A Novel Technique for Treatment of Metaphyseal Voids in Proximal Humerus Fractures in Elderly Patients.

Background and Objectives: The treatment of proximal humerus fractures in elderly patients is challenging, with reported high complication rates mostly related to implant failure involving screw cut-out and penetration. Metaphyseal defects are common in osteoporotic bone and weaken the osteosynthesis construct. A novel technique for augmentation with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement was developed for the treatment of patients in advanced age with complex proximal humerus fractures and metaphyseal voids, whereby the cement was allowed to partially cure for 5-7 min after mixing to achieve medium viscosity, and then it was manually placed into the defect through the traumatic lateral window with a volume of 4-6 mL per patient. The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to assess this technique versus autologous bone graft augmentation and no augmentation. Materials and Methods: The outcomes of 120 patients with plated Neer three- and four-part fractures, assigned to groups of 63 cases with no augmentation, 28 with bone graft augmentation and 29 with cement augmentation, were assessed in this study. DASH, CS, pain scores and range of motion were analyzed at 3, 6 and 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed with factors for treatment and age groups, Neer fracture types and follow-up periods, and with the consideration of age as a covariate. Results: DASH and CS improved following cement augmentation at three and six months compared to bone grafting, being significant when correcting for age as a covariate (p ≤ 0.007). While the age group had a significant effect on both these scores with worsened values at a higher age for non-augmented and grafted patients (p ≤ 0.044), this was not the case for cement augmented patients (p ≥ 0.128). Cement augmentation demonstrated good clinical results at 12 months with a mean DASH of 10.21 and mean CS percentage of 84.83% versus the contralateral side, not being significantly different among the techniques (p ≥ 0.372), despite the cement augmented group representing the older population with more four-part fractures. There were no concerning adverse events specifically related to the novel technique. Conclusions: This study has detailed a novel technique for the treatment of metaphyseal defects with PMMA cement augmentation in elderly patients with complex proximal humerus fractures and follow-up to one year, whereby the cement was allowed to partially cure to achieve medium viscosity, and then it was manually placed into the defect through the traumatic lateral window. The results demonstrate clinically equivalent short-term results to 6 months compared to augmentation with bone graft or no augmentation-despite the patient group being older and with a higher rate of more severe fracture patterns. The technique appears to be safe with no specifically related adverse events and can be added in the surgeon's armamentarium for the treatment of these difficult to manage fractures.

PTH 1-34 (teriparatide) may not improve healing in proximal humerus fractures. A randomized, controlled study of 40 patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is solid evidence from animal experiments that parathyroid hormone (PTH) improves fracture healing. So far, only 3 papers on PTH and fracture repair in humans have been published. They suggest that PTH may enhance fracture healing, but the results do not appear to justify specific clinical recommendations. This study was carried out to determine whether teriparatide enhances fracture healing of proximal humerus fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 40 post-menopausal women with a proximal humerus fracture were randomized to either daily injections with 20 µg teriparatide (PTH 1-34 (Forteo)) for 4 weeks or control treatment. At randomization, the patients were asked to assess how their pain at rest and during activity (visual analog scale (VAS)) and also function (DASH score) had been prior to the fracture. At 7 weeks and again at 3 months, their current state was assessed and the tests were repeated, including radiographs. 2 radiologists performed a blind qualitative scoring of the callus at 7 weeks. Callus formation was arbitrarily classified as "normal" or "better". RESULTS: 39 patients completed the follow-up. The radiographic assessment showed a correct correlation, "better" in the teriparatide group and "normal" in the control group, in 21 of the 39 cases. There were no statistically significant differences in pain, in use of strong analgesics, or in function between the groups at the follow-up examinations. INTERPRETATION: There were no radiographic signs of enhanced healing or improved clinical results in the group treated with teriparatide.

Influence of Early Bisphosphonate Administration for Fracture Healing in Patients with Osteoporotic Proximal Humerus Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Bisphosphonates are generally known to adversely affect fracture healing because they inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption. However, some authors argue that bisphosphonates have no adverse effect on the restoration of the mechanical integrity of long bones after fractures. It is unclear whether bisphosphonates can be initiated safely in patients with acute proximal humerus fractures. The aim of this study was to determine whether the early use of a bisphosphonate affects healing and outcomes of osteoporotic proximal humerus fractures treated with a locking compression plate. METHODS: Between August 2004 and June 2013, a total of 82 osteoporotic patients who underwent locking plate fixation of proximal humerus fractures were enrolled retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the timing of the commencement of treatment with alendronate after surgery: group A (n = 34, initiation of the bisphosphonate treatment within two weeks after surgery) and group B (n = 48, control group, initiation of the treatment three months after surgery). Patients were assessed for radiographic union at 2, 6, 10, and 16 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. Clinical assessments were performed using the Constant score and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score at 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to radiographic and clinical outcomes after locking plate fixation. All patients obtained fracture union, and the mean time to radiographic union was similar in group A and group B (6.3 and 6.6 weeks, respectively; p = 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the early initiation of bisphosphonate treatment does not affect bone union or clinical outcomes in patients with an osteoporotic proximal humerus fracture treated by locking compression plate fixation.

The use of bone morphogenic protein-7 (OP-1) in the management of resistant non-unions in the upper and lower limb.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of local implantation of BMP-7 for the treatment of resistant non-unions in the upper and lower limb. Fifty-two patients (30 males, mean age 52.8 years; range 20-81) were treated with local BMP-7 implantation in a bovine bone-derived collagen paste with or without revision of fixation. Thirty-six patients had closed injuries, ten had open injuries and six had infected non-unions. Patients had undergone a mean of 2 (1-5) operations prior to implantation of BMP-7. Clinical and radiological union was achieved in 94% at a mean time of 5.6 months (3-19). Two patients with subtrochanteric femoral fractures failed to achieve union secondary to inadequate fracture stabilisation, persistent unfavourable biological environment and systemic co-morbidities. One patient developed synostosis attributed to the BMP-7 application. This study demonstrates BMP-7 implanted in a bovine-derived collagen paste is an effective adjunctive treatment for resistant non-unions in the upper and lower limb.

Application of recombinant BMP-7 on persistent upper and lower limb non-unions.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant bone morphogenetic protein 7 (rhBMP-7 or OP-1) as a bone-stimulating agent in the treatment of persistent fracture non-unions. Twenty-five consecutive patients [19 males, mean age 39.4 years (range: 18-79)] with 26 fracture non-unions were treated with rhBMP-7. There were 10 tibial non-unions, eight femoral, three humeral, three ulnar, one patellar, and one clavicular non-union. The mean follow-up was 15.3 months. The mean number of operations performed prior to rhBMP-7 application was 3.2, with autologous bone graft and bone marrow injection being used in 10 cases (38.5%). Both clinical and radiological union occurred in 24 (92.3%) cases, within a mean time of 4.2 months and 5.6 months, respectively. Of the remaining two cases, one patient ultimately underwent a below knee amputation, secondary to recurrence of deep sepsis. The other patient with recalcitrant ulnar non-union although the radiological union was incomplete, declined further intervention, as he was asymptomatic. No complications or adverse effects from the use of rhBMP-7 were encountered. This study supports the view that the application of rhBMP-7 as a bone-stimulating agent is safe and a power adjunct to be considered in the surgeon's armamentarium for the treatment of these challenging clinical conditions.

Bloqueo axilar ecoguiado: variaciones anatómicas de la disposición de los 4 nervios terminales del plexo braquial en relación con la arteria humeral / Ultrasound-guided axillary block: anatomical variations of terminal branches of the brachial plexus in relation to the brachial artery

Objetivos. Describir la distribución de los nervios terminales del plexo braquial a nivel axilar para definir patrones de distribución a partir de su observación mediante ultrasonidos. Material y método. Cincuenta voluntarios a quienes se practicó bilateralmente una exploración ecográfica axilar. Se determinó la distribución en grados de circunferencia de los nervios en relación con la arteria (que sería el punto central), la distancia de la arteria a cada uno de los nervios y la disposición del nervio cubital respecto a la vena humeral. Resultados. El nervio mediano se halló en el cuadrante superoexterno a −29 ± 40° y a una distancia de 2,1 ± 0,9 mm (85%). El nervio cubital se situó en el cuadrante superointerno (90%), a 53 ± 26° y a una distancia de 4,2 ± 2,1 mm. Se situó superficial a la vena en el 46% de los casos y profundo en el 54%. El nervio radial se localizó en el cuadrante inferointerno (86%), a 122 ± 38°, y a una distancia de 3,3 ± 1,7 mm de la arteria. El nervio musculocutáneo se halló a −103 ± 22° y a una distancia de 9,3 ± 5,6 mm. En el 90% de los casos se situó en el cuadrante inferoexterno (−110 ± 12°) y a una distancia de 10,0 ± 5,6 mm, mientras que en el 10% restante se halló en el cuadrante superoexterno (−55 ± 16°), siendo la distancia en estos casos de 4,8 ± 2,7 mm. No hubo diferencias significativas en base a la lateralidad, al sexo, ni a la obesidad. Conclusiones. Nuestro estudio define 4 patrones anatómicos, 2 basados en la posición del nervio musculocutáneo respecto a la arteria humeral y músculo coracobraquial, y 2 basados en la disposición del nervio cubital respecto a la vena humeral. Los nervios mediano y radial presentan una disposición muy homogénea. En nuestro estudio estos patrones no se vieron influidos por la lateralidad, el sexo, ni el sobrepeso (AU)

The anesthetist has 2 major tools for optimizing haemodynamics in cardiac surgery: Vasoactive drugs and the intravascular volume. It is necessary to identify which patients would benefit from one or the other therapies for a suitable response to treatment. Hemodynamic monitoring with the different existing parameters (pressure, volumetric static, volumetric functional and echocardiography) allows the management of these patients to be optimized. In this article a review is presented on the most recent and relevant publications, and the different tools available to control the management of the fluid therapy in this context, and to suggest a few guidelines for the haemodynamics monitoring of patients submitted to cardiac surgery. A systematic search has been made in PubMed, limiting the results to the publications over the last five years up to February 2012 (AU)

Avaliaçåo clínica dos resultados terapêuticos do uso de nimesulide em condiçöes flogísticas do aparelho osteoarticular / Clinical efficacy of nimesulide in orthopedics and traumatology

Foram avaliados 30 pacientes com patologias inflamatórias agudas nåo infecciosas do aparelho locomotor. Houve melhora total ou parcial de todas as principais manifestaçöes da inflamaçåo em todos os pacientes estudados. A tolerabilidade foi excelente, e a maioria dos pacientes obteve resposta clínica em até 1 hora após a ingeståo do nimesulide