Comparative analysis of the quality of the cement mantle in hip hemiarthroplasty after femoral neck fracture between three different surgical approaches: a single-center retrospective observational study.

PURPOSE: Achieving the initial stability of implants is necessary for hip hemiarthroplasty (HHA), especially in elderly patients, and this can be achieved with a cement mantle of quality. The direct anterior approach (DAA) for HHA lately has shown positive results. However, evidence is lacking of HHA in elderly patients with osteoporosis after femoral neck fracture (FNF). This study compares differences in cement mantle quality after HHA, its complications, radiological outcomes and functional status in elderly patients with FNF intervened through different approaches. METHODS: A non-interventional, retrospective case-control study was conducted. 150 cases were selected based on the surgical approach (DAA, DLA and PLA) in a 1:1:1 proportion between 2018 and 2019. Under 75 years old suspicion or confirmation of a pathological fracture were excluded. Antibiotic-loaded cement was utilized. Cement preparation involved vacuum centrifugation and standard instructions for preparation canal and filling, and prosthesis placement were followed. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in cement mantle quality, radiological outcomes, and the majority of the postoperative complications and functional status considering the surgical approach (p > 0.05). However, the DAA was associated significantly with shorter hospital stays (8.3 days vs 11.3 and 13 days for DLA and PLA) a decrease in postoperative blood transfusion (22% vs 34% and 53%), and lower rate of loss of walking (8% vs 20% and 28.6%). CONCLUSION: The DAA for HHA in patients with FNF provides a high-quality cement mantle, similar to other approaches. Also, the DAA shows advantages like shorter hospital stays and lower transfusion rates in elderly patients.

The anterior and medial open approaches yield superior outcomes compared to the lateral and posterior open approaches in supracondylar humerus fractures in children: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

This study aimed to perform a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) to examine which open approach is superior in terms of outcomes and complications in the treatment of pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures. MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Cochrane Library were searched from database inception to December 2022 and screened for relevant studies. Data were collected regarding patient demographics, Flynn's functional and cosmetic outcomes, and complications. Unsatisfactory Flynn's and complications were considered negative events. Comparisons of outcomes from aggregate data from each surgical approach using relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were performed. The NMA of overall negative events was conducted using a Bayesian hierarchical random-effects model analysis. A total of 26 studies involving 1461 patients were included; 459 (31.4%) patients underwent a closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP), 84 (5.7%) an anterior approach, 240 (16.4%) a medial, 220 (15%) a lateral, and 458 (31.3%) a posterior. The lateral and posterior approaches demonstrate a higher risk of negative event in the NMA compared to CRPP [RR = 2 (1.03, 3.85); RR = 2.63 (1.96, 3.57), respectively], anterior approach [RR = 3.33 (1.11, 10); RR = 4.35 (1.49, 12.5), respectively], and medial approach [RR = 1.82 (1.16, 2.86); RR = 2.38 (1.23, 4.76), respectively]. The medial approach resulted in a similar negative event rate compared to the anterior [RR = 1.82 (0.58, 5.88)]. The anterior and medial open approaches yield superior functional and cosmetic outcomes with fewer complications compared to the lateral and posterior.

Spinal arteriovenous fistula leading to acute paraplegia after a lumbar nerve root block: Successful embolization with complete neurological recovery-a case report.

Spinal arteriovenous fistulas (SAVFs) are the most common type of vascular malformation of the spine in adult patients. They can lead to acute or progressive myelopathy due to venous congestion of the medullary veins. While most SAVFs are acquired, their pathophysiology remains unclear. The natural history of the disease and its clinical presentation are highly influenced by the location of the fistula and various factors may trigger sudden neurological decline. We present a case of a patient who developed a complete spinal cord injury after a lumbar nerve root block, likely due to an undiagnosed SAVF. The patient underwent endovascular embolization, resulting in a complete recovery of neurological function.

Predictors of outcomes after internal fixation of periprosthetic femoral hip fractures Subgroup analysis of the peri-implant and peri-prosthetic fractures Spanish registry (PIPPAS).

PURPOSE: To identify risk factors predisposing patients to poor outcomes after fixation of periprosthetic hip fractures around femoral stems. METHODS: Prospective multicentre cohort study of fractures around a hip replacement stem managed by internal fixation. The primary outcome was one-year mortality, while secondary outcomes were local complications and healthcare burden-related outcomes (nursing facility utilization and hospital length of stay). RESULTS: One-year mortality was 16.2%. Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index score (OR=1.17; 95%CI=1.03-1.33)), Pfeiffer Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) score (OR=1.16; 1.06-1.28), prosthetic dysfunction (OR=1.90; 1.00-3.61), and postoperative medical complications (OR=1.97; 1.06-3.68) were predictors of mortality. Patients with prior prosthetic dysfunction, lower Pfeiffer SPMSQ scores, Vancouver A fractures, and fractures fixed only using cerclages were at higher risk of local complications, which occurred in 9.3% of cases. Medical (OR=1.81; 1.05-3.13) and local complications (OR=5.56; 2.42-3.13) emerged as consistent risk factors for new institutionalization. Average hospitalization time was 13.9±9.2 days. Each day of fixation delay led to an average 1.4-day increase in total hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Frail periprosthetic hip-fracture patients with poorer functional status, dysfunctional replacements, and postoperative complications are at increased risk of mortality. Postoperative complications are more common in patients with dysfunctional arthroplasties, Vancouver A fractures, and fixation using cerclages alone. Postoperative complications were the most consistent predictor of higher healthcare resource utilization.

Home-Based or Supervised Physical Therapy Shows Similar Functional Outcomes and Healing After Massive Rotator Cuff Repair.

PURPOSE: To compare postoperative clinical outcomes at the 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, and latest follow-up in patients undergoing supervised physical therapy (PT) or a home-based exercise program after arthroscopic repair (ARCR) of massive rotator cuff tears (MRCTs). METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent either supervised PT or home-based therapy after ARCR of MRCTs between January 2015 and December 2018 at a single center with a minimum 24-month follow-up. At their 2-week postoperative routine follow-up, patients were allowed to choose between home-based and supervised PT. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and range of motion (ROM) were collected and compared between cohorts preoperatively and at the 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, and latest follow-up. The percentage of patients reaching or exceeding the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient accepted symptomatic state (PASS) for visual analog scale for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon (ASES) score, and Subjective Shoulder Value was recorded for both cohorts at each time point. Complications, healing, satisfaction, and return to work were reported. Healing was evaluated via ultrasound at the latest follow-up. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients met the study criteria: 61 in the supervised PT cohort and 38 in the home-based cohort. The supervised PT and home-based cohorts returned to the clinic for their most recent follow-up at 53 ± 20 and 55 ± 16 months (P = .496) after surgery, respectively. There was no difference when comparing tendon involvement (supraspinatus, P = .574; infraspinatus, P = .288; subscapularis, P = .592), tear retraction (P = .603), or high-grade fatty infiltration (supraspinatus, P = .684; infraspinatus, P = .397; subscapularis, P = .473) based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging assessment and surgery-related factors, including anterior (P = .473) or posterior (P = .386) slides, fixation constructs (P = .829), or complete repair (P = .912). Both cohorts showed similar PROs and ROM at baseline. Postoperative PROs and ROM were similar among groups at the 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, and latest follow-up. However, ASES (71.4 vs 61.2; P = .013) and forward flexion (135° vs 118°; P = .023) were significantly higher at 3-month follow-up in the home-based cohort. Both groups comparably achieved MCID and PASS for PROs at the 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. At the latest follow-up, the supervised PT and home-based cohort achieved MCID and PASS for visual analog scale (75% vs 81%, P = .573; 70% vs 72%, P = .911), ASES (76% vs 74%, P = .777; 72% vs 72%, P = .873), and Subjective Shoulder Value (82% vs 84%, P = .734; 72% vs 66%, P = .489), respectively. Satisfaction, healing, complication, and return-to-work rates were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing rehabilitation using a home-based protocol showed largely similar functional scores and healing to those with supervised PT after ARCR of MRCTs at the latest follow-up. Although patients with home-based therapy achieved higher forward flexion and ASES at the 3-month follow-up, these became comparable starting at the 6-month postoperative mark. MCID and PASS were achieved similarly for PROs at each time point. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective case series comparison.

Temporary immobilization methods for closed low-energy ankle fracture-dislocations: comparative analysis of a retrospective cohort.

PURPOSE: Ankle fracture-dislocations (AFD) often necessitate staged management involving temporary external fixation (EF) due to mechanical instability or blistering. However, limited literature exists on the optimal temporary immobilization method for low-energy closed AFD. This study compared baseline patient and fracture characteristics, along with clinical and radiological outcomes between AFD initially immobilized with EF versus splinting. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving patients with AFD temporarily immobilized using EF or splinting, followed by definitive open reduction and internal fixation. Quality of reduction (QOR) was assessed for each patient post-initial immobilization and after the definitive surgery. RESULTS: The study encompassed 194 patients: 138 treated with a splint (71.1%) and 56 (28.9%) with EF. Secondary loss of reduction had occurred in three patients who were splinted (2.2%). The mean ages in the EF and splint groups were 63.2 and 56.1 years, respectively (p = 0.01). Posterior malleolus fracture (PMF) and blisters were more prevalent in EF patients (69.6% vs. 43.5% for PMF and 76.8% vs. 20.3% for blisters, respectively; p = 0.05 and p < 0.01). Postoperative complication rates were 8.9% for EF versus 10.9% for splinting (p = 0.69). Satisfactory final QOR was attained in 79.8% of patients treated with a splint versus 64.3% with EF (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Patients immobilized by EF presented with poorer baseline characteristics and had more unstable injuries. Nevertheless, postoperative complication rates were comparable. Thus, EF appears to be a valuable tool for standardizing outcomes in AFD patients with a less favorable prognosis.

Open reduction and polyaxial plating for stemmed knee periprosthetic fractures: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: Stemmed total knee arthroplasty (STKA) periprosthetic fractures (PPFs) are an emerging problem affecting frail patients. Their surgical fixation is challenging, due to intramedullary involvement and poor bone stock. Polyaxial locking plating has yielded good results in implant-related femur fractures. We hypothesized that this treatment would provide similar results for STKA PPFs. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with a femoral PPF or inter-implant fracture around a knee revision stem who had undergone open reduction and periprosthetic-specific polyaxial plate fixation. RESULTS: We found 14 cases of mean age 85.4 years. Cerclages were used in 80% of cases. Fixation of a mean 8.6 cortices around the revision stem was achieved, with an overall screw density of 1:2 or 1:3. Four patients lost their ability to walk, while four experienced postoperative local complications. Bone healing was achieved in all except one who died during hospitalization. The 13 remaining survived the first year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: STKA PPFs are an emerging and challenging problem affecting frail patients. Treatment using polyaxial locking plates provides stable fixation allowing early mobilization despite high complication rates.

Shoulder extension impairment with residual neonatal brachial plexus injury.

BACKGROUND: Impairment of both shoulder extension and behind-the-back function are common in patients with residual neonatal brachial plexus injury (NBPI), but have scarcely been studied or reported in the literature. Behind-the-back function is classically evaluated using the hand-to-spine task used for the Mallet score. Angular measurements of shoulder extension with residual NBPI have generally been studied utilizing kinematic motion laboratories. To date, no validated clinical examination method for this has been described. METHODS: Intraobserver and interobserver reliability analyses of 2 shoulder extension angles-passive glenohumeral extension (PGE) and active shoulder extension (ASE)-were performed. Afterwards, a retrospective clinical study was conducted on prospectively collected data on 245 children with residual BPI treated from January 2019 through August 2022. Demographic characteristics, level of palsy, previous surgical procedures, modified Mallet score, and bilateral PGE and ASE data were analyzed. RESULTS: All inter- and intraobserver agreements were excellent, ranging from 0.82 to 0.86. The median patient age was 8.1 years (3.5-21). Among the 245 children, 57.6% had Erb's palsy, 28.6% extended Erb's palsy, and 13.9% global palsy. One hundred sixty-eight (66%) of the children could not touch their lumbar spine, among whom 26.2% (n = 44) had to swing the arm to reach it. Both the degrees of ASE and PGE achieved correlation significantly with the hand-to-spine score, the ASE strongly (r = 0.705) and the PGE weakly (r = 0.372) (both P < .0001). Significant correlations also were found between lesion level and the hand-to-spine Mallet score (r = -0.339; P < .0001) and ASE (r = -0.299; P < .0001), and between patient age and the PGE (P = .0416, r = -0.130). A statistically significant decrease in PGE and incapacity to reach the spine were found in patients who underwent glenohumeral reduction, shoulder tendon transfer, or humeral osteotomy, relative to those who had microsurgery or no surgery. Receiver operating curves showed that, for both PGE and ASE, the minimum extension angle required to successfully perform the hand-to-spine task was 10°, with sensitivity levels of 69.9 and 82.2, and specificity levels of 69.5 and 87.8 (both P < .0001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Glenohumeral flexion contracture and lost ASE are extremely common in children with residual NBPI. Both the PGE and ASE angles can be measured reliably with a clinical exam, with at least 10° of PGE and ASE necessary to perform the hand-to-spine Mallet task.

Extensor carpi radialis brevis motor branch transfer to the deep branch of the ulnar nerve to repair intrinsic hand palsy in neonatal lower brachial plexus and spinal cord injury: A case report.

Concomitant lower neonatal brachial plexus palsy (Klumpke) and spinal cord injury is extremely rare but with a clearly established mechanism of injury pattern. No successful surgical techniques have been reported to date to restore intrinsic hand function. We report a case of successful transfer of the extensor carpi radialis brevis motor branch to the deep branch of the ulnar nerve to repair intrinsic hand palsy. Three-month-old boy with the diagnosis of left Klumpke paralysis and thoracic spinal cord injury associating left Horner's sign, intrinsic minus deformity of all the digits, and thenar muscle paralysis in the upper limb. Both lower limbs were fully paralyzed. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed spinal cord narrowing from T1 to T5 and pseudo-meningoceles involving the left C8 through T3 roots. Since no spontaneous recovery was apparent by 6.5 months and surgical exploration showed pronator quadratus denervation, the ECRB motor branch deep branch was transferred to the ulnar nerve (DBUN) with interposed a 7.5 cm-long sural nerve graft. By 18 months post-operatively, all the digits showed complete active IP extension. Thirty-six months after surgery, no signs of first dorsal interosseous nerve or thenar muscle reinnervation were present, thus an extensor carpi ulnaris opponensplasty was performed. ECRB motor branch might be a valuable tool to restore finger intrinsic function in these uncommon cases.

Simultaneous ipsilateral knee dislocation and hip fracture: A case report.

Hip fracture is one of the main causes of medical attendance in trauma centers. By contrast, knee dislocation is a challenging and limb-threatening injury. We report a case of a 68-year-old male who sustained a simultaneous ipsilateral hip fracture and knee dislocation after a low-energy fall. Popliteal artery and common peroneal nerve injuries were associated. Knee dislocation treatment included closed reduction, external fixation and popliteal artery repair. Hip hemiarthroplasty was performed using a direct anterior approach. Revision multiligament knee reconstruction surgery was not considered. A rehabilitation program achieved a good long-term functional outcome. Simultaneous ipsilateral knee dislocation and associated proximal femoral injuries are rare and challenging, potentially requiring long-term staged management. The direct anterior approach to the hip is worth consideration when additional lower limb injuries are present, especially in the setting of a knee spanning external fixator.