Two-stage shoulder arthroplasty after deep infection of the shoulder caused by arthroplasty, osteosynthesis or other surgical procedures: microbial spectrum, complications and functional outcome after at least 1 year follow-up.

PURPOSE: Infection represents probably the most challenging complication in shoulder arthroplasty and all other surgical procedures of the shoulder. A deep infection of the shoulder is often combined with a destruction of the joint and a loss of function. In many cases the arthroplasty is the last resort for these patients to obtain a satisfactory function. The objective of this study was to determine outcome data on microbiota and clinical results of a two-stage shoulder arthroplasty procedure after deep infection of the shoulder. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with a deep shoulder infection after arthroplasty, osteosynthesis, or rotator-cuff repair were included, while two patients had an empyema without prior surgery. All underwent initial surgical debridement with implantation of an antibiotic-loaded spacer, followed by postoperative systemic antibiotics. The patients obtained definitive shoulder arthroplasty in a second surgery. None of the patients had to undergo more than two surgeries before the arthroplasty. The follow-up analysis including microbiota results, complication rates, and functional outcomes could be determined after at least 1 year in 60% of patients (n = 16). RESULTS: The most frequently detected microorganisms were S. epidermidis (31%, n = 10) and Cutibacterium acnes (19%, n = 6). In 28% (n = 9) of cases multi-drug resistant bacteria were detected and in 35% (n = 8) of cases more than one microorganism was found. The overall revision rate was 42%, 11 of 26 patients, in the first 8 weeks after arthroplasty. Reasons for revision were joint dislocations in 23% (n = 6), 15% (n = 4) postoperative hematomas, one (4%) re-infection and one (4%) periprosthetic fracture. At follow-up after 19.3 ± 5.5 months postoperatively, a mean abduction of 113.4°, anteversion of 122.8° and external rotation of 14° was found, with an average age and gender-adjusted Constant Score of the affected shoulder of 63. The subjects' pain and impairment in normal life measured by a questionnaire with school grades were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) as compared to prior shoulder arthroplasty. CONCLUSION: The most relevant bacteria in the study cohort were Staphylococcus subspecies and to a lower extent Cutibacterium acnes. A high number of multi-drug resistant and mixed microbiota spectra were detected, defining a need to adapt therapeutic regimen targeting these microbiotas. The two-stage shoulder arthroplasty after a deep infection resulted in excellent infection control with however high early postoperative rates for joint dislocation (23%) and hematomas (15%). At follow-up a stable joint was achieved with a sufficient functional outcome and satisfying outcome for activities of daily living and pain. CLINICAL TRIAL: Trial registration number: DRKS00016927, date of registration: 2019/03/19.

Morphologic Alterations of the Sternoclavicular Joint following Ipsilateral Clavicle Fractures.

RATIONALE: To our knowledge, no study has investigated concomitant injuries of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) in acute clavicle fractures. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an ipsilateral clavicle fracture on the SCJ in a systematic computer tomography (CT) morphologic evaluation. METHODS: CT scans in the axial and coronal plane of 45 consecutive patients with clavicle fractures were retrospectively analyzed. The scans were assessed regarding anatomic congruence of bilateral SCJs-joint space width (JSW); the position of bilateral medial clavicles (PC); and the non-fusion of epiphyses, arthritis, calcifications, and intra-articular gas. RESULTS: The mean SCJ JSW was significantly different in the coronal (cJSW; 8.70 mm ± 2.61 mm in affected vs. 7.63 mm ± 2.58 mm in non-affected side; p = 0.001) and axial plane (aJSW; 9.40 mm ± 2.76 mm in affected vs. 9.02 ± 2.99 in non-affected SCJs; p = 0.044). The position of the medial clavicle showed a significant difference in the coronal plane (cPC; 14.31 mm ± 3.66 mm in the affected vs. 13.49 ± 3.34 in the non-affected side; p = 0.011), indicating a superior shift. CONCLUSION: Acute clavicle fractures may be associated with an enlargement of the ipsilateral SCJ space width and a superior shift of the proximal clavicle. Both morphologic alterations could indicate concomitant injuries of the SCJ as well as a potential increase in the risk of SCJ instability.

Correction: Characteristics of bone turnover in the long bone metaphysis fractured patients with normal or low Bone Mineral Density (BMD).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096058.].

Surgical revision of radial head fractures: a multicenter retrospective analysis of 466 cases.

BACKGROUND: Radial head fractures lead to persisting disability in a considerable number of cases. This study aimed to investigate their most common revision causes and procedures. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study reviewed the cases of 466 adult patients who had undergone surgical revision after operative or nonoperative treatment of a radial head fracture. The initial diagnosis was a Mason type I fracture in 13.0%, Mason type II fracture in 14.6%, Mason type III fracture in 22.8%, Mason type IV fracture in 20.9%, terrible-triad injury in 12.8%, Monteggia-like lesion in 13.1%, and Essex-Lopresti lesion in 2.0%. Initial treatment was nonoperative in 30.2%, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in 44.9%, radial head arthroplasty in 16.6%, radial head resection in 3.7%, sole treatment of concomitant injuries in 2.6%, and fragment excision in 2.0%. Up to 3 revision causes and procedures were recorded per case. RESULTS: The most common complications were stiffness (67.4%), instability (36.5%), painful osteoarthritis (29.2%), ORIF related (14.8%), nonunion or necrosis (9.2%), radial head arthroplasty related (7.5%), ulnar neuropathy (6.0%), and infection (2.6%). Revision procedures frequently included arthrolysis (42.1%), arthroplasty (24.9%), implant removal (23.6%), ligament repair or reconstruction (23.0%), débridement (14.2%), repeated ORIF (8.2%), and/or radial head resection (7.7%). Mason type I or II fractures were primarily revised because of stiffness and painful osteoarthritis. Complications after Mason type III fractures were predominantly ORIF related. Fracture-dislocations showed a wide range of complications, with instability and stiffness comprising the most common causes of revision. CONCLUSIONS: The complications of radial head fractures are characteristic to their classification. Knowledge of these findings might guide surgeons in treating these injuries and may help counsel patients accordingly.

PHTLS ® (Prehospital Trauma Life Support) provider courses in Germany - who takes part and what do participants think about prehospital trauma care training?

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to examine PHTLS Provider courses in Germany and to proof the assumption that formation of physicians and paramedics in prehospital trauma care can be optimized. METHODS: PHTLS participants were asked to fill out standardized questionnaires during their course preparation and directly after the course. There were some open questions regarding their professional background and closed questions concerning PHTLS itself. Further questions were to be answered on an analog scale in order to quantify subjective impressions of confidence, knowledge and also to describe individual levels of education and training. RESULTS: 247 questionnaires could be analyzed. Physicians noted significant (p < 0.001) more deficits in their professional training than paramedics. 80% of the paramedics affirmed to have had adequate training with respect to prehospital trauma care, all physicians claimed not to have had sufficient training for prehospital trauma care situations at Medical School. Physicians were statistically most significant dissatisfied then paramedics (p < 0.001). While most participants gave positive feedback, anesthetists were less convinced of PHTLS (p = 0.005), didn't benefit as much as the rest (p = 0.004) and stated more often, that the course was of less value for their daily work (p = 0.03). After the course confidence increased remarkably and reached higher rates than before the course (p < 0.001). After PHTLS both groups showed similar ratings concerning the course concept indicating that PHTLS could equalize some training deficits and help to gain confidence and assurance in prehospital trauma situations. 90% of the paramedics and 100% of the physicians would recommend PHTLS. Physicians and especially anesthetists revised their opinions with regard to providing PHTLS at Medical School after having taken part in a PHTLS course. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of PHTLS courses in Germany indicates the necessity for special prehospital trauma care training. Paramedics and physicians criticize deficits in their professional training, which can be compensated by PHTLS. With respect to relevant items like confidence and knowledge PHTLS leads to a statistically significant increase in ratings on a visual analogue scale. PHTLS should be integrated into the curriculum at Medical School.

Characteristics of bone turnover in the long bone metaphysis fractured patients with normal or low Bone Mineral Density (BMD).

The incidence of osteoporotic fractures increases as our population ages. Until now, the exact biochemical processes that occur during the healing of metaphyseal fractures remain unclear. Diagnostic instruments that allow a dynamic insight into the fracture healing process are as yet unavailable. In the present matched pair analysis, we study the time course of the osteoanabolic markers bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1), as well as the osteocatabolic markers crosslinked C-telopeptide of type-I-collagen (ß-CTX) and serum band 5 tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP5b), during the healing of fractures that have a low level of bone mineral density (BMD) compared with fractures that have a normal BMD. Between March 2007 and February 2009, 30 patients aged older than 50 years who suffered a metaphyseal fracture were included in our study. BMDs were verified by dual energy Xray absorptiometry (DXEA) scans. The levels of BTMs were examined over an 8-week period. Osteoanabolic BAP levels in those with low levels of BMD were significantly different from the BAP levels in those with normal BMD. BAP levels in the former group increased constantly, whereas the latter group showed an initial strong decrease in BAP followed by slowly rising values. Osteocatabolic ß-CTX increased in the bone of the normal BMD group constantly, whereas these levels decreased significantly in the bone of the group with low BMD from the first week. TRAP5b was significantly reduced in the low level BMD group. With this work, we conduct first insights into the molecular biology of the fracture healing process in patients with low levels of BMD that explains the mechanism of its fracture healing. The results may be one reason for the reduced healing qualities in bones with low BMD.