Vancouver B2 periprosthetic hip fractures treatment: fix or replace? A retrospective study comparing both techniques.

INTRODUCTION: Vancouver B2 periprosthetic hip fractures involve stem stability and they have been classically treated with revision surgery. Crucial factors such as age, clinical comorbidities and functional status are often neglected. The current study aims to compare clinical outcomes between patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or femoral stem exchange. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that includes all Vancouver B2 periprosthetic hip fractures in a tertiary referral hospital from 2016 to 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1. Patients treated with an ORIF and Group 2. Patients treated with stem replacement. The outcomes that were compared between groups included demographic data, functional capacity, complications and mortality. RESULTS: 29 periprosthetic Vancouver B2 fractures were finally analyzed. 11 (37.9%) were treated with ORIF (Group 1) and 18 (62.1%) by stem replacement (Group 2). Surgery time (143 vs. 160 min), hemoglobin drop (1.8 vs. 2.5 g/dL) and hospital stance (25.5 vs. 29.6 days) were shorter in Group 1. According to complications, 18.2% of patients in the ORIF group had orthopedic complications compared with 44.4% in the revision group. In the revision group, 3 cases needed a two-stage revision and one of these revisions ended up with a resection arthroplasty (Girdlestone). The first-year mortality rate was 27% in Group 1 and 11% in Group 2. DISCUSSION: ORIF treatment seems to be a less aggressive and complex procedure which can lead to a faster general recovery. Revision surgery can imply a higher risk of orthopedic complications which can be severe and may require further aggressive solutions. The ORIF group mortality was similar to the proximal femur fracture rate (20-30%). In conclusion, ORIF treatment seems to be a good option especially in fragile patients with low functional demand when anatomical reduction is possible.

Should we employ preoperative templating in hip hemiarthroplasty after femoral neck fracture? A nested case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Dislocation following hip hemiarthroplasty is a serious complication. It remains unclear if acetabular morphology is associated with a higher risk of dislocation. The aim of our study was to investigate whether there are differences in hip morphology radiological parameters between patients who have suffered a dislocation episode, and those who have not suffered a dislocation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 2015 and December 2018, a nested case-control study was performed. From 707 patients who underwent hip hemiarthroplasty because of femoral neck fracture, 50 patients (50 hips) suffered an episode of dislocation. They were randomly matched with 94 patients (100 hips) without dislocation (ratio 1:2). Clinical data regarding demographics, medical comorbidities and surgical and radiological parameters were studied. RESULTS: Statistically significantly smaller lateral centre-edge angle (LCEA) and femoral offset (FO) and greater Tönnis angle were found in the dislocation group. No differences in acetabular angle were seen. Neurological impairment prevalence was statistically significantly higher in patients who suffered a dislocation (60% vs. 44%, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that a smaller LCEA and FO, a greater TA, and neurological impairment could be related to a higher risk of hip hemiarthroplasty dislocation after femoral neck fracture in the elderly. We consider that preoperative templating could be helpful in identifying abnormal parameters and carefully planning surgery could lead to changes in treatment strategy, such as choosing a dual-mobility total hip arthroplasty.

Major trauma and severe burn: a synergistic mortality: case report and literature review / Traumatismo grave y quemadura severa: una mortalidad sinérgica: reporte de un caso y revisión bibliográfica

CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old man was transferred to our institution after a highenergy accident (an explosion). He presented second-degree burns on 20% of the total body surface area (TBSA), affecting the lower hemiabdomen and the lower right limb. He also presented a supraintercondylar open fracture of the right femur (Gustilo I). The burns were treated with debridement and coverage withmesh graft, while the fracture required an early transitory transarticular external fixation with delayed definitive osteosynthesis. Our patient presented good local and systemic evolution. We can offer a eleven-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: The literature supports that the combination of trauma and burn injuries is a relatively rare pattern, which may explain the lack of knowledge and studies on this subject. This double injury has demonstrated a synergistic effect on mortality. The management of soft tissues in the coexistence of an open fracture and a burn in the same limb is a challenge. The method and timing of the treatment of the fracture directly impacts the treatment of the burn (and vice versa), and most authors tend to treat the fracture first. All of the studies reviewed emphasized the importance of the multidisciplinary approach. CONCLUSIONS: We have presented a complex case combining major trauma and severe burns. Although there is a lack of studies in the literature on this subject, the papers state that this is an unusual pattern with a synergistic effect on mortality. In our experience, the management of soft tissues and the multidisciplinary approach play a central role, as it is also stated in the literature. The management of these patients is still controversial, and more studies are needed.

PRESENTACIÓN DEL CASO: Hombre de 42 años trasladado a nuestra institución tras un accidente de alta energía (explosión). Presentaba quemaduras de segundo grado del 20% de la superficie corporal total (SCT), afectando el hemiabdomen inferior y la extremidad inferior derecha. También presentaba una fractura abierta supraintercondílea de fémur derecho (Gustilo I). Las quemaduras fueron tratadas mediante desbridamiento y cobertura mediante injerto mallado, mientras que la fractura requirió un fijador externo transarticular precoz de forma transitoria con una osteosíntesis definitiva diferida. Nuestro paciente presentó buena evolución local y sistémica. Podemos ofrecer un seguimiento a 11 meses. DISCUSIÓN: La bibliografía defiende que la lesión combinada de traumatismo y quemadura es un patrón relativamente raro, pudiendo explicar la falta de conocimiento y publicaciones al respecto. Este doble insulto ha demostrado un efecto sinérgico en la mortalidad. El manejo de las partes blandas cuando coexisten una fractura abierta y una quemadura en la misma extremidad es un desafío. El método y el momento de tratamiento de la fractura impactan de forma directa en el tratamiento de la quemadura (y viceversa); y la mayoría de los autores tienden a tratar en primer lugar la fractura. Todos los estudios analizados enfatizan la importancia del abordaje multidisciplinario. CONCLUSIONES: Hemos presentado un caso complejo combinando traumatismo grave y quemaduras severas. Aunque haya una falta de bibliografía, los estudios afirman que se trata de un patrón inusual con un efecto sinérgico sobre la mortalidad. En nuestra experiencia, el manejo de las partes blandas y el abordaje multidisciplinario tienen un rol central, tal y como defienden también los artículos publicados. El manejo de estos pacientes sigue siendo controvertido, y son necesarios más estudios.

Salvage for intramedullary nailing breakage after operative treatment of trochanteric fractures.

BACKGROUND: Trochanteric fractures are one of the most common fractures in elderly people. The use of intramedullary nails is an option for their treatment, especially in unstable patterns. Nail breakage is a rarely reported complication. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of nail breakage in our center. Secondary objectives are to show the management of this complication in our institution as well as the technical problems, complications and final outcomes of these patients in our hands. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective case series review between 2010 and 2015, we analyzed 1481 patients with trochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures who had been treated by cephalomedullary nailing in our centre. 13 patients with nail breakage were identified. RESULTS: The percentage failure rate in our institution is 0.87%. 9 (69.2%) patients were women and 4 (3.8%) were men, with a mean age of 74.6 years (range 47-90). In all cases the mechanism of injury was a simple fall from standing height. Initial fracture types were: 1 case of AO/OTA 31A1, 6 cases of AO/OTA 31A2 and 6 cases of AO/OTA 31A3. Only 3 cases had a good overall reduction with a correct TAD, an optimal femoral neck-shaft angle and absence of fracture gaps >5 mm after surgery. The average time from the first surgery to the diagnosis of implant breakage was 333 days (range 70-1460), 11 months. Breakage occurred at the nail junction with the lag screw in 11 cases and in the distal nail aperture in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: An insufficient reduction with varus and fracture gaps >5 mm, the use of short nails in unstable patterns with subtrochanteric involvement and patients with certain comorbidities are facts observed that can contribute to the development of delayed or nonunion with subsequent nail breakage. Different salvage treatments, conversion to hip arthroplasty or revision osteosynthesis, may be considered but we think that prevention has to be the best treatment.

Isolated medial foot compartment syndrome after ankle sprain.

Foot compartment syndrome is a serious potential complication of foot crush injury, fractures, surgery, and vascular injury. An acute compartment syndrome isolated to the medial compartment of the foot after suffering an ankle sprain is a rare complication. We report the case of a 31-year-old man who developed a medial foot compartment syndrome after suffering a deltoid ligament rupture at ankle while playing football. The patient underwent a medial compartment fasciotomy with resolution of symptoms. Compartment syndromes of the foot are rare and have been reported to occur after severe trauma. But, there are some reports in the literature of acute exertional compartment syndrome. In our case, the compartment syndrome appeared after an ankle sprain without vascular injuries associated.