The Hawkins Sign of the Talus: The Impact of Patient Factors on Prediction Accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Osteonecrosis is a complication of talar neck fractures associated with chronic pain and poor functional outcomes. The Hawkins sign, the radiographic presence of subchondral lucency seen in the talar dome 6 to 8 weeks after trauma, is a strong predictor of preserved talar vascularity. This study sought to assess the accuracy of the Hawkins sign in a contemporary cohort and assess factors associated with inaccuracy. METHODS: A retrospective review of talar neck fractures at a level-I trauma center from 2008 to 2016 was conducted. Both the Hawkins sign and osteonecrosis were evaluated on radiographs. The Hawkins sign was determined on the basis of radiographs taken approximately 6 to 8 weeks after injury, whereas osteonecrosis was determined based on radiographs taken throughout follow-up. The Hawkins sign accuracy was assessed using proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and associations were examined with Fisher exact testing. RESULTS: In total, 105 talar neck fractures were identified. The Hawkins sign was observed in 21 tali, 3 (14% [95% CI, 3% to 36%]) of which later developed osteonecrosis. In the remaining 84 tali without a Hawkins sign, 32 (38% [95% CI, 28% to 49%]) developed osteonecrosis. Of the 3 tali that developed osteonecrosis following observation of the Hawkins sign, all were in patients who smoked. CONCLUSIONS: A positive Hawkins sign may not be a reliable predictor of preserved talar vascularity in all patients. We identified 3 patients with a positive Hawkins sign who developed osteonecrosis, all of whom were smokers. Factors impairing the restoration of microvascular blood supply to the talus may lead to osteonecrosis despite the presence of preserved macrovascular blood flow and an observed Hawkins sign. Further research is needed to understand the factors limiting Hawkins sign accuracy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Does Scheduled Low-Dose Short-Term NSAID (Ketorolac) Modulate Cytokine Levels After Orthopaedic Polytrauma? A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether scheduled low-dose, short-term ketorolac modulates cytokine concentrations in orthopaedic polytrauma patients. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Single Level I trauma center from August 2018 to October 2022. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Orthopaedic polytrauma patients between 18 and 75 years with a New Injury Severity Score greater than 9 were enrolled. Participants were randomized to receive 15 mg of intravenous ketorolac every 6 hours for up to 5 inpatient days or 2 mL of intravenous saline similarly. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS: Daily concentrations of prostaglandin E2 and interleukin (IL)-1a, IL-1b, IL-6, and IL-10. Clinical outcomes included hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, pulmonary complications, and acute kidney injury. RESULTS: Seventy orthopaedic polytrauma patients were enrolled, with 35 participants randomized to the ketorolac group and 35 to the placebo group. The overall IL-10 trend over time was significantly different in the ketorolac group ( P = 0.043). IL-6 was 65.8% higher at enrollment compared to day 3 ( P < 0.001) when aggregated over both groups. There was no significant treatment effect for prostaglandin E2, IL-1a, or IL-1b ( P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between groups ( P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Scheduled low-dose, short-term, intravenous ketorolac was associated with significantly different mean trends in IL-10 concentration in orthopaedic polytrauma patients with no significant differences in prostaglandin E2, IL-1a, IL-1b, or IL-6 levels between groups. The treatment did not have an impact on clinical outcomes of hospital or intensive care unit length of stay, pulmonary complications, or acute kidney injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Nonoperative Treatment of Humeral Shaft Fractures With Immediate Functional Bracing Versus Coaptation Splinting and Delayed Functional Bracing: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare radiographic and clinical outcomes in nonoperative management of humeral shaft fractures treated initially with coaptation splinting (CS) followed by delayed functional bracing (FB) versus treatment with immediate FB. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic Level 1 Trauma Center. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Patients with closed humeral shaft fractures managed nonoperatively with initial CS followed by delayed FB or with immediate FB from 2016 to 2022. Patients younger than 18 years and/or with less than 3 months of follow-up were excluded. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS: The primary outcome was coronal and sagittal radiographic alignment assessed at the final follow-up. Secondary outcomes included rate of failure of nonoperative management (defined as surgical conversion and/or fracture nonunion), fracture union, and skin complications secondary to splint/brace wear. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were managed nonoperatively with delayed FB (n = 58) or immediate FB (n = 39). Overall, the mean age was 49.9 years (range 18-94 years), and 64 (66%) patients were female. The immediate FB group had less smokers ( P = 0.003) and lower incidence of radial nerve palsy ( P = 0.025), with more proximal third humeral shaft fractures ( P = 0.001). There were no other significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics ( P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in coronal ( P = 0.144) or sagittal ( P = 0.763) radiographic alignment between the groups. In total, 33 (34.0%) humeral shaft fractures failed nonoperative management, with 11 (28.2%) in the immediate FB group and 22 (37.9%) in the delayed FB group ( P = 0.322). There were no significant differences in fracture union ( P = 0.074) or skin complications ( P = 0.259) between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that nonoperative treatment of humeral shaft fractures with immediate functional bracing did not result in significantly different radiographic or clinical outcomes compared to treatment with CS followed by delayed functional bracing. Future prospective studies assessing patient-reported outcomes will further guide clinical decision making. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Talar Neck Fractures With Associated Ipsilateral Foot and Ankle Fractures Have a Higher Risk of Avascular Necrosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if talar neck fractures with concomitant ipsilateral foot and/or ankle fractures (TNIFAFs) are associated with higher rates of avascular necrosis (AVN) compared with isolated talar neck fractures (ITNs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Single level I trauma center. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Skeletally mature patients who sustained talar neck fractures from January 2008 to January 2017 with at least 6-month follow-up. Based on radiographs at the time of injury, fractures were classified as ITN or TNIFAF and by Hawkins classification. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS: The primary outcome was the development of AVN based on follow-up radiographs, with secondary outcomes including nonunion and collapse. RESULTS: There were 115 patients who sustained talar neck fractures, with 63 (55%) in the ITN group and 52 (45%) in the TNIFAF group. In total, 63 patients (54.7%) were female with the mean age of 39 years (range, 17-85), and 111 fractures (96.5%) occurred secondary to high-energy mechanisms of injury. There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics between groups ( P > 0.05). Twenty-four patients (46%) developed AVN in the TNIFAF group compared with 19 patients (30%) in the ITN group ( P = 0.078). After adjusting for Hawkins classification and other variables, the odds of developing AVN was higher in the TNIFAF group compared with the ITN group [odds ratio, 2.43 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.84); ( P = 0.047)]. CONCLUSIONS: This study found a significantly higher likelihood of AVN in patients with talar neck fractures with concomitant ipsilateral foot and/or ankle fractures compared to those with isolated talar neck fractures after adjusting for Hawkins classification and other potential prognostic confounders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Retrograde intramedullary nailing of the femur: identifying the true anatomic axis for the ideal start point.

PURPOSE: Retrograde femoral intramedullary nailing (IMN) is commonly used to treat distal femur fractures. There is variability in the literature regarding the ideal starting point for retrograde femoral IMN in the coronal plane. The objective of this study was to identify the ideal starting point, based on radiographs, relative to the intercondylar notch in the placement of a retrograde femoral IMN. METHODS: A consecutive series of 48 patients with anteroposterior long-leg radiographs prior to elective knee arthroplasty from 2017 to 2021 were used to determine the femoral anatomic axis. The anatomic center of the isthmus was identified and marked. Another point 3 cm distal from the isthmus was marked in the center of the femoral canal. A line was drawn connecting the points and extended longitudinally through the distal femur. The distance from the center of the intercondylar notch to the point where the anatomic axis of the femur intersected the distal femur was measured. RESULTS: On radiographic review, the distance from the intercondylar notch to where the femoral anatomic axis intersects the distal femur was normally distributed with an average distance of 4.1 mm (SD, 1.7 mm) medial to the intercondylar notch. CONCLUSION: The ideal start point, based on radiographs, for retrograde femoral intramedullary nailing is approximately 4.1 mm medial to the intercondylar notch. Medialization of the starting point for retrograde intramedullary nailing in the coronal plane aligns with the anatomic axis. These results support the integration of templating into preoperative planning prior to retrograde IMN of the femur, with the knowledge that, on average, the ideal start point will be slightly medial. Further investigation via anatomic studies is required to determine whether a medial start point is safe and efficacious in patients with distal femur fractures treated with retrograde IMNs.

Low-Dose Short-Term Scheduled Ketorolac Reduces Opioid Use and Pain in Orthopaedic Polytrauma Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether scheduled low-dose, short-term ketorolac is associated with reduced length of stay, opioid use, and pain in orthopaedic polytrauma patients. DESIGN: Double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: One Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS: From August 2018 to October 2022, 70 orthopaedic polytrauma patients between 18-75 years-old with a New Injury Severity Score (NISS) > 9 were randomized. 70 participants were enrolled, with 35 randomized to the ketorolac group and 35 to the placebo group. INTERVENTION: 15 mg of intravenous (IV) ketorolac every 6 hours for up to 5 inpatient days or 2 mL of IV saline in a similar fashion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Length of Stay (LOS), Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Complications. RESULTS: Study groups were not significantly different with respect to age, BMI, and NISS (p>0.05). Median LOS was 8 days (interquartile range [IQR], 4.5 to 11.5) in the ketorolac group compared to 7 days (IQR, 3 to 10) in the placebo group (p = 0.275). Over the 5-day treatment period, the ketorolac group experienced a 32% reduction in average MME (p = 0.013) and a 12-point reduction in baseline-adjusted mean VAS (p = 0.037) compared to the placebo group. There were no apparent short-term adverse effects in either group. CONCLUSION: Scheduled low-dose, short-term IV ketorolac was associated with significantly reduced inpatient opioid use and pain in orthopaedic polytrauma patients with no significant difference in LOS and no apparent short-term adverse effects. The results support the use of scheduled low-dose, short-term IV ketorolac for acute pain control among orthopaedic polytrauma patients. Further studies are needed to delineate lasting clinical effects and potential long-term effects, such as fracture healing. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Functional Outcomes of Primary Arthrodesis (PA) Versus Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) in the Treatment of Lisfranc Injuries.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether primary arthrodesis (PA) or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) results in better functional outcomes through patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Reoperation rates and surgical characteristics among the 2 groups are evaluated as well. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS: Eighty-one patients treated using PA or ORIF for Lisfranc injuries between January 2010 and January 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: PROMs were collected using the validated Foot and Ankle Ability Measure questionnaire. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 10 years posttreatment. RESULTS: Two hundred patients underwent ORIF, and 72 patients underwent PA. Eighty-one of 272 patients responded to the questionnaire. The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure revealed activities of daily living subscores for PA and ORIF of 69.78 ± 18.61 and 73.53 ± 25.60, respectively ( P = 0.48). The Sports subscores for PA (45.81 ± 24.65) and ORIF (56.54 ± 31.13) were not significantly different ( P = 0.11). Perceived levels of activities of daily living ( P = 0.32) and Sports ( P = 0.81) function, compared with preinjury levels, were also not significantly different between the 2 groups. Rates of reoperation were nearly identical for PA (28.1%) and ORIF (30.6%) ( P = 1.00). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that neither PA nor ORIF is superior regarding functional outcomes or rates of reoperation in the surgical treatment of Lisfranc injuries when appropriately triaged by the treating surgeon. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Masquelet Technique for the Tibia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Contemporary Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review outcomes of the Masquelet "induced membrane" technique (MT) in treatment of tibial segmental bone loss and to assess the impact of defect size on union rate when using this procedure. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane, and SCOPUS were searched for English language studies from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2019. STUDY SELECTION: Studies describing the MT procedure performed in tibiae of 5 or more adult patients were included. Pseudo-arthrosis, nonhuman, pediatric, technique, nontibial bone defect, and non-English studies were excluded, along with studies with less than 5 patients. Selection adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 30 studies with 643 tibiae were included in this meta-analysis. Two reviewers systematically screened titles or abstracts, followed by full texts, to ensure quality, accuracy, and consensus among authors for inclusion or exclusion criteria of the studies. In case of disagreement, articles were read in full to assess their eligibility by the senior author. Study quality was assessed using previously reported criteria. DATA SYNTHESIS: Meta-analysis was performed with random-effects models and meta-regression. A meta-analytic estimate of union rate independent of defect size when using the MT in the tibia was 84% (95% CI, 79%-88%). There was no statistically significant association between defect size and union rate ( P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: The MT is an effective method for the treatment of segmental bone loss in the tibia and can be successful even for large defects. Future work is needed to better understand the patient-specific factors most strongly associated with MT success and complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Whole genome sequencing identifies an allele responsible for clear vs. turbid plaque morphology in a Mycobacteriophage.

BACKGROUND: Whole genome sequencing promises to revolutionize our ability to link genotypic and phenotypic variation in a wide range of model and non-model species. RESULTS: Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a novel mycobacteriophage named BGlluviae that grows on Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155. BGlluviae normally produces turbid plaques but a spontaneous clear plaque was also recovered. The genomic DNA from pure populations of the BGlluviae phage and the clear plaque mutant were sequenced. A single substitution, at amino acid 54 (I to T), in the immunity repressor protein resulted in a clear plaque phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: This substitution is predicted to be located at the subunit interaction interface of the repressor protein, and thus prevents the establishment of lysogeny.