, another cancer alone, and another complex autoimmune disease managed by immunosuppressive medication. Overall admissions significantly reduced by almost 50% compared with the previous year (162 vs 373, p=

Purpose To identify the incidence, risk factors, and treatment course of patients who developed deep infection following fixation of pelvic fractures. Methods Over a period of 8 years patients who underwent pelvic reconstruction in our institution and developed postoperative infection were included. Exclusion criteria were pathological fractures and infections that were not secondary to post-traumatic reconstruction. The mean time of follow-up was 43.6 months (33–144). For comparison purposes, we randomly selected patients that underwent pelvic fracture fixation from our database (control group). A logistic regression was fitted to patient characteristics including age, sex, ISS, and diabetic status. Results Out of 858 patients, 18 (2.1%) (12 males), with a mean age of 41 (18–73) met the inclusion criteria. The control group consisted of 82 patients with a mean age of 41 years (18–72). The mean ISS was 27.7 and 17.6 in the infection and control group, respectively. The mean time from pelvic reconstruction to the diagnosis of infection was 20 days (7–80). The median number of trips to theatre was 3 (1–16). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most frequently isolated organism in the years prior to 2012. Eradication was achieved in 93% of the patients. The most important risk factors for deep infection were ISS (OR 1.08, 1.03–1.13), posterior sacral approach (OR 17.03, 1.49–194.40), and diabetes (OR 36.85, 3.54–383.70). Conclusion In this retrospective case–control study, deep infection following pelvic trauma was rare. A number of patient-, injury- and surgery-related factors have shown strong correlation with this serious complication.

Since its creation in 1999, as a special health authority, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) aims to improve the quality and reduce the variation of the provided care to patients covered by the National Health Service (NHS) in England. In between its numerous other health- and social care-related initiatives, it has published guidance on a broad spectrum of clinical conditions of high impact and importance. The NICE guidelines are developed by independent multidisciplinary committees that include experts, as well as lay members and represent evidence-based recommendations.

We hypothesised that the use of a polyaxial locking plate design offers the same clinical benefits as a monoaxial locking plate system following distal femoral osteoporotic/periprosthetic fracture fixation. A multicentre prospective randomised pilot trial was conducted. Inclusion criteria were patients over 60 years with a displaced osteoporotic or periprosthetic distal femoral fracture. Details documented included time to union, complications, reinterventions and functional outcomes according to the Oxford knee score and EuroQol EQ-5D. Analysis of factors influencing an early fracture healing response was performed between those with clear features of radiological callus formation at three months. Statistical analysis was performed using a logistic regression model with multiple covariates assessed for each plate system (1:1 ratio) over a follow-up period of one year. Forty patients (34 females) with a mean age of 77 (60–99) were recruited. Four patients deceased within the first six months. Twenty-five patients united by the six month follow-up. Six more patients progressed to union between six and nine months. Five patients developed non-union (two patients had implant failure; one in each group) and all underwent revision surgery. Malunion was evident in two cases, one with 15° of valgus (monoaxial plate), and one with 12° of recurvatum (polyaxial plate). Between the two plate systems, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in most of the recorded parameters. Radiological features of early bone healing were present when the surgical approach was smaller (p = 0.015), and when a greater working length of the bridging plate was present (p = 0.016). Both plate systems demonstrated good union rates and limited implant related complications. Good reduction, mechanically sound construct and respect of the local fracture biology was more important than the particular plate design characteristics.

Intramedullary nailing, as the gold standard stabilisation method of most long bones, has been tailed by its extensive use as the basic tool of investigating the immune response to trauma in many large and small animal models, as well as at the clinical setting. Over the last few decades a complex map of interactions between pro and anti-inflammatory pathways has been the result of these significant global research efforts. Parallel to the evolution of modern nailing and reaming techniques, significant developments at the fields of other disciplines relevant to trauma care, has improved the contemporary management of injured patients, challenging previous concepts and altering clinical barriers. The current article aims to summarise the current understanding of the effect of instrumenting the medullary canal after trauma, and hint on potential future directions.

Fractures of the pelvic ring defined as lateral compression (LC) injuries, according to the Young and Burgess classification system, represent the most common patterns of pelvic trauma (especially the LC1s) as well as the subtype with the widest variability of fracture configuration.

Background Open pelvic fractures remain challenging in terms of their management. The purpose of this narrative review was to evaluate the latest advances made in the management of these injuries and report on their clinical outcome. Patients and methods A literature review was undertaken focusing on studies that have been published on the management of open pelvic fractures between January 2005 and November 2019. Information extracted from each article include demographics, mechanism of injury, injury severity score (ISS), classification of pelvic ring fracture, classification of open soft tissue, specific injury zone classification, number of cases with hemodynamic instability, number of cases that received blood transfusions, amount of packed red blood cells transfused during the first 24 h, number of cases with anorectal trauma, urogenital injury, number of fecal diversional colostomies and laparotomies, angiographies and embolization, preperitoneal pelvic packings, length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and in hospital, and mortality. Results Fifteen articles with 646 cases formed the basis of this review. The majority of patients were male adults (74.9%). The mean age was 35.1 years. The main mechanism of injury was road traffic accidents, accounting for 67.1% of the injuries. The mean ISS was 26.8. A mean of 13.5 units of PRBCs were administered the first 24 h. During the whole hospital stay, 79.3% of the patients required blood transfusions. Angiography and pelvic packing were performed in a range of 3%-44% and 13.3%-100% respectively. Unstable types of pelvic injuries were the majority (72%), whilst 32.7% of the cases were associated with anorectal trauma, and 32.6% presented with urogenital injuries. Bladder ruptures were the most reported urogenital injury. Fecal diversional colostomy was performed in 37.4% of the cases. The mean length of ICU stay was 12.5 days and the mean length of hospital stay was 53.0 days. The mean mortality rate was 23.7%. Conclusion Mortality following open pelvic fracture remains high despite the evolution of trauma management the last 2 decades. Sufficient blood transfusion, bleeding control, treatments of associated injuries, fracture fixation and soft tissue management remain essential for the reduction of mortality and improved outcomes.

The management of upper limb non-unions can be challenging and often with unpredictable outcomes. In this study we present our experience with the use of BMP-7 in the treatment of upper limb non-unions. Between 2004 and 2011 all consecutive patients who were treated with BMP-7 were followed up prospectively until fracture union. Fracture union was assessed with regular radiological and clinical assessment. At the final follow up clinical assessment included the short Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score. The minimum follow up was 12 months (12–36). In total 42 patients met the inclusion criteria with a mean age of 47 years. Anatomical distribution of the nonunion sites included 19 cases of mid/proximal forearm, 14 humeri, 6 distal radius and 3 clavicle. 35 patients had atrophic non-union, 11 had previous open fractures, and 10 had bone loss (range 1–3 cm). The mean number of operations performed and the mean time from injury to BMP-7 application was 1.5 and 26 months, respectively. 40 fractures had both clinical and radiological union whereas 2 patients had partial radiological union but a pain free range of motion. BMP-7 was applied in isolation in 1 case and in 41 cases the application was combined with autologous bone grafting. DASH scores were available at final follow up in 23 (55%) patients with a mean of 33 score (range 2–86.4). This study supports the view that the combination of ABG and BMP-7 can be considered as a successful treatment modality for the treatment of recalcitrant upper limb non-unions. Further studies preferably randomised controlled trials are desirable to throw more light into the role of BMP-7 in the treatment of upper limb nonunions.

Nonunion remains a major complication of the management of long bone fractures. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate whether raised levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC), in the absence of clinical signs, are correlated with positive intraoperative tissue cultures in presumptive aseptic long-bone nonunions. Infection was classified as positive if any significant growth of microorganisms was observed from bone/tissue samples sent from the theater at the time of revision surgery. Preoperatively all patients were investigated with full blood count, white blood count differential as well as C-reactive protein (CRP). A total of 105 consecutive patients (59 males) were included in the study, with an average age of 46.76 years (range 16&ndash, 92 years) at the time of nonunion diagnosis. The vast majority were femoral (56) and tibial (37) nonunions. The median time from the index surgical procedure to the time of nonunion diagnosis was 10 months (range 9 months to 10 years). Positive cultures revealed a mixed growth of microorganisms, with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (56.4%) being the most prevalent microorganism, followed by Staphylococcusaureus (20.5%). Pseudomonas, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), coliforms and micrococcus were present in the remainder of the cases (23.1%). Overall, the risk of infection with normal CRP levels (&lt, 10 mg/L) was 21/80 = 0.26. Elevated CRP levels (&ge, 10 mg/L) increased the risk of infection to 0.72. The relative risk given a positive CRP test was RR = 0.72/0.26 = 2.74. Overall, the WBC count was found to be an unreliable marker to predict infection. Solid union was achieved in all cases after an average of 6.5 months (3&ndash, 24 months) from revision surgery. In patients with presumed aseptic long bone nonunion and normal CRP levels, the risk of underlying low-grade indolent infection can be as high as 26%. Patients should be made aware of this finding, which can complicate their treatment course and outcomes.

The ilioinguinal approach is the standard approach for the open reduction and internal fixation of the majority of displaced, anteriorly based acetabular fractures as it offers wide access to the acetabulum, is extensile, and has been associated with enhanced recovery. The anterior ilioinguinal approach as described by Letournel in 19611 is the approach of choice for the exposure, reduction, and fixation of fractures involving the anterior column of the acetabulum and the inner surface of the innominate bone2-5. Access to these structures through the ilioinguinal approach requires the opening of the inguinal canal and the mobilization of the external iliac vessels with the subsequent development of 3 “working windows.” The first or lateral window extends from the sacroiliac joint to the lateral aspect of the iliopsoas muscle, providing access to the sacroiliac joint, the internal iliac fossa, and the proximal pelvic brim. The second or middle window is defined laterally by the medial aspect of the iliopsoas muscle and the femoral nerve and medially by the external iliac artery, offering access to the distal pelvic brim, the quadrilateral surface, the anterior acetabular wall, the iliopsoas gutter, and the iliopectineal eminence. The third or medial window is developed between the external iliac vein and the lateral aspect of the rectus abdominis muscle, allowing access to the space of Retzius, the pubic symphysis, and the superior pubic ramus from the pubic tubercle to the pectineus recess. Extensile maneuvers can offer broader exposure of the anterior wall, the anterior hip capsule, the quadrilateral surface, and the external iliac fossa. The anatomical muscle-sparing ilioinguinal approach offers wide access to the acetabulum, is extensile, and has been associated with enhanced recovery. Disadvantages include the need to mobilize the external iliac neurovascular bundle, the need to open the inguinal canal, and the limited access to the inner aspect of the posterior column and inferior quadrilateral surface. Moreover, the direct visualization of the acetabular articular surface is not possible through the ilioinguinal approach. Consequently, the quality of the articular reduction relies on the quality of cortical osseous reductions of the innominate bone and the confirmation provided by intraoperative fluoroscopy. Described complications include damage to the external iliac neurovascular bundle, bladder injury, anterior thigh numbness, inguinal hernia, thromboembolism, and infection6,7. The risk of heterotopic ossification is low. The ilioinguinal approach does not allow for visualization of the acetabular articular cartilage. The management of anteromedial dome impaction is best addressed with the anterior intrapelvic approach. If an ilioinguinal approach is used, an independent iliac corticotomy is necessary. Additionally, posterior marginal impaction and displaced posterior wall fractures are difficult to manage with the classic ilioinguinal approach and the surgeon should consider other options such as a double (anterior and posterior) approach to the acetabulum8. Various modifications of the ilioinguinal approach have been described in the literature, and the surgeon should be familiar with them in order to address any potential intraoperative difficulties9.

The Kocher-Langenbeck approach is the workhorse for the reduction and fixation of hip fractures that require fixation via a posterior approach1,2. It provides direct access to the outer surface of the posterior column and posterior wall and indirect access to the superior wall and quadrilateral surface. This is accomplished through the splitting of the muscle fibers of the gluteus maximus and the release of its tendinous femoral insertion along with the release of the piriformis and the short external rotators from their femoral insertion at the piriformis fossa. Delicate release and handling of the muscles attached to the greater trochanter are of paramount importance in order to protect the medial femoral circumflex artery. In posterior wall fractures, direct visualization of the articular surface of the acetabulum and femoral head is possible through the fracture lines and careful manipulation of the fracture fragments. Whenever possible, the labrum should not be detached from the acetabular rim. The retroacetabular surface, the ischial spine, and the greater and lesser sciatic notches can be adequately visualized with the Kocher-Langenbeck approach. The quadrilateral surface can be digitally palpated with the surgeon’s index finger via the greater sciatic notch. Despite the fact that the Kocher-Langenbeck approach offers a wide access to the posterior elements of the acetabulum, the surgeon must remain cognizant that this approach is not extensile and whenever a wider exposure is needed, e.g., in superior dome involvement, a different approach might be considered3. Although some surgeons perform the Kocher-Langenbeck approach with the patient in the lateral position, in our institution we routinely utilize the prone position. Skeletal traction through the distal end of the ipsilateral femur is also routinely used. Regardless of the prone or lateral position used for the approach, the sciatic nerve should be relaxed at all times. Hip extension and knee flexion help to avoid undue tension to the sciatic nerve.

Surgical management of hip fractures in elderly people is challenging and complications relating to surgery could be devastating. They often lead to reoperation and revision surgery and can be associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. The most common surgical complications after internal fixation of hip fractures include cut-out, nonunion, Z-effect/medial migration, periimplant failure and avascular necrosis. High quality surgical fixation is of outmost importance to avoid surgical complications. This article presents the aetiology, risk factors and incidence of perioperative and post-fracture fixation complications. Technical tips and tricks for a successful fixation as well as the contemporary evidence surrounding the augmentation of osteoporotic bone fixation in internal fixation of hip fractures are discussed.

The objective of this study was to report on the safety, efficacy and clinical outcomes of the Polyax Locked Plating System (Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA) in the management of acute (non-implant related and periprosthetic) distal femoral fractures. We retrospectively reviewed 71 patients with 73 distal femoral fractures. Thirty-three of the included fractures occurred around previously placed implants. The average patients' age was 67 years (range 18-98). There were 7 early postoperative complications (9.5%) including one deep surgical site infection, 2 pulmonary embolisms and 4 urinary or respiratory infections. At final follow-up (mean 12, range 9-55 months) all fractures progressed to clinical and radiological union. However, major revision surgery for healing problems was required in 5 cases (6.8%) and minor in 3 cases (4.1%). The average time to healing was 6 (range 3-23) months. Angulation less than 5 degrees in any plane was observed in 66 cases (89.7%), within 5-10 degrees in 5 cases (7.3%) and within 10-15 degrees in 2 cases (2.9%). The mean pre-injury and final follow-up values of Glasgow Outcome Scale were 1.5(1-3) and 1.7(1-3) respectively. Overall 61 patients (83.53%) retained their pre-injury activity status. The Polyax Locked Plating System offers a safe and efficient fixation in distal femoral fractures.

Infected non-union is a devastating complication post fracture fixation. While its incidence is small, its management is lengthy, challenging and costly. Complex reconstruction surgery is often required with unpredictable outcomes despite the significant advances that have been made in diagnostics, surgical techniques and antibiotic protocols. In this article we present recent approaches to the surgical treatment of this condition.

Background: Radiographic fracture classification helps with research on prognosis and treatment. AO/OTA classification into fracture type has shown to be reliable, but further classification of fractures into subgroups reduces the interobserver agreement and takes a considerable amount of practice and experience in order to master. Questions/purposes: We assessed: (1) differences between more and less experienced trauma surgeons based on hip fractures treated per year, years of experience, and the percentage of their time dedicated to trauma, (2) differences in the interobserver agreement between classification into fracture type, group, and subgroup, and (3) differences in the interobserver agreement when assessing fracture stability compared to classifying fractures into type, group and subgroup. Methods: This study used the Science of Variation Group to measure factors associated with variation in interobserver agreement on classification of proximal femur fractures according to the AO/OTA classification on radiographs. We selected 30 anteroposterior radiographs from 1061 patients aged 55 years or older with an isolated fracture of the proximal femur, with a spectrum of fracture types proportional to the full database. To measure the interobserver agreement the Fleiss’ kappa was determined and bootstrapping (resamples = 1000) was used to calculate the standard error, z statistic, and 95% confidence intervals. We compared the Kappa values of surgeons with more experience to less experienced surgeons. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the Kappa values on each classification level (type, group, subgroup) between more and less experienced surgeons. When all surgeons were combined into one group, the interobserver reliability was the greatest for classifying the fractures into type (kappa, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83 to 0.97; p < 0.001), reflecting almost perfect agreement. When comparing the kappa values between classes (type, group, subgroup), we found statistically significant differences between each class. Substantial agreement was found in the clinically relevant groups stable/unstable trochanteric, displaced/non-displaced femoral neck, and femoral head fractures (kappa, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.67, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study adds to a growing body of evidence that relatively simple distinctions are more reliable and that this is independent of surgeon experience.

The incidence of low energy pelvic fractures (FPFs) in the elderly is increasing. Comorbidities, decreased bone-quality, problematic fracture fixation and poor compliance represent some of their specific difficulties. In the absence of uniform management, a standard operating procedure (SOP) was introduced to our unit, aiming to improve the quality of services provided to these patients. A cohort study was contacted to test the impact of (1) using a specific clinical algorithm and (2) using different antiosteoporotic drugs. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine prognostic factors. Study endpoints were the time-to-healing, length-of-stay, return to pre-injury mobility, union status, mortality and complications. A total of 132 elderly patients (≥65 years) admitted during the period 2012–2014 with FPFs were enrolled. High-energy fractures, acetabular fractures, associated trauma affecting mobility, pathological pelvic lesions and operated FPFs were used as exclusion criteria. The majority of included patients were females (108/132; 81.8%), and the mean age was 85.8 years (range 67–108). Use of antiosteoporotics was associated with a shorter time of healing (p = 0.036). Patients treated according to the algorithm showed a significant protection against malunion (p

Loss of contact between radial head fracture fragments is strongly associated with other elbow or forearm injuries. If this finding has adequate interobserver reliability, it could help examiners identify and treat associated ligament injuries and fractures (eg, forearm interosseous ligament injury or elbow dislocation). (1) What is the interobserver agreement on radiographic loss of contact between radial head fracture fragments? (2) Are there factors associated with the observer such as location of practice or subspecialization that increase interobserver reliability? Fully trained practicing orthopaedic and trauma surgeons from around the world evaluated 27 anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of radial head fractures on a web-based platform for the following characteristics: (1) loss of contact between at least one radial head fracture fragment and the remaining radial head and neck; (2) a gap between fragments of 2 mm or greater; (3) anticipated fracture instability (mobility) on operative exposure; (4) anticipated associated ligament injuries; and (5) recommendation for treatment. Agreement among observers was measured using the multirater kappa measure. Kappas for various observer characteristics were compared using 95% confidence intervals. The overall interobserver agreement was moderate (range, 0.49-0.55) for each question except associated ligament injury, which was fair (0.33). Shoulder and elbow surgeons had substantial agreement (range, 0.51-0.61) in many areas, but kappas were generally in the moderate range (0.41-0.59) based on number of years in practice, radial head fractures treated per year, and trainee supervision. Radiographic signs of radial head fracture instability such as loss of contact have moderate reliability. This characteristic seems clinically useful, because loss of contact between at least one radial head fracture fragment and the remaining radial head and neck is strongly associated with associated ligament injury or other fractures. Level III, diagnostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence

BackgroundPelvic fractures (PFX) reflect high-energy trauma with high mortality and morbidity.AimWe attempted to determine: whether there is a decrease in levels of sporting and physical activity in patients with operatively-treated PFX; risk factors for decreased sporting activity; any correlation between sporting activity and quality of life in this group.MethodsRetrospective demographics on mechanism of injury, fracture type, associated injury and injury severity score, as well as prospective documentation of the level and frequency of sporting activity, were collected from adult patients treated operatively for a PFX between 2007 and 2010, using a specifically designed questionnaire. Quality of life before and after injury was also recorded using the EuroQol-5D health-outcome tool.Results80 patients without pre-existing musculoskeletal disability were enrolled. The mean age was 44.9 years (18-65). The mean follow-up was 30.5 months (12-39). A decrease in level and frequency of sporting activity was observed. It was associated with lower-extremity associated injuries, but not with injury severity score, PFX severity, PFX type, age, or timing of follow-up. Sporting activity before injury predicted higher levels of sporting participation after injury. Decreased sporting activity after injury was associated with decreased EuroQol-5D score.ConclusionsPatients should be counselled on the likelihood of a reduction in sporting activities after surgically treated PFX. A larger multi-centre study is needed to further expand on the evidence of the true impact of PFX and its associated injuries on sporting activity.

Introduction Major trauma still represents one of the leading causes of death in the first four decades of life. Septic complications represent the predominant causes of late death (45% of overall mortality) in polytrauma patients. The ability of clinicians to early differentiate between systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis is demonstrated to improve clinical outcome and mortality. The identification of an “ideal” biomarker able to early recognize incoming septic complications in trauma patients is still a challenge for researchers. Aim To evaluate the existing evidence regarding the role of biomarkers to predict or facilitate early diagnosis of sepsis in trauma patients, trying to compile some recommendations for the clinical setting. Methods An Internet-based search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases was performed using the search terms: “Biomarkers”, “Sepsis” and “Trauma” in various combinations. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies Checklist (QUADAS). After data extraction, the level of evidence available for each bio-marker was rated and presented using the “best-evidence synthesis” method, in line with the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Results Thirty studies were eligible for the final analysis: 13 case–control studies and 17 cohort studies. The “strong evidence” available demonstrated the potential use of procalcitonin as an early indicator of post-traumatic septic complications and reported the inability of c-reactive protein (CRP) to specifically identify infective complications. Moderate, conflicting and limited evidence are available for the other 31 biomarkers. Conclusion Several biomarkers have been evaluated for predicting or making early diagnosis of sepsis in trauma patients. Current evidence does not support the use of a single biomarker in diagnosing sepsis. However, procalcitonin trend was found to be useful in early identification of post-traumatic septic course and its use is suggested (Recommendation Grade: B) in clinical practice.

Introduction This study aimed to identify the prevalence and the risk factors for re-interventions following reamed intramedullary nailing (IMN) of tibial shaft fractures. Patients and methods We retrospectively analysed a prospectively populated data of adult patients that underwent reamed intramedullary nailing for stabilization of tibial shaft fractures over a period of three years. Exclusion criteria were immature patients, pathological and periarticular fractures. Data collected included patient demographics, mechanism of injury, open or closed injury pattern, ISS, perioperative complications, reintervention characteristics (time, cause, number), smoking habits, medical co-morbidities and progress to radiological fracture union. Fractures were classified according to AO/OTA system. The cohort of these patients was divided in two groups: Group 1 included the patients who healed uneventfully and Group 2 included the patients who underwent a re-intervention for the healing of the fracture. A logistic regression analysis model was used to assess the odds ratio (OR) of identified risk factors predicting the necessity of re-interventions. Results 181 (129 male) patients with a mean age of 37 (range 16–87) met the inclusion criteria. 30 patients were excluded due to inadequate follow up, leaving 151 patients for the study group. 119 patients were included in Group 1. 32 (21.2%) patients who had at least one re-intervention (range 1–3) were included in Group 2. The most common causes for re-intervention were aseptic non-union (31.3%) and removal of implants due to soft tissue irritation/anterior knee pain (31.3%), followed by early metalwork failure (12.5%), infected non-union (9.4%), correction of rotational deformities (9.4%) and canal intramedullary sepsis with evident fracture healing (6.3%). 29 (25.8%) from the study cohort patients sustained an open fracture and 8 of them underwent a re-intervention (20.5% of interventions). Incidence of fracture pattern 42-B, C was statistically significant greater in the reintervention (40.6%) compared to the non-re-intervention group (23.53%) ( p = 0.026). Risk factors predicting the need for re-interventions included the type of fracture B, C ( p = 0.026 OR: 2.528, range: 1.117–5.721) and increased alcohol consumption ( p = 0.027/OR: 2.618, range: 1.116–6.141). Conclusion Fracture pattern and alcohol abuse were highly predictive for re-interventions following reamed IM nailing for stabilization of acute tibial shaft fractures.

This prospective study was undertaken at a regional tertiary referral centre to evaluate the results of treatment of bone defects managed with the induced membrane (IM) technique. Inclusion criteria were patients with bone defects secondary to septic non-union, chronic osteomyelitis and acute fracture with bone loss. Pathological fractures with bone loss were excluded. Data collection included patient demographics, pathology, previous surgical intervention, size of bone defect, type of graft implanted, time-to-union and complications/reinterventions. The minimum time of follow up was 12 months. Forty-three patients (32 males) met the inclusion criteria with a mean age of 47.9 years (range 18-80 years). 22 patients had an acute traumatic bone loss associated with open fracture and 21 presented with an infected non-union or underlying osteomyelitis requiring bone excision. The most common microorganisms grown were staphylcoccous aureus and coagulase negative staphylococcous. The mean length of the bone defect area was 4.2 cm (range 2-12 cm). All patients were managed with the two stage technique receiving composited grafting (Autologous bone graft (Iliac crest/RIA), graft expander as required, osteoprogenitor cells, growth factor) during the second stage. There was one failure (humeral infected non-union) in a previous background of bone radiation that necessitated reconstruction with a free fibula vascularized graft. One patient had a fall and sustained implant failure (humeral defect) 3 months after reconstruction and following re-plating progressed to union 4 months later. Two patients required re-grafting due to failure of healing in one of the defect sides. One patient presented with a discharging sinus 2 years after successful healing of a tibial defect that was treated successfully with soft tissue and bone debridement without necessitating further interventions. One patient despite union (distal 1/3 tibia) underwent a below knee amputation due to a dysfunctional ankle/foot (previous foot compartment syndrome-regional pain syndrome). Of those patients, with lower limb injuries, 4 patients had leg length discrepancies of 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 2 cm (two patients) respectively. The mean time to radiological union was 5.4 months (range 2-12 months). The average time of healing of 1 cm bone defect was 1.24 months. Patients with upper limb reconstruction recovered earlier than those with lower limb injuries. At the latest follow up all patients were able to mobilize full weight bearing without residual pain. The induced membrane technique appears to be an alternative good option for the management of large bone defects secondary to acute bone loss or infected non-unions. The incidence of re-interventions was low in this challenging cohort of patients. The technique should be considered in the surgeon's armamentarium as it is effective and is associated with a low rate of complications.

Item does not contain fulltext PURPOSE: Surgical costs are under scrutiny and surgeons are being held increasingly responsible for cost containment. In some instances, implants are the largest component of total procedure cost, yet previous studies reveal that surgeons' knowledge of implant prices is poor. Our study aims to (1) understand drivers behind implant selection and (2) assess whether educating surgeons about implant costs affects implant selection. METHODS: We surveyed 226 orthopedic surgeons across 6 continents. The survey presented 8 clinical cases of upper extremity fractures with history, radiographs, and implant options. Surgeons were randomized to receive either a version with each implant's average selling price ("price-aware" group), or a version without prices ("price-naive" group). Surgeons selected a surgical implant and ranked factors affecting implant choice. Descriptive statistics and univariate, multivariable, and subgroup analyses were performed. RESULTS: For cases offering implants within the same class (eg, volar locking plates), price-awareness reduced implant cost by 9% to 11%. When offered different models of distal radius volar locking plates, 25% of price-naive surgeons selected the most expensive plate compared with only 7% of price-aware surgeons. For cases offering different classes of implants (eg, plate vs external fixator), there was no difference in implant choice between price-aware and price-naive surgeons. Familiarity with the implant was the most common reason for choosing an implant in both groups (35% vs 46%). Price-aware surgeons were more likely to rank cost as a factor (29% vs 21%). CONCLUSIONS: Price awareness significantly influences surgeons' choice of a specific model within the same implant class. Merely including prices with a list of implants leads surgeons to select less expensive implants. This implies that an untapped opportunity exists to reduce surgical expenditures simply by enhancing surgeons' cost awareness. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic/Decision Analyses I.

Background Subtrochanteric femoral non-unions in the setting of failed metalwork pose a challenging clinical problem. This study assessed the clinical outcome of patients treated according to the principles of the “Diamond” concept. Methods Between 2007 and 2011 all patients presented with a subtrochanteric atrophic aseptic non-union in the setting of metalwork failure (broken cephalomedullary reconstruction nail), and treated in a single tertiary referral unit were included to this study. The hypertrophic and the non-unions of pathologic fractures were excluded. The revision strategy was based on the “Diamond concept”; optimisation of the mechanical and the biological environment (implantation of growth factor (rhBMP-7), scaffold (RIA bone graft from contralateral femur) and concentrated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) harvested from the iliac crest). The minimum follow up was 26 months (16–48). Results Fourteen patients met the inclusion criteria. A specific sequence of metalwork failure was noted with initial breakage of the distal locking screws followed by nail breakage at the lag screw level. The intraoperative examination of the removed nails revealed no gross structural damage indicative of inappropriate drilling at the time of the initial intramedullary nailing. Varus mal-alignment was present in the majority of the cases, with an average of 5.2 degrees (0–11). The average time to distal locking screw failure was 4.4 months (2–8.5) and nail failure was 6.5 months (4–10). The time to union after the revision surgery was 6.8 months (5–12). Complications included two deaths in elderly patients (due to unrelated causes), one pulmonary embolism, one myocardial infarction, one below the knee deep vein thrombosis and one blade plate failure that required further revision with double plating and grafting. Conclusion Varus mal-alignment must be avoided in the initial stabilisation of subtrochanteric fractures. Distal locking screw failure is predictive of future fracture non-union and nail breakage. In the absence of sepsis, a single stage procedure based on the “Diamond concept” that simultaneously optimizes the mechanical and biological environment is a successful method for managing complex subtrochanteric atrophic non-unions with failed metalwork.

Objectives To analyse the complications and outcomes (functional/radiographic) of Pelvic External Fixators applied as part of the definitive fixation in polytrauma patients. Design A single center retrospective chart review. Setting A level-1 trauma center. Patients and methods We reviewed all the polytrauma patients (ISS > 16) between 2007 and 2012 that had a PEF applied more than 30 days. Complications including infection, aseptic loosening, neurological injury, loss of reduction, non-union and mal-union were recorded. Pelvic asymmetry and Deformity Index (DI) were measured at the immediate postoperative radiographs and final follow-up. The functional outcome at final follow up was estimated using a scale previously reported by Chiou et al. Results 59 patients with mean age of 38.4 (16 − 81) years and mean ISS score 28 (16- 66) were included. The PEFs were applied for mean duration of 56 (30–104) days. The average follow-up was 403 days. 22 injuries were type B and 37 type C (AO/OTA). The most common symptomatic complications were pin site infection in 11 (18.6%) and loosening in 5 (8.5%) cases. 44 (74.5%) patients had satisfactory functional outcome. The immediate post-operative and final asymmetry and DI were compared between the two pelvic injury groups (type B and C fractures). The difference in displacement progression was more for type C injuries (p = 0.034) but no correlation to the functional outcome was evident. Conclusion PEF can be used as definitive alternative stabilization method in specific situations at polytrauma setting. Radiological displacement occurred in both type B and C injuries but the clinical outcome was not correlated to this displacement. Complications related to PEF do not affect the final clinical outcome. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level III.

Clavicle fractures can cause pain and functional impairment if not managed appropriately. This article evaluates the prevalence of clavicular fractures, estimates the number of cases requiring operative treatment, evaluates whether removal of implant is a frequent necessity and compares the final functional outcome of the operative and non-operative groups.Between November 2005 and November 2007, patients with clavicular fractures were eligible for participation. Patients below 18 years of age and those with pathological fractures were excluded. Demographic details, mechanism of injury, operative versus non-operative treatment, radiographic classification (Allman system), complications, implant removal and functional outcome using the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder-rating score were documented and analysed.Out of 16,280 fractures that presented to our University Teaching Hospitals, 200 (1.23%) met the inclusion criteria. As many as 20 patients were lost due to natural attrition. A total of 159 (88.3%) patients were treated non-operatively and 21 (11.7%) patients were operated upon, over half of them for symptomatic non-union. All clavicles united postoperatively. Eighty-one conservatively managed undisplaced medial, middle and lateral end fractures had excellent mean UCLA shoulder scores. A statistical significance in UCLA scores (p0.05) was noted between the operative and non-operative patient groups in mid-shaft fractures. There was no statistical difference between the operative and non-operative groups in lateral-end fractures. A total of 42.9% required removal of metal implant due to soft tissue irritation with complete resolution of symptoms.The incidence of clavicle fractures was 1.23%. A small number of patients (11.7%) required operative treatment. We recommend surgical management of symptomatic non-union and removal of metal implant for hardware-related irritation.

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) in tibial diaphyseal fractures has been associated with such complications as infection, delayed fracture healing or non-union, sensory and motor deficits, deformities, and poor functional outcome. Essential condition of an uncomplicated recovery is early diagnosis with prompt decompression. A comprehensive review of the literature was performed to evaluate the impact of compartment syndrome and leg fasciotomies on the time to fracture union and the incidence of delayed union and non-union in tibial diaphyseal fractures. A total of 16 articles, which included 245 tibial fractures complicated with compartment syndrome were analysed. There were statistically significant differences in the time to healing, being longer by 4.90 weeks (p

The evolution of contemporary intramedullary reaming systems has recently generated the Reamer Irrigator Aspirator system (RIA-Synthes®), which has progressively gained in popularity as well as in indications. The preliminary results of its use over the initial period of 18 months ata single tertiary referral centre were prospectively collected and are presented. The wide spectrum of RIA's indications have been exploited, including 7 patients with polytrauma that underwent acute femoral nailing, 8 with femoral intramedullary osteomyelitis, 9 with pathological lesions of the femoral shaft, as well as 18 patients where the RIA system has been used to harvest morselised autologous bone graft in the presence of recalcitrant atrophie non-unions and bone defects. Overall its use was proven safe and efficient, achieving aggressive medullary canal debridement, collection of adequate samples for further analysis in the infected and oncology cases, as well as impressive volumes of the osteoinductive and osteogenic reaming debris for grafting purposes. No pulmonary complications or evidence of the second hit sequelae were recorded in the polytrauma patient subgroup despite the presence of a high ISS Further controlled clinical studies should follow focused in all different applications of this reliable, user-friendly and impressively versatile system, to validate these preliminary results.

Compartment syndrome is an urgent clinical entity characterised by an increase in the interstitial pressure within a closed osseofascial compartment. Although well recognised as a potential complication after orthopaedic trauma, it is very rarely presented after elective orthopaedic surgery and especially joint arthroplasty. In these rare cases a number of variables are associated with it (positioning, coagulopathy, extensive soft tissue dissection, previous scarring, and epidural analgesia). In this study we present the current evidence with regard to incidence and causation of compartment syndrome after lower limb joint arthroplasty and make recommendations on how to avoid the development of this devastating complication.

Aims The frequency and the effect of alcohol and illicit drugs on injury type, severity and location of death in motor vehicle collision (MVC) fatalities were investigated. Design Retrospective case-control study based on autopsy and toxicology. Settings Single faculty accepting referrals from Greater Athens and prefectures. Participants Consecutive pre-hospital and in hospital fatalities. Measurements Demographics, toxicology, abbreviated injury scale (AIS), injury severity score (ISS), and location of death. Findings Of the 1860 screened subjects, 612 (32.9%) constituted the positive toxicology group (PTG) for alcohol or illicit drugs or both and the 1248 (67.1%) the negative toxicology group (NTG). The median age was 34 (4-90) years for the PTG and 45 (3-97) years for the NTG. The PTG included significantly higher proportions of males and motorcyclists. The PTG had a 50% increased risk for a severe (AIS≥3) cervical spine and 85% for a severe upper extremity injury, compared to the NTG. A total of 29.2% of the PTG and 22.4% of the NTG deaths were non-preventable (ISS = 75). The frequency of severe trauma (ISS≥16) was comparable between PTG and NTG (P = 0.87). The PTG presented with a median ISS of 43 (6-75) versus 41 (2-75) of the NTG, hence without significant difference (P = 0.11). The pre-hospital death rate was 77.8% for the PTG versus 58% of the NTG (P Language: en

Large segmental defects of long bones comprise a complex pathology resulting from a variety of aetiologies. Their prolonged, painful and uncertain treatment is usually beset with a range of consequences for the patient, varying from the psychological to the socioeconomic. Trauma, osteomyelitis, bone tumour resections or treatment of congenital deformities are main causes of bone deficiency. Their treatment has been thoroughly studied for the last 35 years and both vascularized bone grafting and distraction osteogenesis with the Ilizarov technique have emerged as gold standards. Novel techniques have arisen during the last 10 years, giving new perspectives to the management of this problem. Intramedullary lengthening devices, bioactive membranes, osteogenic proteins and tissue engineering are the new weapons in the armamentarium of orthopaedic surgeons. This study describes the aforementioned treatment techniques (classic and novel) and elaborates on their indications, advantages/disadvantages and complications. Algorithms for the assessment and treatment of critically size long-bone segmental defects are also proposed.

Although acute management of pelvic fractures and their long-term functional outcome have been widely documented, important information regarding malunion and nonunion of these fractures is sparse. Despite their relative rarity, malunions and nonunions cause disabling symptoms and have major socioeconomic implications. We analyzed the factors predisposing a pelvic injury to develop malunion/nonunion, the clinical presentation of these complications, and the efficacy of the reported operative protocols in 437 malunions/nonunions of 25 clinical studies. Treatment of these demanding complications appeared effective in the majority of the cases: overall union rates averaged 86.1%, pain relief as much as 93%, patient satisfaction 79%, and return to a preinjury level of activities 50%. Nevertheless, the patient should be informed about the incidence of perioperative complications, including neurologic injury (5.3%), symptomatic vein thrombosis (5.0%), pulmonary embolism (1.9%), and deep wound infection (1.6%). For a successful outcome, a thorough preoperative plan and methodical operative intervention are essential. In establishing effective evidence-based future clinical practice, the introduction of multicenter networks of pelvic trauma management appears a necessity.Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Combining autologous bone graft and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) to treat long-bone fracture aseptic atrophic nonunions theoretically could promote bone healing at higher rates than each of these grafting agents separately. We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data on patient general characteristics, clinical outcomes, and complications over 3 years to determine the healing rates and the incidence of complications and adverse events of this "graft expansion rationale." There were 45 patients (32 male) with a median age of 43 years (range, 19-76 years). Minimum followup was 12 months (mean, 24.5 months; range, 12-65 months). There were seven humeral, 19 femoral, and 19 tibial nonunions. The median number of prior operations was two (range, 1-7). All fractures united. Clinical and radiographic union occurred within a median of 5 months (range, 3-14 months) and 6 months (range, 4-16 months), respectively. Thirty-nine (87%) patients returned to their preinjury occupation at a mean of 4.2 months (range, 3-6 months). The median visual analog scale pain score was 0.9 (range, 0-2.8; maximum 10), and the median functional score was 86 (range, 67-95; maximum 100) at the final followup. BMP-7 as a bone-stimulating agent combined with conventional autograft resulted in a nonunion healing rate of 100% in these 45 patients.Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Failure of fixation is a common problem in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures around the hip. The reinforcement of bone stock or of fixation of the implant may be a solution. Our study assesses the existing evidence for the use of bone substitutes in the management of these fractures in osteoporotic patients. Relevant publications were retrieved through Medline research and further scrutinised. Of 411 studies identified, 22 met the inclusion criteria, comprising 12 experimental and ten clinical reports. The clinical studies were evaluated with regard to their level of evidence. Only four were prospective and randomised. Polymethylmethacrylate and calcium-phosphate cements increased the primary stability of the implant-bone construct in all experimental and clinical studies, although there was considerable variation in the design of the studies. In randomised, controlled studies, augmentation of intracapsular fractures of the neck of the femur with calcium-phosphate cement was associated with poor long-term results. There was a lack of data on the long-term outcome for trochanteric fractures. Because there were only a few, randomised, controlled studies, there is currently poor evidence for the use of bone cement in the treatment of fractures of the hip.

Summary The advent of locking plates for the management of metaphyseal fractures, and subsequent experience of biological fracture fixation, has led to the development of minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis (MIPO), which is now proven to have multiple advantages. Soft tissue stripping is minimized, with preservation of vascular pedicles, and the fracture haematoma around the site of injury remains undisturbed promoting fracture healing. While early published results are encouraging, MIPO technique is not applicable to every fracture. To avoid complications, defining the correct indications is of paramount importance.

Translation of the achievements of basic science into everyday clinical practice remains a major issue in contemporary medicine, and is addressed through a new discipline, translational research, which aims to bridge the gap between basic and clinical research. Translational research encompasses laboratory studies, clinical demands, public health and health management, policies and economics; it is crucial in the evolution of contemporary biomedical science; and its interventions follow the political-economic, ethical-social and educational-scientific approaches. Translational research can progress through reorganisation of academic teams in a translational way. New academic posts translationally orientated are urgently needed, particularly in the field of trauma medicine, where lack of awareness of this new evolution is evident.

The aim of this retrospective study with prospectively documented data was to report the clinical results of treatment of long bone non-unions using the “diamond concept”. Over a 4-year period, patients that presented with a long bone non-union and were managed with the diamond conceptual framework of bone repair were evaluated. Exclusion criteria were hypertrophic, pathological, and infected non-unions. Fixation was revised as it was indicated whilst biological enhancement included the implantation of RIA graft, BMP-7 and concentrated bone marrow aspirate. Data recorded included patient demographics, initial fracture pattern and type of stabilisation, number of previous interventions, time to reoperation, time to union and functional outcome. Painless full weight bearing defined clinical union. Radiological union was defined as the presence of mature callous bridging to at least 3 bone cortices. The minimum follow up was 12 months (range 12–32). In total 64 patients (34 males) with a mean age of 45 years (17–83) were evaluated. Anatomical distribution of non-unions included the femur (54.68%), tibia (34.38%), humerus (4.68%), radius (3.13%) and clavicle (3.13%). The median number of previous interventions was 1 (range 1–5). The majority of patients (82.62%) underwent revision of fixation whereas only bone grafting was performed 9.38% of patients. Three patients developed superficial wound infection (one was MRSA), 1 had deep vein thrombosis and 1 developed heterotopic bone formation. Union was successful in 63/64 (98.4%) non-unions at a mean time of 6 months (range 3–12). All patients were mobilising pain free and returned to their daily living activities at the final follow up. The application of the “diamond concept” in this cohort of patients was associated with a high union rate by providing an optimal mechanical and biological environment. Such an approach should be considered in the surgeon's armamentarium particularly in such cases where difficulty of bone repair is foreseen.

The microenvironment theory has become very popular for providing mechanisms which explain the development of often lethal posttraumatic complications such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). With the recent advances in molecular biology and the ever-expanding understanding of trauma pathophysiology, immunomonitoring in trauma patients attempts to characterise and quantify novel molecules in order to predict patients at risk. This review article assesses the existing evidence on the biomarkers of endothelial injury and their potential utility as quantification parameters of endothelial dysfunction in trauma patients.

Open fractures of the tibial diaphysis are the result of high-energy trauma. They are usually associated with extensive soft tissue loss and represent serious clinical problems. Surgical treatment of these injuries has been associated with substantial complications such as osteomyelitis, delayed bone healing, poor functional outcome, soft-tissue failure, or even amputations. More recently a staged treatment, with initial application of spanning external fixators followed by definitive fixation at secondary phase, has been advocated. Plating of these fractures in the acute setting remains a topic of heated discussion. A systematic review of the literature was carried out in order to investigate the existing evidence concerning the efficacy and safety of this method of osteosynthesis. Eleven papers met the inclusion criteria, accumulating 492 open tibial fractures treated with plating. The overall union rate ranged from 62–95% across all studies, with time to union ranging from 13–42 weeks. The reoperation rate ranged from 8–69% and a pooled estimate of deep infection rate was calculated at 11%. Plate fixation for the treatment of open tibial fractures can be considered under specific conditions which need to be elicited and clarified with future well-designed and conducted clinical trials.