Operative Treatment of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury in Female Athletes.

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction has been the standard surgical intervention for elite male athletes with UCL insufficiency. Recently, UCL repair and augmentation with an internal brace has been increasingly performed. Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes as well as return-to-sport rate after UCL repair in female athletes. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Included were 15 female athletes (mean age, 16.5 ± 3.5 years) who underwent UCL repair between 2011 and 2021 at a single institution. Data collected included age, sport played, competition level, symptom onset, previous surgeries, mechanism of injury, surgical intervention, and return to sport. Patients were contacted via phone at minimum 24-month follow-up, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). Results: Of the 15 female athletes, there were 4 cheerleaders, 3 softball players, 2 volleyball players, 2 soccer players, 1 gymnast, 1 tennis player, 1 dancer, and 1 javelin thrower. Ten of the 15 athletes (67%) competed at the high school level, 4 (26%) at the collegiate level, and 1 patient (7%) was a recreational volleyball player. In all patients, there was an acute onset of symptoms after injury. Ten patients underwent UCL repair with an internal brace (67% of athletes), while 5 underwent standard UCL repair. The median MEPS for athletes with and without an internal brace was 100 (range, 80-100). There was no significant difference of MEPS (P = .826) or SANE scores (P = .189) between the patients who received an internal brace and those who did not. Thirteen of the 15 athletes (86.7%) returned to sport. Conclusion: The UCL injuries in the female athletes in this study were the result of acute trauma. Primary UCL repair, both with and without internal bracing, was an effective surgical treatment for returning these athletes to sport.

Medial elbow injuries in the throwing athlete.

There has been an epidemic increase in injuries to the elbow in our youth sports over the past 15 years. Initially, career-ending elbow injuries occurred almost exclusively in the professional population. The landmark procedure developed by Dr. Frank Jobe, colloquially termed "Tommy John surgery" after the initial player in whom he performed the surgical procedure, allowed roughly two-thirds of professional athletes to return to play at or near the same level. As the surgical procedure became more widespread, modifications of the technique by Jobe and many other contributors raised the return-to-play level to 85%-94% of players regaining the ability to return to sport at the preinjury level. Almost simultaneously, the emphasis on velocity in the professional ranks led to an unintentional increase in stress on the throwing elbow. This was magnified in our athletes by the advent of year-round sports, as well as the formation of "showcase" events to demonstrate skills and measure velocity. This, unfortunately, has resulted in an increase in both repetitive stress injuries and acute traumatic injuries in our young athletes. The purpose of this article is to discuss age-related injuries from both a preventative standpoint and a treatment standpoint.

Fixation devices for anterior shoulder instability.

PURPOSE: Over the past 40 years, advances in the development of anchors and sutures have contributed to the improvement in surgical outcomes for treatment of shoulder instability. Important choices in surgery when treating instability include the use of knotless versus knotted suture anchors, and bony versus soft tissue reconstruction techniques. METHODS: A literature review was conducted to evaluate the history of instability of the shoulder and the results of specific fixation techniques including bony and soft tissue reconstructions as well as knotted and knotless suture anchors. RESULTS: As knotless suture anchors have continued to grow in popularity since their development in 2001, many studies have compared this newer technique to that of the standard knotted suture anchors. In general, these studies have demonstrated no difference in patient-reported outcome measures between the two options. Additionally, the choice of bony versus soft tissue reconstructions is patient specific as it depends on the specific pathology or combination of injuries. CONCLUSION: In each surgery performed for shoulder instability, it is vitally important that we try to restore normal anatomy. The normal anatomy is best established by knotted mattress sutures. However, loop laxity and tear through by the sutures in the capsule can eliminate this restoration, increasing risk of failure. Knotless anchors may allow better soft tissue fixation of the labrum and capsule to the glenoid, but without complete restoration of normal anatomy.

Short-term radiographic analysis of a stemless humeral component for anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Standard stemmed humeral implants have traditionally been utilized for total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) with a recent trend to implant smaller stems including short and stemless humeral designs. However, the rate of stress shielding after stemless TSA has not been primarily studied. Therefore, the objective of this study is to report the short-term survivorship and radiographic analysis of a stemless humeral implant. Methods: A retrospective cohort review of a prospectively collected, multicenter database for patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty with a stemless humeral design (Equinoxe Stemless; Exactech, Inc., Gainesville, FL, USA) with a minimum of 2 years clinical and radiographic follow-up was performed. The primary outcomes were to report the location and rate of stress shielding from a radiographic analysis of the humeral stem. Additionally, the revision rate of the humeral stem is reported. The secondary outcomes included ASES scores, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, and range of motion (ROM). Radiographs (anterior-posterior/Grashey and axillary) were reviewed blindly by two fellowship trained shoulder surgeons. Radiographic analysis included stress shielding (partial or complete cortical resorption) and subsidence or shift in component position. Results: Fifty four patients were included in this study with an average follow-up of 27 months (range 24-32 months). The average age of this cohort was 65 years (range 57-73 years) with 23 patients (43%) being female. Stress shielding was observed in 4 patients (7%) with the medial calcar being the most common location of stress shielding. Three of the 4 patients (75%) had evidence of partial resorption while 1 patient (25%) had evidence of complete resorption. No humeral component shift or subsidence was observed. There were no revisions due to humeral component complications. There was 1 revision surgery for aseptic glenoid loosening. A significant improvement for all clinical outcome measures was seen including with respect to VAS pain, which improved from 6.2 to 1.8 (P < .05), ASES, which improved from 38.2 to 81.8 (P < .05), and ROM which forward flexion improved from 120 degrees to 153 degrees (P < .05) and external rotation improved from 29 degrees to 49 degrees (P < .05). Discussion: This ongoing study demonstrates a low rate of stress shielding for a stemless design humeral implant at short-term follow-up without any revision surgery due to humeral component complications. Longer term radiographic and clinical analysis with this cohort will be needed to confirm these findings and theoretical benefits for future revision surgeries.

How do the top 10 known offending drug classes associated with decreased bone mineral density affect total shoulder arthroplasty outcomes?

BACKGROUND: Many regularly prescribed classes of drugs are known to negatively impact bone health. However, it is unclear if perioperative use of these drugs impacts total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) outcomes. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of perioperative use of 10 drug classes with known negative effects on bone health on prosthesis-related outcomes of TSA. METHODS: Patients who underwent primary TSA were retrospectively identified in the PearlDiver database. Within this population, patients prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), thiazolidinediones (TZDs), loop diuretics, glucocorticoids, aromatase inhibitors, calcineurin inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) within 6 months before or 6 months after primary TSA were identified (n = 23,748). These patients were propensity score matched 1:1 with controls (n = 23,748) on age, sex, and several comorbidities. After matching, patients with perioperative drug exposure were divided into 10 subgroups (ie, 1 for each drug class). Rates of prosthesis-related complications among patients taking each medication class vs. controls were compared with multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Relative to controls, SGA exposure was associated with significantly higher rates of all-cause revision (odds ratio [OR] 1.68) and aseptic revision (OR 1.57). Loop diuretic exposure was associated with significantly higher rates of all-cause revision (OR 1.44) and aseptic revision (OR 1.43). Glucocorticoid exposure was associated with significantly higher rates of all-cause revision (OR 1.32) and aseptic revision (OR 1.30). SSRI exposure was associated with significantly higher rates of all-cause revision (OR 1.27) and aseptic revision (OR 1.24). Periprosthetic fracture, aseptic loosening, and septic revision was comparable for all drug cohorts compared to matched controls (all P > .05). Patients with perioperative exposure to PPIs, TZDs, FGAs, AEDs, aromatase inhibitors, and calcineurin inhibitors displayed comparable rates of all queried complications compared with controls (all P > .05). CONCLUSION: Compared with matched controls, patients with perioperative exposure to SGAs, loop diuretics, glucocorticoids and SSRIs exhibited significantly higher rates of all-cause and aseptic revisions following primary TSA. Several other medications that are risk factors for osteoporosis and fragility fractures did not demonstrate significant associations with any complications, including periprosthetic fracture. These results highlight the need for a thorough review of patients' medical history and current medication usage prior to preoperative risk counseling for patients seeking TSA.

Trends in Total Joint Arthroplasty Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Effect of Recent Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug Utilization Guidelines.

INTRODUCTION: The 2015 change in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines narrowed indications for initiating treatment with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study sought to evaluate trends in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in patients with RA and to characterize the effect of bDMARDs on arthroplasty risk in this population after the change in ACR treatment guidelines. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted using the PearlDiver database. TJA procedures included total shoulder arthroplasty, total elbow arthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty, and total knee arthroplasty. The Cochran-Armitage Trend Test was used to evaluate trends in the volume of TJA procedures conducted in patients with RA between 2010 and 2019. Logistic regression was used to compare 2-year arthroplasty risk after an initial joint-specific RA International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision diagnosis for RA patients with versus without bDMARD exposure. RESULTS: A total of 2,942,360 patients with RA were identified, and 80,744 (2.74%) underwent TJA between 2010 and 2019. Rates of TJA procedures trended significantly upward over the decade (2.6% versus 5.1%, P < 0.001) with a sharp increase between 2015 and 2016 (2.1% versus 4.9%, P < 0.001). Among the 16,736 identified patients with an initial International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision joint-specific RA diagnosis, 3362 patients (20.09%) were treated with bDMARDs and 13,374 (79.91%) were not. Untreated patients exhibited significantly lower risk of any TJA (5.92% versus 7.73%; odds ratio [OR]: 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64 to 0.82), total hip arthroplasty (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50 to 0.95), and total knee arthroplasty (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.52 to 0.75) compared with treated patients. DISCUSSION: The volume of TJA procedures conducted in patients with RA has trended markedly upward over the past decade, with a sharp increase after 2015. bDMARD treatment was associated with markedly increased risk of TJA, likely because of initiation of bDMARDs in only those patients with advanced disease per ACR guidelines.

Does pre-arthroplasty antiviral treatment for hepatitis C reduce complication rates after total shoulder arthroplasty? A matched cohort study.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with increased complications of risk after arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of HCV and a pre-arthroplasty antiviral treatment on complications following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Methods: A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted using an administrative claims database. Patients who underwent TSA were identified with Current Procedural Terminology -23472 and International Classification of Diseases procedural codes. A total of 1244 HCV patients were matched 1:3 with 3732 noninfected controls across age, sex, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, and obesity. The HCV patients with treatment before TSA were identified by claims containing antiviral drug codes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare rates of 90-day medical complications and prosthesis-related complications within 2 years postoperatively for (1) HCV patients vs. controls, (2) antiviral-treated HCV patients vs. controls, and (3) antiviral-treated HCV patients vs. untreated HCV patients. Results: Patients with HCV exhibited significantly higher rates of blood transfusion (OR 2.12), acute kidney injuries (OR 1.86), inpatient readmission (OR 2.06), revision TSA (OR 1.48), dislocation (OR 1.92), mechanical complications (OR 1.39), and prosthetic joint infection (OR 1.53) compared to controls. Antiviral-treated HCV patients exhibited a significantly lower rate of myocardial infarction (OR 0.27) and comparable rates of all other complications relative to controls (all P > .05). Compared to untreated HCV patients, antiviral-treated HCV patients exhibited significantly lower rates of 90-day medical complications (OR 0.57) and prosthetic joint infection (OR 0.36). Conclusions: HCV is associated with significantly increased complication rates after TSA. Antiviral treatment before TSA may reduce the risk of postoperative complications.

The Impact of a Non-Compete Clause on Patient Care and Orthopaedic Surgeons in the State of Louisiana: Afraid of a Little Competition?

Background: Non-compete clauses (NCC) are commonly required for physicians practicing in an employed model. With growing pressures driving surgeons to practice in an employed model instead of physician-led practices, the purpose of this survey was to determine the impact of NCCs on orthopaedic surgeons and their patients in Louisiana. Methods: A voluntary, single-mode online survey containing 23 questions was created using the Qualtrics XM Platform (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) and distributed to 259 orthopaedic surgeons who are members of the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association. Survey questions assessed the prevalence and details of existing NCCs and perceptions of their impact on surgeons' practice, patients, and personal life. Results: 117 members responded (response rate: 45.2%), of which 91 (77.8%) finished the survey. Nearly half (44%) of respondents had an expired or active NCC in their contract. Most (84.3%) believed NCCs give employers unfair leverage during contract negotiations. NCCs have deterred or would deter 71.4% of respondents from accepting another job offer. Respondents believed NCCs negatively impact patients, including forcing patients to drive long distances to maintain continuity of care (64.4%) and forcing surgeons to abandon their patients if they seek new employment (76.7%). Many respondents reported NCCs also exert significant detrimental effects on their personal life, including mandatory relocation of their family (67.0%). Nearly all (97.8%) believed such clauses have become unreasonable over the last decade with the rise of large hospital conglomerates. Most surgeons (83.7%) believed that removal of NCCs from all orthopaedic surgeons' contracts would improve the overall healthcare of orthopaedic patients in Louisiana. Conclusion: Perceptions of NCCs were overwhelmingly negative among orthopaedic surgeons in Louisiana. Such clauses give employers an unfair advantage during contract negotiations and exert a significant detrimental impact on surgeons and their patients. While NCCs may be reasonable in the business sector and other professions, it is unclear how such clauses benefit surgeons or improve patient care and may be detrimental to both. Study Design: Cross-sectional Survey.

Reliable interobserver and intraobserver agreement of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS) classification system of rotator cuff tears.

OBJECTIVE: The ISAKOS Shoulder Committee developed a new comprehensive classification system aimed to describe all rotator cuff tears. The five characteristics of the tears included are pattern (P), extension (E), fatty atrophy (A), retraction (R), and location (L), conforming to the acronym "PEARL." The objective of this study is to assess if the ISAKOS Rotator Cuff Tear Classification System is reliable by measuring the intraobserver and interobserver multirater reliability. METHODS: Arthroscopic videos of 36 rotator cuff tears, including tears of varying sizes and configurations, were evaluated twice by four surgeons from different continents blinded to tear type. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability was measured using multirater and intraobserver Kappa coefficients. RESULTS: Intraobserver reliability: An almost perfect agreement for "location" (κ = 0.98), substantial agreement for "extension" (κ = 0.73) were obtained for mean intrarater kappa, lower κ agreement for "pattern" (κ = 0.58), and relatively high agreement of 0.79 for "retraction." Every characteristic of "location" had an almost perfect agreement among the surgeons (κ = 0.91). Intrarrater reliability: In the partial-thickness posterosuperior tears "location," there was good agreement in tears involving less than 50% of the tendon (κ = 0.74) and moderate in those deeper than 50% of the tendon thickness (κ = 0.58). "Extension" in full-thickness posterosuperior RCT achieved moderate agreement. Within the anterior subscapularis tears, we have a substantial agreement in Lafosse´s Type 1 (κ = 0.73), moderate in Types 2 and 3 (κ = 0.45 and κ = 0.46) and slight agreement in Type 4 (κ = 0.06). The overall kappa summarizing all categories indicated moderate agreement (κ = 0.52). The articular pattern in the partial-thickness posterosuperior RCT "location" had a perfect kappa of 1, while the bursal pattern showed an almost complete agreement (κ = 0.87). In the full-thickness posterosuperior RCTs, we observed fair agreement in C, U, and reverse L configurations and slight agreement in L pattern (κ = 0.18). The overall kappa is 0.44 with a confidence interval of 0.41-0.47. There was substantial agreement in every category and the overall kappa for "retraction" (k = 0.70). CONCLUSION: ISAKOS rotator cuff tear classification system provides sufficient interobserver reliability for communicating among surgeons and for pooling of data from clinical studies. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Far Anterior Medial Portals in Complicated Elbow Arthroscopic Procedures: Safety Profile in a Cadaveric Model.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the placement and evaluate the safety of the far anterior proximal and distal anteromedial portals by comparing them to previously defined portal techniques in a cadaveric model of the elbow. Methods: Six paired (left and right) fresh, frozen cadaveric elbow joints were dissected. .62-mm Kirschner wires were placed at the literature-defined distal and proximal portal sites on right elbows. The proposed "far anterior" distal and proximal portals were established on the matched left elbows. The elbows were dissected to display the median and ulnar nerves. Digital calipers were used to measure distances from wires to nerves. Results: For the distal portal, the literature-defined portals were a significantly greater distance (P = .014) from the ulnar nerve (31.22 mm) compared to the far anterior portals (24.65 mm). For the proximal portal, the far anterior portals were a significantly greater distance (P = .026) from the ulnar nerve (26.98 mm) than the literature-defined portals (13.75 mm). There was no significant difference between the far anterior and literature-defined proximal and distal portal techniques in relation to the median nerve. Conclusions: Analysis of elbow arthroscopy anteromedial portal technique shows the far, anterior, proximal, and distal portals are a safe distance from the ulnar and median nerves. A portal modification that may address complicated elbow conditions is a more anterior placement of the medial portals to allow for better visualization and access. Clinical Relevance: The elbow is a difficult joint in which to perform arthroscopic surgery. One option our institution has used for safe portal modification to address complicated elbow conditions is a further anterior placement of the medial portals to allow better visualization and access.

How age and gender influence proximal humerus fracture management in patients older than fifty years.

BACKGROUND: As the aging population expands, proximal humerus fractures have become more prevalent. This study aimed to evaluate acute management of proximal humerus fractures in women and men older than the age of 50 years to determine how gender and age have affected definitive treatment selection over the last decade. METHODS: Patient records were retrospectively reviewed from a commercially available database, PearlDiver, to identify treatments for proximal humerus fractures between 2010 and 2019. Data were separated by age into two cohorts, patients aged 50-64 years and those aged 65 years and older before stratification by gender. Within each cohort, groups were matched with respect to age, region, and Elixhauser comorbidity index. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine which gender was associated with a higher risk of undergoing operative treatment, which gender was associated with a higher risk of receiving arthroplasty, and which of the individual surgical operations were more likely given the patient's gender and age. RESULTS: In the 50- to 64-year-old cohort, men were less likely to be treated operatively than women (odds ratio [OR]: 0.90). However, men in this cohort had a 31% higher likelihood of receiving an arthroplasty procedure than women when given operative treatment. Specifically, men aged 50 to 64 years were more likely to receive hemiarthroplasty (OR: 1.48) and intramedullary nailing (OR: 1.19) and were less likely to have open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) (OR: 0.71). In the 65 years and older cohort, there was no relationship between gender and the likelihood of operative treatment for a proximal humerus fracture. Men older than 65 years had a 29% lower likelihood of receiving an arthroplasty type procedure than women older than 65 years. In addition, men older than 65 years were more likely to receive ORIF (OR: 1.14) and intramedullary nailing (OR: 1.43) and less likely to receive hemiarthroplasty (OR: 0.86) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (OR: 0.66) than similarly aged women. CONCLUSION: Both age and gender have an association with the definitive treatment patients received for proximal humerus fractures over the last decade. Women younger than 65 years of age were more likely to undergo operative treatment, although once older than 65 years, there was no influence of gender on operative treatment. Men younger than 65 years were more likely to receive arthroplasty and women, more likely to undergo ORIF; however, as patients reached the age of 65 years and older, this finding was reversed such that women were more likely to receive arthroplasty and men, ORIF. Further exploration into these differences could improve decision-making between surgeons and patients.

Trending a decade of proximal humerus fracture management in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Proximal humerus fractures are the third most common fracture in older adults. Because of the aging population, the incidence of these fractures and their impact will continue to grow. With advancement in treatment options for proximal humeral fractures, the aim of this study was to evaluate the trends in acute management of proximal humerus fractures to determine how definitive treatment has changed over the past decade in patients older than 65 years. METHODS: Using a commercially available database, patient records were queried from 2010 to 2019 for the incidence of proximal humerus fractures. For each individual year, data were queried to identify the incidence of closed reduction percutaneous pinning (CRPP), hemiarthroplasty (HA), intramedullary nailing (IMN), open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA), or nonoperative treatment for acute proximal humeral fractures. A Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to determine significant changes in the trends of proximal humerus fracture management. Logistic regression analyses were performed to generate odds ratios (OR) with associated 95% confidence intervals comparing each individual procedure performed in 2019 to 2010. RESULTS: A total of 160,836 patients at least 65 years of age and older were diagnosed with a proximal humerus fracture. Of this total, 28,503 (17.72%) patients received operative treatment and 132,333 (82.28%) received nonoperative treatment. From 2010 to 2019, operative treatment trends of proximal humerus fractures changed such that CRPP decreased by 60.0%, HA decreased by 81.4%, IMN decreased by 81.9%, ORIF decreased by 25.7%, TSA decreased by 80.5%, and RSA increased by 1841.4% (all P < .0001). Overall, nonsurgical management increased from 80% to 85% during the examined study period (P < .0001). Patients in 2019 were significantly more likely to receive an RSA (OR 22.65) and were significantly less likely to receive CRPP (OR 0.45), HA (OR 0.20), IMN (OR 0.20), ORIF (OR 0.82), and TSA (OR 0.22) than patients in 2010. In addition, patients in 2019 were significantly more likely to receive nonoperative treatment than patients in 2010 (OR 1.10). CONCLUSION: Over the past decade, most of older adults who sustain proximal humerus fractures continue to receive nonoperative treatment. Although CRPP, IMN, HA, ORIF, and TSA have decreased, RSA has recently become more widely utilized, which is consistent with what has been noted in other countries. Continued examination of the mid- and long-term outcomes of the increasing percentages in RSA should be performed in this population.

Similar Complication Rates for Humeral Shaft Fractures Treated With Humeral Nails Versus Open Reduction and Internal Fixation With Plating.

Humeral shaft fractures account for an estimated 3% of all adult fractures. When operative treatment is indicated, intramedullary (IM) nailing and open reduction and internal fixation with plating are the 2 most common techniques. Early IM nails were associated with poor outcomes, but with advancements in nail design, patient outcomes have been improving with this technique. This study used a nationwide database to quantify and compare the rates of postoperative complications between IM nails and plating for humeral shaft fractures in a national population. An administrative database was queried from the beginning of 2010 to the second quarter of 2017 for patients undergoing IM nailing vs open reduction and internal fixation with a plate for humeral shaft fractures. Systemic complications, fracture complications, and mean prescribed morphine milligram equivalents were collected and compared with statistical analysis. The overall rate of complications was high for both IM nailing (30.8%) and plating (34.2%). Patients were at greater risk for radial nerve palsy and infection at 90 days, 6 months, and 1 year if they received plate fixation (P<.05). The plate cohort had a lower risk of rotator cuff repair for all periods (P<.05). Patients in the IM nail cohort had higher rates of hardware removal for all periods (P<.05). Both IM nails and plates have overall similar rates of complications, and either can be used for humeral shaft fractures, based on surgeon preference, skill, and consideration of minor differences in complications between these 2 treatments. [Orthopedics. 2022;45(3):156-162.].

The Impact of Diabetes on Osteoporosis Management and Secondary Fracture Risk After Primary Fragility Fractures: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Rates of osteoporosis evaluation and management after primary fragility fractures have remained low in recent years. The extent to which this treatment gap affects patients with diabetes is unclear. This study aimed to compare the risk of secondary fractures and rates of osteoporosis diagnosis and management after sentinel fractures in patients with and without diabetes. METHODS: A propensity score-matched cohort study was conducted using the PearlDiver database. Patients aged 50 years and older with primary fragility fractures of the hip, wrist, spine, pelvis, humerus, and other locations were identified. Rates of secondary fractures, dual radiograph absorptiometry (DXA) scans, charted osteoporosis diagnoses (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions), and osteoporosis pharmacotherapy within 2 years were compared for patients with and without diabetes using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Matching yielded 27,052 patients in each cohort. Index humerus fractures were more common in the diabetic cohort (15.0% versus 11.6%, P < 0.001), whereas wrist fractures were more prevalent among the nondiabetic cohort (15.2% versus 19.3%, P < 0.001). Incidence of secondary fractures at 2 years was higher for diabetic patients than nondiabetic patients (5.2% versus 4.7%; odds ratio [OR] 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99 to 1.17). Diabetic patients were significantly less likely to receive a DXA scan (13.2% versus 13.5%; OR 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88 to 0.98), be diagnosed with osteoporosis (9.3% versus 11.9%; OR 0.77; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.82), or start pharmacotherapy (8.1% versus 8.7; OR 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.99). CONCLUSION: Despite diabetes being a well-established risk factor for fragility fractures, diabetic patients were significantly less likely to receive DXA scan evaluation, be formally diagnosed with osteoporosis, or be treated with osteoporosis pharmacotherapy after a sentinel fragility fracture. Incidence of secondary fractures within 2 years was also higher among diabetic patients.

Addition of the Sartorius Tendon Improves Biomechanics of a Four-Strand Hamstring Anterior Cruciate Ligament Autograft.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare the biomechanical properties and change in graft size when adding the sartorius tendon as a fifth strand to a four-strand ST-G hamstring autograft. Additionally, the sartorius tendon was tested individually to quantify its independent biomechanical properties. METHODS: Four-strand and five-strand hamstring tendon grafts were harvested from matched cadaveric knees (mean age: 81.6 ± 9.8). These matched grafts were biomechanically tested using a MTS servohydraulic test system at a rate of testing representative of physiologic tears. The mean diameter, cross-sectional area, and ultimate load to failure were quantified and compared with a one-sided, paired Student's t-test. A P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean diameter of the five-strand graft was significantly larger than the four-strand graft (9.30 ± .84 mm vs 8.10 ± .42 mm; P = .002). The average ultimate load to failure of the five-strand graft was 65.3% higher than the four-strand graft (2984.05 ± 1085.11 N vs. 1805.03 ± 557.69 N; P = .009) and added 14.8% to the diameter of the four strand ST-G autograft. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of the sartorius tendon to a four-strand hamstring autograft significantly increased ultimate load to failure by 65%, graft cross-sectional area by 32%, and graft diameter by 15% compared to a traditional four-strand ST-G autograft. This information can be helpful to surgeons who wish to improve the strength of a four-strand ST-G autograft and for undersized grafts as an alternative to allograft supplementation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The addition of the sartorius to the four-strand ST-G hamstring autograft significantly increases the ultimate load to failure and overall graft diameter, which can be particularly helpful in undersized autografts as an alternative to allograft supplementation.

Human adipose-derived stromal/stem cells expressing doublecortin improve cartilage repair in rabbits and monkeys.

Localized cartilage lesions in early osteoarthritis and acute joint injuries are usually treated surgically to restore function and relieve pain. However, a persistent clinical challenge remains in how to repair the cartilage lesions. We expressed doublecortin (DCX) in human adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (hASCs) and engineered hASCs into cartilage tissues using an in vitro 96-well pellet culture system. The cartilage tissue constructs with and without DCX expression were implanted in the knee cartilage defects of rabbits (n = 42) and monkeys (n = 12). Cohorts of animals were euthanized at 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery to evaluate the cartilage repair outcomes. We found that DCX expression in hASCs increased expression of growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) and matrilin 2 in the engineered cartilage tissues. The cartilage tissues with DCX expression significantly enhanced cartilage repair as assessed macroscopically and histologically at 6, 12, and 24 months after implantation in the rabbits and 24 months after implantation in the monkeys, compared to the cartilage tissues without DCX expression. These findings suggest that hASCs expressing DCX may be engineered into cartilage tissues that can be used to treat localized cartilage lesions.

Midterm Safety of Carbon Dioxide Insufflation of the Knee During Arthroscopic Cartilage-Based Procedures.

BACKGROUND: When compared with fluid arthroscopy, carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation offers an increased scope of view and a more natural-appearing joint cavity, and it eliminates floating debris that may obscure the surgeon's view. Despite the advantages of CO2 insufflation during knee arthroscopy and no reported cases of air emboli, the technique is not widely used because of concerns of hematogenous gas leakage and a lack of case series demonstrating safety. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: To investigate the safety profile of CO2 insufflation during arthroscopic osteochondral allograft transplantation of the knee and report the midterm clinical outcomes using this technique. We hypothesized that patients undergoing CO2 insufflation of the knee joint would have minimal systemic complications, allowing arthroscopic cartilage work in a dry field. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of electronic medical records for patients who underwent arthroscopic osteochondral allograft transplantation of the knee with the use of CO2 insufflation. Included were patients aged 18 to 65 years who underwent knee arthroscopy with CO2 insufflation from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2021, and who had a minimum follow-up of 24 months. All procedures were performed by a single, fellowship-trained and board-certified sports medicine surgeon. The patients' electronic medical records were reviewed in their entirety for relevant demographic and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: We evaluated 27 patients (14 women and 13 men) with a mean age of 38 and a mean follow-up of 39.2 months. CO2 insufflation was used in 100% of cases during the placement of the osteochondral allograft. None of the patients sustained any systemic complications, including signs or symptoms of gas embolism or persistent subcutaneous emphysema. CONCLUSION: The results of this case series suggest CO2 insufflation during knee arthroscopy can be performed safely with minimal systemic complications and provide an alternative environment for treating osteochondral defects requiring a dry field in the knee.

Differences in Patient and Physician Perceptions of Urgency for Musculoskeletal Conditions During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic limited musculoskeletal care to urgent or "nonelective" office visits and procedures. No guidelines exist to inform patients or physicians what meets these criteria. The purpose of this multi-institutional study was to describe the differences in perceptions of urgency for musculoskeletal complaints between patients and providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. An anonymous survey was distributed to patients who visited the authors' orthopedic clinics in January and February 2020 and practicing orthopedic surgeons. The surveys were administered in May 2020 after COVID-19 was officially labeled a pandemic and included questions regarding demographic information and perceptions of orthopedic urgency. A total of 1491 patients and 128 physicians completed the surveys. A significantly higher percentage of physicians considered the following diagnoses an appropriate indication for an urgent visit compared with patients: fracture (P<.001), acute dislocation (P<.001), infection (P<.001), neurologic compromise (P<.001), tumor (P<.001), acute tendon injury (P<.001), weakness (P<.001), inability to bear weight (P<.001), post-surgical problem (P<.001), and painful joint effusion (P<.001). There were no significant differences in the perception of urgency for the following conditions: bursitis/tendonitis (P=1.00), joint/extremity deformity without pain (P=.113), and loss of range of motion of a joint (P=.467). Younger patients and those with higher levels of education were significantly more likely to consider their conditions urgent. Patients may require additional education to prevent delay in treatment of urgent conditions-especially time-sensitive conditions such as neurologic compromise, tumors, and infections-when access to physicians is limited. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(4):e534-e538.].

Advanced elbow arthroscopy: Tips and tricks.

Elbow arthroscopy can be a challenge, however, indications and benefits compared to open elbow surgery are rapidly evolving. The elbow has seemed to lag behind other joints including the knee, shoulder, ankle and the hip, both in number of cases and in widespread acceptance, as a joint amenable to arthroscopic management. This has occurred despite literature demonstrating successful utilization of arthroscopy in the management of a variety of injuries. The purpose of this review is to clarify and expand the indications for arthroscopy of the elbow in 2021. We will also offer tips and tricks to help make elbow arthroscopy more successful. Since originally publishing these guidelines in 2007, elbow arthroscopy has evolved, although the principles and progressions remain the same.