Management of periprosthetic femoral fractures following total knee arthroplasties using locking plates or intramedullary nailing. Comparative study of 567 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Proximal femur fractures in elderly patients pose a common problem that requires surgical management. The main objective of this study was to compare the results of treatment by locked plate (LP) and by anterograde (AIN) or retrograde (RIN) intramedullary nailing. The secondary objective was to analyze the complications related to each group. The hypothesis of this study was that the radiological and clinical results of each group were comparable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 438 patients from 8 centers were studied retrospectively with 365 LP and 69 cases of intramedullary nailing (49 AIN and 20 RIN). The groups were comparable in terms of mean age (75±2years), mean preoperative Parker score (5.3±0.5) and mean KOOS score (74±2). Most patients lived at home before their fracture [n=375 (86%)]. At follow-up, the joint range of motion, the KOOS and Parker scores, living premises, the time required to regain full weight-bearing, the time required for consolidation as well as the reduction alignment: frontal, sagittal, horizontal. RESULTS: The average follow-up was: 79±2weeks (65 to 82). The functional and radiological results were comparable, although nailing allowed a faster return to weight-bearing (1±2weeks for nailing versus 7±2weeks for LP, p=0.048) and a better postoperative Parker score (5.5±0.5 for nailing versus 4.7±0.2 for LP, p=0.045). Rotational malalignment in femoral nailing was often in the direction of internal rotation, compared to the LP (p=0.045). Complications were comparable with the exception of mortality, which was more frequent for LP [22.5% in the LP group versus 13% in the nailing group (p=0.045)]. Complications were categorized as: mechanical complications 6.8% of LP, 5.7% of nailing (p>0.05), infections [11% of LP, 5.8% of nailing (p>0.05)], surgical revisions [2% of LP, 10% of nailing (p>0.05)]. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The hypothesis was refuted. These results show that nailing conferred a faster recovery of weight-bearing, a better Parker score, and is associated with a lower mortality rate. The morbidity rate is comparable between the two techniques. Indeed, when the indication for osteosynthesis by LP or by nailing is made, and both choices are technically justifiable, it would be prudent to favor the technique, which carries the least risk, which in this case is nailing. This conclusion must, however, be taken in to consideration with regard to the reduced number of nailing. A larger series of nailing, particularly retrograde, would be necessary to be able to confirm this last difference between the 2 groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; comparative retrospective study.

The comparative efficacy of nerve transfer versus tendon transfer in the management of radial palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is no clear census as to which operative technique provides better recovery for radial nerve injuries. Therefore, in this systematic review, we examined the functional recovery, patient-reported outcomes, and complications of tendon transfer (TT) and nerve transfer (NT). Methods: Five electronic databases were searched for studies (>10 cases per study) comparing NT and TT regardless of the study design (observational or experimental). Manual search was also conducted. The quality was assessed by the NIH tool. Outcomes included functional recovery, patient-reported outcomes (DASH score, satisfaction, and inability to return to work), and complications. The prevalence was pooled across studies using STATA software, and then, a subgroup analysis based on the intervention type. Results: Twenty-one studies (542 patients) were analyzed. Excellent recovery, assessed by the Bincaz scale, was higher in the TT group (29 % vs. 11 %) as well as failure to extend the fingers (49 % vs. 9 %). No significant difference was noted between both groups regarding DASH score (mean difference = -2.76; 95 % CI: -12.66: 6.93). Satisfaction was great in the TT group (89 %) with a limited proportion of patients unable to return to work (7 %). Complications were slightly higher in the TT group (8 % vs. 7 %) while 18 % of patients undergoing TT requiring revision surgery. Radial deviation was encountered in 18 % of patients in the TT group and 0 % in the NT group. The quality was good, fair, and poor in 2, 13, and 6, respectively. Conclusions: In radial nerve injuries, although tendon transfer may seem to provide better functional motor recovery than nerve transfer, it is associated with a higher rate of failure to extend the finger. Given the large confidence interval, the accuracy of this finding is questioned. However, a great proportion of those patients require revision surgery afterward. Additionally, tendon transfer is associated with a greater complication rate than nerve transfer, particularly radial deviation.