Patient-reported outcomes of adolescents with tibia shaft fractures: comparison of closed reduction and casting vs. elastic stable intramedullary nailing.

Tibial shaft fractures are the third most common pediatric long bone fractures. Closed reduction and casting (CRC) is considered initial treatment in this population, however, surgical management using elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) is also used in adolescents. This study compared patient-reported outcomes in a cohort of adolescents with tibia fractures treated with ESIN or CRC. This single-center retrospective study gathered adolescent patients 10-18 years of age with closed tibia shaft fractures between the years 2015 and 2021 treated by either CRC or ESIN. Measured outcomes include patient demographics, overall casting time, time to full weight bearing, time to full healing, radiographic healing, complications (loss of reduction, malunion >5° and >10°) and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores. A total of 141 patients (68% male) were included, with 31 receiving ESIN and 110 having CRC. Patient demographics were similar across groups. At follow-up, CRC had a significant shorter time to healing (11 vs. 15 weeks), but an increased casting duration (7 vs. 4 weeks). Finally, the ESIN group had significantly greater pre-intervention angulation, displacement, and shortening. In both interventions, mobility and pain interference scores showed significant improvements from baseline (2 weeks post-op) at 12, 16, and 24 weeks. No statistically significant differences were noted between CRC and ESIN groups across PROMIS domains of pain interference and mobility. CRC and ESIN are effective in improving pain and mobility in adolescent diaphyseal tibia fractures, but neither intervention is superior based on PROMIS scores at 12, 16 and 24+ weeks. From a patient standpoint, we demonstrate that neither treatment is superior in achieving better-perceived mobility or decreasing pain sooner. Level of Evidence: Level III.

Opioid Use Following Operatively Treated Pediatric Elbow and Femur Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Opioids are a commonly utilized component of pain management following pediatric extremity fractures, yet an increasing number of adolescents and children are falling victim to their negative effects. The purpose of this study was to examine opioid use in the pediatric fracture population by determining and comparing the average hospital opioid dosage utilized in the operative pediatric elbow and femur fractures and determining and comparing the average dose prescribed following operative treatment of elbow and femur fractures. METHODS: All elbow and femur fractures treated operatively between January and December 2016 were identified. Patients aged 0 to 17 years with closed injuries who presented to the emergency department (ED) within 24 hours of injury and underwent operative treatment were included. Demographic information, opioid and nonopioid analgesic medication doses administered in the ED and while inpatient, and postdischarge prescription information were recorded. Opioid doses were converted to oral morphine equivalents. RESULTS: In total, 91.9% and 78.1% of patients received opioids during the ED and inpatient periods, respectively. Only 30% of patients in either cohort received a nonopioid analgesic in the ED and only 44% received ibuprofen while inpatient. Average total opioid dose per hour of hospital stay was not significantly different between elbow fracture and femur fracture cohorts, which was unexpected. There was no significant difference between the average opioid dose or number of doses prescribed for postdischarge use between cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides data on average hospital opioid and nonopioid use following pediatric elbow and femur fractures. The results reveal inconsistent nonopioid analgesic use and similar hospital opioid use in elbow and femur fracture patients. This study provides baseline analgesic use data for future investigations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

The Central Slip Fracture: Results of Operative Treatment of Volar Fracture Subluxations/Dislocations of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint.

PURPOSE: Fractures of the base of the middle phalanx are particularly challenging. Dorsal fracture-subluxations/dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint are relatively common, but the volar fracture-subluxation/dislocation, the so-called "central slip fracture," is quite rare. The current study presents our experience with surgically treated patients with central slip fracture subluxation/dislocation with a minimum of 1 year follow-up. We hypothesized that the majority of patients with a central slip fracture-subluxation/dislocation have poor outcomes. METHODS: Thirteen patients with central slip fracture-subluxations/dislocation were identified from departmental billing records between 2003 and 2013. Nine patients completed the study follow-up examination and 8 were included in the final analysis. Clinical data assessed included age at injury, sex, mechanism of injury, injured digit, type of treatment, additional intervention(s), complications, length of follow-up, and range of motion follow-up. Fluoroscopic images and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand surveys were obtained at study follow-up. RESULTS: All patients underwent at least 1 surgery and 7 of 8 underwent open reduction. The average age at the time of injury was 41 years (range, 25-60 years). All injuries were closed. The average follow-up was 43 months (range, 17-67 months). Average passive and active range of motion of the PIP joint at follow-up were 62° and 54°, respectively. Six of 8 patients developed radiographic evidence of arthritic change and 4 experienced an outcome that required additional interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients should be counseled about the outcomes following surgical treatment of this uncommon, difficult injury. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic V.

Myosin binding protein C1: a novel gene for autosomal dominant distal arthrogryposis type 1.

Distal arthrogryposis type I (DA1) is a disorder characterized by congenital contractures of the hands and feet for which few genes have been identified. Here we describe a five-generation family with DA1 segregating as an autosomal dominant disorder with complete penetrance. Genome-wide linkage analysis using Affymetrix GeneChip Mapping 10K data from 12 affected members of this family revealed a multipoint LOD(max) of 3.27 on chromosome 12q. Sequencing of the slow-twitch skeletal muscle myosin binding protein C1 (MYBPC1), located within the linkage interval, revealed a missense mutation (c.706T>C) that segregated with disease in this family and causes a W236R amino acid substitution. A second MYBPC1 missense mutation was identified (c.2566T>C)(Y856H) in another family with DA1, accounting for an MYBPC1 mutation frequency of 13% (two of 15). Skeletal muscle biopsies from affected patients showed type I (slow-twitch) fibers were smaller than type II fibers. Expression of a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged MYBPC1 construct containing WT and DA1 mutations in mouse skeletal muscle revealed robust sarcomeric localization. In contrast, a more diffuse localization was seen when non-fused GFP and MYBPC1 proteins containing corresponding MYBPC3 amino acid substitutions (R326Q, E334K) that cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were expressed. These findings reveal that the MYBPC1 is a novel gene responsible for DA1, though the mechanism of disease may differ from how some cardiac MYBPC3 mutations cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.