Management of complex pilon fractures: Is it necessary to fix all the columns in AO/OTA type 43-C fractures?

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of AO/OTA 43-C pilon fractures has not yet taken a standard form. We aimed to evaluate whether patients that appeared to be labelled as unsupported columns according to the four-column theory would affect long-term clinical and radiological outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with AO/OTA 43-C type who were treated surgically between January 2010 and December 2019 were included in the study. 53 fractures in 52 patients who received osteosynthesis were categorized based on the fixed columns. These groups were formed as fully supported columns (FSC- Group A), partly supported columns (PSC-Group B), Ankle range of motions (ROM), Burwell Charnley's reduction evaluation criteria, Kellgren-Lawrence ankle osteoarthritis staging system, and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Scoring System, Olerud-Molander Ankle Score, Visual Analog Scale were used for evaluating radiological and functional outcomes. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 72.6 (12-131) months. Mean age was 42.6 (18-76). Two groups were homogenously distributed in terms of age (p = 0.785), sex (p = 0.376), laterality (p = 0.732), smoking status (p = 0.488) and reduction quality. There was no difference in AOFAS score (p = 0.452), Olerud-Molander score (p = 0.354) and VAS scores (p = 0.589). TAS, TLS and TT angle measurements suggested no difference between groups (p = 0.493, p = 0.834, p = 0.577). There was no difference between groups in terms of infection (p = 0.734), malunion (p = 0.688) and arthritis (p = 0.483) CONCLUSION: We presented findings that contradicted the hypothesis positing the existence of four distinct columns in pilon fractures, as well as the notion that each fractured column requires support from distinct implants. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

A New Perspective on the Diagnosis of Septic Arthritis: High-Resolution Thermal Imaging.

AIMS: An increase in temperature in an area suspected of septic arthritis is a clinically important finding. The aim of this study is to evaluate temperature changes in septic arthritis with a high-resolution thermal camera. METHODS: A total of 49 patients, who were evaluated with a prediagnosis of arthritis (septic or non-septic), were included in this study. A temperature increase in the knee with suspected septic arthritis was evaluated by using thermal imaging and compared with the opposite-side joint. Then, in order to confirm the diagnosis, a culture was taken using routine intra-articular aspiration. RESULTS: The thermal measurements were compared in 15 patients with septic arthritis and 34 patients with non-septic arthritis. The mean temperature was 37.93 °C in the septic group, while it was 36.79 °C in the non-septic group (p < 0.000 *). The mean temperature difference in both joints was 3.40 °C in the septic group, while it was 0.94 °C in the non-septic group (p < 0.000 *). While the mean temperature was 37.10 °C in the group with septic arthritis, it was measured to be 35.89 °C in the group non-septic arthritis (p < 0.020). A very strong positive correlation was found between the difference in the mean temperatures of both groups and the values of the hottest and coldest points (r = 0.960, r = 0.902). CONCLUSIONS: In the diagnosis of septic arthritis, thermal imagers can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool. A quantitative value can be obtained to indicate to a local temperature increase. In future studies, specially designed thermal devices can be developed for septic arthritis.

Surgical treatment of a traumatic open anterior hip dislocation in a child: A case report and review of 13 cases in the literature.

Due to the high probability of infection and avascular necrosis, traumatic open anterior hip dislocation poses a serious orthopedic emergency. Despite the emergency of the issue, it appears to be an under-researched topic in the literature. In this study, we present open anterior hip dislocation with both trochanteric fractures in a child and review other pediatric cases from the literature. Because of rareness, there is no standard surgical and postoperative treatment algorithm. We discussed the mechanism of injury, wound size, time of the reduction, associated injury, type of treatment, type of immobilization, clinical and functional results to present a collective perspective on the literature. Once we have compared all of these situations, dealing with infection is key to satisfactory clinical and functional outcomes. The early reduction was the most important point in both coping with infection and preserving avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Extension-block pinning to treat bony mallet finger: Is a transfixation pin necessary?

BACKGROUND: Extension-block pinning is a popular treatment for mallet fractures, but it is associated with several pitfalls. Of note, transfixation Kirschner wires used to fix the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint may cause iatrogenic nail bed injury, bone fragment rotation, chondral damage, or osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to determine whether a transfixation pin was necessary for extension-block pinning in the treatment of bony mallet fracture. METHODS: Patients were treated with a pin-orthosis extension-block technique if they had been diagnosed with a type IVB mallet fracture according to Doyle's classification. Radiological outcomes were evaluated based on postoperative X-ray results, and functional outcomes were evaluated using Crawford's criteria. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (9 males and 4 females) with a mean age of 26 years were included. The mean time between the injury and surgery was 3.3 days, and the mean follow-up period was 8.2 months (range: 4-12 months). Radiographic bone union was achieved in all patients within an average of 5.1 weeks (range: 5-6 weeks). At the final follow-up, the DIP joint had an average degree of flexion of 76.1° (range: 65°-80°) and an average extension deficit of 3.84° (range: 0°-15°). According to Crawford's criteria, 8 patients had excellent results, 4 patients had good results, and 1 patient had a fair result. No patient reported pain at the final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes were obtained with the pin-orthosis extension-block technique. Future prospective and randomized studies are justified to confirm the efficacy of this technique.