Trans-olecranon fracture dislocations: How should we treat them?

BACKGROUND: Trans-olecranon fracture dislocations are the least frequent complex elbow instability. Proper surgical treatment should be performed to avoid postoperative complications. METHODS: A retrospective design study was performed. Patients that suffered from this injury, treated at our center from 2010 to 2016 were included. Fifteen patients were analyzed. Functional results were measured using DASH, MEPS and VAS scores. Average time from injury to first surgical treatment was 4.87 days. Radial head fracture was present in seven cases and coronoid process in three patients. Most frequent complication was hardware disturbances in five patients. Mean follow up was 3.65 years. RESULTS: Mean range of motion (ROM) was evaluated 1 year postoperatively: 129° flexion, 6° flexion contracture, and less than 5° deficit of pronation/supination. Clinical and functional results are encouraging, DASH 36.38, MEPS 100 and VAS 0.46. CONCLUSION: Trans-olecranon fracture dislocations could obtain functional range of movement, pain relief and good functional outcomes with a standardized protocol of surgical fixation. It is important to achieve proper ulnar fixation, focusing in reestablishing dorsal angulation, and also to treat radial head and coronoid injuries properly, if present.

[Mid-term complications of the monopolar, modular radial head prosthesis]. / Complicaciones a mediano plazo de la prótesis monopolar modular de cabeza radial.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study is to assess the type, frequency and severity of complications after the implantation of the modular monopolar radial head prosthesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients with 48 radial head prostheses implanted between 2009 and 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were evaluated clinical and radiographically for a mean follow-up of 43.55 months (range: 12-89). RESULTS: The same type of prosthesis was implanted in every patient (Ascension Modular Radial Head). The average score in the Mayo Elbow Performance Score was 88.29 ± 9.9 points. During the follow-up, three patients (6.25%) suffered from continuous pain. Twelve cases (25.5%) showed radiological oversizing, though only five were symptomatic. Heterotopic ossification was detected in twenty-seven cases (57.4%). Eleven patients (23.4%) developed postoperative stiffness. Nineteen cases (40.42%) showed periprosthetic osteolysis, from which seven were symptomatic. Thirteen patients (27%) developed surgery-related complications: three cases of infection, four cases of symptomatic loosening, two neurapraxies, one instability and three cases of oversizing with associated stiffness. Nine patients (18.75%) required reintervention. DISCUSSION: Our study obtains a 27% of overall complications, mostly related to oversizing and prosthetic loosening, and 19% of reinterventions. These results are similar to those presented in previous studies, with variations depending on the time of follow-up. Further research is also required to evaluate long-term results and the potential progression of the radiographic findings. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these data stress the need for improvement in both the surgical technique and the design of the implants.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el tipo, la frecuencia y la gravedad de las complicaciones después de la implantación de la prótesis monopolar modular de cabeza radial. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se revisaron retrospectivamente 47 pacientes con 48 prótesis de cabeza radial implantadas entre 2009 y 2017 durante una media de 43.55 meses (rango: 12-89). RESULTADOS: Se implantó el mismo tipo de prótesis en cada paciente (Ascension Modular Radial Head). La puntuación media obtenida en la clasificación Mayo Elbow Performance Score fue de 88.29 ± 9.9 puntos. Durante el seguimiento tres pacientes (6.25%) sufrieron dolor continuo. Doce casos (25.5%) mostraron sobredimensión radiológica, aunque sólo cinco fueron sintomáticos. Se detectó osificación heterotópica en 27 casos (57.4%), 11 pacientes (23.4%) desarrollaron rigidez postoperatoria, 19 casos (40.42%) mostraron osteólisis periprotésica, de los cuales siete fueron sintomáticos, 13 pacientes (27%) presentaron complicaciones: tres casos de infección, cuatro casos de aflojamiento sintomático, dos neuroapraxias, una inestabilidad y tres casos de sobredimensionamiento con rigidez asociada. Nueve pacientes (18.75%) fueron reintervenidos. DISCUSIÓN: Presentamos 27% de complicaciones globales, principalmente relacionadas con la sobredimensión y el aflojamiento protésico y 19% de reintervenciones. Estos resultados son similares a los descritos en estudios previos con variaciones en función del tiempo de seguimiento. Asimismo, se requieren nuevos estudios para evaluar los resultados a largo plazo y la posible progresión de los hallazgos radiográficos. CONCLUSIÓN: En conjunto, estos datos ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de mejoría tanto de la técnica quirúrgica como del diseño de los implantes.

[Shoulder arthroplasty complications: case report]. / Complicaciones de la artroplastía de hombro: reporte de un caso.

BACKGROUND: Infection and instability are the complications of prosthetic shoulder surgery of more difficult management. Instability builds up to half of the cases, while the fungal infection accounts for less than 1% of all and can cause severe damage to bone and soft tissue. METHODS: In this case clinical fungal infection by Candida parapsilosis is presented in a shoulder hemiarthroplasty indicated by a fracture of the proximal humerus. He received surgical treatment in two-stages and administration of fluconazole for eight weeks prior to the second surgical time. In revision surgery was placed a reverse prosthesis as definitive treatment; however, the patient suffered several episodes of dislocation in the postoperative period; a second revision prosthetic surgery was necessary to use more stable components. During this surgery, we extracted samples that were analyzed, obtaining negative results for infection. RESULTS: Now after three years of follow-up, the patient is well, no limitations in their daily work and has a Constant Score of 50.5. DISCUSSION: We report our experience in this exceptional situation. We know, this is one of the first cases where the fungal infection and dislocation prosthetics in the same patient meet. This situation is a challenge for the surgeon, which has to treat complications two practically at the same time; we do not have scientific evidence to establish a criterion unified for the treatment of complications after surgery for revision of arthroplasty of the shoulder, especially in reverse or mega-denture prosthesis.

ANTECEDENTES: La infección e inestabilidad se encuentran entre las complicaciones de más difícil manejo en la cirugía protésica de hombro. La inestabilidad acumula hasta la mitad de los casos, mientras que la infección por hongos representa menos de 1% del total de infecciones y pueden causar daño severo a nivel óseo y de partes blandas. MÉTODOS: En este caso clínico se presenta una infección fúngica por Candida parapsilosis en una hemiartroplastía de hombro indicada por una fractura de húmero proximal. Se dio tratamiento quirúrgico en dos tiempos y administración de fluconazol durante ocho semanas previo al segundo tiempo quirúrgico. En la revisión se colocó una prótesis reversa como tratamiento definitivo; sin embargo, el paciente sufrió varios episodios de luxación en el postoperatorio. Fue necesaria una segunda cirugía de revisión protésica para sustituir por componentes de mayor estabilidad. Durante la misma, se extrajeron muestras que fueron analizadas, obteniéndose resultados negativos para infección. RESULTADOS: Actualmente tras tres años de seguimiento, el paciente se encuentra bien, sin limitaciones en su labor diaria y tiene un Constant Score de 50.5. DISCUSIÓN: Reportamos nuestra experiencia en esta situación excepcional. A nuestro conocer, éste es uno de los primeros casos en los que la infección fúngica y la luxación protésica coinciden en un mismo paciente. Esta situación es un reto para el cirujano, el cual tiene que tratar las dos complicaciones prácticamente a la vez. No se dispone de una evidencia científica para establecer un criterio unificado para el tratamiento de las complicaciones tras cirugía de revisión de artroplastía de hombro, especialmente en la prótesis reversa o megaprótesis.

Scaphoid-trapezium hereditary coalition. A case report. / Coalición carpiana escafotrapezoidea hereditaria. A propósito de un caso.

Carpal coalitions are relatively frequent between bones in the same carpal row. Coalitions between bones of different rows, however, are very uncommon. We present a case of bilateral intercarpal coalition between the trapezium and scaphoid as an incidental finding, confirming its hereditary origin since a parent has the same bilateral coalition.

Scaphoid Fractures treated with a volar percutaneous approach. Analysis and results in 92 cases. / Fracturas de escafoides tratadas con técnica percutánea volar. Análisis y resultados de 92 casos.

OBJECTIVE: Herbert type B1 and B2 scaphoid fractures can be treated by orthopaedic treatment or surgery. The aim of this study is to analyse results and complications of scaphoid waist fractures treated using the percutaneous volar approach. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We present a retrospective study of 92 patients, treated in our institution from 2006 to 2016 using a volar percutaneous fixation. Mean Follow-up was 16 months (range 12-48). Injuries were classified using Hebert's classification, including B1 and B2 fracture types; the other fracture types following this classification system were excluded. Politrauma patients, dorsal approach, fractures associated with distal radius injuries, patients treated using another surgical technique and patients with non follow-up were also excluded. Functional results were evaluated using the DASH questionnaire. Consolidation was established as the presence of bony bridges crossing the fracture site on x-rays, associated with absence of pain. RESULTS: The average time to fracture healing was 6.6 weeks (range 5-11). After 12 months of follow-up, the average wrist range of motion was 70° of extension (range 58-75) and 70° of flexion (range 62-80). Regarding functional evaluation, the average DASH questionnaire score was 42. The most frequent complication was non-union in 4 cases (4.44%). Average surgical time was 25min. CONCLUSIONS: Volar percutaneous fixation is a simple and quick technique for a specialist surgeon, characterised by low morbidity and complication rates compared to ORIF and orthopaedic treatment, which accelerates the patient's functional recovery.