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Background: Comparison of the efficacy of arthroscopic suture fixation combined with loop plate vs . the posterior approach involving open reduction and intramedullary nail fixation in treating posterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion fractures (PCLTAFs)., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients diagnosed with PCLTAF who were admitted to Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital between June 2019 and March 2022. Based on distinct surgical procedures, the patients were categorized into two groups: arthroscopic group (33 cases), involving a single bone tunnel, high-strength suture, loop plate, and anchor screw fixed under arthroscopy, and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) group (13 cases), involving a modified posterior medial approach and fixation using 1-2 cannulated screws. Key parameters, including surgical duration, postoperative fracture alignment, fracture-healing duration, range of motion changes, postoperative Lysholm scores, and VAS scores were documented and compared between the two groups., Results: The study cohort comprised 46 patients, with 28 males and 18 females, and the median age was 29 years old (range: 15-69). There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics, including knee Lysholm scores, between the two groups. The arthroscopic group exhibited significant improvement in all eight Lysholm score indicators (all P < 0.001). The total Lysholm score also exhibited significant improvement before and after surgery in both groups ( P < 0.001). Following surgery, the arthroscopic group demonstrated improvements in all indicators, but had a slightly longer operating time compared to the ORIF group. No significant differences were observed in the Lysholm scores for the knee joint between the two patient groups before and after surgery ( P > 0.05)., Conclusions: Arthroscopic suture fixation in conjunction with looped plate binding can significantly improve knee function and clinical effect for patients in the treatment of PCLTAF, promotingearly postoperative functional recovery of patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Zhang and Guo.)

Objectives: To identify characteristics that contribute to surgical complexity in pilon fractures and to develop a machine learning (ML) Pilon Surgical Difficulty Score (PSDS) based on these factors., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Academic Level I trauma center., Patient Selection Criteria: Pilon fractures (OTA/AO Type 43) in adult patients treated with open reduction internal fixation., Outcomes Measures and Comparisons: Various patient, injury, and radiological characteristics were assessed. Surgical difficulty was measured using 2 outcomes: (1) operative time and (2) perceived difficulty. Perceived difficulty was determined using the opinion of 16 fellowship-trained orthopaedic traumatologists on a 10-point scale. Significant predictors of difficulty were determined using univariate analyses. ML models were used to develop a PSDS for both operative time and surgical difficulty., Results: One hundred operatively fixed pilon fractures were included. Predictors of operative time were age, OTA/AO classification, articular comminution, articular impaction, bone loss, delay to surgery, poor quality reduction, number of approaches, and number of articular fragments. Predictors of perceived difficulty included OTA/AO classification and delay to surgery. Operative time PSDS had a mean absolute error of 64 minutes and a 60-minute buffer accuracy of 59%. Perceived difficulty PSDS had a mean absolute error of 1.7 points and a 2-point buffer accuracy of 63%., Conclusion: ML was used to generate accurate PSDSs for operative time and difficulty for pilon fractures. Future work should aim to clinically validate these PSDSs, so they may improve patient outcomes., Level of Evidence: Level III Diagnostic., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In surgery for sepsis it is a well-established principle that no internal osteosynthetic material should be implanted in cases of chronic osteomyelitis. Therefore, the surgical treatment with intramedullary nails is so far used only rarely in cases of chronic osteomyelitis., Objective: This study analyzed whether the implantation of tibial intramedullary nails is an effective treatment for chronic osteomyelitis and how high is the rate of reinfection., Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with an infected pseudarthrosis of the tibia in whom a gentamycin-coated nail (ETN) or an uncoated tibial intramedullary nail (UCN) was implanted between December 2011 and December 2019 was carried out. The preoperative, perioperative and postoperative results were evaluated., Results: During the study period 29 patients received a UCN and 27 patients received an ETN. Of the patients 95% (n = 53) had been previously unsuccessfully treated with external fixation. Postoperative complications occurred in 45% of the patients and more often in the ETN group (48% vs. 41%). Reexacerbation of the infection occurred in 20 patients and more frequently in the UCN group (38% vs. 33%). The nonunion already showed a bony consolidation at the time of the exacerbation in 10 patients (50%). At the end of the follow-up a consolidation was present in 48 patients (86%), more frequently in the UCN group (90% vs. 78%). Of the patients 50 (89%) reached full weight bearing without any differences between the groups., Conclusion: Despite a relatively high a rate of postoperative complications the risk of reinfection was acceptable with good functional and radiological results. The main general advantages of nailing are without doubt the high primary stability, the implantation with preservation of the soft tissue and the improved wearing comfort for patients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Background: Rotational malalignment after operative fracture treatment of the lower extremity may be associated with increased pain and functional impairment. Despite its clinical relevance, there are no uniform management guidelines. The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of all available evidence to diagnose and treat rotational deformities of the lower extremity following operative fracture treatment., Methods: This scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A literature search was carried out on 22 August 2023 by two independent reviewers in the Pubmed (MEDLINE), Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases. The search strategy was developed with the assistance of a biomedical information specialist. The main search terms were tibial and femoral malrotations. Disagreements were resolved through discussion with a third reviewer., Results: After screening and quality assessment of 3929 unique identified records, 50 articles were included for qualitative synthesis. Most studies were retrospective case reports or case series. Thirty studies focused on the femur, 11 on the tibia and nine included both femur and tibia. Most of the included studies presented cases where malrotation was associated with other limb deformities. Only 18 studies focused solely on the treatment of malrotation of the lower extremities after operative fracture treatment. Regarding diagnosis, bilateral CT-scans were used in 34 studies. Regarding treatment, external fixation was used in two studies, internal fixation (either intramedullary nail or plate) in 45 studies, and in three studies the authors used both. Overall, revision surgery resulted in good clinical outcomes with low complication rates., Conclusion: This scoping review reveals that rotational malalignment following operative treatment of lower extremity fractures remains an important complication. Although it occurs frequently and is associated with severe disability for the patient, standardized guidelines regarding the terminology, diagnosis, indications for intervention and treatment are lacking. CT-scan is the most used diagnostic modality in daily clinical practice. Revision surgery, using diverse operative techniques, demonstrated positive results, significantly alleviating patient complaints with few complications. Nevertheless, an international consensus regarding the optimal management pathway is needed, and future prospective clinical studies seem therefore necessary., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare no conflict of interest with respect to the preparation and writing of this article., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This paper evaluates the accuracy and safety of a long bone fracture reduction robot under different surgical modes., Methods: A long bone fracture reduction robot system was developed, which can be controlled via an autonomous surgical mode or a master-slave surgical mode. Reduction experiments were conducted on a long bone cadaver specimen. The accuracy and safety of the robotic reduction were compared across the different surgical modes., Results: When the fracture reduction was completed by the robot, the translational deviation was less than 2 mm, and the angular deviation was less than 3° The autonomous reduction time was 140 s, while the master-slave reduction time was 200 s., Conclusions: Based on CT imaging verification, the accuracy of the robot in both autonomous and master-slave surgical modes meets clinical requirements. Future work will focus on further optimizing the robot system., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors disclosed no relevant relationships., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Healing of tibia demonstrates a complex mechanobiological process as it is stimulated by the major factor of strains applied by body weight. The effect of screw heads and bodies as well as their pressure distribution is often overlooked. Hence, effective mechanical conditions of the healing process of tibia can be categorized into the material of the plate and screws, post-operation loadings, and screw type and pressure. In this paper, a mathematical biodegradation model was used to simulate the PGF/PLA plate-screw device over 8 weeks. The effect of different post-operation loading patterns was studied for both locking and non-locking screws. The aim was to reach the best configuration for the most achievable healing using FEA by computing the healing pattern, trend, and efficiency with the mechano-regulation theory based on deviatoric strain. The biodegradation process of the plate and screws resulted in 82% molecular weight loss and 1.05 GPa decrease in Young's modulus during 8 weeks. The healing efficiency of the cases ranged from 4.72% to 14.75% in the first week and 18.64% to 63.05% in the eighth week. Finally, an optimal case was achieved by considering the prevention of muscle erosion, bone density reduction, and nonunion, according to the obtained results., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The American College of Surgeons recommends operative debridement of open tibial fractures within 24 h of presentation. It is unknown what the compliance rates are with this recommendation and what factors contribute to delays to operation., Methods: To determine the characteristics associated with delays to operation for open tibial fractures, we conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program data from 2017 to 2021. Individuals aged 18 and older presenting to a trauma center with an open tibial fracture were included. Associations were determined with a hierarchal regression model nesting patients within facilities., Results: Of the 24,102 patients presenting to 491 trauma centers, 66.3 % identified as White, 21.7 % as Black, 1.5 % as Asian, 1.1 % as American Indian, and 10.6 % as Other race. In total, 15.8 % identified as Hispanic. Patients were most often men (75.9 %) and privately insured (47.6 %). The median time to OR was 10.2 h (IQR 4.4-17.7) with 84.6 % receiving surgery within 24 h. In adjusted analyses, Black and American Indian patients had 5.5 % (CI 1.3 %-9.9 %) and 17.8 % (CI 2.2 %-35.8 %) longer wait times, respectively, and a decreased odds of receiving surgery within 24 h (AOR 0.85, CI 0.8-0.9; AOR 0.69, CI 0.5-0.9) when compared to White patients. Female patients had 6.5 % (CI 3.0 %-10.2 %) longer wait times than men. Patients with Medicaid had 5.5 % (CI 1.2 %-9.9 %) longer wait times than those with private insurance. Greater time to OR was associated with increasing age (p < 0.001), increasing injury severity (p < 0.001), and the presence of altered mentation (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: We identified longer wait times to operative irrigation and debridement of open tibial fractures for Black and American Indian patients, women, and those with Medicaid. The implementation of health equity focused quality metrics may be necessary to achieve equity in trauma care., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Tibial plateau fractures are often associated with high-energy trauma necessitating external fixation as a means of temporization. There is evidence that pin placement and fracture distraction may result in transient increases in compartment pressures, and the optimal timing of external fixator placement is unknown. This study sought to determine the effect of early versus late external fixator placement on the risk of compartment syndrome after a tibial plateau fracture., Methods: The Trauma Quality Improvement Program was retrospectively queried between 2015 and 2019 for adult patients with a tibial plateau fracture who underwent external fixator placement. Patients with concomitant tibial shaft and/or distal femur fractures, requiring lower extremity fasciotomy before external fixation, or external fixation >7 days after admission were excluded. The primary study outcome was inpatient compartment syndrome. Secondary outcomes were inpatient acute respiratory failure/unplanned intubation, surgical site infection, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). A time threshold of delayed external fixation was identified at which the odds of compartment syndrome no longer significantly decreased with increasing time using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation of a restricted cubic spline model. The odds of each outcome were compared between patients who underwent early versus delayed external fixation on or after the time threshold, adjusting for potential confounding by patients, injury, and hospital characteristics. Significance was defined as p < 0.05., Results: A threshold for delayed external fixation was identified at 28.8 h from admission. Of the 3,185 eligible patients, 2,656 (83.4 %) were classified as early external fixation and 529 (16.6 %) were classified as delayed external fixation. Delayed external fixation was associated with lower adjusted odds (aOR) of compartment syndrome (aOR: 0.31, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI): 0.13-0.74, p = 0.008) and higher aOR of acute respiratory failure/unplanned intubation (aOR: 2.13, 95 % CI: 1.13-4.0.2, p = 0.019), however no significant differences in adjusted odds of surgical site infection or VTE were observed., Conclusion: Patients with tibial plateau fractures who underwent closed reduction and external fixation within 28.8 h of admission were associated with greater odds of compartment syndrome than those undergoing external fixation after this time threshold., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest JW and AD have no conflicts of interest to report. JG has no direct conflicts with the manuscript, but consults for Stryker, Smith and Nephew, Curvafix, and serves on the board of AOTrauma North America. JP has no direct conflicts with the manuscript but consults for Johnson & Johnson, and serves on the board or is a committee member of AOTrauma North America and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This article reports on a complicated case of a soft tissue defect with challenging soft tissue coverage on the lower leg. After a lower leg fracture and treatment with a tibial nail, a 29-year-old man developed compartment syndrome due to massive secondary bleeding with a lesion of the common peroneal nerve and muscle necrosis around the fibular muscles. The initial coverage with split skin showed no tendency to heal, so the patient was admitted to this hospital with a soft tissue defect of approximately 25 cm × 10 cm on the lateral lower leg with an exposed tibia over a length of 15 cm. The primary attempt was coverage with a split-thickness skin graft after secondary granulation; however, due to the previously damaged vascular supply, the wound demonstrated a delayed incomplete healing over 8 months. In addition, X‑ray imaging revealed a nonunion and a resulting screw fracture of the two distal locking screws. The indications for revision surgery to treat the fracture and change the implant were fulfilled. In the same procedure, the residual cutaneous defects were closed. Given the previously complication-prone course and a difficult local blood flow situation, the choice of reconstruction procedures was limited. A bridge flap of the medial lower leg was performed in an interdisciplinary approach. The lifting defect was covered with split-thickness skin. In this way, the wound was finally adequately covered after 1 year., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Although the specific relationship between the stress changes in the external fixator during tibial fracture treatment and the bone healing process remains unclear, it is believed that stress variations in the external fixator scaffold can, to a certain extent, reflect the progress of tibial healing., Objective: This study aims to propose a non-invasive method for assessing the degree of fracture healing by monitoring the changes in stress transmission, the locations of stress-sensitive points, and displacement in the external fixator-tibia system during the healing process of tibial fractures., Methods: In this study, finite element models of tibial fractures at various healing stages were developed. Physiological conditions, including axial, torsional, and bending loads on the tibia, were simulated to evaluate stress and strain within the external scaffold-tibia system under normal physiological loading conditions., Results: The results indicate variations in the stress distribution between the external fixator and the tibia during different stages of healing. In the early phase of fracture healing, the external fixator plays a crucial role as the primary load-bearing unit under all three loading conditions. As the fracture healing progresses, the stress on the tibia gradually increases, concentrating on the medial part of the tibia under axial and torsional loading, and at the upper and lower ends, as well as the central part of the anterior and posterior tibia during bending loading. The stress at the callus gradually increases, while micro-movements decrease. The stress within the external bracket gradually decreases, with a tendency for the connecting rod to transfer stress towards the screws. Throughout the fracture healing process, the location of maximum stress in the external fixator remains unchanged. Under axial and torsional loading, the maximum stress is located at the intersection of the lowest screw and the bone cortex, while under bending loading, it is at the intersection of the second screw and the connecting rod., Conclusion: During the bone healing process, stress is transferred between the external fixation frame and the bone. As bone healing advances, the stress on the connecting rods and screws of the external fixation frame decreases, and the amplitude of stress changes diminishes. When complete and robust fusion is achieved, stress variations stabilize, and the location of maximum stress on the external fixation frame remains unchanged. The intersections of the lowest screw and the bone cortex, as well as the second screw and the connecting rod, can serve as sensitive points for monitoring the degree of bone healing., (© 2024 The Author(s). Orthopaedic Surgery published by Tianjin Hospital and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Large posterolateral tibial fragments, known as Volkmann fractures, are common in ankle fracture-dislocations and typically require open reduction and fixation with interfragmentary screws and often buttress plates using a prone posterolateral approach. In this setting, fibula plating often necessitates dissection of the lateral window between the peroneal tendons and the skin, increasing wound-related complications. In recent years, intramedullary nailing of fibula fractures has gained popularity as a minimally invasive technique that allows load-sharing stabilization. However, this procedure has traditionally been performed in the supine position, which can pose challenges if a Volkmann-type fracture is present, requiring repositioning and losing access to the fibula through the posterolateral approach. Our objective is to describe a technique for fixing ankle fracture-dislocations with large posterolateral fragments using tibial buttress plates and fibula nails through a prone posterolateral approach without dissecting the lateral window. Additionally, we will present a case series with preliminary results., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To compare outcomes and complications between nonoperative and operative management of femur and tibia fractures in patients with paraplegia or quadriplegia from chronic spinal cord injury (SCI)., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Three Level-1 Trauma centers., Patient Selection Criteria: All adult patients with paraplegia or quadriplegia due to a chronic SCI with operative or nonoperative treatment of a femoral or tibial shaft fracture from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2019 were included., Outcome Measures and Comparisons: Outcomes collected included range of motion, pain, return to baseline activity, extent of malunion, and treatment complications (infection, pressure ulcers, nonunion, deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary emobolus, stroke, amputation, death). Comparison between operative and nonoperative treatment were made for each outcome., Results: Fifty-nine patients with acute lower extremity fracture in the setting of chronic SCI fulfilled inclusion criteria with a median age of 46 years in the operative group and 47 years in the nonoperative group. Twelve patients (70.6%) in the nonoperative group were male with 32 (76.2%) male patients in the operative group. Forty-six patients (78%) presented as low energy trauma. Differences were seen between operative and nonoperative management for pressure ulcers (19% vs. 52.9%, P = 0.009) and mean Visual Analog Scale pain score at first follow-up (1.19 vs. 3.3, P = 0.03). No difference was seen for rates of infection, nonunion, deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary emobolus, stroke, amputation, death, return to baseline activity, and range of motion., Conclusions: Tibial and femoral shaft fractures commonly resulted from low energy mechanisms in patients with chronic SCI. Operative treatment seemed to decrease morbidity in these patients via lowered rates of pressure ulcers and decreased pain compared with nonoperative management., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Tibial tubercle fractures are a unique class of pediatric orthopaedic injuries that frequently necessitate surgical treatment and strict monitoring due to the associated risk of acute compartment syndrome (ACS). However, current literature is conspicuously limited in its ability to estimate the risk of ACS after these fractures. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to utilize a nationwide database to estimate the prevalence of ACS after pediatric tibial tubercle fractures., Methods: We utilized the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Kids' Inpatient Database (2019) to identify all pediatric patients, 18 years of age and under, with isolated tibial tubercle fractures (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision Clinical Modification S82.151-S82.156) and ACS (T79.A0, T79.A2, T79.A29). Patients were excluded if they had additional lower extremity injuries (ie, tibial shaft, plateau, etc). A subanalysis was conducted for those undergoing fasciotomy, with and without an ACS diagnosis., Results: Among the 591 isolated tibial tubercle fractures, there were 8 ACS cases for a prevalence of 1.35%. There were 22 (3.72%) additional cases of fasciotomy without an ACS diagnosis. All ACS cases were diagnosed during the original hospitalization; all were male and had closed fractures. The cohort included 469 teenagers (13+ years) and 77 pre-teens, with 40 females and 506 males. Racial demographics: 132 white, 232 black, 112 Hispanic, 15 Asian, 4 Native American, 23 unknown, and 28 others. No significant associations were found between ACS and age, race, insurance status, mechanism of injury, or hospital region., Conclusion: The rate of ACS in pediatric tibial tubercle fractures appears to be much lower than previously reported, at 1.35%. However, the nearly three-fold higher prevalence of fasciotomy without an ACS diagnosis, suggests a generous use of prophylactic fasciotomies and/or an undercharacterization of actual ACS cases from miscoding. This is the first and largest study to employ a nationally representative database to investigate the prevalence of ACS after tibial tubercle fractures., Level of Evidence: Level III., Competing Interests: D.J.C. receives grant funding from the Arthroscopy Association of North America and is an Editorial Board Member for Arthroscopy Journal. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The reported donor site morbidity of the fibula free flap (FFF) is low; however, several uncommon complications have been reported with tibia fracture rarely being reported. We present a case of a pathological tibial fracture in the setting of chronic osteomyelitis after FFF. A 54-year-old female presented with a benign fibro-osseous lesion of the right mandible and was treated with mandibulectomy and reconstructed with a left FFF. Approximately 1 year following surgery, the patient presented to the emergency department. Imaging showed a pathological fracture of the distal third of the tibial shaft with persistent erythema and cellulitis of the lateral prior graft harvest site without signs of systemic infection. She was taken to the operating room for irrigation and debridement with culture and biopsy as well as external fixation of the tibial fracture. Intraoperative biopsy and culture demonstrated fracture site change with callus formation and negative culture. The patient was discharged on 6 weeks of IV vancomycin and ceftriaxone. In conclusion, tibial fracture following FFF is an uncommon complication, yet it can be exacerbated by chronic osteomyelitis. This report highlights the importance of close observation and comprehensive wound care of donor sites after free flap harvest for head and neck reconstruction., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: To evaluate risk factors for infection in severe open tibial shaft fractures., Methods: A secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective study investigated internal versus external fixation of severe open tibia fractures at 20 US Level I trauma centers. Adult patients, aged <65 years, with a Gustilo-Anderson Type IIIB or severe IIIA metaphyseal or diaphyseal tibia fracture were included. All fractures underwent definitive fixation with either a modern ring external fixator, intramedullary device, and/or plate. Fourteen variables previously identified as risk factors for infection were included in the analysis. Deep surgical site infection was defined as an infection treated with surgical debridement within 1 year of index surgery., Results: The study cohort included 430 patients. Deep surgical site infection requiring reoperation occurred in 108 (25 %) patients. The final model identified four risk factors for infection: age >40 years (OR, 2.00; 95 % CI, 1.3-3.1), Gustilo-Anderson Type IIIB (OR, 1.80; 95 % CI, 1.1-3.0), embedded wound contamination (OR, 1.69; 95 % CI, 1.1-2.7), and wound length (OR, 1.02/cm; 95 % CI, 1.0-1.05). The model performed poorly at distinguishing infected from uninfected patients (Area Under the Curve=0.57; 95 % CI, 0.51-0.63)., Conclusions: Surgeons can now counsel patients with these risk factors that they are at a markedly higher risk of infection. The identification of these risk factors may direct future research aimed at mitigating the risk of deep surgical site infection in this patient population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Byline author Paul Tornetta discloses intellectual property with Smith & Nephew and publishing royalties from Wolters Kluwer. The remaining byline authors have no actual or potential conflicts of interest to disclose. Corporate author Joseph Hsu discloses consulting, speaking, and monetary payment from Smith & Nephew, and consulting, speaking and monetary payment from Stryker. The remaining corporate authors have no actual or potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The optimal surgical technique for treating tibial plateau fractures remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of arthroscopy-assisted reduction and internal fixation (ARIF) to those of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in treating tibial plateau fractures., Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to compare surgical outcomes between ARIF versus ORIF for patients with tibial plateau fractures. Relevant studies, comprising randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs, were identified through searches in Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed, and Embase databases. Risk of bias assessments were conducted using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs (RoB 2.0), Newcastle Ottawa scales for non-RCTs, and Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for case series studies. Data synthesis utilized a random-effects model meta-analysis. The primary outcome assessed was functional outcomes, with complications considered as secondary outcomes., Results: There were fifteen studies (one RCT and fourteen non-RCTs) included in this study, comprising a total of 969 participants (548 in the ARIF group and 421 in the ORIF group). Although patients in the ARIF group showed a trend towards better functional outcomes compared to the ORIF group, the difference was not statistically significant (Hospital for special surgery score, mean difference (MD) = 5.13, 95% confidence interval (CI)=-1.67 to 11.92, I²=83%; Knee society score, MD = 5.84, 95% CI=-1.18 to 12.86, I²=74%). No significant differences were noted in infection, stiffness, DVT, and overall complications between two groups. The ARIF group included ten case series studies with a total of 302 patients. The pooled mean Rasmussen Radiological Score was 16.59 (95% CI, 15.72 to 17.50), and the pooled mean Rasmussen Clinical Score was 27.38 (95% CI, 26.45 to 28.33)., Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal no significant difference in clinical outcomes and complication rates between ARIF and ORIF. Additionally, this study found that the complication rate for patients undergoing ARIF falls within previously reported ranges. This suggests that ARIF is a reliable and effective surgical option for treating tibial plateau fractures, even in cases involving high-energy trauma., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of local muscle or myocutaneous flap transfer for emergent repair of Gustilo IIIB open tibiofibular fractures. This retrospective case series study included patients with Gustilo IIIB open tibiofibular fractures treated by local muscle or myocutaneous flap transfer in Weifang People's Hospital between May 2016 and April 2021. Fifteenpatients (11 males aged 19-72 years) were included. The follow-up ranged from 8 to 24 months. The ranges of bone healing time and wound healing time were 6-17 months and 1-3 weeks, respectively. The length of hospital stay was 26 days (11-50 days). All patients reported acceptable functional recovery and satisfactory leg appearance, with Johner-Wruhs scores of excellent, good, and fair in 10, four, and one patients, respectively. The excellent-good rate was 93.3%. The complications included one case of infection and one case of nonunion. In conclusion, local muscle or myocutaneous flap transfer for emergent repair of Gustilo IIIB open tibiofibular fractures may be useful in providing adequate soft tissue coverage and fracture healing with low complication and infection rates., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is an effective treatment option for deformity correction after fracture. However, performing precise corrective osteotomy for cases with a severe varus deformity and a significant posterior slope poses a significant challenge. Three-dimensional (3D) bone model construction and patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) created from preoperative Computed tomography (CT) may be useful tools in achieving successful outcome for such cases. The present technique describes a hybrid closing-wedge distal tuberosity tibial osteotomy (Hybrid CWDTO) using two PSIs., Methods: Preoperative planning was performed in 3D with reference to the contralateral normal lower extremity CT taken preoperatively, which was then mirrored for analysis. A full-scale bone model and two PSIs were constructed based on this plan to allow for complex correction. During surgery, osteotomy was performed using these sterilized PSIs as guides., Results: Radiographic imaging showed that medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) improved from 68 to 84 degrees and posterior tibial slope (PTS) improved from 19 to 6 degrees. The standing leg radiograph showed a mechanical varus alignment improvement from 12 to 3 degrees. The 2011 Knee Society Scoring system (2011 KSS) improved from 31 to 95 in objective knee indicators, from 10 to 24 in symptoms, from 14 to 40 in patient satisfaction and from 51 to 95 in activities., Conclusion: Hybrid CWDTO using PSIs is a useful surgical technique for alignment correction post-malunion while also achieving high patient satisfaction. This can assist surgeons in treating complex deformities that are otherwise difficult to treat., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Fracture healing is usually monitored by clinical impressions and radiographs. Objective and easy methods for assessing fracture healing without radiation would be beneficial. The aim of this study was to analyse whether weight and plantar pressure while standing can be used to monitor healing of tibial or malleolar fractures and whether these parameters can discriminate between patients with and without union. Thirteen patients were longitudinally assessed during each postoperative clinical visit, of whom two developed a nonunion. Eleven matched healthy controls were assessed once. Additionally, five patients already experiencing nonunion were assessed once at the time of their nonunion diagnosis. All participants performed a standing task for ten seconds with pressure-sensing insoles. Greatest improvements were detected throughout the first three months in patients with union. However, six months after surgery, more than half of the parameters were still significantly different from those of the controls. The weight and pressure distributions did not differ between patients with or without union six months after surgery. A standing task can be used to monitor improvements in weight and pressure distribution throughout the healing process of tibial or malleolar fractures, but lacks potential to discriminate between patients with or without fracture union., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The study presents an arthroscopic transosseous suture bridge technique for repairing avulsion fractures of the tibial insertion of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), specifically tailored for adolescent patients. The technique utilizes two mini tunnels, integrating the principles of transosseous tunneling and suture bridging to ensure stable fixation while minimizing the impact on the bone bed. Over a seven-year period, 39 patients with Meyers-Mckeever types II, III, and IV tibial avulsion fractures underwent this procedure. The surgery had an average duration of 52.7 min and resulted in decreased swelling and pain within two months postoperatively. All patients achieved full knee extension and over 120° of flexion. X-rays confirmed complete fracture healing within six to 12 months, and negative anterior drawer test and Lachman test indicated stable fixation. Significant improvements were seen in Lysholm and IKDC scores. This technique offers several advantages: it is effective, stable, and particularly suitable for adolescents due to the reduced impact on the bone bed and successful avoidance of epiphyseal plate injury., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to explore the role of the three-dimension (3D) printed models in orthopedic resident training of tibial plateau fractures. A total of 41 residents from our institution were divided into two groups. The intervention group, consisting of 20 residents, had access to 3D-printed models illustrating thirteen tibial plateau fractures. In contrast, the control group, comprising 21 residents, received digital images of thirteen identical tibial plateau fractures. Evaluation of learning outcomes included the accurate identification of tibial plateau fracture patterns, deduction of traumatic mechanisms, preoperative plan, assessment time, and subjective questionnaire responses. The participants with 3D printed models scored significantly higher in both the Schatzker classification and Luo three-column classification compared to those without 3D printed models. Residents in the intervention group performed better in accuracy in deducing traumatic mechanisms compared to the control group. In addition, the sum score of preoperative plan in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Specifically, participants with 3D printed models scored higher in surgical approach choice and implants placement than these in the control group. Residents exposed to 3D printed models also spent less time to complete the assessment than those with access only to digital imaging. Subjective assessments indicated that 3D-printed models boosted confidence in fracture identification, improved preoperative plan for fracture management and enhanced the understanding in injury mechanism of tibial plateau fractures. Furthermore, residents agreed that the use of 3D-printed models heightened their interest in learning tibial plateau fractures. Therefore, the addition of 3D printed models significantly contributed to a comprehensive understanding of tibial plateau fractures, the improvement in fracture identification, inferring injury mechanisms and preoperative plan., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Closed suction drainage is typically used in orthopaedic surgery to reduce the occurrence of incision complications. However, whether drainage tubes should be routinely placed in iliac crest bone graft surgeries is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of closed suction drainage at iliac crest bone donor site on clinical prognosis., Materials and Methods: G.Power was used for a prior analysis to estimate the required sample size. 91 patients with tibial plateau fractures who underwent iliac crest harvesting and grafting between January 2019 and January 2022 were enrolled in the study. All surgeries were performed by the same experienced surgeon team. Patients were divided into close suction drainage (CSD) group and no-CSD group according to the use of drainage tube. The demographic and perioperative data of the patients were collected and analyzed., Results: There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between the two groups except that the CSD group had more people with diabetes. The use of closed suction drainage in patients undergoing iliac crest harvest can significantly reduce the incidence of incision complications without increasing pain level and extending hospital stay. However, the closed suction drainage obviously caused the increase of blood loss. More drainage tubes would cause more drainage fluid to flow out. And drainage tube placement may impose a higher financial burden on patients., Conclusion: The closed suction drainage should not be recommended routinely for iliac crest bone graft patients. Only when the patient is at high risk for infection and without severe blood loss, placing a single drainage tube is recommended., Trial Registration: This study was registered at (NCT04807062) and approved by the Ethics Committee of the participating institution (Theoretical No. 2015-003-1)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the predictive value of stress-induced hyperglycemia parameters for delayed healing after tibial fracture post-surgery., Methods: A cohort of 108 participants who underwent surgical intervention for tibial fractures caused by trauma was included in this retrospective study. Data collected from electronic medical records encompassed demographic characteristics, bone healing assessments, stress-induced hyperglycemia parameters, inflammatory markers, and stress-related hormones. Comparative analyses, correlation analyses, univariate logistic regression analyses, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were conducted to assess the predictive value of the studied parameters., Results: The delayed healing group exhibited higher levels of fasting blood glucose, postprandial glucose, and HbA1c, as well as elevated levels of inflammatory markers and stress-related hormones compared to the normal healing group. Correlation analysis and logistic regression demonstrated positive associations between stress-induced hyperglycemia parameters, inflammatory markers, stress-related hormones, and delayed union of tibial fractures (R2: 0.183 ~ 0.403;OR: 1.091 ~ 16.332). ROC curve analysis revealed high area under the curve (AUC = 0.911) values for stress-induced hyperglycemia parameters, indicating their potential as predictive markers for delayed healing. Multivariate regression analysis further substantiated the predictive capability of stress-induced hyperglycemia parameters., Conclusion: The study findings highlight the complex interplay between stress-induced hyperglycemia, inflammatory response, and bone healing outcomes in patients undergoing surgical intervention for tibial fractures. The identification of stress-induced hyperglycemia parameters as potential predictive markers for delayed healing after tibial fracture surgery offers insights for risk assessment and patient management, emphasizing the need for comprehensive understanding of these factors to optimize postoperative recovery in orthopedic patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess and compare the clinical efficacy of "Figure-8" banding and double-row anchor suture-bridge fixation techniques in the arthroscopic management of tibial intercondylar eminence avulsion fractures., Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 42 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery for tibial intercondylar eminence fractures at our institution from June 2017 to June 2022. This cohort included 20 cases treated with "Figure-8" banding and 22 cases managed using double-row anchor suture-bridge fixation. Comparative assessments were made regarding operative duration, duration of fracture consolidation, postoperative knee joint range of motion, joint stability as assessed by the Lachman test, Lysholm score, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) functional score for both treatment groups., Results: The mean follow-up duration was 13.8 months. The analysis indicated that the double-row anchor suture-bridge group had a significantly longer operative duration compared to the "Figure-8" banding group (p < 0.05). Postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans confirmed successful reduction in both groups, with fracture consolidation achieved within an average of three months. Both groups showed significant improvements in postoperative knee range of motion, joint stability, and functional scores compared to preoperative measurements (p < 0.05). During the initial two-month post-surgery, the double-row anchor suture-bridge group demonstrated superior knee joint range of motion and functional scores compared to the "Figure-8" banding group (p < 0.05); however, these differences were not statistically significant beyond three months post-surgery (p > 0.05). By the one-year postoperative mark, joint stability outcomes were comparable between the two treatment groups (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Both "Figure-8" banding and double-row anchor suture-bridge fixation techniques in the arthroscopic management of tibial intercondylar eminence avulsion fractures can achieve precise reduction and stable fixation. In addition, the figure-8 suture group has the characteristics of shorter surgery time and less cost. Notably, early postoperative knee function appears to be superior with double-row anchor suture-bridge fixation compared to "Figure-8" banding., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Cross-Union surgery for the treatment of pseudarthrosis of the tibia (PT) with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)., Methods: The clinical data of 8 children of PT with NF1 who met the selection criteria between January 2018 and December 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 boys and 3 girls, and the operative age ranged from 1.8 to 13.3 years with a median age of 3.5 years. According to Paley classification, there were 2 cases of type 2a, 2 cases of type 3, 2 cases of type 4a, and 2 cases of type 4c. There were 5 cases of first operation and 3 cases of re-fracture after previous operation. Six cases had leg length discrepancy before operation, and 2 of them had shortening over 2.0 cm. Except for 1 case of ankle fusion, the other 7 cases had ankle valgus. Preoperative coronal/sagittal angulation was recorded. Postoperative pseudarthrosis healing and refracture were observed. Leg length discrepancy and tibiotalar angle were measured and recorded before operation and at last follow-up. Inan imaging evaluation criteria was used to evaluate the imaging effect., Results: All patients were followed up 12-37 months (mean, 23.5 months). One pseudarthrosis failed to heal at 12 months after operation and healed at 3 months after reoperation, while the other pseudarthrosis healed with a healing rate of 87.5% and a healing time of 4-8 months (mean, 5.3 months). No refracture occurred during the follow-up. At last follow-up, there were 2 new cases with leg length discrepancy, which were 0.7 cm and 1.3 cm, respectively. In 2 cases with the leg length discrepancy more than 2.0 cm before operation, the improvement was from 4.1 cm and 12.6 cm to 2.1 cm and 9.0 cm, respectively. There was no significant difference in leg length discrepancy between pre- and post-operation in 8 cases ( P >0.05). At last follow-up, 6 patients still had ankle valgus, and there was no significant difference in the tibiotalar angle between pre- and post-operation ( P >0.05); the tibial coronal/sagittal angulation significantly improved when compared with that before operation ( P <0.05). According to Inan imaging evaluation criteria, 1 case was good, 6 cases were fair, and 1 case was poor., Conclusion: Cross-Union surgery is an effective method for the treatment of PT with NF1 in children, can achieve good bone healing results with a low risk of re-fracture. The surgery may not have significant effects on leg length discrepancy and ankle valgus, and further treatment may be required.

Objective: To investigate the effect of tibial rotation on knee and ankle function in the patients with extra-articular distal tibial fractures after minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) treatment., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 45 patients with extra-articular distal tibial fractures who underwent MIPO between January 2021 and December 2022. There were 20 males and 25 females, aged from 19 to 68 years (mean, 43.6 years). The causes of fractures included falling from heights in 11 cases, traffic accidents in 15 cases, bruising by a heavy object in 7 cases, and falling in 12 cases. The time from injury to hospitalization was 1-6 hours (mean, 3.7 hours). There were 28 cases of simple tibial fractures and 17 cases of tibial fractures combined with ipsilateral fibular fractures; 9 cases of open fractures and 36 cases of closed fractures. According to AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification, the distal tibial fractures were classified as type 43A1 in 12 cases, type 43A2 in 17 cases, and type 43A3 in 16 cases. During follow-up, the Lower Limb Function Score (LEFS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Score (KOOS) were used to evaluate the lower limb, ankle, and knee joint functions, respectively. The range of motion (ROM) of the knee and ankle joints was measured. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess the quality of life of the patients. The fracture healing was observed by anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films of the ankle joint. The bilateral tibial rotation angles were measured on CT and the differences between the affected and healthy sides were caculated. The difference ≥10° was judged as tibial malrotation. According to whether there was tibial malrotation, the patients were allocated into a normal group and a malrotation group for efficacy comparison., Results: The incisions of all patients healed by first intention without any early complications. All patients were followed up 12-26 months (mean, 18.6 months). Imaging re-examination showed that all fractures healed, with a healing time of 9-14 weeks (mean, 11.2 weeks). At last follow-up, the LEFS score was 60-68 (mean, 62.3); the AOFAS score was 89-97 (mean, 92.6); the KOOS score was 158-164 (mean, 161.3). The ROM of ankle was 40.0°-45.0° (mean, 42.8°) in flexion and 10.5°-22.0° (mean, 17.7°) in extension; the ROM of knee was 130.0°-135.0° (mean, 132.6°) in flexion and -8.8°- -5.0° (mean, -7.1°) in extension. The SF-36 score was 89-93 (mean, 90.7). The absolute value of difference of tibial rotation angle was 2.6°-17.3° (mean, 8.9°) in 45 patients, and the malrotation was observed in 15 patients (33.3%), including 10 cases of internal rotation and 5 cases of external rotation. There was no significant difference ( P >0.05) in the proportion of patients with fibular fractures before operation between the malrotation group and the normal group, as well as in the AOFAS score, KOOS score, LEFS score, SF-36 score, and ROMs of knee and ankle joints at last follow-up., Conclusion: The incidence of tibial malrotation after MIPO treatment for extra-articular distal tibial fractures is relatively high, but it has no significant effect on knee and ankle functions. However, careful manipulation and precise evaluation should be performed during operation to avoid the occurrence of malrotation.

Tibial fractures account for approximately 15% of all fractures, typically resulting from high-energy trauma. A critical surgical approach to treat these fractures involves the fixation of the tibia using a plate with minimally invasive osteosynthesis. The selection and fixation of the implant plate are vital for stabilizing the fracture. This selection is highly dependent on the plate's stability, which is influenced by factors like the stresses generated in the plate due to the load on the bone, as well as the plate's length, thickness, and number of screw holes. Minimizing these stresses is essential to reduce the risk of implant failure, ensuring optimal stress distribution and promoting faster, more effective bone healing. In the present work, the finite element and statistical approach was used to optimize the geometrical parameters of the implant plate made of SS 316L steel and Ti6Al4V alloy. A 3D finite element model was developed for analyzing the stresses and deformation, and implant plates were manufactured to validate the results with the help of an experiment conducted on the universal testing machine. A strong correlation was observed between the experimental and predicted results, with an average error of 8.6% and 8.55% for SS316L and Ti6Al4V alloy, respectively. Further, using the signal-to-noise ratio for the minimum stress condition was applied to identify the optimum parameters of the plate. Finally, regression models were developed to predict the stresses generated in SS316L and Ti6Al4V alloy plates with different input conditions. The statistical model helps us to develop the relation between different geometrical parameters of the Tibia implant plate. As determined by the present work, the parameter most influencing is implant plate length. This outcome will be used to select the implant for a specific patient, resulting in a reduction in implant failure post-surgery., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.)

Introduction: Staged treatment of high-energy periarticular tibia fractures involves temporization with closed reduction and external fixation, aiming to provide early reduction and stabilization while mitigating soft-tissue complications. Various external fixator configurations exist, including those that use a "multipin" clamp capable of holding multiple pins but limiting pin placement to a single plane. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes and associated costs of standard and multipin outrigger clamp constructs in tibial plateau and pilon fractures treated with temporary external fixation. We hypothesized that use of the multipin clamp may be associated with poorly aligned reductions and increased complication rates., Methods: A retrospective review of 100 patients with periarticular tibial plateau (AO/OTA: 41B/C) or pilon (43B/C) fracture at a Level 1 trauma center from 2014 to 2023 was conducted. Patient, injury, and complication characteristics were collected. Patients were categorized based on the external fixator clamp used: multipin (MP) or standard (S). Clinical outcomes and complication rates were assessed. Radiographic alignment was evaluated by the change in anterior and lateral distal tibial angles, and sagittal plane translation for pilon fractures, and medial and posterior proximal tibial angles for plateau fractures., Results: 70 patients underwent standard (25 pilon, 45 plateau) and 30 multipin (10 pilon, 20 plateau) external fixation. MP and S groups showed no notable differences in demographics or injury characteristics. Both groups demonstrated comparable complication rates and radiological alignment outcomes, with no notable differences observed. MP constructs were more costly than standard systems., Conclusion: In this retrospective study of 100 patients, there was no difference in radiographic or clinical outcomes between the standard frame and multipin frame groups. Typical costs for the multipin frame constructs were $635 to $1249 more than the standard frame constructs., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

Background: Most existing animal models of acute compartment syndrome (ACS) rely on exogenous manipulation of intra-compartmental pressures to model ACS. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the endogenous effect of a blast injury on porcine lower leg intra-compartmental pressures (ICP)., Methods: The hindlimb of juvenile Landrace pigs was fractured at the diaphyseal tibia and subjected to blasts of compressed air to mimic a blast injury. Injured and control legs underwent pre-operative continuous ICP monitoring. At 4.5 h post injury, the fracture was stabilized followed by closure of the anterior compartment fascia (continued compartment pressure model, CCPM) or four compartment fasciotomy. Pressure measurements were made after operative fixation. Select pigs in CCPM were harvested between 48 and 72 h post-injury to evaluate the duration of ICP elevation., Results: Post-injury, the model created significantly elevated ICP compared to control limbs (54.5 ± 18.2 vs. 18.2 ± 4.9 mmHg; p < 0.001). Operative fixation and anterior compartment fascial closure further increased the ICP (Mean: 87.4 ± 42.5 mmHg) relative to the pre-operative state (p = 0.037). Fasciotomy returned baseline compartment pressures (Mean: 13.7 ± 10.2 mmHg) which were equivalent to control limbs (p = 0.117). Pressure measurements at the time of delayed harvest (48-72 h) demonstrated that elevated ICP persisted following injury (69.7 ± 55.12 mmHg)., Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that a pilot porcine blast model elevates ICP comparable to existing animal models of compartment syndrome without exogenous ICP manipulation. ICP remained elevated at 48-72 h in the absence of fasciotomy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of retrograde tibial intramedullary nail (RTN) in addressing nonunion in the distal one-fourth of the tibia., Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive patients who were treated with RTN for nonunion in the distal one-fourth of the tibia between December 2020 and August 2023. Data regarding age, sex, injury mechanism, fracture type, initial fixation method, nonunion duration and type, risk factors, surgical duration, hospital stay, time to bone union, ankle function at final follow-up, and any complications were extracted from hospital records and analysed., Results: Five patients in total were included, with previous treatments comprising locking plates and/or external fixation. The mean duration of RTN surgery was 94.0 ± 13.7 min, and mean duration of hospital stay was 9.8 ± 1.9 days. Patients were monitored for 10-18 months post RTN, achieving complete bone healing within a mean of 4.8 months. At the latest follow-up, the mean American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 84.4 ± 6.8 (range, 77-95). No complications, such as infection, reoperation, implant issues, rotational deformity, or shortening were reported., Conclusion: RTN emerges as a dependable, minimally invasive, and safe treatment modality for managing nonunion in the distal one-fourth of the tibia., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestThe authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Pediatric open tibial fractures represent a challenging subset of injuries with limited literature to guide management. For children, the epidemiology, management, and outcomes of tibial-shaft fractures have not been fully described., Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Trauma Quality Improvement Program Data Bank from 2017-2020 was used to query demographics, injury patterns, and management strategies in pediatric open tibial fractures. Fractures were compared by age group (0-5, 6-12, 13-17 years) and type (I/II vs type III). A subgroup analysis was performed on patients with type III open fractures., Results: A total of 3480 open tibial fractures were identified, 3049 were type I/II, and 431 were type III. Motor vehicle accidents (48%) were the most common mechanism of injury (P < 0.001). Subanalysis of 128 type IIIb/c tibial fractures revealed local flap reconstruction (25%) skin graft (25%), and free tissue transfer were the most common management strategies and soft-tissue coverage was achieved after 162 hours (interquartile range = 109-231). Negative pressure wound therapy was utilized in 63% of cases but used in isolation in only 23% of cases. Immediate fixation with intramedullary nailing was more frequently used in the 13-17 age group while plate fixation was more commonly used in younger age groups., Conclusions: Soft-tissue management patterns following open tibial shaft fractures mirror those seen in adult cohorts. The median time to achieve soft-tissue coverage exceeds the traditional 72-hour target advocated by Godina. Age-based variation is seen in orthopedic management of these fractures based on growth maintenance concerns., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: No financial discloses or conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: A variable pitch locking screw is intended to provide interfragmentary compression combined with fixed angle stability of locking plate constructs. The objective of this study was to compare variable pitch locking screws (3.5-mm KreuLock Ti locking compression screws, Arthrex Inc., Naples, FL) with standard locking screws (from the same manufacturer) in bicortical fixation scenarios in cadaver bone by assessing (1) interfragmentary compression and plate-bone compression and (2) construct biomechanical stability., Methods: Nine matched pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens with an average age of 67.2 years (range, 37-83) were used. Interfragmentary compression and plate-bone compression associated with insertion of single bicortical screws were compared between the variable pitch and standard locking screws at increasing levels of torque. The specimens tested were distal tibiae having a simulated longitudinal fracture. Additionally, fibulae were osteotomized to create a stable longitudinal fracture pattern and were fixed with a 5-screw plate construct with either all variable pitch or all standard locking screws. One of the 5 screws was placed across the osteotomy without lagging. Fibulae were tested cyclically with axial with torsional loading to compare displacements, rotation, and loads at failure or tested in 4-point bending to compare construct stiffness and maximum force to failure., Results: Interfragmentary and plate-bone compression forces in the distal tibia model varied across specimens but were significantly higher with variable pitch locking screws compared with standard locking screws [512 N (SD = 324 N) vs. 79 N (SD = 64 N), P = 0.002, and 242 N (SD = 119 N) vs. 104 N (SD = 123 N), P = 0.028, respectively]. In cyclic loading of fibula constructs, no significant differences were detected in construct axial displacement or angular displacement (P > 0.05). In 4-point bending, no differences were detected in maximum force or bending stiffness (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: Variable pitch locking screws produced interfragmentary compression between cortices and plate-bone compression that was greater than that produced by standard locking screws. In a stable bicortical fibula fixation scenario under external loading, the stability of variable pitch locking screw constructs was similar to constructs with standard locking screws., Competing Interests: M. Aynardi is a paid consultant for Arthrex, Stryker, and Zimmer Biomet and is the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society vice chair of the research committee. For the remaining authors, no conflicts of interest are declared., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To determine the association between postoperative enoxaparin use and the risk of requiring surgery for nonunion in patients treated with intramedullary nailing for midshaft fractures of the tibia., Design: Retrospective cohort analysis., Setting: Data were sourced from the PearlDiver national database., Patient Selection Criteria: Patients were identified through the PearlDiver database by using Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes. Included patients had undergone intramedullary nailing for midshaft fractures of the tibia between 2015 and 2020 and subsequently underwent revision surgery due to nonunion., Outcome Measures and Comparisons: The primary outcome measured in this study was the rate of nonunion following intramedullary nailing for the different types of tibial shaft fractures (closed, Type I/II open, Type III open). For each fracture subtype, the study compared nonunion rates between those who received enoxaparin in the postoperative period and those who did not receive enoxaparin at any time during the first 6 weeks postoperatively. Factors such as the timing and duration of enoxaparin therapy and demographic variables were also considered., Results: The study included 16,986 patients, average age was 49.2 years (SD 17.3); 43.1% were female. Five hundred four patients required revision surgery for nonunion (3.4%). Among patients who did not receive enoxaparin, the nonunion rates were 1.6%, 3.9%, and 6.9% for closed, Type I/II open, and Type III open fractures, respectively. For patients who received enoxaparin within the first 2 weeks, the nonunion rates were 2.6%, 4.7%, and 7.9% for closed (RR = 1.67, P < 0.0001), Type I/II open (RR = 1.21, P < 0.0001), and Type III open (RR = 1.17, P = 0.355) fractures, respectively. Logistic regression confirmed enoxaparin was independently associated with nonunion (odds ratios [OR] = 1.75, P = 0.0013 for closed fractures; OR = 1.51, P = 0.034 for Type I/II open fractures). Tobacco use was also a contributing factor (OR = 2.43, P < 0.0001 for closed fractures; OR = 2.00, P < 0.0001 for Type I/II open fractures; OR = 2.04, P = 0.0008 for Type III open fractures)., Conclusions: The postoperative use of enoxaparin was associated with an elevated risk of nonunion in patients treated with intramedullary nailing for fractures of the tibial shaft., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Correction of pseudoinstability and tibial malalignment by re-establishment of the pretraumatic tibial axis., Indications: Posttraumatic valgus malalignment accompanied by pseudoinstability., Contraindications: Infections, significant inhibition of movement and multidirectional ligament instability., Surgical Technique: Standard anterolateral approach to the proximal tibial head. Lateral open wedge high tibial osteotomy above (supra) the tibiofibular joint and opening until the pseudoinstability of the lateral collateral ligament is levelled., Postoperative Management: Partial weight bearing for 4 weeks, after radiological control full body weight loading is allowed. Implant removal after full bony consolidation., Results: There is limited evidence in the current literature but the available results show good results in 70% of the cases in long-term follow-up., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Surgical reconstruction of large post-traumatic tibial bone and soft tissue defects following high-energy trauma presents a significant challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. This study aimed to evaluate the functional and radiological outcomes of large post-traumatic tibial bone and soft tissue defects managed by single or double-level bone transport using the Ilizarov technique., Material & Methods: 13 patients who underwent treatment for large tibial bone defects (Gustillo IIIa, IIIb, IIIc) along with soft tissue defects with Ilizarov from 2010 to 2020 A.D were included. ASAMI functional and radiological outcomes were assessed at the final follow-up to report the outcome., Results: The mean age was 27.38 (18-48). An average bone defect was 7.69 cm (5-13 cm). Based upon the Gustillo-Anderson classification (GA), 2 (15%) of them were GA - 3 A, 7 (54%) were GA - 3B, and 4 (31%) were GA - 3 C. The average time of distraction was 11.76 weeks (8-16). The average time for the union was 37 weeks (27-48 weeks). The average bone lengthening was 7.69 cm (5-13 cm). The mean final leg length discrepancy (LLD) at the final follow-up was 1.96 cm (0-4 cm). The primary union was achieved in eight cases, and five required bone grafting at the docking site. Using the ASAMI (Association for the Study of the Method of Ilizarov) scoring system, the functional results were excellent in six and good in seven cases, while the bony results were excellent in eight, good in four and fair in one case., Conclusion: Good to excellent functional and radiological scores (ASAMI) can be expected when using the Ilizarov frame for simultaneous treatment of the large tibial bone and soft tissue defect when this method is applied with correct principles., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of delayed reconstruction of the perforator pedicle propeller flap after the induced membrane technique in the treatment of Gustilo IIIB open distal tibial fracture, and to evaluate the clinical outcome and complications of two different perforator pedicle propeller flaps.Thirty-four patients with Gustilo IIIB open distal tibial fractures treated by the induced membrane technique and delayed reconstruction of two different perforator pedicle propeller flaps from May 2017 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the different kinds of perforator pedicle propeller flaps covered. The operation required two stages. The Radiographic Union Score for Tibial fractures (RUST) was used to evaluate the healing of the tibial bone defect. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was used to evaluate ankle function. The complications associated with the technique were recorded.The number of serial debridements, excluding those performed during emergency and final operations, was a mean of 2.28 ± 0.83 in the PAPF group. The PAPF group had a mean bone defect length of 6.76 ± 0.69 cm, the median healing time of 13.11 ± 0.96 months, RUST score 12.68 ± 1.63, and AOFAS score of 84.12 ± 6.38. On the other hand the PTAPF group's mean bone defect length was 6.73 ± 0.95 cm, the median healing time 12.63 ± 1.46 months, RUST score 13.73 ± 1.53 and AOFAS score 82.79 ± 5.49. There were no observed significant differences the two groups in the number of serial debridements, bone defect length, bone union time, RUST score, or AOFAS score (p > 0.05). Flap size ranged from 9 × 6 cm 2 to 14 × 7 cm 2 in the PAPF group and from 9 × 6 cm 2 to 13 × 7 cm 2 in the PTAPF group. There were no severe complications such as flap-related complications or amputation. The differences in complications in the two groups were not statistically significant.In cases of severe open tibial fracture, the reconstructive method is important. When delayed reconstruction is inevitable, surgeons should first perform radical debridement, followed by vacuum sealing drainage as a bridging therapy; both PAPF and PTAPF can be considered for definitive soft tissue coverage., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Background: Previous studies have shown the risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis to be high following tibial plateau fracture surgery. Several investigations have examined the risk of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) following tibial plateau fracture treatment, but the risk of TKA in relation to the general population in Sweden has not previously been explored., Aim: To determine the incidence of TKA following surgical treatment of tibial plateau fractures and compare it with that of an age-matched population in Sweden., Methods: A total of 349 tibial plateau fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation between 2002 and 2010 were identified from local hospital registers using diagnosis and surgical codes. The cohort was cross-matched with the Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register to determine which patients had been treated with TKA within 10 years of fracture surgery. The incidence of primary TKA in the age-matched population in Sweden was obtained from the National Patient Register for comparison., Results: Mortality-adjusted prevalence of TKA at 10 years following fracture surgery was 6.7% (relative risk (RR) = 5.5) and peaked during the second postoperative year (RR=19.3). High age was independently associated with increased risk of TKA (P=0.004); no other examined patient factors were significantly associated with TKA., Conclusion: The overall prevalence of TKA at 10 years following tibial plateau fracture surgery is low at 6.7%, however the risk is many times greater than that of the age-matched population in Sweden. The majority of patients require TKA within a few years of fracture treatment, hence post-traumatic osteoarthritis may arguably have not been the reason for TKA as this would have taken longer to develop., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tibial plateau fractures are mostly complex and surgically demanding joint fractures, which require a comprehensive understanding of the fracture morphology, ligamentous and neurovascular injuries, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic options for an optimal clinical outcome. Therefore, a standardised and structured approach is required. The success of the treatment of tibial plateau fractures relies on the interdisciplinary cooperation between surgical and conservative physicians in an outpatient and inpatient setting, physical therapists, patients and service providers (health insurance companies, statutory accident insurance, pension providers). On behalf of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU), the German Trauma Society (DGU) and the Society for Arthroscopy and Joint Surgery (AGA), under the leadership of the Fracture Committee of the German Knee Society (DKG), a guideline for tibial plateau fractures was created, which was developed in several voting rounds as part of a Delphi process. Based on the current literature, this guideline is intended to make clear recommendations and outline the most important treatment steps in diagnostics, therapy and follow-up treatment. Additionally, 25 statements were revised by the authors in several survey rounds using the Likert scale in order to reach a final consensus., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Analyze the current evidence on the treatment and outcomes of hyperextension fractures of the tibial plateau and propose a treatment algorithm., Methods: An electronic search at PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar database from December 24th, 2023 to June 26th, 2024 was carried out. The terms for the database search included "Hyperextension AND Tibial plateau fractures" and "Reversed Tibial Slope AND Tibial Plateau Fractures". The research inclusion criteria were scientific articles written in English that addressed hyperextension fractures of the tibial plateau. Studies that have not specifically addressed hyperextension fractures of the tibial plateau or published in a different language than English were excluded. Considering that hyperextension fractures of the tibial plateau are relatively rare and the literature is scarce, studies with all levels of evidence were included. Critical analysis of titles, abstracts, inclusion and exclusion criteria of all potentially eligible articles was performed. A treatment algorithm based on the literature and authors perspective was proposed., Results: The search identified 34 potentially eligible studies. After application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22 articles were carefully analyzed in terms of the most relevant topics related to hyperextension fractures of the tibial plateau. An analysis of the risk of bias of the selected studies was performed according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I)., Conclusion: There is no consensus regarding the gold standard treatment method for this challenging fracture pattern. The hyperextension mechanism is a predictor of worse functional outcome and life quality comparing to other types of tibial plateau fractures., Study Design: Systematic review of the literature (Level of evidence:1)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest REP has received honoraria from Zimmer Biomet, Johnson & Johnson, and Smith & Nephew for educational activities. VG has received honoraria from Zimmer Biomet for educational activities. RP has received honoraria from Johnson & Johnson for educational activities. FB and MK declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Children with a tibial shaft fracture often present with valgus malalignment, even when anatomical reduction had been achieved at the fracture site. Pediatric bony structure has more elastic bones than that of adults, it can cause bowing deformity. Therefore, we evaluated pediatric tibial shaft fracture for the presence of bowing deformity, associated risk factors, and its clinical significance., Hypothesis: There is an overlooked bowing deformity in pediatric tibial shaft fracture., Patients and Methods: Fifty-seven tibial shaft fracture patients aged 2 to 15 years with Risser stage 0 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicoradiologic factors and radiographs taken within 3 post-traumatic months and at 2 years were assessed. To evaluate the tibial bowing deformity, the tibial interphyseal angle and tibial shaft angle were measured, and their differences were calculated as a tibial bowing angle., Results: Multivariate analysis revealed the tibial shaft fracture with fibular involvement is significantly associated with a higher initial tibial bowing angle (valgus deformity). The tibial bowing angle did not change over 2-year follow-up. A high initial tibial bowing angle (≥ 5°) was a significant risk factor for the persistence of valgus malalignment., Discussion: Pediatric tibial shaft fractures with/without fibular involvement carry the risk of valgus bowing deformity, which may not develop during post-traumatic growth but may be present at the time of injury. The risk is high if the tibial fracture is accompanied by a fibular fracture. This tibial deformity presents limited remodeling potential at 2-year follow-up., Level of Evidence: IV; retrospective study., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Patients who sustain a tibial plateau fracture (TPF) have a higher risk of receiving total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Rarely, TKA is used as acute treatment for TPFs. This study aimed to compare both acute and delayed TKA following TPF with matched patients undergoing elective TKA for osteoarthritis., Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted including patients with either acute TKA as the primary treatment for TPF, or unplanned delayed TKA due to posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Both groups were matched to controls undergoing TKA for osteoarthritis. Questionnaires were completed cross-sectionally. Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score - Physical Function Short Form (KOOS-PS), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), EQ-5D-5L, and complications were compared., Results: Thirty-four TPF patients (12 acute TKA, 22 delayed TKA) were matched 1:1. Mean age was 67.2 ± 9.9 years, 82% was female, and mean follow-up was 5.0 ± 2.9 years. No differences were found for the acute group compared to their controls (median KOOS-PS 73.1 vs. 69.3, p = 0.977; median OKS 43 vs. 45, p = 0.246; median EQ-5D-5L 0.87 vs. 1.00, p = 0.078). In the delayed group, scores were inferior compared to their controls (median KOOS-PS 63.9 vs 78.0, p = 0.003; median OKS 39 vs 44, p = 0.001; median EQ-5D-5L 0.81 vs 0.87, p = 0.008). Complications showed no significant differences., Conclusion: Acute TKA for TPF shows no difference to a matched group of elective TKA, but delayed TKA following TPF yields worse results at mean 5-year follow-up. This suggests that TPFs in patients with a high risk of ultimately requiring TKA may benefit from primary treatment with TKA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare the mechanical behavior of straight (STRT) and pre-bent (BENT) I-Loc angle-stable interlocking nails (AS-ILN) used for stabilization of canine mid-diaphyseal tibial fractures., Study Design: In vitro experimental study., Sample Population: Tibial gap fracture models (n = 5/group)., Methods: Tibial models simulating a comminuted mid-diaphyseal fracture were stabilized with either a STRT or BENT I-Loc AS-ILN. Bent nails were contoured to match the 10° tibial recurvatum of a mid-size dog. Constructs were subjected to cyclic eccentric compressive loads followed by ramp load until failure. Construct compliance, maximum compressive load and resistive torque, yield load and angular deformation at 450 N were statistically compared using t-tests (p < .05). Failure modes were described., Results: Compliance was 45% lower in BENT than STRT groups (p < .0001). Constructs in the BENT group sustained ~20% and 34% greater maximum and yield loads, respectively, than STRT constructs. Maximum resistive torques were similar between groups (p = .16). At 450 N, sagittal plane angular deformation increased from 0° to 4° in procurvatum (STRT group) and decreased from 10° to 8° in recurvatum (BENT group-p < .0001). Construct yield failure occurred at the nail isthmus in both groups., Conclusion: These results demonstrated that, in a tibial gap fracture model, pre-bending I-Loc AS-ILNs provided mechanical advantages by increasing their ability to resist bending resulting from eccentric compressive loads., Clinical Significance: Pre-bending may reduce the occurrence of tibial nail yield failure. Surgeons should therefore consider pre-bending tibial I-Loc nails to match the bone anatomical recurvatum prior to implantation., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes between bioabsorbable and metal screw fixation for distal tibial physeal fracture in children and adolescents, radiographically and clinically., Methods: This study included consecutive 67 children and adolescents who underwent open reduction and internal fixation using metal or bioabsorbable screws for the distal tibia physeal fracture. All patients underwent preoperative radiographs, three-dimensional computed tomography scans, and postoperative follow-up teleradiogram. Patients were divided into metal (N = 40) and bioabsorbable groups (N = 27). We compared the surgical outcomes between the two groups in terms of clinical and radiographic outcomes, length of hospital stays, and medical cost., Results: Follow-up duration were significantly longer in the metal group than that in the bioabsorbable group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of growth arrest after surgery and the scores of the Oxford Ankle and Foot Questionnaire between the two groups. However, the total hospital stay was significantly longer in the metal group (5.2 ± 4.8 days) compared to the bioabsorbable group (2.6 ± 0.5 days). Medical costs were significantly higher in the bioabsorbable group than in the metal group with a difference of 397 US dollars., Conclusions: The use of bioabsorbable screws exhibited therapeutic effects equivalent to that of metal screws for pediatric distal tibia physeal fractures regarding clinical and radiological outcomes. Moreover, it had the advantage of avoiding the need for repeated general anesthesia and secondary operation for implant removal. Therefore, the use of bioabsorbable screws may be a favourable surgical option for treating pediatric fractures., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)

Objectives: This study compared outcomes of locked plating (LP) versus intramedullary nailing (IMN) techniques for treatment of extra-articular proximal-third tibia fractures., Methods: Data Sources: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if they compared LP and IMN fixation for proximal one third tibial shaft fractures without articular extension or with simple articular extension into the tibial plateau. Minimum 1 year of clinical and radiographic follow up was used., Data Extraction: Outcomes assessed included operative duration, postoperative knee range of motion (ROM), union outcomes (time to union, nonunion, malunion, delayed union), and incidence of postoperative complications (superficial and deep infection, secondary surgical intervention, compartment syndrome)., Data Synthesis: Separate random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for each outcome. For categorical data, relative risks were used whereas the standardized mean difference was used for continuous variables, with corresponding 95 % confidence intervals., Results: 7 studies were included reporting the outcomes of 319 patients treated with LP and 300 treated with IMN. IMN fixation had significantly shorter time to union (p = 0.049) and lower risk for superficial infection (p = 0.028). However, LP conferred a significantly lower risk for malunion (p = 0.017) and postoperative compartment syndrome (p = 0.018)., Conclusion: IMN demonstrated significantly shorter time to union and lower risk of superficial infection when treating extra-articular proximal tibia fractures, while LP fixation demonstrated significantly lower risk for malunion and postoperative compartment syndrome. Although successful results can be achieved with good technique in LP and IMN fixation, a significant complication profile exists with these fractures regardless of construct choice., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None to disclose, (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Tibial tubercle avulsion fractures (TTAFs) represent 0.4% to 2.7% of pediatric physeal injuries. These injuries are thought to confer a risk of acute compartment syndrome (ACS), and these patients are often admitted for compartment monitoring and, in many cases, undergo prophylactic fasciotomy. This study sought to review our institution's experience with TTAF and associated compartment syndrome in pediatric patients., Methods: All patients aged 8 to 18 years with TTAF at our institution from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, injury mechanism, fracture morphology, and postinjury course were reviewed. ACS was diagnosed by clinical exam or necessitating therapeutic compartment fasciotomy., Results: A total of 49 TTAFs in 47 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 14.5 ± 1.2 years (range: 11 to 17), and males were significantly older than females (14.6 ± 1.1 vs 13.3 ± 1.3 y, P = 0.01). The average body mass index was 27.1 ± 7.0, and males had a significantly lower body mass index than females (26.3 ± 6.5 vs 34.1 ± 8.5, P = 0.03). Basketball was the most common mechanism of injury (49%), followed by soccer (13%), football (11%), trampoline (6%), fall (6%), jumping (4%), lacrosse (4%), running (4%), and softball (2%). The Ogden fracture types were as follows: I: 10%; II: 16%; III: 41%; IV: 24%; V: 8%. Thirty-four patients (69%) were admitted to the hospital for at least one night after presentation. Forty-six (96%) underwent surgical fixation an average of 3.5 days after injury. No patients developed ACS during their post-injury or postoperative course. Three patients underwent the removal of hardware. No other complications were observed. The average follow-up duration was 238 days., Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the risk of ACS in pediatric patients with TTAF may be small enough to allow for same-day discharge after diagnosis or operative management in patients deemed to be sufficiently low risk by clinical judgment., Level of Evidence: Level III-retrospective comparative study., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Defining the injury-force mechanism in tibial plateau fractures (TPFs) could help define implant type and position, as well as soft tissues at risk. The aim of this study was to provide an analysis of injury-force-mechanisms in TPFs, including axial rotation., Methods: The injury-force mechanism was determined for 203 fractures that presented over a period of 3.5 years. Fractures were classified as flexion-varus/valgus/neutral or (hyper)-extension-varus/valgus/neutral by observing articular depression area on CT/MRI. Fractures were subclassified into rotation-neutral, internal- or external-rotation according to the Gerdy-tibial-tuberosity-surgical-epicondylar-axis (GTT-SEA) angle. Soft-tissue injury was documented if MRI was performed., Results: Flexion-valgus was the most common injury-force mechanism (n = 85, 41.9%), followed by extension-valgus (n = 57, 28.1%). Other mechanisms were less common (9.4% extension-varus, 5.9% flexion-neutral, 4.9% flexion-varus, 3.9% hyperextension-valgus, 3.4% extension-neutral and 2.5% hyperextension-varus). The GTT-SEA angle could be measured in 194 (95.6%) of 203 classified patients, revealing internal rotation in 83 (42.8%) and external rotation in 53 (27.3%). No significant difference was found between injury-force mechanism type and axial rotation group (P = 0.964) or extent of rotation (H(8) = 7.116, P = 0.524). Only 41 (21.1%) of 194 fully classified fractures underwent MRI, all revealing soft-tissue injury to some extent. High-grade posterolateral injuries occurred mainly in rotated TPF., Conclusion: Our results describe the common forms of axial rotation present in TPF and explore their association with injury-force mechanism and soft-tissue injury. Applying the injury-force mechanism patterns and addressing rotational forces could, together with preoperative MRI and intra-operative stability assessment, help determine the need to surgically address associated soft-tissue injury., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ogden type V tibial tubercle avulsion fracture is an unusual type of physial injury. Thus, little is known about its mechanism of injury and treatment. The type of osteosynthesis is variable and depends on the experience of the surgeon. We commonly used cancellous screws fixation combined with tension band wiring for displaced fracture of the anterior tibial tuberosity., Case Presentation: The present manuscript describes a case of a Han nationality 13-year-old boy who presented with severe pain of the left knee, which began after landing following a high jump. He had no significant past medical history apart from a high body mass index of 30.3. Radiographs revealed that he had an unusual Ogden type V tibial tubercle avulsion fracture. He was treated by open reduction and combined fixation with cannulated screws and tension-band wiring. After 3 months, the fracture healed without any complications or knee symptoms with full range of motion. He underwent reoperation for symptomatic hardware, which was removed at 5 months after initial surgery, and returned to his prior level of sporting activity at 1 year follow-up., Conclusion: Our case suggests that excellent functional outcome could be achievable by open reduction with the combination of internal fixation and tension-band wiring for Ogden type V tibial tubercle avulsion fracture. This type of osteosynthesis could not only achieve anatomical reduction and stable fixation for such fractures, but also avoid further damage to the proximal tibial epiphysis, which prevents serious complications, such difference in leg length., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

BACKGROUND Infection control and reconstruction of bone and soft tissue are essential for treating infected nonunion. Continuous local antibiotic perfusion (CLAP) is a drug delivery system that continuously delivers antibiotics at the required concentration, area, and duration. This case report describes the instance of infected nonunion in which infection eradication and bone union were achieved using CLAP and synthetic bone grafting while retaining the implant. CASE REPORT The case was a 31-year-old woman with an infected nonunion. After she underwent osteosynthesis using nail for open fractures of tibia and fibula, bone union remained unachieved, and she exhibited skin defects and draining of pus. Following the removal of the infected granulation tissue from the bone defects, 2 bone marrow needles, serving as intramedullary antibiotic perfusion (iMAP) pins, were inserted into the medullary cavity tibia. A double-lumen tube was placed in the subcutaneous pocket as the intra-soft tissue antibiotic perfusion (iSAP) tube. No bone mobility was observed around the bone defect and nail, and replacement of the implant was not necessary. Beta-tricalcium phosphate was transplanted to the bone defect, and negative pressure wound therapy was applied. Gentamicin was injected continuously through iMAP and iSAP. Finally, the infection was eradicated, and cortical bone bridging was observed without additional surgery or adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS CLAP emerges as a viable treatment option for infected nonunion, as it enables the delivery of antibiotics at a concentration sufficient for infection control while providing the surgeon with flexibility to design the area, dosage, and duration of antibiotic delivery.