Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:This study aims to determine the impact of injury mechanism energy level on clinical outcomes following Galeazzi fracture. METHODS:A retrospective review was performed on 116 skeletally mature patients treated operatively for Galeazzi fractures between January 2000 and October 2023. Patients were categorized by mechanism of injury into high-energy (HE, n = 92) and low-energy (LE, n = 24) groups. Demographics, fracture characteristics, fixation details, and postoperative outcomes, including wrist and elbow range of motion, complications, radiographic healing time, and reoperations, were collected and compared between groups using standard parametric and nonparametric tests with significance set at P < .05. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables with low expected counts. RESULTS:No differences were observed in body mass index or injury characteristics between groups. The HE group was younger and included a higher proportion of men. Wrist motion was more limited in the HE group across dorsiflexion, palmar flexion, pronation, and supination, and time to radiographic healing was longer compared with the LE group. Elbow motion and rates of nonunion, fracture-related infection, contracture, readmission, and distal radioulnar joint symptoms were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS:HE Galeazzi fractures were associated with poorer wrist range of motion and toward delayed radiographic healing compared with LE injuries. Recognition of this association underscores the prognostic value of injury mechanism and may inform surgical planning, rehabilitation expectations, and patient counseling. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Prognostic III.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:The purpose of this study was to assess whether language affects patient time to surgery following hip fractures. METHODS:Patients >55 years who underwent operative hip fracture repair between 2014 and 2021 were reviewed for demographics, language, hospital quality measures, and outcomes. Patients were split into English (E) or non-English (NE) cohorts based on their primary language. RESULTS:A total of 1880 patients (1477 E, 403 NE) were included. The E cohort was younger, had lower body mass index, and lower American Society of Anesthesiology Score (P < .01). The E cohort had more White patients (P < .01), whereas the NE cohort had more Hispanic, Asian, and patients with unknown backgrounds (P < .01 for all). At baseline, the E cohort patients were more likely to be community ambulators (P < .01). There were no differences in time to surgery or length of stay (P > .05). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Despite poorer baseline medical conditions, NE speaking patients received similar care to English speakers highlighting the importance of an effective standardized protocol with readily available translation services. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level III, Retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:This study compares outcomes and complications of patients with Bado II Monteggia fracture-dislocations that required radial head fixation or replacement based upon approach to the radial head. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:A retrospective review was performed of 159 consecutive patients with proximal ulna fractures and a radial head dislocation or fracture (Monteggia Variant). Injuries were classified by Bado type. Forty-one patients with Bado II Monteggia injuries treated with either a radial head replacement or fixation with complete follow up were included. Demographics, injury information, surgical details, and follow up information including elbow range of motion (ROM) and complications were collected. A trans-osseous posterior (TOP) approach working through the ulna fracture to address the radial head first was used in 19 patients, while 22 patients had their radial head treated via a separate lateral (Kocher) interval after ulnar fixation. Ulnar plate fixation was performed for all patients. Comparisons were made using independent t-tests. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Forty-one Monteggia lesions treated through TOP (19, 46 %) or Kocher (22, 64 %) approaches underwent a radial head replacement (33, 80.5 %) or fracture repair (8, 19.5 %) with a mean final follow-up of 15.3 months. At all post-operative visits, groups displayed similar rates of functional elbow ROM. At latest follow-up rates of patient-reported pain, ultimate elbow ROM, time to radiographic healing were equivalent. No significant differences were observed in ulna non-union, joint malalignment, post-operative nerve injury, post-operative infection, heterotopic ossification, incidence of hardware failure, patient-reported pain, and rate of removal of symptomatic hardware. Sub-analysis of radial head replacement versus fixation revealed equivalent percentage of patients with full ROM at each post-operative time point. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:For Bado II Monteggia fracture-dislocations, the surgical approach to the radial head-TOP versus Kocher-does not influence ultimate patient outcomes or complication rates. Radial head replacement and fixation provide comparable results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/UNASSIGNED:III.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Tibial plateau fractures are some of the most commonly treated injuries around the knee and loss of range of motion has a significant effect on post-operative outcomes, very few studies have demonstrated the impact of flexion contractures. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect that development of a knee flexion contracture has on outcomes following operative repair of tibial plateau fractures. METHODS:Patients operatively treated for tibial plateau fractures (Schatzker II, IV, V, and VI) between 2005-2024 at a multi-center academic urban hospital system were included in this retrospective comparative study. Patients were grouped into 3 cohorts: 1. Full extension (FE), 2. 5-10 degrees of flexion contracture (Mild, ME) and 3. Greater than 10 degrees of flexion (Severe, SE) contracture at 6 months post-operatively. Patients with contracture were matched to patients who regained full extension based on age and Schatzker classification. Statistical analysis was used to evaluate outcomes including patient reported pain levels, Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) scores, complication rates and reoperation rates. RESULTS:The cohort consisted of 3 groups of 30 patients (14 Schatzker II, 5 Schatzker IV, 3 Schatzker V, and 8 Schatzker VI). The average knee flexion contracture for the mild cohort was 5 degrees and the average knee flexion contracture for the severe cohort was 12.7 degrees. Patients who experienced flexion contracture had poorer SMFA scores at 6 months, and those in the severe cohort had the poorest SMFA scores (112.6) when compared to those with full extension at 6 months (77.7) (p<0.001). Flexion contractures were associated with higher rates of fracture related infection (FRI) (p =0.002). Patients with flexion contracture also had a higher rate of subsequent re-operation, with 36.7% of the ME undergoing re-operation and 40% of SE undergoing re-operation. CONCLUSIONS:Patients who developed a flexion contracture following repair of a tibial plateau fracture experienced worse outcomes, higher rates of complications, increased pain, and poorer function at long term follow up compared to those who achieved full knee extension.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate revision and removal rates of radial head arthroplasty (RHA) for elbow trauma using modern press-fit modular implants. DESIGN/METHODS:Retrospective cohort study. SETTING/METHODS:Urban academic medical center. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA/UNASSIGNED:Patients who underwent RHA (2012-2024) for isolated comminuted radial head fractures, combined head-neck fractures, terrible triad injuries, or Monteggia variants (OTA 2R1) were study eligible. Inclusion criteria consisted of treatment with press-fit modular implants and ≥1 year of clinical follow-up. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS/UNASSIGNED:Demographics, injury patterns, elbow range of motion, and postoperative complications-including fracture-related infection, nerve injury, periprosthetic fracture, implant resection, and non-resection procedures-were assessed. Implant survivorship was evaluated via Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS:250 patients were included (mean age 52.2 ± 17.8 years, range 18.1-88.3 years; mean length of follow up 43.8 ± 35.2 months, range 12.0-128.0 months, BMI 28.7 ± 6.3 kg/m2, 56.8% female). Common indications for RHA included Monteggia fractures (38.0%), isolated radial head fractures (23.6%), and terrible triad injuries (19.2%).Post-index surgery iatrogenic nerve injury occurred in 7.2%, most commonly involving the ulnar nerve. Fracture related infection occurred in 2.8% post index surgery, and one nonoperative periprosthetic fracture (0.4%) was observed.The resection rate was 7.2% (18/250), with 33.3% (6/18) of implant resection surgeries occurring within one year (mean length of follow up 43.8 ± 35.2 months, range 12.0-128.0 months). Common resection indications included postoperative stiffness (n=5), infection (n=4), and neuropathy (n=3). One-year implant survival was 97.6%, with mean survivorship of 8.5 ± 1.0 years (95% CI, 7.1-9.8).In total, 24 patients (9.6%) underwent additional non-resection procedures including nerve decompressions, elbow contracture releases with excision of heterotopic ossification, and manipulations under anesthesia.At final follow-up (mean 43.8 ± 35.2 months), mean range of motion was 125.4° flexion, -14.9° extension, 73.5° pronation, and 79.3° supination. No significant difference in length of follow-up was observed between patients with post-operative nerve injury (52.4 ± 38.2 months) and those without (42.5 ± 34.8 months, p = 0.16). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:With a 7.2% resection rate and one-year implant survival of 97.6%, contemporary press-fit modular RHA demonstrated durable elbow trauma outcomes.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to reliably define the concept of "extreme tibial nailing" and (2) assess the feasibility of tibial intramedullary nailing when the fracture extends into the nail's locking bolt zone. METHODS:Design: A retrospective review. SETTING/METHODS:A single academic center comprised of a specialty orthopedic hospital and a Level I Trauma Center. Patient Selection Criteria: 543 patients who sustained 555 tibia fractures between February 2014 and January 2024 were reviewed by two board-certified orthopedic surgeons. Cases were classified as "extreme nailing" based on the tibial fracture within the most proximal or distal 25% of the bone such that the fracture extended into the locking bolt section of the intramedullary nail used to treat the fracture. Patients with supplemental periarticular plating of the tibia were excluded. Outcome Measures and Comparisons: Data collected included patient demographics, hospital metrics, and outcomes. RESULTS:Twenty-five tibial fractures treated met radiographic criterion. The "extreme IMN" cohort was 45.8 years, 72% female with a mean BMI of 26.6. Over half of fractures resulted from high-energy injuries, and 40% were open. Patients were hospitalized for 92.8 h on average, and the 90-day readmission rate was 8.0%. The average time to weight-bearing allowance was 5.2 weeks post-op. Eight (32.0%) patients experienced complications: 12% developed fracture-related infection (FRI), 4% experienced hardware complications, and 20.0% developed nonunion requiring surgery. The rate of all-cause reoperation was 32.0%, and 28% of patients experienced knee or ankle pain at 6 months or later. The rate of malalignment was 8.0%, and the average time to radiographic healing was 5.7 months. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Tibial nailing is an effective treatment for "extreme" tibial fractures that extend as far as the articular surface and interlocking cluster on either end. The majority of patients who underwent extreme tibial nailing recovered with acceptable alignment, minimal healing complications, and achieved radiographic union within 6 months. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:III.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:To evaluate the impact of prolonged GLP-1 usage on mortality, readmission, incidence of in-hospital complications, and incidence of implant failure following hip fracture surgery across various BMI strata. METHODS:A prospective hip fracture registry (2014-2024) at a single institution was used to identify 58 obese patients on prolonged GLP-1 therapy at the time of injury. These patients (Group A) were matched by age, fracture pattern, and comorbidity burden to BMI-based control cohorts: normal (Group B), overweight (Group C), and obese (Group D). Postoperative complication rates, readmissions, and implant failures were compared. Major complications were defined as events needing further procedures, extended hospitalization, or causing significant functional impairment. Minor complications were those managed with minimal treatment. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, chi-square, and post hoc residual testing. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 21.0, Chicago, IL). RESULTS: ≈ 17.33, p < 0.001): 22.41% in Group A, 55.17% in Group B, 51.72% in Group C, and 60.34% in Group D. Group D exhibited significantly higher 30-day (17.24%, p < 0.001) and 90-day (24.14%, p < 0.05) readmission rates. No significant differences were observed in major complications, hardware failure incidence, or 30-day or 1-year. CONCLUSIONS: ≥ 6 months of continuous GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy was associated with a reduction in 30-day and 90-day readmission rates and overall and minor in-hospital complications in obese patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:III.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:The purpose of this study is to determine differences in outcomes between "extreme" tibial metaphyseal fractures treated with intramedullary nailing (IMN) or plate osteosynthesis. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:545 prospectively collected patients were reviewed by two board-certified orthopedic trauma surgeons to identify extreme tibial shaft fractures (defined as most proximal or distal segments that involved or would have involved the area encompassed by the nail locking bolts). Fifty-one patients were identified. Twenty-five patients treated with an intramedullary nail were compared to 24 patients treated with plate and screws for similar patterns. Data collected included patient demographics, surgical details, and outcomes. Cohorts were compared using fisher's exact test, independent T tests, and multivariable linear regression. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:The mean age of all patients was 46.73 years. There were no differences in ASA, CCI, age, male/female composition, or BMI between cohorts. There were no differences in low vs. high-energy mechanism of injury between cohorts, however the IMN cohort had a greater proportion of open fractures (p = 0.018). When controlling for covariates, patients who underwent IMN were allowed earlier weight bearing on the operative extremity. There were no differences in ankle or knee range of motion at latest follow up. There was a greater incidence of total complications among IMN (p = 0.033). Single variable analysis revealed an association between IMN and nonunion (p = 0.050). IMN trended towards greater need for reoperation (p = 0.086). CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:Intramedullary nailing of "extreme tibia fractures" was associated with higher rates of total complications compared to plate osteosynthesis and trended with greater need for reoperation. However, it should be noted that there was a higher incidence of open fractures in this cohort. There were no differences in the rate of malalignment, range of motion, or time to healing between cohorts.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:To determine the most common reason for 30-day readmission following hospitalization for hip fractures. METHODS:Design: A retrospective review. SETTING/METHODS:Single academic medical center that includes a Level 1 Trauma Center. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA/UNASSIGNED:Included were all patients operatively treated for hip fractures (OTA 31) between October 2014 and November 2023. Patients that died during their initial admission were excluded. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS/UNASSIGNED:Patient demographics, hospital quality measures, outcomes and readmission within 30-days following discharge for each patient were reviewed. 30-day readmission reason was recorded and correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS:A total of 3,032 patients were identified with a mean age of 82.1 years and 70.5% of patients being female. The 30-day readmission cohort was 2.6 years older (p<0.001) and 8.8% more male patients (p=0.027), had 0.5 higher CCI (p<0.001), 0.3 higher ASA class (p<0.001) and were 9.2% less independent at the time of admission (p= 0.003). Hemiarthroplasty procedure (32.7% vs. 24.1%) was associated with higher 30-day readmission compared to closed percutaneous screw fixation (4.5% vs. 8.8%) and cephalomedullary nail fixation (52.2% vs. 54.4%, p<0.001). Those readmitted by 30-days developed more major (16.7% vs. 8.0%) (p<0.001) and minor (50.5% vs. 36.4%) (p<0.001) complications during their initial hospitalization and had a 1.5 day longer LOS during their first admission (p<0.001). Those discharged home were less likely to be readmitted within 30-days (20.7% vs. 27.6%, (p=0.008). Multivariate regression revealed increasing ASA class (O.R. 1.47, p=0.002) and pre-injury ambulatory status (O.R. 1.42, p=0.007) were most associated with increased 30-day readmission. The most common reason for readmission was pulmonary complications (17.1% of complications) including acute respiratory failure, COPD exacerbation and pneumonia. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Thirty-day readmission following hip fracture was associated with older, sicker patients with decreased pre-injury ambulation status. Hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture was also associated with readmission. The most common reason for 30-day readmission following hip fracture was pulmonary complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Prognostic Level III.