Management of Pediatric Supination-inversion Ankle Injuries Involving Distal Tibia and Intraepiphyseal Distal Fibula Fractures.

Pediatric ankle fractures are prevalent injuries that make up a notable portion of all periphyseal injuries. The Salter-Harris classification is the most popular classification about physeal and periepiphyseal injuries. Ogden expanded on this and described type 7 fractures which are completely intraepiphyseal and include propagation of the fracture from the articular surface through the epiphyseal cartilage and do not involve the physis. These injuries are common about the distal fibula in pediatric patients with supination-inversion type injuries. There are no specific guidelines or recommendations on treatment of these injuries in the literature. We present three cases of this injury pattern and describe our chosen management that leads each patient to full, painless ankle range of motion and return to all prior activities and sports without complication. Supination-inversion type pediatric ankle fractures are common injuries that all orthopaedic surgeons will encounter at some point throughout their practice or training. Recognizing fracture variants and understanding treatment options of pediatric ankle fractures are important for the orthopaedic community as a whole.

Postpartum Pelvic Instability: A Case Report.

Pubic symphysis diastasis following childbirth is a rare orthopedic condition that can be debilitating in the postpartum period. There have been treatment options documented, ranging from conservative to surgical; however, no standard of care has been established. We present a 44-year-old female patient who underwent open reduction and internal fixation for continued instability from postpartum pubic symphysis diastasis with a good overall outcome. We demonstrate good outcomes in a patient treated with surgical fixation of postpartum pelvic diastasis. We hope to deliver insight to future orthopedic surgeons with the challenges in treating this condition.

An Irreducible Posterior Fracture-Dislocation of the Shoulder: A Case Report.

Posterior fracture-dislocations of the shoulder are exceedingly rare orthopedic injuries. The management of these rare and complex injuries can be challenging from initial presentation through definitive management. Timely diagnosis of these injuries is critical to prevent devastating complications, yet the diagnosis is often delayed. Delays in surgery and poor fracture reduction are associated with a high risk of complications such as avascular necrosis. Additionally, these injuries have the potential to be irreducible. This may occur secondary to osteochondral humeral defects, soft tissue interposition, or entrapment. The long head of the biceps tendon incarceration is one potential block to reduction. Definitive surgical treatment options include open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and shoulder arthroplasty. While reoperation rates are higher in patients undergoing ORIF, arthroplasty longevity is a concern among young, active patients with high functional demands. Fibular strut allograft is a useful adjunct when reconstructing complex proximal humerus fractures. We present a case of a 28-year-old male who sustained a significantly comminuted four-part left proximal humerus fracture with an irreducible posterior humeral head dislocation requiring urgent ORIF following a motor vehicle accident.

Irrigation Solutions Negatively Affect the Viability and Function of Human Fibroblasts: An in vitro Study.

Introduction: Multiple irrigation solutions are used in orthopedic surgeries although there are limited studies on their lasting effects on human tissues. The purpose of this work was to investigate the cytotoxic effects of the irrigation solutions Bacitracin, Clorpactin (sodium oxychlorosene), Irrisept (0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate), and Bactisure (ethanol 1%, acetic acid 0.6%, sodium acetate 0.2%, benzalkonium chloride 0.013%, and water) on 3D cultures of human fibroblasts. Methods: Two independent experiments with 6 replicates were performed for the following conditions: Control (saline), bacitracin, Clorpactin, Irrisept, and Bactisure. Human fibroblast cell sheets were exposed to these solutions (1 or 2 min), followed by three washes with warm saline. Cell sheets were then cultured for additional 5- and 7-day posttreatment. Cell viability was measured using the alamarBlue (AB) assay. The more cytotoxic the irrigant, the lower the AB reduction. Results: For 1-min exposure time, significant differences in AB reduction were noted in Clorpactin, Irrisept, and Bactisure groups compared to control at both 5 days (Clorpactin p = 0.0003, Irrisept p = 7.31 × 10-15, Bactisure p = 6.86 × 10-14) and 7 days posttreatment (all groups p < 0.0001). The results were similar in the 2-min exposure groups. Bacitracin-treated fibroblasts displayed no significant difference at all measurement times compared to control. Discussion: Impacts of irrigation solution exposure on cell viability were varied. Irrisept and Bactisure showed the highest cell toxicity even after a brief exposure (1 min), while bacitracin and Clor-pactin exposure showed smaller impacts on cell viability as compared to saline controls. This in vitro study provided insight into the effects of the irrigants on human cells and provides the groundwork essential to move to in vivo studies. Our findings raised the concern that some irrigation solutions may have negative impacts on wound healing and healthy cellular response.