Early Acetabular Fracture Repair Through an Anterior Approach Is Associated With Increased Blood Loss.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the timing of acetabular fracture fixation through an anterior approach influences estimated and calculated perioperative blood loss. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center from 2013 to 2021. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Patients aged ≥18 years treated with acetabular fracture fixation through an anterior-based approach. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS: The primary outcome was calculated blood loss (CBL). Secondary outcomes were estimated blood loss reported by surgeon and anesthesia, and blood transfusion requirements. Comparisons of blood loss were made at discrete postinjury time thresholds (24, 36, and 48 hours) and on a continuous basis. RESULTS: One hundred eight patients were studied. The mean age was 65 years, and 73% of patients were male. Earlier fixation of acetabular fractures resulted in greater CBL and estimated blood loss (surgeon and anesthesia) compared with later fixation when analyzed on a continuum and at specific time points (24, 36, and 48 hours). Mean CBL in patients treated earlier (<48 hours, 2539 ± 1194 mL) was significantly greater than those treated later (≥48 hours, 1625 ± 909 mL; P < 0.001). Fracture repair before 48 hours postinjury was associated with a 3 times greater risk of >2000 mL of CBL ( P = 0.006). This did not result in differences in transfusion rates between groups at 24 hours ( P = 0.518), 36 hours ( P = 1.000), or 48 hours ( P = 0.779). CONCLUSIONS: Delaying fixation of acetabular fractures treated through an anterior approach for 48 hours postinjury may significantly reduce perioperative blood loss. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Effect of Intrawound Vancomycin Powder in Operatively Treated High-risk Tibia Fractures: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Despite the widespread use of systemic antibiotics to prevent infections in surgically treated patients with fracture, high rates of surgical site infection persist. Objective: To examine the effect of intrawound vancomycin powder in reducing deep surgical site infections. Design, Setting, and Participants: This open-label randomized clinical trial enrolled adult patients with an operatively treated tibial plateau or pilon fracture who met the criteria for a high risk of infection from January 1, 2015, through June 30, 2017, with 12 months of follow-up (final follow-up assessments completed in April 2018) at 36 US trauma centers. Interventions: A standard infection prevention protocol with (n = 481) or without (n = 499) 1000 mg of intrawound vancomycin powder. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was a deep surgical site infection within 182 days of definitive fracture fixation. A post hoc comparison assessed the treatment effect on gram-positive and gram-negative-only infections. Other secondary outcomes included superficial surgical site infection, nonunion, and wound dehiscence. Results: The analysis included 980 patients (mean [SD] age, 45.7 [13.7] years; 617 [63.0%] male) with 91% of the expected person-time of follow-up for the primary outcome. Within 182 days, deep surgical site infection was observed in 29 of 481 patients in the treatment group and 46 of 499 patients in the control group. The time-to-event estimated probability of deep infection by 182 days was 6.4% in the treatment group and 9.8% in the control group (risk difference, -3.4%; 95% CI, -6.9% to 0.1%; P = .06). A post hoc analysis of the effect of treatment on gram-positive (risk difference, -3.7%; 95% CI, -6.7% to -0.8%; P = .02) and gram-negative-only (risk difference, 0.3%; 95% CI, -1.6% to 2.1%; P = .78) infections found that the effect of vancomycin powder was a result of its reduction in gram-positive infections. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with operatively treated tibial articular fractures at a high risk of infection, intrawound vancomycin powder at the time of definitive fracture fixation reduced the risk of a gram-positive deep surgical site infection, consistent with the activity of vancomycin. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02227446.

Reversed Contralateral LISS Plate for Vancouver B1 Periprosthetic Femoral Shaft Fractures.

The authors reviewed all patients treated for periprosthetic femur fractures between March 1, 2007, and January 31, 2010 at the senior author's institution. Demographic features, mechanism of injury, radiographs, and computed tomography scans were reviewed to determine the type and stability of the femoral implant at the time of injury. All Vancouver B1 fractures were treated with a novel technique that used a contoured distal femoral locking plate intended for the contralateral femur and reversed to accommodate the ipsilateral femoral bow and contour of the proximal femur. Fixation was achieved around the implant with percutaneously placed unicortical and/or bicortical screws. Radiographs were reviewed for fracture healing, malunion, implant failure, and prosthetic loosening. Fifteen patients were identified and underwent the procedure as described. One patient died soon after surgery of complications from a ruptured preexisting esophageal ulcer. Of the remaining 14 patients, the average duration of follow-up was 25 months (range, 6-31 months). Two patients did not achieve union; however, repeat interpretation of the presenting radiographs showed likely misdiagnosed Vancouver B2 fractures. The first patient had late aseptic loosening and underwent revision surgery 22 weeks postoperatively. The other had early loss of fixation that required revision with a long stem prosthesis. Other complications included 1 deep venous thrombosis and 2 superficial wound infections. The infections were successfully treated with a single formal irrigation and debridement, primary closure, and a short course of oral antibiotics. Ultimately, in 86% of patients (12/14), fracture healing occurred with this biologically friendly technique.