Transverse laxity of the forefoot.

BACKGROUND: Splay of the forefoot reflects the loss of tension in the soft tissues and indicates failure of the biomechanics of the tie-bar system. By identifying and quantifying the soft tissue structures involved in the destruction of forefoot stability we could increase the understanding of forefoot pathologies. METHODS: We investigated the transverse forefoot laxity on healthy feet, feet with forefoot pathology and cadaveric feet undergoing sequential dissection. RESULTS: Statistical difference in transverse laxity was seen between healthy feet (n = 160) and feet with symptomatic forefoot pathology requiring surgery (n = 29). Presence of lesser ray pathology is associated with increased transverse laxity. For the dissected cadaveric feet (n = 9) sequential sectioning the plantar plate causes a progressive evolution of transverse laxity. The repair of plantar plates greatly improves transverse stability. CONCLUSIONS: Forefoot pathology causes increased transverse laxity. In case of a major transverse laxity of the forefoot a plantar plate lesion should be suspected.

Clinical and radiological outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty for acute fracture in the elderly.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes associated with anatomic healing of the greater tuberosity in patients treated for proximal humerus fractures with reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Our hypothesis was that anatomic healing of the greater tuberosity leads to less complications and better functional outcomes. METHODS: RESULTS: Patients from the GT+ group presented better functional outcomes than the GT- group in all evaluated outcomes. Mean constant score was 61 ± 14 versus 56 ± 15, and the subjective shoulder value (SSV) was 77 ± 14 versus 64 ± 21 (p < 0.001). Forward elevation was 128° ± 28° versus 107° ± 30° and external rotation was 23° ± 17° versus 14° ± 17° (p < 0.001). Twenty patients presented with at least one prosthetic dislocation (7 GT+ vs 13 GT-) while nine patients were revised for humeral loosening (1 GT+ vs 8 GT-). The use of a fracture specific humeral stem was associated with a higher rate of greater tuberosity healing. CONCLUSIONS: Non-anatomic healing of the greater tuberosity was associated with a higher dislocation and humeral loosening rate. Anatomic healing of the greater tuberosity lead to better functional outcomes, less humeral-sided complications, and fewer re-operations.

Metatarsophalangeal HAPY® spherical pyrocarbon implant: Technical note.

We present a new arthroplasty concept for the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP1) involving the HAPY® pyrocarbon interposition implant. This is a spherical implant that does not integrate into bone. Instead, the goal is to achieve gliding of the implant on the bone/cartilage to maintain the function and mobility of the MTP1 joint. We describe the surgical technique used for its implantation. Since the implant is not anchored into bone, it is stabilized in a spherical cavity hollowed out in the metatarsal head. In a preliminary study of 22 cases with a mean follow-up of 36 (20-79) months, the mean AOFAS score improved from 64 (35-72) preoperatively to 91 (47-100) postoperatively (p<0.05). At the final assessment, no subchondral cyst or osteolysis was visible.

The 14 July 2016 terrorist attack in Nice: The experience of orthopaedic surgeons.

BACKGROUND: On 14 July 2016, a terrorist drove a truck through the crowd on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, killing 87 people and injuring 458. The objective of this study was to evaluate the management strategy used to handle the osteo-articular injuries caused by this attack. HYPOTHESIS: The management strategy used ensured that open fractures were treated within 6hours. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This single-centre retrospective study included all victims of the attack admitted to the Pasteur 2 Hospital in Nice, France, for osteo-articular injuries, and treated between 14 and 31 July 2016. The following data were collected for each patient: age, sex, type of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), whether the damage control orthopaedics (DCO) or early total care (ETC) approach was followed, time from injurytotreatment, operative time, and surgical revisions. The primary outcome measure was the injury to treatment time for each lesion. RESULTS: Of the 182 patients admitted to the emergency department, 32 required admission for osteo-articular injuries, including 18 with severe injuries (ISS>15) and 11 with multiple fractures. Their injuries were of the type seen in traffic accidents. Of the 87 fractures, 45% involved the lower limbs and 25% were open fractures. Surgery was performed in 14 patients on the first night (14 to 15 July) and in 19 patients overall. The approach was DCO in 12 and ETC in 7 of these 19 patients. All lesions were managed within recommended time intervals, including the 21 open fractures and 2 closed femoral shaft fractures. DISCUSSION: Injury-to-surgery time complied with recommendations in all cases. In 25% of cases, ETC would have been feasible during the mass influx of patients without hospital capacity saturation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective observational study.

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for acute fractures in the elderly: is it worth reattaching the tuberosities?

HYPOTHESIS: Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (RSA) may be indicated in displaced proximal humerus fractures in elderly patients. We hypothesized that tuberosity fixation and healing around the prosthesis would result in better outcomes and patient satisfaction. METHODS: Thirty-eight acute displaced or dislocated 3- and 4-part fractures in elderly patients were treated with reattachment of the tuberosities around a RSA. The mean age at surgery was 80 ± 4 years (range, 70-88 years). A specific reverse fracture stem that incorporated a cancellous bone autograft (harvested from the fractured head) and a standardized suturing technique for tuberosity fixation were used in all operations. Patients were evaluated and radiographed with a minimum 2-year follow-up (mean 36 ± 8 months). RESULTS: The tuberosity union rate was 84% (32 of 38). There were 4 tuberosity resorptions and 2 tuberosity migrations with nonunion, which were associated with significantly lower subjective results (Subjective Shoulder Value of 65% vs. 83%, P = .029) and lower active mobility in forward elevation (115° ± 26° vs. 141° ± 25°, P = .023) and external rotation (11° ± 12° vs. 27° ± 12°, P = .010). Among the 5 disappointed patients, 3 presented with tuberosity resorption and 2 with tuberosity migration and nonunion. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the advanced age of the patients, tuberosity reattachment and use of bone graft results in a high rate of tuberosity healing. Tuberosity reconstruction and healing in reverse shoulder arthroplasty for fractures improves active forward elevation, external rotation, and patient satisfaction.

How the greater tuberosity affects clinical outcomes after reverse shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humeral fractures.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humeral fractures in a large cohort of elderly patients and compare the results in the case of tuberosity excision, failed fixation, or anatomic healing. METHODS: In this retrospective multicenter study, 420 patients underwent review and radiography with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the status of the greater tuberosity (GT) on the last anteroposterior radiographs: anatomic GT healing (group A, n = 169); GT resorption, malunion, or nonunion (group B, n = 131); and GT excision (group C, n = 120). Complications were recorded; shoulder function, active mobility, and subjective results were assessed. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 28 months, the mean Simple Shoulder Value in group A (75%) outperformed the results found in groups B (69%, P < .001) and C (56%, P < .001). Overall, the mean adjusted Constant-Murley score was significantly higher in group A (93% ± 22%) than in group B (82% ± 22%) and group C (80% ± 24%) (P < .001), but there was no difference between groups B and C (P = .88). Anterior active elevation and external rotation were significantly better in group A than in groups B and C (P < .001). The instability rate was significantly higher in group C (n = 15 [12.5%], P < .001) than in group A (n = 2) or group B (n = 3). CONCLUSION: In elderly patients who have undergone a reverse shoulder arthroplasty for acute proximal humeral fractures, anatomic tuberosity healing improves objective and subjective outcomes. GT excision is associated with the worst functional results and increases the risk of postoperative shoulder instability.

Is reverse total shoulder arthroplasty more effective than hemiarthroplasty for treating displaced proximal humerus fractures in older adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The indications for surgical treatment of displaced proximal humerus fractures in older patients have gradually changed in the past 10 years: fewer hemiarthroplasty (HA) procedures but more reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) procedures are being done. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and radiological outcomes, the complications, reoperations and revisions of RSA and to compare them with those of HA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of the literature published between January 2006 and February 2016 was carried out to identify studies reporting or comparing results of HA and RSA for proximal humerus fractures in patients above 65 years of age. These studies were classified based on their quality and level of evidence. Of the 67 studies that were identified and reviewed, 22 were chosen for the analysis. RESULTS: The functional outcome (Constant score) after RSA is significantly better and more reproducible that the one obtained after HA. RSA provides significantly better active range of motion in forward flexion and abduction than HA. Conversely, active internal and external rotation are worse after RSA than HA. Reattachment of the tuberosities around the RSA improves the rotation ability. Even if the tuberosities do not heal, the functional outcomes are satisfactory after RSA but not HA due to a major functional deficit. The tuberosity healing rate around the RSA does not decline with age, contrary to HA where age is a negative factor. The overall complication rate is higher after RSA than HA; however the reoperation rate is equal. The revision rate for implant change is higher after HA. CONCLUSION: Compared to HA, RSA provides more reproducible function with better recovery of active forward flexion and abduction, even when the tuberosities are not reattached or do not heal properly. The poor rotation ability can be improved by reinserting the tuberosities. While the complication rate after RSA is higher than after HA, the reoperation rate is equal, and the revision rate is lower. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, Systematic review of literature.