Fracturas de húmero distal en pacientes mayores de 65 años: ¿cuál es la mejor opción terapéutica? / Distal humerus fractures in patients over 65 years: what is the best therapeutic option? / Fraturas do úmero distal em pacientes maiores de 65 anos: qual é a melhor opção terapêutica?

Introducción: Las fracturas del húmero distal corresponden al 2% de todas las fracturas. Son los pacientes más añosos, los que presentan mayor desafío terapéutico. Suelen presentarse con huesos osteoporóticos, lo que conlleva a producir fracturas con mayor conminución articular y metafisaria; así como también dificultar una fijación estable y rígida de las mismas, que permita una movilidad precoz. Estas características generan controversia a la hora de elegir el tratamiento adecuado. El objetivo de este estudio es revisar la bibliografía de la última década, acerca de cuál es la mejor opción terapéutica para las fracturas de húmero distal en pacientes añosos. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda sistematizada a través de los buscadores electrónicos PubMed y Timbó en agosto 2019. La búsqueda llego a un total de 475 artículos, de los cuales se seleccionaron 24 según criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Discusión: La mayoría de los estudios analizados son estudios de serie de casos retrospectivos. En los trabajos revisados, existen fracturas tanto extra como intra-articulares. Se analizaron los resultados de los distintos tratamientos realizados según parámetros clínicos, scores funcionales y complicaciones. Conclusiones: El tratamiento conservador es una opción válida para aquellos pacientes en los que el terreno no permita una intervención quirúrgica. Para las fracturas tipo extra-articulares y parcialmente articulares, la reducción abierta y fijación interna es el tratamiento de elección. Para las fracturas articulares completas, no hay diferencias significativas en cuanto a scores utilizados entre la reducción abierta y fijación interna con la artroplastia de codo. Faltan estudios prospectivos que comparen ambos tratamientos.

Introduction: Distal humerus fractures account for 2% of all fractures. It is the elderly patients who present the greatest therapeutic challenge. Osteoporotic bones, more common in this population, lead to the production of fractures with greater joint and metaphyseal comminution. As a result, stable and rigid fixation becomes more difficult, hindering early mobility. These characteristics generate controversy when choosing the appropriate treatment. The aim of this study is to review the literature of the last decade regarding the best therapeutic option for distal humerus fractures in elderly patients. Methods: A systematized search was performed through the electronic search engines PubMed and Timbó in august 2019. The search reached a total of 475 articles, of which 24 were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Discussion: Most of the studies analyzed are retrospective case series studies. In the articles reviewed, there are both extra and intra-articular fractures. The results of the different treatments performed were analyzed according to clinical parameters, functional scores and complications. Conclusions: Conservative treatment is a valid option for those patients where the terrain does not allow surgical intervention. For extra-articular and partial-articular fractures, open reduction and internal fixation is the treatment of choice. For complete articular fractures, there are no significant differences in scores used between open reduction and internal fixation and elbow replacement. There is a lack of prospective studies comparing both treatments.

Introdução: Fraturas do úmero distal correspondem a 2% de todas as fraturas. São os pacientes mais idosos os que apresentam maior desafio terapêutico. Geralmente apresentam-se com ossos osteoporóticos, o que implica produzir fraturas com maior cominuição articular e metafisária; assim como também dificultar uma fixação estável e rígida das mesmas, que permita uma mobilidade precoce. Estas características geram controvérsia na escolha do tratamento adequado. O objetivo deste estudo é rever a bibliografia da última década, sobre qual é a melhor opção terapêutica para fraturas de úmero distal em pacientes idosos. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizada uma pesquisa sistematizada através dos buscadores eletrônicos Pubmed e Timbó em agosto 2019. A pesquisa chegou a um total de 475 artigos, dos quais 24 foram selecionados segundo critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Discussão: A maioria dos estudos analisados são estudos de série de casos retrospectivos. Nos trabalhos revisados, existem fraturas tanto extra como intra-articulares. Foram analisados os resultados dos diferentes tratamentos realizados segundo parâmetros clínicos, scores funcionais e complicações. Conclusões: O tratamento conservador é uma opção válida para os pacientes em que o terreno não permita uma intervenção cirúrgica. Para fraturas tipo extra-articulares e parcialmente articulares, a redução aberta e fixação interna é o tratamento de escolha. Para fracturas articulares completas, não há diferenças significativas em termos de scores utilizados entre a redução aberta e a fixação interna com artroplastia do cotovelo. Faltam estudos prospectivos que comparem os dois tratamentos.

The Community Orthopaedic Surgeon Taking Trauma Call: Radial Neck Fracture Pearls and Pitfalls.

Pediatric radial neck fractures will inevitably be encountered by the general orthopaedist, and they carry great potential for poor outcomes. Acceptable displacement varies by age, and unlike adults, most of these injuries can be managed by closed means. If they are taken to the operating room, the mainstays of treatment are percutaneous techniques. Increasing patient age, inadequate reduction, unnecessary open reductions, and prolonged immobilization are all associated with worse outcomes, most commonly manifesting as significant elbow stiffness. Knowledge of the age-specific acceptable displacement criteria, a stepwise approach to closed and percutaneous techniques, and safe strategies for open reduction when needed as a last resort will greatly improve treatment success.

Formación de un solo hueso en el antebrazo / Formation of a single bone in the forearm

En 1921 se describió la formación de un solo hueso del antebrazo como un proceder de rescate para una pseudoartrosis en el radio distal. Se presentan dos casos con un defecto óseo significativo en el antebrazo, secundario a procesos sépticos, a los que se les realizó la técnica de "un solo hueso". A un paciente se le transfirió la diáfisis del cúbito proximal a la metáfisis distal del radio con fijación de la articulación radiocubital distal para garantizarle estabilidad a la muñeca. Al segundo caso se le fijó la metáfisis proximal del cubito con la diáfisis distal del radio. Ambos presentaron una evolución posoperatoria favorable, con recuperación funcional y estética de la extremidad(AU)

In 1921, the formation of a single forearm bone was described as a rescue procedure for a pseudoarthrosis in the distal radius. We present two cases with significant bone defect in the forearm, secondary to septic processes, to which the "single bone" technique was performed. A patient was transferred the diaphysis of the proximal ulna to the distal metaphysis of the radius with fixation of the distal radioulnar joint to ensure stability to the wrist. In the second case, the proximal metaphysis of the ulna was fixed with the distal diaphysis of the radius. Both patients had favorable postsurgical evolution, with functional and aesthetic recovery of their limb(AU)

Obesity Increases Risk of Loss of Reduction After Casting for Diaphyseal Fractures of the Radius and Ulna in Children: An Observational Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if high body mass index (BMI) increases the risk of loss of reduction (LOR) following closed reduction and casting for displaced concomitant fractures of the radial and ulnar shafts in pediatric patients. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A single, tertiary care, urban children's hospital. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Pediatric patients 2-18 years of age with closed, displaced, concomitant diaphyseal fractures of the radius and ulna (OTA/AO 22-A3) who underwent closed reduction and casting at the study site. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BMI percentile of ≥95 was defined as obese. For nonobese patients, BMI percentile of ≥85 was defined as overweight. BMI percentile category, fracture angulation, sex, age, fracture location, and number of follow-up visits were recorded. Radiographs and health records were reviewed to note clinical and radiographic cases of LOR. The primary outcome was LOR (clinical or radiographic). RESULTS: Overall, 124 subjects (74 male and 50 female subjects) underwent acceptable closed reduction and casting. Median patient age was 7.6 years (range, 2.2-17.8 years). There were 14 cases of LOR. LOR rates were 7.2%, 16.7%, and 44.4% for the nonoverweight, overweight, and obese cohorts, respectively (P = 0.005). Regression analysis revealed that LOR was positively associated with higher BMI category (odds ratio for overweight 4.49; P = 0.082; odds ratio for obese 7.52; P = 0.020) and patient age in years (odds ratio, 1.38; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high risk of LOR in overweight and obese children with displaced concomitant fractures of the radial and ulnar shafts, our findings suggest that attentive and frequent follow-up is warranted. In these patients, the initial reduction should be closely scrutinized, and a lower threshold for surgical fixation may be considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Percutaneous Reduction of Displaced Radial Neck Fractures Achieves Better Results Compared With Fractures Treated by Open Reduction.

There is uniform agreement in the literature that radial neck fracture with <30 degrees of angulation and minimal translation in younger children can be managed by casting alone, without the need for closed reduction. For more severe fractures, closed manipulation techniques followed by percutaneous reduction technique (in case closed reduction fails) should be performed before switching to an open reduction technique. Debate still exists regarding the best treatment protocol for severely displaced fractures. Although some surgeons favor open reduction with the argument that repeat manipulations may cause iatrogenic injuries, and stiffness, others believe that open reduction is one of the most contributing factors for poor outcome. On the basis of this paradigm, we present our treatment algorithm based on the data demonstrating that percutaneous reduction of displaced radial neck fractures achieve better results than open reduction.