Pilon fractures: Consensus and controversy.

Pilon fractures are complex injuries that require an individualized approach to treatment to avoid complications and achieve good outcomes. Staged open reduction internal fixation remains the gold standard for most cases to achieve anatomic articular reduction while minimizing soft tissue complications and infection. Careful preoperative planning based on computed tomography dictates the surgical approach for reduction. A subset of cases may be amenable to early definitive or provisional open reduction and internal fixation based on fracture pattern. In some cases of severe articular comminution where reconstruction is not possible, primary ankle arthrodesis may be a good alternative.

Use of a Retrograde Guidewire to Direct an Antegrade Femoral Nail.

Antegrade intramedullary nailing for the treatment of diaphyseal femur fractures may present challenges in obtaining appropriate positioning of the distal tip of the nail. Known mismatch between the radius of curvature of commonly used nails and the anatomic bow of the femur may result in impingement or perforation of the anterior cortex of the distal femur. Additionally, some unique scenarios may arise that complicate traditional antegrade wire passage. We report our surgical technique and clinical experience using a retrograde guidewire to direct an antegrade femoral nail to aid in obtaining a desired central location of the distal nail tip. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(2):e132-e135.].

Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fractures: What Predicts Infection?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify the patient, injury, and treatment factors associated with infection of bicondylar plateau fractures and to evaluate whether center variation exists. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Eighteen academic trauma centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,287 patients with 1,297 OTA type 41-C bicondylar tibia plateau fractures who underwent open reduction and internal fixation were included. Exclusion criteria were follow-up less than 120 days, insufficient documentation, and definitive treatment only with external fixation. INTERVENTION: Open reduction and internal fixation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Superficial and deep infection. RESULTS: One hundred one patients (7.8%) developed an infection. In multivariate regression analysis, diabetes (DM) (OR [odds ratio] 3.24; P ≤ 0.001), alcohol abuse (EtOH) (OR 1.8; P = 0.040), dual plating (OR 1.8; P ≤ 0.001), and temporary external fixation (OR 2.07; P = 0.013) were associated with infection. In a risk-adjusted model, we found center variation in infection rates (P = 0.030). DISCUSSION: In a large series of patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of bicondylar plateau fractures, the infection rate was 7.8%. Infection was associated with DM, EtOH, combined dual plating, and temporary external fixation. Center expertise may also play a role because one center had a statistically lower rate and two trended toward higher rates after adjusting for confounders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-Therapeutic retrospective cohort study.

Open Ankle Fractures: What Predicts Infection? A Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the patient, injury, and treatment factors associated with an acute infection during the treatment of open ankle fractures in a large multicenter retrospective review. To evaluate the effect of infectious complications on the rates of nonunion, malunion, and loss of reduction. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective review. SETTING: Sixteen trauma centers. PATIENTS: One thousand and 3 consecutive skeletally mature patients (514 men and 489 women) with open ankle fractures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fracture-related infection (FRI) in open ankle fractures. RESULTS: The charts of 1003 consecutive patients were reviewed, and 712 patients (357 women and 355 men) had at least 12 weeks of clinical follow-up. Their average age was 50 years (range 16-96), and average BMI was 31; they sustained OTA/AO types 44A (12%), 44B (58%), and 44C (30%) open ankle fractures. The rate FRI rate was 15%. A multivariable regression analysis identified male sex, diabetes, smoking, immunosuppressant use, time to wound closure, and wound location as independent risk factors for infection. There were 77 cases of malunion, nonunion, loss of reduction, and/or implant failure; FRI was associated with higher rates of these complications (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Several patient, injury, and surgical factors were associated with FRI in the treatment of open ankle fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Avulsion Fractures of the Calcaneal Tuberosity: A Single-Center Review of Outcomes and Complications.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this investigation was to determine the incidence of complications and revision surgery after calcaneal tuberosity avulsion fractures, to describe experience with different fixation constructs, and to compare revision surgery rates between tuberosity and tongue-type fractures of the calcaneus. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study at a single level 1 trauma center between 2001 and 2019, including patients with calcaneal tuberosity avulsion fractures compared with patients with calcaneal tongue-type fractures. RESULTS: Twenty-nine tuberosity fractures (23 surgical and six nonsurgical) and 37 tongue-type fractures (29 surgical and eight nonsurgical) were treated during the study period. Revision surgery was more common in the tuberosity group (26% versus 7%, P = 0.013). In the tuberosity group, 35% experienced some degree of implant failure, with 13% catastrophic loss of reduction and 22% loss of initial reduction with eventual union. Fragment size and initial displacement were not associated with revision surgery. No patients with implant failure noted in the tongue-type group. DISCUSSION: Calcaneal tuberosity fractures showed significantly higher rate of revision surgery and failure of fixation compared with tongue-type fractures.

Pilon Fracture: Preventing Complications.

Fractures of the distal tibial plafond (ie, pilon) comprise a broad range of injury mechanisms, patient demographics, and soft-tissue and osseous lesions. Patients often present with considerably comminuted fracture patterns and notable soft-tissue compromise. Surgical intervention must be performed with respect for the exceedingly vulnerable soft-tissue envelope and with a properly executed technique. Even with proper timing, favorable host factors, and expert surgical technique, restoration of function and avoidance of complications are not always achievable. Recently validated techniques further diminish the risk of soft-tissue and osseous sepsis. These techniques include early (ie, "immediate") fixation, upgrading, primary arthrodesis, staged sequential posterior and anterior fixation, acute shortening, and transsyndesmotic fibular plating. Proper application of these recently adopted techniques may be instrumental in achieving aseptic union of pilon fractures.

Staged Prone/Supine Fixation of High-Energy Multicolumnar Tibial Plateau Fractures: A Multicenter Analysis.

PURPOSE: We present a surgical strategy to manage multicolumnar tibial plateau fracture variants by addressing the predominant posterior fragment employing a Lobenhoffer approach in the prone position followed by supine patient repositioning for anterolateral column access. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective analysis. SETTING: Three academic Level 1 trauma centers. PATIENTS/METHODS: Twenty-eight cases (28 patients/28 knees) met inclusion criteria between 2003 and 2014. Patient demographic information was retrospectively reviewed with a mean follow-up time of 16.6 months (range 12-34 months). Postoperative radiographic analysis, physical examination findings, and patient outcome scores from the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score questionnaire were recorded. RESULTS: The average time to union was 3.6 months (range 3-9 months). Eighty-two percent of patients had satisfactory articular reduction (less than 2 mm articular step off). All patients demonstrated satisfactory coronal (medial proximal tibia angle 87 ± 5 degrees) and sagittal alignment (posterior proximal tibia angle 9 ± 4 degrees). Condylar width averaged 2.2 mm. Twenty percent of cases required posterior lateral columnar plating (in addition to posterior medial columnar plating), with none of these cases requiring an extensile exposure modification (medial gastrocnemius origin detachment) to expose posterior laterally. In 12 cases, the posterior approach was staged to allow for anterior soft tissue recovery before subsequent staged supine positioning and lateral column fixation. The knee range of motion averaged 123 degrees (ranged from 2 degrees of extension to 125 degrees flexion). The average Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score was 78/100 (range 29-95). Eleven percent of the patients in the series developed a surgical site infection (n = 3) with 2 requiring formal irrigation and debridement. The most common aseptic complication was radiographic posttraumatic arthrosis (18%). Clinically, 1 patient eventually required a total knee arthroplasty. CONCLUSIONS: High-energy multicolumnar tibial plateau fractures with significant posterior articular surface involvement may be predictably addressed with prone positioning, exposure, and fixation followed by supine repositioning and the inclusion of an anterior approach. This study demonstrates excellent postoperative radiographic results and acceptable clinical outcomes resulting from the described staged protocol. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Surgical Exposure Trends and Controversies in Extremity Fracture Care.

Surgical exposures for the management of extremity fractures continue to evolve. Strategies to achieve satisfactory articular reconstitution require surgeons to have an appreciation and understanding of various conventional and contemporary surgical approaches. The recent literature has witnessed a surge in studies on surgical approaches for the fixation of extremity fractures. This increased interest in surgical exposures resulted from not only a desire to enhance outcomes and minimize complications but also a recognition of the inadequacies of traditionally accepted surgical exposures. Contemporary exposures may be modifications or combinations of existing exposures. All surgical exposures require proper surgical execution and familiarity with regional anatomic structures. Exposures, whether conventional or contemporary, must provide sufficient access for reduction and implant insertion. Proper exposure selection can greatly enhance a surgeon's ability to achieve acceptable reduction and adequate fixation. Unique characteristics of both the patient and his or her fracture pathoanatomy may dictate the surgical approach. Patient positioning, imaging access, and concomitant comorbidities (medical, systemic trauma, and regional extremity related) also must be considered. Minimally invasive methods of reduction and fixation are attractive and have merit; however, adherence to them while failing to achieve satisfactory reduction and fixation will not generate a desirable outcome. Surgeons should be aware of several site-specific anatomic regions in which evolving surgical exposures and strategies for extremity fracture management have had favorable outcomes.

Staged Fixation of Tibial Plateau Fractures: Strategies for the Posterior Approach.

A critical assessment of radiographic and clinical outcomes after complex articular fractures of the proximal tibia demonstrates several aspects worthy of reevaluation and potential modification. These include a refined understanding of fracture pathoanatomy, injury classification, operative exposure, surgical timing, and preferred fixation constructs in addition to implant design modifications. Evolving trends include increasing appreciation of the importance of the fracture morphology in the axial plane and the role that the fracture pattern has on the choice of surgical approach. This focused review will highlight the attributes and limitations of classification schemes (both conventional and contemporary) as well as the role that posterior surgical approaches performed in the prone position may offer in select clinical scenarios. The merits of staged fixation (prone followed by supine patient positioning), its technique, indications, and potential liabilities are described and case examples offered.

Healing Time and Complications in Operatively Treated Atypical Femur Fractures Associated With Bisphosphonate Use: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to characterize demographics, healing time, and complications of a large series of operatively treated atypical femur fractures. DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter review. SETTING: Seventeen academic medical centers. PATIENTS: Bisphosphonate-related fractures as defined by American Society of Bone and Mineral Research. Fractures had to be followed for at least 6 months or to union or revision. INTERVENTION: Operative treatment of bisphosphonate-related fracture. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Union time and complications of treatment, as well as information about the contralateral limb. RESULTS: There were 179 patients, average age 72, average body mass index 27.2. Average follow-up was 17 months. Twenty-one percent had a previous history of fragility fracture; 34% had prodromal pain. Most (88%) lived independently before injury. Thirty-one percent had radiographic changes suggesting stress reaction. Surgical fixation was with cephalomedullary nail (51%), IM nail (48%), or plate (1%). Complications included death (4), PE (3), and wound infection (6). Twenty (12%) patients underwent revision at an average of 11 months. Excluding revisions, average union time was 5.2 months. For revisions, union occurred at an average of 10.2 months after intervention. No association was identified between discontinuation of bisphosphonates and union time (P = 0.5) or need for revision (P = 0.7). Twenty-one percent sustained contralateral femur fractures; 32% of these had pain and 59% had stress reaction before contralateral fracture. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, surgery had a 12% failure rate and delayed average time to union. Twenty-one percent developed contralateral femur fractures within 2 years, underscoring the need to evaluate the contralateral extremity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Determination of Radiographic Healing: An Assessment of Consistency Using RUST and Modified RUST in Metadiaphyseal Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability of the Radiographic Union Scale for Tibia (RUST) score and a new modified RUST score in quantifying healing and to define a value for radiographic union in a large series of metadiaphyseal fractures treated with plates or intramedullary nails. DESIGN: Healing was evaluated using 2 methods: (1) evaluation of interrater agreement in a series of radiographs and (2) analysis of prospectively gathered data from 2 previous large multicenter trials to define thresholds for radiographic union. INTERVENTION: Part 1: 12 orthopedic trauma surgeons evaluated a series of radiographs of 27 distal femur fractures treated with either plate or retrograde nail fixation at various stages of healing in random order using a modified RUST score. For each radiographic set, the reviewer indicated if the fracture was radiographically healed. Part 2: The radiographic results of 2 multicenter randomized trials comparing plate versus nail fixation of 81 distal femur and 46 proximal tibia fractures were reviewed. Orthopaedic surgeons at 24 trauma centers scored radiographs at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively using the modified RUST score above. Additionally, investigators indicated if the fracture was healed or not healed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals was determined for each cortex, the standard and modified RUST score, and the assignment of union for part 1 data. The RUST and modified RUST that defined "union" were determined for both parts of the study. RESULTS: ICC: The modified RUST score demonstrated slightly higher ICCs than the standard RUST (0.68 vs. 0.63). Nails had substantial agreement, whereas plates had moderate agreement using both modified and standard RUST (0.74 and 0.67 vs. 0.59 and 0.53). UNION: The average standard and modified RUST at union among all fractures was 8.5 and 11.4. Nails had higher standard and modified RUST scores than plates at union. The ICC for union was 0.53 (nails: 0.58; plates: 0.51), which indicates moderate agreement. However, the majority of reviewers assigned union for a standard RUST of 9 and a modified RUST of 11, and >90% considered a score of 10 on the RUST and 13 on the modified RUST united. CONCLUSIONS: The ICC for the modified RUST is slightly higher than the standard RUST in metadiaphyseal fractures and had substantial agreement. The ICC for the assessment of union was moderate agreement; however, definite union would be 10 and 13 with over 90% of reviewers assigning union. These are the first data-driven estimates of radiographic union for these scores.

Treatment and complications in orthopaedic trauma patients with symptomatic pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to characterize the presentation, size, treatment, and complications of pulmonary embolism (PE) in a large series of orthopaedic trauma patients who developed PE after injury. METHODS: We reviewed the records of orthopaedic trauma patients who developed a PE within 6 months of injury at 9 trauma centers and 2 tertiary care facilities. RESULTS: There were 312 patients, 186 men and 126 women, average age 58 years. Average body mass index was 29.6, and average Injury Severity Score was 18. Seventeen percent received anticoagulation before injury, and 5% had a history of PE. After injury, 87% were placed on prophylactic anticoagulation and 68% with low-molecular weight heparin. Fifty-three percent of patients exhibited shortness of breath or chest pain. Average heart rate and O2 saturation before PE diagnosis were 110 and 94%, respectively. Thirty-nine percent had abnormal arterial blood gas, and 30% had abnormal electrocardiogram findings. Eighty-nine percent had computed tomography pulmonary angiography for diagnosis. Most clots were segmental (63%), followed by subsegmental (21%), lobar (9%), and central (7%). The most common treatment was unfractionated heparin and Coumadin (25%). Complications of anticoagulation were common: 10% had bleeding at the surgical site. Other complications of anticoagulation included gastrointestinal bleed, anemia, wound complications, death, and compartment syndrome. PE recurred in 1% of patients. Four percent died of PE within 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large data set to evaluate the course of PE in an orthopaedic trauma population. The complications of anticoagulation are significant and were as common in patients with lower risk clots as those with higher risk clots.

Locked and minimally invasive plating: a paradigm shift? Metadiaphyseal site-specific concerns and controversies.

Metadiaphyseal fractures of long bones are associated with considerable deforming forces, tenuous soft-tissue envelopes, and, often, severely compromised osseous integrity. Contemporary methods to fix complex metadiaphyseal fractures must achieve a balance between the biomechanical and biologic environments. The advent of precontoured locking plates inserted with evolving minimally invasive techniques may achieve both goals. Enthusiasm for their application demands continued scientific validation. Indications and outcomes must be carefully evaluated, and the benefits and limitations of this combination of implant design and surgical execution must be recognized.