The Translated Proximal Humerus Fracture: A Comparison of Operative and Nonoperative Management.

OBJECTIVES: To report on the long-term outcomes of the management of translated proximal humerus fractures. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study was conducted from January 2010 to December 2018. SETTING: Academic Level 1 trauma center. PARTICIPANTS/PATIENTS: A total of 108 patients with a proximal humerus fracture with ≥100% translation, defined as no cortical bony contact between the shaft and humeral head fragments, were included. INTERVENTION: Patients were managed nonoperatively with sling immobilization or with operative management as determined by the treating surgeon. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures were the Oxford Shoulder Score, EQ-5D-5L, return to work, and radiological outcomes. Complications recorded included further surgery, loss of position/fixation, nonunion/malunion, and avascular necrosis. RESULTS: Of the 108 patients, 76 underwent operative intervention and 32 were managed nonoperatively. The mean (SD) age in the operative group was 54.3 (±20.2) years and in the nonoperative group was 73.3 (±15.3) years ( P < 0.001). There was no association between Oxford Shoulder Score and management options (mean 38.5 [±9.5] operative versus mean 41.3 [±8.5] nonoperative, P = 0.48). Operative management was associated with improved health status outcomes; EQ-5D utility score adjusted mean difference was 0.16 (95% CI, 0.04-0.27; P = 0.008); EQ-5D VAS adjusted mean difference was 19.2 (95% CI, 5.2-33.2; P = 0.008). Operative management was associated with a lower odds of nonunion (adjusted OR 0.30; 95% CI, 0.09-0.97; P = 0.04), malunion (adjusted OR 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.51; P = 0.003), and complications (adjusted OR 0.07; 95% CI, 0.02-0.32; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Translated proximal humerus fractures with ≥100% displacement demonstrate improved health status and radiological outcomes after surgical fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Can displaced extra-articular fractures of the scapula be stabilized through a direct lateral-column approach.

BACKGROUND: Displaced extraarticular fractures of the scapula are uncommon, and rarely require operative fixation. When managed operatively, a posterior Judet approach with detachment of the deltoid muscle from the scapular spine and elevation of the infraspinatus from its fossa, is often performed. This approach is invasive and involves extensive soft tissue dissection. This paper describes the utility of single-column fixation with a direct lateral column approach, with mobilisation of the deltoid, and elevation of the interval between the infraspinatus and teres minor. Our aim is to assess the functional and radiological outcomes of this alternative approach. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent operative fixation of their extra-articular scapula fracture (with at least 12 months follow up), using the direct lateral-column approach. Operative indications included patients with an extra articular scapular neck or body fracture, with medial/lateral displacement of ≥20 mm, angulation ≥45°, double disruption of the shoulder suspensory complex, and glenopolar angle (GPA) ≤ 22°. Functional outcomes were assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), pain score & return to work. Radiological assessment was done by 2 independent assessors. RESULTS: Between January 2014 and December 2016, 12 patients (11 males and 1 female) underwent fixation of their scapula fracture using this approach. Eleven patients (91.7%) returned their questionnaire at an average of 15.6 months (12-28 months). All fractures had healed at the time of the final follow-up. The scapular neck angulation was corrected from 38.7° pre-operatively (0-74°) to 3.6° post-operatively (0-20°). The mean post-operative GPA was 35.4° (30.2°-42.0°). None of the patients had superficial or deep infections, or post-operative neurovascular injuries. Two patients underwent elective removal of their clavicle hook plates. The mean SSV was 88.9 (70-100) and mean pain score was 1.5 (0-8). The mean DASH score was 11.4 (0-51.6). Ten patients returned back to their pre-injury work, with an average return to work of 3.3 months (2 weeks-8 months). Only one patient had a poor DASH score. He had associated ipsilateral segmental fracture of the humerus, fracture of the lateral clavicle and brachial plexus injury. CONCLUSIONS: The direct lateral-column approach is an alternative technique for fixation of the extra-articular neck and body scapular fracture. Plating of the lateral column of the scapula through this single approach is associated with correction of scapular angular deformity, no complications and good clinical results at more than 12 months' follow-up.

Primary arthrodesis versus open reduction internal fixation for complete Lisfranc fracture dislocations: a retrospective study comparing functional and radiological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this retrospective study were to compare the functional and radiological outcomes of primary arthrodesis and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for the treatment of complete Lisfranc fracture dislocations. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 39 patients treated for a complete Lisfranc fracture dislocation, defined as Myerson types A and C2, over a period of 8 years at a level 1 trauma centre was performed. Of these, 18 underwent primary arthrodesis, and 21 ORIF. The primary outcome measures included the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, the validated Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire functional tool, and the secondary outcome was the radiological Wilppula classification of anatomical reduction. RESULTS: Significantly better functional outcomes were seen in the primary arthrodesis group. These patients had a mean Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire score of 30.1 points, compared with 45.1 for the ORIF group (P = 0.017). Similarly, the mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score was 71.8 points in the fusion group versus 62.5 in the ORIF group (P = 0.14). Functional outcome was dependent on the quality of final reduction (P < 0.001). Primary arthrodesis achieved good initial reduction in 83% cases compared to 62% with ORIF (P = 0.138). There was a loss of reduction quality of 47% in the ORIF group over time. CONCLUSION: Primary arthrodesis for complete Lisfranc fracture dislocations resulted in improved functional outcomes and quality of reduction compared to open reduction and internal fixation.

Keeping your cool - a simple reusable neck cooler in orthopaedic surgery: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Infection in orthopaedic surgery can be catastrophic. Increased perspiration from theatre staff has been associated with higher rates of wound contamination. Wearing lead safety gowns, which is often done during surgery to allow the use of image intensifier, may result in heavy perspiration. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of wearing a neck cooling device during surgery and whether it reduced surgeons' subjective discomfort and perspiration levels during orthopaedic procedures requiring the use of lead gowns. METHODS: A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted. Surgeons were randomized to either wearing the neck cooling device (intervention) or not wearing the device (control). Procedure duration, theatre temperature, humidity and perceived technical difficulty of operation were recorded. After the procedure, surgeons completed a questionnaire documenting how the temperature and humidity had a negative effect on their comfort and perceived level of perspiration. Multilevel mixed effects linear regression with random effects, adjusting for potential confounders was performed. Alfred Ethics Committee approved the study and the trial was registered (ACTRN12618000976280). RESULTS: A total of 29 cases (44.6%) were randomized to the intervention group and 36 to the control group. Adjusting for operating room temperature and perceived difficulty of surgery, the neck cooler reduced surgeons' level of discomfort by 1.9 points (95% CI 1.1-2.8, P < 0.001), as well improved on their self-reported perspiration by approximately 1.9 points (95% CI 1.0-2.8, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Wearing a neck cooling device during surgery is feasible, reduces perceived levels of perspiration and decreases the negative impact of temperature and humidity on surgeons' comfort levels.

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty vs BIO-RSA: clinical and radiographic outcomes at short term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Bony increased-offset reverse shoulder arthroplasty (BIO-RSA) may address issues such as inferior scapular notching, prosthetic instability and limited postoperative shoulder rotation; all of which have been reported with the standard RSA and attributed to the medialized design. We hypothesised that this lateralization may increase the rate of scapular stress fractures. METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed on patients who had undergone a RSA between January 2013 and October 2016. A comparative cohort study was designed to compare patients with a standard Grammont-style RSA to those with a BIO-RSA using the same implant. Functional outcome was measured by the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Shoulder Score, the Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), the Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder (WOOS) index and pain scores. Radiographs were obtained for all patients and examined for the presence of scapular fracture as well as scapular notching and graft incorporation. RESULTS: A total of forty patients (22 patients in the standard RSA cohort and 18 with BIO-RSA) were included in the study. Patient characteristics (including age, gender, length of follow-up, dominant side and osteoporosis) were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). The average postoperative follow-up was 20 months (range 12-48 months). There was bone graft incorporation in all BIO-RSA patients at the final radiological follow-up, with no evidence of graft resorption. The overall scapular stress fracture rate was 12.5% (9.1% in the standard RSA and 16.7% in the BIO-RSA). The rates were similar in both cohorts (p = 0.64). All fractures were managed conservatively. To determine whether the presence of a scapular stress fracture had an influence on outcomes, the cohort was divided into cases with and without fracture. Patients with a stress fracture had worse ASES (p = 0.028) and WOOS (p = 0.048) scores. Additionally, osteoporosis was present more commonly in the fracture group (80% vs 17%; p = 0.01). A statistically significant difference was identified when comparing the rates of scapular notching between standard RSA and BIO-RSA cohorts (68% vs 33%; p = 0.028). Furthermore, when notching was present, significantly worse outcome scores were present in all outcome measures (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The BIO-RSA technique was associated with an increase in scapular stress fracture rate when compared to the standard RSA; however, this was not found to be significant. Furthermore, both techniques resulted in similar improvements in the measured functional outcomes. BIO-RSA, however, was associated with a lower scapular notching rate, justifying further evaluation of this technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective cohort study, level III.

Bone graft in posterior spine fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUNDS: The aim of this study was to systematically analyse and perform a meta-analysis on the current available literature comparing the fusion rates and complications associated with use of autograft, allograft and bone substitutes to supplement posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). METHODS: The electronic databases including Embase, PubMed, Medline, Cinahl and Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant studies. A total of 12 studies with 2389 patients were included for meta-analysis. The primary outcome was fusion rate, while the secondary outcomes included blood loss, operation time, infection rates and post-operative pain. RESULTS: The current meta-analysis found no difference in fusion rates between groups with an overall fusion rate of 100% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99-1.00; P < 0.05). Total estimated blood loss was significantly higher in the iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) group compared with control group (1018 versus 861 mL; P < 0.01). In addition, the mean operative time was significantly higher in the ICBG group (259 versus 237 min; P < 0.001). The ICBG group also had increased post-operative pain issues compared with the control group (26 versus 9%; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in terms of post-operative wound infection between groups with an overall infection rate of 1% (95% CI 0.0-0.02; P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: ICBG confers no advantage over the other graft options in achieving fusion in AIS surgery. Furthermore, crest harvesting was associated with significant increases in blood loss, operative time and post-operative pain issues. Therefore, allograft and bone substitutes are attractive alternatives to autogenous grafting during posterior fusion in AIS.