Treatment Monitoring of a Patient with Synchronous Metastatic Angiosarcoma and Breast Cancer Using ctDNA.

Angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive type of soft-tissue sarcoma with high propensity to metastasize. For patients with metastatic angiosarcoma, prognosis is dismal and treatment options are limited. To improve the outcomes, identifying patients with poor treatment response at an earlier stage is imperative, enabling alternative therapy. Consequently, there is a need for improved methods and biomarkers for treatment monitoring. Quantification of circulating tumor-DNA (ctDNA) is a promising approach for patient-specific monitoring of treatment response. In this case report, we demonstrate that quantification of ctDNA using SiMSen-Seq was successfully utilized to monitor a patient with metastatic angiosarcoma. By quantifying ctDNA levels using 25 patient-specific mutations in blood plasma throughout surgery and palliative chemotherapy, we predicted the outcome and monitored the clinical response to treatment. This was accomplished despite the additional complexity of the patient having a synchronous breast cancer. The levels of ctDNA showed a superior correlation to the clinical outcome compared with the radiological evaluations. Our data propose a promising approach for personalized biomarker analysis to monitor treatment in angiosarcomas, with potential applicability to other cancers and for patients with synchronous malignancies.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection in Ankle Fractures: An Observational Study of 480 Patients in Sweden.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a frequently reported complication after ankle fracture surgery. To our knowledge, no study has been conducted on its incidence in Sweden. The present study aimed to determine the incidence of, risk factors for, and most common causative pathogen of SSI. METHODS: Patients who underwent primary surgery for an ankle fracture between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2019 at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital were identified. Data on potential SSI risk factors and clinical outcome (infected/non-infected) were retrieved from medical records. Cox regression analysis and descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: Of the 480 reviewed patients, 49 developed SSI (10.2%), of which 35 (7.3%) were superficial and 14 (2.9%) were deep. Open fractures (p < 0.001) and age (p = 0.016) were statistically significant risk factors for SSI in the univariate analysis. In the multivariable analysis, only open fracture was statistically significant (HR = 3.0; 95% C.I. = 1.3-6.9, p = 0.013). Cases of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were most common (n = 12, 24.5%). Methicillin resistance was uncommon (n = 2, 4.1%). CONCLUSIONS: An incidence of 10.2% was established, which is comparable to international findings. Infection monitoring is an important part of tackling the global challenge of antibiotic resistance. Future prospective studies to further establish risk factors are warranted to decrease the incidence of SSI.

Acetabular fractures: Epidemiology and mortality based on 2,132 fractures from the Swedish Fracture Register.

Aims: To describe the epidemiology of acetabular fractures including patient characteristics, injury mechanisms, fracture patterns, treatment, and mortality. Methods: We retrieved information from the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) on all patients with acetabular fractures, of the native hip joint in the adult skeleton, sustained between 2014 and 2020. Study variables included patient age, sex, injury date, injury mechanism, fracture classification, treatment, and mortality. Results: In total, 2,132 patients with acetabular fractures from the SFR were included in the study. The majority of the patients were male (62%) and aged over 70 years old (62%). For patients aged > 70 years, the 30-day mortality was 8% and one-year mortality 24%. For patients aged ≤ 70 years, the 30-day mortality was 0.2% and one-year mortality 2%. Low-energy injuries (63%) and anterior wall fractures (20%) were most common. Treatment was most often non-surgical (75%). Conclusion: The majority of patients who sustain an acetabular fracture are elderly (> 70 years), of male sex, and the fracture most commonly occurs after a simple, low-energy fall. Non-surgical treatment is chosen in the majority of acetabular fracture patients. The one-year mortality for elderly patients with acetabular fracture is similar to the mortality after hip fracture, and a similar multidisciplinary approach to care for these patients should be considered.

How common are refractures in childhood?

Aims: The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of refractures among children, following fractures of all long bones, and to identify when the risk of refracture decreases. Methods: All patients aged under 16 years with a fracture that had occurred in a bone with ongoing growth (open physis) from 1 May 2015 to 31 December 2020 were retrieved from the Swedish Fracture Register. A new fracture in the same segment within one year of the primary fracture was regarded as a refracture. Fracture localization, sex, lateral distribution, and time from primary fracture to refracture were analyzed for all long bones. Results: Of 40,090 primary fractures, 348 children (0.88%) sustained a refracture in the same long bone segment. The diaphyseal forearm was the long bone segment most commonly affected by refractures (n = 140; 3.4%). The median time to refracture was 147 days (interquartile range 82 to 253) in all segments of the long bones combined. The majority of the refractures occurred in boys (n = 236; 67%), and the left side was the most common side to refracture (n = 220; 62%). The data in this study suggest that the risk of refracture decreases after 180 days in the diaphyseal forearm, after 90 days in the distal forearm, and after 135 days in the diaphyseal tibia. Conclusion: Refractures in children are rare. However, different fractured segments run a different threat of refracture, with the highest risk associated with diaphyseal forearm fractures. The data in this study imply that children who have sustained a distal forearm fracture should avoid hazardous activities for three months, while children with a diaphyseal forearm fracture should avoid these activities for six months, and for four and a half months if they have sustained a diaphyseal tibia fracture.

High Risk for Persistent Peri-Prosthetic Infection and Amputation in Mega-Prosthesis Reconstruction.

A peri-prosthetic joint infection is a feared complication after mega-prosthesis reconstruction of large bone defects. The current study investigates how patients operated with a mega-prosthesis due to sarcoma, metastasis, or trauma, are affected by a deep infection focusing on re-operations, risk for persistent infection, arthrodesis, or subsequent amputation. Time to infection, causative bacterial strains, mode of treatment and length of hospital stay are also reported. A total of 114 patients with 116 prostheses were evaluated, a median of 7.6 years (range 3.8-13.7) after surgery, of which 35 (30%) were re-operated due to a peri-prosthetic infection. Of the infected patients, the prosthesis was still in place in 51%, 37% were amputated, and 9% had an arthrodesis. The infection was persistent in 26% of the infected patients at follow-up. The mean total length of hospital stay was 68 (median 60) days and the mean number of reoperations was 8.9 (median 6.0). The mean length of antibiotic treatment was 340 days (median 183). Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequent bacterial agents isolated in deep cultures. No MRSA- or ESBL-producing Enterobacterales were found but vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium was isolated in one patient. In summary, there is a high risk for peri-prosthetic infection in mega-prostheses, resulting in persistent infection or amputation relatively often.

Age, sex, primary tumor type and site are associated with mortality after pathological fractures: an observational study of 1453 patients from the Swedish Fracture Register.

BACKGROUND: Pathological fractures are challenging in orthopedic surgery and oncology, with implications for the patient's quality of life, mobility and mortality. The efficacy of oncological treatment on life expectancy for cancer patients has improved, but the metastatic pattern for bone metastases and survival is diverse for different tumor types. This study aimed to evaluate survival in relation to age, sex, primary tumor and site of the pathological fractures. METHODS: All pathological fractures due to cancer between 1 September 2014 and 31 December 2021 were included in this observational study from the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR). Data on age, sex, tumor type, fracture site and mortality were collected. RESULTS: A total of 1453 patients with pathological fractures were included (48% women, median age 73, range 18-100 years). Unknown primary tumors were the most common primary site (n = 308). The lower extremities were the most common site of pathological fractures. Lung cancer had the shortest median survival of 78 days (range 54-102), and multiple myeloma had the longest median survival of 432 days (range 232-629). The site at the lower extremity had the shortest (187 days, range 162-212), and the spine had the longest survival (386 days, range 211-561). Age, sex, primary type and site of the pathological fractures were all associated with mortality. INTERPRETATION: Age, sex, primary tumor type and site of pathological fractures were associated with survival. Survival time is short and correlated with primary tumor type, with lung cancer as the strongest negative predictor of survival.

Epidemiology of more than 50,000 ankle fractures in the Swedish Fracture Register during a period of 10 years.

BACKGROUND: Despite being one of the most common types of fracture, there is a lack of epidemiological studies involving ankle fractures of all kinds. Since 2012, the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) has prospectively collected data on surgically and non-surgically treated ankle fractures. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology of ankle fractures between 2012 and 2022. METHODS: All ankle fractures registered in the SFR between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2022 in patients aged 16 years or older were included. Information on age, sex, mechanism of injury, fracture classification according to AO/OTA and high- or low-energy trauma was retrieved from the SFR. RESULTS: During the study period, 56,439 patients sustained 57,443 ankle fractures. Women (61%) were more commonly affected than men (39%). The mean age at the time of injury was 55 years. Men were found to be younger at the time of injury compared with women. Women were found to sustain open fractures more frequently, whereas the men more frequently sustained high-energy trauma. The most common mechanism of injury for all ankle fractures and for each AO/OTA44 fracture group separately was a simple fall. A seasonal variation in ankle fractures was found, where the number of ankle fractures peaked during the between November and March. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the epidemiology of all AO/OTA types of ankle fractures. We have demonstrated that most ankle fractures are caused by a simple fall and occur during wintertime. Women are more commonly affected than men and are older at the time of injury. These findings indicate that age-related skeletal fragility, as well as an increasing risk of simple falls in the elderly, may be risk factors for ankle fractures. This study will contribute to the planning of primary prevention for ankle fractures.

Fractures of the lateral malleolus - a retrospective before-and-after study of treatment and resource utilization following the implementation of a structured treatment algorithm.

BACKGROUND: In 2015 a study of isolated lateral malleolar fractures (AO/OTA44-B1) treated at Sahlgrenska University hospital (SU) during two consecutive years revealed large-scale variation in the choice of treatment and planned follow-up. The study resulted in the development of a structured treatment algorithm (TA) for ankle fractures. We investigated the effects of this well-implemented TA on the classification, treatment and follow-up of lateral malleolar fractures. METHODS: The current study is an uncontrolled, non-randomized, retrospective before-and-after study comparing a group of AO/OTA44-B1 fractures treated at SU before the introduction of the TA for ankle fractures (1 April 2012 to 31 March 2014) with a group treated after the introduction of the TA (1 September 2017 to 31 August 2019). RESULTS: In all the studied parameters regarding treatment for AO/OTA44-B1 fractures, a statistically significant change was seen after the introduction of the TA. Surgical treatment reduced from 32% (95% CI 27.5 - 36.5) pre-TA to 10% (95% CI 6.9 - 13.1) post-TA, while the number of patients permitted full weight-bearing increased from 41% (95% CI 36.3 - 45.7) to 84% (95% CI 80.1 - 87.9). CONCLUSIONS: A thoroughly implemented treatment algorithm can reduce the number of surgical treatments for stable ankle fractures. The current study demonstrates that a structured treatment algorithm can standardize the management of ankle fractures and make decisions less dependent on the surgeon's discretion.

The Swedish Fracture Register - ten years of experience and 600,000 fractures collected in a National Quality Register.

BACKGROUND: Before the creation of the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR), there was no national quality register that prospectively collects data regarding all types of fractures regardless of treatment in an emergency setting. Observational data on fractures registered in a sustainable way may provide invaluable tools for quality improvements in health care and research. DESCRIPTION: Ten years after its implementation, the Swedish Fracture Register has 100% coverage among orthopaedic and trauma departments in Sweden. The completeness of registrations reached in 2020 69-96% for hip fractures at the different departments, with the majority reporting a completeness above 85%. The Swedish Fracture Register is a fully web-based national quality register created and run by orthopaedic professionals, with financial support from public healthcare providers and the government. All users have full access to both the registration platform and all aggregated statistics in real time. The web-based platform was created for use in health quality registers and it has easily gained acceptance among users. The register has gradually developed by the addition of more fracture types and skeletal parts. Research activity is high and 31 scientific publications have been published since 2016. The strategy from the start was to publish validation data and basic epidemiological data. However, over the past few years, publications on outcomes, such as re-operations and mortality, have been published and four register-based, randomised, controlled trials are ongoing. CONCLUSION: It is possible to create a fracture register, to gain professional acceptance and to collect fracture data in a sustainable way on a national level if the platform is easy to use. Such a platform can also be used as a randomisation platform for prospective studies.

The risk for complications and reoperations with the use of mega prostheses in bone reconstructions.

BACKGROUND: Despite a relatively high risk for complications and reoperations, mega prostheses are considered a useful method for reconstruction of bone defects after tumour resections. The total number of reoperations has not previously been described, and little is known about the complication rate of mega prostheses used for other indications than primary bone tumours. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The current retrospective observational study aimed to describe the patient population treated with mega prostheses at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden, during 14 consecutive years, reports the complications leading to reoperation and the number and type of reoperations for different kinds of complications, and reports on implant survival. METHODS: All patients treated with a mega prosthesis, regardless of surgical indication and anatomical location, at Sahlgrenska University Hospital during the period 2006-2019 were identified. The medical records for all patients were reviewed. Data regarding age, sex, diagnosis, site of disease, bone resection length, chemotherapeutical treatment and postoperative complications including infections and oncological outcome, were collected and evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen patients treated with 116 mega prostheses were included in the study. The predominant indication for primary surgery with a mega prosthesis was sarcoma of either bone or soft tissue (53.5% of the patients). In total 51 prostheses (44%) did not require any reoperation after the primary surgery. The most common reason for reoperation was infection (22%) followed by soft tissue failure (13%). The risk for prosthetic infection was significantly higher in the group of patients operated due to sarcoma compared with all other indications for surgery regardless of surgical site (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The study reveals a total reoperation rate of 56% after reconstructive surgery using mega prostheses. Despite the high reoperation rates, at the end of the study period, 83% of the patients had still a functioning prosthesis. Therefore, the use of mega prostheses can be considered a reliable method for reconstruction of large bone defects in selected patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

No change in reoperation rates despite shifting treatment trends: a population-based study of 4,070 proximal humeral fractures.

Background and purpose - Clear and acknowledged treatment algorithms for proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) are lacking. Nevertheless, a change in treatment trends, including a change towards more reversed shoulder arthroplasties (RSA), has been observed during recent years. We examined the effect of these changes on reoperation rates.Patients and methods - Between 2011 and 2017, 4,070 PHFs treated at Sahlgrenska University Hospital were registered prospectively in the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) and followed up until 2019 (mean follow-up of 4.5 years). Data on all reoperations were gathered from the SFR and from medical records.Results - The majority of PHFs were treated non-surgically and the proportion increased slightly, but not statistically significantly, during the study period (from 76% to 79%). Of the surgically treated fractures, the proportion fixed with a plate decreased from 47% to 25%, while the use of RSA increased 9-fold (from 2.0% to 19%). 221 patients underwent 302 reoperations. For those primarily treated surgically, the reoperation rate was 17%. Among treatment modalities, plate fixation was associated with the highest reoperation rate (21%). Rate of reoperations remained constant during the study period, both for the entire study cohort and for the surgically treated patientsInterpretation - During the study period, treatment changes that are in accordance with recently published treatment recommendations were observed. However, these treatment changes did not affect the reoperation rate. Treatment with a plate, intramedullary nail, or hemiarthroplasty was associated with the highest reoperation rates. The fact that almost every 4th surgical procedure was a reoperation indicates a need for further improvement of modern treatment concepts for PHFs.

Validity of classification of distal radial fractures in the Swedish fracture register.

BACKGROUND: Distal radial fractures (DRF) are one of the most common fractures with a small peak in incidence among young males and an increasing incidence with age among women. The reliable classification of fractures is important, as classification provides a framework for communicating effectively on clinical cases. Fracture classification is also a prerequisite for data collection in national quality registers and for clinical research. Since its inception in 2011, the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) has collected data on more than 490,000 fractures. The attending physician classifies the fracture according to the AO/OTA classification upon registration in the SFR. Previous studies regarding the classification of distal radial fractures (DRF) have shown difficulties in inter- and intra-observer agreement. This study aims to assess the accuracy of the registration of DRF in adults in the SFR as it is carried out in clinical practice. METHODS: A reference group of three experienced orthopaedic trauma surgeons classified 128 DRFs, randomly retrieved from the SFR, at two classification sessions 6 weeks apart. The classification the reference group agreed on was regarded as the gold standard classification for each fracture. The accuracy of the classification in the SFR was defined as the agreement between the gold standard classification and the classification in the SFR. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was evaluated and the degree of agreement was calculated as Cohen's kappa. RESULTS: The accuracy of the classification of DRF in the SFR was kappa = 0.41 (0.31-0.51) for the AO/OTA subgroup/group and kappa = 0.48 (0.36-0.61) for the AO/OTA type. This corresponds to moderate agreement. Inter-observer agreement ranged from kappa 0.22-0.48 for the AO/OTA subgroup/group and kappa 0.48-0.76 for the AO/OTA type. Intra-observer agreement ranged from kappa 0.52-0.70 for the AO/OTA subgroup/group and kappa 0.71-0.76 for the AO/OTA type. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows moderate accuracy in the classification of DRF in the SFR. Although the degree of accuracy for DRF appears to be lower than for other fracture locations, the accuracy shown in the current study is similar to that in previous studies of DRF.

Completeness in the Swedish Fracture Register and the Swedish National Patient Register: An Assessment of Humeral Fracture Registrations.

PURPOSE: Register-based clinical research is important. However, it is essential that the collected data are reliable for the registers to be a valuable source of information. This study evaluated the quality of humeral fracture data in the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) and in the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR). Furthermore, a model for improved case ascertainment was developed for future validation processes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from the NPR and SFR for all individuals aged ≥16 years with an acute humeral fracture ICD-code treated at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The true number of humeral fractures ("gold standard") was determined by cross-linkage between the two registers and a medical charts review. The completeness of registrations in each register was measured as the proportion of registrations compared with the gold standard, and accuracy was measured as positive predictive values (PPV). RESULTS: The NPR demonstrated a high level of completeness (97%) and lower accuracy (PPV 70%) for acute humeral fractures, whereas the SFR had slightly lower completeness (88%) but perfect accuracy (PPV 100%). The most common systematic error was the registration of re-admissions as acute fractures in the NPR (84% of all erroneous registrations). With this knowledge, an adjustment model for NPR data was constructed to increase the accuracy of fracture registrations (PPV 92%) without excluding valid registrations. CONCLUSION: Data from the NPR tend to overestimate the true number of fractures, and proper case selection is needed in order for the data to function as a solid basis for epidemiological research and healthcare planning. In contrast, the SFR constitutes a complete, accurate and efficient source of information.

Does the Covid-19 pandemic affect ankle fracture incidence? Moderate decrease in Sweden.

Background and purpose - While many other countries implemented strict regulations and restrictions for their citizens during the 1st wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sweden maintained a more restrained approach. The Swedish Public Health Agency emphasized individual responsibility and pushed for behavioral changes. With strict lockdown a 77% decrease in ankle fracture incidence has been reported. We investigated whether there was a change in the incidence of ankle fractures seen at 7 selected hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic 2020.Patients and methods - Data on all ankle fractures treated at 7 selected departments during March 15 through June 15, 2020, and for the same period in the preceding 3 years (2017-2019), was retrieved from the Swedish Fracture Register. The number of fractures during the whole period and subsequent 30-day periods were compared between 2020 and 2017-2019, including subgroup analyses of age and sex.Results - The monthly rate of ankle fractures was reduced by 14% in 2020 (139 fractures) compared with 2017-2019 (161 fractures). Women had a 16% decrease and patients aged > 70 years had a 29% decrease. During the 1st 30-day period, a 26% decrease in fractures was seen.Interpretation - During the 1st wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, a moderate decline in the number of ankle fractures was seen. Women and patients aged > 70 years displayed the greatest reduction. The greatest reduction in incidence of fractures was seen during the 1st 30-day period. This indicates greater adherence to government recommendations regarding social distancing in these subgroups and during the 1st month of the pandemic. Changes in ankle fracture incidence may be a measure of lockdown extent.

Treatment and re-operation rates in one thousand and three hundred tibial fractures from the Swedish Fracture Register.

PURPOSE: Approximately, 50 persons per 100,000 per year sustain a tibial fracture. There is, however, a lack of large cohort studies that describe the treatment and re-operation frequencies of tibial fractures. The aim of this study was to describe the treatment and re-operation rates of tibial fractures in all segments of the tibia. METHODS: Data related to all patients aged 16 and above treated for tibial fractures (ICD-10 S82.10-31) at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in 2011-2015 were extracted from the Swedish Fracture Register. To make sure all re-operations were included in the study, the operation planning system was checked for all patients included in the study. RESULTS: The study comprised 1371 tibial fractures - 712 proximal, 417 diaphyseal and 242 distal tibial fractures. Among the proximal and distal tibial fractures, plate fixation was the most commonly used surgical method, whereas among tibial shaft fractures, an intramedullary nail was the most commonly used surgical method. Almost 30% (29.8%) of all surgically treated tibial fractures underwent re-operation. Among proximal tibial fractures, 24.0% underwent re-operation; tibial shaft fractures 37.0% and distal tibial fractures 26.8%. Re-operations due to infection were more or less equally common in all segments (3.9-5.4%). CONCLUSION: This study describes the treatment and re-operation rates after tibial fractures in a cohort of 1371 tibial fractures at Sahlgrenska University Hospital during a period of 5 years. The study shows an overall re-operation rate of 29.8% for fractures in all segments of the tibia.

Fracture incidence in adults in relation to age and gender: A study of 27,169 fractures in the Swedish Fracture Register in a well-defined catchment area.

Studies on fracture incidence have mostly been based on retrospectively registered data from local hospital databases. The Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) is a national quality register collecting data prospectively on fractures, at the time of care-seeking. In the present study the incidence of all different fractures, regardless of location, in adults' ≥ 16 years treated at the only care provider for patients with fractures within a catchment area of approximately 550,000 inhabitants, during 2015‒2018 are described. Age, gender, and fracture location (according to AO/OTA classification) was used for the analyses and presentation of fracture incidences. During the 4-year study period, 23,917 individuals sustained 27,169 fractures. The mean age at fracture was 57.9 years (range 16‒105 years) and 64.5% of the fractures occurred in women. The five most common fractures accounted for more than 50% of all fractures: distal radius, proximal femur, ankle, proximal humerus, and metacarpal fractures. Seven fracture incidence distribution groups were created based on age- and gender-specific incidence curves, providing visual and easily accessible information on fracture distribution. This paper reports on incidence of all fracture locations based on prospectively collected data in a quality register. The knowledge on fracture incidence related to age and gender may be of importance for the planning of orthopaedic care, involving both in- and out-patients as well as allocating surgical resources. Further, this might be useful for organizing preventive measures, especially in countries with similar socioeconomic structure and fracture burden.

Mortality after a proximal humeral fracture.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to investigate the mortality following a proximal humeral fracture. Data from a large population-based fracture register were used to quantify 30-day, 90-day, and one-year mortality rates after a proximal humeral fracture. Associations between the risk of mortality and the type of fracture and its treatment were assessed, and mortality rates were compared between patients who sustained a fracture and the general population. METHODS: All patients with a proximal humeral fracture recorded in the Swedish Fracture Register between 2011 and 2017 were included in the study. Those who died during follow-up were identified via linkage with the Swedish Tax Agency population register. Age- and sex-adjusted controls were retrieved from Statistics Sweden and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 18,452 patients who sustained a proximal humeral fracture were included. Their mean age was 68.8 years (16 to 107) and the majority (13,729; 74.4%) were women. A total of 310 (1.68%) died within 30 days, 615 (3.33%) within 90 days, and 1,445 (7.83%) within one year after the injury. The mortality in patients sustaining a fracture and the general population was 1,680/100,000 and 326/100,000 at 30 days, 3,333/100,000 and 979/100,000 at 90 days, and 7,831/100,000 and 3,970/100,000 at one year, respectively. Increasing age, male sex, low-energy trauma, type A fracture, concomitant fractures, and non-surgical treatment were all independent factors associated with an increased risk of mortality. CONCLUSION: Compared with the general population, patients sustaining a proximal humeral fracture have a significantly higher risk of mortality up to one year after the injury. The risk of mortality is five times higher during the first 30 days, diminishing to two times higher at one year, suggesting that these patients constitute a strikingly frail group, in whom appropriate immediate management and medical optimization are required. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(11):1484-1490.

Mortality after a proximal humeral fracture.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to investigate the mortality following a proximal humeral fracture. Data from a large population-based fracture register were used to quantify 30-day, 90-day, and one-year mortality rates after a proximal humeral fracture. Associations between the risk of mortality and the type of fracture and its treatment were assessed, and mortality rates were compared between patients who sustained a fracture and the general population. METHODS: All patients with a proximal humeral fracture recorded in the Swedish Fracture Register between 2011 and 2017 were included in the study. Those who died during follow-up were identified via linkage with the Swedish Tax Agency population register. Age- and sex-adjusted controls were retrieved from Statistics Sweden and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 18,452 patients who sustained a proximal humeral fracture were included. Their mean age was 68.8 years (16 to 107) and the majority (13,729; 74.4%) were women. A total of 310 (1.68%) died within 30 days, 615 (3.33%) within 90 days, and 1,445 (7.83%) within one year after the injury. The mortality in patients sustaining a fracture and the general population was 1,680/100,000 and 326/100,000 at 30 days, 3,333/100,000 and 979/100,000 at 90 days, and 7,831/100,000 and 3,970/100,000 at one year, respectively. Increasing age, male sex, low-energy trauma, type A fracture, concomitant fractures, and non-surgical treatment were all independent factors associated with an increased risk of mortality. CONCLUSION: Compared with the general population, patients sustaining a proximal humeral fracture have a significantly higher risk of mortality up to one year after the injury. The risk of mortality is five times higher during the first 30 days, diminishing to two times higher at one year, suggesting that these patients constitute a strikingly frail group, in whom appropriate immediate management and medical optimization are required.

Classification and treatment of lateral malleolar fractures - a single-center analysis of 439 ankle fractures using the Swedish Fracture Register.

BACKGROUND: The decision regarding which trans syndesmotic ankle fractures to treat surgically and which to treat non-surgically is a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of ankle fractures treated at Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SU) during a 2-year period and analyze the current diagnostic process, classification and choice of treatment for lateral malleolar fractures at the level of the syndesmosis. METHODS: Observational data regarding all ankle fractures treated at SU between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2014 was collected from the Swedish Fracture Register. For identified AO/OTA44-B1 fractures, medical records and radiographs were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 1332 ankle fractures. 838 (63%) were B-fractures and 512 (38%) of these were B1 fractures. 439 of the patients with B1 fractures were included in the detailed study and of these 309 (70%) were treated non-surgically and 130 patients (30%) surgically. According to the preoperative physical examination described in the medical records, medial tenderness was found in 73 (24%) of the non-surgically treated patients. Among the surgically treated patients 18% (n = 24) were found to have no medial tenderness. For the non-surgically treated patients with medial tenderness, the treatment plan was changed to surgical treatment after the 1-week radiographic follow-up in 1 patient (1%) and 1 patient (1%) was treated surgically after 3 months due to non-union. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrates the difficulty involved in distinguishing whether or not a trans-syndesmotic lateral malleolar fracture has an associated medial ligament injury or not. As this distinguishes if the fracture is stable or not it affects the choice of subsequent treatment. The results of the study also indicate a lack of consensus on how to classify and treat lateral malleolar fractures at the level of the syndesmosis. The study further suggests that there is no need to check non-surgically treated stable fractures with follow-up radiographic examination at 1 week.

Femoral fracture classification in the Swedish Fracture Register - a validity study.

BACKGROUND: A total of more than 270,000 fractures are registered in the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR), a national quality register. Fractures are classified following the AO/OTA classification, commonly by a junior doctor. As a step in the process of validating the data in the SFR, several studies of the accuracy of the fracture classification have already been published. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of femoral fracture classification in the SFR. METHODS: One hundred and eighteen femur fractures were randomly selected from the SFR. Three experienced orthopaedic surgeons individually classified these fractures on two separate occasions and a gold standard classification was established. This classification was compared with the original classification in the SFR. Inter- and intraobserver agreement was calculated. RESULTS: The agreement between the classification in the SFR and the gold standard classification was kappa = 0.65 for the AO/OTA group and kappa = 0.83 for the AO/OTA type. This corresponds to substantial and almost perfect agreement, according to Landis and Koch. The kappa values for interobserver agreement ranged from 0.64-0.76 for the AO/OTA group and 0.76-0.85 for the AO/OTA type. The kappa values for intraobserver agreement ranged from 0.79-0.81 for the AO/OTA group and 0.91-0.93 for the AO/OTA type. CONCLUSIONS: The classification of femoral fractures in the Swedish Fracture Register is substantial (AO/OTA group) to almost perfect (AO/OTA type) and as accurate as in previous studies. The present study also shows that the agreement between the SFR classification and a gold standard classification is in the same range of agreement as between experienced raters. In contrast to previous studies, the classifications in the SFR are made by an unselected group of mostly inexperienced classifiers. The results indicate that the fracture classification in a national quality register can be accurate enough to permit the evaluation of fracture treatment in specific groups of fractures.