Injury. 2025 Jan 24;56(3):112177. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112177. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Treatment of ankle and pilon fractures in the setting of diabetes mellitus (DM) is challenging due to a propensity for postoperative complications. Limb salvage is a primary concern following these injuries, as below knee amputation (BKA) occurs at an unacceptably high rate. Primary retrograde tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) joint nailing without articular preparation has emerged as a solution to treat diabetics with ankle and pilon fractures to mitigate surgical complications and prevent BKA. The technique minimizes surgical dissection and has previously demonstrated utility in fragility fracture, however, there are few studies regarding the use of this technique in the setting of DM.

METHODS: A retrospective review of diabetic patients treated with retrograde TTC nailing without articular preparation was conducted over a seven-year period. Patients were included in the study if they were skeletally mature, diabetic, and treated with retrograde TTC nailing without articular preparation over a minimum follow up period of eight months. Treatment with other forms of fixation and pediatric or adolescents were excluded. A cohort of 25 patients met the inclusion criteria. Data was collected on demographics, injury characteristics, and surgical outcomes. The average follow up period was 2.45 years (IQR 986).

RESULTS: The averages for age, BMI, and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of the cohort were 64.6 (IQR 9.6), 36.7 (IQR 11.5), and 7.6 % (IQR 1.4), respectively. A majority of fractures were a closed supination-external rotation mechanism resulting from a fall from standing. The average LOS was 9.1 days (IQR 8). An ambulatory level was maintained in 72 % of patients. Limb salvage was achieved for 84 % of the cohort. Four patients ultimately required BKA. HbA1c and fracture-related infection (FRI) were statistically significant risk factors associated with BKA. For every 1 % increase in HbA1c, there was 2.63-fold odds of developing BKA. The surgical complication and reoperation rate were 56 %.

CONCLUSION: Although limb salvage was achieved for most patients within the cohort, high rates of postoperative complications and reoperations were observed using this technique. Prospective comparative studies are needed to further validate the use of retrograde nailing without articular preparation in the setting of DM.

PMID:39893817 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112177

Injury. 2025 Jan 23;56(3):112181. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112181. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This systematic review aims to assess different effective hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIP) design strategies and their effects on reducing the incidence of violence-related injuries, impact on healthcare outcomes including behavioral and psychosocial outcomes, and effects on healthcare system costs.

METHODS: A comprehensive search of five databases included studies that assessed the effects of HVIPs in adolescent and adult populations. The outcomes of interest included different effective HVIP design strategies that most effectively decreased the incidence of violence-related injuries, as well as their effects on behavior and psychosocial outcomes, effects on hospital costs, and whether they adequately addressed medico-legal aspects.

RESULTS: Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 25 studies were included in the final analysis. Effective HVIP design strategies primarily focused on mentorship and hands-on learning, contributing to successful program implementation. Overall, HVIPs significantly reduced the incidence of violence-related injuries and recidivism rates among participants. Improvements in psychosocial outcomes were observed, with increased employment rates and educational engagement reported among HVIP participants. Additionally, the included studies demonstrated that implementing HVIPs led to cost-effectiveness as well as cost savings from reduced injury recidivism. Despite the acknowledgment of medico-legal resources' importance, the absence of formal partnerships hinders HVIPs from fully addressing legal barriers to recovery, such as housing insecurity, employment discrimination, and protection from violence.

CONCLUSION: HVIPs are effective in reducing violence-related injuries, enhancing psychosocial outcomes, and offering cost savings, however, they often lack established medico-legal resources. Further research on establishing effective medico-legal partnerships within these programs is needed.

PMID:39893816 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112181

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Jan 31. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.00679. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Whether an adductor canal block (ACB) is more effective when administered before or after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is unclear. This study compared pain, stress, and functional outcomes between patients who received the block before surgery and those who received the block after surgery.

METHODS: In this double-blinded trial, 100 patients at our hospital were randomized to receive an ACB at either 30 minutes before general anesthesia or postoperatively in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). All patients received periarticular local infiltration analgesia during surgery. The 2 groups were compared with respect to the primary outcome, the postoperative consumption of morphine as rescue analgesia, and in terms of the secondary outcomes, including the time from the end of surgery to the first rescue analgesia or discharge, intraoperative and postoperative stress, postoperative pain, functional recovery, the incidence of chronic pain, and complications.

RESULTS: All included patients were Asian (Chinese) in race/ethnicity. The 2 groups had similar demographic information. Compared with the postoperative ACB, the preoperative ACB was associated with significantly lower morphine consumption within the first 24 hours postoperatively and lower total morphine consumption. It was also associated with a longer time until the first rescue analgesia, lower intraoperative consumption of opioids and inhaled anesthetic, fewer episodes of hypertension during surgery, a lower rate of rescue analgesia in the PACU, lower levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone in serum on the morning of postoperative day 1, lower pain on a visual analog scale while at rest or during motion within 12 hours postoperatively, better range of knee motion on postoperative day 1, and a lower incidence of chronic pain at 3 months postoperatively. The 2 groups did not differ significantly with respect to postoperative ambulation distance, time until discharge, or complication rates.

CONCLUSIONS: Administering an ACB before rather than after TKA may lead to lower opioid consumption during hospitalization, lower intraoperative and postoperative stress responses, better pain relief during hospitalization, and a lower incidence of chronic pain at 3 months postoperatively.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

PMID:39888982 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.00679

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Jan 31. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.00437. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The cause of hallux rigidus remains controversial. However, it is assumed that dysfunction of the windlass mechanism and metatarsus primus elevatus play a role in the pathology. Three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) imaging is ideal for analysis of movements of the foot, which involve 3D and rotational motion. The purpose of the present study was to compare the windlass mechanism in healthy normal feet with that in feet with hallux rigidus by 3D CT imaging.

METHODS: A total of 17 feet with hallux rigidus and 21 normal feet were selected. Hallux rigidus was classified as grade 1 or 2 with use of the Coughlin and Shurnas system. CT imaging was performed during weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing with the first metatarsophalangeal joint in a neutral position or in 30° of dorsiflexion. We measured the rotation of each joint and the height of the navicular during dorsiflexion and weight-bearing. We also compared changes in the tarsometatarsal joint and metatarsus primus elevatus in the neutral position between the non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing conditions.

RESULTS: During dorsiflexion, there were significant differences between the 2 groups in eversion and adduction at the talonavicular and talocalcaneal joints (p < 0.05), with less movement of bones in the hallux rigidus group. There was a significantly greater increase in height of the navicular in the control group than in the hallux rigidus group (1.2 ± 0.6 mm versus 0.7 ± 0.6 mm; p = 0.02). There was also a significant difference in metatarsus primus elevatus during the non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing conditions (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Hallux rigidus restricts the movement of the Chopart joint and hindfoot associated with dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, suggesting an association between hallux rigidus and windlass mechanism dysfunction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

PMID:39888978 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.00437

Injury. 2025 Jan 22;56(3):112151. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112151. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are becoming more prevalent among post-burn populations. With the increase in awareness of the significance of psychosocial injury adjustment for holistic health-related quality of life, beyond just physical, occupational, and functional recovery. However, the incidence of depression and PTSD in the adult population is inconsistent across published studies. To describe the baseline predictors of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in hospitalised adult burn survivors over the first 12 months post-burn.

METHOD: A total of 274 participants, aged 18 years or over, with burn injuries, were hospitalized and treated at a tertiary burns centre in Queensland, Australia between October 2015 and December 2017. Additional follow-up data collected at 3-, 6- and 12-months post-burn injury. Dataset was analysed using gamma generalized mixed effects modelling techniques to assess the predictors of depression (PHQ-9) and PTSD (PCL-C) symptoms over time. Baseline predictors from personal, environmental, burn injury and burn treatment factors were assessed.

RESULTS: Both mental health outcomes followed a similar trend, with the largest decrease in symptom severity occurring between 3- and 6-months. A smaller decrease then occurred between 6- and 12-months. The baseline predictors of depression and PTSD symptoms post-burn in adults varied, however, the common predictors were increased age, a pre-injury mental health diagnosis and financial insufficiency. In addition to these predictors, intentional injury and recreational drug use were also statistically significant predictors of increased PTSD symptoms, while previous trauma exposure, longer hospital length of stay (LOS) and, surprisingly, stable housing status were also predictors of higher PHQ-9 depression scores. All predictors included in the final models were statistically significant with a p-value < 0.10.

CONCLUSION: Overall, mental health symptoms in burns survivors generally improved over the 12 months of follow-up, with the largest improvement noted between 3 and 6 months. Age, pre-injury mental health diagnosis and insufficient financial status, however, were all found to be associated with poorer mental health outcomes over the first 12 months post-burn.

PMID:39883967 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112151

Injury. 2025 Jan 22;56(3):112168. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112168. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to systematically review available strategies for diagnosing traumatic arthrotomy.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on October 8th, 2023 using Ovid Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and Embase Classic. Studies were included in the review if they evaluated a diagnostic strategy for traumatic arthrotomy.

RESULTS: There were 26 studies included after application of the exclusion criteria. 12 studies investigated traumatic arthrotomy of the knee, 8 of the elbow, 4 of the shoulder, 4 of the wrist, and 5 of the ankle. 23 studies implemented the saline load test as a diagnostic strategy, 7 considered CT scan, 1 study used x-ray, and 1 study used ultrasound. Of the studies that considered saline load tests, 8 of them also used methylene blue. CT scans were found to have 100% sensitivity when diagnosing traumatic arthrotomy of the knee. Saline load test was shown to have 60% to 100% sensitivity when diagnosing traumatic arthrotomies of the elbow. Saline load tests had sensitivities ranging from 75% to 100% when considering a shoulder traumatic arthrotomy. The saline load test was able to diagnose traumatic arthrotomies of the wrist, and ankle with sensitivities up to 100% and 99%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: When considering the infectious risks associated with undiagnosed traumatic arthrotomy, clinicians should seek modalities with the highest diagnostic performance. The saline load test has long been considered the gold standard for diagnosing traumatic arthrotomy, however, imaging modalities hold appeal as a less invasive and technically challenging procedure. Although diagnostic performance is joint-dependent, this review indicates that the saline load test continues to be the most reliable method for diagnosing most traumatic arthrotomies other than the knee.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

PMID:39883966 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112168

Int Orthop. 2025 Jan 30. doi: 10.1007/s00264-025-06417-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This narrative review identifies and summarizes current evidence for diagnostic ultrasonographic evaluation of upper extremity dynamic compressive neuropathies affecting athletes.

METHODS: Relevant literature was identified using the PubMed database and then summarized.

RESULTS: The compressive neuropathies affecting athletes we identified included: neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, pectoralis minor syndrome, quadrilateral space syndrome, suprascapular nerve entrapment, proximal median nerve entrapment or bicipital aponeurosis/lacertus fibrosus (lacertus syndrome), radial tunnel syndrome, and cubital tunnel syndrome. Symptoms may develop only during specific sport activity, after specific sport-related trauma, or in setting of overuse during sport. Diagnostic ultrasound strategies assessing compressive neuropathies focus on static evaluation of nerves and surrounding structures, as well as dynamic evaluation of these structures in certain degrees of shoulder abduction, elbow flexion, or forearm pronation.

CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography can be used as a diagnostic tool in assessing upper extremity dynamic compressive neuropathies. Ultrasound allows for dynamic evaluation of these rare conditions, especially for athletes who primarily develop symptoms during movement or participation in sport.

PMID:39883178 | DOI:10.1007/s00264-025-06417-3

Injury. 2025 Jan 19;56(3):112165. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112165. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Standard operating procedures aim to achieve a standardized and assumedly high-quality therapy. However, in orthopaedic surgery, the aspect of temporal urgency is often based on surgical tradition and experience. At a time of evidence-based medicine, it is necessary to question these temporal guidelines. The following review will therefore address the most important temporal guidelines in orthopaedic surgery and discuss their practical relevance and potential need for optimization.

METHODS: The systematic review features a literature review by database search in "PubMed" (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) for time to surgery in terms of (1) "proximal femoral fractures", (2) "femoral neck fractures", (3) "proximal humeral fractures", (4) "ligament and tendon injuries", (5) "spinal cord injuries", (6) "open fractures" and (7) "fracture-related infections". For every diagnosis, hypotheses on timing were set up and checked for evidence.

RESULTS: There is solid clinical evidence supporting the initiation of treatment within 24 h for specific conditions like the surgical treatment of proximal femur fractures and prompt decompression of spinal cord injuries. However, for other scenarios such as the 6-hour rule for open fractures, joint-preserving femoral neck fractures, timing of ligament injuries, humeral head fractures and fracture-related infections there is currently no reliable evidence to guide prompt surgical treatment.

CONCLUSION: Based on the current data, resource-adapted surgical planning seems reasonable. Further research in these areas is necessary to determine the best timing of treatment and address existing doubts.

PMID:39879862 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112165

Injury. 2025 Jan 25;56(3):112183. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112183. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Reduction and intraoperative maintenance of fracture fragments during minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) pose technical difficulties, particularly when the interposed fragment is angulated, prompting surgeons to attempt reduction due to concerns about nonunion or malunion. We aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of MIPO for mid-shaft clavicular fractures based on the reduced status of the interposed fragments.

METHOD: Fifty-seven patients who underwent MIPO for acute mid-shaft Robinson type 2B clavicular fractures were divided into two groups based on the alignment of the interposed fracture fragment. A vertical fracture fragment was defined as one tilted by >45° relative to the long axis of the proximal clavicular shaft. Radiological outcomes were evaluated using time to union, clavicle thickness, and length ratio after union compared with the healthy side. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS); the Korean Shoulder Score (KSS); Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score; and shoulder range of motion (ROM). Continuous variables were analyzed using Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, based on data distribution.

RESULT: The vertical fragment group comprised 21 patients, and the nonvertical fragment group comprised 36. The mean time to union was similar between the vertical (4.48 ± 1.20 months) and nonvertical group (4.64 ± 1.17 months, p = 0.162). The groups showed comparable clavicular length and thickness ratios: 0.992 ± 0.040 vs. 1.076 ± 0.045 (p = 0.175), 1.189 ± 0.102 vs. 1.186 ± 0.271 (AP view, p = 0.165), and 1.121 ± 0.238 vs. 1.112 ± 0.230 (Lordotic view, p = 0.655), respectively. At 12 months, no significant differences were observed in VAS (0.3 ± 0.7 vs. 0.8 ± 0.8, p = 0.667), KSS (97.10 ± 6.30 vs. 96.75 ± 6.77, p = 0.940), and DASH (1.44 ± 3.64 vs. 2.00 ± 4.05, p = 0.501), or in ROM forward flexion (165.24 ± 9.28 vs. 162.78 ± 12.56, p = 0.464) and external rotation (60.95 ± 13.00 vs. 60.00 ± 13.47, p = 0.965).

CONCLUSION: Favorable radiological and clinical outcomes were achieved in all patients who underwent MIPO for mid-shaft clavicular fractures, regardless of whether the interposed fracture fragment after reduction was vertical.

PMID:39879861 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112183

Injury. 2025 Jan 21;56(3):112178. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112178. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Severe open lower limb fractures are complex and costly injuries. Studies reporting the costs associated with these injuries, the economic impact of complications, and the clinical benefit of adherence to national guidelines have been previously reported. However, the economic benefits of national guidelines and their relationship with length of inpatient stay have not been described.

METHODS: An international retrospective cohort study, using length of stay as a proxy for in-hospital economic impact, comparing the duration of inpatient stay in countries with national guidelines and those without.

RESULTS: In a cohort of 2641 patients from 16 countries, length of stay was 17 % lower in countries with national guidelines, equivalent to 2-3 fewer inpatient days per patient. This difference was primarily driven by a lower incidence of deep infection observed in countries with national clinical guidelines.

CONCLUSION: The presence of national guidelines for the management of severe lower limb injuries is associated with both improved clinical outcomes and reduced length of stay and therefore healthcare burden. Whilst application and adoption of national guidelines is not without challenges, their implementation is associated with significant clinical and economic benefits.

PMID:39879860 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112178

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Jan 29. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.00561. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not been routinely used for infants with brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI); instead, the decision to operate is based on the trajectory of clinical recovery by 6 months of age. The aim of this study was to develop an MRI protocol that can be performed without sedation or contrast in order to identify infants who would benefit from surgery at an earlier age than the age at which that decision could be made clinically.

METHODS: This prospective multicenter NAPTIME (Non-Anesthetized Plexus Technique for Infant MRI Evaluation) study included infants aged 28 to 120 days with BPBI from 3 tertiary care centers. Subjects had nonsedated non-contrast rapid volumetric proton density MRI on 3-T scanners. Neuroradiologists at each site calculated the NAPTIME nerve root injury score for subjects at their site. Interrater reliability was performed on a subset of subjects. All of the subjects were evaluated with routine clinical examinations up to 6 months of age, by which time the treating surgeon determined whether to offer nerve surgery. Surgeons were blinded to the MRI results. The ability of the NAPTIME score to discriminate surgeon indication for surgery was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, by estimating the area under the curve (AUC) across the range of NAPTIME scores.

RESULTS: Sixty-five infants successfully completed the NAPTIME MRI; 18 (28%) ultimately met the clinical criteria for nerve surgery. The interrater reliability for the NAPTIME score was moderate at 0.703 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.582 to 0.818). The median NAPTIME score for subjects who met the criteria for nerve surgery was 16.2 (interquartile range [IQR], 9.9 to 18.9), while the median score for those who did not was 7.0 (IQR, 5.0 to10.5). The NAPTIME score predicted meeting the criteria for surgery with an AUC of 0.812 (95% CI, 0.688 to 0.936). A score of >13 offered a specificity of 0.94 and a sensitivity of 0.61 for surgical indication.

CONCLUSIONS: Non-contrast MRI without sedation is a useful tool in determining the severity of injury in BPBI. The NAPTIME score might distinguish which infants will meet the criteria for reconstructive nerve surgery earlier than when the decision can be made clinically.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

PMID:39879284 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.00561

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Jan 29. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.001193. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:39879283 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.001193

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Jan 29. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.23.01451. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The accurate inclusion of patient comorbidities ensures appropriate risk adjustment in clinical or health services research and payment models. Orthopaedic studies often use only the comorbidities included at the index inpatient admission when quantifying patient risk. The goal of this study was to assess improvements in capture rates and in model fit and discriminatory power when using additional data and best practices for comorbidity capture.

METHODS: Hip fracture care was used as an exemplary case of an inpatient condition in a population typically having multiple comorbidities. Cohorts were built from 3 administrative resources: (1) Medicare, (2) all-payer, and (3) private-payer. Elixhauser comorbidities were calculated first using only the index admission and subsequently by adding inpatient and outpatient data from the previous year. Comorbidities identified on outpatient records required 2 instances occurring ≥30 days apart. Model fit and discriminatory power for in-hospital metrics (death, length of stay, and costs or charges) and post-discharge metrics (90-day readmission and surgical site infection, and 90-day and 1-year death) were compared among capture strategies.

RESULTS: The index admission missed 9.3% to 65.6% of individual Elixhauser comorbidities for the Medicare cohort, 2.9% to 39.0% for the all-payer cohort, and 14.1% to 57.9% for the private-payer cohort compared with data from the index admission plus the previous year. Using prior inpatient and outpatient data provided substantial improvements in model fit and explanatory power for post-discharge outcomes, whereas information from the index admission was sufficient for in-hospital death and length of stay. The utility of outpatient data was greatest when complete outpatient claims were captured compared with only ambulatory surgery claims.

CONCLUSIONS: The comorbidity capture strategies demonstrated in this study, namely including all available data for post-discharge outcomes, using a 1-year lookback period, and requiring outpatient codes to appear on 2 claims ≥30 days apart, are relevant for improved risk adjustment in orthopaedic clinical or health services research and quality improvement and payment models.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

PMID:39879281 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.23.01451

Int Orthop. 2025 Jan 30. doi: 10.1007/s00264-025-06426-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The spine research within India has seen significant advancement, yet detailed examinations of its impact and evolution still need to be made sparse. To conduct a comprehensive scientometric review of the most frequently cited papers in Indian spine research from 1995 to 2024, aiming to map the field's evolution and its global impact.

METHODS: Utilizing the Scopus database, a search was performed with keywords related to spine research, identifying 105 highly cited papers. This study focused on trends in publications, document types, affiliations, collaboration networks, and citation patterns.

RESULTS: The period between 2005 and 2014 saw a significant increase in publications, with a notable emphasis on international collaborations, especially with the United States and Canada. Clinical research, particularly on the lumbar spine and surgical advancements, emerged as the primary focus. The average citations per document stood at 102.37, with original research articles constituting 73.33% of the total. Collaboration spanned across 31 countries, with the United States being the foremost partner. Indian institutions like Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, and the All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi, were among the top contributors. Indian authors, notably with S. Rajasekaran leading, followed by AK Jain.

CONCLUSION: The findings highlght the pivotal role of Indian spine research in contributing to the global knowledge base, highlighting significant areas of strength and opportunities for future research. The study offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and healthcare planners, aiming to enhance spinal health care in India and internationally.

PMID:39881023 | DOI:10.1007/s00264-025-06426-2

Injury. 2025 Jan 20;56(3):112174. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112174. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Long bone fractures with concomitant vascular injury have the potential to be life and limb threatening injuries, with increased risk for limb loss. There is currently no established surgical order of operations for orthopaedic and vascular intervention. This study compares injury classification, warm ischemia time and patient outcomes in patients with long bone fractures and associated vascular injury after orthopaedic versus vascular primary intervention.

METHODS: Design: Retrospective review Setting: Level 1 Trauma Center Patient Selection Criteria: Included were patients treated between 2016 and 2021 with fractures of the femur, tibia, fibula, or knee dislocation (OTA/AO 32, 33, 41, 42 and 43) with associated vascular injury necessitating vascular repair. Outcome Measures and Comparisons: Warm ischemia time, intraoperative transfusion requirements, readmission, definitive amputation, fasciotomy, infection, need for vascular revision, and return to weight bearing were compared between the two groups (primary vascular intervention (VP) and primary orthopaedic intervention (OP)).

RESULTS: 35 patients were included with 29 patients in the VP group and 6 patients in the OP group. There was no significant difference in the warm ischemia time between groups (p = 0.52) or total operative time (p = 0.13). 3/29 patients in the VP group required definitive amputation and 0/6 patients in the OP group required amputation (p = 1.00). There were no statistically significant differences in rates of infection, fasciotomy, readmission, length of stay, vascular revision, or time to weight bearing between groups.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates collaborative care between surgical teams to minimize warm ischemia time is crucial in patients with lower extremity fractures associated with vascular injury. There is no significant difference in patient outcomes including definitive intraoperative transfusion requirements, amputation, time to weight bearing or infection when comparing primary orthopaedic versus vascular intervention.

PMID:39874867 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112174

Injury. 2025 Jan 23;56(3):112182. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112182. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Blunt chest trauma represents a major risk factor for complications in polytrauma patients. Various scoring systems have emerged, but their impact is not fully appreciated. This review evaluates changes in chest trauma scoring over time and potential shifts in complication rates linked to modified surgical approaches in long bone fractures.

METHODS: A systematic review was performed utilizing Medline and EMBASE. Included studies analyzed the clinical course following blunt chest trauma with orthopedic injuries requiring surgical fixation. Quantification of chest injury severity was assessed based on the utilized scores in the respective publication such as the Abbreviated Injury Scale, Injury Severity Score, Thoracic Trauma Score (TTS) or the Chest Trauma Score (CTS). The studies were categorized into two groups: "ante-millenium" (AM) (<31.12.2000) and "post-millenium" (PM) (>01.01.2000). Endpoint analysis focused on chest-injury-related complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia, multiple organ failure (MOF), and pulmonary embolism. A meta-analysis examined the influence of surgical timing (early vs. late) on clinical outcomes.

RESULTS: Of 9,682 studies on chest trauma, 20 (4,079 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Most studies in both AM and PM reported the thoracic AIS scale for severity assessment. In group PM more clinical parameters were included in the decision making. Incidences of pooled and weighted mortality were higher in AM (5.1 %) compared to PM (2.3 %, p = 0.003), and ARDS incidence was also greater in AM (12.1 %) versus PM (8.9 %, p = 0.045), though these findings were not confirmed through indirect meta-analysis. Early fracture fixation (<24 h) displayed a non-significant trend toward lower ARDS (OR: 0.60; 95 % CI, 0.23-1.52) and mortality (OR: 0.66; 95 % CI, 0.28-1.55), but significantly reduced pneumonia risk (OR, 0.53; 95 % CI, 0.40-0.71).

CONCLUSION: Prior to 2000, chest injuries were quantified using the AIS alone, while afterwards multiple scoring systems that incorporated pathophysiologic response were utilized. Possibly related to changes in timing of surgery, fixation techniques, or general improvements in-patient care seems to have improved in patients with concomitant thoracic trauma regarding mortality and ARDS. Overall, polytrauma patients with concomitant thoracic injuries might benefit from early definitive fracture care if their physiology and overall injury pattern allows it.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic Review; Level IV.

PMID:39874866 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112182

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Jan 28. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.00894. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In this study, we estimated the risk of surgically treated postoperative periprosthetic femoral fractures (POPFFs) associated with femoral implants frequently used for total hip arthroplasty (THA).

METHODS: In this cohort study of patients who underwent primary THA in England between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2020, POPFFs were identified from prospectively collected revision records and national hospital records. POPFF incidence rates, adjusting for potential confounders, were estimated for common stems. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients >70 years of age, with non-osteoarthritic indications, and with femoral neck fracture.

RESULTS: POPFFs occurred in 0.6% (5,100) of 809,832 cases during a median follow-up of 6.5 years (interquartile range [IQR], 3.9 to 9.6 years). After cemented stem implantation, the majority of POPFFs were treated with fixation. Adjusted prosthesis time incidence rates (PTIRs) for POPFFs varied by stem design, regardless of cement fixation. Cemented composite beam (CB) stems demonstrated the lowest risk of POPFF. Collared cementless stems had an equivalent or lower rate of POPFF compared with the current gold standard of a polished taper slip cemented stem.

CONCLUSIONS: Cemented CB stems were associated with the lowest POPFF risk, and some cementless stem designs outperformed modern cemented stem designs. Stem design was strongly associated with POPFF risk, regardless of the presence of cement. Surgeons, policymakers, and patients should consider these findings when considering femoral implants in those most at risk for POPFF.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

PMID:39874379 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.00894

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Jan 28. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.00829. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported normative data for sagittal spinal alignment in asymptomatic adults. The sagittal spinal alignment change in European children was recently reported. However, there is a lack of studies on the normative reference values of sagittal spinal and pelvic alignment and how these parameters change at different growth stages in Chinese children. The aims of this study were to establish the normative reference values of sagittal spinopelvic parameters in Chinese children, to investigate their variation during growth, and to compare these parameters between Chinese and European populations.

METHODS: The radiographic data of 1,916 healthy Chinese children (female:male sex ratio, 1.02:1; mean age, 11.9 ± 4.3 years) were analyzed in a retrospective, single-center study. Full-spine radiographs were utilized to measure several sagittal parameters, including pelvic parameters, T1-T12 thoracic kyphosis (TK), and L1-S1 lumbar lordosis (LL). TK was divided into proximal, middle, and distal parts, and LL was divided into proximal and distal parts. Patients were stratified into 5 groups according to skeletal maturity (based on age, Risser sign, and triradiate cartilage status).

RESULTS: During skeletal growth, pelvic incidence (PI) increased from 31.3° to 38.4° (p < 0.001), and pelvic tilt (PT) increased from 7.8° to 12.2° (p < 0.001). There were also increases in LL (from 45.0° to 46.3°; p = 0.020) and proximal LL (from 14.5° to 15.9°; p = 0.023). The peak of change in PI occurred between Groups 1 and 2 (from 31.3° to 35.8°; p = 0.011). The peak of change in LL was observed between Groups 1 and 3 (from 45.0° to 47.7°; p = 0.008). The peak of change in proximal LL (from 14.5° to 15.9°; p = 0.039) and distal TK (from 6.1° to 6.9°; p = 0.039) occurred between Groups 1 and 5. A subgroup comparison showed that age and TK were significantly higher in male patients than in female patients across the skeletal growth groups.

CONCLUSIONS: This was a comprehensive study of sagittal alignment in a large cohort of Chinese children. These findings can serve as age, sex, and ethnicity-specific reference values for spine surgeons when assessing and planning correction surgery for pediatric patients. The sagittal alignment variations during skeletal growth were different from those in European children, representing a unique cascade effect occurring during skeletal maturation in the Chinese population.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

PMID:39874374 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.00829

Int Orthop. 2025 Jan 29. doi: 10.1007/s00264-025-06415-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Hinge fractures show a relatively high incidence in varus and valgus distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) and can lead to delayed- or non-union. Another observed complication of a hinge fracture is an unintentional change of the postoperative femoral torsion of up to + 9.5° in conventionally performed DFO. We hypothesize that the change of femoral torsion in case of a hinge fracture is less pronounced when DFO is performed using patient-specific instruments (PSI) compared to the literature of conventionally performed DFO.

METHODS: All patients who underwent varus or valgus DFO using PSI from January 2014 to September 2023 were included. Radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans were used to screen for hinge fractures. Pre- and postoperative femoral torsion was measured in CT.

RESULTS: Thirty-five medial closing-wedge DFO (MCW-DFO), 27 lateral closing-wedge DFO (LCW-DFO), and 27 lateral opening-wedge DFO (LOW-DFO) were included, resulting in a total of 89 included osteotomies. A total of 55 hinge fractures (61.8%) were observed. The femoral torsion changed significantly from 20.5° ± 7.7° to 15.5° ± 8.1° (p < 0.001) in LOW-DFO with a hinge fracture, whereas the other two techniques showed no significant change of femoral torsion.

CONCLUSION: The use of PSI in varus and valgus DFO showed only small changes of the postoperative femoral torsion, even in case of a hinge fracture. The change of femoral torsion was depending on the type of DFO and was only significant in LOW-DFO, however, not exceeding a mean change of 5°.

PMID:39875640 | DOI:10.1007/s00264-025-06415-5

Int Orthop. 2025 Jan 28. doi: 10.1007/s00264-025-06419-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Entrapment neuropathies of the lower extremity are often underdiagnosed due to limitations in clinical examination and electrophysiological testing. Advanced imaging techniques, particularly MR neurography and high-resolution ultrasonography (US), have significantly improved the evaluation and diagnosis of these conditions by enabling precise visualization of nerves and their surrounding anatomical structures. This review focuses on the imaging features of compressive neuropathies affecting the lumbosacral plexus and its branches, including the femoral, obturator, sciatic, common peroneal, and tibial nerves. Key conditions such as meralgia paraesthetica, piriformis syndrome, and tarsal tunnel syndrome are discussed, highlighting findings such as nerve thickening, T2 hypersignal, fascicular changes, and associated muscle denervation patterns. The ability to detect structural causes, including anatomical variations, fibrous bands, and space-occupying lesions, underscores the value of these imaging modalities in facilitating early diagnosis, guiding therapeutic interventions, and improving patient outcomes.

PMID:39873711 | DOI:10.1007/s00264-025-06419-1