Faculty Bibliography

The size and shape of the suprascapular notch may be a factor in suprascapular nerve entrapment. The suprascapular notches of 623 scapulae were digitally photographed and used to determine notch type and area. Three researchers used to different classification systems for suprascapular notch typing. These systems were compared for interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility using the kappa test. The mean kappa value for the classification used by Rengachary and colleagues was 0.468 and for the classification used by Ticker and associates was 0.531 for the inferior border of the notch and 0.736 for the superior border of the notch. The classification system used by Ticker and associates was more reliable and reproducible and produced both a superior and an inferior classification, making it possibly more clinically relevant than the classification system used by Rengachary and colleagues

The glenoids of 412 scapula specimens were templated with the use of 6 currently available glenoid systems to determine the goodness of fit for the various designs. When a fitting criterion of a mismatch of less than 2 mm between the template and the actual glenoid periphery for 8 radial locations was used, the various designs fit from 0% to 48% of the glenoids. Because glenoid component fixation longevity can depend on the degree of osseous support, these results indicate that glenoid component design and sizing can be improved

Allergy to polymethyl methacrylate bone-cement or its components is unusual. Because of the potential for an inflammatory response in an allergic patient and the possibility of pain and loosening if a cemented implant is used, it is imperative to identify patients with this allergy to modify their treatment. We report the case of an otherwise healthy 60-year-old woman who needed a total knee arthroplasty and who had an allergy to methyl methacrylate bone-cement identified preoperatively. The appropriate evaluation for a patient who is suspected to have an allergy to bone-cement or its components is reviewed

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