Tibial plateau fractures in the elderly have clinical outcomes similar to those in younger patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes following surgical treatment of tibial plateau fractures in an elderly (≥ 65y) and non-elderly (< 65) population. METHODS: Patients with tibial plateau fractures were prospectively followed. Patients were included if they were operatively treated, had an Injury Severity Score of < 16, and had follow-up through 12 months. Clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes were evaluated at the 3, 6, and 12-month follow-up points. RESULTS: Mean time to radiographic fracture union was by 4.68 and 5.26 months in young and elderly patients, respectively (p = 0.25). There was no difference in self-reported baseline SMFA (p = 0.617). SMFA scores were better in younger patients at 3 months (p = 0.031), however this did not hold when multivariate modeling controlled for other factors. There was no difference at 6 and 12 months (p = 0.475, 0.392). There was no difference in range of knee motion at 3 months. At 6 and 12 months, young patients had statistically but not clinically better range of knee motion (p = 0.045, 0.007). There were no differences in overall reoperation rates, conversion arthroplasty, post-traumatic osteoarthritis or wound complications. CONCLUSIONS: Age greater than 65 does not appear to portend poorer outcomes after surgical repair of a tibial plateau fracture. The complication profiles are similar. Elderly and younger patients had similar function at 12 months compared to their baseline. These data suggest that age should not be a disqualifying factor when considering whether a patient with a tibial plateau fracture should be treated operatively.

Is ChatGPT a trusted source of information for total hip and knee arthroplasty patients?

Aims: While internet search engines have been the primary information source for patients' questions, artificial intelligence large language models like ChatGPT are trending towards becoming the new primary source. The purpose of this study was to determine if ChatGPT can answer patient questions about total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA) with consistent accuracy, comprehensiveness, and easy readability. Methods: We posed the 20 most Google-searched questions about THA and TKA, plus ten additional postoperative questions, to ChatGPT. Each question was asked twice to evaluate for consistency in quality. Following each response, we responded with, "Please explain so it is easier to understand," to evaluate ChatGPT's ability to reduce response reading grade level, measured as Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). Five resident physicians rated the 120 responses on 1 to 5 accuracy and comprehensiveness scales. Additionally, they answered a "yes" or "no" question regarding acceptability. Mean scores were calculated for each question, and responses were deemed acceptable if ≥ four raters answered "yes." Results: The mean accuracy and comprehensiveness scores were 4.26 (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.19 to 4.33) and 3.79 (95% CI 3.69 to 3.89), respectively. Out of all the responses, 59.2% (71/120; 95% CI 50.0% to 67.7%) were acceptable. ChatGPT was consistent when asked the same question twice, giving no significant difference in accuracy (t = 0.821; p = 0.415), comprehensiveness (t = 1.387; p = 0.171), acceptability (χ2 = 1.832; p = 0.176), and FKGL (t = 0.264; p = 0.793). There was a significantly lower FKGL (t = 2.204; p = 0.029) for easier responses (11.14; 95% CI 10.57 to 11.71) than original responses (12.15; 95% CI 11.45 to 12.85). Conclusion: ChatGPT answered THA and TKA patient questions with accuracy comparable to previous reports of websites, with adequate comprehensiveness, but with limited acceptability as the sole information source. ChatGPT has potential for answering patient questions about THA and TKA, but needs improvement.

Radiographic Evidence of Early Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis following Tibial Plateau Fracture Is Associated with Poorer Function.

To determine if radiographic evidence of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) following tibial plateau fracture correlates with poorer clinical and functional outcomes, patients with tibial plateau fractures were followed at 3, 6, and 12 months. All patients had baseline radiographs and computed tomography scan. Radiographs obtained at each follow-up were reviewed for healing, articular incongruence, hardware positional changes, and the development of postinjury arthritic change. Cohorts were determined based on the presence (PTOA) or absence (NPTOA) of radiographic evidence of PTOA. Demographics, fracture classification, complications, additional procedures, and functional status were compared between cohorts. Sixty patients had radiographic evidence of PTOA on follow-up radiographs at a mean final follow-up of 24.2 months. The NPTOA cohort was composed of 210 patients who were matched to the PTOA cohort based on age and Charlson comorbidity index. Mean time to fracture union for the overall cohort was 4.86 months. Cohorts did not differ in Schatzker classification, time to healing, injury mechanism, or baseline Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA). Patients with PTOA had a greater degree of initial depression and postoperative step-off, higher incidence of initial external fixator usage, higher rates of reoperation for any reason, and higher rates of wound complications. Associated soft tissue injury and meniscal repair did not coincide with the development of PTOA. Range of motion and SMFA scores were significantly worse at all time points in patients with PTOA. Although fracture patterns are similar, patients who required an initial external fixator, had a greater degree of initial depression or residual articular incongruity, underwent more procedures, and developed an infection were found to have increased incidence of PTOA. Radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis correlated with worse functional status in patients. The goal of surgery should be restoration of articular congruity and stability to mitigate the risk of PTOA, although this alone may not prevent degenerative changes. Patients with early loss of range of motion should be aggressively treated as this may precede the development of PTOA.

Observational prospective unblinded case-control study to evaluate the effect of the Gamma3® distal targeting system for long nails on radiation exposure and time for distal screw placement.

PURPOSE: To determine if the DTS decreases radiation exposure (primary outcome measure), fluoroscopy time (secondary outcome measure), and time to distal screw placement (secondary outcome measure) compared to the freehand "perfect circles" method when used for locking of cephalomedullary nails in the treatment of femur fractures METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with hip or femoral shaft fractures that were treated with a long cephalomedullary nail were enrolled in this study. Cohorts were determined based on the method of distal interlocking screw placement into either the "Perfect Circles" or "Distal Targeting" cohort. Time from cephalad screw placement to placement of final distal interlocking screw (seconds), radiation exposure (mGy), and fluoroscopy time (seconds) were compared between groups. Hospital quality measures were compared between cohorts. RESULTS: Use of the DTS resulted in 77% (4.3x) lower radiation exposure (p < 0.001), 64% (2.7x) lower fluoroscopy time (p < 0.001), and 60% (1.7x) lower intraoperative time from end of cephalad screw placement to end of distal interlocking screw placement (p < 0.001) compared to the freehand "perfect circles" method. There was no difference in 30-day or 90-day complication rates between cohorts. CONCLUSION: The Stryker Gamma3® Distal Targeting System is a safe, effective and efficient alternative to the freehand "perfect circles" method.

Major depressive disorder, when under treatment, may not affect functional outcomes in patients with tibial plateau fractures.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to determine if treated psychological depression is associated with poorer functional outcomes in patients who sustain tibial plateau fractures. METHODS: Patients with a tibia plateau fracture were prospectively followed. Functional status was assessed using the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) at baseline (pre-injury), 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post injury. Clinical outcomes were recorded at each follow up visit and radiographic outcomes were obtained from follow up radiographs. Records were reviewed to identify patients who were being treated for major depressive disorder (MDD). SMFA scores and clinical outcomes were compared between the depression and no depression cohorts. RESULTS: 420 patients were treated for a tibial plateau fracture and the mean age was 50.83 ± 15.60 years. Forty-two (10%) patients with 42 fractures were being treated for MDD at the time of their fracture. Patients with MDD were older (p = 0.05) and were more likely female (p < 0.01). At baseline, the clinical depression cohort had worse Total SMFA scores compared to the non-depressed cohort (5.90 ± 14.41 vs. 2.69 ± 8.35, p < 0.01). There were no differences in total SMFA score or any SMFA subscores at 3, 6, and 12 months. The incidence of wound complications, reoperations, and radiographic outcomes also did not differ between the cohorts. CONCLUSION: Despite patients with MDD reporting higher SMFA (poorer) scores at baseline, MDD was not associated with worse injuries, diminished clinical or poorer functional outcomes following tibial plateau fractures.

Quality differences in multifragmentary pertrochanteric fractures [OTA 31A2.2 and 31A2.3] treated with short and long cephalomedullary nails.

OBJECTIVES: This study compares demographics, outcomes, and costs of patients with similar multifragmentary pertrochanteric (MP) fracture patterns treated with either a short or long cephalomedullary nail (CMN) to determine treatment efficacy and value during hospital admission. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Level-1 trauma center. PATIENTS: 384 patients who presented with a MP fracture [AO/OTA 31A2.2 and 31A2.3] at 1 of 3 hospitals within a single academic medical center. INTERVENTION: Surgical treatment with either short or long CMN Main outcome measurements: Operative time, in-hospital complications, discharge disposition, procedural and total costs of admission. RESULTS: Sixty-nine (18.0%) patients were treated with long CMNs compared to 315 patients treated with short CMNs. Patients treated with long CMNs had increased rates of transfusions of allogenic packed red blood cells (52.2% vs 34.0%, p = 0.005), discharge to rehabilitation facilities (91.3% vs 80.3%, p = 0.030), and had costlier hospital stays ($28,632.50 vs $23,024.86, p = 0.014) with longer (74.9 vs 52.3 min, p <0.001), costlier procedures and implants ($12,090.31 vs $9,647.41, p = 0.014) compared to patients treated with short CMNs. There were no differences in timing of radiographic healing, rates of readmission, nonunion, screw cut out, fixation failure, or peri­implant fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Short and long CMNs are equally suitable implants for the most unstable intertrochanteric fracture patterns. Short CMNs correlate with reduced operative time and costs with non-inferior in-hospital complication rates, hospital quality measures, and less frequent rehabilitation facility discharges. Given the similar long-term outcomes demonstrated here and in the literature, this data suggests nail length selection should be driven more by cost and discharge considerations for MP fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: level III.

Assessment of Healthcare Delivery Systems in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Large Retrospective Cohort Evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess how quality and volume of common orthopaedic care varies across private, municipal, and federal healthcare delivery systems (HDSs). METHODS: Hip and knee arthroplasty, knee and shoulder arthroscopy, and hip fracture repair were audited over a two-year period. Electronic medical records were reviewed for demographics, diagnosis, lengths of stay (LoSs), surgical wait times, inpatient complication, readmission, and revision surgery rates. Multivariate regression controlled for differences in age, sex, diagnosis, and Charlson Comorbidity Index to determine how HDS correlated with surgical wait time, length of stay, complication rates, readmission, and revision surgery. RESULTS: The 5,696 included patients comprise 87.4% private, 8.6% municipal, and 4.0% federal HDSs. Compared with private HDS for arthroplasty, federal surgical wait times were 18 days shorter (95% CI = 9 to 26 days, P < 0.001); federal LoS was 4 days longer (95% CI = 3.6 to 4.3 days, P < 0.001); municipal LoS was 1 day longer (95% CI = 0.8 to 1.4, P < 0.001); municipal 1-year revision surgery odds were increased (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.3 to 5.4, P = 0.045); and complication odds increased for municipal (OR = 12.2, 95% CI = 5.2 to 27.4, P < 0.001) and federal (OR = 12.0, 95% CI = 4.5 to 30.8, P < 0.001) HDSs. Compared with private HDS for arthroscopy, municipal wait times were 57 days longer (95% CI = 48 to 66 days, P < 0.001) and federal wait times were 34 days longer (95% CI = 21 to 47 days, P < 0.001). Compared with private HDS for fracture repair, municipal wait times were 0.6 days longer (95% CI = 0.2 to 1.0, P = 0.02); federal LoS was 7 days longer (95% CI = 3.6 to 9.4 days, P < 0.001); and municipal LoS was 4 days longer (95% CI = 2.4 to 4.8, P < 0.001). Only private HDS fracture repair patients received bone health consultations. DISCUSSION: The private HDS provided care for a markedly larger volume of patients seeking orthopaedic care. In addition, private HDS patients experienced reduced surgical wait times, LoSs, and complication odds for inpatient elective cases, with better referral patterns for nonsurgical orthopaedic care after hip fractures within the private HDS. These results may guide improvements for federal and municipal HDSs.