The polymicrobial infection affects the infection recurrence rate (not failure) in treating femoral and tibial bone defects with the Masquelet technique-a comparative retrospective analysis of 54 patients with mono- and polymicrobial infections.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated whether polymicrobial infection affects reoperation rates due to infection recurrence and treatment failure with the Masquelet technique in infected posttraumatic segmental bone defects of the femur and tibia. METHODS:  We retrospectively analyzed patients treated between 2012 and 2021 in two trauma referral centers. We evaluated demographic data, injury, treatment, infection recurrence, failures, and bone healing rates according to whether the infection was mono- or polymicrobial. After uni-bivariate analysis between patients with polymicrobial and monomicrobial infection, we identified the variables associated with infection recurrence and failure through multivariate analysis. RESULTS:  We analyzed 54 patients, 30 (55.55%) with tibial and 24 (44.44%) femoral segmental bone defects, with a mean follow-up of 41.7 ± 15.0 months. Forty-four (81.48%) presented monomicrobial, and 10 (18.51%) polymicrobial infections. Comparatively, the need for soft tissue reconstruction and the infection recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with polymicrobial infections. There was no significant difference in the failure rate (20 vs. 6.81% p = 0.23). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified the polymicrobial infection as the only independent variable associated with infection recurrence (Odds Ratio = 11.07; p = 0.0017). CONCLUSION:  Our analysis suggests that polymicrobial infection is associated with a higher risk of infection recurrence in treating the femur and tibia segmental bone defects with the Masquelet technique. This information can help surgeons to inform patients about this and give them a realistic expectation of the outcome and the possibility of reoperation.

Tratamiento de las fracturas de pelvis APCII. Variables que afectan el resultado final / Treatment of APCII pelvic fractures. Variables that affect the outcomes

Introducción: Las fracturas de pelvis se asocian frecuentemente a un trauma de alta energía. La tasa de mortalidad varía del 5% al 46%. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar si las variables analizadas se asociaron con el resultado final del tratamiento de las fracturas de pelvis APCII (AO/OTA: 61B2.3). materiales y métodos:Se evaluó a 23 de 79 pacientes luego de aplicarles los criterios de selección. Las fracturas fueron clasificadas, según Young y Burgess, en una radiografía panorámica de pelvis, de entrada y de salida, y tomografía computarizada. Se evaluó el resultado clínico según la escala funcional de Majeed. Las variables evaluadas fueron: tratamiento en la urgencia, lesiones asociadas, días de espera hasta la cirugía, fijación utilizada, reducción posquirúrgica inmediata, infección del sitio quirúrgico. Resultados: No se halló una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre el tipo de tratamiento realizado en la urgencia, las lesiones asociadas, los días de espera hasta la cirugía y el tipo de fijación, con el resultado final a largo plazo. Los pacientes que tuvieron una reducción posoperatoria inmediata <1 cm y los que no sufrieron una infección del sitio quirúrgico obtuvieron mejores resultados funcionales, de manera estadísticamente significativa. Conclusión: Las variables calidad de la reducción posquirúrgica inmediata e infección del sitio quirúrgico en pacientes con fractura de pelvis APCII se asocian directamente con los resultados funcional y clínico a largo plazo. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Introduction: Pelvic fractures are frequently associated with high-energy trauma. Mortality varies from 5%-46%. In these patients, the factors related to poor outcomes are still controversial. Purpose: To explore if the variables analyzed were related with the long term outcomes of the treatment of an anterior-posterior compression type II pelvic fracture (APCII; AO/OTA: 61B2.3). Materials and methods: 79 cases were analyzed and 23 patients remained for evaluation according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pelvic radiographs (anteroposterior, inlet and outlet) and CT-scans were evaluated. The Young & Burgess classification was used to define the fracture pattern and the Majeed Score for clinical outcomes. Variables analyzed: emergency treatment, associated injuries, delay for definitive fixation, method of fixation, quality of immediate postoperative reduction and surgical site infection. Results: We did not find any statistical relation between the type of emergency treatment, associated injuries, delay for definitive fixation, method of fixation, and the long-term clinical outcome. Patients who had an immediate postoperative reduction of less than 1 cm and those who did not have a surgical site infection obtained better functional outcomes (statistically significant). Conclusion: The quality variables of immediate postoperative reduction and surgical site infection in patients with APCII pelvic fracture had a direct relation with long-term functional and clinical outcomes. Level of Evidence: IV

Orthopaedic trauma care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: the Latin American perspective.

At first glance, the COVID-19 pandemic and the field of orthopaedics and traumatology do not appear to be related. Although orthopaedists are not considered front-line personnel in the fight against the pandemic, the role of the surgeon as part of the overall health care team is crucial. The specialty of orthopaedics and orthopaedic trauma, due to its extraordinary scope, affects individuals of all ages and timely care affects patients' long-term function and quality of life. Therefore, positioning the type and timing of care for musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, while maintaining the safety of the patient and healthcare providers, is essential. This article reviews the initial approaches to orthopaedic trauma care during the COVID-19 pandemic as established by 4 representative countries in Latin America: Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil.