Back to Search
Start Over
Do successful surgical results after operative treatment of long-bone nonunions correlate with outcomes?
- Source :
-
Clinical orthopaedics and related research [Clin Orthop Relat Res] 2009 Nov; Vol. 467 (11), pp. 2979-85. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 May 13. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Unlabelled: There has been increased emphasis on validated, patient-reported functional outcomes after orthopaedic interventions for various conditions. The few reports on these types of outcomes after treatment of fracture nonunions are limited to specific anatomic sites, limited by small numbers, and retrospective. To determine whether successful healing of established long-bone nonunions resulted in improved functional outcomes and reduction in patient-reported pain scores, we prospectively followed 80 patients. These patients had a mean of 1.4 surgical procedures before enrollment and a mean of 18 months had elapsed from previous surgery until enrollment. Baseline data and functional scores were obtained before intervention. Seventeen of the 80 patients (21%) had positive intraoperative cultures. At a mean of 18.7 months (range, 12-36 months), 72 (90%) nonunions had healed. Patients with healed nonunions scored better on the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment. Pain scores among all patients improved compared with baseline, but to a greater degree in patients who achieved healing by final followup. Our data suggest improvement in pain scores is seen in all patients after surgery, whereas successful internal fixation leads to improved function.<br />Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Arm Injuries diagnostic imaging
Arm Injuries surgery
Bone Plates
Bone Screws
Combined Modality Therapy
Electric Stimulation Therapy methods
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Fracture Fixation, Internal adverse effects
Fractures, Ununited diagnostic imaging
Humans
Leg Injuries diagnostic imaging
Leg Injuries surgery
Male
Middle Aged
Pain Measurement
Probability
Prospective Studies
Radiography
Recovery of Function
Regression Analysis
Reoperation methods
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult
Bone Transplantation
Electric Stimulation Therapy instrumentation
Fracture Fixation, Internal methods
Fractures, Ununited surgery
Patient Satisfaction
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1528-1132
- Volume :
- 467
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Clinical orthopaedics and related research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19437084
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-009-0883-x