RESUMO
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. OBJECTIVE: CCS is the most common type of incomplete spinal cord injury and can occur without or with bony injury. Surgical intervention and its timing for patients diagnosed with CCS has been controversial. The current study assessed utilization of and factors associated with operative intervention and its timing in patients diagnosed with central cord syndrome (CCS) in the absence of bony injury. METHODS: Adult patients diagnosed with CCS in the absence of vertebral fracture were queried from the national, multi-insurance, administrative 2015-2020 M151 PearlDiver database. The incidence, trends, and timing of operative intervention following CCS were assessed. Patient characteristics associated with surgical intervention and its timing were determined. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2020, 11,653 patients meeting inclusion criteria were identified, of which surgical intervention was identified for 2,003 (17.2%) and thus nonsurgical intervention for 9,650 (82.8%). The proportion of patients undergoing operative intervention evolved from 11.5% in 2015 to 19.7% in 2020 (p < 0.0001). Of those undergoing surgical intervention, the greatest increase was seen for those undergoing surgery within two days of diagnosis (5.5% in 2015 to 12.3% in 2020, p < 0.0001). On multivariable analysis, more recent year of service, region of service, younger age, and higher comorbidity burden were independent predictors of operative management (p < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: The majority of a large cohort of patients with first diagnosis CCS in the absence of bony injury were managed non-operatively. Operative management increased over the years of study, were performed earlier after diagnosis, and varied based on patient characteristic and geographic region.
RESUMO
Background: Among diabetics, patients with peripheral neuropathy are at increased risk of developing complications following an ankle fracture. While the outcomes in these patients treated nonoperatively have been poor, the outcomes in those undergoing open reduction and internal fixation are at the best modest. We hypothesize that closed reduction and internal fixation with tibiotalocalcaneal nail is an effective primary procedure in this complication prone patient group. Methods: A retrospective review of diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy who underwent acute treatment of an ankle fracture with closed reduction and internal fixation with a tibiotalocalcaneal nail at two Level 1 trauma centers was performed. 30 patients were identified and divided into 2 groups with respect to their postoperative weight bearing protocol: 20 patients in the early weight bearing (EWB) group and 10 patients in the touch-down weight bearing (TDWB). The primary outcome was the rate of return to baseline function and the secondary outcomes included the incidence of wound dehiscence, wound infection, implant failure, loss of fixation, loss of reduction and amputation. Results: In the EWB group, 15/20 patients returned to their baseline function, 5/20 had wound dehiscence and infection, 2/20 had implant failure, 5/20 had loss of fixation, 4/20 had loss of reduction, and 4/20 underwent amputation. In the TDWB group, 9/10 patients returned to their baseline function, 1/10 had implant failure, 1/10 had loss of fixation. No patients from this group had loss of reduction or underwent amputation. Conclusion: Treatment with tibiotalocalcaneal nail is an effective primary procedure in this complication prone group of patients, assuming that weight bearing is delayed for six weeks to protect soft tissues and surgical incisions. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.