Prophylactic Radiotherapy for Prevention of Heterotopic Ossification After Periacetabular Fractures: A Review of Efficacy and Associated Conditions.

Prophylactic radiotherapy (XRT) is a commonly used treatment to decrease heterotopic ossification (HO) in patients with traumatic hip injuries. We conducted a retrospective review of patients at risk for HO who underwent XRT. Of the patients reviewed, 27.3% developed radiographic HO, 11.2% developed symptoms, and 2.0% required resection surgery. Patients were divided into primary (n = 71) and secondary prophylaxis (n = 27) cohorts. In the primary group, 25.0% developed radiographic HO, 5.6% developed symptoms, and 0 required surgery. In the secondary cohort, 33.3% of patients developed new radiographic HO, and 25.9% were symptomatic: four had a Brooker score of 3, and three had a score of 4 (p = 0.03), and 7.4% required surgical resection. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 31(2):113-118, 2022).

Outcomes With Overlapping Surgery at a Large Academic Medical Center.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of overlapping surgery (OS) at a training institution by comparing it with nonoverlapping surgery (NO) with respect to operative time, mortality, readmissions, and complications. BACKGROUND: OS is the practice of an attending physician providing supervision to 2 surgeries that are scheduled at overlapping times. Recent media and government attention have raised concerns about this practice and the need for informed patient consent. METHODS: A population-based, retrospective, cohort study was conducted using data on operative procedures from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015 at a large tertiary academic center. Patients who had undergone surgery by attending surgeons who performed ≥10% of their cases overlapping were selected. Thirty-day mortality, readmission within 30 days, and 7 patient safety indicators (PSIs) were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 26,260 cases met our criteria for analysis for surgical time and 15,106 cases for outcomes. OS patients had an average case length of 2.18 hours compared with 1.64 hours among NO patients (P < 0.0001), a decreased risk of mortality [relative risk (RR) 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.34-0.52, P < 0.0001), a decreased risk of readmission (RR 0.92, 95% CI, 0.86-0.98, P = 0.0148), and a decreased risk of experiencing any PSI (RR 0.67, 95% CI, 0.55-0.83, P = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirms prior reports and addresses gaps in the literature regarding OS, such as the effect of resident involvement and the individual effect of OS in 13 different surgical specialties. The findings highlight the need for additional investigation and suggest that the practice of OS does not expose patients to increased risk of negative outcomes.

Does Medicaid expansion improve access to care for the first-time shoulder dislocator?

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of individual state Medicaid expansion status on access to care for shoulder instability. METHODS: Four pairs of Medicaid expanded (Louisiana, Kentucky, Iowa, and Nevada) and unexpanded (Alabama, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Utah) states in similar geographic locations were chosen for the study. Twelve practices from each state were randomly selected from the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine directory, resulting in a sample size of 96 independent sports medicine offices. Each office was called twice to request an appointment for a fictitious 16-year-old first-time shoulder dislocator with either in-state Medicaid insurance or Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) private insurance. RESULTS: A total of 91 physician offices in 8 states were contacted by telephone. An appointment was obtained at 36 (39.6%) offices when calling with Medicaid and at 74 (81.3%) offices when calling with BCBS (P < .001). Thirty-five (38.5%) offices were able to make appointments for both types of insurance, 39 (42.9%) for only BCBS, 1 (1.1%) for only Medicaid, and 16 (17.5%) for neither. For Medicaid patients, an appointment was booked in 13 (27.7%) clinics from Medicaid expanded states and in 23 (52.3%) clinics from unexpanded states (P = .016). CONCLUSION: For a first-time shoulder dislocator, access to care is more difficult with Medicaid insurance compared with private insurance. Within Medicaid insurance, access to care is more difficult in Medicaid expanded states compared with unexpanded states. Medicaid patients in unexpanded states are twice as likely as those in expanded states to obtain an appointment.

Trends and Characteristics of Highly Cited Articles in Proximal Humerus Fracture Research.

As the treatment of proximal humerus fractures remains controversial in the literature, this study aims to identify highly cited articles and examine trends and characteristics. Scopus was used to identify the highest cited articles of proximal humerus fracture research. SPSS 23 was used for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations for the relationship between citation count and density. Average citation count was 233 ± 164 with an annual citation density of 14 ± 7. Total citation count was associated with total citation density, 5-year citation count, and 5-year citation density. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery-American produced the most articles with 15 (30%). Thirty-five articles originated in Europe. The five most represented authors published three articles each. Finally, 13 (26%) papers appear in the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Curriculum Guide. This study compiles a collection of articles investigating proximal humerus fractures for future review and demonstrates citation count to be an acceptable measure of an article's contemporary academic influence. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 28(3):180-188, 2019).

Is interposition arthroplasty a viable option for treatment of moderate to severe hallux rigidus? - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: When conservative therapy for hallux rigidus fails, surgical options such as arthrodesis and interposition arthroplasty can be considered. Although arthrodesis of MTP joint is the gold standard treatment. However patients desiring MTP joint movement may opt for either interposition arthroplasty or implant arthroplasty to avoid the movement restrictions of arthrodesis. The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate clinical outcomes and complications following interposition arthroplasty for moderate to severe hallux rigidus, for patietns who would prefer to maintain range of motion in the MTP joint. METHODS: A systematic search on MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane library database was performed during February 2018. Demographics, surgical techniques, clinical outcomes, radiological outcomes and complications were recorded from each included study. Pooled statistics performed for variables with homogenous data across the studies. A linear regression model used to compare the clinical outcomes between autogenous vs allogenous material interposition arthroplasty. RESULTS: Fifteen articles were included in the systematic review. Mean AOFAS scores improved from preoperative 41.35 to postoperative 83.17. Mean pain, function, and alignment score improved from preoperative values of 14.9, 24.9, and 10 to postoperative values of 33.3, 35.8, and 14.5. Mean dorsiflexion increased from 21.27° (5-30) to 42.03° (25-71). Mean ROM improved from 21.06° to 46.43°. Joint space increased from 0.8mm to 2.5mm. The most common postoperative complications included metatarsalgia (13.9%), loss of ground contact (9.7%), osteonecrosis (5.4%), great toe weakness (4.8%), hypoesthesia (4.2%), decreased push off power (4.2%), and callous formation (4.2%). CONCLUSION: Interposition arthroplasty is an effective treatment option with acceptable clinical outcomes in patients with moderate-severe hallux rigidus who prefer to maintain range of motion and accept the risk of future complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Total hip arthroplasty for posttraumatic osteoarthritis following acetabular fracture: A systematic review of characteristics, outcomes, and complications.

PURPOSE: Posttraumatic arthritis (PTA) may develop years after acetabular fracture, hindering joint function and causing significant chronic musculoskeletal pain. Given the delayed onset of PTA, few studies have assessed outcomes of delayed total hip arthroplasty (THA) in acetabular fracture patients. This study systematically reviewed the literature for outcomes of THA in patients with PTA and prior acetabular fracture. METHODS: Pubmed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane library were searched for articles containing the keywords "acetabular", "fracture", "arthroplasty", and "post traumatic arthritis" published between 1995 and August 2017. Studies with less than 10 patients, less than 2 years of follow-up, conference abstracts, and non-English language articles were excluded. Data on patient demographics, surgical characteristics, and outcomes of delayed THA, including implant survival, complications, need for revision, and functional scores, was collected from eligible studies. RESULTS: With 1830 studies were screened and data from 10 studies with 448 patients were included in this review. The median patient age on date of THA was 51.5 years, ranging from 19 to 90 years. The median time from fracture to THA was 37 months, with a range of 27-74 months. Mean follow-up times ranged from 4 to 20 years. The mean Harris hip scores (HHS) improved from 41.5 pre-operatively, to 87.6 post-operatively. The most prevalent postoperative complications were heterotopic ossification (28%-63%), implant loosening (1%-24%), and infection (0%-16%). The minimum 5-year survival of implants ranged from 70% to 100%. Revision rates ranged from 2% to 32%. CONCLUSION: Despite the difficulties associated with performing THA in patients with PTA from previous acetabular fracture (including soft tissue scarring, existing hardware, and acetabular bone loss) and the relatively high complication rates, THA in patients with PTA following prior acetabular fracture leads to significant improvement in pain and function at 10-year follow-up. Further high quality randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm the outcomes after delayed THA in these patients.

Acute joint pain in the emerging green collar workforce: Evidence from the linked National Health Interview Survey and Occupational Information Network (O*NET).

BACKGROUND: Green jobs are a rapidly emerging category of very heterogeneous occupations that typically involve engagement with new technologies and changing job demands predisposing them to physical stressors that may contribute to the development of joint pain. METHODS: We estimated and compared the prevalence of self-reported acute (past 30 days) joint pain between green and non-green collar workers using pooled 2004-2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data linked to the Occupational Information Network Database (O*NET). RESULTS: Green collar workers have a higher prevalence of acute joint pain as compared to non-green collar workers. Green collar workers with pain in the upper extremity joints were significantly greater than in the non-green collar workforce, for example, right shoulder [23.2% vs 21.1%], right elbow [13.7% vs 12.0%], left shoulder [20.1% vs 18.2%], and left elbow [12.0% vs 10.7%]. CONCLUSIONS: Acute joint pain reported by the emerging green collar workforce can assist in identifying at risk worker subgroups for musculoskeletal pain interventions.

Primary Versus Secondary Radiotherapy for Heterotopic Ossification Prevention About the Elbow.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy for the prevention of heterotopic ossification (HO) about the elbow. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and twenty-nine patients who received prophylactic radiotherapy (XRT) over a 15-year period were identified. Patients were included if they received XRT to the elbow joint and had at least 12 weeks of follow-up after XRT. Fifty-four patients were ultimately included. INTERVENTION: All patients were treated with a single dose of 7 Gy. Ninety-eight percentage of patients received XRT within 24 hours after surgery, and all patients received XRT within 72 hours after surgery. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASUREMENTS: The primary study measures evaluated were the presence or absence of clinically symptomatic HO and the presence of radiographic HO after XRT to the elbow joint. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were treated with XRT after a traumatic injury requiring surgery (primary prophylaxis), and 36 were treated with XRT after excision surgery to remove HO which had already formed (secondary prophylaxis). In the primary cohort, 16.7% developed symptomatic HO after XRT and 11.1% required surgery to resect the heterotopic bone. In the secondary cohort, 11.1% developed symptomatic HO after surgery and XRT and 5.5% required resection surgery. No secondary malignancies were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that XRT for elbow HO may be safe and effective for both primary and secondary HO. XRT for HO was not shown to be associated with radiation-induced sarcoma in this series, at least in the short term. Further study in a large patient population with extended follow-up is required to better characterize populations at high risk for development of HO and secondary malignancy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Epidemiology of Severe Foot Injuries in US Collegiate Athletes.

BACKGROUND: The effects of foot injuries on collegiate athletes in the United States are of interest because of the short 5-year eligibility period in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). PURPOSE: To discuss the epidemiology of severe NCAA foot injuries sustained over 10 years in 25 sports. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS: We utilized the NCAA Injury Surveillance System, which prospectively collects deidentified injury data for collegiate athletes. Severe injuries were classified as season- or career-ending injuries, injuries with >30-day time loss, or injuries requiring operative treatment. Injury rates (IRs) were analyzed per 100,000 athlete-exposures. RESULTS: Of 3607 total foot injuries, 18.71% (n = 675) were classified as severe, with an IR of 5.73 per 100,000 athletic-exposures. For all severe injuries, the operative rate was 24.3%, the season-ending rate 37.0%, and the career-ending rate 4.4%. The proportion of recurrent injuries was 13.9%. Men's sports with the highest severe foot IRs were basketball (IR = 10.71), indoor track (IR = 7.16), and football (IR = 7.08). Women's sports with the highest severe foot IRs were cross-country (IR = 17.15), gymnastics (IR = 14.76), and outdoor track (IR = 14.65). Among all severe foot injuries, the most common was a fifth metatarsal fracture. The highest contact/noncontact injury ratios were phalangeal fracture, turf toe, and Lisfranc injury. The severe injuries with the highest operative rates were Lisfranc injuries, fifth metatarsal fractures, and midfoot fractures. The severe injuries associated with the highest season-ending IRs were Lisfranc injury, midfoot fracture, and general metatarsal fractures. Severe flexor/extensor injuries had the highest career-ending IRs, followed by turf toe. Severe injuries with the highest median time loss were sesamoidal fractures, calcaneal fractures, and plantar fascial injuries. CONCLUSION: Of all collegiate foot injuries sustained over a 10-year period, 18.7% were characterized as severe, and 24.3% of severe injuries required surgery. Basketball was the men's sport with the highest severe IR, and cross-country was the women's sport with the highest severe IR. Overall, female athletes experienced slightly higher severe foot IRs as compared with male athletes.

Tantalum: the next biomaterial in spine surgery?

Tantalum is a porous metal, whose elastic modulus, high frictional properties and biocompatibility make it an ideal construct to facilitate adequate bony fusion in spine surgery. Since 2015, the published literature on clinical outcomes of tantalum in spine surgery has more than doubled. A review of the literature was performed on the PubMed (MEDLINE) database on January 27, 2019, for papers pertinent to the use of tantalum metal in spine surgery. Thirteen studies were included in this review. For cervical spine, we found increased fusion rates in autograft alone compared to tantalum standalone (92.8% vs. 89.0%, P=0.001) and tantalum cages plus autograft (92.8% vs. 64.8%, P<0.0001). Complication rates in cervical fusion were lower in patients treated with tantalum standalone versus those treated with autograft (7.4% vs. 13.7%, P<0.0001), and autograft and anterior plate (7.4% vs. 33%, P=0.001). Autograft patients had higher rates of revision surgery compared to tantalum standalone (12.8% vs. 2.8%, P<0.0001) and tantalum ring with autograft (12.8% vs. 7.7%, P<0.001). For lumbar spine, we found autograft had lower fusion rate compared to tantalum standalone (80.0% vs. 93.4%, P<0.0001). Use of tantalum metal in spine fusion surgery shows promising results in fusion, complication and revision rates, and clinical outcomes compared to autograft. Although, fusion rates in short-term studies evaluating tantalum in the cervical spine are conflicting, long-term series beyond 2 years show excellent results. This early finding may be related difficulties in radiographic evaluation of fusion in the setting of tantalum cage use. Further studies are needed to further delineate the timing of fusion with the implementation of tantalum in the cervical and lumbar spine.

Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Orthopedic Trauma and Infection in the Emergency Department.

Conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system constitute a significant portion of medical emergencies in the United States, with traumatic injury and infection being two of the most common etiologies. Although physical examination and plain radiographs are often sufficient to guide diagnosis and treatment, there are myriad traumatic and infectious pathologies that are commonly missed or simply not detectable on plain radiographs. Advanced imaging is subsequently warranted for additional workup.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an increasingly used imaging modality for musculoskeletal complaints in the emergency department due to its superior visualization of soft tissues, focal edematous changes, and occult osseous insults often not visible on plain radiographs. Although multiple studies have evaluated its utility in the workup of emergency musculoskeletal complaints, there remains a dearth of literature examining the use of MRI for certain occult diagnoses.Radiologists, emergency clinicians, and orthopedic surgeons must be knowledgeable of the indications for MRI in the emergency setting, as delayed diagnosis may contribute to increased morbidity and possibly mortality. This review summarizes the use of MRI in diagnoses relating to trauma or infection among patients presenting to the emergency department with a musculoskeletal complaint.

Hip external rotation and extension angles for exposure and preparation of the proximal femur in direct anterior total hip arthroplasty: A cadaveric study.

INTRODUCTION: The direct anterior approach (DAA) to total hip arthroplasty (THA) has a known learning curve, largely due to difficulty achieving exposure and visualization of the acetabulum and proximal femur for joint preparation. There is paucity of information on limb positioning and the degree of angulation at which the limb is positioned for adequate visualization. This study aimed to identify the mean angles of limb positioning necessary for adequate exposure when using two Mueller retractors for femoral preparation using traditional table. MATERIALS & METHODS: A surgeon performed a DAA THA on 11 cadaveric hemipelves, exposing the femoral canal with two simple, robust Mueller retractors. The degree of external rotation and extension of the hip was measured. RESULTS: Of the 11, the mean age was 77.6 years and mean BMI was 27.95. The mean external rotation angle was 56.5 ±â€¯13.5°. The mean extension angle was 19.9 ±â€¯6.6°. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: The key technical step in this study incorporated a second robust Mueller retractor on the posterior aspect of the greater trochanter, providing maximum leverage to deliver the femur and achieve visibility while reducing angles of limb positioning thereby reducing complications, and ultimately lessening the learning curve.

Outcomes of surgical fixation of greater tuberosity fractures: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Isolated greater tuberosity fractures account for up to a fifth of all proximal humeral fractures. There have been several retrospective cohort studies and case series reporting outcomes after treatment of this pathology. This study aims to report on the clinical outcomes of surgically treated isolated greater tuberosity fractures, as well as diagnostic workup and complications associated with fracture fixation. METHODS: A systematic review was performed under PRISMA guidelines to identify studies that reported the results or clinical outcomes of isolated greater tuberosity fracture. The searches were performed using MEDLINE through PubMed, the Elsevier Embase database, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. RESULTS: Sixteen studies met inclusion criteria comprising 345 patients and 345 shoulders. The mean age was 52.9 years and mean follow-up was 3.4 months. The mean postoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon Score, the most frequently utilized patient reported outcome measure across studies, was 90.1% of ideal maximum. All studies used standard shoulder radiographs in their initial workup and most commonly referred to a minimum of 5mm displacement as an indication for surgery. Fifty five percent of patients were treated using open fixation and 35.9 with arthroscopic fixation. Ninety three percent of patients were able to return to work. A total of fifty-two (15.1%) complications were reported in the included studies. CONCLUSIONS: The current literature describes overall satisfactory functional outcomes and minimal occupational morbidity following either open or arthroscopic fixation of isolated greater tuberosity fractures despite a notable rate of complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, systematic review.

Incidence of and Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism After Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a rare but potentially lethal complication after orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery. The true incidence of VTE after orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery stratified by specific procedure has yet to be examined. The purpose of this study is to report the incidence of and identify risk factors for VTE in a large sample of patients receiving orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2006 to 2015 data files. The incidence of VTE was calculated for 30 specific orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeries and for 4 broad types of foot and ankle surgery. Demographic, comorbidity, and complication variables were analyzed to determine associations with development of VTE. Results: The overall incidence of VTE in our sample was 0.6%. The types of procedures with the highest frequency of VTE were ankle fractures (105/15 302 cases, 0.7%), foot pathologies (28/5466, 0.6%), and arthroscopy (2/398, 0.5%). Female gender, increasing age, obesity, inpatient status, and nonelective surgery were all significantly associated with VTE. Conclusion: Although VTE after orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery is a rare occurrence, several high-risk groups and procedures may be especially indicated for chemical thromboprophylaxis. Levels of Evidence: Level III: Retrospective, comparative study.

Blood Transfusion During Total Ankle Arthroplasty Is Associated With Increased In-Hospital Complications and Costs.

INTRODUCTION: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is an increasingly used, effective treatment for end-stage ankle arthritis. Although numerous studies have associated blood transfusion with complications following hip and knee arthroplasty, its effects following TAA are largely unknown. This study uses data from a large, nationally representative database to estimate the association between blood transfusion and inpatient complications and hospital costs following TAA. METHODS: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2004 to 2014, 25 412 patients who underwent TAA were identified, with 286 (1.1%) receiving a blood transfusion. Univariate analysis assessed patient and hospital factors associated with blood transfusion following TAA. RESULTS: Patients requiring blood transfusion were more likely to be female, African American, Medicare recipients, and treated in nonteaching hospitals. Average length of stay for patients following transfusion was 3.0 days longer, while average inpatient cost was increased by approximately 50%. Patients who received blood transfusion were significantly more likely to suffer from congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, hypothyroidism, coagulation disorder, or anemia. Acute renal failure was significantly more common among patients receiving blood transfusion ( P < .001). CONCLUSION: Blood transfusions following TAA are infrequent and are associated with multiple medical comorbidities, increased complications, longer hospital stays, and increased overall cost. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level III: Retrospective, comparative study.

Outcomes of Inpatient Versus Outpatient Elective Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Background Complications following orthopedic surgeries are undesirable and costly. A potential method to reduce these costs is to perform traditionally inpatient surgical procedures in the outpatient setting. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes between inpatient and outpatient settings for elective foot and ankle surgeries using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Methods Patients with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes specific to orthopedic foot and ankle surgery were identified from the 2011-2015 American College of Surgeons NSQIP database. Demographics, comorbidities, and complications were compared between patients undergoing inpatient and outpatient procedures. Results Patients receiving inpatient surgery were significantly older and more frequently male. Black patients were significantly more likely to undergo inpatient surgery than outpatient surgery while white patients were significantly more likely to undergo outpatient surgery. Outpatients had a significantly higher mean body mass index (BMI) than inpatients. Smokers were at a significantly greater risk of undergoing inpatient surgery than outpatient surgery. Outpatients had significantly longer operative times, were more likely to receive general anesthesia, had a lower American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, were more likely to be functionally independent, and were less likely to expire postoperatively. Patients who received surgery as an inpatient were significantly more likely to have comorbidities as compared to outpatients. The overall risk of surgical complications was significant between groups with 8.6% in the inpatient group and 2.0% in the outpatient group. The overall risk of medical complications was 16.9% in the inpatient group and 1.7% in the outpatient group. Similar to the surgical complications, inpatients were significantly more likely to sustain each of the individual medical complications except for stroke/CVA and venous thromboembolism. Conclusions Outpatient management is associated with decreased postoperative complications in select patients. Performing more operations in the outpatient setting in select patients may be beneficial for cost reduction and patient satisfaction.

Associations between season and surgical site infections in orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSI) in orthopaedic surgery are common nosocomial complications that contribute significantly to patient morbidity and increased healthcare costs. While past studies support an increase in the incidence of SSI during the summer months in orthopaedic spine surgery and joint arthroplasty, there has not been any study examining the association between season and SSI in the setting of orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database from 2011-2015 was conducted. 17,939 patients who received at least one of 218 CPT codes specific to orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery were identfied from the NSQIP database. Descriptive statistics of patient demographics, comorbidities, and complications were stratified by quarter of admission. RESULTS: Of the 17,939 patients, there were 4995 in the 1st quarter (27.8%), 4078 in the 2nd quarter (22.7%), 4333 in the 3rd quarter (24.2%), and 4533 in the 4th quarter (25.3%). The overall rate of surgical complications was 2.3%. The highest incidence of surgical complications was during the summer at 2.7% and the lowest was during the fall at 2.1% (p=0.338). The summer months also demonstrated the highest incidence of medical complications at 5.9% (p=0.524). There were significantly more women undergoing surgery in the winter and summer months (p=0.028). CONCLUSION: The surgical site infection rate in the setting of orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery was higher, although not significantly, in the summer months. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III retrospective.

Evaluating Treatment Strategies for Spinal Lesions in Multiple Myeloma: A Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Vertebral disease is a major cause of morbidity in 70% of patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM). Associated osteolytic lesions and vertebral fractures are well documented in causing debilitating pain, functional restrictions, spinal deformity, and cord compression. Currently, treatment modalities for refractory MM spinal pain include systemic therapy, radiotherapy, cementoplasty (vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty), and radio frequency ablation. Our objectives were to report on the efficacy of existing treatments for MM patients with refractory spinal pain, to determine if a standardized treatment algorithm has been described, and to set the foundation upon which future prospective studies can be designed. METHODS: A systematic search of the PubMed database was performed for studies relevant to the treatment of vertebral disease in MM patients. A multitude of search terms in various combinations were used, including but not limited to: "vertebroplasty," "kyphoplasty," "radiation," "multiple myeloma," "radiotherapy," and "radiosurgery." RESULTS: Our preliminary search resulted in 219 articles, which subsequently resulted in 19 papers following abstract, title, full-text, and bibliography review. These papers were then grouped by treatment modality: radiotherapy, cementoplasty, or combination therapy. Significant pain and functional score improvement across all treatment modalities was found in the majority of the literature. While complications of treatment occurred, few were noted to be clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment options-radiotherapy and/or cementoplasty-for vertebral lesions and pathologic fractures in MM patients demonstrate significant radiographic and clinical improvement. However, there is no consensus in the literature as to the optimal treatment modality as a result of a limited number of studies reporting head-to-head comparisons. One study did find significantly improved pain and functional scores with preserved vertebral height in favor of kyphoplasty over radiotherapy. When not contraindicated, we advocate for some form of cementoplasty. Further prospective studies are required before implementation of a standardized treatment protocol. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

A Summary of the Anatomy and Current Regional Anesthesia Practices for Postoperative Pain Management in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

The planning and implementation of an effective postoperative pain management program depend on the surgical technique for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the type of regional anesthesia, and the multimodal analgesia regimen. It is imperative to understand the surgical anatomy of TKA and the relevant nerve supply of the knee for optimum perioperative patient satisfaction with respect to pain management in the patient undergoing TKA. The commonly used regional techniques have their own specific benefits and limitations. The ideal postoperative pain management should be customized for a patient to achieve the goals of effective pain control, early ambulation, faster recovery, and discharge.

Salter-Harris type-IV displaced distal radius fracture in a 5-year-old.

Displaced Salter-Harris type-IV fractures are rare in young children and can result in articular incongruity or premature physeal arrest. We describe a 5-year-old boy who sustained a displaced left distal radial Salter-Harris type-IV fracture. The patient had normal wrist function and physeal growth at the 3-year postoperative follow-up. Our patient is by far the youngest reported child with a displaced Salter-Harris type-IV fracture of the distal radius. Prompt anatomic reduction and fixation of a displaced distal radial Salter-Harris type-IV fracture can result in excellent short-term wrist motion with maintenance of physeal function.