ABSTRACT
A giant cell tumor is a common, benign but locally aggressive bone tumor faced by orthopedic surgeons. The proximal humerus is a rare site of occurrence for this tumor, and the challenges posed while approaching such a case are discussed in this report of a 29-year-old male who presented with pain, swelling, and restricted motion at the left shoulder. Plain radiographs and MRI were suggestive of an aggressive giant cell tumor of the proximal humerus, which was confirmed on histopathological examination. Due to the lesion's extensive soft-tissue involvement, en-bloc resection with reconstruction was planned, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, surgery was delayed. During the same period, the patient had trivial trauma to the same shoulder, following which the size of the lesion began increasing. The patient was operated on with en-bloc resection and reconstruction with a custom megaprosthesis; following the surgery, there was a complete resolution of pain and improvement in the range of motion. En bloc resection and replacement with a customized megaprosthesis, though technically demanding, offer a safe and cost-effective modality for limb salvage surgery for large giant cell tumors, with good functional outcomes and decreased chances of recurrence.
ABSTRACT
Redefinition of our social life for COVID-19, with social distance, prohibition of entering and exiting cities, closure of social areas and curfews effects every aspect of our lives, from psychological to physical. The aim of this study was to evaluate the injury mechanisms, fracture frequencies and priority treatment preferences in a tertiary trauma center from Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic, both in adult and pediatric populations, and to compare them with pre-COVID-19 period. In this single-centered study, 960 patients (with 1039 fractures) who were admitted to a tertiary trauma center in Turkey, between April 2020 and December 2020 were examined. A control group of 964 patients (with 1070 fractures) who were admitted in the same date range of 2019 was formed. Patient demographics, injury mechanisms, fracture type and preferred treatment methods were recorded. There was a significant difference regarding injury mechanism between groups in both adult and pediatric populations (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). In adults, according to the residual values, there was significant difference between groups in terms of proximal humerus, elbow, forearm, hand, femoral shaft and knee fractures (p<0.001). Among pediatric patients, a significant difference was found between groups in terms of proximal humerus, hand and knee fractures (p<0.001). In the pediatric population, there has been a significant increase in the preference of conservative treatment in the pandemic group (p=0.002). With increased indoors time, restriction of outdoors physical activities and lesser time in traffic, fracture distribution and priority treatment preferences have inevitably changed. In Turkey, the frequency of almost all upper extremity fractures except proximal humerus and humerus shaft fractures have increased significantly in the adult population, while the frequency of lower extremity fractures associated with high-energy injuries have decreased. In the pediatric population, treatment preferences are shifting towards conservative methods rather than surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic
ABSTRACT
Background/Aims Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the abnormal formation and deposition of mature lamellar bone within soft tissue, associated with trauma, surgery, neurologic injury and prolonged immobilisation. Several recent case reports have demonstrated this condition in COVID-19 patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Methods We present a case of heterotopic ossification in the shoulder after a long stay in intensive care unit (ICU) due to COVID-19 infection. Results A 55-year-old man with stable psoriatic arthritis on sulfasalazine was admitted to ICU for mechanical ventilation after contracting COVID-19 infection. After discharge from ICU, he began noticing increasing right shoulder pain with restricted movements of abduction, internal and external rotation. His serum alkaline phosphatase was moderately elevated. Despite physiotherapy and NSAIDs, there was slow improvement. Shoulder x-ray showed significant bony overgrowth around proximal humerus which was initially thought to be part of his psoriatic arthritis. It was confirmed at Rheumatology/Radiology MDT to be heterotopic ossification. A computed tomography of the right shoulder was requested to evaluate the extent of the condition and orthopaedic advice was sought. Conclusion There are many factors contributing to the development of heterotopic ossification including trauma, spinal cord injury, brain injury, hypoxia, prolonged immobilisation with limitation of joint movement and prolonged bed rest which cause alterations in calcium homeostasis, male sex and over 60 years of age. New onset joint pain and stiffness in patients who have recovered from COVID-19 especially those who had long ICU stay should be further investigated for this condition. Treatment includes analgesia and physiotherapy with potential surgical intervention.
ABSTRACT
Although the demand for shoulder arthroplasties has reached its highest number worldwide, there remains a lack of epidemiologic data regarding recent and future trends. In this study, data for all shoulder arthroplasties (hemiarthroplasty, reverse/anatomic shoulder arthroplasty) from the nationwide inpatient statistics of Germany (2010-2019) and population forecasts until 2040 were gathered. A Poisson and a negative binomial approach using monotone B-splines were modeled for all types of prostheses to project the annual number and incidence of primary and revision arthroplasty. Additionally, trends in main indicators were also gathered and expected changes were calculated. Overall, the number of primary shoulder replacements is set to increase significantly by 2040, reaching at least 37,000 (95% CI 32,000-44,000) procedures per year. This trend is mainly attributable to an about 10-fold increased use of fracture-related reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients over 80 years of age, although the number of procedures in younger patients will also rise substantially. In contrast, hemiarthroplasties will significantly decrease. The number of revision procedures is projected to increase subsequently, although the revision burden is forecast to decline. Using these country-specific projection approaches, a massive increase of primary and revision shoulder arthroplasties is expected by 2040, mainly due to a rising number of fracture-related procedures. These growth rates are substantially higher than those from hip or knee arthroplasty. As these trends are similar in most Western countries, this draws attention to the international issue, of: if healthcare systems will be able to allocate human and financial resources adequately, and if future research and fracture-prevention programs may help to temper this rising burden in the upcoming decades.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted elective shoulder arthroplasty throughput, traumatic shoulder arthroplasty procedures are less apt to be postponed. We sought to evaluate shoulder arthroplasty utilization for fracture during the COVID-19 pandemic and California's associated shelter-in-place order compared to historical controls. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study with historical controls, identifying patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humerus fracture in California using our integrated electronic health record. The time period of interest was following the implementation of the statewide shelter-in-place order: March 19, 2020-May 31, 2020. This was compared to three historical periods: January 1, 2020-March 18, 2020, March 18, 2019-May 31, 2019, and January 1, 2019-March 18, 2019. Procedure volume, patient characteristics, in-hospital length of stay, and 30-day events (emergency department visit, readmission, infection, pneumonia, and death) were reported. Changes over time were analyzed using linear regression adjusted for usual seasonal and yearly changes and age, sex, comorbidities, and postadmission factors. RESULTS: Surgical volume dropped from an average of 4.4, 5.2, and 2.6 surgeries per week in the historical time periods, respectively, to 2.4 surgeries per week after shelter-in-place. While no more than 30% of all shoulder arthroplasty procedures performed during any given week were for fracture during the historical time periods, arthroplasties performed for fracture was the overwhelming primary indication immediately after the shelter-in-place order. More patients were discharged the day of surgery (+33.2%, P = .019) after the shelter-in-place order, but we did not observe a change in any of the corresponding 30-day events. CONCLUSIONS: The volume of shoulder arthroplasty for fracture dropped during the time of COVID-19. The reduction in volume could be due to less shoulder trauma due to shelter-in-place or a change in the indications for arthroplasty given the perceived higher risks associated with intubation and surgical care. We noted more patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty for fracture were safely discharged on the day of surgery, suggesting this may be a safe practice that can be adopted moving forward. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III; Retrospective Case-control Comparative Study.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Because of the rapid spread of COVID-19, on March 8, 2020 Italy became a "protected area": people were told not to leave their homes unless it was essential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of our trauma center, relative to shoulder and elbow, in the 30 days starting from March 8, 2020, the first day of restrictions in Italy, and to compare it with the same days of 2019 to weigh the impact of COVID-19 on shoulder and elbow trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients managed in our trauma center between March 8, 2020, and April 8, 2020 (COVID period), for shoulder and elbow trauma were retrospectively included and compared to patients admitted in the same period of 2019 (no-COVID period). Clinical records of all participants were examined to obtain information regarding age, sex, mechanism of injury, and diagnosis. RESULTS: During the no-COVID period, 133 patients were admitted for a shoulder or elbow trauma; in the COVID period, there were 47 patients (65% less first aid). In the no-COVID and COVID period, patients with shoulder contusion totaled 60 (14.78% of all; male [M]: 34; female [F]: 26; mean age 51.8 years, range 18-88) and 11 (12.09% of all contusions; M: 7, F: 4; mean age 43 years, range 24-60), respectively. In the no-COVID period, 27 fractures (9.34% of all fractures) involved the shoulder, whereas 18 fractures (8.69%) were registered in the COVID period. In the no-COVID period, 14 elbow fractures were treated (4.8% of all fractures), compared with 4 in the COVID period. In the no-COVID and COVID periods, 6 patients (M: 5, F: 1; mean age 42 years, range 21-64) and 2 patients (M: 1, F: 1; mean age 29.5 years, range 24-35) reported having a feeling of momentary post-traumatic shoulder instability, and 0 and 1 patients (M: 1, F: 0; age 56 years), respectively, reported similar symptoms at the elbow. Finally, first or recurrent dislocations in the no-COVID period were 10, and in the COVID period, 7; elbow dislocations in the no-COVID period were 2, and in the COVID period, there were 3. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID period, we provided a reduced number of health services, especially for patients with low-energy trauma and for those who underwent sports and traffic accidents. However, during the COVID period, elderly subjects remain exposed to shoulder and elbow trauma due to low-energy (domestic) falls. The subsequent hospitalization of these patients has contributed to making it more difficult to manage the hospital wards that are partly occupied by COVID-19 patients.