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Avulsion fractures of the posterior calcaneal tuberosity are rare injuries, and little is known about the underlying factors, outcomes, and prognosis. Furthermore, classifications described previously focus on fracture morphology, with uncertain clinical utility. We present the results of a retrospective study of 21 patients treated for this pathology from January 2002 to December 2015. Features analyzed were age; sex; mechanism of injury; medical comorbidities; type of fracture, as proposed by Beavis; fracture displacement; fragment size; type of treatment; complications; need for secondary surgery; and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score after treatment and follow-up care. Mean age was 56.95years. A total of 61.9% were females, and 71.4% were secondary to low-energy trauma. In addition, 19% were diabetic. Mean follow-up was 57.24 months. Surgery was performed in 81%. Complications rate was 61.9%, and secondary surgery was needed in 38.1%. Mean fracture displacement was significantly higher when complications occurred (25.91mm versus 7.61 mm) (p = .03) and when soft tissues complications appeared (30.65mm versus 14.68 mm) (p = .02). Female gender was associated with the secondary loss of reduction (p = .04). The Beavis classification was not related significantly with any outcome variable. When fracture displacement was ≥2cm, complication rate increased from 30% to 90.9% (p = .008) and soft tissue compromise increased from 0% to 45.45% (p = .035). A new classification system with prognostic value is described, based on fracture displacement. We present 1 of the largest series published to date; fracture displacement is a major variable that influences the outcomes of these injuries, and a new classification attending to a prognostic factor is developed.

Previous work has shown that the morphology of the knee joint is associated with the risk of primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of the meniscal height, anteroposterior distance of the lateral tibial plateau, and other morphological features of the knee joint on risk of ACL reconstruction failure. A nested case–control study was conducted on patients who underwent an ACL reconstruction surgery during the period between 2008 and 2015. Cases were individuals who failed surgery during the study period. Controls were patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction surgery successfully during the study period. They were matched by age (±2 years), gender, surgeon, and follow-up time (±1 year). A morphological analysis of the knees was then performed using the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans. The anteroposterior distance of the medial and lateral tibial plateaus was measured on the T2 axial cuts. The nonweightbearing maximum height of the posterior horn of both menisci was measured on the T1 sagittal scans. Measurements of the medial and lateral tibial slope and meniscal slope were then taken from the sagittal T1 scans passing through the center of the medial and lateral tibial plateau. A binary logistic regression analysis was done to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) estimates. Thirty-four cases who underwent ACL revision surgery were selected and were matched with 68 controls. Cases had a lower lateral meniscal height (6.39 ± 1.2 vs. 7.02 ± 0.9, p = 0.008, power = 84.4%). No differences were found between the two groups regarding the bone slope of the lateral compartment (6.19 ± 4.8 vs. 6.92 ± 5.8, p = 0.552), the lateral meniscal slope (–0.28 ± 5.8 vs. –1.03 ± 4.7, p = 0.509), and the anteroposterior distance of the lateral tibial plateau (37.1 ± 5.4 vs. 35.6 ± 4, p = 0.165). In addition, no differences were found in the medial meniscus height between cases and controls (5.58 ± 1.2 vs. 5.81 ± 1.2, respectively, p = 0.394). There were also no differences between cases and controls involving the medial bone slope, medial meniscal slope, or anterior posterior distance of the medial tibial plateau. Female patients had a higher medial (4.8 degrees ± 3.2 vs. 3.3 ± 4.1, p = 0.047) and lateral (8.1 degrees ± 5.1 vs. 5.6 degrees ± 5.6, p = 0.031) tibial bone slope, and a lower medial (5.3 mm ± 1.0 vs. 6.1 mm ± 1.2, p = 0.001) and lateral (6.6 ± 1.0 vs. 7.0 ± 1.2, p = 0.035) meniscus height, and medial (4.3 ± 0.4 vs. 4.8 ± 0.4, p =0.000) and lateral (3.3 ± 0.3 vs. 3.9 ± 0.4, p = 0.000) anteroposterior distance than males, respectively.The adjusted OR of suffering an ACL reconstruction failure compared to controls was 5.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7–14.9, p = 0.003) for patients who had a lateral meniscus height under 6.0 mm. The adjusted OR of suffering an ACL reconstruction failure was 2.4 (95% CI: 1.0–7.7, p = 0.01) for patients who had an anteroposterior distance above 35.0 mm. Patients with a lateral meniscal height under 6.0 mm have a 5.1-fold risk of suffering an ACL reconstruction failure compared to individuals who have a lateral meniscal height above 6.0 mm. Patients with a higher anteroposterior distance of the lateral tibial plateau also have a higher risk of ACL reconstruction failure.

Background: Choosing between total hip replacement (THR) and partial hip replacement (PHR) for patients with intracapsular hip fractures is often based on subjective factors. Predicting the survival of these patients and risk of surgical re-intervention is essential to select the most adequate implant. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on mortality of patients over 70 years with intracapsular hip fractures who were treated between January 2010 and December 2013, with either PHR or THR. Patients' information was withdrawn from our local computerized database. The age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score were calculated for all patients. The patients were followed for 2 years after surgery. Survival and surgical re-intervention rates were compared between the two groups using a Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Results: A total of 356 individuals were included in this study. At 2 years of follow-up, 221 (74.4%) of the patients with ACCI score≤7 were still alive, in contrast to only 20 (29.0%) of those with ACCI score>7. In addition, 201 (76.2%) of the patients with ASA score≤3 were still alive after 2 years, compared to 30 (32.6%) of individuals with ASA >3. Patients with the ACCI score>7, and ASA score>3 had a significant increase in all-cause 2-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio of 3.2, 95% CI 2.2-4.6 ; and 3.12, 95% CI 2.2-4.5, respectively). Patients with an ASA score>3 had a quasi-significant increase in the re-intervention risk (adjusted hazard ratio 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-5.1). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values of ACCI in predicting 2-year mortality were 39.2%, 91.1%, 71%, and 74.4%, respectively. On the other hand, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values of ASA score in predicting 2-year mortality were 49.6%, 79.1%, 67.4%, and 76.1%, respectively. Conclusions: Both ACCI and ASA scales were able to predict the 2- year survival of patients with intracapsular hip fractures. The ASA scale was also able to predict the risk of re-intervention in these patients. Keywords: American Society of Anesthesiologists ; Charlson comorbidity index ; Hemiarthroplasty ; Hip fractures ; Mortality ; Partial hip replacement ; Survival ; Total hip arthroplasty ; Total hip replacement.

Objectives: To analyze the effect of beta-blockers on the risk of aseptic loosening (AL) in Total Hip (THA) or Knee (TKA) Arthroplasty. Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted. Cases were patients who underwent revision surgery for THA or TKA due to AL. Controls were patients who sustained primary THA or TKA and were matched to cases in respect to age, sex, type of prostheses and follow-up in a 4:1 ratio. The use of beta-blockers was achieved. A logistic regression analysis adjusted to potential confounders was performed to determine the risk of AL. Analysis was also adjusted to cardioselectivity of the beta-blocker and the adherence to treatment, measured as Proportion of Days Covered (PDC). Results: 24 cases and 96 controls were selected. Compared to non-users, any use of beta-blockers was associated with a reduced risk of AL [adjusted OR 0.141 (Confidence Interval (CI) 95% 0.04-0.86)]. Use of selective beta-blockers showed significant lower risk of AL [adjusted OR 0.112 (CI95% 0.01-0.91)]. PDC ≥50% was associated with reduced risk of AL compared to non-users [adjusted OR 0.083 (CI95% 0.01-0.66)]. Conclusion: The first clinical evidence showing an association between the use of beta-blockers and lower risk of aseptic loosening in THA and TKA is provided.