Thirty-day mortality after hip fractures: has anything changed?

Bone density insufficiency is the main cause for significant musculoskeletal trauma in the elderly population following low-energy falls. Hip fractures, in particular, represent an important public health concern taking into account the complicated needs of the patients due to their medical comorbidities as well as their rehabilitation and social demands. The annual cost for the care of these patients is estimated at around 2 billion pounds (£) in the UK and is ever growing. An increased early and late mortality rate is also recognised in these injuries together with significant adversities for the patients. Lately, in order to improve the outcomes of this special cohort of patients, fast-track care pathways and government initiatives have been implemented. It appears that these measures have contributed in a steady year-by-year reduction of the 30-day mortality rates. Whether we have currently reached a plateau or whether an ongoing reduction in mortality rates will continue to be observed is yet to be seen.

Reconstruction of patellar tendon following implantation of proximal tibia megaprosthesis for the treatment of post-traumatic septic bone defects.

INTRODUCTION: Latest advances made in joint replacement implants allows reconstruction of entire limbs. These special prostheses or megaprostheses were originally designed for the treatment of severe oncological bone loss. Nowadays, however, the indications and applications of these devices are expanding to other orthopaedic and trauma clinical conditions. Since 2008 we have implanted 152 megaprostheses in non-oncological conditions: 87 were implanted for post-traumatic failures aseptic/septic (represented by complex non-unions and critical size bone defects); 26 total femur, 52 distal femur and 9 proximal tibia. In this group of patients bone and soft tissues conditions are completely different compared to patients with oncological back ground. The presence of infection and previous surgeries can lead to adhesion, scar interference, muscular and tendon impairment and skin problems that lead to reduced function and severe joint stiffness. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of treatment of reconstruction of patellar tendon during implantation of proximal tibia megaprosthesis for the treatment of septic post traumatic critical bone defects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we evaluated 9 patients treated with proximal tibia megaprosthesis who underwent patellar tendon reconstruction. All patients presented a complete patellar tendon disruption at the time of prosthesis implantation. Procedures of reconstruction included a tendon-plasty of quadriceps and/or patellar tendons, a pie crusting of quadriceps fascia, a reinforcement of the apparatus with synthetic tendon graft substitutes (LARS) and a medial gastrocnemius muscular flap to reconstruct the extensor mechanism and obtain skin coverage when needed. The average follow up was 18 months (9-36). For each of the cases, we analysed the complications occurred regarding septic recurrence, patellar fracture, quadriceps and patellar tendon rupture and number of reinterventions. The clinical outcome was assessed by the WOMAC Score. RESULTS: In all cases there was no infection recurrence or skin related problems. None of the patients require prosthesis revision due to loosening or device failure. No patellar fracture or quadriceps tendon failure was recorded. One patient presented a rupture of the reconstructed patellar tendon due to a trauma incident 18 months after the implantation and he required revision surgery. From a clinical point of view the average WOMAC score was 62.4 at 1 month rising to 72.6 at 3 months, 78.2 at 6 months, 76.4 at 1 year and 74.8 at 18 months. CONCLUSION: When proximal tibia megaprosthesis is implanted and there are soft tissue and patellar tendon deficiency, soft tissue reconstruction can be achieved by appropriate lengthening of the tendon and a gastrocnemius flap reinforced by LARS. Such an approach allows restoration of the extensor mechanism and coverage of the prosthesis in an area where skin problems are frequently very common.

Autograft versus BMPs for the treatment of non-unions: what is the evidence?

Autograft is considered the gold standard in non-union treatment. However, it is associated with significant morbidity and limited biological activity. The introduction of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) has added a valuable tool to the surgeon's possibilities. The initial expectations of the effectiveness of BMPs were high, but over the years the union rate of BMPs was shown to be comparable with autograft. In this overview, both treatment modalities are compared. The off-label use of BMPs, the combination of BMPs and autograft, and the economic perspective of BMP use are summarized. In their current formulation, BMPs are an effective alternative for autograft in selected cases. The beneficial effect outweighs the economic costs. Widening of the indication to other long bone non-unions and new formulations are expected in the nearby future.

Subtrochanteric fracture non-unions with implant failure managed with the "Diamond" concept.

BACKGROUND: Subtrochanteric femoral non-unions in the setting of failed metalwork pose a challenging clinical problem. This study assessed the clinical outcome of patients treated according to the principles of the "Diamond" concept. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2011 all patients presented with a subtrochanteric atrophic aseptic non-union in the setting of metalwork failure (broken cephalomedullary reconstruction nail), and treated in a single tertiary referral unit were included to this study. The hypertrophic and the non-unions of pathologic fractures were excluded. The revision strategy was based on the "Diamond concept"; optimisation of the mechanical and the biological environment (implantation of growth factor (rhBMP-7), scaffold (RIA bone graft from contralateral femur) and concentrated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) harvested from the iliac crest). The minimum follow up was 26 months (16-48). RESULTS: Fourteen patients met the inclusion criteria. A specific sequence of metalwork failure was noted with initial breakage of the distal locking screws followed by nail breakage at the lag screw level. The intraoperative examination of the removed nails revealed no gross structural damage indicative of inappropriate drilling at the time of the initial intramedullary nailing. Varus mal-alignment was present in the majority of the cases, with an average of 5.2 degrees (0-11). The average time to distal locking screw failure was 4.4 months (2-8.5) and nail failure was 6.5 months (4-10). The time to union after the revision surgery was 6.8 months (5-12). Complications included two deaths in elderly patients (due to unrelated causes), one pulmonary embolism, one myocardial infarction, one below the knee deep vein thrombosis and one blade plate failure that required further revision with double plating and grafting. CONCLUSION: Varus mal-alignment must be avoided in the initial stabilisation of subtrochanteric fractures. Distal locking screw failure is predictive of future fracture non-union and nail breakage. In the absence of sepsis, a single stage procedure based on the "Diamond concept" that simultaneously optimizes the mechanical and biological environment is a successful method for managing complex subtrochanteric atrophic non-unions with failed metalwork.

Do nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs affect bone healing? A critical analysis.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) play an essential part in our approach to control pain in the posttraumatic setting. Over the last decades, several studies suggested that NSAIDs interfere with bone healing while others contradict these findings. Although their analgesic potency is well proven, clinicians remain puzzled over the potential safety issues. We have systematically reviewed the available literature, analyzing and presenting the available in vitro animal and clinical studies on this field. Our comprehensive review reveals the great diversity of the presented data in all groups of studies. Animal and in vitro studies present so conflicting data that even studies with identical parameters have opposing results. Basic science research defining the exact mechanism with which NSAIDs could interfere with bone cells and also the conduction of well-randomized prospective clinical trials are warranted. In the absence of robust clinical or scientific evidence, clinicians should treat NSAIDs as a risk factor for bone healing impairment, and their administration should be avoided in high-risk patients.

Diabetes and fracture healing: the skeletal effects of diabetic drugs.

INTRODUCTION: Over 39,000 diabetic patients are surgically treated for trauma and orthopaedic injuries annually in the UK, yet the effects of diabetic medications on the skeletal system is an under researched and under acknowledged field. AREAS COVERED: This review covers all English language novel experimental data reports investigating the effects of the main classes of diabetic drugs on the skeletal system, specifically their effects on fracture healing, located through the literature search engines Medline and Web of Science. EXPERT OPINION: Post-surgical gylcaemic control is paramount in insulin-controlled type 1 diabetic patients. Data on pharmacological control compounds used in type 2 diabetes are limited. Reports to date indicate thiazolidinediones to exert anti-osteogenic effects, in contrast to the observed osteogenic effects of biguanides. Ongoing research is desirable to guide future clinical recommendations.

Enhancement of fracture healing with the diamond concept: the role of the biological chamber.

Bone regeneration presents a unique challenge to both clinicians and scientists. Recently, a vast amount of knowledge has been attained with regard to the molecular mediators, cell populations and the overall cascade of events participating in the bone repair processes. For the treatment of bone non-unions or bone defects, the 'diamond concept' for biological enhancement supports the implantation of mesenchymal stem cells, a scaffold and a growth factor. Prior to the implantation of any or all of these materials however, the surgeon must develop the ideal biological environment (non-union bed) where molecular and physiological processes will evolve facilitating an early and successful osteogenesis leading to bone continuity and functional restoration of the affected limb. At the end of the surgical procedure the non-union bed should have been transformed to a 'biological chamber' active enough to support efficiently all the necessary physiological processes for a successful outcome. The notion of creating the optimum 'biological chamber' represents the centre of the highest biological activity and in a sense the heart of the diamond concept.

Use of bone morphogenetic proteins in arthrodesis: clinical results.

Bone grafting is not routinely required in primary arthrodesis in the absence of infection, avascular necrosis, bone defect or previous non-union; when any of the above factors is present, autograft is the gold-standard method. However, donor site morbidity and the quantitative and qualitative limitations of autograft have led to the development of alternatives. This study documents the use of the bone morphogenetic protein BMP-7 in a total of 19 joint fusions (ankle, subtalar, talonavicular, pubic and sacroiliac). Healing rates of 90% and satisfactory subjective functional outcome in 70% of cases were recorded over a minimum follow-up of 15 months. These data should provide a sound foundation for future clinical trials evaluating the application of BMP-7 in the fusion of joints.

Application of BMP-7 to tibial non-unions: a 3-year multicenter experience.

SUMMARY: The effective treatment of the often debilitating, longlasting and large-asset-consuming complication of fracture non-unions has been in the centre of scientific interest the last decades. The use of alternative bone substitutes to the gold standard of autologous graft includes the osteoinductive molecules named bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). A multicenter registry and database (bmpusergroup.co.uk) focused on the application of BMP-7/OP-1 was created in December 2005. We present the preliminary results, using the prospective case-series of aseptic tibial non-unions as an example. Sixty-eight patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this observational study, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. The median duration of tibial non-union prior to BMP-7 application was 23 months (range 9-317 mo). Patients had undergone a median of 2 (range 0-11) revision procedures prior to the administration of BMP-7. In 41% the application of BMP-7 was combined with revision of the fixation at the non-union site. Non-union healing was verified in 61 (89.7%) in a median period of 6.5 months (range 3-15 mo). No adverse events or complications were associated with BMP-7 application. The safety and efficacy of BMP-7 was verified in our case series, and was comparable to the existing evidence. The establishment of multicenter networks and the systematic and long-term follow- up of these patients are expected to provide further information and significantly improve our understanding of this promising osteoinductive bone substitute.