Fixation or Revision for Periprosthetic Fractures: Epidemiology, New Trends, and Projections in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic fractures can be devastating complications after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The management of periprosthetic fractures is complex, spanning expertise in arthroplasty and trauma. The purpose of this study was to examine and project trends in the operative treatment of periprosthetic fractures in the United States. METHODS: A large, public and private payer database was queried to capture all International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnosis codes for periprosthetic femoral and tibial fractures. Statistical models were created to assess trends in treatment for periprosthetic fractures and to predict future surgical rates. An alpha value of 0.05 was used to assess significance. A Bonferroni correction was applied where applicable to account for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: In this study, from 2016 to 2021, 121,298 patients underwent surgical treatment for periprosthetic fractures. There was a significant increase in the total number of periprosthetic fractures. The incidence of periprosthetic hip fractures rose by 38% and that for periprosthetic knee fractures rose by 73%. The number of periprosthetic fractures is predicted to rise 212% from 2016 to 2032. There was a relative increase in open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) compared with revision arthroplasty for both periprosthetic hip fractures and periprosthetic knee fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Periprosthetic fractures are anticipated to impose a substantial health-care burden in the coming decades. Periprosthetic knee fractures are predominantly treated with ORIF rather than revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA), whereas periprosthetic hip fractures are predominantly treated with revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) rather than ORIF. Both periprosthetic knee fractures and periprosthetic hip fractures demonstrated increasing trends in this study. The proportion of periprosthetic hip fractures treated with ORIF relative to revision THA has been increasing. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Increase in surgical fixation of pediatric midshaft clavicle fractures since 2008.

BACKGROUND: Clavicle fractures in children have traditionally been treated non-operatively. In adults, a great increase in operative treatment has been reported. We aimed to analyze the respective trend and potential explanatory factors in children. METHODS: This is a single-institution retrospective study in a subregion in Northern Finland. The ICD-code S42.0 was used to identify the cases in the hospital registry. Altogether, 214 children, aged < 16, with consecutive clavicle fractures were first enrolled in the area during 2008-2019. Hospital journals and radiographs were reviewed. After lateral and medial fractures and patients living outside the area were excluded, final study population was 172. The respective population at risk was extracted by Statistics Finland. Predictive factors and annual rates of operative treatment as adjusted for 100,000 children at risk were determined. RESULTS: The rate of the surgical treatment of clavicle fractures increased from zero in 2008 to 10.8 in 2019 per 100,000 age-adjusted children (ß = 0.864, 95% confidential intervals (CI) 0.4 to 1.4). There was a rise in the rate of surgery from 2.6% (2014-16) to 16.1% (2017-19) (diff. 13.5, 95% CI 1.7 to 23.3%). A displacement > 15 mm and a shortening of > 15 mm were associated with the increased risk of surgery but did not change during the study period. Age > 9 years increased the risk of surgery; the mean age increased from 5.5 years (2008-10) to 8.5 years (2017-19). There was a 3.6-fold increase in sports-related fractures (95% CI 7.4 to 26.4). The severity of the fractures did not change. CONCLUSIONS: There has been an increasing trend in the surgical fixation of pediatric middle shaft clavicle fractures since 2008. The available literature does not support the trend.

Outcomes in Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Traumatic Fractures: Does Restoration of Unfused Segmental Mobility Correlated to Implant Removal Time?

BACKGROUND: Posterior fixation without fusion can treat thoracolumbar and lumbar traumatic fractures effectively in certain cases. However, whether patients benefit from implant removal and the correlation between the range of motion (ROM) of the involved segments and the removal time have not been determined. METHODS: From 2018 to 2020, we retrospectively reviewed data of patients with AO spine type A or B thoracolumbar or lumbar traumatic fractures who underwent implant removal. A total of 17 patients (group A), 21 patients (group B), and 12 patients (group C) underwent implant removal after the index surgery within 12 months, between 12 and 24 months, and over 24 months, respectively. Clinical and radiological outcomes, including visual analog scale for back pain, patient satisfaction, Oswestry disability index, and EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaire, for quality of life and segmental ROM were analyzed. RESULTS: The average follow-up time was 9.1 ± 5.7 months after implant removal. There were no significant differences in visual analog scale and patient satisfaction among the 3 groups at the same observation time point. Among the 3 groups, patients in group A gained the lowest Oswestry disability index and highest EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaire scores after removal and at the final follow-up. The best ROM was obtained in group A followed by groups B and C (11.5° ± 6.2°, 5.5° ± 1.6°, and 2.4° ± 0.6°, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Immobilization of the involved segments over 24 months may lead to loss of ROM. Regained segmental ROM is correlated negatively with implant removal time, and removal within 12 months promises a better ROM and quality of life.

Clinical Outcomes of Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Treated by Trans-Kambin triangle versus Transpedicular Bone Grafting Combined with Posterior Internal Fixation.

OBJECTIVE: The ideal management of thoracolumbar burst fracture (TLBF) remains controversial. We conducted this study to compare the effectiveness and safety of trans-Kambin triangle versus transpedicular bone grafting combined with posterior internal fixation (PIF) for TLBF. METHODS: Fifty-four patients were retrospectively analyzed and divided into 2 groups: the observation group (PIF combined with bone grafting via the Kambin triangle, n = 28) and the control group (PIF combined with bone grafting via transpedicular, n = 26). The anterior vertebral height ratio, sagittal Cobb angle, visual analog scale score, Oswestry Disability Index, bone healing rate, and neurologic complications were measured. RESULTS: All patients were followed up regularly for a mean period of 17.94 months (12 - 24 months). The anterior vertebral height ratio in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (93.93 ± 2.92 vs. 89.90 ± 5.54%, P = 0.006), and the loss of correction was lower (1.59 ± 1.20 vs. 3.00 ± 1.98%, P = 0.008). The observation group had lower sagittal Cobb angle at final follow-up (8.68 ± 3.75 vs. 11.33 ± 4.77 degrees, P = 0.046) and less correction loss (1.96 ± 1.32 ± 1.15 vs. 3.90 ± 2.39 degrees, P = 0.002). The visual analog scale score and Oswestry Disability Index in the observation group were lower (0.61 ± 0.43 vs. 0.92 ± 0.38, P = 0.016; 15.86 ± 4.11 vs. 19.18 ± 4.04, P = 0.010), while the fracture healing rate showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). No internal fixation failure or neurologic complications occurred in both groups during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Bone grafting via the Kambin triangle combined with PIF is a safe and effective technology for thoracolumbar burst fracture.

No change in reoperation rates despite shifting treatment trends: a population-based study of 4,070 proximal humeral fractures.

Background and purpose - Clear and acknowledged treatment algorithms for proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) are lacking. Nevertheless, a change in treatment trends, including a change towards more reversed shoulder arthroplasties (RSA), has been observed during recent years. We examined the effect of these changes on reoperation rates.Patients and methods - Between 2011 and 2017, 4,070 PHFs treated at Sahlgrenska University Hospital were registered prospectively in the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) and followed up until 2019 (mean follow-up of 4.5 years). Data on all reoperations were gathered from the SFR and from medical records.Results - The majority of PHFs were treated non-surgically and the proportion increased slightly, but not statistically significantly, during the study period (from 76% to 79%). Of the surgically treated fractures, the proportion fixed with a plate decreased from 47% to 25%, while the use of RSA increased 9-fold (from 2.0% to 19%). 221 patients underwent 302 reoperations. For those primarily treated surgically, the reoperation rate was 17%. Among treatment modalities, plate fixation was associated with the highest reoperation rate (21%). Rate of reoperations remained constant during the study period, both for the entire study cohort and for the surgically treated patientsInterpretation - During the study period, treatment changes that are in accordance with recently published treatment recommendations were observed. However, these treatment changes did not affect the reoperation rate. Treatment with a plate, intramedullary nail, or hemiarthroplasty was associated with the highest reoperation rates. The fact that almost every 4th surgical procedure was a reoperation indicates a need for further improvement of modern treatment concepts for PHFs.

Clinical and radiological outcome after minimally invasive surgical approach for type II unstable odontoid fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior odontoid screw fixation is a valid surgical option for unstable odontoid fractures, as type II Anderson D'Alonzo fractures. Grauer further divided type II fractures in subtypes according to the fracture line, providing recommendations for implementation of screw fixation techniques. OBJECTIVE: Primary endpoint of our study is to evaluate the postoperative results of minimally invasive odontoid screw insertion in terms of outcome, fusion rate and stability of cranio-cervical junction. Secondary endpoint was to investigate the influence of age or fractures' features on outcome and fusion rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report the clinical and radiological features of 32 patients harbouring unstable type II fractures operated by a minimally invasive odontoid screw insertion technique. All patients underwent a high resolution multiplanar CT in order to assess fracture features according to Grauer's classification; the integrity of ligaments was investigated by MRI. In addition, a preoperative neurological performance (modified Rankin Scale, mRS) was evaluated for patients either directly or interviewing their families. Follow-up at one, three and six months and 1 year have been performed (averaging 13.5 months) by cervical CT (fusion rate and stability) and mRS update. In order to investigate the influence of age on postoperative neurological performance, two groups (≤50 yrs, 9 pts/>50 yrs, 23 pts) were separately considered and analysed. Overall, we observed no surgery related complications. We also analysed the fusion rate and its correlation with patient age and Grauer's subtype of fracture. RESULTS: At last available clinical follow-up, the preoperative performance was preserved (mRS 0/1: 24, 75%; mRS 2-4: 9, 15%) although with slight reduction of intact patients (mRS 0: 22 vs. 19; 71.8 vs. 59.3%). Younger patients (≤50 yrs) fared significantly better than older ones, achieving a good clinical outcome (mRS 0/1) in 100% vs. 69.5% (9/9 vs. 16/23 pts). Statistical analysis showed a fair correlation between age and outcome. Other factors such as sex and Grauer's type did not influence significantly the clinical outcome. Nine patients did not complete a full radiological follow-up and were therefore excluded from analysis of radiological outcome. Among the remaining 23 patients, only 25% of those who were followed three months or less showed fusion; conversely, all patients who have been examined from 6 to 48 months fused. Among the non-union patients, two underwent a second surgery by posterior approach. CONCLUSIONS: In our recent experience, the minimally invasive AOSF proved safe and effective in treating odontoid peg fractures. Selection based on Grauer's type is mandatory to achieve best results. While in the elderly, an anterior approach is well accepted as the first choice treatment, we recommend that this option should be offered as a suitable alternative to Halo or orthosis also in younger patients since it provides prompt, excellent clinical outcome and high fusion rate especially in this age group.

[Progress in treatment of unstable atlas fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the progress in treatment of unstable atlas fracture, the existing problems, and the research direction. METHODS: Related literature at home and abroad was reviewed. The stability evaluation of atlas fracture and treatment methods were introduced, and the selection of surgical approach and fixation instruments in treatment of unstable atlas fracture were summarized and analyzed. RESULTS: At present, atlas fractures are considered as unstable fractures except single anterior arch fractures with complete transverse ligament or simple posterior arch fractures. The treatment of unstable atlas fracture has been developed from nonsurgical treatment and traditional fusion surgery to single-segment fixation. Nonsurgical treatment is less effective, while traditional fusion surgery has a disadvantage of limited the motion of the upper cervical spine. Single-segment fixation can not only restore and fix the fracture, but also preserve the upper cervical motion function. Single-segment fixation approaches include posterior and transoral approaches, and the fixation instruments are being constantly improved, mainly including screw-rod system, screw-plate system, and plate system. CONCLUSION: For unstable atlas fracture, single-segment fixation is an ideal surgical method, and has more advantages when compared with nonsurgical treatment and traditional fusion surgery. Single-segment fixation via transoral approach is more direct for atlas anterior arch fracture reduction, but there is a high risk of infection; and single-segment fixation via posterior approach is less effective for the reduction of atlas anterior arch fracture. Therefore, a better reduction method should be explored.

What's New in Percutaneous Pelvis Fracture Surgery?

Percutaneous reduction and fixation of pelvic ring fractures is now widely accepted as a safe and effective treatment method. The only exception remains reduction and fixation of pubic symphyseal injuries. Several units from China and one from Spain have published clinical and biomechanical studies supporting percutaneous reduction and fixation of the pubic symphysis with various screw configurations. The initial clinical results are promising. Biomechanical data show there is little difference between plate and screw fixation. We review the current literature and also present a case performed by ourselves using this novel technique.

Effect of the short-segment internal fixation with intermediate inclined-angle polyaxial screw at the fractured vertebra on the treatment of Denis type B thoracolumbar fracture.

BACKGROUND: Short-segment internal fixation with intermediate straight-forward monoaxial screws (SSIF-SFM) and long-segment internal fixation (LSIF) are the two major surgical options for thoracolumbar (TL) fracture. However, SSIF-SFM might not provide adequate support to the spine, and LSIF is unnecessarily extensive. SSIF with intermediate inclined-angle polyxial screw (SSIF-IAP) might offer an alternative solution for the treatment of TL fracture. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. Sixty-nine patients (47 males and 22 females; average 34.5 years) with Denis type B TL fracture who met the criteria for inclusion were enrolled. Sagittal Cobb's angle (SCA), anterior vertebral body height (AVBH), vertebral body index (VBI), and spinal canal encroachment (SCE) were measured and assessed. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were also evaluated. RESULTS: The average values of incision length, blood loss, duration of operation, and hospital stay in the SSIF-IAP group and SSIF-SFM group were significantly decreased compared with those in the LSIF group. The AVBH and VBI in the SSIF-IAP group and LSIF group were significantly improved than those in the SSIF-SFM group at 6-month and the latest follow-ups (P < 0.05). The correction losses of AVBH and VBI (calculated by the reduction of AVBH and VBI) in the SSIF-IAP group and LSIF group were also significantly decreased compared with those in the SSIF-SFM group at 6-month and the latest follow-ups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of SCE among the three groups postoperatively. The VAS and ODI in the SSIF-IAP group and SSIF-SFM group were significantly decreased compared with those in the LSIF group at 6-month and the latest follow-ups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both SSIF-IAP and LSIF can improve the biomechanical stability as compared with SSIF-SFM. Moreover, SSIF-IAP was less extensive compared to LSIF. SSIF-IAP was an effective and reliable operative technique for patients with Denis type B TL fracture.

The outcome for surgical fixation of distal radial fractures in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease: a cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurologic disorder causing postural instability and unsteady gait. These patients are at increased risk for fractures and have inferior outcomes after treatment. Several studies have evaluated the incidence and outcome of PD patients after hip fractures. However, there are limited studies assessing the outcome of upper extremity fractures in these patients. In this study, we evaluated the outcome of PD patients that received surgical intervention for distal radial fractures (DRF). We hypothesize that these patients have an inferior outcome after surgery in comparison with non-PD patients. METHODS: Between May 2005 and May 2017, we retrospectively reviewed all of the patients with DRF and subsequently underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) at a level 1 trauma center. All of the surgeries were performed by fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons. The inclusion criteria include patients with a definitive diagnosis of PD, non-pathological DRF, and a minimum follow-up of 1 year or up until the time of treatment failure was noted. Each PD patient was matched for age and gender to 3 non-PD patients. The primary objective was to determine the failure rate after surgical fixation for DRF. The secondary outcomes include time to treatment failure, reoperation rate, readmission rate, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients were included in this study (23 PD, 65 non-PD patients). All underwent ORIF and received standard postoperative follow-ups. The overall treatment failure rate in PD was 39.1% vs. 4.6% in the non-PD group (p < 0.05). The time to treatment failure were 9.11 ± 3.86 weeks and 14.67 ± 5.8 weeks for PD and non-PD, respectively (p < 0.05). PD patients had a significantly higher rate of failure when k-wires and ESF were used (p < 0.05%), while loss of reduction was the most common mode of failure in PD (44.4%). The length of hospital stay for PD was 5.3 ± 4.69 days compared with 3.78 ± 0.96 days for non-PD (p = 0.01). There were 3 PD patients readmitted within 30 days after surgery, and 1 patient had pneumonia after the surgery. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that patients with PD have a high treatment failure rate despite surgical intervention for DRF. PD patients had a longer hospital stay and had a shorter time to treatment failure. In treating PD patients complicated with DRF, the surgeon must take into consideration the complex disease course of PD and the associated comorbidities such as osteoporosis, frail status, and frequent falls. Rehabilitation and disposition plans should be discussed in advance and longer hospital stays should be expected. Level of evidenceLevel IV, retrospective cohort study.

Minimally invasive surgical treatment of minimally displaced acetabular fractures does not improve pain, mobility or quality of life compared to conservative treatment: a matched-pair analysis of 50 patients.

BACKGROUND: Currently available procedures for the treatment of minimally displaced acetabular fractures include conservative treatment and minimally invasive percutaneous screw fixation. Screw fixation of acetabular fractures allows patients' early full-weight bearing due to improved biomechanic stability. Can the range of motion, pain and mobility and quality of life in patients with acetabular fractures be improved by minimally invasive screw fixation, compared to conservative treatment in the long term? METHODS: Patients treated for a minimally displaced acetabular fracture, either conservatively or by closed reduction percutaneous screw fixation, in the period from 2001 to 2013 were included in this retrospective study. Minimal displacement was considered to be less than 5 mm. As well as the collection and analysis of baseline data, Harris Hip Score, Merle d'Aubigné score and Short Form 12 (SF-12) questionnaire data were recorded in the context of a clinical study. To better account for confounding factors, patients of each group were matched. The matched-pair criteria included age, BMI, Letournel fracture classification and the presence of associated injuries. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients from each group were matched. On the Harris Hip Score, conservatively treated patients obtained 96 points (52-100, SD 17) vs. 89 points (45-100, SD 17, p = 0.624). On the Merle d'Aubigné score, conservatively treated patients obtained 17 points (10-18, SD 2) vs. 17 points (11-18, SD 2, p = 0.342). Patients with acetabular fractures treated by minimally invasive screw fixation did not result in improved quality of life, measured by SF-12 questionnaire, compared to conservatively treated patients (PCS 47, SD 9 vs. 44, SD 10; p = 0.294 and MCS 51, SD 7 vs. 53, SD 7; p = 0.795). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical results of the two groups revealed no statistically significant differences. From the data, it cannot be deduced that minimally invasive surgical therapy is superior to conservative treatment of minimally displaced acetabular fractures. Prospective randomised studies are recommended to allow reliable evaluation of both treatment options. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.

Current Trends in Fixation Techniques.

Hallux valgus is an extremely common and often disabling deformity. In addition to valgus deformity of the hallux, varying degrees of varus and supination of the first metatarsal and instability in the metatarsophalangeal and metatarsocuneiform joints are frequently present. Because of the complexity and multiplicity of deformities, surgical techniques and fixation methods continue to be developed to obtain better results. Recent studies have focused on correcting pronation of the first metatarsal as a way of correcting and equalizing the metatarsal sesamoid bones in a more horizontal and stable position, possibly minimizing the chance of recurrence of the deformity.

Mid-term results after proximal humeral fractures following angular stable plate fixation in elderly patients-which scores can be evaluated by a telephone-based assessment?

BACKGROUND: The aim was to evaluate postsurgical outcome in elderly patients (> 70 years) after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of proximal humeral fractures and compare the test-retest agreement of scores which are frequently used to assess the outcome of upper extremity disorders. METHODS: Ninety patients (78.1 ± 5.2 years) with a minimum follow-up of 2 years (3.7 ± 0.9 years) following angular stable plate fixation of a proximal humeral fracture (2-part: 34, 3-part: 41, 4-part: 12) were enrolled. Two telephone-based interviews assessed Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (DASH), Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), and Constant Score adjusted for interview assessment (CS) by two independent interviewers. Correlations, Bland-Altman analyses, Cross tabulation, and weighted Kappa measure of agreement (k) were calculated to assess differences and the test-retest agreement between the categories of each score. RESULTS: In the first and second interview, we could state fair outcomes: CS 91 (range 40-100) and 65.5 (23-86), DASH 12.5 (0-64.2) and 18.3 (0-66.7), and OSS 58 (33-60) and 55 (25-60) points. The test-retest correlations were r = 0.67, r = 0.77, and r = 0.71 for CS, DASH, and OSS. Bland-Altman analyses showed absolute mean individual score differences of - 22.3, 4.9, and - 3.0 for CS, DASH, and OSS. Limits of agreement represented possible differences of 21.6%, 15.5%, and 9.0% of CS, DASH, and OSS. The category agreements were medium to high: CS 55.9% (k = 0.08), DASH 87.2% (k = 0.62), and OSS 99.3% (k = 0.74). CONCLUSION: Patients showed good subjective outcomes. The test-retest agreement of the interview-adjusted CS was low, but telephone-based assessment of OSS and DASH present as an alternative to collect outcomes in elderly patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: (250/2011BO2).

Conservative Versus Operative Treatment of Stable Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures in Neurologically Intact Patients: Is There Any Difference Regarding the Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes?

STUDY DESIGN: Nonrandomized, retrospective, comparative, and single-center trial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the long-term clinical and radiographic results of thoracolumbar burst fractures in neurologically intact patients, treated surgically or nonsurgically with the aim to optimize their management. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There is an ongoing controversy regarding the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures (TLBF) (A3, A4) in neurologically intact patients. Surgical treatment as well as conservative treatment methods are advised to this specific group of patients, while contrasting results exist in the literature. METHODS: Forty-five neurologically intact patients with TLBF (A3 or A4) (2010-2016) were included. Twenty-one patients with a mean age of 34.3 and a mean follow-up period of 63.1 months were treated surgically with short segment posterior fixation (group 1), while 24 patients with a mean age of 45.7 and a mean follow-up period of 67.1 months were treated conservatively (group 2) with thoracolumbosacral orthesis. RESULTS: At the final follow-up groups 1 and 2 had an average segmental kyphosis of 4.09°/11.65° (P = 0.027), an average loss of kyphosis of 2.04°/4.03° (P = 0.038), an average loss of anterior/posterior vertebral body height of %12.89/%2.84/%17.94/%7.62 (P = 0.027/ P = 0.03), a median JOA score of (16.6/16.75) (P = 0.198), a median ODI score of (11.7/12.1) (P = 0.25), a median VAS score of (1.9/2.3) (P = 0.3), SF-36 PCS of (56.74/56.67) (P = 0.25), SF-36 MCS of (55.47/55.5) (P = 0.3), mean durations of hospital stay of 9-11 days (P = 0.3), respectively. CONCLUSION: While there is an ongoing controversy regarding the management of stable thoracolumbar burst fractures in neurologically intact patients in the literature, this study concluded that surgical management of stable thoracolumbar burst fractures in neurologically intact patients provided better radiolographic outcomes, despite the result, that the difference between surgically and nonsurgically treated patients in terms of clinical outcome parameters and quality of life was not statistically significant. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Trends in the management of fractures of the distal radius in Ireland: did the Distal Radius Acute Fracture Fixation Trial (DRAFFT) change practice?

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine trends in the management of fractures of the distal radius in Ireland over a ten-year period, and to determine if there were any changes in response to the English Distal Radius Acute Fracture Fixation Trial (DRAFFT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data was grouped into annual intervals from 2008 to 2017. All adult inpatient episodes that involved emergency surgery for fractures of the distal radius were included. RESULTS: In 2008 Kirschner-wire (K-wire) fixation accounted for 59% of operations for fractures of the distal radius, and plate fixation for 21%. In 2017, the rate of K-wire fixation had fallen to 30%, and the proportion of patients who underwent plate fixation had risen to 62%. CONCLUSION: There is an increasing trend towards open reduction and internal fixation for fractures of the distal radius in Ireland. This has been accompanied by a decrease in popularity for K-wire fixation. DRAFFT did not appear to influence trends in the management of fractures of the distal radius in Ireland. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:1550-1556.

Fibular strut allograft influences reduction and outcomes after locking plate fixation of comminuted proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) are the third most commonly occurring fractures in elderly patients. Most of these fractures can be treated with conservative methods, but the optimal surgical treatment strategy for unstable fractures in elderly patients remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the radiological and clinical outcomes between locking compression plate (LCP) fixation and LCP fixation with fibular allograft implantation for the treatment of comminuted PHFs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 60 patients (mean age, 72.75 years) with closed 3- or 4-part fractures, and a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. Fracture reduction was quantitatively determined by humeral head height (HHH) and neck-shaft angle (NSA). The clinical outcome was evaluated by Constant-Murley score (CMS) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score. RESULT: The average radiological changes were higher in the LCP group than in the locking plate with fibular allograft group (HHH of 4.16 mm vs 1.18 mm [p < 0.001] and NSA of 9.94° versus 3.12° [p < 0.001]) . The final average outcome scores were lower in the LCP group than in the FA group (CMS of 73.00 vs 78.96 [p = 0.024] and ASES score of 72.80 vs 78.64 [p = 0.022]). The FA group showed better forward elevation (p = 0.010) and abduction (p = 0.002); however, no significant differences were observed for shoulder external rotation or internal rotation. The number of complications was higher in the LCP group (28.57%) than in the FA group (1.2%) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: For comminuted PHFs in elderly patients, LCP fixation combined with a fibular allograft is reasonable option to ensure satisfactory radiological and clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ZDYJLY(2018)New-9 . Name of registry: IEC for clinical Research of Zhongda Hospital, Affiliated to Southeast University. Date of registration: 2018-05-17.

Operative treatment of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures: has randomised control trial evidence changed practice patterns?

OBJECTIVES: To determine if level 1 evidence from a landmark trial changed practice patterns for treatment of patients with displaced midshaft clavicle fractures. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Two level 1 trauma centres. PARTICIPANTS: Displaced midshaft clavicle fractures. RESULTS: 686 patients met inclusion criteria. The pretrial cohort (n=108) was 68.5% male, with a mean age of 37.7 (±13.9) years. The post-trial cohort (n=578) was 76.1% male, with a mean age of 41.9 (±12.7) years. There was nearly a 10-fold increase in the patients treated with openreduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in the post-trial cohort (34.1%) compared with the pretrial cohort (3.7%) (p<0.001). Patients in the post-trial cohort were more likely to undergo ORIF if they were <40 years (OR=2.2; 95% CI 1.53 to 3.10), if their Injury Severity Score was >9 (OR=1.6; 95% CI 0.89 to 2.99) or if they were treated at a centre that participated in the Canadian Orthopaedic Trauma Society (COTS) trial (OR=5.2; 95% CI 3.31 to 8.21). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a significant shift towards more frequent ORIF for displaced midshaft clavicle fractures following the COTS trial. Quantifying changes in practice pattern following publication of level 1 evidence is important to further our understanding of the impact large randomisedclinical trails are having on clinical practice.

Advances in Exotic Animal Osteosynthesis.

Exotic animal orthopedics has not incorporated the most recent progress made in small animal surgery or human medicine. Although minimally invasive osteosynthesis has been incorporated as a routinely used alternative in small animals, its use in exotic animals is still in its infancy. This article compliments the reviews of orthopedics in small mammals, birds, and reptiles in the previous issue. It reviews relevant recent studies performed in laboratory animals about new orthopedic materials and techniques showing potential to become incorporated into the routine orthopedic treatment of exotic animals in the coming years.

Trends in surgical management of proximal humeral fractures in adults: a nationwide study of records in Germany from 2007 to 2016.

INTRODUCTION: Proximal humeral fractures (PHF) are among the most common adult fractures. However, valid epidemiologic population-based data, including differentiation of treatment modalities, are lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the ICD codes and associated OPS codes for PHF, a retrospective analysis of 2007-2016 Federal Statistical Office of Germany data was performed. Data were evaluated for total incidence of PHF as well as total use, annual utilization rates, age, and sex distributions of all associated surgical procedures. Simple linear regressions were performed to evaluate trends in treatment modalities. RESULTS: There were 642,556 cases of PHF. During the study period, incidence changed substantially from 65.2 to 74.2 per 100,000 inhabitants with a significant rise in elderly (> 70 years) patients (P < 0.001). The number of surgical procedures increased by 39%, with locking plate fixation being the most common procedure (48.3%), followed by intramedullary nailing (IMN) (20.0%), hemiarthroplasty (HA) (7.5%), K-wire fixation (6.4%), and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) (5.6%). The utilization rate increased for locking plates, K-wires, and RSA and decreased for HA and IMN. Particularly, the utilization of RSA exhibited a > eightfold increase. Significant linear correlation of procedure and time were found for all surgical treatments. CONCLUSIONS: During this period, the number of inpatient PHFs, especially in the elderly, increased. Although locking plate fixation remained the most common treatment method, RSA had the greatest proportional increase over time, supporting its growing popularity in the light of the current scientific evidence. This incline was offset by a corresponding decrease in HA and IMN, which may be related to a growing knowledge of their application limitations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Descriptive epidemiology study, large database analysis.

Retrospective analysis of 514 cases of tibial plateau fractures based on morphology and injury mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Tibial plateau fractures remain a clinical challenge due to the complexity of the fracture patterns which have been repeatedly categorized by many researchers. However, limitations do exist in some respects. So we aimed to reclassify tibial plateau fractures based on injury mechanism and morphological characteristics. METHODS: Five hundred fourteen cases of tibial plateau fractures were enrolled. The X-rays and CT scans were analyzed. RESULTS: According to our observation and analysis, tibial plateau fractures can be categorized into the following six types: (1) Lateral condylar fractures (axial force applied while knee extending in valgus position). Two hundred fifty-one cases were included (48.83%). (2) Fracture dislocation (multiple forces especially rotational stress while knee extending). Fifty-five out of 514 cases belong to this pattern (10.70%). Correction of the subluxation remains primary and crucial during surgical procedures. (3) Simple medial condylar fractures (axial force applied while knee extending in varus position). One third of which were associated with an avulsion fracture of fibular head. Fifteen cases were included (2.92%). (4) Bicondylar fractures (axial forces applied while knee extending). One hundred twelve cases were included (21.79%). Surgical algorithm greatly depends on soft tissue conditions. (5) Posterior condylar fractures (axial stress applied while knee flexing). Sixty-five cases were seen in our study (12.65%), most of which were associated with an avulsion fracture of the intercondylar eminence (49/65, 75.38%). The fracture of posteromedial part, posterolateral part, and intercondylar eminence forms a unique pattern of injury defined as "Posterior Condylar Triad." (6) Anterior condylar compression fractures (axial, varus, or valgus forces applied while knee overextending). Posterior structural complexes, crucial ligaments, or even popliteal arteries are prone to be damaged. Sixteen cases were identified (3.11%). CONCLUSION: Our classification system has instructive significance in overall preoperative evaluation of fracture features and soft tissue problems as well as guiding clinical management for better functional outcomes.