Search

Background: The treatment of proximal humerus fractures (PHF) is largely surgeon dependent with no clear guidelines for selecting the optimal method of treatment., Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate trends and variations in treatment methods of PHF in the United States from 2004 to 2012 and to determine the regional differences in treatment., Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was used to identify all patient discharges with diagnosis codes for PHF and the data were classified based on ICD-9 procedure codes. Patient and hospital demographics were also analyzed. Simple linear regression analyses were performed for each treatment modality to evaluate current treatment trends and to extrapolate the future trends of PHF treatment over the next 20 years., Results: A national estimate of 550,116 PHF discharges was identified over the time period. Significant correlations between change over time and treatment modality were found for reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) (r = 0.903, p < 0.001), open reduction internal fixation (r = 0.876, p = 0.002), and closed reduction internal fixation (r = -0.922, p < 0.001). The RSA regression model showed that by the year 2032, PHF treated with RSA will increase 100% from 2012., Discussion: There were significant changes in treatment modalities for PHF from 2004 to 2012; The projected number of RSA used to treat PHF will be about 9115 in 2032, compared to 340 in 2004., Conclusion: Overall, there was a growth in proximal humerus fractures treated in an inpatient setting in the United States. RSA had the greatest proportional increase over time, but only accounted for less than 2% of total interventions.

Background: Elderly patients have more special medical needs when compared with young ones; thus, the results of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for acetabular fractures should be stratified by age in these patients. This study seeks to determine whether the age of the patient influences the results of the ORIF for acetabular fractures., Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 53 elderly patients with displaced acetabular fractures who underwent ORIF between May 2004 and May 2011. Patients were divided into two groups by age: young-old group (60-74 years) and old-old group (75-90 years). The number of patients in each group was 28 and 25. The reduction quality and clinical function was evaluated using the Matta criteria and modified Postel Merle D'Aubigne Score, respectively. Operative time, bleeding amount, and complications were recorded., Results: Patients in old-old group had significantly lower anatomical reduction rate (p = 0.024), less operative time (p = 0.021), and less bleeding amount (p = 0.016) than those in the young-old group. The reduction quality in the young-old group was strongly associated with clinical function (p < 0.05). However, no difference in clinical function was detected among the different reduction qualities in the old-old group (p > 0.05). Moreover, no significant difference in clinical functions (p = 0.787) and complications (p = 0.728) was detected between the two groups., Conclusions: Old-old patients may expect comparable clinical functions and complications with young-old patients. The reduction quality in old-old patients may be not significantly associated with clinical function. Different treatment strategies may be applied for acetabular fractures with ORIF in different age groups.

Background: Geriatric femoral neck fractures are associated with substantial morbidity and medical cost. We evaluated the incidence and management trends of femoral neck fractures in recent years in the U.S., Methods: Patient data from 2003 through 2013 were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Femoral neck fractures in patients ≥65 years old were identified and grouped using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) procedure codes for internal fixation, hemiarthroplasty, or total hip arthroplasty (THA). The nationwide incidence of femoral neck fractures was calculated and presented as an age-adjusted population rate. Univariable methods were used for trend analysis and comparisons between groups. Logistic regression modeling was used to analyze complications., Results: From 2003 to 2013, we identified 808,940 femoral neck fractures in patients ≥65 years old. The national age-adjusted incidence of femoral neck fractures decreased from 242 per 100,000 U.S. adults in 2003 to 146 in 2013. The proportion of fractures managed operatively with THA increased over time (5.9% in 2003 versus 7.4% in 2013; p < 0.001). Concurrently, the use of hemiarthroplasty declined (65.1% versus 63.6%; p < 0.001). In 2013, the median age of the patients treated with THA was significantly younger (77.3 years) compared with that in the hemiarthroplasty and internal fixation groups (83.2 and 82.0 years). The THA group had significantly higher median initial hospital costs ($17,097) compared with the hemiarthroplasty and internal fixation groups ($14,776 and $10,462)., Conclusions: In the last decade, the total number and population rate of femoral neck fractures in the elderly declined significantly. There was a modest but significant increase in the utilization of THA., Clinical Relevance: This report identifies the changing trends in clinical practice in the treatment of geriatric femoral neck fractures in the U.S. Treating physicians should be aware of these trends, which include a decreasing national incidence of geriatric femoral neck fractures as well as an increase in the use of THA.

Purpose: We present a retrospective administrative claims database review examining the effect of recent literature supporting surgical clavicle fixation in a primarily young male population, on the treatment of midshaft clavicle fractures in patients older than 65 years. We tested the null hypothesis that there is no change in trends in surgical fixation of midshaft clavicle fractures in patients older than 65 years. Secondary analysis examined overall trends and trends based on sex., Methods: Data from 2007 to 2012 were extracted using the Medicare Standard Analytic File and Humana administrative claim databases contained within the PearlDiver Patient Records Database. Patients with clavicle shaft fractures and their treatments were identified by International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, and Current Procedural Terminology codes. The primary response variable was the proportion of surgical to nonsurgical cases per year, and explanatory variables included age and sex. Data were analyzed using a trend in proportions test with significance set at P less than .05., Results: A total of 32,929 patients with clavicle shaft fractures were identified. During the study period, the proportion of clavicle shaft fractures treated surgically in patients older than 65 years (2.4%-4.6%) and younger than 65 years (11.2%-16.4%) showed a significant increasing trend. When analyzed by both sex and age, there was also an increasing trend in the proportion of surgically treated males in the older than 65 years (3.3%-6.2%) and the younger than 65 years groups (10.9%-19.5%). Lastly, there was an increase in the proportion of surgically treated females older than 65 years (1.7%-3.4%) and younger than 65 years (12.1%-14.3%)., Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrates an overall increase in the proportion of surgically treated clavicle shaft fractures, including in the male and female population older than 65 years. In the setting of an aging population, future research evaluating possible benefits of surgical intervention in this population is needed prior to adopting this practice pattern., Type of Study/level of Evidence: II., (Copyright © 2017 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The incidence of humeral shaft fractures has been increasing over time. This represents a growing public health concern in a climate of cost containment. The purpose of this study is to analyze national trends in surgical management of humeral shaft fractures and determine factors predictive of surgical intervention., Materials and Methods: Humeral shaft fractures were identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 812.21 and 812.31 in the United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2011. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was identified by code 79.31 (ORIF, humerus). Other case codes analyzed were 79.01 (closed reduction without internal fixation), 79.11 (closed reduction with internal fixation), and 79.21 (open reduction without internal fixation). Multivariate regression analysis was utilized to determine predictive factors for utilization of ORIF., Results: 27,908 humeral shaft fractures were identified. Utilization of ORIF increased from 47.2% of humeral shaft fractures in 2002 to 60.3% in 2011. Demographically, patients who underwent ORIF were younger (51.5 versus 59.7 years, p < 0.001; odds ratio 0.87 per decade of age). There were modest increases in ORIF usage with private insurance, open fracture, and hospital size, which persisted with multivariate regression analysis. Surprisingly, there was a tendency to shift from a slight increase in ORIF for males with the bivariate case to a slight preference for females in the multivariate case., Conclusion: Utilization of ORIF for humeral shaft fractures has been steadily increasing with time. Surgical intervention was more common with younger patients, female gender, private insurance, and larger hospital size. The increasing incidence of surgical management for humeral shaft fractures may represent a public health burden given the historical success of non-operative management., Level of Evidence: IV.

Background: Infected non-unions of the supracondylar region of the femur are uncommon. Even though hardware removal is a common procedure, it may lead to complications, including neurovascular injury, refracture, worsening pain or recurrence of deformity., Case Presentation: We report on a male who developed subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for an infected non-union of the distal femur. He was managed by debridement of the surgical wound, antibiotic therapy, multiple fasciotomies, and application of a VAC (vacuum-assisted closure) system., Conclusions: Although subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femur is extremely rare, the potential life treating complications and their potential impact on the functional status of the patient have to be taken into consideration when counseling patients about this procedure. Even when it is not possible to identify a bacterial pathogen responsible for the subcutaneous emphysema of the leg, prompt intervention may save the limb of the patient.

The objective of this study was to investigate national surgical trends for distal radius fractures (DRFs) in Korea and analyze healthcare institution type-specific surgical trends. We analyzed a nationwide database acquired from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) from 2011 to 2015. International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) codes and procedure codes were used to identify patients aged ≥ 20 years with newly diagnosed DRFs. A total of 459,388 DRFs occurred from 2011 to 2015. The proportion of DRF cases treated by surgery tended to increase over time, from 32.6% in 2011 to 38.3% in 2015 (P < 0.001). Open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) using a plate steadily gained in popularity each year, increasing from 39.2% of overall surgeries in 2011 to 60.9% in 2015. The type of surgery for DRFs differed depending on the type of healthcare institution. ORIF (91%) was the most popular procedure in tertiary hospitals, whereas percutaneous pinning (58%) was most popular in clinics. In addition, general hospitals and hospitals with 30-100 beds used external fixation more frequently than tertiary hospitals and clinics did. Overall, our findings indicate that surgical treatment of DRF, particularly ORIF, continues to increase, and that the component ratio of operation codes differed according to the healthcare institution type., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© 2017 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.)

This article focuses on the understanding of the biochemistry and surgical application of bone substitute materials (BSMs) and particularly the newer calcium phosphate materials that can form a structural orthobiologic matrix within the metaphyseal components of the periarticular bone. Six characteristics of BSMs are detailed that can be used as a guide for the proper selection and application of the optimal BSM type for periarticular fracture repair. These 6 characteristics of BSMs are divided into 2 pillars. One pillar details the 3 biochemical features of BSMs and the other pillar details the 3 surgical application properties., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Proximal humerus fractures in the elderly are increasing in frequency as the population ages. The purpose of this study was to investigate surgical and cost trends in the Medicare population. The PearlDiver database was queried using diagnosis codes to identify Medicare recipients with proximal humerus fractures from 2005 to 2012. Surgical trends, demographics, and charge/reimbursement data were analyzed. There were 750,426 proximal humerus fractures in Medicare recipients during the 8-year period. Eighty-five percent of the fractures were treated nonoperatively; however, the percentage of operative vs nonoperative management increased significantly over time for all fractures, isolated fractures, and fracture dislocations. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was the most common surgical treatment and remained constant. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) increased by 406% and hemiarthroplasty (HEMI) decreased by 47%. Compared with younger patients, older patients were more likely to undergo HEMI or RTSA than to undergo ORIF for isolated fractures and fracture dislocations. Charges and reimbursements from Medicare increased over time. The charge to reimbursement gap increased from 87% in 2005 to 104% in 2012. Charges were higher for RTSA than for ORIF or HEMI. Nonoperative management was the treatment of choice for 85% of proximal humerus fractures in the elderly; however, there was a trend toward higher rates of surgery. The RTSA rate increased and the HEMI rate decreased, while ORIF remained constant. There was an increasing charge to reimbursement ratio for all procedure types. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(4):e641-e647.]., (Copyright 2017, SLACK Incorporated.)

Background: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is being increasingly used to treat postoperative infections after osteosynthetic fracture fixation. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of epidemiological and microbiological parameters on outcome., Methods: Infections following operative fracture fixation were registered in a comprehensive Critical Incidence Reporting System and subsequently analyzed retrospectively for characteristics of patients including comorbidity, bacteria, and clinical factors. The influence of the investigated parameters was analyzed using logistic regression models based on data from 106 patients., Results: Staged wound lavage in combination with NPWT allowed implant preservation in 44% and led to successful healing in 73% of patients. Fermentation characteristics, load and behavior after gram staining revealed no statistically significant correlation with either healing or implant preservation. Infecting bacteria were successfully isolated in 87% of patients. 20% of all infections were caused by bacterial combinations. We observed a change in the infecting bacterial species under therapy in 23%. Age, gender, metabolic diseases or comorbidities did not influence the probability of implant preservation or healing. The delayed manifestation of infection (>4 weeks) correlated with a higher risk for implant loss (OR 5.1 [95% CI 1.41-17.92]) as did the presence of bacterial mixture (OR 5.0 [95% CI 1.41-17.92]) and open soft-tissue damage ≥ grade 3 (OR 10.2 [CI 1.88-55.28]). Wounds were less likely to heal in conjunction with high CRP blood levels (>20 mg/l) at the time of discharge (OR 3.6 [95% CI 1.31-10.08]) or following a change of the infecting bacterial species under therapy (OR 3.2 [95% CI, 1.13-8.99])., Conclusions: These results indicate that the delayed manifestation of infection, high CRP blood levels at discharge, and alterations in the infecting bacterial species under therapy raise the risk of NPWT failure.

Advances in medicine and orthopaedic implant technology have dramatically increased the number of patients sustaining interprosthetic, inter-, or peri-implant fractures. For these complex clinical scenarios, there are currently no available treatment algorithms. In this review, we outline the principles, strategies, and techniques to obtain both successful reconstruction and maximum function., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level V. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: Humeral head fractures requiring surgical intervention are severe injuries, which might affect the return to sports and daily activities. We hypothesize that athletic patients will be constrained regarding their sporting activities after surgically treated humeral head fractures. Despite a long rehabilitation program physical activities will change and an avoidance of overhead activities will be noticed., Methods: Case series with 65 Patients, with a minimum follow-up of 24 months participated in this study. All patients were treated using a locking plate fixation. Their sporting activity was investigated at the time of the injury and re-investigated after an average of 3.83 years. The questionnaire setup included the evaluation of shoulder function, sporting activities, intensity, sport level and frequency evaluation. Level of evidence IV., Results: At the time of injury 61 Patients (94%) were engaged in recreational sporting activities. The number of sporting activities declined from 26 to 23 at the follow-up examination. There was also a decline in sports frequency and duration of sports activities., Conclusion: The majority of patients remains active in their recreational sporting activity at a comparable duration and frequency both pre- and postoperatively. Nevertheless, shoulder centered sport activities including golf, water skiing and martial arts declined or were given up.

Background: Conversion to total hip arthroplasty (CTHA) is a relatively common procedure after a failed dynamic hip screw (DHS) or proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) fixation of intertrochanteric fractures, but there have been far fewer reports specifically describing the long-term results of CTHA after failed treatments of stable intertrochanteric fractures with DHS or PFNA. The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of CTHA after failed PFNA or DHS fixations of stable intertrochanteric fractures after a minimum follow-up of 3 years., Methods: Between January 2005 and April 2014, we retrospectively reviewed 142 active elderly patients treated at our institution (a single institution study). A total of 72 patients (72 hips; 41 women, 31 men; mean age 76.9 years old; range 60-92 years old) who underwent conversion of a failed PFNA to a THA were compared with 70 patients (70 hips; 36 women, 34 men; mean age 75.0 years old; range 60-90 years old) who underwent CTHA after a failed DHS fixation. The mean follow-up periods were 48 (range 43-52) and 48 (range 44-52) months for the DHS and PFNA groups, respectively. Clinical and radiologic evaluations were performed on all patients. The primary outcome was the Harris Hip Score (HHS). The secondary outcomes were the complication rates., Results: The Harris Hip Score (HHS) improved from 50.61 ± 3.23 preoperatively to 85.28 ± 4.45 at the last follow-up in the PFNA group and from 51.46 ± 3.90 to 84.50 ± 4.34 in the DHS group, with no significant differences noted between the groups at each follow-up (P > 0.05). However, the complication rate in the converted DHS patients was significantly higher (42.9%) than that in the converted PFNA patients (20.8%; P = 0.003). Thirty-seven PFFs (2.4%) occurred during a mean follow-up of 44.4 months. The incidence of periprosthetic fractures was found to be significantly higher (P = 0.021) for the DHS group (15.7%) than for the PFNA group (4.2%)., Conclusions: CTHA after failed DHS fixations of stable intertrochanteric fractures might be associated with a significantly higher complication rate than CTHA after failed PFNA fixations. Therefore, PFNA patients with stable intertrochanteric fractures may be more suitable for CTHA.

Background: Unstable Neer Type IIB fractures require meticulous surgical treatment. Thus, the aim of this study was to present long-term outcomes after plate fixation and minimally invasive coracoclavicular (CC) stabilization using screw fixation., Methods: A consecutive series of patients with unstable Neer Type IIB displaced clavicle fractures, treated by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with a plate and additional screw fixation for coracoclavicular ligament instability, was reviewed in order to determine long-term clinical and radiological outcome., Results: Seven patients, six males and one female, with a mean age of 37 ± 8 years (median: 36 years; range, 28-51 years), were evaluated. At latest follow-up, after a mean of 67 months (range, 11-117 months), patients presented with the following mean scores: DASH: 0.57, ASES: 98.81, UCLA: 34.29, VAS: 0.43, Simple Shoulder Test: 11.57. However, two complications were observed: one case of implant loosening and one non-union. There were no differences observed between the CC distances comparing postoperative X-rays to those in final follow-up. In 25% of our patients early postoperative complications occurred. In all patients reoperation was necessary to remove the implanted screw., Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that the treatment of Neer Type IIB lateral clavicle fractures with ORIF using a plate and additional CC screw fixation, leads to satisfying clinical and radiological outcomes in the long-term. However, considering an early postoperative complication rate of 25% and a 100% rate of secondary surgery due to removal of the CC screw does not seem to justify this technique anymore.

Background: This randomized controlled trial compared the clinical outcomes and complications of a novel minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis (MIPO) with those of conventional treatment via an extended L-shaped lateral approach for calcaneal fractures., Methods: Sixty-four patients with displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures were enrolled. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either MIPO (29 patients) or open reduction and internal fixation via an extended L-shaped lateral approach (35 patients). The same calcaneal plate (AO Synthes, Oberdorf, Switzerland) was used in both groups. The primary clinical outcomes included operative time, VAS postoperatively, and wound healing complications. Secondary clinical outcomes included time to operation, length of incision, postoperative drainage, length of hospital stay, medical expense, AOFAS score, and SF-36 score. Preoperative and postoperative calcaneal height, width, and length, Bohler's angle, and Gissane's angle were compared., Results: The operative time in the MIPO group was 52.5 ± 11.1 min, which was significantly shorter than 82.8 ± 16.2 min in the conventional treatment group (P < 0.001). One week postoperatively, the VAS value was 3.2 ± 1.4 in the MIPO group, which was lower than that in the conventional treatment group, 3.9 ± 1.3 (P = 0.038). In the conventional treatment group, 13 of 35 fractures (37.1%) had wound healing problems, whereas this issue occurred in only 2 of 29 fractures (6.7%) in the MIPO group (P = 0.004). In the MIPO group, deep and superficial infections occurred in none of the cases and 1 of 29 (3.4%) patients, respectively. Length of incision in the MIPO group was shorter than that in the conventional treatment group (4.2 ± 0.6 vs. 10.9 ± 1.5 cm; P < 0.001). Hospital stay was 9.7 ± 2.8 days in the MIPO group and 11.7 ± 2.6 days in the conventional treatment group (P = 0.004). At the last follow-up, the SF-36 scores and AOFAS scores in the two groups were comparable (P > 0.05). The postoperative radiographic data, the Bohler's angle, Gissane's angle, and calcaneal height, width, and length in the two groups were comparable (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: Compared with conventional ORIF, the advantages of MIPO are a considerably shortened operating time and hospital stay, decreased postoperative pain, and reduced risk of wound healing complications.

Objectives: To evaluate longitudinal trends in the use of total hip arthroplasty (THA), hemiarthroplasty (HA), internal fixation (IF), and nonoperative management and to identify individual-level factors associated with nonoperative treatment of hip fracture (HF)., Design: Longitudinal analysis of administrative data., Setting: Manitoba, Canada., Participants: All adults who experienced nontraumatic hip fractures between 1990 and 2014 (N = 19,626; mean age 80.6, 72.3% female)., Measurements: Billing codes were used to identify surgical treatment, and trends in treatment over time were examined. Regression models were developed to identify individual factors associated with receiving nonoperative management., Results: Use of THA increased from 0.6% for all HFs in 1990-94 to 5.3% in 2010-14, use of HA increased from 19.3% to 29.7%, and use of IF declined from 71.8% to 59.9% (P < .001 for all); increase in THA and HA were largest in individuals with femoral neck fracture. Nonoperative management declined from 8.3% in 1990-94 to 5.1% in 2010-14 (P < .001). Factors associated with nonoperative management included aged 90 and older, male sex, residing in a care facility before fracture, and rural residence., Conclusion: HF is increasingly treated with THA and HA, whereas rates of nonoperative management and IF are declining. Future efforts should focus on ensuring that all individuals are optimally triaged to the best procedure for them, with nonoperative management considered for individuals with extremely poor prefracture health., (© 2016, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2016, The American Geriatrics Society.)

Surgical fracture treatment has undergone an extensive evolution in the past decades. In the early days achieving solid healing in anatomically reduced position was the primary and nearly exclusive goal of fracture treatment. Since mainly Lambotte, Danis and Müller in Europe the focus of surgical fracture treatment shifted to achieving early recovery of the function of the injured limb with safe healing. Considering the shortcomings of the early fracture treatment helps understanding the evolution of surgical fracture treatment. The evolution of the biomechanical and biological principles of AO plate fixation are discussed as a model.

This study aimed to describe trends in the incidence of hip fracture hospitalizations, use of surgical procedures, and hospital outcomes among elderly patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Spain (2004-2013). We selected all patients with a discharge primary diagnosis of hip fracture using the Spanish national hospital discharge database. Discharges were grouped by COPD status. From 2004 to 2013, 432,760 discharges with hip fracture were identified (6.9% suffered COPD). Incidence among COPD men increased by 2.63% per year from 2004 to 2013. There were no significant changes in tendency in the incidence among women with COPD during the study period. COPD women have almost three times higher incidence than COPD men. Incidences and hospital complications were higher among patients with COPD beside sex. The proportion of patients who underwent internal fixation increased for all groups of patients and the open reduction decreased. After multivariate analysis, in-hospital mortality (IHM) has improved over the study period for all patients. Suffering COPD was associated with higher IHM in men (odds ratio 1.45; 95% confidence interval 1.33-1.58) than women. In conclusion, hip fracture incidence is higher in subjects with than without COPD and is much higher among women than men. In COPD patients, incidence rates increased significantly in men from 2004 to 2013, but not in women. For all groups, the use of internal fixation has increased overtime and open reduction, IHM, and length of hospital stay have decreased from 2004 to 2013.

Background: Displaced intra-articular distal humeral fractures are a challenging injury in elderly patients. High rates of complications have led to the increasing use of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) for primary treatment. This study presents US nationwide trends in primary TEA for distal humeral fractures in elderly patients (65 years and older) from 2002 to 2012. We hypothesized that there was an increase in the rate of TEA utilization., Methods: Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2002 to 2012. All inpatients 65 years and older with distal humeral fractures were identified and were divided into 2 subgroups based on the operation they received: (1) TEA and (2) open reduction-internal fixation (ORIF)., Results: Between 2002 and 2012, the annual frequency of TEA for elderly patients with distal humeral fractures increased 2.6-fold, with 147 patients in 2002 and 385 in 2012. In 2012, TEA was performed in 13% of operatively treated distal humeral fractures compared with only 5.1% in 2002 (P < .05). Mean hospital charges increased significantly for both the ORIF and TEA groups from 2002 to 2012. The average hospital charge for TEA in 2012 was $85,365, which was $16,358 higher than that for patients who underwent ORIF (P < .05)., Conclusion: The national rate of primary TEA for the acute management of distal humeral fractures in elderly patients has increased significantly over the past 10 years. Given the significant complexity, long-term restrictions, and risks associated with TEA, this increasing trend should be analyzed closely., (Copyright © 2016 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We describe the step-by-step process of a corrective osteotomy using 3D printed patient specific guides. Before surgery, bilateral computed tomography (CT) scans are made to plan correction in the affected limb. The digital pre-planning defines the location of the K-wires, drill holes, and the osteotomy site(s). Subsequently, a 3D printed patient specific guide is applied, which indicates the exact position of these drill holes and the osteotomies. This increases the accuracy of the surgery by means of patient specific fit of the guide. During surgery an incision is made and the guide is applied on the bone, which allows the surgeon to perform a very precise osteotomy. Next, the bone is reduced either directly using the plate and marked drill holes, or indirectly using a second reduction guide. In the latter case, the previously drilled K-wires are used to adequately position the reduction guide. Fixation of the bone fragments using plating osteosynthesis finalizes the process. Although this technique has its specific limitations, it might serve as a powerful tool in the treatment of malunion of both articular and nonarticular fractures of the limb., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to examine institutional trends in the volume of clavicle fractures in children and adolescents. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients aged 10-18 years treated for a clavicle fracture between 1999 and 2011 at a single tertiary-care pediatric hospital. There were significant increases in the number of clavicle fractures seen annually, of midshaft clavicle fractures, and of midshaft clavicle fractures treated operatively. The percentage of midshaft clavicle fractures treated with fixation also increased significantly. The volumes of clavicle fractures and midshaft clavicle fractures treated operatively appear to be increasing. Despite a lack of evidence-based support, the frequency of fixation of midshaft clavicle fractures appear to be increasing in the pediatric population.

Hand fractures are the second most common fracture of the upper extremity, and management of patients with these injuries is common for most hand surgery practices. In this article, we outline the principles of management of these injuries with a special focus on those that are common or complex. We also highlight recent innovations in the context of these injuries. From this cross-section of contemporary evidence on phalangeal and metacarpal fracture treatment, we have noted a trend toward minimally invasive surgery with immediate postoperative mobilization, the use of wide-awake anesthesia, as well as sustained investigation and innovation in the biomechanics and treatment of proximal interphalangeal joint fracture dislocations., (Copyright © 2016 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The management of complex tibial plateau fractures is ever evolving. The severity of the injury to the surrounding soft tissues influences the timing and the method of fixation. Minimal invasive techniques continue to dominate our philosophy of reduction and reconstruction whereas augmentation of depressed intra-articular fragments remains an accepted strategy to maintain reduction and prevent secondary collapse. Locking plates, conventional plates and fine wire fixators all have been used successfully with satisfactory outcomes. In this article we report on the latest advances made in the management of these complex injuries., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze whether a recent trend in evidence supporting operative treatment of clavicular fractures is matched with an increase in operative fixation and complication rates in the United States., Methods: The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery database was reviewed for cases with Current Procedural Terminology (American Medical Association, Chicago, IL, USA) code 23515 (clavicle open reduction internal fixation [ORIF]) from 1999 to 2010. The procedure rate for each year and the number of procedures for each candidate performing clavicle ORIF were calculated to determine if a change had occurred in the frequency of ORIF for clavicular fractures. Complication and outcome data were also reviewed., Results: In 2010 vs, 1999, there were statistically significant increases in the mean number of clavicle ORIF performed among all candidates (0.89 vs. 0.13; P < .0001) and in the mean number of clavicle ORIF per candidate performing clavicle ORIF (2.47 vs. 1.20, P < .0473). The difference in the percentage of part II candidates performing clavicle ORIF from the start to the end of the study (11% vs. 36%) was significant (P < .0001). There was a significant increase in the clavicle ORIF percentage of total cases (0.11% vs. 0.74%, P < .0001). The most common complication was hardware failure (4%)., Conclusion: The rate of ORIF of clavicular fractures has increased in candidates taking part II of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, with a low complication rate. The increase in operative fixation during this interval may have been influenced by literature suggesting improved outcomes in patients treated with operative stabilization of their clavicular fracture., (Copyright © 2016 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In the last 20 years, surgical approach to the orbitozygomatic fracture has evolved to limit skin incisions and minimize external scars., Methods: The treatment approach to the orbitozygomatic fracture was evaluated by a retrospective chart review from 1992 to 2012, and advantages, disadvantages, and complications were studied., Results: Surgical approach to the orbitozygomatic fracture has evolved from a subciliary to a transconjunctival approach and to a novel extended transconjunctival approach without skin incisions in the last 20 years. The greatest advantage of using an extended transconjunctival approach is the wide exposure of the inferior orbital rim, orbital floor, lateral orbital wall, and the frontozygomatic suture in an unobstructed operative field without any skin incisions. Precise assessment of the reduction at the sphenozygomatic suture is possible with a wide exposure of the lateral orbital wall. As the dissection plane in a transconjunctival approach is entirely posterior to the lacrimal apparatus, the medial incision can be placed medially beyond the lacrimal punctum and by combining this approach with the transcaruncular approach, a wide operative field for the medial orbital wall can be obtained, which is the most advantageous point for choosing a transconjunctival approach over a subciliary approach. The complication rate was comparable to a subciliary approach., Conclusions: The author advocates an extended transconjunctival approach for orbitozygomatic fractures to avoid skin incisions and to precisely assess the reduction status., (Copyright © 2015 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Surgical management of proximal humeral fractures has reportedly increased in recent years. Much of this growth relates to a growing elderly population, together with the introduction of modern implants, such as locking plates and, recently, introduction of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). This study evaluated trends in surgical management of proximal humeral fractures from 2009 to 2012 by analyzing the use of hemiarthroplasty (HA), RSA, and osteosynthesis (open reduction with internal fixation [ORIF]) within the Medicare patient population., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a comprehensive Medicare patient population database within the PearlDiver supercomputer (Warsaw, IN, USA) for proximal humeral fractures treated with HA, RSA, or ORIF. Total use, annual utilization rates, age, and gender were investigated., Results: Within the study period, 32,150 proximal humeral fractures were treated operatively, with no significant change in annual volume (P = .119). The percentage of fractures treated surgically decreased significantly from 16.2% to 13.9% (P < .001). The utilization rate decreased significantly for HA from 52% to 39% (P < .001), increased significantly for RSA from 11% to 28% (P < .001), and did not change significantly for ORIF (P = .164). The utilization rate of RSA nearly tripled for patients older than 65 years (11% to 29%) and doubled for patients younger than 65 (6% to 12%)., Conclusion: From 2009 to 2012, utilization rates of ORIF remained fairly constant. HA remains the most commonly used surgical treatment for proximal humeral fractures in the Medicare population, but its use has declined significantly. This decline has been offset by a corresponding increase in RSA., (Copyright © 2016 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Our aim, using English Hospital Episode Statistics data before during and after the Distal Radius Acute Fracture Fixation Trial (DRAFFT), was to assess whether the results of the trial affected clinical practice., Patients and Methods: Data were grouped into six month intervals from July 2005 to December 2014. All patient episodes in the National Health Service involving emergency surgery for an isolated distal radial fracture were included., Results: Clinical practice in England had not changed in the five years before DRAFFT: 75% of patients were treated with plate fixation versus 12% with Kirschner (K)-wires. After the publication of the trial, the proportion of patients having K-wire fixation rose to 42% with a concurrent fall in the proportion having fixation with a plate to 48%. The proportion of 'other' procedures stayed the same., Take Home Message: It appears that surgeons in the United Kingdom do change their practice in response to large, pragmatic, multicentre clinical trials in musculoskeletal trauma., (©2016 The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery.)

The ideal treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures is still controversially discussed. Because of the variable fracture patterns and the vulnerable soft tissue coverage an individual treatment concept is advisable. In order to minimize wound edge necrosis associated with extended lateral approaches, selected fractures may be treated percutaneously or in a less invasive manner while controlling joint reduction via a sinus tarsi approach. Fixation in these cases is achieved with screws, intramedullary locking nails or modified plates that are slid in subcutaneously. A thorough knowledge of the three dimensional calcaneal anatomy and open reduction maneuvers is a prerequisite for good results with less invasive techniques. Early functional follow-up treatment aims at early rehabilitation independent of the kind of fixation. Peripheral fractures of the talus and calcaneus frequently result from subluxation and dislocation at the subtalar and Chopart joints. They are still regularly overlooked and result in painful arthritis if left untreated. If an exact anatomical reduction of these intra-articular fractures is impossible, resection of small fragments is indicated.

Unlabelled: Hip fracture is a serious public health problem. We used Spanish hospital discharge data to examine trends in 2004-2013 in the incidence of hip fracture among elderly patients. We found that hip fracture incidence is higher in subjects with than without diabetes and is much higher among women than men., Introduction: This study aimed to describe trends in the incidence of hip fracture hospitalizations, use of surgical procedures, and hospital outcomes among elderly patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Spain, 2004-2013., Methods: We selected all patients with a discharge primary diagnosis of hip fracture using the Spanish national hospital discharge database. Discharges were grouped by diabetes status: Incidences were calculated overall and stratified by diabetes status and year. We analyzed surgical procedures, length of hospital stay (LOHS), and in-hospital mortality (IHM). Multivariate analysis was adjusted by age, year, comorbidity, and in-hospital complications (IHC)., Results: From 2004 to 2013, 432,760 discharges with hip fracture were identified (21.3 % suffered T2DM). Incidence among diabetic men and women increased until year 2010 and then remained stable. Diabetic women have three times higher incidence than diabetic men. Incidences and IHC were higher among patients with diabetes beside sex. The proportion of patients that underwent internal fixation increased for all groups of patients and the arthroplasty repair decreased. After multivariate analysis, IHM has improved over the study period for all patients. Suffering diabetes was associated to higher IHM in women (odds ratio (OR) 1.12; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.17)., Conclusions: Hip fracture incidence is higher in subjects with than without diabetes and is much higher among women than men. In diabetic patients, incidence rates increased initially but have leveled from 2010 onwards. For all groups, the use of internal fixation has increased overtime and IHM and LOHS have decreased from 2004 to 2013.

Background: With an aging population, fragility fractures including injuries to the proximal humerus continue to rise in the United States. The purpose of this study was to investigate recent trends in the incidence and treatment of proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) in a cross-sectional elderly population., Methods: Medicare data from 2005 to 2012 were queried to identify patients treated for PHF. Associated patient demographics, hospitalization data, treatment, and revision status were obtained. Statistical analyses were performed to identify significant trends in treatment., Results: There were 259,506 PHFs recorded, with 79% occurring in female patients. In all age groups, nonoperative treatment of PHF was the most common method (67%). Within the surgical group, open reduction with internal fixation was most frequently used, and total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) was the least common (11%). However, although the overall rate of surgical intervention remained constant, there was a significant increase in treatment with TSA from 3% in 2005 to 17% in 2012. In particular, RTSA represented 89% of all TSAs for PHF in 2011. All surgical treatment options demonstrated high 2-year survival rates without revision surgery (97%)., Conclusion: Recent trends show that in the elderly population, nonoperative management remains the most common treatment for PHFs. Within the surgically treated cohort, there has been an increase in treatment with arthroplasty including RTSA, with a low rate of early revisions. There are excellent survival rates in all surgically treated PHFs, but long-term data will be required to fully evaluate the viability of these surgical options., (Copyright © 2016 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Internal fixation is one treatment for femoral neck fracture. Some devices and techniques reported improved accuracy and decreased fluoroscopic time. However, these are not widely used nowadays due to the lack of available special instruments and techniques. To improve the surgical procedure, the authors designed a new adjustable drill guide and tested the efficacy of the device., Methods: The authors developed a new adjustable drill guide for cannulated screw guide wire insertion for multiple screw fixation. Eight orthopaedic surgeons performed the experimental study to evaluate the efficacy of this device. Each surgeon performed guide wire insertion for multiple screw fixation in six synthetic femurs: three times with the new device and three times with the conventional technique. The fluoroscopic time, operative time and surgeon satisfaction were evaluated., Results: In the operations with the new adjustable drill guide, the fluoroscopic and operative times were significantly lower than the operations with the conventional technique (p < 0.05). The mean score for the level of satisfaction of this device was also statistically significantly better (p = 0.02) than the conventional technique., Conclusions: The fluoroscopic and operative times with the new adjustable drill guide were reduced for multiple screw fixation of femoral neck fracture and the satisfaction of the surgeons was good.

We investigated the clinical and radiological results of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in the management of spinal trauma and metastatic tumours. A retrospective analysis was performed on a series of 14 patients who were operated on from March 2009 to November 2011 by a single surgeon (RJM). Following a radiological review (CT scan/MRI), six patients underwent short segment fixation, while the remaining underwent long segment fixation. All patients had routine follow-ups at 4, 6, 12months, and annually thereafter. Clinical examinations were conducted preoperatively and postoperatively, and the length of operation, blood loss, and postoperative pain relief were recorded. There was a single patient with an incision site complication. The mean blood loss was 269mL. All of the parameters demonstrated no significant differences between the trauma and the tumour groups (p=0.10). The neurological power scores improved for all patients, with the largest increase being from a score of 2 to 4. At follow-up, the majority of patients had returned to their previous activities and had reduced pain scores. One patient suffered high pain levels from other medical conditions that were not related to the operation. Minimally invasive pedicle screw fixation is a suitable option for patients with spinal tumours and fractures, with acceptable safety and efficacy in this small retrospective patient series. We have seen favourable results in our patients, who have experienced an increased quality of life following their surgery., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A comparative analysis of treatment results of fractures of long bones of the upper extremities was made in 172 victims with severe polytrauma. The traditional strategy of treatment was used in the first group. The new technologies such as prognostic tactics, method of Damage control orthopedics and low-invasive osteosynthesis developed by the authors were applied in the second group. The application of new technologies allowed doctors to improve the immediate and long-term results of surgery. The rate of lethality decreased in 1,6 times, incidence of complications reduced in 1,4 times. Hospital stay shortened in 2 times: for victims with favorable prognosis — on 7 days; for patients with unfavorable prognosis — on 13 days. The long-term results were studied in 154 (89,5%) patients. The common duration of treatment reduced on 30 days and the quantity of good results increased on 18,6%. The number of patients with vocational rehabilitation increased from 82,3 to 90,7%.

Background: The best treatment for intertrochanteric hip fractures is controversial. The use of cephalomedullary nails has increased, whereas use of sliding hip screws has decreased despite the lack of evidence that cephalomedullary nails are more effective. As current orthopaedic trainees receive less exposure to sliding hip screws, this may continue to perpetuate the preferential use of cephalomedullary nails, with important implications for resident education, evidence-based best practices, and healthcare cost., Questions/purposes: We asked: (1) What are the current practice patterns in surgical treatment of intertrochanteric fractures among orthopaedic surgeons? (2) Do surgical practice patterns differ based on surgeon characteristics, practice setting, and other factors? (3) What is the rationale behind these surgical practice patterns? (4) What postoperative approaches do surgeons use for intertrochanteric fractures?, Methods: A web-based survey containing 20 questions was distributed to active members of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Three thousand seven-hundred eighty-six of 10,321 invited surgeons participated in the survey (37%), with a 97% completion rate (3687 of 3784 responded to all questions in the survey). The survey elicited information regarding surgeon demographics, preferred management strategies, and decision-making rationale for intertrochanteric fractures., Results: Surgeons use cephalomedullary nails most frequently for treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures. Sixty-eight percent primarily use cephalomedullary nails, whereas only 19% primarily use sliding hip screws, and the remaining 13% use cephalomedullary nails and sliding hip screws with equal frequency. The cephalomedullary nail was the dominant approach regardless of experience level or practice setting. Surgeons who practiced in a nonacademic setting (71% versus 58%; p < 0.001), did not supervise residents (71% versus 61%; p < 0.001), or treated more than five intertrochanteric fractures a month (78% versus 67%; p < 0.001) were more likely to use primarily cephalomedullary nails. Of the surgeons who used only cephalomedullary nails, ease of surgical technique (58%) was cited as the primary reason, whereas surgeons who used only sliding hip screws cite familiarity (44%) and improved outcomes (37%) as their primary reasons. Of those who use only short cephalomedullary nails, ease of technique (59%) was most frequently cited. Postoperatively, 67% allow the patient to bear weight as tolerated. Nearly all respondents (99.5%) use postoperative chemical thromboprophylaxis., Conclusions: Despite that either sliding hip screw or cephalomedullary nail fixation are associated with equivalent outcomes for most intertrochanteric femur fractures, the cephalomedullary nail has emerged as the preferred construct, with the majority of surgeons believing that a cephalomedullary nail is easier to use, associated with improved outcomes, or is biomechanically superior to a sliding hip screw. The difference between what is evidence-based and what is done in clinical practice may be attributed to several factors, including financial considerations, educational experience, or inability of our current outcomes measures to reflect the experiences of surgeons. The educators, researchers, and policymakers among us must work harder to better define the roles of sliding hip screws and cephalomedullary nails and ensure that the increasing population with hip fractures receives high-quality and economically responsible care., Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.

Background: The goal of the present study was to summarize current treatment for acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations., Method: In all, 796 orthopedics and/or trauma departments in Germany were identified in the national hospital directory (www.dka.de). Using the respective hospital web sites, the email addresses of the responsible shoulder/sports surgeon or, if not available, the head of department (successful in 746 cases) were identified. Emails with a link to an online survey with 36 questions and two reminders were sent; 60 were undeliverable. Thus, 686 emails probably reached the addressee. A total of 203 colleagues (30%) participated in the survey. Findings were compared to results of the survey published by Bäthis et al. in 2001., Results: More than 90% treat Rockwood I or II injuries conservatively and Rockwood IV to VI injuries surgically. However, 34% answered having never seen a Rockwood VI injury. Of those replying, 73% prefer surgical treatment for Rockwood III injuries. Favored surgical techniques were the hook plate in 44% and the arthoscopic TightRope® in 27%, while 11% prefer coracoclavicular cerclage, 6% AC joint transfixation, 3% minimally invasive AC joint reconstruction (MINAR), 1% coracoclavicular screw fixation, and 8% a completely different procedure. Concerning acute Rockwood III injuries, orthopedics and/or trauma surgeons still prefer surgical treatment but less often than 10 years ago (84%)., Conclusions: Favored techniques have completely changed since 2001 when the majority of physicians preferred AC joint transfixation or coracoclavicular cerclages, both techniques that are hardly used today. The hook plate appears to have become "standard therapy". The arthroscopic TightRope® is the second most common despite being the newest technique.

This study evaluated the expanding role of freestanding ambulatory surgery centers in pediatric fracture care based on the only national ambulatory surgery database within the United States. Released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1996 and again in 2006, these reports were used to estimate the volume of outpatient pediatric operative fracture care in the United States over a decade, based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, procedure codes. Particular attention focused on the prevalence of open vs closed vs percutaneous fixation. The estimated number of pediatric patients who presented to outpatient facilities and required operative fracture care between 1996 and 2006 increased by 88%, from 74,577 ± 4663 to 140,152 ± 9138. During this time, the use of outpatient surgical services for pediatric fractures increased threefold, from 10% ± 1% in 1996 to 32% ± 2% in 2006. An even greater preference for freestanding ambulatory surgery centers was observed during this same time by a factor of 7, from 3% ± 1% to 21% ± 4%. Additionally, a trend toward higher volumes of open and percutaneous fixation in freestanding ambulatory surgery centers and not in hospital-associated outpatient centers was observed. This study showed the expanding role of freestanding ambulatory surgery centers in the surgical treatment of pediatric fractures based on data from the only national ambulatory surgery database in the United States. The proportion of open and percutaneous treatment vs closed reduction of fractures in these facilities also greatly increased. Further study is needed to evaluate clinical outcomes and determine which fractures are most appropriately treated in the ambulatory vs hospital setting., (Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.)

Background: This study compared the rates of mortality, medical complication, and reoperation after fixation surgery for displaced femoral neck fracture with those after hemiarthroplasty surgery for undisplaced femoral neck fracture using competing risk analysis in inpatients aged 60 years and above from a population database in Taiwan., Methods: We identified 13,772 subjects who underwent fixation for undisplaced cervical fracture and 13,772 matched controls who underwent hemiarthroplasty for displaced cervical fracture from 1998 to 2007, and followed them up until the end of 2009. The outcomes of patients who received internal fixation for undisplaced fracture and those of patients who received hemiarthroplasty for displaced fracture were compared., Results: The 3-month, 2-year, and 10-year mortality rates were 4.9%, 22.1%, and 67.1% for fixation, and 5.6%, 23.8%, and 71.0% for hemiarthroplasty, respectively. The 3-month, 2-year, and 10-year cumulative incidence rates of the first reoperation were 7.4%, 18.1%, and 27.7% for fixation and 6.3%, 12.0%, and 22.3% for hemiarthroplasty, respectively. The 3-month cumulative incidence rates of the first medical complication were 14.4% for fixation and 15.4% for hemiarthroplasty, respectively. Hemiarthroplasty had a 1.09 times (95% CI: 1.05-1.12) higher hazard ratio for overall death than fixation. However, fixation had a 1.36 times (95% CI: 1.29-1.43) higher subdistribution hazard ratio for first reoperation than hemiarthroplasty after adjusting for gender, age, and comorbidities., Conclusions: The short-term overall mortality and medical complication rate of fixation for undisplaced fracture were slightly lower than those of hemiarthroplasty for displaced fracture. However, the short-term cumulative incidence of first reoperation after fixation was significantly higher than that for hemiarthroplasty. Further prospective studies or clinical trials based on the competing risk model, and which include important risk factors, are necessary to quantify the adjusted effects more precisely.

Background: A lack of data exists on the long-term magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings after surgical repair of tibial plateau fractures (TPFs). We evaluated the MRI findings 13 to 31 years after surgical repair of TPFs, focusing especially on the pathological changes in the ligaments, menisci, and cartilage., Methods: Twenty-three patients with 24 TPFs underwent open reduction and internal fixation with the same fork-shaped surgical plate that was used in our institution until 1999. No patient underwent preoperative or immediately postoperative MRI. The knees of all patients who underwent plate removal were examined by axial, coronal, and sagittal MRI. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and whole-organ magnetic resonance score (WORMS) were determined in all patients., Results: All 24 knees exhibited MRI abnormalities. An unexpectedly high number of pathological changes in the menisci and ligaments were observed. No meniscal or ligamentous injuries were documented at the time of the injury or initial surgery, but meniscal injuries manifested in the long term. MRI in almost all cases showed a damage to the lateral meniscal, the severity of which was related to the degree of tibial plateau widening, but not to the severity of the lateral joint surface impression. The overall condition of the knee joint was satisfactory as measured by the WORMS, and there was a weak correlation between WORMS and KOOS.

Background: Dorsally displaced distal radius fractures (DDDRF) are frequent injuries in clinical practice. Traditional percutaneous Kirschner wires (K-wire) and open reduction with volar locking plate (VLP) are the two most common surgical fixation techniques used to manage DDDRF. However, there is no current consensual evidence to guide the selection of one technique over the other. Therefore, we undertook a systematic search and meta-analysis to compare clinical outcomes and complications of these two treatment approaches for DDDRF., Methods: The following electronic databases were searched by two independent reviewers, up to April 2015: PubMed, ScienceDirect and Wiley Online Library. High-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing VLP and percutaneous K-wire fixation for DDDRF were identified. Pooled mean differences were calculated for the following continuous outcome variables: disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score, grip strength and wrist range of motion. Pooled odds ratios were calculated for rates of total postoperative complications, including superficial infection, deep infection, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), neurological injury, tendon rupture, tenosynovitis, loss of reduction and additional surgery to remove hardware. The meta-analysis was completed using RevMan 5.3 software., Results: Seven RCTs, with a total of 875 patients, were included in our meta-analysis. Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) with VLP fixation provided statistically lower DASH scores, reduced the incidence of total postoperative complications and specifically lowered the rate of superficial infection, when compared, over a 1-year follow-up, to percutaneous K-wire fixation. VLP fixation also provided significantly better grip strength and range of wrist flexion and supination in the early 6-month postoperative period, compared with percutaneous K-wire fixation., Conclusion: ORIF with VLP fixation provided lower DASH scores and reduced total postoperative complications, most specifically lowering the risk for postoperative superficial infection compared to K-wire fixation over a 1-year follow-up period. However, superficial pin track infections do not cause clinical debility in the vast majority of cases. Thus, the claim of reduced superficial infection rate may not be clinically important. The only reasonable conclusion that can be drawn is that at present, there is insufficient data even on our meta-analysis to help the clinician make an informed choice.

Objectives: In the last 2 decades, surgical treatment of intertrochanteric (IT) femur fractures has shown a continuing trend towards the increased use of intramedullary nails (IMN) and decreased use of sliding hip screws (SHS). Recent trends in the United States regarding the use of these implants, including charges and reimbursement, have not been investigated., Methods: A national database of Medicare patients (PearlDiver, Inc.) was queried using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for patients with surgical dates from 2005-2011., Results: A total of 34,759 SHS or IMN procedures for intertrochanteric femur fractures were identified from 2005-2011. There was a significant increase in the percentage of IMN compared to SHS, from 46.9% IMN in 2005 to 79.1% in 2011. The average charges for IMN and SHS increased. Statistically higher rates of PE (p&lt;0.001), DVT (p&lt;0.001), MI (p&lt;0.001), respiratory failure (p&lt;0.001), UTI (p&lt;0.001), pneumonia (p&lt;0.001), CVA (p&lt;0.001) and blood transfusion (p&lt;0.001) were noted in the IMN group. The SHS group had higher 1 year (4.3% vs 3.8%, p = 0.012) and 2 year (5.8% vs 5.0%, p = 0.002) mortality rates., Conclusions: The previously recognised trend of increasing use of IMN for IT femur fractures has continued. The overall incidence of operative IT femur fractures is not increasing at this time. The cost of IMN remains higher than SHS.

Acetabular is an important human joint for weight bearing. Quadrilateral plate is a crucial structure of medial acetabulum with special morphology and important function. Quadrilateral plate fractures are common fracture in acetabulum. Quadrilateral plate fracture is hard to expose and reduction because it is in the medial of acetabulum. At the same time,the bone in the quadrilateral plate is not easy to fixed for thinning bones and adjacent to the articular cavity. The operator should know well about the anatomy and choose the suitable internal fixation. After quadrilateral plate fractures, the femur head maybe displace medially even break into pelvis. That make reduction and treatment always be a challenge. With different kinds of fractures,the efficacy of treatment is not the same. This paper intend to review the relation of anatomic features,approaches, internal fixations, key point of treatment and efficacy.

Surgical rib fixation (SRF) for severe rib fracture injuries is increasingly becoming an accepted treatment modality. There is now adequate evidence in randomised controlled trials that rib fixation in flail chest patients reduces ventilator times, intensive care stay and costs of treatment in ventilator dependent patients [1-3]. Despite this, rib fixation has not become standard of care for these patients and remains a treatment modality practised by few centres, usually those with large trauma loads who see high volumes of severe rib fracture injury patients. The purpose of this article is to outline the available prostheses, indications, operative planning and techniques of rib fixation. Surgical approaches to rib fractures in anterior, lateral and posterior positions are described as are the use of currently available cortical and medullary fixation prostheses., (Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)