Cost effectiveness of different techniques in hallux valgus surgery.

BACKGROUND: Different surgical techniques are available to correct each type of Hallux Valgus (HV) deformity, and all present similar good results. No information is available relative to the cost of each technique compared to their individual success. OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost-effectiveness-ratio (CER) of five different techniques for HV. METHODS: We included 245HV surgeries performed in 179 patients. The severity was defined according to radiological parameters. For mild to moderate HV we included the Chevron, Modified-Scarf and Ludloff techniques; for severe HV: either Poscow-osteotomy or Lapidus-arthrodesis fixed with plates or screws. Weighted costs were estimated. CER was expressed in $US dollars per AOFAS-point. RESULTS: The lowest weighted cost was observed for the Chevron-group, and the highest weighted cost was observed in the Poscow-osteotomy and Lapidus-arthrodesis fixed with plate groups. The AOFAS-score improvement was higher in the Chevron and Modified-Scarf groups. The CER found for Chevron and Modified-Scarf techniques were significantly less than for Poscow and Lapidus-techniques. CONCLUSION: Cost-Effectiveness-Ratio was lower, and therefore better, in the groups with mild to moderate deformities operated with Chevron or Modified-Scarf techniques. In severe HV, the three techniques investigated presented similar CER. CER analysis is an additional factor that can be included in the decision making analysis in hallux valgus surgery. Level of Evidence Level IV, Retrospective Study.

Fracturas de fémur proximal de alta energía tratadas con reducción a través de mini-open y clavo cefalo-medular / High energy proximal femur fractures treated with cephalo-medullary nails and open reduction through mini-open approach

OBJETIVO: Evaluar los resultados radiológicos de pacientes con fractura de fémur proximal tratados con clavo cefalo-medular y reducción abierta a través de abordaje mini-open. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo-descriptivo de una serie consecutiva de 45 pacientes (38 hombres, 7 mujeres, edad promedio 52 años) con fractura de cadera de alta energía tratados con clavo cefalo-medular y reducción a través de abordaje miniopen. Se registró el mecanismo del accidente y presencia de lesiones asociadas. En todos los casos se contó con radiografías preoperatorias y tomografía axial computada (TAC). Se clasificaron de acuerdo a la AO. Se registró en número de fragmentos que presentaba la fractura. Se tomaron radiografías de control en forma mensual hasta la consolidación. Se midió el ángulo cervico-diafisiario operado y contralateral. RESULTADOS: Todos los casos fueron secundarios a un accidente de alta energía. Veintidós pacientes presentaron lesiones asociadas. El número de fragmentos promedio fue de 3. La diferencia entre el ángulo cervico-diafisiario post operatorio de la cadera fracturada versus la cadera contralateral fue de 4,9 grados. Un paciente presentó no-unión. El tiempo promedio hasta la consolidación radiográfica fue de 3,7 meses. CONCLUSIÓN: El uso de clavos cefalo-medulares asociado a reducción a través de miniopen en pacientes jóvenes con fractura de fémur proximal de alta energía, presenta buenos resultados radiológicos con bajo número de complicaciones.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate radiologic results of patients with proximal femur fracture treated with cephalo-medullary nails and open reduction through mini-open approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective-descriptive study of 45 patient consecutive series (38 male, 7 female. Mean age 52 years old) with high energy hip fracture treated with cephalo-medullary nails and open reduction through mini-open approach. Accident mechanism and associated lesions were documented. Every case was evaluated with pre-operative radiography and CT-scan. Fractures were classified according to AO classification. Patients were radiographically controlled monthly until bone healing. Cervical-diaphysial angle was measured and compared bilaterally. RESULTS: Every case was secondary to high energy trauma. 22 patients presented associated lesions. The mean number of bone fragments was 3. The difference between postoperative cervical-diaphysial angle versus contralateral hip was 4.9°. Only 1 patient presented non-union. The mean time until consolidation confirmed with radiography was 3.7 months. CONCLUSION: The use of cephalo-medullary nails associated to open reduction through a mini-open approach in young patients with high energy associated proximal femur fractures, presents satisfactory radiologic results with a low amount of complications.

Abordaje de Smith Petersen modificado para fracturas de cuello femoral Pauwels III - Garden IV / Modified Smith Petersen approach to femoral neck fracture Pauwels III - Garden IV

El abordaje de Smith Petersen modificado (SPM), permite la reducción de fracturas del cuello femoral desde anterior, manteniendo la fijación a través de un abordaje lateral. Realizar la reducción bajo visión directa mejoraría la calidad de la reducción y los resultados en fracturas complejas de cuello femoral. MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de ocho pacientes con fracturas de cuello femoral Pauwels III/Garden IV secundarias a un accidente de alta energía operadas con abordaje SPM. Registramos el tiempo de evolución desde el accidente hasta la cirugía. Se realizó radiografía y tomografía axial computada postoperatoria. Seguimos los pacientes con radiografías mensuales hasta evidenciar consolidación de la fractura y casos de necrosis avascular. RESULTADOS: En promedio, los pacientes fueron operados 2,1 días tras el accidente y fueron seguidos con una mediana de 24,5 meses tras su cirugía. Siete de los ocho pacientes consolidaron. Sólo un caso presentó una no-unión que requirió de una prótesis total de cadera. No hubo casos de necrosis avascular. CONCLUSIÓN: Las fracturas de cuello femoral de alta energía en pacientes jóvenes son lesiones poco frecuentes. Aunque esta serie es pequeña, llama la atención que tratándose de lesiones desplazadas y con rasgos verticales no observamos casos de necrosis avascular, a pesar de algunos casos con prolongado tiempo de evolución desde el accidente hasta la cirugía. Creemos que esas fracturas deben operarse lo antes posible, pero que es más importante lograr una reducción anatómica en vez de retrasar algunas horas la cirugía. En nuestra experiencia, el abordaje de SPM facilita la reducción adecuada en fracturas complejas de cuello femoral.

Modified Smith Petersen Approach (MSP) allows an anterior reduction for femoral neck fractures, keeping the fixation through a lateral approach to the hip. Performing the reduction under direct visualization would improve the quality of the reduction and the outcomes in complex fractures of femoral neck. METHODS: Retrospective study including eight patients with femoral neck fracture classified as Pauwels III / Garden IV, in which MSP was performed. We kept record of the time from the accident until the final surgery. Post-operative studies included plain radiograph and CT scan. Monthly radiographic controls were obtained until fracture healing was achieved or radiological signs of avascular necrosis were found. RESULTS: Surgery was performed in an average of 2.1 days after the accident. Postoperative follow-up was an average of 24.5 month. Consolidation was achieved in seven of the eight patients, only one patient evolved into a nonunion of femoral neck which required a total hip arthroplasty. CONCLUSION: High energy femoral neck fractures in young patients are infrequent injuries. Even though this is a small series of patients it comes to our attention that being displaced fractures with vertical fracture lines we didn't find any case of avascular necrosis despite some of the cases the prolonged timing since the accident to surgery. We believe that this type of fracture should be treated as soon as possible but is more important to achieve an anatomical reduction than pass over the 12 hours threshold. In our experience MSP approach facilitates the achievement of an adequate reduction and complex femoral neck fractures.

Fractura de cuello femoral en trauma de alta energía: ¿podemos confiar en la tomografía computarizada multicorte? caso clínico / High energy femoral neck fracture: can we trust the computerized tomography scan? case report

Las fracturas asociadas de diáfisis y cuello femoral son lesiones infrecuentes. A pesar de ser una asociación conocida, es pasada por alto entre un 19-31% de las veces. A continuación presentamos un caso de una fractura de diáfisis femoral en la cual la tomografía computarizada inicial no evidenció ningún rasgo a nivel del cuello femoral; sin embargo, este rasgo se hizo presente en las imágenes de control. Existen diversos exámenes para reconocer las fracturas de cuello femoral asociadas a diáfisis femoral, como la radiografía y la tomografía computarizada. Sin embargo, a pesar de estas imágenes, pueden no ser diagnosticadas. Con este caso reafirmamos la necesidad del uso de imágenes preoperatorias e intraoperatorias en pacientes con fracturas de diáfisis femoral de alta energía y que la tomografía computarizada multicorte de ingreso puede no evidenciar fracturas mínimamente desplazadas del cuello femoral.

Simultaneous fractures of the neck and shaft of the femur are uncommon injuries. Despite it being a known combination, it is overlooked in between 19 and 31% of cases. This case report describes a femoral shaft fracture in which the initial computed tomography did not show the femoral neck fracture, although it was present in the follow-up images. There are different imaging techniques to recognise femoral neck fractures associated with femoral shaft fractures, such as radiography and computed tomography. However, despite these images, they cannot be diagnosed. This case re-affirms the need for using imaging techniques before and during the operation in patients presenting with high energy femoral shaft fractures, in order to look for an associated femoral neck fracture. Although the use of fine-cut computed tomography scan may improve the diagnostic accuracy of this test, some femoral neck fractures will still go under-diagnosed.