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Background: The optimal duration and choice of antibiotic for fracture-related infection (FRI) is not well defined. This study aimed to determine whether antibiotic duration (≤6 vs >6 weeks) is associated with infection- and surgery-free survival. The secondary aim was to ascertain risk factors associated with surgery- and infection-free survival. Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective study of patients diagnosed with FRI between 2013 and 2022. The association between antibiotic duration and surgery- and infection-free survival was assessed by Cox proportional hazard models. Models were weighted by the inverse of the propensity score, calculated with a priori variables of hardware removal; infection due to Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus lugdunensis, Pseudomonas or Candida species; and flap coverage. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were run with additional covariates including initial pathogen, need for flap, and hardware removal. Results: Of 96 patients, 54 (56.3%) received ≤6 weeks of antibiotics and 42 (43.7%) received >6 weeks. There was no association between longer antibiotic duration and surgery-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; 95% CI, .65-1.38; P = .78) or infection-free survival (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, .30-1.96; P = .58). Negative culture was associated with increased hazard of reoperation or death (HR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.99-6.20; P < .001) and reinfection or death (HR, 3.71; 95% CI, 1.24-11.09; P < .001). Need for flap coverage had an increased hazard of reoperation or death (HR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.61-6.54; P = .001). Conclusions: The ideal duration of antibiotics to treat FRI is unclear. In this multicenter study, there was no association between antibiotic treatment duration and surgery- or infection-free survival.
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BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of missed compartment syndrome in tibia fractures treated with and without regional anesthesia. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients with operative tibial shaft or plateau fractures at a single level-one trauma hospital between January 2015 and April 2022 with a minimum of 3-month follow-up. Patients under 18 years of age, an ipsilateral knee dislocation, known neurologic injury at presentation, or prophylactic fasciotomy were excluded. We defined missed acute compartment syndrome (ACS) as a postinjury motor deficit still present at the 3-month postoperative appointment. For patients that received a peripheral nerve block, we recorded whether a continuous perineural catheter or one-time single-shot injection was performed, and the number of nerves blocked. Incidence rates for ACS were calculated with exact binomial 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) consumed 24 hours after surgery, use of nerve block, nerve block timing, and type of block were compared using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric tests. Statistical significance was defined as P < .05. RESULTS: The incidence of compartment syndrome diagnosed and treated during index hospitalization was 2.2% (17/791, 95% CI, 1.3%-3.4%). The incidence of missed ACS was 0.9% (7/791, 95% CI, 0.4%-1.8%). The incidence of missed ACS was not different between those who received nerve block 0.7% (4/610, 95% CI, 0.2%-1.7%), and those who did not (1.7% (3/176, 95% CI, 0.4%-4.8%) P = .19). Within patients receiving a nerve block, all patients with missed ACS (n = 4) received a perineural catheter. Similar missed ACS rates were observed between tibial shaft and plateau fractures. Patients receiving a nerve block had lower MME compared to those who did not receive a nerve block (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The results do not provide evidence that perioperative regional anesthesia increases the incidence of missed ACS in patients with operative tibial shaft or plateau injuries. but does decrease postoperative opioid requirements.
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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become a salvage therapy for patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The management of orthopaedic trauma in ECMO-supported patients with ARDS remains an evolving area of interest. Orthopaedic injuries are often temporized with external fixators, skeletal traction, or splints due to hemodynamic instability as well as concerns of exacerbating underlying pulmonary injury. However, patients requiring ECMO support do not rely on their pulmonary system for oxygenation, the need for delayed fixation may not apply. However, patients utilizing ECMO therapy can have external cardiac and pulmonary support depending on their cannulation strategy, bypassing the need for delayed fixation. We present a case series of two polytrauma patients with ARDS who underwent surgical management of pelvic ring and femoral shaft fractures while receiving ECMO support. Both patients underwent surgical management without complication and were able to be weaned from ECMO and ventilator support postoperatively. These cases highlight the potential benefits to orthopaedic fixation and underscore the need for further clinical research.
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Stress fractures in the forearm are rare events. Failure to detect a nondisplaced stress fracture could lead to further injury or fracture displacement. We present a case of a 15-year-old male wrestler without overt risk factors, who presented with a transverse stress fracture in the middle third of the radial diaphysis. The clinician should consider this diagnosis when examining athletes with otherwise unexplained forearm pain.