Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVES:To identify factors associated with the development of fracture-related infection (FRI) in patients who have undergone operative fixation of their fracture. DESIGN:Retrospective study. SETTING:Academic medical center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS:Patients with peripheral extremity long-bone fractures and shoulder and pelvic girdle fractures who underwent operative repair. This included patients who had undergone fixation inside and outside of our institution. INTERVENTION:Chi-square, Fisher exact testing, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and t tests were used for analysis of data, as appropriate. Binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors of FRI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:Demographics, fracture location, injury mechanism, open wound status, and wound complication type. RESULTS:One hundred ninety-three patients comprised the FRI cohort. Of those with confirmed signs of FRI, 36 (18.7%) had wound breakdown to bone or implant, 120 (62.1%) had a sinus track, and 170 patients (88.1%) had the confirmed presence of microorganisms in deep tissue samples obtained during operative intervention. Factors associated with development of an FRI were as follows: higher BMI; being of Black and Hispanic race; higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class; history of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use; and fractures of the lower extremity (foot, tibia, and femur/pelvis). The results of binary logistic regression demonstrated that treatment at an urban level I trauma center and drug use positively predicted the development of FRI. CONCLUSION:Our results demonstrate that higher BMI; being of Black or Hispanic race; higher American Society of Anesthesiologists; history of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use; and fractures of the foot, tibia, and femur/pelvis are all factors associated with development of FRI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

This review demonstrates the technique for monitored anesthesia care and soft tissue infiltration with local anesthesia as the only form of anesthesia for short cephalomedullary nailing in medically complex patients. Monitored anesthesia care is defined as providing sedation and analgesia that is titrated to a level that preserves spontaneous breathing and airway reflexes. Soft tissue infiltration refers to soft tissue infiltration with local anesthesia directly into the surgical site and is performed by the surgeon before the start of the procedure.

This review describes the indications and technique for acute total hip arthroplasty in an incomplete both-column acetabular fracture in a geriatric patient.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purposes of this study were 1) to assess the outcome of nonoperative management of GT fractures with > 5 mm of displacement and 2) to assess whether there is a correlation between degree of displacement and outcome. METHODS:This study was a retrospective review of consecutive low-energy GT fractures from 2011 to 2020. Radiographs from all visits were reviewed. The direction of maximal displacement was assessed. Subjects were stratified based on the amount of maximal displacement: Group 1: 0-5 mm, Group 2: 5-10 mm, Group 3: > 10 mm. Range of motion (ROM) at the time of final follow-up was assessed. The presence of persistent shoulder pain after healing was noted, as well as whether supplemental subacromial corticosteroid injection was provided as part of long-term treatment. RESULTS:A cohort of 93 fractures comprised the study group. Mean age was 62 years. Mean follow-up was 20 months. All fractures went on to union. Mean displacement was 6.2 mm. There were 43 patients in Group 1, 43 in Group 2, and 7 in Group 3. Maximal displacement was most commonly inferolateral or lateral, accounting for a combined 77% of all patients. There was no difference in final ROM between displacement groups, with at least 155 degrees of forward elevation and 45 degrees of ER in all three groups. There was no difference between Group 1 and Groups 2/3 in frequency of persistent pain or likelihood of receiving a steroid injection. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Our findings do not support a discrete 5 mm displacement threshold for surgical repair of isolated greater tuberosity fractures.

BACKGROUND:The association of tibial shaft fractures (TSFs) with posterior malleolar fractures is well described. The purpose of this study was to identify specific radiographic parameters that are predictive of any pattern of associated distal intra-articular fractures in TSFs. METHODS:All TSFs presenting over a 6-year period were identified. A radiographic review of plain radiographs and CT scans included: identification of any associated ankle fracture, classification using the OTA System, measurements of the TSF obliquity angle (FOA), relative distance from distal extent of the TSF to plafond (DFP%), and presence and level of any associated fibular fractures. Patients with and without associated ankle fractures were statistically compared. Multivariate logistic regression determined independent predictors of associated ankle fractures. RESULTS:405 TSFs in 397 patients were identified, with 145 TSFs with associated distal intra-articular fractures. There were 94 (23.2%) posterior malleolar fractures, 19 (13.1%) medial malleolar fractures, 42 (29.0%) lateral malleolar fractures involving the syndesmosis and 14 (9.7%) Chaput fragments. Multivariate regression demonstrated AO/OTA classification type 42-A1, 42-B1 or 42-C1 (OR 2.3 [95% CI 1.3-4.0]; p = 0.003), FOA greater than 45° (OR 2.7 [95% CI 1.5-4.8]; p = 0.001) and DFP% less than 33% (OR 4.1 [95% CI 2.0-9.0]; p = 0.005) were independent correlates of associated ankle fractures regardless of mechanism of injury. CONCLUSIONS:Different patterns of intra-articular fractures beyond posterior malleolar fractures can occur in TSFs. Fracture angles greater than 45° and extent into the distal 33% of the tibial shaft are independent predictors of distal intra-articular fractures in TSFs regardless of mechanism of injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Diagnostic Level III.

BACKGROUND:The purpose of this study was to compare clinical, implant related and patient reported outcomes of shoulders converted to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) following a previous ORIF to when rTSA is used as a primary treatment modality for an acute proximal humerus fracture (PHF) in patients ≥65 years of age. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed on a prospectively collected cohort of patients who underwent primary-rTSA for PHF versus a cohort who underwent conversion arthroplasty with rTSA following fracture repair between 2009-2020. Outcomes were assessed preoperatively and at the latest follow-up. Demographics and outcomes between cohorts were analyzed using conventional statistics as well as stratification by MCID and SCB thresholds where applicable. RESULTS:406 patients met criteria, 322 primary-rTSA for PHF versus 84 conversion-rTSA after failed PHF ORIF. The conversion-rTSA cohort was on average seven years younger (65±10 vs 72±9, p<0.001). Follow-up was similar between cohorts, average 47.1 months (range:24-138 months). The percentage of Neer 3-(41.9%vs45.2%) and 4-part (49.1%vs46.4%) PHFs were similar (p>0.99). The primary-rTSA cohort achieved higher forward elevation (FE), external rotation, PROMs including simple shoulder test (SST), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Score, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, Constant Score, Shoulder Arthroplasty Smart (SAS) Score and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) score at a minimum of 24-months postop (p<0.05 for all). Patient satisfaction was higher in the primary-rTSA group compared to the conversion-rTSA cohort (p=0.002). Patient reported outcome measures uniformly favored the primary-rTSA cohort, rising to the level of statistical significance for FE, ASES and SPADI (p<0.05) relative to SCB. The AE rate and revision rate in the conversion-rTSA cohort was higher than the primary-rTSA cohort [(26.2% vs. 2.5%, p<0.001) and (8.3% vs. 1.6%, p=0.001)]. At 10-years postop revision free implant survival rates are significantly lower in the conversion cohort compared to the primary cohort, 66% vs 94% (p=0.012). Lastly, the hazard ratio of revision was 3.69 in the conversion cohort compared to only 1.0 in the primary-rTSA cohort. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The current study demonstrates that elderly patients who undergo rTSA as a conversion procedure following previous osteosynthesis do not fare as well as those treated with rTSA for an acute displaced PHF. Conversion patients report lower patient satisfaction, have significantly restricted range of shoulder motion, higher risk of complications, higher risk of revision, poorer patient reported outcomes, and shorter implant survival at 10 years compared to those undergoing acute rTSA.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:The presence of diabetes has been associated with increased mortality risk after hip fracture, however, little has been published about the lab values of these diabetic patients and the role high labs play in morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to quantify the severity of diabetes that is associated with worse outcomes in hip fracture patients. METHODS:A consecutive series of 2430 patients >55 years old who sustained a hip fracture between October 2014-November 2021 were reviewed for demographics, hospital quality measures, and outcomes. Each patient with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) was reviewed for hemoglobin-A1c (HA1c) and glucose values at admission. Univariable comparisons and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to assess the impact of diabetes and elevated lab values (HA1c) on outcomes such as hospital quality measures, inpatient complications, readmission rates, and mortality rates. RESULTS:565 patients (23%) carried a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus at the time of their injury. Considerable demographic and comorbidity differences between diabetic and non-diabetic cohorts indicated that the diabetic cohort was less healthy. The diabetic cohort had longer hospitalizations, higher rates of minor complications, readmissions within 90-days, and mortality within 30-days/1-year. Stratification by HA1c levels found patients with a HA1c>8% had a significantly higher rate of major complications, and mortality at all time points (inpatient/30-day/1-year). Multivariable regression found HA1c>8% to be independently associated with a higher rate of inpatient/30-day/1-year mortality in comparison to a diagnosis of diabetes alone which was not independently significant. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:While all patients with DM experienced worse outcomes than those without, those with poorly controlled diabetes (HA1c>8%) at the time of hip fracture injury experienced poorer outcomes compared to those with well-controlled diabetes. Treating physicians must recognize these patients with poorly controlled DM at the time of arrival to adjust care planning and patient expectations accordingly.

OBJECTIVES:To determine the effect of linking the intramedullary nail and the laterally applied locking plate to treat comminuted distal femur fractures and allow for immediate weight bearing. METHODS:Comminuted extra-articular distal femur fractures were created in 16 synthetic osteoporotic femurs and split into 2 groups: linked versus unlinked. In the linked construct, in addition to standard plate fixation and proximal locking of the nail, 2 nonthreaded locking bolts (prototypes) were placed through both the plate and the nail. In the unlinked construct, the same number of screws affixed the plate to the bone but were directed around the nail, and separate distal interlocking screws were placed for nail fixation. Each specimen underwent sequential axial and torsional loading, and axial and torsional stiffness were calculated and compared. RESULTS:On average, the unlinked constructs demonstrated a greater axial stiffness at all levels of axial loading, and linked constructs demonstrated greater average rotational stiffness. However, there were no statistically significant differences ( P > 0.189) between the linked and unlinked groups at any axial or torsional load. CONCLUSION:In distal femur fractures with metaphyseal comminution, there were no significant differences in axial or torsional stiffness when linking the plate to the nail. Linking the construct seems to provide no significant mechanical advantage compared with the unlinked environment, but it may be a useful strategy to reduce nail "traffic" in the distal segment with no significant disadvantage.

CASE:A 75-year-old woman presented with left thigh pain 14 years after initial diagnosis of bilateral atypical femoral fractures secondary to chronic bisphosphonate use. New radiographic imaging and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated bilateral incomplete femur fractures with surrounding marrow edema, cortical remodeling, and periosteal edema in a manner similar to that found 14 years earlier upon original diagnosis. CONCLUSION:Recurrence of pain 14 years after initial diagnosis supports consideration of initial surgical management of atypical femur fractures (AFFs), even in patients with nonoperative symptom improvement. Patients who decline surgical intervention should be informed that incomplete AFFs may become a chronic medical condition moving forward.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To (1) determine if any injury characteristics or radiographic parameters of tibial shaft fractures (TSFs) could predict posterior malleolar fracture (PMF) size, and (2) identify characteristics of PMFs that were fixed versus those that were not in a cohort of ipsilateral TSFs that underwent intramedullary nailing. METHODS:A cross-sectional radiographic study was performed at a single academic institution. Demographic and radiographic parameters of TSFs were recorded, including fracture obliquity angle (FOA) and distance from distal extent of fracture to plafond (DFP). Using CT, the PMFs were evaluated for Haraguchi classification, size measurements, and preoperative displacement. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of PMF Harachuchi classification, size parameters, and preoperative displacement. Univariate differences between PMF that were fixed and not fixed were identified. RESULTS:47 (50%) PMF underwent surgical fixation with 47 treated conservatively. There were no demographic differences between groups. Multivariate linear regression demonstrated increasing DFP and high energy injury mechanism as independent variables correlated with plafond surface area involvement, PMF height and width on sagittal CT cuts. Increasing DFP alone was correlated with PMF width on axial CT cuts and extent > 50% into incisura. Haraguchi type II fractures were associated with high energy injury mechanism (OR = 4.2 [95% CI = 1.3-14.5]; p = 0.02). Odds of Haraguchi type 3 fractures increased 9% per increased year of age (OR = 1.09 [95% CI = 1.04-1.16]; p = 0.006) and decreased 13% per 1% increase in relative DFP (OR = 0.87 [95% CI = 0.75-0.98]; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS:An increasing DFP of TSFs and high energy injury mechanism were independent predictors of PMF size, and high energy injury mechanism was also correlated with Haraguchi type II fracture patterns. Increasing age and decreasing DFP of TSFs predict Haraguchi type III PMF patterns. These radiographic parameters should prompt surgeons to plan for fixation in scenarios in which CT scan is not available. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Diagnostic Level III.