Detection of Traumatic Ankle Arthrotomies: Computed Tomography Scan Versus Saline Load Test.

OBJECTIVE: Periarticular wounds present a common diagnostic dilemma for emergency providers and orthopedic surgeons because traumatic arthrotomies (TA) often necessitate different management from superficial soft tissue wounds. Historically, TA have been diagnosed with the saline load test (SLT). Computed tomography (CT) scan has been studied as an alternative to SLT in diagnosing TA in several joints, but there are limited data specifically pertaining to the ankle. This study aimed to compare the ability of a CT scan to identify an ankle TA versus a traditional SLT. The hypothesis was that there would be no significant difference between a CT scan and SLT in diagnosing ankle TA in a cadaveric model. METHODS: This cadaveric study used 10 thawed fresh-frozen cadaveric ankles. A baseline CT scan was performed to ensure no intra-articular air existed before simulated TA. After the baseline CT, a 1 cm TA was created in the anterolateral arthroscopy portal site location. The ankles then underwent a postarthrotomy CT scan to evaluate for the presence of intra-articular air. After the CT scan, a 30 mL SLT was performed using the anteromedial portal site location. RESULTS: After arthrotomy, intra-articular air was visualized in 7 of 10 cadavers in the postarthrotomy CT scan. All the ankles had fluid extravasation during the SLT with <10 mL of saline. The sensitivity of the SLT for TA was 100% versus 70% for the CT scan. CONCLUSIONS: The SLT was more sensitive in diagnosing 1-cm ankle TA than a CT scan in a cadaveric model.

A radiologic determination of the different screw cutting patterns in cut and uncut orthopedic cortical screws using a novel imaging technique.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that cut screws will deform in a manner that increases the core and outer diameters of the screw hole compared to uncut controls, and effects will be more pronounced in titanium screws. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used biomechanical polyurethane foam blocks to simulate cortical bone. We organized four groups of stainless steel and titanium cut and uncut screws. Blocks were fitted with a jig to ensure perpendicular screw insertion. We imaged the blocks using digital mammography and measured them using PACS software. Power analysis determined a power of 0.95 and an alpha error of 0.05. RESULTS: Highly statistically significant differences in core diameter were found after cutting stainless steel and titanium screws. Cutting stainless steel screws increased core diameter by 0.30 mm (95% CI, 0.16 to 0.45; p < .001). Titanium screws' core diameter increased by 0.45 mm (95% CI, 0.30 to 0.61; p < .001). No significant differences were found in the outer diameters of stainless steel and titanium screws after cutting. CONCLUSION: Titanium and stainless steel screw tracts demonstrated screw core diameter and screw thread pattern deformation after cutting. Titanium screws demonstrated more significant effects.

Do Mid-term Outcomes of Lateral Ankle Stabilization Procedures Differ Between Military and Civilian Populations?

BACKGROUND: Ankle instability is common and previous studies have documented greater than 85% good-to-excellent outcomes based upon both patient-reported outcome measures and subjective evaluation of ability to return to previous activity levels after lateral ankle stabilization in the civilian population. However, patient-reported outcomes and performance may differ in the military population. The military oftentimes requires servicemembers to navigate uneven terrain and ladderwells, which can stress ankles differently than in their civilian counterparts. There has been limited evidence regarding patient outcomes after lateral ankle stabilization within a military population and its elucidation is important in optimizing outcomes for our servicemembers. Furthermore, the potential benefit of fibular periosteum augmentation with lateral ankle stabilization procedures in a military population has not been described. The results of using this extra tissue to reinforce the repair are important in determining whether its routine incorporation is indicated in the military. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: In an active-duty military population, we asked: (1) What proportion of patients who underwent lateral ankle stabilization using anatomic repair techniques with or without fibular periosteum augmentation achieved good-to-excellent outcomes based on the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) score at a minimum follow-up interval of 2 years? (2) Was the proportion of patients who achieved a good-to-excellent FADI score higher among those treated with fibular periosteum augmentation than those treated without? (3) Did the likelihood of achieving a good-to-excellent outcome after lateral ankle stabilization vary based on whether the procedure was performed by a fellowship-trained sports or foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon versus a podiatrist? METHODS: Between 2007 and 2017, 15 surgeons (six orthopaedic surgeons and nine podiatrists) performed 502 lateral ankle stabilizations. We excluded 4% (18 of 502) of patients because they were not active-duty at the time of surgery, and we excluded 12% (56 of 502) of lateral ankle stabilizations because they were performed as part of other potentially confounding foot or ankle procedures. We considered 60% (303 of 502) as lost to follow-up because the patients could not be contacted at least 2 years after surgery, they declined to participate, or they did not fully answer the questionnaires. This left 125 patients for analysis. Of those, 79% (99 of 125) had a procedure with fibular periosteum augmentation and 21% (26 of 125) had a procedure without augmentation. During the study period, five fellowship-trained orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons and two podiatrists always used fibular periosteum augmentation. Orthopaedic surgeons performed 75% (94 of 125) of the procedures, and the other 25% (31 of 125) were performed by podiatrists. Whether a servicemember was treated by one specialty or the other was simply based upon whom they were referred to for care. Orthopaedic surgeons tended to perform procedures with augmentation (five with versus one without) and podiatrists tended to perform procedures without augmentation (two with versus seven without). To help account for this confounding factor, we performed separate analyses for procedures performed with versus without augmentation in addition to procedures performed by orthopaedic surgeons versus podiatrists. We retrospectively contacted each patient to obtain their self-reported overall result, FADI outcome score, and postoperative military capabilities. The minimum follow-up duration was 2 years; overall mean follow-up duration was 7 years. The fibular periosteum augmentation group mean follow-up was 7 ± 4 years and without augmentation was 6 ± 3 years. The orthopaedic surgeons group mean follow-up was 7 ± 3 years and the podiatrists group was 7 ± 3 years. We obtained postoperative FADI scores via phone interview along with data regarding the patients' postoperative military capabilities, but did not have preoperative FADI scores. RESULTS: Pooling both surgical treatments, 67% (84 of 125) of the patients reported good-to-excellent results and 33% (41 of 125) reported very poor-to-fair results. We found no difference in the proportion of patients treated with fibular periosteal augmentation who achieved a good or excellent score on the FADI than was observed among the patients treated without periosteal augmentation (68% [67 of 99] versus 65% [17 of 26]; odds ratio 1 [95% CI 0 to 2]; p = 0.81). The proportion of patients who achieved a good or excellent score on the FADI did not differ depending on whether the procedure was performed by an orthopaedic surgeon or a podiatric surgeon (66% [62 of 94] versus 71% [22 of 31]; OR 1 [95% CI 1 to 2]; p = 0.66). CONCLUSION: The patient-reported outcome scores after lateral ankle stabilization in our study of military servicemembers at a minimum of 2 years and a mean of 7 years were far lower than have been reported in studies on civilians. Indeed, our findings may represent a best-case scenario because more patients were lost to follow-up than were accounted for, and in general, surgical results among missing patients are poorer than among those who return for follow-up. Variability in the addition of fibular periosteum augmentation and whether an orthopaedic surgeon or podiatrist performed the procedure did not account for these findings. With one third of patients reporting very-poor-to-fair results after these reconstructions, and many patients lost to follow-up, we recommend surgeons counsel their servicemember patients accordingly before surgery. Specifically, that there is a one third chance they will need permanent restrictions or have to leave the military postoperatively; analogously, we believe that our findings may apply to similarly active patients outside the military, and we question whether these procedures may not be serving such patients as well as previously believed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

The ulnohumeral arthroplasty: technical tips for safely managing the brachial artery.

One surgical option to manage idiopathic osteoarthritis of the elbow is an ulnohumeral arthroplasty. A potential complication to avoid during this procedure is inadvertent over penetration of the anterior cortex of the humerus. If this occurs, injury to the median nerve and brachial artery is possible as these structures may lie within 7 mm of the anterior humerus. This surgical technique describes technical tips in regards to patient positioning and specific instrument usage that serve to diminish the risk of this catastrophic complication occurring by allowing these critical neurovascular structures to fall away from the anterior humerus.

Irreducible Ankle Fracture from an Interposed Chaput Fragment: A Case Report.

CASE: A 23-year-old active-duty military service member sustained an unusual irreducible fracture-dislocation of the ankle joint. Preoperative computed tomography showed an anterolateral tibial (Chaput) fragment entrapped within the distal syndesmosis, preventing adequate reduction. An open reduction of the fragment was performed in the operating room, which allowed near-anatomic reduction and internal fixation of the tibiotalar joint. At the 21-month follow-up visit, the patient remained on active duty in the Navy without limitations. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this rare injury pattern, an interposed Chaput fragment preventing closed reduction of the syndesmosis in a skeletally mature patient, has not previously been described in the literature. An open reduction and internal fixation of the Chaput fragment allowed near-anatomic reduction of the tibiotalar joint.

Proximity of arteries to the anterior ulna with changing flexion.

During surgery for elbow fracture, wires and screws crossing the elbow from posterior to anterior place the brachial and ulnar arteries at risk for inadvertent penetration. The authors' goal was to define the sagittal proximity of the brachial and ulnar arteries to the proximal ulna throughout an arc of elbow motion using dynamic fluoroscopy. The brachial artery was injected with barium in 10 fresh-frozen cadaveric elbows. Sagittal fluoroscopic images were obtained at elbow flexion angles of 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120°. Two measurements were obtained at each flexion angle: (1) the distance between the coronoid tip and the brachial artery and (2) the distance between the coronoid base and the ulnar artery. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare mean distances for each flexion angle within each measurement group. A coronal image identified the mediolateral course of the brachial artery. The distance from the coronoid tip to the brachial artery significantly increased with increasing flexion from 0° to 60° (P<.001). The distance from the ulnar artery to the coronoid base significantly increased with increasing flexion from 0° to 120° (P<.002). The brachial artery traversed lateral to the coronoid in 9 of 10 specimens. The brachial and ulnar arteries are located further from the coronoid with increasing elbow flexion to at least 60°, and the brachial artery is typically located lateral to the coronoid in the coronal plane. These measurements can be used as surgical guides to reduce the risk of arterial injury during olecranon fracture surgery.