RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The treatment of supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures is increasingly centralized in tertiary centers. Interfacility transfer from other facilities may occur by ground ambulance or privately owned vehicle (POV). The objective of this study was to determine if interfacility transfer by POV is equivalent in transfer time and perioperative complications compared with ground ambulance. METHODS: This was a single-institution, retrospective study of SCH fractures with an intact pulse transferred by POV or ground ambulance. Transfer time points were collected to determine transfer time and speed. Associated injuries of ipsilateral fracture, skin at risk, and motor nerve palsy were recorded from orthopaedic documentation at the presentation. Insurance status and the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) were used as measures of socioeconomic disparity. RESULTS: 676 "urgent" Type III, IV, and flexion type SCH fractures and 167 "nonurgent" Type II SCH fractures were transferred by ambulance or POV. Open reduction was similar between urgent transfers transported by ambulance or POV (10% vs. 9%, P=0.344). There was no difference in transfer time (P=0.391) or transfer speed (P=0.416) between transfer groups. POV transfers were independently associated with no skin at risk (OR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3-3.3, P=0.003), neurovascularly intact (OR 2.5; 95% CI: 1.4-4.4, P=0.001), and patients in the low (OR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3-2.5, P=0.041) and moderate deprivation (OR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.5, P=0.034) compared with the high deprivation group. Medicaid insurance was associated with a lower odds ratio of private transport compared with commercial insurance (OR 0.54; 95% CI: 0.38-0.76, P=<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Interfacility transfer of nonemergent SCH fractures by privately owned vehicles has a similar speed of transfer and perioperative complication rate to transfer by ground ambulance. Our findings allow the triaging of nonemergent SCH fractures for potential interfacility transfer by privately owned vehicles and bring attention to disparities in interfacility transfer methods. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III- Retrospective cohort study.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Anemia and chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) are common and begin early in CKD. Limited studies have concurrently compared the effects of ferric citrate (FC) versus intravenous (IV) iron on CKD-MBD and iron homeostasis in moderate CKD. METHODS: We tested the effects of 10 weeks of 2% FC versus IV iron sucrose in rats with moderate CKD (Cy/+ male rat) and untreated normal (NL) littermates. Outcomes included a comprehensive assessment of CKD-MBD, iron homeostasis and oxidative stress. RESULTS: CKD rats had azotemia, elevated phosphorus, parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23). Compared with untreated CKD rats, treatment with FC led to lower plasma phosphorus, intact FGF23 and a trend (P = 0.07) toward lower C-terminal FGF23. FC and IV iron equally reduced aorta and heart calcifications to levels similar to NL animals. Compared with NL animals, CKD animals had higher bone turnover, lower trabecular volume and no difference in mineralization; these were unaffected by either iron treatment. Rats treated with IV iron had cortical and bone mechanical properties similar to NL animals. FC increased the transferrin saturation rate compared with untreated CKD and NL rats. Neither iron treatment increased oxidative stress above that of untreated CKD. CONCLUSIONS: Oral FC improved phosphorus homeostasis, some iron-related parameters and the production and cleavage of FGF23. The intermittent effect of low-dose IV iron sucrose on cardiovascular calcification and bone should be further explored in moderate-advanced CKD.