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Introduction Segmental bone defects are a challenging clinical problem. In animal studies and craniomaxillofacial surgery, resorbable polylactide membrane (OrthoMesh; DePuy Synthes, West Chester, PA) shows promise for treatment of bone defects. This study presents the results of the treatment of segmental bone defects with resorbable polylactide membrane, bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2), and autograft. Methods This study was approved by the institutional review board. All patients with a segmental bone defect treated with a resorbable polylactide membrane by a single surgeon from 2010 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Data related to demographic variables, surgical details, and union were collected. Results Eleven patients with median age of 37 years (range 22–62 years) were included in the study with segmental bone defects in the tibia (n = 3), femur (n = 4), or forearm (n = 4). Median bone defect size was 6 cm (range 3–12 cm). Etiology of bone defects included osteomyelitis (n = 7), oncologic resection (n = 3), and post-traumatic aseptic nonunion (n = 1). Flap coverage was performed in two patients. Median radiographic follow-up was 24 months (range 5–75 months). Ten patients (10/11) achieved union at a median of 17 months (range 5–46 months). Seven patients required reoperation for any reason with six patients requiring repeat grafting. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study is the largest series of patients with segmental bone defects treated with resorbable polylactide membrane. Resorbable polylactide membrane in combination with BMP-2 and autograft represents a safe and effective method of bone graft containment in segmental bone defects measuring up to 12 cm in this series. Ten of 11 patients achieved union at a median time of 16 months with 6 patients requiring repeat grafting. These results compare favorably with the induced membrane technique. This study is limited by its retrospective design, absence of control and comparison groups, and low patient numbers. Future prospective randomized study of the induced membrane technique and resorbable polylactide membrane should be undertaken to determine preferred approaches for treatment of segmental bone defects.

Shortening and deformity of the tibia commonly occur during the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT). The role of osteotomies in lengthening and deformity correction remains controversial in CPT. This study evaluates the approach to and outcome after osteotomy performed in CPT.We performed an IRB approved retrospective review of consecutive patients with CPT treated at our institution from 2010 through 2019. Patients who underwent osteotomies were included in this study.Nine patients (10 osteotomies-5 proximal metaphyseal and 5 diaphyseal) with a median age at osteotomy of 8.9 years (range: 4 to 21 y) were included. Six patients had neurofibromatosis-1, 1 had cleidocranial dysplasia, and 2 patients had idiopathic CPT. Four osteotomies were performed for deformity correction, 3 osteotomies to allow intramedullary instrumentation, and 3 osteotomies for lengthening. Five osteotomies were preceded by zolendronate treatment before surgery. Nine were fixed with a rod supplemented with external fixation (7) or locking plates (2). One osteotomy was stabilized with locked intramedullary nailing alone. Four osteotomies were supplemented with autologous bone graft, and bone morphogenic protein-2 was utilized in 3 osteotomies. Median time to healing was 222.5 days (range: 124 to 323 d). One osteotomy (locked intramedullary nailing) required grafting at 5.5 months and then healed uneventfully. Median healing index for patients undergoing lengthening was 57.9 days/cm (range: 35 to 81 d/cm). All 3 osteotomies performed for lengthening required a second osteotomy for preconsolidation at a mean of 34 days. Other complications included compartment syndrome requiring fasciotomy (n=2), tibial osteomyelitis (n=1), and fracture distal to cross-union (n=1).Contrary to much of the established practice, osteotomies may be safely performed in CPT for various indications. All osteotomies healed with only 1 osteotomy requiring secondary bone grafting. Although time to healing of the osteotomy was generally prolonged, this study suggests, somewhat surprisingly, that preconsolidation can occur frequently in lengthening procedures.Level IV-case series.

BACKGROUND: The kinetic link among the lumbar spine, pelvic tilt, and the hip has been hypothesized, but this relationship requires further study in acetabular dysplasia. Anecdotal reports suggest that patients may compensate for acetabular dysplasia with an involuntary increase in anterior pelvic tilt; it is not known if this relationship is affected by acetabular reorientation. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Does compensatory pelvic tilt decrease on preoperatively obtained standing AP pelvis radiographs compared with those obtained at a minimum of 6 months after bilateral periacetabular osteotomy (PAO)? (2) Does a modified surrogate measurement of pelvic tilt, the pubic symphysis to sacroiliac (PS-SI) index, correlate with a physical synthetic bones model in which pelvic tilt can be directly measured? (3) Can the PS-SI index demonstrate high interrater reliability? METHODS: We assessed the surgical records of one surgeon, who participates in the longitudinally maintained Academic Network of Conservational Hip Outcomes Research (ANCHOR) registry, for patients who had undergone the second side of a staged bilateral PAO between 2007 and 2016; there were 113 such patients. Of those, 70 (62%) were lost to followup within 6 months of the second PAO or did not have adequate imaging studies, and another three (3%) were excluded for prespecified reasons, leaving 40 (35%) for evaluation in this retrospective study. Standing preoperative and most recent postoperative AP pelvis radiographs were used to measure the Tönnis angle, anterior wall index, posterior wall index, lateral center-edge angle, pubis symphysis-to-sacrococcygeal junction distance, and the PS-SI index. The most recent radiographs were obtained at a mean of 16 ± 6 months after the second PAO. We chose 6 months as the minimum because at this time point, the majority of patients have reached their maximum clinical improvement and are no longer limited by postoperative muscle dysfunction. Statistical analysis was performed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for interrater reliability and paired t-tests for assessing change in measurements from pre- to postoperative. Additionally, a model was created using a physical synthetic bones model in which pelvic tilt could be directly measured. This model was secured through bilateral acetabuli on a mount and rotated through 5° increases in pelvic tilt. AP pelvis radiographs were obtained at each point, the PS-SI index was measured, and a regression analysis performed to evaluate for trend. RESULTS: Overall, 37 of 40 patients (93%) had a decrease in pelvic tilt, as measured by the PS-SI index. The mean amount of pelvic tilt as measured by the PS-SI index decreased after surgery when comparing the preoperative with latest radiographs on this parameter (97 ± 14 mm versus 89 ± 13 mm, mean difference 8 ± 9 mm; 95% confidence interval, -11 to -5; range 17 increase to 24 decrease, p < 0.001). A linear relationship between pelvic tilt and PS-SI index (PS-SI index = 5.0° + 3.6° (*) tilt, R(2) = 0.99) was identified in the synthetic bones validation model. Finally, the interrater reliability was found to be excellent for the PS-SI index preoperatively (ICC = 0.986) and postoperatively (ICC = 0.988). CONCLUSIONS: We found a modest reduction in anterior pelvic tilt after bilateral PAO. This finding suggests that acetabular reorientation affects pelvic position. In clinical practice, patients with acetabular dysplasia may compensate with dynamic and reversible changes in pelvic tilt. The PS-SI index is a reproducible tool to measure the height of the pelvic inlet as an assessment of pelvic tilt. In the future, clinical studies should evaluate the clinical implications of these radiographic findings, including the assessment of back pain, which although multifactorial may be influenced by pelvic tilt. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

The aim of this study was to compare outcomes for single-event multilevel surgery (SEMLS) in cerebral palsy (CP) performed by 1 or 2 attending surgeons.A retrospective review of patients with CP undergoing SEMLS was performed. Patients undergoing SEMLS performed by a single senior surgeon were compared with patients undergoing SEMLS by the same senior surgeon and a consistent second attending surgeon. Due to heterogeneity of the type and quantity of SEMLS procedures included in this study, a scoring system was utilized to stratify patients to low and high surgical burden. The SEMLS events scoring less than 18 points were categorized as low burden surgery and SEMLS scoring 18 or more points were categorized as high burden surgery. Operative time, estimated blood loss, hospital length of stay, and operating room (OR) utilization costs were compared.In low burden SEMLS, 10 patients had SEMLS performed by a single surgeon and 8 patients had SEMLS performed by 2 surgeons. In high burden SEMLS, 10 patients had SEMLS performed by a single surgeon and 12 patients had SEMLS performed by 2 surgeons. For high burden SEMLS, operative time was decreased by a mean of 69 minutes in cases performed by 2 co-surgeons (P = 0.03). Decreased operative time was associated with an estimated savings of $2484 per SEMLS case. In low burden SEMLS, a trend toward decreased operative time was associated for cases performed by 2 co-surgeons (182 vs 221 minutes, P = 0.11). Decreased operative time was associated with an estimated savings of $1404 per low burden SEMLS case. No difference was found for estimated blood loss or hospital length of stay between groups in high and low burden SEMLS.Employing 2 attending surgeons in SEMLS decreased operative time and OR utilization cost, particularly in patients with a high surgical burden. These findings support the practice of utilizing 2 attending surgeons for SEMLS in patients with CP.Level of Evidence: Level III.

Background There are reports of spinal cord injury (SCI) occurring after lower extremity (LE) surgery in children with mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS). Intraoperative neurological monitoring (IONM) has been adopted in some centers to assess real-time spinal cord function during these procedures. The aim of this investigation was to review 3 specialty centers' experiences with MPS patients undergoing LE surgery. We report how IONM affected care and the details of spinal cord injuries in these patients. Methods All pediatric MPS patients who underwent LE surgery between 2001 and 2018 were reviewed at 3 children's orthopaedic specialty centers. Demographic and surgical details were reviewed. Estimated blood loss (EBL), surgical time, positioning, use of IONM, and changes in management as a result of IONM were recorded. Details of any spinal cord injuries were examined in detail. Results During the study period, 92 patients with MPS underwent 252 LE surgeries. IONM was used in 83 of 252 (32.9%) surgeries, and intraoperative care was altered in 17 of 83 (20.5%) cases, including serial repositioning (n=7), aggressive blood pressure management (n=6), and abortion of procedures (n=8). IONM was utilized in cases with larger EBL (279 vs. 130 mL) and longer operative time (274 vs. 175 min) compared with procedures without IONM. Three patients without IONM sustained complete thoracic SCI postoperatively, all from cord infarction in the upper thoracic region. These 3 cases were characterized by long surgical time (328±41 min) and substantial EBL (533±416 mL or 30.5% of total blood volume; range, 11% to 50%). No LE surgeries accompanied by IONM experienced SCI. Conclusions Patients with MPS undergoing LE orthopaedic surgery may be at risk for SCI, particularly if the procedures are long or are expected to have large EBL. One hypothesis for the etiology of SCI in this setting is hypoperfusion of the upper thoracic spinal cord due to prolonged intraoperative or postoperative hypotension. IONM during these procedures may mitigate the risk of SCI by identifying real-time changes in spinal cord function during surgery, inciting a change in the surgical plan. Level of evidence Level III-retrospective comparative series.

Spine surgery is a significant event for patients with cerebral palsy (CP). The most common spine surgery performed in patients with CP is spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis. Other surgical conditions in CP include cervical spondylotic myelopathy and, rarely, lumbar spondylolysis. Patients with CP bring unique challenges to the spine surgeon due to often severe deformity as well as poor baseline medical health. Due to these baseline characteristics, patients with CP are at high risk for complications after spine surgery. However, the risk to benefit ratio significantly favors surgery, which improves quality of life for both the patient and the family. Optimization of spine surgery in this patient population continues to evolve and improve outcomes. The focus of this chapter is the surgical management of spinal conditions among patients with CP.

Background: Short leg casts (SLCs) and fracture boots are used to treat foot and ankle injuries, but the decision to use one device over the other is often subjective. This study compared the impact of SLCs and low and high fracture boots on ankle motion and offloading. Methods: Twenty healthy adults were prospectively studied. High-speed dynamic radiography was utilized to determine tibiotalar range of motion in the sagittal plane during nonweightbearing (NWB) and weightbearing (WB) gait in a shoe (control), SLC, and low and high fracture boots. Sensors captured peak plantar surface forces to determine ankle offloading. Results: In NWB, the low fracture boot (2.2 ± 2.0 degrees), high fracture boot (2.3 ± 1.6 degrees), and SLC (2.3 ± 1.5 degrees) had significantly less motion compared with the control (3.6 ± 2.1 degrees; P ≤ .026). During WB, the SLC (3.4 ± 1.4 degrees) and high fracture boot (4.8 ± 2.0 degrees) had less motion compared with the low fracture boot (7.8 ± 3.4 degrees; P < .001). Finally, the SLC (172.6% ± 48.3% body weight [BW]) and low fracture (165.1% ± 36.2% BW) and high fracture (154.5% ± 32.9% BW) boots were associated with less peak plantar surface force compared with the control (195.0% ± 43.8% BW; P ≤ .087). Conclusion: The SLC and high fracture boot immobilized the ankle in NWB and offloaded and immobilized the ankle in WB. The low fracture boot also immobilized the ankle in NWB, but in WB, the low fracture boot only offloaded the ankle and did not immobilize it. Clinical Relevance: The low fracture boot may be more suited for NWB or possibly immobilizing the foot in WB.

The objective of this study was to determine the predictive value of tip-apex distance (TAD) and Parker's ratio for screw cutout after treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures with a long cephalomedullary nail. A total of 97 patients with AO/OTA 31-A1-A3 intertrochanteric fractures and a minimum follow-up of 8 weeks were included. Increased Parker's ratio on the anteroposterior radiograph (OR = 1.386, p.003) and lateral radiograph (OR = 1.138, p.028) was significantly associated with screw cutout. In a multivariable regression analysis, only the Parker's anteroposterior ratio was significantly associated with risk of screw cutout (OR = 1.393, p = .004), but TAD (OR = 0.977, p = .764) and Parker's lateral ratio (OR 1.032, p = .710) were not independent predictors of cutout. The study concluded that Parker's anteroposterior ratio is the most helpful measurement in predicting screw cutout. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 28(2):115-120, 2019).

Background This study employs multi-segment foot modeling (MSFM) to examine flatfoot reconstruction among ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP). Research Question: Does flatfoot reconstruction improve MSFM measures, physical examination and radiographic variables for forefoot varus and midfoot collapse and associated multi-planar compensatory features? Methods MSFM was performed preoperatively and postoperatively in a cohort of ambulatory CP patients undergoing flatfoot reconstruction (surgical group, n = 24). A comparison group of non-surgical group of ambulatory CP patients with pes planovalgus (flatfoot) who did not undergo flatfoot reconstruction was also identified (n = 17). All patients in this comparison group underwent MSFM at two separate time points. Physical examination was performed and standing AP and lateral foot radiographs were obtained during each gait analysis session. Results Patients in the surgical group had improvement in their forefoot varus deformity, as documented on physical examination and kinematics in the STJN position of the foot and ankle, as well as in the compensatory hindfoot eversion and midfoot abduction during stance phase of gait. Furthermore, patients in the surgical group had improvement in midfoot collapse as identified kinematically by midfoot dorsiflexion, physical examination descriptors of midfoot position, and radiographic measures of calcaneal pitch and AP and lateral talar-first metatarsal angle. Patients in the non-surgical comparison group did not demonstrate these changes. Significance Improvements in foot motion after flatfoot reconstruction in ambulatory CP patients were identified by MSFM, physical examination measures, and radiographs. Patients in the surgical and non-surgical groups had similar pre-operative radiographic findings, suggesting that physical examination and MSFM data were important in the surgical decision making process. Finally, surgical intervention did not fully restore normal foot kinematic, physical examination, and radiographic parameters, which suggests that a different, perhaps more aggressive, surgical approach for flatfoot reconstruction is needed.

OBJECTIVES To compare single versus multiple procedures in the same surgical setting. We hypothesized that complication rates would not be different and length of stay would be shorter in patients undergoing multiple procedures. DESIGN Prospective, cohort. SETTING Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS A total of 370 patients with high-energy fractures were treated after a standard protocol for resuscitation to lactate

The review provides an update on the treatment of hypertonia in cerebral palsy, including physical management, pharmacotherapy, neurosurgical, and orthopedic procedures.Serial casting potentiates the effect of Botulinum neurotoxin A injections for spasticity. Deep brain stimulation, intraventricular baclofen, and ventral and dorsal rhizotomy are emerging tools for the treatment of dystonia and/or mixed tone. The long-term results of selective dorsal rhizotomy and the timing of orthopedic surgery represent recent advances in the surgical management of hypertonia.Management of hypertonia in cerebral palsy targets the functional goals of the patient and caregiver. Treatment options are conceptualized as surgical or nonsurgical, focal or generalized, and reversible or irreversible. The role of pharmacologic therapies is to improve function and mitigate adverse effects. Further investigation, including clinical trials, is required to determine the role of deep brain stimulation, intraventricular baclofen, orthopedic procedures for dystonia, and rhizotomy.

Background The early appropriate care (EAC) protocol and clinical grading system (CGS) propose criteria that suggest timing of definitive fracture fixation by assessing risk for complications. This study applies these criteria to a cohort of patients with orthopedic injuries and determines clinical outcomes for groups stratified by risk and timing of fracture fixation. Methods This retrospective work was performed at a Level I trauma center. Patients with operative femur, pelvis, acetabulum, and/or thoracolumbar spine injuries were included. Fractures were treated surgically, either early or delayed. Patients were retrospectively categorized into low- or high-risk groups using the EAC protocol and described as stable, borderline, unstable, or in extremis using a modified CGS (mCGS). Results In the EAC analysis, low-risk patients treated early had fewer complications compared with delayed treatment. Among high-risk patients, no significant difference was noted. With the use of the mCGS, stable patients treated early had fewer complications compared with delayed patients. No difference in complications was detected for unstable and in extremis patients. Borderline patients treated early had fewer complications compared with delayed treatment, although results were not supported by sensitivity analysis. Conclusion The EAC protocol can effectively distinguish patients who are at high risk for complications if treated early. Early treatment in the low-risk group was associated with fewer complications. The mCGS differentiates stable patients who benefit from early definitive treatment of fractures as well as severely injured patients (unstable or in extremis) who may benefit from damage-control orthopedics. Borderline patients may also benefit from early definitive treatment, but criteria defining borderline patients require further study. Level of evidence Prognostic study, level III.

This study compared patients who underwent treatment with short or long cephalomedullary nails with integrated cephalocervical screws and linear compression. Patients with AO/OTA 31-A2 or A3 pertrochanteric fractures treated with either short (n=72) or long (n=97) InterTAN (Smith & Nephew, Memphis, Tennessee) cephalomedullary nails were reviewed. Information on perioperative measures (estimated blood loss, surgical time, and fluoroscopy time) and postoperative orthopedic complications (infection, implant failure, screw cutout, and periprosthetic femur fracture) was included. Estimated blood loss (short nail, 161 mL; long nail, 208 mL; P =.002) and surgical time (short nail, 64 minutes; long nail, 83 minutes; P =.001) were lower in the short nail group. There were no differences in fluoroscopy time (short nail, 90 seconds; long nail, 142 seconds; P =.071) or rates of infection (short nail, 1.4%; long nail, 3.1%; P =.637) or overall orthopedic complications (short nail, 11.1%; long nail, 9.3%; P =.798) between the 2 groups. The long nail group had a trend toward more screw cutouts (long nail, 5.2%; short nail, 0.0%; P =.134) but fewer periprosthetic femur fractures (short nail, 8.3%; long nail, 0.0%; P =.013). This study found a similar overall rate of orthopedic complications between short and long nails with integrated cephalocervical screws and linear compression. These results confirm the suspected advantages of short nails, including faster surgery and less blood loss; however, the rate of periprosthetic femur fracture remains high, despite changes to implant design. [ Orthopedics. 2017; 40(2):83–88.]

Background Optimal timing of definitive treatment of femoral shaft fractures in patients with multiple injuries remains controversial. This study aimed to determine the impact of timing of definitive treatment (early, delayed, or damage-control orthopedics [DCO]) of femoral shaft fractures on the incidence of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), mortality rate, and hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients with multiple injuries. Methods A systematic review of published English-language reports using MEDLINE (1946-2011), Embase (1947-2011), and Cochrane Library. Search terms included femoral fractures, multiple trauma, fracture fixation, and time factors. This study reviewed randomized and nonrandomized studies that (1) compared early and delayed treatment or early treatment and DCO and (2) reported the incidence of ARDS, mortality rate, or LOS. Extraction of articles was performed by one of the authors using predefined data fields. Results Thirty-eight studies met our inclusion criteria. Studies were grouped into heterogeneous injuries with early versus delayed treatment (17 studies), heterogeneous injuries with early versus DCO (8 studies), head injury (13 studies), and chest injury (7 studies). Most of the studies (≥ 50%) reporting ARDS and mortality rate showed no difference in each of these groups. However, 6 of 7 and 2 of 3 studies reporting LOS in the heterogeneous injuries with early versus delayed and heterogeneous injuries with early versus DCO, respectively, showed shorter stay for early treatment. Pooled analyses were not conducted owing to changes in critical care delivery during the study period and variations in definitions of early treatment, ARDS, and multiple injuries. Thirty-five reports were based on nonrandomized trials and were subject to biases inherent in retrospective studies. The review process was limited by language and publication status. Conclusion The literature suggests that early definitive treatment may be used safely for most patients with multiple injuries. However, a subgroup of patients with multiple injuries may benefit from DCO [corrected]. Level of evidence Systematic review, level III.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the impact of injury severity, patient origin, and payer on charges and payments associated with treatment of femoral fractures at a Level I trauma center. We hypothesized that transfer patients and patients with minor injury would be underinsured, whereas reimbursement rate would be higher for patients with severe injury. METHODS: Medical and financial records of 420 adult patients treated for femoral fractures at a public, urban Level I trauma center were reviewed. Facility and professional charges and payments were determined. Reimbursement rate was defined as the ratio of payment to charge. Payer groups included Medicare, Medicaid, commercial, managed care, workers' compensation, and self-pay. Severe injury was defined by Injury Severity Score of 18 or higher. RESULTS: Patients with Injury Severity Score of less than 18 were more often uninsured compared with the severe injury group (25% vs. 14%, p = 0.005). Patients with severe injury had higher facility (0.47 vs. 0.39, p = 0.005) and total reimbursement rates (0.41 vs. 0.34, p = 0.002) compared with patients with minor injury. Likewise, transfer patients trended toward higher overall reimbursement rate compared with nontransfer patients (0.42 vs. 0.37, p = 0.056). Patients with severe injury were more likely to have commercial insurance (28 vs. 20%, p = 0.06), and transferred patients were more likely to have insurance (88% vs. 79%, p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: The higher proportion of self-pay in the nontransfer group may be caused by the large population of uninsured patients in the area surrounding our trauma center. Favorable payer mix and higher facility reimbursement rate for patients with severe injury may be an incentive for trauma centers to continue providing care for patients with multiple injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III. Economic analysis, level IV. Language: en

Background: Type and timing of treatment of femur fractures is controversial. Although reported as safe and effective in many reports, others have suggested that early definitive stabilization may cause complications, particularly in patients with chest and head injuries. Damage control orthopedics was proposed as an alternative in unstable patients. This study examines the effects of timing of fixation and investigates risk factors for complications. Methods: Seven hundred fifty patients with femur fractures treated between 1999 and 2006 were reviewed. Skeletally mature patients with mean age 35.8 years and mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) 23.7 were included. Four hundred ninety-two patients had ISS ≥ 18. Early stabilization (n = 656) was defined as definitive treatment of the femur fracture within 24 hours of injury. Results: Early definitive stabilization in patients with multiple injuries was associated with fewer complications than delayed stabilization (18.9% vs. 42.9%, p < 0.037) after adjusting for patient age and ISS. Early treatment was also associated with shorter hospital stay, intensive care unit stay, and ventilator days (p < 0.001). Severe (Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥3) abdominal injury was associated with more complications than severe head (Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8) and chest (Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥3) injuries (44.2% vs. 40.9%, p = 0.68, and 34.4%, p = 0.024, respectively) and was an independent risk factor for complications (p < 0.0001). Chest injury was an independent risk factor for pulmonary complications (p < 0.001), but surgical delay in patients with chest injury was also associated with pulmonary complications (p = 0.04). More sepsis was noted patients with severe head injury (22.7% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.037) or severe chest injury (10.2% vs. 2.5%, p = 0.044) when treated on a delayed basis. More patients transferred from other hospitals were treated on a delayed basis (48.9% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Early definitive stabilization is associated with acceptably low rates of complications and is safe in most patients with multiple injuries, including some with severe abdominal, chest, or head injuries with attention to resuscitation before surgery. More complications and longer hospital stay were noted with delayed fixation after adjusting for age and ISS. Chest injury was associated with pulmonary complications; however, the presence of severe abdominal injury was the greatest risk factor for complications. Expediting access to definitive care may reduce complications and expenses.

Intraprotein interdomain electron transfer (IET) from flavin mononucleotide (FMN) to heme is essential in nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by NO synthase (NOS). Our previous laser flash photolysis studies have provided a direct determination of the kinetics of IET between the FMN and heme domains in truncated oxyFMN constructs of rat neuronal NOS (nNOS) and murine inducible NOS (iNOS), in which only the oxygenase and FMN domains along with the calmodulin (CaM) binding site are present [Feng, C. J.; Tollin, G.; Holliday, M. A.; Thomas, C.; Salerno, J. C.; Enemark, J. H.; Ghosh, D. K. Biochemistry 2006, 45, 6354-6362. Feng, C. J.; Thomas, C.; Holliday, M. A.; Tollin, G.; Salerno, J. C.; Ghosh, D. K.; Enemark, J. H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 3808-3811]. Here, we report the kinetics of IET between the FMN and heme domains in a rat nNOS holoenzyme in the presence and absence of added CaM using laser flash photolysis of CO dissociation in comparative studies on partially reduced NOS and a single domain NOS oxygenase construct. The IET rate constant in the presence of CaM is 36 s-1, whereas no IET was observed in the absence of CaM. The kinetics reported here are about an order of magnitude slower than the kinetics in a rat nNOS oxyFMN construct with added CaM (262 s-1). We attribute the slower IET between FMN and heme in the holoenzyme to the additional step of dissociation of the FMN domain from the reductase complex before reassociation with the oxygenase domain to form the electron-transfer competent output state complex. This work provides the first direct measurement of CaM-controlled electron transfer between catalytically significant redox couples of FMN and heme in a nNOS holoenzyme.

Bilateral femur fractures have been associated with frequent morbidity and mortality. Associated injuries and massive hemorrhage contributed to mortality rates that were as high as 27% in previous reports. The goals of this study were to determine the frequency of associated complications, including mortality, and to identify which patient and injury features are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The authors proposed that some patients with bilateral femur fractures may undergo early definitive fixation with an acceptable rate of complications. Patients who had bilateral femur fractures during the same injury event were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic characteristics, associated injuries, and the type and timing of treatment were determined. Complications were identified. The authors identified 50 men and 22 women, with a mean age of 41.5 years, who had high-energy bilateral femur fractures. These patients accounted for 5.5% of all femur fractures treated at the authors’ institution over a period of 11 years. Two patients died before fixation. In addition, 13 other patients (19%) had 21 complications, including pneumonia in 6 (8.6%) and deep venous thrombosis in 7 (10%). No patient had adult respiratory distress syndrome, but 2 died of multiple organ failure. All patients with pulmonary complications had an underlying chest injury ( P =.004). The overall mortality rate was 6.9%, and mortality was associated with higher mean age and higher Injury Severity Score (ISS). Of the 60 patients who had definitive fixation within 24 hours of injury, 53 (88%) had no complications. Complication rates were similar to those reported in the literature, with a mortality rate of 6.9%, including 3 patients who died after femoral fixation. Mortality was associated with advanced age and higher ISS. Chest injuries were associated with pulmonary complications. Most patients had early definitive fixation without complications, but it is not possible to predict which patients may be safely treated on an early basis. [ Orthopedics. 2015; 38(7):e588–e592.]

The objective of this study was to characterize relationships between obesity and initial hospital stay, including complications, in patients with multiple system trauma and surgically treated fractures.Prospective, observational.Level 1 trauma center.Three hundred seventy-six patients with an Injury Severity Score greater than 16 and mechanically unstable high-energy fractures of the femur, pelvic ring, acetabulum, or spine requiring stabilization.Data for obese (body mass index ≥ 30) versus nonobese patients included presence of pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, infection, organ failure, and mortality. Days in ICU and hospital, days on ventilator, transfusions, and surgical details were documented.Complications occurred more often in obese patients (38.0% vs. 28.4%, P = 0.03), with more acute renal failure (5.70% vs. 1.38%, P = 0.02) and infection (11.4% vs. 5.50%, P = 0.04). Days in ICU and mechanical ventilation times were longer for obese patients (7.06 vs. 5.25 days, P = 0.05 and 4.92 vs. 2.90 days, P = 0.007, respectively). Mean total hospital stay was also longer for obese patients (12.3 vs. 9.79 days, P = 0.009). No significant differences in rates of mortality, multiple organ failure, or pulmonary complications were noted. Medically stable obese patients were almost twice as likely to experience delayed fracture fixation due to preference of the surgeon and were more likely to experience delay overall (26.0% vs. 16.1%; P = 0.02). Mean time from injury to fixation was 34.9 hours in obese patients versus 23.7 hours in nonobese patients (P = 0.03).Obesity was noted among 42% of our trauma patients. In obese patients, complications occurred more often and hospital and ICU stays were significantly longer. These increases are likely to be associated with greater hospital costs. Surgeon decision to delay procedures in medically stable obese patients may have contributed to these findings; definitive fixation was more likely to be delayed in obese patients. Further study to optimize the care of patients with increased body mass index may help to improve outcomes and minimize additional treatment expenses.

Introduction: This study examined acceptance by staff and patients of a therapy dog (TD) in the emergency department (ED). Methods: Immediately after TD visits to a University Hospital ED, all available ED staff, patients, and their visitors were invited to complete a survey. Results: Of 125 ‘‘patient’’ and 105 staff responses, most were favorable. Ninety-three percent of patients and 95% of staff agreed that TDs should visit EDs; 87.8% of patients and 92% of staff approved of TDs for both adult and pediatric patients. Fewer than 5% of either patients or staff were afraid of the TDs. Fewer than 10% of patients and staff thought the TDs posed a sanitary risk or interfered with staff work. Conclusion: Both patients and staff approve of TDs in an ED. The benefits of animal-assisted therapy should be further explored in the ED setting. [West J Emerg Med. 2012;13(4):363–365.]

Background Abdominal injury has been shown to be an independent risk factor for pulmonary complications in patients with extremity injuries. We propose to characterize orthopedic patients with severe abdominal trauma. We hypothesize that operative fractures of the thoracolumbar spine, pelvis, acetabulum, or femur increase systemic complications in patients with blunt abdominal injury. Methods A retrospective review of patients presenting to a Level I trauma center with abdominal injury between 2000 and 2006 was performed. Adult patients between the ages of 18 years and 65 years with high-energy, blunt trauma resulting in severe abdominal injury (abdomen Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score ≥ 3) and Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 18 or greater were included. Patients were divided into two comparison groups as follows: the fracture group had operative fractures of the pelvis, acetabulum, thoracolumbar spine, and/or femur, and the control group did not sustain these fractures of interest. Systemic complications were documented. Unadjusted and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results The control group included 91 patients, and the fracture group included 106 patients with 136 fractures of interest. With unadjusted analysis, the fracture group had more complications (34% [36 of 106] vs. 18% [16 of 91], p = 0.010), including adult respiratory distress syndrome (8% [8 of 106] vs. 1% [1 of 91], p = 0.040), and sepsis (11% [12 of 106] vs. 3% [3 of 91], p = 0.056). Logistic regression modeling demonstrates that the presence of an operative fracture increased the odds of developing at least one complication approximately three times (odds ratio, 2.88, p = 0.006), after controlling for presence of chest injury and type of injured abdominal organ. Conclusion Operative fractures of the thoracolumbar spine, pelvis, acetabulum and femur increase the risk of developing systemic complications in patients with blunt abdominal injury. Further study is necessary to optimize treatment protocols for these high-risk patients.