Radiographic Measurements Correlate to Isolated Posterolateral Corner (PLC) Injury in a Novel Cadaveric Model.

INTRODUCTION:  Injury to the posterolateral corner (PLC) of the knee often requires surgical reconstruction. There remains no consensus on treatment for PLC injury, and, therefore, it is imperative to have a reproducible injury model to improve the general knowledge of PLC injuries. A novel cadaveric model of isolated PLC injury is proposed and evaluated using radiographic parameters as well as gross dissection. MATERIAL AND METHODS:  All protocols were reviewed by the Human Investigation and Research Committee of the home institution and were approved. Translational force in a defined posterior and lateral direction was applied to cadaveric native knees to induce PLC injury. Varus and recurvatum stress fluoroscopic imaging was obtained of each specimen before and after the injury model. Lateral joint distance and recurvatum angle after stress was measured on each image via picture archiving and communication software (PACS) imaging software. After the injury model, injured structures were assessed via saline loading and gross dissection. Any specimens found to be fractured were excluded from the analysis of stress radiography. RESULTS:  A total of 12 knees underwent testing and 6/12 successfully induced PLC injury without fracture. The lateral capsule was torn in every specimen. The popliteofibular ligament (PFL) was torn in 83% of specimens and the fibular collateral ligament (FCL) in 66.7% of specimens. The median lateral gapping after injury under varus stress radiography was 5.39 mm and the median recurvatum angle after injury was 14.25°. Radiographic parameters had a direct relationship with a number of structures injured. CONCLUSIONS:  This is the first successful cadaver model of PLC injury. The lateral capsule was injured in every specimen emphasizing the importance of this structure to the PLC.

Accuracy of self-reported opioid use in orthopaedic trauma patients.

PURPOSE: Opioids have long been a mainstay of treatment for pain in patients with orthopaedic injuries, but little is known about the accuracy of self-reported narcotic usage in orthopaedic trauma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of self-reported opioid usage in orthopaedic trauma patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of all new patients presenting to the orthopaedic trauma clinic of a level 1 trauma centre with a chief complaint of recent orthopaedic-related injury over a 2-year time frame was conducted. Participants were administered a survey inquiring about narcotic usage within the prior 3 months. Responses were cross-referenced against a query of a statewide prescription drug monitoring program system. RESULTS: The study comprised 241 participants; 206 (85.5%) were accurate reporters, while 35 (14.5%) were inaccurate reporters. Significantly increased accuracy was associated with hospital admission prior to clinic visit (ß = - 1.33; χ2 = 10.68, P < 0.01; OR: 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.62). Decreased accuracy was associated with higher pre-visit total morphine equivalent dose (MED) (ß = 0.002; χ2 = 11.30, P < 0.01), with accurate reporters having significantly lower pre-index visit MED levels compared to underreporters (89.2 ± 208.7 mg vs. 249.6 ± 509.3 mg; P = 0.04). An Emergency Department (ED) visit prior to the index visit significantly predicted underreporting (ß = 0.424; χ2 = 4.28, P = 0.04; OR: 2.34, 95% CI 1.01-5.38). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that most new patients presenting to an orthopaedic trauma clinic with acute injury will accurately report their narcotic usage within the preceding 3 months. Prior hospital admissions increased the likelihood of accurate reporting while higher MEDs or an ED visit prior to the initial visit increased the likelihood of underreporting.

Primary Hemiarthroplasty for the Treatment of Basicervical Femoral Neck Fractures.

Purpose Basicervical femoral neck fractures are uncommon injuries that occur at the extracapsular base of the femoral neck at its transition with the intertrochanteric line. Controversy remains in the orthopedic literature as to the optimal method of treatment for this fracture type given the inherent instability and greater rate of implant failure with traditional fixation constructs. The purpose of this study is to quantify the incidence and preferred treatment methods of basicervical hip fractures at a single, regional, Level 1 trauma center and to identify differences in postoperative complications between treatment options. Methods The present study is a retrospective case series from a single regional health network, including 316 patients with hip fractures. Basicervical femoral neck fractures were identified. Reoperation rates within 90 days, implant failures or nonunions, postoperative ambulation distances and range of motion, and discharge dispositions were compared across patients grouped by surgical treatment with either cephalomedullary nail, sliding hip screw, or hemiarthroplasty (HA). Results Basicervical femoral neck fractures represented 6.6% of this study population. The cephalomedullary nail group demonstrated rates of implant failure and return to the operating room within 90 days of 40% (4/10) and 20% (2/10), respectively. No patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty experienced a failure of fixation or return to the operating room. Conclusions This study suggests a much lower rate of fixation failure or need for reoperation with hemiarthroplasty treatment compared to cephalomedullary nail construct for basicervical femoral neck fractures and may be an underutilized treatment method for this fracture type. The promising results seen with this case series should encourage further investigation into HA as a primary treatment for these uncommon, yet challenging, fractures.

Effects of the Ohio Opioid Prescribing Guidelines on Total Joint Arthroplasty Postsurgical Prescribing and Refilling Behavior of Surgeons and Patients.

BACKGROUND: The opioid epidemic has been declared a public health crisis, with thousands of Americans dying from overdoses each year. In 2017, Ohio passed the Opioid Prescribing Guidelines (OPG) limiting narcotic prescriptions for acute pain. The present study sought to evaluate the effects of OPG on the prescribing behavior of orthopedists following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: An institutional database was queried to compare morphine equivalent dose (MED) prescribed at discharge, acute follow-up (<90 days), and chronic follow-up (>90 days) pre-OPG and post-OPG. Cases were identified over a 2-year period starting 1 year before OPG implementation. RESULTS: Nine orthopedic surgeons performed 1160 TKAs (692 pre-OPG, 468 post-OPG) and 834 THAs (530 pre-OPG, 304 post-OPG). Total MED for TKA and THA dropped post-OPG (1602.6 ± 54.3 vs 1145.8 ± 66.1, P < .01; 1302.3 ± 47.0 vs 878.3 ± 62.2, P < .01). Much of the total MED decrease was accounted for by the decrease in discharge MED, which was the largest in magnitude (904.8 ± 16.4 vs 606.2 ± 20.0, P < .01; 948.4 ± 19.6 vs 630.6 ± 25.9, P < .01). Seven of the 9 surgeons statistically reduced mean MED prescribed at discharge following OPG. The percentage of patients receiving new narcotic scripts at acute follow-up increased post-OPG for both TKA (41.5% vs 47.2%, P = .05) and THA (18.3% vs 25.7%, P = .01). CONCLUSION: Orthopedists reduced total MED prescribed after TKA and THA following the onset of OPG. The majority of this decrease is explained by decreased MED at discharge. Conversely, the post-OPG period saw slightly more new narcotic scripts written during acute follow-up.

An ovarian bioreactor for in vitro culture of the whole bovine ovary: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Improved cancer therapeutics and enhanced cancer survivorship have emphasized the severe long-term side effects of chemotherapy. Specifically, studies have linked many chemotherapy agents with primary ovarian insufficiency, although an exact insult model has not yet been determined. To investigate and ultimately solve this problem, a novel device for extended study of mammalian ovaries in vitro was developed. METHODS: A bioreactor was fabricated for bovine ovarian culture that provides intravascular delivery of media to the ovary through isolation and cannulation of a main ovarian artery branch. Whole ovaries were cultured in vitro using three methods: (1) continuously supplied fresh culture media, (2) recirculated culture media, or (3) continuously supplied fresh culture media supplemented with 500 nM doxorubicin for 24 or 48 h. TUNEL assay was used to assess apoptotic cell percentages in the three groups as compared to uncultured baseline ovaries. RESULTS: The ovary culture method was shown to maintain cell viability by effectively delivering nutrient-enriched pH-balanced media at a constant flow rate. Lower apoptosis observed in ovaries cultured in continuously supplied fresh culture media illustrates that this culture device and method are the first to sustain whole bovine ovary viability for 48 h. Meanwhile, the increase in the percentage of cell apoptosis with doxorubicin treatment indicates that the device can provide an alternative model for testing chemotherapy and chemoprotection treatments to prevent primary ovarian insufficiency in cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: An ovarian bioreactor with consistent culture media flow through an ovarian vasculature-assisted approach maintains short-term whole bovine ovary viability.