Factors Associated With Episode of Care Adverse Events After Humerus Nonunion Repair.

BACKGROUND: Humeral nonunions have devastating negative effects on patients' upper extremity function and health-related quality of life. The objective of this study was to identify factors independently associated with 30-day complication, hospital readmission, and reoperation after surgical treatment of humeral nonunions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database by querying the Current Procedural Terminology codes for patients who underwent humeral nonunion repair from 2011 to 2020. The study outcomes were 30-day complication, hospital readmission, and reoperation. RESULTS: Of the 1306 patients in our cohort, 135 patients (10%) developed a complication, 66 patients (5%) were readmitted to the hospital, and 44 patients (3%) underwent reoperation during the 30-day postoperative period. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that older age, longer operative time, partially dependent functional status, congestive heart failure, bleeding disorder, and contaminated wound classification were associated with 30-day complication after humeral nonunion repair. Older age and disseminated cancer were associated with 30-day reoperation after humeral nonunion repair. Disseminated cancer was associated with 30-day readmission after humeral nonunion repair. CONCLUSION: Using a large database over a recent 10-year period, we identified demographic and comorbid factors independently associated with episode of care adverse events after humeral nonunion repair. Patients 50 years or older had approximately three times the incidence of complications, readmissions, and reoperations in the first month after humeral nonunion repair compared with patients younger than 50 years. Our findings are relevant for preoperative risk stratification and counseling. [Orthopedics. 202x;4x(x):xx-xx.].

The Relationship Between Preoperative International Normalized Ratio and Postoperative Major Bleeding in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess the relationship between preoperative international normalized ratio (INR) levels and major postoperative bleeding events after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for TSA from 2011 to 2020. A final cohort of 2405 patients with INR within 2 days of surgery were included. Patients were stratified into four groups: INR ≤ 1.0, 1.0 < INR ≤ 1.25, 1.25< INR ≤ 1.5, and INR > 1.5. The primary outcome was bleeding requiring transfusion within 72 hours, and secondary outcome variables included complication, revision surgery, readmission, and hospital stay duration. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses adjusted for relevant comorbidities were done. RESULTS: Of the 2,405 patients, 48% had INR ≤ 1.0, 44% had INR > 1.0 to 1.25, 7% had INR > 1.25 to 1.5, and 1% had INR > 1.5. In the adjusted model, 1.0 < INR ≤ 1.25 (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.176 to 2.459), 1.25 < INR ≤ 1.5 (OR 2.508, 95% CI 1.454 to 4.325), and INR > 1.5 (OR 3.200, 95% CI 1.233 to 8.302) were associated with higher risks of bleeding compared with INR ≤ 1.0. DISCUSSION: The risks of thromboembolism and bleeding lie along a continuum, with higher preoperative INR levels conferring higher postoperative bleeding risks after TSA. Clinicians should use a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach to balance competing risks.

The Significance of Subjective Mechanical Symptoms in Rotator Cuff Pathology.

BACKGROUND: The presence of subjective mechanical symptoms, such as clicking or popping, is common in patients presenting for shoulder pain and dysfunction, with unclear clinical significance. The primary objective of this study was to assess whether subjective mechanical symptoms in the affected shoulder were associated with full-thickness rotator cuff tearing in a consecutive, prospective cohort of patients undergoing shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for suspected rotator cuff pathology. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed of 100 consecutive patients with suspected rotator cuff tendinopathy and/or tearing who underwent shoulder MRI. The presence of subjective shoulder mechanical symptoms, including clicking or popping, was documented prior to MRI. Indications for MRI included weakness on isolated testing of rotator cuff muscle(s) or symptoms refractory to conservative treatment including at least a 6-week course of physical therapy. The primary outcome variable was the presence of full-thickness rotator cuff tearing; secondary outcome variables included any (full-thickness or partial-thickness) rotator cuff tearing and biceps long head subluxation. Radiographic parameters, including critical shoulder angle, Goutallier grade, tear retraction, and tear size were quantified. One patient was lost to follow-up, and 99 patients completed MRI imaging. RESULTS: In our cohort, 60% of patients reported subjective mechanical symptoms in the affected shoulder. Full-thickness rotator cuff tearing was identified in 42% of patients, any rotator cuff tearing in 69% of patients, and biceps long head subluxation in 14% of patients. Subjective mechanical symptoms were not associated with full-thickness rotator cuff tearing, any rotator cuff tearing, biceps long head subluxation, critical shoulder angle, Goutallier grade, tear size, or tear retraction. Older age was associated with full-thickness and any rotator cuff tearing. As a diagnostic test for full-thickness rotator cuff tearing, subjective shoulder mechanical symptoms has a sensitivity of 64%, a specificity of 44%, and Youden's index of 0.08, consistent with poor diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective mechanical symptoms in the affected shoulder are a common complaint in patients with suspected rotator cuff pathology. Patients may be reassured that a sensation of clicking or popping alone does not necessarily entail structural shoulder derangement.

The Development and Validation of Data Elements and Process Steps for an Electronic Health Record for Hand Surgery Outreach Trips.

Background The surgical burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as reported by the number of surgical cases per capita is great. To improve global health and help address this burden, there has been a rise in surgical outreach to LMICs. In high-income countries, an electronic health record (EHR) is used to document and communicate data critical to the quality of care and patient safety. Despite this, there is little guidance or precedence on the data elements or processes for utilizing an EHR on outreach trips. We validated data elements and process steps for utilizing an EHR for hand surgery outreach trips. Methods We conducted a literature review to identify data elements collected during surgical outreach trips. A future-state process map for the collection and documentation of data elements within an EHR was developed through literature review and semistructured interviews with experts in global outreach. An expert consortium completed a modified RAND/University of California at Los Angeles Delphi process to evaluate the importance and feasibility of each data element and process step. Results In total, 65 data elements (e.g., date of birth) and 24 process steps (e.g., surgical site marking) were validated for use in an EHR for hand surgery outreach trips to LMICs. Conclusion This validated portfolio of data elements/process steps can serve as the foundation for pilot testing of an EHR to document and communicate critical patient data on hand surgery outreach trips. Utilization of an EHR during outreach trips to LMICs may serve to improve the safety and quality of care provided. The validated data elements/process steps can serve as a guide for EHR development and implementation of other surgical specialties.

Estimating shadow prices in economies with multiple market failures.

Approaches to the estimation of shadow prices generally assume that all but one market function correctly. However, multiple market failures are common in developing countries. We present a theoretical model and an empirical strategy to estimate the shadow price of a subsistence good in an economy where labor markets fail. Our results show that: 1) among subsistence producers, the shadow price of this good must be greater than or equal to the market price, and equal to it for surplus growers; and 2) current methods create biases when the otherwise-perfect-markets assumption is violated. The propositions are tested using a representative survey for rural Mexico. We find that the shadow wage is below that of the market (MXN $93.2/day vs. MXN $132.3/day), and that the shadow price for subsistence corn is over ten times greater than its market price (MXN $32.37/kg vs. MXN $3.19/kg). Unbiased shadow price estimates for subsistence goods help to overcome the limitations of current income poverty measures: their overestimation of the purchasing power of subsistence households and their underestimation of the value of subsistence goods. In rural Mexico, current practice underestimates the population in food poverty by 2%; an additional 9% has income above the poverty line yet fail to meet the utilization dimension of food security.

Capacity Assessment Tool to Promote Capacity Building in Global Orthopaedic Surgical Outreach.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of nongovernmental organizations from high-income countries aim to provide surgical outreach for patients in low- and middle-income countries in a manner that builds capacity. There remains, however, a paucity of measurable steps to benchmark and evaluate capacity-building efforts. Based on a framework for capacity building, the present study aimed to develop a Capacity Assessment Tool for orthopaedic surgery (CAT-os) that could be utilized to evaluate and promote capacity building. METHODS: To develop the CAT-os tool, we utilized methodological triangulation-an approach that incorporates multiple different types of data. We utilized (1) the results of a systematic review of capacity-building best practices in surgical outreach, (2) the HEALTHQUAL National Organizational Assessment Tool, and (3) 20 semistructured interviews to develop a draft of the CAT-os. We subsequently iteratively used a modified nominal group technique with a consortium of 8 globally experienced surgeons to build consensus, which was followed by validation through member-checking. RESULTS: The CAT-os was developed and validated as a formal instrument with actionable steps in each of 7 domains of capacity building. Each domain includes items that are scaled for scoring. For example, in the domain of partnership, items range from no formalized plans for sustainable, bidirectional relationships (no capacity) to local surgeons and other health-care workers independently participating in annual meetings of surgical professional societies and independently creating partnership with third party organizations (optimal capacity). CONCLUSIONS: The CAT-os details steps to assess capacity of a local facility, guide capacity-improvement efforts during surgical outreach, and measure the impact of capacity-building efforts. Capacity building is a frequently cited and commendable approach to surgical outreach, and this tool provides objective measurement to aid in improving the capacity in low and middle-income countries through surgical outreach.

What Is the Effect of Resident Involvement on Short-Term Outcomes after Distal Radius Fracture Surgery?

Background: The objective of this study was to assess whether resident involvement in distal radius fracture open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) affect 30-day postoperative complication, hospital readmission, reoperation and operative time. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database by querying the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for distal radius fracture ORIF from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2014. A final cohort of 5,693 adult patients who underwent distal radius fracture ORIF during the study period were included. Baseline patient demographics and comorbidities, intraoperative factors, including operative time and 30-day postoperative outcomes, including complications, readmission and reoperations, were collected. Bivariate statistical analyses were performed to identify variable associated with complication, readmission, reoperation and operative time. The significance level was adjusted using a Bonferroni correction as multiple comparisons were performed. Results: In this study of 5,693 patients who underwent distal radius fracture ORIF, 66 patients had a complication, 85 patients were readmitted and 61 patients underwent reoperation within 30 days of surgery. Resident involvement in the surgery was not associated with 30-day postoperative complication, readmission or reoperation, but was associated with longer operative time. Moreover, 30-day postoperative complication was associated with older age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF), hypertension and bleeding disorder. Thirty-day readmission was associated with older age, ASA classification, diabetes mellitus, COPD, hypertension, bleeding disorder and functional status. Thirty-day reoperation was associated with higher body mass index (BMI). Longer operative time was associated with younger age, male sex and the absence of bleeding disorder. Conclusions: Resident involvement in distal radius fracture ORIF is associated with longer operative time, but no difference in rates of episode-of-care adverse events. Patients may be reassured that resident involvement in distal radius fracture ORIF does not negatively impact short-term outcomes. Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic).

Impact of Age on Functional Outcome After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Performed for Proximal Humerus Fractures or Their Sequelae.

Background: The use of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) to treat displaced, unstable 3- and 4-part proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) has traditionally been reserved for patients over 70 years old. However, recent data suggest that nearly one-third of all patients treated with RSA for PHF are between 55-69 years old. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes for patients younger than 70 versus patients older than 70 years of age treated with RSA for a PHF or fracture sequelae. Methods: All patients who underwent primary RSA for acute PHF or fracture sequelae (nonunion, malunion) between 2004 and 2016 were identified. A retrospective cohort study was performed comparing outcomes for patients younger than 70 versus older than 70. Bivariate and survival analyses were performed to evaluate for survival complications, functional outcomes, and implant survival differences. Results: A total of 115 patients were identified, including 39 patients in the young group and 76 cases in the older group. In addition, 40 patients (43.5%) returned functional outcomes surveys at an average of 5.51 years (average age range: 3.04-11.0 years). There were no significant differences in complications, reoperation, implant survival, range of motion, DASH (27.9 vs 23.8, P=0.46), PROMIS (43.3 vs 43.6, P=0.93), or EQ5D (0.75 vs 0.80, P=0.36) scores between the two age cohorts. Conclusion: At a minimum of 3 years after RSA for a complex PHF or fracture sequelae, we found no significant difference in complications, reoperation rates, or functional outcomes between younger patients with an average age of 64 years and older patients with an average age of 78 years. To our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically examine the impact of age on outcome after RSA for the treatment of a proximal humerus fracture. These findings indicate that functional outcomes are acceptable to patients younger than 70 in the short term, but more studies are needed. Patients should be counseled that the long-term durability of RSA performed for fractures in young, active patients remains unknown.

Complications, Reoperations, and Long-Term Outcomes after Open Reduction Internal Fixation of Mason Classification Type II and Type III Radial Head Fractures.

Introduction The objectives of this study were to assess long-term outcomes, complications, and reoperations after open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of radial head fractures. Materials and Methods 35 adult patients, who underwent ORIF of an isolated, displaced radial head fracture without elbow instability (Mason classification type II or III) at two tertiary care referral centers from 2000 to 2017, were identified. Patient satisfaction, pain, and QuickDASH scores were assessed by telephone follow-up at median 12.9 years. Results The mean age of the 35 patients in our study was 39 years, and 54% were women. The median length of clinical follow-up was 175 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 54% of patients, and reoperations in 23% of patients. Multivariable logistic regression identified fixation with plate and screws versus screws alone as a risk factor for complications and reoperations. The long-term telephone follow-up response rate was 54%. At 13-year median follow-up, the average patient satisfaction was 9.6/10, the average patient-reported pain was 0.7/10, and the average QuickDASH score was 10.5. Conclusion The long-term outcomes of ORIF of Mason classification type II and III radial head fractures are favorable; however, rates of complication and reoperation are notable and may be higher with plate-and-screw fixation.

The Impact of Resident Involvement on Outcomes and Costs in Elective Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of resident involvement on periprocedural outcomes and costs after common procedures performed at an academic hand surgical practice. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in all patients undergoing 7 common elective upper extremity procedures between January 2008 and December 2018: carpal tunnel release, distal radius open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), trigger finger release, thumb carpometacarpal arthroplasty, phalanx closed reduction and percutaneous pinning, cubital tunnel release, and olecranon ORIF. The medical record was reviewed to determine the impact of surgical assistants (resident, fellow, or physician assistant) on periprocedural outcomes, periprocedural costs, and 1-year postoperative outcomes. The involvement of surgical trainees operating under direct supervision was compared with the entire operation performed by the attending surgeon with a physician assistant present. RESULTS: A total of 396 procedures met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of the whole study sample revealed low rates of intraoperative complications, wound complications, medical complications, readmissions, and mortality. Subgroup analysis of carpal tunnel releases revealed significantly greater tourniquet times for residents compared with physician assistants (7 ± 2 min, 6 ± 1 min), as well as longer overall operating room times for residents compared to fellows or physician assistants (17 ± 5 min, 13 ± 3 min, 12 ± 3 min). Operating room times for distal radius ORIF were significantly greater among residents compared to fellows or physician assistants (68 ± 19 min, 57 ± 17 min, 56 ± 14 min). There were no differences in any other perioperative metrics or periprocedural costs for the trigger finger release or cubital tunnel release cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Resident involvement in select upper extremity procedures can lengthen operative times but does not have an impact on blood loss or operating room costs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Surgeons should be aware that having a resident assistant slightly increases operative times in elective hand surgery.

The Environmental Impact of Open Versus Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release.

PURPOSE: The environmental impact of common ambulatory hand surgeries has been an area of growing interest in recent years. There were 2 objectives of this study: (1) to quantify the carbon footprint of carpal tunnel surgery and its principal driving components; and (2) to compare the carbon footprints of open carpal tunnel release (oCTR) and endoscopic carpal tunnel release (eCTR). METHODS: We performed a life cycle assessment to quantify the environmental impacts of 2 surgical procedures: oCTR and eCTR. Patients were retrospectively identified by querying the Mass General Brigham institutional billing database. Fourteen oCTR procedures and 14 eCTR procedures in 28 patients were included in the life cycle assessment. The boundaries of the life cycle assessment were the start and end times of the procedures. The environmental impacts were estimated using the carbon footprint, expressed in the equivalent mass of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere (kgCO2-eq). The facility-related, processing-related, solid waste-related, and total kgCO2-eq were calculated. RESULTS: The average carbon footprint of carpal tunnel release was 83.1 kgCO2-eq and was dominated by processing-related and facilities-related factors. The average carbon footprint of eCTR (106.5 kgCO2-eq) was significantly greater than that of oCTR (59.6 kgCO2-eq). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic carpal tunnel release leaves a greater carbon footprint than oCTR, and its environmental impact is dominated by facility-related and central processing-related factors. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic and Decision Analyses IV.

Factors Associated With Implant Removal Following Plate-and-Screw Fixation of Isolated Metacarpal Fractures.

PURPOSE: The incidence of and associated risk factors for implant removal following the plate-and-screw fixation of metacarpal shaft fractures have not been well described. The primary objective of our study was to identify implant-related radiographic parameters associated with implant removal in patients treated with the plate-and-screw fixation of isolated, displaced metacarpal fractures at 2 years of follow-up. The secondary objective of our study was to identify patient-related factors associated with implant removal. METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients who underwent open treatment of a metacarpal fracture with a plate-and-screw construct from January 1, 2000, to April 30, 2019, at 2 level-1 trauma centers was conducted. After the application of exclusion criteria, we identified 138 patients with a single isolated metacarpal fracture of a nonthumb digit treated with open reduction and internal fixation using a plate-and-screw construct. Our study endpoint was the removal of the plate-and-screw construct or a minimum of 2 years of follow-up without the removal of the hardware. Twenty-three patients achieved our study endpoint as determined using their electronic medical records, and 58 additional patients were reached via telephone to confirm their implant removal status. A bivariate analysis was used to screen for factors associated with implant removal, and variables significant in the bivariate screen were included in a multivariable stepwise logistic regression model. RESULTS: Twenty-three out of 81 patients (28%) in our final cohort underwent implant removal by the final follow-up visit. In the logistic regression analysis, the distance between the plate and metacarpophalangeal joint, the distance between the plate and carpometacarpal joint, and active smoking were independently associated with implant removal. CONCLUSIONS: The proximity of metacarpal plates to adjacent joints is associated with subsequent implant removal. Patients may be counseled about the higher risk of implant removal when periarticular metacarpal plating is performed. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognosis IV.

Surgical Demographics of Acute Hand Compartment Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe the demographic, injury-related, and treatment-related characteristics of patients who undergo fasciotomies for acute hand compartment syndrome. METHODS: A cohort of 53 adult patients with acute hand compartment syndrome treated with fasciotomy at 2 tertiary care referral centers over a 10-year time period from January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2015, were retrospectively identified. We reviewed the electronic medical record for patient-related variables (eg, age, sex, smoking status, diabetes mellitus), injury-related variables (eg, mechanism of injury, presence of fractures), and treatment-related variables (eg, compartments released, number of operations, use of split-thickness skin grafts, and time from injury to surgery). RESULTS: The mean age of our cohort was 45 years, and 33 patients (62%) were men. The mechanism of injury varied widely, but the most common causative mechanisms were crush injury (25%), prolonged decubitus (17%), and infection (11%). Associated hand fractures were present in 15 (28%) patients. The surgically released compartments varied; the dorsal interosseous compartments (83%), thenar compartment (75%), and hypothenar compartment (74%) were most frequently released, while the adductor pollicis compartment (43%) and Guyon canal (28%) were least frequently released. CONCLUSIONS: The demographics of acute hand compartment syndrome have evolved in the last 25 years compared with the prior literature, partly as a result of the opioid epidemic leading to a rise in "found down" compartment syndrome. Treating providers should recognize crush injury, prolonged decubitus, and infection as the most common causes of acute hand compartment syndrome.

Utility of Routine Pathologic Examination for Fasciectomy for Dupuytren Contracture.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the routine pathologic examination of surgical specimens obtained during fasciectomy for Dupuytren contracture. METHODS: A total of 376 consecutive patients who underwent surgical limited fasciectomy with the excised tissue sent for histopathologic evaluation were identified. Patients were excluded for miscoded procedures, cases where no tissue was sent for pathologic review, and excisions of nodules only. Repeat surgeries in the same patient during the study period were excluded. The rates of concordant, discrepant, and discordant diagnoses were reported. Discrepant diagnoses were defined as different clinical diagnosis and pathologic diagnosis that did not change clinical management. Discordant diagnoses were defined as a different clinical diagnosis and a pathologic diagnosis that altered the treatment plan. The reference standard for final clinical decision-making was the pathologic diagnosis. RESULTS: The prevalence of concordant diagnoses was 97.1% (365 of 376), of discrepant diagnoses was 2.9% (11 of 376), and there were no discordant diagnoses. Of 376 patients, 43 underwent previous surgical fasciectomy before the study surgery, and pathologic examination was obtained in 10 of these patients. All 10 patients had concordant diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that routine pathologic examination did not alter the future treatment plan for patients who underwent limited fasciectomy. Discrepant diagnoses were encountered infrequently, and rarely in the setting of revision fasciectomy. Discordant diagnoses did not occur. Given the cost associated with pathologic evaluation, this raises the question of whether routine pathologic evaluation is necessary for Dupuytren surgery, where the capability of the treating surgeon to make a clinical diagnosis accurately may render confirmatory pathologic assessment redundant. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic II.

A Framework and Blueprint for Building Capacity in Global Orthopaedic Surgical Outreach.

BACKGROUND: Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from high-income countries provide surgical outreach for patients in low and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, these efforts lack a coordinated measurement of their ability to build capacity. While the World Health Organization and others recommend outreach trips that aim to build the capacity of the local health-care system, no guidance exists on how to accomplish this. The objective of this paper is to establish a framework and a blueprint to guide the operations of NGOs that provide outreach to build orthopaedic surgical capacity in LMICs. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews with 16 orthopaedic surgeons and administrators located in 7 countries (6 LMICs) on the necessary domains for capacity-building; the analysis was guided by a literature review of capacity-building frameworks. We subsequently conducted a modified nominal group technique with a consortium of 10 U.S.-based surgeons with expertise in global surgical outreach, which was member-checked with 8 new stakeholders from 4 LMICs. RESULTS: A framework with 7 domains for capacity-building in global surgical outreach was identified. The domains included professional development, finance, partnerships, governance, community impact, culture, and coordination. These domains were tiered in a hierarchical system to stratify the level of capacity for each domain. A blueprint was developed to guide the operations of an organization seeking to build capacity. CONCLUSIONS: The developed framework identified 7 domains to address when building capacity during global orthopaedic surgical outreach. The framework and its tiered system can be used to assess capacity and guide capacity-building efforts in LMICs. The developed blueprint can inform the operations of NGOs toward activities that focus on building capacity in order to ensure a measured and sustained impact.

Increasing Diversity in Orthopaedics: The Problem, Strategies, and Solutions.

It is important to educate and equip the orthopaedic community with tools to address health care disparities and improve orthopaedic specialty recruitment for racial minorities. How patients and providers are affected by systemic racism in healthcare and what that means in orthopaedic surgery, methods to identify bias and improve access to orthopaedic care for racial minorities, and how to structure a program and department environment to encourage and promote diversity are important topics of discussion.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients who undergo fasciotomies for upper arm compartment syndrome.

PURPOSE: Describe the demographic, injury-related, treatment-related, and outcome-related characteristics of patients who undergo fasciotomies for acute upper arm compartment syndrome (ACS). METHODS: From January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2015, 438 patients with a diagnosis code of upper extremity (including hand, forearm, arm, and shoulder) compartment syndrome at two tertiary care centers were identified. Of those patients, 423 were excluded for a diagnosis other than upper arm ACS or incomplete documentation. A final cohort of 15 adult patients with acute upper arm compartment syndrome treated with fasciotomy was included. The electronic medical record for patient-related variables, lab data, mechanism of injury, presence of additional injuries, and treatment-related variables were reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age of our cohort was 52 years, and 73% were male. The most common mechanisms of injury were blunt trauma (20%), vascular injury (20%), oncologic resection (13%), and infection related to intravenous drug use (13%). Humerus fractures and biceps tendon ruptures were associated with 13 and 27% of the cases, respectively. More than two-thirds of the patients had elevated international normalized ratios (INR). While 27% of cases underwent fasciotomy within 6 h after injury, seven patients (47%) underwent fasciotomy more than 24 h after injury. Six patients had no major deficits, while 7 patients had long-term deficits. CONCLUSION: Upper arm ACS is a potentially devastating condition that can be seen after blunt trauma, vascular injury, oncologic resection, and intravenous drug use. Clinicians should have high suspicion in cases of elevated INR and biceps tendon rupture.