Traumatic Floating Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Report.

CASE: A 58-year-old woman with medical history of a left total hip arthroplasty performed by the direct anterior (DA) approach 2 years prior presented with left hip pain. She was found to have sustained a transverse Vancouver C periprosthetic femur fracture and an unstable periprosthetic pelvic fracture. CONCLUSIONS: This patient's case represents a previously not reported injury about a total hip arthroplasty-with disruption distal to the femoral implant and proximal to the acetabular implant, with the implant-to-bone interface unaffected. This case may guide future treatment of similar injuries.

Adjunctive dorsal spanning plate fixation for challenging distal radius injuries.

Background: Distal radius fractures with severely osteoporotic bone or articular comminution can provide challenges to fixation with traditional volar locked plating alone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical, radiographic, and patient reported outcomes of patients undergoing distal radius fixation with volar locked plating and adjunctive dorsal bridge plating. Methods: We retrospectively identified 16 patients with distal radius fractures who underwent our preferred surgical technique for fixation. Patients underwent volar locked plate fixation as well as dorsal bridge fixation at time of surgery. Seven patients were indicated for severe articular comminution with volar rim fragmentation (44%), three patients were revised for nonunion after previous volar locked late fixation (19%), and six patients had severely osteoporotic bone with articular comminution (38%). Two patients (13%) sustained AO/OTA 23-A3 distal radius fracture, two patients (13%) had a 23-B3 fracture, two patients (13%) had a 23-C2 fracture and ten patients (63%) had a 23-C3 fracture. Results: The average patient age was 51.8 years ± 20.6. Patients were followed for an average of 12.2±6.3 months. The dorsal bridge plate was removed at an average of 11.1±2.4 weeks. The average post-operative radial inclination was 18.9±2.4°, radial height 12.4 mm ± 2.6 mm, and volar tilt 7.1±1.9°. There were no cases of deep or superficial infection. After dorsal bridge plate removal, patients demonstrated an average wrist extension of 55.3±9.5°, flexion 54.4±12.8°, radial deviation 15.7±3.2°, 25.2±3.9 degrees of ulnar deviation. Conclusion: Distal radius fractures in the setting of severely osteoporotic bone, salvage procedures, articular comminution, volar rim fractures, and revision surgery present uniquely difficult surgical challenges. Volar locked plating with adjunctive dorsal bridge plating can be used with good short- and long-term results.

Increased Neighborhood Deprivation Is Associated with Prolonged Hospital Stays After Surgical Fixation of Traumatic Pelvic Ring Injuries.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to understand the role of social determinants of health assessed by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) on hospital length of stay and discharge destination following surgical fixation of pelvic ring fractures. METHODS: A retrospective chart analysis was performed for all patients who presented to our level-I trauma center with pelvic ring injuries that were treated with surgical fixation. Social determinants of health were determined via use of the ADI, a comprehensive metric of socioeconomic status, education, income, employment, and housing quality. ADI values range from 0 to 100 and are normalized to a U.S. mean of 50, with higher scores representing greater social deprivation. We stratified our cohort into 4 ADI quartiles. Statistical analysis was performed on the bottom (25th percentile and below, least deprived) and top (75th percentile and above, most deprived) ADI quartiles. Significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: There were 134 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Patients in the most deprived group were significantly more likely to have a history of smoking, to self-identify as Black, and to have a lower mean household income (p = 0.001). The most deprived ADI quartile had a significantly longer mean length of stay (and standard deviation) (19.2 ± 19 days) compared with the least deprived ADI quartile (14.7 ± 11 days) (p = 0.04). The least deprived quartile had a significantly higher percentage of patients who were discharged to a resource-intensive skilled nursing facility or inpatient rehabilitation facility compared with those in the most deprived quartile (p = 0.04). Race, insurance, and income were not significant predictors of discharge destination or hospital length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Patients facing greater social determinants of health had longer hospital stays and were less likely to be discharged to resource-intensive facilities when compared with patients of lesser social deprivation. This may be due to socioeconomic barriers that limit access to such facilities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Early Postoperative Pneumonia After Elective Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty in "COVID-19 Survivor": A Case Report.

CASE: A 57-year-old woman with a history of COVID-19 pneumonia, myelodysplastic syndrome, type II diabetes mellitus, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis underwent elective total hip arthroplasty 3 months after her COVID-19 infection had clinically resolved. Her postoperative course was complicated by COVID-19-negative pneumonia within 24 hours postoperatively requiring ICU admission. CONCLUSION: Patients who have previously recovered from COVID-19 infection may have long-lasting cardiopulmonary effects that may be asymptomatic. Further assessment of postoperative risk and guidance on preoperative evaluation of COVID-19 "survivors" is needed.

Single Medial vs 2-Incision Approach for Double Hindfoot Arthrodesis: Is There a Difference in Joint Preparation?

BACKGROUND: Double hindfoot arthrodesis is a reliable treatment option in lower extremity deformity and arthritis. Single (medial) and 2-incision techniques have been described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of cartilage debrided in each approach and to evaluate the competency of the deltoid ligament. METHODS: Eight matched pairs of cadaveric specimens were acquired. One limb from each pair was randomly assigned to the single medial incision and the other to the 2-incision technique. Stress radiographs were obtained prior to dissection to evaluate for valgus tibiotalar tilt. The talonavicular and subtalar articular surfaces were denuded of cartilage and the joints disarticulated. The percentage of cartilage debrided was determined using ImageJ software. Postoperative tibiotalar tilt was measured with a technique and threshold previously described by our group. The intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to determine inter- and intraobserver reliability. RESULTS: The single medial incision demonstrated significantly less cartilage denuded than the 2-incision technique at the talar head (61.1% ± 20.4% vs 88.1% ± 6.1%, P < .001), and the posterior facets of the talus (53.5% ± 7.6% vs 73.6% ± 7.0%, P < .001) and calcaneus (55.3% ± 16.5% vs 81.0% ± 7.4%, P = .001). Overall, 75% of specimens that underwent a single medial incision approach demonstrated increased valgus tibiotalar tilt postdissection, whereas none that underwent the 2-incision technique developed increased tibiotalar tilt (P < .01). The average tibiotalar tilt among these specimens was 4.6 ± 1.3 degrees (range 2.5-5.7 degrees). For all measurements, the intraclass correlation coefficient was greater than 0.8. CONCLUSION: The posterior facet of the subtalar joint and talar head are at risk of subtotal debridement, as well as increased tibiotalar tilt with the single medial incision technique. Adequate debridement may require greater soft tissue dissection, possibly at the expense of medial ankle stability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Intraoperative Site Vancomycin Powder Application in Infected Diabetic Heel Ulcers With Calcaneal Osteomyelitis.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative site application of vancomycin powder has been found to be beneficial in foot and ankle surgery among diabetic patients undergoing elective procedures. However, there are concerns for risks such as selection of multidrug-resistant bacteria, local tissue irritation, and increased wound complications. The clinical utility of intraoperative site vancomycin powder application in infected diabetic foot ulcer surgery is unknown. We aimed to report the clinical outcomes of partial or total calcanectomy for diabetic heel ulcer (DHU) and determine if intraoperative site application of vancomycin powder placement at the time of wound closure leads to improved clinical outcomes. METHODS: A current procedural terminology query (CPT 28120: partial excision bone; talus or calcaneus) was run that identified 35 patients representing 38 calcanectomies performed secondary to infected DHU with calcaneal osteomyelitis. An initial group of 25 patients did not receive intraoperative site vancomycin powder, whereas the following 13 cases received intraoperative site vancomycin powder. Demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, operative complications, unexpected return to the operating room (RTOR), and revision amputations were recorded for each patient. Average follow-up was 26.1 (6.5-51.6) months. RESULTS: There was a significantly higher rate of RTOR among the vancomycin powder cohort (VANC) relative to the no-vancomycin cohort (No-VANC) (84.6% vs 36.0%, P = .038). Of the 13 VANC patients, 3 healed the wound and did not require RTOR, 2 underwent below-knee amputation (BKA), 2 received irrigation and debridement (I&D), and 6 underwent revision or total calcanectomies. Of the 25 No-VANC patients, 17 healed the wound, 4 underwent BKAs, 1 received an I&D, and 2 required revision or total calcanectomy. There was a trend toward increased rates of revision calcanectomy and BKA among the VANC cohort, but this was not statistically significant (61.5% vs 28.0%, P = .079). CONCLUSION: Partial or total calcanectomies for the management of infected DHU resulted in an overall healing rate of 50.0%, unplanned RTOR and revision calcanectomy rate of 39.5%, and a limb salvage rate of 82.6%. We found no clinical benefit with the intraoperative site application of vancomycin powder. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective case control study.

Chopart Amputation: Questioning the Clinical Efficacy of a Long-standing Surgical Option for Diabetic Foot Infection.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcers with associated infection and osteomyelitis often lead to partial or complete limb loss. Determination of the appropriate level for amputation based on the patient's baseline physical function, extent of infection, vascular patency, and comorbidities can be challenging. Although Chopart amputation preserves greater limb length than more proximal alternatives such as Syme or below-the-knee amputations (BKA), challenges with wound healing and prosthesis fitting have been reported. We aimed to investigate the functional and clinical outcomes of Chopart amputation combined with tendon transfers. METHODS: We identified patients who underwent Chopart amputations for diabetic foot infections by an academic orthopaedic group between August 2013 and September 2018. Subjects completed three Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) instruments. Incidence of postoperative complications and change in patient-reported outcomes before and after surgery were recorded. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with an average age of 60.8 (range, 44 to 79) years were identified. The mean follow-up was 22.8 months (range, 6.7 to 51.0). Seventeen of the 18 total patients developed postoperative wound complications. These lead to revision amputations in 10 Chopart amputees, consisting of two Syme and eight BKAs. Half of the Chopart patients never received a prosthesis because of delayed wound healing and revision amputation. PROMIS physical function (PF) (31.1 pre-op and 28.6 post-op), pain interference (63.1 pre-op and 59.4 post-op), and depression (53.0 pre-op and 54.8 post-op) did not show significant change (P-values = 0.38, 0.29, 0.72, respectively). Pre- and post-op the PROMIS physical function scores were well below the US average. DISCUSSION: In our patient cohort, 94% of patients developed postoperative wound complication. Only 44% of patients ever successfully ambulated with a prosthesis after Chopart amputation, and the others (56%) required revision amputations such as a BKA. Even after wound healing, Chopart amputees may struggle with obtaining a prosthesis suitable for ambulation. Surgeons should exercise judicious patient selection before performing Chopart amputation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, Case Series.

A Bioinformatic Approach to Utilize a Patient's Antibody-Secreting Cells against Staphylococcus aureus to Detect Challenging Musculoskeletal Infections.

Noninvasive diagnostics for Staphylococcus aureus musculoskeletal infections (MSKI) remain challenging. Abs from newly activated, pathogen-specific plasmablasts in human blood, which emerge during an ongoing infection, can be used for diagnosing and tracking treatment response in diabetic foot infections. Using multianalyte immunoassays on medium enriched for newly synthesized Abs (MENSA) from Ab-secreting cells, we assessed anti-S. aureus IgG responses in 101 MSKI patients (63 culture-confirmed S. aureus, 38 S. aureus-negative) and 52 healthy controls. MENSA IgG levels were assessed for their ability to identify the presence and type of S. aureus MSKI using machine learning and multivariate receiver operating characteristic curves. Eleven S. aureus-infected patients were presented with prosthetic joint infections, 15 with fracture-related infections, 5 with native joint septic arthritis, 15 with diabetic foot infections, and 17 with suspected orthopedic infections in the soft tissue. Anti-S. aureus MENSA IgG levels in patients with non-S. aureus infections and healthy controls were 4-fold (***p = 0.0002) and 8-fold (****p < 0.0001) lower, respectively, compared with those with culture-confirmed S. aureus infections. Comparison of MENSA IgG responses among S. aureus culture-positive patients revealed Ags predictive of active MSKI (IsdB, SCIN, Gmd) and Ags predictive of MSKI type (IsdB, IsdH, Amd, Hla). When combined, IsdB, IsdH, Gmd, Amd, SCIN, and Hla were highly discriminatory of S. aureus MSKI (area under the ROC curve = 0.89 [95% confidence interval 0.82-0.93, p < 0.01]). Collectively, these results demonstrate the feasibility of a bioinformatic approach to use a patient's active immune proteome against S. aureus to diagnose challenging MSKI.

Dropped Head Syndrome: An Update on Etiology and Surgical Management.

¼ Dropped head syndrome is a group of disorders with diverse etiologies involving different anatomical components of the neck, ultimately resulting in a debilitating, flexible, anterior curvature of the cervical spine. ¼ Causes of dropped head syndrome include myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson disease, radiation therapy, and cumulative age-related changes. Idiopathic cases have also been reported. ¼ Nonoperative treatment of dropped head syndrome includes orthotic bracing and physical therapy. ¼ Surgical treatment of dropped head syndrome consists of cervical spine fusion to correct the deformity. ¼ The limited data available examining the clinical and radiographic outcomes of surgical intervention indicate a higher rate of complications with the majority having favorable outcomes in the long term.

Evolving concepts in bone infection: redefining "biofilm", "acute vs. chronic osteomyelitis", "the immune proteome" and "local antibiotic therapy".

Osteomyelitis is a devastating disease caused by microbial infection of bone. While the frequency of infection following elective orthopedic surgery is low, rates of reinfection are disturbingly high. Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for the majority of chronic osteomyelitis cases and is often considered to be incurable due to bacterial persistence deep within bone. Unfortunately, there is no consensus on clinical classifications of osteomyelitis and the ensuing treatment algorithm. Given the high patient morbidity, mortality, and economic burden caused by osteomyelitis, it is important to elucidate mechanisms of bone infection to inform novel strategies for prevention and curative treatment. Recent discoveries in this field have identified three distinct reservoirs of bacterial biofilm including: Staphylococcal abscess communities in the local soft tissue and bone marrow, glycocalyx formation on implant hardware and necrotic tissue, and colonization of the osteocyte-lacuno canalicular network (OLCN) of cortical bone. In contrast, S. aureus intracellular persistence in bone cells has not been substantiated in vivo, which challenges this mode of chronic osteomyelitis. There have also been major advances in our understanding of the immune proteome against S. aureus, from clinical studies of serum antibodies and media enriched for newly synthesized antibodies (MENSA), which may provide new opportunities for osteomyelitis diagnosis, prognosis, and vaccine development. Finally, novel therapies such as antimicrobial implant coatings and antibiotic impregnated 3D-printed scaffolds represent promising strategies for preventing and managing this devastating disease. Here, we review these recent advances and highlight translational opportunities towards a cure.

Deltoid-Spring Ligament Reconstruction in Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity With Medial Peritalar Instability.

BACKGROUND: A spring ligament tear is commonly present in advanced stages of adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD). Previous anatomic studies have demonstrated that the superficial deltoid ligament blends with the superomedial spring ligament, forming the tibiocalcaneonavicular ligament (TCNL). Adding allograft TCNL reconstruction to osseous correction has been suggested to augment medial peritalar stability in advanced AAFD with large spring ligament tears. We aimed to investigate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of TCNL reconstruction for flexible AAFD with medial peritalar instability. METHODS: Fourteen feet in 12 patients who underwent osseous and TCNL reconstructions for advanced AAFD (stage IIB with large spring ligament tears or stage IV) were recruited for the study. The mean postoperative follow-up was 24 (range, 12-33) months. Pre- and postoperative clinical outcomes were assessed by the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), SF-36, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Correction of forefoot abduction and the sagittal arch were measured from pre- and postoperative weightbearing radiographs. RESULTS: The FAAM Activities of Daily Living improved from 69.3 to 90.1 (P = .001). The SF-36 Physical Function (PF) and Pain subscales both improved significantly (39.4 to 87.8 and 44.6 to 93.1, respectively, P < .001 for each). The PROMIS PF improved from 38.2 to 46.8 (P = .002) and the PROMIS Pain Interference (PI) from 62.6 to 50.1 (P = .003). Radiographic measures showed an improved anterior-posterior (AP) talo-first metatarsal angle of 24.7 to 11.8 degrees (P < .001) and talonavicular coverage angle of 47.4 to 23.1 degrees (P < .01). An improved Meary's angle of 29.7 to 12.5 degrees (P < .001) and a calcaneal pitch angle of 11.7 to 16.9 degrees (P = .14) were noted in the lateral view. CONCLUSION: Considering the anatomic characteristics of the deltoid-spring ligament complex, TCNL reconstruction may play a significant role in maintaining peritalar stability when performed with osseous correction. Deltoid-spring ligament (TCNL) reconstruction is a viable surgical option for those with advanced stage AAFD with medial peritalar instability that leads to improved functional and radiographic outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Evidence of differential microbiomes in healing versus non-healing diabetic foot ulcers prior to and following foot salvage therapy.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) contribute to 80% of lower extremity amputations. Although physicians currently rely on clinical signs along with non-specific biomarkers of infection, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, to diagnose and monitor DFU, there is no specific and sensitive measure available to monitor or prognosticate the success of foot salvage therapy (FST). To address this we performed a prospective, observational microbiome analysis to test the hypotheses that: (i) the initial microbiomes of healed versus non-healed DFU are distinct; (ii) the microbial load, diversity and presence of pathogenic organism of the DFU change in response to antibiotics treatment; and (iii) the changes in the DFU microbiome during treatment are prognostic of clinical outcome. To test this, microbiome analyses were performed on 23 DFU patients undergoing FST, in which wound samples were collected at zero, four, and eight weeks following wound debridement and antibiotics treatment. Bacterial abundance was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Eleven patients healed their DFU, while FDT failed to heal DFU in the other 12 patients. Microbiome results demonstrated that healing DFUs had a larger abundance Actinomycetales and Staphylococcaceae (p < 0.05), while DFUs that did not heal had a higher abundance of Bacteroidales and Streptococcaceae (p < 0.05). FST marked increases Actinomycetales in DFU, and this increase is significantly greater in patients that healed (p < 0.05). Future studies to confirm the differential microbiomes, and that increasing Actinomycetales is prognostic of successful FST are warranted. Statement of Clinical Significance: Tracking changes in the prevalence of pathogens in diabetic foot ulcers may be a clinical tool for monitoring treatment response to foot salvage therapy and prognosticating the need for further surgical intervention. The initial wound sample microbiome may provide important prognostic information on the eventual clinical outcome of foot salvage therapy. It may serve as an important clinical tool for patient counseling and making surgical decision of pursuing foot salvage versus amputation. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:1596-1603, 2019.

Evaluation and Treatment of Posterior Tibialis Tendon Insufficiency in the Elderly Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Posterior tibialis tendon insufficiency is the most common cause of adult acquired flatfoot deformity in elderly patients. We performed a literature search of primary and secondary journal articles pertaining to posterior tibialis tendon insufficiency in the geriatric population. We examined relevant data from these articles regarding current evaluation in addition to both conservative and advanced treatment approaches that correspond to disease severity. SIGNIFICANCE: There is a paucity of literature to guide treatment of posterior tibialis tendon insufficiency in the elderly, and this condition may be more prevalent in geriatric patients than previously realized. RESULTS: Posterior tibialis tendon insufficiency is an acquired defect that affects 10% of the geriatric population and disproportionately affects women. It is typically caused by degenerative changes. There are four primary stages of posterior tibialis tendon with subcategorizations that range from mild to severe. Conservative treatment with a variety of available ankle braces and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are typically used to treat the first and second stage disease. Surgical repair is warranted for advanced second stage and above posterior tendon insufficiency. A variety of techniques have been proposed, and can include tendon transfer, hindfoot fusion, and even total ankle arthroplasty in extreme cases. CONCLUSION: Posterior tibialis tendon insufficiency causes marked discomfort and alters normal gait biomechanics. Elderly patients typically present with more severe manifestations of the disease. For patients requiring surgery, and especially geriatric patients, the ideal treatment is thought to be a procedure that is minimally invasive in order to maximize positive outcomes for elderly patients. More work is needed to examine clinical and radiographic outcomes of geriatric patients treated for posterior tibialis tendon insufficiency.

Tracking Anti-Staphylococcus aureus Antibodies Produced In Vivo and Ex Vivo during Foot Salvage Therapy for Diabetic Foot Infections Reveals Prognostic Insights and Evidence of Diversified Humoral Immunity.

Management of foot salvage therapy (FST) for diabetic foot infections (DFI) is challenging due to the absence of reliable diagnostics to identify the etiologic agent and prognostics to justify aggressive treatments. As Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen associated with DFI, we aimed to develop a multiplex immunoassay of IgG in serum and medium enriched for newly synthesized anti-S. aureus antibodies (MENSA) generated from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells of DFI patients undergoing FST. Wound samples were collected from 26 DFI patients to identify the infecting bacterial species via 16S rRNA sequencing. Blood was obtained over 12 weeks of FST to assess anti-S. aureus IgG levels in sera and MENSA. The results showed that 17 out of 26 infections were polymicrobial and 12 were positive for S. aureus While antibody titers in serum and MENSA displayed similar diagnostic potentials to detect S. aureus infection, MENSA showed a 2-fold-greater signal-to-background ratio. Multivariate analyses revealed increases in predictive power of diagnosing S. aureus infections (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] > 0.85) only when combining titers against different classes of antigens, suggesting cross-functional antigenic diversity. Anti-S. aureus IgG levels in MENSA decreased with successful FST and rose with reinfection. In contrast, IgG levels in serum remained unchanged throughout the 12-week FST. Collectively, these results demonstrate the applicability of serum and MENSA for diagnosis of S. aureus DFI with increased power by combining functionally distinct titers. We also found that tracking MENSA has prognostic potential to guide clinical decisions during FST.

Case report: acanthosis nigricans resulting from repetitive same-site insulin injections.

Although acanthosis nigricans (AN) may be associated with internal malignancies, a benign form is more common, and a subset of these is drug-induced. In this case, a solitary, hyperpigmented, acanthotic plaque developed on the right abdomen after daily, same-site injections of insulin over a six-month period. The lesion completely resolved eight months after insulin injections were rotated to other locations. Acanthosis nigricans recurred, however, at the original location two months after the patient resumed serial same-site insulin injections, against medical advice. This provides direct evidence that localized hyperinsulinism is causally related to AN through its effect on insulin-like growth factor receptors.