Should nails be locked dynamically or statically in atypical femoral fractures? - A radiological analysis of time to union and reoperations in 236 displaced fractures with 4 years average follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) are associated with delayed union and higher reoperation rates. Axial dynamization of intramedullary nails is hypothesized to reduce time-to-union (TTU) and fixation failure as compared to static locking. METHODS: Consecutive acutely displaced AFFs fixed with long intramedullary nails across five centres between 2006 and 2021 with a minimum postoperative follow-up of three months were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was TTU, compared between AFFs treated with dynamically or statically locked intramedullary nails. Fracture union was defined as a modified Radiographic Union Score for Tibial fractures score of 13 or greater. Secondary outcomes involved revision surgery and treatment failure, defined as non-union beyond 18 months or revision internal fixation for mechanical reasons. RESULTS: A total of 236 AFFs (127 dynamically locked and 109 statically locked) were analysed with good interobserver reliability of fracture union assessment (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.82-0.98). AFFs treated with dynamized nails had significantly shorter median TTU (10.1 months; 95% CI = 9.24-10.96 vs 13.0 months; 95% CI = 10.60-15.40) (log-rank test, p = 0.019). Multivariate Cox regression revealed that dynamic locking was independently associated with greater likelihood of fracture union within 24 months (p = 0.009). Reoperations were less frequent in the dynamic locking group (18.9% vs 28.4%), although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.084). Static locking was an independent risk factor for reoperation (p = 0.049), as were varus reduction and lack of teriparatide use within three months of surgery. Static locking also demonstrated a higher frequency of treatment failure (39.4% vs 22.8%, p = 0.006) and was an independent predictor of treatment failure in logistic regression (p = 0.018). Other factors associated with treatment failure included varus reduction and open reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic locking of intramedullary nails in AFFs is associated with faster time to union, lower rate of non-union, and fewer treatment failures.

Evaluation of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for elderly patients with hip fracture: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness and cost of an 18-month multi-disciplinary Comprehensive Fragility Fracture Management Program (CFFMP) for fragility hip fracture patients. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PATIENTS: Elderly patients with hip fracture were recruited at their first postoperative follow-up in 2 district hospitals. The intervention group comprised patients from the hospital undergoing CFFMP, and the control group comprised patients from another hospital undergoing conventional care. CFFMP provided geri-orthopaedic co-management, physician consultations, group-exercise and vibration-therapy. Timed-up-and-go test (TUG), Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and fall risk screening (FS) were used to assess functional performance. Incidences of falls and secondary fractures, the cost of the programme and related healthcare resources were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 76 patients were included in the intervention group (mean age 77.9 years ((standard deviation; SD) 6.1) ) and 77 in the control group (79.9 (SD 7.2)), respectively. The re-fracture rate in the control group (10.39%) was significantly higher than in the intervention group (1.32%) (p = 0.034). The intervention group improved significantly in TUG, EMS and FS after a 1-year programme. The overall healthcare costs per patient in the intervention and control groups were US$22,450 and US$25,313, respectively. CONCLUSION: Multi-disciplinary CFFMP is effective, with reduced overall cost, reduced length of hospital stay and reduced secondary fracture rate. The rehabilitation community service favours rehabilitation and improved quality of life of hip fracture patients.

Exeter small femoral stem for patients with small femurs.

PURPOSE: To report the long-term results of total hip arthroplasty (THA) using small size Exeter femoral stems. METHODS: Eight men and 34 women aged 60 to 83 (mean, 70) years underwent 45 THAs using the Exeter small stem with offsets of 30 mm (n=3), 33 mm (n=15), and 35.5 mm (n=27). The Harris hip score was assessed pre- and post-operatively. Stem alignment and axial subsidence of the stem were measured. Radiolucent lines around the femur were recorded at 14 Gruen zones. Completeness and thickness of the cement mantle and cement fractures were also noted. Ectopic ossification, if present, was graded. Stem loosening was based on the Olsson definitions. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 9 (range, 5-12) years. The mean Harris hip score improved from 37 (range, 13-61) to 80 (range, 47-96) [p<0.001]. At the latest follow-up, the score was excellent (90-100) in 8 (18%) of the hips, good (80-89) in 21 (47%), fair (70-79) in 9 (20%), and poor (<70) in 7 (16%). All hips had a complete cement mantle of 2 mm or more. All stems were inserted without intramedullary reaming. 11 (24%) of the hips developed stem subsidence of <2 mm; all stabilised within 2 years. None of these patients had pain or other radiological signs of loosening. Six stems showed radiolucent lines of <1 mm in the upper zones, which were not progressive. No cement fracture or subsidence was noted. Using revision for any cause as an endpoint, the overall survival rate of Exeter small femoral stem was 100% at 10 years and 89% at 12 years. CONCLUSION: The results of Exeter small stems for patients with small femurs are good.