Liposomal Bupivacaine Decreases Intravenous Opioid Use in Patients with Hip Fracture: A Modification to a Novel Pain Protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine whether the administration of liposomal bupivacaine decreased opioid use and delirium in patients sustaining a hip fracture. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with hip fracture from September 2018 to October 2019 was performed through our institution's hip fracture registry. A liposomal bupivacaine cocktail was administered intraoperatively. Opioid requirement was determined for postoperative days 1, 2, and 3. Delirium was identified through chart review. Visual analog scale pain scores were averaged for postoperative days 1, 2, and 3. Four groups were analyzed: patients who received liposomal bupivacaine and IV acetaminophen, patients who only received IV acetaminophen, patients who only received liposomal bupivacaine, and control patients whose data were collected before this intervention. Continuous data were compared using a one-way analysis of variance or Student t-test, as applicable. Categorical data were compared using the Fisher exact test. Significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: One hundred nine patients met the inclusion criteria for the study with a mean age of 81.2 years. Eighty-two patients (75.2%) received intraoperative liposomal bupivacaine during the study year. Intravenous opioid requirement was markedly different among all four groups in all postoperative days. Oral opioid requirement and pain scores were not different between groups on any postoperative day. A notable decrease in IV opioid requirement in all postoperative days was seen in the Intervention groups (day 1 P < 0.001, day 2 P = 0.002, and day 3 P = 0.030). There existed a trend toward decreased delirium rates in the Intervention groups compared with the No Intervention group (23.9% vs. 32.8%, P = 0.272). CONCLUSION: The inclusion of liposomal bupivacaine in our institution's novel pain protocol led to notable decreases in opioid requirement in all postoperative days studied with a trend toward decreased delirium rates as well.

Subspecialty Fellowship Training Is Not Associated With Better Outcomes in Fixation of Low-Energy Femoral Neck Fractures-An Analysis of the Fixation Using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip Fractures Database.

OBJECTIVES: To compare risk of reoperation for femoral neck fracture patients undergoing fixation with cancellous screws (CSs) or sliding hip screws based on surgeon fellowship (trauma-fellowship-trained vs. non-trauma-fellowship-trained). DESIGN: Retrospective review of Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures data. SETTING: Eighty-one centers across 8 countries. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred nineteen patients ≥50 years old with low-energy hip fractures requiring surgical fixation. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized to CS or sliding hip screw group in the initial dataset. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was risk of reoperation. Secondary outcomes included death, serious adverse events, radiographic healing, discharge disposition, and use of ambulatory devices postoperatively. RESULTS: There was no difference in risk of reoperation between the 2 surgeon groups (P > 0.05). Patients treated by orthopaedic trauma surgeons were more likely to be overweight/obese and have major medical comorbidities (P < 0.05). There was a higher risk of serious adverse events, higher likelihood of radiographic healing, and higher odds of discharge to a facility for patients treated by trauma-fellowship-trained surgeons (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these data, risk of reoperation for low-energy femoral neck fracture fixation is equivalent regardless of fellowship training. The higher likelihood of radiographic healing noted in the trauma-trained group does not seem to have a major clinical implication because it did not affect risk of reoperation between the 2 groups. Patient-specific factors present preinjury, such as body habitus and medical comorbidities, may account for the lower odds of discharge to home and higher risk of postoperative medical complications for patients treated by orthopaedic trauma surgeons. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Utilization of a Standardized Care Pathway to Decrease Costs of Ankle Fracture Management.

INTRODUCTION: Ankle fractures are the most common fracture of the foot and ankle treated at trauma hospitals in the United States, costing millions of dollars yearly. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a standardized care pathway led to a difference in the direct and indirect costs of surgical fixation of ankle fractures at one Level I Trauma Center and tertiary care medical center. METHODS: We analyzed cost, volume, length of stay, and collections for surgical treatment of ankle fractures in inpatient and outpatient settings by the orthopaedics and podiatry departments during fiscal years 2016 to 2018. Based on these data, we compared projected costs and collections across a 5-year period with the procedure being done by a single department (orthopaedics only and podiatry only). RESULTS: Total costs per case fell by 18% in the orthopaedics department and 8% in the podiatry department over the 3-year period. The podiatry department spent an average of $1,296 (46%) more per case than the orthopaedics department, driven by increased average supply costs. Both departments had significantly decreased direct costs (P = 0.0039 orthopaedics and P = 0.033 podiatry) in the outpatient setting. The orthopaedics department also had significantly lower average supply costs than the podiatry department (P = 0.045) and significantly decreased total costs in the outpatient setting (P = 0.0084). DISCUSSION: The orthopaedics department performed a higher volume of cases at a lower cost per case than the podiatry department. These savings were driven by a standardized ankle fracture treatment pathway that we propose decreased direct and supply costs. Our results suggest that surgical treatment of ankle fracture cases using a standardized care pathway is economically advantageous because of limiting variations in care and creating manageable workflows.

Delirium Reduced With Intravenous Acetaminophen in Geriatric Hip Fracture Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative delirium is associated with opioid use in the elderly and is a common complication of geriatric hip fractures, with reported incidences from 16% to 70%. Intravenous (IV) acetaminophen is a safe and efficacious medication in elderly patients and has been shown to reduce use of opioids after hip fracture. At our institution, IV acetaminophen was implemented for the first 24 hours postoperatively as part of a multimodal pain control regimen for geriatric hip fracture patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of 123 hip fragility fracture patients older than 60 years from January 2016 to December 2016 was performed. Delirium was identified using a validated chart-based review tool. The rate of delirium, as well as length of stay, pain scores, opioid administration, need for one-to-one supervision, and readmissions were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (52.8%) received IV acetaminophen during this period. No notable differences were found in baseline characteristics between groups. Ten of 65 patients receiving IV acetaminophen postoperatively experienced delirium compared with 19 of 58 who did not receive the medication (15.4% versus 32.8%, P = 0.024). The IV acetaminophen group also required fewer doses of IV opioids on postoperative day 1 (0.37 versus 1.19 doses, P = 0.008), were less likely to require one-to-one supervision (9.2% versus 24.1%, P = 0.025), and had shorter lengths of hospital stay (6.37 versus 8.47 days, P = 0.037). Readmission rates and discharge dispositions did not vary with significance between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of IV acetaminophen as part of a multimodal pain regimen led to fewer episodes of delirium in this study. The reduced use of opioids immediately after surgery may have been a large factor in this outcome. Lower delirium rates may reduce the utilization of inpatient resources for direct patient supervision and provide for shorter hospital stays.

Lower Limb Morel-Lavallée Lesion Treated With Short-Stretch Compression Bandaging.

Morel-Lavallée lesions (MLLs) classically occur in the greater trochanteric region, lateral thigh, buttocks, and back. A high percentage of large MLLs require surgical intervention, which comes with an increased risk of skin necrosis and infection. We report a rare case of a large MLL that was successfully treated with compression. The lesion was created when the patient, a 66-year-old man, sustained a low-velocity crush injury. Extending from the medial distal thigh to the proximal medial calf, the MLL was nonoperatively treated with the short-stretch compression bandaging that is used in lymphedema management. The MLL resolved successfully and without complication or the need for surgical intervention.

Understanding the Basics of Computational Models in Orthopaedics: A Nonnumeric Review for Surgeons.

Computational models represent more than just finite element analysis, a term that many clinicians may know and globally apply. Over the past 30 years, many published studies have addressed clinically relevant orthopaedic questions with speed and precision by using a wide variety of computational approaches. Given such a wide spectrum of techniques, clinicians often do not have a full understanding of the methods used to create models and therefore do not appreciate the strengths, weaknesses, and potential pitfalls of published results. The short, nonnumeric summaries of the methodologies employed for various computational approaches presented here can help address this issue.

Locking Cap Designs Improve Fatigue Properties of Polyaxial Screws in Upper Extremity Applications.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to examine fatigue characteristics of 2 polyaxial locking screw designs: locking cap (LC) and cross-threaded (CT). The goal was to compare LC and CT implants at 0, 10, and 15 degrees of angulation to determine the effect of locking mechanism on screw-plate interface failure. The hypothesis was that LC implants would have superior fatigue properties in comparison to CT designs and that increased angulation of the screw would have a negative impact on the fatigue life of CT implants, but would not have any effect on LC implants. METHODS: A total of 72 screws were tested in 4 upper extremity implants. Implants were subjected to cyclic shear loads and subsequent ramp to failure. Performance characteristics were statistically compared using nonparametric statistical methods. RESULTS: Fatigue testing demonstrated that LC designs were consistently able to sustain a significantly higher number of cyclic loads than CT designs. There were no significant differences in the number of cycles sustained by LC designs because of changes in screw angle, but CT implants exhibited decreases in screw stability with increasing angulation. CONCLUSIONS: Likely because of the spherical screw head geometry, LC fatigue characteristics are not influenced by the orientation of the screw relative to the plate. Application of an LC in the operating room requires additional time, but provides significantly more robust fixation of the screw, especially at oblique angles to the plate and provides a more predictable and consistent biomechanical result.

When Is a Fracture Not "Fresh"? Aligning Reimbursement With Patient Outcome After Treatment With Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical value of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) for fresh fracture is known. Yet, in the absence of a definition of what "fresh" is, payers have adopted study inclusion criteria drawn from randomized clinical trials as de facto definitions of which patients should be treated, with "fresh" defined as <1 week old. Patients with fracture may thus be ineligible for LIPUS treatment after week 1, which potentially denies access to patients who could benefit from LIPUS. We seek to characterize the inflection point at which heal rate declines. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Food and Drug Administration-mandated nationwide postmarketing surveillance registry. PATIENTS: Observational cohort of 5983 registry enrollees. INTERVENTION: LIPUS, 20 min/d. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Fracture heal rate. Logistic regression was used to model the odds ratio of nonunion from week 1 to week 12. Covariates in the model included age, gender, body mass index, open fracture, and smoking. RESULTS: We estimated the time point at which a fracture responds to LIPUS as well as during the first week after fracture. There was significant bone-to-bone variation; metatarsal was "fresh" until week 7, ankle until week 9, humerus until week 10, and femur and radius until week 12. Healing was significantly impacted by patient age, body mass index, and open fracture (all, P ≤ 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that fractures of the metatarsal, femur, humerus, ankle, and radius respond to LIPUS treatment, as if they were still fresh at least 6 weeks longer than the eligibility allowed under current coverage policies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Operative Treatment of Rib Fractures in Flail Chest Injuries: A Meta-analysis and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Flail chest is a common injury sustained by patients who experience high-energy blunt chest trauma and results in severe respiratory compromise because of altered mechanics of respiration. There has been increased interest in operative fixation of these injuries with the intention of restoring the mechanical integrity of the chest wall, and several studies have shown that ventilation requirements and pulmonary complications may be decreased with operative intervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate fixation of rib fractures in flail chest injuries using cost-effectiveness analysis, supported by systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: This was a 2-part study in which we initially conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis on outcomes after operative fixation of flail chest injuries, evaluating intensive care unit (ICU) stay, hospital length of stay (LOS), mortality, pneumonia, and need for tracheostomy. The results were then applied to a decision-analysis model comparing the costs and outcomes of operative fixation versus nonoperative treatment. The validity of the results was tested using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Operative treatment decreased mortality, pneumonia, and tracheotomy (risk ratios of 0.44, 0.59, and 0.52, respectively), as well as time in ICU and total LOS (3.3 and 4.8 days, respectively). Operative fixation was associated with higher costs than nonoperative treatment ($23,682 vs. $8629 per case, respectively) and superior outcomes (32.60 quality-adjusted life year (QALY) vs. 30.84 QALY), giving it an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $8577/QALY. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical fixation of rib fractures sustained from flail chest injuries decreased ICU time, mortality, pulmonary complications, and hospital LOS and resulted in improved health care-related outcomes and was a cost-effective intervention. These results were sensitive to overall complication rates, and operations should be conducted by surgeons or combined surgical teams comfortable with both thoracic anatomy and exposures as well as with the principles and techniques of internal fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Fibular Fixation in Distal Tibia Fractures: Reduction Aid or Nonunion Generator?

The role of fibular fixation in patients with distal tibia fractures is controversial. Although the stability of the fibula is critical in patients with syndesmotic instability or highly comminuted pilon fractures, fibular fixation in extraarticular distal tibia fractures or elementary intraarticular distal tibia fractures is more controversial. Biomechanical studies, as performed in sawbones or cadaveric models, denote advantages to fibular fixation with respect to specific uniplanar motion. However, the increased stability is susceptible to the fracture pattern of the tibia, fixation strategy for the tibia, fixation strategy for the fibula, and loading pattern of the entire construct. Clinical studies examining fibular fixation in patients with concomitant distal third tibia fractures have also not been definitive in their conclusions. Fibular fixation may improve the ability to obtain and maintain reduction in complex fractures of the distal tibia, but as a result of the increased stability of the construct, may also increase rates of nonunion in this challenging patient population.

Is the Digital Divide for Orthopaedic Trauma Patients a Myth? Prospective Cohort Study on Use of a Custom Internet Site.

OBJECTIVES: Some have proposed that a so-called digital divide exists for orthopaedic trauma patients and that the clinical usefulness of the Internet for these patients is limited. No studies to date have confirmed this or whether patients would use a provided web resource. The hypotheses of this study were (1) a larger than expected percentage of trauma patients have access to the Internet and (2) if given access to a custom site, patients will use it. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Level 1 regional trauma center. PATIENTS: Patients who were 18 years or older with acute operative fractures participated in this study. Enrollment was initiated either before discharge or at initial outpatient follow-up. INTERVENTION: We conducted a survey of demographics, Internet usage, device type, eHealth Literacy, and intent to use the web site. Participants received a keychain containing the web address and a unique access code to our custom orthopaedic trauma web site. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Percentage of patients with Internet access and percentage of patients who visited the web site. RESULTS: One hundred twelve patients were enrolled. Ninety-three percent (104/112) reported having Internet access (P < 0.0001). Only increasing age predicted lack of access (P < 0.015; odds ratio, 0.95). Most (95%, 106/112) planned to visit our site; however, only 11% (P < 0.001) accessed it. CONCLUSIONS: The digital divide is a myth in orthopaedic trauma. Despite widespread access and enthusiasm for our web site, few patients visited. This cautions against the allocation of resources for patient-specific web sites for orthopaedic trauma until a rationale for use can be better delineated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Utility of Digital Tomosynthesis to the Practicing Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon: A Case Series.

OBJECTIVE: To document the role of digital tomosynthesis (DTS) in the evaluation and treatment of orthopaedic trauma patients. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center with nonunion referral patient population. PARTICIPANTS: Four orthopaedic trauma patients with musculoskeletal injuries. INTERVENTION: Three revision surgical procedures and 1 conservative treatment for patients with periprosthetic fractures or nonunions. RESULTS: DTS successfully visualized 2 nonunions, 1 refracture, and 1 arthrodesis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Documented fracture or nonunion on imaging. CONCLUSIONS: DTS has the potential to be of significant value in the detection and follow-up of fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Functional Knee Outcomes in Infrapatellar and Suprapatellar Tibial Nailing: Does Approach Matter?

We conducted a study to determine differences in knee pain in patients who underwent either traditional infrapatellar nailing or suprapatellar nailing. From a single institution, we identified patients who had an isolated tibial shaft fracture (Orthopaedic Trauma Association type 42 A-C) surgically fixed with an intramedullary nail between 2009 and 2012. Each patient was contacted by telephone by an investigator blinded to surgical exposure, and the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) questionnaire was administered. Operative time and quality of reduction on postoperative radiographs were compared between the 2 approaches. Twenty-four patients underwent infrapatellar nailing, and 21 patients had a suprapatellar nail placed with approach-specific instrumentation. Mean OKS (maximum, 48 points) was 40.1 for the infrapatellar group and 36.7 for the suprapatellar group (P = .293). Compared with the infrapatellar approach, suprapatellar nailing improved radiographic reduction in the sagittal plane (2.90° vs 4.58°; P = .044) and required less operative fluoroscopy time (81 vs 122 s; P = .003). We found no difference in OKS between the infrapatellar and suprapatellar approaches. Although further study is needed, the suprapatellar entry portal appears to be a safe alternative for tibial nailing with use of appropriate instrumentation.

Lower Extremity Limb Salvage After Trauma: Versatility of the Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the outcomes and complications of the anterolateral thigh free flap (ALT FF) versus other free muscle flaps for reconstruction of traumatic defects of the lower extremity. DESIGN: Retrospective review from a single plastic and reconstructive surgical unit comparing outcomes between 2 free flap groups-ALT FF and other commonly used muscle free flaps. SETTING: Tertiary referral University Hospital Level I Trauma Center. PATIENTS: Hundred patients who underwent lower extremity salvage for traumatic injuries. INTERVENTION: Free flap coverage of traumatic lower extremity injuries. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASUREMENTS: Successful for limb salvage, intraoperative and postoperative complications. DATA SYNTHESIS: Categorical variables were analyzed using χ and Fisher exact tests; continuous variables were examined using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. CONCLUSIONS: The ALT FF is equivalent in success to other traditional nonfasciocutaneous free flaps but may provide a more durable supple coverage with all components of the native soft-tissue envelop that can be tailored to the reconstructive needs of the traumatized lower extremity. Limb salvage outcomes may still be heavily influenced by the original severity of injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Does Regional Anesthesia Improve the Quality of Postoperative Pain Management and the Quality of Recovery in Patients Undergoing Operative Repair of Tibia and Ankle Fractures?

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the use of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) as part of an analgesic protocol for operative repair of tibia and ankle fractures can improve the quality of postoperative pain management and the quality of recovery (QOR). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Orthopedic trauma service in an academic tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Ninety-three consecutive patients undergoing operative repair of fractures of the ankle and tibia. INTERVENTION: Administration of popliteal and saphenous nerve blocks, as part of postoperative analgesia regimen in some patients. Patients were labeled as the regional group or the no-regional group based on whether they received PNBs. OUTCOMES: Patient satisfaction and the quality of pain management were measured 24 hours after surgery using the Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire. The QOR was measured at 24 and 48 hours after surgery using the short version of the Quality of Recovery Questionnaire (QOR-9). RESULTS: Satisfaction with pain management was significantly higher (P = 0.005) in the regional group when compared with the no-regional group. Average pain scores over 24 hours was similar between the 2 groups (P = 0.07). The regional group reported less time spent in severe pain over 24-hour period (40 vs. 50%, P = 0.04) and higher overall perception of pain relief (80 vs. 65%, P = 0.003). Patients receiving regional anesthesia also demonstrated better QOR measured by the QOR-9 at 24 hours (P = 0.04) but not at 48 hours (p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: Patient satisfaction and the quality of postoperative pain management for the first 24 hours were better in patients who received PNBs as part of their postoperative analgesic regimen when compared with patients who received only systemic analgesia. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Low Complication Rates Associated With the Application of Lower Extremity Traction Pins.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the infection risks of temporary lower extremity traction pins and compare these rates to nationwide and institution-specific surgical site infection rates. Additionally, to qualitatively describe pin site infections and to analyze the impact of traction pins on infection risks at associated open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) surgical sites. DESIGN: A retrospective case-control study. SETTING: Level I Urban University Trauma Center. PATIENTS: One hundred sixty-nine cases of traction pin application occurring in 157 unique patients extracted from a trauma patient database. INTERVENTION: Bedside application of a traction pin in the femur or tibia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Rates of 90-day and 1-year minor and major infections at pin insertion locations and at ORIF wounds associated with traction pins. RESULTS: A single infection, a septic knee, was reported. There were no superficial infections or osteomyelitis cases observed. The 90-day and 1-year rates of infection were identical with a per pin infection rate of 0.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.1%-3.4%], a minor infection rate of 0.0% (95% CI, 0.0%-2.3%), and a major infection rate of 0.6% (95% CI, 0.1%-3.4%). Observed rates were lower than, but statistically similar to, nationwide infection rates for open reduction procedures and similar to institution-specific infection rates for arthroplasty procedures. Infection rates at associated ORIF wounds were not increased in comparison with nationwide controls. Pin placement played a definitive role in the infection observed. CONCLUSIONS: Temporary lower extremity traction pins have low infection rates and can be safely placed at the bedside. Careful pin placement and review of postinsertion radiographs is necessary to avoid iatrogenic infection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Prospective intraoperative syndesmotic evaluation during ankle fracture fixation: stress external rotation versus lateral fibular stress.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that the method of stress external rotation more accurately reproduces the mechanism of injury, and therefore this diagnostic method more likely detects ankle instability than the fibular stress examination. DESIGN: Prospective cohort comparison study. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with unstable ankle fractures presenting within 7 days from the time of injury. Previous ankle surgical history or age younger than 18 years was excluded. INTERVENTION: Stress external rotation and lateral fibular stress examination was performed intraoperatively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Radiographic measurement of the tibiofibular clear space, tibiofibular overlap, and medial clear space were recorded. RESULTS: After normalization of the fluoroscopic measurements, there was no difference in detecting changes in tibiofibular clear space or tibiofibular overlap. However, there was a significant difference in detecting medial clear space widening with stress external rotation. Compared with lateral fibular stress, stress external rotation demonstrated a 35% increase (P < 0.05) in medial clear space widening. This difference correlates with the 1-2-mm difference of additional widening with stress external rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Untreated instability impacts patient outcomes. The difference in widening with stress external rotation was significantly greater than lateral fibular stress and appreciable on standard fluoroscopic views. Stress external rotation radiographs are a more reliable indicator of mortise instability than traditional lateral fibular stress. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Impacting policy change for orthopaedic trauma.

Traumatic injury, which remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 1 to 44 years, costs the United States over $400 billion because of loss of productivity and medical services each year. Yet, over the last few decades, there has been decreased funding for trauma centers. The 2010 Affordable Care Act is just the start of health care reform, and Congress will continue to create and change policies directly impacting medical care. In this article, we evaluate how orthopaedic trauma surgeons can have a lasting impact on the nation's health care policy through organizations and advocacy on the local, state, and federal levels.

The cost of after-hours operative debridement of open tibia fractures.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the additional cost associated with performing after-hours operative debridement of open fractures within 6 hours of injury. DATA SOURCES: The economic model is based on population estimates obtained from the National Trauma Database and the National Inpatient Sample on the number of open tibia fractures that occur annually in the United States and the number that present after-hours (between 6 PM and 2 AM) that undergo operative debridement within 6 hours. This model estimates incremental cost for after-hours surgery based on overtime wages for on-call personnel (nurses and surgical technicians) required to staff after-hours cases as published by the US Department of Labor and data from our own institution. As many level 1 hospitals are capable of performing after-hours cases without additional cost, a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effect of designated level of care of the trauma hospital. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: A total of 17,414 open tibia fractures were recorded in the National Inpatient Sample for 2009, and an estimated 7485 open tibia fractures presented after-hours, 4242 of which underwent operative debridement within 6 hours of presentation. Based on wage statistics from the US Department of Labor and our own institution, the estimated total additional cost for after-hours operative debridement of open tibia fractures within 6 hours is from $2,210,895 to $4,046,648 annually, respectively. For level 2 hospitals and below, the cost of performing after-hours operative debridement of open tibia fractures is calculated as from $1,532,980 to $2,805,846 annually. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicated an increased overall financial cost of performing after-hours operative debridement of open tibia fractures. Given that there is minimal documented benefit to this practice, and with increased pressure to practice cost containment, elective delay of operative debridement of open fractures and/or transfer to a higher level of care trauma hospital may be an acceptable way to address these issues. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic analysis level III. See instructions for authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The academic medical centre and nongovernmental organisation partnership following a natural disaster.

The global response to the 12 January 2010 earthquake in Haiti revealed the ability to mobilise medical teams quickly and effectively when academic medical centres partner non-governmental organisations (NGO) that already have a presence in a zone of devastation. Most established NGOs based in a certain region are accustomed to managing the medical conditions that are common to that area and will need additional and specialised support to treat the flux of myriad injured persons. Furthermore, an NGO with an established presence in a region prior to a disaster appears better positioned to provide sustained recovery and rehabilitation relief. Academic medical centres can supply these essential specialised resources for a prolonged time. This relationship between NGOs and academic medical centres should be further developed prior to another disaster response. This model has great potential with regard to the rapid preparation and worldwide deployment of skilled medical and surgical teams when needed following a disaster, as well as to the subsequent critical recovery phase.