Reuse of Surgical Masks During the COVID-19 Shortage: Association with the Incidence of Surgical Site Infections.

The association between the reuse of surgical masks (SMs) for multiple procedures and rates of surgical site infections (SSIs) is unclear. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine whether a policy mandating the reuse of SMs was associated with increased SSI incidence. It was hypothesized the rate of SSIs would be significantly greater during the postimplementation period compared with the preimplementation period. Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent orthopaedic and general surgery during the 60 days before and after policy implementation was performed. Focus was on consecutive procedures performed by the same surgeon on the same day. An assessment of SSI risk factors suggested the postimplementation group was at higher risk. However, the daily use of a single SM across multiple procedures was not associated with a clinically significant increase in SSIs. Because future pandemics and public health crises may be accompanied by similar shortages, it may be possible to reuse masks in these situations without concern for increased SSI. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 33(2):097-102, 2024).

Joint Stabilization Surgery for Chronic Ankle Instability and Medial Ankle Osteoarthritis: A Critically Appraised Topic.

Clinical Scenario: Patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) who require surgical intervention are often diagnosed with medial ankle osteoarthritis (OA). Lateral joint stabilization procedures are commonly performed among this patient population to restore bony alignment and improve cartilage loading patterns to increase patient-reported function and mitigate further degenerative changes. Focused Clinical Question: What is the available evidence to support joint stabilization procedures on patient-reported outcomes and progression of radiographic OA among patients with CAI who have medial ankle OA? Summary of Key Findings: An electronic search of relevant databases was performed to identify peer-reviewed articles examining preoperative and postoperative clinical outcomes and radiographic evidence of ankle OA. A total of 3 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved. All 3 articles employed a retrospective case series study design. All 3 articles demonstrated improved patient-reported outcomes at the final follow-up visit. Two articles demonstrated that between 11% and 27% of patients progressed in at least 1stage of radiographic ankle OA between the preoperative assessment and the final follow-up visit (40-56 mo). Clinical Bottom Line: Joint stabilization surgery for patients with CAI and medial ankle OA is associated with improved clinical outcomes and a low rate of worsening radiographic joint degeneration within the first 5 years. Strength of Recommendation: Consistent evidence exists across all 3 articles. However, this evidence is based on a low-quality study design. Therefore, there is a grade-C level of evidence to support joint stabilization for improving patient-reported and radiographic outcomes within the first 5 years after surgery for patients with CAI and medial ankle OA.

Is supplemental regional anesthesia associated with more complications and readmissions after ankle fracture surgery in the inpatient and outpatient setting?

BACKGROUND: There is concern that regional anesthesia is associated with increased risk of complications, including return to the hospital for uncontrolled pain once the regional anesthetic wears off. METHODS: Retrospective database review of patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of a closed ankle fracture from 2014-16 who received general anesthesia alone (GA) or general anesthesia plus regional anesthesia (RA). RESULTS: 9459 patients met inclusion criteria. Patients in the RA group had significantly longer operative duration in both inpatient (GAI=71min vs RAI=79min, p=0.002) and outpatient setting (GAO=66min vs RAI=72min, p<0.001), lower overall LOS (GA=1.7 days vs RA=1.1 days, p<0.001), and higher readmission rate for pain (RAO=4 [0.3%] vs GAO=1 [0.0%], p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received supplemental regional anesthesia had shorter hospital LOS, increased operative time, and increased readmission rates for rebound pain. However, the small number of patients needing readmission are not clinically significant demonstrating that regional anesthesia is safe, effective and readmission for rebound pain should not be a concern. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Efficacy of 2 Regional Pain Control Techniques in Pediatric Foot Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) have the potential to reduce postoperative pain. The use of ultrasound (US) to guide PNBs may be more beneficial than nerve stimulation (NS); however, very few studies have studied this technique in children. The objective of this study was to compare postoperative pain control in pediatric patients who had general anesthesia (GA) alone compared with those who had PNB performed by NS, or PNB with both NS and US guidance. Our hypothesis was that compared with NS, the US-guided PNB would result in reduced postoperative pain and opioid use, and that both PNB conditions would have improved outcomes compared with GA. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of foot and ankle surgery included 103 patients who were stratified into 3 groups: GA, PNB with NS, and PNB with NS and US. Pain levels were measured with visual pain scales at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Days of hospitalization, morphine and oxycodone use by weight, and time to first PRN opioid use were also recorded. A repeated measure analysis of variance was used to compare the groups, and the proportion of patients who reported a visual analog scale score of 0 was calculated for each time point. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in pain levels between groups for the first 12 hours, but the US group had higher pain levels at 24 hours. Both US and NS groups had a longer time to PRN opioid use and used significantly less morphine compared with GA. The US group had a significantly greater proportion of pain-free patients than the other 2 groups for the first 6 hours. CONCLUSIONS: The use of US guidance is beneficial in postoperative pain control. Both US-guided and NS-guided PNB are preferable to GA alone for lower extremity orthopaedic surgery in the pediatric population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, retrospective comparative study.

The Hawkins Sign of the Talus: The Impact of Patient Factors on Prediction Accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Osteonecrosis is a complication of talar neck fractures associated with chronic pain and poor functional outcomes. The Hawkins sign, the radiographic presence of subchondral lucency seen in the talar dome 6 to 8 weeks after trauma, is a strong predictor of preserved talar vascularity. This study sought to assess the accuracy of the Hawkins sign in a contemporary cohort and assess factors associated with inaccuracy. METHODS: A retrospective review of talar neck fractures at a level-I trauma center from 2008 to 2016 was conducted. Both the Hawkins sign and osteonecrosis were evaluated on radiographs. The Hawkins sign was determined on the basis of radiographs taken approximately 6 to 8 weeks after injury, whereas osteonecrosis was determined based on radiographs taken throughout follow-up. The Hawkins sign accuracy was assessed using proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and associations were examined with Fisher exact testing. RESULTS: In total, 105 talar neck fractures were identified. The Hawkins sign was observed in 21 tali, 3 (14% [95% CI, 3% to 36%]) of which later developed osteonecrosis. In the remaining 84 tali without a Hawkins sign, 32 (38% [95% CI, 28% to 49%]) developed osteonecrosis. Of the 3 tali that developed osteonecrosis following observation of the Hawkins sign, all were in patients who smoked. CONCLUSIONS: A positive Hawkins sign may not be a reliable predictor of preserved talar vascularity in all patients. We identified 3 patients with a positive Hawkins sign who developed osteonecrosis, all of whom were smokers. Factors impairing the restoration of microvascular blood supply to the talus may lead to osteonecrosis despite the presence of preserved macrovascular blood flow and an observed Hawkins sign. Further research is needed to understand the factors limiting Hawkins sign accuracy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Talar Neck Fractures With Associated Ipsilateral Foot and Ankle Fractures Have a Higher Risk of Avascular Necrosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if talar neck fractures with concomitant ipsilateral foot and/or ankle fractures (TNIFAFs) are associated with higher rates of avascular necrosis (AVN) compared with isolated talar neck fractures (ITNs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Single level I trauma center. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Skeletally mature patients who sustained talar neck fractures from January 2008 to January 2017 with at least 6-month follow-up. Based on radiographs at the time of injury, fractures were classified as ITN or TNIFAF and by Hawkins classification. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS: The primary outcome was the development of AVN based on follow-up radiographs, with secondary outcomes including nonunion and collapse. RESULTS: There were 115 patients who sustained talar neck fractures, with 63 (55%) in the ITN group and 52 (45%) in the TNIFAF group. In total, 63 patients (54.7%) were female with the mean age of 39 years (range, 17-85), and 111 fractures (96.5%) occurred secondary to high-energy mechanisms of injury. There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics between groups ( P > 0.05). Twenty-four patients (46%) developed AVN in the TNIFAF group compared with 19 patients (30%) in the ITN group ( P = 0.078). After adjusting for Hawkins classification and other variables, the odds of developing AVN was higher in the TNIFAF group compared with the ITN group [odds ratio, 2.43 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.84); ( P = 0.047)]. CONCLUSIONS: This study found a significantly higher likelihood of AVN in patients with talar neck fractures with concomitant ipsilateral foot and/or ankle fractures compared to those with isolated talar neck fractures after adjusting for Hawkins classification and other potential prognostic confounders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

A Cadaveric Study: Does Ankle Positioning Affect the Quality of Anatomic Syndesmosis Reduction?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the quality of syndesmotic reduction with the ankle in maximal dorsiflexion versus neutral plantarflexion (normal resting position). METHODS: Baseline computed tomography (CT) imaging of 10 cadaveric ankle specimens from 5 donors was obtained with the ankles placed in normal resting position. Two fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons disrupted the syndesmosis of each ankle specimen. All ankles were then placed in neutral plantarflexion and were subsequently reduced with thumb pressure under direct visualization through an anterolateral approach and stabilized with one 0.062-inch K-wire placed from lateral to medial in a quadricortical fashion across the syndesmosis. Postreduction CT scans were then obtained with the ankle in normal resting position. This process was repeated with the ankles placed in maximal dorsiflexion during reduction and stabilization. Postreduction CT scans were then obtained with the ankles placed in normal resting position. All postreduction CT scans were compared with baseline CT imaging using mixed-effects linear regression with significance set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Syndesmotic reduction and stabilization in maximal dorsiflexion led to increased external rotation of the fibula compared with baseline scans [13.0 ± 5.4 degrees (mean ± SD) vs. 7.5 ± 2.4 degrees, P = 0.002]. There was a tendency toward lateral translation of the fibula with the ankle reduced in maximal dorsiflexion (3.3 ± 1.0 vs. 2.7 ± 0.7 mm, P = 0.096). No other statistically significant differences between measurements of reduction with the ankle placed in neutral plantarflexion or maximal dorsiflexion compared with baseline were present (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Reducing the syndesmosis with the ankle in maximal dorsiflexion may lead to malreduction with external rotation of the fibula. There was no statistically significant difference in reduction quality with the ankle placed in neutral plantarflexion compared with baseline. Future studies should assess the clinical implications of ankle positioning during syndesmotic fixation.

Extramedullary Hematopoiesis Adjacent to Vertebral Fracture in a Patient with Pernicious Anemia: Support for a Mechanical Extrusion Mechanism.

CASE: A 68-year-old woman presented with a paraspinal mass of indeterminate imaging characteristics. Workup and computed tomography-guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) aspiration revealed extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) adjacent to a prior compression fracture in the setting of pernicious anemia. CONCLUSION: The combination of findings suggests a possible relationship of the compression fracture and the EMH because of traumatic extravasation of marrow contents, with the patient's underlying anemia possibly providing an underlying predisposition to EMH.

Association of Talar Neck Fractures With Body Extension and Risk of Avascular Necrosis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether talar neck fractures with proximal extension (TNPE) into the talar body are associated with higher rates of avascular necrosis (AVN) compared to isolated talar neck (TN) fractures. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients sustaining talar neck fractures at a level I trauma center from 2008 to 2016 was performed. Demographic and clinical data were collected from the electronic medical record. Fractures were characterized as TN or TNPE based on initial radiographs. TNPE was defined as a fracture that originates on the talar neck and extends proximal to a line subtended from the junction of the neck and the articular cartilage dorsal to the anterior portion of the lateral process of the talus. Fractures were classified according to the modified Hawkins classification for analysis. The primary outcome was the development of AVN. Secondary outcomes included nonunion and collapse. These were measured on postoperative radiographs. RESULTS: There were 137 fractures in 130 patients, with 80 (58%) fractures in the TN group and 57 (42%) in the TNPE group. Median follow-up was 10 months (interquartile range, 6-18 months). The TNPE group was more likely to develop AVN as compared to the TN group (49% vs 19%, P < .001). Similarly, the TNPE group had a higher rate of collapse (14% vs 4%, P = .03) and nonunion (26% vs 9%, P = .01). Even after adjusting for open fracture, Hawkins fracture type, smoking, and diabetes, AVN still remained significant for the TNPE group as compared to the TN group with an odds ratio of 3.47 (95% CI, 1.51-7.99). CONCLUSION: We found a higher rate of AVN, subsequent collapse, and nonunion in patients with TNPE compared to isolated TN fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Functional Outcomes of Primary Arthrodesis (PA) Versus Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) in the Treatment of Lisfranc Injuries.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether primary arthrodesis (PA) or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) results in better functional outcomes through patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Reoperation rates and surgical characteristics among the 2 groups are evaluated as well. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS: Eighty-one patients treated using PA or ORIF for Lisfranc injuries between January 2010 and January 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: PROMs were collected using the validated Foot and Ankle Ability Measure questionnaire. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 10 years posttreatment. RESULTS: Two hundred patients underwent ORIF, and 72 patients underwent PA. Eighty-one of 272 patients responded to the questionnaire. The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure revealed activities of daily living subscores for PA and ORIF of 69.78 ± 18.61 and 73.53 ± 25.60, respectively ( P = 0.48). The Sports subscores for PA (45.81 ± 24.65) and ORIF (56.54 ± 31.13) were not significantly different ( P = 0.11). Perceived levels of activities of daily living ( P = 0.32) and Sports ( P = 0.81) function, compared with preinjury levels, were also not significantly different between the 2 groups. Rates of reoperation were nearly identical for PA (28.1%) and ORIF (30.6%) ( P = 1.00). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that neither PA nor ORIF is superior regarding functional outcomes or rates of reoperation in the surgical treatment of Lisfranc injuries when appropriately triaged by the treating surgeon. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Avascular Necrosis of the Talus Following Subchondroplasty: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

CASE: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the talus in a 45-year-old female following subchondroplasty with calcium phosphate bone filler for treatment of anterolateral and posteromedial talar dome bone marrow lesions (BMLs). The patient subsequently presented as consultation, 18 months postoperatively, with AVN of the talus. After failing conservative management, the patient underwent a total ankle arthroplasty at 46 months after subchondroplasty with resolution of pain. CONCLUSION: There are few studies that have reported on the safety of subchondroplasty of the talus. Given the tenuous blood supply to the talar body and poor patient outcomes associated with AVN, caution should be taken before extrapolating the generally positive results of subchondroplasty in the knee. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Comparison of Short, Intermediate, and Long Cephalomedullary Nail Length Outcomes in Elderly Intertrochanteric Femur Fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Cephalomedullary nail (CMN) length for intertrochanteric femur fractures without subtrochanteric extension has been an ongoing debate. The authors hypothesize that increasing nail length would result in increasing surgical time, greater incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), postoperative anemia, and blood loss requiring transfusion due to increased intramedullary reaming and pressurization of the canal with nail insertion. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients aged 65 years or older who underwent CMN for low-energy intertrochanteric femur fractures from 2010 to 2018 was undertaken. Patient demographic data, comorbidities, case duration, postoperative hospital length of stay (LOS), and laboratory data, including serum creatinine, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, were collected for analysis. The following outcome measures were compared: postoperative pneumonia, cardiac complications, sepsis, reintubation/intensive care unit stay, pulmonary embolism, stroke, postoperative AKI, 30-day hospital readmission, 30-day return to operating room, 30-day mortality, 1-year mortality, postoperative anemia (hemoglobin <7 g/dL), and blood transfusion. RESULTS: A total of 247 patients were analyzed (short = 48, intermediate = 39, and long = 160). No notable difference was observed in postoperative pneumonia, cardiac complications, sepsis, reintubation/intensive care unit stay, pulmonary embolism, stroke, mean total hospital LOS, mean postoperative hospital LOS, rate of postoperative AKI, 30-day readmission, 30-day return to operating room, 30-day mortality, or 1-year mortality. Patients receiving long nails had significantly higher rates of postoperative anemia (P = 0.0491), blood transfusion (P = 0.0126), and mean procedure length (P = 0.0044) compared with the two other groups. DISCUSSION: Patients receiving long nails had markedly higher rates of postoperative anemia and blood loss requiring blood transfusion with markedly longer mean procedure length than patients receiving short and intermediate CMNs. Long nails did not result in an increase in other complications evaluated.

Geriatric Ankle Fracture: Robust Fixation Versus Hindfoot Nail.

SUMMARY: The incidence of geriatric ankle fractures is increasing in step with the current aging population. Special considerations must be taken into account when treating geriatric patients due to increased medical comorbidities, worse soft tissue envelope, poor bone quality, and the needs for early mobilization. The orthopaedic surgeon must have a variety of surgical options to treat fractures in the elderly population based on patient-specific needs. This article uses a case-based approach to discuss relevant considerations when selecting between hindfoot fusion nail and robust open reduction and internal fixation for geriatric ankle fractures.

Hypercoagulable Disorders in Orthopaedics: Etiology, Considerations, and Management.

¼: Hypercoagulable disorders (HCDs) can be inherited or acquired. An HCD of either etiology increases the chance of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs). ¼: Patients with an HCD often have the condition discovered only after surgical complications. ¼: We recommend that patients with a concern for or a known HCD be referred to the appropriate hematological specialist for workup and treatment. ¼: Tourniquet use in the orthopaedic patient with an HCD is understudied and controversial. We recommend that tourniquets be avoided in the surgical management of patients with an HCD, if possible. When tourniquets are applied to patients with unknown HCD status, close follow-up and vigilant postoperative examinations should be undertaken.