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To evaluate outcomes using an interlocking antibiotic cement-coated nail and culture-specific systematic antibiotics in the treatment of infected nonunion after intramedullary nailing.Retrospective observational cohort study.Urban level I trauma center.Forty-one nonconsecutive patients who presented to a level I trauma center who underwent interlocked antibiotic nailing for treatment of infected nonunion status after primary intramedullary nailing.Eradication of infection, radiographic union by 2-year follow-up.Antibiotic nailing successfully eradicated infection and led to fracture healing in 35 patients (85.4%), while 6 patients (14.6%) had persistent infection and required further surgical treatment. Of the 6 patients who required further treatment, 5 eventually went on to heal with fracture union and eradication of their infection, while 1 required a salvage procedure. Of the 5 patients who eventually went on to heal, 4 of them healed with repeat antibiotic or intramedullary nails, while 1 required segmental resection and bone grafting before healing.This study suggests that the proposed interlocked antibiotic nailing technique is a viable therapeutic option to eradicate infected nonunion and support fracture healing.Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

To determine whether immediate weight bearing after intramedullary fixation of extra-articular proximal tibia fractures (OTA/AO 41A) results in change of alignment before union.Retrospective Review.Level I and Level II Trauma Center.Thirty-seven patients with 37 proximal tibial fractures, all whom could bear weight as tolerated postoperatively. Eighteen fractures were OTA/AO 41-A2, and 19 were OTA/AO 41-A3.Intramedullary nailing of extra-articular proximal tibia fractures.Change in fracture alignment or loss of reduction.The average change in coronal alignment at the final follow-up was 1.22 ± 1.28 degrees of valgus and 1.03 ± 1.05 degrees of extension in the sagittal plane. Twenty-five patients demonstrated excellent initial alignment, 10 patients demonstrated acceptable initial alignment, and 2 patients demonstrated poor initial alignment. Five patients demonstrated a change in alignment from excellent to acceptable at the final follow-up. No patient went from excellent or acceptable initial alignment to poor final alignment. Five patients required unplanned secondary surgical procedures. Two patients required return to the operating room for soft-tissue coverage procedures, 2 patients required surgical debridement of a postoperative infection, and 1 patient underwent debridement and exchange nailing of an infected nonunion. No patient underwent revision for implant failure or loss of reduction.Immediate weight bearing after intramedullary fixation of extra-articular proximal tibia fractures (OTA/AO 41A) led to minimal change in alignment at final postoperative radiographs.Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Classical histological methods such as hematoxylin-eosin staining, have been, and in some areas still are, an important benchmark for the evaluation of biological tissues. However, the current method of assessment is primarily a qualitative assessment of the tissue under investigation. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the improvement of classical histological methods, by applying physical techniques that allow objective, quantitative data to be added to qualitative assessments, especially in areas where conflicting results are available. To this end, the effect of hypolipidemic medication on the callus formation process of normal bone and pathological osteoporotic bone was investigated. The study allowed us to associate UV-VIS spectroscopy wave number with specific hematoxylin-eosin staining of different types of bone tissue structures, the evolving structures in the callus formation process. This association allowed the quantitative assessment of the callusing process in ovariectomized (associated with pathological, osteoporotic bone) and non-ovariectomized (associated with normal bone) rats, with three groups - the control group, simvastatin-treated group, and fenofibrate-treated group. The study showed that in the non-ovariectomized groups both treatments delayed callus formation. In the ovariectomized groups, simvastatin delayed and fenofibrate promoted callus formation.

Displaced acetabular fractures in the elderly present significant treatment challenges. The 'fix and replace' concept involves open reduction and internal fixation of the acetabulum, providing bony stability to accept the press-fit of an acetabular cup, with a cemented femoral stem. This allows early mobilisation and the advantages this confers. This study of 57 patients treated with fix and replace describes our technique, outcomes, and survival analysis.A retrospective review of 57 'fix and replace' procedures in patients aged over 60 was performed. Data was collected on mechanism, fracture type, demographics, time to surgery, comorbidity index, complications, EQ-5D and Oxford hip scores (OHS). Radiographs were reviewed for fracture healing, implant loosening, cup migration, and heterotopic ossification.57 patients aged 60 to 95 had fix and replace surgery. The median ASA score was 3. The mean Charlson Index was 4.8. 45 patients had a low-energy fall, 6 had a road traffic accident, 3 fell off a bicycle, and 1 mechanism was unclear. The fracture patterns were anterior column posterior hemitransverse (67%), associated both columns (9%), posterior column (9%), posterior column and posterior wall (9%), and transverse (2%). The mean time to surgery was 8.4 days (0-14). 26 out of 57 (46%) received a blood transfusion. Mean length of stay was 17.6 days (7-86). The mean follow-up was 35.5 months. 4 dislocations were treated with closed reduction, whilst 1 required excision arthroplasty. 2 infections resolved with debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR), whilst 1 required a two-stage revision. 1 acetabular component had migrated requiring revision. The median pre-injury OHS was 44 (26-48) compared to 37.3 (28-48) at 1 year. There were no deaths at 30-days, whilst at 1 year 7 patients had died. Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed mean survival was 1984.5 days. Implant survival was 90% at 1 year.While fix and replace is conceptually attractive, this medically complex patient group requires considerable support peri‑ and post-operatively. Further studies are required to provide clinicians with more information to decide on how best to provide a holistic management strategy for such injuries in this frail patient cohort.

Avascular necrosis is a complicated, multifactorial disease with potentially devastating consequences. Although the underlying root cause is a lack of appropriate vascular perfusion to affected bone, there are often varying patient-specific, anatomic-specific, and injury-specific predispositions. These factors generally fall into 3 categories: direct vascular disruption, intravascular obliteration, or extravascular compression. The initial stages of disease can be insidiously symptomatic because edematous bone marrow progresses to subchondral collapse and subsequent degenerative arthritis. Although much of the current literature focuses on the femoral head, other common areas of occurrence include the proximal humerus, knee, and the carpus. The low-incidence rate of carpal avascular necrosis poses a challenge in establishing adequately powered, control-based validated treatment options, and therefore, optimal surgical management remains a continued debate among hand surgeons. Appreciation for expectant fracture healing physiology may help guide future investigation into carpal-specific causes of avascular necrosis.

The goal of this study was to compare outcomes among children treated nonoperatively vs operatively for completely displaced clavicle fractures. This was a retrospective cohort study of nonoperative vs operative treatment of completely displaced clavicle fractures sustained between 2006 and 2015 among pediatric patients. Data were collected on patient demographics, fracture characteristics, time to return to full activities, treatment complications, and patient-reported outcome measures. Fifty-five patients were identified in the nonoperative group, with a mean age of 11.6 years (range, 8–14 years). The operative group contained 55 patients, with a mean age of 14.3 years (range, 9–17 years). All fractures healed, with a mean time to return to full activities of 90.4 days in the nonoperative group and 89.7 days in the operative group ( P =.941). Twelve (22%) nonoperative patients sustained a refracture of their clavicle compared with 4 patients in the operative group ( P =.031). Fifteen patients (27%) in the operative group required a second surgery for removal of surgical implants. On the shortened form of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) survey, 17 of the 22 nonoperative patients reported a score of zero (indicating no disability) (range, 0–7) vs 22 of 25 in the operative group (range, 0–9) ( P =.329). Patients treated nonoperatively had a 22% rate of refracture, whereas patients treated operatively had a 27% rate of undergoing a second surgery for removal of surgical implants. These data can aid in the shared decision-making process with patients and families when deciding on treatment for displaced pediatric clavicle fractures. [ Orthopedics . 2022;45(6):373–377.]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and results of one-stage surgery in Gustilo grade 1 and 2 open distal radius fractures with metadiaphyseal involvement.This retrospective study included 54 patients with AO-2R3 and metadiaphyseal involvement according to the AO fracture classification. All fractures were treated with a long volar plate using the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique. The patients were divided into two groups as open fracture group (25 patients) and closed fracture group (29 patients), and the groups were compared for their union time and complications and functional and radiological results.There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of clinical and radiographic results (P.05 for both). The mean union time was 12.77 (range, 8-20) weeks in the open fracture group and 12.75 (range, 8-18) weeks in the closed fracture group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of union time (P.05). Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of major and minor complications. All fractures healed without the need for bone and/or soft tissue grafts.As a result of this study, using with long volar plate immediately minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis might be safely used as a single-stage definitive treatment for Gustilo grade 1 and 2 open distal radius fractures with metadiaphyseal involvement.Level IV, Therapeutic Study.

Infection and nonunion are the two most challenging issues for high-energy fractures. This study aimed to explore the clinical effect of benign inflammation-cultivated bone growth activity in the treatment of closed/small-sized open and high-energy fractures.This study is a case series of closed/small-sized open and high-energy fractures of the lower limbs treated at our hospital from April 2009 to February 2017. All patients underwent debridement and external fixation in the early stage, followed by internal fixation in the second stage. After the operation, fracture healing was monitored by X-ray, and early-stage knee function training was initiated. Also, bone grafting was performed to stimulate the healing reaction, eliminating the atrophic nonunion factors.The operation in all 75 cases was carried out after the inflammatory responses completely subsided, leading to secondary wound healing. Bony union appeared in 71 patients who did not suffer from any pain and could stand up and walk without any restriction. Among them, 68 patients could flex their knee 100°, and three patients had knee flexion ranging from 80 to 100°. No infections occurred after the second operation.This two-stage treatment for high-energy fractures could avoid the damage caused by excessive inflammatory responses that occurred following early-stage one-time internal fixation. This method protected benign inflammatory-callus reactions induced by the primary injury and utilized the advantages of closed reduction in AO fixation with open reduction, thereby avoiding potential infection and nonunion caused by one-time fixation during the early stage.

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of antibiotic cement-coated intramedullary nails (IMN) in the initial management of Gustilo-Anderson type Ⅲ (GAIII) open tibia fractures.A break-even equation was used to analyze the costs associated with antibiotic cement-coated IMN and postoperative infection following GAⅢ open tibia fractures. This equation produced a new infection rate, which defines what percentage the antibiotic coated IMN needs to decrease the initial infection rate for its prophylactic use to be cost-effective. The postoperative infection rate used for calculations was 30%, a value established in current literature for these fracture types (6-33%). The institutional costs associated with a single operative debridement and resultant inpatient stay and treatment were determined. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to demonstrate how various total costs of infection and different infection rates affected the break-even rate, the absolute risk reduction (ARR), and the number needed to treat (NNT).Financial review yielded an average institutional cost of treating a postoperative infection to be $13,282.85. This number was inclusive of all procedures during an inpatient stay. The added cost of the antibiotic coated implant to the hospital is $743.42. Utilizing the break-even formula with these costs and a 30% initial infection rate, antibiotic coated IMN was economically viable if it decreased infection rate by 0.056% (NNT = 1,785.714).This break-even analysis model suggests the initial use of an antibiotic coated IMN in the setting of GAⅢ open tibia fractures is cost-effective.

Optimal management of a displaced midshaft clavicle fracture remains controversial. This study assessed demographic factors, fracture pattern, and surgical technique as potential predictors of surgical complications. Smoking, diabetes, obesity, polytrauma, high-energy mechanism, inpatient status, transverse or comminuted fractures, and single-plating technique were hypothesized to be associated with an increased risk of complications following clavicle fracture open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).Consecutive patients with minimum 12-week follow-up from the trauma and sports medicine divisions at a single tertiary institution who presented with a midshaft clavicle fracture and underwent ORIF between 2007 and 2020 were retrospectively identified. Patient demographics, fracture pattern, plating technique, and postoperative complications were recorded. Postoperative complications were classified into major (reoperation) and minor (no reoperation) complications. Chi-squared statistics, Fisher's exact test, analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, and multivariate logistic regression modeling were utilized with a significance level set to P .05.One hundred ninety-eight patients (average = 39.5 ± 14.6 years) were identified with an average follow-up of 9.1 ± 10.7 months. The cohort consisted of 155 males (78.3%), 62 smokers (31.3%), and 12 diabetics (6.1%). Injury characteristics revealed 80 transverse fractures (40.4%), 87 oblique fractures (43.9%), and 31 Z-type fractures (15.7%). Seventy-nine patients (39.9%) underwent superior plating, 72 (36.4%) underwent anterior plating, and 47 (23.7%) underwent dual plating. Overall, postoperative complications occurred in 47 patients (23.7%), 29 minor (14.6%) and 18 major (9.1%). Major complications requiring reoperation were symptomatic hardware, nonunion, deep infection, wound dehiscence, and broken hardware. Minor complications consisted of sensory deficit or paresthesia beyond peri-incisional numbness, superficial infections, postoperative pain and/or stiffness, and delayed union. Smoking status (P = .008), obesity (P = .009), and transverse or Z-type fractures (P = .002) were significant prognostic factors for overall complication risk. Only manual labor was predictive of minor complications (P = .019). Transverse or Z-type fractures and single plating were predictive of major complications (P = .004 and P = .008, respectively). No reoperations occurred in patients who underwent dual plating. Smokers (P = .027) with transverse/Z-type fractures (P = .022) were at the highest risk of reoperation with single plating.The overall rate of complications following ORIF of displaced midshaft clavicle fracture was 27.3%, with 9.1% requiring reoperation. Given relatively high complication rates, in instances when nonoperative vs. operative management is equivocal, nonoperative management should be strongly considered in obese patients, smokers, and patients who present with transverse or Z-type fracture. If operative management is indicated, use of dual plating may decrease reoperation rates.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a non-invasive treatment modality for delayed union or non-union of acute fractures. We aimed to assess the current use of LIPUS at a national level in the United Kingdom, why and how clinicians use it, what treatment protocols are followed, and what the current perceptions are on this technology.Using a detailed online survey compromised of 20 questions delivered to known LIPUS users, we were able to collect qualitative data on indication of use, type of machine used, personal views on the technology, frequency of usage, and treatment protocols. Each question was peer-reviewed to exclude bias.A total of 70 respondents completed the survey. LIPUS was used by most clinicians for cases of non-union (N = 55, 78.5%) and delayed union (N = 51, 72.8%). The majority of respondents personally used a LIPUS device between 1 and 5 times in 12 months (N = 38, 54.3%). Most considered LIPUS a failure after three to six months of treatment without clinical improvement (N = 39, 55.7%). A total of 32 respondents (45.7%) mentioned the need for funding approval before accessing LIPUS technology. Poor revision surgery candidates (N = 48, 68.6%) and atrophic non-union (N = 46, 65.7%) were the most frequently cited reasons for using LIPUS technology as treatment. Most participants (N = 48, 68.6%) considered LIPUS to be cost-effective. Despite most clinicians being comfortable with the use of LIPUS, some respondents did not understand the basic science underpinning the technology nor could explain the need for LIPUS to patients comfortably.LIPUS technology may have a significant role to play in the treatment of orthopaedic fracture related pathology. Regular users perceived the technology to be cost-effective and efficacious. Further research should standardize treatment protocols and aim to establish a national LIPUS registry.

Background: Proximal humerus fractures (PHF) should be subject to standardized monitoring during treatment, whether non-operative or operative, to document and adequately assess bone healing. The purpose of this study was to develop a standardized protocol for an image-based monitoring of PHF for joint-preserving treatment options, including a minimum set of descriptors or definitions of features of radiographic images, to be applied in clinical routine practice and studies. Methods: A Delphi exercise was implemented with an international panel of experienced shoulder trauma surgeons self-selected after invitation of all AO Trauma members. Using open questions participants recommended the type and timing of desired diagnostic images, and formulated definitions for the imaging parameters they considered most important. Formulated recommendations for the type and timing of radiological fracture monitoring and clarification of the definitions of the proposed radiological parameter set were subjected to further survey. Consensus for each factor was considered to have been reached when there was at least a two-thirds agreement in the survey participants. Results: Response rates of 231 interested surgeons were 66% and 44% for the first and second survey respectively. Sixty percent of participants to the first survey responded to the second (131/219). 93% of respondents considered radiographic monitoring to be an important part of fracture care. 92% of respondents to the first survey considered that ‘malreduction’ should be assessed, and 165 of 189 respondents provided a suggestion for a definition for this parameter. 88% of respondents to the second survey agreed on a redefinition of the term ‘malreduction’ as ‘non-anatomical fracture reduction’. There was substantial agreement about the radiographic views and orientation of radiographs to be recorded (80%) and the timing of radiological reviews (67- 78% for time points during follow up). Just over half of respondents recommended cessation of radiological review when fracture healing was considered to have occurred by radiological evaluation. Conclusion: Our work confirmed the need for clear definitions of radiological features that should be considered in the follow-up of proximal humeral fractures. It has resulted in the development of an international consensus monitoring protocol for PHF treatment with a structured core set of radiological parameters. Clinical application and validation of the monitoring process are needed.

(1) Evaluate whether initial results from percutaneous treatment of nonunion are reproducible (2) Estimate the relative cost of percutaneous treatment of nonunion versus traditional methods.Retrospective multicentre case series.Four Level 1 trauma centers.Fifty-one patients (34 men and 17 women) with a median age of 51 years (range 14-81) were treated for nonunion at a median of 10 months (range 4-212) from injury.Percutaneous strain reduction screws (PSRS).Union rates and time to union were compared for patients treated in the developing institution versus independent units as well as with previously published results.Forty-five (88%) patients achieved union at a median time of 5.2 months (range 1.0-24.7) confirming the previously published results for this technique. Comparable results were seen between the developing institution and independent units. No patients experienced adverse events beyond failure to achieve union. PSRS seems to offer savings of between £3177 ($4416) to £11,352 ($15,780) per case compared with traditional methods of nonunion surgery.PSRS is a safe, efficacious treatment for long bone nonunion and may be more cost-effective than traditional nonunion treatment methods. The promising initial results of this technique have now been replicated outside of the developing institution.Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Aims This study aims to report the outcomes in the treatment of unstable proximal third scaphoid nonunions with arthroscopic curettage, non-vascularized bone grafting, and percutaneous fixation. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of 20 patients. All cases were delayed presentations (n = 15) or failed nonoperatively managed scaphoid fractures (n = 5). Surgery was performed at a mean duration of 27 months (7 to 120) following injury with arthroscopic debridement and arthroscopic iliac crest autograft. Fracture fixation was performed percutaneously with Kirschner (K)-wires in 12 wrists, a headless screw in six, and a combination of a headless screw and single K-wire in two. Clinical outcomes were assessed using grip strength, patient-reported outcome measures, and wrist range of motion (ROM) measurements. Results Intraoperatively, established avascular necrosis of the proximal fragment was identified in ten scaphoids. All fractures united within 16 weeks, confirmed by CT. At a mean follow-up of 31 months (12 to 64), there were significant improvements in the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation, Mayo Wrist Score, abbreviated Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, wrist ROM, grip strength, and the patients’ subjective pain score. No peri- or postoperative complications were encountered. Conclusion Our data indicate that arthroscopic bone grafting and fixation with cancellous autograft is a viable method in the treatment of proximal third scaphoid nonunions, regardless of the vascularity of the proximal fragment. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(8):946–952.

To quantify the total hospital costs associated with the treatment of lower extremity long-bone fracture aseptic and septic unhealed fracture, to determine if insurance adequately covers these costs, and to examine whether insurance type correlates with barriers to accessing care.Retrospective cohort study.Academic Level II trauma center.All patients undergoing operative treatment of OTA/AO classification 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, and 43 fractures between 2012 and 2020 at a single Level II trauma center with minimum of 1-year follow-up.The primary outcome was the total cost of treatment for all hospital-based episodes of care. Distance traveled from primary residence was measured as a surrogate for barriers to care.One hundred seventeen patients with uncomplicated fracture healing, 82 with aseptic unhealed fracture, and 44 with septic unhealed fracture were included in the final cohort. The median cost of treatment for treatment of septic unhealed fracture was $148,318 [interquartile range(IQR) 87,241-256,928], $45,230 (IQR 31,510-68,030) for treatment of aseptic unhealed fracture, and $33,991 (IQR 25,609-54,590) for uncomplicated fracture healing. The hospital made a profit on all patients with commercial insurance, but lost money on all patients with public insurance. Among patients with unhealed fracture, those with public insurance traveled 4 times further for their care compared with patients with commercial insurance (P = 0.004).Septic unhealed fracture of lower extremity long-bone fractures is an outsized burden on the health care system. Public insurance for both septic and aseptic unhealed fracture does not cover hospital costs. The increased distances traveled by our Medi-Cal and Medicare population may reflect the economic disincentive for local hospitals to care for publicly insured patients with unhealed fractures.Economic Level V. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The periosteum, the outer layer of bone, is a major source of skeletal stem/progenitor cells (SSPCs) for bone repair. Here, we discuss recent findings on the characterization, role, and regulation of periosteal SSPCs (pSSPCs) during bone regeneration.Several markers have been described for pSSPCs but lack tissue specificity. In vivo lineage tracing and transcriptomic analyses have improved our understanding of pSSPC functions during bone regeneration. Bone injury activates pSSPCs that migrate, proliferate, and have the unique potential to form both bone and cartilage. The injury response of pSSPCs is controlled by many signaling pathways including BMP, FGF, Notch, and Wnt, their metabolic state, and their interactions with the blood clot, nerve fibers, blood vessels, and macrophages in the fracture environment. Periosteal SSPCs are essential for bone regeneration. Despite recent advances, further studies are required to elucidate pSSPC heterogeneity and plasticity that make them a central component of the fracture healing process and a prime target for clinical applications.

Cranial vault fractures are of medicolegal interest as they have long-term impacts to someone's health and may contribute to an individual's death. The ability to distinguish antemortem from perimortem fractures and to assess the age of the injury is increasingly dependent on histology. Despite the increasing role of histology in assessing the microanatomy of osseous fractures, there are no methods currently available which account for the nuances and difficulties in creating high-quality histologic slides of cranial vault fractures that allow visualization of cellular features associated with healing bone. The authors present a modified method specific to slide development of human cranial vault fractures derived from the trial-and-error process of creating 730 such slides over a 3-year period which are suitable for the evaluation of the tissues, cells, and nuclei involved in fracture healing. This method adapts and troubleshoots typical histological procedures including sample excision, fixation, decalcification, dehydrating, clearing, embedding, microtomy, and staining, and introduces new procedures including preprocessing photography and cassette placement. By implementing these modifications, the number of poor-quality slides that required a new section to be sent to the histology laboratory was greatly reduced. Proactively implementing this new method into cranial fracture histologic slide development significantly reduces the number of slide rejections due to common issues like folding, chatter, or insufficient staining, saving both time and financial resources for forensic practitioners, researchers, and histotechnologists.

Bone morphogenic protein-2 has demonstrated promise as an adjunct to surgically treating fractures. Its reported use in the upper extremity is limited. This study reports union rates, outcomes, and complications of scaphoid fractures treated with adjunctive bone morphogenic protein-2 to further characterize bone morphogenic protein-2 use in the hand and wrist.Retrospective review of scaphoid fractures treated surgically in one region of the Military Health System from 2009 to 2019 was conducted to identify cases using bone morphogenic protein-2. Fracture healing was determined by computed tomography. Primary outcomes were union rate, time to union, and complications. Secondary outcomes included union rates for prior nonunions, union rates at 4 and 6 weeks, and functional outcomes.Fourteen patients met inclusion criteria. Nonunions accounted for 50 percent of included fractures. The total union rate was 93 percent. Mean time to union was 6.2 weeks. All acute fractures healed with a mean time to union of 4.8 weeks. Nonunions had a union rate of 86 percent, with a mean time to union of 7.7 weeks. Four patients (29 percent) developed radiographic heterotopic ossification; however, no significant decrease in motion was appreciated. Thirteen patients (93 percent) resumed the push-ups portion of the military fitness test. No major complications were identified during follow-up.Adjunctive use of bone morphogenic protein-2 in operative fixation of scaphoid fractures resulted in desirable union rates without major complications. Larger, prospective studies are needed to assess whether adjunctive bone morphogenic protein-2 use in scaphoid fractures provides significant benefit compared with other treatments.Therapeutic, IV.

Background: The rate of open tibia fractures is rapidly increasing across the globe due to a recent rise in road traffic accidents, predominantly in low and low-middle income countries. These injuries are orthopaedic emergencies associated with infection rates as high as 40% despite the use of systemic antibiotics and surgical debridement. The use of local antibiotics has shown some promise in reducing the burden of infection in these injuries due to increasing local tissue availability, however no trial has yet been appropriately powered to evaluate for definitive evidence and the majority of current studies have taken place in a high-resource countries where resources and the bio-burden may be different. • Methods: This is a prospective randomized, masked, placebo-controlled superiority trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of locally administered gentamicin versus placebo in the prevention of fracture-related infection in adults (age>18 years) with primarily closeable Gustillo-Anderson class I, II, and IIIA open tibia fractures. Eight hundred and nighty patients will be randomized to receive an injection of either gentamicin (treatment group) or saline (control group) at the site of their primarily closed open fracture. The primary outcome will be the occurrence of a fracture related infection occurring during the course of the 12-month follow-up. Discussion: This study will definitively assess the effectiveness of local gentamicin for the prevention of fracture-related infections in adults with open tibia fractures in Tanzania. The results of this study have the potential to demonstrate a low-cost, widely available intervention for the reduction of infection in open tibia fractures. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05157126. Registered on December 14th, 2021.

Our study compared the results of wedge-shaped femoral shaft fracture following intramedullary (IM) nailing with or without fixation of the third fragment.We retrospectively reviewed patients presenting with femoral shaft fracture with AO/OTA type 32-B from 2011 to 2016. Patients were divided into two groups: closed reduction without touching the third fragment and open reduction with fixation of the third fragment. The fragment ratio, fragment length, nail size, dynamization or not, mRUST scores, union rate, and union time were compared between the two groups. Risk factors of non-union were also investigated, including sex, age, fracture pattern, fracture location, dynamization, nail size, fragment ratio, fragment size, and postoperative fragment displacement.A total of 80 patients met inclusion criteria, 20 patients with wedge-shaped shaft femoral fracture were managed with IM nailing and open reduction with fixation of the third fragment. Sixty patients were treated with IM nail without touching the third fragment. The union rate for the fixation and non-fixation groups were 60.0% and 81.7%, respectively. The mean union time for the fixation group was 19 months vs 14 months for the non-fixation group. Multi-regression analysis showed larger nail size (odds ratio: 2.26) and fixation of the third fragment (odds ratio: 0.18) influenced fracture healing.Fixation of the third fragment in wedge-shaped shaft femoral fracture results in a longer union time and lower union rate. In the management of femoral fracture with a third fragment, a larger nail size is recommended and fixation should be performed in a closed manner. Fixation of the fragment may achieve better fracture reduction. However, disruption of the vasculature and surrounding structures may further result in nonunion of the fracture site.

There is conjecture on the optimal timing to administer bisphosphonate therapy following operative fixation of low-trauma hip fractures. Factors include recommendations for early opportunistic commencement of osteoporosis treatment, and clinician concern regarding the effect of bisphosphonates on fracture healing. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine if early administration of bisphosphonate therapy within the first month post-operatively following proximal femur fracture fixation is associated with delay in fracture healing or rates of delayed or non-union.We included randomized controlled trials examining fracture healing and union rates in adults with proximal femoral fractures undergoing osteosynthesis fixation methods and administered bisphosphonates within 1 month of operation with a control group. Data were pooled in meta-analyses where possible. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the GRADE approach were used to assess validity.For the outcome of time to fracture union, meta-analysis of three studies (n = 233) found evidence for earlier average time to union for patients receiving early bisphosphonate intervention (MD = -1.06 weeks, 95% CI -2.01--0.12, IWe provide low-level evidence that there is no reduction in time to healing or delay in bony union for patients receiving bisphosphonates within 1 month of proximal femur fixation.

Physiologic bone healing involves numerous parameters, such as microstability, fracture morphology, or tissue perfusion, to name just a few. Slight imbalances or a severe impairment of even one of these factors may, as the figurative weakest link in the chain, crucially or completely inhibit the regenerative potential of a fractured bone. This review revisits the physiology and pathophysiology of fracture healing and provides an insight into predispositions, subtypes, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic principles involved with delayed fracture healing and nonunions. Depending on the patients individual risk factors, nonunions may develop in a variety of subtypes, each of which may require a slightly or fundamentally different therapeutical approach. After a detailed analysis of these individual factors, additional diagnostic tools, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, sonography, or contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, may be indicated to narrow down the most likely cause for the development of the nonunion and therefore help find and optimize the ideal treatment strategy.

This study aimed to establish a new classification using locked-plate fixation for periprosthetic distal femoral fracture (PDFF) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and to determine when dual locked-plate fixation is necessary through defining this classification.One-hundred fifteen consecutive PDFFs that underwent operative treatment were reviewed from 2011 to 2019 with minimum 1-year follow-up. Most PDFFs were fixed with single or dual locked-plate fixations using the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis technique. Based on preoperative radiographs, PDFFs were classified according to the level of main fracture line relative to the anterior flange of femoral component: type I and II, main fracture line located proximal and distal to the anterior flange; and type III, component instability regardless of fracture line requiring revisional TKA. Furthermore, type II fractures were subclassified based on the direction of fracture beak as follows: type IIIncidences of type I, IIThe new classification provides practical and obvious strategies for the treatment of PDFF following TKA using locked-plate fixation. For type II

The aim of this study is to use tibial Hounsfield unit measurements from preoperative computed tomography scans of ankle fractures to predict delayed union and nonunion. We hypothesize that patients with lower Hounsfield unit averages, an indirect measure of lower bone mineral density, in the distal tibia are more likely to develop delayed union and nonunion complications after ankle fracture surgery. Patient data from January 2010 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed from 2 institutions. Exposure cases of delayed union or nonunion that had preoperative computed tomography were compared to 5 controls matched for sex, age, and classification. 3 measurements were taken from the tibia on axial computed tomography and averaged to create a summative measure for overall bone health. Statistical analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the groups. 19 exposure patients were compared to 95 control patients. There were 16 females and 3 males in the exposure group aged from 30 to 88 years. Average follow-up was 1.6 years. The average exposure and control Hounsfield measurements were 186 (161-210) and 258 (248-269), respectively. Significant differences were found for all measured averages. This is the first study to our knowledge relating preoperative tibial Hounsfield measurements to healing rates of ankle fractures. Measurements taken from any of the 3 sites or the average could be an indicator of overall bone health. Using this technique on preoperative imaging will help surgeons adjust their perioperative planning for patients at higher risk for delayed union and nonunion.

Background Pediatric femur fractures are a major trauma in children. Different treatment algorithms have been developed but indications for surgical treatment, especially in very young patients, are still controversial. Literature recommends surgical stabilization with elastic-stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) starting at the age of 3 and non-operative treatment in younger patients. This study sought to present the outcome of patients younger than 3 years of age treated with ESIN for femur fractures. Materials and methods Inclusion criteria were patients younger than 3 treated with ESIN in femur fractures. Patient demographics, fracture characteristics, mechanism of injury, outcomes and complications were recorded using charts and X-rays. Primary outcome measures were time to mobility, fracture consolidation and surgical-related complications. Results Between 2010 and 2020, 159 patients were treated with ESIN in femur fractures in our institution. A total of 30 patients met the criteria. The mean age was 2.1 ± 0.7 years (13 months–2.9 years). Most common mechanism was fall from standing height (60%). Other mechanisms were motor vehicle accidents as a pedestrian (10%) or as a passenger (10%) as well as direct blow trauma (20%). Femoral shaft fracture was the most common injury (80%). 5 subtrochanteric and one distal metaphyseal femur fractures were found. Mean length of stay was 2.0 ± 1.3 days. Radiographic controls were performed on day 1, 14 and 6 weeks after surgery if not otherwise specified or if complications occurred. 4.6 ± 1.2 (n 2–7) X-rays were performed on average after surgery. First radiographic consolidation signs were seen after 2.4 ± 0.6 weeks. Only one child showed surgical-related complication with a leg length discrepancy of 1 cm. In 10% of the patients, shortening after surgery of 1.7 ± 1.4 mm (0.3–3.1 mm) occurred. One child initially treated with traction therapy showed skin irritations and was operated with ESIN. No non-union or ESIN-related complications were found. Mean follow-up was 5.1 ± 4.4 months (4–24 months). First independent mobilization was seen at an average of 3.4 ± 1.1 weeks (2–6 weeks) after surgery. Implant removal was performed after 3.2 ± 1.3 months (2–8 months). No refracture after implant removal occurred. Conclusion Early results with ESIN show a reasonable and safe treatment option for femur fractures in toddlers and young children under the age of 3 with easy postoperative care, fast fracture union and early independent mobilization.

The most common technique of orthopedic surgical procedure for the correction of deformities is bone lengthening by “distraction osteogenesis,” which requires periodic and ongoing bone assessment following surgery. Bone impedance is a noninvasive, quantitative method of assessing bone fracture healing. The purpose of this study was to monitor bone healing and determine when fixation devices should be removed. The left tibia of eight male New Zealand white rabbits (2.4 ± 0.4 kg) undergoing osteotomy was attached with a mini-external fixator. The bone length was increased by 1 cm one week after surgery by distracting it 1 mm per day. Before and after osteotomy, as well as every week after, bone impedance was measured in seven frequency ranges using an EVAL-AD5933EBZ board. Three orthopedic surgeons analyzed the radiographs using the Radiographic Union Scale for Tibial (RUST) score. The Kappa Fleiss coefficient was used to determine surgeon agreement, and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to find out the relationship between impedance measurements and RUST scores. Finally, the device removal time was calculated by comparing the bone impedance to the preosteotomy impedance. The agreement of three orthopedic surgeons on radiographs had a Fleiss’ Kappa coefficient of 49%, indicating a moderate level of agreement. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was 0.43, indicating that impedance and radiographic techniques have a direct relationship. Impedance is expected to be used to monitor fractured or lengthened bones in a noninvasive, low-cost, portable, and straightforward manner. Furthermore, when used in conjunction with other qualitative methods such as radiography, impedance can be useful in determining the precise time of device removal.