Fluoroscopy-guided reduction and fibular nail fixation to manage unstable ankle fractures in patients with diabetes: a retrospective cohort study.

AIMS: Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of wound complications after open reduction and internal fixation of unstable ankle fractures. A fibular nail avoids large surgical incisions and allows anatomical reduction of the mortise. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the results of fluoroscopy-guided reduction and percutaneous fibular nail fixation for unstable Weber type B or C fractures in 24 adult patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The re-operation rate for wound dehiscence or other indications such as amputation, mortality and functional outcomes was determined. RESULTS: Two patients developed lateral side wound infection, one of whom underwent wound debridement. Three other patients required re-operation for removal of symptomatic hardware. No patient required a below-knee amputation. Six patients died during the study period for unrelated reasons. At a median follow-up of 12 months (7 to 38) the mean Short Form-36 Mental Component Score and Physical Component Score were 53.2 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 48.1 to 58.4) and 39.3 (95% CI 32.1 to 46.4), respectively. The mean Visual Analogue Score for pain was 3.1 (95% 1.4 to 4.9). The mean Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale total score was 32.9 (95% CI 16.0 to 49.7). CONCLUSION: Fluoroscopy-guided reduction and fibular nail fixation of unstable ankle fractures in patients with diabetes was associated with a low incidence of wound and overall complications, while providing effective surgical fixation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1197-1201.

Stopping nicotine exposure before surgery. The effect on spinal fusion in a rabbit model.

STUDY DESIGN: A double-blind, prospective, randomized study using a validated rabbit model of intertransverse process fusion. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of stopping prolonged nicotine exposure on autogenous bone graft incorporation in a rabbit lumbar spinal fusion model. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There is a growing body of evidence that systemic nicotine impairs healing of spinal fusions and fractures. However, it remains to be determined whether, if nicotine increases the nonunion rate of spinal fusion surgery, stopping nicotine exposure before surgery will negate this inhibitory effect. METHODS: Forty-seven rabbits were divided into two experimental groups and one control group. The two experimental groups were exposed to systemic nicotine for 8 weeks. Nicotine exposure was stopped in one group 1 week before surgery; nicotine exposure was continued in the other group throughout the study. All rabbits underwent an L5-L6 intertransverse process fusion with autogenous iliac crest bone graft. All rabbits were killed 35 days after surgery. Forty rabbits completed the study and underwent radiographic, biomechanical, and histologic testing. RESULTS: Fusion, as determined by a blinded examiner palpating the spine, occurred in 7 of 13 control rabbits, 4 of 13 rabbits that "quit" nicotine, and none of the 14 rabbits exposed to continuous nicotine. There was a statistically significant difference between the control and continuous nicotine (P = 0.0015) and between the discontinued nicotine and continuous nicotine groups (P = 0.025). Biomechanical testing showed no significant differences between groups (P = 0.11). A blinded musculoskeletal pathologist was unable to detect a difference between groups based on histologic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic nicotine exposure was shown to decrease spinal fusion rates. Discontinuing nicotine before surgery improved fusion rates.