Constant score in asymptomatic shoulders varies with different demographic populations: derivation of adjusted score equation

Background@#In the present study, the age- and sex-adjusted Constant score (CS) in a normal Indian population was calculated and any differences with other population cohorts assessed. @*Methods@#The study participants were patients who visited the outpatient department for problems other than shoulder and healthy volunteers from the local population. Patients without shoulder pain/discomfort during activity were included in the study. Subjects with any problem that might affect shoulder function (e.g., cervical, thoracic spine, rib cage deformity, inflammatory arthritis) were excluded. Constant scoring of all participants was performed by trained senior residents under the supervision of the senior faculty. Shoulder range of movement and strength were measured following recommendations given by the research and Development Committee of the European Society for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (2008). A fixed spring balance was used for strength measurement; one end was fixed on the floor and the other end tied with a strap to the wrist of the participant, arm in 90° abduction in scapular plane with palm facing down. @*Results@#Among the 248 subjects (496 shoulders), the average age was 37 years (range, 18–78 years), 65.7% were males (326 shoulders) and 34.3% females (170 shoulders). The mean CS was 84.6±2.9 (males, 86.1±3.0; females, 81.8±2.9). CS decreased significantly after 50 years of age in males and 40 years of age in females (p<0.05). The mean CS was lower than in previous studies for both males and females. Heavy occupation workers had higher mean CS (p<0.05). A linear standardized equation was estimated for calculating the adjusted CS for any age. @*Conclusions@#Mean CS and its change with age differed from previous studies among various population cohorts.

Does a staged treatment of high energy tibial plateau fractures affect functional results and bony union? A case series / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#Tibial plateau fracture (TPF) is a devastating injury as it shatters lower articular surface of the largest joint. Apart from bony injury, TPF can lead to great soft tissue envelope compromise which affects the treatment plan and outcome. In the present study, clinical results were assessed in cases of high energy TPFs treated in staged manner.@*METHODS@#Twenty-three (20 males and 3 females) patients of high energy communited TPFs (Schatzker type V and VI) were consecutively treated. All the patient had compromise of overlying skin conditions. They were all successively scheduled for staged treatment plan which comprised of application of bridging knee external fixator on the first day of admission and definitive internal fixation after skin and soft tissue overlying the fracture were healed. Schatzker type I, II, III and IV were excluded from the study. Primary survey was done and patient who had head injury, chest and abdominal injury, pelvic injury and contralateral limb injury and open fractures were excluded from the study. The patients were also evaluated in terms of wound complications, axial and rotary alignment of limb, fixation failure, articular congruity and range of motion of the knees and post injury employment. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software.@*RESULTS@#Maximum follow-up period was 13 months. All the fractures were united at final follow-up. Clinical evaluation was done with the Tegner Lysholm knee scoring scale. Excellent results were found in 78% cases and good and fair results in 22% cases. There was significant correlation between range of motion and the Tegner Lysholm knee score (p < 0.001, Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.741). The correlation between the score and the radiographical union duration was significant (p = 0.006, Pearson correlation coefficient = -0.554).@*CONCLUSION@#A staged treatment plan allows healing of soft tissue envelope, with avoidance of dreadful complications such as compartment syndrome and chronic infection. In addition, a staged treatment strategy does not hamper the fracture reduction, bony union and the functional results.

Is the Frozen Shoulder Classification a Reliable Assessment?

BACKGROUND: Although a common shoulder disease, there are no accepted classification criteria for frozen shoulder (FS). This study therefore aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the conventionally used FS classification system. METHODS: Primary FS patients (n=168) who visited our clinic from January 2010 to July 2015 were included in the study. After confirming restrictions of the glenohumeral joint motion and absence of history of systemic disease, trauma, shoulder surgery, shoulder muscle weakness, or specific x-ray abnormalities, the Zuckerman and Rokito's classification was employed for diagnosing primary FS. Following clinical diagnosis, each patient underwent a shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood tests (lipid profile, glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and thyroid function). Based on the results of the blood tests and MRIs, the patients were reclassified, using the criteria proposed by Zuckerman and Rokito. RESULTS: New diagnoses were ascertained including blood test results (16 patients with diabetes, 43 with thyroid abnormalities, and 149 with dyslipidemia), and MRI revealed intra-articular lesions in 81 patients (48.2%). After re-categorization based on the above findings, only 5 patients (3.0%) were classified having primary FS. The remaining 163 patients (97.0%) had either undiagnosed systemic or intrinsic abnormalities (89 patients), whereas 74 patients had both. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that most patients clinically diagnosed with primary FS had undiagnosed systemic abnormalities and/or intra-articular pathologies. Therefore, a modification of the Zuckerman and Rokito's classification system for FS may be required to include the frequent combinations, rather than having a separate representation of systemic abnormalities and intrinsic causes.

Cephalomedullary fixation for femoral neck/intertrochanteric and ipsilateral shaft fractures: surgical tips and pitfalls / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Surgical management options for femoral shaft fracture and ipsilateral proximal femur fracture vary from single-implant to double-implant fixation. Cephalomedullary fixation in such fractures has relative advantages over other techniques especially because of less soft tissue dissection and immediate postoperative weight bearing with accelerated rehabilitation. However, the surgery is technically demanding and there is a paucity of literature describing the surgical techniques for this fixation. The aim of the study was to describe the surgical technique of cephalomedullary fixation for femoral shaft fracture and ipsilateral proximal femur fracture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen cases (10 males and 6 females with a mean age of 41.8 years) of ipsilateral proximal femur and shaft fractures were treated by single-stage cephalomedullary fixation at tertiary level trauma center in northern India. The fractures were classified according to AO classification. An intraoperative record of duration of surgery as well as technical challenges unique to each fracture pattern was kept for all the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The most common proximal femoral pattern was AO B2.1 observed in 9 of our patients. The AO B2.3 fractures were seen in 4 patients while the AO A1.2 fractures in 3 patients. Four of the AO B2.1 and 2 of the AO B2.3 fractures required open reduction with Watson-Jones approach. The mean operative time was around 78 minutes, which tended to decrease as the surgical experience increased. There was only one case of malreduction, which required revision surgery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination of ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture and neck/intertrochanteric fracture is a difficult fracture pattern for trauma surgeons. Cephalomedullary nail is an excellent implant for such fractures but it requires careful insertion to avoid complications. Surgery is technically demanding with a definite learning curve. Nevertheless, a majority of these fractures can be surgically managed by single-implant cephalomedullary fixation by following basic surgical principles that have been summarized in this article.</p>

Removal of a bent tibial intramedullary nail: a rare case report and review of the literature / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Intramedullary interlocking nailing is a gold standard for treatment of tibial shaft fractures. Bending of a nail secondary to trauma is a rare complication, which may be encountered in healed or unhealed tibial shaft fractures. Removal of such bent nail is always a challenge. We reported this case to discuss various techniques for removal of bent nails and to share our experience in removing a bent tibial intramedullary nail in a 30-year-old man, who was admitted in our department with re-fracture of the right tibial shaft due to a roadside accident two years after the initial surgical treatment. The intramedullary nail, bent by 30 degrees and visible on anterioposterior as well as on lateral radiographs, was firstly weakened by partially cutting the convex wall, then straightened by applying external force, and finally removed by using the standard nail removal method.

Failure of intramedullary femoral nail with segmental breakage of distal locking bolts: a case report and review of the literature / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Breakage of locking bolts is an important cause of interlocking nail failure in femoral fractures. It usually occurs in the form of single breakage in one of the distal bolts of the nail or nail breakage around the distal locking hole. Here we report an unusual case of intramedullary femoral nail failure with segmental breakage of both the distal locking bolts. Such a scenario usually complicates further management. We successfully managed this case with exchange nailing without bone grafting. Here we briefly reviewed the literature regarding such an unusual presentation and discussed in detail the possible etiology of such a presentation and the management options when facing such a complex situation.

Use of gentamicin-loaded collagen sponge in internal fixation of open fractures / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the outcome of immediate plate osteosynthesis via application of antibiotic impregnated collagen fleeces (gentamicin-collagen and antibiotic sponge) which gradually release antibiotic locally in the surgical treatment of open fractures presented to us 6 hours after injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All cases were treated in our tertiary level trauma center and teaching hospital including 35 patients with open fractures who were treated by immediate open reduction and plate fixation from January 2008 to August 2010. Among them, 31 patients were available for adequate follow-up and assessment. All fractures were treated by irrigation and debridement, immediate open reduction and plate fixation along with placement of antibiotic-releasing collagen fleeces around the plate just before closure of wound. Patients were assessed to determine postoperative infection, delayed union or nonunion and development of other postoperative complications. It was hypothesized that immediate plate osteosynthesis after thorough debridement and local antibiotics would give safe and acceptable clinical results in treatment of open fractures.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 31 patients with adequate final follow-up were assessed at a mean time of 40 weeks (15-160 weeks). Most fractures united primarily in an acceptable time period according to area of involvement. Local wound complications (superficial infection and skin loss) were found in 3 patients (9.67%). Deep infection was noted in 2 patients (6.45%). None of these patients needed implant removal and both fractures united in due time. Delayed union was noted in 5 patients (16.13%). No patient progressed to nonunion or implant failure in long term follow-up. Excessive scarring was developed in 2 patients (6.45%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Immediate plate osteosynthesis after adequate debridement and placement of collagen film eluting antibiotics locally produces excellent results regarding bone union and absence of deep infections and is a safe technique in the management of open bone injuries. These sponges can be used easily with any form of internal fixation and there is no need of second surgery for the removal of these antibiotic carriers since they are bioabsorbable. Local antibiotic-impregnated collagen sponges along with systemic antibiotics for 3 to 5 days offer promising results in open fracture management.</p>

Neglected lateral process of talus fracture presenting as a loose body in tarsal canal / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Lateral process fractures of talus are rare injuries with a potential to cause significant morbidity if misdiagnosed. The appropriate management of these fractures is still controversial and only a few reports are avai- lable on this subject. We presented a case of a 37-year-old male with neglected fracture on the lateral process of talus which was misdiagnosed at the time of injury. The patient presented to 7 months after misdiagnosis with a chronic ankle pain. Our case is unique in the sense that it is a rare case of neglected fracture on the lateral process of talus which presented as a loose body in sinus tarsi. However, a surgery with an excision of the loose body presented a satis- factory outcome along with 2 years' follow-up. To our knowledge, it ought to be the first case reported in the English literature. Through this case report, we highlight the importance of high index of suspicion for such rare bony injuries while evaluating trauma to the lateral side of ankle and discuss the principles of management of these fractures.