Predictors of mortality after pelvic fractures: a retrospective cohort study from a level one trauma centre in Upper Egypt.

PURPOSE: The primary objective was to identify the predictors of in-hospital mortality after pelvic ring injuries. Secondary objectives were to analyze the differences between adults and children and to analyze the causes and timing of death. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study from the pelvic registry of Assiut University Trauma Unit (AUTU), a level 1 trauma centre in Upper Egypt, was carried out. A total of 1188 consecutive patients with pelvic ring fractures treated from January 2010 to December 2013 were eligible for analysis. Potential predictors were identified using standard statistical tests: univariable and multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS: Nine hundred fifty-one were adults (above 16 years) and 237 were children. According to Tile's classification, fractures type A, B, and C were 31.8%, 25.1%, and 43.1%, respectively. About a third of patients had fractures with soft tissue injury. Abdominopelvic collection as diagnosed by Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) was positive in 11%. Associated injuries were present in 67.3% with abdominal-urogenital injuries being the most prevalent (66.3%). Median hospital stay was five days. Fifty-two patients (4.4%) were admitted to the ICU. One hundred three patients died (8.7%) within two peaks: first 24 hours and between 48 hours and one week. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified increasing age, fractures with soft tissue injury, associated head injury, positive FAST examination, and admission to an ICU as significant predictors of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The first 24 hours were confirmed to be critical for survival in pelvic fracture patients. Advancing age, associated soft tissue injury, associated head injury, admission to ICU, and positive FAST examination can serve as reliable predictors for an elevated mortality risk in such patients.

Correction to: Reconstruction of AAOS type III and IV acetabular defects with the Ganz reinforcement ring: high failure in pelvic discontinuity.

The author would like to correct the errors in the publication of the original article. The corrected details are given below for your reading.

Post-operative hip centre restoration and migration after impaction bone grafting in revision and complex primary hip arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Although impaction grafting proved efficacy in the reconstruction of acetabular defects in primary and revision hip arthroplasty, its role in large segmental defects is still debatable. Our objective is to determine hip centre restoration and last follow-up migration after acetabular reconstruction with impaction grafting in different types of acetabular defects. METHODS: This is a single-centre retrospective radiographic study of (107) total hip arthroplasty (42 primary and 65 revision) in (104) patients using impaction grafting. The available radiographs were examined for normal, preoperative, immediate postoperative, and last follow-up vertical (Y) and horizontal (X) hip centre. Maximum acetabular defect distance (MADD), presence, and size of the mesh were recorded. RESULTS: In type I and II AAOS defects, the post-operative hip centre was not significantly different from the normal hip centre on the contralateral healthy side. In type III defects, there was a significant variation between the normal hip centre and the post-operative hip centre (P value 0.034 and 0.001 for Y and X, respectively). At 44-month follow-up of 36 hips, 31 (86%) hips migrated. The mean migration ± SD was 5.72 ± 3.7, 2, 4.15 ± 1.2, and 11.26 ± 3.9 mm for types I, II, and III, respectively (P value 0.211). Hips with MADD > 15 mm, especially with large mesh sizes migrate significantly more (P value = 0.042, 0.037, and 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: Hip centre restoration was better, and migration was less for type I and II AAOS rather than for type III. Other options for reconstruction should be considered.

Reconstruction of AAOS type III and IV acetabular defects with the Ganz reinforcement ring: high failure in pelvic discontinuity.

BACKGROUND: Large acetabular defects and pelvic discontinuity represent complex problems in revision total hip arthroplasty. This study aimed to investigate whether reconstruction with the Ganz reinforcement ring would provide durable function in large acetabular defects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 46 hips (45 patients, 19 male, 26 female, mean age 68 years) with AAOS type III and IV defects undergoing acetabular revision with the Ganz reinforcement ring were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 74 months (24-161 months). Fourteen patients died during follow-up. All surviving patients were available for clinical assessment and radiographic studies. Radiographs were evaluated for bone healing and component loosening. A Cox-regression model was performed to identify factors influencing survival of the Ganz-ring. RESULTS: In the group of AAOS III defects, 3 of 26 acetabular reconstructions failed, all due to aseptic loosening. In pelvic discontinuity (AAOS IV), 9 of 20 hips failed due to aseptic loosening (n = 4), deep infection (n = 3), and non-union of the pelvic ring (n = 2). With acetabular revision for any reason as an endpoint, the estimated Kaplan-Meier 5-year survival was 86% in type III defects and 57% in type IV defects, respectively. The presence of pelvic discontinuity was identified as the only independent predictive factor for failure of the Ganz ring acetabular reconstruction (AAOS III vs. IV, Hazard ratio: 0.217, 95%, Confidence interval: 0.054-0.880, p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: The Ganz reinforcement ring remains a favorable implant for combined segmental and cavitary defects. However, defects with pelvic discontinuity demonstrate high failure rates. The indications should therefore be narrowed to acetabular defects not associated with pelvic discontinuity.

Smartphone Application Helps Improve the Accuracy of Cup Placement by Young, Less-Experienced Surgeons during Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA) partly under the surgeon's control, by appropriate placement of the components. We aimed in this study to determine the accuracy of using intra-operative smartphone applications (Apps) to place the acetabular cup within the safe abduction angle by less experienced surgeons during THA surgery when compared to the conventional freehand technique for cup placement. Methods: Sixty primary THAs were performed, 30 using the conventional freehand technique (control group) and 30 using the smartphone app technique (study group) to determine the acetabular cup abduction angle by the same young surgeon with less than one year of experience. Postoperative mean cup abduction angle, mean cup anteversion angle, and the percentage of cups within the safe abduction zone as measured on radiographs were compared between the two groups. Results: In the study group, the mean cup abduction angle was significantly lower (P=0.0008), and the acetabular cup was placed within the safe zone in a significantly higher (P<0.001) percentage of patients (93% vs 63%) when compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference (P=0.40) between the two groups when the mean cup anteversion angle was compared. Conclusion: The smartphone app technique may help achieve an accurate acetabular cup abduction angle and a higher percentage of cups placed within the safe zone of abduction by a less experienced surgeon when compared to the conventional freehand technique. Using tools such as the smartphone app to measure the acetabular cup position can reduce intraoperative errors by young and less experienced surgeons during THA surgery.

Mortality incidence and its determinants after fragility hip fractures: a prospective cohort study from an Egyptian level one trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Fragility hip fracture is a common condition with serious consequences. Most outcomes data come from Western and Asian populations. There are few data from African and Middle Eastern countries. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to describe mortality rates after fragility hip fracture in a Level-1 trauma centre in Egypt. The secondary objective was to study the causes of re-admissions, complications, and mortality. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 301 patients, aged > 65 years, with fragility hip fractures. Data collected included sociodemographic, co-morbidities, timing of admission, and intraoperative,ostoperative, and post-discharge data as mortality, complications, hospital stay, reoperation, and re-admission. Cox regression analysis was conducted to investigate factors associated with 1-year mortality. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 8.3% (25 patients) which increased to 52.8% (159 patients) after one year; 58.5% of the deaths occurred in the first 3-months. One-year mortality was independently associated with increasing age, ASA 3-4, cardiac or hepatic co-morbidities, trochanteric fractures, total hospital stay, and postoperative ifection and metal failure. CONCLUSION: Our in-hospital mortality rate resembles developed countries reports, reflecting good initial geriatric healthcare. However, our 3- and 12-months mortality rates are unexpectedly high. The implementation of orthogeriatric care after discharge is mandatory to decrease mortality rates.

The use of pararectus approach for Type 3B Paprosky acetabular defect with intrapelvic cup migration. Case report.

CASE: A case of Type 3B Paprosky acetabular defect with intrapelvic cup migration where anterior column plating and cup extraction was done through an abdominal pararectus approach. A male patient 63 years old reported progressive pain and walking disability after five years of cementless THR for right hip AVN. CT pelvis showed loose intrapelvic migrated cup, extensive osteolytic acetabular defects, and pelvic discontinuity. Pararectus approach was used to remove the cup and the head with concomitant plating of the anterior column Conclusion: The pararectus approach is a valid option for intrapelvic cup extraction and pelvic discontinuity fixation.

Management of pelvic discontinuity in revision total hip arthroplasty: a review of the literature.

Pelvic discontinuity is a complex problem in revision total hip arthroplasty. Although rare, the incidence is likely to increase due to the ageing population and the increasing number of total hip arthroplasties being performed. The various surgical options available to solve this problem include plating, massive allografts, reconstruction rings, custom triflanged components and tantalum implants. However, the optimal solution remains controversial. None of the known methods completely solves the major obstacles associated with this problem, such as restoration of massive bone loss, implant failure in the short- and long-term and high complication rates. This review discusses the diagnosis, decision making, and treatment options of pelvic discontinuity in revision total hip arthroplasty.