Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVES: This investigation was undertaken to compare a series of elderly individuals who sustained a displaced femoral neck fracture treated with either a cemented bipolar prosthesis or a cemented modular unipolar prosthesis. DESIGN: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Hospital-based tertiary care orthopaedic trauma practice. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred eighty-one community dwelling elderly patients sixty-five years of age or older who sustained a displaced femoral neck fracture (Garden Types III-IV) and underwent primary prosthetic replacement. INTERVENTION: One hundred one patients received a cemented bipolar prosthesis and 180 received a cemented modular unipolar prosthesis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The study was designed to determine whether there were any significant differences in: (a) the rate of prosthetic dislocation, postoperative medical and wound complications, or need for revision surgery, and (b) the functional outcome, including the incidence of hip pain and recovery of preinjury levels of ambulatory status and activities of daily living, at a minimum of thirty-six months of follow-up. RESULTS: The two groups of patients did not differ in preinjury characteristics (age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologist rating of operative risk, number of comorbidities, fracture type, activities of daily living, ambulatory status). There were no significant differences in the rates of postoperative medical or wound complications or dislocation. Ninety-two patients died during the period of study. Forty patients were lost to follow-up or refused to participate. Consequently, 149 patients were followed for a minimum of thirty-six months. Functional ability was compared between both groups with regard to recovery of ambulatory status and activities of daily living, as well as the incidence of hip pain at a minimum of thirty-six months of follow-up. No significant differences were found between the unipolar and bipolar groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, there does not appear to be any advantage to the use of a bipolar endoprosthesis in the management of displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly. Furthermore, the extra cost of bipolar endoprostheses does not seem to warrant its use

Patients with a fracture of the proximal femur are at high risk for thromboembolic complications necessitating some form of preoperative and postoperative thromboembolic prophylaxis. Despite the knowledge that patients with a proximal femur fracture are at particularly high risk for both deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, there is no consensus on which strategy is most effective at preventing thromboembolic events in this patient population. The pathophysiology and associated risk factors for thromboembolic complications in this patient population are discussed. We present a review of studies that address the efficacy and safety of both mechanical and pharmacological methods of thromboembolic prophylaxis to assist the orthopedic surgeon in selecting among the different modalities available for thromboembolic prophylaxis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of admission hemoglobin level on patient outcome after hip fracture. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, consecutive. PATIENTS: From July 1991 to June 1997, 395 community-dwelling patients sixty-five years of age or older who had sustained an operatively treated femoral neck or intertrochanteric fracture were prospectively followed up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Postoperative complications, in-hospital mortality rate, hospital length of stay, hospital discharge status, place of residence at one year, and mortality and recovery of ambulatory ability and activities of daily living status at three, six, and twelve months. RESULTS: Women with admission hemoglobin levels below 12.0 grams per deciliter and men with admission hemoglobin levels below 13.0 grams per deciliter were classified as anemic. One hundred eighty patients (45.6 percent) were considered anemic on admission. Patients who were anemic were more likely to have an American Society of Anesthesiologists rating of III or IV and have sustained an intertrochanteric fracture. Hospital length of stay and mortality rate at six and twelve months were significantly higher for patients who were anemic on admission. There were no differences in the incidence of postoperative complications, hospital discharge status, place of residence at one year, in-hospital mortality rate, and three-month mortality rate between patients who were and were not anemic on admission. In addition, there were no differences in the recovery of ambulatory ability and of basic and instrumental activities of daily living status at three, six, and twelve months between the two patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients at risk for poor outcomes after hip fracture can be identified by assessing hemoglobin levels at hospital admission

The extreme range of motion at the shoulder, the high angular velocities and torques, and the repetitious nature of the pitching motion combine to make the shoulder vulnerable to injury during the baseball pitch. An understanding of the biomechanics that contribute to shoulder injuries during each phase of the pitching motion can facilitate the athlete's diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. The athlete's symptoms and signs, as well as radiographic imaging, are key elements in arriving at a diagnosis of shoulder injuries. Nonoperative treatment consisting of an initial period of rest and NSAIDS, followed by physical therapy and a gradual return to activity, is usually successful. When this approach fails, surgical intervention, either arthroscopic or open, may be necessary. Physical therapy and rehabilitation are directed toward restoring the integrity and strength of the dynamic and static stabilizers of the shoulder joint, yet preserving the range of motion necessary for performance. Through rehabilitation, the dedicated athlete can often return to the pitching mound at his previous level of performance

The extreme range of motion at the shoulder, the high angular velocities and torques, and the repetitious nature of the pitching motion combine to make the shoulder vulnerable to injury during the baseball pitch. An understanding of the biomechanics that contribute to shoulder injuries during each phase of the pitching motion can facilitate the athlete's diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. Common injuries that occur during the late cocking and acceleration phases of the pitch include anterior instability and impingement, bicipital tendinitis, and subacromial impingement. Nonoperative treatment consisting of an initial period of rest and NSAIDS, followed by physical therapy and a gradual return to activity, is usually successful. When this approach fails, surgical intervention, either arthroscopic or open, may be necessary. Physical therapy and rehabilitation are directed toward restoring the integrity and strength of the dynamic and static stabilizers of the shoulder joint, yet preserving the range of motion necessary for performance. Through rehabilitation, the dedicated athlete can often return to the pitching mound at his previous level of performance

The lack of literature on residency selection criteria used by orthopaedic program directors has left medical students in the position of relying on rumor and anecdotal information as to what program directors value most highly when sorting through large candidate pools. The purpose of this study was to compare the perspectives on resident selection criteria solicited from orthopaedic program directors and residency applicants. A power analysis was done to determine adequate sample size. A 26-item questionnaire was mailed to 98 residency applicants who interviewed at our program and 156 orthopaedic program directors. The program directors were also asked to elaborate on those factors that were most important in their selection process. A two-tailed Student's t-test was employed to compare the two groups. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Statistically significant differences between applicant and program director ratings were found in 12 of the 26 questionnaire items. Applicants (n = 91) ranked the following criteria as most important: a letter of recommendation from an orthopaedic surgeon (8.6 on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most important), USMLE I score (7.7), and rank in medical school (7.6). The most important criteria for the directors (n = 109) were: the applicant performed a rotation at the director's program (7.9), USMLE I score (7.8), and rank in medical school (7.8). This study provides the most comprehensive empirical data to date as to the factors which orthopaedic program directors consider most important during the residency selection process. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the orthopaedic literature that compares the program directors 'and residency applicants' views on resident selection criteria. Significant differences were found between applicant and program director views on resident selection criteria

A retrospective study was performed to compare nonoperative and operative treatments of Type II distal clavicle fractures. From a total of 30 diagnosed patients, 16 were identified as receiving nonoperative treatment and 14 open reduction and coracoclavicular stabilization. The average follow-up was 53.5 months for the nonoperative group and 59.8 months for the operative group. All patients were evaluated postoperatively for pain, range of motion, function, and fracture healing as well as for isokinetic strength. Fractures treated surgically achieved union within six to ten weeks. Nonoperative treatment resulted in seven nonunions. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the mean UCLA, Constant, and ASES scores. Nonunion had no significant effect on functional outcome or strength. This study suggests that Type II distal clavicle fractures can be successfully managed nonoperatively. The high incidence of nonunion does not impede a clinical outcome comparable to that achieved by surgical treatment

The indications for glenohumeral arthroplasty are severe pain and restricted range of motion associated with radiographic evidence of advanced glenohumeral arthritis. Nonsurgical management consisting of rest, physical therapy, and antiinflammatory medication should be tried before considering surgical management. It is important that each patient be evaluated on the basis of the clinical disease and radiographic characteristics of the underlying diagnosis. Preoperative considerations should include a careful assessment of bone quality and quantity and associated deformity. Evaluation of the soft tissues, particularly the rotator cuff and deltoid muscles, is essential because the success of total shoulder arthroplasty depends greatly on the integrity of these structures. Associated upper and lower extremity degenerative arthritis should be evaluated and carefully considered, particularly with respect to the timing of surgical management. Careful consideration of these factors is invaluable in obtaining successful outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasty