The clinical characteristics and management of paediatric pelvic fractures: a changing landscape based on skeletal maturity.

INTRODUCTION: Paediatric pelvic fractures (PPFs) are uncommon but signify serious trauma. A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach is needed due to a high number of associated injuries. This study aims to retrospectively analyse PPFs over a 5-year period and evaluate how advancing skeletal maturity changes fracture patterns and management plans. METHODS: The trauma database was retrospectively reviewed for pelvic fractures in patients aged ≤ 18 years. Radiographs and CT scans were used to classify pelvic injuries according to the modified Torode classification and determine the status of the triradiate cartilage (open: skeletally immature; closed: skeletally mature). Data collected also included the mechanism of injury, clinical and functional outcomes, and associated injuries. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for associated abdominal injuries. RESULTS: 65 PPFs (2.8% of paediatric trauma admissions during the study period) were classified as type I (3.1%), type II (7.7%), type IIIa (32.3%), type IIIb (38.5%), type IV (18.5%) according to the modified Torode classification. The mean age was 13.41 ± 3.82. Skeletally immature children were more likely to be hit by a motor vehicle as a pedestrian (p < 0.001), be intubated (p = 0.009), acquire Torode type II (p = 0.047) and rami fractures (p = 0.037), and receive chest (p = 0.005) and head injuries (p = 0.046). Skeletally immature children were also less likely to acquire Torode type IV fractures (p = 0.018), receive surgical treatment for their pelvic injuries (p = 0.036), and had a faster time to full weight bearing (p = 0.013). Pelvis AIS score ≥ 4 (OR 5.3; 95% CI 1.3-22.6; p = 0.023) and a pedestrian accident (OR 4.9; 95% CI 1.2-20.7; p = 0.030) were risk factors for associated abdominal injuries. There was a strong association between a higher pelvic fracture grade and the proportion of patients with closed triradiate cartilage (p = 0.036), hospital length of stay (p = 0.034), mean pelvic AIS score (p = 0.039), a pelvis AIS score of ≥ 4 (p = 0.022), mean ISS (p = 0.003), an ISS score between 25 and 75 (p = 0.004), average time to FWB (p = 0.001), requirement of blood products (p = 0.015), and a motor vehicle accident (p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: PPFs occurring in skeletally mature and immature patients are significantly different in terms of mechanism of injury, fracture severity, fracture pattern, and management strategy. There is a high rate of associated injuries, necessitating an integrated multidisciplinary approach in paediatric trauma centres.

Access and feasibility of orthopaedic training in the independent sector - A Deanery's experience.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus (COVID-19) has negatively impacted healthcare around the world. It has had a major impact on orthopaedic training. The independent sector has been proposed as a facility for future training. Our aim was to provide an overview of the current higher surgical trainees' experience in the independent sector. METHOD: Training orthopaedic registrars within the East of England deanery were asked to complete an electronic questionnaire of their training experience in the independent sector between 5th November to 2nd December 2020. RESULTS: 57 of 64 registrars (89%) from across all thirteen regional training hospitals responded. 44% attended the independent sector, but 7 only assisted (28%). No third year trainees went, but there was an even spread of other training years attending a mean of four sessions. Sixty-six indicative procedures were performed, all with supervisors scrubbed. Second year trainees performed the most cases with 4 on average. Completion of work based assessments was low. 20% trainees reported a negative experience. 80% enjoyed themselves. 52% felt they achieved their goals. 29% trainees felt that independent sector operating would compensate for the shortfall in training brought about by COVID-19. The main obstacles to independent sector training were lack of access and opportunity (51%) and poor induction and paperwork issues (22%) CONCLUSION: This is the first deanery-wide assessment of access to and training within the independent sector due to COVID-19. Independent sector operating for orthopaedic trainees is feasible on scale and should be embedded to supplement training in the future. In their current state independent sector facilities are not easily and universally accessible to fulfil training needs.

Trauma epidemiology after easing of lockdown restrictions: experience from a level-one major trauma centre in England.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the delivery of trauma care. We examined the effect of lockdown easing on trauma presentation and management from one Major Trauma Centre (MTC). METHODS: Data was retrospectively analysed from Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) on patients presenting to our MTC with trauma. The first 47 days of lockdown (23rd March-9th May 2020, period 1) were compared with the next 47 (10th May-26th June 2020, period 2) and last (27th June-13th August 2020, period 3). Data collected included demographics, mechanism and severity of injury, management and length of stay. RESULTS: 1249 patients were included; 62.2% were male with a mean age of 57.73. Footfall declined in April 2020 compared with 2019 (56 vs. 143) but rebounded by May (123 vs. 120 patients). Road traffic collisions increased over periods one-three (18.8% vs. 23% vs. 30.1%, p = 0.038); deliberate self-harm (DSH) increased in period two compared with one and three (6.3% vs. 3.4% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.03), respectively. When compared with 2019, the 2020 patient age was lower, with less trauma relating to alcohol (7.3% vs. 13.2%, p = 0.009), but more from DSH (3.6% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.10). In 2020 less patients were assessed by a consultant and trauma team, with a shorter stay in hospital and critical care. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to document trauma trends through a lockdown and thereafter. After lockdown easing, trauma footfall rapidly rebounded to 2019 levels. This should be acknowledged in resource allocation decisions if future lockdowns are necessitated.

Novel techniques demonstrate superior fixation of simple transverse patella fractures - A biomechanical study.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional tension band wiring (TBW) remains the gold standard treatment for simple transverse patella fractures. Challenges include appropriately siting and bending Kirschner wires without damaging surrounding soft tissues. Damage to soft tissues and malposition of metalwork can lead to complications. We propose three novel techniques for fixation of simple transverse patella fractures to ease application without additional resources to traditional TBW. We tested their biomechanical integrity against traditional TBW. METHOD: Four configurations were tested; two with longitudinal Kirschner Wires (LKW) and two with cross Kirschner Wires (CKW) fixed with either standard figure-of-eight (AO) or side TBW (STBW). An initial proof of concept human cadaveric study was conducted to ensure real world application of the constructs was feasible. The fracture fixations were tested in a biomechanical study using porcine knees. The knees were cyclically loaded in a specially designed test rig through flexion from 90 to 45 degrees. Fracture gap displacement was measured and data blindly analyzed for all tests reaching 100 cycles. RESULTS: 17/22 specimens reached 100 cycles with peak loading ranging from 75 to 80 N. CKW with STBW performed best with average fracture displacement of 0.43 mm. LKW with STBW performed worst with average fracture displacement of 1.93 mm. The incremental displacement/cycle for both CKW configurations was 0.27 mm compared to 0.41 & 0.60 mm for both LKW constructs showing that the CKW configuration conferred greater fixation stiffness under cyclic loading. DISCUSSION: Previous studies have compared alternative methods of patella fracture fixation to TBW through biomechanical superiority often requiring new resources. The methods tested here utilize the same resources as those for standard AO TBW. Reorientating the plane of the wires and position of the cerclage TBW may reduce iatrogenic soft tissue injury; reduce operating time and the risk of complications. CONCLUSION: This study shows biomechanical superiority for CKW with either AO or STBW compared to LKW.

Quantifying the contribution of pincer deformity to femoro-acetabular impingement using 3D computerised tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a simple, reliable method for the three-dimensional quantification of pincer-type hip deformity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computerised tomography scans of 16 normal female hips and 15 female hips with clinical femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) and radiographic signs of pincer secondary to acetabular protrusio were analysed. After orientating the pelvis in the anterior pelvic plane, the acetabular centre was determined, and the ratios of its coordinates to the corresponding pelvic dimensions were calculated. Acetabular coverage of the femoral head and centre-edge angles were also measured for the two groups. RESULTS: In hips with a pincer, the hip was medialised by 37 % (p = 0.03), more proximal by 5 % (p = 0.05) and more posterior by 9 % (p = 0.03) compared with the normal hips. Coverage of the femoral head in protrusio hips was significantly greater than normal (average 71 % vs 82 %, p = 0.0001). Both the lateral centre-edge angle and the combined anterior-posterior centre-edge angle were greater in protrusio hips than in the normal ones (48° vs 37 °, p < 0.001; and 216° vs 176°, p < 0.0001 respectively). CONCLUSION: Displacement in acetabular protrusio occurs in all planes. This CT-based method allows for the accurate and standardised quantification of the extent of displacement, as well as 3D measurement of femoral head coverage. In the adult female population, a combined centre-edge angle of over 190° suggests an acetabulum that is too deep and a potential cause of symptoms of femoro-acetabular impingement. Conversely, an acetabulum that has a combined centre-edge angle of less than 190° may be considered to be of normal depth, and therefore not contributing a pincer to FAI should it occur.