Faculty Bibliography

Treatment of intertrochanteric hip fracture is based on patient medical condition, preexisting degenerative arthritis, bone quality, and the biomechanics of the fracture configuration. A critical review of the evidence-based literature demonstrates a preference for surgical fixation in patients who are medically stable. Stable fractures can be successfully treated with plate-and-screw implants and with intramedullary devices. Although unstable fractures may theoretically benefit from load-sharing intramedullary implants, this result has not been demonstrated in the current evidence-based literature

During the past 10 years, there has been a worldwide effort in all medical fields to base clinical health care decisions on available evidence as described by thorough reviews of the literature. Hip fractures pose a significant health care problem worldwide, with an annual incidence of approximately 1.7 million. Globally, the mean age of the population is increasing, and the number of hip fractures is expected to triple in the next 50 years. One-year mortality rates currently range from 14% to 36%, and care for these patients represents a major global economic burden. Surgical options for the management of femoral neck fractures are closely linked to individual patient factors and to the location and degree of fracture displacement. Nonsurgical management of intracapsular hip fractures is limited. Based on a critical, evidence-based review of the current literature, we have found minimal differences between implants used for internal fixation of displaced fractures. Cemented, unipolar hemiarthroplasty remains a good option with reasonable results. In the appropriate patient population, outcomes following total hip arthroplasty are favorable and appear to be superior to those of internal fixation

BACKGROUND: Few studies of hip fracture have large enough samples of men, minorities, and persons with specific comorbidities to examine differences in their mortality and functional outcomes. To address this problem, we combined three cohorts of hip fracture patients to produce a sample of 2692 patients followed for 6 months. METHOD: Data on mortality, mobility, and other activities of daily living (ADLs) were available from all three cohorts. We used multiple regression to examine the association of race, gender, and comorbidity with 6-month survival and function, controlling for prefracture mobility and ADLs, age, fracture type, cohort, and admission year. RESULTS: The mortality rate at 6 months was 12%: 9% for women and 19% for men. Whites and women were more likely than were nonwhites and men to survive to 6 months, after adjusting for age, comorbidities, and prefracture mobility and function. Whites were more likely than were nonwhites to walk independently or with help at 6 months compared to not walking, after adjusting for age, comorbidities, and prefracture mobility and function. Dementia had a negative impact on survival, mobility, and ADLs at 6 months. The odds of survival to 6 months were significantly lower for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF), and/or cancer. Parkinson's disease and stroke had negative impacts on mobility and ADLs, respectively, among survivors at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of higher mortality and worse mobility for nonwhite patients with hip fractures highlights the need for more research on race/ethnicity disparities in hip fracture care

BACKGROUND: The standard radiographic series for evaluation of a suspected hip fracture in most centers includes an anteroposterior (AP) radiograph of the pelvis, as well AP and cross-table lateral views of the hip. The natural femoral neck anteversion, as well as the fracture deformity, however, may make accurate fracture classification difficult. We have noted that inexperienced physicians sometimes misclassify hip fractures based on the initial radiographic series, which may lead to errors both in surgical planning and implant choice. At our institution, we routinely obtain a physician-assisted traction-internal rotation radiograph of the affected hip in all fractures of the proximal femur. The purpose of the current study was to examine the usefulness of the traction-internal rotation radiograph for the classification of hip fractures by junior residents in our department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven sets of complete radiographs (AP pelvis, AP hip, cross-table lateral, traction- internal rotation views) of patients who sustained a proximal femur fracture were identified. Fifteen first year orthopaedic residents (PGY2) individually reviewed the cases and classified them as one of six possible choices: 1. nondisplaced femoral neck fracture, 2. displaced femoral neck fracture, 3. stable intertrochanteric fracture, 4. unstable intertrochanteric fracture, 5. intertrochanteric fracture with subtrochanteric extension, or 6. subtrochanteric fracture. Each fracture case was classified after first reviewing the standard hip series (AP pelvis, AP hip, and cross-table lateral). A traction-internal rotation radiograph was then added to each case, and any changes in the initial classification were noted. The resident's classification was then compared with those of the senior investigators (KJK, KAE), who used all four views for classification. RESULTS: Reviewing a traction-internal rotation radiograph led to a statistically significant increase in agreement between the resident and senior investigators' classification (71.9% to 77.9%, p value < or = 0.01). The residents were more accurately able to identify fracture patterns as femoral neck (from a prior 98.5% to 99.3% after reviewing a traction-internal rotation view), intertrochanteric (a prior 87.7% to 91.3%), and subtrochanteric (prior 22.9% to 28.9%) after reviewing the additional radiograph. There were a total of 57 (8.1% of all responses) changes in classification after the traction-internal rotation view, 42 of which involved a change from an incorrect to a correct classification. In 50% of the changed responses, the correct classification would have led to a change in implant or surgical procedure choice, or both. CONCLUSION: The routine addition of a traction-internal rotation radiograph increased the ability to accurately classify proximal femur fractures by junior residents in our department. This has a direct impact in accurate surgical planning and implant choice

BACKGROUND: Recommendations for surgical treatment and expected outcomes differ for two unstable patterns of supination-external rotation ankle injuries. We compared the demographic characteristics and functional outcome following surgical stabilization between the two types of supination-external rotation type-4 fractures: distal fibular fracture with a deltoid ligament rupture and bimalleolar fracture. METHODS: Demographic data on 456 patients in whom an unstable fracture of the ankle was treated surgically were entered into a database and the patients were prospectively followed. Two hundred and sixty-six of these patients sustained either a bimalleolar fracture or a lateral malleolar fracture with insufficiency of the deltoid ligament and widening of the medial clear space. No medial fixation was used in the patients with a deltoid ligament injury. All patients followed a similar postoperative protocol. The patients were followed clinically and radiographically at three, six, and twelve months after the surgery. Function was assessed with the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score. RESULTS: Bimalleolar fractures were more commonly seen in female patients, in those older than sixty years of age, and in patients with more comorbidities. There was no significant association between the fracture pattern and either diabetes or the length of the hospital stay. At a minimum of one year postoperatively, the patients with a bimalleolar fracture had significantly worse function, even after we controlled for all other variables. The overall complication rate, including elective hardware removal, was also higher in the group with a bimalleolar fracture (seventeen compared with nine patients). CONCLUSIONS: At one year after surgical stabilization of an unstable ankle fracture, most patients experience little or mild pain and have few restrictions in functional activities. However, the functional outcome for those with a bimalleolar fracture is worse than that for those with a lateral malleolar fracture and disruption of the deltoid ligament, possibly because of the injury pattern and the energy expended

Although relatively uncommon, fractures of the distal humerus in the elderly patient population are significant injuries of which optimal management is a subject of debate in orthopaedic literature. The combination of complex anatomy, poor bone quality and extensive comminution often seen with these fractures makes successful treatment difficult. Currently, most surgeons support surgical fixation of distal humeral fractures with the belief that restoration of the patient's native elbow joint provides the best opportunity for a good functional outcome. Others have proposed the use of total elbow arthroplasty as a primary treatment method for geriatric distal humeral fractures based on the difficulties associated with ORIF and the relatively low demands of this patient population. To date, there have been no prospective randomised trials comparing these two treatment alternatives, and a comparison of available outcome data shows good functional outcome for both forms of fracture management. With the aging of the population and an associated increase in the incidence of distal humeral fractures, the debate over the optimal treatment regime will undoubtedly continue

In recent years, the incidence and severity of ankle fractures in the elderly population have increased. Although surgical fixation has gained wide acceptance for younger ankle fracture patients, controversy exists within the orthopaedic community with respect to the optimal way to manage these fractures in the geriatric patient population. Although some authors categorise ankle fractures in the elderly as fragility fractures associated with osteoporosis, it appears that risk factors such as increased weight, poly-pharmacy and propensity for falls play larger roles than poor bone quality. The presence of osteoporosis may increase the level of difficulty involved with the surgical management of these patients, leading some authors to alter their standard operative technique. Early studies cited high complication rates and poor outcome following operative intervention, however, more recent investigations have demonstrated successful functional outcomes following surgical management and appropriate postoperative rehabilitation. Based on the current evidence, the literature appears to support surgical fixation of displaced ankle fractures in the elderly patient population

The Z-effect phenomenon is a potential complication of two lag screw intramedullary nail designs used for fixation of intertrochanteric hip fractures, in which the inferior lag screw migrates laterally and the superior lag screw migrates medially during physiologic loading. The current investigation was undertaken in an attempt to reproduce the Z-effect phenomenon in a laboratory setting. Sixteen different simulated femoral head and neck constructs having varying compressive strengths were created using four densities of solid polyurethane foam and instrumented with a two-screw cephalomedullary intramedullary nail. Each specimen was then cyclically loaded with 250 N vertical loads applied for 10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 cycles. Measurement of screw displacement with respect to the lateral aspect of the intramedullary nail was made after each cyclic increment. The inferior lag screw migration component of the Z-effect phenomenon was reproduced in specimens with head compressive strengths that were higher than the compressive strengths of the neck. Specimens with the greatest difference in head-neck compressive strength demonstrated the most significant displacement of the inferior lag screw without any displacement of the superior lag screw. Specimens with a femoral neck compressive strength of 0.91 MPa of and a head compressive strength of 8.8 MPa resulted in more than one centimeter of inferior lag screw lateral migration after 10,000 cycles of vertical loading. Models where the femoral head had a higher compressive strength than that of the femoral neck may simulate fracture patterns with significant medial cortex comminution that are prone to varus collapse

BACKGROUND: This prospective study was done to evaluate functional outcomes after acute avulsion fractures of the fifth metatarsal base. METHODS: Fifty-two patients who sustained an avulsion fracture of the fifth metatarsal base and presented to the outpatient clinic of our hospital system were treated according to a standardized protocol. A total of 49 patients (50 fractures) were available for 1-year followup. There were eight men and 41 women with an average age of 41.9 (range 17 to 81) years. The lower extremity was placed in a hard-soled shoe, and patients were allowed to bear weight as tolerated. Baseline data collection consisted of demographic information, and radiographic, and functional evaluation. Patients were seen at regularly scheduled visits for 6 months and then contacted at 1 year to obtain followup information. A Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) questionnaire was obtained at 6 months and 1 year. Analyses were performed to determine differences in outcome based on demographics and injury information. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: An average of 22 days were lost from work, with 23 patients (46.9%) taking up to 10 days, 18 (36.7%) taking 10 days or longer off work, and eight patients (16.4%) losing no days of work. Based on self-reports, 10 patients (20.4%) had returned to pre-injury functional status by 3 months, 42 patients (85.7%) by 6 months, and all 49 patients by 1 year. At six and 12 months, no differences in SFMA were found based on gender, fracture type, or amount of fracture displacement. CONCLUSIONS: Fracture of the fifth metatarsal base often is a source of lost work productivity. Although patients can be expected to return to their preinjury level of function, recovery may take 6 months or longer

OBJECTIVE: Supracondylar humerus fractures (SCHF) are common in the pediatric population. Cubitus varus deformity (CVD) is the most common long-term complication of SCHFs and may lead to elbow instability and deficits in throwing or extension. Distal fragment malrotation in the axial plane disposes to fragment tilt and CVD; however, no simple method of assessing fracture malrotation exists. This study tested a mathematical method of measuring axial plane malrotation in SCHFs based on plain radiographs. DESIGN: A pediatric SCHF model was made, and x-rays were taken at known intervals of rotation. Five independent, blinded observers measured these films. Calculated rotation for each data set was compared to the known rotation. The identical protocol was performed for an aluminum phantom. RESULTS: The reliability and agreement of the rotation values were good for both models. CONCLUSIONS: This method is a reliable, accurate, and cost-effective means of calculating SCHF distal fragment malrotation and warrants clinical application