Nonoperative Versus Operative Treatment of Type IIA Supracondylar Humerus Fractures: A Prospective Evaluation of 99 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Although current clinical practice guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggest that Type II and III supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures be treated by closed reduction and pin fixation, controversy remains as to whether type IIa fractures with no rotation or angular deformity require surgery. The purpose of our study was to prospectively compare radiographic and functional outcomes of type IIa SCH fractures treated with or without surgery. METHODS: Between 2017 and 2019, 105 patients between 2 and 12 years of age presenting with type IIa SCH fractures and without prior elbow trauma, neuromuscular or metabolic conditions, were prospectively enrolled. Ten orthopaedic surgeons managed the patients with 5 preferring surgical treatment and 5 preferring an initial attempt at nonoperative treatment. Patients in the nonoperative cohort were managed with a long-arm cast and close radiographic follow-up. Patients underwent a standardized protocol, including 3 to 4 weeks of casting, bilateral radiographic follow-up 6 months postinjury, and telephone follow-up at 6, 12, and 24 months. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients met the inclusion criteria (45 nonoperative and 54 operatives). Of the nonoperative patients, 4 (9%) were converted to surgery up to their first clinical follow-up. No differences were identified between the cohorts with respect to demographic data, but patients undergoing surgery had on average 6 degrees more posterior angulation at the fracture site preoperatively (P<0.05). At the final clinical follow-up (mean=6 mo), the nonoperative group had more radiographic extension (176.9 vs 174.4 degrees, P=0.04) as measured by the hourglass angle, but no other clinical or radiographic differences were appreciated. Complications were similar between the nonoperative and operative groups: refracture (4.4 vs 5.6%), avascular necrosis (2.2 vs 1.9%) and infection (0 vs 1.9%) (P>0.05). Patient-reported outcomes at a mean of 24 months showed no differences between groups. CONCLUSION: Contrary to American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons guidelines, about 90% of patients with type IIa supracondylar fractures can be treated nonoperatively and will achieve good radiographic and functional outcomes with mild residual deformity improving over time. Patients treated nonoperatively must be monitored closely to assess for early loss of reduction and the need for surgical intervention.

Elastic Intramedullary Nails in the Treatment of Pediatric Length Unstable Femur Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Elastic intramedullary nails (EINs) are the treatment of choice for school-age children (5 to 12) with diaphyseal femur fractures. Previous literature suggests that EINs are an effective treatment for stable fracture patterns, but may be inadequate for unstable fracture patterns. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether patients with length unstable fractures had a higher complication rate than those with length stable fractures when treated with EINs. METHODS: All patients with diaphyseal femur fractures treated with EINs over a 22-year period at a single institution were reviewed. Patients were excluded if they had a pathologic fracture, neuromuscular disorder, spinal cord injury with subsequent involvement of affected limb, metabolic bone disease, or if they did not have at least 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients with 87 diaphyseal femur fractures treated with EINs were included in the study. In all, 57.5% of the fractures were categorized as length stable and 42.5% were length unstable. Fourteen percent of length stable patients had a residual angular deformity compared with 5.4% of the length unstable group (P=0.24). The length unstable group experienced more shortening at the fracture site than the patients in the length stable group (P=0.003), but no patient required further intervention for their shortening. Two patients in the length stable group experienced overgrowth >2 cm and required subsequent surgery. No relationship was observed between fracture pattern and frequency of complications (length stable 8% vs. length unstable 10.8%, P=0.69). Finally, the knee immobilizer group (10.7%) and the long leg cast group (18.2%) had significantly higher complication rates than the single leg spica cast group (0%, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in complication rate between length stable and unstable fractures treated with EINs. Adjunctive spica casting may be protective against postoperative complications. While fracture shortening was more likely in the length unstable group, it did not result in increased rate of limb length discrepancy at final follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Case Series.

Ambulation Distance Within 72 Hours after Surgical Management Is a Predictor of 90-Day Ambulatory Capacity in Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture.

INTRODUCTION: The inability to mobilize after surgical intervention for hip fractures in the elderly is established as a risk factor for greater morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have evaluated the association between the timing and distance of ambulation in the postoperative acute care phase with postoperative complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between ambulatory distance in the acute postoperative setting and ambulatory capacity at 3 months. METHODS: Patients aged 65 and older who were ambulatory at baseline and underwent surgical intervention for hip fractures from 2014 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Consistent with previous literature, patients were divided into two groups: those who were able to ambulate 5 feet within 72 hours after surgical fixation (early ambulatory) and those who were not (minimally ambulatory). RESULTS: One hundred seventy patients (84 early ambulatory and 86 minimally ambulatory) were available for analysis. Using a multivariable ordinal logistic regression model, variables found to be statistically significant predictors of ambulatory status at 3 months were the ability to ambulate five feet in 72 hours (P < 0.0001), ambulatory distance at discharge (P = 0.012), and time from presentation to surgery (P = 0.039). Patients who were able to ambulate 5 feet within 72 hours had 9 times the odds of being independent ambulators rather than a lower ambulatory class (cane, walker, and nonambulatory). Pertrochanteric fractures were less likely than femoral neck fractures to independently ambulate at 3 months (17.2% vs. 42.3%; P = 0.0006). DISCUSSION: Ambulating 5 feet within 72 hours after hip fracture surgery is associated with an increased likelihood of independent ambulation at 3 months postoperatively. This simple and clear goal may be used to help enhance postoperative mobility and independence while providing a metric to guide therapy and help counsel patients and families.

Isolated Biceps Tenodesis and Tenotomy: A Systematic Review of Indications and Patient Satisfaction.

Biceps tenodesis and tenotomy are increasingly being used as treatment options for shoulder pathology, but patient satisfaction remains largely unstudied. A systematic review of the MEDLINE database was conducted to identify clinical outcome studies on isolated biceps tenodesis or tenotomy that reported patient satisfaction. Within the 15 investigations that were included, the indication for tenotomy was rotator cuff pathology, whereas the indication for tenodesis was biceps pathology or type 2 superior labral tear from anterior to posterior. Patients undergoing tenotomy were 13.6 years older than those undergoing tenodesis (P<.001). Patient satisfaction was high following both procedures, at 85.6% following tenotomy and 92.3% following tenodesis. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(6):333-340.].

The Challenges of Treating Female Soccer Players With ACL Injuries: Hamstring Versus Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Autograft.

BACKGROUND: Although anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in female soccer players, the optimal graft option for ACL reconstruction is currently unclear. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: To compare the outcomes of female soccer players after ACL reconstruction using either hamstring tendon autograft or bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autograft. We hypothesized that there would be no difference in clinical outcome scores, return to sport, or retear rates between BTB and hamstring grafts in our study cohort. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all skeletally mature adolescent female soccer players who underwent primary ACL reconstruction using either hamstring tendon or BTB autograft between 2013 and 2016. Demographic, injury, and surgical variables were documented. Outcome measures included the Lysholm score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, Tegner activity score, and visual analog scales for pain and for satisfaction, as well as ability to return to sport. RESULTS: Overall, 90 female soccer players met the inclusion criteria, of whom 79% (41 BTB and 30 hamstring) were available for a minimum 2-year follow-up or had a graft failure before the follow-up. The BTB group had a lower body mass index (mean ± SD, 23 ± 3 vs 25 ± 4; P = .02) and shorter postoperative follow-up time in months (mean ± SD, 37.4 vs 46.1; P ≤ .001); otherwise, no differences in demographic, injury, or surgical variables between groups were noted. Regarding outcome measures, the BTB group achieved a higher Tegner score (6.0 vs 4.2; P = .004), and there was no other difference between groups. Of the patients who did not return to soccer, 44.7% reported fear as the reason. Of the patients who did return to soccer, 31.9% sustained another ACL injury (retear or contralateral tear), with no differences in reinjury rates based on graft selection. CONCLUSION: Adolescent female soccer players undergoing ACL reconstruction had relatively high satisfaction and outcome scores independent of autograft choice. Notwithstanding, patients and families need to be counseled that less than half of patients will return to their preinjury level of sport and, if an athlete attempts to return, there is a high risk of further ACL injury.

Outcomes of Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery in Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Although primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions have been well studied in children and adolescents, the literature lacks information about revision ACL reconstructions in this population. PURPOSE: This study aims to analyze the outcomes of revision ACL surgeries in the pediatric population. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on all revision ACL reconstructions performed at a single institution between 2009 and 2017. Patient demographic, injury, and operative data from both the initial surgery and the revision were documented. Outcome measures included the Lysholm score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score, Tegner activity score, visual analog scale for pain, Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale score, patient satisfaction, ability to return to the same level of sport, and any additional injury and/or surgery. Outcomes of the revision surgeries were compared with our institution's outcome database of primary ACL reconstructions. RESULTS: During the study period, 60 revision ACL reconstructions were performed in 57 patients. Of these patients, 84% (n = 48) were available for a minimum 2-year follow-up and a mean follow-up of 4.4 years. A greater number of meniscal tears and cartilage injuries were documented in the revision cohort. Compared with the primary cohort, the revision cohort had lower SANE scores, Lysholm scores, and satisfaction. Furthermore, the revision cohort had a higher rate of graft failure than the primary cohort (21% vs 9%, respectively; P = .015), and only 27% of revision patients returned to the same level of sport. In a comparison of revision procedures performed with autograft versus allograft tissue, the autograft patients had higher Lysholm scores than the allograft patients (91 vs 83, respectively; P = .045) and trended toward a lower failure rate (11% vs 27%, respectively; P = .199). CONCLUSION: Adolescent patients undergoing revision ACL reconstruction had more meniscal and cartilage abnormalities, poorer functional outcomes, and higher graft failure rates than patients undergoing primary ACL reconstructions. Additionally, revision procedures performed with allograft tissue resulted in lower Lysholm scores and a trend toward higher failure rates. When an ACL graft fails in a young patient, strong consideration should be given to using autograft tissue for the revision.