Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing patella open reduction internal fixation procedures based on the type of anesthesia administered. METHODS:A retrospective review was conducted of patients who were surgically treated for displaced patella fractures from 2012 to 2024 at a single multi-site academic institution. Patients were included if they were > 18 years of age, sustained an isolated patella fracture, and had a minimum of 6-month follow-up. Patients were divided into groups based on the anesthetic modality used during their surgery: regional anesthesia only (RA), general/neuraxial anesthesia (NR), and a combination of these methods (CA). Comparisons of statistics were performed using Pearson chi-squared tests, one-way ANOVA tests, and linear regression tests as appropriate. RESULTS:There were no complications associated with the administration of anesthesia within each cohort. There was no significant difference in fracture healing rates (p = .210) nor complication rates between the anesthesia groups (p = .088). The RA and CA groups had significantly shorter operating room (wheels in to wheels out) times than the NR group (p < .001), significantly greater 3-month (p = .001) and 6-month knee ROM (p = .016) than the NR group when controlling for age, fracture pattern, and repair method. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This study demonstrates the efficacy of the use of regional anesthesia only for repair of a patella fracture. This technique is associated with greater early range of knee motion in patients after surgery and a shorter surgical time with no increase in intra or postoperative complications.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To identify factors associated with prolonged length of stay following geriatric hip fractures. METHODS:A single-center retrospective study of a consecutive series of geriatric (age > 65) hip fractures between 10/1/14 and 11/1/23 was performed. Patient demographics, injury/surgery characteristics, and inpatient complications were reviewed. Patients who died during hospitalization were excluded. Patients were cohorted into "average" LOS (nLOS) and "prolonged" LOS (pLOS); pLOS was defined as 1 standard deviation above the mean LOS. Cohort variables were compared using standard statistical tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to isolate covariates that were independently associated with pLOS while controlling for confounders. RESULTS:A total of 3383 patients were identified. Average LOS was 6.38 days (S.D. = 4.24 days), and prolonged LOS was 10.62 days. The pLOS cohort was sicker and less functionally independent at baseline. The pLOS cohort had a more complicated hospital course with a 6 × increase in major complications and 2 × increase in minor complications. The demographic characteristic associated the most to pLOS was male gender. The injury/surgery characteristic contributing the most to pLOS was time from admission to surgery. The complication contributing the most to pLOS was new-onset stroke. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Multiple demographic and outcome factors are associated with pLOS in geriatric hip fractures. While demographics cannot be changed, teams should focus on modifiable factors such as reducing time to surgery and identification, prevention, and treatment of perioperative complications, most importantly stroke and pneumonia, to prevent delays in discharge following hip fracture in the elderly population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level IV.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The Moore type II tibial plateau fracture dislocation (M2) represents a specific subset of tibial plateau injuries. This study aims to assess outcomes for M2 fractures and examine the impact of surgical approach on recovery. METHODS:Patients were identified in a prospectively collected tibial plateau fracture database. Inclusion criteria included age ≥ 18 years, operative treatment, and minimum 1-year follow-up. Fractures were classified according to the systems of Schatzker et al. and Moore. Patients classified as Moore type 2 (M2) were identified and compared to all others. Demographic, injury, and surgical data were collected. Outcomes included knee range of motion (ROM), pain (VAS), and functional status (SMFA). M2 patients were categorized by surgical approach: medial (M), lateral (L), or combined (C). Statistical analyses were performed using Pearson Chi-Squared, t-tests, and ANOVA. RESULTS:A total of 595 patients met inclusion criteria; 58 (10%) sustained an M2 fracture (mean follow-up = 28.34 months). The M2 cohort had fewer females (p = 0.048) and a higher complication rate (22.4% vs. 14.0%, p = 0.085). At 6 months, the M2 group had worse SMFA scores (p = 0.004), but by 1 year, differences were not significant (p = 0.199). Complications included knee contracture, fracture-related infections, venous thromboembolism events, and peroneal nerve issues. The combined surgical approach (C) had more external fixation use (50%) and poorer outcomes for pain and function compared to isolated approaches (p = 0.004, p = 0.041). The lateral approach (L) showed better ROM but was associated with higher rates of postoperative peroneal nerve injuries. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Moore type II fractures are complex, with poorer outcomes and higher complication rates than other tibial plateau fractures. Isolated medial surgery yields better results compared to combined approaches.

BACKGROUND:This study aims to investigate the effect of donor-recipient sex-mismatch on graft survival, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and return to sport (RTS) following knee osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation. METHODS:Patients who underwent knee OCA transplantation between 2011 and 2022 with minimum 2-year clinical follow-up were divided into two cohorts (same-sex (SS) and different-sex (DS) donor). Cumulative survival was compared via multivariable Cox regression analyses controlling for age, graft size, and body mass index (BMI). A sub-analysis comparing PROs between groups was performed, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and RTS rates. RESULTS:285 patients were included (189 SS, 96 DS) with mean follow-up of 4.8 ± 2.0 years. There was a graft failure rate of 6.0% with no significant difference in graft survival rate between DS and SS groups (p = 0.70). Sub-analyses between the four donor-recipient groups (male-male, female-male, male-female, and female-female) and between female and male donor groups demonstrated no significant differences in graft survival. Among patients who failed the procedure, time to failure was significantly shorter for those with sex-mismatched grafts (353 days vs. 864 days, p = 0.002). Sub-analysis of a 71-patient cohort with two-year PROs demonstrated no differences between SS and DS groups with respect to satisfaction, pain, or KOOS scores after controlling for sex (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Patients undergoing knee OCA transplantation demonstrated no observable differences in graft survivorship based on donor-recipient graft sex-matching, suggesting that surgeons can use sex-mismatched grafts and expect limited effect on graft survivorship. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:IV.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:The purpose of this study is to determine differences in outcomes between "extreme" tibial metaphyseal fractures treated with intramedullary nailing (IMN) or plate osteosynthesis. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:545 prospectively collected patients were reviewed by two board-certified orthopedic trauma surgeons to identify extreme tibial shaft fractures (defined as most proximal or distal segments that involved or would have involved the area encompassed by the nail locking bolts). Fifty-one patients were identified. Twenty-five patients treated with an intramedullary nail were compared to 24 patients treated with plate and screws for similar patterns. Data collected included patient demographics, surgical details, and outcomes. Cohorts were compared using fisher's exact test, independent T tests, and multivariable linear regression. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:The mean age of all patients was 46.73 years. There were no differences in ASA, CCI, age, male/female composition, or BMI between cohorts. There were no differences in low vs. high-energy mechanism of injury between cohorts, however the IMN cohort had a greater proportion of open fractures (p = 0.018). When controlling for covariates, patients who underwent IMN were allowed earlier weight bearing on the operative extremity. There were no differences in ankle or knee range of motion at latest follow up. There was a greater incidence of total complications among IMN (p = 0.033). Single variable analysis revealed an association between IMN and nonunion (p = 0.050). IMN trended towards greater need for reoperation (p = 0.086). CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:Intramedullary nailing of "extreme tibia fractures" was associated with higher rates of total complications compared to plate osteosynthesis and trended with greater need for reoperation. However, it should be noted that there was a higher incidence of open fractures in this cohort. There were no differences in the rate of malalignment, range of motion, or time to healing between cohorts.

The perception of patient reliability may create surgical decision-making biases amongst hand surgeons. In this study, anonymous surveys were distributed to hand surgeons to understand how patient 'reliability' is defined and how it alters treatment decisions. Participants rated the importance of patient factors in assessing reliability, then completed fictional clinical vignettes detailing histories of patients undergoing elective surgery. Suspected substance usage and history of mental illness were rated as important factors in determining reliability, while gender and race were rated as not important. Physicians were significantly less likely to recommend surgery and exhibited less confidence in their recommendations when presented with a patient with a history of mental illness (p < 0.001) or suspected substance usage (p = 0.003). These findings suggest that while race and gender may not explicitly impact surgical decision-making, biases related to mental illness and substance use do affect treatment decisions and confidence levels. Recognizing these biases is critical for ensuring equitable care, and future efforts should explore strategies to mitigate their impact on surgical recommendations. Level of evidence: IV.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:To examine the efficacy of regional only anesthesia for arthroplasty surgery following displaced femoral neck fractures. METHODS:Design: Retrospective study. SETTING/METHODS:A single academic medical center and Level 1 Trauma Center. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA/UNASSIGNED:Patients with displaced femoral neck fracture (AO/OTA 31B1.3) treated with either hemi- or total hip arthroplasty were identified. Patients who had general (GA) and Spinal (SA) anesthesia were each matched 2:1 to those who underwent Lateral Femoral Cutaneous and Over the Hip (LOH),based on the Score for Trauma Triage in the Geriatric and Middle Aged (STTGMA) risk score and arthroplasty type. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS/UNASSIGNED:Patient demographics, injury characteristics, and surgical history were compared. Outcomes included postoperative complications, 90-day readmission rates, 1-year mortality and discharge location. Significance was p>0.05. RESULTS:145 patients were analyzed: 58 GA, 58 SA, and 29 Regional. Cohorts were similar in demographics: mean age was 79.9 +9.9 for LOH, 79.8+11.00 for GA and 82.2+8.6 for SA (p=0.3), with 72% female patients in the LOH, 67% female in the GA and 76% female in SA (p=0.585). GA patients had the highest BMI (25.3±5.3 kg/m2, p=0.004). SA patients had the highest ASA score (2.9±0.7, p=0.036). GA patients had the longest anesthesia (2:55 hours, p=0.013) and operating room time (3:35, p=0.009). Regional anesthesia had the shortest anesthesia (2:26, p=0.013) and operating room time (2:54, p=0.009). GA had a higher complication rate (56.9%, p=0.039), including major complications (20.7%, p=0.025) and post-operative anemia (34.5%, p=0.049). GA had a longer length of stay (6.4±2.9 days, p=0.022). Patients operated on under regional only were discharged to home (62%, p=0.003) while more GA (79%) and SA (71%) patients were discharged to SNF (p<0.001). LOH patients ambulated sooner following surgery (1.03±0.2 days, p=0.001). No post-operative complications, blood transfusions (p=0.321), mortality (p=0.089), 30-day readmission (p=0.819), and post-operative delirium (p=0.514) were significantly different. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Regional only anesthesia (LOH Block) was safe and effective for hemi and total hip arthroplasty for a displaced femoral neck fracture as compared to spinal and general anesthesia. This anesthetic approach allowed for successful procedures and yielded lower associated rates of post-operative complications and operative time in addition to improved quality measures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Prognostic Level III.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:The purpose of this study was to assess the demographic characteristics of hip fracture patients who followed up versus those who did not and secondarily to evaluate if follow-up duration correlated with long-term functional outcomes. METHODS:This was a retrospective review that queried a trauma database for all patients aged >55 years with hip fractures because of low-energy mechanisms between February 2019 and May 2020. Demographic characteristics, hospital quality measures, clinical outcomes, follow-up attendance, and 1-year functional outcomes were collected from the electronic medical record or through phone. Comparative analyses were conducted between patients who attended >50% of their follow-up appointments and those who attended <50% of their follow-up appointments. Patients were stratified based on the number of follow-up appointments attended and were compared. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing follow-up attendance and its association with functional outcomes. RESULTS:Four hundred fifty-two patients were included for analysis. Patients attending follow-up were younger, more likely to be community ambulators, White, and female. Multivariable regression revealed that younger age, White ethnicity, and female sex were independently associated with higher 1-year follow-up attendance. A positive linear relationship was observed between follow-up attendance and improved functional outcomes. Patients attending >50% of their appointments had better outcome scores. Overall, 218 patients were contacted through phone for 1-year follow-up and thus the 1-year follow-up rate increased to 69%. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Consistent follow-up is associated with better 1-year outcomes in geriatric hip fracture patients. Recognizing the demographic factors associated with follow-up attendance can assist in patient education and engagement.

BACKGROUND:Efforts to decrease pain, improve early rehabilitation, and reduce opioid consumption have prompted a focus on peripheral nerve blocks for pain management after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The commonly used adductor canal block (ACB) might not provide sufficient postoperative pain control because of its lack of coverage of the posterior aspect of the knee. The addition of the IPACK (interspace between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee) block, which targets this area, to the standard ACB could potentially provide better pain control after ACLR over the current standard of care. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze postoperative pain, satisfaction, and opioid demand between the standard ACB and a combination of an ACB and IPACK block in patients undergoing ACLR with a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autograft. It was hypothesized was that the addition of the IPACK block would substantially improve early postoperative pain control and minimize opioid use. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS:test or nonparametric test for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables. Opioid usage was reported as morphine milligram equivalents (MME). RESULTS:< .001). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The results of this study suggest that the addition of an IPACK block to an ACB leads to reduced opioid consumption, improved pain control, and higher satisfaction with pain control acutely after ACLR with a BTB autograft. REGISTRATION/BACKGROUND:NCT05286307 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) was developed to provide longer lasting postoperative analgesia, but its clinical role is still being elucidated. We assessed the opioid-sparing effect of LB in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) with an interscalene block (ISB). METHODS/UNASSIGNED:Patients scheduled for TSA were randomized to receive either 20 mL of bupivacaine 5 mg/mL control or 10 ml of bupivacaine 5 mg/mL plus LB 133 mg experimental [EXP] for an ISB. The primary outcome was opioid consumption from 24 to 72 hours. The secondary outcomes were cumulative opioid consumption on postoperative days (PODs) 7, 14, and 30 and pain intensity scores measured by the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scale. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:< .05). CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:The addition of LB to plain bupivacaine for an ISB is associated with a statistically significant but not clinically meaningful reduction in opioid consumption over the first 72 hours following TSA. These findings should be considered when making an economical decision to use LB.