Does post acute care reduce the mortality of octogenarian and nonagenarian patients undergoing hip fracture surgery?

BACKGROUND: With the increasing number of elderly individuals worldwide, a greater number of people aged 80 years and older sustain fragility fracture due to osteopenia and osteoporosis. METHODS: This retrospective study included 158 older adults, with a median age of 85 (range: 80-99) years, who sustained hip fragility fracture and who underwent surgery. The patients were divided into two groups, one including patients who joined the post-acute care (PAC) program after surgery and another comprising patients who did not. The mortality, complication, comorbidity, re-fracture, secondary fracture, and readmission rates and functional status (based on the Barthel index score, numerical rating scale score, and Harris Hip Scale score) between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The patients who presented with fragility hip fracture and who joined the PAC rehabilitation program after the surgery had a lower rate of mortality, readmission rate, fracture (re-fracture and secondary fracture), and complications associated with fragility fracture, such as urinary tract infection, cerebrovascular accident, and pneumonia (acute coronary syndrome, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, or in-hospital cardiac arrest. CONCLUSIONS: PAC is associated with a lower rate of mortality and complications such as urinary tract infection, bed sore, and pneumonia in octogenarian and nonagenarian patients with hip fragility fracture.

Exploring the Effectiveness of PAC Rehabilitation for Elders with Hip Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are high risk and high-impact events in the elderly population; despite orthopedic hip surgery, the disability and mortality rate remains significant. The National Health Insurance Agency in Taiwan established a fragility fracture PAC rehabilitation program to provide functional recovery for these patients after the surgery. However, the current literature on PAC rehabilitation is outdated, and there is an urgent need for the re-evaluation of the program. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study that enrolled 159 patients in the PAC rehabilitation program, followed by hip repair surgery. Outcome measures were the differences in participants' pre- and post-PAC scores in 1) Barthel index, 2) Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and 3) Harris Hip Scores (HHS) as surrogate indicators of the functional status, followed by the analysis of subgroups, including sex, age, site of the fracture, type of procedure, and the number of comorbidities. RESULTS: After completing PAC rehabilitation, 86.2% of the patients successfully returned to the community with either home or out-patient rehabilitation. The re-admission rate was 3.1% and 3.8% in 14-days and in 30-days follow up, respectively. The difference in pre- and post-Barthel index, NRS, and HHS showed significant improvement (p<0.001), without significant variations between the subgroups. Additionally, the Barthel index showed a positive correlation to HHS and a negative correlation to NRS. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the current form of post-surgery fragility fracture PAC program effectively improves functional status, reduces the re-admission rate, and facilitates the patient transition back to the community. The results should improve patients' and physicians' confidence in such a program.

Is bony attachment necessary for dynamic reference frame in navigation-assisted minimally invasive lumbar spine fusion surgery?

This study aimed to compare the accuracy of navigation-assisted percutaneous pedicle screw insertions between traditional posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) fixed and cutaneously fixed dynamic reference frame (DRF) in minimally invasive surgery of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF). This is a prospective randomized clinical study. Between May 2016 and Nov 2017, 100 patients who underwent MIS TLIF were randomly divided into bone fixed group (with PSIS fixed DRF) and skin fixed group (with cutaneously fixed DRF). The pedicel screws were inserted under navigational guidance using computed tomography (CT) data acquired intraoperatively with a Ziehm 3-dimensional fluoroscopy-based navigation system. Screw positions were immediately checked by a final intraoperative scan. The accuracy of screw placement was evaluated by a sophisticated computed tomography protocol. Both groups had similar patient demographics. Totally Five-hundred Twelve pedicle screws were placed in the lumbar spine. There were 2 moderate (2-4 mm) pedicle perforations in each group. The accuracy showed no significant difference between bone fixed and skin fixed DRF. There were no significant procedure-related complications. The skin fixed DRF provides similar accuracy in pedicle screw insertions with bone fixed DRF using intraoperative 3D image guided navigation in MIS TLIF. Skin fixed DRF not only serves as an alternative method but also saves a separate incision wound for bony attachment.

A Modified Pull-out Wire Technique for Acute Mallet Fracture of the Finger.

BACKGROUND: A variety of surgical techniques for treating mallet fracture finger has been reported with different outcomes and complications. However, the optimal procedure remains controversial. This study describes surgical outcomes of mallet fractures of the finger with distal phalanx treated by modified pull-out wire fixation with Kirschner wire (K-wire) stabilization of the DIP joint in hyperextension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 patients who had mallet fracture finger injuries (Doyle's classification type IVC) with DIP joint subluxation between January 2009 and January 2015 were included in this study. The mean age was 28 years (range 18-50 years), and the mean duration of followup was 8 months (range 6-12 months). Outcome assessments included the skin necrosis, wire tract infection, bony union, and extension lag. We measured the pinch strength test at 8 weeks and 12 weeks postoperatively and graded the clinical results using Crawford's criteria. RESULTS: All fractures united after surgery. There was no iatrogenic fracture fragmentation, marginal skin necrosis, wire tract infection, and nail deformity. The mean extension lag was 1.8° (range 0°-17°) through goniometer, 24 of 30 patients had 0° of extension lag. The pinch strength measured at 8 weeks and 12 weeks was 79% and improved to 91%, respectively, compared with uninjured opposite finger. According to Crawford's criteria, 24 patients were classified as excellent, 3 were good, and 3 were fair. No poor result in this study. CONCLUSION: Our modified pull-out wire fixation over a button and K-wire stabilization of DIP joint in hyperextension is a reliable surgical method for treating acute mallet fracture finger and DIP joint volar subluxation.