Internal fixation of intra-capsular proximal femoral fractures in patients older than 80 years: Still relevant? Multivariate analysis of a prospective multicentre cohort.

BACKGROUND: Arthroplasty is now widely used to treat intra-capsular proximal femoral fractures (PFFs) in older patients, even when there is little or no displacement. However, whether arthroplasty is associated with lower mortality and complication rates in non-displaced or mildly displaced PFFs is unknown. The objectives of this prospective study were: (1) to evaluate early mortality rates with the two treatment methods, (2) to identify risk factors for complications, (3) and to identify predictors of functional decline. HYPOTHESIS: Arthroplasty and internal fixation produce similar outcomes in non-displaced fractures of patients older than 80 years with PFFs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multicentre prospective study included consecutive patients older than 80 years who were managed for intra-capsular PFFs at eight centres in 2014. Biometric data and geriatric assessment scores (Parker Mobility Score, Katz Index of Independence, and Mini-Nutritional Assessment [MNA] score) were collected before and 6 months after surgery. Independent risk factors were sought by multivariate analysis. We included 418 females and 124 males with a mean age of 87±4years. The distribution of Garden stages was stage I, n=56; stage II, n=33; stage III, n=130; and stage IV, n=323. Arthroplasty was performed in 494 patients and internal fixation in 48 patients with non-displaced intra-capsular PFFs. RESULTS: Mortality after 6 months was 16.4% overall, with no significant difference between the two groups. By multivariate analysis, two factors were significantly associated with higher mortality, namely, male gender (odds ratio [OR], 3.24; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.0-5.84; P<0.0001) and high ASA score (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.07-2.26; P=0.019). Two factors were independently associated with lower mortality, with 75% predictive value, namely, high haematocrit (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.7-0.9; P=0.001) and better Parker score (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8; P=0.01). The cut-off values associated with a significant risk increase were 2 for the Parker score (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3; P=0.001) and 37% for the haematocrit (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.9-5.5; P=0.02). Complications occurred in 5.5% of patients. Surgical site infections were seen in 1.4% of patients, all of whom had had arthroplasty. Blood loss was significantly greater with arthroplasty (311±197mL versus 201±165mL, P<0.0002). Dependency worsened in 39% of patients, and 31% of patients lost self-sufficiency. A higher preoperative Parker score was associated with a lower risk of high postoperative dependency (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.97; P=0.014). DISCUSSION: Neither treatment method was associated with decreased mortality or better function after intra-capsular PFFs in patients older than 80 years. Early mortality rates were consistent with previous reports. Among the risk factors identified in this study, age, preoperative self-sufficiency, and gender are not amenable to modification, in contrast to haematocrit and blood loss. CONCLUSION: Internal fixation remains warranted in patients older than 80 years with non-displaced intra-capsular PFFs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, prospective case-control study.

Proximal ulnar fractures in adults: a review of 163 cases.

The aim of this study was to report the epidemiological characteristics and the experience of 5 departments of trauma, in France, in the management of fractures of the proximal ulna. 163 patients with fractures of the proximal ulna with a mean age of 49.9 years (range 16-97) were managed. The most common mode of injury was a motor vehicle collision (48%). 18% sustained associated injuries to the ipsilateral limb. Open fractures were present in 42 patients (25%). A total of 109 patients had a fracture of the olecranon, with the Mayo 2A and B types most frequently seen (66%). The patients were invited for clinical examination at a mean duration of 16 months, retrospectively. Validated patient-oriented assessment scores involving the Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) and the Broberg and Morrey score were evaluated. All patients had follow-up radiographs. The mean arc of elbow motion was 130° (70-150°). The mean MEPI was 91 (20-100) with good results in 23% and excellent results in 52% of the patients. The mean Broberg and Morrey score was 90 after isolated olecranon fracture, and decreased with the complexity of the lesion. 117 fractures (72%) healed with ulnohumeral congruity. 9 fracture non-unions occurred (6%). Although the fracture of the proximal ulna can be described in several classifications, none of them accommodate it satisfactorily, because of the complexity of the lesion. The coronoid process is the keystone for the stability of the elbow. It forms the anterior buttress with the radial head. Tension band wire fixation is by far the commonest technique of internal fixation used for the treatment of non-comminuted olecranon fractures. Dorsal plate fixation is a useful option by providing improved fixation of complex comminuted fractures and fracture-dislocations. The radiocapitellar joint has to be restored appropriately, preserving the radial head when possible and replacing it with a prosthesis otherwise. The lateral collateral ligament complex is commonly disrupted and usually can be reattached to its origin from the lateral epicondyle. In addition, a brief period of hinged external fixation should be considered.

Early surgical site infection in adult appendicular skeleton trauma surgery: a multicenter prospective series.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infections (SSI) studies rely on an imprecise and debatable definition. The term "wound healing problems" (WHP), not necessarily septic, is also frequently cited. This study had the objectives of determining the frequency of early SSIs in traumatology, these terms eventual correlation, and the factors influencing onset. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted in 12 centers. The exclusion criteria were open lesions as well as multiple injuries and multiple fractures (more than two fractures treated surgically). All patients were followed for the first three postoperative months until there was clinical certainty of healing and absence of infection. The presence of any WHP or SSI required a minimum follow-up of 1 year. WHP and SSI risk factors were determined using logistical regression adjusted on the centers. RESULTS: Out of 1617 cases, 103 were complicated by a WHP and 22 by a SSI. The SSIs were mainly secondary to Staphylococcus infections. The factors predisposing the patients to WHP and SSI (p≤0.05) were age; the NNIS, ASA, and Parker scores; alcoholism; antiaggregant use; and the locoregional aspect at the time of injury. The 522 subcutaneous osteosyntheses "near the skin" resulted in 58 WHPs (11%) and 14 SSIs (2.7%); 13 of the 58 WHPs (22%) resulted in one SSI. Out of 707 deep osteosyntheses, 24 (3.4%) presented a WHP and seven (1%) a SSI; Four SSIs originated from a WHP. The 352 fractures of the trochanter were complicated by a WHP in 15 cases (5.5%) and a SSI in one case (0.4%) after interlocked nailing and two WHPs and two SSIs (2.5%) after screw and plate fixation. Of the 388 first-line arthroplasties, only the prostheses implanted for a proximal femur fracture presented complications: 21 WHPs (6%) and one SSI (0.02%). Of the 103 WHPs of the entire series, 18 became SSIs. In absence of WHP, the SSI rate was 0.2%, whereas the probability of a WHP evolving toward a SSI was 100 times higher. The only factor significantly associated with a WHP becoming a SSI was osteosynthesis material exposure. DISCUSSION: This prospective study can be criticized on several points: the deliberately limited inclusion criteria, the short follow-up, and the possible subjectivity of the data collection. The SSI rates reported are for the most part in agreement with the literature. This study is innovative in traumatology given the large number of patients and the notion of WHP that was preferred over superficial infection. It demonstrates the relations between WHP and SSI, in particular for osteosyntheses near the skin. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Is femoral head fracture-dislocation management improvable: A retrospective study in 110 cases.

INTRODUCTION: There is no established consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic fracture-dislocation of the femoral head --largely due to the rarity of this injury. HYPOTHESIS: Analysis of a large series of fracture-dislocations of the femoral head using a single coherent classification should enable the means of diagnosis and treatment of fracture-dislocations of the femoral head to be specified. OBJECTIVES: The hypothesis was tested by analyzing a retrospective series of 110 patients charts admitted between 1972 and 2008, using Pipkin's classification and an alternative new one, Chiron's classification. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The series comprised 21 women and 89 men; mean age: 37.1 years. Dislocation was posterior in 102 cases and anterior in eight. Associated lesions comprised 46 fractures of the acetabulum and four of the femoral neck. Classification following Pipkin and Chiron was based on double reading of radiology documents from 102 patients. Treatment was exclusively conservative in 32 cases, and surgical in 78, with 51 posterior, 19 anterior and four medial approaches and four arthroscopic procedures. Surgery comprised osteosynthesis of the femoral head in 30 cases and of the acetabulum in 16, removal of fragments in 40 cases and total hip replacement (THR) in five cases as a primary treatment. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 37 months. THR was performed in 25 cases: five as a primary treatment and 20 secondarily, 15 of which were performed within the first 6 months. Significant predictive factors for THR were: old age, Chiron grade 3, and femoral neck fracture. The THR and non-THR groups differed on the Chiron but not on the Pipkin classification at the time of the injury. Specific treatments were not predictive of evolution. Fragment removal was more often by a posterior than an anterior or medial approach. CONCLUSION: The Chiron classification showed prognostic value for evolution to THR; to be reproducible, it needs to be based on CT data. No particular mode of treatment emerged as preferable. Better initial lesion analysis should enable prognosis and target indications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV Retrospective study.

A newly designed locked intramedullary nail for trochanteric hip fractures fixation: results of the first 100 Trochanteric implantations.

INTRODUCTION: Internal fixation continues to be the surgical treatment of choice for trochanteric region hip fractures. Intramedullary nailing is the updated version of the Küntscher Y nail and provides stable osteosynthesis of trochanteric hip fractures, classically achieved by closed reduction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report on our experience (which started in 2003), using a new fixation device featuring a metaphyseal antegrade nail locked with two cephalic screws and comprising a diaphyseal distal locking. Between April 2003 and September 2006, the first 100 patients who sustained an extracapsular intertrochanteric hip fracture and indicated for internal fixation were prospectively enrolled in this single-center study. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients (mean age 80.3) were reviewed at 6 months (nine had died, three had failure and two were lost to follow-up) and reported a satisfactory functional outcome (mean Merle d'Aubigné score was 16 and mean Harris Hip score was 90). Union was achieved within a mean delay of 3 months (median 102 days 1/2) in a good anatomical position (mean medialization was 1.86 - ranging from -16 to 0mm, and mean shortening was 1.72 mm - ranging from 0 to 24 mm). Functional recovery was satisfactory with a mean Parker score of 7.52. Total operating time was shortened and good fracture stabilization allowed early weight bearing. DISCUSSION: Classically, such intertrochanteric fractures can be managed either with a dynamic screw-plate type fixation or with an intramedullary nailing device locked through a single cephalic screw and finally, in rare cases, with a hip arthroplasty supplemented with some sort of fixation. Most published clinical studies of screw-plate fixations have generally reported satisfactory results except for unstable fractures associated with a calcar area lesion. Screw-nail fixations featuring a single cephalic screw should be used in these latter fracture patterns. We believe this new implant design will significantly enhance the anatomical result and functional outcome of these fractures; all this is expected to bring about an earlier recovery of patient's walking ability. CONCLUSION: This original intramedullary nailing system provides reliable internal fixation means for intertrochanteric fractures since it combines the advantage of a closed reduction procedure with a more stable biomechanical construct.

[Dislocation of the knee with isolated posterior cruciate ligament rupture]. / Luxation du genou avec rupture isolée du ligament croisé postérieur.

We report a case of posterior femorotibial dislocation with an isolated lesion of the posterior cruciate ligament. Outcome was favorable after reduction and conservative treatment for six weeks and was satisfactory at six months follow-up. Acceptable functional results can be obtained after non-operative treatment of this very severe knee injury.

[Tibia vara in adolescents. Apropos of 19 cases]. / Le tibia vara de l'adolescent. A propos de 19 cas.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Clinical, and radiological aspects and treatment of adolescent tibia have been studied in a review of 19 children native of the Caribbean. MATERIAL: 23 cases of adolescent tibia vara in 19 children have been collected (14 males and 5 females, aged from 9 to 14). METHODS: Clinical aspects (weight, lower limb axis), radiological signs (aspect of the physis, mechanical axis, epiphyseal slope) were studied pre and post-operatively. RESULTS: All the boys presented an important overweight. Pain was the first symptom, characterized by a progressive varus deformity on a leg which was previously straight. Radiological findings consisted in metaphyseal varus and widening of the medial part of the physis. Mechanical femoro-tibial axis varied from 10 degrees to 55 degrees varus, medial epiphyseal slope from 12 degrees to 30 degrees. Average mechanical femoral angle was 92 degrees and accounted for a mean femoral varus deformity of 4 degrees. 23 knees were operated, 4 after fusion of the whole physis. 10 lateral hemi-epiphysiodesis were performed with a mean correction of 4 degrees every year until fusion. In 3 cases a tibial osteotomy was made in a second time, at the end of growth. In 6 cases of late treated patients, an isolated tibial osteotomy of valgisation was performed. In 7 cases of important deformity before closure of the physis, tibial osteotomy was associated with lateral epiphysiodesis. In one case, a lateral closing wedge osteotomy was performed, associated to an elevation of the medial tibial plateau and a lateral hemi-epiphysiodesis. DISCUSSION: Histopathological examination of the physis showed similarities between adolescent tibia vara, infantile tibia vara and Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: the entire physeal plate was involved. Concerning pathogenesis of adolescent tibia vara, mechanical factors are predominant, with abnormal pressures across the medial part of the physis. CONCLUSION: Adolescent tibia vara occur in obese black children and can be considered as an epiphysiolysis of the upper end of the tibia.

[Isolated radiocarpal luxation. A case report and general review of the literature]. / La luxation radio-carpienne pure. A propos d'un cas et revue générale de la littérature.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: We describe a case of an isolated radiocarpal dislocation and review the literature. CASE REPORT: A young 29-year-old male, suffering from a wrist injury after a motor cycle accident, was diagnosed as dorsal radiocarpal joint dislocation with distal radioulnar dislocation and no fracture, close reduction was immediately performed followed by plaster cast immobilisation. After five months satisfactory stability and motion were obtained without signs of carpal instability. DISCUSSION: This pathology is exceptional with less than 15 published cases. Dislocation is due to wrist hyperextension with ulnar motion but without, probably, intracarpal supination. After immediate treatment, this lesion appeared to have a good prognosis without post-traumatic carpal instability, when compared to the poorer result of perilunar dislocation.

[Troublesome radiologic changes after reconstructive fixation of the anterior cruciate ligament with resorbable interference screws]. / Evolution radiologique inquiétante après fixation des plasties de ligament croisé antérieur par vis d'interférence résorbables.

The authors report worrisome radiological changes which were noted after implantation of absorbable interference screws in ligamentoplasty at the knee joint. Seventeen screws were implanted between September 1995 and July 1996, in eleven patients (average age 27) who were operated upon for chronic anterior knee instability. They underwent a modified Kenneth Jones procedure using autografts with absorbable interference screws (Acufex in 2 cases and Bio-interférix in 9 cases). Significant enlargement of bone tunnels and bony sclerosis of their edges were noted in every patient, but without any modification in the positioning of the graft. No clinical instability was observed in any of the patients, with one to two years follow-up. Publications on this topic are scarce except for one author who reported enlargement of bone tunnels after using bone-patellar tendon-bone allografts. Resorption of absorbable screws probably induces a marked inflammatory reaction, with radiological changes reminiscent of those sometimes observed after tendon allografts. Although the radiological changes reported here may not affect the graft fixation, the authors have reverted to using metallic interference screws.

[Cup dissociation after reduction of a dislocated hip hemiarthroplasty]. / Dissociation de la cupule au cours de la réduction d'une luxation de prothèse de hanche intermédiaire.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Close reduction of a bipolar hemiarthroplasty dislocation may induce dissociation between the cup and the prosthetic ball head. This rare complication leads to reoperation. CASE REPORT: Two women 84 and 85 years' old suffering from femoral head fracture were treated by bipolar hemiarthroplasty through a postero-lateral approach. After the first post-operative month, a posterior dislocation has occurred. Close reduction, without anesthesia dislocated the intraprosthetic joint. DISCUSSION: Dislocation rate is lower for bipolar hemiarthroplasty than for total hip arthroplasty. Reason for these two dislocation was supposed to be a "bottle-opener" effect's by locking the cup on to the posterior acetabular rim. Limb traction is responsible for intra-prosthetic iatrogenic dislocation. CONCLUSION: Anesthesia should be considered as necessary for prosthesis bipolar hemiarthroplasties dislocation treatment. The authors have moved to a different implant and modified their surgical approach (antero lateral). These modifications were introduced in order to reduce the rate of hip dislocation and above all the event of intraprosthetic dislocation when close reduction was necessary.