Functional and radiological comparison of three cephalomedullary nails with different designs used in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures of elderly.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study to compare three cephalomedullary nails (CMNs) with different designs in terms of complica-tion, reoperation, implant failure, mortality rates, and functional outcomes in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures (UIFs). METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with UIFs (AO/OTA type 31-A2 and 31-A3) who were treated with one of these CMNs (74 patients with Talon-PFN, 70 patients with PFN-III, and 69 patients with Intertan) between October 2014 and October 2018. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients (122 females and 91 males) with a mean age of 81.0±9.3 years have participated in this study. The mean follow-up time was 26.1±6.3 months. Malfixation was the most common complication and the most common reason of reop-eration for each type of CMN. Complication and reoperation rates, post-operative functional status, mean union times, and overall mortality rates were similar between groups. Mean operation/fluoroscopy time and mean blood loss were low in the Talon-PFN group, whereas the highest means of these parameters were in the PFN-III group. There were six (8.2%) implant failures in the Talon-PFN group and one (1.5%) in PFN-III group. No implant failure was seen in the Intertan group. The highest rate (58.6%) of anatomic reduc-tion was detected in PFN-III group. CONCLUSION: Our study results showed that each implant type had its own advantages and disadvantages in the treatment of UIFs with similar functional and reoperation outcomes. Intertan was advantageous with its absence of implant failures. Talon-PFN decreased the operation/fluoroscopy time and intraoperative blood loss but had the highest implant failure rate. There was a need for more anatomic reduction to centralize two separate parallel lag screws in the femoral neck in PFN-III group, and that costs operation/fluo-roscopy time and blood loss. Malfixation, which was the most common cause of complications and reoperations, should be avoided.

For Intramedullary Nailing of Femoral Shaft Fractures, Talon Fixation is Helpful to Cope With the Troublesome Distal Locking, But Conventional Distal Locking With Screws Offers a More Stable Construct. Talon Femoral Nail Versus Conventional Femoral Nail

BACKGROUND: A novel-design femoral nail (FN) with distal talon deployment (Talon-FN) has emerged in the market to cope with problematic distal locking. We aimed to compare the radiological and functional outcomes of the Talon-FN with a conventional FN (Con-FN) for the treatment of femoral shaft fracture (FSFs). METHODS: This retrospective study included 85 patients (57 men, 28 women; mean age: 46.8±23.9 years) with FSFs (AO types 32-A and B) who were treated with FNs (Talon-FN: 41, Con-FN: 44) during October 2014-2018. Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Physical Function Shortform, Hip injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Physical Function Shortform, Short musculoskeletal function assessment bother and dysfunction indexes were used for functional assessment. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 25.8±6.7 months. The complication rates were 19.6% and 20.5% for Talon-FN and Con-FN, respectively (p=0.92). Malunion was the most common complication for each FN type (Talon-FN: 9.8%, Con-FN: 9.1%). All of the Talon-FN group's malunions were axial (shortening and malrotation) and happened gradually. In contrast, the Con-FN group's malu-nions were angular (varus and valgus) and caused by initial malreduction. The Talon-FN group's two patients with shortening (4.9%) had AO 32-B type fractures, and the other two with malrotation (4.9%) had AO 32-A3 type fractures, all of four fractures were localized distal to the femoral isthmus. The post-operative functional outcomes were similar between the groups (all p>0.05). The mean op-eration/fluoroscopy time and the mean blood loss were lower in the Talon-FN group, while the mean union time was shorter in the Con-FN group (all p<0.01). No nonunion was noted in either group. The reoperation rates were similar at approximately 5% (p=0.95). CONCLUSION: Our study results revealed that the Talon-FN shortens the operation/fluoroscopy time and decreases the intra-operative blood loss with similar functional outcomes. However, the Con-FN seems to offer a more stable construct against axial malunion with a shorter bone union time. The Talon-FN should not be used in FSFs distal to the femoral isthmus with certain types of fractures prone to shortening and malrotation.

Correlation of postoperative magnetic resonance image measurements with persisting acetabular dysplasia in open reduction of developmental hip dysplasia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate correlation of post-reduction magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based parameters with residual acetabular dysplasia in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) patients who underwent open reduction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 62 hips of 54 children (5 males, 57 females; mean age: 8.5±3.5 months; range, 0 to 24 months) with a diagnosis of DDH who underwent open reduction between January 2012 and January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The acetabular head index (AHI), head coverage index (HCI), sphericity, bony acetabular index (BAI), cartilage acetabular index (CAI), anterior acetabular index (AAI), posterior acetabular index (PAI), abduction angle (AA), and acetabular medial wall thickness were measured by MRI. The correlation between MRI measurements and residual acetabular dysplasia was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 23.7±10.1 (range, 12 to 56) months. The mean age at the final examination was 47.6±10.4 months. The age at the time of operation (r=0.250, p=0.049), medial wall thickness (r=0.304, p=0.016), AAI (r=0.729, p<0.001), PAI (r=0.590, p<0.001), and early postoperative AI (r=0.900, p<0.001) at the third postoperative month were positively correlated with the last follow-up AI. The AHI (r=-0.512, p<0.001), sphericity (r=-0,661, p<0.001), and HCI (r=-0.554, p< 0.001) were negatively correlated with the last follow-up AI. CONCLUSION: Post-reduction MRI parameters can be used to evaluate correlation with persistent acetabular dysplasia in DDH patients.

The Effect of Previous Hip Surgery on the Outcome of Hip Arthroplasty in Young Patients.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of total hip arthroplasty (THA) is increasing in all age groups, especially in young patients. The outcome of THA is believed to be affected by morphological deformities created by previous pelvic or femoral procedures performed in childhood. The aim of the present study was to assess whether previous hip surgery impaired the functional outcome in young patients who underwent THA. METHODS: Data were collected from the records of patients aged less than 30 years who had undergone THA between 2002 and 2011. Thirty-five patients (44 hips) were included. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Harris Hip Scores were collected as primary functional outcome measures. The secondary outcome measures were the major and minor complications. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who had not undergone hip surgery before THA (group I, 17 patients, 24 hips) and those with a history of prior hip surgery (group II, 18 patients, 20 hips). RESULTS: The mean age at the time of surgery was 25 ± 4 years in group I and 23 ± 4 years in group II. The mean Harris Hip Score was slightly higher in group I (90 ± 7) than in group II (87 ± 7) (P = .2). The mean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores were similar in both groups (in group I 14 ± 7 and in group II 14 ± 6, P = .9). Complication rates were also similar in both groups (P = .7). CONCLUSIONS: It is often difficult to decide whether to perform THA in young patients. One potential risk factor for complications is hip surgery before THA. Our study revealed that young patients with or without a history of previous hip surgery achieved satisfactory functional outcomes with similar complication rates after THA.