Hard-Soled Shoe Versus Short Leg Cast for a Fifth Metatarsal Base Avulsion Fracture: A Multicenter, Noninferiority, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether tolerated weight-bearing in a hard-soled shoe was noninferior to the use of a short leg cast for the treatment of a fifth metatarsal base avulsion fracture, as assessed with use of a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) for pain at 6 months after the fracture. METHODS: A total of 145 patients were assessed for eligibility. Of these, 96 patients were randomly assigned to either the hard-soled shoe group (46 patients) or the cast group (50 patients). The primary outcome measure was the mean difference on the 100-mm VAS between groups at 6 months after the fracture. Secondary outcome measures included the time to return to preinjury activity and patient-reported satisfaction. Analysis was performed according to both an intention-to-treat basis (i.e., patients were included in the assessment of their assigned treatment arm, even if they crossed over to the other treatment arm prior to completing the 6-month follow-up) and a per-protocol basis (i.e., patients who completed the 6-month follow-up were analyzed according to the treatment they received). RESULTS: At 6 months after the fracture, the mean 100-mm VAS was 8.6 ± 7.0 mm in the hard-soled shoe group and 9.8 ± 7.3 mm in the cast group (p = 0.41) according to intention-to-treat analysis. The mean difference in 100-mm VAS between the 2 groups was -1.3 mm (95% confidence interval, -4.3 to 1.8 mm). The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval did not exceed the noninferiority margin of 10 mm, indicating that treatment with the hard-soled shoe was noninferior to treatment with the short leg cast. The proportion of patients who reported satisfaction with their treatment was similar between the hard-soled shoe and cast groups (89.5% compared with 87.5%, respectively; p = 0.79), but the time to return to preinjury activity was significantly shorter in the hard-soled shoe group (37.2 ± 14.4 days compared with 43.0 ± 11.1 days in the cast group; p = 0.04). There were no cases of nonunion in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Weight-bearing as tolerated in a hard-soled shoe for a fifth metatarsal base avulsion fracture was noninferior to the use of a short leg cast as assessed with use of a 100-mm VAS at 6 months after the fracture. Patient-reported satisfaction was similar between groups, but the time to return to preinjury activity was shorter in the hard-soled shoe group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Role of Additional Inferomedial Supporting Screws in Osteoporotic 3-Part Proximal Humerus Fracture: Finite Element Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Importance of inferomedial supporting screws in preventing varus collapse has been investigated for the proximal humerus fracture. However, few studies reported the results of osteoporotic complex fracture. This study aimed to demonstrate the stress distribution pattern, particularly in osteoporotic 3-part proximal humerus fractures involving greater tuberosity (GT) with different screw configurations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the computed tomography (CT) images of 2 patients, who had osteoporosis and the other had normal bone density, 3-part fractures involving the GT, without medial support were reconstructed. To reflect the osteoporosis or real bone density, Hounsfield unit of CT scans were utilized. A force of 200 N was applied in 30° varus direction. The proximal screws were set in 2 ways: 6 screws without inferomedial supporting screws and 9 screws with inferomedial supporting screws. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of internal stress distribution were performed. RESULTS: The most proximal part area near humeral head vertex and near the 1st screw's passage and tip had more stress concentrated in osteoporotic 3-part fractures. The stress distribution around the proximal screws was found near the GT fracture line and its lateral side, where the local max values located. Inferomedial supporting screws decreased these effects by changing the points to medial side from the GT. The ratio in osteoporotic bone model decreased to that in normal bone model when inferomedial supporting screws were applied (normal bone, 2.97%-1.30%; osteoporosis bone, 4.76%-1.71%). CONCLUSIONS: In osteoporotic 3-part proximal humerus fracture, the stress distribution was concentrated on the area near the humeral vertex, 1st row screw tips, and lateral side region from the GT fracture line. Moreover, inferomedial supporting screws ensured that the stress distribution is similar to that in normal bone setting, particularly in osteoporotic condition.

Venous thromboembolism after delayed surgery for a hip fracture: A retrospective cohort study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the demographic characteristics and prevalence of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) in delayed hip fracture patients referred to our hospital (a tertiary referral center), and further verify the effect of intensive prophylaxis protocol in preventing the occurrence of VTE. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 264 hip fracture patients whose surgery was delayed by >24 h. The patients were divided into two groups, according to the VTE prophylaxis protocol (conventional vs intensive). We evaluated the time from injury to surgery, and analyzed the prevalence of postoperative symptomatic VTE between the groups. The patient outcome measures, including in-hospital mortality and 30-day-mortality after hip surgery, were also evaluated. RESULTS: The mean time from injury to operation was 127.4 h (95% confidence interval 92.2-162.7 h). The incidence of postoperative symptomatic VTE was 5.9% in the conventional prophylaxis group and 0.8% in the intensive prophylaxis group. The intensive prophylaxis group had a significantly lower incidence of postoperative VTE (P = 0.036). Eight patients with deep vein thrombosis on preoperative screening who underwent inferior vena cava filter insertion did not develop postoperative symptomatic VTE. Logistic regression analysis results also showed that the protocol statistically reduced the development of VTE (odds ratio 0.14, 95% CI 0.02-1.21, P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed hip fracture surgery resulted in a higher incidence of VTE in patients who received conventional prophylaxis; however, our intensive prophylaxis protocol successfully prevented postoperative symptomatic VTE, including pulmonary embolism. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 1151-1156.