The orthopaedic and traumatology scenario during Covid-19 outbreak in Italy: chronicles of a silent war.

BACKGROUND: From February 21, the day of hospitalisation in ICU of the first diagnosed case of Covid-19, the social situation and the hospitals' organisation throughout Italy dramatically changed. METHODS: The CIO (Club Italiano dell'Osteosintesi) is an Italian society devoted to the study of traumatology that counts members spread in public and private hospitals throughout the country. Fifteen members of the CIO, Chairmen of 15 Orthopaedic and Trauma Units of level 1 or 2 trauma centres in Italy, have been involved in the study. They were asked to record data about surgical, outpatients clinics and ER activity from the 23rd of February to the 4th of April 2020. The data collected were compared with the data of the same timeframe of the previous year (2019). RESULTS: Comparing with last year, overall outpatient activity reduced up to 75%, overall Emergency Room (ER) trauma consultations up to 71%, elective surgical activity reduced up to 100% within two weeks and trauma surgery excluding femoral neck fractures up to 50%. The surgical treatment of femoral neck fractures showed a stable reduction from 15 to 20% without a significant variation during the timeframe. CONCLUSIONS: Covid-19 outbreak showed a tremendous impact on all orthopaedic trauma activities throughout the country except for the surgical treatment of femoral neck fractures, which, although reduced, did not change in percentage within the analysed timeframe.

A 2-free-end flexor carpi radialis tendon graft for treating a complex index finger extensor tendon injury.

BACKGROUND: Volar plating has increasingly become the most used technique for the treatment of unstable distal radius fractures due to the low soft-tissue disturbance and its biomechanical reliability, which allows the early mobilization of the wrist. One of the main goals of the volar locking compression plates design is to avoid those soft tissue complications historically associated to the dorsal plating. However, extensor tendon complications can not be completely excluded. METHOD: The authors report the case of a patient with a complete rupture of the index finger extensor tendons after volar plate fixation of the distal radius. Due to the presence of a severe tendons retraction with a 4-centimeter gap and the neighbouring soft tissues damage, it was decided to fill the gap with a 2-free-end autograft harvested from the Flexor Carpi Radialis (FCR) tendon, using the volar surgical approach performed to remove the plate. RESULTS: At the 2-month follow-up, the patient showed the complete recovery of the flexion-extension movements. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the 2-free-end FCR tendon graft is not commonly reported for the reconstruction of extensor tendons defects, we assume it deserves to be considered as an adequate technique whenever the neighbouring tendons are critically compromised.

Injury of the brachial artery accompanying simple closed elbow dislocation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Elbow dislocation is the second common dislocation in adults, after the shoulder. The anatomical proximity to the joint of the brachial artery could lead to concomitant vascular injuries, even if their occurrence remains very rare. METHOD: It is reported the case of a right-hand-dominant  42-year-old man who sustained a simple closed  posterior elbow dislocation of  his left elbow, associated to a complete brachial artery rupture. He urgently underwent the reduction of the joint dislocation and an artery-repairing surgical procedure using a graft from ipsilateral saphenous vein. RESULTS: The full functional capacity of the elbow was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: The abundance of the brachial artery collateral network may hide the presence of a vascular injury,  potentially associated to a closed elbow dislocation. Therefore, a high index of suspicious should be maintained. The Emergency Team plays a crucial role in its early diagnosis, which is essential to avoid irreversible ischemia related damages. A prompt reduction of the joint dislocation and the vascular injury surgical repair are required. Regarding the treatment of the concomitant collateral ligaments and capsular injuries, the indication to proceed to the simultaneous ligaments reconstruction is still controversial in literature.

An unusual two-stage infection following a scolopendra bite.

BACKGROUND: Scolopendrae represent the best-known genus of centipedes. They are nocturnal general feeders with strong mandibles and venomous fangs which leave visible puncture marks at the bite site. The bite accidents occur during the warm rainy season and mostly take place on the extremities. Following the bite, the most common symptoms are mild: limited localized erythema, pain, swelling, local itching and burning sensation. However, more severe local and systemic sequelae can not be excluded. METHOD: we report the case of a 63-year-old man with fever and a widespread edema of the right hand and forearm, happened as a consequence of a Scolopendra Subspinipes bite. During the weeks following the bite, he developed a severe unusual superinfection via hematogenous dissemination, which  required a double surgical debridement and a targeted intravenous antibiotic therapy. RESULTS: the complete clinical recovery took over two month. CONCLUSIONS: Many victims of Scolopendra envenomation do not seek medical attention since most symptoms will resolve spontaneously. The case presented falls within the spectrum of those rare cases which escalate due to bacterial superinfection.

Annular ligament repair using allograft for the treatment of chronic radial head dislocation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The annular ligament has a crucial role in the radial head stability and  it is critical to the proper functioning of the proximal  radio-capitellar joint. Its chronic injury may lead to radial head instability, elbow pain with decrease in motion and valgus deformity. Method: We present the case of a 53-year-old heavy laborer who reported a complex trauma of the right upper limb with a Floating Elbow Injury, associated to an open Monteggia fracture-dislocation. One month later, despite the definitive fixation with plates of  both the forearm and the supracondylar fractures, X-rays showed the persistence of the radial head dislocation. A triceps autograft reconstruction for treating the chronic radial head dislocation, as described in literature, was not indicated in our patient, due to the recent surgery at the distal humerus site. Thus, it was decided to proceed to allograft reconstruction using a peroneal tendon from a cadaveric donor, fixed by modified Bell-Tawse Technique. Results: Two years after the surgery, x-rays showed the complete fractures' healing; however a radial head notching was found. Conclusions: Allograft reconstruction of the annular ligament deserves to be considered as an adequate technique, whenever the surrounding soft tissues are critically compromised. In literature, the radial head notching complication is reported to be up to 36 %, and it may be related to the surgical technique, regardless of the graft used.