Squat and smile assessment in predicting healing of lower limb fractures fixed with a SIGN nail.

BACKGROUND: Irrespective of the treatment method, union is the ultimate goal of any fracture treatment. However, nowadays, rather than the physician-based clinico-radiological methods, the patient-reported outcome measurements assessing their quality of life and function are gaining much popularity. This is specifically true in the part of the world where the patient needs almost complete degree of hip/knee flexion - for social, cultural, religious or occupational reason(s). The ability to squat can assess the mobility and stability of joints and thus the quality of squatting is a proxy reflection of the functional outcome after fixation of lower limb fracture. Thus, we studied to determine the inter-observer and intra-observer reliability of Radiographic Union Score for Tibia (RUST) and Squat and Smile (S & S) test in clinical photograph. We further calculated the sensitivity and specificity of S & S test in predicting healing of lower limb fracture fixed by intramedullary interlocking nail considering RUST as the gold standard. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of prospectively collected data of solid Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary interlocking nailing from a single, university-based, high volume tertiary center where 56 consecutive adults with either tibial or femoral shaft fractures fixed with a SIGN nail within one year and not requiring any surgery till minimum of eighteen-month follow-up were included. Cases without either Anterior-Posterior (AP) view and/or Lateral (Lat.) view follow-up x-ray(s) or proper S & S clinical photograph (at least 1.5-year post fixation) were excluded. The x-rays (RUST criteria) and clinical photograph (S & S grading) were scored by two independent and blinded observers each and repeated after 1 month. RESULTS: The overall intra-observer reliability was from 0.773 to 0.825 and inter-observer reliability from 0.635 to 0.757 for RUST scoring which was from 0.687 to 0.785 and from 0.301 to 0.650 respectively for S & S scoring. The sensitivity and specificity of S & S in predicting fracture healing were up to 82.22% and 63.64% respectively. CONCLUSION: The S & S test is reliable to predict the healing of lower limb fracture fixed with an intramedullary nail. The test is more useful to determine healed fractures than to determine non-healed ones. (sensitivity being higher than specificity).

Comparison of Functional and Radiological Outcomes of Olecranon Fractures Treated with Tension Band Wiring with Kirschner Wires to Transcortical Screw Fixation-A Randomised Controlled Study.

AIM: To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of fixation of olecranon fractures by a transcortical screw with conventional tension band wiring (TBW) using a Kirschner wire (K-wire). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a non-blinded randomised controlled trial comprising two groups (n = 30 each) with Mayo type A olecranon fractures fixed with either TBW or transcortical cancellous screws (CCS). Outcomes included the Mayo elbow performance index (MEPI), time to union, range of motion (ROM), and rates of complication among these two groups. RESULTS: Most of the patients showed excellent scoring as per MEPI in both the groups at 6 weeks (90% in TBW group and 76.7% in CCS group) and were not significant (p = 0.719). Signs of the radiological union were noted in 80% of the cases at 6 weeks and complete at 6 months. Hardware-related complications (8.3% symptomatic hardware and 6.7% implant back-out), infection, and mean ROM were similar between the two groups (elbow flexion was 142.33 ± 24.67° in TBW group and 143.1 ± 10.19° in transcortical screw group, p = 0.246) at the end of the study. CONCLUSION: There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical-radiological outcomes and complications fixing the non-comminuted olecranon fractures with either transcortical screw or TBW. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Transcortical screw fixation is an acceptable alternative to TBW for non-comminuted olecranon fractures in terms of union and functional outcome. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Sinha S, Maharjan R, Khanal GP, et al. Comparison of Functional and Radiological Outcomes of Olecranon Fractures Treated with Tension Band Wiring with Kirschner Wires to Transcortical Screw Fixation-A Randomised Controlled Study. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr 2020;15(3):131-137.

Irreducible anterior dislocation of the elbow without associated fracture.

Anterior dislocation of the elbow joint is a rare entity and is usually associated with injuries to surrounding bony and soft tissues. Simple dislocation of the joint is managed conservatively. An eight years old girl had traumatic anterior dislocation of the elbow joint with intact distal neurovascular status. X-rays showed no associated bony injury. Close reductions failed. Per operative findings showed no intra-articular fracture and the radial head was button holed into the anterior joint capsule. Reduction was achieved openly and maintained in a posterior slab for four weeks. Active and assisted mobilization started after removal of the slab. At ten month follow-up there was almost full range of movement of the joint.