Surgical Technique to Manage Periprosthetic Fractures of the Knee in Patients with Infected Leg Ulcers: A Report of Two Cases.

CASES: We describe 2 cases of nonagenarians with periprosthetic knee fractures that were not amenable to either standard internal fixation nor prosthesis revision because of infected leg ulcers in the same limb. The fractures were internally fixed by percutaneous insertion of medial and lateral plates that spanned the knee. Both patients returned to their baseline level of activity without developing surgical site infections. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous bridging plates that span the knee are a useful option for treating these difficult cases.

Accuracy of digital radiography: regional scaling factors for trauma.

BACKGROUND: Surgical planning in trauma is essential for optimal patient care and best patient outcomes. Digital radiography has improved the availability, convenience and access to radiographs worldwide as used in every trauma centre in Australia. One shortcoming, however, is the variability in magnification error associated with different anatomic regions. Accurate assessment of radiographs is paramount to proper surgical planning. METHODS: A retrospective review of 513 post-operative trauma radiographs of implants at a single centre, collected from January 2015 to August 2016, was measured by the four individual investigators. A comparison of the digital calliper reading with the known implant size, taken from operation reports and company implant data, was conducted. Magnification scales were created for different anatomic regions: femur, tibia, humerus, elbow, wrist and hand, foot and ankle. RESULTS: Precise regional scaling factors increase accuracy of digital radiography. Average magnification for hand, wrist, ankle and forearm is 5% (1-16%). Average magnification for foot, knee, tibia and elbow is 8% (3-11%). Humerus magnification is 10.3% (3-17%) and shoulder and femur approximately 15% (12-18%). Inter-rater Pearson's R reliability testing is 0.985-0.995 and intra-observer reliability is 0.998. DISCUSSION: Applying regional scaling factors improves accuracy of digital imaging, therefore improving clinical decision-making regarding fractures, distance from bony landmarks, component sizing and reduction assessment. Femoral and tibial fracture measurements with appropriate scaling factors allow the accurate estimation of nail diameter required for fixation and screw diameter for fragment fixation.

Nail Fit: Does Nail Diameter to Canal Ratio Predict the Need for Exchange Nailing in the Setting of Aseptic, Hypertrophic Femoral Nonunions?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patient-independent risk factors for aseptic femoral hypertrophic nonunion requiring exchange nailing, with particular reference to the fit of the nail at the isthmus within the canal. DESIGN: Retrospective case control study. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Between 2008 and 2012, 211 patients without any patient-dependent risk factors for nonunion were treated with a locked reamed intramedullary nail for a femoral shaft fracture. Twenty-three cases went on to hypertrophic nonunion requiring exchange nailing (treatment group) and 188 cases went on to union (control group). Patient-independent risk factors for exchange nailing were documented. RESULTS: Patient-independent risk factors for exchange nailing were poor fracture reduction [Odds ratio (OR): 11.5, 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.0-33.4, P < 0.001], open fracture (OR: 7.6, 95% CI, 3.0-19.6, P = 0.004), Winquist classification of 4 (OR: 4.4, 95% CI, 1.9-6.7, P = 0.016), and poor nail fit (OR: 10.3, 95% CI, 5.1-28.4, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed nail fit as an independent predictor of femoral nonunion requiring exchange nailing (OR: 11.4, 95% CI, 6.9-15.2, P < 0.001). Moreover, we found a direct relationship between increasingly poor nail fit and increased risk of exchange nailing, with the criterion occurring at a nail fit ratio <70%. CONCLUSION: When proceeding to femoral fracture reamed intramedullary nailing, we recommend a minimum nail fit of 70% at the isthmus and ideally 90% or more, to avoid surgical reintervention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Delaying urinary catheter insertion in the reception and resuscitation of blunt multitrauma and using a full bladder to tamponade pelvic bleeding.

This article proposes a counter-argument to standard Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training--which advocates bladder catheterisation to be performed as an adjunct to the primary survey and resuscitation for early decompression of the bladder and urine output monitoring. We argue the case for delaying bladder catheterisation until after definitive truncal Computed Tomography (CT) imaging. To reduce pelvic volume and associated bleeding, our trauma team delay catheter insertion until after the initial CT scan. The benefits of a full bladder also include improved views on initial Focussed Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) scan and improved interpretation of injuries on CT. Our urinary catheter related infection rates anecdotally decreased when insertion was delayed and consequently performed in a more controlled, non-resuscitation setting following CT. Adult blunt multitrauma patients with pelvic ring fractures are at risk of significant haemorrhage. Venous, arterial and medullary injuries with associated bleeding may be potentiated by an increased pelvic volume with ring disruption, as well as a reduced pressure effect from retroperitoneal and intra-pelvic organs on bleeding sites. Various techniques are used to reduce intra-pelvic bleeding. For shocked patients who have sustained major pelvic injuries with no other signs of urinary tract trauma and minimal urine in the bladder on initial FAST scan, we advocate careful, aseptic Foley catheter insertion followed by bladder insufflation with 500-600 mL of Normal Saline (NS) and subsequent catheter clamping to tamponade pelvic bleeding.