Physician Perspectives on Telemedicine at an Integrated Health System During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: The use of telemedicine (TM) for patient care greatly increased during the COVID pandemic. This study presents data from a single health system regarding physician's perspectives on TM, which could ultimately determine how it is used in the future. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to physicians throughout the health system. Physicians were divided based on the standard level of patient interaction in each specialty, as well as practice locations and years in practice. Physician perspectives were categorized by their opinions on different aspects of telehealth visits. Results: Of 1,794 physicians, 379 (20.7%) responded to the survey. Psychiatrists used TM significantly more than other groups and project the most future use. Surgeons were least likely to incorporate TM in the future. Ability to perform a physical examination via TM differed significantly by specialty and practice environment, but not by years in practice. Frequency of being able to complete a treatment plan via TM differed significantly by specialty, but not by years in practice or practice environment. Overall, 76.3% of physicians reported feeling "satisfied" with performing TM visits. Satisfaction with TM varied significantly by specialty and practice environment, but not by years in practice. There were no significant differences regarding physician expectations on reimbursement or billing for TM visits based on specialty, age, or practice environment. Conclusions: Discrepancies exist among physicians with respect to their satisfaction and expected future use of TM. Consensus may be difficult to reach regarding reimbursement for these visits, and further work is needed to clarify the optimal practice setting for TM.

An Analysis of Formal Patient Complaints, Risk, and Malpractice Events Involving Orthopedic Trauma Surgeons During a 10-Year Period.

Formal patient complaints and malpractice events involving orthopedic trauma surgeons (OTSs) can have substantial career implications. Our purpose was to analyze formal patient complaints, risk events, and malpractice events against OTSs during a 10-year period. We reviewed all formal patient complaints within our institution's patient advocacy database involving 9 fellowship-trained OTSs throughout a decade. Complaints were categorized using the Patient Complaint Analysis System. Potential risk and malpractice events involving the OTSs were recorded. A control group of all patients seen by the surgeons during the study period was created. Demographics between patients with complaints and the control group were analyzed, as were malpractice, risk, and complaint rates between the surgeons. Of 33,770 patients, 136 filed a formal complaint (0.40%). There were 29 malpractice claims and 2 malpractice lawsuits. The care and treatment domain accounted for the highest percentage of complaints (36%), followed by the access and availability domain (26%). Results of the logistic regression analysis indicated that private insurance (odds ratio, 1.58) and operative treatment (odds ratio, 3.65) were significantly associated with complaints. Despite statistically significant differences in the rates of complaint and risk events between surgeons, malpractice events did not differ. The rate of patient complaints within a large orthopedic trauma practice during a 10-year period was 0.40%. Patients with private insurance and those treated operatively were more likely to file a complaint. Whereas complaint rates among surgeons varied, there was no significant difference in the rate of malpractice events. Understanding patient complaint rates and categorizations may allow surgeons to target areas for improvement. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(2):121-127.].

AOA Critical Issues Symposium: I Have an Idea Now What?

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this symposium was to provide guidance to innovators as they progress from the idea stage to the product development stage,to the issuing of a patent, and to bringing a product or innovation to market. Finding strategic partnerships is a critical component in taking a good idea and turning it into a successful business. Protecting intellectual property through patents and developing an exit strategy are also important parts of making innovation profitable. We strive to empower our colleagues who are pursuing and commercializing ideas to help impact the health-care system at large.

The Accident Environment Resulting in Fragility Fractures: A 20-year National Epidemiologic Study.

INTRODUCTION: Fragility fractures are an enduring source of morbidity in the elderly with unfortunate frequency and rising costs. Although the predominant cause of fractures is generally understood to be falls, the exact stratification of the causes of fractures presenting to the emergency department has not yet been described in the literature. We sought out to stratify the primary products associated with fractures in the elderly, further describing the anatomic location of the fracture and setting of injury. METHODS: We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database for all fractures in patients older than 65 years from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2019. We analyzed demographic data, patient disposition, anatomic fracture location, and injury setting for the top 20 causes of fractures. Trends, proportions and distributions were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 901,418 visits to the Emergency Department were reviewed. Of these, 216,657 (24%) were found to have fractures. The top 20 causes for fractures accounted for a total of 173,557 (19%) fractures. The average age in our population was 80.1 years (SD 8.7). Women constituted most of the patients (127,753 [74%]). Flooring (58,347 [33.6%]) was the most common product associated with the cause of fractures, with stairs/steps (29,804 [17.2%]) and bed/bed frames (19,004 [10.9%]) being the second and third most common, respectively. Lower extremity fractures (97,195 [56%]) were more common than upper extremity fractures (63,899 [37%]). The lower trunk (pelvis, femoral neck, and lower spine) was the most common anatomic location of fractures reported (64,132 [37.0%]). Most fractures occurred either at home (113,158 [65.2%]) or at a public setting (31,162 [18.0%]). CONCLUSIONS: Most products associated with fractures among mature adults were related to flooring, stairs, or bedding. This study offers a detailed understanding on the common products associated with fractures in mature adults and aids in discussing preventive measures for lowering fracture risk with patients, communities, and healthcare systems.

The AO trauma CPP bone infection registry: Epidemiology and outcomes of Staphylococcus aureus bone infection.

Bone infection represents a serious complication of orthopedic surgery and Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen. To improve the understanding of host-pathogen interaction, we developed a biospecimen registry (AO Trauma CPP Bone Infection Registry) to collect clinical data, bacterial isolates, and serum from patients with S. aureus bone infection. A prospective multinational registry with a 12-month follow-up was created to include adult patients (18 years or older) with culture-confirmed S. aureus infection in long bones after fracture fixation or arthroplasty. Baseline patient attributes and details on infections and treatments were recorded. Blood and serum samples were obtained at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Patient-reported outcomes were collected at 1, 6, and 12 months. Clinical outcomes were recorded. Two hundred and ninety-two patients with fracture-related infection (n = 157, 53.8%), prosthetic joint infection (n = 86, 29.5%), and osteomyelitis (n = 49, 16.8%) were enrolled. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was detected in 82 patients (28.4%), with the highest proportion found among patients from North American sites (n = 39, 48.8%) and the lowest from Central European sites (n = 18, 12.2%). Patient outcomes improved at 6 and 12 months in comparison to baseline. The SF-36 physical component summary mean (95% confidence interval) score, however, did not reach 50 at 12 months. The cure rate at the end of the study period was 62.1%. Although patients improved with treatment, less than two-thirds were cured in 1 year. At 12-month follow-up, patient-reported outcome scores were worse for patients with methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections.

PPARGC1B Is Associated with Nontraumatic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: A Genomewide Association Study on a Chart-Reviewed Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the influence of heritable factors on the development of nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). We hypothesized that genetic variation is associated with an increased risk of ONFH, and that variants could be identified by a genomewide association study (GWAS). METHODS: Using data collected from the MyCode Community Health Initiative, we identified 118 adult patients with radiographically confirmed nontraumatic ONFH. Study patients were statistically compared with a control population of 56,811 unrelated individuals without a diagnosis of ONFH. A case-control GWAS was performed to identify single nucleotide variants (SNVs) associated with ONFH. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the association of the top SNVs with (cortico)steroid-associated ONFH and ONFH with femoral head collapse. Gene-based analyses were performed to identify potential causal genes. RESULTS: Of the 118 patients, 114 (96.6%) had bilateral ONFH at a median of 5 years of follow-up; 90.7% had at least one 3-week steroid prescription compared with 68.3% in controls. A GWAS identified 4 SNVs reaching genomewide significance. rs116468452 near CACNA1E was significantly associated with ONFH (p = 3.26 × 10, odds ratio [OR] = 5.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.21 to 9.76). rs10953090 in SAMD9 was significantly associated with ONFH in the steroid-exposed subset (p = 2.96 × 10, OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.84 to 3.58). rs112467115 in PI4K1B showed enhanced association in the collapsed subset (p = 7.82 × 10, OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 2.60 to 7.79). Gene-based analyses identified PPARGC1B as the only gene significantly associated with ONFH after Bonferroni correction (p = 1 × 10), with the lead SNV being rs78814834 (OR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.87 to 4.38). CONCLUSIONS: We identified 4 SNVs and 1 gene, PPARGC1B, associated with ONFH. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis for Periprosthetic and Interprosthetic Fractures Associated with Knee Arthroplasty: Surgical Technique and Review of Current Literature.

With the increasing number of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) being performed, the incidence of periprosthetic fractures adjacent to a TKA is rising. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) has proven to be successful for the biological fixation of many fractures. Advances in surgical instrumentation and techniques made MIPO possible for more complex fractures. Periprosthetic fractures are always complicated by problems of soft tissue incisions, scarring, and, of course, the arthroplasty components. MIPO techniques may be particularly suited to these injuries and may make the surgical repair of these fractures safer and more reliable. In this review, case examples are used to define the indications, preoperative planning, implant selection, complications, limitations, and challenges of MIPO for the treatment of periprosthetic fractures about the knee. When considering MIPO for any fracture, we recommend prioritizing an acceptable reduction with biological fixation and resorting to mini-open or open approach when necessary to achieve it. Awareness of the learning curve of the surgical technique, advances in implant designs, the tips and tricks involved, and the limitations of the MIPO is of paramount importance from the orthopaedic surgeon's perspective.

How Often Are Protocols Followed at Level I Trauma Centers?

This study analyzes adherence to an evidence-based protocol established at two level I trauma centers to determine its effect on clinical decision making. The centers' trauma databases were retrospectively studied and 51 patients with long bone fractures were identified who required revascularization and orthopaedic intervention and survived long enough to receive an index intervention. An arterial shunt was the protocol's first step; the preprotocol rate of shunting was 9.5%, while the postprotocol rate of shunting was 3.3%. The protocol's next step was external fixation; among the cases managed without a shunt, external fixation was the index intervention in 63.2% of the preprotocol cases and 31.0% of the postprotocol cases. Definitive vascular surgery was routinely performed before external fixation in 28.6% of the preprotocol cases and 56.7% of the postprotocol cases. This study demonstrates that this evidence-based protocol had no effect on the management of patients with combined orthopaedic and vascular injuries. Protocols should never supersede clinical judgment, but poor protocol adherence may represent a need for trauma centers to routinely review their protocols' compliance and efficacy. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 27(2):109-112, 2018).

Surgical weight-loss to improve functional status trajectories following total knee arthroplasty: SWIFT trial: Rationale, design, and methods.

Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA, also known as total knee replacement) is a highly effective surgical intervention for the restoration of physical function and improving quality of life in patients with disabling knee osteoarthritis. Recent data suggest that obesity is a major risk factor in the pathogenesis and progression of knee osteoarthritis, with increases in body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) directly correlating with the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis. However, recent data also suggest that there are increased risks associated with TKAs when performed in patients with morbid obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m2). Patients with morbid obesity are routinely referred for weight management prior to surgery. Many of these patients fail to meet the recommended weight loss goals prior to TKA, potentially making them ineligible for surgery or placing them at increased risk for sub-optimal outcomes. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the potential therapeutic impact and long-term outcomes of surgically induced weight loss on TKA outcomes. Specifically, these outcomes will include measures of physical function, mobility, and indices of joint function at 1 and 2 years post-TKA compared between extremely obese patients who undergo TKA (Control group, n = 150) and those with TKA performed ~1 year after bariatric surgery (Test group, n = 150). An additional primary endpoint will be the percent of bariatric patients that negate or delay the need for TKA. Secondary endpoints include perioperative outcomes after TKA.

Is "Early Total Care" a Safe and Effective Alternative to "Staged Protocol" for the Treatment of Schatzker IV-VI Tibial Plateau Fractures in Patients Older Than 50 Years?

OBJECTIVES: To compare "Early Total Care" (ETC) with "Staged Protocol" (SP) for the treatment of Schatzker IV-VI tibial plateau fractures in patients older than 50 years regarding safety and effectiveness. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: An academic level 1 US trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-one patients older than 50 years with Schatzker grade IV-VI tibial plateau fractures were included. INTERVENTION: Fifty-three patients were treated under SP with immediate external fixation followed by definitive internal fixation. Twenty-eight patients were treated under ETC with immediate internal fixation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Comparison of perioperative findings, time to bony and clinical union, soft-tissue and bony complications, radiological outcome, and secondary procedures. RESULTS: The 2 groups were comparable without significant difference regarding age, sex, side of involvement, body mass index, smoking status, American Society of Anesthesiologist classification, associated injuries, comorbidities, follow-up duration, and fracture classification. No statistically significant difference was found regarding the perioperative complications, quality of reduction, time to union, Rasmussen score at union or at the final follow-up, soft-tissue/bony complications, and the rate of the secondary procedures. CONCLUSION: ETC seems to be a safe, efficacious, and effective alternative to the SP for the treatment of some Schatzker IV-VI fractures in patients older than 50 years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

External validation of the clinical indications of computed tomography (CT) of the head in patients with low-energy geriatric hip fractures.

INTRODUCTION: On evaluation of the clinical indications of computed tomography (CT) scan of head in the patients with low-energy geriatric hip fractures, Maniar et al. identified physical evidence of head injury, new onset confusion, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)<15 as predictive risk factors for acute findings on CT scan. The goal of the present study was to validate these three criteria as predictive risk factors for a larger population in a wider geographical distribution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients ≥65 years of age with low-energy hip fractures from 6 trauma centers in a wide geographical distribution in the United States were included in this study. In addition to the relevant patient demographic findings, the above mentioned three criteria and acute findings on head CT scan were gathered as categorical variables. RESULTS: In total 799 patients from 6 centers were included in the study. There were 67 patients (8.3%) with positive acute findings on head CT scan. All of these patients (100%) had at least one criteria positive. There were 732 patients who had negative acute findings on head CT scan with 376 patients (51%) having at least one criteria positive and 356 patients (49%) having no criteria positive. Sensitivity of 100% and negative predictive value of 100% was observed to predict negative acute findings on head CT scan when all the three criteria were negative. CONCLUSION: With the observed 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive value, physical evidence of acute head injury, acute retrograde amnesia, and GCS<15 can be recommended as a clinical decision guide for the selective use of head CT scans in geriatric patients with low energy hip fractures. All the patients with positive acute head CT findings can be predicted in the presence of at least one positive criterion. In addition, if these criteria are used as a pre-requisite to order the head CT, around 50% of the unnecessary head CT scans can be avoided.

Obesity Is Associated With High Perioperative Complications Among Surgically Treated Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Femur.

OBJECTIVES: To document the complications among obese patients who underwent surgical fixation for intertrochanteric femur (IT) fractures and to compare with nonobese patients. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Four level I trauma centers. PATIENTS: 1078 IT fracture patients. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient and fracture characteristics, surgical duration, surgical delay intraoperative and postoperative complications, inpatient mortality, and length of stay. METHOD: A retrospective review at 4 academic level I trauma centers was conducted to identify skeletally mature patients who underwent surgical fixation of intertrochanteric fractures between June 2008 and December 2014. Descriptive data, injury characteristics, OTA fracture classification, and associated medical comorbidities were documented. The outcomes measured included in-hospital complications, length of stay, rate of blood transfusion, change in hemoglobin levels, operative time, and wound infection. RESULTS: Of 1078 unique patients who were treated for an IT fracture, 257 patients had a Body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. Patients with a high BMI (≥30) had a significantly lower mean age (73 vs. 77 years, P < 0.0001), higher percentage of high-energy injuries (18% vs. 9%, P = 0.0004), greater mean duration of surgery (96 vs. 86 minutes, P = 0.02), and higher mean length of stay (6.5 vs. 5.9 days, P = 0.004). The high-BMI group (n = 257) had significantly higher percentages of patients with complications overall (43% vs. 28%, P < 0.0001), respiratory complications (11% vs. 3%, P < 0.0001), electrolyte abnormalities (4% vs. 2%, P = 0.01), and sepsis (4% vs. 1%, P = 0.002). Patients with BMI ≥ 40 had a much higher rate of respiratory complications (18%) and wound complications (5%) than obese (BMI: 30-39.9) and nonobese patients (BMI < 30). CONCLUSION: Intertrochanteric hip fracture patients with a BMI of >30 kg/m are much more likely to sustain systemic complications including respiratory complications, electrolyte abnormalities, and sepsis. In addition, morbidly obese patients are more likely to sustain respiratory complications and wound infections than obese (BMI: 30-39.9 kg/m) and nonobese patients (BMI: < 30 kg/m). The findings from this study can help direct surgeons in the counseling to obese patients and their family, and perhaps increase hospital reimbursement for this group of patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Outcomes after orthopedic trauma.

BACKGROUND: Clinical orthopedic research needs better ability to assess patient expectations with regard to orthopedic trauma surgery outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate to which extent patient expectations prior to surgery could be met after surgery. METHODS: Patients (≥18 years) with surgical ankle fractures were prospectively recruited at 5 orthopedic trauma clinics in the United States (USA), Canada, and Brazil and followed up for 12 months. Patients were asked to complete a previously validated trauma expectation factor (TEF) questionnaire prior to surgery and a trauma outcome measure (TOM) 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: At 1 year, 155 patients had provided complete records. Almost half (49%; 76/155) had a 1-year TOM score equaling or exceeding their preoperative TEF score (95% CI: 41-57%). The remaining scores failed to meet patient expectations. TOM scores matched or exceeded patient expectations for 33% of patients in the USA and 47% in Canada, but for 69% in Brazil ( p = 0.001 (USA); p = 0.024 (Canada)). This geographical effect was attributable to higher patient expectations in North America as compared to Brazil (average TEF scores: 36 (North America) versus 31 (Brazil); p < 0.001). Patients with lower household income or smokers were more likely to be satisfied with their treatment ( p = 0.02 and p = 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, patients with severe type C fractures had better rates of satisfaction (62%) than patients with simpler B (50%) or type A fractures (33%) ( p = 0.01 [C type versus A type]). CONCLUSIONS: Orthopedic surgeons have difficulty in meeting or exceeding presurgical patient expectations of long-term outcomes for ankle fracture surgery. This study provides evidence that culture, geography, and surgeon-patient communication have considerable influence on patient expectations.

Improvement in osteoporosis detection in a fracture liaison service with integration of a geriatric hip fracture care program.

INTRODUCTION: Care gaps have been identified in the treatment of osteoporosis after the occurrence of a fragility hip fracture. HiROC (High Risk Osteoporosis Clinic) is a fracture liaison service implemented at our institution. In ProvenCare geriatric hip fracture care program at our institution pre-set orders for the inpatient HiROC consults were prescribed. We hypothesized that there will be a significant increase in the rate of enrollment of patients in the HiROC program after the integration of the pre-set orders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The trauma database at a level-I trauma center was reviewed retrospectively for the charts of patients >50 years of age with fragility intertrochanteric fractures. Patients not treated under the geriatric hip fracture care program and patients treated under the geriatric hip fracture care program were identified and reviewed for the enrollment in HiROC and subsequent follow up. RESULTS: Out of 589 patients treated before the implementation of ProvenCare, 443 patients (75%) were enrolled in HiROC at the index consult. In comparison, out of 153 patients treated after the implementation of ProvenCare, 131 patients (85.6%) were enrolled in HiROC at the index consult. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Our experience shows that the occurrence of a fragility intertrochanteric fracture can be effectively utilized for the detection and initiation of treatment of osteoporosis. With the implementation of pre-set orders in the geriatric hip fracture care program significantly better enrollment can be achieved.

The Role of Radiographs and Office Visits in the Follow-Up of Healed Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures: An Economic Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role and the necessity of radiographs and office visits obtained during follow-up of intertrochanteric hip injuries. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Two level I trauma centers. PATIENTS: Four hundred sixty-five elderly patients who were surgically treated for an intertrochanteric fracture of the femur at 2 level I trauma centers between January 2009 and August 2014 were retrospectively identified from orthopaedic trauma databases. INTERVENTION: Analysis of all healed intertrochanteric hip fractures, including demographic characteristics, quality of reduction, time of healing, number of office visits, number of radiographs obtained, and each radiograph for fracture alignment, implant position or any pathological changes. RESULTS: The surgical fixation of 465 fractures included 155 short nails (33%), 232 long nails (50%), 69 sliding hip screw devices (15%), 7 trochanteric stabilizing plates (1.5%), and 2 proximal femur locking plates (0.5%). The average fracture healing time was 12.8 weeks and the average follow-up was 81.2 weeks. Radiographs of any patient obtained after the fracture had healed did not reveal any changes, including fracture alignment or implant position and hardware failure. In 9 patients, pathological changes, including arthritis (3), avascular necrosis (3), and ectopic ossification (3) were noted. The average number of elective office visits and radiographs obtained after the fracture had healed were 2.8 (range: 1-8) and 2.6 (range: 1-8), respectively. According to Medicare payments to the institution, these radiographs and office visits account for a direct cost of $360.81 and $192, respectively, per patient. CONCLUSION: The current study strongly suggests that there is a negligible role for radiographs and office visits during the follow-up of a well-healed hip fracture when there is documented evidence of radiographic and clinical healing with acceptable fracture alignment and implant position. Implementation of this simple measure will help in reducing the cost of care and inconvenience to elderly patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Posterior Malleolar Fractures Associated With Tibial Shaft Fractures and Sequence of Fixation.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate posterior malleolar injuries associated with nailed tibial fractures and to determine the quality of reduction based on the sequence of fixation in associated fracture patterns. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS: 1113 tibia fractures treated with an intramedullary nail at 3 level I trauma centers. INTERVENTION: Tibial shaft fractures with posterior malleolar injury were analyzed regarding type of fracture, mechanism of injury, energy of injury, fracture characteristic, surgical characteristics including sequence of fixation, obvious intraoperative displacement of the posterior malleolar fragment, and the quality of reduction. One group ("malleolus-first") consisted of patients in whom the posterior malleolus was fixed before tibial nailing and the other group ("tibia-first") included patients in whom tibial nailing was done before posterior malleolus fixation. OUTCOMES MEASURED: Intraoperative displacement, quality of reduction. RESULTS: Ninety-six of 1113 (9%) nailed tibial shaft fracture patients had a concomitant posterior malleolus fracture (9%). Of the 96 posterior malleolar fracture patients, 70 patients were operatively treated (73%). In the malleolus-first group (54 patients), intraoperative displacement of the posterior malleolar fragment was observed in 1 patient, and 1 case of poor reduction of the posterior malleolar fragment was observed (2%). In the tibia-first group (16 patients), obvious intraoperative displacement of the posterior malleolar fragment was observed in 5 patients (31%), and poor reduction of the posterior malleolar fragment was observed in 7 patients (44%). These percentages of patients with poor quality of reduction were statistically significantly different (p ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION: Many low-energy tibia fractures with a spiral configuration do have an associated posterior malleolus fracture. In order to avoid intraoperative displacement and poor reduction, we recommend fixation of the posterior malleolar fragment before nailing of the tibia in associated fracture pattern. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Nail Length in the Management of Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Femur.

Intramedullary devices are used increasingly to treat intertrochanteric femur fractures, especially those with unstable patterns. In spite of the considerable use of nails in the management of these fractures, opinions differ about the correct length of intramedullary nail. Long nails were developed to address the risk of diaphyseal fracture associated with earlier short nail designs and to extend the indications for use to include diaphyseal and subtrochanteric fractures. Several recent studies, however, have found no differences between modern short nails and long nails with regard to union and complication rates. In the absence of existing guidelines, the treating surgeon's preference and fracture characteristics continue to influence the decision of whether to use short nails or long nails. The surgeon needs to consider the fracture configuration and related factors, including whether osteoporosis is present and the cost and risk of revision surgery, when selecting the appropriate nail length.

I've Been Served Now What?

The interplay between law and medicine is a complex but necessary part of medical education and encompasses ethics, public policy, and professional liability. As one facet of the law, being "served" in this context can be an intimidating and confusing event for most orthopaedic surgeons. Having basic knowledge of the life of a lawsuit is critical to provide comfort during an often unfomfortable journey.