Operatively Treated Talus Fractures: Complications and Survivorship in a Large Patient Sample.

Talus fractures are relatively uncommon; however, the sequelae of talus fractures can cause significant morbidity. Although avascular necrosis has been a consistently reported complication, the reported rates of subsequent arthrodesis have varied widely. The purpose of the present study was to report the complications in a large patient sample of operatively treated talus fractures and to describe the survivorship of open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of the talus. Patients undergoing talus ORIF for closed or open fractures from 2007 to 2011 were identified in the United Healthcare System database by International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, code 825.21 and Current Procedural Terminology codes 28445, 28436, and 28430. Patients with a nonoperative talus fracture or isolated osteochondral defect were excluded, leaving 1527 patients in the final analysis. We also identified patients who had required subsequent subtalar, pantalar, and tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodeses using Current Procedural Terminology codes 28725, 28705, and 28715, respectively. Complications and demographic data were recorded. Of the 1527 patients, 29 (1.9%) had undergone subsequent arthrodesis within 4 years; 64 patients (4.2%) developed wound complications that did not require surgical intervention, 11 patients (0.7%) were readmitted, 204 (13.3%) presented to the emergency department (ED), and 96 (6.3%) underwent operative irrigation and debridement (I&D). The overall complication rate was 19.5%. Patients aged >34 years had a significantly greater rate of ED visits (54.7%, p = .015) and overall complications (56.8%, p < .001). In conclusion, ORIF of talus fractures has good survivorship when considering the failure of initial surgery or the requirement for secondary arthrodesis. Medical complications and hospital readmission were relatively rare; however, ED visits and infection requiring I&D were relatively common after ORIF of talus fractures.

The iliotibial tract: imaging, anatomy, injuries, and other pathology.

The iliotibial tract, also known as Maissiat's band or the iliotibial band, and its associated muscles function to extend, abduct, and laterally rotate the hip, as well as aid in the stabilization of the knee. A select group of associated injuries and pathologies of the iliotibial tract are seen as sequela of repetitive stress and direct trauma. This article intends to educate the radiologist, orthopedist, and other clinicians about iliotibial tract anatomy and function and the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and imaging findings of associated pathologies. Specifically, this article will review proximal iliotibial band syndrome, Morel-Lavallée lesions, external snapping hip syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome and bursitis, traumatic tears, iliotibial insertional tendinosis and peritendonitis, avulsion fractures at Gerdy's tubercle, and Segond fractures. The clinical management of these pathologies will also be discussed in brief.

Incidence and Characterization of Hypoesthesia in the Distribution of the Infrapatellar Branch of the Saphenous Nerve after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Prospective Study of Patient-Reported Numbness.

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of patient-reported numbness following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), if postoperative numbness dissipates with time, and how the graft type affects numbness severity. A total of 218 patients undergoing ACLR were prospectively enrolled. At 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively, patients completed a questionnaire assessing numbness severity and location. Each time, patients rated their sensory deficit from 0 to 10 (0 = no deficit; 10 = complete lack of sensation) and indicated the location of their sensory deficit by marking a picture of a knee divided into nine rectangular segments. A mixed effect linear regression model was used to identify predictors for the patient-reported numbness severity. Overall, 69.8% (150/218) of patients reported numbness at 6 weeks, 50.0% (97/194) at 6 months, and 42.2% (78/185) at 1 year. Allograft patients reported a mean numbness severity of 2.9 ± 0.3 (mean ± standard error), 1.7 ± 0.2, and 1.4 ± 0.3 at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year, respectively. The 6-week, 6-month, and 1-year averages were 4.7 ± 0.4, 2.7 ± 0.4, and 1.7 ± 0.4 for bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autograft patients and 4.3 ± 0.4, 2.9 ± 0.4, and 2.5 ± 0.4 for hamstring autograft patients. The model indicated that the use of hamstring autografts increased patient-reported numbness by an average of 1.4 ± 0.5 across all time points, and the use of a BTB autograft increased patient-reported numbness by 1.2 ± 0.4 across all time points. Time from surgery decreased the severity of patient-reported numbness for all graft types (-1.3 ± 0.2 at 6 months and -1.7 ± 0.2 at 1 year). Hypoesthesia in the distribution of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve is common after ACLR but is likely to dissipate with time. Patients undergoing ACLR with allograft may be less likely to develop sensory deficits, and these deficits may be less severe.

Outcomes after hip arthroscopy in patients with workers' compensation claims.

Patients with a workers' compensation claim have been shown to have inferior outcomes after various orthopedic procedures. In hip arthroscopy, good to excellent results have been shown in the athletic and prearthritic population in short-term and long-term follow-up. In the current study, the authors' hypothesis was that patients with a workers' compensation claim would have inferior outcomes after hip arthroscopy compared with patients without a workers' compensation claim. All patients with a workers' compensation claim who underwent hip arthroscopy over a 2-year period were studied. Postoperative functional outcomes were assessed with the Hip Outcome Score and modified Harris Hip Score. A cohort of 30 patients who did not have a workers' compensation claim was selected for comparison. Twenty-six patients were identified who had a workers' compensation claim and underwent hip arthroscopy performed by a single surgeon at the authors' institution with at least 6 months of follow-up. These patients were compared with 30 patients who did not have a workers' compensation claim. The workers' compensation group had a Hip Outcome Score of 66.5±28.8 and the non-workers' compensation group had a Hip Outcome Score of 89.4±12.0. This difference was statistically significant with Wilcoxon test (P=.003). The workers' compensation group had an average modified Harris Hip Score of 72.5±20.7 (mean±SD), and the non-workers' compensation group had a modified Harris Hip Score of 75.6±15.3. This difference was not significantly significant with Wilcoxon test (P=.9). At latest follow-up, 15 patients in the workers' compensation group (58%) were working. Patients returned to work an average of 6.8 months after surgery. The current study showed that postoperative functional outcomes in the workers' compensation group, as measured by Hip Outcome Score, were significantly inferior to those in the non-workers' compensation group. No statistical difference in postoperative modified Harris Hip Score was seen.

Postoperative radiographs after ACL reconstruction are not cost-effective.

Postoperative radiographs have become standard after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, even though few findings in the literature substantiate their efficacy. The goal of this study was to determine whether routine postoperative radiographs were cost-effective in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. In addition, the authors sought to determine whether these radiographs provided meaningful clinical information that changed postoperative management. Between January and December 2010, the authors retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent ACL reconstruction at their institution. The clinical course of all patients was reviewed to determine whether the results of the radiograph at the time of interpretation changed the plan of care. All radiographs were then scrutinized for abnormal findings that could have changed the plan of care if noted at the time of follow-up. Of 624 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction, 340 (54.4%) had a postoperative radiograph within 30 days. No radiograph showed a complication as interpreted by the surgeon at the time the radiograph was obtained, and no changes were made in routine postoperative care. On final review of each radiograph, none showed findings that would have changed management. The cost of performing and interpreting radiographs was $42.62 per patient, with a combined cost of $14,490.80. The findings of the study showed that postoperative radiographs after ACL reconstruction should not be considered "routine" practice. In addition, because these studies provided little clinical information, they are recommended only when symptoms suggest a mechanical complication and in cases of unforeseen postoperative trauma.

Allograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients younger than 30 years: a matched-pair comparison of bone-patellar tendon-bone and tibialis anterior.

We conducted a study to compare patient-reported outcomes and graft-rupture rates of bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) and tibialis anterior (TA) allograft primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in patients younger than 30 years. Patients were retrospectively identified as having undergone ACL reconstruction with either a BPTB (n = 20) or a TA (n = 20) allograft. Each patient in the BPTB group was matched to a patient in the TA group based on sex, age at time of surgery, height, weight, and preoperative activity level. The Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form were administered at a minimum of 1 year after surgery. Mean Lysholm scores were 92.9 (BPTB) and 93.0 (TA), and mean IKDC scores were 92.6 (BPTB) and 90.3 (TA). The differences were not statistically significant. Overall graft-rupture rates for the study period were 4.7% (BPTB) and 1.9% (TA) (P = .18). There was no statistically significant difference in patient-rated outcomes and graft-rupture rates between BPTB and TA allografts for ACL reconstruction at a minimum of 1 year after surgery. Future research efforts should focus on mid- and long-term follow-up and objective outcomes.