Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing External Fixation to Intramedullary Nailing in the Treatment of Open Tibial Fractures.

Background: The purpose of this study was to collect all available randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the treatment of open tibial fractures with an external fixator (EF) and intramedullary nailing (IMN) for meta-analysis to provide reliable evidence-based data for clinical decision-making. Material and methods: The systematic review was undertaken in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and AMSTAR (Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Review). An electronic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was performed until 1 March 2023 to identify RCTs which compared either IMN or EF to fix the open tibial fracture. Outcome measures were: postoperative superficial and deep infection, time to union, delayed union, malunion, nonunion and hardware failure. In addition, pain and health-related quality of life were evaluated after 3 and 12 months of follow-up. Results: Sixteen publications comprising 1011 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results suggested that the IMN technique had a lower postoperative superficial infection and malunion rate (RR = 3.56, 95%CI = 2.56-4.95 and RR = 1.96, 95%CI = 1.12-3.44, respectively), but higher hardware failure occurrence in contrast to EF (RR = 0.30; 95%CI = 0.13-0.69). No significant differences were found in the union time, delayed union or nonunion rate, and postoperative deep infection rate between the treatments. Lower levels of pain were found in the EF group (RR = 0.05, 95%CI = 0.02-0.17, p < 0.001). A difference in quality of life favoring IMN after 3 months was found (RR = -0.04, 95%CI = -0.05-0.03, p < 0.001), however, no statistical difference was found after 12 months (RR = 0.03, 95%CI = -0.05-0.11, p = 0.44). Conclusions: Meta-analysis presented reduced incidence rates of superficial infection, malunion, and health-related quality of life 3 months after treatment in IMN. However, EF led to a significant reduction in pain and incidence rate of hardware failure. Postoperative deep infection, delayed union, nonunion and health-related quality of life 12 months following therapy were similar between groups. More high-quality RCTs should be conducted to provide reliable evidence-based data for clinical decision-making.

Higher rate of progesterone receptor positivity in skeletal metastases of breast cancer with a pathological fracture vs those without fracture.

Identifying risk factors for fracture occurrence in breast cancer (BC) skeletal metastases (SM) may guide the management of such bone deposits. There is sparse evidence regarding receptor status in SM and their relationship to fracture occurrence. Our study aimed to determine the relationship between estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and HER2 receptor status and Ki-67 index and fracture occurrence in SM of BC. Exactly 152 samples of SM of BC obtained from individual patients were evaluated. The status of the aforementioned receptors and Ki67 index were determined in SMs samples. Their expression was compared between SM that did and did not develop a fracture. Ninety-one cases sustained a pathological fracture at the SM site, and 61 did not. Patients who sustained a pathological fracture had a higher rate of PR positivity at their SMs as compared to those with no fracture. There was no significant difference between the two groups concerning ER, HER2+ or Ki67 status. SMs secondary to BC with a fracture are more likely to be PR positive than those with no fracture. Determining the receptor status in SMs may identify high-risk groups for fracture occurrence, and determining the PR status may also guide surgical and hormonal therapy.

Directionally Sensitive Fractal Radiomics Compatible With Irregularly Shaped Magnetic Resonance Tumor Regions of Interest: Association With Osteosarcoma Chemoresistance.

BACKGROUND: Computational analysis of routinely acquired MRI has potential to improve the tumor chemoresistance prediction and to provide decision support in precision medicine, which may extend patient survival. Most radiomic analytical methods are compatible only with rectangular regions of interest (ROIs) and irregular tumor shape is therefore an important limitation. Furthermore, the currently used analytical methods are not directionally sensitive. PURPOSE: To implement a tumor analysis that is directionally sensitive and compatible with irregularly shaped ROIs. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. SUBJECTS: A total of 54 patients with histopathologic diagnosis of primary osteosarcoma on tubular long bones and with prechemotherapy MRI. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A 1.5 T, T2-weighted-short-tau-inversion-recovery-fast-spin-echo. ASSESSMENT: A model to explore associations with osteosarcoma chemo-responsiveness included MRI data obtained before OsteoSa MAP neoadjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy. Osteosarcoma morphology was analyzed in the MRI data by calculation of the nondirectional two-dimensional (2D) and directional and nondirectional one-dimensional (1D) Higuchi dimensions (Dh). MAP chemotherapy response was assessed by histopathological necrosis. STATISTICAL TESTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) evaluated the association of the calculated features with the actual chemoresponsiveness, using tumor histopathological necrosis (95%) as the endpoint. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) machine learning and multivariable regression were used for feature selection. Significance was set at <0.05. RESULTS: The nondirectional 1D Dh reached an AUC of 0.88 in association with the 95% tumor necrosis, while the directional 1D analysis along 180 radial lines significantly improved this association according to the Hanley/McNeil test, reaching an AUC of 0.95. The model defined by variable selection using LASSO reached an AUC of 0.98. The directional analysis showed an optimal predictive range between 90° and 97° and revealed structural osteosarcoma anisotropy manifested by its directionally dependent textural properties. DATA CONCLUSION: Directionally sensitive radiomics had superior predictive performance in comparison to the standard nondirectional image analysis algorithms with AUCs reaching 0.95 and full compatibility with irregularly shaped ROIs. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.

The results of surgical treatment for pronation deformities of the forearm in cerebral palsy after a mean follow-up of 17.5 years.

AIM: This study evaluates the effects of three surgical procedures in the treatment of pronation deformities of the forearm in cerebral palsy patients; namely the transposition of pronator teres to extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle; and rerouting of the pronator teres muscle with or without pronator quadratus muscle myotomy. METHODS: Sixty-one patients, 48 male/13 female, with a mean age of 17 years (5-41 years) were treated between 1971 and 2011. Pronator teres transposition was performed in 10, pronator rerouting in 35, and pronator rereouting with pronator quadratus myotomy in 16 patients. Ranges of motion, and assessments using the Quick Dash, Mayo Scoring, and Functional Classification system of upper extremity, were made before and after surgery. Mean follow-up was 17.5 years (3-41 years). RESULTS: All three procedures led to significantly improved ranges of motion and upper limb function, with good/excellent results in 80 % of patients. Mean active supination improved from 10 ° (0-60 °) to 85 ° (30-90 °) (p < 0.001). There were significant improvements in Functional Classification system for the upper extremity scores (p < 0.003), Mean Quick Dash Scores improved from 58.41 (38.63-79.54) to 44.59 (27.27-68.18), and mean MEPS improved from 68 (30-85) to 84 (60-100) following surgery. All three techniques had statistically improved MEPS following surgery (p < 0.001); only the pronator teres muscle rerouting with pronator quadratus myotomy showed an improved Functional Classification system for the upper extremity score (p < 0.05); and only the pronator teres rerouting procedure showed an improved Quick Dash score (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in outcomes between different ages groups, and no significant differences between isolated pronator teres muscle rerouting were compared with those undergoing simultaneous treatment of carpal flexion and thumb adduction deformities (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Surgery is very effective in the management of pronation deformities of the forearm in patients with cerebral palsy. Isolated pronator teres rerouting is probably the most effective and simple technique. Adjunctive pronator quadratus myotomy does not lead to an improvement in the results and requires an additional surgical approach. There should be no age restriction to surgery, as all age groups appear to benefit from similar improvements in range of motion and upper limb function.