Comparing outcomes of plate augmentation, nail exchange, and nail exchange with plate augmentation in the treatment of atrophic femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nailing: a multicenter retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Intramedullary (IM) nailing is the treatment of choice for femoral shaft fractures, but nonunion rates have been reported to be as high as 12%. Surgical interventions for nonunion involve exchange nailing or plate augmentation. Recently, a combined treatment of exchange nailing and plate augmentation has demonstrated good results, but its comparative effectiveness remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of three different surgical interventions for atrophic femoral shaft nonunion, and investigate the factors that affect bone healing after reoperation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at five university hospitals involving 149 patients with aseptic atrophic nonunion after IM nailing. These patients underwent reoperation with plate augmentation, exchange nailing, or combined treatment. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were assessed and compared according to reoperation procedure. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors affecting persistent nonunion after reoperation. RESULTS: Of the cohort, 57 patients underwent plate augmentation, 64 underwent exchange nailing, and 28 received combined treatment. There were no significant differences in patient demographics among the groups. Exchange nailing produced a significantly lower union rate than did the combined treatment (82.8% vs. 100%, p = 0.016), whereas no significant difference was observed in the union rate and time to the union between plate augmentation and the combined treatment. Combined treatment showed the longest operative time and the greatest transfusion requirements. The risk factors for persistent nonunion included age, absence of autogenous bone grafts, and use of an exchange nailing technique. CONCLUSIONS: Exchange nailing as a treatment for atrophic femoral shaft nonunion after IM nailing resulted in a lower union rate. The efficacy of the combined treatment requires further study, and persistent nonunion may be influenced by age, bone grafting, and surgical techniques. A comprehensive approach targeting both biological environment and mechanical stability is crucial in the treatment of atrophic femoral shaft nonunion.

One-year change in handgrip strength in patients with hip fracture: a prospective comparison with hip disease.

BACKGROUND: Handgrip strength (HGS) has been adopted as one of the diagnostic tools for sarcopenia and is gaining attention because of its association with osteoporotic hip fractures. Longitudinal data of HGS at multiple follow-up intervals in older hip fractures are lacking. We aimed to investigate and compare the HGS changes in patients with hip fracture within 1-year with those in patients with hip diseases. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted between June 2018 and July 2020. The HGS was measured preoperatively, at predischarge, and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. We prospectively compared the number of patients with low muscle strength (LMS) as well as the HGS changes over time between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 115 consecutive patients with hip fracture (n = 58) and hip disease (57) were enrolled. The rate of preoperative LMS was higher in the hip fracture group than control (P = 0.005), but there was no significant difference in the postoperative period (P = 0.343). The mean HGS was lower in the hip fracture group at all measured time periods. The preoperative HGS increased right before discharge (15.2 kg to 17.0 kg), and plateaued thereafter 1-year in the fracture group, whereas there were no statistically significant changes in serial follow-up trends in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative HGS in fracture patients may have been underestimated, due to different position of the arm, insufficient practice, or pain. Subsequently, HGS was rather constant during 1-year indicating no development of general sarcopenia after treatment for hip fracture. Therefore, in hip fracture patients, the predischarge HGS might be more reliable than preoperative HGS.

The Korean hip fracture registry study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the Korean Hip Fracture Registry (KHFR) Study is to establish a nationwide, hospital-based prospective cohort study of adults with hip fracture to explore the incidence and risk factors of second osteoporotic fractures for a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) model. METHODS: The KHFR, a prospective multicenter longitudinal study, was launched in 2014. Sixteen centers recruited participants who were treated for hip fracture. The inclusion criteria were patients, who were treated for proximal femur fracture due to low-energy trauma and aged 50 or more at the time of injury. Until 2018, 5,841 patients were enrolled in this study. Follow-up surveys were conducted annually to determine occurrence of second osteoporotic fracture, and 4,803 participants completed at least one follow-up survey. DISCUSSION: KHFR is a unique resource of individual level on osteoporotic hip fracture with radiological, medical, and laboratory information including DXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), bone turnover marker, body composition, and hand grip strength for future analyses for FLS model. Modifiable factors for mortality after hip surgery is planned to be identified with nutritional assessment and multi-disciplinary interventions from hospitalization to follow-ups. The proportions of femoral neck, intertrochanteric, and subtrochanteric fractures were 517 (42.0%), 730 (53.6%), and 60 (4.4%), respectively, from 2014 to 2016, which was similar in other studies. Radiologic definition of atypical subtrochanteric fracture was adopted and 17 (1.2%) fractures among 1,361 proximal femoral fractures were identified. Internal fixation showed higher reoperation rate compared to arthroplasty in unstable intertrochanteric fractures (6.1% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.046) with no significant difference in mortality. The KHFR plans to identify outcomes and risk factors associated with second fracture by conducting a 10-year cohort study, with a follow-up every year, using 5,841 baseline participants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Present study was registered on Internet-based Clinical Research and Trial management system (iCReaT) as multicenter prospective observational cohort study (Project number: C160022, Date of registration: 22th, Apr, 2016).

Acetabular fractures in elderly.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine characteristics of acetabular fractures in the elderly by evaluating clinical course and computed tomography-based radiological features between low- and high-energy acetabular fractures. METHODS: We reviewed 178 consecutive patients with acetabular fractures aged ≥60 years from six centers. Low-energy fractures (group 1) were identified in 23 (12.9%) patients and high-energy fractures (group 2) in 155 (87.1%) patients. We compared demographics, radiological findings, and clinical course between the groups. RESULTS: Average age (70.6 vs. 67.8 years, p = 0.046) and ratio of females (47.8% vs. 23.2%, p = 0.021) were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. The Charlson comorbidity index was also higher in group 1, but no other demographics showed difference. More patients in group 2 than in group 1 underwent surgery (91.6% vs. 73.9%); however, more in group 1 underwent minimally invasive surgery (17.4% vs 4.5%). Anterior column-associated fracture patterns occurred in 91.4% and 38.7% of cases in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Most fractures were displaced (>2 mm); 68% of which were comminuted. Furthermore, 24.2% of the fractures had superior dome impaction, whereas 23.0% were associated with posterior wall impaction. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who sustained low-energy acetabular fractures were mostly women, were older, and had more comorbidities. Radiological findings of low-energy acetabular fractures showed anterior column involvement associated with injury to the quadrilateral surface. Additionally, it was observed to be commonly combined with comminution and impacted fragments.

Clinical outcomes and affecting factors of ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures - Multination, multicenter analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures and identify the risk factors associated with missed diagnosis of femoral neck fractures and clinical outcomes of this fracture. METHODS: The ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures from seven centers were retrospectively reviewed. Data on injury mechanism, fracture pattern, and fracture classification; surgical factors including fixation method; and timing of detection of femoral neck fracture were analyzed. The clinical outcomes, complications, and the incidence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVNFH) were reviewed. Risk factors for missed femoral neck fracture and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 74 patients with an average age of 43.6 years were included. Of the femoral shaft fractures, 56.8% were type A, 21.6% were type B, and 21.6% were type C. Sixteen patients had an open fracture of the femoral shaft. Femoral neck fracture was initially missed in 27% patients and the timing of delayed diagnosis was at an average of 11.1 days after injury. For detecting femoral neck fractures, minimal displacement of the femoral neck fracture was a risk factor, whereas computed tomography (CT) was a protective factor. The incidence of AVNFH was 6.8% at an average of 36.8 months after injury. The AVNFH group had more displaced femoral neck fractures at the time of surgery, but there was no difference in the timing of diagnosis compared to non-AVNFH group. The femoral shaft showed considerable healing problems, with an average union time of 29.7 weeks and a 20.2% nonunion rate. CONCLUSION: Ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures had a high rate of missed diagnosis, especially in minimally displaced fractures; however, CT was a protective factor. AVNFH occurred in 6.8% and was related to femoral neck fracture displacement, but not delayed diagnosis. The femur nonunion rate was high, which warrants attention.

Is Nail-Canal Diameter Discordance a Risk Factor for the Excessive Sliding of Cephalomedullary Nails in Geriatric Intertrochanteric Fracture Surgery?

Background and Objectives:: There were limited studies which investigated nail diameter as a predictor for cephalomedullary nail (CMN) failure in intertrochanteric fracture (ITF). We aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of CMN in fragility ITF following nail-canal (N-C) diameter discordance. Materials and Methods: From November 2010 to March 2022, we retrospectively reviewed 120 consecutive patients who underwent CMN surgeries due to fragility ITF. We included patients with acceptable reduction and a tip-apex distance ≤ 25 mm. The N-C diameter differences both in anterior-posterior (AP) and lateral-view X-rays were measured, and we compared the number of excessive sliding instances and the rate of implant failure between the N-C concordance (≤3 mm) and discordance (>3 mm) group. Simple linear regression was used to determine the strength of the relationship between the N-C difference and sliding distance. Results: The sliding distance showed no differences between the groups in the AP (3.6 vs. 3.3 mm, p = 0.75) and lateral view (3.5 vs. 3.4 mm, p = 0.91). For analyses in the AP view, the AP-concordance and AP-discordance groups had 14 (25%) and 14 patients (22%) with a sliding distance of >5 mm (p = 0.69), while treatment failure occurred in 3 (5%) and 3 (3%) patients, respectively (p = 0.66). For analyses in the lateral view, the lat-concordance and lat-discordance groups had 8 (27%) and 20 patients (22%) with a sliding distance of >5 mm (p = 0.62), while treatment failure occurred in 1 (3%) and 4 (4%) patients, respectively (p = 1.00). Linear regression analyses showed that the N-C difference in either views was not a significant predictor of sliding distance in both the AP (R2 = 0.002, p = 0.60) and lateral views (R2 = 0.007, p = 0.35). Conclusions: If appropriate fracture reduction and fixation are achieved, the N-C discordance of short CMN does not affect treatment outcomes in ITF.

Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty Utilizing an Acetabular Reinforcement Ring with a Metal Augment: A Minimum Eight-Year Follow-Up Study.

Background and Objectives: An acetabular reinforcement ring (ARR) with a structural allograft is conventionally used to treat large acetabular bone defects or discontinuity during revision hip arthroplasty. However, ARR is prone to failure due to bone resorption and lack of incorporation. Here, we investigated the surgical outcomes of the patients who underwent revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) using ARR combined with a metal augment (MA). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 10 consecutive patients who had a minimum 8-year follow-up after revision hip arthroplasty using ARR with MA in Paprosky type III acetabular defect. We collected patient demographics, surgical details, clinical scores (including Harris Hip Score (HHS)), postoperative complications, and 8-year survival rates. Results: Six male and four female patients were included. The mean age was 64.3 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 104.3 months (96.0-112.0 months). Trauma-related diagnosis was the most common reason for index surgery. Three patients underwent all component revision, and seven underwent cup revision. Six were confirmed as Paprosky type IIIA and four as type IIIB. The mean HHS at the final follow-up was 81.5 (72-91). One patient was diagnosed with prosthetic joint infection at the 3-month follow-up; therefore, the minimum 8-year survival rate with our technique was 90.0% (95% confidence interval, 90.3-118.5%). Conclusions: The satisfactory mid- to long-term results of revision THA suggest that ARR combined with tantalum MA is a viable revision option for treating severe acetabular defects with pelvic discontinuity.

Comparing the Anterior-Based Muscle-Sparing Approach with the Direct Anterior Approach in Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Pairwise Meta-Analysis.

Background and Objectives: The anterior-based muscle-sparing (ABMS) approach, which utilizes the interval between the tensor fasciae latae posteriorly, offers several advantages, such as the reduced risk of nerve injury and the freedom to choose various implants. Herein, we aimed to compare the outcome of ABMS to the direct anterior (DA) approach using pairwise meta-analysis techniques. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of the MEDLINE (PUBMED), Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed for studies published up to 7 June 2023, which compared the ABMS approach with the DA approach for hip arthroplasty. We compared (1) perioperative outcomes (operation time, visual analog scale (VAS) score, total opioid consumption, length of hospital stay (LOS), and the number of patients discharged to their homes); (2) postoperative complications (neuropraxia/nerve injury, dislocation, surgical site infection, intraoperative fracture, and reoperation rate); and (3) implant position (cup inclination, cup anteversion, and stem alignment). Results: Ten studies were eligible for meta-analysis, including 1737 patients who underwent hip arthroplasty with the ABMS approach and 1979 with the DA approach. The pooled analysis showed no differences in all outcome variables, including perioperative outcomes, postoperative complications, and the implant position between the two surgical approaches. Conclusions: In current meta-analysis, the ABMS approach demonstrated comparable results to the conventional DA approach in terms of both clinical and radiologic outcomes as well as postoperative complications. Furthermore, the ABMS approach has the advantage of a broader indication and fewer limitations in terms of the surgical position compared to the DA approach. Therefore, the ABMS approach can be even more beneficial as an option within MSA, surpassing the utility of the DA approach.

Effectiveness of Intravenous Non-Opioid Analgesics for Postoperative Pain Management of in Patients Undergoing Hip Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and Objectives: Intravenous (IV) non-opioid analgesics (NOAs) have been extensively investigated as a multimodal analgesic strategy for the management of acute pain after hip surgery. This pair-wise meta-analysis examined IV NOA effects following hip surgery. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of the MEDLINE (PUBMED), Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed for studies investigating the effect of IV NOA for postoperative pain management following hip surgery up to 7 June 2023. We compared in-admission opioid use, postoperative VAS (visual analogue scale) score, hospital stay duration, and opioid-related adverse events between IV NOA and control groups. Results: Seven studies were included with a total of 953 patients who underwent hip surgery. Of these, 478 underwent IV NOA treatment, and 475 did not. The IV NOA groups had lower opioid use within 24-h following hip surgery (SMD, -0.48; 95% CI, -0.66 to -0.30; p < 0.01), lower VAS score (SMD, -0.47; 95% CI, -0.79 to -0.16; p < 0.01), shorter hospital stay (SMD, -0.28; 95% CI, -0.44 to -0.12; p < 0.01), and lower incidence of nausea and vomiting (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.67; p < 0.01) compared with the control groups. Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrated that IV NOA administration following hip surgery may have more favorable postoperative outcomes than those in control groups.

Association of atypical femoral fracture location and lower limb mechanical axis: a computed tomography-based finite element analysis.

Atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) are categorized as low-energy fractures of the femoral shaft or subtrochanteric region. The use of computed tomography-based finite element analysis demonstrated that the femoral weakest point against tensile stress coincided with AFF location, which was determined by the lower limb axis and femoral bowing. INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess the relationship between the femoral weakest point against tensile stress and the lower limb axis and geometry, including femoral bowing, using a computed tomography (CT)-based finite element analysis (FEA) model. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 19 patients with AFFs and analyzed their CT images of the contralateral intact femur. We performed FEA to find the maximum principal stress (MPS) and maximal tensile stress loading area (femoral weakest point, FWP) of each patient and matched the FWP with the real location of AFF. We applied mechanical axes differently, as neutral, varus, and valgus, in the FEA model, when we analyzed the change in MPS and FWP based on lower limb alignment. We compared the degree of agreement between the real fracture location and FWP before and after knee mechanical axis adjustment. RESULTS: The average participant age was 75.9 (range, 61-87) years, and all participants were women. In the 19 patients included, we observed 20 and 7 shaft and subtrochanteric AFFs, respectively. The average mechanical axis at the knee joint level was 22.6 mm (range, 0-70 mm) of the varus. All the patients showed an increasing trend of MPS and a distal movement of FWP when the mechanical axis of the knee was applied from the valgus to varus alignment. The root mean square errors between the FWP and real fracture location were 14.58% and 10.87% before and after adjustment, respectively, implying that the degree of agreement was better in patients who underwent mechanical adjustment. CONCLUSION: The use of CT/FEA demonstrated that the FWP against tensile stress coincided with AFF location, which was determined by the lower limb axis and femoral bowing.

Acute kidney injury after hip fracture in organ transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) after hip fracture in organ transplant recipients. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, 795 elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery were enrolled. AKI was defined according to Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. Among the 795 patients, 23 underwent kidney transplantation (KT) and 20 underwent liver transplantation (LT). The incidence of AKI, dialysis requirement, and renal recovery rate were investigated. RESULTS: AKI occurred in 83 patients (10.5%), of whom 9 (39.1%), 3 (15%), and 71 (9.5%) were in the KT, LT, and nontransplantation groups, respectively. The incidence rates of AKI and severe AKI (17.4% vs. 1.4%) were significantly higher in the KT group than in the nontransplantation group (P = .001 for both). The renal recovery rate was significantly lower in the KT group than in the nontransplantation group (P = .033). The multivariate analysis revealed that male; body mass index; CKD; alkaline phosphatase; intraoperative hypotension; and history of KT were independent predictors of AKI development. CONCLUSIONS: AKI and severe AKI after hip fracture occurred more frequently in the KT recipients with lower renal recovery rates. Transplanted kidneys are more vulnerable to AKI after hip fracture.

Percutaneous posterior transiliac plate versus iliosacral screw fixation for posterior fixation of Tile C-type pelvic fractures: a retrospective comparative study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and complications between two minimally invasive surgical techniques: percutaneous transiliac plate fixation and iliosacral (IS) screw fixation for the treatment of Tile C-type pelvic bone fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 77 consecutive patients with Tile C pelvic ring injuries who underwent either percutaneous transiliac plate fixation or IS screw fixation in a single academic center between November 2007 and January 2018. We recorded patients' demographics, surgery-related data, and postoperative surgical outcomes and compared the incidence of complications and revision surgery rates between the two groups. RESULTS: Overall, 14 patients were included in the plate group, while 63 were included in the IS screw fixation group. No significant differences were observed in the patients' demographics between the two groups except for a longer interval from injury to surgery (13.5 days vs. 5.4 days, P = 0.001). Both groups acquired fracture union in all cases. There was one case of infection requiring surgical debridement in the plating group. Notably, nerve injury (n = 3) and implant loosening (n = 5) occurred in the IS screw group, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Both percutaneous posterior transiliac plating and IS screw fixation in patients with Tile C-type pelvic bone fractures showed good results. We recommend IS screw fixation as the primary treatment and propose posterior plating as treatment for sacral dysmorphism and bilateral sacral alar fractures in patients with spinopelvic dissociation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Surgical outcomes of retrograde nailing enhanced with minimally invasive cerclage cable fixation for infra-isthmal femoral fracture.

BACKGROUND: Infra-isthmal femoral fracture has been known as one of the risk factors for femoral nonunion. Retrograde intramedullary nailing can provide reliable stability of the distal fragment in infra-isthmal femoral fracture, but adequate reduction is required to achieve a successful outcome. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of retrograde nailing enhanced with minimally invasive cerclage cable fixation for infra-isthmal femoral fracture. METHODS: Between March 2013 and July 2017, 15 patients with infra-isthmal fractures treated with retrograde nailing and minimally invasive cerclage cable fixation were included in this study. Cerclage cable was applied for reduction aid (reduction cable) or prevention of further displacement in non-displaced extension of the distal spiral fracture (prevention cable). Number and function of cerclage cables, operation time, additional surgery, and complications were assessed. Further displacement of the wedge after nailing, coronal and sagittal alignment, displacement of the main fragment, and time from injury to union were evaluated as radiologic outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 15 patients in this study, 14 were treated with reduction cables. Average postoperative coronal and sagittal angulation was 1.7° (1° varus to 4° valgus) and 1.6° (2° flexion to 11° extension). Mean displacement between the main fragments was 3.5 mm (range 0-22 mm). Four of the 14 cases used additional prevention cables combined with reduction cable. Only one case was treated solely with a prevention cable. A total of five prevention cables were maintained without further displacement. All patients achieved bone union, and the average time to union was 22.7 weeks (range 9-44 weeks). There were no complications as a result of surgery, such as infection or major neurovascular injury. CONCLUSIONS: The minimally invasive cerclage cable technique could be a useful and safe enhancement in retrograde nailing for infra-isthmal femoral fracture in order to prevent further displacement and to reduce the main fracture.

Outcomes of dual plating for unstable distal femoral fractures: a subgroup comparison between periprosthetic and non-periprosthetic fractures.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of dual plating for unstable distal femoral fractures via a subgroup analysis between periprosthetic and non-periprosthetic fractures. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the outcomes of dual plating for unstable distal femoral fractures among 49 consecutive patients (43 women and 6 men) enrolled from July 2008 to August 2020. The patients were divided into periprosthetic (group P, n = 29) and non-periprosthetic (group N, n = 20) groups. The radiographic outcomes included the mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) and union rate based on the computed tomography findings. The clinical parameters included the knee range of motion and knee society score (KSS). RESULTS: The mean patient age was 71.1 years, and the average follow-up period was 37 months (range, 12-138 months). Union was achieved in 47 patients (96%). The average final mLDFA was 90.5° in group P and 88.3° in group N. The average final knee range of motion was 130° in group P and 107° in group N. The average final KSS was 73.8 in group P and 87.1 in group N. CONCLUSION: Dual plating for distal femoral fractures yielded an excellent union rate and limb alignment with a low complication rate.

[3D printing in fracture treatment : Current practice and best practice consensus]. / 3D-Druck in der Frakturversorgung : Aktuelle Praxis und "Best-practice"-Konsens.

The use of 3D printing in orthopedic trauma is supported by clinical evidence. Existing computed tomography (CT) data are exploited for better stereotactic identification of morphological features of the fracture and enhanced surgical planning. Due to complex logistic, technical and resource constraints, deployment of 3D printing is not straightforward from the hospital management perspective. As a result not all trauma surgeons are able to confidently integrate 3D printing into the daily practice. We carried out an expert panel survey on six trauma units which utilized 3D printing routinely. The most frequent indications are acetabular and articular fractures and malalignments. Infrastructure and manpower structure varied between units. The installation of industrial grade machines and dedicated software as well as the use of trained personnel can enhance the capacity and reliability of fracture treatment. Setting up interdisciplinary jointly used 3d printing departments with sound financial and management structures may improve sustainability. The sometimes substantial logistic and technical barriers which impede the rapid delivery of 3D printed models are discussed.

Magneto-optical Kerr effect measurement in ultrafast Sagnac interferometry using the Jones matrix approach.

We report the Jones matrix formalism of the magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) for ferromagnets using an ultrafast Sagnac interferometer. Compared to the time-resolved MOKE instrument, the Sagnac interferometer has the advantage of obtaining the real and imaginary parts of the differential MOKE signal as well as the differential reflectivity and the lattice displacement at the same time. In addition, a simple method to obtain the static values of Kerr rotation and ellipticity is presented.

Clinical outcomes of using contralateral-side laterally bent intramedullary nails in atypical femur fractures with femoral bowing.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of using contralateral-side laterally bent intramedullary nails (IMNs) in bowed atypical femur fractures (AFFs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed bowed AFFs treated with contralateral-side laterally bent IMNs. In total, 20 patients with 25 cases of AFFs were included. Surgical outcomes including bone union time, complications, femoral bowing, and leg length discrepancy (LLD) were evaluated. We evaluated the surgical safety of performing contralateral-side intramedullary nailing with its intraoperative and postoperative complications and compared the LLD. RESULTS: The average age was 76.8 years (range 67-86 years), and all of patients were female. There were 10 cases of complete AFFs and 15 cases of incomplete AFFs. Fourteen patients (70%) had a history of bisphosphonate (BP) use with an average of 74.5 months of its use. In the complete AFF cases, reduction of the fractures was tried to restore the patients' normal anatomical geometry. The average lateral gap was 0.6 mm (0-1 mm), and the average medial gap was 1.6 mm (1-3 mm). All cases achieved bone union without secondary intervention. There were no intraoperative fractures or postoperative complications. The average bone union time was 22.0 weeks and 9.2 weeks in complete and incomplete AFFs, respectively. The average preoperative femoral bowing seen in the coronal and sagittal planes was 10.1° and 16.1°, respectively, while the average postoperative bowing was 6.6° and 11.3°, respectively. The average change of angle was 3.5° in the coronal plane and 4.8° in the sagittal plane. The mean change of LLD was 5.7 mm. CONCLUSION: The use of contralateral-side laterally bent IMNs in treating bowed femurs showed excellent clinical outcomes without complications. In severely bowed femurs, this technique can be safe and useful.

Patellar fractures in elderly patients: a multicenter computed tomography-based analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to demonstrate the characteristics of patellar fractures and evaluate clinical outcomes in elderly patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients aged ≥ 60 years who presented with patellar fractures were retrospectively reviewed from an institutionally approved multicenter (five institutions) orthopedic database. Patient characteristics and fracture patterns were identified, and the clinical outcomes were investigated. We compared differences according to the injury mechanism (low- vs. high-energy). RESULTS: A total of 202 patients [mean age, 69.4 years (range, 60-88 years); male, 89, female, 113] were included in this study. The mean follow-up period was 14.8 months (range 6-58 months), and 75% of the fractures were from low-energy injuries. According to the AO /OTA classification, the most common type was type C (136 cases, 67.3%; 33 cases, C1; 23, C2; and 80, C3), followed by type A (39 cases), type B (26 cases), and unclassified (1 case). The unclassified case was an intra-articular marginal impaction without cortical breakage. Computed tomography (CT) revealed that of the cases, 66.8% had an inferior pole involvement; 80.7%, a comminuted fragment; and 10.4%, an impacted fracture. A total of 166 fractures (82.2%) were treated surgically. The mean union time and range of motion were 13.1 weeks and 123.8° (range 30-150°), respectively. The Lysholm score was 82.1 ± 12.0, with 65.7% of the cases having excellent or good function. The complication rate was 12.4% (24 cases), including ten, four, two, and five cases of infection, fixation failure, nonunion, malunion, and pin migration, respectively. The reoperation rate was 26.4%. CONCLUSION: Patellar fractures in the elderly were mostly from low-energy injuries, and types C3 and A1 were the most common. CT images demonstrated high rates of an inferior pole involvement and comminution. The complication and reoperation rates were relatively high.

Surgical outcomes of simple distal femur fractures in elderly patients treated with the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis technique: can percutaneous cerclage wiring reduce the fracture healing time?

INTRODUCTION: Achieving adequate reduction is difficult when performing minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) in elderly patients with simple distal femur fracture. This study aimed to evaluate the elderly patients who had undergone percutaneous wiring-assisted reduction with MIPO for simple distal femur fractures to determine the effect of this technique on reduction quality and fracture union. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2009 and September 2017, 56 patients (56 femurs) with displaced simple distal femur fractures treated with MIPO at three trauma centers were finally enrolled. The MIPO technique with percutaneous cerclage wire reduction was performed in 25 patients (Group A). Among them, 12 patients had a simple spiral metaphyseal fracture (Group A*). In comparison, MIPO without percutaneous cerclage wire reduction was performed in 31 patients (Group B). Among them, seven patients had a simple spiral metaphyseal fracture (Group B*). Medical records containing surgical records were retrospectively reviewed to investigate demographic data, comorbidities, complications, operative time, and fluoroscopic time. Radiographs were evaluated for assessing the quality of the reduction and fracture union. RESULTS: The mean fracture union time of Group A* was 21.7 weeks, which was significantly shorter than that of Group B* (28.6 weeks). The mean coronal and sagittal angulation in Group A* was 0.6° and 0.7°, respectively, which were significantly lesser than those in Group B* (2.4° and 3.2°, respectively). Mean translation in Group A* was 1.43 mm, which was significantly shorter than that in Group B* (3.81 mm). Nonunion occurred in two patients in Group B. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of simple spiral distal femur fractures with percutaneous cerclage wiring-assisted reduction and the MIPO technique in elderly patients resulted in better reduction and faster union time. Therefore, this technique could be a good solution if used in accordance with the indication.

Efficacy of total hip arthroplasty after operatively treated acetabular fracture.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients following total hip arthroplasty (THA) for acetabular fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in a single center. The medical records of patients who underwent THA from March 2002 to March 2017 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were THA and a history of open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fractures. Thirty-seven patients with a mean age of 56.2 years were enrolled. The Harris hip score (HHS), acetabular fracture classification, time interval between acetabular fracture and THA, cause of THA, surgical approach, implant type, complications, radiographic results, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were analyzed. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for an average of 6.6 years. The mean preoperative HHS of 42.5 had improved to 83.5 at the final follow-up (p < 0.05). There were 29 cases of post-traumatic arthritis, 6 cases of avascular necrosis, and 4 cases of non-union. The average interval from injury to THA was 58 months (range 4-336 months). The re-admission rate was 18.9%. Patients who underwent conversion to THA due to post-traumatic arthritis combined with non-union acetabular fracture developed clinical failure more frequently than patients with post-traumatic arthritis (p = 0.037). At 12 years, 83.4% of patients were free from revision of femoral and acetabular components. CONCLUSION: THA secondary to an operatively treated acetabular fracture provides good symptomatic relief, but shows relatively inferior survival rates, and clinical failure was related to post-traumatic arthritis with acetabular non-union.