Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Ankle fractures are among the most common injuries treated by orthopaedic surgeons. However, very few investigators have examined the functional recovery following ankle fracture surgery and, to our knowledge, none have analyzed factors that may predict functional recovery. In this study, we evaluated predictors of short-term functional outcome following surgical stabilization of ankle fractures. METHODS: Over three years, 232 patients who sustained a fracture of the ankle and were treated surgically were followed prospectively, for a minimum of one year. Trained interviewers recorded baseline characteristics, including patient demographics, medical comorbidities, and functional status according to the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA). Laboratory findings, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, and operative findings were recorded from the chart during hospitalization. Follow-up information included the occurrence of complications or additional surgery, weight-bearing status, functional status according to the SMFA, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score. The data were analyzed to determine predictors of functional recovery at three months, six months, and one year postoperatively. RESULTS: Complete follow-up data were available for 198 patients (85%). At one year, 174 (88%) of the patients had either no or mild ankle pain and 178 (90%) had either no limitations or limitations only in recreational activities. According to the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, 178 (90%) of the patients had > or = 90% functional recovery. A patient age of less than forty years was a predictor of recovery, as measured with the SMFA subscores, at six months after the ankle fracture. At one year, however, age was no longer a predictor of recovery. Patients who were younger than forty were more likely to recover > or = 90% of function (p = 0.004), and men were more likely than women to recover function (p = 0.02). ASA Class 1 or 2 (p = 0.03) and an absence of diabetes (p = 0.02) were also predictors of better functional recovery at one year. SMFA subscores were below average at baseline, indicating a healthy population. At three and six months postoperatively, all SMFA subscores were significantly higher than the baseline subscores (p < 0.001); however, at one year, the SMFA subscores were almost back to the baseline, normal level. CONCLUSIONS: One year after ankle fracture surgery, patients are generally doing well, with most experiencing little or mild pain and few restrictions in functional activities. They have a significant improvement in function compared with six months after the surgery. Younger age, male sex, absence of diabetes, and a lower ASA class are predictive of functional recovery at one year following ankle fracture surgery. It is important to counsel patients and their families regarding the expected functional recovery after an ankle injury

The high incidence of preoperative silent pulmonary embolisms (PEs) among elderly patients with hip fractures has led some authors to recommend making acquisition of arterial blood gas (ABG) levels a routine part of the preoperative workup. In the study reported here, we retrospectively reviewed 254 patients in our hip-fracture database and determined that ABG levels have poor positive predictive value for PEs and add little to the positive predictive value or negative predictive value of careful clinical examination. Therefore, we do not recommend making acquisition of ABG levels a routine part of the preoperative evaluation

PURPOSE: To identify trends in industry sponsorship of orthopaedic trauma research presented at the annual meetings of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association since the establishment of conflict of interest (COI) reporting policies in 1993. BACKGROUND: Industry plays a large role in funding orthopaedic basic science and clinical research. The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of industrial support in orthopaedic research as documented in the final programs of the annual meetings of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), determine the incidence and nature of COI in the papers and posters accepted for OTA presentation, and report any changes in the frequency of reporting since disclosure policies were enacted in 1993. METHODS: This paper analyzes COI for all years since the adoption of the reporting policies 1993-2002. From 1993-1998, presenters of posters and papers presented at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association annual meetings were required to disclose COI greater than dollar 500, the type of monetary distribution was not recorded. From 1999-2002, presenters of posters and papers were required to acknowledge the type of COI: 1. research grant, 2. miscellaneous non-income support, 3. royalties, 4. stock, and 5. consultant fees. All COI categories were recorded for each year Linear regression was used to determine significance of trends in the pooled data. RESULTS: There was an increase in the percentage of papers accepted and presented at the OTA between 1993 and 2002 with COI. The number of papers reporting COI rose from 7.6% in 1993 to 12.6% in 2002 (p = 0.0129). There was no significant increase in posters with COI over that same time period. No changes were observed in the nature of industrial involvement since the change in reporting enacted in 1999. There were no observed trends in NIH or OTA grant distribution between 1993 and 2002. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Industry is playing an increasing role in the funding oforthopaedic research. The majority of industrial support is in the form of research grants. The increasing industrial support of scientific research in the public sector is to be applauded as long as it does not lead to the sequestering and suppression of information that may be disadvantageous to the industrial sponsor

Posttraumatic elbow stiffness can impose severe functional limitations on the performance of activities of daily living. Prevention is key to avoiding a motion-limiting condition. Fractures should be anatomically reduced and stabilized with active and active-assisted range of motion exercises instituted as early as possible to minimize the development of stiffness. Established contractures should be treated initially with physical therapy and static-progressive splinting. Patients who have failed a minimum of six months of nonsurgical management and who are motivated to comply with postoperative rehabilitation are candidates for surgical release. There are several effective surgical approaches and techniques available. The choice of surgical approach and technique is dictated by the location of the pathology, condition of the skin, and degree of arthritic changes. A major challenge to care is the management of the young patient with posttraumatic elbow contracture and advanced degenerative changes for which there is currently no reliable long-term surgical treatment

BACKGROUND: This study compares the biomechanical stability of two volar locked plate systems for fixation of unstable, extra-articular distal radius fractures. METHODS: In six matched pairs of fresh frozen cadaveric specimens, a simulated unstable, extra-articular distal radius fracture was created. The fractures were stabilized with one of two types of volar locked plates. Specimens were axially loaded at five different positions: central, volar, dorsal, radial, and ulnar. Initial (precyclic loading) stiffness of each locked plate system was calculated. Each specimen was then loaded for 5,000 cycles with an 80 N central load. Finally, specimens were axially loaded at the same five positions to calculate the postcyclic loading stiffness of each volar locked plate system. Main outcome measurements were precyclic loading stiffness, postcyclic loading stiffness, maintenance of stiffness after cyclic loading, and amount of fracture displacement between the two volar locked plate systems. RESULTS: There were no differences in maintenance of stiffness and fracture displacement following cyclical loading between the two volar plate systems. After cyclic loading, the distal volar radius (DVR) locked plate was significantly stiffer than the Synthes volar locked plate in volar loading only (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Materials properties and design differences between these systems did not provide enough biomechanical difference to support use of either implant over the other. With this in vitro model, both implants provided adequate stability to resist physiologic loads expected during therapy in the initial postoperative period

This study was performed to determine if picture archiving communication systems can provide a more accurate method of determining implant length for intramedullary tibial nailing. Postoperative radiographs of 40 patients who underwent intramedullary nailing of their tibial shaft fractures using picture archiving communication systems were retrieved. In phase one and two of this investigation, tibial nail lengths were measured using 'measuring distance' and 'measure calibration' tools displayed on the respective digital systems. Phase 3 of this study involved 5 tibial Sawbones (Pacific Research Laboratories, Vashon, Wash) radiographically captured on the picture archiving communication systems with a radiograph marker of known length. Using the 'measuring distance' and 'measure calibration' tools in phases one and two did not result in accurate measurements. Of 40 digital radiographic images measured and calibrated with the on-screen ruler and using the digital system tools, 100% of our measurements were inaccurate. An average of 19.4-mm and 10.6-mm difference was noted in uncorrected measurements on anteroposterior (AP) and lateral views, respectively. An average 25.8 mm and 15.7 mm was noted in calibrated (corrected) measurements on AP and lateral views respectively. Digitally measured and calibrated lengths were an average 22 mm and 25 mm greater from the actual known length of the tibial nail, respectively. Phase 3 of our study presented the most accurate results in length determination of tibial nail length

Tourniquet use is effective in producing a bloodless field. It is recommended that the least effective pressures be used to minimize tissue microstructure and biochemical damage from tourniquet application. When applied at the thigh, the minimum effective tourniquet pressure is 90 to 100 mm Hg above systolic BP, and in a normotensive, nonobese patient, pressure of 250 mm Hg is sufficient. Similarly, an arm tourniquet pressure of 200 mm Hg is recommended. The purpose of this survey was to assess the tourniquet pressures used by orthopaedic surgeons, both academic and community based, and their familiarity with associated literature. MATERIALS:: A Website-based survey was distributed to a random sample of academic and community-based surgeons. Respondents were asked the upper and lower-extremity tourniquet pressures they routinely use. They were asked if they were able to cite or were aware of literature to support their answer. They were also asked to specify their practice setting and years in practice. Results were statistically analyzed utilizing Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS:: A total of 199 survey responses were collected. Out of these, 151 (76%) were complete for the lower extremity, and 141 (71%) were complete for upper extremity. The average years in practice were 12.6 years (range, 1-30). The median LE pressure was 300 mm (range, 150-400), and the median UE pressure was 250 mm (range, 150-300). Less than 20% of respondents routinely used pressures of 250 mm or less for the lower extremity. For upper extremity, only 11.3% used pressures at or below 200 mm. Surgeons in academic practice were more likely to use lower tourniquet pressures, and less likely to choose 'don't know' as the option for literature support, but the difference was not statistically significant. Although 60% of respondents thought that they were aware of literature supporting their answers, only 25% of these for the lower extremity and 11% for the upper used the correct pressures. CONCLUSION:: This survey demonstrates the existing gulf between tourniquet use and supporting literature. Tourniquet use is not benign and the correct pressure usage allows the least morbidity. We hope this survey will raise awareness of the correct tourniquet pressures and change practice patterns based on 'that's how we have always done it'

Ipsilateral femoral neck and femoral shaft fractures are rarely reported in the literature and represent a diagnostic and treatment challenge. Due to the possibility of missing a nonunion at either site, we recommend a high clinical suspicion and careful radiographic examination of both fracture sites. Because the development of nonunion at both sites is exceedingly rare, we report three cases of concomitant ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft nonunions that were treated by the senior author (KAE). Two patients were treated with a Pauwels osteotomy and a blade plate for the femoral neck nonunion and a reamed retrograde intramedullary nail for the shaft. One patient was treated with an antegrade reamed cephalomedullary intramedullary nail. All three patients' fractures united at a mean of 4.6 months and they are currently pain free and without physical limitations