Surface wear of PyroCarbon implant in metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasty without radiographic abnormality: A case report.

CASE: A 54-year-old male with osteoarthritis of the right long finger metacarpophalangeal joint underwent PyroCarbon joint arthroplasty. Seven years later the patient presented for metacarpophalangeal joint swelling and pain. The workup was benign, without signs of implant complication or osseous abnormality. He underwent washout and two-stage revision, where gross implant wear and debris not demonstrated by radiograph were found. He then returned to the operating room for reimplantation of a PyroCarbon implant. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates a novel presentation of aseptic PyroCarbon implant failure in the hand without radiographic abnormality that can alter operative management by reducing operating room returns.

Transverse patella fracture fixation: A cadaveric biomechanical comparison of cannulated screws and anterior tension band versus low-profile, multiplanar mesh plating.

INTRODUCTION: Multiplanar mesh plating of patella fractures has become more popular in recent years. It was the goal of this study to compare the biomechanical stability of cannulated screw with anterior tension band to multiplanar mesh plating for fixation of transverse patella fractures in cadaver specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight matched pairs of fresh frozen cadaveric knees were obtained and soft tissues dissected leaving the extensor mechanism, joint capsule, and retinaculum intact. Transverse fractures were created at the mid-portion of the patella. For each pair, one specimen was repaired using cannulated screws with anterior tension band, and the second was repaired using multiplanar mesh plating. Each specimen underwent cyclic extension loading with loads increasing by 1.1 kg after every 50 cycles. Interfragmentary displacement was measured at the end of each interval at both 5° and 45° of knee flexion angle, with fixation failure defined by >2 mm displacement. RESULTS: The specimens fixed with multiplanar mesh plating survived more cycles and higher loads than the specimens fixed with cannulated screws with anterior tension band (p = 0.011 comparing survival plots). After 150 cycles of extension loading, 3 of 8 of the specimens fixed with screws/tension band had failed, whereas none of the mesh plated specimens had failed. After 400 cycles, 7 of 8 of the screws/tension band had failed, whereas half of the mesh plated specimens had failed. CONCLUSIONS: While a more technically challenging and expensive technique, mesh plating for patella fractures appears to offer greater durability than traditional cannulated screw with tension banding.

Zone I Revision Finger Amputations Performed in the Emergency Department Compared With Those Performed in the Operating Room.

Finger amputations are commonly encountered. These may be revised in the emergency department (ED) or the operating room (OR). Previous studies have demonstrated the cost-effectiveness associated with procedures performed in the ED. Patient outcomes have not been described. We retrospectively reviewed patients who presented to our level 1 trauma center with a traumatic partial or complete finger amputation through flexor tendon zone I. All were treated with revision amputation performed in either the ED or the OR between January 2012 and December 2017. A total of 172 patient charts were included. Ninety-three of the revision amputations were performed in the ED, while 79 were performed in the OR. There was no difference in age, race, sex, having a manual labor job, medical comorbidities, or mechanism of injury between the groups. Compared with procedures performed in the ED, procedures performed in the OR had a higher rate of delayed healing, a longer stay in the hospital, and a higher referral to therapy postoperatively. Length of follow-up and number of follow-up visits were not statistically different based on location of procedure. There was no difference in post-procedural infection rate or need for revision procedure between the groups. Our data support the efficacy of performing revision amputation procedures in the ED. Recorded patient complications and subsequent treatment after revision amputations performed in the ED vs the OR were comparable. Those performed in the ED potentially decrease the burden placed on the patient and the health care system. [Orthopedics. 202x;4x(x):xx-xx.].

Are CT Scans Overutilized in the Workup of Vertebral Compression Fractures?

STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective chart review. OBJECTIVES: Computed tomography (CT) does not aid in determination of compression fracture chronicity and contributes to higher cost and radiation exposure. An examination of extraneous imaging will help to guide appropriate workup. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cost for osteoporotic fracture treatment has been estimated at $17 billion annually; future costs are anticipated to increase by at least 50%. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A chart review evaluated patients who received kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty as part of compression fracture treatment. The primary end point of the study was analysis of unnecessary imaging obtained during workup. The secondary outcome was excess radiation exposure incurred from unneeded imaging studies. RESULTS: There were 104 instances (40.2% of n=259 workups) where patients underwent only magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or bone scan after radiographs. There were 28 instances (10.8%) where patients underwent only radiographs with a comparison study. There were a total of 76 instances (29.3%) where patients underwent extraneous CT scans and 13 instances (5%) where patients underwent both MRI and bone scan, causing an average of 979.4 mGy cm additional radiation exposure. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend an algorithm that favors radiographs with comparison study or acquiring either MRI or bone scan to determine acuity. If these are available, CT scan becomes unnecessary and incurs increased costs and radiation exposure.

Surgical Trends in Arthroscopic Hip Surgery Using a Large National Database.

PURPOSE: To assess the practice trends in hip arthroscopy, including femoroplasty, acetabuloplasty, and labral repair Current Procedure Terminology, 4th edition (CPT-4), codes that have been implemented since many of the previous studies were published, without concerns for Hawthorne or observer effect as can be seen during a board collection window, and in a larger volume of patients with a more comprehensive database than previous published data. METHODS: The MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database was searched using CPT-4 codes to identify patients who underwent any arthroscopic hip procedure from 2008 to 2013. Patients identified were characterized by gender, age group, and year of the initial procedure. Regression analysis was used to evaluate differences in surgical trends between individual patient groups delineated by age and gender. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to identify significant differences in surgical trends seen yearly. RESULTS: A total of 62,782 arthroscopic hip procedures in 31,569 surgeries in 27,997 patients were identified and included from 2008 through 2013. The number of surgeries in the database increased every year. After changes to CPT coding in 2011, femoroplasty became the most common procedure in 2012, comprising 28% of all procedures performed in 2013. Patients ages 40 to 49 underwent the most procedures (7,467, 27%). Females were more likely to undergo any arthroscopic procedure during the study period (.068% vs .041%, P < .0001). A total of 2,754 patients (10%) underwent a second surgery during the study period. A total of 1,625 patients (6%) underwent a total hip arthroplasty following an arthroscopic procedure during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic hip procedures continue to increase, with femoroplasty, labral repair, and acetabuloplasty being the 3 most common procedures performed. Females are more likely to undergo any procedure, and labral repair is now performed more commonly than labral debridement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, cross-sectional study.

Development and Assessment of Pictorial Guide for Improved Accuracy of Visual Blood Loss Estimation in Cesarean Delivery.

INTRODUCTION: Estimated blood loss for surgical procedures performed via visual estimation is known to be an inaccurate method. Blood loss estimation is further complicated during cesarean delivery (CD) by a large volume loss for a short period as well as the presence of amniotic fluid. We hypothesized that a pictorial guide depicting premeasured blood volumes and materials commonly used in a CD would improve clinician accuracy in estimated blood loss. METHODS: A simulated CD scene was used to assess the ability of clinicians to estimate the amount of blood lost by a CD patient. Accuracy of the estimates was assessed before and after they had access to the pictorial guide created for the study. RESULTS: Before the intervention, 52% of participants estimated more than 25% above or below actual blood loss volume. With use of the guide, clinicians became more accurate at blood loss estimation. After the intervention, the number of participants estimating within 5% of the actual volume increased from 7% before to 24% (P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: An institution-specific pictorial guide is effective at improving the accuracy of visual blood loss estimation in a simulation and may help improve clinical care in CD.