"Off-Hour" Surgical Start Times Do Not Influence Surgical Precision and Outcomes in Middle-aged Patients and Patients 65 Years and Older With Hip Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies show the "off-hour" effect impacts outcomes after surgery in non-orthopedic settings. This study assessed if the off-hour effect impacts surgical precision and outcomes in middle-aged patients and patients 65 years and older with hip fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All operative patients in an academic medical center's institutional review board-approved hip fracture registry were reviewed for demographics, hospital quality measures, operative details, radiographic parameters, and outcomes. Patients were grouped into standard (7 am to 4:59 pm) and off-hour (5 pm to 6:59 am) cohorts depending on surgical start time and comparative analyses were conducted. Two subanalyses were conducted: one comparing the quality of reduction for patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures and another comparing the rates of inpatient transfusion and postoperative dislocation for patients treated with arthroplasty. RESULTS: A total of 2334 patients underwent operative treatment. The off-hour cohort had hospital quality measures and outcomes similar to the standard cohort, including length of stay, rates of inpatient complication, mortality, and readmission. Sub-analysis of 814 intertrochanteric hip fractures demonstrated similar tip-apex distance, residual calcar step-off, and post-fixation neck-shaft angle, while subanalysis of 713 patients undergoing arthroplasty showed similar rates of transfusion and dislocation between cohorts. CONCLUSION: The time of day patients undergo hip fracture repair does not affect surgical outcomes or hospital quality measures. These results highlight the need for standardized hip protocols and treatment pathways to provide equitable care at all hours of the day. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(3):185-191.].

Psychiatric Diagnosis Does Not Influence Management or Resolution of Confirmed Fracture-Related Infection.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine if the presence of a standing Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, psychiatric diagnosis is associated with worse outcomes for patients who develop a confirmed fracture-related infection (FRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Included patients had open or closed fractures managed with internal fixation and had confirmed FRIs. Baseline demographics, injury information, and outcomes were collected via chart review. All patients who had a diagnosis of psychiatric illness, which included depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia, were identified. Patients with and without a psychiatric diagnosis were statistically compared. RESULTS: Two hundred eleven patients were diagnosed with a confirmed FRI. Fifty-seven (27.0%) patients had a diagnosis of a psychiatric illness at the time of FRI diagnosis. Patients with a psychiatric diagnosis had a higher rate of smoking (56% vs 40%, P=.039) and drug use (39% vs 19%, P=.004) and a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification (2.35±1.33 vs 1.96±1.22, P=.038); however, there were no other demographic differences. Clinical outcomes also did not differ between the groups, as patients with an FRI and a psychiatric diagnosis had a similar time to FRI diagnosis, similar confirmatory FRI characteristics, and a similar rate of reoperation. Furthermore, there was no difference between patients with FRI with and without a psychiatric diagnosis regarding rate of infection resolution (89% vs 88%, P=.718) or time to final follow-up (20.13±24.93 vs 18.11±21.81 months, P=.270). CONCLUSION: The presence of a psychiatric diagnosis does not affect clinical outcomes in the patient population with FRI. This is the first study exploring the impact of psychiatric illness on patient outcomes after a confirmed FRI diagnosis. [Orthopedics. 202x;4x(x):xx-xx.].

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.

Retention of Antibiotic Cement Delivery Implants in Orthopedic Infection Associated With United Fractures Does Not Increase Recurrence Risk.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether retention of antibiotic cement delivery devices after resolution of orthopaedic infection is associated with recurrence. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Patients with a fracture definitively treated with internal fixation that went on to unite and develop a confirmed fracture-related infection or osteomyelitis after a remote fracture surgery and had implantation of antibiotic-impregnated cement for infection management. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS: Patients were divided into whom the antibiotic implants were retained (Retained Cohort) and whom the antibiotic implants were removed (Removed Cohort). Outcome measures included clinical infection resolution, infection recurrence, time to resolution of infection signs, symptoms and laboratory values, reoperation and readmission rates, and need for soft tissue coverage (local flap vs. free tissue transfer) because of recurrence. RESULTS: Of 98 patients treated for fracture-related infection in united fractures or osteomyelitis after a remote fracture surgery, 39 (39.8%) underwent implantation of antibiotic-impregnated cement delivery devices: 21 (21.4%) beads, 7 (7.1%) rods, and 11 (11.2%) blocks. Twenty patients (51.3%) comprised the Retained Cohort and 19 patients (48.7%) comprised the Removed Cohort. There were few differences in demographics ([American Society of Anesthesiology Score, P = 0.026] and [diabetes, P = 0.047]), infection location, and pathogenic profiles. The cohorts demonstrated no difference in eventual resolution of infection (100% in the Retained Cohort, 95% in the Removed Cohort, P = 0.487) and experienced similar time to clinical infection resolution, based on signs, symptoms, and laboratory values ( P = 0.360). There was no difference in incidence of subsequent infection recurrence after clinical infection resolution (1 recurrence Retained vs. 2 recurrences Removed, P = 0.605) for those considered "cured." Compared with the Retained Cohort, the Removed Cohort underwent more reoperations (0.40 vs. 1.84 reoperations, P < 0.001) and admissions after implantation ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Retention of antibiotic-impregnated cement delivery devices in patients with orthopaedic infection after fractured bones that have healed was not associated with infection recurrence. Additional surgical intervention with the sole purpose of removing antibiotic delivery devices may not be warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Fracture related infection (FRI) of the upper extremity correlates with poor bone and soft tissue healing.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the specific course and complication profile following the development of FRI in the upper extremity. METHODS: An IRB-approved retrospective review was conducted on a consecutive series of operatively managed patients within an academic medical center between 1/2010 and 6/2022. Included patients met the following criteria: (1) upper extremity fracture definitively treated with internal fixation (2) development of criteria for suggestive or confirmatory FRI (as per the FRI Consensus Group) and (3) age ≥ 18 years. Baseline demographics, medical history, injury information, infection characteristics, hospital quality measures, and outcomes were recorded. A 3:1 propensity-matched control cohort of patients without FRI was obtained using the same dataset. Univariable analysis was performed to compare the outcomes (rate of nonunion, time to bone healing, need for soft tissue coverage, patient reported joint stiffness at final follow-up) of the FRI vs Non-FRI cohorts. RESULTS: Of 2827 patients treated operatively for an upper extremity fracture, 43 (1.53%) met criteria for suggestive of confirmatory FRI. The successful propensity match (43 FRI, 129 Non-FRI) revealed no differences in demographics, baseline health status, or fracture location. FRI patients underwent more reoperations (p < 0.001), experienced an increased rate of removal of hardware (p < 0.001), and were admitted more frequently following index operation (p < 0.001). The FRI cohort had higher rates of fracture nonunion (p = 0.003), and a prolonged mean time to bone healing in months (8.37 ± 7.29 FRI vs. 4.14 ± 5.75 Non-FRI, p < 0.001). Additionally, the FRI cohort had a greater need for soft tissue coverage throughout their post-operative fracture treatment (p = 0.014). While there was no difference in eventual bone healing (p = 0.250), FRI patients experienced a higher incidence of affected joint stiffness at final follow-up (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients who develop an FRI of the upper extremity undergo more procedures and experience increased complications throughout their treatment, specifically increased joint stiffness. Despite this, ultimate outcome profiles are similar between patients who experience FRI and those who do not following operative repair of an upper extremity fracture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Atypical Versus Typical Subtrochanteric Femoral Fractures: Disparate Patient Profiles, Similar Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate differences in demographic features and clinical outcomes between patients who sustained a typical versus atypical subtrochanteric femoral fracture. METHODS: We reviewed the records for a cohort of consecutive patients who had undergone operative treatment of a subtrochanteric femoral fracture. Fractures were classified as either "typical" or "atypical" on the basis of the criteria of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). All patients were treated with a similar surgical algorithm and postoperative protocol. Groups were compared on the basis of demographic features, injury characteristics, operative quality measures, postoperative complications and outcomes, and radiographic time to healing. Comparative analyses were performed to compare the typical and atypical cohorts. RESULTS: Of 220 subtrochanteric fractures, 165 (75.0%) were classified as typical and 55 (25.0%) were classified as atypical. The atypical cohort was predominately female and more likely to have bisphosphonate usage (odds ratio [OR], 7.975; [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.994-15.922]; p < 0.001) and fractures with lower-energy mechanisms (p < 0.001). Patients in the atypical cohort were more likely to be treated with a 10-mm cephalomedullary nail (CMN) (OR, 2.100 [95% CI, 1.119-3.939]; p = 0.020), whereas patients in the typical cohort were treated more frequently with an 11-mm CMN (OR, 0.337 [95% CI, 0.168-0.674]; p = 0.002). There were no differences between the groups in terms of other operative parameters; however, anatomic fracture reduction in neutral lateral alignment was achieved more frequently in the typical cohort (OR, 0.438 [95% CI, 0.220-0.875]; p = 0.018). There were no differences between the groups in terms of hospital quality measures, mortality rates, readmission rates, or complication rates (including implant failure [broken screw or nail] and fracture nonunion) (p = 1.00). Interestingly, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of time to radiographic healing (260.30 ± 187.97 days in the typical group, compared with 246.40 ± 116.33 days in the atypical group) (OR, 0.999 [95% CI, 0.997-1.002]; p = 0.606). CONCLUSIONS: Despite differences in terms of demographic and injury characteristics, patients who sustain a subtrochanteric femur fracture can expect similar outcome profiles regardless of fracture type. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Does Flipping From Prone to Supine for Medial Malleolar Fixation of Trimalleolar Ankle Fractures Improve Results?

There has been a paradigm shift towards fixing the posterior malleolus in trimalleolar ankle fractures. This study evaluated whether a surgeon's preference to intraoperatively flip or not flip patients from prone to supine for medial malleolar fixation following repair of fibular and posterior malleoli impacted surgical outcomes. A retrospective patient cohort treated at a large urban academic center and level 1 trauma center was reviewed to identify all operative trimalleolar ankle fractures initially positioned prone. One hundred and forty-seven patients with mean 12-month follow-up were included and divided based on positioning for medial malleolar fixation, prone or supine (following closure, flip and re-prep, and drape). Data was collected on patient demographics, injury mechanism, perioperative variables, and complication rates. Postoperative reduction films were reviewed by orthopedic traumatologists to grade the accuracy of anatomic fracture reduction. Overall, 74 (50.3%) had the medial malleolus fixed prone, while 73 (49.7%) were flipped and fixed supine. No differences in demographics, injury details, and fracture type existed between the groups. The supine group had a higher rate of initial external fixation (p = .047), longer operative time in minutes (p < .001), and a higher use of plate and screw constructs for medial malleolar fixation (p = .019). There were no differences in clinical and radiographic outcomes and complication rates. This study demonstrated that intraoperative change in positioning for improved medial malleolar visualization in trimalleolar ankle fractures results in longer operative times but similar radiographic and clinical results. The decision of operative position should be based on surgeon comfort.

Poorly controlled diabetes: Glycosylated hemoglobin (HA1c) levels >8% are the tipping point for significantly worse outcomes following hip fracture in the geriatric population.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of diabetes has been associated with increased mortality risk after hip fracture, however, little has been published about the lab values of these diabetic patients and the role high labs play in morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to quantify the severity of diabetes that is associated with worse outcomes in hip fracture patients. METHODS: A consecutive series of 2430 patients >55 years old who sustained a hip fracture between October 2014-November 2021 were reviewed for demographics, hospital quality measures, and outcomes. Each patient with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) was reviewed for hemoglobin-A1c (HA1c) and glucose values at admission. Univariable comparisons and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to assess the impact of diabetes and elevated lab values (HA1c) on outcomes such as hospital quality measures, inpatient complications, readmission rates, and mortality rates. RESULTS: 565 patients (23%) carried a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus at the time of their injury. Considerable demographic and comorbidity differences between diabetic and non-diabetic cohorts indicated that the diabetic cohort was less healthy. The diabetic cohort had longer hospitalizations, higher rates of minor complications, readmissions within 90-days, and mortality within 30-days/1-year. Stratification by HA1c levels found patients with a HA1c>8% had a significantly higher rate of major complications, and mortality at all time points (inpatient/30-day/1-year). Multivariable regression found HA1c>8% to be independently associated with a higher rate of inpatient/30-day/1-year mortality in comparison to a diagnosis of diabetes alone which was not independently significant. CONCLUSION: While all patients with DM experienced worse outcomes than those without, those with poorly controlled diabetes (HA1c>8%) at the time of hip fracture injury experienced poorer outcomes compared to those with well-controlled diabetes. Treating physicians must recognize these patients with poorly controlled DM at the time of arrival to adjust care planning and patient expectations accordingly.

Impact of Poorly Controlled Diabetes and Glycosylated Hemoglobin Values in Geriatric Hip Fracture Mortality Risk Assessment.

Introduction The presence of poorly-controlled diabetes in the setting of geriatric hip fractures has been shown to increase all-cause mortality and worsen outcomes. This study aimed to assess whether the addition of a patient's glycated hemoglobin (A1c) value to a validated geriatric inpatient risk tool improves the predictive capacity of the risk tool. Methods A cohort of 2430 patients >55 years old treated for low-energy mechanism hip fractures between October 2014 to November 2021 were reviewed for demographics (including diabetes diagnoses and their respective hemoglobin A1c values at the time of admission), injury details, hospital quality measures, and mortality. As past work demonstrated a hemoglobin A1c value above 8% to be the tipping point for worse outcomes, the baseline Score for Trauma Triage in the Geriatric and Middle-Aged (STTGMA) tool for inpatient mortality in hip fractures (STTGMAHIP_FX_SCORE - Score for Trauma Triage in the Geriatric and Middle-Aged Hip Fracture Score) was modified to include a patient's hemoglobin A1c using an 8% cutoff (STTGMAHIP_8%A1c - Score for Trauma Triage in the Geriatric and Middle-Aged Hip 8% Hemoglobin A1c Cutoff Score). The new model's predictive ability (as measured by the area under the receiver operating curves (AUROCs)) for inpatient mortality was compared to the baseline tool using DeLong's test. Risk quartiles were generated for the new tool, and comparative analyses were conducted on hospital quality measures and outcomes.  Results Five hundred and sixty-five patients (23%) were noted to have diabetes mellitus, and 76 patients had an A1c above 8%. Patients with a hemoglobin A1c above 8% had a higher rate of inpatient complications and mortality through one year. The STTGMAHIP_8%A1c score significantly improved the predictive capacity for inpatient mortality compared to STTGMAHIP_FX_SCORE (0.786 vs. 0.672, p=0.0456). Upon analysis of the risk quartiles, the highest risk cohort was found to have a longer length of stay (p<0.001), with higher rates of inpatient (p<0.001) and 30-day mortality (p<0.001) and need for admission to the intensive care unit (p<0.001) as compared to the minimal risk cohort. Patients in the lowest risk quartile were most likely to be discharged home (p<0.001). Conclusion Patients who present with a hemoglobin A1c above 8% experienced significantly worse outcomes than those below 8%. The inclusion of a patient's hemoglobin A1c as a cutoff score improves the STTGMAHIP_FX_SCORE tool to predict mortality and risk stratify patient outcomes. While diabetes presents another medical challenge to manage, providers may utilize this new variable to better highlight at-risk diabetic patients.