Clavicle fixation to reduce short-term analgesia and improve respiratory function in patients with chest wall injuries.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to determine if operative fixation of clavicle fractures in patients with non-operatively treated ipsilateral rib fractures is associated with a lower overall analgesic requirement and improved respiratory function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted involving patients admitted to a single tertiary trauma centre having sustained a clavicle fracture with ipsilateral rib fracture/s between January 2014 and June 2020. Patients were excluded if brain, abdominal, pelvic, or lower limb trauma was identified. 31 patients with operative clavicle fixation (study group) were matched 1:1 to 31 patients with non-operative management of the clavicle fracture (control group) based on age, sex, number of rib fractures and injury severity score. The primary outcome was the number of analgesic types used, and the secondary outcome was respiratory function. RESULTS: The study group required a mean of 3.50 types of analgesia prior to surgery which decreased to 1.57 post-surgery. The control group required 2.92 types of analgesia, reducing to 1.65 after the date of surgery in the study group. A General Linear Mixed Model indicated that the intervention (operative vs. non-operative management) had statistically significant effects on the number of required analgesic types (p < 0.001, [Formula: see text] = 0.365), oxygen saturation (p = 0.001, [Formula: see text] = 0.341, 95% CI 0.153-0.529) and temporal decline in daily supplemental oxygen requirement (p < 0.001, [Formula: see text] = 0.626, 95% CI 0.455-0.756). CONCLUSION: This study supported the hypothesis that operative clavicle fixation reduces short-term in-patient analgesia use and improves respiratory parameters in patients with ipsilateral rib fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III therapeutic study.

A Simple Method to Improve Detection of Femoral Nail Abutment in the Distal Femur: A Computer Modeling Study.

BACKGROUND: Proximal femur fractures are more frequently treated with long femoral nails. Lateral radiographs are used to assess the nail position in the distal femur. However, because of the asymmetric shape of the distal femur, standard lateral radiographs alone are suboptimal for assessing anteriorly positioned nails in the distal femur. Consequently, instances of nail abutment or even perforation might be missed intraoperatively. QUESTION/PURPOSE: Using a three-dimensional (3D) modelling approach, we asked: When the nail is in the anterior fifth of the canal, will rotating the femur to align the simulated x-ray beam with the anterior femoral condyles instead of the posterior femoral condyles increase the diagnostic accuracy of detecting nail perforation of the anterior cortex? METHODS: 3D models of 42 unilateral femora from a population sample representative of patients with hip fractures (mean age of 76 ± 7 years, 10 males and 32 females, and 16 left and 26 right femora) were used. The patients had a mean height of 158 ± 9 cm; 27 femora were from Asians and 15 were from Caucasians. Clinically appropriately sized nails had already been virtually implanted previously as part of a quantitative nail fit assessment study. In a preliminary step, the mean angles of inclination of the distal anterior supracondylar region were quantified using four axial sections of the distal femur. For the femora with the nail tip in the anterior fifth of the canal, projections representing a lateral radiograph were generated along with rotated projections at mean angle (5°, 8°) rotations, with the anterior femoral condyles aligned, and anterior femoral condyle alignment followed by internal and external rotation to detect maximum nail perforation. The distance from the nail to the distal anterior cortex was measured for each rotational projection and used to detect anterior nail perforation. The accuracy of detection was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: Rotating the 3D models by aligning the x-ray beam with the anterior femoral condyles improves the diagnostic ability of detecting anterior nail perforation compared with standard lateral radiographs. The AUC increased with rotation from 0.50 (95% confidence interval 0.50 to 0.50) on the lateral projection to 0.73 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.88, difference = -0.23; p = 0.004) at 5° of rotation, 0.77 (95% CI 0.62 to 0.93, difference = -0.27; p = 0.001) at both 8° of rotation and with the anterior femoral condyles aligned, and to 0.82 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.97, difference = -0.32; p < 0.001) with internal/external rotations past the anterior femoral condyles. There were no differences in accuracy between the four methods of rotation. CONCLUSION: This study shows that rotating the femur to align the anterior femoral condyles on a lateral radiograph and then internally/externally rotating it, improves the accuracy assessed via the AUC of detecting anterior perforation when long nails are positioned in the anterior fifth of the distal femur. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This approach can easily be used in a clinical setting. Intraoperatively, the image intensifier can be rotated around the leg to produce an image with the anterior femoral condyle aligned, providing surgeons with an opportunity to identify and improve the nail's position or exchange the nail while the patient is still under anesthesia.

Potential pitfalls of lateral radiographic assessment of the nail position in the distal femur.

INTRODUCTION: Antegrade nailing of proximal femur fractures is a widely accepted treatment that relies on lateral radiographs to assess distal nail positioning. However, the distal femur is trapezoidal in cross section, consequently standard lateral radiographs may be insufficient. This study aimed to utilise 3D modelling to virtually assess the accuracy of lateral radiographs in defining the position of a femoral nail in the distal femur, specifically considering distal cortical encroachment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-dimensional models of a commonly used nail, were positioned in 3D models of 63 femora, generated from CT scans. Lateral projections, representative of lateral radiographs, were generated and measurements of the closest point distance between the distal nail and anterior inner cortex were recorded. Axial slices through the model at the same distal position were produced for any nails located in the canal's anterior 1/5th and used to quantify the shortest nail to anterior cortex distance. RESULTS: A significant (p = 0.000) difference exists between the positions of the nail in the lateral projection (- 1.7 ± 1.24 mm) compared with axial position (- 0.23 ± 1.41 mm) with reference to the inner cortical surface. In the lateral projection, 30 nails were located in the canal's anterior 1/5th, of these, 14 nails were identified in the axial position as perforating the inner cortex, with four also perforating the outer cortex surface. CONCLUSION: Femoral nails are often anteriorly located in the distal femur and reviewed using lateral radiographs. However, this research demonstrates that owing to the geometry of the distal femur, a lateral radiograph may be inadequate for determining the true position of a femoral nail within the distal femur. Accurately assessing the position of femoral nails may help to address and prevent thigh pain, and iatrogenic fracture or perforation which have been associated with anterior positioning.

Cutibacterium acnes in shoulder surgery: a scoping review of strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cutibacterium acnes is a commensal, gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic bacillus that resides in the dermis. Historically thought to be a contaminant when identified on cultured specimens, recent advances in diagnostic technology have now implicated it as the most common organism responsible for postoperative shoulder infections. Despite a recognition of the role of this organism and a significant research interest in recent years, there is clear lack of consensus guideline on strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat postoperative shoulder infection. METHOD: The electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched in March 2020. All experimental and nonexperimental studies that investigate C acnes in shoulder surgery were included. Inclusion was limited to articles published after 2000 and written in English; reviews, gray literature, or abstracts were excluded. A total of 70 studies were included in this review. This scoping review was performed in accordance with the Extended Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). RESULTS: Standard surgical prophylactic regimens such as intravenous antibiotics and topical chlorhexidine are ineffective at removing C acnes from the deep layer of the dermis, and there is a shift toward using topical benzoyl peroxide with significantly improved efficacy. An improved understanding of the bacteria has demonstrated that a prolonged culture time of up to 14 days is needed, especially in cases of established infection. Advances in diagnostics such as sonication and molecular-based testing are promising. Although usually thought to be susceptible to a broad range of antibiotics, resistance is emerging to clindamycin. An improved understanding of its ability to form a biofilm highlights the difficulty in treating an established infection. CONCLUSION: The role of C acnes causing postoperative infection following shoulder surgery is being increasingly recognized. Strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment have been outlined from both an antimicrobial and surgical perspective. A number of these strategies are emerging and require further research to demonstrate efficacy before implementation into clinical guidelines.

Effects of ethnicity on proximal femoral intramedullary nail protrusion-a 3D computer graphical analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Antegrade nailing of proximal femur or femoral shaft fractures is a proven treatment with good to excellent results. Nonetheless, clinical evidence from Asia indicates that proximal femur nails can be too proud at the greater trochanter (GT) causing irritation for some Asian patients. This study aimed to identify any significant differences in proximal nail misfit for a set of Asian and Caucasian femora. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two nails (Gamma3, TFNA) were virtually inserted into 63 femoral 3D models (28 Japanese, 4 Thai, 31 Caucasian). In AP, the entry point was 4° lateral for Gamma3 and 5° for TFNA; laterally the same location was used for both. Insertion depth was controlled by aligning the lag screw centre head. The distance of the nail end from the GT was measured at five (medial, lateral, anterior, posterior and centre) reference points (RPs). The correlation between GT height, CCD angle and proximal nail distance to GT was analysed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between either nail (p = 1.0). The TFNA was overall less prominent than the Gamma3, and significantly less prominent at all RPs except lateral. The Asian femora were 3.76 (p = 0.016) times more likely to have the nail protruding proximally. The Asian subjects were shorter (p < 0.05) than the Caucasians. Their GT height was slightly shorter and CCD angles larger compared to Caucasian (Asian: 41.1 mm, 128.1°, Caucasian: 42.2 mm, 126.4°), but the differences were not significant (p = 0.36). Stature, GT height and CCD angle significantly correlated with nail distance to GT. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrated a significantly increased incidence of proximal nail protrusion in Asian compared to Caucasian femora, corroborating clinical findings. The combination of shorter stature and GT height and a larger CCD angle in Asians likely contributes to this difference.

Adjuvant Bisphosphonates and Breast Cancer Survival.

Randomized trials have studied bisphosphonates in the adjuvant setting of early breast cancer to investigate their ability to prevent treatment-induced bone loss. Trial results have also suggested their potential to prevent disease recurrence and metastases. These trials are summarized in this review. A recent patient-level meta-analysis by the Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) finds convincing evidence that adjuvant antiresorptive treatments provide persistent benefits to breast cancer patients in low-estrogen situations and should be considered an important part of the treatment algorithm.

Lower material stiffness in rupture-repaired Achilles tendon during walking: transmission-mode ultrasound for post-surgical tendon evaluation.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study used transmission-mode ultrasound to evaluate dynamic tendon properties during walking in surgically repaired and contralateral Achilles tendon (AT), with a median (range) post-operative period of 22 (4-58) months. It was hypothesised that the axial transmission speed of ultrasound (TSOU) during walking would be slower, indicating lower material stiffness in repaired compared with contralateral AT. METHODS: Ten patients [median (range) age 47 (37-69) years; height 180 (170-189) cm; weight 93 (62-119) kg], who had undergone open surgical repair of the AT and were clinically recovered according to their treating clinicians, walked barefoot on a treadmill at self-selected speed (1.0 ± 0.2 m/s). Synchronous measures of TSOU, sagittal ankle motion, vertical ground reaction force (GRF), and spatiotemporal gait parameters were recorded during 20 s of steady-state walking. Paired t tests were used to evaluate potential between-limb differences in TSOU, GRF, ankle motion, and spatiotemporal gait parameters. RESULTS: TSOU was significantly lower (≈175 m/s) in the repaired than in the contralateral AT over the entire gait cycle (P < 0.05). Sagittal ankle motion was significantly greater (≈3°) in the repaired than in the contralateral limb (P = 0.036). There were no significant differences in GRF or spatiotemporal parameters between limbs. CONCLUSIONS: Repaired AT was characterised by a lower TSOU, reflecting a lower material stiffness in the repaired tendon than in the contralateral tendon. A lower material stiffness may underpin greater ankle joint motion of the repaired limb during walking and long-term deficits in the muscle-tendon unit reported with AT repair. Treatment and rehabilitation approaches that focus on increasing the material stiffness of the repaired AT may be clinically beneficial. Transmission-mode ultrasound would seem useful for quantifying tendon properties post AT rupture repair and may have the potential to individually guide rehabilitation programmes, thereby aiding safer return to physical activity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in musculoskeletal oncology.

Currently used surgical techniques to reconstruct tissue defects after resection of musculoskeletal tumours are associated with high complication rates. This drives a strong demand for innovative therapeutic concepts that are able to improve the clinical outcomes of patients suffering from bone and soft tissue tumours. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TE&RM) provides a technology platform based on biochemical, molecular, cellular and biomaterials modules to selectively direct tissue healing processes for improved defect regeneration. At the same time, precautionary measures have to be taken when these instruments are used in cancer patients to prevent any promotion of tumour growth or metastatic spread. On the other hand, several innovative TE&RM tools are being developed such as multi-functionalized biomaterials, drug-delivering nanomaterials or genetically engineered stem cells that per se have the potential to mediate anti-cancer effects, act synergistically with currently used chemotherapeutics and/or radiotherapy regimens and reduce their side effects. Recently, scientists became conscious that TE&RM strategies may not only be utilized to advance contemporary tissue reconstruction techniques but also to develop personalized diagnostic tools and clinically relevant disease models for cancer patients. Eventually, prospective randomized clinical trials combined with comparative outcome analyses are a conditio sine qua non to shape the benefits of personalized regenerative therapies for the standardized management of patients with musculoskeletal tumours.

3D Computer graphical anatomy study of the femur: a basis for a new nail design.

BACKGROUND: Current intramedullary nails with a radius of curvature (ROC) of 1500-2000 mm sometimes cause distal anterior cortical encroachment. Furthermore, clinical data indicate that the proximal nail end is too long for some Asian patients. The objective of our study was to develop a comprehensive 3D measurement protocol that measures both the anatomy of the canal and the proximal region. The protocol was used to obtain measurements from Caucasian and Asian (Japanese and Thai) specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 3D bone models representative of hip fracture patients were reconstructed from CT data. RapidForm 2006 was used to generate the reference geometries required for determining radius and angulation of shaft antecurvature as well as measurements of the proximal anatomy. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the relative contribution of height, age, ethnicity, gender, and body side on the total variance. RESULTS: The mean ROC in the natural 3D antecurvature plane was 885 mm overall, 974 mm in Caucasians and 787 mm in Asians. Height, age, ethnicity, gender, and body side significantly predicted ROC (R = 0.53, p = 0.000). The mean values of anteversion measurements for Asians (Japanese: 22.1°; Thai: 22.7°) were significantly larger than those of the Caucasians (14.5°; p = 0.001). There was virtually no difference (p = 0.186) between the measurements pertaining to the length of the proximal nail end between Caucasian and Asian samples. There was no significant difference between the mean neck-to-shaft angles (Caucasian: 126°; Japanese: 128.2°; Thai: 125.7°; p = 0.198 for Asians vs Caucasians). CONCLUSIONS: The developed comprehensive anatomical 3D measurement protocol could serve as standardised approach for anthropometric studies in the future. Our data suggest that the ROC of current nail designs should be reduced from between 1500 and 2000 to 1000 mm to achieve an improved fit for the investigated population.

Is the evaluation of the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) in the AP pelvis possible? Analysis of conventional X-rays and 3D-CT reconstructions.

INTRODUCTION: A hypertrophic AIIS has been identified as a cause for extraarticular hip impingement and is classified according to Hetsroni using 3D-CT reconstructions. The role of the conventional AP pelvis X-ray, which is the first standard imaging step for the evaluation of hip pain, has not been investigated yet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AP pelvis X-rays and 3D-CT reconstructions of patients were evaluated regarding their morphology of the AIIS. The conventional X-rays were categorized into three groups according to the projection of the AIIS: above (A) or below (B) the acetabular sourcil or even exceeding the anterior acetabular rim (C). They were compared to the morphologic types in the 3D-CT reconstruction (Hetsroni type I-III). RESULTS: Ninety patients with an equal distribution of type A, B or C projection in the AP pelvis were evaluated and compared to the morphology in the 3D-CT reconstruction. The projection of the AIIS below the acetabular sourcil (B + C) showed only moderate sensitivity (0.76) and specificity (0.64) for a hypertrophic AIIS (Hetsroni type II + III), but if the AIIS exceeds the anterior rim, all cases showed a hypertrophic AIIS in the 3D-CT reconstructions (Hetsroni type II + III). CONCLUSIONS: Distinct differentiation of the AIIS morphology in the AP pelvis is not possible, but the projection of the AIIS below the anterior acetabular rim represented a hypertrophic AIIS in all cases and should, therefore, be critically investigated for a relevant AIIS impingement.

A cadaveric biomechanical study comparing the ease of femoral nail insertion: 1.0- vs 1.5-m bow designs.

INTRODUCTION: Anatomic fit of intramedullary nails was suggested by previous studies to improve significantly when the nail radius of curvature (ROC) is closer to the average femoral anatomy. However, no attempt has been made to investigate the impact of different ROC designs on the nail insertion process. Therefore, this biomechanical study quantitatively compared the ease of insertion between femoral intramedullary nails with a 1.0-m and a 1.5-m bow radius. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Long TFN-ADVANCED™ (TFNA, 1.0 m ROC) and Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation nails (PFNA, 1.5 m ROC) were implanted pairwise into seven paired cadaver femora. All bones were reamed 1.5 mm larger than the nail diameter. Using a material testing machine, intramedullary nailing was then performed stepwise with 20-mm steps and a 10-mm/s insertion rate, and force was measured. The nail deformation caused by the insertion was assessed through 3D computer models built from pre- and post-nailing CT scans. The ease of insertion between TFNA and PFNA nails was quantified in terms of insertion force, insertion energy and nail deformation. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the peak force generated during nailing between TFNA and PFNA nails (P = 0.731). However, the force measured at the end of insertion (P = 0.002) was significantly smaller in TFNA nails compared to PFNA nails. After implantation, TFNA nails showed significantly smaller deformation when compared to PFNA nails (P = 0.005, both ends aligned). Furthermore, less energy was required to insert TFNA nails; however, the difference was not significant (P = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to PFNA nails, a significant decrease in insertion force and nail deformation was found at the end of insertion for TFNA nails. Results suggest that TFNA having a 1.0-m ROC is easier to insert for the set of femora used in this study compared to PFNA with a 1.5-m ROC.

Modulation of fixation stiffness from flexible to stiff in a rat model of bone healing.

Background and purpose - Constant fixator stiffness for the duration of healing may not provide suitable mechanical conditions for all stages of bone repair. We therefore investigated the influence of stiffening fixation on callus stiffness and morphology in a rat diaphyseal osteotomy model to determine whether healing time was shortened and callus stiffness increased through modulation of fixation from flexible to stiff. Material and methods - An external unilateral fixator was applied to the osteotomized femur and stiffened by decreasing the offset of the inner fixator bar at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after operation. After 5 weeks, the rats were killed and healing was evaluated with mechanical, histological, and microcomputed tomography methods. Constant fixation stiffness control groups with either stiff or flexible fixation were included for comparison. Results - The callus stiffness of the stiff group and all 4 experimental groups was greater than in the flexible group. The callus of the flexible group was larger but contained a higher proportion of unmineralized tissue and cartilage. The stiff and modulated groups (3, 7, 14, and 21 days) all showed bony bridging at 5 weeks, as well as signs of callus remodeling. Stiffening fixation at 7 and 14 days after osteotomy produced the highest degree of callus bridging. Bone mineral density in the fracture gap was highest in animals in which the fixation was stiffened after 14 days. Interpretation - The predicted benefit of a large robust callus formed through early flexible fixation could not be shown, but the benefits of stabilizing a flexible construct to achieve timely healing were demonstrated at all time points.

Physical Function and Mental Health in Trauma Intensive Care Patients: A 2-Year Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to examine changes in function over time after injury and to identify factors associated with long-term recovery that may be amenable to change through intervention. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Intensive care in a tertiary hospital in Queensland, Australia. PATIENTS: Adult (n = 123) admitted to intensive care for treatment of injury. INTERVENTIONS: Data were collected prior to hospital discharge and 1, 6, 12, and 24 months post injury. Data included demographics, preinjury health, injury characteristics, acute care factors, psychosocial measures, and health status. Linear mixed-effects models were used to identify factors associated with physical function and mental health over time. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Physical function and mental health improved over time; however, the averages remained below Australian norms at 24 months. Optimistic perception of illness and greater self-efficacy were potentially modifiable factors associated with improved mental health and physical function over time. Greater perceived social support, also potentially modifiable, was associated with improved mental health. Injury insurance and income were significant nonmodifiable factors for mental health, with mental health gains associated with higher income. Hospital length of stay and injury insurance were nonmodifiable factors linked with physical function. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in physical function and mental health are evident in the 24 months following injury, but most patients remain below Australian population norms. Factors that were associated with physical function and mental health outcomes over time that are potentially amenable to change include illness perception, self-efficacy, and perceived social support.

Magnetic resonance imaging: an accurate, radiation-free, alternative to computed tomography for the primary imaging and three-dimensional reconstruction of the bony orbit.

PURPOSE: To determine the extent to which the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based virtual 3-dimensional (3D) models of the intact orbit can approach that of the gold standard, computed tomography (CT) based models. The goal was to determine whether MRI is a viable alternative to CT scans in patients with isolated orbital fractures and penetrating eye injuries, pediatric patients, and patients requiring multiple scans in whom radiation exposure is ideally limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who presented with unilateral orbital fractures to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital from March 2011 to March 2012 were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. The primary predictor variable was the imaging technique (MRI vs CT). The outcome measurements were orbital volume (primary outcome) and geometric intraorbital surface deviations (secondary outcome) between the MRI- and CT-based 3D models. RESULTS: Eleven subjects (9 male) were enrolled. The patients' mean age was 30 years. On average, the MRI models underestimated the orbital volume of the CT models by 0.50 ± 0.19 cm(3). The average intraorbital surface deviation between the MRI and CT models was 0.34 ± 0.32 mm, with 78 ± 2.7% of the surface within a tolerance of ±0.5 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The volumetric differences of the MRI models are comparable to reported results from CT models. The intraorbital MRI surface deviations are smaller than the accepted tolerance for orbital surgical reconstructions. Therefore, the authors believe that MRI is an accurate radiation-free alternative to CT for the primary imaging and 3D reconstruction of the bony orbit.

Health status of critically ill trauma patients.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the recovery of trauma intensive care patients up to six months posthospital discharge. BACKGROUND: Injury is a leading cause of preventable mortality and morbidity worldwide, with approximately 10% of hospitalised trauma patients being admitted to intensive care. Intensive care patients experience significant ongoing physical and psychological burden after discharge; however, the patterns of recovery and the subgroups of intensive care patients who experience the greatest burden are not described. DESIGN: This prospective cohort study was conducted in one tertiary referral hospital in south-east Queensland, Australia. METHODS: Following ethics approval, injured patients who required admission to intensive care provided consent. Participants completed questionnaires prior to hospital discharge (n = 123) and one (n = 93) and six months (n = 88) later. Data included demographic and socioeconomic details, pre-injury health, injury characteristics, acute care factors, postacute factors [self-efficacy, illness perception, perceived social support and psychological status as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and the PTSD Civilian Checklist] and health status (SF-36). RESULTS: All participants required ongoing support from healthcare providers in the six months after discharge from hospital, and approximately half required support services such as accommodation and home modifications. Approximately 20% of participants reported post-traumatic stress symptoms, while approximately half the participants reported psychological distress. Average quality of life scores were significantly below the Australian norms both one and six months postdischarge. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma intensive care patients rely on ongoing healthcare professional and social support services. Compromised health-related quality of life and psychological health persists at six months. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Effective discharge planning and communication across the care continuum is essential to facilitate access to healthcare providers and other support services in the community setting.

Intramedullary implant stability affects patterns of fracture healing in mice with morphologically different bone phenotypes.

Almost all prior mouse fracture healing models have used needles or K-wires for fixation, unwittingly providing inadequate mechanical stability during the healing process. Our contention is that the reported outcomes have predominantly reflected this instability, rather than the impact of diverse biological conditions, pharmacologic interventions, exogenous growth factors, or genetic considerations. This important issue becomes obvious upon a critical review of the literature. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to demonstrate the significance of mouse-specific implants designed to provide both axial and torsional stability (Screw and IM Nail) compared to conventional pins (Needle and K-wires), even when used in mice with differently sized marrow canals and diverse genetic backgrounds. B6 (large medullary canal), DBA, and C3H (smaller medullary canals) mice were employed, all of which have different bone morphologies. Closed femoral fractures were created and stabilized with intramedullary implants that provide different mechanical conditions during the healing process. The most important finding of this study was that appropriately designed mouse-specific implants, providing both axial and torsional stability, had the greatest influence on bone healing outcomes regardless of the different bone morphologies encountered. For instance, unstable implants in the B6 strain (largest medullary canal) resulted in significantly greater callus, with a fracture region mainly comprising trabecular bone along with the presence of cartilage 28 days after surgery. The DBA and C3H strains (with smaller medullary canals) instead formed significantly less callus, and only had a small amount of intracortical trabeculation remaining. Moreover, with more stable fracture fixation a higher BV/TV was observed and cortices were largely restored to their original dimensions and structure, indicating an accelerated healing and remodeling process. These observations reveal that the diaphyseal cortical thickness, influenced by the genetic background of each strain, played a pivotal role in determining the amount of bone formation in response to the fracture. These findings are highly important, indicating the rate and type of tissue formed is a direct result of mechanical instability, and this most likely would mask the true contribution of the tested genes, genetic backgrounds, or various therapeutic agents administered during the bone healing process.

A population-based epidemiological and health economic analysis of fracture-related infection.

Aims: The aim of this study was to perform the first population-based description of the epidemiological and health economic burden of fracture-related infection (FRI). Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of operatively managed orthopaedic trauma patients from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2016, performed in Queensland, Australia. Record linkage was used to develop a person-centric, population-based dataset incorporating routinely collected administrative, clinical, and health economic information. The FRI group consisted of patients with International Classification of Disease 10th Revision diagnosis codes for deep infection associated with an implanted device within two years following surgery, while all others were deemed not infected. Demographic and clinical variables, as well as healthcare utilization costs, were compared. Results: There were 111,402 patients operatively managed for orthopaedic trauma, with 2,775 of these (2.5%) complicated by FRI. The development of FRI had a statistically significant association with older age, male sex, residing in rural/remote areas, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, lower socioeconomic status, road traffic accident, work-related injuries, open fractures, anatomical region (lower limb, spine, pelvis), high injury severity, requiring soft-tissue coverage, and medical comorbidities (univariate analysis). Patients with FRI had an eight-times longer median inpatient length of stay (24 days vs 3 days), and a 2.8-times higher mean estimated inpatient hospitalization cost (AU$56,565 vs AU$19,773) compared with uninfected patients. The total estimated inpatient cost of the FRI cohort to the healthcare system was AU$156.9 million over the ten-year period. Conclusion: The results of this study advocate for improvements in trauma care and infection management, address social determinants of health, and highlight the upside potential to improve prevention and treatment strategies.

Severity of Complications after Locking Plate Osteosynthesis in Distal Femur Fractures.

Background: Locked plating for distal femur fractures is widely recommended and used. We systematically reviewed clinical studies assessing the benefits and harms of fracture fixation with locked plates in AO/OTA Type 32 and 33 femur fractures. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, Cinahl, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database was performed. The studies included randomized and non-randomized clinical trials, observational studies, and case series involving patients with distal femur fractures. Studies of other fracture patterns, studies conducted on children, pathological fractures, cadaveric studies, animal models, and those with non-clinical study designs were excluded. Results: 53 studies with 1788 patients were found to satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most common harms were nonunion (14.8%), malunion (13%), fixation failure (5.3%), infection (3.7%), and symptomatic implant (3.1%). Time to full weight-bearing ranged from 5 to 24 weeks, averaging 12.3 weeks. The average duration of follow-up was 18.18 months, ranging from 0.5 to 108 months. Surgical time ranged between 40 and 540 min, with an average of 141 min. The length of stay in days was 12.7, ranging from 1 to 61. The average plate length was ten holes, ranging from 5 to 20 holes. Conclusion: This review aimed to systematically synthesize the available evidence on the risk associated with locked plating osteosynthesis in distal femur fractures. Nonunion is the most common harm and is the primary cause of reoperation. The overall combined risk of a major and critical complication (i.e., requiring reoperation) is approximately 20%.

Establishing Consensus on Essential Resources for Musculoskeletal Trauma Care Worldwide: A Modified Delphi Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence that formalized trauma systems enhance patient functional outcomes and decrease mortality rates, there remains a lack of such systems globally. Critical to trauma systems are the equipment, materials, and supplies needed to support care, which vary in availability regionally. The purpose of the present study was to identify essential resources for musculoskeletal trauma care across diverse resource settings worldwide. METHODS: The modified Delphi method was utilized, with 3 rounds of electronic surveys. Respondents consisted of 1 surgeon with expertise in musculoskeletal trauma per country. Participants were identified with use of the AO Trauma, AO Alliance, Orthopaedic Trauma Association, and European Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery networks. Respondents rated resources on a Likert scale from 1 (most important) to 9 (least important). The "most essential" resources were classified as those rated ≤2 by ≥75% of the sampled group. RESULTS: One hundred and three of 111 invited surgeons completed the first survey and were included throughout the subsequent rounds (representing a 93% response rate). Most participants were fellowship-trained (78%) trauma and orthopaedic surgeons (90%) practicing in an academic setting (62%), and 46% had >20 years of experience. Respondents represented low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs; 35%), upper-middle income countries (UMICs; 30%), and high-income countries (HICs; 35%). The initial survey identified 308 unique resources for pre-hospital, in-hospital, and post-hospital phases of care, of which 71 resources achieved consensus as the most essential. There was a significant difference (p < 0.0167) in ratings between income groups for 16 resources, all of which were related to general trauma care rather than musculoskeletal injury management. CONCLUSIONS: There was agreement on a core list of essential musculoskeletal trauma care resources by respondents from LMICs, UMICs, and HICs. All significant differences in resource ratings were related to general trauma management. This study represents a first step toward establishing international consensus and underscores the need to prioritize resources that are locally available. The information can be used to develop effective guidelines and policies, create best-practice treatment standards, and advocate for necessary resources worldwide. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study utilized the Delphi method representing expert opinion; however, this work did not examine patient management and therefore does not have a clinical Level of Evidence.

Advances and future directions for management of trauma patients with musculoskeletal injuries.

Musculoskeletal injuries are the most common reason for operative procedures in severely injured patients and are major determinants of functional outcomes. In this paper, we summarise advances and future directions for management of multiply injured patients with major musculoskeletal trauma. Improved understanding of fracture healing has created new possibilities for management of particularly challenging problems, such as delayed union and non union of fractures and large bone defects. Optimum timing of major orthopaedic interventions is guided by increased knowledge about the immune response after injury. Individual treatment should be guided by trading off the benefits of early definitive skeletal stabilisation, and the potentially life-threatening risks of systemic complications such as fat embolism, acute lung injury, and multiple organ failure. New methods for measurement of fracture healing and function and quality of life outcomes pave the way for landmark trials that will guide the future management of musculoskeletal injuries.