The Impact of Epidural Analgesia on Immobility and extended Hospital Stay After Periacetabular Osteotomy.

AIMS: Early mobilisation after periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) represents an important goal after surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of epidural aznalgesia (EA) is associated with prolonged immobility and an increased length of stay (LOS) after PAO surgery. METHODS: From January 2022 to July 2023, the study included a cohort of 150 PAO procedures all performed by the same surgeon (SSA). Patients were categorized into two distinct groups: those who received epidural analgesia (EA) (79 PAOs) and those who did not receive EA (71 PAOs). "Ready for discharge" was defined as the ability to ascend and descend a standardized flight of stairs independently. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify additional factors influencing LOS after PAO. RESULTS: Patients in the EA group were ready for discharge 5.95 ± 2.09 days after surgery which was significantly longer than in the No EA group´s average of 4.18 days ± 2.5, (p < 0.001). While the reduction in the number of patients experiencing pulmonary embolism in the No EA group did not reach statistical significance, it still demonstrated a relevant decrease from two patients within the EA group (2.53%) to 0 (0%) in the No EA group. The active engagement of the surgeon in mobilising patients led to a substantial reduction in LOS, decreasing it from 5.81 ± 2.18 days to 2.2 ± 0.77 days (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed five independent factors influencing the LOS following PAO which included absence of EA, surgeon-led mobilisation within 24 h after surgery, postoperative hemoglobin levels, BMI, and prior experience with PAO surgery on the contralateral side. CONCLUSIONS: Opting against the use of EA in patients undergoing PAO is advisable, as it will result in extended postoperative immobility and the associated risks. Additionally, the active participation of the surgeon in the mobilisation process is strongly recommended.

Unveiling the learning curve of periacetabular osteotomy.

Aims: Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is widely recognized as a demanding surgical procedure for acetabular reorientation. Reports about the learning curve have primarily focused on complication rates during the initial learning phase. Therefore, our aim was to assess the PAO learning curve from an analytical perspective by determining the number of PAOs required for the duration of surgery to plateau and the accuracy to improve. Methods: The study included 118 consecutive PAOs in 106 patients. Of these, 28 were male (23.7%) and 90 were female (76.3%). The primary endpoint was surgical time. Secondary outcome measures included radiological parameters. Cumulative summation analysis was used to determine changes in surgical duration. A multivariate linear regression model was used to identify independent factors influencing surgical time. Results: The learning curve in this series was 26 PAOs in a period of six months. After 26 PAO procedures, a significant drop in surgical time was observed and a plateau was also achieved. The mean duration of surgery during the learning curve was 103.8 minutes (SD 33.2), and 69.7 minutes (SD 18.6) thereafter (p < 0.001). Radiological correction of acetabular retroversion showed a significant improvement after having performed a total of 93 PAOs, including anteverting PAOs on 35 hips with a retroverted acetabular morphology (p = 0.005). Several factors were identified as independent variables influencing duration of surgery, including patient weight (ß = 0.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2 to 0.7); p < 0.001), learning curve procedure phase of 26 procedures (ß = 34.0 (95% CI 24.3 to 43.8); p < 0.001), and the degree of lateral correction expressed as the change in the lateral centre-edge angle (ß = 0.7 (95% CI 0.001 to 1.3); p = 0.048). Conclusion: The learning curve for PAO surgery requires extensive surgical training at a high-volume centre, with a minimum of 50 PAOs per surgeon per year. This study defined a cut-off value of 26 PAO procedures, after which a significant drop in surgical duration occurred. Furthermore, it was observed that a retroverted morphology of the acetabulum required a greater number of procedures to acquire proficiency in consistently eliminating the crossover sign. These findings are relevant for fellows and fellowship programme directors in establishing the extent of training required to impart competence in PAO.

Increased asphericity of the femoral head-neck junction in professional breakers compared to hobby athletes - a retrospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Breaking has gained public attention as a form of sports activity. The associated intense movements of the hip joints are possibly linked to the development of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Therefore, this study aimed to assess clinical and radiographic FAI measures in professional breakers compared to hobby athletes. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of professional breakers with persisting hip pain who were 1:1 matched to a cohort of FAI patients without professional sports careers from our outpatient clinic. The primary endpoint assessed on standardized plain radiographs was the alpha angle (AA). Further measures were the acetabular index (AI), lateral center-edge angle (LCEA), crossover sign, ischial spine sign, and femoral head extrusion index (FHEI). The modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score were used to obtain patient-reported measures. RESULTS: We recruited ten professional breakers and matched them to ten hobby athletes. The median AA was significantly higher in the breakers compared with the hobby athletes (73° [IQR 66.5°, 84.2°]) vs. 61.8° [IQR 59.5°, 64.8°], p = 0.0004). There was a significant reduction in weekly training hours in breakers after diagnosis (13.0 hours [interquartile range [IQR] 9.5, 32.4] to 1.5 hours [IQR 0, 4.8], p = 0.0039). There were no inter-group differences regarding mHHS, WOMAC, and additional radiographic measurements. CONCLUSION: Breakers have higher AA in cam-type FAI compared to nonprofessional athletes. The corresponding hip pain significantly reduced training hours and caused the end of their breaking career. The potentially high prevalence of FAI in breakers and the corresponding consequences need to be considered early when athletes present with hip pain.

Management of anterior cruciate ligament revision in adults: the 2022 ESSKA consensus: part II-surgical strategy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this ESSKA consensus is to give recommendations based on scientific evidence and expert opinion to improve the diagnosis, preoperative planning, indication and surgical strategy in Anterior Cruciate Ligament revision. METHODS: Part 2, presented herein, followed exactly the same methodology as Part 1: the so-called ESSKA formal consensus derived from the Delphi method. Eighteen questions were ultimately asked. The quality of the answers received the following grades of recommendation: Grade A (high level scientific support), Grade B (scientific presumption), Grade C (low level scientific support) or Grade D (expert opinion). All answers were scored from 1 to 9 by the raters. Once a general consensus had been reached between the steering and rating groups, the question-answer sets were submitted to the peer-review group. A final combined meeting of all the members of the consensus was then held to ratify the document. RESULTS: The review of the literature revealed a rather low scientific quality of studies examining the surgical strategy in cases of ACL reconstruction failure. Of the 18 questions, only 1 received a Grade A rating; 5, a Grade B rating; and 9, grades of C or D. The three remaining complex questions received further evaluations for each portion of the question and were looked at in more detail for the following grades: B and D; A, C and D; or A, B, C and D. The mean rating of all questions by the rating group was 8.0 + - 1.1. The questions and recommendations are listed in the article. CONCLUSION: ACL revision surgery, especially the surgical strategy, is a widely debated subject with many different opinions and techniques. The literature reveals a poor level of standardization. Therefore, this international European consensus project is of great importance and clinical relevance for guiding the management of ACL revision in adults. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Management of anterior cruciate ligament revision in adults: the 2022 ESSKA consensus part III-indications for different clinical scenarios using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method.

PURPOSE: The aim of the ESSKA 2022 consensus Part III was to develop patient-focused, contemporary, evidence-based, guidelines on the indications for revision anterior cruciate ligament surgery (ACLRev). METHODS: The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM) was used to provide recommendations on the appropriateness of surgical treatment versus conservative treatment in different clinical scenarios based on current scientific evidence in conjunction with expert opinion. A core panel defined the clinical scenarios with a moderator and then guided a panel of 17 voting experts through the RAM tasks. Through a two-step voting process, the panel established a consensus as to the appropriateness of ACLRev for each scenario based on a nine-point Likert scale (in which a score in the range 1-3 was considered 'inappropriate', 4-6 'uncertain', and 7-9 'appropriate'). RESULTS: The criteria used to define the scenarios were: age (18-35 years vs 36-50 years vs 51-60 years), sports activity and expectation (Tegner 0-3 vs 4-6 vs 7-10), instability symptoms (yes vs no), meniscus status (functional vs repairable vs non-functional meniscus), and osteoarthritis (OA) (Kellgren-Lawrence [KL] grade 0-I-II vs grade III). Based on these variables, a set of 108 clinical scenarios was developed. ACLRev was considered appropriate in 58%, inappropriate in 12% (meaning conservative treatment is indicated), and uncertain in 30%. Experts considered ACLRev appropriate for patients with instability symptoms, aged ≤ 50 years, regardless of sports activity level, meniscus status, and OA grade. Results were much more controversial in patients without instability symptoms, while higher inappropriateness was related to scenarios with older age (51-60 years), low sporting expectation, non-functional meniscus, and knee OA (KL III). CONCLUSION: This expert consensus establishes guidelines as to the appropriateness of ACLRev based on defined criteria and provides a useful reference for clinical practice in determining treatment indications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Fifty percent of patients undergoing periacetabular osteotomy for hip dysplasia showed normal findings upon neonatal ultrasound screening : Symptomatic hip dysplasia in adulthood despite inconspicuous neonatal hip ultrasound.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is characterized by the pathomorphology of inadequate acetabular coverage of the femoral head leading to increased loading of the articular surface and acetabular rim. If left untreated, this ultimately leads to osteoarthritis. Germany introduced a nationwide universal ultrasound screening program for all newborn infants in 1996. Subsequently, the incidence of undiagnosed hip dislocation was significantly reduced. In this consecutive series of patients who underwent periacetabular osteotomy for the treatment of symptomatic dysplasia of the hip between October 2014 and October 2022 data regarding the U3 screening examination were analyzed. The data included whether the examination was performed, whether the findings were positive or negative, whether the patients underwent any form of treatment in the case of a positive finding and whether a control X­ray was performed. This study provides evidence that acetabular undercoverage cannot be ruled out based on a normal finding in ultrasonography screening. Furthermore, the study also shows that residual dysplasia may persist despite attempts of conservative treatment.

The Female Pelvis Is Associated with a Lateralized Ischium and a Reduced Ischiofemoral Space.

BACKGROUND: Pelvi-femoral conflicts are increasingly recognized for their explanatory role in the pathology of extra-articular hip impingement. Ischiofemoral impingement (IFI) is a type of impingement between the femur and the ischium that causes high femoral antetorsion and valgus femoral neck orientation. It is unknown whether obstetric adaptation of the female pelvis renders the female hip at a higher risk of sustaining IFI. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the pelvic morphology on the ischiofemoral space (IFS). METHODS: Plain radiographs of healthy individuals with no symptomatic hip disease were obtained in a functional standing position in a standardized manner and utilized for measurement of the interischial and ischiofemoral widths, subpubic angle, and centrum collum diaphyseal (CCD) angle. Linear regression was performed to determine the influence of morphometric measures on the ischiofemoral space. RESULTS: Sixty-five radiographs (34 females and 31 males) were included. The cohort was stratified according to gender. Significant gender-related differences were noted regarding the ischiofemoral distance (31% increase in males, p < 0.001), pubic-arc angle (30% increased in females, p < 0.001), and the interischial space (7% increase in females, p < 0.001). CCD did not significantly differ between genders (p = 0.2). Factors influencing the IFS include the pubic-arc angle (ß = -0.01 (CI -0.02--0.00), p = 0.003), interischial distance (ß = -0.11 (CI -0.23--0.00), p = 0.049) and CCD (ß = -0.06 (CI -0.09--0.04), p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric adaptation is associated with an increased subpubic angle that shifts the ischia laterally and away from the symphysis. The resultant reduction in the ischiofemoral space renders the female pelvis at a higher risk for a pelvi-femoral conflict, or more precisely, an ischiofemoral conflict, due to the reduced ischiofemoral space of the hip. The CCD angle of the femur was shown not to be gender specific. However, the CCD angle demonstrates an influence on the ischiofemoral space, rendering the proximal femur a target for corresponding osteotomies.

Survival of the dysplastic hip after periacetabular osteotomy: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) has become a popular procedure for re-orientation of the acetabulum in patients with a developmental pathomorphology. Since its first description by Reinhold Ganz in 1988, many institutions worldwide have adopted the procedure for the treatment of developmental hip dysplasia (DDH) and have subsequently reported their results. The aim of this study was to provide a meta-analysis of the likelihood of long-term survival of a dysplastic hip after PAO. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted using Medline, Cochrane and "Web of Science" databases to identify articles reporting survival estimates for PAO in patients with DDH. To be included in the analysis, studies had to include patient cohorts aged <40 years, with Osteoarthritis grade < Tönnis III and no form of neuromuscular dysplasia. Adjustment for cohort overlap was performed. Quality assessment included level of evidence (LOE) according to the oxford center for LOE criteria and the "Methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS)". After data extraction, a random-effects meta-analytical model was applied to provide weighted mean estimates of survival at 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and 20 years. RESULTS: Nine relevant articles included 2268 dysplastic hips that underwent PAO in 9 institutions. Of the included studies, 5 presented level III evidence and 4 presented level IV evidence. The MINORS score was 11 for 3 studies, 12 for 4 studies and 13 for 2 studies. The 5-year survival after PAO was 96.1% (95% CI, 94.9-97.3), the 10-year survival was 91.3% (95% CI, 87.7-94.8), 15-year survival 85.0% (95% CI, 78.9-91.1), 20-year survival 67.6% (95% CI, 53.9-81.3). CONCLUSIONS: The results provide a representative survival estimate of a dysplastic hip after PAO based on global evidence. This should provide clinicians and patients with an adequate reflection of prognostic expectations after this kind of surgery.

Management of anterior cruciate ligament revision in adults: the 2022 ESSKA consensus part I-diagnostics and preoperative planning.

PURPOSE: The aim of this ESSKA consensus is to give recommendations based on evidence and expert opinion to improve diagnosis, preoperative planning, indication and surgical strategy in ACL revision. METHODS: The European expert surgeons and scientists were divided into four groups to participate in this consensus. A "literature group" (four surgeons); "steering group" (14 surgeons and scientists); "rating group" (19 surgeons) and finally "peer review group" (51 representatives of the ESSKA-affiliated national societies from 27 countries). The steering group prepared eighteen question-answer sets. The quality of the answers received grades of recommendation ranging from A (high-level scientific support), to B (scientific presumption), C (low level scientific support) or D (expert opinion). These question-answer sets were then evaluated by the rating group. All answers were scored from 1 to 9. The comments of the rating group were incorporated by the steering group and the consensus was submitted to the rating group a second time. Once a general consensus was reached between the steering and rating groups, the question-answer sets were submitted to the peer review group. A final combined meeting of all the members of the consensus was held to ratify the document. RESULTS: The literature review for the diagnosis and preoperative planning of ACL revision revealed a rather low scientific quality. None of the 18 questions was graded A and six received a grade B. The mean rating of all the questions by the rating group was 8.4 ± 0.3. The questions and recommendations are listed below. CONCLUSION: ACL revision surgery is a widely debated subject with many different opinions and techniques. The literature reveals a poor level of standardisation. Therefore, this international consensus project is of great importance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Gender authorship trends in spine research publications - Research across different countries from 1976 to 2020.

•Gender trends in authorship showed an increase in female authors from 1976 to 2020.•In 2020, Europe had the highest and Asia the lowest proportion of female authors.•The Netherlands had the highest proportion of women and Japan the lowest.

The Scientific Evolution of Periacetabular Osteotomy: A Global Review.

It is well-known that hip disorders are frequently of bony origin related to an underlying pathomorphology. A fundamental understanding of morphology and biomechanics is therefore of essential importance for a targeted approach in defining treatment plans. Treatment is frequently based on altering bony morphology, for which a set of effective techniques have been proposed. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) allows for reorientation of the acetabulum and powerful correction of acetabular coverage. The revolutionary aspect of PAO compared to prior osteotomies lies in maintenance of the integrity of the posterior column. This allows for a substantial increase in primary stability, a larger bony surface for healing, and simple reorientation of the acetabular fragment that is free of posterior ligamentous restraints. The results for dysplasia are very promising. Indications have been refined by studies revealing that the presence of degenerative changes and age > 40 years at the time of surgery represent prognostic factors of poorer outcome. Indications have also been broadened to include acetabular retroversion (with posterolateral dysplasia) and borderline hip dysplasia. A glimpse at the future would reflect major advances related to individual planning, surgical training, and precise surgical conduction. In the era of digitalization, augmented reality may assist in performing bony cuts and act as an aid for some of the blind ischial and retro-acetabular cuts. Innovations in perioperative management will enhance recovery after the procedure and allow for early recovery programs with optimized protocols of pain management. Considering that the success of PAO in the young is comparable to the success of hip arthroplasty in the old, PAO should be considered one of the pillars of modern orthopedic surgery.

Back to the Future with Osteotomies around the Hip.

If we were to look back at the history of orthopedics only two generations ago, the intertrochanteric osteotomy was a well-established procedure for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip [...].

Evaluation of patella height in native knees and arthroplasty: an instructional review.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the gold standard for treating advanced knee osteoarthritis. Among the postoperative complications of TKA are true patella infera (TPI) and pseudo patella infera (PPI), which should be differentiated since TPI exhibits significantly worse clinical outcomes. Multiple radiological patella height indices (PHI) exist; some were modified or originally designed for knees with implanted endoprostheses. However, there is no consensus on measuring and comparing patella height. Due to the lack of established, simple, reliable, and reproducible concepts for assessing patella height for arthroplasty, measuring patella height and the change of patella height by or after TKA have been challenging tasks for clinicians and researchers. This is a review of the current literature on methods for measuring patella height, with special attention to the ability to differentiate between the TPI and PPI after TKA. All literature on the topic was retrieved, and references from relevant articles were investigated until the end of April 2022.

Full-length standing radiographs can be used for determination of the Femoral neck-shaft angle but not acetabular coverage.

INTRODUCTION: The exact evaluation of hip morphology is essential for surgical planning. A wide range of morphometric measures of the acetabulum is deduced from conventional anterior-posterior (ap) pelvic radiographs. Full-length weight-bearing radiographs (FLWBR) also depict the acetabulum and are commonly used for osteotomy planning of the lower limb. This study aimed to determine whether FLWBR can be used to evaluate acetabular morphology. METHODS: Radiographs of patients receiving a hip workup that included a conventional ap pelvic X-ray and FLWBR were utilized for radiographic measurements. The following parameters were measured: extrusion index of the femoral head, anterior wall index, posterior wall index, lateral center edge angle (LCE), acetabular index, pubic arc angle (subpubic angle), and centrum-collum-diaphyseal angle (CCD). RESULTS: FLWBR depicted a significantly reduced anterior coverage (p = 0.049) and increased posterior coverage (p < 0.001), higher acetabular index (p = 0.015), and higher pubic-arc angle (p = 0.02) compared to conventional ap pelvic radiographs. There were no significant differences regarding the CCD angle (p = 0.28), extrusion index (p = 0.31), and LCE (p = 0.16). DISCUSSION: The CCD angle of the femur can be measured on conventional ap radiographs and full-length weight-bearing X-rays for lower limb deformity analysis. However, FLWBR will depict an anteverted acetabular morphology, rendering conventional ap radiographs necessary for planning pelvic osteotomies.

Collagen wrapping and local platelet-rich fibrin do not improve the survival rates of ACL repair with dynamic intraligamentary stabilization: a retrospective case series after ≥5 years postoperatively.

PURPOSE: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair has been recommended as a treatment principle for ACL tears. Several authors have advocated a potential role for primary repair techniques in the ACL decision tree. However, long-term results have been controversial. This study aims to determine the survival of the primarily repaired ACL after dynamic intraligamentary stabilization (DIS) with and without augmentation. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2019, 102 patients with isolated proximal ACL ruptures underwent DIS repair within 21 days from injury and were available for follow-up either clinically or telephonically after ≥5 years postoperatively. In 45 cases, DIS repair was augmented with collagen fleece wrapping, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) or both. Failure was defined as traumatic re-rupture or conversion to ACL reconstruction. The patients being available for physical examination underwent a.-p. stability measurement with a KT-1000 device. Functional outcome was measured with the IKDC, Tegner and Lysholm scores. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Log-Rank Test and Binominal logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: After a minimum 5-year follow-up, 71/102 (69.6%) DIS repairs were not re-reptured and clinically and/or subjectively stable. Augmentation did not improve survival rates (p = 0.812). The identified factors influencing failure were a younger age and a pre-injury Tegner activity level of ≥7. 95.7% of those patients with an intact ACL repair had normal or near normal knee function based on the IKDC scoring system. CONCLUSIONS: The 5-year overall survival rate of DIS was 69.6%. Collagen fleece wrapping and local PRF application did not improve survival. Patients not suffering failure of repair demonstrated high satisfaction. Nevertheless, the results are inferior to those of established ACL reconstruction procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Case series, Level IV.

Microbiological Advantages of Open Incisional Biopsies for the Diagnosis of Suspected Periprosthetic Joint Infections.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) represents a serious complication following total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). When preoperative synovial fluid cultures remain inconclusive, open incisional joint biopsy (OIB) can support causative microorganism identification. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the potential benefit of OIB in THA and TKA patients with suspected PJI and ambigious diagnostic results following synovial fluid aspiration. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed all patients treated from 2016 to 2020 with suspected PJI. Comparing the microbiology of OIB and the following revision surgery, we calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the number needed to treat (NNT). RESULTS: We examined the diagnostic validity of OIB in 38 patients (20 female) with a median age of 66.5 years. In THA patients (n = 10), sensitivity was 75%, specificity was 66.67%, PPV was 60%, NPV was 80%, and NNT was 2.5. In TKA patients (n = 28), sensitivity was 62.5%, specificity was 95.24%, PPV was 83.33%, NPV was 86.96%, and NNT was 1.42. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that OIB represents an adequate diagnostic tool when previously assessed microbiological results remain inconclusive. Particularly in TKA patients, OIB showed an exceptionally high specificity, PPV, and NPV, whereas the predictive validity of the diagnosis of PJI in THA patients remained low.

Outcome Analysis of the Use of Cerament® in Patients with Chronic Osteomyelitis and Corticomedullary Defects.

BACKGROUND: Chronic osteomyelitis (OM) is a progressive but mostly low-grade infection of the bones. The management of this disease is highly challenging for physicians. Despite systematic treatment approaches, recurrence rates are high. Further, functional and patient-reported outcome data are lacking, especially after osseous defects are filled with bioresorbable antibiotic carriers. OBJECTIVE: To assess functional and patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) following the administration of Cerament® G or V due to corticomedullary defects in chronic OM. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study from 2015 to 2020, including all patients who received Cerament® for the aforementioned reason. Patients were diagnosed and treated in accordance with globally valid recommendations, and corticomedullary defects were filled with Cerament® G or V, depending on the expected germ spectrum. Patients were systematically followed up, and outcome measures were collected during outpatient clinic visits. RESULTS: Twenty patients with Cierny and Mader type III OM were included in this study and followed up for 20.2 ± 17.2 months (95%CI 12.1-28.3). Ten of these patients needed at least one revision (2.0 ± 1.3 revisions per patient (95%CI 1.1-2.9) during the study period due to OM persistence or local wound complications. There were no statistically significant differences in functional scores or PROMs between groups. CONCLUSION: The use of Cerament® G and V in chronic OM patients with corticomedullary defects appears to have good functional outcomes and satisfactory PROMs. However, the observed rate of local wound complications and the OM persistence rate may be higher when compared to previously published data.

Essential concepts in the treatment of common joint fractures: A narrative review.

Proximal fractures of the humerus are at high risk of osteonecrosis if the medial calcar is disrupted and the metaphyseal extension of the head fragment is <8mm. Risk factors for failure of osteosynthesis include: poor bone stock, varus dislocation, head dislocation and medial comminution. During surgical treatment of distal humerus fractures, one should aim to restore the arc and stabilize the columns. Several technical rules have been outlined by O´Driscoll and are mentioned in this article in detail. In fractures of the distal radius, the length, the joint surface, and joint angles (palmar inclination ca. 11°, radial inclination ca. 22°) should be reconstructed. Several surgical factors are associated with the development of radiocarpal osteoarthritis including the sagittal depth of the articular cavity and the anterior-posterior diameter of the fossa lunata of the distal radius. When managing fractures of the proximal tibia, a four- or more column classification system should be used to plan the surgical steps and choose the appropriate approach(es). In ankle fractures, intraoperative 3-D-Scan should be considered especially in the case of syndesmotic involvement or involvement of the posterior malleolus.

Comparing Perioperative Outcome Measures of the Dynamic Hip Screw and the Femoral Neck System.

Background and Objective: Various fixation devices and surgical techniques are available for the management of proximal femur fractures. Recently, the femoral neck system (FNS) was introduced, and was promoted on the basis of less invasiveness, shorter operating time, and less fluoroscopy time compared to previous systems. The aim of this study was to compare two systems for the internal fixation of femoral neck fractures (FNF), namely the dynamic hip screw (DHS) with an anti-rotation screw (ARS) and an FNS. The outcome measures included operating room time (ORT), dose−area product (DAP), length of stay (LOS), perioperative changes in haemoglobin concentrations, and transfusion rate. Materials and Methods: A retrospective single-centre study was conducted. Patients treated for FNF between 1 January 2020 and 30 September 2021 were included, provided that they had undergone closed reduction and internal fixation. We measured the centrum-collum-diaphyseal (CCD) and the Pauwels angle preoperatively and one week postoperatively. Results: In total, 31 patients (16 females), with a mean age of 62.81 ± 15.05 years, were included. Fracture complexity assessed by the Pauwels and Garden classification did not differ between groups preoperatively. Nonetheless, the ORT (54 ± 26.1 min vs. 91.68 ± 23.96 min, p < 0.01) and DAP (721 ± 270.6 cGycm² vs. 1604 ± 1178 cGycm², p = 0.03) were significantly lower in the FNS group. The pre- and postoperative CCD and Pauwels angles did not differ statistically between groups. Perioperative haemoglobin concentration changes (−1.77 ± 1.19 g/dl vs. −1.74 ± 1.37 g/dl) and LOS (8 ± 5.27 days vs. 7.35 ± 3.43 days) were not statistically different. Conclusions: In this cohort, the ORT and DAP were almost halved in the patient group treated with FNS. This may confer a reduction in secondary risks related to surgery.