DIPHOS® nail for proximal humeral fractures: our experience with more than 190 procedures and surgical tips.

AIM: evaluate the outcome of proximal  humeral nailing over 5 years follow-up, focusing  on possible complications. Secondary endpoint is the description and analysis of some technical notes to simplify surgical procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: the cohort is composed by 194 fractures fixed with short nail. Neer Classification was used to assess the type of fracture; Deltoid Tuberosity Index (DTI) was applied to verify local bone quality. Follow-up with X-rays and orthopaedic evaluation was conducted on every operated subject. RESULTS: mean follow up of the study was 25.4 months. We registered an average CMS score of 84.66 points for 2-parts fractures, 79.05 points for 3-part fractures and 68.62 points for 4-parts fractures. We obtained radiographical healing in 95.9% of patients (186/194) after 2.7 months on average. We recorded "very good" / "good" results in 90.3% of 2-parts fractures, 88.5% of 3-parts fractures and 46.2% of 4-part fractures. Overall complication rate was 10.3% (20/194 nails).  Second surgery was performed in 8.2% (16/194) of cases. CONCLUSION: intramedullary nailing is an effective treatment for 2 and 3-part fractures with relatively low incidence of complications, small surgical accesses and short surgical time. Future researches are necessary to analyze the results related to nailing in 4-fragment fractures, still uncertain and influenced by multiple factors. The presence of the intramedullary nail reduces the lever arm of the screws making the osteosynthesis more reliable. Modern nails guarantee angular stability for proximal cancellous screws and allows 1 or 2 screws at calcar level to get a valid medial support.

Retrospective analysis of outcomes and complications after Korus hemiarthroplasty in elderly patients with neck femur fractures.

BACKGROUND: Femoral neck fractures (FNF) is one of the most common traumatic events in elderly patients: the choice of an appropriate treatment is necessary to decrease the related mortality and to achieve the best possible outcomes. Nowadays, it is still debated whether or not to cement the stem in hemiarthroplasty and above all, which stem to use to best respect the integrity of the elderly bone. METHODS: From January 2017 to December 2019, a bi-centric study utilizing prospectively collected databases of elderly patients with FNF treated with uncemented Korus stem hemiarthroplasty was performed. Patients were preoperatively classified according to ASA score. Patients' clinical and X-ray follow-up was at 1, 3, 6, 12 months. Harris Hip Score (HHS) was used for analysed clinical improvement. On the X-rays, we analysed iatrogenic fractures, osteolysis area and radiolucent lines in the stem region during follow up. RESULTS: 233 patients were identified. Median follow-up was 12 months. Over time, 51 patients died (21.88%). Mean age was 89,56 ± 6,25. 75 patients had ASA score of 2 (32.3%), 102 patients a score of 3 (43.7%), 56 an ASA score of 4 (24,0%). The main Harris hip score was 68,66 ± 8.53 at 1 month of follow-up, 71,74 ± 9.65 after 3 months, 72,50 ± 10.66 at 6 months and 75,61 ± 9.63 at 12 months control. CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxyapatite coated stem with an accurate design guarantee early fixation, good clinical and radiographic results, low rate of re-intervention and mortality rate and a satisfying return to pre-injury activities.

Neck modularity in total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective study of nine hundred twenty-eight titanium neck implants with a maximum follow-up of eighteen years.

PURPOSE: Neck modularity was introduced to improve total hip arthroplasty (THA) accuracy, but it has been associated with early breakages and corrosion issues. In our hospital, modular necks have been in clinical use since the 1990s. We retrospectively analysed the occurrence of these sequelae in implants placed between January 2000 and December 2014. METHODS: Survival data from patients operated on in our hospital were obtained from the regional arthroplasty registry (Registro dell'Impiantologia Protesica Ortopedica, RIPO). The cohort comprised 928 THAs on 908 patients. The average patient age was 67.8 years. Main indications were primary osteoarthritis (71.4%), fracture (9.2%), congenital dysplasia or congenital luxation (7.8%), and idiopathic osteonecrosis (6.4%). All femoral stems were cementless, with 318 anatomically shaped (34.3%), 579 straight (62.4%), and 31 short stems (3.3%). All necks used were made of titanium alloy. The average follow-up time was 9.6 years (range, 4-18 years). RESULTS: In total, 66 revisions were reported. The main revision causes were periprosthetic fractures (33.3%), aseptic stem loosening (19.7%), luxation (18.2%), and implant breakage (12.1%). Five modular neck breakages were recorded. The overall survival rate was 87.7% at 17 years. We did not observe any component corrosion. The neck breakage rate was 0.5%, and the luxation rate was 1.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that neck modularity is a safe, effective way to reconstruct the proximal femur in THA patients. We attribute the absence of corrosion to the exclusive use of titanium necks.

A preliminary experience with a new intramedullary nail for trochanteric fractures.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: The worldwide incidence of fractures of the proximal end of the femur is increasing as the average age of the population rises. The current surgical gold treatment standard is intramedullary nail fixation. The Authors present their experience with the D-Nail system for intertrochanteric femur fractures. METHODS: From January 1st to February 21st 2020 (breakout of COVID-19 pandemic) 34 patients were treated with the D-Nail system: 11 with basicervical fractures, 16 with intertrochanteric stable fractures and 7 with intertrochanteric unstable fractures. In 11 cases, a single cephalic screw was used; in 23 cases, two of them were used. Distal locking was executed in 7 patients. Follow-up time ranged from 2 to 3 months. RESULTS: None of the reported intra- or post-operative complication was linked to the fixation device or the surgical technique. Patients were monitored with clinical and radiological checkups using modified Harris Hip Score to accurately evaluate the fluctuations in the rehabilitation period. CONCLUSION: The main advantages of this synthesis device are the proximal hole's peculiar shape, which allows the possibility to position one or two cephalic screws on the same nail, and the silicon coating, which provides numerous biological advantages. Distal locking was executed in selected cases only, based on fracture type. Optimum treatment involves rapid execution of surgery, minimal trauma during surgery, maximum mechanical stability, and rapid weight-bearing. Although our case number is small and follow-up time brief, our results are encouraging.

The Italian Covid-19 Phase 2 in Piacenza: results of the first semester of 2020 and future prospective of new orthopedics surgical procedures.

INTRODUCTION: During the pandemic, Piacenza's Orthopedic and Traumatology Dep. firstly dealt with the emergency with the complete closure of all the elective surgical and outpatient activities.As general population, also healthcare workers were affected by Coronavirus, increasing difficulties of epidemic management.The aim of our study is to evaluate the activity trend of the first 6months of 2020 in our hospital.Data will be compared to the two semesters of 2019, in order to have two objective samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all the orthopedics surgical procedures performed at Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital (Piacenza, Emilia Romagna, Northern Italy)between 1/1/20 and 30/06/20. 2019 semesters (1/01/20-30/6/20 and 1/07/20-31/12/20) have been used as control group to evaluate the activity trend of the first six months of 2020, compared to the two semesters of 2019. RESULTS: We noticed a significant increase of domestic and retirement houses accidents, a consistent increase in one-month mortality rate of 2020 first semester and a decrease of mean hospitalization time.About surgical procedures, we detect a drop in the total number: in the first semester of 2020 we performed 499 (-39.9%) surgeries less than the first semester of 2019 and 337 (-30.9%) then the second one. Traumatology recorded a decrease of 27.6% than the first semester of 2019 (-204 surgeries) and of 26.3% than the second one (-191 surgeries).Concerning orthopedic procedures, in comparison to the first semester of 2019 we registered a reduction of 57.6% (-295 surgeries) and of 40.2% to the second semester (-146 surgeries). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Covid-19 forced a reorganization of the Italian Health System that led to a clear reduction of surgical procedures performed in the orthopedic and traumatology department.The "Phase 2" can't be consider the last step of the emergency.We surely will have to get used to live with this enemy, at least until we will find an effective cure or a vaccine.

Surgical treatment of radial head isolated Mason III fractures.

INTRODUCTION: In this retrospective study we have analyzed a consecutive series of patients affected by isolated radial head Mason III fractures and treated with bone resection or prosthesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study includes 24 patients affected by fractures mentioned above and treated between July 2009 and November 2015. 15 patients (average age 48 y.o.) have been treated with prosthesis. The remaining 9 (average age 573) have been treated with a capitellectomy instead. From a clinical point of view, we have evaluated the patients according to main performance indicators such as range of motion, pain, instability and Mayo Elbow Performance Score as parameters. RESULTS: We have found similar results in both group, with an average MEPS value of 95 in the prosthesis group and 966 in the radial head resection group. The range of motion was similar too: between 1,3° and 1203° in the first group and between 4,4° and 120° in the second one. No significant complication has detected in any patient. DISCUSSION: According to most recent literature, it is not precisely defined how to treat isolated Mason III fractures, contrary to what is defined in more complex pattern, in which prosthesis are now evaluated as the best indication. Due to radial head limited contribution to elbow stability, in absence of other bony or ligamentous lesions both capitellectomy and prosthesis can be good treatment in this kind of fracture. CONCLUSION: According to our experience and to the most recent literature, we recommend prosthesis in patient younger than 50 y.o., high demanding or manual worker, while in other cases we think that radial head resection can be the treatment of choice.

WITHDRAWN: Surgical treatment of radial head isolated Mason III fractures.

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published in Injury, 50(2) 2019 382­385, https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2018.11.044. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.