Secondary Bony Defects after Soft Tissue Reconstruction in Limb-Threatening Lower Extremity Injuries: Does the Approach to Flap Elevation Matter?

BACKGROUND: Limb-threatening lower extremity injuries often require secondary bone grafting after soft tissue reconstruction. We hypothesized that there would be fewer wound complications when performing secondary bone grafting via a remote surgical approach rather than direct flap elevation. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed at a single Level 1 trauma center comparing complications after secondary bone grafting in patients who had undergone previous soft tissue reconstruction after open tibia fractures between 2006 and 2020. Comparing bone grafting via a remote surgical incision versus direct flap elevation, we evaluated wound dehiscence requiring return to the operating room as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were deep infection and delayed amputation. RESULTS: We identified 129 patients (mean age: 40 years, 82% male) with 159 secondary bone grafting procedures. Secondary bone grafting was performed via a remote surgical approach in 54% (n = 86) and direct flap elevation in 46% (n = 73) of cases. Wound dehiscence requiring return to the operating room occurred in one patient in the flap elevation group (1%) and none of the patients in the remote surgical approach. The odds of deep wound infection (OR, 1.77; p = 0.31) or amputation (OR, 1.43; p = 0.73) did not significantly differ between surgical approaches. No significant differences were found in complications between the reconstructive surgeon elevating and re-insetting the flap and the orthopaedic trauma surgeon performing the flap elevation and re-inset. CONCLUSION: Direct flap elevation for secondary bone grafting after soft tissue reconstruction for open tibia fractures did not result in more complications than bone grafting via a remote surgical approach. These findings should reassure surgeons to allow other clinical factors to influence the surgical approach for bone grafting.

Utilization of Augmented Reality Head-Mounted Display for the Surgical Management of Thoracolumbar Spinal Trauma.

Background and Objectives: Augmented reality head-mounted display (AR-HMD) is a novel technology that provides surgeons with a real-time CT-guided 3-dimensional recapitulation of a patient's spinal anatomy. In this case series, we explore the use of AR-HMD alongside more traditional robotic assistance in surgical spine trauma cases to determine their effect on operative costs and perioperative outcomes. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed trauma patients who underwent pedicle screw placement surgery guided by AR-HMD or robotic-assisted platforms at an academic tertiary care center between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2022. Outcome distributions were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The AR cohort (n = 9) had a mean age of 66 years, BMI of 29.4 kg/m2, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) of 4.1, and Surgical Invasiveness Index (SII) of 8.8. In total, 77 pedicle screws were placed in this cohort. Intra-operatively, there was a mean blood loss of 378 mL, 0.78 units transfused, 398 min spent in the operating room, and a 20-day LOS. The robotic cohort (n = 13) had a mean age of 56 years, BMI of 27.1 kg/m2, CCI of 3.8, and SII of 14.2. In total, 128 pedicle screws were placed in this cohort. Intra-operatively, there was a mean blood loss of 432 mL, 0.46 units transfused units used, 331 min spent in the operating room, and a 10.4-day LOS. No significant difference was found between the two cohorts in any outcome metrics. Conclusions: Although the need to address urgent spinal conditions poses a significant challenge to the implementation of innovative technologies in spine surgery, this study represents an initial effort to show that AR-HMD can yield comparable outcomes to traditional robotic surgical techniques. Moreover, it highlights the potential for AR-HMD to be readily integrated into Level 1 trauma centers without requiring extensive modifications or adjustments.

Impact of pre-operative recreational marijuana use on outcomes two years after orthopaedic surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between recreational marijuana use and patient-reported outcomes two years after orthopaedic surgery. We hypothesized that pre-operative recreational marijuana use would be associated with less pain, better function, and better mental health measures two years after orthopaedic surgery. METHODS: Patients were retrospectively analyzed from a prospective orthopaedic registry at a single urban institution. A total of 1710 patients completed the pre-operative assessment and 1103 patients (64.5%) completed the two-year follow-up questionnaires. The cohort was then divided into two groups based on reported preoperative recreational marijuana usage, and statistical analysis was performed to determine if marijuana use was associated with two-year outcomes. Multivariable analysis was used to control for confounding variables. RESULTS: Marijuana use was reported by 47 (4.3%) patients. Significantly worse scores for two-year PROMIS Anxiety (53.2 vs. 49.2, p = 0.005), PROMIS Depression (51.1 vs. 46.5, p = 0.001), Met Expectations (63.1 vs. 74.4, p = 0.024), Surgical Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (71.7 vs. 80.4, p = 0.005), and Numeric Satisfaction Scale (75.6 vs. 83.1, p = 0.041) were associated with marijuana use. Marijuana users also had less improvement of Numeric Pain Scores at the operative site (- 1.8 vs. - 2.7, p = 0.037) and greater decrease in Marx activity scores for lower extremities (- 12.3 vs. - 3.9, p = 0.024). Marijuana use was not an independent predictor of any outcome measure in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Marijuana use was associated with worse mental health scores, lower activity level, less pain relief, and worse satisfaction two years after orthopaedic surgery. However, after controlling for confounding variables, marijuana use was not predictive of any two-year outcome measure. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

Patients undergoing shoulder surgery have high preoperative expectations.

PURPOSE: The primary aims of this study were to (1) assess the preoperative expectations of patients undergoing shoulder surgery, and (2) determine the relationship between preoperative patient demographics, PROs, and preoperative patient expectations. It was hypothesized that younger patients with worse function and worse health status had higher expectations of shoulder surgery. METHODS: Data from a total of 319 patients (319 shoulders) from 2015-2018 were analyzed. Patients completed a series of questionnaires covering demographics and patient-reported outcome measures. Expectations of treatment were evaluated using the Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System. Bivariate analyses were performed to determine the significance of identified associations. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 186 males and 133 females. The mean age was 46.9 (± 17.2), and the mean BMI was 30.1 (± 6.8). Overall, patients had high expectations of shoulder surgery, with a mean score of 84.7 (± 19.3). The most commonly performed procedure in the study population was arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. There was a significant association between pre-treatment expectations and ethnicity, previous shoulder surgery, employment status, income level, tobacco use, preoperative opioid use, depression, and ASA score. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that patients undergoing shoulder surgery have high overall preoperative expectations, which were significantly associated with ethnicity, surgical history, opioid use, and employment status, and with multiple patient-reported outcome measures including physical function, pain interference, fatigue, and depression. Nevertheless, by discussing expectations preoperatively, orthopaedic surgeons can help patients develop high but realistic expectations to improve outcomes and satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Prevalence of femoro-acetabular impingement in non-arthritic patients with hip pain: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: As the prevalence of femoro-acetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in symptomatic patients who lack evidence of hip osteoarthritis (OA) remains to be described, the purpose of this study was to calculate the prevalence of FAIS in this patient population. METHODS: Libraries of PubMed, Embase, and Ovid were systematically reviewed for all studies between 2009 and 2019, investigating femoro-acetabular impingement and hip pain. Level I-IV studies delineating patients with hip pain who do not have OA (Tonnis or Outerbridge grades < three) were included. Demographics, outcomes, radiographic parameters, and criteria were entered into a meta-analysis to calculate the incidence of FAIS in non-arthritic symptomatic hips. RESULTS: In total, 2264 patients (2758 hips) were included in the pooled analysis. Weighted mean age was 31 years. The incidence of FAIS in patients with no evidence of osteoarthritis but who complain of hip pain is 61% (47.3-74.4%). In total, 1483 hips were diagnosed with FAIS. Of the studies that described the rates of all three of the various subtypes of FAIS in their reports, 37% had a combined-type, 38% had a cam-type, and 25% had a pincer-type FAIS. CONCLUSION: Femoroacetabular impingement should be suspected in 47 to 74% of patients with hip pain and without arthritis. Physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for FAIS in young patients presenting with hip pain, as FAIS is a common and treatable condition that, if left alone, may lead to hip degeneration.

Increased morphine requirements are predictive of acute compartment syndrome in adults with tibia fractures.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if increased milligram morphine equivalent (MME) requirements are a predictor of adult compartment syndrome in patients with tibia fractures. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study at a level-1 trauma center was performed over a five year period. Patients with tibia fractures who had acute compartment syndrome (ACS) requiring fasciotomy (n = 26) were matched with controls (n = 25). MME and pain scores were assessed within the 24 hour period preceding fasciotomy (cases) or fixation (controls). The presence or absence of the "6 Ps" and other clinical signs (diastolic blood pressure [DBP]) were also analyzed. RESULTS: Mean MMEs two hours before surgery was 25.5 ± 39.2 for ACS patients versus 8.6 ± 11.1 in controls (P = 0.043), while the mean pain scores were 8.8 ± 1.8 and 7.0 ± 2.5 (P = 0.049), respectively. Multivariable regression showed patients with ACS consumed 16.9 MME more than controls within two hours of surgery (P = 0.043) and scored 1.8 points higher on the numeric pain rating scale (P = 0.049). The mean number of clinical signs of compartment syndrome in the ACS patients was 3.4 ± 1.3 compared to 0.84 ± 0.85 in controls (P < 0.001). DBP was significantly higher in ACS patients within two to four hours of surgery (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Increased MME requirements and pain scores within two hours of surgery were significant predictors of ACS following tibia fracture. Increased narcotic requirements, pain scores, and DBP may be useful objective indicators of evolving ACS, in addition to the traditional signs, and should be closely monitored in the at-risk patient.

Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Obese and Overweight Patients: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mechanism of injury, outcomes, and complications of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in overweight and obese patients. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and OVID electronic libraries were systematically searched from inception to December, 2017 for any eligible articles using a combination of the phrases "anterior cruciate ligament," "ACL," "overweight," "obese," and "BMI." RESULTS: Studies that evaluated patients with primary ACL reconstruction, classified patients as overweight or obese, and reported a minimum of 1-year follow-up data were included. Eight cohorts from 9 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were no significant differences for mechanism of injury, Lysholm scores, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores values, or return to sports with a body mass index (BMI) above or below 25 kg/m. A significant difference was described in International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores when comparing obese patients (BMI >30 kg/m) to patients with BMI <25 kg/m (P <0.01). In patients with BMI >25 kg/m, the risk for arthritis was significantly higher but the risk for revision surgery or contralateral ACL tear was lower (P <0.05). There was no significant difference in complication rates (P = 0.77). CONCLUSION: Patient-reported outcome measures were similar for patients with BMI above and below 25 kg/m, but there is evidence that obese patients have lower IKDC scores. There is a consistent association between overweight status and developing arthritis among patients having an ACL reconstruction. Overweight and obese patients have a lower risk of revision ACL reconstruction and contralateral ACL tear. There is insufficient data to make any conclusions regarding mechanism of injury or complications. More research is needed to better understand what is the appropriate counsel and treatment for overweight or obese patients with ACL tears. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42017055594.

Operative Management for Pediatric and Adolescent Scaphoid Nonunions: A Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Scaphoid fractures in the pediatric population represent ∼3% of all hand and carpal fractures. Cast immobilization has been shown to yield excellent results in the acute phase, however some patients develop nonunions. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the best surgical treatment after development of a pediatric/adolescent scaphoid nonunion. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was performed utilizing Medline, Ovid, and Embase databases to compare surgical techniques for adolescent scaphoid nonunions on the basis of union rates, functional outcomes, and operative complications. Our initial search returned 2110 publications. Inclusion criteria consisted of a scaphoid fracture with >3 months of no clinical or radiographic improvement after cast immobilization and age less than 18 years. Ultimately, 11 studies met our criteria and were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: A total of 176 surgically treated pediatric/adolescent scaphoid nonunions were identified from the 11 studies, including 157 nonvascularized bone graft procedures and 19 nongrafted rigid fixation procedures. Patients treated with a nongrafted method achieved union with a total random effects model revealing a union rate of 94.6%, whereas the grafted cohort had a union rate of 94.8%. Functional outcomes including range of motion and grip strength were significantly improved in both cohorts. Patients managed operatively with bone graft had 4 complications, in contrast those without bone grafting did not report complications (P=0.9). CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of pediatric/adolescent scaphoid fracture nonunions produce excellent union rates and functional outcomes after surgical intervention, using both grafted and nongrafted techniques. Future prospective studies are needed to assess if the outcomes of a specific technique are more favorable, as well as to determine if differences exist based on fracture location. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III. This study is a meta-analysis of studies containing level of evidence of III or greater.

Spine Injuries in Child Abuse.

BACKGROUND: Although rare, spinal injuries associated with abuse can have potentially devastating implications in the pediatric population. We analyzed the association of pediatric spine injury in abused children and determined the anatomic level of the spine affected, while also focusing on patient demographics, length of stay, and total hospital charges compared with spine patients without a diagnosis of abuse. METHODS: A retrospective review of the Kids' Inpatient Database was conducted from 2000 to 2012 to identify pediatric patients (below 18 y) who sustained vertebral column fractures or spinal cord injuries. Patients with a documented diagnosis of abuse were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes. Our statistical models consisted of multivariate linear regressions that were adjusted for age, race, and sex. RESULTS: There were 22,192 pediatric patients with a diagnosis of spinal cord or vertebral column injury during the study period, 116 (0.5%) of whom also had a documented diagnosis of abuse. The most common type of abuse was physical (75.9%). Compared with nonabused patients, abused patients were more likely to be below 2 years of age (OR=133.4; 95% CI, 89.5-198.8), female (OR=1.67; 95% CI, 1.16-2.41), and nonwhite (black: OR=3.86; 95% CI, 2.31-6.45; Hispanic: OR=2.86; 95% CI, 1.68-4.86; other: OR=2.33; 95% CI, 1.11-4.86). Abused patients also presented with an increased risk of thoracic (OR=2.57; 95% CI, 1.67-3.97) and lumbar (OR=1.67; 95% CI, 1.03-2.72) vertebral column fractures and had a multivariate-adjusted mean length of stay that was 62.2% longer (P<0.001) and mean total charges that were 52.9% higher (P<0.001) compared with nonabused patients. Furthermore, 19.7% of all pediatric spine patients under 2 years of age admitted during the study period belonged to the abused cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Spine injuries are rare but can be found in the pediatric population. With an additional documented diagnosis of abuse, these injuries affect younger patients in the thoracolumbar region of the spine, and lead to longer lengths of stay and higher hospital costs when compared with nonabused patients. Because of these findings, physicians should maintain a higher level of suspicion of abuse in patients with spine injuries, especially patients under 2 years of age. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III evidence-a case-control study.

Management of symptomatic os acromiale: a survey of the American shoulder and elbow surgeons.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this paper was to survey members of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) to assess their opinion on management options, help highlight important clinical factors, and elucidate surgical preferences for the treatment of a symptomatic meso-os. METHODS: An online questionnaire was distributed to the active members of the ASES. The survey queried surgeon demographics and perioperative management preferences, and presented multiple clinical case scenarios of patients with a presumed symptomatic, unstable os acromiale. RESULTS: There were 116 ASES members who responded to the survey, and 26% (n = 30) who stated they do not operatively manage a symptomatic os. We identified two main clusters of respondents. Cluster 1 (n = 67) (as compared to cluster 2, n = 19) was comprised of surgeons with significantly more experience treating a symptomatic os acromiale (p < 0.05). These surgeons regarded gender, age, BMI, and hand dominance as important clinical factors when deciding when to proceed to surgery. Overall, arthroscopic management of the os was preferred, but those surgeons more experienced in treating os acromiale preferred open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in specific clinical cases. CONCLUSION: The survey findings reflect the current lack of consensus in the treatment of a unstable, symptomatic os acromiale. Overall, arthroscopic management was preferred by most surgeons, though ORIF was preferred in certain clinical scenarios by those more experienced with os acromiale. The overall preference for arthroscopy suggests a possible shift in the treatment paradigm for patients with symptomatic meso-acromions, but higher level studies are needed to substantiate these findings.

Orthopaedic surgery patients who use recreational marijuana have less pre-operative pain.

AIMS: To determine the baseline clinical characteristics of recreational marijuana users undergoing outpatient orthopaedic surgery. We hypothesized that patients who report marijuana use would have worse pain, function, and general health status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine-hundred and thirty-seven patients undergoing outpatient orthopaedic surgery were asked to fill out patient-reported outcome (PRO) tools. These PROs included the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) computer adaptive tests and legacy PROs unique to each patients' surgical site. RESULTS: Forty patients (4.2%) reported marijuana use. Marijuana use was associated with younger age (33 vs. 43 years, p < 0.001), having a history of fewer operations (1.8 vs. 3.2, p < 0.05), single marital status (68 vs. 38%, p < 0.01), and having a history of smoking cigarettes (63 vs. 31%, p < 0.0001). Marijuana use was found to be significantly associated with greater Marx lower extremity activity rating scale scores (8.5 points vs. 6.1 points, p < 0.05) and decreased pain intensity in the operative site (3.7 points vs. 5.0 points, p < 0.05). Multivariable analysis found that marijuana use was an independent factor associated with less pain intensity in the operative site (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our studies support other national studies that report increased marijuana use among younger patients and those who smoke cigarettes. The results do not support our hypothesis, as marijuana use was associated with less pain and better lower extremity activity rating scale scores when compared to non-users. Further research is warranted to analyze the effects of marijuana use on orthopaedic surgery patients. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

Neer Award 2018: Benzoyl peroxide effectively decreases preoperative Cutibacterium acnes shoulder burden: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) solutions effectively reduce Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) on the face, neck, and back in nonoperative settings. This study compared preoperative application of BPO vs. chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) in decreasing shoulder C acnes skin burden in surgical patients. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing shoulder surgery were prospectively enrolled in a randomized double-blind trial at 1 institution from August 2015 to April 2017. Participants were randomized to 5% BPO or 4% CHG for 3 consecutive days. The nonoperative shoulder had no intervention and served as the negative control. Skin cultures of both shoulders were obtained via a detergent scrub technique the day of surgery at anterior, lateral, and posterior sites and the axilla. RESULTS: Fewer positive cultures were obtained from the BPO-treated side compared with the contralateral side (P = .0003), and no change was shown for the CHG group (P = .80). Shoulders treated with BPO showed a statistically significant reduction in C acnes counts compared with CHG at anterior (P = .03) and posterior (P = .005) portal sites. No significant difference was found at the axilla (P = .99) or lateral portal site (P = .08). No postoperative infections or wound complications occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: BPO is more effective than CHG at reducing C acnes on the shoulder. Decreasing the skin burden of C acnes may reduce intraoperative wound contamination and postoperative infection. BPO should be considered as an adjunctive preoperative skin preparation considering its potential benefit, low risk, and low cost.

Outcomes of Revision Joint Arthroplasty Due to Metal Allergy and Hypersensitivity: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is one of the most successful orthopaedic procedures. However, it is estimated that as many as 10% to 20% of TJAs could fail due to various well-known causes. Furthermore, metal allergy-related complications have recently gained attention as one of the potential causes of failure when the common reasons have been excluded. Reported symptoms from metal allergy can include chronic eczema, joint effusions, joint pain, and limited range of motion. Few studies have explored the outcomes of patients undergoing revisions due to allergic complications. The aim of our study is to quantitatively evaluate the outcomes of revision joint arthroplasty due to metal allergy and hypersensitivity.

Ankle Range of Motion After Posterior Subtalar and Ankle Capsulotomy for Relapsed Equinus in Idiopathic Clubfoot.

INTRODUCTION: Posterior capsulotomy can correct residual clubfoot deformity, but has been associated with ankle stiffness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical ankle range of motion (ROM) following posterior capsulotomy immediately postsurgery and during long-term follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective clinical and radiographic review of 257 patients (398 feet) was performed to evaluate all patients who required a posterior capsulotomy as part of their clubfoot management. Twenty feet (16 patients) were identified with a mean age of 73.3±37.7 months and mean Pirani score of 5.2±0.8 points. Following capsulotomy, a long-leg cast was placed and maintained for a mean of 26 days (range, 21 to 35 d). At cast removal, parents were trained and instructed to immediately begin home physiotherapy. The capsulotomy cohort was age and sex matched to a cohort treated exclusively with the Ponseti method for comparison. Children in the comparison cohort had a mean Pirani score of 5.7±0.8 points. RESULTS: The mean dorsiflexion in the capsulotomy cohort significantly increased comparing the preoperative to the immediate postoperative ROM (from -6.5 to +9.7 degrees). No significant reduction in this gain was observed at latest follow-up (to +8.3 degrees). No significant difference in the plantar-flexion angle was found. Radiographically, a significant improvement in the lateral anterior tibial-calcaneal angle angles was found (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: If utilizing our protocol for early mobilization, limited use of capsulotomy to treat relapsed clubfoot does not necessarily reduce ankle ROM. Our protocol of placing the feet in casts for a shorter duration of time and providing early physiotherapy helps maintain ankle ROM after a posterior capsulotomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-therapeutic study.

The Outcomes of Nonelongating Intramedullary Fixation of the Lower Extremity for Pediatric Osteogenesis Imperfecta Patients: A Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Osteogenesis imperfecta is usually due to autosomal dominant mutations in type I collagen, leading to an increase in fractures and bone deformities, especially in the long bones of the lower extremities. The use of nonelongating intramedullary rods is an established surgical intervention to address such deformities. The rate of surgical complications has been reported to be as high as 187%, with revision rates as high as 90%, although exact global rates are unknown. As such, we sought to determine the published rates of (1) bone-related complications (including both fracture and deformity), (2) rod migration, and (3) complications that require reoperation. METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 1295 studies were evaluated. After cross-referencing, and applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 7 studies were included in the final cohort. Data were extracted from the studies and analyzed. Random effect models determined the complication rates of intramedullary nonelongating rod procedures. RESULTS: A total of 359 primary nonelongating intramedullary rod procedures of tibiae and femurs, in patients with a mean age of 6 years (5.2 to 7.3 y), at a mean follow-up of 63 months (24 to 118 mo), were evaluated. 60% of the surgical procedures were on femurs, and 40% were on tibiae. The reoperation rate was 39.4%. The most common complication was rod migration, with a rate of 25.7%. The rate of bone-related complications was 19.5% including fractures (15.0%) and worsening bone deformity (4.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first meta-analysis to identify the rates of complication and reoperation in lower limb intramedullary fixation for pediatric osteogenesis imperfecta patients. This study has shown that rod migration is the most common complication, followed by bone-related complications including fractures and deformity. Reoperations occur after nearly 40% of all procedures due to rod migration or bone-related complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-retrospective meta-analysis.

Prophylactic Intramedullary Rodding Following Femoral Lengthening in Congenital Deficiency of the Femur.

INTRODUCTION: Femoral fracture after lengthening of congenital femoral deficiency (CFD) is a common complication with a high incidence, up to 50%. The purpose of this study is to determine whether prophylactic intramedullary Rush rodding after lengthening for CFD is an effective method to prevent femoral fracture and to assess any complications that may result. METHODS: Forty-five femoral lengthenings (43 CFD patients) were performed using external fixation. At the time of frame removal (except for 3 cases, 8 d later), prophylactic intramedullary Rush rods were inserted. Special reaming techniques were developed to pass a Rush rod through the solid regenerate bone and past sclerotic pin sites. Mean age at time of rodding was 6.9 years (range, 2.9 to 14.2 y). Mean duration of treatment with external fixation was 184 days (range, 146 to 461 d). Mean follow-up was 4.2 years (range, 1.3 to 8.2 y). This group of cases was compared with a historical cohort of 95 femoral lengthening procedures for CFD without prophylactic intramedullary rodding after frame removal previously performed at the same institute by the same surgeons. RESULTS: Eight cases (18%) developed fracture despite intramedullary rodding (1 case with relatively high-energy trauma, 3 cases during physical therapy, and 4 cases spontaneously). Only 4 of these fractures required intervention. Fractures were more common when a 3.18 mm Rush rod was used (28%) compared with 4.76 mm (8.3%). Patients with prophylactic rodding had a significantly lower incidence of femur fracture rodding than those who did not (18% vs. 34%, respectively; P=0.04). Three out of 45 Rush rods (7%) developed infection that were treated by debridement and removal of the rod, and all healed uneventfully without residual or recurrent infection. There were no cases of avascular necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic intramedullary rodding is a safe and effective method to prevent femoral fractures after CFD lengthening. Use of 4.76 mm rod is preferred. The risk of infection is acceptable, when compared with the risk of fracture, loss of length, and angulation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-a retrospective comparative study.

Trochanteric Entry for Femoral Lengthening Nails in Children: Is It Safe?

BACKGROUND: Antegrade intramedullary (IM) nailing for skeletally immature femur fractures can damage the capital femoral epiphysis blood supply, leading to avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head. Reported AVN rates are 2% for piriformis entry and 1.4% for trochanteric entry. None of previous reports described IM lengthening nails for limb lengthening procedures. We have used self-lengthening telescopic nails with a proximal Herzog bend and standard trochanteric entry for femoral lengthening in children. The purpose of this study is to determine whether trochanteric entry IM lengthening nails can be used safely (no AVN or proximal femoral deformity) in the skeletally immature femur. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed between 2004 and 2014 to determine all skeletally immature patients younger than 18 years of age who had a reamed IM lengthening nail inserted through the greater trochanter, with at least 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-one femurs were lengthened in 28 patients (17 males and 11 females). The etiology was congenital femoral deficiency (10), achondroplasia (6), post-traumatic (5), hemihypertrophy (3), Ollier disease (2), and miscellaneous (5). An attending surgeon was present for all procedures. Mean age at time of surgery was 12.9 years (range, 7 to 17 y). Mean follow-up was 3.5 years (range, 1.4 to 9 y). The average amount of lengthening was 5.4 cm (range, 3 to 6.7 cm). Twenty-four nails were 10.7 mm in diameter. Seven nails were 12.5 mm in diameter. Intramedullary skeletal kinetic distractor was used in 18 femurs and PRECICE in 13 femurs. Ten segments (7 intramedullary skeletal kinetic distractor; 3 PRECICE) experienced 13 complications. None of the patients developed AVN or proximal femoral deformity. CONCLUSIONS: IM lengthening nails inserted through the greater trochanter may be utilized in skeletally immature patients without increased risk of AVN of the femoral head or proximal femoral deformity. Larger trials would be helpful to confirm our hypothesis. We recommend careful surgical technique with liberal use of the image intensifier to avoid trauma to the femoral head blood supply. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-therapeutic.

Development of an Encompassing Questionnaire for Evaluating the Outcomes Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: There are many standardized scales and questionnaires used to evaluate TKA patients; however, individually they do not always assess patients adequately. Consequently, many are used in combinations to provide a thorough evaluation. However, this leads to redundancy, confusion, and an excessive patient time-burden. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a usable combined knee questionnaire that combines questions in a non-redundant manner. Specifically, we aimed to: 1) create a combined knee questionnaire that encompasses questions from multiple systems, while eliminating redundancy; 2) correlate the new system with the existing validated questionnaires; and 3) determine the length of time it takes to administer this new questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a previous study, it was determined that the six most commonly cited validated systems to assess the knee were the: Knee Society Score (KSS), The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Activity Rating Scale (ARS), and Short-Form-36 (SF-36). Therefore, we ensured that the new questionnaire encompassed all elements of these systems. After development of the combined questionnaire, we co-administered it to 20 subjects alongside the above validated questionnaires. We then transposed the corresponding answers from the combined questionnaire to each selected validated system to perform an intra-class correlation analysis. In addition, we recorded the length of time it took to administer the new questionnaire and compared it to the time it took to administer the individual validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Intra-class correlation analysis demonstrated statistically significant positive correlations between the KSS, WOMAC, KOOS, LEFS, ARS, SF-36, and the corresponding questions in the combined questionnaire. The mean length of time it took to administer the combined questionnaire (mean, 10.1 minutes, range, 6.6 to 12.6 minutes) was significantly shorter than the time it took to administer the selected validated questionnaires (mean, 21.3 minutes, range, 17.3 to 24.1 minutes). CONCLUSION: We have proposed an all-encompassing combined knee questionnaire that eliminates redundancy and inefficiency during the evaluation of TKA patients. It is a reliable, time-efficient system that can be utilized to fill out the most commonly used questionnaires for assessing TKA. Standardization and uniform use of this questionnaire may simplify future patient assessment following TKA.

Hip fusion takedown to a total hip arthroplasty-is it worth it? A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with surgically or spontaneously fused hips are often dissatisfied with their overall function and the debilitating effect on adjacent joints. Therefore, in properly selected patients, hip fusion-takedown and conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) can result in improved function and decreased pain. We aimed to (1) evaluate the indications for conversion, (2) evaluate the clinical outcomes, (3) analyze the overall complications, and (4) identify the overall satisfaction following the procedure. METHODS: A systematic and comprehensive literature search was performed to analyze studies evaluating conversion of hip fusion to THA. After reviewing 3,882 studies, 27 total studies (1,104 hips) met our inclusion/exclusion criteria and were included in our final analysis. A weighted mean of rates was determined for each complication, including infection, instability, loosening, nerve-related, abductor-related, venous thrombotic event, and revision. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 53.2% male and 46.8% female subjects. The mean age at time of conversion was 52 years (range 36-65 years), the mean time until follow-up was 9.2 years (range 2.5-17.3), and the mean duration of arthrodesis was 27.7 years (range 11-40.2). As measured by Harris Hip Score, overall clinical outcomes improved from 58.1 points (range 42.4-70 points) pre-operatively to 80.0 (range 62-93.5) post-operatively. The specific complication rates were 5.3% (range 0-43.6%) for infection, 2.6% (range 0-15.4%) for instability, 6.2% (range 0-17.2%) for loosening, 4.7% (range 0-13%) for nerve-related complications, 13.1% (range 0-87%) for abductor-related complications, and 1.2% (range 0-13%) for venous thrombotic events. The revision rate was 12.0% (range 0-43.6%). CONCLUSION: Takedown of a fused-hip can be a challenging procedure. Although patients can benefit functionally, both patients and surgeons need to be aware of the complications and increased risk of further revision procedures, which should be an important part of the pre-operative discussion.

Does Preadmission Cutaneous Chlorhexidine Preparation Reduce Surgical Site Infections After Total Knee Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: Many preventive methodologies seek to reduce the risk of surgical site infections after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), including the use of preoperative chlorhexidine baths and cloths. Although we have demonstrated in previous studies that this may be an efficacious method for infection prevention, our study was underpowered and we therefore set out to evaluate this with a larger sample size. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Does a preadmission chlorhexidine cloth skin preparation protocol decrease the risk of surgical site infection in patients undergoing TKA? (2) When stratified using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) risk categories, which categories are associated with risk reduction from the preadmission chlorhexidine preparation protocol? METHODS: In our study, all patients (3717 total) who had undergone primary or revision TKA at a single institution between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2013, were identified, of whom 991 patients used the chlorhexidine cloths before surgery and 2726 patients did not. All patients were provided cloths with instructions before surgery; however, as a result of a lack of compliance, we were able to substratify patients into treatment and control cohorts. Additionally, we substratified patients by NHSN risk category to determine differences in infection between the two cohorts (cloth versus no cloth). Patient medical records and an infection-tracking database were reviewed to determine the development of periprosthetic infection (patients who had superficial infections were excluded from our study) in both groups after 1 year surveillance. We then calculated relative risk reductions with use of chlorhexidine gluconate and stratified results based on NHSN risk category. RESULTS: Use of a preoperative chlorhexidine cloth skin preparation protocol is associated with reduced relative risk of periprosthetic infection after TKA (infections with protocol: three of 991 [0.3%]; infections in control: 52 of 2726 [1.9%]; relative risk [RR]: 6.3 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-20.1]; p = 0.002). When stratified by NHSN risk category, periprosthetic infection risk reduction was seen in the medium-risk category (protocol: one of 402 [0.3%]; control: 25 of 1218 [2.0%]; RR, 8.3 [CI, 1.1-60.7]; p = 0.038), but no significant difference was detected in the low- and medium-risk groups (RR, 2.1 [CI, 0.5-9.6; p = 0.33] and RR, 11.3 [CI, 0.7-186.7; p = 0.09]). CONCLUSIONS: A prehospital chlorhexidine gluconate wipe protocol appears to reduce the risk of periprosthetic infections after TKA, primarily in those patients with medium and high risk. Although future multicenter randomized trials will need to confirm these preliminary findings, the intervention is inexpensive and is unlikely to be risky and therefore might be considered on the basis of this retrospective, comparative study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.