[How badly is the coronavirus pandemic affecting orthopaedic and trauma surgery clinics? : An analysis of the first 5 weeks]. / Wie stark trifft die Corona-Pandemie die Kliniken für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie? : Eine Analyse der ersten 5 Wochen.

BACKGROUND: The corona pandemic poses enormous financial challenges for hospitals. Using the example of a clinic for orthopaedics and trauma surgery, the performance development of the first 5 weeks in comparison to last year and an evaluation of the compensation measures laid down by law will be evaluated. METHODOLOGY: Based on the performance figures, a comparison is made between the period 16.03 to 17.04.2019 and the same period in 2020. Changes in the number of cases, case mix, case-mix index and day-mix index, as well as the occupancy days are recorded. The monetary measures from the COVID-19 Hospital Relief Act are applied to these changes, and the adequacy is evaluated. RESULTS: Compared to last year, there was a decrease in inpatient admissions of n = 307 patients in the observation period. As a result, there was a decrease of 595 points in case mix and 2320 days of occupancy. This results in a decrease in revenue of approximately EUR 1.9 million. The flat rate for empty beds represents the largest monetary compensation for the loss of revenue. It amounts to approximately EUR 1.3 million. Taking into account further support and an adjustment for variable costs, a deficit of EUR 382,069 remains for 5 weeks. DISCUSSION: The measures taken by the Government are an important pillar for the economic security of German hospitals. The lack of differentiation of measures by specialty leads to insufficient compensation for orthopaedics and trauma surgery.

[Representatives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery residents in Germany]. / Assistentensprecher in Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie in Deutschland.

In most German hospitals there are resident representatives to stand in for the rights and interests of residents. The precise number of representatives in orthopaedic and trauma surgery is unknown, as well as the field of duty and the rights of this position.The Junges Forum O&U presents survey data, which were collected from members of the German Society for Trauma Surgery (DGU), the German Society for Orthopaedics and Orthpaedic Surgery (DGOOC) and the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma (DGOU). All had an age below 40 years. The Survey was carried out in a period between 27th of January 2015 and 26th of March 2015.These data allowed the Junges Forum O&U to analyse the duties and numbers of representatives for residents in orthopaedic and trauma surgery in Germany. Questionnaires from 316 representatives were fully analysed. Of these, 92 % work at university hospitals. The conditions of election and the duties are not defined. The activity as representative was mainly fulfilled in spare time. The major aspect was conflict resolution between colleagues.The Junge Forum O&U presents the recommendation for election, field of duty and meetings on a regular basis with the other residents or even the first-line management.

Diaphyseal giant cell tumour of mid-shaft tibia.

SummaryGiant cell tumours of bone are benign and locally aggressive tumours that usually occur in young adults and at the epiphysial locations after physeal closure. Occurrence outside of epiphysial locations and appearance in geriatric patients is rare. We report a case of a woman in her late 60s with a giant cell tumour of the mid-shaft of the right tibia. Extended curettage and biological reconstruction were performed with autologous double-barrel fibular struts and tri-cortical iliac crest bone grafting. At the 28-month follow-up examination, we noted full bony union at both ends with successful consolidation of the fibular struts, and importantly, no evidence of recurrence or other complications was observed.

Investigations and management of complex congenital talipes equinovarus.

Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) is a congenital deformity affecting the feet, commonly idiopathic in nature. We present a previously unreported cause of a non-idiopathic clubfoot and highlight the importance of poor response to initial treatment.A poor response to Ponseti serial casting for CTEV should alert a clinician to the fact that the foot may not be in the 'idiopathic' group and be of a more complex nature. Idiopathic clubfoot should correct with a maximum of eight serial manipulations, cast applications and Achilles tendon tenotomy. If this is not the case, a repeat careful history, full examination, further investigations and review of the treatment method are required.

Comparison of supramalleolar and inframalleolar correction for Takakura stage IIIB ankle arthritis in a single patient.

A man in his early 60s with bilateral Takakura stage IIIB varus ankle arthritis underwent calcaneal osteotomy on the right side and supramalleolar osteotomy (SMO) with fibular osteotomy on the left side. Both sides underwent identical procedures, including multiple drilling of the denuded talar dome and gutter, deltoid ligament release, anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) reconstruction and posterior tibial tendon (PTT) lengthening. This aimed to minimise patient-related factors when assessing correction efficacy. Both procedures demonstrated a similar degree of improvement in talar tilt. Supramalleolar correction contributed more significantly to lateralising the talar centre, while greater improvement in preoperative hindfoot varus was achieved through inframalleolar correction.

Primary total talus arthroplasty for Hawkins type IV talar neck fracture dislocation.

A woman in her 40s was involved in a motor vehicle collision and sustained a closed Hawkins type IV talar neck fracture dislocation. The injury was treated with reduction, percutaneous pinning and spanning external fixation, followed by definitive treatment with total talus arthroplasty (TTA) 2 months following injury. This is a unique example of definitive management for a severe talar neck fracture dislocation with arthroplasty in the subacute setting. TTA is perhaps a primary option for these injuries at high risk for avascular necrosis, non-union, malunion and post-traumatic arthritis.

Joint preserving procedures for Takakura stage IIIB varus ankle osteoarthritis.

A man in his early 70s with right Takakura stage IIIB varus ankle osteoarthritis underwent medial opening wedge supramalleolar osteotomy with inframalleolar correction as joint preserving procedure. We also performed anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL) resection with fibular shortening valgisation osteotomy to enhance the talar tilt correction. Postoperative decrease in talar tilt with dramatic symptom improvement was achieved. Performing the AITFL resection with fibular shortening valgisation osteotomy plus concomitant supramalleolar osteotomy and inframalleolar correction for Takakura stage IIIB varus ankle osteoarthritis resulted in successful improvement in talar tilt by making room for the valgus deviation of the talus.

Reconstruction of the extensor mechanism using polypropylene mesh in a displaced pathological fracture of the patella affected by giant cell tumour.

A man in his 30s came to our clinic with a year-long history of progressive pain and swelling in his knee. Diagnostic imaging revealed a displaced patellar fracture with an osteolytic, septated lesion and thinned expanded cortex in both fracture fragments. A core needle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of giant cell tumour. Treatment involved wide excision of the tumour and the use of polypropylene mesh and a peroneal longus tendon autograft to reconstruct the extensor mechanism of the knee joint. One year postoperatively, the patient experienced no pain, demonstrated full range of motion and showed no signs of functional impairment or local tumour recurrence. This case highlights that reconstruction of the extensor mechanism of the knee after tumour excision with synthetic mesh is an affordable, user-friendly and widely accessible method. It can address large defects effectively while minimising the risks of disease transmission and graft lengthening, resulting in satisfactory outcomes.

Modified-tension band suturing: 'the pulling the reins technique' - a technique for displaced proximal humeral fracture with medial column instability.

Fractures of the proximal humerus with medial column instability are challenging and present an unacceptable rate of complications and reoperations. Despite good results reported with the use of locking plates and augmentation techniques using bone graft or a second plate, varus subsidence and fixation failure have been frequently reported. We describe the case of a patient presenting with a complex, multifragmentary proximal humerus fractures successfully treated with open anatomic reduction and internal fixation using a locking plate augmented with lateral traction using three bone anchors in the humerus head. After 18 months, the patient reported fully recovering the mobility and functionality of the operated shoulder. The use of bone anchors pulling the humeral in three different directions like three vectors applied from medial to lateral, posterior to anterior and lateral to anterior help to reduce the most important deformities (varus and retroversion) by applying the tension band principle. This is an interesting approach to avoid primary and secondary reduction loss of the proximal fractures of the humerus with postero-medial cortical defect. The procedure is a good alternative to be used in patients with failure or insufficiency of the medial wall and marked varus.

Intralesional leiomyosarcoma malignant transformation from a biopsied benign angioleiomyoma of the proximal anterior tibia.

We present a novel case of a malignant transformation of an extremity soft tissue angioleiomyoma to leiomyosarcoma in a man in his late 70s who presented with a painful and increasing lump on his anterior tibia. Initial imaging and biopsy showed a benign angioleiomyoma which was excised for symptomatic reasons. An analysis of the resulting specimen revealed a 50×42×15 mm smooth muscle neoplasm consistent with angioleiomyoma with a 22×11 mm entirely intralesional nodular component in keeping with a grade 1 leiomyosarcoma. The malignant constituent of the lesion was entirely encased in benign angioleiomyoma negating the need for further surgery. Systemic staging investigation revealed no evidence of metastatic disease spread final staging as per the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging T1N0M0 R0 Stage 1 a.

Fixation with multiple K-wires and PRP injection as an effective way to manage heel pad avulsion.

The treatment of acute heel pad avulsion differs significantly from managing other soft tissue injuries due to its unique soft tissue structure. This case report outlines a scenario involving a male in his 20s who suffered heel pad avulsion without a calcaneal fracture but with an ipsilateral medial malleolus fracture after a twisting injury to the ankle caused by a road traffic accident. Immediate action was taken within 24 hours of the injury, involving thorough debridement of the wound, fixation to the calcaneum using multiple K-wires, primary suturing and internal fixation of the medial malleolus with two cannulated cancellous screws. Postoperative care included PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections into the wound twice, removal of K-wires after 6 weeks and allowing walking with full weight bearing after 8 weeks. A year later, the wound had completely healed, and the patient was comfortably walking pain-free with full weight-bearing capabilities.

Paediatric bilateral 'floating elbow'.

A child sustained an ipsilateral supracondylar humerus (SCH) and distal both-bone forearm fractures bilaterally, in addition to facial injuries, following a fall from height. He was managed surgically by closed reduction and pinning for both SCH and distal end radius fractures bilaterally. At the final follow-up, all the fractures had united uneventfully, and he had no functional limitations or cosmetic concerns. We conclude that a floating elbow in the paediatric population is an uncommon injury, and the bilateral scenario is even rarer. One should be vigilant for compartment syndrome; early surgical fixation may give better results.

Multifocal stress fractures in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Stress fractures are often associated to activities that requires repetitive stress such as running. However, insufficiency-type stress fractures can also occur in patients with risk factors such as rheumatoid arthritis. Diagnosis of stress fracture would require a thorough clinical evaluation along with radiological imaging. However, this may be difficult due to how it mimics other musculoskeletal problems. The case of a woman in her 60s presenting with 2 months of severe ipsilateral right knee and ankle pain is used as an example. Based on initial clinical assessment and plain radiograph, her provisional diagnosis was osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis secondary to rheumatoid disease. However, MRI scan revealed that she had multifocal stress fractures in her knee, ankle and foot. Hence, we hope that this case study can allow clinicians to consider multifocal stress fracture as a possible diagnosis in patients with risk factors and to have lower threshold in performing MRI scans.

Concurrent replacement of four major joints in a woman with advanced rheumatoid arthritis.

We report a case of a woman in her mid-40s with advanced rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with bilateral hip and knee joint involvement, who underwent a one-stage quadruple joint arthroplasty during a single session of anaesthesia. Chronic RA had severely incapacitated her, necessitating this uncommon surgical intervention. The surgical approach involved sequential bilateral total hip and knee replacements, which were completed within 180 min with a cumulative blood loss of 950 mL. The patient showed significant improvement with rapid mobilisation and regained joint function postoperatively. At 8 months post-surgery, the patient resumed her daily activities, showcasing the potential benefits and positive outcomes of quadruple joint arthroplasty in selected RA patients. This case, only the second documented globally, highlights the complexities and possibilities surrounding a single-stage quadruple joint arthroplasty in advanced RA.

Rare vertebral pathological fracture in primary amyloidosis.

Spinal involvement in primary amyloidosis is an exceedingly rare condition, presenting with typical pathological fracture symptoms that are often indistinguishable from other pathologies such as bone metastasis, metabolic disorders and infections. Histopathological studies for tissue diagnosis are the cornerstone of a definitive diagnosis, leading to successful treatment. Early diagnosis and intervention play a pivotal role in the care of patients with amyloidosis. Here, we present a unique case of a pathological fracture in the L4 vertebra following minor trauma. This fracture manifested with pain, instability and limitations in daily activities in a patient who had already been diagnosed with systemic amyloidosis and was undergoing chemotherapy. This case represents a distinct instance of vertebral involvement in amyloidosis and was managed with both chemotherapy and surgical intervention to address the spinal pathology, resulting in favourable outcomes.

Osteoid osteoma presenting with scoliosis: successful resection with endoscopic excision.

A young male in his mid-teen years presented with severe back pain for 3 months and was subsequently diagnosed with osteoid osteoma in the left superior articular process of the L4 vertebra. Initial treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs provided temporary relief. Due to concerns about scoliosis progression along with unrelieved pain, a multidisciplinary team recommended endoscopic excision of the osteoid osteoma. The procedure resulted in complete pain relief and an improvement in the scoliosis curve from 22° of Cobb's angle to 12 degrees at the 8-month follow-up.

Bulky malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour of the left thigh in a pregnant woman presenting with a pathological fracture of the proximal femur.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST) is an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma with a poor prognosis, affecting most commonly the extremities. The lungs constitute the most frequent location for distant metastases. Half of all MPNSTs arise in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1, while approximately 10% are radiation induced and the rest are sporadic.The authors present a pregnant woman in her 40s with a sporadic MPNST of the lower limb and with lung metastases at diagnosis. Treatment consisted of interilioabdominal amputation, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Partial response and disease stabilisation were achieved with chemotherapy.Surgical resection with negative margins is the only potentially curative therapy, while radiation therapy and chemotherapy might be useful in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting, but their advantage in survival is not demonstrated. In the reported case, chemotherapy permitted the achievement of partial response and stabilisation of the disease.

Encountering the corona mortis vessel during laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal mesh hernioplasty and its significance.

Corona mortis (CM) is an anastomotic vessel between the inferior epigastric or external iliac vessels and the obturator or internal iliac vessels. The Latin meaning of it is 'crown of death' which corresponds to massive haemorrhage caused by injury to this vessel during surgery. The incidence of this vessel is around 50% in the hemipelvis. We are presenting an intraoperative video of a right laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal mesh hernioplasty demonstrating a CM artery in the right hemipelvis. Care was taken to prevent injury to this vessel. CO2 insufflation pressure was reduced to less than 10 mm Hg to see any venous variant of this vessel. Carefully, polypropylene mesh was placed without a fixation device. Anatomical knowledge of the CM vessel is therefore essential in preventing injury for surgeons who approach the inguinal and retropubic regions.

Pseudoaneurysm of the superolateral genicular artery following ACL outside-in reconstruction.

A female underwent arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) via an outside-in drilling technique. At 4 weeks after surgery, she presented with a pulsatile painful mass on the lateral femoral condyle. Imaging confirmed a superolateral genicular artery pseudoaneurysm. Thrombin injections were administered twice, resulting in reduced size and minimal pain. This case emphasises the rare occurrence of pseudoaneurysms post-ACLR and highlights the importance of early detection and intervention for vascular complications. Although debated, we suggest tourniquet deflation before closure to facilitate identification and management of vascular issues. This report contributes valuable insights into managing pseudoaneurysms following ACLR.

Case of cervicodorsal tuberculosis involving seven contiguous vertebrae in a young child.

We present a rare case of a male child in middle childhood who presented to the emergency department with neck pain, neck deformity, low-grade fever, breathing difficulty and swallowing difficulty. The patient had a significant history of weight loss and loss of appetite. On examination, neurological deficits were observed, including mildly increased tone in bilateral lower limbs, reduced power in both lower limbs, exaggerated knee and ankle jerks, and upgoing plantar reflexes. Radiographs and MRI revealed a kyphotic deformity with apex at the T1 vertebra, lytic lesions in seven contiguous vertebrae and a large prevertebral abscess extending from C2 to T5. The patient underwent a posterior-only surgical approach with decompression, abscess drainage and stabilisation, resulting in successful cord decompression and correction of the kyphotic deformity. At 18 months follow-up, the patient is doing well with improvement to normal neurology and full return of a child to normal activities.