Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Reconstruction With Proximal Single-Tunnel Suspensory Fixation.

Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction of the medial elbow is considered to be the gold standard for treating valgus instability seen in overhead throwing athletes. The first UCL construction was performed by Frank Jobe in 1974, and this procedure has evolved over time to include multiple techniques that improved the biomechanical strength of the graft fixation and maximize the rate of return to athletic competition for these patients. The most common UCL-reconstruction technique used today is the docking technique. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe our technique, including pearls and pitfalls, which combines the many advantages of the docking technique with a proximal single-tunnel suspensory fixation technique. This method allows for optimal tensioning of the graft, allowing for secure fixation that relies on metal implants as opposed to tying sutures over a proximal bone bridge.

Inflammatory and Immunologic Contributions in Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome.

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is one of the most common causes of labral and early cartilage damage in the nondysplastic hip. FAI is increasingly recognized as a cause for hip and groin pain in the young, active patient, and the surgical treatment of FAI with hip arthroscopy has risen exponentially. Although our understanding of FAI and the progression to degenerative osteoarthritis of the hip has historically been considered a mechanical "wear-and-tear" disease of an imperfectly shaped, aspherical, femoral head within a deep or overcovering acetabulum leading to cartilage injury, our understanding of the intrinsic pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the development of FAI and joint degeneration of the hip remains poor. For example, many patients with FAI morphology may never develop hip pain or osteoarthritis; there remains more to discover regarding the pathophysiology of arthritis in the setting of FAI. Recent work has begun to identify a strong inflammatory and immunologic component to the FAI disease process that affects the hip synovium, labrum, and cartilage and may be detectable from peripheral clinical samples (blood and urine). This review highlights our current understanding of the inflammatory and immunologic contributions to FAI and potential therapeutic strategies to supplement and augment the surgical management of FAI.

Value Challenge: A Bottoms-Up Approach to Minimizing Cost and Waste in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Astronomical increases in medical expenses and waste produce widespread financial and environmental impacts. Minor changes to minimize costs within orthopaedics, the most used surgical subspecialty, could result in substantial savings. However, few orthopaedic surgeons are educated or experienced to implement cost containment strategies. This study aims to investigate cost containment opportunities and provide a framework for educating and incorporating residents into cost-saving initiatives. Methods: Orthopaedic surgical residents from an academic program with a Level I trauma center were queried during 2019 to 2022 regarding suggestions for cost containment opportunities. Based on feasibility and the estimated impact, 7 responses were selected to undergo cost-saving analyses. Results: The proposed initiatives fell into 2 categories: minimizing waste and optimizing patient care. Eliminating nonessential physical therapy/occupational therapy consults led to the greatest estimated savings ($8.6M charges/year), followed by conserving reusable drill bits ($2.2M/year) and reducing computed tomography scans on lower extremity injuries ($446K/year). Conclusion: Current medical training provides limited formal education on cost-effective care. Efforts to mitigate the growing financial and environmental costs of health care should include encouraging and incorporating resident feedback into cost reduction strategies. This tactic will likely have a positive impact on the behavior of such resident surgeons as they enter practice and have more awareness of costs and value. Level of Evidence: V (cost-minimization study).

Biomechanical comparison of ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with single-tunnel proximal suspensory fixation versus modified docking technique.

Background: Despite technical advancement, elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction is a challenging procedure due to the limitations regarding the challenging tunnel placement and potential injury to the ulnar nerve. Furthermore, current techniques for reconstruction and repair are inferior functionally and biomechanically when compared to native UCL tissue. A modified docking technique using a single-tunnel proximal suspensory fixation may reduce complications and potentially provide a technique for UCL reconstruction that is biomechanically superior. Decreasing the number of bone tunnels decreases the number of places that bone tear through could occur. The purpose was to evaluate and compare the biomechanical performances for 2 elbow UCL reconstruction techniques: (1) standard docking technique (SD) and (2) a proximal single tunnel (PST) technique using a suspensory fixation. We hypothesized that the PST technique would be biomechanically superior to the SD technique. Methods: Twelve matched pairs of cadaveric elbows were dissected and fixed at 70 degrees for biomechanical testing. Gracilis grafts were used for a docking reconstruction and the modified reconstruction with a PST suspensory fixation. A cyclic valgus torque protocol was used to precondition specimens for either reconstruction technique and the ulnohumeral gapping was then assessed. Following gapping measurements, postsurgical specimens underwent a valgus rotation applied at a rate of 5°/s until the anterior band of the UCL failed or fracture occurred. Ultimate load to failure, stiffness, and mode of failure were recorded. Results: There were no statistical differences between the two groups. Mean rotational stiffness of the SD (2.3 ± 0.6 Nm/deg) compared to the PST (1.9 ± 0.7 Nm/deg) (P = .41) and mean ultimate failure torque of the SD (30.5 ± 9.2 Nm) compared to the PST (30.9 ± 8.6 Nm) (P = .86) were similar. There was also no statistically significant difference (P = .83) when comparing the native UCL ulnohumeral gapping (6.0 ± 2.0 mm) to the mean ulnohumeral gapping of the SD reconstruction (6.0 ± 1.8 mm). Conclusions: This study compares the biomechanical strength of elbow UCL reconstructions performed using the SP technique to that of a PST technique. Among all tested parameters, including ultimate failure torque, stiffness, and ulnohumeral gapping, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 techniques.

Failure of Costimulatory Blockade-induced Regulatory T Cells to Sustain Long-term Survival of High Ischemic Allografts.

BACKGROUND: Costimulatory blockade-induced allograft tolerance has been achieved in rodent models, but these strategies do not translate well to nonhuman primate and clinical transplants. One confounder that may underlie this discrepancy is the greater ischemic inflammation imposed on the transplants. In mice, cardiac allografts subjected to prolonged cold ischemic storage (CIS) before transplant have increased ischemia-reperfusion injury, which amplifies infiltrating endogenous memory CD8 T-cell activation within hours after transplantation to mediate acute graft inflammation and cytotoxic lymphocyte-associated molecule-4 immunoglobulin-resistant rejection. This study tested strategies inhibiting memory CD8 T-cell activation within such high ischemic allografts to achieve long-term survival. METHODS: A/J (H-2 a ) hearts subjected to 0.5 or 8 h of CIS were transplanted to C57BL/6 (H-2 b ) recipients and treatment with peritransplant costimulatory blockade. At 60 d posttransplant, regulatory T cells (Treg) were depleted in recipients of high ischemic allografts with anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody (mAb) or diphtheria toxin. RESULTS: Whereas peritransplant (days 0 and +1) anti-lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 mAb and anti-CD154 mAb prolonged survival of >60% allografts subjected to minimal CIS for >100 d, only 20% of allografts subjected to prolonged CIS survived beyond day 80 posttransplant and rejection was accompanied by high titers of donor-specific antibody. Peritransplant anti-lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1, anti-tumor necrosis factor-α, and anti-CD154 mAb plus additional anti-CD154 mAb on days 14 and 16 obviated this donor-specific antibody and promoted Treg-mediated tolerance and survival of 60% of high ischemic allografts beyond day 100 posttransplant, but all allografts failed by day 120. CONCLUSIONS: These studies indicate a strategy inducing prolonged high ischemic allograft survival through Treg-mediated tolerance that is not sustained indefinitely.

The safe zones for endoscopic proximal hamstring repair: a cadaveric assessment of standard portal placement and their relationship to major neurovascular structures.

PURPOSE: To define the anatomical relationship of the major neurovascular structures to the standard endoscopic portals used in endoscopic hamstring repair. A secondary outcome was to determine the safest angle of insertion from each standard portal. METHODS: Endoscopic portals were established in the 3 standard locations (lateral, medial, and inferior) and Steinmann pins inserted at various angles. Each hip was dissected and the distance between the pins and the pertinent anatomy measured. RESULTS: The lateral portal placed the sciatic and posterior femoral cutaneous (PFC) nerves at greatest risk: direct injury to the sciatic nerve was seen in 11/30 (37%) of the lateral portals sited. A lateral portal with an approach at 60° was the most dangerous orientation with a mean distance of 0.36 ± 0.49 mm and 4.30 ± 2.69 mm from the sciatic and PFC nerves, respectively (p < 0.001). The 60° medial portal was the safest of all portals measured, at a mean distance of 67.37 ± 11.06mm (range, 47-78 mm) from the sciatic nerve and 58.90 ± 10.57 mm (range 40-70 mm) from the PFC nerve. CONCLUSIONS: While currently described techniques recommend establishing the standard lateral portal first, this study shows that it carries the highest risk of injury if used blind. We recommend that the standard medial endoscopic portal is established first to identify the neurovascular structures and minimise iatrogenic neurovascular injury. The inferior and lateral portals can then be established created under direct vision. The lateral portal should be inserted in a more horizontal orientation to decrease the risk of nerve injury.

Femoral Version May Impact Hip Arthroscopy Outcomes in Select Patient Populations: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To provide further clarity regarding the management of patients with abnormal femoral version in the setting of hip arthroscopy and will discuss the definition of femoral version, the diagnostic and clinical evaluation of abnormal femoral version, and several described measurement techniques. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in literature published before August 2021 that measured femoral version and reported patient-reported outcomes measures or rates of subsequent procedures following hip arthroscopy. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed and the electronic databases, PubMed, OvidMedLine, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Two blinded reviews screened and evaluated data quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included with 11 studies reporting patient outcomes and 7 studies reporting rates of subsequent procedures. The most commonly used definition of femoral version was 5° to 20° of femoral anteversion. Computed tomography scan was the most commonly used imaging modality. The majority of studies (7 of 11) demonstrated that femoral version does not have an impact on patient-reported outcomes measures and is not predictive of clinically meaningful improvement scores. However, in select studies, patients with femoral retroversion were found to experience slightly inferior outcomes following hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement. While femoral retroversion may be a risk factor for subsequent procedures, 3 of 7 studies refute this claim. Although in patients with borderline hip dysplasia, excessive femoral anteversion led to greater rates of subsequent hip procedures. CONCLUSIONS: While the majority of studies show that femoral version does not have an impact on patient-reported outcomes following hip arthroscopy, those with femoral retroversion and with excessive anteversion with coexisting borderline hip dysplasia need to be educated on their increased risk of subsequent operation. Ultimately, this review suggests that clinical improvement can likely be achieved regardless of femoral version. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; systematic review of Level I-IV studies.

Which Application Factors Are Associated With Outstanding Performance in Orthopaedic Surgery Residency?

BACKGROUND: Identifying ideal candidates for orthopaedic surgery residency is difficult. Data available for applicant selection are evolving; preclinical grades and the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honors society are being phased out at some medical schools. Similarly, three-digit United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 scores have been eliminated. There is renewed interest in improving resident selection to provide a diverse, comprehensive educational opportunity that produces orthopaedic surgeons who are prepared for practice. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We sought to identify whether (1) academic achievements, (2) letters of recommendation, (3) research activity, and (4) miscellaneous factors available on Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) applications were associated with outstanding residency performance. METHODS: Ten faculty members (22% of all full-time faculty) with extensive educational involvement for at least 7 years, whose expertise covered all subspecialty departments at an urban, academic orthopaedic surgery residency program, were given an anonymous survey on the performance of the four most recent classes of residency graduates (24 residents). This survey was developed due to the lack of a validated residency outcomes tool or objective metrics for residency performance. The evaluated criteria were decided upon after discussion by a relatively large group of academic orthopaedic surgeons considering the factors most important for graduating orthopaedic residents. The faculty were selected based on their long-term knowledge of the residency, along with their diversity of specialty and backgrounds; there were no nonresponders. Faculty graded each resident on a scale from 1 to 10 (higher is better) on six criteria: surgical technical skills, research productivity, clinical knowledge, professionalism, personality, and fellowship match. The mean of the faculty ratings made by all faculty for all six criteria was calculated, producing the overall residency performance score. Factors available on each resident's ERAS application were then correlated with their overall residency performance score. Categorical ERAS factors, including AOA status, five or more honors in core clerkships, at least three exceptional letters of recommendation, collegiate athletics participation, expertise with a musical instrument, and research (6-year) track residents, were correlated with overall residency performance score via point biserial analysis. Continuous ERAS factors including USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores, number of publications before residency, number of research years before residency, medical school ranking, and number of volunteer experiences were correlated with overall residency performance score via Pearson correlation. USMLE Step 1 three-digit scores were evaluated despite their recent elimination because of their historic importance as a screening tool for residency interviews and for comparison to USMLE Step 2, which retains a three-digit score. Application factors with a p < 0.2 on univariate analysis (five or more honors in core clerkships, at least three exceptional letters of recommendation, research track residents) were included in a stepwise linear regression model with "overall residency performance score" as the outcome variable. All p values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The mean overall residency performance score was 7.9 ± 1.2. Applicants with at least five honors grades in core clerkships had overall residency performance scores 1.2 points greater than those of their peers (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.3 to 2.0; p = 0.01, Cohen ƒ 2 = 0.2, representing a small effect size). ERAS applications including at least three exceptional letters of recommendation were associated with a 0.9-point increase in residency performance (95% CI 0.02 to 1.7; p = 0.046, Cohen ƒ 2 = 0.1, representing a small effect size). Participation in the residency research (6-year) track was associated with a 1-point improvement in residency performance (95% CI 0.1 to 1.9; p = 0.03, Cohen ƒ 2 = 0.2, again, representing a small effect size). Together, these three factors accounted for 53% of the variance in overall residency performance score observed in this study. CONCLUSION: Past clinical excellence, measured by core clerkship grades and exceptional letters of recommendation, is associated with slightly improved overall orthopaedic residency performance scores. Applicants meeting both criteria who also complete a research track residency may perform substantially better in residency than their counterparts, as these three factors accounted for half of all the variance observed in the current study. Although minimum requirements are necessary, traditionally used screening factors (such as USMLE scores, AOA status, medical school rank, and number of publications) may be of less utility in identifying successful future residents than previously thought. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Treatment of the 'The Naked Humeral Head': Repair of Supraspinatus Avulsion, Subscapularis Tear, and Humeral Avulsion of the Glenohumeral Ligament.

A humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament, or HAGL, lesion is a rare yet debilitating shoulder injury, which can lead to recurrent instability, pain, and overall shoulder dysfunction. The diagnosis is often difficult, requiring both high clinical suspicion, as well as identification on magnetic resonance imaging. In patients with an anterior HAGL, repair often requires an open approach. In extremely rare circumstances, the initial traumatic event that causes a HAGL can also cause disruption of the supraspinatus and subscapularis insertions on the humeral head. We have termed this the "naked humeral head". The purpose of this technical note is to describe our preferred technique to surgically treat the naked humeral head by repairing a supraspinatus avulsion fracture, HAGL lesion, and complete subscapularis tear.

A Review of Commercially Available Point-of-Care Devices to Concentrate Platelet-Rich Plasma.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising therapy treatment option for multiple orthopedic conditions, which has demonstrated expanding clinical use. With increased clinical use of PRP, there has been a greater demand for point-of-care (POC) biologic devices. For this review, publicly available information provided by the device corporations, PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases were searched for studies related to POC device function. A scoping review study design was selected to explore the breadth of knowledge in the literature regarding PRP POC devices. ProofPoint Biologics demonstrated the highest laboratory platelet increase (5.2 ± 0.28-fold) and the longest processing time (49 ± 1.4 minutes). Celling demonstrated the lowest laboratory platelet increase (2.7 ± 0.8-fold), while AcCELLerated had the fastest processing time (18 ± 1.4 minutes for PurePRP® AB60 Pure (Pure Accelerated Biologics, Tequesta, FL) and 13.5 ± 2.1 minutes for AbsolutePRP® (Emcyte Corporation, Fort Myers, FL)). Celling had the lowest cost out of the various biologic devices. There is significant variability in the technical features, cost, processing time, and centrifugation parameters of the different commercially available point-of-care devices.

Current State of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Cell-Based Therapies for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis and Tendon and Ligament Injuries.

➤: Orthobiologics encompass numerous substances that are naturally found in the human body including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), isolated growth factors, and cell therapy approaches to theoretically optimize and improve the healing of cartilage, fractures, and injured muscles, tendons, and ligaments. ➤: PRP is an autologous derivative of whole blood generated by centrifugation and is perhaps the most widely used orthobiologic treatment modality. Despite a vast amount of literature on its use in osteoarthritis as well as in tendon and ligament pathology, clinical efficacy results remain mixed, partly as a result of insufficient reporting of experimental details or exact compositions of PRP formulations used. ➤: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can be isolated from a variety of tissues, with the most common being bone marrow aspirate concentrate. Similar to PRP, clinical results in orthopaedics with MSCs have been highly variable, with the quality and concentration of MSCs being highly contingent on the site of procurement and the techniques of harvesting and preparation. ➤: Advances in novel orthobiologics, therapeutic targets, and customized orthobiologic therapy will undoubtedly continue to burgeon, with some early promising results from studies targeting fibrosis and senescence.

Surgical Technique of the "Up-The-Neck" View During Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement.

In the setting of femoroacetabular impingement, arthroscopy versus open surgery confers many advantages. However, inadequate bony resection remains a concern and is the leading cause of revision surgery. Several strategies have been described to ensure a more-complete resection during hip arthroscopy. In this current technique article, the authors describe a modified anterior portal site view called the "up-the-neck" view. This view allows for greater visualization of the femoral head-neck junction and alleviates challenges faced when assessing resection intraoperatively. The "up-the-neck" view is achieved by placing a 70° arthroscope in the anterior lateral portal and subsequently rotating the camera 90°. The head-neck junction will appear horizontally, rather than vertically, on this view, which allows for the easy identification of missed imperfections. This may reduce the need for revision surgery and future investigation is necessary to determine the reoperation rates following this technique.

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair and Subpectoral Biceps Tenodesis in the Lateral Decubitus Position.

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair can be performed with the patient in the beach-chair or lateral decubitus position. Patient positioning in shoulder arthroscopy is a critical step in surgical preparation and remains a debated topic. The lateral decubitus position is a reliable, safe, and effective position in which to perform nearly all types of shoulder arthroscopic procedures. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe our preferred technique for performing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with the patient in the lateral decubitus position, which portends several advantages, such as improved visualization of the glenohumeral space, ergonomic positioning, a low risk of cerebral hypoperfusion, and a shorter operating time.

Immunologic Contributions Following Rotator Cuff Injury and Development of Cuff Tear Arthropathy.

¼: Rotator cuff tear arthropathy (RCTA) describes a pattern of glenohumeral degenerative changes following chronic rotator cuff tears that is characterized by superior humeral head migration, erosion of the greater tuberosity of the humeral head, contouring of the coracoacromial arch to create a socket for the humeral head, and eventual glenohumeral arthritis. ¼: Acute and chronic inflammatory changes following rotator cuff tears are thought to contribute to cartilage damage, muscle fibrosis, and fatty infiltration in the glenohumeral joint. ¼: In vitro animal studies targeting various inflammatory modulators, including macrophages, insulin-like growth factor-I, and transforming growth factor-beta pathways, provide promising therapeutic targets to improve healing after rotator cuff tears. ¼: The role of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment and prevention of RCTA has been investigated, with conflicting results.

The Current Status of Concussion Assessment Scales: A Critical Analysis Review.

¼: Concussion is a complex pathophysiologic process that affects the brain; it is induced by biomechanical forces, with alteration in mental status with or without loss of consciousness. ¼: Concussion assessment tools may be broadly categorized into (1) screening tests such as the SAC (Standardized Assessment of Concussion), the BESS (Balance Error Scoring System), and the King-Devick (KD) test; (2) confirmatory tests including the SCAT (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool), the ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), and the VOMS (Vestibular Oculomotor Screening); and (3) objective examinations such as brain network activation (BNA) analysis, imaging studies, and physiologic markers. ¼: The KD, child SCAT3 (cSCAT3), child ImPACT (cImPACT), and VOMS tests may be used to evaluate for concussion in the pediatric athlete. ¼: Future work with BNA, functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and serum biomarkers may provide more objective assessment of concussion, neurologic injury, and subsequent recovery.

Endoscopic Treatment of Calcific Tendinitis of the Gluteus Maximus: A Case Report.

CASE: Calcific tendinitis of the gluteus maximus is a rare condition with poorly described operative treatment options. We present a 51-year-old man with chronic left posterolateral hip pain because of gluteus maximus calcific tendinitis that was refractory to conservative treatment. Endoscopy was pursued given the severity and chronicity of his symptoms. The patient remains asymptomatic without recurrence. CONCLUSION: This is the first description of endoscopic management of calcific tendinitis of the gluteus maximus. This is a minimally invasive, efficacious option for management of this pathology.

Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes After Treatment of Patellar Chondral Defects: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: There is currently no evidence-based consensus on how to treat a full-thickness, symptomatic articular cartilage injury of the patella, although numerous treatment options are available. OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the functional outcomes after operative treatment of patellar cartilage lesions. Our secondary purpose was to evaluate radiographic outcomes after treatment. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase. STUDY SELECTION: Studies published between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2018 that included patient-reported functional outcomes for patients after operative treatment of patellar chondral defects at a minimum 2-year follow-up were included. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. DATA EXTRACTION: MINORS (Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies) score, level of evidence, sample size, demographic data, follow-up data, intervention, functional outcome scores, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were collected. RESULTS: The review identified 10 studies and 293 patients receiving cartilage restoration procedures for patellar chondral defects with extractable clinical and radiographic results and data on complications and reoperations. All treatments (autologous chondrocyte implantation [ACI], matrix-induced ACI [MACI], autologous osteochondral transplantation [AOT]) utilized in the management of patellar chondral lesions, with the exception of isolated particulated juvenile articular cartilage, demonstrated statistically significant improvements in functional outcome scores compared with preoperative measurements at a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Postoperative MRIs were obtained in 6 studies and found that regardless of treatment, moderate-to-complete infill of patellar cartilage lesions was seen in the majority of patients. While failure rates were low for the various treatment modalities, rates of reoperation were substantial, with up to 40% to 60% reoperation rate seen after ACI. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with ACI, MACI, and AOT all demonstrated statistically significant improvements in functional outcome scores with radiographic evidence of healing at minimum of 2-year follow-up. Evidence is insufficient to recommend one particular treatment over another.

Six-Week Interval Between Preoperative Radiation and Surgery Is Associated With Fewer Major Wound Complications in Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: A total of 30% to 40% of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients develop major wound complications (MWCs) after preoperative radiation (preRT). The optimal preRT-surgery interval and its association with MWCs is unknown. This study investigated whether a longer preRT-surgery interval is associated with fewer MWCs compared with historical controls. METHODS: All patients treated by a single surgeon after preRT with limb-sparing wide resection for extremity and trunk STS were retrospectively reviewed from 2004 to 2014. The primary outcome was MWCs defined as a secondary operation, invasive procedure, wound packing, or readmission for wound care. Secondary outcomes of local recurrence and survival were followed and independent variables were analyzed for an association with MWCs. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were included with a median follow-up of 32 months and age of 61 years. The majority of tumors were deep (91%), large (median size of 11 cm), high grade (78%) and within the lower extremity (78%). The median preRT-surgery interval was 43 days and 80% of patients received surgery 35 to 49 days after radiation. MWCs were observed in 15% of patients and 88% occurred within 40 days. Predictors for MWCs on multivariate analysis were peripheral vascular disease (P=0.03), location in the medial compartment of the thigh (P=0.03), and neurovascular involvement (P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a cohort of STS patients with an extended preRT-surgery interval of ~6 weeks. MWCs in this population occurred at a lower rate than historical controls. Overall these findings support the exploration of a longer interval to reduce MWCs and their associated morbidity.

Identifying a clinical decision tool to predict discharge disposition following operative treatment of hip fractures in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Post-discharge management following operative treatment of hip fractures continues to be performed on a case-by-case basis, with no uniform guidelines dictating management. Predicting discharge to post-acute care (PAC) facilities (i.e. skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities) can assist preoperative planning and potentially decrease length of stay secondary to disposition issues. The goal of this study was to develop a nomogram using easily identified variables to preoperatively predict discharge disposition following operative treatment of hip fractures. METHODS: Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, patients who underwent surgical intervention for hip fractures between 2012 and 2015 were identified. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for discharge to a PAC facility, and a predictive nomogram was created based on these results. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2015, 33,371 hip fractures were identified: 13,336 (40%) femoral neck fractures, and 20,035 (60%) intertrochanteric femur fractures. Of the patients identified, 26,082 (78.2%) were discharged to a PAC while the remainder were discharged home with or without home health. 70% of patients were female and 92.4% were Caucasian. When accounting for comorbidities, using the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification system, 6,122 patients (18.4%) had 'Mild Systemic Disease' (ASA 2), 20,872 (62.6%) patients had 'Severe Systemic Disease' (ASA 3), and 6,006 (18.1%) had 'Life Threatening Disease' (ASA 4/5). The majority of patients were brought in from a 'Home' setting, while 10.4% of patients were admitted from a 'Long-Term Care' setting. After controlling for confounding variables, older age and increasing ASA class were predictive of an increased risk of discharge to a PAC. Diabetes, dyspnea, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were not associated with an increased risk of discharge to a PAC. DISCUSSION: Discharge disposition following operative treatment of hip fractures can be reliably predicted using a nomogram with commonly identified preoperative variables. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Retrospective Cohort Design, Observational Study.

Femoral Interference Screw Fixation in ACL Reconstruction Using Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Grafts.

¼ Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a commonly performed orthopaedic procedure with numerous reconstructive graft and fixation options. Interference screws have become one of the most commonly utilized methods of securing ACL grafts such as bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autografts. ¼ The composition of interference screws has undergone substantial evolution over the past several decades, and numerous advantages and disadvantages are associated with each design. ¼ The composition, geometry, and insertional torque of interference screws have important implications for screw biomechanics and may ultimately influence the strength, stability of graft fixation, and biologic healing in ACL reconstruction. ¼ This article reviews the development and biomechanical properties of interference screws while examining outcomes, complications, and gaps in knowledge that are associated with the use of femoral interference screws during BPTB ACL reconstruction.