Faculty Bibliography

Patellar dislocations often spontaneously reduce or are reduced easily by experienced professionals. However, some dislocations can prove difficult to reduce and may require sedation or operative management. Our case report suggests an alternative method to facilitate reduction of patellar dislocations. Our technical trick involves insufflation of the knee joint with sterile normal saline, resulting in improved clearance of the patella over the femoral condyles. This low-risk technique can aid in the reduction of a dislocated patella and save the patient from unnecessary sedation or a surgical operation.

We conducted a study to evaluate differences between patients who had total hip arthroplasty (THA) for posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA) and patients who had THA for primary OA. Using a prospective database, we followed 3844 patients who had THA for OA. Those who had THA for secondary causes of hip OA, developmental hip dysplasia, or inflammatory processes were excluded. Of the remaining 1199 patients, 62 (63 fractures) had THA for posttraumatic OA after previous acetabular or proximal femur fracture fixation, and 1137 had THA for primary OA and served as the control group. In the posttraumatic OA group, mean time between fracture repair and conversion to THA was 74 months. Compared with the control patients, the posttrauma patients lost more blood, were transfused more units of blood, had longer operating room times, and had more complications (all Ps < .001). Posttrauma patients had a mean follow-up of 4.44 years and a mean postoperative modified Harris Hip Score of 81.3 at latest follow-up. Of these patients, 12.5% required revision a mean of 3.5 years after initial arthroplasty. THA in patients with posttraumatic hip OA after an acetabular or proximal femur fracture is a longer and more complicated procedure with a higher rate of early failure.

Osteoporosis is a disease of poor bone quality. Bone mineral density (BMD) has limited ability to discriminate between subjects without and with poor bone quality, and assessment of bone microarchitecture may have added value in this regard. Our goals were to use 7 T MRI to: (1) quantify and compare distal femur bone microarchitecture in women without and with poor bone quality (defined clinically by presence of fragility fractures); and (2) determine whether microarchitectural parameters could be used to discriminate between these two groups. This study had institutional review board approval, and we obtained written informed consent from all subjects. We used a 28-channel knee coil to image the distal femur of 31 subjects with fragility fractures and 25 controls without fracture on a 7 T MRI scanner using a 3-D fast low angle shot sequence (0.234 mm x 0.234 mm x 1 mm, parallel imaging factor = 2, acquisition time = 7 min 9 s). We applied digital topological analysis to quantify parameters of bone microarchitecture. All subjects also underwent standard clinical BMD assessment in the hip and spine. Compared to controls, fracture cases demonstrated lower bone volume fraction and markers of trabecular number, plate-like structure, and plate-to-rod ratio, and higher markers of trabecular isolation, rod disruption, and network resorption (p < 0.05 for all). There were no differences in hip or spine BMD T-scores between groups (p > 0.05). In receiver-operating-characteristics analyses, microarchitectural parameters could discriminate cases and controls (AUC = 0.66-0.73, p < 0.05). Hip and spine BMD T-scores could not discriminate cases and controls (AUC = 0.58-0.64, p >/= 0.08). We conclude that 7 T MRI can detect bone microarchitectural deterioration in women with fragility fractures who do not differ by BMD. Microarchitectural parameters might some day be used as an additional tool to detect patients with poor bone quality who cannot be detected by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

INTRODUCTION: We hypothesized that resident participation in a hands-on fracture fixation course leads to significant improvement in their performance as assessed in a simulated fracture fixation model. METHODS: Twenty-three junior orthopaedic surgery residents were tasked to treat radial shaft fractures with standard fixation techniques in a sawbones fracture fixation simulation twice during the year. Before the first simulation, 6 of the residents participated in a fraction fixation skills course. The simulation repeated 6 months later after all residents attended the course. Residents also completed a 15-question written examination. Assessment included evaluation of each step of the procedure, a score based on the objective structured assessment of technical skill (OSATS) system, and grade on the examination. Comparisons were made between the two cohorts and the two testing time points. RESULTS: Significant improvements were present in the percentage of tasks completed correctly (64.1% vs 84.3%) the overall OSATS score (13.8 vs 17.1) and examination correct answers (8.6 vs 12.5) for the overall cohort between the two testing time points (p<0.001, p<0.03, p<0.04 respectively). Residents who had not participated in the surgical skills course at the time of their initial simulation demonstrated significant improvements in percentage of tasks completed correctly (61.3% vs 81.2%) and OSATS score (12.4 vs 17.0) (p<0.002, p<0.01 respectively). No significant difference was noted in performance for the cohort who had already participated in the course (p=0.87 and p=0.68). The cohort that had taken the course prior to the initial simulation showed significantly higher scores at initial evaluation (88.5% vs 58.5% percentage of tasks completed correctly, 17.3 vs 12.0 OSATS score, 12.5 vs 8.6 correct answers on the examination). At the second simulation, no significant difference was seen with task completion or examination grade, but a significant difference still existed with respect to the OSATS score (20.0 vs 17.0; p<0.03). CONCLUSION: Participation in a formal surgical skills course significantly improved practical operative skills as assessed by the simulation. The benefits of the course were maintained to 6 months with residents who completed the training earlier continuing to demonstrate an advantage in skills. Such courses are a valuable training resource which directly impact resident performance.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a useful management tool in the treatment of traumatic wounds and high-risk incisions after surgery. Since its development nearly 2 decades ago, uses and indications of NPWT have expanded, allowing its use in a variety of clinical scenarios. In addition to providing a brief summary on its mechanism of action, this article provides a focused, algorithmic approach on the use of NPWT by reviewing the available data, the appropriate clinical scenarios and indications, and the specific strategies that can be used to maximize outcomes.

OBJECTIVES:: The aim of our study was to investigate the rate, longitudinal improvement, and risk factors of sleep disturbance following four common orthopaedic traumatic conditions. METHODS:: The functional status of 1,095 patients was prospectively assessed using validated questionnaires for patients with acute proximal humerus (n=111), distal radius (n=440), tibial plateau (n=109), and ankle fractures (n=435). Patient reported sleep difficulty was compared to the overall functional and emotional status of each patient at three, six, and twelve months post-treatment. RESULTS:: Sleep difficulty at three months follow-up was reported in 41% of proximal humerus fracture patients, 25% of distal radius fracture patients, 36% of tibial plateau patients, and 19% of ankle fracture patients. By twelve months follow-up less than 20% of patients with all fracture types reported sleep difficulty. At twelve months follow-up the SF-36 Mental Health category for patients with distal radius fractures (p=0.001) and the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) Emotional category for patients with tibial plateau fractures (p=0.024) and ankle fractures (p=<0.001) were independent predictors of poor sleep while the respective functional status categories were not. CONCLUSIONS:: At twelve months follow-up, poor sleep was independently associated with poor emotional status, but not associated with poor functional status. The mental health status of patients with sleep difficulty in the latter stages of fracture healing should be carefully assessed in order to provide the highest level of care. The results of this study should allow orthopaedic trauma surgeons to counsel patients regarding expectations of difficulty sleeping following acute fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

BACKGROUND: Rotational injuries are the most common and usually classified as per the Lauge Hansen classification; with the most common subgroup being the supination external rotation (SER) mechanism. Isolated fractures of the distal fibula (SE2) without associated ligamentous injury are usually treated with a splint or brace and the patient may be allowed to weight bear as tolerated. This study reports the functional outcomes following a stable, low energy, rotational ankle fracture supination external rotation (SER2) when compared to unstable SER4 fractures treated operatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 64 patients who were diagnosed and treated nonoperatively for a stable SER2 ankle fracture were followed prospectively. In the comparison group, 93 operatively treated fibular fractures were extracted from a prospectively collected database and evaluated comparison. Baseline characteristics obtained by trained interviewers at the time of injury included: Patient demographics, short form-36, short musculoskeletal functional assessment (SMFA) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) questionnaires. Patients were followed at 3, 6 and 12 months postsurgery. Additional information obtained at each followup point included any complications or evidence on fracture healing. Data were analyzed by the Student's t-test and theFisher's Exact Test to compare demographic and functional outcomes between the two cohorts. P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: The average of patients' age in the stable fracture cohort was 43 versus 45 in the SER4 group. Nearly 64% of the patient population was female when compared with 37% in the operative group. In the SER2 by 6 months all patients had returned to baseline functional status. There were 18 delayed unions (all healed by 6 months). Based on the functional outcome scores all patients had returned to preoperative level. In comparison, SE4 patients had less functional recovery at 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05) based on the SMFA scores and at 3, 6 and 12 months based on the AOFAS (P < 0.001) scores. There was no difference in pain levels between the two groups at all time points. There were three nonunions in the SE4 group and six delayed unions. CONCLUSIONS: An SER2 ankle fracture is a relatively benign injury with functional limitations resolving by 3 months while the need for surgical fixation in SER ankle fractures appears to affect lower extremity function to a greater degree for a longer time period. Patients should be counseled as to these expected outcomes.

Mechanical failure of the femoral component following total hip arthroplasty is a relatively uncommon complication that has been previously well-described in the literature. Modular, cementless implants have become a popular op - tion in revision total hip arthroplasty. They offer the distinct advantage of optimizing joint kinematics through varying the degree of version, offset, and leg length. We report the case of early fatigue fracture of the Restoration (Stryker, Mahwah, NJ) femoral prosthesis. The following is a detailed description of this case. This report details the events sur - rounding stem failure, and the technique of reconstruction used to deal with this failure.

OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of this study was to investigate the nonoperative treatment strategies for Mason-Johnson Type-I radial head fractures. DESIGN AND SETTING:: Retrospective review of every patient with a closed radial head/neck fracture who presented to our tertiary care specialty institution in the past two years.Patients/Participants: A search of ICD-9 code 813.05, closed fracture of the radial head/neck, in our electronic record system yielded 82 consecutive patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:: Complications and treatment interventions were recorded. Demographic, radiographic, and physical exam data were collected for all patients treated nonoperatively and analyzed for association with recommendation for continued follow-up and radiographic assessment. RESULTS:: 54 patients (68%) had 56 nondisplaced or minimally displaced (< 2mm) radial head or neck fractures without additional injury to the affected limb. All patients were treated nonoperatively and no patients in this cohort developed a complication or had any medical or surgical intervention other than physical therapy. No radiographic or physical exam measure was significantly associated with recommendation for a second outpatient follow-up, third outpatient follow-up, or with the number of additional radiographs ordered beyond the initial exam. An average of 4.4 (SD 3.3) additional x-rays were taken of each affected elbow after initial outpatient presentation. CONCLUSIONS:: Orthopaedic surgeons are likely over treating patients with Mason-Johnson Type-I radial head fractures by recommending frequent radiographic follow-up without modifying treatment, leading to unnecessary patient visits, radiation exposure, and increased costs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.