Does the distal nail position impact the rates of misalignment and bone union in distal tibial fractures?

PURPOSE: This retrospective study aimed to assess the impact of distal nail placement on misalignment and healing rates in distal tibial fractures. METHODS: We reviewed all patients with distal tibial fracture treated with intramedullary nailing between 2015 and 2021, and a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Distal nail positioning was determined according to the Triantafillou zones. We related these positioning zones to misalignments (alignment ≥ 3°) and too bony union disorders (delayed union, non-union). RESULTS: Out of the 62 patients included, 56 (90.3%) show bone union without additional procedure, 3 (4.8%) with dynamization, and 3 (4.8%) showed non-union. Twenty-one (33.8%) presented misalignment, with valgus in the coronal plane being the most frequent (76.19%). In patients with and without misalignment, the most frequent distal nail position was 2-2 in 47.6% and 80.5%, respectively (p = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, distal nail positioning in the 2-2 zone showed a significant protective effect against misalignment (OR 0.18; p = 0.018), while nail positioning in the 3-2 zone generated a significant risk of misalignment (OR 18.55; p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: In intramedullary nailing of distal tibial fractures, distal positioning of the nail slightly lateral to the center of the talus in the coronal plane and slightly posterior in the sagittal plane (zone 2-2) allows high alignment percentages to be obtained. Positioning medial to this point in the coronal plane (zone 3) is associated with more significant misalignment and should be avoided.

Two-Stage Treatment of Chronic Periprosthetic Knee Infections With the Use of Gentamicin-Articulated Spacers: Success Rate and Predictors of Failure at the Minimum Seven-Year Follow-Up.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the survivorship rates of 2-stage treatment with gentamicin-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate articulated knee spacer in patients with chronic periprosthetic joint infection and to identify risk factors associated with failure. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study among 73 patients with chronic periprosthetic joint infection after primary total knee replacement with articulated polymethylmethacrylate gentamicin-impregnated spacers (Subiton, Medical Labs, Ind Argentina), performed in a single institution with a minimum follow-up of 7 years. Clinical and functional assessment was performed with Knee Society Score and Western and Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify the variables that influenced the success and failure rates. Results: We included 73 patients. There were 53 (71.3%) monomicrobial, 11 (15%) polymicrobial, and 10 (13.7%) negative cultures infections. The success and failure rates were 90.5% (n = 66) and 9.5% (n = 7), respectively. Multivariate analysis identified that age (odds ratio = 1.77; P = .039), greater erythrocyte sedimentation rate values prior to the first stage (odds ratio = 1.04; P = .006), and polymicrobial infections (odds ratio = 7.32; P = .0003) were independent variables associated with failure. Conclusions: Two-stage revision with polymethylmethacrylate gentamicin-impregnated knee spacers is an effective strategy for the treatment of chronic periprosthetic joint infection after total knee arthroplasty. Age, higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate values prior first stage, and polymicrobial infections were independent risk factors for treatment failure.

Morbimortalidad en pacientes con fracturas intertrocantéricas de cadera tratadas con clavos cefalomedulares. Valor predictivo del Índice de Movilidad de Parker / Morbidity and mortality in intertrochanteric hip fractures treated with cephalo-medullary nailing. Predictive value of the Parker mobility score

Introducción: La fractura de cadera es un factor independiente que aumenta la morbimortalidad. El objetivo de este estudio retrospectivo fue determinar la morbimortalidad en ancianos con fracturas intertrocantéricas de cadera tratadas con clavos cefalomedulares. Materiales y métodos: Se analizó a pacientes tratados con clavo cefalomedular por fractura intertrocantérica de cadera, entre 2018 y 2021, y un seguimiento mínimo de 12 meses. Se registraron: datos demográficos, comorbilidades, capacidad funcional con el Índice de Movilidad de Parker, complicaciones y tasa de mortalidad a los 12 meses y al final del seguimiento. Se identificaron las variables independientes relacionadas con complicaciones o muerte. Resultados: Se incluyó a 68 pacientes (seguimiento medio 23 meses). La tasa de complicaciones fue del 8,8%: infección urinaria, neumonía, trombosis venosa profunda y tres pérdidas de fijación del tornillo cefálico. Al comparar pacientes con complicaciones o sin ellas, hubo diferencias significativas en la edad cuando se produjo la fractura. Las tasas de mortalidad anual y al concluir el estudio fueron del 2,9% y 29,4%, respectivamente. Las diferencias fueron significativas en la incidencia de comorbilidades renales, demencia, el Índice de Comorbilidad de Charlson >4 y el puntaje de Parker <5 en quienes fallecieron. El puntaje de Parker <5 fue la variable independiente relacionada con muerte. Conclusiones: Las tasas de complicaciones y de mortalidad a los 12 meses del tratamiento de las fracturas intertrocantéricas inestables de cadera con clavos cefalomedulares es aceptable en ancianos. El riesgo de muerte aumenta significativamente si el puntaje de Parker es <5 antes de la fractura. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Introduction: Hip fracture represents an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the morbidity and mortality associated with intertrochanteric hip fractures fixed with cephalomedullary nails. materials and methods: We analyzed all patients treated between 2018 and 2021 with a cephalomedullary nail for an intertrochanteric hip fracture, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. We evaluated the demographic data, comorbidities, functional level through the Parker Mobility Score (PMS), complications, and mortality (12 months and at the end of follow-up). Variables related to postoperative complications or death were identified by bivariate and multivariate regression analyses. Results: 68 patients were included. The mean follow-up was 23 (range 12-40) months. The rate of complications was 8.8% (n=6), 1 urinary tract infection, 1 pneumonia, 1 deep vein thrombosis, and 3 (4.4%) cephalic screw fixation losses. Patients who had complications presented significant differences in age at the time of fracture. Mortality at 12 months and at the end of the study was 2.9% (n=2) and 29.4% (n=20) respectively. Those patients who died presented significant differences in the incidence of kidney comorbidities, dementia, a Charlson Comorbidity Index > 4, and a PMS < 5. PMS < 5 was the only independent variable related to mortality. Conclusions: Cephalomedullary nailing in unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures in elderly patients represents a treatment option that offers an acceptable complication rate and a low 12-month mortality rate. The risk of death is significantly increased in patients with low functional scores (Parker < 5) pre-fracture. Level of Evidence: IV

Tumor mesenquimático fosfatúrico de pelvis: abordaje multidisciplinario / Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor of the pelvis: A multidisciplinary approach

El tumor mesenquimático fosfatúrico es una entidad clinicopatológica sumamente infrecuente. Además de provocar dolor óseo insidioso y polimialgias, se acompaña de alteraciones del metabolismo fosfocálcico de difícil manejo clínico. El abordaje multidisciplinario resulta la clave del éxito en esta enfermedad. Presentamos una paciente de 52 años de edad con antecedente de tumor mesenquimático fosfatúrico en la hemipelvis derecha con extensión a la cadera homolateral de 10 años de evolución. Clínicamente presentaba osteomalacia oncogénica (hipofosfatemia e hiperfosfaturia) que no se corregía, pese a un agente de última generación, el burosumab, un inhibidor del factor de crecimiento fibroblástico 23, que aumenta la reabsorción tubular renal de fosfatos. En un comité multidisciplinario, se decidió la resección con márgenes oncológicos y se logró una mejoría clínica franca. Comunicamos este caso, debido a que es un cuadro infrecuente. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT) is an infrequent clinicopathological entity. It presents insidious bone pain and polymyalgia, accompanied by alterations in calcium and phosphorus metabolism that are difficult to resolve clinically. A multidisciplinary approach is a key to success in this pathology. We present the case of a 52-year-old female patient with a 10-year history of PMT in the right hemipelvis with ipsilateral hip extension. From the clinical point of view, she presented oncogenic osteomalacia (hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphaturia) that did not correct despite being administered the latest generation medication, burosumab, an FGF-23 inhibitor that increases renal tubular phosphate reabsorption. Resection with oncological margins was decided by a multidisciplinary committee resolving her clinical condition. Due to the rarity of this pathology, we decided to report the case. Level of Evidence: IV