The optimal fluoroscopic views to rule out intra-articular screw penetration during acetabular fracture fixation.

PURPOSE: To determine the ideal view(s) and the minimum number of intraoperative fluoroscopic views required to rule out any intra-articular screw violation in acetabular fractures fixation. METHODS: This study was conducted using a series of fluoroscopic examinations of pelvic synthetic models with screws positioned in different planes around the acetabulum. Ten screws were placed in the synthetic pelvis models in different planes of the acetabulum. Seven views were taken for each screw. Radiographic images were evaluated by 14 orthopaedic surgeons who were asked to assess joint violation and the view(s) required for assessment. RESULTS: The observers' accuracy rate in identifying joint violation was 82.1% for the anterior part of the anterior column and the superior part of the posterior column, 89.3% for the posterior part of the anterior column and the inferior part of the posterior column, and 92.9% for the quadrilateral plate. The sensitivity was 100% for the anterior and posterior parts of the anterior column and the inferior part of the posterior column, 87.5% for the superior part of the posterior column, and 85.7% for the quadrilateral plate. The specificity was 100% for the quadrilateral plate, 80% for the superior part of the posterior column and the posterior part of the anterior column, 78.6% for the inferior part of the posterior column, and 66.7% for the anterior part of the anterior column. There was a strong overall interobserver and intra-observer agreement with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.709 and 0.86, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the hypothesis that in a concave surface/joint fixation, such as the acetabulum, the probability of joint violation is unlikely if there is no evidence of it within a single fluoroscopic view. In acetabulum fracture fixation with a screw violating the joint, the screw's presence was evident within the joint space in all fluoroscopic views. However, the absence of joint violation in one fluoroscopic view was adequate to rule out joint penetration.

Incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of sciatic nerve injury in acetabular fractures: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors of the sciatic nerve injury in patients with acetabulum fractures and assess its prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional review was conducted on 273 patients with acetabulum fractures who were treated between January 1st, 2017, and December 30th, 2019. The medical records and radiographs of these patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall nerve injury rate was 7.7% (21 of 273 cases), with 3.1% (8 of 273 cases) occurring because of the initial injury and 12.8% (13 of 101 cases) as post-operative complications. Among those with nerve injuries, 95.2% (20 of 21 cases) were males and the average age of the patients was 31.5 (SD 9.5) years. The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle collisions with 55.7% (152 of 273 cases), and the most common fracture pattern associated with nerve injury was posterior column and posterior wall fracture with 31.6% (6 of 21 cases). Hip dislocation was found in 16.5% (14 of 21 cases) of patients with nerve injury. The Kocher Langenbeck approach was the most common approach used for patients with post-operative nerve injury, and the prone position was significantly associated with sciatic nerve injury during the operation. Of all patients with nerve injury, 52% (11 of 21 cases) had fully recovered, 29% (6 of 21 cases) had partially recovered, and 19% (4 of 21 cases) had no improvement. The average follow-up was 15 months. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the incidence of sciatic nerve injuries in individuals with acetabulum fractures and highlights key risk factors, including hip dislocation, posterior column, and posterior wall fractures. It is noteworthy that the Kocher Langenbeck approach and the prone position may contribute to iatrogenic nerve injuries. Encouragingly, over half of the patients who suffered nerve injuries achieved full recovery, while nearly one-third experienced partial recovery. These findings underscore the vital significance of recognizing and addressing these risk factors in clinical practice.

The epidemiology of pelvic ring fractures in Qatar.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the incidence of pelvic ring fractures and their associated epidemiological profile in Qatar. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed at the only level I trauma centre in Qatar for patients diagnosed with pelvic ring fractures between January 2016 and December 2018. Age, sex, mechanism of injury, fracture classification and associated characteristics, mode of treatment, associated nerve injuries, and other complications were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 327 consecutive patients were included, with an average age of 32.6 years. Most of the included patients were males, 85% (279), with a male: female ratio of 6:1. The incidence of pelvic fractures was 3.887/100,000 across the three years. High-speed motor vehicle collisions (MVC) were the most common mechanism of injury (108, 33%), followed by falling from height (105, 32%). Young-Burgess lateral compression (LC) fracture type was the most frequent (224, 68.5%) and was associated with 25% of the entire mortalities. Nine (2.8%) cases were open fractures, and 12% (39) were deemed unstable. Around 29% of cases had associated injuries, with an overall mortality rate of 4.9% (16) observed. Most fractures were treated nonoperatively(n = 283,86.5%). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the epidemiology of pelvic fractures in Qatar. MVC and work-related injuries were predominant in a younger cohort compared to the literature. Also, the mortality rate was lower than those reported in the literature. Therefore, well-trained surgeons and specialized trauma centres for treating these injuries are recommended.

Optimizing percutaneous reduction and fixation with guidewire modification in pelvic and acetabular fractures: surgical technique and case series.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive percutaneous screw fixation for pelvic ring and acetabular fractures has become increasingly popular due to its numerous benefits. However, the precise placement of the screw remains a critical challenge, necessitating a modification of the current techniques. This paper introduces a refined technique employing a modified guidewire to enhance the precision and efficiency of percutaneous fixation in pelvic and acetabular fractures. METHODS: This study details the surgical techniques implemented for correcting guidewire misdirection in percutaneous screw fixation and includes a retrospective analysis of patients treated with this modified approach over a three-year period. RESULTS: In this study, 25 patients with pelvic ring and acetabular fractures underwent percutaneous screw fixation. The cohort, predominantly male (23 out of 25), had an average age of 38 years. The majority of injuries were due to traffic accidents (18 out of 25). Types of injuries included pelvic ring (6 cases), acetabular fractures (8 cases), and combined injuries (11 cases). Various screw types, including antegrade and retrograde anterior column screws, retrograde posterior column screws, and lateral compression screws, were used, tailored to each case. Over an average follow-up of 18 months, there were no additional procedures or complications, such as neurovascular injury or hardware failure, indicating successful outcomes in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study introduces a simple yet effective method to address guidewire misdirection during percutaneous fixation for pelvic and acetabular fractures, offering enhanced precision and potentially better patient outcomes. Further research with a larger patient cohort is required for a more comprehensive understanding of its efficacy compared to traditional methods. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV. Therapeutic Study (Surgical technique and Cases-series).

Robotic-assisted versus conventional total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: Robotic knee arthroplasty procedures have emerged as a new trend, garnering attention from orthopedic surgeons globally. It has been hypothesized that the use of robotics enhances the accuracy of prosthesis positioning and alignment restoration. The objective of this study was to provide a high-level, evidence-based comparison between robotic total knee replacements and conventional methods, focusing on radiological and functional outcomes. METHODS: We searched five databases from their inception until June 1, 2022, specifically targeting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the outcomes of robotic and conventional total knee replacements. We were interested in outcomes such as knee range of motion, clinical and function knee society scores, the Western Ontario and McMaster University score (WOMAC), the Hospital of Special Surgery score, complications, and radiological alignment. This review was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes guidelines. We assessed the risk of bias using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2). RESULTS: Our search returned seven RCTs suitable for our analysis, which included a total of 1942 knees; 974 of these knees were implanted using robotic arms while the remaining 968 utilized jig-based knee systems. Our findings indicated that robotic knees had significantly better post-operative anatomical (OR - 0.82; 95% CI, - 1.027 to - 0.58, p value < 0.00001) and mechanical restoration (OR - 0.95; 95% CI, - 1.49 to - 0.41, p value < 0.0006). While knee range of motion (OR - 2.23; 95% CI - 4.89-0.43, p value 0.1) and femoral prosthesis position (OR - 0.98; 95% CI, - 2.03-0.08, p value 0.07) also favored robotic knees, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Both clinical and functional outcomes, as well as the rate of complications, were found to be statistically similar between the groups undergoing robotic and traditional knee replacement surgeries. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicates that robotic total knee replacements offer superior post-operative anatomical and mechanical alignment compared to conventional total knee replacements. Despite this, clinical and functional outcomes, as well as complication rates, were similar between the two. These findings should be considered in light of potential confounding factors. More randomized controlled trials with the latest robotic systems are needed to confirm any superior functional and clinical outcomes from robotic-assisted surgeries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.

The outcomes of total hip arthroplasty in developmental dysplasia of hip versus osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and those with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Four databases were searched from inception till February 2023 for original studies that compared the outcomes of THA in DDH and OA. The primary outcome was the revision rate; the secondary outcomes were dislocation and failure modes (i.e. aseptic loosening, PJI, instability, and periprosthetic fractures), hospital stay and costs. This review was conducted as per PRISMA guidelines, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS: A total of 9 observational studies with 575,255 THA (469,224 hips) were included, with a mean age of 50.6 years and 62.1 years for DDH and OA groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in revision rate between DDH and OA patients in favour of OA (OR, 1.66; 95% CI 1.11-2.48; p-value, 0.0251). However, dislocation rate (OR, 1.78, 95% CI 0.58-5.51; p-value, 0.200), aseptic loosening (OR, 1.69; 95% CI 0.26-10.84; p-value, 0.346) and PJI (OR, 0.76; 95% CI 0.56-1.03; p-value, 0.063) were comparable across both groups. CONCLUSION: A higher revision rate following total hip arthroplasty was associated with DDH compared with osteoarthritis. However, both groups had similar dislocation rates, aseptic loosening and PJI. Consideration of confounding factors, such as patient age and activity level, is crucial when interpreting these findings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE : III. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration: CRD42023396192.

Reliability of artificial intelligence in predicting total knee arthroplasty component sizes: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aimed to investigate the reliability of AI predictive models of intraoperative implant sizing in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: Four databases were searched from inception till July 2023 for original studies that studied the reliability of AI prediction in TKA. The primary outcome was the accuracy ± 1 size. This review was conducted per PRISMA guidelines, and the risk of bias was assessed using the MINORS criteria. RESULTS: A total of four observational studies comprised of at least 34,547 patients were included in this review. A mean MINORS score of 11 out of 16 was assigned to the review. All included studies were published between 2021 and 2022, with a total of nine different AI algorithms reported. Among these AI models, the accuracy of TKA femoral component sizing prediction ranged from 88.3 to 99.7% within a deviation of one size, while tibial component sizing exhibited an accuracy ranging from 90 to 99.9% ± 1 size. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the potential of AI as a valuable complement for planning TKA, exhibiting a satisfactory level of reliability in predicting TKA implant sizes. This predictive accuracy is comparable to that of the manual and digital templating techniques currently documented in the literature. However, future research is imperative to assess the impact of AI on patient care and cost-effectiveness. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023446868.

Epidemiology of proximal femur fractures in the young population of Qatar.

PURPOSE: To review the epidemiological characteristics of proximal femur fractures in the young population (< 60 years) of Qatar between 2017 and 2019. METHODS: All patient treated for proximal femur fractures at Hamad General Hospital (HGH), a level one trauma center, were retrospectively reviewed between Jan 2017 and Dec 2019. All adults (18-60 years) with proximal femur fracture (femur head, femur neck, intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures) were included with no restriction to the AO/OTA classification or fractures subtypes. Excluded cases were pathological fractures, cases with insufficient documentation or no radiographs. RESULTS: A total of 203 patients with a mean age of 40.07 ± 11.76 years were included, of who 89.9% were males. The incidence of proximal femur fracture was 3.12/100,000/year. Fall from height (48.1%) followed by road traffic accidents (26.9%) were common cause of injury. The most common fracture type was intertrochanteric fracture (36.1%) followed by femur neck fractures (33.7%). CONCLUSION: This study provides the initial insights into the proximal femur fractures in the young population of Qatar. This is the first study to investigate of the epidemiology of such fractures in this particular patient group. Contrary to the existing literature on older age groups, the majority of the injuries were observed in males. Falls from height followed by road traffic accidents were the primary mechanisms leading to these fractures. Improved understanding of the profile of these injuries can aid in their prevention by implementing more effective safety measures.

The role of patient positioning in surgical fixation of the calcaneus fractures using the lateral extensile approach.

INTRODUCTION: Calcaneus is the most commonly fractured tarsal bone. Open reduction and internal fixation of the displaced intra-articular fractures is considered the gold standard treatment. The lateral extensile approach is the most commonly used approach, and usually, the patients are kept in lateral decubitus position. Recent study has descried calcaneus fracture fixation utilizing the lateral extensile approach with the patient in prone position. The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative radiological outcome, reoperation rate, operative and anesthesia time, infection and the wound complications rate between the two groups. METHODS: The data of 49 adult patients with unilateral closed calcaneus fracture underwent open reduction and internal fixation using lateral extensile approach were collected. Postoperative Bohler's, Gissane angles and complications rate were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients were included. Lateral position was utilized in 26 patients (53.1%), while 23 patients (46.9%) were operated in prone position. Majority of the patients were males 87.8% (43 patients), and the mean age of the patients was 31.12 ± 7.50. The most commonly mechanism of injury was fall from height in (91.8%) of the patients. The mean preoperative Bohler's angle was 9.33 ± 13.07 and increased to 22.69 ± 9.15 postoperatively. The mean preoperative angle of Gissane was 130.45 ± 26.98 whereas it was 124.76 ± 17.20 postoperatively. The mean postoperative Bohler's angle and angle of Gissane were significantly higher among patient who underwent fixation in lateral position (25.88 ± 6.62, 137.15 ± 11.17) when compared to the prone one (19.09 ± 10.35, 110.74 ± 10.81). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the reoperation rate (p 0.947), infection (p 0.659, operative time (p 0.688), anesthesia time (p 0.522) and wound complications (p 0.773). CONCLUSION: Surgical restoration of the Bohler's and Gissane's angles with the patient placed in the lateral decubitus position remains superior to the prone position with no difference in the complication rate between the two groups.

Impact of age on unicompartmental knee arthroplasty outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is an effective treatment for late knee osteoarthritis (OA). Young age (< 60 years) has been associated with worse outcomes. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to study the effect of age on UKA outcomes. METHODS: The primary objective was to compare the UKA revision rate in young patients with that of old patients, using the age thresholds of 60 and 55 years. Secondary objectives were patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and implant design. Five databases were searched in December 2021 for original comparative studies with a minimum of 1-year follow-up. No restrictions were placed on the type of UKA prosthesis. RESULTS: A total of 11 observational studies with 6130 knees were included. A mean MINORS score of 19 was assigned to the review. The mean age of patients was 64 years, with average follow-up of 7.5 ± 2.98 years. There was no significant difference in revision rate, incident or PROMs between young and old patients in the analysis for each age threshold. Further sub-analysis adjusting for implant type in mobile- and fixed-bearing prostheses also showed similar results between those above and under 60 and 55 years. CONCLUSION: Young age was not associated with a higher revision rate or lower functional scores. Thus, this review provides evidence that age alone is not a contraindication to UKA, but the surgical choice must be based on several elements, and this finding should be applied in context, given the binary division and heterogeneity of patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Higher sensitivity and accuracy of synovial next-generation sequencing in comparison to culture in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the diagnostic parameters of synovial next-generation sequencing (NGS) and cultures in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched from inception until 8 Jan 2022 for literature investigating the role of NGS in comparison to culture in the diagnosis of PJI. The studies were included if they investigated the diagnostic value of culture and NGS in diagnosing PJIs against the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria. Diagnostic parameters, such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive-likelihood ratio, negative-likelihood ratio, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC), were calculated for the included studies to evaluate the performance of NGS in comparison to culture in PJI diagnosis. RESULTS: The total number of the included patients was 341 from seven articles. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of NGS were 94% (95% CI 91-97%), 89% (95% CI 82-95%), and 138.5 (95% CI 49.1-390.5), respectively. NGS has positive- and negative-likelihood ratios of 7.9 (95% CI 3.99-15.6) and 0.1 (95% CI 0.0-0.1), respectively. On the other hand, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of culture were 70% (95% CI 61-79%), 94% (95% CI 88-98%), and 28.0 (95% CI 12.6-62.2), respectively. The SROC curve for NGS showed that the accuracy (AUC) was 91.9%, and that the positive and negative predictive values were 8.6 (95% CI 5.0-19.5) and 0.1 (95% CI 0.0-0.1), respectively. While, culture SROC curve demonstrated that the accuracy (AUC) was 80.5% and the positive- and negative-likelihood ratio were 12.1 (95% CI 4.5-49.6) and 0.3 (95% CI 0.2-0.4). CONCLUSIONS: NGS has a potential role in diagnosing hip and knee PJIs due to its high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. However, the sensitivity and specificity reported by the studies varied according to the time of synovial sampling (preoperative, postoperative, or mixed).

Outcomes of drain versus no drain in total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The use of suction drains in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of patients who received suction drains versus those who did not, focusing on blood loss, blood transfusion need, and length of hospital stay. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital between January 1, 2015, and December 30, 2019, and included 262 patients who underwent unilateral non-traumatic primary TKA and were over 18 years old. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved the study (MRC-02-20-278). RESULTS: A total of 262 patients were included, with an age range of 47 to 91 years. Most of the included patients were females, 74.4% (195). Hypertension was the most frequent risk factor, 67.6%, followed by diabetes. Of 262 patients, 156 (59.5%) received a drain. The drain group had significantly longer hospital stay, 30% longer tourniquet time, greater haemoglobin and haematocrit drops, higher count of transfused packed RBC units, and lower use of anticoagulants. Moreover, tranexamic acid (TXA) use (n = 106) in surgery reduced hospital stays, tourniquet time, drain output, and increased pre- and postoperative haemoglobin and hematocrit levels compared to no TXA group (n = 156) (p < 0.05, z-score reported). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that patients who received a drain had longer hospital stays and greater blood loss and transfusion rates compared to those who did not. The use of TXA in surgery was associated with improved outcomes and reduced overall complications.

The outcomes of total hip replacement in osteonecrosis versus osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the outcomes of THA in patients with osteonecrosis (ON) and those with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Four databases were searched from inception till December 2022 for original studies that compared the outcomes of THA in ON and OA. The primary outcome was the revision rate; the secondary outcomes were dislocation and Harris hip score. This review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS: A total of 14 observational studies with 2,111,102 hips were included, with a mean age of 50.83 ± 9.32 and 55.51 ± 8.95 for ON and OA groups, respectively. The average follow-up was 7.25 ± 4.6 years. There was a statistically significant difference in revision rate between ON and OA patients in favour of OA (OR: 1.576; 95%CI: 1.24-2.00; p-value: 0.0015). However, dislocation rate (OR: 1.5004; 95%CI: 0.92-2.43; p-value: 0.0916) and Haris hip score (HHS) (SMD: - 0.0486; 95%CI: - 0.35-0.25; p-value: 0.6987) were comparable across both groups. Further sub-analysis adjusting for registry data also showed similar results between both groups. CONCLUSION: A higher revision rate, periprosthetic fracture and periprosthetic joint infection following total hip arthroplasty were associated with osteonecrosis of the femoral head compared with osteoarthritis. However, both groups had similar dislocation rates and functional outcome measures. This finding should be applied in context due to potential confounding factors, including patient's age and activity level.

Open versus closed intramedullary nailing of femur shaft fractures in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the outcomes of open- versus closed-reduction and intramedullary nailing (IMN) of adult femur shaft fractures. METHODS: Four databases were searched from inception until July 2022 for original studies that compared the outcomes of IMN following open-reduction versus closed-reduction technique. The primary outcome was the union rate; the secondary outcomes were time to union, nonunion, malalignment, revision, and infection. This review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies with 1299 (1346 IMN cases) patients were included, with a mean age of 32.3 ± 3.25. The average follow-up was 2.3 ± 1.45 years. There was a statistically significant difference in union rate (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45-0.97; p-value, 0.0352), nonunion (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.23-3.44; p-value, 0.0056), and infection rate (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.16-3.25; p-value, 0.0114) between the open-reduction and closed-reduction groups in favour of the latter. However, malalignment was significantly higher in the closed-reduction group (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.16-0.64; p-value, 0.0012), whereas time to union and revision rates were similar (p = NS). CONCLUSION: This study showed that closed-reduction and IMN had more favourable union rate, nonunion, and infection rates than the open-reduction group, yet malalignment was significantly less in the open-reduction group. Moreover, time to union and revision rates were comparable. However, these results must be interpreted in context due to confounding effects and the lack of high-quality studies.

Trauma and orthopaedic surgery response at the world's largest sporting event: an analysis of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyse the impact of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Hamad Medical Corporation and its response to the challenges posed by the world's largest sporting event. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the epidemiology, crisis management plan, and training program adaptations at the Orthopaedic Surgery department during the World Cup. Descriptive analysis of the number and types of surgeries performed, patient demographics, and the disaster preparedness plan were performed. RESULTS: During the tournament period (November-December 2022), 706 patients (4.22% football fans) were operated on, with an average age of 44 ± 17 years. Most patients were males, 67%. Of the 706 patients, 60.33% were emergency cases, 38.24% were elective, 1.27% were limb-saving, and one life-saving procedure was performed, comparable to pre-tournament numbers. The patients were of 77 different nationalities, reflecting the diverse background of Qatar's population and the international fanbase of the tournament. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis provides valuable insights for future mega sporting events and highlights the importance of crisis management and training program adaptation for optimal patient care and resident training advancement. The findings demonstrate the crucial role of the Orthopaedic Surgery Department in responding to the challenges posed by large-scale events.

The surgical outcomes of fixing ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures: single versus double implants fixation.

BACKGROUND: Combined ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures are rare and present a challenging management dilemma. This study aims to assess the outcome of concomitant fixation of the ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fracture using single versus dual surgical implants. METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis of patients who underwent fixation of ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures was performed over a 13-year period. Different techniques were employed to fix the complex injury. Both the reduction and the union time were assessed radiographically. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients with ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures were retrospectively identified and included in the study. Twenty-four patients (66.6%) were managed with a single cephalomedullary nail, while the remaining cases were treated with two devices. All cases were operated on within an average of 3.7 ± 7.1 days. Eight patients (22.2%) developed postoperative complications. The average follow-up period was 7.3 ± 6.8 months. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, the femoral neck fractures showed shorter union time in patients treated with one implant compared to patients treated with two implants (3.0 ± 2.3 months vs. 4.2 ± 2.6 months). Another observation was that higher percentages of implant removal/failure and malunion/nonunion were seen in patients who had one implant compared to the two implants group (12.5% vs. 8.3%). CONCLUSION: Early surgical fixation of both fractures is associated with good outcome results. No difference in outcome was observed between both groups.

Epidemiology of proximal humerus fractures in Qatar.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and treatment options of proximal humerus fractures at a level one trauma center and to compare our data with the current literature. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on all patients diagnosed and treated for proximal humerus fractures at Hamad General Hospital, a level one trauma center, between January 2018 and December 2019. Age, gender, mechanism of injury, fracture classification, mode of treatment, implant type, length of hospital stay, associated injuries and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 190 patients with a mean age of 52.4 years were included; 56.8% were males. The incidence of proximal humerus fracture was 4.1/100,000 per year. Falling from a standing height was the most common cause of injury (50.5%). Additionally, Neer's two-part fracture was found to be the most common type (n = 132, 69%). Forty-one patients (21.3%) had other associated injuries. Most fractures were treated nonoperatively with an arm sling (n = 138, 72.6%). CONCLUSION: In summary, the incidence of proximal humerus fractures during the two-year study period was found to be 4.1 per 100,000 persons per year. Our results showed a lower incidence of proximal humerus fractures with a predominance of males and younger patients in Qatar's population compared to females and older patients in the developed countries. Our results may contribute to the development of effective strategies for preventing and treating proximal humerus fractures, and can provide important data for further high-level clinical research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

The role of cerclage wiring in the management of subtrochanteric and reverse oblique intertrochanteric fractures: a meta-analysis of comparative studies.

PURPOSE: Subtrochanteric and reverse oblique intertrochanteric fractures are challenging and often difficult to reduce. While intramedullary nailing (IMN) is considered the standard treatment, achieving anatomic reduction prior to fixation is essential. This study aimed to assess the impact of cerclage wiring with IMN on the outcomes and complication rate in treating subtrochanteric and reverse oblique intertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: This meta-analysis was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines. The primary outcome was the time to union. The secondary outcomes were operative time, blood loss, quality of reduction, reduction alignment (if in varus), complications and reoperations. PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched till July 2021. Articles that compared intramedullary nailing (IMN) versus intramedullary nailing and cerclage wiring (IMN-C) in the treatment of subtrochanteric and reverse oblique intertrochanteric fractures were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 415 patients with subtrochanteric and reverse oblique intertrochanteric fracture from six comparative studies. Our findings showed that IMN-C was significantly associated with higher mean duration of surgery and blood loss. However, IMN-C had significantly lower mean time to union compared to IMN alone. In addition, IMN-C had lower pooled prevalence of varus reduction and overall complications. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the use of cerclage wiring is associated with lower time to union, lower prevalence of varus reduction and overall complications. Therefore, cerclage wiring augmentation is a safe technique with low complication rate and may be advised whenever open reduction is needed in the management of subtrochanteric and reverse oblique intertrochanteric fractures.

Complications of conventional percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation of traumatic pelvic ring injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to present a thorough overview of the complications associated with conventional percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation to identify areas for improvement in surgical technique and patient selection. METHODS: PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for original human studies reporting on complications of conventional percutaneous sacroiliac fixation in traumatic pelvic ring injuries from January 1, 2000, to April 30, 2022. The main meta-analysis was based on the random effect model to pool all complications reported in the included studies. The results were reported as weighted proportions with 95% confidence intervals. This review was conducted in line with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 56 studies with 3644 screws (2871 procedures) met the inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 40.5 years. The most frequently reported complications were screw malposition with a weighted proportion of 6% (95% CI: 5-9%) and involved 189 out of 3644 screws, persistent pain following the procedure with a weighted proportion of 3% (95% CI: 2-4%) and affected 98 out of 2871 patients, and nerve injury, which had a weighted proportion of 2% (95% CI: 1-3%) and was observed in 41 out of 2871 procedures. The L5 and S1 nerve roots were more frequently affected. Revision surgery was required for 184 out of 2871 patients with a weighted proportion of 5% (95% CI: 3-7%). The primary reason for the revision was persistent pain after the initial procedure, which affected 74 out of 184 patients, with a weighted proportion of 2.0% (95% CI: 1.2-2.8%). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that screw malposition, the need for revision surgery, persistent pain, and nerve injuries were the most frequent complications following conventional percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation. However, these results must be interpreted in context due to confounding factors, including the lack of high-quality studies and the absence of uniformity in defining some complications across studies.

Synovial fluid calprotectin in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection: A meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most debilitating complications following joint replacement surgery. Synovial biomarkers, such as Calprotectin, have become valuable in the diagnosis of PJI. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the role of synovial Calprotectin as a diagnostic test in PJI. METHODS: This meta-analysis was conducted with adherence to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched until February 2022. Inclusion criteria were as follows: all studies in which the patients with joint replacements were evaluated for PJI; synovial Calprotectin was the biomarker of choice to diagnose PJI; standardized guidelines were used as the gold standard for the diagnosis; and a comparison between the guidelines and Calprotectin results was made. Diagnostic parameters such as sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated for the included studies to evaluate synovial Calprotectin for PJI diagnosis. RESULTS: The total number of the included patients was 618 from eight studies. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of Calprotectin test were 92% (95%CI: 84%-98%), 93% (95%CI: 84%-99%), and 187.61 (95%CI: 20.21-1741.18), respectively. The results showed that the negative and positive likelihood ratios of the Calprotectin test were 0.07 (95%CI: 0.02-0.22) and 9.91 (95%CI: 4.11-23.93), respectively. The SROC showed that the area under the curve for Calprotectin test was 0.935. CONCLUSION: Synovial Calprotectin is a valuable biomarker as it provides a reliable and rapid diagnosis of PJI. It has the potential to be used in clinical practice due to its high sensitivity and specificity that are comparable to the other utilized biomarkers. Another advantage is its low cost relative to other biomarkers.