Faculty Bibliography

In this study, we evaluated risk factors for gram-negative fracture-related infection in a mixed cohort of gram-positive and gram-negative fracture-related infections to guide perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical fixation of fractures. We performed a retrospective review of all patients with fracture who were treated at an urban academic level I trauma center between February 1, 2012, and June 30, 2017. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) open or closed fracture with internal fixation; (2) deep, acute to subacute (<6 weeks), culture-positive fracture-related infection; and (3) age 18 years or older. Infections were classified as gram positive, gram negative, or polymicrobial. Demographic, surgical, and postoperative characteristics were compared among groups. Of 3360 patients, 43 (1.3%) had a fracture-related infection (15 gram negative, 14 gram positive, and 14 polymicrobial). Risk factors for gram-negative infection included initial external fixation (P=.038), the need for soft tissue coverage of an open fracture site (P=.039), lower albumin level at the time of infection (P=.005), and hospitalization for longer than 10 days (P=.018). Perioperative gram-negative antibiotic prophylaxis for fracture fixation surgery should be considered for those who have been staged with external fixation, require soft tissue coverage, are at risk for malnutrition in the postoperative period, and have prolonged inpatient hospitalization. [Orthopedics. 20XX;XX(X):xx-xx.].

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:To determine if matching by trauma risk score is non-inferior to matching by chronic comorbidities and/or a combination of demographic and patient characteristics in observational studies of acute trauma in a hip fracture model. DESIGN/METHODS:Retrospective cohort study SETTING: Level-1 Trauma Center PATIENTS: 1,590 hip fracture [AO/OTA 31A and 31B] patients age 55 and over treated between October 2014 and February 2020 at 4 hospitals within a single academic medical center. INTERVENTION/METHODS:Repeatedly matching randomized subsets of patients by (1) Score for Trauma Triage in Geriatric and Middle-Aged (STTGMA), (2) Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), or (3) a combination of sex, age, CCI and body mass index (BMI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS/METHODS:"Matching failures" where rate of significant differences in variables of matched cohorts exceeds the 5% expected by chance. RESULTS:STTGMA and combination matching resulted in no "matching failures". Matching by CCI alone resulted in "matching failures" of BMI, ASA class, STTGMA, major complications, sepsis, pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, and 90-day readmission. CONCLUSIONS:STTGMA matching in observational cohort studies is less likely to yield significant differences of demographics and outcomes than CCI matching. STTGMA matching is noninferior to matching a combination of demographic variables optimized for each treatment cohort. STTGMA matching is apt to reflect equipoise of health at admission and outcome likelihood in observational cohort studies of orthopedic trauma, while maintaining consistent weighting of demographic and injury characteristic variables that may expand the generalizability of these studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level III.

Although surgical procedures have been occurring as early at 6500 BC, the modern sense of the operating room (OR) did not exist until more recently. As aseptic techniques and surgical procedures began to evolve, so too did the OR table. The OR table began to transition from a static, wooden table to a dynamic table with the ability to position patients for a variety of procedures. With the advent of intraoperative imaging for orthopaedic procedures, OR tables have adapted and allow for imaging of bony anatomy by using radiolucent materials. These changes have led to the development of numerous OR tables, each with their own sets of advantages and disadvantages. There is currently no summary of the development, indications, benefits, and disadvantages of the various OR tables available to orthopaedic surgeons in the literature. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive review of orthopaedic operating tables for both the junior orthopaedic resident and experienced attending surgeon.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of blood transfusion timing in hip fracture patients. METHODS:A consecutive series of hip fracture patients 55 years and older who required a blood transfusion during hospitalization were reviewed for demographic, injury, clinical outcome, and cost information. A validated risk predictive score (STTGMA) was calculated for each patient. Patients were stratified to preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative first transfusion cohorts. The intraoperative and postoperative cohorts were matched by STTGMA, sex, and procedure to the preoperative cohort. Baseline patient characteristics and outcomes were compared before and after matching. RESULTS:Prior to matching, the preoperative cohort was more often male (p < 0.001) with increased Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.012), ASA class (p < 0.002), STTGMA (p < 0.001), total transfused volume (p = 0.002), incidence of inpatient mortality (p = 0.045), myocardial infarction (p = 0.005) and cardiac arrest (p = 0.014). After matching, the preoperative cohort had increased total transfused volume (p = 0.015) and decreased pneumonia incidence (p = 0.040). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Matching STTGMA score, sex, and procedure results in non-inferior outcomes among hip fracture patients receiving preoperative first blood transfusions compared to intraoperative and postoperative transfusions.

Nail plate constructs (NPC) have shown promising results in complex lower extremity peri-articular fractures as well as in peri-prosthetic fractures. The combination of both implants allows for improved mechanical stability and immediate weight bearing. The use of NPC has not been described in the upper extremity in the literature. We herein describe potential indications and surgical technique for NPC usage for complex upper extremity trauma and reconstruction.

BACKGROUND:Tibial nonunion remains a considerable burden for patients and the surgeons who treat them. In recent years, alternatives to autogenous grafts for the treatment of tibial nonunions have been sought. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of autogenous iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) in the treatment of tibial shaft nonunions. MATERIAL AND METHODS/METHODS:Sixty-nine patients were identified who underwent ICBG for repair of atrophic or oligotrophic tibial nonunion and had complete data with at least one year of follow-up (mean 27.9 months). Surgical treatments consisted of revision/supplemental fixation ± ICBG. Surgical approaches for graft placement were either posterolateral (PL), anterolateral (AL), or direct medial (DM). Healing status, time to union, postoperative pain, and functional outcomes were assessed. RESULTS:Bony union was achieved by 97.1% (67/69) of patients at a mean time of 7.8 ± 3.2 months postoperatively. There was no significant difference in mean time to union between the three surgical approach groups: (PL (44.9%) = 7.3 months, AL (20.3%) = 9.2 months, DM (34.8%) = 7.6 months; p = 0.22). Intraoperative cultures obtained at the time of nonunion surgery were positive in 27.5% of patients (19/69). Positive cultures were associated with need for secondary surgery as 8/19 patients (42.1%) with positive cultures required re-operation. Two out of four patients that developed iliac donor site hematomas/infections requiring washout had positive intraoperative cultures as well. There was no difference in final SMFA among the three surgical approach groups. CONCLUSIONS:Autogenous ICBG remains the gold standard in the management of persistent tibial nonunions regardless of surgical approach. There is a small risk for complication at the iliac crest donor site. Given the high union rate, autogenous iliac crest bone grafting for tibial nonunion remains the gold standard for this difficult condition. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level III.

Hip fractures are increasingly common and often occur in patients with complex medical comorbidities. There remains a need for a safer anesthetic option for these patients for the operative repair of their injury other than general or neuraxial anesthesia. At our institution, for medically complex and physiologically tenuous patients, we perform Monitored Anesthesia Care and Soft-Tissue Infiltration of Local Anesthetic (MAC-STILA) when performing percutaneous fixation techniques for hip fractures. We describe our technique here.

BACKGROUND:The purpose of this study is to determine if treated psychological depression is associated with poorer functional outcomes in patients who sustain tibial plateau fractures. METHODS:Patients with a tibia plateau fracture were prospectively followed. Functional status was assessed using the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) at baseline (pre-injury), 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post injury. Clinical outcomes were recorded at each follow up visit and radiographic outcomes were obtained from follow up radiographs. Records were reviewed to identify patients who were being treated for major depressive disorder (MDD). SMFA scores and clinical outcomes were compared between the depression and no depression cohorts. RESULTS:420 patients were treated for a tibial plateau fracture and the mean age was 50.83 ± 15.60 years. Forty-two (10%) patients with 42 fractures were being treated for MDD at the time of their fracture. Patients with MDD were older (p = 0.05) and were more likely female (p < 0.01). At baseline, the clinical depression cohort had worse Total SMFA scores compared to the non-depressed cohort (5.90 ± 14.41 vs. 2.69 ± 8.35, p < 0.01). There were no differences in total SMFA score or any SMFA subscores at 3, 6, and 12 months. The incidence of wound complications, reoperations, and radiographic outcomes also did not differ between the cohorts. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Despite patients with MDD reporting higher SMFA (poorer) scores at baseline, MDD was not associated with worse injuries, diminished clinical or poorer functional outcomes following tibial plateau fractures.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:To assess the outcomes of patients who underwent closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) with cannulated screws for treatment of a displaced femoral neck fracture (DFNF) as they were deemed too high risk to undergo hemiarthroplasty (HA). DESIGN/METHODS:Prospective cohort study. SETTING/METHODS:One urban academic medical center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS/METHODS:Sixteen patients treated with CRPP and 32 risk-level-matched patients treated with HA. INTERVENTION/METHODS:CRPP for patients with DFNFs who were deemed too ill to undergo HA. The concept being that CRPP would aid in pain control and facilitate mobilization and if failed, the patient could return electively after medical optimization for conversion to arthroplasty. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS/METHODS:Complications, readmissions, mortality, inpatient cost, and functional status. RESULTS:The CRPP cohort had a greater incidence of exacerbations of chronic medical conditions or new onset of acute illness and an elevated mean American Society of Anesthesiologist score. There were no differences in discharge location, length of stay, major complication rate, ambulation before discharge, or 90-day readmission rate. Patients undergoing CRPP were less likely to experience minor complications including a significantly decreased incidence of acute blood loss anemia. Three patients (18.7%) in the CRPP cohort underwent conversion to HA or THA. There was no difference in inpatient, 30-day, or 1-year mortality. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:In the acutely ill patients with DFNFs, "damage control" fixation with CRPP can be safely performed in lieu of HA to stabilize the fracture in those unable to tolerate anesthesia or the sequelae of major surgery. Patients should be followed closely to evaluate the need for secondary surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of Levels of Evidence.

Purpose/UNASSIGNED:To assess risk factors and associated outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in hip fracture patients. Methods/UNASSIGNED:Risk factors for AKI were identified by multivariate logistic regression. AKI patients were matched to patients who did not experience AKI using a validated trauma triage score. Comparative analyses between matched groups were performed. Results/UNASSIGNED:Risk factors of AKI included increasing Charlson Comorbidity Index and use of anticoagulation medications. AKI was associated with increased likelihood of medical complications and longer, more costly hospital stays. Discussion/UNASSIGNED: