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Infected fracture nonunions often require prolonged treatment and recovery courses. It is unclear whether the bacterial microbiome influences the time to healing as well as the eradication of infection. The goals of this study are (1) to assess the bacterial microbiome affecting infected nonunions and (2) to evaluate the effects of bacterial speciation on associated outcomes. Between 2006 and 2022, data from 551 adult patients from a single academic institution who presented with a fracture nonunion were analyzed retrospectively for infection. All patients underwent revision surgery with three sets of cultures obtained intra-operatively. Patients with significant intra-operative cultures were grouped into gram-positive and gram-negative culture cohorts. These patients were managed with a standardized protocol involving surgical debridement, nonunion site fixation, and culture-directed antibiotic treatment. Primary outcome was time to fracture union. Secondary outcomes included number of re-operations and eventual amputation or reconstructive surgery. 56 nonunion patients (10 %) were diagnosed with an infected nonunion (44 g-positive, 12 g-negative). Of these, 3 g-positive patients received an amputation or arthroplasty procedure prior to fracture union, and seven were lost to follow-up. There were no significant differences in age, gender, or nonunion site between cohorts. Most nonunions occurred in the lower extremity. The most common bacteria were staph species (54.3 %). 36 g-positive and 10 g-negative patients achieved fracture union. Time to union was on average 158.4 days longer in the gram-negative cohort—but did not reach statistical significance (446.8 days gram-positive, 662.3 days gram-negative, p = 0.69). There was no difference in re-operation rates (1.9 % gram-positive, 2.2 % gram-negative, p = 0.84). Patients with infected nonunions had wide-ranging bacterial contamination that were treated successfully using a standardized protocol. However, patients with any gram-negative culture trended toward a delay in time to union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging is a surgical tool with increasing applications in various surgical disciplines. During nonunion resection, the assessment of bone vascularization is currently based only on the surgeon’s experience. We introduced the use of indocyanine green (ICG) angiography in orthopedics. The aims of the study: 1) to use ICG fluorescence angiography to evaluate the bone perfusion in patients with atrophic nonunion, where poor or absent ICG flow reveals avascular tissue associated with bone necrosis requiring surgical resections; 2) to describe our case series of patients operated with this technique. Methods. We used ICG angiography in patients operated for tibial nonunion resection. We administered 0.5 mg/kg of ICG powder dissolved in sterile saline at 2.5 mg/ml concentration. The time from the injection to the beginning of appreciation of the green dye was measured. Non-viable bone was resected accordingly. Patient underwent routine follow-up. We enrolled all the suitable patients operated from April 2019 to June 2021 and matched three control patients for each of them. We reviewed their medical records and noted any relevant data. Results. We enrolled 4 cases and 12 controls, all male. The mean age was 30.8±6.9 years. The mean duration from trauma to surgery was 10.5 (0.7-25.0) months. The mean duration of surgery was 190.8±40.3 min. The defect size was 4.89±2.03 cm. ICG allowed rapid visualization of bone vascularization after 25-45 sec. No adverse events were observed. The mean external fixation time was 11.8±5.0 months. The mean external fixation index was 2.69±1.10. Seven patients needed a surgical revision during treatment. Three patients underwent reintervention after frame removal. There are no statistically significant differences between cases and controls. Conclusions. The research findings of this study are limited by the small number of observations. However, this technique is safe, easy, and rapid and may contribute to intraoperative decision of how much to resect. Using ICG could objectively demonstrate bone perfusion to help surgeons to avoid massive bone defects.

Aims: Fractures of the humeral shaft represent 3% to 5% of all fractures. The most common treatment for isolated humeral diaphysis fractures in the UK is non-operative using functional bracing, which carries a low risk of complications, but is associated with a longer healing time and a greater risk of nonunion than surgery. There is an increasing trend to surgical treatment, which may lead to quicker functional recovery and lower rates of fracture nonunion than functional bracing. However, surgery carries inherent risk, including infection, bleeding, and nerve damage. The aim of this trial is to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of functional bracing compared to surgical fixation for the treatment of humeral shaft fractures. Methods: The HUmeral SHaft (HUSH) fracture study is a multicentre, prospective randomized superiority trial of surgical versus non-surgical interventions for humeral shaft fractures in adult patients. Participants will be randomized to receive either functional bracing or surgery. With 334 participants, the trial will have 90% power to detect a clinically important difference for the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire score, assuming 20% loss to follow-up. Secondary outcomes will include function, pain, quality of life, complications, cost-effectiveness, time off work, and ability to drive. Discussion: The results of this trial will provide evidence regarding clinical and cost-effectiveness between surgical and non-surgical treatment of humeral shaft fractures. Ethical approval has been obtained from East of England – Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee. Publication is anticipated to occur in 2024. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(4):343–349.

Abstract Objective To assess the radiographic outcomes, clinical outcomes and complications of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) with and without posterior pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) in the treatment of severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (sOVCF) with nonunion. Methods This study involved 51 patients with sOVCF with nonunion who underwent PKP or PPSF + KP. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, volume of injected bone cement, operation costs and hospital stays were all recorded. In addition, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were assessed separately for each patient before and after surgery. Results Compared with the PPSF + KP group, the PKP group had shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospital stays and fewer operation costs. However, cobb’s angle improvement (13.4 ± 4.3° vs. 21.4 ± 5.3°), VWR improvement ratio (30.4 ± 11.5% vs. 52.8 ± 12.7%), HA (34.9 ± 9.0% vs. 63.7 ± 7.6%) and HM (28.4 ± 11.2% vs. 49.6 ± 7.7%) improvement ratio were all higher in PPSF + KP group than that in PKP group. In addition, the ODI index and VAS score in both groups were significantly decreased at the postoperative and final follow-up. PKP group's postoperative VAS score was significantly lower than that in PPSF + KP group, but there was no statistically significant difference in VAS score at the last follow-up. Conclusion PKP and PPSF + KP can both effectively relieve the pain associated with sOVCF with nonunion. PPSF + KP can achieve more satisfactory vertebral reduction effects compared to PKP. However, PKP was less invasive and it has more advantages in shortening operation time and hospital stay, as well as decreasing intraoperative blood loss and operation costs.

Objective: To assess the radiographic outcomes, clinical outcomes and complications of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) with and without posterior pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) in the treatment of severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (sOVCF) with nonunion. Methods: This study involved 51 patients with sOVCF with nonunion who underwent PKP or PPSF + KP. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, volume of injected bone cement, operation costs and hospital stays were all recorded. In addition, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were assessed separately for each patient before and after surgery. Results: Compared with the PPSF + KP group, the PKP group had shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospital stays and fewer operation costs. However, cobb's angle improvement (13.4 ± 4.3° vs. 21.4 ± 5.3°), VWR improvement ratio (30.4 ± 11.5% vs. 52.8 ± 12.7%), HA (34.9 ± 9.0% vs. 63.7 ± 7.6%) and HM (28.4 ± 11.2% vs. 49.6 ± 7.7%) improvement ratio were all higher in PPSF + KP group than that in PKP group. In addition, the ODI index and VAS score in both groups were significantly decreased at the postoperative and final follow-up. PKP group's postoperative VAS score was significantly lower than that in PPSF + KP group, but there was no statistically significant difference in VAS score at the last follow-up. Conclusion: PKP and PPSF + KP can both effectively relieve the pain associated with sOVCF with nonunion. PPSF + KP can achieve more satisfactory vertebral reduction effects compared to PKP. However, PKP was less invasive and it has more advantages in shortening operation time and hospital stay, as well as decreasing intraoperative blood loss and operation costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mechanical factors can affect the angiogenic ability of vascular endothelial cells. How the vessel number affects the hydrodynamic properties of microvessels remains to be clarified. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of vessel number on the hydrodynamics of vascular networks based on computational fluid dynamics. METHODS: Three three-dimensional models of vascular network with different vessel numbers were constructed using the Geometry module of ANSYS 19.0 software, and then the vascular network was meshed to tetrahedral elements in Mesh module. The vascular network was assumed to rigid wall without slip, and the blood was assumed to laminar, viscous, and incompressible Newtonian fluid. Blood density, velocity, and a series of blood viscosity coefficients were also established. The Navier-Stokes equation was used for calculation. Hydrodynamic properties of different parts of vascular network with different vessel numbers were analyzed and compared. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The streamline, velocity, and mass flow all had the same trend in the vascular network, that is, the outlet and inlet were higher and the middle junction of vascular network was lower. The more the number of vessels, the thinner the blood flow lines in each part of the vascular network. Also, the velocity, mass flow, and wall shear decreased with the increase of the number of blood vessels. Therefore, the changes in vessel number could influence the hydrodynamic environment in the vascular network. Computational fluid dynamics indicates that the changes in vessel numbers can influence the hydrodynamic properties of blood, and provides a new idea for treating bone hypoperfusion-induced diseases (fracture nonunion, bone defect, osteoporosis, etc.) through tonifying kidney and activating blood circulation based on the coupling between angiogenesis and osteogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate detection rates and risk factors for unsuspected proof of bacteria, as well as clinical and radiologic outcomes following femoral shaft nonunion without clinical signs of infection treated by a single-stage surgical revision procedure including reamed intramedullary exchange nailing. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in a European level I trauma center between January 2015 and December 2022. Fifty-eight patients were included who underwent reamed intramedullary exchange nailing as a single-step procedure for surgical revision of posttraumatic diaphyseal femoral nonunion without any indications of infection in medical history and without clinical signs of local infection. Clinical details of the patients were analyzed and functional and radiologic long-term outcomes were determined. Results: In all patients, with and without proof of bacteria osseous, healing could be observed. The physical component summary of the SF-12 demonstrated significantly better results at least one year after the final surgical revision in case of a negative bacterial culture during exchange nailing. Conclusions: Clinical long-term outcomes demonstrated a trend towards better results following femoral shaft nonunion revision if there was no evidence for the presence of low-grade infected nonunion. In this case, a single-stage surgical procedure may be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Impaired fracture repair in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to characterize the local changes in gene expression (GE) associated with diabetic fracture. We used an unbiased approach to compare GE in the fracture callus of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats relative to wild-type (WT) littermates at three weeks following femoral osteotomy. Methods: Zucker rats, WT and homozygous for leptin receptor mutation (ZDF), were fed a moderately high-fat diet to induce T2DM only in the ZDF animals. At ten weeks of age, open femoral fractures were simulated using a unilateral osteotomy stabilized with an external fixator. At three weeks post-surgery, the fractured femur from each animal was retrieved for analysis. Callus formation and the extent of healing were assessed by radiograph and histology. Bone tissue was processed for total RNA extraction and messenger RNA (mRNA) sequencing (mRNA-Seq). Results: Radiographs and histology demonstrated impaired fracture healing in ZDF rats with incomplete bony bridge formation and an influx of intramedullary inflammatory tissue. In comparison, near-complete bridging between cortices was observed in Sham WT animals. Of 13,160 genes, mRNA-Seq analysis identified 13 that were differentially expressed in ZDF rat callus, using a false discovery rate (FDR) threshold of 10%. Seven genes were upregulated with high confidence (FDR = 0.05) in ZDF fracture callus, most with known roles in inflammation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that elevated or prolonged inflammation contributes to delayed fracture healing in T2DM. The identified genes may be used as biomarkers to monitor and treat delayed fracture healing in diabetic patients. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(10):657–666.

Abstract Background We previously demonstrated that CD34 + cell transplantation in animals healed intractable fractures via osteogenesis and vasculogenesis; we also demonstrated the safety and efficacy of this cell therapy in an earlier phase I/II clinical trial conducted on seven patients with fracture nonunion. Herein, we present the results of a phase III clinical trial conducted to confirm the results of the previous phase studies using a larger cohort of patients. Methods CD34 + cells were mobilized via administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, harvested using leukapheresis, and isolated using magnetic cell sorting. Autologous CD34 + cells were transplanted in 15 patients with tibia nonunion and 10 patients with femur nonunion, who were followed up for 52 weeks post transplantation. The main outcome was a reduction in time to heal the tibia in nonunion patients compared with that in historical control patients. We calculated the required number of patients as 15 based on the results of the phase I/II study. An independent data monitoring committee performed the radiographic assessments. Adverse events and medical device failures were recorded. Results All fractures healed during the study period. The time to radiological fracture healing was 2.8 times shorter in patients with CD34 + cell transplantation than in the historical control group (hazard ratio: 2.81 and 95% confidence interval 1.16–6.85); moreover, no safety concerns were observed. Conclusions Our findings strongly suggest that autologous CD34 + cell transplantation is a novel treatment option for fracture nonunion. Trial registration UMIN-CTR, UMIN000022814. Registered on 22 June 2016.

Aims: Several previously identified patient-, injury-, and treatment-related factors are associated with the development of nonunion in distal femur fractures. However, the predictive value of these factors is not well defined. We aimed to assess the predictive ability of previously identified risk factors in the development of nonunion leading to secondary surgery in distal femur fractures. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with traumatic distal femur fracture treated with lateral locking plate between 2009 and 2018. The patients who underwent secondary surgery due to fracture healing problem or plate failure were considered having nonunion. Background knowledge of risk factors of distal femur fracture nonunion based on previous literature was used to form an initial set of variables. A logistic regression model was used with previously identified patient- and injury-related variables (age, sex, BMI, diabetes, smoking, periprosthetic fracture, open fracture, trauma energy, fracture zone length, fracture comminution, medial side comminution) in the first analysis and with treatment-related variables (different surgeon-controlled factors, e.g. plate length, screw placement, and proximal fixation) in the second analysis to predict the nonunion leading to secondary surgery in distal femur fractures. Results: We were able to include 299 fractures in 291 patients. Altogether, 31/299 fractures (10%) developed nonunion. In the first analysis, pseudo-R2 was 0.27 and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.81. BMI was the most important variable in the prediction. In the second analysis, pseudo-R2 was 0.06 and AUC was 0.67. Plate length was the most important variable in the prediction. Conclusion: The model including patient- and injury-related factors had moderate fit and predictive ability in the prediction of distal femur fracture nonunion leading to secondary surgery. BMI was the most important variable in prediction of nonunion. Surgeon-controlled factors had a minor role in prediction of nonunion. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(8):584–593.

Fracture is a common disease in orthopaedic clinical practice, and about 3% to 5% of fractures will develop non-union. Non-union of fractures will not only affect the quality of life of patients, but also increase the risk of death, and increase the economic burden of social health. In view of the treatment of fracture nonunion has always been a hot spot in the field of orthopedics at home and abroad, this article reviews the risk factors, monitoring and prediction of fracture nonunion and the progress of treatment, aiming to provide useful reference to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of fracture nonunion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: A 64‐year‐old female presented with malaise and fever 11 days after a closed, minimally displaced humerus surgical neck fracture. MR imaging revealed an abscess around the fracture, which is a very rare occurrence in adults. Two open debridements and IV antibiotics eradicated the infection. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty was eventually performed for fracture nonunion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design.: Multicenter retrospective analysis of routinely collected data. Objective.: The underlying aim of this study was to identify potential treatment-related risk factors for odontoid fracture nonunion while accounting for known patient- and injury-related risk factors. Summary of Background Data.: Type II and III odontoid fractures represent the most common cervical spine fracture in elderly patients and are associated with a relatively high nonunion rate. The management of odontoid fractures is controversial and treatment strategies range from conservative treatment to extensive surgical stabilization and fusion. Methods.: A total of 415 individuals who sustained odontoid fracture and were treated in either of four tertiary referral centers in Austria and Germany were included in the study. We included the following potential contributing factors for fracture nonunion in cross-validated extreme gradient boosted (XGBoost) and binary logistic regression models: age, gender, fracture displacement, mechanism of injury (high vs. low energy), fracture classification (Anderson II vs. III), presence of comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity index), and treatment (conservative, anterior screw fixation with one or two screws, posterior C1/C2 spondylodesis, cervico-occipital C0–C4 fusion). Results.: In our cohort, 187 (45%) had radiologically confirmed odontoid nonunion six months postinjury. The odds for nonunion increase significantly with age, and are lower in type III compared to type II fractures. Also, odds for nonunion are significantly lower in posterior C1/C2 spondylodesis, and C0–C4 fusion compared to conservative treatment. Importantly, odds are not statistically significantly lower in the group treated with anterior screw fixation compared to conservative treatment. The factors gender, fracture displacement, mechanism of injury, and the presence of comorbidities did not produce significant odds. Conclusion.: Higher age, type II fractures, and conservative treatment are the main risk factors for odontoid nonunion. Anterior screw fixation did not differ significantly from conservative treatment in terms of fracture union. Level of Evidence.: 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message A 64‐year‐old female presented with malaise and fever 11 days after a closed, minimally displaced humerus surgical neck fracture. MR imaging revealed an abscess around the fracture, which is a very rare occurrence in adults. Two open debridements and IV antibiotics eradicated the infection. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty was eventually performed for fracture nonunion.

Optimizing the orthopaedic trauma patient for surgical intervention presents unique challenges. Due to the acute nature of musculoskeletal injuries and time constraints for treatment, there is a limited window for overall patient comorbidity optimization prior to surgical fracture repair. Certain social behaviors including tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and inappropriate opioid medication usage can have a negative impact on wound and fracture healing. Curbing such negative social behaviors can have a positive outcome on patients who are affected by musculoskeletal trauma. Addressing these challenging issues, via available resources, can have a significant impact on recovery after sustaining orthopaedic trauma. A tactical approach focused on relationship building with patients and their families as well as highlighting strategies to curb negative social behaviors is presented involving a patient with an infected tibial nonunion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the comment on the article Treatment of Hypotrophic Nonunion of the Clavicle: A Clinical Case, the reasons for the failure of primary and refixation of the clavicle closed fracture are analyzed in detail. A 70-year-old patient got a fracture of the middle third of the left clavicle diaphysis as a result of a fall. He underwent four surgical treatment options: plate osteosynthesis; plate osteosynthesis + bone autoplasty; plate osteosynthesis + vascularized fibular flap reconstruction; external osteosynthesis. A month after the fourth attempt of surgical treatment, fusion, improvement of the function of the right upper limb and the quality of life of the patient were achieved. Technological inaccuracy, namely, the lack of the fragments fixation stability due to the incorrectly chosen length of the plate, as well as an incomplete assessment of the anamnesis and the identified cognitive behavioral features of the patient, are considered as possible reasons for the treatment failure. The author of the comment highlights modern approaches to the treatment of clavicle fractures, and also briefly dwells on the theory of fracture fixation in general. He pays special attention to biological and mechanical factors affecting fractures healing. The author considers the compliance with the basic principles of osteosynthesis to be the main factor in achieving good results in fracture treatment.

BackgroundPostoperative non-union of femoral neck fracture often needs secondary operation. We report a case of a postoperative non-union of femoral neck fracture treated with teriparatide.Case presentationA young male patient with Garden IV femoral neck fracture who showed no obvious signs of healing 3 months after percutaneous hollow nail fixation in which the fracture line was enlarged and the hollow nail was withdrawn. Bone non-union healed after 6 months of continuous subcutaneous injection of teriparatide at a dosage of 20 mg/day after the patient refused a secondary surgery. As far as we know, there have been no relevant reports on this type of fracture yet.ConclusionsTeriparatide is expected to be beneficial in treating young patients with a displaced femoral neck fracture who have difficulty in healing from non-union and who are keen on avoiding secondary surgery.

BACKGROUND: Due to the super-healing effect, platelet-rich plasma is gradually used in the clinic. Nevertheless, high-quality clinical comparative studies are currently absent to identify its effect on fracture nonunion and its action mechanism. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects between platelet-rich plasma combined with surgery and surgery alone in the treatment of nonunion after tibial shaft fractures, and to analyze the corresponding laboratory indicators of fracture repair. METHODS: Thirty patients with nonunion of tibial shaft fractures treated in Weihai Central Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University from January 2017 to January 2020 were enrolled in this study. According to the second operation method, these patients were divided into platelet-rich plasma combined surgery group (n=16; autologous platelet-rich plasma injection once every other week for three injections) and operation group (n=14). Blood samples were taken from patients of the two groups to detect the levels of osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase and β-I collagen carboxyl terminal peptide on the day of surgery (before surgery) and at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. The surgical incision healing of the patients was observed between the two groups. At 3, 6, and 9 months after surgery, the callus and fracture line imaging scores and visual analogue scale scores were analyzed in the two groups, and the clinical healing and bone healing time were recorded in the two groups. The protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Weihai Central Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University (approval No. 2016-Lunshen-07). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The levels of serum osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase and β-I collagen carboxyl terminal peptide increased in the two groups after surgery. The osteocalcin level in the platelet-rich plasma combined surgery group was higher than that in the operation group at 2 and 4 weeks after surgery (P < 0.05). Bone alkaline phosphatase was higher in the platelet-rich plasma combined surgery group than that in the operation group at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery (P < 0.05). The β-I collagen carboxyl terminal peptide level was higher in the platelet-rich plasma combined surgery group than that in the operation group after surgery (P < 0.05). (2) The grade A healing rates of incisions were 88% and 64% in the platelet-rich plasma combined surgery group and the operation group, respectively. The clinical fracture healing time and bone healing time were shorter in the platelet-rich plasma combined surgery group than those in the operation group (P < 0.05). (3) The imaging scores of callus and fracture line were higher in the platelet-rich plasma combined surgery group than those of the operation group at 3, 6, and 9 months after surgery (P < 0.05). Visual analogue scale scores were lower in the platelet-rich plasma combined surgery group than those of the operation group (P < 0.05). (4) These findings indicate that the effect of platelet-rich plasma combined with surgery for nonunion of tibial shaft fractures is better than that of surgery alone. Their combination can increase the serum levels of osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase, and β-I collagen carboxyl terminal peptide, and is helpful to investigate the mechanism of platelet-rich plasma for fracture nonunion and to judge the clinical prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: With the development of medical biotechnology, various artificial bone substitutes have appeared, providing a broader prospect for the future clinical treatment of calcaneal fractures. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the methods and progress of different bone repair materials in the treatment of calcaneal fractures. METHODS: The first author used computer to search CNKI database and PubMed database. Search terms were “calcaneus fracture, autologous bone, allogenic bone, artificial bone” in Chinese and English used in the title and abstract. The articles related to the material characteristics, biocompatibility and application effects of the search terms were selected, and the articles in the same field recently or published in authoritative journals were selected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Autologous bone is the first choice for clinical repair of bone defects, but there are problems such as limited supply, donor site complications, and secondary trauma. Later, allogenic bone, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, and Kirschner wire, steel plate, and hollow screws as internal fixation materials have achieved satisfactory results. With the development of biotechnology, on the basis of previous work, bone materials containing bone morphogenetic protein, platelet-rich plasma, and bone marrow aspiration concentrate have been applied in clinical practice, and satisfactory results have been achieved. At present, the bone graft materials used in the nonunion of calcaneal fractures can achieve relatively satisfactory results. The application of bone morphogenetic protein, platelet-rich plasma, and bone marrow aspiration concentrate can achieve better results. Simultaneously, with the development of biotechnology, various new composite bone graft materials will become the mainstream for the treatment of bone nonunion in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of fracture nonunion repair with autogenous iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) under regional anesthesia alone or in combination with other techniques compared to other anesthesia techniques. Materials and methods: Overall, 137 patients were identified who underwent ICBG as part of a repair of a long bone fracture nonunion between January 1, 2013 and October 1, 2020. Surgical and anesthetic records were reviewed to classify patients by anesthesia type. General, spinal, and regional anesthetics were used as either the primary anesthetic or as a combination of regional nerve block with general or spinal anesthesia. Results: Administration of regional anesthesia alone or in combination with general or spinal anesthesia (RA) and general or spinal anesthesia only (GS) groups differed in nonunion site distribution (p < 0.001). RA patients were discharged the same day more often than GS patients (30.9% vs 10.0%, p = 0.009) and experienced fewer postoperative complications (p = 0.021). The RA group achieved union sooner than the GS group (by 5.3 ± 3.2 months vs. by 6.8 ± 3.2 months, p = 0.006). Mean morphine equivalent dose was similar between groups (p = 0.23). Regional anesthesia use increased from 2013 to 2020, and same day discharge surgeries simultaneously increased over the same time period. Conclusion: Regional anesthesia use increased in nonunion repair surgery with ICBG from 2013 to 2020. This was associated with an increase in same day discharge, sooner time to union, and decreased postoperative complications. There was not a need for increased opioid prescription in patients that underwent regional anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonunion poses significant difficulties for both patients and orthopedic surgeons, often requiring intricate reconstructive surgeries to achieve bone healing and eliminate infections. Surgeons must navigate numerous contributing factors to nonunion, and they also face challenging hardware issues during revision procedures. These issues can include infections, loose or failing hardware, misaligned components, or inappropriate hardware configurations. This case series includes five cases of nonunion femur fractures and the goal is to carefully analyze the best treatment option for treating nonunion. All the cases underwent the removal of whole or part of the hardware followed by bone grafting and attainment of the stable construct with load-sharing devices and augmentation with neutralizing plates. All the cases had a radiological bone union at an average of four to seven months with improvement of Harris Hip Score., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Walia et al.)

Background: Tibial nonunion remains a considerable burden for patients and the surgeons who treat them. In recent years, alternatives to autogenous grafts for the treatment of tibial nonunions have been sought. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of autogenous iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) in the treatment of tibial shaft nonunions. Material and methods: Sixty-nine patients were identified who underwent ICBG for repair of atrophic or oligotrophic tibial nonunion and had complete data with at least one year of follow-up (mean 27.9 months). Surgical treatments consisted of revision/supplemental fixation ± ICBG. Surgical approaches for graft placement were either posterolateral (PL), anterolateral (AL), or direct medial (DM). Healing status, time to union, postoperative pain, and functional outcomes were assessed. Results: Bony union was achieved by 97.1% (67/69) of patients at a mean time of 7.8 ± 3.2 months postoperatively. There was no significant difference in mean time to union between the three surgical approach groups: (PL (44.9%) = 7.3 months, AL (20.3%) = 9.2 months, DM (34.8%) = 7.6 months; p = 0.22). Intraoperative cultures obtained at the time of nonunion surgery were positive in 27.5% of patients (19/69). Positive cultures were associated with need for secondary surgery as 8/19 patients (42.1%) with positive cultures required re-operation. Two out of four patients that developed iliac donor site hematomas/infections requiring washout had positive intraoperative cultures as well. There was no difference in final SMFA among the three surgical approach groups. Conclusions: Autogenous ICBG remains the gold standard in the management of persistent tibial nonunions regardless of surgical approach. There is a small risk for complication at the iliac crest donor site. Given the high union rate, autogenous iliac crest bone grafting for tibial nonunion remains the gold standard for this difficult condition. Level of evidence: Level III [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews key considerations and our preferred methods in treating upper extremity palsies, gunshot wounds and scaphoid nonunion. For these three difficult conditions, I highlight the importance of a team approach when treating upper extremity neuromuscular disease, flexibility and creativity when treating gunshot wounds, and my personal protocol for dealing with scaphoid fracture nonunions. Level of evidence: V [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied localization of VEGF, TGF-β1, BMP-2, caspase-3, Bcl-2, and TNFα in the callus samples obtained from 5 patients (4 women and 1 man) aged 41-53 years during planned surgery for nonunion and pseudarthrosis of the clavicle (n=1), ulna (n=1), femur (n=1), and tibia (n=2) bones. Two control groups included material of hypertrophied callus (n=3) with consolidated fractures of long bones and samples of intact bones (n=3) obtained by postmortem autopsy of subjects without pathology of the musculoskeletal system. A nonuniform distribution of the studied markers was revealed. Active expression of VEGF was observed in fibroblast-like cells of the fibrous tissue, osteoblasts of the periosteum and osteons. Osteoblasts expressing BMP-2 were localized in the periosteum and the loose connective tissue of the Haversian canals. The number of immunopositive cells expressing TGF-β1 and TNFα in the callus exceeded that in the control and correlated with the expression of caspase-3 in fibroblast-like cells, osteoblasts, chondroblasts, and microvascular endotheliocytes. The results allow considering fracture nonunion as a result of overproduction of cytotoxic and proapoptotic factors in chronic inflammation and dysfunction of the expression of morphogenetic proteins. The morphochemical patterns of the studied markers open up prospects for the development of new methods of pharmacological correction of fracture repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Femoral neck fractures in the young patient require prompt anatomic reduction and stabilization to preserve the vascular supply to the femoral head and minimize future need for arthroplasty. Secondary to unique biomechanical and vascular considerations, these injuries are prone to nonunion. Case Report: A 29-year-old male with a chronic femoral neck fracture nonunion who experienced successful fracture healing and symptom resolution following Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) administration. Discussion: Femoral neck nonunion in young patients is a challenging problem with treatment strategies aimed at improving the biological and biomechanical fracture environment. While the use of both vascularized and nonvascularized bone grafting has shown promising results, they have high complication rates and substantial donor site morbidity. BMAC has demonstrated multiple uses throughout orthopedic surgery and may result in an improved fracture healing environment with minimal patient morbidity. Conclusion: The success of the BMAC procedure for this patient is promising and may be considered in similar patients, with or without revision internal fixation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used Veterans Health Administration (VHA) national administrative data files to identify a cohort (fiscal years 2005–2014) of veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCID) to determine risk factors for and consequences of lower extremity fracture nonunions. Odds ratios (OR) for fracture nonunion were computed using multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression models. We identified three risk factors for nonunion: (i) older age (OR = 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21–4.33), (ii) longer duration of SCID (OR = 1.02; 95% CI 1.00–1.04), and (iii) fracture site (distal femur), with OR (comparison distal femur) including distal tibia/fibula (OR = 0.14; 95% CI 0.09–0.24), proximal tibia/fibula (OR = 0.19; 95% CI 0.09–0.38), proximal femur (OR = 0.10; 95% CI 0.04–0.21), and hip (OR = 0.13; 95% CI 0.07–0.26). Nonunions resulted in multiple complications, with upwards of 1/3 developing a pressure injury, 13% osteomyelitis, and almost 25% requiring a subsequent amputation. Our data have identified a high‐risk population for fracture nonunion of older veterans with a long duration of SCID who sustain a distal femur fracture. In view of the serious complications of these nonunions, targeted interventions in these high‐risk individuals who have any signs of delayed union should be considered. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We used Veterans Health Administration (VHA) national administrative data files to identify a cohort (fiscal years 2005–2014) of veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCID) to determine risk factors for and consequences of lower extremity fracture nonunions. Odds ratios (OR) for fracture nonunion were computed using multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression models. We identified three risk factors for nonunion: (i) older age (OR = 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21–4.33), (ii) longer duration of SCID (OR = 1.02; 95% CI 1.00–1.04), and (iii) fracture site (distal femur), with OR (comparison distal femur) including distal tibia/fibula (OR = 0.14; 95% CI 0.09–0.24), proximal tibia/fibula (OR = 0.19; 95% CI 0.09–0.38), proximal femur (OR = 0.10; 95% CI 0.04–0.21), and hip (OR = 0.13; 95% CI 0.07–0.26). Nonunions resulted in multiple complications, with upwards of 1/3 developing a pressure injury, 13% osteomyelitis, and almost 25% requiring a subsequent amputation. Our data have identified a high‐risk population for fracture nonunion of older veterans with a long duration of SCID who sustain a distal femur fracture. In view of the serious complications of these nonunions, targeted interventions in these high‐risk individuals who have any signs of delayed union should be considered. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

In this retrospective case series, we aimed to study arthroscopic sesamoidectomy, including surgical methods, clinical outcomes, and complications. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with hallux sesamoid disorders who underwent arthroscopic sesamoidectomy from July 2015 to July 2017. The visual analog scale for rating pain, Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot scale scores, number of days taken to return to normal daily living, number of months taken to return to playing sports, and complications were analyzed. The mean follow-up duration was 3.2 years. Among 14 patients, there were 8 females and 6 males (median age: 39 years). The mean visual analog scale score improved from 75.4 to 14.3 mm; the mean Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot score improved from 55.2 to 88.0 points. The mean time to return to activities of daily living was 5.3 days. Among the 5 patients who played sports, 3 and 2 patients resumed playing sports at 3 and 12 postoperative months, respectively. Complications included wound pain (n = 4), discomfort in severe weather (n = 4), numbness (n = 3), pain in the sole other than in the ball of the foot (n = 2), pain during hallux dorsiflexion (n = 2), residual sesamoid discomfort (n = 1), swelling (n = 1), toe-in gait (n = 1), and metatarsal head bone marrow edema (n = 1). Despite good clinical outcomes of arthroscopic sesamoidectomy, patients should be made aware of the many potential complications of this procedure prior to surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Although nonunions are among the most common complications after long-bone fracture fixation, the definition of fracture nonunion remains controversial and varies widely. The aim of this study was to identify the definitions and diagnostic criteria used in the scientific literature to describe nonunions after long-bone fractures.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase. Prospective clinical studies, in which adult long-bone fracture nonunions were investigated as main subject, were included in this analysis. Data on nonunion definitions described in each study were extracted and collected in a database.Results: Although 148 studies met the inclusion criteria, only 50% (74/148) provided a definition for their main study subject. Nonunion was defined in these studies based on time-related criteria in 85% (63/74), on radiographic criteria in 62% (46/74), and on clinical criteria in 45% (33/74). A combination of clinical, radiographic and time-related criteria for definition was found in 38% (28/74). The time interval between fracture and the time point when authors defined an unhealed fracture as a nonunion showed considerable heterogeneity, ranging from three to twelve months.Conclusion: In the current orthopaedic literature, we found a lack of consensus with regard to the definition of long-bone nonunions. Without valid and reliable definition criteria for nonunion, standardization of diagnostic and treatment algorithms as well as the comparison of clinical studies remains problematic. The lack of a clear definition emphasizes the need for a consensus-based approach to the diagnosis of fracture nonunion centred on clinical, radiographical and time-related criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurologic disorder causing postural instability and unsteady gait. These patients are at increased risk for fractures and have inferior outcomes after treatment. Several studies have evaluated the incidence and outcome of PD patients after hip fractures. However, there are limited studies assessing the outcome of upper extremity fractures in these patients. In this study, we evaluated the outcome of PD patients that received surgical intervention for distal radial fractures (DRF). We hypothesize that these patients have an inferior outcome after surgery in comparison with non-PD patients. Methods Between May 2005 and May 2017, we retrospectively reviewed all of the patients with DRF and subsequently underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) at a level 1 trauma center. All of the surgeries were performed by fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons. The inclusion criteria include patients with a definitive diagnosis of PD, non-pathological DRF, and a minimum follow-up of 1 year or up until the time of treatment failure was noted. Each PD patient was matched for age and gender to 3 non-PD patients. The primary objective was to determine the failure rate after surgical fixation for DRF. The secondary outcomes include time to treatment failure, reoperation rate, readmission rate, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Results A total of 88 patients were included in this study (23 PD, 65 non-PD patients). All underwent ORIF and received standard postoperative follow-ups. The overall treatment failure rate in PD was 39.1% vs. 4.6% in the non-PD group (p < 0.05). The time to treatment failure were 9.11 ± 3.86 weeks and 14.67 ± 5.8 weeks for PD and non-PD, respectively (p < 0.05). PD patients had a significantly higher rate of failure when k-wires and ESF were used (p < 0.05%), while loss of reduction was the most common mode of failure in PD (44.4%). The length of hospital stay for PD was 5.3 ± 4.69 days compared with 3.78 ± 0.96 days for non-PD (p = 0.01). There were 3 PD patients readmitted within 30 days after surgery, and 1 patient had pneumonia after the surgery. Conclusion This study revealed that patients with PD have a high treatment failure rate despite surgical intervention for DRF. PD patients had a longer hospital stay and had a shorter time to treatment failure. In treating PD patients complicated with DRF, the surgeon must take into consideration the complex disease course of PD and the associated comorbidities such as osteoporosis, frail status, and frequent falls. Rehabilitation and disposition plans should be discussed in advance and longer hospital stays should be expected. Level of evidenceLevel IV, retrospective cohort study

Background: Nonunion of fractures about the proximal humerus represents a rare and complex problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes following proximal humerus fracture (PHF) nonunion repair using a plate and screw construct with a direct comparison to those experienced following operative fixation of acute PHF using a plate and screw construct. Methods: Two separate patient cohorts were included in this study. The first consisted of 16 patients diagnosed with a non-united PHF who underwent operative nonunion repair treated with a standard algorithmic approach. The comparison group consisted of 173 patients who achieved union following initial open reduction and internal fixation of an acute PHF treated with a proximal humerus locking plate construct. All patients had at least 12 months of postoperative follow-up. Outcomes were assessed for both groups using American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, and postoperative shoulder range of motion (ROM). Statistical analyses were used to compare these outcome measures between the two cohorts. Results: The nonunion repair cohort consisted of eleven surgical neck nonunions and five nonunions of both the surgical neck and greater tuberosity. Ten patients had undergone surgical treatment for their original fracture, while six were initially treated non-operatively. All patients had Boileau type 3 sequelae of their proximal humerus fracture. Union was achieved in all patients at a mean of 5.4 months following nonunion repair. Complications included hardware failure requiring revision in two patients (12.5%) and avascular necrosis requiring conversion to anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty following union in one patient (6.3%). The nonunion repair and acute fracture cohorts did not differ with respect to mean ASES scores, VAS pain scores, or active shoulder ROM at any postoperative time point. Conclusion: Surgical repair of PHF nonunion is a viable treatment strategy that can lead to consistent bony healing with outcomes comparable to those of patients who achieve fracture union following initial surgical repair of an acute proximal humerus fracture. Surgeons should be cognizant of mechanical considerations that may lead to early failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the case of a 19-year-old man with an open fracture of the tibia and fibula secondary to an accident with an all-terrain vehicle. He underwent operative excisional irrigation, debridement, and fixation on the day of injury. His course was complicated by nonunion of the tibia fracture. Infection is a common factor in fracture nonunion, even in patients who receive appropriate surgical and antimicrobial management. Paenibacillus turicensis , an organism adapted to survive in the environment via spore formation, was responsible for nonunion in our patient. A brief discussion of this unusual organism, fracture nonunion, and the role of infection in etiology of nonunion follows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In extra-articular distal femoral fractures (EDFFs), nonunion is a serious complication that occurs rarely. In this study, we examined how longer preservation of initial fracture hematoma by delaying the osteosynthesis (OS) affects the fracture union., Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, 98 EDFF patients were included. The OS was done within 2 days of injury in 50 patients (early OS group) and after 2 days of injury in 48 patients (late OS group). Time to callus formation and fracture union, bleeding amount, surgical duration, pain, knee range of motion, knee function, and postoperative complications, including the nonunion, knee deformity, infection, and revision, were compared between the 2 groups. Statistical analyses were done with SPSS. A comparison of the mean between the 2 groups was made with an independent t test or its nonparametric counterpart. A comparison of categorical variables between the 2 groups was made using a chi-square or the Fisher's exact test. P ˂ 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: The mean time to callus formation was 47.1 ± 17.3 days in the early OS group and 46.9 ± 19.7 in the late OS group ( P = 0.950). The mean time to fracture union was 114.9 ± 21 in the early OS group and 117.4 ± 28.8 days in the late OS group ( P = 0.630). The mean operation time and bleeding amount between the 2 groups did not differ significantly ( P = 0.230 and P = 0.340, respectively). The knee range of motion, pain, and function were not notably different ( P = 0.620, P = 0.790, and P = 0.770, respectively). Nonunion occurred in 3 patients of early OS and 2 patients of the late OS group. Other complications were also comparable in the 2 study groups., Conclusion: Delayed OA in EDFF patients has no significant effect on bone healing and fracture union. Future standard studies are required to confirm these results., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Iran University of Medical Sciences.)

BACKGROUND: Nonunion is a common clinical complication in orthopedics, which seriously impacts the physical and mental health and quality of life of patients. In recent years, a large number of studies have found that icariin plays a significant role in promoting fracture healing and treating bone defects. Bone nonunion and fracture healing coexist, and the research on the mechanism of fracture healing actually focuses on the treatment of bone nonunion. OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress in the molecular mechanism of icariin in the treatment of bone nonunion. METHODS: The first author used “icariin, bone nonunion, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, periosteal cell, osteoblasts, osteoclast” as key words in English and Chinese to search PubMed, CNKI, WanFang and VIP databases. A total of 542 articles were retrieved and screened manually according to the selection criteria and exclusion criteria. Finally, 44 articles were included for result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Icariin can effectively promote fracture healing and treat bone nonunion by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and periosteal cells, promoting the proliferation and maturation of osteoblasts and inhibiting the osteoclast effect of osteoclasts. However, most of the experiments are still in the basic experimental research, and there is still a need for a large number of clinical studies as well as studies on related proteins and genes, to provide a new idea for the clinical use of Chinese herbs in the treatment of bone nonunion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurologic disorder causing postural instability and unsteady gait. These patients are at increased risk for fractures and have inferior outcomes after treatment. Several studies have evaluated the incidence and outcome of PD patients after hip fractures. However, there are limited studies assessing the outcome of upper extremity fractures in these patients. In this study, we evaluated the outcome of PD patients that received surgical intervention for distal radial fractures (DRF). We hypothesize that these patients have an inferior outcome after surgery in comparison with non-PD patients. Methods: Between May 2005 and May 2017, we retrospectively reviewed all of the patients with DRF and subsequently underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) at a level 1 trauma center. All of the surgeries were performed by fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons. The inclusion criteria include patients with a definitive diagnosis of PD, non-pathological DRF, and a minimum follow-up of 1 year or up until the time of treatment failure was noted. Each PD patient was matched for age and gender to 3 non-PD patients. The primary objective was to determine the failure rate after surgical fixation for DRF. The secondary outcomes include time to treatment failure, reoperation rate, readmission rate, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Results: A total of 88 patients were included in this study (23 PD, 65 non-PD patients). All underwent ORIF and received standard postoperative follow-ups. The overall treatment failure rate in PD was 39.1% vs. 4.6% in the non-PD group (p < 0.05). The time to treatment failure were 9.11 ± 3.86 weeks and 14.67 ± 5.8 weeks for PD and non-PD, respectively (p < 0.05). PD patients had a significantly higher rate of failure when k-wires and ESF were used (p < 0.05%), while loss of reduction was the most common mode of failure in PD (44.4%). The length of hospital stay for PD was 5.3 ± 4.69 days compared with 3.78 ± 0.96 days for non-PD (p = 0.01). There were 3 PD patients readmitted within 30 days after surgery, and 1 patient had pneumonia after the surgery. Conclusion: This study revealed that patients with PD have a high treatment failure rate despite surgical intervention for DRF. PD patients had a longer hospital stay and had a shorter time to treatment failure. In treating PD patients complicated with DRF, the surgeon must take into consideration the complex disease course of PD and the associated comorbidities such as osteoporosis, frail status, and frequent falls. Rehabilitation and disposition plans should be discussed in advance and longer hospital stays should be expected. Level of evidenceLevel IV, retrospective cohort study [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To carry out literature analysis devoted to pathological mechanisms of delayed union and nonunion of limb fractures and the influence of various osteosynthesis strategies on bone healing in polytrauma. The risk of bone fractures nonunion in polytrauma increases with high-energy complex comminuted and open fractures with severe injuries of soft tissues and bones, bruised lung, shock and severe massive blood loss. The development of a systemic inflammatory response affects local immune responses in the fracture zone to the early inflammatory phase of bone healing and disrupts subsequent osteogenesis and angiogenesis processes. Early stable-functional osteosynthesis using minimally invasive techniques creates optimal conditions for bone healing. When following the tactics of the stepwise treatment of Damage Control Orthopedics, the risk of infectious complications and fracture nonunion increases with the duration of treatment in the apparatus of external fixation. Conclusion. In polytrauma a violation of consolidation of bone fractures of the extremities occurs more often than in isolated trauma. Risk factors of fracture nonunion in polytrauma are the severity of bone and soft tissue damage, shock, acute blood loss and systemic inflammatory response, as well as unjustified delay in the final stable fixation of long bones fragments or using traumatic methods of their early osteosynthesis without taking into account the severity of the condition of the injured.

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are first-line drugs for the treatment of osteoporotic fractures, but long-term use of BP reduces bone turnover and is associated with atypical femur fractures (AFFs). Additionally, BP treatment may cause delayed fracture healing or nonunion, which makes AFF treatment difficult. The incidence of AFF is generally low. In fact, there are only a few clinical reports of AFF and there is no controlled study on AFF treatment. Herein, we report a case of multiple osteoporotic fractures. After 5 years of BP treatment, left and right AFFs occurred within 2 years. The fracture types and surgical operations were the same, but the level of bone metabolism and drug treatment were different. The right AFF healed well following teriparatide initiation compared with non-healed left AFF with BP continuation; thus, our case can be considered a self-controlled study. Furthermore, we have reviewed the diagnosis and treatment of this case in detail and analyzed and investigated the potential causes of the different outcomes of AFFs between the two sides to inform the clinical treatment of atypical fractures. Mini Abstract We report a case of bilateral AFFs. The surgical treatments were the same, but the final treatment outcomes were different with or without teriparatide treatment. We investigated the potential causes of the different outcomes of AFFs between the two sides to inform the clinical treatment of AFFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of preoperative and postoperative radiographic union scores for tibia fractures (RUST) to predict treatment success of tibia fracture nonunion. Patients presenting for operative treatment of tibia fracture nonunion were enrolled in a prospective data registry. Enrolled patients were followed at regular intervals for 12 months. Preoperative and 12 week postoperative radiographs were reviewed and scored using the RUST criteria. Postoperative time to union was determined by clinical and radiographic measures. Multivariate regressions were conducted to predict time to union using preoperative and postoperative RUST while controlling for treatment method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was conducted to determine the accuracy of preoperative RUST in predicting failure of treatment. Sixty-eight patients with aseptic tibia fracture nonunion treated operatively were identified. Sixty-one patients achieved union. Mean preoperative RUST was 7.5 (SD 1.4). Mean postoperative RUST was 9.2 (SD 1.4). Multivariate linear regressions demonstrated that preoperative (p = 0.043) and postoperative (p = 0.007) RUST are significant predictors of time to union after tibia fracture nonunion surgery. ROC curve demonstrated preoperative RUST below 7 was a good predictor of developing persistent tibia fracture nonunion (AUC = 0.83, Sensitivity = 1.000, Specificity = 0.745). RUST preoperatively and postoperatively predicts outcome after nonunion surgery. RUST can be used as part of the complete clinical picture to shape patient expectations and guide treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of regional anaesthesia as compared to general anaesthesia on clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes following long bone fracture nonunion repair.Methods: 262 patients who underwent operative repair of a long bone fracture nonunion and had at least 12 months of post-operative follow up were included in this study. Functional outcomes were assessed prospectively using the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores prior to nonunion repair and at routine intervals post-operatively. Patients were divided into two matched groups based upon the type of anaesthetic method used in surgery. The regional anaesthesia cohort was composed of all patients who received regional anaesthesia (spinal anaesthesia or peripheral nerve block) alone or in addition to general anaesthesia, while patients who received general anaesthesia alone made up the general anaesthesia cohort. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the effect of anaesthesia type on functional outcome scores, post-operative pain, bony healing, and complication rate.Results: The regional anaesthesia and general anaesthesia cohorts each consisted of 131 patients. Multiple linear regression demonstrated there to be no significant association between anaesthetic method and total SMFA scores at all post-operative time points. Additionally, anaesthetic method was not associated with post-operative VAS pain scores, time to union, or the rate of post-operative complications.Conclusion: In this cohort, the use of regional anaesthesia during operative repair of long bone fracture nonunion was associated with no significant difference in functional outcome scores or pain levels at all post-operative time points. Furthermore, the use of regional anaesthesia had no effect on the rate of post-operative complications. Either type of anaesthetic appears to be safe and effective in performing these surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydatid disease is an infrequent parasitic infestation caused by cestode, most commonly, Echinococcus granulosus. Bone involvement is distinctly uncommon. We would like to share our experience of a rare case of hydatid disease of femur in a 24-year-old male who presented with nonunion of subtrochanteric fracture. Histopathology showed typical lamellated wall and dagger-shaped hooklets. In view of its rarity, hydatid disease often remains an unsuspected infection of the bone.