Comparison of the clinical outcomes between proximal femoral nail anti-rotation with cement enhancement and hemiarthroplasty among elderly osteoporotic patients with intertrochanteric fracture.

BACKGROUND: The proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) with cement enhancement enhances the anchorage ability of internal fixation in elderly with osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture. However, whether it is superior to hemiarthroplasty is still controversial. The present study aimed to determine which treatment has better clinical outcomes among older patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 102 elderly patients with osteoporosis who developed intertrochanteric fractures and underwent PFNA combined with cement-enhanced internal fixation (n = 52, CE group), and hemiarthroplasty (n = 50, HA group) from September 2012 to October 2018. All the intertrochanteric fractures were classified according to the AO/OTA classification. Additionally, the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion rates, postoperative weight-bearing time, hospitalization time, Barthel Index of Activities Daily Living, Harris score of hip function, visual analog (VAS) pain score, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The CE group had significantly shorter operative time, lesser intraoperative blood loss, lower blood transfusion rate, and longer postoperative weight-bearing time than the HA group. The CE group had lower Barthel's Index of Activities of Daily Living, lower Harris' score, and higher VAS scores in the first and third months after surgery than the HA group, but no difference was observed between the two groups from 6 months to 12 months. There was no significant difference in the total post-operative complications between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The use of PFNA combined with a cement-enhanced internal fixation technique led to shorter operative time and lesser intraoperative blood loss and trauma in elderly patients as compared to HA.

Intertrochanteric (Reverse Oblique) Fracture Subclassifications AO/OTA 31-A3 Have No Effect on Outcomes or Postoperative Complications.

Background: Reverse oblique intertrochanteric fractures (ROFs) are unstable extracapsular hip fractures that present a mechanical challenge. These fractures are classified as AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) 31-A3 according to the Trauma Association classification system and can further be subclassified into 3 subtypes based on their specific characteristics. The study aimed to evaluate and compare the radiographic and clinical outcomes of the 3 subtypes of ROFs. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a single high-volume, tertiary center, where data were collected from electronic medical records of consecutive patients who underwent surgical fixation of AO/OTA 31-A3 fractures. Patients with less than 1-year follow-up, pathological fractures, and revision surgery were excluded. The subtypes of fractures were classified as 31-A3.1 (simple oblique), 31-A3.2 (simple transverse), and 31-A3.3 (wedge or multi-fragmentary). The operation was done using 4 different fixation methods, and radiological evaluation was performed at routine intervals. Results: The final population consisted of 265 patients (60.8% women) with a mean age of 77.4 years (range, 50-100 years) and the mean follow-up time was 35 months (range, 12-116 months). The incidence of medical complications was similar across the groups. However, there was a trend toward a higher incidence of orthopedic complications and revision rates in the 31-A3.2 group, although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.21 and p = 0.14, respectively). Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, no significant differences were observed between the groups, indicating that the subclassifications of AO/OTA 31-A3 fractures do not have a significant impact on surgical outcomes or the occurrence of postoperative complications.

THE ROLE OF DISTAL LOCKING IN INTRAMEDULLARY NAILS FOR HIP FRACTURE FIXATION: A REVIEW OF CURRENT LITERATURE.

Traditionally, it was believed that both proximal and distal locking are essential for achieving stability during intra-medullary fixation for extra-capsular hip fractures. However, recent literature has presented varying perspectives on the necessity of distal locking. Distal locking plays a significant role in managing hip fractures with uncertainties regarding longitudinal and rotational stability. This includes cases of comminuted intertrochanteric fractures with subtrochanteric extension, reverse oblique and high oblique fractures, broad medullary canals, comminution of the lateral wall, diaphyseal fractures, and large posteromedial fragments extending below the level of the lesser trochanter. In stable pertrochanteric fractures, with the lag screw passing through the lateral cortex of the distal fragment, may not require a distal locking screw. Distal locking has been associated with potential complications, including irritation of the fascia lata, prolonged operation time, increased radiation exposure, greater blood loss, implant loosening, secondary femoral stress fractures, and damage to the femoral artery. Thus, although distal locking is of doubtful significance in stable pertrochanteric fractures it is essential in unstable fracture patterns.

Three different surgical positions on radiological outcomes in the proximal femoral nail: supine, lateral decubitus and traction table.

OBJECTIVE: While the proximal femoral nail (PFN) is deemed a successful therapeutic approach for intertrochanteric femoral fractures, medical professionals lack agreement as to the optimal surgical positioning. Our objective was to determine the radiological superiorities of three different surgical positions (supine, lateral decubitus, and traction table). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this clinical study, 157 prospectively followed-up patients who were operated with PFN for intertrochanteric femur fractures between 2019 and 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. The demographic data of the patients, fracture type, preparation and surgery duration, recorded number of fluoroscopy shots, femoral neck quadrant of the lag screw, tip-apex distance, collodiaphyseal angle, and reduction quality were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 157 patients evaluated in the study, 35 patients (22.3%) were operated in the supine position without traction table, 52 patients (33.1%) in the lateral decubitus position, and 70 patients (44.6%) in the supine position with a traction table. Significant differences were found between groups in terms of preparation duration (p<0.001) and number of fluoroscopy shots (p<0.001). Post-hoc analyses revealed that the preparation duration and the number of fluoroscopy shots were significantly lower in the supine position with manual traction. In radiological examinations, significant differences were found between the groups in all radiological parameters evaluated. Post-hoc analyses showed that the use of the traction table is associated with the lag screw quadrant (p<0.001), the reduction quality (p<0.001), the tip-apex distance (p=0.011), and the collodiaphyseal angle (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the disadvantages, such as prolonged preparation duration and increased fluoroscopy usage, the use of a traction table stands out in PFN due to superior radiological results, such as a more successful reduction quality, a more accurately positioned lag screw and ideal tip-apex distance, and collodiaphyseal angulation.

Development and validation of a semi-automated and unsupervised method for femur segmentation from CT.

Quantitative computed tomography (QCT)-based in silico models have demonstrated improved accuracy in predicting hip fractures with respect to the current gold standard, the areal bone mineral density. These models require that the femur bone is segmented as a first step. This task can be challenging, and in fact, it is often almost fully manual, which is time-consuming, operator-dependent, and hard to reproduce. This work proposes a semi-automated procedure for femur bone segmentation from CT images. The proposed procedure is based on the bone and joint enhancement filter and graph-cut algorithms. The semi-automated procedure performances were assessed on 10 subjects through comparison with the standard manual segmentation. Metrics based on the femur geometries and the risk of fracture assessed in silico resulting from the two segmentation procedures were considered. The average Hausdorff distance (0.03 ± 0.01 mm) and the difference union ratio (0.06 ± 0.02) metrics computed between the manual and semi-automated segmentations were significantly higher than those computed within the manual segmentations (0.01 ± 0.01 mm and 0.03 ± 0.02). Besides, a blind qualitative evaluation revealed that the semi-automated procedure was significantly superior (p < 0.001) to the manual one in terms of fidelity to the CT. As for the hip fracture risk assessed in silico starting from both segmentations, no significant difference emerged between the two (R2 = 0.99). The proposed semi-automated segmentation procedure overcomes the manual one, shortening the segmentation time and providing a better segmentation. The method could be employed within CT-based in silico methodologies and to segment large volumes of images to train and test fully automated and supervised segmentation methods.

No difference in clinical and hospital quality outcomes in treatment of reverse obliquity intertrochanteric Hip fractures (AO/OTA 31.A3) based on Cephalomedullary nail length.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes following reverse obliquity (RO) intertrochanteric hip fractures based on the use of short cephalomedullary nails (CMNs) compared to long CMNs for fixation. METHODS: An IRB-approved prospectively collected hip fracture registry at an urban academic medical center was queried for all AO/OTA 31A3.1-3 reverse obliquity intertrochanteric (RO) fractures. One hundred and seventy patients with age > 55 years old and minimum 6-month follow-up were identified for analysis. Data was collected for patient demographics, injury details, intraoperative radiographic parameters, perioperative physiologic parameters, hospital quality measures, and outcomes including radiographic time to healing, need for reoperation, nonunion, and mortality. Comparative analyses were conducted between cohorts. Additional multivariable binary logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate for factors independently associated with short and long nail usage. RESULTS: The mean age of the entire cohort was 80.91±10.09 years: 103 patients had a long CMN implanted, and 67 patients had a short CMN implanted. There were no demographic differences or differences in radiographic time to healing, rates of mortality, readmission, nonunion, and need for reoperation. Univariable analysis revealed that short CMN had lower intraoperative blood loss (111.19±83.97 mL vs 176.72±161.45 mL, p = 0.002), decreased need for transfusion (37% vs. 55 %, p = 0.022), and shorter procedures (118.67±57.87 min vs. 148.95±77.83 min, p = 0.002. Multivariable analysis revealed that short nail usage was associated with decreased intraoperative blood loss, decreased need for transfusion, and shorter operative times. CONCLUSION: Nail length does not affect healing or hospital quality outcomes in the treatment of RO hip fractures. The use of short CMNs for these fractures did correlate with lower intraoperative blood loss, operative time, and need for blood transfusion, with non-inferior outcomes and similar hospital quality measures when compared to long CMNs.

Comparison of artificial intelligence algorithm for the diagnosis of hip fracture on plain radiography with decision-making physicians: a validation study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare an algorithm developed for diagnosing hip fractures on plain radiographs with the physicians involved in diagnosing hip fractures. METHODS: Radiographs labeled as fractured (n=182) and non-fractured (n=542) by an expert on proximal femur fractures were included in the study. General practitioners in the emergency department (n=3), emergency medicine (n=3), radiologists (n=3), orthopedic residents (n=3), and orthopedic surgeons (n=3) were included in the study as the labelers, who labeled the presence of fractures on the right and left sides of the proximal femoral region on each anteroposterior (AP) plain pelvis radiograph as fractured or non-fractured. In addition, all the radiographs were evaluated using an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm consisting of 3 AI models and a majority voting technique. Each AI model evaluated each graph separately, and majority voting determined the final decision as the majority of the outputs of the 3 AI models. The results of the AI algorithm and labelling physicians included in the study were compared with the reference evaluation. RESULTS: Based on F-1 scores, here are the average scores of the group: majority voting (0.942) > orthopedic surgeon (0.938) > AI models (0.917) > orthopedic resident (0.858) > emergency medicine (0.758) > general practitioner (0.689) > radiologist (0.677). CONCLUSION: The AI algorithm developed in our previous study may help recognize fractures in AP pelvis in plain radiography in the emergency department for non-orthopedist physicians. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Diagnostic Study.

Six-Part Classification of Femoral Intertrochanteric Fractures: A Classification Method to Improve the Diagnosis Rate of Unstable Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Three-dimensional (3D)-CT data is currently insufficient for classifying femoral trochanter fractures. Fracture classification based on fracture stability analysis is helpful to evaluate the prognosis of patients after internal fixation. Currently, there is a lack of fracture classification methods based on 3D-CT images and fracture stability analysis. The aim of this study was to propose a new six-part classification method for intertrochanteric fractures of femur based on 3D-CT images and fracture stability analysis to improve the diagnosis rate of unstable fractures. METHOD: From January 2009 to December 2019, 320 patients receiving intramedullary nail surgery for femoral intertrochanteric fractures at Chengdu University's Affiliated Hospital were studied retrospectively. AO and six-part classifications were undertaken according to the 3D-CT image data of the patients, and the stability rates of two classifications were compared. According to the six-part classification stability criteria, the patients were divided into a stable and an unstable fracture group. The perioperative and follow-up indicators of the two groups were statistically analyzed, and the six-part classification's inter-observer and internal reliability was examined. RESULTS: There were 107 men and 213 females women the 320 patients, with an average age of 79.32 ± 11.26 years and an osteoporosis rate of 55.63% (178/320). The fracture stability rate of 39.69% (127/320) was studied using a six-part classification method. The AO classification fracture stability rate was 42.50% (136/320), with no significant difference (χ2 = 0.523, p = 0.470 > 0.05). There is no statistically significant difference between the two classification techniques in the examination of fracture stability (McNemer difference test p = 0.306 > 0.05; Kappa consistency test p < 0.001). According to the six-part classification, fracture stability and instability group were divided into two groups. The following indicators were compared between the two groups: The surgery time (p = 0.280), fracture reduction quality (p = 0.062); function independent measurement (p = 0.075); timed up and go test (TUG) (p = 0.191), and Parker-Palmer score (p = 0.146). Were as compared according to the six-part classification of stable and unstable fracture groups. Perioperative blood loss (p < 0.001), the Harris score excellent and good rate (p = 0.043), fracture healing time (p < 0.001), and the entire weight-bearing duration (p = 0.002) were statistically significant. The difference in femoral head height (FHH) (p = 0.046), the change in femoral neck shaft angle (p = 0.003), the change in medial cephalic nail length (p = 0.033), and the change in tip-apex distance (TAD) (p = 0.002) were statistically significant compared to the relevant markers of imaging stability. Fracture stability had a substantial influence on Harris ratings at 3, 6, and 12 months following surgery, according to repeated measures analysis of variance (F(1,126) = 32.604, p < 0.001). The effect of time on the Harris score was similarly significant (F(1.893,238.508) = 202.771, p < 0.001). The observer intra-observer inter-group correlation coefficient (ICC) value was 0.941 > 0.75, the inter-observer ICC value was 0.921 > 0.75, and the intra-observer and inter-observer reliability were both good. CONCLUSION: The six-part classification of femoral intertrochanteric fractures based on 3D-CT images has broader guiding relevance for femoral intertrochanteric fracture stability analysis. Clinicians will find this classification simpler and more consistent than the AO classification.

Fully automated CT imaging biomarkers for opportunistic prediction of future hip fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Assess automated CT imaging biomarkers in patients who went on to hip fracture, compared with controls. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, 6926 total patients underwent initial abdominal CT over a 20-year interval at one institution. A total of 1308 patients (mean age at initial CT, 70.5 ± 12.0 years; 64.4% female) went on to hip fracture (mean time to fracture, 5.2 years); 5618 were controls (mean age 70.3 ± 12.0 years; 61.2% female; mean follow-up interval 7.6 years). Validated fully automated quantitative CT algorithms for trabecular bone attenuation (at L1), skeletal muscle attenuation (at L3), and subcutaneous adipose tissue area (SAT) (at L3) were applied to all scans. Hazard ratios (HRs) comparing highest to lowest risk quartiles and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis including area under the curve (AUC) were derived. RESULTS: Hip fracture HRs (95% CI) were 3.18 (2.69-3.76) for low trabecular bone HU, 1.50 (1.28-1.75) for low muscle HU, and 2.18 (1.86-2.56) for low SAT. 10-year ROC AUC values for predicting hip fracture were 0.702, 0.603, and 0.603 for these CT-based biomarkers, respectively. Multivariate combinations of these biomarkers further improved predictive value; the 10-year ROC AUC combining bone/muscle/SAT was 0.733, while combining muscle/SAT was 0.686. CONCLUSION: Opportunistic use of automated CT bone, muscle, and fat measures can identify patients at higher risk for future hip fracture, regardless of the indication for CT imaging. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: CT data can be leveraged opportunistically for further patient evaluation, with early intervention as needed. These novel AI tools analyse CT data to determine a patient's future hip fracture risk.

DXA-based statistical models of shape and intensity outperform aBMD hip fracture prediction: A retrospective study.

Areal bone mineral density (aBMD) currently represents the clinical gold standard for hip fracture risk assessment. Nevertheless, it is characterised by a limited prediction accuracy, as about half of the people experiencing a fracture are not classified as at being at risk by aBMD. In the context of a progressively ageing population, the identification of accurate predictive tools would be pivotal to implement preventive actions. In this study, DXA-based statistical models of the proximal femur shape, intensity (i.e., density) and their combination were developed and employed to predict hip fracture on a retrospective cohort of post-menopausal women. Proximal femur shape and pixel-by-pixel aBMD values were extracted from DXA images and partial least square (PLS) algorithm adopted to extract corresponding modes and components. Subsequently, logistic regression models were built employing the first three shape, intensity and shape-intensity PLS components, and their ability to predict hip fracture tested according to a 10-fold cross-validation procedure. The area under the ROC curves (AUC) for the shape, intensity, and shape-intensity-based predictive models were 0.59 (95%CI 0.47-0.69), 0.80 (95%CI 0.70-0.90) and 0.83 (95%CI 0.73-0.90), with the first being significantly lower than the latter two. aBMD yielded an AUC of 0.72 (95%CI 0.59-0.82), found to be significantly lower than the shape-intensity-based predictive model. In conclusion, a methodology to assess hip fracture risk uniquely based on the clinically available imaging technique, DXA, is proposed. Our study results show that hip fracture risk prediction could be enhanced by taking advantage of the full set of information DXA contains.

Comparing short vs. intermediate and long nails in elderly patients with unstable multifragmental femoral trochanteric fractures (AO type A2): Multicenter (TRON group) retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Unstable femoral trochanteric fractures (FTFs), especially Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/ the Orthopedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) 31-A2 fractures, which are multifragment fractures, occur in elderly individuals with osteoporosis and are associated with high mortality and complication rates due to prolonged immobilization. Longer nails (LNs) were developed to obtain superior fracture site stabilization in unstable FTFs. We hypothesized that the postoperative outcomes of elderly patients with unstable FTFs treated with LNs would be superior to those of patients treated with short nails (SNs), with fewer complications. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study aimed to compare the outcomes of SNs versus LNs in elderly patients with unstable FTFs. From the Trauma Research Group of our university (TRON) database, 1854 trochanteric fractures treated between January 2016 and December 2020 were extracted. A total of 174 patients>65 years of age with AO/OTA 31-A2 fractures were included in the present study. They were divided into the SN group and the LN group and matched for age and sex. Parameters such as operative time, blood loss, survival rate, Parker Mobility Score (PMS), and numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain, complications, and radiographic findings were analyzed. RESULTS: Both groups included 67 patients with an average age of 87.32 years. The LN group had a longer operative time (76.52 min vs. 51.61 min, P < 0.001) and more blood loss (106.79 mL vs. 49.98 mL, P = 0.014) in comparison to the SN group. However, the 1-year survival rate, PMS, and NRS for pain did not differ to a statistically significant extent between the groups. The rates of complications, including screw cutout, nonunion, implant breakage, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and surgical site infections, were comparable. The radiographic findings, including the nail/canal ratio, progression of varus, and sliding distance, were also similar. CONCLUSION: Although LNs are associated with longer operative times and increased blood loss, the overall outcomes and complication rates are comparable to those of SNs in elderly patients with AO/OTA 31-A2 type unstable FTFs. The use of LNs did not confer any distinct advantages for this specific type of fracture.

Psoas muscle area is associated with prognosis in elderly patients with hip fracture.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia is a key predictor of prognosis in patients with hip fractures. This study utilized computed tomography (CT) scan (1) to determine the association between psoas muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and mortality, along with other muscles, and (2) to confirm the correlation between muscle CSA and appendicular lean mass (ALM) measured using DXA in elderly patients with hip fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who were aged ≥ 50 years and underwent surgical treatment for hip fracture were eligible for this study. After a series of exclusion criteria, 217 female patients were included. Patient data, including clinical characteristics, such as body mass index (BMI), CSA, and ALM, were retrospectively collected. The Kaplan-Meier survival method and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were used for the statistical analyses. The correlation between CSA/BMI and ALM was also assessed. RESULTS: Patients in the lowest quartile of psoas muscle CSA/BMI had shorter survival times than those in the other quartiles. When the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was adjusted for multiple variables, the lowest quartile of the CSA/BMI of the psoas was a risk factor for mortality. The CSA/BMI of the psoas showed the highest correlation coefficient. The CSA/BMI ratio of the other muscles showed a moderately positive correlation with ALM. CONCLUSION: The CSA of the psoas is associated with prognosis in elderly patients with hip fractures and shows a moderately positive correlation with ALM. Hence, the CSA of psoas is useful for predicting survival and muscle mass in elderly patients with hip fractures.

Optimizing the Entry Point for Medullary Hip Screws.

INTRODUCTION: Medullary hip screws (MHSs) are the most common treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures because they can be used for varied fracture patterns and resist shortening. Identifying the appropriate MHS entry point can be intellectually and technically challenging. We aimed to quantify the variability in the ideal entry point (IEP) for MHSs. METHODS: Standing alignment radiographs of 50 patients were evaluated using TraumaCad (Brainlab). The femoral neck shaft angle and the offset from the tip of the greater trochanter (GT) to the femur's longitudinal axis ('greater trochanter offset') were measured. Five MHS system templates were superimposed on the femur's longitudinal axis, and the distance from the GT tip to MHS's top center was measured. Five independent reviewers each templated 20 images such that all images were measured at least twice. A random sample of five images was selected for all five raters to measure and to calculate an intraclass coefficient Mean IEPs were compared with an independent sample Student t -test. RESULTS: The mean GT offset was 13.5 ± 5.6 mm (range 12.9 to 26.7 mm). The mean neck shaft angle was 129.5 ± 4.0 (range 120 to 139). The mean IEP for nail systems ranged from 5.7 to 7.1 mm medial to the GT tip; there was no notable difference in pairwise comparison of nail systems or in aggregate. Intraclass coefficient for all ratings, measurements, and nail types ranged from moderate to good. Both intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were excellent. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In a sample with broad variation in femoral anatomy, there is a specific, roughly 1.5 mm wide interval that is 6.4 mm medial to the GT tip that serves as the IEP for the most common MHS systems. No notable difference seems to exist in the IEP among these MHS systems.

A CT-based Deep Learning Model for Predicting Subsequent Fracture Risk in Patients with Hip Fracture.

Background Patients have the highest risk of subsequent fractures in the first few years after an initial fracture, yet models to predict short-term subsequent risk have not been developed. Purpose To develop and validate a deep learning prediction model for subsequent fracture risk using digitally reconstructed radiographs from hip CT in patients with recent hip fractures. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included adult patients who underwent three-dimensional hip CT due to a fracture from January 2004 to December 2020. Two-dimensional frontal, lateral, and axial digitally reconstructed radiographs were generated and assembled to construct an ensemble model. DenseNet modules were used to calculate risk probability based on extracted image features and fracture-free probability plots were output. Model performance was assessed using the C index and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared with other models using the paired t test. Results The training and validation set included 1012 patients (mean age, 74.5 years ± 13.3 [SD]; 706 female, 113 subsequent fracture) and the test set included 468 patients (mean age, 75.9 years ± 14.0; 335 female, 22 subsequent fractures). In the test set, the ensemble model had a higher C index (0.73) for predicting subsequent fractures than that of other image-based models (C index range, 0.59-0.70 for five of six models; P value range, < .001 to < .05). The ensemble model achieved AUCs of 0.74, 0.74, and 0.73 at the 2-, 3-, and 5-year follow-ups, respectively; higher than that of most other image-based models at 2 years (AUC range, 0.57-0.71 for five of six models; P value range, < .001 to < .05) and 3 years (AUC range, 0.55-0.72 for four of six models; P value range, < .001 to < .05). Moreover, the AUCs achieved by the ensemble model were higher than that of a clinical model that included known risk factors (2-, 3-, and 5-year AUCs of 0.58, 0.64, and 0.70, respectively; P < .001 for all). Conclusion In patients with recent hip fractures, the ensemble deep learning model using digital reconstructed radiographs from hip CT showed good performance for predicting subsequent fractures in the short term. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Li and Jaremko in this issue.

Finite element analysis of the effect of residual lateral wall volume on postoperative stability in intertrochanteric fractures.

BACKGROUND: Lateral wall fractures represent crucial risk factors for postoperative internal fixation failure in intertrochanteric femoral fractures. However, no consensus exists on the type of lateral wall fracture requiring interventional management. This study aimed to investigate the effect of residual lateral wall volume on the postoperative stability of intertrochanteric femur fractures with associated lateral wall fractures, providing valuable reference for the clinical management of the lateral wall. METHODS: Eleven bone defect models of intertrochanteric femur fractures with varying residual lateral wall volumes were constructed using finite element analysis. These models were fixed with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA). Simulations of von Mises stress and displacement distribution of the PFNA and femur during normal walking were conducted. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the correlation between volume and the maximum von Mises stresses and displacements of the PFNA and femur. RESULTS: In all 11 models, the maximum von Mises stress and displacement of the helical blade, intramedullary nail, and femur occurred at the same locations. As residual lateral wall volume increased, the maximum von Mises stress and displacement of the helical blade, intramedullary nail, and maximum femoral displacement gradually decreased. However, the overall trend of the maximum femoral von Mises stress gradually decreased. At 70% retention of the residual lateral wall volume, there was a more pronounced change in the value of the maximum stress change of the helical blade and the intramedullary nail. Statistical analysis, including the Shapiro-Wilk test and Pearson correlation analysis, demonstrated a significant negative correlation between volume and the maximum von Mises stress and displacement of the helical blade, intramedullary nail, and femur. Linear regression analysis further confirmed this significant negative correlation. CONCLUSION: Finite element analysis of the residual lateral wall revealed a significant correlation between volume and the postoperative stability of intertrochanteric femur fractures. A volume of 70% may serve as the threshold for stabilizing the residual lateral wall. Volume emerges as a novel index for evaluating the strength of the residual lateral walls.

Primary Cementless Femoral Stems in Conversion Hip Arthroplasty After Failed Fixation of Intertrochanteric Fractures.

Salvage conversion hip arthroplasty is a viable solution to restore function and reduce pain after failed intertrochanteric hip fracture fixation. Our primary objective was to assess early outcomes achieved with primary cementless metaphyseal-engaging femoral stems for conversion hip arthroplasty compared with revision diaphyseal-engaging stems. This was a retrospective review of 70 patients with failed intertrochanteric hip fractures subsequently managed with conversion total hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty. Thirty-five patients who underwent conversion using a primary cementless stem were compared with 35 patients who underwent conversion using a revision stem. The groups were similar regarding sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, preoperative diagnosis, and implants removed. Clinical and radiographic outcomes and complications were compared over a mean follow-up of 6 years. The primary stem cohort had a shorter mean hospital stay (3.03 vs 4.34 days, P=.028). There were no significant differences between the primary and revision cohorts regarding mean time to conversion (2.26 vs 1.75 years, P=.671), operative time (127 vs 131 minutes, P=.611), incidence of discharge to home (54.3% vs 37.1%, P=.23), postoperative complications (5.71% vs 5.71%, P=1.0), reoperations (5.71% vs 11.4%, P=.669), leg length discrepancy (5.33 vs 7.38 mm, P=.210), subsidence (20.0% vs 23.3%, P=.981), and Hip dysfunction and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (78.6 vs 81.9, P=.723). We report comparable outcomes of conversion hip arthroplasty with the use of primary cementless and revision stems. Current primary cementless femoral stems may be considered for conversion hip arthroplasty for failed intertrochanteric fracture fixation. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(1):e6-e12.].

Intramedullary Nailing of Intertrochanteric Femoral Fractures in a Level I Trauma Center in Finland: What Complications Can be Expected?

BACKGROUND: Intertrochanteric hip fractures are one of the most common fractures in older people, and the number is estimated to increase. These fractures are often treated with intramedullary nailing; however, various complications have been reported. It is important to identify the potential complications and investigate whether the choice of implant and patient-related factors are associated with the risk of complications to develop better strategies for preventing them. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) In the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures with intramedullary nailing, what are the risks of major complications and 30-day mortality? (2) Which implant types are associated with greater odds of major complications? (3) Which patient-related factors are associated with increased odds of major complications? METHODS: In this retrospective, comparative study, we reviewed the health records of 2397 patients with a femoral fracture treated at one Level I trauma center between January 2014 and November 2020. Of those, we considered patients who were treated with intramedullary nailing for an intertrochanteric fracture after sustaining a low-energy injury as potentially eligible. Based on this criterion, 53% (1279) were eligible; a further 47% (1118) were excluded because the fixation method was other than intramedullary nailing, the fracture pattern was other than intertrochanteric fracture, or the fracture was caused by a high-energy injury mechanism. Another 4% (97) were excluded because they had incomplete datasets because of follow-up less than 12 months, leaving 49% (1182) for analysis. During the study period, intramedullary nails were generally used to treat nearly all intertrochanteric fractures at our hospital. The risk of complications was then assessed by chart review. Acute myocardial ischemia, cutout, nail breakage, pulmonary embolism, sepsis, stroke, and wound infection were defined as major complications. Cutout, nail breakage, and wound infection were defined as major complications leading to reoperation. To examine the association of implant type and major complications, a logistic regression analysis was performed. Additionally, the risks of major complications leading to reoperation were compared between implants. Finally, a univariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between patient-related factors and major complications. RESULTS: The overall proportion of patients experiencing complications was 16% (183 of 1182), and the crude percentage of 30-day mortality was 9% (107 of 1182) based on the hospital`s medical records. After controlling for patient-related factors such as disease, age, and smoking, we found that nail type was not associated with odds of major complications leading to reoperation (Gamma3: OR 0.86 [95% CI 0.44 to 1.67]; p = 0.67; Trochanteric Fixation Nail: OR 0.61 [95% CI 0.2 to 1.53]; p = 0.33; Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation: OR 0.55 [95% CI 0.16 to 1.49]; p = 0.29) compared with the Trochanteric Fixation Nail Advanced. Anticoagulation (OR 1.70 [95% CI 1.11 to 2.59]; p = 0.01), congestive heart failure (OR 1.91 [95% CI 1.13 to 3.11]; p = 0.01), and hypertension (OR 1.67 [95% CI 1.08 to 2.63]; p = 0.02) were associated with a major complication. Liver disease (OR 5.19 [95% CI 0.78 to 20.8]; p = 0.04) was associated with a major complication leading to reoperation. CONCLUSION: This study provides a better understanding of the occurrence of surgical and medical complications after intramedullary nailing of intertrochanteric fractures. The new-generation nail types are comparable options based on the risk of reoperation. Anticoagulation, congestive heart failure, and hypertension were associated with major complications, highlighting the need for careful management and monitoring of these comorbidities during intramedullary nailing procedures.Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic study.