Is there a learning curve in foot and ankle surgery?

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of orthopaedic learning curves have largely described the introduction of new techniques to experienced consultants. End points have usually involved technical considerations. A paucity of evidence surrounds foot and ankle surgery. This study investigates the learning curve during a foot and ankle surgeon's first year, defined by functional outcome. METHODS: 150 patients underwent elective foot or ankle surgery during the whole period. Preoperative and 6 month postoperative functional scores were compared between the first and second 6 month groups. RESULTS: Functional improvement was greater, approaching significance, in the second group (p=0.0605). There was no difference for forefoot cases (p=0.345). Functional improvement was significantly greater in the second group with forefoot cases removed (p=0.0333). CONCLUSIONS: A learning curve exists in the first year of practice of foot and ankle surgery, demonstrated by functional outcome. This is confined to ankle, hindfoot and midfoot, but not forefoot surgery.

Retrospective study of consecutive rib fracture patients treated by open reduction internal fixation in a single major trauma centre, UK.

INTRODUCTION: Rib fractures are a common presentation in both patients presenting with high impact poly-trauma and as a result of low energy falls in the elderly. This injury can lead to various complications including prolonged hospital admission, pneumonia, need for ventilation and in admission to intensive care unit. There is much controversy around the management of this injury in the literature, with favourable outcomes for patients treated non-operatively as well as surgically. METHODS: We collated a database for all rib fracture fixations between 2014 and 2019 that took place at the major trauma centre in Liverpool. The decision to undergo surgical fixation was after discussion with multidisciplinary team at trauma meeting. Following British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma and Orthopaedics (BOASTs), these injuries should ideally be operated on within 48 h. RESULTS: Overall, a total of 220 patients were included in the study (143 male and 77 female). 142 (64%) patients were operated on within 48 h of admission. A total of 101 (45%) patients required admission to ITU. Those in the early surgical fixation group had a statistically significant decrease in their hospital length of stay (12.8 days compared to 15.5 days, p=<0.001). Mean length of ITU stay was shorter in the early surgical group with no statistical significance (p = 0.1). Those patients that required mechanical ventilation in turn stayed in hospital for a longer period compared to those who did not (p=<0.001). There is no statistical difference in survival between the 2 patient groups (p = 0.3). DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the largest data set published in the rib fracture fixation cohort. Our results agree with previous studies which have demonstrated that those who undergo ORIF tend require fewer days of hospital stay, less ventilatory support and overall have better outcomes in terms of pain when compared to those treated non-operatively. Our study adds that patients who receive treatment within 48-hours as per BOAST guidelines have better outcomes, specifically reducing hospital length of stay by nearly 4 days (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Early surgical fixation of rib fractures leads to significantly favoured outcomes.

Hip Hemiarthroplasty: The Misnomer of a Narrow Femoral Canal and the Cost Implications.

Objective Hemiarthroplasty has been identified as the treatment of choice for displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures. A modular prosthesis is sometimes preferred for its sizing options in narrow femoral canals, despite its higher cost and no advantage in clinical outcomes. Thus, in this study, we investigated the factors affecting surgeons' choice of prosthesis, hypothesizing that modular hemiarthroplasty is overused for narrow femoral canals compared to monoblock hip hemiarthroplasty. Methods A retrospective study of a regional level 1 trauma center was conducted. Patients who had sustained femoral neck fractures from March 2013 to December 2016 were included in this study. Inclusion criterion was modular hemiarthroplasty for a narrow femoral canal. A matched group of patients who underwent monobloc hemiarthroplasty (MH) was created through randomization. The main outcome measurements were sex, age, Dorr classification, and femoral head size. We measured the protrusion of the greater trochanter beyond the level of the lateral femoral cortex postoperatively. Modular hemiarthroplasty patients were templated on radiographs using TraumaCad for Stryker Exeter Trauma Stem (ETS®). Results In total, 533 hemiarthroplasty procedures were performed, of which 27 were modular for a narrow femoral canal. The ratio of modular to monobloc was 1:18. Average head size was 46.7 mm ± 3.6 mm for monobloc and 44.07 ± 1.5 for modular (P= 0.001). There were four malaligned stems in the monobloc group versus 14 in the modular group (P= 0.008). Unsatisfactory lateralization was noted in 18 patients (7 mm ± 2.9 mm) in the modular group compared with 8 (4.7 mm ± 3.9 mm) in the monobloc group (P= 0.029). Dorr classification was A or B in 24 patients in the modular group and 18 in the monobloc group (P = 0.006). Templating revealed that modular was not required in 25 patients. Conclusions As per our findings, it was determined that patients with a narrow femoral canal intraoperatively should not receive modular hemiarthroplasty. This is especially true for female patients with small femoral head and narrow femoral canal dimensions (Dorr A and B). They would require extensive careful planning. Surgical techniques should be explored through education intraoperatively to achieve lateralization during femoral stem preparation. This may avoid prolonged anesthetic time and achieve potential cost savings.

Factors associated with delirium and cognitive decline following hip fracture surgery.

AIMS: Postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) are common surgical complications. In the UK, the Best Practice Tariff incentivizes the screening of delirium in patients with hip fracture. Further, a National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) performance indicator is the reduction in the incidence of POD. To aid in its recognition, we sought to determine factors associated with POD and POCD in patients with hip fractures. METHODS: We interrogated the NHFD data on patients presenting with hip fractures to our institution from 2016 to 2018. POD was determined using the 4AT score, as recommended by the NHFD and UK Department of Health. POCD was defined as a decline in Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) of two or greater. Using logistic regression, we adjusted for covariates to identify factors associated with POD and POCD. RESULTS: Of the 1,224 patients presenting in the study period, 1,023 had complete datasets for final analysis. POD was observed in 242 patients (25%). On multivariate analysis only preoperative AMTS and American Society of Anesthesiologists grade (ASA) were independent predictors of POD. Every point increase in AMTS was associated with a fall in the odds of POD by a factor of 0.60 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56 to 0.63, p < 0.001). Every grade increase in ASA led to a 1.7-fold increase in the odds of POD (95% CI 1.13 to 2.50, p = 0.009). A preoperative AMTS of less than 8 was strongly predictive of POD with area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.86 (95% CI 0.84 to 0.89). Only ASA was predictive of POCD-every grade increase in ASA led to a 2.6-fold increase in the odds of POCD (95% CI 1.7 to 4.0, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: POD and POCD are common in the hip fracture patients. Preoperative AMTS and ASA are strong predictors of POD, and ASA predictive of POCD. This may aid in the earlier identification of those most at risk and suited for the patient consent and decision-making process. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(12):1675-1681.

Surgical Management of Multiple Rib Fractures Reduces the Hospital Length of Stay and the Mortality Rate in Major Trauma Patients: A Comparative Study in a UK Major Trauma Center.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate and assess the effectiveness of surgical fixation of rib fractures in complex traumatic chest injuries compared with traditional nonoperative management. DESIGN: Retrospective observational comparative study. SETTING: Level 1 Major Trauma Centre in North West England. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 83 patients who were admitted urgently to our hospital after major trauma, between August 2012 and March 2015, and fulfilled the criteria for surgical fixation of their multiple rib fractures. Patients who had concomitant nonsurvivable injuries or did not consent for surgery were excluded. INTERVENTION: Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of multiple rib fractures and flail chest segments versus traditional nonoperative management. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome of interest was the total hospital length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included the incidence of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and the incidence of respiratory complications such as hospital-acquired pneumonia, need for mechanical ventilation, and/or tracheotomy. The mortality rate was also investigated. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were included, 47 of these in the ORIF group and 36 in the non-ORIF group. The mean hospital LOS for patients in the non-ORIF group was 30.41 days (SD 30.1). This was markedly reduced in the ORIF group to a mean of 14.53 days (SD 11.7), with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.01). Twenty-eight patients (77.7%) in the nonoperatively managed group required admission to the ICU compared with a significantly lower 48.9% (23 patients) in the ORIF group (P < 0.01). The incidence of respiratory complications was lower in the ORIF group but this difference was not statistically significant. The mortality rate was 2.1% for the group that was treated surgically compared with 13.9% for the conservative group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical fixation of multiple displaced rib fractures reduced the total hospital LOS and the overall mortality in our major trauma patients and decreased the incidence of ICU admission. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Early Surgical Stabilization of Complex Chest Wall Injuries Improves Short-Term Patient Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the outcome of patients undergoing internal fixation of complex rib fractures in a U.K. major trauma center. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients undergoing operative fixation of rib fractures from March 2014 to May 2016. Outcome measures included hospital length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, infection, and mortality. RESULTS: One hundred and two patients (66 male patients and 36 female patients, with a median age of 62 years) underwent rib fracture fixation during the study period. The causes of trauma were road traffic accidents in 39 patients (38%), a fall from a substantial height in 38 patients (37%), and a fall down stairs in 21 patients (21%). Thirty-eight patients (37%) had isolated chest trauma, and 64 patients (63%) had additional injuries. Fifty-three patients (52%) required ICU admission with a mean ICU stay of 4.7 days (range, 1 to 34 days). The median hospital length of stay was 10.6 days (range, 3 to 51 days). Patients with additional injuries (p = 0.01) and those requiring mechanical ventilation (p < 0.0001) stayed significantly longer. Sixty-five patients (64%) underwent rib fixation within 48 hours of the injury, and 37 patients (36%) underwent the surgical procedure after 48 hours. A surgical procedure within 48 hours resulted in a shorter ICU stay (p = 0.01), fewer cases of pneumonia (p = 0.001), reduced duration of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.03) and fewer tracheostomies (p = 0.02), and shorter hospital length of stay (11.5 compared with 17.3 days; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical stabilization of multiple rib fractures may improve the outcome in patients with multiple injuries and isolated chest wall trauma. Early surgical fixation leads to shorter length of stay and better outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.