Outcomes of Unstable Scaphoid Nonunion With Segmental Defect Treated With Plate Fixation and Autogenous Cancellous Graft.

PURPOSE: Treatment of scaphoid nonunion with a segmental defect presents a challenging clinical problem. Various techniques have been proposed, often involving structural grafting with vascularized and nonvascularized bone. The authors hypothesize that satisfactory clinical and radiographic outcomes are possible with a relatively simplified technique of volar plate fixation with autogenous, purely cancellous graft. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective review of 34 patients with scaphoid nonunions with segmental defects, treated with plate fixation and purely cancellous bone grafting. Cases with avascular necrosis were excluded. Surgical management included a volar incision, reduction, bone grafting from the ipsilateral distal radius and/or olecranon, and application of a volar locking plate. Postoperative outcome measures included time to union based on computed tomography, return to work and sports, patient-reported pain and disability scores, grip strength, and range of motion. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients with an average age of 31 years (range, 16-55 years) were treated with volar plate fixation and cancellous grafting, an average of 34 months after initial injury. Twenty-six patients (76%) were treated for nonunion at the scaphoid waist, 7 (21%) at the proximal pole, and 1 (3%) at the distal pole. Mean final follow-up was 18.7 months (range, 12-34 months). When union was defined by computed tomography evidence of healing, 2 (6%) scaphoids healed by 6 weeks after surgery, 28 (82%) healed by 12 weeks, and 100% healed by 18 weeks. Mean Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score improved from 27.1 ± 7.3 before surgery to 11.8 ± 5.8 after surgery. Grip strength, corrected for hand dominance, improved from 77.5% of the nonsurgical side before surgery to 90.5% after surgery. All employed patients returned to work, although 3 (9%) did not return to full capacity. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of scaphoid plate fixation and pure cancellous bone grafting for scaphoid nonunion with segmental defects yields reliable union rates and good patient outcomes. Autogenous cancellous grafting may be an alternative to more technically demanding or morbid grafting procedures for the treatment of scaphoid nonunion. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Successful Outcomes With Nonoperative Treatment and Immediate Weightbearing Despite Stress-Positive Radiographs in Isolated Distal Fibula (OTA/AO 44B) Fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a nonoperative management protocol results in equivalent outcomes in isolated OTA/AO 44B (Weber B) fractures without initial medial clear space (MCS) widening regardless of stress radiography findings. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Level 1 academic trauma center. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Nonoperatively managed patients with isolated OTA/AO 44B fractures and MCS ≤4 mm on initial non-weightbearing injury radiographs between from January 2018 and January 2022 were included. All patients underwent emergency department gravity stress radiographs and those with widening were considered the widening cohort and those without the non-widening cohort. OUTCOME MEASURE AND COMPARISONS: MCS measurements on weightbearing radiographs were obtained at first follow-up, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months postinjury, were considered indicative of instability if >4 mm and were compared between cohorts.; American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scores were also compared between cohorts. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients were studied. None of the 38 patients (55%) with widening on gravity stress radiographs demonstrated widening with weightbearing radiographs at any time point. Mean MCS measurement differences between the 2 cohorts were statistically significant for all time points ( P = 0.012); however, with a model adjusted mean MCS value of 2.7 mm for the nonwidening cohort and 2.9 mm for the widening cohort, these are not clinically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in overall final American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores between the 2 groups ( P = 0.451). In addition, statistical equivalence using Schuirmann 2 one-sided tests was achieved between the 2 groups. Both cohorts had mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores representing excellent outcomes at the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with isolated OTA/AO 44B fractures without MCS widening on initial injury radiographs did not demonstrate instability on subsequent weightbearing radiographs and had equivalent outcomes regardless of gravity stress radiography findings when treated nonoperatively. Weightbearing radiographs at the initial follow-up appear to be a reliable assessment of ankle stability in these injuries and are an appropriate alternative to painful and time-consuming stress radiography. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Obstructive Constipation in Two Patients With Severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Acetabular Protrusio.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic condition resulting in decreased bone density and bony deformity and a wide variety of extraskeletal manifestations. Acetabular protrusio and constipation are both commonly associated with OI. We present two cases of severe pelvic deformity resulting in mechanical colonic outlet obstruction, which were successfully treated with a colostomy. Colostomy as the definitive treatment of severe constipation in OI has not previously been reported in the literature.

Outcomes of Orthopaedic Infections in Recreational Intravenous Drug Users Requiring Long-term Antibiotic Treatment.

Patients who participate in recreational injection drug use (RIVDU) have an increased risk of orthopaedic infections requiring prolonged treatment with intravenous antibiotics. This study reviews clinical outcomes and complications in RIVDU and have orthopaedic infections requiring long term antibiotic therapy (>4 weeks) and compares these outcomes to non-RIVDU patients. In this retrospective review, patients were divided into cohorts based on RIVDU history; the RIVDU cohort was further divided into subcohorts based on treatment location. Cohorts and subcohorts were compared to evaluate clinical outcomes. Between the two main cohorts, there was a statistically significant difference in treatment compliance (P = 0.0012) and no statistically significant differences for infection resolution at 6- or 12-month follow-up, hospital readmission, or mortality. At the 6-month follow-up, RIVDU patients who remained inpatient had 100% resolution of infection, which was significantly better than the resolution of all other cohorts (P = 0.0019). No differences were observed between the remaining subcohorts for resolution of infection by 12 months, catheter complications, or loss to follow-up. Our findings demonstrate an increased rate of failure in outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy in RIVDU patients, and this population has better clinical outcomes when they remain inpatient for the duration of treatment.

A Unique Mode of Failure in the Noncontact Bridging Periprosthetic Plating System.

Although lateral locking plates are often a preferred and successful fixation construct for the treatment of periprosthetic proximal and distal femur fractures, specific complications and modes of failure have been associated and well-described with their use. We present two cases of implant failure in the Non-Contact Bridge Periprosthetic Plating System (Zimmer Biomet) in which a nonlocked screw fretted through the annular seating of the plate. One case demonstrates failure in the setting of a proximal femur periprosthetic fracture, whereas the other demonstrates failure in the setting of a distal femur periprosthetic fracture. This unique mode of failure has not previously been reported in the literature.

Safety and Accuracy of Core Needle Biopsy for Soft Tissue Masses in an Ambulatory Setting.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous needle biopsy has been found to be a safe and accurate method for the initial investigation of soft tissue masses. The notion exists that needle biopsies should be performed in specialized sarcoma centers, which can place a financial burden on patients without a sarcoma center near their place of residence. There is no consensus in the current literature regarding the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of clinic-based percutaneous core needle biopsy performed by community orthopedic surgeons with fellowship training in musculoskeletal oncology. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: Our primary goal was to determine if office-based core needle biopsy of soft tissue masses could safely yield accurate diagnoses when performed by a community orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in musculoskeletal oncology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 105 patients who underwent percutaneous core needle biopsy of soft tissue masses in a community clinic. All procedures were performed by one fellowship-trained musculoskeletal oncologist. Accuracy of the initial clinic-based needle biopsy was determined through comparison to the results of pathological analysis of the surgically excised masses. Final data analysis included 69 patients who underwent both clinic-based biopsy and subsequent surgical excision of their masses. RESULTS: We found clinic-based biopsies to be 87.0% accurate for exact diagnosis and 94.2% accurate in determining whether the mass was benign or malignant (p < 0.0001). Minor complications related to the clinic-based biopsy occurred in 5.80% of cases, with no documentation of major complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that office-based percutaneous biopsy can be administered safely and yield accurate, clinically useful results when performed by a fellowship-trained musculoskeletal oncologist.