Assessment of the Quality and Readability of Information Provided by ChatGPT in Relation to the Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy for Osteoarthritis.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the quality and readability of information generated by ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4 concerning platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA), exploring whether large language models (LLMs) could play a significant role in patient education. Design: A total of 23 common patient queries regarding the role of PRP therapy in knee OA management were presented to ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4. The quality of the responses was assessed using the DISCERN criteria, and readability was evaluated using six established assessment tools. Results: Both ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4 produced moderate quality information. The quality of information provided by ChatGPT version 4 was significantly better than version 3.5, with mean DISCERN scores of 48.74 and 44.59, respectively. Both models scored highly with respect to response relevance and had a consistent emphasis on the importance of shared decision making. However, both versions produced content significantly above the recommended 8th grade reading level for patient education materials (PEMs), with mean reading grade levels (RGLs) of 17.18 for ChatGPT version 3.5 and 16.36 for ChatGPT version 4, indicating a potential barrier to their utility in patient education. Conclusions: While ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4 both demonstrated the capability to generate information of moderate quality regarding the role of PRP therapy for knee OA, the readability of the content remains a significant barrier to widespread usage, exceeding the recommended reading levels for PEMs. Although ChatGPT version 4 showed improvements in quality and source citation, future iterations must focus on producing more accessible content to serve as a viable resource in patient education. Collaboration between healthcare providers, patient organizations, and AI developers is crucial to ensure the generation of high quality, peer reviewed, and easily understandable information that supports informed healthcare decisions.

The Safety and Efficacy of Microporous Polysaccharide Hemospheres in Terms of the Complication Rates in Total Hip Arthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fractures: A Control-Matched Retrospective Cohort.

AIMS: This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of microporous polysaccharide hemospheres (MPSHs) in managing blood loss and reducing the risk of postoperative haematoma and early periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) for femoral neck fracture (FNF), in the context of the existing treatment challenges. METHODS: A control-matched retrospective analysis of 163 patients undergoing unilateral primary THA for displaced FNF between 2020 and 2023 was performed. The study group consisted of 74 patients who received MPSH administered intraoperatively. The control group consisted of 89 patients who received no topical haemostatics. One-to-one case-control matching between groups was performed. The primary outcome was a perioperative change in the haematologic values (haemoglobin, red blood cell count, haematocrit, platelet concentration) and transfusion rate. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of postoperative local haematoma formation, prolonged wound secretion, surgical site infection (SSI), and PJI within 3 months of surgery. RESULTS: Our analysis found no statistically significant differences in the haematologic parameters between the control and study cohorts. The changes in the haemoglobin concentration were not significant between the control group (3.18 ± 1.0 g/dL) and the treatment group (2.87 ± 1.15 g/dL) (p = 0.3). There were no significant differences (p = 0.24) in the haematocrit and red blood cell concentration (p = 0.15). The platelet levels did not significantly differ (p = 0.12) between the groups. Additionally, we found no significant discrepancy in the incidence of early PJI or blood transfusion rates between the groups. No adverse effects following MPSH use were recorded in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of MPSH in THA for FNF management appears to be safe, with no observed adverse events related to Arista® use. Although there was a tendency towards reduced blood loss in the Arista® AH group, MPSH did not significantly impact bleeding complications, local haematoma formation, or subsequent PJI.

ChatGPT May Offer an Adequate Substitute for Informed Consent to Patients Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty-Yet Caution Is Needed.

Prior to undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), surgeons are often confronted with patients with numerous questions regarding the procedure and the recovery process. Due to limited staff resources and mounting individual workload, increased efficiency, e.g., using artificial intelligence (AI), is of increasing interest. We comprehensively evaluated ChatGPT's orthopedic responses using the DISCERN instrument. Three independent orthopedic surgeons rated the responses across various criteria. We found consistently high scores, predominantly exceeding a score of three out of five in almost all categories, indicative of the quality and accuracy of the information provided. Notably, the AI demonstrated proficiency in conveying precise and reliable information on orthopedic topics. However, a notable observation pertains to the generation of non-existing references for certain claims. This study underscores the significance of critically evaluating references provided by ChatGPT and emphasizes the necessity of cross-referencing information from established sources. Overall, the findings contribute valuable insights into the performance of ChatGPT in delivering accurate orthopedic information for patients in clinical use while shedding light on areas warranting further refinement. Future iterations of natural language processing systems may be able to replace, in part or in entirety, the preoperative interactions, thereby optimizing the efficiency, accessibility, and standardization of patient communication.

Adverse Events Associated with Prolonged Antibiotic Therapy for Periprosthetic Joint Infections-A Prospective Study with a Special Focus on Rifampin.

Periprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) is a significant contributor to patient morbidity and mortality, and it can be addressed through a range of surgical interventions coupled with antibiotic therapies. Following surgical intervention(s), prolonged administration of oral antibiotics is recommended to cure PJI. There is a lack of reports on the adverse events (AEs) associated with oral antibiotics, particularly rifampin. This investigation sought to elucidate the occurrence of antibiotic-related AEs after an initial regimen of intravenous antibiotic administration, supplemented by an extended course of oral antibiotics. A prospective study of patients diagnosed with PJI of the hip, knee, or shoulder who underwent single-stage exchange arthroplasty (SSE) (10%), two-stage exchange arthroplasty (TSE) (81%), or debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) (6%) was performed. The primary outcome of interest was the detection of AEs, the secondary outcome the detection of a correlation between rifampin use and the incidence of AEs, and the tertiary outcome was whether oral antibiotic treatment needed to be adjusted or discontinued due to AEs. In addition, subjective tolerability was monitored throughout the study. A total of 336 events were identified for 73 out of 80 patients. The most frequently used antibiotics were rifampin and co-trimoxazole. Most AEs occurred in the gastrointestinal tract (46%). The most frequent AEs were nausea, inappetence, diarrhea, and skin rash. In 6% of cases, the AEs led to antibiotic discontinuation, and in 29% of cases, a dose adjustment of the oral therapy occurred, mainly with amoxicillin or co-trimoxazole. The majority of patients (55%) rated the subjective tolerability as good. In conclusion, AEs during antibiotic treatment for PJI are common. They mainly affect the gastrointestinal tract. Rifampin use might be a reason for the higher incidence of AEs compared to non-rifampin antibiotic treatment.

Restoration of Hip Geometry after Femoral Neck Fracture: A Comparison of the Femoral Neck System (FNS) and the Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS).

BACKGROUND: The femoral neck system (FNS) was introduced as a minimally invasive fixation device for managing femoral neck fractures. OBJECTIVE: To compare radiographic, clinical, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of femoral neck fracture patients following FNS compared to dynamic hip screw (DHS) implantation combined with an anti-rotational screw. METHODS: Patients who underwent closed reduction and internal fixation of a femoral neck fracture between 2020 and 2022 were retrospectively included. We measured leg length, femoral offset, and centrum-collum-diaphyseal (CCD) angle in plain radiographs. Scar length, Harris Hip Score, short-form health survey 36-item score (SF-36), and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were assessed during follow-up visits. RESULTS: We included 43 patients (22 females) with a median age of 66 (IQR 57, 75). In both groups, leg length differences between the injured and the contralateral side increased, and femoral offset and CCD angle differences were maintained over time. FNS patients had shorter scars and reported fewer emotional problems and more energy. There were no differences between groups regarding the remaining SF-36 sub-scores, Harris Hip Score, and NRS. CONCLUSIONS: The FNS allows for a comparable leg length, femoral offset, and CCD angle reconstruction while achieving similarly high functional and global health scores to the DHS.

Increased asphericity of the femoral head-neck junction in professional breakers compared to hobby athletes - a retrospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Breaking has gained public attention as a form of sports activity. The associated intense movements of the hip joints are possibly linked to the development of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Therefore, this study aimed to assess clinical and radiographic FAI measures in professional breakers compared to hobby athletes. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of professional breakers with persisting hip pain who were 1:1 matched to a cohort of FAI patients without professional sports careers from our outpatient clinic. The primary endpoint assessed on standardized plain radiographs was the alpha angle (AA). Further measures were the acetabular index (AI), lateral center-edge angle (LCEA), crossover sign, ischial spine sign, and femoral head extrusion index (FHEI). The modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score were used to obtain patient-reported measures. RESULTS: We recruited ten professional breakers and matched them to ten hobby athletes. The median AA was significantly higher in the breakers compared with the hobby athletes (73° [IQR 66.5°, 84.2°]) vs. 61.8° [IQR 59.5°, 64.8°], p = 0.0004). There was a significant reduction in weekly training hours in breakers after diagnosis (13.0 hours [interquartile range [IQR] 9.5, 32.4] to 1.5 hours [IQR 0, 4.8], p = 0.0039). There were no inter-group differences regarding mHHS, WOMAC, and additional radiographic measurements. CONCLUSION: Breakers have higher AA in cam-type FAI compared to nonprofessional athletes. The corresponding hip pain significantly reduced training hours and caused the end of their breaking career. The potentially high prevalence of FAI in breakers and the corresponding consequences need to be considered early when athletes present with hip pain.

Social Media Use Among Orthopedic and Trauma Surgeons in Germany: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Social media (SM) has gained importance in the health care sector as a means of communication and a source of information for physicians and patients. However, the scope of professional SM use by orthopedic and trauma surgeons remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study presents an overview of professional SM use among orthopedic and trauma surgeons in Germany in terms of the platforms used, frequency of use, and SM content management. METHODS: We developed a web-based questionnaire with 33 variables and 2 separate sections based on a review of current literature. This study analyzed the first section of the questionnaire and included questions on demographics, type of SM used, frequency of use, and SM content management. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 26.0). Subgroup analysis was performed for sex, age groups (<60 years vs ≥60 years), and type of workplace (practice vs hospital). Differences between groups were assessed with a chi-square test for categorical data. RESULTS: A total of 208 participants answered the questionnaire (166/208, 79.8% male), of whom 70.2% (146/208) were younger than 60 years and 77.4% (161/208) worked in a practice. All participants stated that they use SM for private and professional purposes. On average, participants used 1.6 SM platforms for professional purposes. More than half had separate SM accounts for private and professional use. The most frequently used SM platforms were messenger apps (119/200, 59.5%), employment-oriented SM (60/200, 30%), and YouTube (54/200, 27%). All other SM, including Facebook and Instagram, were only used by a minority of the participants. Women and younger participants were more likely to use Instagram (P<.001 and P=.03, respectively). The participants working in a hospital were more likely to use employment-oriented SM (P=.02) and messenger apps (P=.009) than participants working in a practice. In a professional context, 20.2% (39/193) of the participants produced their own content on SM, 24.9% (48/193) used SM daily, 39.9% (77/193) used SM during work, and 13.8% (26/188) stated that they checked the number of followers they had. Younger participants were more likely to have participated in professional SM training and to have separate private and professional accounts (P=.04 and P=.02, respectively). Younger participants tended toward increased production of their own content (P=.06). CONCLUSIONS: SM is commonly used for professional purposes by orthopedic and trauma surgeons in Germany. However, it seems that professional SM use is not exploited to its full potential, and a structured implementation into daily professional work routines is still lacking. SM can have a profound impact on medical practices and communication, so orthopedic and trauma surgeons in Germany should consider increasing their SM presence by actively contributing to SM.

Emergency thoracotomies in traumatic cardiac arrests following blunt trauma - experiences from a German level I trauma center.

PURPOSE: Resuscitative thoracotomies (RT) are the last resort to reduce mortality in patients suffering severe trauma. In recent years, indications for RT have been extended from penetrating to blunt trauma. However, discussions on efficacy are still ongoing, as data on this rarely performed procedure are often scarce. Therefore, this study analyzed RT approaches, intraoperative findings, and clinical outcome measures following RT in patients with cardiac arrest following blunt trauma. METHODS: All patients admitted to our level I trauma center's emergency room (ER) who underwent RT between 2010 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Retrospective chart reviews were performed for clinical data, laboratory values, injuries observed during RT, and surgical procedures. Additionally, autopsy protocols were assessed to describe injury patterns accurately. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included in this study with a median ISS of 57 (IQR 41-75). The 24-h survival rate was 20%, and the total survival rate was 7%. Three approaches were used to expose the thorax: Anterolateral thoracotomy, clamshell thoracotomy, and sternotomy. A wide variety of injuries were detected, which required complex surgical interventions. These included aortic cross-clamping, myocardial suture repairs, and pulmonary lobe resections. CONCLUSION: Blunt trauma often results in severe injuries in various body regions. Therefore, potential injuries and corresponding surgical interventions must be known when performing RT. However, the chances of survival following RT in traumatic cardiac arrest cases following blunt trauma are small.

The Female Pelvis Is Associated with a Lateralized Ischium and a Reduced Ischiofemoral Space.

BACKGROUND: Pelvi-femoral conflicts are increasingly recognized for their explanatory role in the pathology of extra-articular hip impingement. Ischiofemoral impingement (IFI) is a type of impingement between the femur and the ischium that causes high femoral antetorsion and valgus femoral neck orientation. It is unknown whether obstetric adaptation of the female pelvis renders the female hip at a higher risk of sustaining IFI. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the pelvic morphology on the ischiofemoral space (IFS). METHODS: Plain radiographs of healthy individuals with no symptomatic hip disease were obtained in a functional standing position in a standardized manner and utilized for measurement of the interischial and ischiofemoral widths, subpubic angle, and centrum collum diaphyseal (CCD) angle. Linear regression was performed to determine the influence of morphometric measures on the ischiofemoral space. RESULTS: Sixty-five radiographs (34 females and 31 males) were included. The cohort was stratified according to gender. Significant gender-related differences were noted regarding the ischiofemoral distance (31% increase in males, p < 0.001), pubic-arc angle (30% increased in females, p < 0.001), and the interischial space (7% increase in females, p < 0.001). CCD did not significantly differ between genders (p = 0.2). Factors influencing the IFS include the pubic-arc angle (ß = -0.01 (CI -0.02--0.00), p = 0.003), interischial distance (ß = -0.11 (CI -0.23--0.00), p = 0.049) and CCD (ß = -0.06 (CI -0.09--0.04), p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric adaptation is associated with an increased subpubic angle that shifts the ischia laterally and away from the symphysis. The resultant reduction in the ischiofemoral space renders the female pelvis at a higher risk for a pelvi-femoral conflict, or more precisely, an ischiofemoral conflict, due to the reduced ischiofemoral space of the hip. The CCD angle of the femur was shown not to be gender specific. However, the CCD angle demonstrates an influence on the ischiofemoral space, rendering the proximal femur a target for corresponding osteotomies.

Individual immune cell and cytokine profiles determine platelet-rich plasma composition.

OBJECTIVE: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is increasingly popular to treat musculoskeletal diseases, including tendinopathies and osteoarthritis (OA). To date, it remains unclear to which extent PRP compositions are determined by the immune cell and cytokine profile of individuals or by the preparation method. To investigate this, we compared leukocyte and cytokine distributions of different PRP products to donor blood samples and assessed the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on chondrocytes. DESIGN: For each of three PRP preparations (ACP®, Angel™, and nSTRIDE® APS), products were derived using whole blood samples from twelve healthy donors. The cellular composition of PRP products was analyzed by flow cytometry using DURAClone antibody panels (DURAClone IM Phenotyping Basic and DURAClone IM T Cell Subsets). The MESO QuickPlex SQ 120 system was used to assess cytokine profiles (V-PLEX Proinflammatory Panel 1 Human Kit, Meso Scale Discovery). Primary human chondrocyte 2D and 3D in vitro cultures were exposed to recombinant IFN-γ and TNF-α. Proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation were quantitatively assessed. RESULTS: All three PRP products showed elevated portions of leukocytes compared to baseline levels in donor blood. Furthermore, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α were significantly increased in nSTRIDE® APS samples compared to donor blood and other PRP products. The characteristics of all other cytokines and immune cells from the donor blood, including pro-inflammatory T cell subsets, were maintained in all PRP products. Chondrocyte proliferation was impaired by IFN-γ and enhanced by TNF-α treatment. Differentiation and cartilage formation were compromised upon treatment with both cytokines, resulting in altered messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of collagen type 1A1 (COL1A1), COL2A1, and aggrecan (ACAN) as well as reduced proteoglycan content. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with elevated levels of cells with pro-inflammatory properties maintain these in the final PRP products. The concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines strongly varies between PRP products. These observations may help to unravel the previously described heterogeneous response to PRP in OA therapy, especially as IFN-γ and TNF-α impacted primary chondrocyte proliferation and their characteristic gene expression profile. Both the individual's immune profile and the concentration method appear to impact the final PRP product. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was prospectively registered in the Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS) on 4 November 2021 (registration number DRKS00026175).

Outcome Comparison of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in Patients with Trauma-Associated and Non-Trauma-Associated ARDS: A Retrospective 11-Year Period Analysis.

(1) Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a rare complication in multiply injured patients. Due to the rarity of ARDS development after trauma, little is known about outcomes of patients with trauma-associated ARDS compared to patients with non-trauma-associated ARDS. (2) Methods: This retrospective analysis included n = 1038 ARDS patients admitted to the ARDS center of Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin between 2007 and 2018. Patients with trauma-associated ARDS (n = 62) were compared to patients with non-trauma-associated ARDS (n = 976). In a secondary analysis, patients from the group with non-trauma-associated ARDS were 1:1 nearest neighbor matched to patients with trauma-associated ARDS. The primary outcomes were 28-day in-hospital mortality, 60-day in-hospital mortality, and overall in-hospital mortality. (3) Results: Overall in-hospital mortality in trauma-associated ARDS was 29.0% compared to 40.5% in all patients with non-trauma-associated ARDS (p = 0.074). The in-hospital mortality rate in matched patients with non-trauma-associated ARDS (33.9%) was comparable to the trauma-associated ARDS cohort (p = 0.701). Kaplan-Meier curves indicated time-sensitive variations in 28-day and 60-day in-hospital survival. (4) Conclusion: Mortality was not different in patients with trauma-associated ARDS compared to patients with non-trauma-associated ARDS. Survival rate in the Kaplan-Meier curves stabilized after the critical initial phase and throughout the further 60-day period in patients with trauma-associated ARDS compared to patients with non-trauma-associated ARDS. Since this divergence was less pronounced in the matched cohort, it may be related to the younger age, fewer comorbidities, and lower ARDS severity in patients with trauma-associated ARDS. Patients with trauma-associated ARDS remain a very different cohort compared to patients with non-trauma-associated ARDS. Therefore, the outcome comparison is limited, even after matching.

Coagulopathy management of multiple injured patients - a comprehensive literature review of the European guideline 2019.

The European guideline on the management of trauma-induced major bleeding and coagulopathy summarises the most relevant recommendations for trauma coagulopathy management. The management of trauma-induced major bleeding should interdisciplinary follow algorithms which distinguish between life-threatening and non-life-threatening bleeding. Point-of-care viscoelastic methods (VEM) assist target-controlled haemostatic treatment. Neither conventional coagulation assays nor VEM should delay treatment in life-threatening trauma-induced bleeding. Adjustments may be rational due to local circumstances, including the availability of blood products, pharmaceuticals, and employees.

Microbiological Advantages of Open Incisional Biopsies for the Diagnosis of Suspected Periprosthetic Joint Infections.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) represents a serious complication following total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). When preoperative synovial fluid cultures remain inconclusive, open incisional joint biopsy (OIB) can support causative microorganism identification. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the potential benefit of OIB in THA and TKA patients with suspected PJI and ambigious diagnostic results following synovial fluid aspiration. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed all patients treated from 2016 to 2020 with suspected PJI. Comparing the microbiology of OIB and the following revision surgery, we calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the number needed to treat (NNT). RESULTS: We examined the diagnostic validity of OIB in 38 patients (20 female) with a median age of 66.5 years. In THA patients (n = 10), sensitivity was 75%, specificity was 66.67%, PPV was 60%, NPV was 80%, and NNT was 2.5. In TKA patients (n = 28), sensitivity was 62.5%, specificity was 95.24%, PPV was 83.33%, NPV was 86.96%, and NNT was 1.42. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that OIB represents an adequate diagnostic tool when previously assessed microbiological results remain inconclusive. Particularly in TKA patients, OIB showed an exceptionally high specificity, PPV, and NPV, whereas the predictive validity of the diagnosis of PJI in THA patients remained low.

Outcome Analysis of the Use of Cerament® in Patients with Chronic Osteomyelitis and Corticomedullary Defects.

BACKGROUND: Chronic osteomyelitis (OM) is a progressive but mostly low-grade infection of the bones. The management of this disease is highly challenging for physicians. Despite systematic treatment approaches, recurrence rates are high. Further, functional and patient-reported outcome data are lacking, especially after osseous defects are filled with bioresorbable antibiotic carriers. OBJECTIVE: To assess functional and patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) following the administration of Cerament® G or V due to corticomedullary defects in chronic OM. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study from 2015 to 2020, including all patients who received Cerament® for the aforementioned reason. Patients were diagnosed and treated in accordance with globally valid recommendations, and corticomedullary defects were filled with Cerament® G or V, depending on the expected germ spectrum. Patients were systematically followed up, and outcome measures were collected during outpatient clinic visits. RESULTS: Twenty patients with Cierny and Mader type III OM were included in this study and followed up for 20.2 ± 17.2 months (95%CI 12.1-28.3). Ten of these patients needed at least one revision (2.0 ± 1.3 revisions per patient (95%CI 1.1-2.9) during the study period due to OM persistence or local wound complications. There were no statistically significant differences in functional scores or PROMs between groups. CONCLUSION: The use of Cerament® G and V in chronic OM patients with corticomedullary defects appears to have good functional outcomes and satisfactory PROMs. However, the observed rate of local wound complications and the OM persistence rate may be higher when compared to previously published data.

Source and hub of inflammation: The infrapatellar fat pad and its interactions with articular tissues during knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis, the most prevalent degenerative joint disorder worldwide, is driven by chronic low-grade inflammation and subsequent cartilage degradation. Clinical data on the role of the Hoffa or infrapatellar fat pad in knee osteoarthritis are, however, scarce. The infrapatellar fat pad is a richly innervated intracapsular, extrasynovial adipose tissue, and an abundant source of adipokines and proinflammatory and catabolic cytokines, which may contribute to chronic synovial inflammation, cartilage destruction, and subchondral bone remodeling during knee osteoarthritis. How the infrapatellar fat pad interacts with neighboring tissues is poorly understood. Here, we review available literature with regard to the infrapatellar fat pad's interactions with cartilage, synovium, bone, menisci, ligaments, and nervous tissue during the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Signaling cascades are described with a focus on immune cell populations, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, adipokines, mesenchymal stromal cells, and molecules derived from conditioned media from the infrapatellar fat pad. Understanding the complex interplay between the infrapatellar fat pad and its neighboring articular tissues may help to better understand and treat the multifactorial pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Comparing Perioperative Outcome Measures of the Dynamic Hip Screw and the Femoral Neck System.

Background and Objective: Various fixation devices and surgical techniques are available for the management of proximal femur fractures. Recently, the femoral neck system (FNS) was introduced, and was promoted on the basis of less invasiveness, shorter operating time, and less fluoroscopy time compared to previous systems. The aim of this study was to compare two systems for the internal fixation of femoral neck fractures (FNF), namely the dynamic hip screw (DHS) with an anti-rotation screw (ARS) and an FNS. The outcome measures included operating room time (ORT), dose−area product (DAP), length of stay (LOS), perioperative changes in haemoglobin concentrations, and transfusion rate. Materials and Methods: A retrospective single-centre study was conducted. Patients treated for FNF between 1 January 2020 and 30 September 2021 were included, provided that they had undergone closed reduction and internal fixation. We measured the centrum-collum-diaphyseal (CCD) and the Pauwels angle preoperatively and one week postoperatively. Results: In total, 31 patients (16 females), with a mean age of 62.81 ± 15.05 years, were included. Fracture complexity assessed by the Pauwels and Garden classification did not differ between groups preoperatively. Nonetheless, the ORT (54 ± 26.1 min vs. 91.68 ± 23.96 min, p < 0.01) and DAP (721 ± 270.6 cGycm² vs. 1604 ± 1178 cGycm², p = 0.03) were significantly lower in the FNS group. The pre- and postoperative CCD and Pauwels angles did not differ statistically between groups. Perioperative haemoglobin concentration changes (−1.77 ± 1.19 g/dl vs. −1.74 ± 1.37 g/dl) and LOS (8 ± 5.27 days vs. 7.35 ± 3.43 days) were not statistically different. Conclusions: In this cohort, the ORT and DAP were almost halved in the patient group treated with FNS. This may confer a reduction in secondary risks related to surgery.

Therapeutic anticoagulation complications in the elderly: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The demographic transition leads to a continuously growing number of elderly patients who receive therapeutic anticoagulation by reason of several comorbidities. Though therapeutic anticoagulation may reduce the number of embolic complications in these patients, major complications such as bleeding complications need to be kept in mind when considering such therapy. However, evidence regarding the choice of anticoagulation agents in chronic kidney disease patients of higher age is limited. In this report, a guideline-based anticoagulation treatment which led to a fulminant atraumatic bleeding complication is discussed. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of an 85-year-old female stage V chronic kidney disease patient who suffered from a diffuse arterial, subcutaneous bleeding in her lower left leg due a therapeutic anticoagulation using low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). Anticoagulation was started in accordance with general recommendations for patients with atrial fibrillation, and the dosage was adapted for the patient's renal function. Nevertheless, the above-mentioned complication occurred, and the bleeding led to a hemorrhagic shock and an acute kidney injury on top of a chronic kidney disease. The hematoma required surgical evacuation and local coagulation in the operating room. In the further course, the patient underwent additional four surgical interventions due to a superinfected skin necrosis, including skin grafting. Furthermore, the patient needed continuous renal replacement therapy, as well as intensive care unit treatment, for a total of 47 days followed by 36 days of geriatric rehabilitation. Afterwards, she was discharged from the hospital to her previous nursing home. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Although therapeutic anticoagulation may sufficiently protect patients at cardiovascular risk, major complications such as bleeding complications may occur at any time. Therefore, physicians need to regularly re-evaluate any prior indication for therapeutic anticoagulation. With this case report, we hope to draw attention to the cohort of geriatric patients and the need for more and well differentiated study settings to preferably prevent any potentially avoidable complications.

Epidemiology, Injury Severity, and Pattern of Standing E-Scooter Accidents: 6-Month Experience from a German Level I Trauma Center.

BACKGROUND: E-scooter usage was lawfully approved in Germany in June 2019. Since then, a marked increase of e-scooter drivers has been noticed. Evidence concerning factors that may affect the severity of these injuries is limited. The study aimed to retrospectively analyze e-scooter-related injuries in a major German city. METHODS: All patients admitted to the emergency department of a level I trauma center in Berlin, Germany, between June 15, 2019, and December 15, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients involved in an e-scooter accident were included in this study, and medical reports were analyzed. RESULTS: In the study period, 43 patients were involved in an e-scooter accident and could be included in this study. The median age of the patients was 30 years (interquartile range [IQR], 24.50-39.50 years), with 19 (44.2%) being female patients. The median Injury Severity Score of all patients was 2.0, with the highest Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) of 3.00 (IQR, 2.00-3.00) and was recorded as thoracic injuries. Seven patients had extremity fractures, of which 4 had to be stabilized operatively. In 12 patients (27.9%), the accidents occurred under the influence of alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of injuries reported in this study were associated with a relatively low AIS, possibly due to strict local speed limits. Nonetheless, e-scooter usage bears risks of sustaining severe injuries to the head, face, and extremities, particularly under the influence of alcohol or when illegally ignoring local laws.

Retrospective analysis of treatment strategies and clinical outcome of isolated talar dislocations.

Talar dislocations are rare injuries of the foot and ankle and require quick and decisive diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Evidence concerning the treatment and outcome of these injuries is sparse. The aim of this study was to analyze all talar dislocations of the last ten years treated in a large German level I trauma center in an effort to add to the experience on these injuries. METHODS: All patients with a talar dislocation injury were retrospectively included. Medical reports, x-ray and computertomography scans were analyzed for the sex, age, trauma mechanism, and injury classifications as well as for the clinical outcome as measured by the Foot Function Index (FFI). RESULTS: A total of 18 patients were included in this study: Luxatio pedis cum talo (n = 1), Luxatio tali totalis (n = 3), Luxatio pedis sub talo (n = 14). Analysis of the therapeutic algorithms revealed that only one patient was treated conservatively, the other 17 patients underwent operation. In most cases, stabilization was achieved using an external fixator and if necessary, the subtalar and talonavicular joints were temporarily stabilized using K-wires. The mean follow-up time was 4.25 years (2.05 SD) and the mean FFI-sum score 45.00 (42.26 SD). Two patients required subtalar fusion two years after the injury. CONCLUSION: Isolated talar dislocations can have a good outcome and be effectively treated in the emergency setting by basic techniqes if neurovasular structures are not injured. Often, these injuries are associated with fractures of adjacent bones which then need complex reconstruction.

Transforming the German ICD-10 (ICD-10-GM) into Injury Severity Score (ISS)-Introducing a new method for automated re-coding.

BACKGROUND: While potentially timesaving, there is no program to automatically transform diagnosis codes of the ICD-10 German modification (ICD-10-GM) into the injury severity score (ISS). OBJECTIVE: To develop a mapping method from ICD-10-GM into ICD-10 clinical modification (ICD-10-CM) to calculate the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) and ISS of each patient using the ICDPIC-R and to compare the manually and automatically calculated scores. METHODS: Between January 2019 and June 2021, the most severe AIS of each body region and the ISS were manually calculated using medical documentation and radiology reports of all major trauma patients of a German level I trauma centre. The ICD-10-GM codes of these patients were exported from the electronic medical data system SAP, and a Java program was written to transform these into ICD-10-CM codes. Afterwards, the ICDPIC-R was used to automatically generate the most severe AIS of each body region and the ISS. The automatically and manually determined ISS and AIS scores were then tested for equivalence. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that the manually and automatically calculated ISS were significantly equivalent over the entire patient cohort. Further sub-group analysis, however, showed that equivalence could only be demonstrated for patients with an ISS between 16 and 24. Likewise, the highest AIS scores of each body region were not equal in the manually and automatically calculated group. CONCLUSION: Though achieving mapping results highly comparable to previous mapping methods of ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, it is not unrestrictedly possible to automatically calculate the AIS and ISS using ICD-10-GM codes.