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BACKGROUND: Infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve lies subcutaneously and supplies the anterolateral aspect of knee below the patella. It is extremely susceptible to iatrogenic injuries during the surgeries around the knee, mainly total knee replacements (TKRs). Post operatively the patients present with localised area of numbness and in some instances a traumatic eczematous reaction termed autonomous denervation dermatitis (ADD) is witnessed, leading to skin manifestations that range from a simple rash to extensive lesions. METHODOLOGY: A review of literature was conducted with search of relevant articles from Medline (PubMed), Embase, and Scopus which discussed eczematous skin lesions secondary to total knee replacements. Additionally, we noted studies which described these lesions in other surgeries around the knee like arthroscopies and fracture fixations. RESULTS: Eight studies including atleast one case after TKR were reviewed. There was only one cohort study while the remaining included case reports and small case series. There were 69 cases of ADD appearing after TKR. The appearance of the skin lesions was lateral to the incision in 30/34 operated knees and on both sides of the incision in four knees after TKRs. Bilateral lesions were seen in only six patients of TKRs. There was no functional limitation caused by these lesions and they resolved either spontaneously or after using topical steroids. CONCLUSION: ADD is a relatively uncommonly reported complication of TKRs, which can reduce patient satisfaction and increase surgeon apprehension. Although all cases of nerve damage do not manifest as cutaneous lesions, steps to minimise the damage to the nerve intra operatively should be taken. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, and should not be dispelled as a simple allergic reaction without adequate investigations. Patients should be counselled to alleviate unnecessary fear and apprehensions.

Background The second wave of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has posed new challenges in the management of Orthopedic trauma patients due to the overburdened healthcare facilities and we aim to present the differences in demographics between the first wave and the initial part of the second wave. Methodology This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study of our trauma registry from June 19, 2020 to October 13, 2020 (1st study period) and from April 1, 2021 to the first week of May 2021 (2nd study period). We looked into differences in the following three parameters: (1) infection rate among Orthopaedic patients in the first and second study period of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, (2) infection rate among the Health Care Workers and (3) hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections in admitted Orthopaedic trauma patients. Results 35 out of 852 patients (4.1%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection in 1st study period as compared to 48 out of 262 patients (18.3%) in the 2nd study period (p

Involvement of toe phalanges by giant cell tumor (GCT) is extremely rare; tumors in these locations tend to be aggressive. Whereas aggressive GCTs of the distal phalanx may be managed successfully by en-bloc resection without reconstruction or amputation, management of these lesions, when they involve the proximal phalanx, can be challenging. We present a Campannaci grade III GCT of the hallucal proximal phalanx in a 14-year old girl that had breached into the dorsal soft tissues and the metatarso-phalangeal joint. Wide local resection of the proximal phalanx along with reconstruction arthrodesis with an autologous, non-vascularized fibular strut graft was performed. There was no recurrence at 3 years of follow-up. The patient had an excellent functional outcome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reporting the outcomes of fibular strut arthrodesis for salvage of GCT of the hallucal proximal phalanx.

CLS Spotorno is a time-tested femoral stem design with excellent early results; the present review was designed to assess the published evidence on CLS Spotorno stem in the literature to evaluate its long-term outcomes and compare it to two other popular stem designs the uncemented Corail™ and the cemented Exeter™ stems. Do CLS Spotorno stems provide adequate long-term rates of survival in terms of revisions and functional outcomes? Medline, EMBASE and SCOPUS databases were searched for relevant articles and a total number of 670 hits were obtained, out of which 14 relevant studies were included in this review. Pooled analysis of revisions rates, subsidence and Harris Hip scores (HHS) were done. All the 14 studies were retrospective in design but had sufficiently large follow-up periods (12.3–27 years, mean 17.1 years). Of the 2459 hips reviewed, the documented revision rate was only 6.2%, with aseptic loosening reported in 3.1% and subsidence > 2 mm in 2.6% cases. The overall survival was similar to reported smaller cohorts of Corail (95% at 12 years) and Exeter stems (100% at 17 years). Varus malposition was seen in 10.6% cases, but it did not show any influence on implant survival or revision rates. Distal pedestal formation was seen in 172 of 805 hips across seven studies, while distal cortical hypertrophy was seen in 70 cases out of 398 hips; these were not related with stem malposition. The overall functional outcome was good, with mean HHS of 88.65 (95% CI = 86.08–91.23, p

Background Regeneration potential of Hamstring tendons after harvest assumes significant clinical relevance as its use has become widespread today. Methods which best assess the regeneration, extent and type of regeneration, plus issues related to functional loss are important for the surgeon to know. This review looks at the literature to find answers to the above questions. Purpose To summarize the evidence in support of hamstring tendon regeneration, and the most appropriate modality for evaluation of regeneration. Additionally, to evaluate the regeneration in terms of complete or partial, extent and its impact on strength deficit and functional outcomes. Methods We did a systematic review of literature through specified search engines and identified 30 of 285 studies to be relevant (19 prospective and 11 retrospective). Results Evaluation of above data suggests tissue regeneration at harvest sites does occur (78.9% of semitendinosus and 42.7% of gracilis tendons), but this regeneration is variable. No established definition of regeneration exists; MRI is an adequate tool to identify regeneration, while biopsy is confirmative. USG is a cost-effective screening method and can document distal progress of regenerate. Semitendinosus and gracilis tendons regenerate at different rates and extents, and often fuse together, but there is no evidence to state that one regenerates better than the other. Proximal retraction of the muscle-tendon junction occurs, along with some atrophy, which affects function to a variable extent. Strength deficits may persist, but they may not convert to significant functional deficits. Conclusion There is variable hamstring regeneration after harvest, with poorly defined definition of “regeneration”. Some changes in the muscle itself, abnormal distal insertion and absence of regeneration in some are documented, along with strength deficits. Although overall functional deficits have been reported to be minimal, a definite change in the anatomy of the medial hamstrings is a factor to be kept in consideration. More information is needed about the long-term consequences.

Introduction: Patients who receive orthopedic implants have been shown to develop sensitivity to its components and there are concerns that this sensitivity might lead to contact dermatitis or implant-related problems like loosening and/or failure. The objective of the study was to determine the sensitizing potential of orthopedic implants. Methods: Fifty-four patients undergoing knee, hip, or shoulder replacement surgeries between July 2014 and July 2015 were recruited. Patch tests were performed before the implant surgery with 10 allergens likely to be implicated in metal hypersensitivity. Postimplant patch test was performed 6 months after surgery. A majority of the patch tests were applied on the arms. Results: Four positive reactions were recorded in the preimplant patch tests – three positive reactions to nickel and one to chromium. Thirty patients made themselves available for the follow-up patch test. The incidence of new contact sensitivity to components of implants was 13.8% (4/29) at 6 months. One patient who had undergone knee replacement developed eczematous lesions around the knee joint after surgery. This patient tested negative to patch test at both the times. Limitations: Short follow-up duration and performing patch tests on the arms, a site known to elicit less positive patch test response compared to the back in sensitized individuals, are limitations of the study. Conclusion: There is an increase in the sensitivity to implanted components after 6 months of joint replacement surgery. The incidence of new sensitivity to a component of the implant was 13.8% (4/29). In this context, nickel is a good sensitizer and could sensitize 50% of patients who received a nickel-containing implant.

Background Primary amputation below the level of the knee joint is the most frequently performed amputation following trauma; however, data about incidence, patient profiling, and causative factors are seldom available in India. Objective To evaluate the profile and incidence of trauma-related amputations below the level of the knee joint at a level 1 trauma center. Methods An observational study over six months was conducted at a level 1 trauma center of north India. Epidemiological data such as age, sex, occupation, socioeconomic status, mechanism of injury, time of surgery, single or staged procedure, and complications were recorded from the admission files. Observations 125/3047 (4.1%) trauma patients underwent amputation, of which 32.8% (41 of 125) had amputation below the level of the knee joint. Unilateral transtibial amputation was the most common (85.3%) involving 40/41 males with a mean age of 37.2 years of low socioeconomic status. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause (85.36% of cases). 39 of 41 cases presented within 24 h of injury and underwent surgery within 24 h of presentation. Secondary surgery was needed in 24.4% of the patients and revision amputation was done in only 2.4% (n = 1/41). No patient developed medical complications, and the average hospital stay was 8.7 days with a range from 2 to 14 days. Conclusion We have documented a significant amputation rate in trauma cases (4.1%) reflecting on the seriousness of patients seen at our center. Most patients are young males at the peak of their productive lives, and from low socioeconomic status. Road Safety is essential, and specialized services for the amputees may be the need of the hour.

Purpose The on-going COVID-19 pandemic has curtailed the established practice norms of many ailments including clubfoot. We conducted a survey to study the changes in the clubfoot treatment practices, Achilles tenotomy methods, and the role along with the possible impact of teleconsultation during this pandemic. Methods A web-based survey was conducted using a questionnaire prepared on Google forms. The link for this questionnaire was sent to Indian Orthopaedic specialists with a special interest in clubfoot management via a social messaging platform. Results 127 eligible responses were analysed. Of them, 67% respondents were in practice for more than 10 years. During the study period, 30.7% of doctors did not perform any casting; 66.9% performed casting in 1–5 cases per week and only 2.4% performed casting in more than five cases per week. A statistically significant difference was noted in the number of doctors who performed casting in less than five cases per week and the doctors who performed casting in more than five cases per week, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. 30.7% of doctors deferred doing Achilles tenotomy during the study period, and among those who performed one, a significant number of them avoided tenotomy under general anaesthesia. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted clubfoot treatment practices during the lockdown period in India. Significant reductions in the number of cases, and a reduction with changes in Achilles tenotomy practices were noted too. However, whether this had any adverse influence on the eventual outcome in these feet is yet to be determined. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s43465-020-00277-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BACKGROUND: Orthopaedic residency training is a 3-year period of preparation that converts a raw medical student into a proficient orthopaedic surgeon. Due to wide variations at different centers in India, the program in a tertiary hospital is presented, in an attempt to improve the overall levels of training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PGIMER has produced many good surgeons who are well settled across the country and the world. A survey of the postgraduates of the last 30 years was done to highlight the perceptions about the program. An overview of the program was also added to the narrative to highlight the positive aspects of the training. RESULTS: 132 Orthopaedic passed-out residents from PGIMER could be contacted. 97% of them rated their residency experience as excellent or good, and stated that they would recommend this program to new residents. Key points highlighted by them were the readiness of trainees for any surgical contingency after graduation, continuation of the mindset for research, and their prompt acceptability into their subsequent places of work due to their place of graduation. DISCUSSION: Converting an orthopaedic resident into a competent surgeon involves knowledge upgrades and impartation of skills; these are not limited to the theory of orthopaedics, but involve the thought processes and the planning as a surgeon, the attitude towards patient management, and a continuously inquisitive scientific mind. The shortcomings and strengths of the residency program in PGIMER are discussed; international standard methodology limited to this institute like formal log books, mentorship program, hands-on skill development through courses, etc. is something that is recommended to be mandatory in all residency programs. CONCLUSION: The PGIMER Orthopaedic residency program could act as a basic model for other Indian medical schools, with any appropriate modifications. Standardization of Orthopaedic residency programs could allow upgrading to International levels.

Historically, arthroscopy originated from the concept of cystoscopy, and was limited to use in the large joints, principally the knee. It is only the past 50 years that has led to the techniques being applied to the small joints of the foot and ankle, and the success has mirrored the development of better lens systems and smaller instruments. Although Watanabe pioneered arthroscopy as a whole, and initiated foot-and-ankle arthroscopy, it was the fine tuning of techniques for the ankle and subtalar joints by pioneers such as Van Dijk in Europe and Ferkel in USA, who combined their innovative techniques along with extensive teaching worldwide that lead to its acceptance in the current form. Although limited in scale, arthroscopy of the foot and ankle is currently practiced in many centers in India, with trained surgeons applying latest techniques at a few centers. The current status of arthroscopy is that it has allowed minimally invasive surgery in smaller and smaller joints, with a huge potential for expansion in the future.

Background A mysterious cluster outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China in December 2019 was traced to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and declared a Pandemic by WHO on 11th March 2020. The pandemic has spread rapidly causing widespread devastation globally. Purpose This review provides a brief understanding of pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis and management of COVID-19 and highlights the current knowledge as well as best practices for orthopaedic surgeons. These are likely to change as knowledge and evidence is gained. Results Orthopaedic surgeons, like other front-line workers, carry the risk of getting infected during their practice, which as such is already substantially affected. Implementation of infection prevention and control as well as other safety measures for health care workers assumes great importance. All patients/visitors and staff visiting the hospital should be screened. Conservative treatment should be the first line of treatment except for those requiring urgent/emergent care. During lockdown all elective surgeries are to be withheld. All attempts should be made to reduce hospital visits and telemedicine is to be encouraged. Inpatient management of COVID-19 patients requires approval from concerned authorities. All patients being admitted to the hospital in and around containment zones should be tested for COVID-19. There are special considerations for anaesthesia with preference for regional anaesthesia. A separate Operation room with specific workflow should be dedicated for COVID-19 positive cases. Conclusions Despite the magnitude of challenge, the pandemic offers significant lessons for the orthopaedic surgeon who should seek the opportunity within the adversity and use this time wisely to achieve his/her Ikigai. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s43465-020-00135-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The management of Osteoporotic ankle fractures is still considered to be a challenge by many surgeons. One of the issues seems to be a lack of data focused on this special subgroup, with very little evidence of good quality. We did a narrative review of the literature in an attempt to identify the magnitude of the problem and to evaluate the evidence in support of management options. The current review of the literature has brought to light some interesting facts. Despite limited data there seems to be an in increase in the incidence of these fractures. Although we could not demonstrate any clear distinction between geriatric and osteoporotic ankle fractures from the available literature; it is clear that all geriatric fractures are not necessarily osteoporotic and neither is the reverse true. The evidence to associate osteoporotic ankle fractures with poor outcomes is weak, and factors other than osteoporosis may have a stronger influence. From this analysis, we could not establish a higher incidence of implant failure for this specific fracture group, although many modifications in technique have been proposed due to the fear of fixation failure. Hook plating and Tibia-pro fibula fixation have weak evidence in support, but posterior fibular plating is preferred due to soft tissue protection. There is weak evidence in support of Locking plates for these fractures, as publications focused on this are limited; nevertheless some advantages have been documented. Augmentation by calcium based bone graft substitutes has been reported to improve pull out strengths of screws, but again the evidence of its role in Osteoportic fractures is limited. Fibular nailing has been proposed with specific advantages in osteoporotic fibular fractures, but the concept is new and it is indicated only in a select a subgroup of cases. Some evidence exists for the use of trans-articular nails in geriatric subgroups with limited pre-injury mobility, but the technique has to be used with caution to prevent other complications. Inference More data needs to be accumulated before clear guidelines for management of osteoporotic ankle factures are defined; however the current literature supports the need for modifications in standard ankle facture fixation methods to improve outcomes.

Lisfranc injuries may occur in the form of fracture-dislocations or pure ligamentous dislocations or subluxations. These innocuous appearing injuries have the potential for significant morbidity and long-term sequelae resulting in permanent deformities. Ligamentous subluxations account for 20% of these injuries and cases with partial incongruity are amenable to percutaneous fixation. In this article, we present step-by-step percutaneous fixation of these injuries as well as the post-operative management.

Calcaneus malunion is a common sequela to calcaneal fractures and is a cause of pain and discomfort. Multiple approaches have been described to address the subtalar joint and the lateral wall. Type 2 malunion is the most commonly encountered problem, and is usually addressed by the sinus tarsi approach. This has some limitations, as exposure for lateral wall excision beneath the peroneal tendons maybe a problem. We have slightly modified the sinus tarsi approach by a more horizontal skin incision, which may even be extended proximally by 1–2 cm; this allows access to the lateral wall on either side of the peroneal tendons. The approach is described in detail.

Background There are few studies in the literature that correlates the level of IL-6 with fat embolism syndrome (FES). But there is no conclusive correlative evidence of its specific relation to the establishment of FES. Also it is a proven fact that polytrauma due to its associated multiple long bone fracture and/or associated shock can predispose an individual to FES. By hypothesizing that polytrauma induces Fat Embolism in the animal; it was considered worthwhile to study the association of IL-6 in polytrauma induced Fat Embolism (FE) and to compare it with induced FE by injecting fatty acids in rabbits. Materials and methods An animal study was conducted in 32 New Zealand white rabbits. The animals were divided into 3 groups: control, fat embolism and polytrauma group. We injected 6 ml of normal saline and 0.2 ml of linoleic acid in the control and fat embolism group respectively. In the polytauma group we created bilateral femur and tibial shaft factures which were stabilized with intramedullary K- wires. Blood was taken before and at 6, 12 and 24 h after the procedure to measure plasma IL-6 levels. The rabbits were euthanized at 24 h and lungs were removed and stained for fat globules. Results All rabbits in the fat embolism group and around 72.22% rabbits in polytrauma group had fat embolism. The IL-6 levels were raised in all the groups reaching a peak at 6 h after procedure with a decline in the values at 12 h for polytrauma and fat embolism group. IL-6 in the control group was stationary after an initial raise at 6 h. There was no statistically significant difference seen among the groups (p value > 0.05) at 6 h. Conclusion IL-6 is not a specific marker to fat embolism per se or polytrauma who later develop complications like FES. Even though the recent literature says that IL-6 is an early marker of fat embolism, still the diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome is clinical only and can be supplemented by laboratory markers. None of the laboratory markers individually is good enough to predict the development of FES in an individual.

OBJECTIVE: Use of Immunohistochemistry as a tool to assess anti-apoptotic effects and cartilage regeneration effects of PRP in guinea pig model of spontaneous OA. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled Laboratory Study involving Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs. METHODS: 12 Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs (weighing ∼600–800 g) were chosen for this study. One knee of each animal received 3 injections of allogenic PRP at weekly intervals (Group A = 12 Knees). The other knee received normal saline and acted as the control group (Group B = 12 Knees). Half of the animals from each group (subgroups A3 & B3 = 6 Knees each) were sacrificed at 3 months, and the remaining half (subgroups A6 & B6 = 6 Knees each) were sacrificed at 6 months after intervention. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and evaluation were done for Collagen-II, Caspase-3 and Aggrecan. RESULTS: The mean IHC score for Caspase-3 were significantly low in PRP knees compared to placebo Knees at 3 months (P = 0.031) and 6 months (P = 0.012) suggesting its down-regulation and inhibition of apoptosis. The mean IHC score for content of collagen- II and aggrecan at 3 months were higher in PRP Knees (A3) compared to placebo (B3) (Not significant). At 6 months, the Mean IHC Score decreased in both PRP (A6) and Control Knees (B6) for Collagen, but increased for aggrecan compared to its value at 3 months; and this was better in PRP group than in the control (P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Multiple injections of PRP has a chondroprotective role by its anti-apoptotic effect and by increasing the aggrecan content in ECM.

To the Editor: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a lesser-known complication of hip fracture that may come about owing to decreased kidney perfusion and heightened inflammation from trauma, pain, bleeding, and fasting. Approximately 15%-20% of patients undergoing surgery for a hip fracture develop AKI, with 0.5%-1.8% receiving dialysis. [...]

Background Owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a nationwide lockdown was imposed in India, with strict confinement measures imposed on the elderly. Because mobility and regular physical activity are considered to be the key determinants of musculoskeletal health, this study aimed to investigate the effect of lockdown and confinement measures on the musculoskeletal health and activities of daily living of the urban geriatric population. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the elderly aged ≥60 years. The survey instrument consisted of a questionnaire, a modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (mNMQ), and the Barthel activities of daily living (ADL) index. The net mNMQ score and Barthel ADL index were compared before and during the lockdown. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine which factors could result in the worsening of the net mNMQ score. In addition, floor and ceiling effects of the net mNMQ score were determined. Results In this study, a total of 105 out of 150 eligible participants were enrolled. A significant decline in physical activity status was noted during the lockdown. Overall, 54.3% of the respondents reported that their medical services were impacted during the lockdown. The net mNMQ score showed a significant worsening during the lockdown (P < 0.0001). A statistically significant increase in the modified NMQ score was noted for the lower limb (P < 0.0001) and spine (P = 0.002), but not for the upper limb (P = 0.052). Elderly whose medical services were impacted during lockdown had significantly worse net mNMQ scores than those whose services were not impacted (odds ratio = 6.16; 95% confidence interval = 2.51-15.08; P = 0.0001). Age, gender, ambulatory status, increase in body weight, and indulgence in exercise before and during lockdown had no effect on the change in the net mNMQ score. A significant ceiling effect was noted in the mNMQ score; however, no floor effect was noted. Conclusions Lockdown and confinement measures resulted in a significant decline in physical activity as well as the overall musculoskeletal health of the urban geriatric population in the present study. Hence, policymakers should ensure uninterrupted medical care to the elderly during extended periods of confinement and develop optimal home-based physical activity programs to counter the problems associated with sedentarism.

Introduction: Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is associated with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain which may delay hospital discharge as well as physiotherapy resulting in poor outcome. The aim of our study was to compare the effect of clonidine or fentanyl as adjuvant to bupivacaine in femoro-sciatic nerve block (FSNB) on the duration of pain-free period and requirement of rescue analgesic postoperatively. Materials and Methods: Sixty adult patients undergoing ACLR of the knee joint received subarachnoid block as anesthesia for surgery and FSNB for postoperative analgesia. Patients in Group C (control group) received 40 ml of 0.25% isobaric bupivacaine (20 ml in femoral and sciatic block each), whereas Group F (fentanyl group) received fentanyl (1 μg/kg) and Group CL (clonidine group) received clonidine (1 μg/kg) with 40 ml of 0.25% isobaric bupivacaine. The duration of pain-free period, rescue analgesic consumption, postoperative pain score, sedation levels and adverse effects were monitored along with hemodynamic parameters for 24 h postoperatively. Results: The patients in the clonidine group had longer pain-free period (10.06 ± 3.62 h) as compared to the fentanyl group (7.94 ± 3.62 h) and control group (4.59 ± 1.20 h) (P < 0.001). Postoperative pain scores were higher in the control group at the 4th, 8th, and 12th h and comparable between the fentanyl and clonidine groups. The total amount of rescue analgesic requirement was less in the clonidine group (71.25 ± 16.77 mg) than the fentanyl group (86.25 ± 36.71 mg) and control group (161.20 ± 50.34 mg) (P < 0.001). No clinically significant adverse effects were observed in any group. Conclusion: Clonidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in FSNB provides better postoperative analgesia compared to fentanyl by significantly prolonging the pain-free period and decreasing rescue analgesic requirement in postoperative period without any untoward side effect.

Calcaneus fractures are a complex injury. Since the calcaneus plays a key role in weight-bearing and gait cycle, rehabilitation after injury needs to be individualized, and a structured program needs to be implemented. The rehabilitation protocol also varies depending on the type of injury, the associated injuries, and the management of the injury itself, be it surgical or conservative. It is important to understand that mobilization starts much earlier than weight-bearing. The nonweight-bearing time period also differs from patient to patient as that too depends on the type of approach that has been taken to manage the injury. That being said, weight-bearing is very important to minimize reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome and osteopenia, so the patients should be encouraged to start weight-bearing as soon as possible. Protocols will differ between patients having bilateral and unilateral calcaneal fractures. The structuring of the rehabilitation program according to the patients’ needs is what is essential to ensure good outcomes and will determine the return to activity and work. Stress fractures are a unique problem, and periodization of rehabilitation is the key. How to cite this article: Adhya B, Dhillon H, Dhillon S, et al . Rehabilitation Protocols for Calcaneus Fractures. J Foot Ankle Surg (Asia Pacific) 2020;7(2):77–82.

Background Intramedullary nailing is the treatment of choice for shaft of femur fractures in adults. Antegrade nails involve entry through either piriformis fossa (PE) or greater trochanteric (GT) tip. The superiority of one entry point over the other is a matter of debate, and the present review was done to determine the same. Research question Is GT entry for antegrade femur nailing superior to the PE for shaft femur fractures in adults? Objective The present systematic review was conducted to determine the superiority of one entry point over the other by comparing the outcome parameters like operative time, exposure to fluoroscopy, mal-unions, non unions, abductor weakness, varus malalignment and Harris Hip scores (HHS). Methodology Three databases of PubMed, EMBASE and SCOPUS were searched for relevant articles that directly compared GT with PF for nailing in shaft femur fractures in adults. Results We analysed a total of 9 studies published between the years 2011 to 2017. There were 5 retrospective and 4 prospective studies out of which 3 were randomised. The total number of patients was 256 in GT group and 460 in PE group. Outcomes There was significant superiority of GT entry over PE on meta analysis; lesser operation time: standard mean difference (SMD): -21.01; lesser exposure to fluoroscopy : SMD: 36.36; lesser incidence of abductor weakness: Odd’s ratio (OR): 14.35; better functional outcome(HHS): SMD -2.48. Conclusion GT entry nails are superior to PE nails for treating shaft of femur fractures in adults. They have a shorter learning curve and better functional outcomes, however the rates of union are comparable in both.

The rising incidence of mangled extremity seen in modern trauma has lead to significant patient mortality. A lot of research is going on at microcellular level for a better understanding of tissue injury, repair and regeneration. PAX-7 is one such transcription factor, a marker of satellite stem cells in skeletal muscle. Though few studies have shown concrete evidence of increased expression of PAX-7 in the nearby injured zone in skeletal muscle post-injury, none has studied its expression in an event of mangled injury of limb in humans. We, hereby, attempted to identify whether PAX-7 expression of tissue near the zone of injury, after grievous trauma like mangled injury of extremities, actually increases, decreases or remains unaffected. A pilot study was conducted on 30 cases at a level 3 trauma centre; patients were segregated into two groups—group I with MESS score ≥ 7 and group II with score

Unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures in the elderly require either fixation or joint sacrificing surgery; proximal femoral nail (PFN) and bipolar hemiarthroplasties (BPH) are the most common interventions. PFN is considered to be the ideal construct for these fractures; however, the usage of hemiarthroplasties to facilitate earlier mobilization has been on a rise. Currently there is no consensus on the superiority of one of these two techniques over the other and the present review was done to determine this. Is PFN a better alternative to BPH for unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures in the elderly? The present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the superiority of PFN over BPH by comparing the primary outcomes like mortality, Harris Hip scores (HHS), complications, and re-operations. Additionally, secondary outcomes like blood loss, duration of surgery, and period of hospital stays were also compared. Three databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS were searched for relevant articles that directly compared PFN and BPH in unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures in the elderly. We analyzed a total of seven studies published between the years 2005 to 2017. There were four retrospective and three prospective randomized controlled studies. The number of patients in these studies ranged from 53 to 303. There was a significant difference in HHS between two groups with standard mean difference of − 0.51 (range − 0.67 to −0.36), favouring the PFN group. The rate of mortality was higher in the BPH group with odds ratio of 2.07 (range 1.40–3.08). Implant-related complications like fractures and subsidence were more in BPH group but this was not significant. Mean surgical time (standard mean difference 2.19) and blood loss (3.75) were significantly less in the PFN group. The duration of hospital stay was also found to be significantly less in the PFN group (2.66). Proximal femoral nails are superior to bipolar hemiarthroplasties for unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures in the elderly. PFN imparts better functional outcomes and has lower rates of overall mortality. Additionally it is faster surgery, with lesser blood loss contributing to better results.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos O alivio inadequado da dor apos a reconstrucao do ligamento cruzado anterior afeta a mobilidade, leva ao desenvolvimento de aderencias, insercao do ligamento enfraquecido e atrofia muscular. O bloqueio do canal adutor para analgesia pos‐operatoria preserva a forca do quadriceps. O presente estudo foi feito para comparar o periodo sem dor em pacientes de reconstrucao artroscopica do ligamento cruzado anterior, submetidos ao bloqueio do canal adutor guiado por ultrassom com ropivacaina isolada e ropivacaina + clonidina. Metodos Um estudo prospectivo, randomico e duplo‐cego foi conduzido com 63 pacientes adultos, estado fisico ASA I–II, submetidos a reconstrucao do ligamento cruzado anterior. Os pacientes foram randomizados em tres grupos: Grupo S, que recebeu bloqueio do canal adutor com 30 mL de solucao salina para controle; Grupo R, que recebeu bloqueio do canal adutor com 30 mL de ropivacaina a 0,375%; Grupo RC, que recebeu bloqueio do canal adutor com 30 mL de ropivacaina a 0,375% e 1 μg.kg−1 de clonidina. O desfecho primario do estudo foi comparar o periodo sem dor nos pacientes que receberam bloqueio do canal adutor com ropivacaina isolada ou ropivacina + clonidina. Os desfechos secundarios foram escores de dor em repouso e movimento, necessidade total de analgesicos, escore de sedacao, alem de nausea e vomito no pos‐operatorio. Resultados Os periodos medios sem dor foram 20 min, 384,76 min e 558,09 min para os grupos S, R e RC, respectivamente, e essa diferenca foi estatisticamente significativa (p Conclusao A adicao de clonidina a ropivacaina em bloqueio do canal adutor guiado por ultrassom levou a um prolongamento significativo do periodo sem dor, embora os escores de dor em repouso e movimento, e a necessidade de analgesico de resgate, nao tenham diferido.

Introduction: Implant wear and loosening with eluding metal/polythene debris are commonly implicated in the occurrence of Baker’s cysts in post-operative total knee replacement (TKR) patients, who present with post-operative pain and swelling, mimicking deep venous thrombosis. However, we present two symptomatic cases presenting with ruptured Baker’s cysts post-TKRs, with no evidence of implant loosening or wear. Cases Report: The 1st patient was a 55-year-old male, who underwent TKR for Grade 4 bilateral knee osteoarthritis and presented with acute onset of pain and swelling over the left popliteal fossa, which progressed to involve the calf. Radiographs showed no sign of infection or loosening, and venous color Doppler and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a hy-poechoic collection in the intermuscular plane at the upper part of popliteal fossa. Histological examination of the aspirated fluid showed mixed features of cystic fluid and a resolving hematoma. There was complete resolution of the 4 months with rest and graduated physiotherapy. The 2nd patient was a 51-year-old female who developed the cystic swelling 2 years after the surgery, and the ultrasound showed hypoechoic echoes in a Baker’s cyst-like collection. Cytological findings were suggestive of hemorrhagic nature of the aspirate, without any evi-dence of polyethylene debris, and the cultures were sterile. She became asymptomatic over 4 weeks with conservative management; the swelling resolved after 3 months. Conclusion: Majority of the cases in literature show implant loosening as cause of popliteal cysts after TKRs, however present cases highlight alternative mechanisms, and there are good chances of self-resolution of cysts with conservative treatment in such cases. Keywords: Knee replacement, Baker’s cyst, deep vein thrombosis, ruptured popliteal cyst.

Three part and four-part fractures of the proximal humerus offer challenges in reduction and plate fixation, with considerable debate about use of Deltoid splitting (DS) and Delto-pectoral (DP) approaches, especially when they involving the greater tuberosity. We prospectively compared the results using DS approach and DP approach in these cases, with special focus on functional outcomes, complications, and ease of tuberosity reduction. 84 patients with three- and four-part proximal humerus fracture were alternately allocated the DP approach or DS approach for proximal humerus locking plate fixation. The outcome analysis was done by evaluating relative Constant score and ease of surgical reduction of greater tuberosity; radiological malunion was evaluated using Beredjiklian classification and complications were noted. At mean follow-up of 23 months (19–48 months), the mean ‘relative Constant score was 74.27 ± 8.19 in the DP group and 73.26 ± 8.02 in the DS group and the difference was statistically insignificant (p = 0.988). There was no significant difference with respect to shoulder ROM, abductor strength, radiological malunion or complications. However, the mean surgical time was significantly less (p value = 0.042) in DS group (65 ± 5 min) in comparison to DP group (92 ± 4.3 min); significantly less difficulties were documented by the surgeon in reducing the greater tuberosity in DS group(p value = 0.02). Although surgical time was reduced and greater tuberosity reduction was easier in DS group, the other outcomes were similar; either surgical approach can be used based, and can be based on the experience and comfort level of the surgeon.

Foot and ankle disorders and deformities are one of the common subsets of conditions encountered in the outpatient clinic. Understanding the basic anatomy is pivotal in diagnosing various conditions that arise in and around the foot and ankle. The tarsal kinematics are unique, and the clinician needs to be well-versed to understand normal and altered biomechanics resulting from various pathologies. As is rightly said, examination starts by observing the child walking into the clinic, and gait evaluation offers insights about the pathology and the compensations adapted. Head-to-toe examination is very important as the etiology may be distant, like a spinal dysraphism. Evaluation of each joint complex is important as every joint in the foot and ankle has a different action and function. A systematic approach to the foot and ankle as well as individual joints, such as the ankle joint, subtalar joint, midfoot, and forefoot, are important. The chapter discusses a systematic approach to narrow down possible presentations and pathologies around the foot and ankle.

Background: Tibial condyle fractures are high energy injuries which require anatomical reduction and stable fixation for early mobilisation of the knee joint. Arthroscopy assisted fixation of these fractures provide additional benefits of minimal dissection, accurate visualisation of the articular surface and faster rehabilitation. The present study describes our experience with this technique. Materials & Methods: Patients in the age group 15-65 years, presenting with closed tibial plateau fractures (Schatzker types I, II, III) at the advanced trauma centre of our institute within 3 weeks of injury, were recruited for this prospective case series. Open fractures, fractures of types IV, V and VI, fractures with associated knee dislocation, fractures presenting after 3 weeks and polytrauma patients with head injuries and/or blunt trauma to chest/abdomen, were excluded. Patients were evaluated according to Rasmussen numerical subjective evaluation chart at a minimum follow up of 6 months. Results: There were 5 fractures of Schatzker type I, 8 of type II and 2 of type III, which were scoped and fixed percutaneously. The mean age of the 15 patients was 34.2 years with male to female ratio of 4:1. Diagnostic arthroscopy detected co existent lateral meniscal tears (peripheral) in 2 cases, while 1 case had a contused anterior cruciate ligament. Fixation of the fractures were done by 1 or 2 percutaneous screws in 9/15 cases; buttress plating in 4/15 cases and combination of plate and screw in 2/15 cases. The average overall Rasmussen score was 28.2/30 (range 22-30) and there were 1 patient each with postoperative stiffness and screw prominence while 3 cases had extensor lags. Conclusion: The aim of this combination procedure is stable fixation by minimally invasive methods; this reduces surgical insult, improves articular surface visualisation, allows management of concomitant ligament injuries, and patients can be rapidly mobilised. Case selection is extremely important for good results.