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Background: For unstable proximal humerus fractures, both plates and nails may be recommended. We introduce an anterograde nail designed for the treatment of 3- and 4-parts proximal humerus fractures. The aim of this study is to compare the biomechanics of this nail versus a plate and then to analyze the relationships of the screws with the axillary nerve. Our working hypotheses are as follows: (1) this nail is biomechanically equal or better to the reference plate and (2) it does not endanger the axillary nerve., Methods: Biomechanical study: using 40 sawbones, a reproducible 4-part fracture was created and fixed first with an angle-stable plate for proximal humeral fracture, then fixed with the nail using 2 posterior screws. All specimens were mounted in a custom testing apparatus. Two trails were performed needing each time 5 "normal" and 5 "osteoporotic" bones., Anatomical Study: On 20 unpaired shoulders, a nail was inserted with all screws through a superior approach (deltoid split approach). Dissection of all shoulders was done to identify the axillary nerve. The distance between each screw and the axillary nerve or its branches was measured., Findings: The proximal humerus nail demonstrated higher values than locking plate for both stiffness and load to failure. The failure mode differs in function of the type of osteosynthesis. The lowest distance between a screw and the axillary nerve was 20.13 mm., Interpretations: We introduce a biomechanically efficient nail without increased neurological risks to improve the pullout strength of the screws to provide more secure fixation of proximal humeral fractures., Level of Evidence: Basic Science Study, Anatomic Cadaver Study., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the setting a near or complete upper extremity amputations with significant soft tissue loss and neurovascular compromise, upper extremity surgeons are faced with the challenge of limb salvage. There are a multitude of treatment options for managing skeletal and soft tissue injuries including provisional fixation, staged reconstruction, and an acute shortening osteotomy with primary rigid internal fixation. However, many complications are associated with these techniques. Complications of provisional fixation include pin tract infection and loosening, tethering of musculotendinous units, nonunion, and additional surgeries. Staged reconstruction includes a variety of techniques: distraction osteogenesis, bone transport, or vascularized and non-vascularized structural autograft or allograft, but the risks often outweigh the benefits. Risks include nonunion, postoperative vascular complications necessitating reoperation, and the inability to return to the previous level of function at an average of 24 months. Acute shortening osteotomy with internal fixation offers the advantage of a single-stage procedure that provides for decreasing the soft tissue loss, provides a rigid platform to protect the delicate neurovascular repair, and alleviates unwanted tension at the repair sites. This review discusses the literature on the surgical treatment of severe upper extremity trauma with associated neurovascular injury over the past 75 years, and aims to evaluate the indications, surgical techniques, clinical and functional outcomes, and complications associated with acute shortening osteotomy with rigid internal fixation. Although this technique is not without risks, it is well-tolerated in the acute setting with a complication profile comparable to other techniques of fixation while remaining a single procedure., (© 2015 Chinese Orthopaedic Association and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Hemoglobin (Hb) is a major constituent of blood and a potent mediator of oxidative or nitrative stress after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Our previous study demonstrated that Hb could induce abundant peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) formation in vivo, which may be involved in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, however, the drug intervention is absent and also the underlying mechanism. Using an experimental stroke model by injecting Hb into the caudate nucleus of male Sprague-Dawley rats, we assessed the role of ONOO(-) decomposition catalyst, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrinato iron(III) [FeTPPS] in the activation of MMP-9 and Hb-induced neurovascular injuries. 3-Nitrotyrosine (3-NT, as an index of ONOO(-) formation) and NF-κB expression was measured by western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC)/immunofluorescence (IF). Activity of MMP was evaluated by in situ zymography. Neurovascular injury was assessed using zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) by WB and IF, fibronectin (FN) and neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN) IHC. Perihematomal cell death was determined by TUNEL assay. Behavioral outcome was measured by modified neurological severity score (mNSS) test. At the injured striata, profuse 3-NT was produced and mainly expressed in neutrophils and microglia/macrophages. 3-NT formation significantly colocalized with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression. In situ zymography showed that gelatinase activity was mostly co-localized with neurons and blood vessel walls and partly with neutrophils and microglia/macrophages. Enhanced 3-NT production, NF-κB induction and MMP-9 activation were obviously reduced after FeTPPS treatment. Hb-induced injury to tight junction protein (ZO-1), basal lamina of FN-immunopositive microvasculature and neural cells was evidently ameliorated by FeTPPS. In addition, apoptotic cell numbers as well as behavioral deficits were also improved. The present study shows that the administration of the ONOO(-) decomposition catalyst FeTPPS protects against Hb-induced neurovascular injuries and improves neurological function, which possibly in part by suppressing MMP-9 activation., (Copyright © 2015 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Neurovascular injury during total hip arthroplasty (THA) may result in considerable morbidity or mortality. The most common cause of intraoperative neurovascular injury during THA is retractor compression. Our aims were to: 1) determine proximity of common acetabular retractor positions during THA to adjacent neurovascular structures; and 2) determine effect of patient gender on these measurements. Retractor to neurovascular structure distances were measured on 32 preoperative computed tomography images and 16 cadavers. Our data suggest the anterior inferior iliac spine is the safest anterior acetabular retractor position. With inferior progression along the anterior wall, the distance to the femoral neurovascular bundle decreases. Due to its proximity to the sciatic nerve, the position of the posterior retractor should be monitored during acetabular preparation, particularly in women., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Penetrating cranial injury by mechanisms other than gunshots are exceedingly rare, and so strategies and guidelines for the management of PBI are largely informed by data from higher-velocity penetrating injuries. Here, we present a case of penetrating brain injury by the low-velocity mechanism of a harpoon from an underwater fishing speargun in an attempted suicide by a 56-year-old Caucasian male. The case raised a number of interesting points in management of low-velocity penetrating brain injury (LVPBI), including benefit in delaying foreign body removal to allow for tamponade; the importance of history-taking in establishing the social/legal significance of the events surrounding the injury; the use of cerebral angiogram in all cases of PBI; advantages of using dual-energy CT to reduce artifact when available; and antibiotic prophylaxis in the context of idiosyncratic histories of usage of penetrating objects before coming in contact with the intracranial environment. We present here the management of the case in full along with an extended discussion and review of existing literature regarding key points in management of LVPBI vs. higher-velocity forms of intracranial injury.

Neurological and vascular complications following hip arthroplasty are uncommon, and their impact ranges from transient and trivial to permanent and devastating. The proximity of neural and vascular structures makes any operation on the hip potentially hazardous. Direct or indirect injuries of these structures may occur during operative exposure and subsequent procedures. Thus, complete awareness of the anatomy of the pelvis and proximal femur is required. Peripheral nerve injuries can involve either distant sites or nerves in the immediate vicinity of the hip joint. Sciatic nerve injury is the most common nerve injury following total hip arthroplasty. Femoral nerve injury is much less common and is associated with an anterior approach. Its diagnosis is often delayed, but the prognosis is generally better than with sciatic nerve injury. The superior gluteal nerve is at risk during the direct lateral approach. Obturator nerve injury is the least common type of injury and has the least functional consequences. Vascular injuries are less common but more immediately life threatening. The mechanisms of vascular injury include occlusion associated with preexisting peripheral vascular disease and vascular injury during removal of cement during screw fixation of acetabular components, cages, or structural grafts. It is critical to avoid the anterior quadrants for acetabular screw fixation. All acetabular and femoral defects should be bone-grafted to avoid inadvertent cement migration. Following these guidelines, surgeons should be able to offer the most appropriate treatment and counseling to the patients.

Background: Knee dislocations resulting in multiligament knee injuries (MLIs) are usually associated with high-energy mechanisms such as motor vehicle accidents or sports injuries; however, obese patients are at risk of MLIs from simple falls. Termed "ultra-low velocity" (ULV) dislocations, these injuries occur in obese patients during activities of daily living and may be associated with higher associated risks and complications., Hypothesis: Ultra-low velocity knee dislocations occur more commonly in obese female patients, are associated with higher risks of neurovascular injuries, and have more significant perioperative complications compared with other MLIs., Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4., Methods: The records of 215 consecutive patients with MLIs were identified over a 12-year period. Their charts were reviewed to identify a cohort of patients with mechanisms consistent with ULV dislocations (n = 23). This cohort was compared with all patients with MLIs. Additionally, ULV patients with neurovascular injuries were compared with those without neurovascular injuries., Results: The average body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in the ULV cohort (49.1 kg/m2) compared with all patients with MLIs (34.1 kg/m2). Injuries occurred more commonly in female patients in the ULV cohort (69.6%) compared with all patients with MLIs (24.3%). Peroneal nerve injuries occurred more commonly in the ULV cohort (39.1%) compared with all patients with MLIs (8.4%), as did vascular injuries (28.1% vs. 4.7%, respectively). Postoperative complications were common among all ULV-MLI patients regardless of neurovascular injury status. Seventeen patients (6/12 in the intact group and 11/11 in the neurovascular injury group) had significant complications postoperatively. A significantly higher overall complication rate was noted in the ULV-MLI group (73.9%) compared with the entire MLI cohort (21.4%). Additionally, the ULV-MLI cohort had a higher reoperation rate, wound infection rate, deep venous thrombosis rate, and presence of vascular claudication., Conclusion: Ultra-low velocity knee injuries occur in patients with a greater BMI, more frequently in female patients, and with higher rates of concomitant neurovascular injuries compared with other MLIs. Additionally, a significantly greater incidence of postoperative complications can be expected after ligament reconstruction in this population compared with other MLIs.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of tension band wiring of displaced olecranon fractures treated using Kirschner wires with eyelets to assess their clinical performance with respect to complications such as backing out of the K-wires, restriction of forearm rotation, and neurovascular injury., Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed 44 patients treated for an isolated, displaced olecranon fracture and checked range of motion, postoperative pain, complications, and incidence of hardware removal. The mean follow-up period was 41 months (range, 26-73 mo)., Results: All fractures united, and anatomical reduction was achieved in all cases at final follow-up. Mean elbow flexion was 135° (range, 115° to 140°), and mean elbow extension was 4° (range, 0° to 15°). No pin migration, restriction of forearm rotation, or neurovascular injury occurred. Hardware removal was performed in 8 cases (18%). Compared to previous results with conventional Kirschner wires, no meaningful improvement in postoperative pain level or in the rate of hardware removal was observed., Conclusions: Tension band wiring using the pin studied produced excellent clinical and radiologic outcomes for the treatment of isolated, displaced Mayo type IIA and some type IIB olecranon fractures. The pin was effective in preventing the backing out of Kirschner wires and avoiding the complications associated with anterior cortical engagement of Kirschner wires, such as neurovascular injury or restriction of forearm rotation., (Copyright © 2013 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)