Clinical and functional outcomes of 405 Achilles tendon ruptures after a minimum follow-up of 1 year.

OBJECTIVE: The results of surgical versus conservative treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures are still controversial. The objective of this study was to compare surgical and conservative treatment at a minimum follow-up of 1 year in terms of the complications, functional outcomes and clinical results. HYPOTHESES: There is no difference in the complications, clinical results and functional outcomes between the two treatment groups. There is no difference in the occurrence of complications or the clinical results due to the immobilization or rehabilitation protocols. METHODS: This was a retrospective comparative, multicenter, non-randomized study of acute Achilles tendon ruptures treated between 01/01/2018 and 31/12/2019 at 21 study sites in France. All patients who received surgical or conservative treatment were included. The demographics, sports participation, nature of treatment, immobilization parameters (type, duration, position) and rehabilitation protocol were collected. Rerupture, general and specific complications, clinical results (heel-rise test, single-leg hop, calf circumference, ankle dorsiflexion) and the functional outcomes (ATRS, VISA-A, EFAS, SF-12) were collected at the final review. RESULTS: Four hundred five patients were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 24 (±7) months. Surgical treatment was done in 372 patients (92%) and conservative treatment in 33 patients (8%), with these two sets of patients having comparable preoperative characteristics. There was a similar number of reruptures in the conservative group (3 cases, 9%) as in the surgical group (15 cases, 4%) (p=0.176). There were more general complications in the conservative group (24%) than in the surgical group (11%) (p=0.04). There was a 9% rate of surgery-related complications (infection, nerve damage, anesthesia after-effects). The ATRS (p=0.017), EFAS Total (p=0.013), EFAS daily living (p=0.008), and SF-12 physical (p=0.01) were better in the surgical group. Strict then relative immobilization provided the best balance between functional recovery (EFAS total of 33, p<0.01) and tendon lengthening (0°, p=0.01) without increasing the occurrence of rerupture (2%, p=0.18). Early weightbearing accompanied by immobilization and rehabilitation within 30 days did not lead to more reruptures than if it was started beyond 30 days (p=0.082 and p=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: This study found no differences in the number of reruptures between surgical treatment and conservative treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Surgical treatment led to better clinical results but had a variable effect on improving the functional scores. No matter which treatment is used, in the ideal case, 3 weeks of strict immobilization in equinus should be followed by progressive reduction over the next 3 weeks. Early weightbearing and mobilization within 30 days did not increase the risk of rerupture; it actually optimized the clinical and functional outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III; retrospective comparative, non-randomized.

Short-stem total hip arthroplasty is equivalent to a standard-length stem procedure in an unselected population at mid-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: Limitations of standard-length femoral stems persist, including proximal-distal mismatch, non-ideal load transfer, loss of bone tissue, and perioperative fracture. Symbol® (Dedienne Santé, France) is a metaphyseal-engaging short-stem implant designed to address these issues in total hip arthroplasty (THA). While short stems have been well studied in selected and younger patients, it is unclear whether they offer advantages in an unselected population. We hypothesized that short femoral stems offer similar mid-term survivorship at five year minimum follow-up and function score to standard-length femoral stems, in an unselected patient population. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a continuous unselected cohort of patients who undergone THA by one surgeon with a standard-length stem between November 2013 and October 2015, and a short stem between November 2015 and March 2017. We compared modified Harris Hip Score and Oxford Scores with a minimum follow-up of five years and procedural factors that could be associated with worse results with a short stem design. RESULTS: There was no difference in survival rate between the two groups. Average Harris Hip Score and Oxford Scores at the last follow-up were comparable. A multivariate linear regression was performed to assess the relationship between modified Harrys Hip Score at five years post-operatively and the explanatory variables: age, body mass index, physical status score ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists), and HHS pre-op. None was associated with the standard-length stem but for the short stem. CONCLUSION: Short-stem implants provide good survival rate at mid-term; nevertheless, a steep learning curve is necessary to optimize the metaphyseal filling of the implant, especially for osteoporotic bone.

Does AMIC® provide improvements at least two years after surgery for knee osteochondral lesions? A multicentre retrospective study of 101 patients.

BACKGROUND: Osteochondral defects of the knee due to trauma or osteochondritis are associated with osteoarthritis in the medium term. Defects 2 to 8cm2 in size can be managed by autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC®), in which sub-chondral micro-fractures are created within the lesion and the defect is then covered by a matrix of type I and type III collagen to induce de novo cartilage formation. Although promising outcomes have been observed in small single-centre cohorts, the medium-term clinical and radiological effectiveness of AMIC® remains to be demonstrated in larger populations. The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes of patients at least 2 years after AMIC® for knee osteochondral defects. HYPOTHESIS: AMIC® is associated with clinical and radiological improvements after at least 2 years. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This multicentre (16 centres), multisurgeon (18 senior orthopaedic surgeons), retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent AMIC® with Chondro-Gide® membrane implantation between September 2011 and January 2020. The 36-item Short Form quality-of-life (SF-36) score, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score were determined before the procedure and during follow-up. The Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging 2 years after the procedure. RESULTS: In total, 101 patients aged 12 to 60 years were included. Mean follow-up was 30 months. Mean defect size was 3.44cm2 (range, 2-8cm2). Significant improvements were documented in the SF-36 score, KOOS, and IKDC score. The mean MOCART score at 2 years was 75% (range, 20-100). DISCUSSION: The AMIC® procedure was associated with significant improvements at 2.5 years in patients treated for knee osteochondral defects measuring 2 to 8cm2. This method seems to provide similar outcomes to those of other available methods with the advantages of single-step surgery and elimination of osteochondral graft donor-site complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective observational cohort study.

[Caregiving in an exceptional environment: the military operating theater nurse in a tropical zone]. / Soignant en milieu d'exception : l'infirmier de bloc opératoire militaire en zone tropicale.

The profession of operating theater nurse in the French Armed Forces Medical Corps is often little-known. Called upon to serve in mainland France, but also deployed on overseas operations, they provide medical and surgical support to the French armed forces. Personal qualities - human, physical and technical - are essential to adapt to the environmental constraints of this isolated post.

[Orthopedic ballistic injury, a five-beat waltz]. / Blessé balistique orthopédique, une valse à cinq temps.

Two-thirds of ballistic injuries result in severe limb damage. Damage Control Orthopaedic is a surgical strategy that makes it possible to save life, limb and function using simple mnemonic markers: 5minutes, 6hours, 7 days, 8 weeks and 9 months. The many players involved in this coherent care pathway, with its multiple surgical challenges, help to meet the challenge of comprehensive rehabilitation for orthopaedic ballistic injuries.

Osteochondral autograft transplantation (mosaicplasty): What is the impact of plug diameter in cartilage repair?

PURPOSE: To compare the mechanical stress applied to our grafted defect area according to the diameter of the plugs used in the treatment of osteochondral lesion with osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) procedure. METHODS: A biomechanical study was conducted on eight cadaveric knees. A 20-mm defect was created in the weight-bearing zone on the medial femoral condyle then filled either with three plugs of 8 mm, or with four plugs of 6 mm, or with 6 plugs of 4 mm diameter. After the preparation of the specimens, each knee was installed on a mechanical test bench (Instron 5566A). A continuous axial compression of 700 N at 10 mm.min-1 was exerted on the joint. A K-scan 4000-type pressure sheet was used to record the contact area (mm2), the mean pressure (MPa), and the maximum pressure (MPa) on the area of interest. RESULTS: The differences found between the conditions were not statistically significant but showed tendencies. Filling the defect with six plugs of 4 mm restores a larger contact surface compared with the other plugs. The use of 8- and 6-mm grafts lead to a respective increase of 12% and 52% of the mean pressure compared with the 4 mm grafts. This difference was also found for the maximum pressure (36% and 129%). Regardless of the diameter of the plugs used, filling the lesion reduces the mean pressure exerted on the healthy cartilage by 19%. DISCUSSION: A trend emerged towards a better restoration of the cartilage surface and a more harmonious distribution of the pressures exerted in favour of the grafts of smaller diameter. A larger study is needed to obtain a statistically significant result.

Double level osteotomy for genu varum: Is a return to sport possible?

INTRODUCTION: A double level osteotomy (DLO) may be indicated in patients with genu varum when the deformity involves both the tibia and femur. These patients, who are often young and active, have a high functional demand and hope for a rapid return to sport. The purpose of our study was to assess return to sport and functional outcomes following DLO for symptomatic genu varum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients (mean age 45.5±2 years) who underwent a DLO between 2018 and 2020, performed in 2 different hospitals, were reviewed after a minimum follow-up of 1-year. The mean initial varus was 11±2°. The type of sport and frequency of participation (UCLA activity score) as well as time to return to sport and level of activity recovered were defined as the primary endpoints. Functional scores were also assessed with the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS). RESULTS: At the last follow-up, 87.5% (n=35) of patients reported that they had returned to sport. The mean time to return to sport was 6±1 months with a significant difference (p<0.001) between the pre- and postoperative UCLA activity scores. There was a strong correlation between the presence of a joint line obliquity >3° and decreased functional outcomes (p<0.0001). The overall KOOS score improved (p<0.001) by a mean of 38.6 points after the correction. The 8 lateral cortical fractures (Takeuchi type I and II) and the 2 medial cortical fractures (Nakayama type 1) that were found had no impact on functional outcomes (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that DLO provided rapid return to sport, thus making it possible to meet the functional demands and expectations of patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; Retrospective study.

Arthroscopic lateral ankle ligament reinsertion with reinforcement by a minimally invasive extensor retinaculum flap for chronic ankle instability.

The past decade has seen the development of numerous arthroscopic techniques for ankle ligament repair or reconstruction in the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability. Arthroscopy allows the assessment and treatment of intra-articular pathologies and is associated with faster functional recovery. The open surgery technique described by Blanchet, combining reinsertion of the lateral collateral ligament with reinforcement by an extensor retinaculum flap, has long proven its effectiveness. The aim of this article is to describe this technique under arthroscopy.

Does the choice of the optic portal influence the radiographic and early functional results in acute acromioclavicular disjunctions?

Exposure of the coracoid process during arthroscopic stabilization of acute acromioclavicular disjunctions (ACDs) can be achieved either by passing an extra- articular optical portal through the subacromial space or by an intra-articular optical route through the glenohumeral joint with opening of the rotator interval. The objective of our study was to compare the impact on the functional results of these two optical routes. This was a retrospective, multicentre study that included patients operated on for an acute acromioclavicular disjunction arthroscopically. The treatment consisted of surgical stabilization under arthroscopy. The surgical indication was retained for an acromioclavicular disjunction of grade 3, 4 or 5, according to the Rockwood classification. Group 1, which consisted of 10 patients, was operated on with an extra-articular subacromial optical route, and group 2, which consisted of 12 patients, was operated on with an intra-articular optical route with opening of the rotator interval according to the habits of the surgeon. A follow-up of 3 months was performed. The functional results were evaluated for each patient using the Constant score, Quick DASH, and SSV. The delays in returning to professional and sports activities were also noted. A precise postoperative radiological analysis made it possible to analyse the quality of the radiological reduction. No significant difference between the two groups was found between the Constant score (88 vs. 90; p = 0.56), Quick DASH (7 vs. 7; p = 0.58), or SSV (88 vs. 93; p = 0.36). The times to return to work (6.8 weeks vs. 7.0 weeks; p = 0.54) and sports activities (15.6 weeks vs. 19.5 weeks; p = 0.53) were also comparable. The quality of the radiological reduction was satisfactory in the two groups and did not depend on the approach. No clinically or radiologically significant differences between the extra-articular and intra-articular optical portals in the surgical treatment of acute ACDs were found. The optical route can be chosen according to the habits of the surgeon.

How do patients choose their surgeon? Example of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: In this age of social media, with an ever-higher profile for surgery and rankings for the general public, patients' criteria for choosing a surgeon or team are not precisely known, especially in France. We therefore conducted a prospective study concerning anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: (1) to determine how patients came to know their surgeon; (2) to identify factors affecting final choice. HYPOTHESIS: Patients' choice of surgeon is affected by scores found in social media and rankings found in the press. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective continuous study included all patients operated on, without standardization of technique, in 3 hospitals (public and private sector). An anonymous questionnaire on surgeon selection criteria, scored 0 to 10, was distributed on a voluntary basis on the day of surgery scheduling. RESULTS: One hundred and five patients were included. They had come to know of their surgeon via family or friends or their personal physician in more than two-thirds of cases. The essential criterion of final choice was the clarity of the written and oral information provided in consultation (mean score, 8.09±1.83). Other factors included wait-time to surgery (7.39±2.25) and to first consultation (7.26±2.01) and the surgeon's reputation (7.42/10±2.43). CONCLUSION: "Word of mouth" and the quality if information provided in consultation motivated final choice, more than any influence of social media or press hospital rankings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; prospective observational study without control group.

Prolonged tactical tourniquet application for extremity combat injuries during war against terrorism in the Sahelian strip.

PURPOSE: This study reports on complications following extended tourniquet application in patients with combat extremity injuries treated by the French Military Health Service in the Sahelian strip. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in a French forward medical treatment facility deployed in Gao, Mali, between 2015 and 2020. All patients treated for an extremity injury with the application of at least one tourniquet for a minimum of 3 h were included. Prehospital data were injury pattern, associated shock, tourniquet location, and duration. Subsequent complications and surgical procedures performed were analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven patients with a mean age of 27.4 years (range 21-35 years) were included. They represented 39% of all patients in whom a tourniquet was applied. They had gunshot wounds (n = 7) or multiple blast injuries (n = 4) and totaled 14 extremity injuries requiring tourniquet application. The median ISS was 13 (interquartile range: 13). Tourniquets were mostly applied proximally on the limb for a mean duration of 268 min (range 180-360 min). Rhabdomyolysis was present in all cases. The damage control surgeries included debridement, external fixation, vascular repair, and primary amputation. Ten injuries were complicated by compartment syndrome requiring leg or thigh fasciotomy in the field or after repatriation. Two severely injured patients died of their wounds, but the others had a favorable outcome even though secondary amputation was sometimes required. CONCLUSIONS: Extended and proximal tourniquet applications led to significant morbidity related to compartment syndrome and rhabdomyolysis. Hemorrhagic shock, mass casualty incident, and tactical constraints often precluded revising the temporary tourniquet applied under fire.

Severe trauma patients requiring undelayable combined cranial and extracranial surgery: A scoping review of an emerging concept.

Objectives: Although patients suffering from severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) and severe trauma patients (STP) have been extensively studied separately, there is scarce evidence concerning STP with concomitant sTBI. In particular, there are no guidelines regarding the emergency surgical management of patients presenting a concomitant life-threatening intracranial hematoma (ICH) and a life-threatening non-compressible extra-cranial hemorrhage (NCEH). Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted on Medline database from inception to September 2021. Results: The review yielded 138 articles among which 10 were retained in the quantitative analysis for a total of 2086 patients. Seven hundrer and eighty-seven patients presented concomitant sTBI and extra-cranial severe injuries. The mean age was 38.2 years-old and the male to female sex ratio was 2.8/1. Regarding the patients with concomitant cranial and extra-cranial injuries, the mean ISS was 32.1, and the mean AIS per organ were 4.0 for the head, 3.3 for the thorax, 2.9 for the abdomen and 2.7 for extremity. This review highlighted the following concepts: emergency peripheric osteosynthesis can be safely performed in patients with concomitant sTBI (grade C). Invasive intracranial pressure monitoring is mandatory during extra-cranial surgery in patients with sTBI (grade C). The outcome of STP with concomitant sTBI mainly depends on the seriousness of sTBI, independently from the presence of extra-cranial injuries (grade C). After exclusion of early-hospital mortality, the impact of extra-cranial injuries on mortality in patients with concomitant sTBI is uncertain (grade C). There are no recommendations regarding the combined surgical management of patients with concomitant ICH and NCEH (grade D). Conclusion: This review revealed the lack of evidence for the emergency surgical management of patients with concomitant ICH and NCEH. Hence, we introduce the concept of combined cranial and extra-cranial surgery. This damage-control surgical strategy aims to reduce the time spent with intracranial hypertension and to hasten the admission in the intensive care unit. Further studies are required to validate this concept in clinical practice.

[Post-operative monitoring of a patient with severe limb trauma]. / La surveillance postopératoire d'un patient traumatisé grave des membres.

In the postoperative monitoring of a patient with severe limb trauma, the nurse's objectives are multiple: prevention and screening of complications, follow-up care, compliance with postoperative instructions. Presentation of the key elements of this monitoring, which must be systematised and personalised.

Use of intramedullary nailing in poor sanitary conditions: French Military Medical Service experience.

INTRODUCTION: Intramedullary (IM) nailing is the gold standard for treating long bone fractures in developed countries because of its minimally-invasive application and good biomechanical properties. In precarious conditions, external fixation or open plate fixation are often performed because surgeons do not have the means to carry out IM nailing. However, these procedures can lead to infection-related complications and mechanical failures. The aim of our study was to describe the outcomes and postoperative complications of IM nailing of closed, long bone fractures in patients operated in a French front-line combat surgical unit (role 2+). Our hypothesis was that IM nailing is a reliable technique with low morbidity for the initial treatment of long bone fractures, even in precarious situations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective, single-center, descriptive study of patients operated on between April 2016 and November 2017. All the patients with a closed femur or tibia fracture who were treated by IM nailing were eligible, no matter their time to surgery. The minimum follow-up was 6 months. The primary endpoint was the absence of infection-related complications and the secondary endpoint was fracture union. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were reviewed after an average follow-up of 4.7 months (range, 3-15 months). The mean patient age was 35.2 years (15-85 years) and the majority of patients were men (52 of 58). The fracture was in the femur in 74.1% (n=43) of cases and in the tibia in 25.9% (n=15) of cases. The time to surgery averaged 122.3 days (7-720 days) with a median of 60 days. In 74% of cases (n=43), fracture realignment required an open surgical approach. The postoperative course was considered normal in 96.6% of cases (n=51). No infections were reported as of the last follow-up visit. Union occurred in an average of 4 months in 70.7% of cases (n=41). There were three cases of nonunion after 6 months. DISCUSSION: Even in precarious situations, IM nailing is an effective, reliable method with a low complication risk and high union rate for the treatment of neglected long bone fractures. This surgical treatment is well suited to the poor sanitary conditions on the African continent. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II, low-powered prospective study.

[Initial management of foot wounds]. / Gestion initiale des plaies du pied.

Foot wounds are frequent and not usually serious. The first caregiver to provide treatment must decide on the most appropriate action to take, sometimes in inadequate places. We present an analysis of the management of these traumas to highlight the key stages of the evaluation and initial treatment of the wound while placing the patient on a coherent and efficient clinical pathway.

Sequential management of tibial fractures using a temporary unicortical external fixator.

INTRODUCTION: The development of damage control orthopedics (DCO) procedures has led to the development of temporary unicortical external fixators (TUEFs) intended to limit deep infectious complications and facilitate early conversion to internal fixation. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in two French military trauma centers, including on patients being treated for tibial fractures with a TUEF (UNYCO® - Orthofix®) followed by an early conversion to intramedullary nailing. RESULTS: Eleven patients with an average age of 41 were included between September 2015 and June 2017. A total of 12 TUEFs were implanted for one closed fracture and 11 open fractures, including one type I, eight types II, and two Gustilo types IIIB. The indication of DCO was related to hemodynamic instability in three cases, to the severity of soft tissue lesions in eight cases, and to the context of treatment in one case. The conversion to IM nailing was made after an average of 7.6 days. No significant loss of reduction was observed until internal osteosynthesis, which was performed with "fixator in place" in ten cases. The coverage of Gustilo type III injuries was performed by free flap transfers at the same time as IM nailing. All the patients were reviewed with an average follow-up of 16.5 months. Bone union was achieved in all cases. Two IM nailing dynamizations were carried out, but no bone grafting was required. Two cases of pandiaphysitis were observed and treated without functional complications. DISCUSSION: Despite a limited number of patients, this study demonstrates the reliability of the TUEF to maintain the reduction of tibial fractures and facilitate early conversion to IM nailing. Unicortical fixation does not prevent septic complications related to the severity of soft tissue injuries.

A growing stake in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology for the future management of obese patients.

The prevalence of obesity is increasing. In orthopaedic surgery, the impact of obesity is felt. The aim is to take stock of the consequences of obesity for patients at each stage of management. In this mini-review, we identify the main pathophysiological factors, specific orthopaedic complications and consequences to consider at each stage of management. Obese patients are subjected to a chronic inflammatory state and biomechanical stress. This augments the risk of sepsis and trauma, musculoskeletal damage, the frequency of organ failure and thus, morbidity and mortality. This results in more complex and longer supportive care. At each stage of care, surgeons and doctors have to adapt to optimize care. It is necessary to obtain timely and accurate information from the patient. Patient information is necessary. Being obese in orthopaedics is a factor in poor prognosis. Treatments need to be adapted. This requires specific preparation at each step.

Is the subscapularis normal after the open Latarjet procedure? An isokinetic and magnetic resonance imaging evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The Latarjet procedure is considered to be a violation of the subscapularis muscle. This study evaluated the postoperative status of the subscapularis through isokinetic and magnetic resonance imaging analysis after splitting. We hypothesized that compared with a healthy contralateral shoulder, there would be satisfactory recovery of subscapularis strength at the cost of some fatigability and some mild fatty infiltration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a case-control retrospective study of patients who underwent a Latarjet procedure between January 2013 and January 2015. A total of 20 patients were reviewed at 1 year postoperatively. With the patient seated, strength testing of both shoulders was done (concentric, eccentric, and fatigability) with a dynamometer. Trophicity and fatty infiltration were analyzed by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Strength of the internal rotators (IRs) and external rotators (ERs) of the injured shoulder was significantly lower compared with the healthy shoulder in concentric testing at 180°/s and 60°/s (13% for IR and 20% for E, P < .05) and in eccentric testing at 60°/s (19% for IR and 16% for ER, P < .05). A peak torque ratio (ER/IR) of the operated-on shoulder was maintained. The difference in muscular endurance was significant (P < .001). There was no muscle atrophy and minimal or no fatty infiltration of the subscapularis in any patient. CONCLUSION: At 1 year after the open Latarjet procedure, isokinetic testing showed a combined strength deficit in both internal and external rotation with a conserved muscle balance. Although no significant subscapularis fatty infiltration or atrophy was noted, there was a significant deficit in endurance compared with the healthy shoulder.