The biomechanical effect of fibular strut grafts on humeral surgical neck fractures with lateral wall comminution.

No studies have evaluated the effect of fibular strut augmentation on the stability of locking plate fixation for osteoporotic proximal humeral fractures with lateral wall comminution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of locking plate fixation with a fibular strut graft compared with locking plate alone in an osteoporotic two-part surgical neck fracture model with lateral cortex comminution. Ten paired fresh-frozen cadaveric humeri were randomly allocated into two groups, either the locking plate alone (LP group) or locking plate with fibular strut graft augmentation (LPFSG group), with an equal number of right and left osteoporotic surgical neck fractures with lateral wall comminution of the greater tuberosity. Varus, internal/external torsion, and axial compression stiffness as well as single load to failure were measured in plate-bone constructs, and the LPFSG group showed significantly greater values in all metrics. In conclusion, this biomechanical study shows that fibular strut augmentation significantly enhances varus stiffness, internal torsion stiffness, external torsion stiffness, and maximum failure load of a construct compared to locking plate fixation alone in proximal humeral fractures with lateral wall comminution.

Minimum Two-Year Follow-up of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Patients with Generalized Joint Laxity.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this investigation were to compare outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction between patients with generalized joint laxity and those without it and to investigate the effect of generalized joint laxity on outcomes of ACL reconstruction from 2 to 8 years postoperatively. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 163 patients who had undergone unilateral ACL reconstruction from January 2001 to December 2008. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to presence or absence of generalized joint laxity. The proportions of patients with meniscectomy, graft rupture, and contralateral ACL rupture were compared. Rupture rates were compared with Kaplan-Meier analysis. The Lachman test, pivot-shift test, and anterior translation measured with the KT-2000 arthrometer were evaluated. The Lysholm knee score and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score were compared. The IKDC objective grade and radiographic grade were also evaluated. Follow-up assessments were performed at 2, 5, and 8 years postoperatively. RESULTS: The proportions of meniscectomy, graft rupture, and contralateral ACL rupture in patients with generalized joint laxity were higher than in patients without generalized joint laxity during the whole evaluation period. However, differences in proportions and cumulative rupture rates did not reach significance (p > 0.05). Patients with generalized joint laxity had less stability and poorer functional outcomes at the 8-year follow-up compared with patients without generalized joint laxity. With regard to the Lachman test and anterior translation, poorer results were shown in patients with generalized joint laxity than in patients without generalized joint laxity during the whole evaluation period. The results of pivot-shift testing differed significantly at 5 years (p = 0.002) and 8 years (p = 0.007). Patients with generalized joint laxity also had worse Lysholm knee scores and IKDC subjective scores during the whole evaluation period; these differences may not be clinically important. Comparisons between serial outcomes measured at 2, 5, and 8-year follow-ups within each patient group showed that anterior translation (p = 0.002), Lysholm knee score (p = 0.014), and IKDC subjective score (p = 0.002) deteriorated over time, although the values at 8 years were similar to those at 5 years, in patients with generalized joint laxity. CONCLUSIONS: Generalized joint laxity as an inherent physiologic characteristic of patients was related to a significant adverse effect on stability and functional outcomes of ACL reconstruction for patients followed for 2 to 8 years. Generalized joint laxity should be considered a risk factor for poor outcomes after ACL reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Arthroscopic Wafer Procedure Versus Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy as a Surgical Treatment for Idiopathic Ulnar Impaction Syndrome.

PURPOSE: To compare clinical and radiologic outcomes and complication rates of the arthroscopic wafer procedure (AWP) and ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) for idiopathic ulnar impaction syndrome (UIS). METHODS: From May 2009 to June 2014, 42 patients who were aged 45 years or older with idiopathic UIS underwent either the AWP or USO under the following identical surgical indications: (1) less than 4 mm of positive ulnar variance, (2) Palmer classification 2C or 2D lesion of the triangular fibrocartilage complex, (3) stable distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) and/or lunotriquetral joint, and (4) no evidence of osteoarthritis of the DRUJ or ulnocarpal joint. The patient assignment was not randomized. Were used a visual analog scale for ulnar wrist pain; grip strength; range of motion; the Mayo Wrist Score (MWS); and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery to compare clinical outcomes. Ulnar variance, cystic changes of the lunate and triquetrum, and DRUJ arthritis on radiographs and operation-related complications were compared. RESULTS: This study evaluated 19 patients after the AWP and 23 patients after USO. At 3 months, the AWP produced significantly better outcomes than USO regarding grip strength (79.6% ± 14.3% vs 62.7% ± 12.6%, P < .001), MWS (81.8 ± 7.9 points vs 71.3 ± 14.2 points, P = .005), and DASH score (19.4 ± 8.4 vs 31.5 ± 14.0, P = .001); clinical outcomes were similar at 6, 12, and 24 months. The complication rates were 34.8% for USO and 10.5% for the AWP; complications included DRUJ arthritis (n = 4), implant irritation (n = 6), and refracture after implant removal (n = 2) in the USO group and secondary surgery (n = 1) and tendinopathy (n = 1) in the AWP group. CONCLUSIONS: The AWP and USO for idiopathic UIS with subtle positive ulnar variance achieved similar clinical and radiologic outcomes at 2 years after surgery. However, compared with USO, the AWP showed lower complication rates and better grip strength, MWS values, and DASH scores at 3 months after surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, comparative trial.

Removal of a broken trigen intertan intertrochanteric antegrade nail.

Implant breakage is a serious complication after cephalomedullary nailing for unstable intertrochanteric fracture. Failure usually occurs at the lag screw hole in the nail body. On the other hand, lag screw failure is extremely rare and occurs around the nail-lag screw junction. We experienced rare mechanical failure of the Intertan nail, which showed breakage at the lag screw hole and failure of the integrated compression screw underneath the main lag screw.