Stability of Surgical Rib Fixation Hardware after Repeat Chest Trauma.

Surgical management of rib fractures has long been a controversial topic, but improvements in rib plating technology have led to a recent increase in interest among surgeons. Unfortunately, follow-up data are limited in patients following rib fracture plating. We present a unique case of an adult male who had multiple ribs plated for symptomatic rib fracture nonunions and developed periprosthetic fractures following repeat trauma several months later. A 57-year-old male with a history of trauma was treated for symptomatic nonunion of several left lateral ribs with surgical rib fixation. He tolerated the procedure well and had significant improvement in his symptoms on follow-up. Several months later, he was hit by a motor vehicle while riding his bicycle. He was found to have flail chest with lateral segmental rib fractures of the first through second ribs, posterior periprosthetic fractures of the seventh through tenth ribs, and lateral fractures of the eleventh and twelfth ribs. The rib plating hardware was completely intact, except for a single displaced seventh rib screw. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of repeat chest trauma following rib plating. Interestingly, the patient developed posterior periprosthetic fractures, and hardware was completely intact except for a single screw that was displaced. The goal of this report is to describe the unique fracture pattern of a flail chest with prior rib plating and to describe potential revision plating techniques and complications that surgeons may encounter in the management of trauma patients with prior rib plating.

Stability of the Subaxial Spine after Penetrating Trauma: Do Classification Systems Apply?

OBJECTIVE: Blunt spinal trauma classification systems are well established and provide reliable treatment algorithms. To date, stability of the spine after civilian gunshot wounds (CGSWS) is poorly understood. Herein, we investigate the validity of trauma classification systems including the Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Score (TLICS), Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification and Severity Score (SLIC), and Denis' three-column model when applied to spinal penetrating trauma from gunshots, while secondarily evaluating stability of these injuries. METHODS: Gunshot injuries to the spine were identified from an institutional database from ICD-nine codes. Trauma scorings systems were applied using traditional criteria. Neurologic compromise and spinal stability were evaluated using follow-up clinic notes and radiographs. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with CSGSW were evaluated. There was an equal distribution of injuries amongst the spinal levels and spinal columns. Twenty patients had neurological deficits at presentation. Eight patient had a TLICS score >4. Three patients had a SLIC score >4. One patient had surgical treatment. Nonoperative treatment did not lead to spinal instability or adverse outcomes in any cases. The posterior column had a high correlation with neurologic compromise, though not statistically significant (p=.118). CONCLUSIONS: The TLICS, SLIC, and three-column classification systems cannot be applied to CSGSW to quantify injury severity, predict outcomes, or guide treatment decision-making. Despite significant neurologic injuries and disruption of multiple spinal columns, CSGSW do not appear to result in unstable injuries requiring operative intervention. Further research is needed to identify the rare spinal gunshot injury that would benefit from immediate surgical intervention.

Novel animal model for Achilles tendinopathy: Controlled experimental study of serial injections of collagenase in rabbits.

Our goal was to develop a novel technique for inducing Achilles tendinopathy in animal models which more accurately represents the progressive histological and biomechanical characteristic of chronic Achilles tendinopathy in humans. In this animal research study, forty-five rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups and given bilateral Achilles injections. Low dose (LD group) (n = 18) underwent a novel technique with three low-dose (0.1mg) injections of collagenase that were separated by two weeks, the high dose group (HD) (n = 18) underwent traditional single high-dose (0.3mg) injections, and the third group were controls (n = 9). Six rabbits were sacrificed from each experimental group (LD and HD) at 10, 12 and 16 weeks. Control animals were sacrificed after 16 weeks. Histological and biomechanical properties were then compared in all three groups. At 10 weeks, Bonar score and tendon cross sectional area was highest in HD group, with impaired biomechanical properties compared to LD group. At 12 weeks, Bonar score was higher in LD group, with similar biomechanical findings when compared to HD group. After 16 weeks, Bonar score was significantly increased for both LD group (11,8±2,28) and HD group (5,6±2,51), when compared to controls (2±0,76). LD group showed more pronounced histological and biomechanical findings, including cross sectional area of the tendon, Young's modulus, yield stress and ultimate tensile strength. In conclusion, Achilles tendinopathy in animal models that were induced by serial injections of low-dose collagenase showed more pronounced histological and biomechanical findings after 16 weeks than traditional techniques, mimicking better the progressive and chronic characteristic of the tendinopathy in humans.

Clinical and radiographic outcomes of the Kramer osteotomy in the treatment of bunionette deformity.

BACKGROUND: Bunionette deformity is a painful bony prominence of the 5th metatarsal. We evaluated outcomes of using a Kramer osteotomy to treat this condition. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients treated with a Kramer osteotomy from 2003 and 2016. Outcome measures included Foot Functional Index (FFI) and radiographic measurements. RESULTS: 38 patients (43 feet) with an average follow-up of 55 months. Mean postoperative FFI1 was 19.4. Mean 4-5 IMA2 improved 3.9°, from 8.3° preoperatively to 4.4° on final postoperative films (p<0.01). Mean MTP-53 angle improved 13.2° from 13.6° preoperatively to 0.4° at final follow-up (p<0.01). There were 5 delayed unions (11.6%) and 1 non-union (2.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The Kramer osteotomy is an effective treatment option in patients with bunionette deformity, with significant correction of the 4-5 IM2 and MTP-53 angles and few complications.

Anatomic Evaluation of Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Lengthening.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of percutaneous Achilles tendon lengthening (TAL) using a triple hemisection technique and the improvement in ankle dorsiflexion. METHODS: Ten fresh-frozen above-knee cadaveric specimens were used. A percutaneous triple hemisection of the Achilles tendon (proximal, intermediate, and distal) was performed. Maximum ankle dorsiflexion was evaluated pre- and postprocedure with a digital goniometer. After proper dissection, the relative width of the cuts was noted. Following forced ankle dorsiflexion, displacement in the tensile gaps was measured in all 3 cuts with a precision digital caliper. RESULTS: The overall relative width of the percutaneous cut was 51.3% ± 16.3% of the Achilles tendon diameter, 44.3% ± 13.6% for the proximal cut, 50.3% ± 15.6% for the intermediate cut, and 59.3% ± 18.4% for the distal cut. Tendon excursion averaged 13.0 ± 3.8 mm for the proximal cuts, 12.5 ± 4.7 mm for the intermediate cuts, and 8.2 ± 3.7 mm for the distal cuts. One cadaver had a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon and was excluded from the excursion data analysis. The mean range of motion for ankle dorsiflexion was 8.1 ± 3.9 degrees preprocedure and 27.6 ± 5.3 degrees postprocedure. The dorsiflexion angle significantly increased ( P < .0001) at an average of 19.5 ± 5.0 degrees following TAL. CONCLUSION: Our cadaveric study demonstrated that the percutaneous triple hemisection of the Achilles was an accurate technique that provided successful lengthening of the tendon and increased ankle dorsiflexion. Complete ruptures are possible complications. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our cadaveric study showed that in a clinical situation, triple hemisections of the Achilles tendon can be performed reliably, with significant improvement of the ankle dorsiflexion, mainly through increased tendon excursion at the proximal and intermediate cuts, and with low risk of complete ruptures.

Foot Deformities in Hajdu-Cheney Syndrome: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Hajdu-Cheney syndrome (HCS) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by acroosteolysis, wormian skull bones with persistent skull sutures, premature loss of teeth, micrognathia, short stature, hypermobility of the joints, neurologic manifestations such as basilar invagination with subsequent paresthesia, hearing loss, and speech alterations, and osteoporosis with tendency to pathologic fractures of long bones and vertebrae as well as painful hands and feet. Very few cases have been earlier reported in the literature. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 50-year-old female with bilateral foot deformities as a manifestation of the rare genetic disorder HCS. Surgical management of the left foot consisted of Morton's neuroma excision and Weil osteotomy with proximal interphalangeal joint resection and Kirschner wire fixation of the second and third metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints. Recurrent subluxation of the left second MTP joint was observed at 5-week follow-up. The right foot was treated similarly 7weeks after the initial operation. The post-operative course of the right foot was complicated by bone resorption and nonunion of the second and third metatarsal Weil osteotomies. CONCLUSION: Management of complex foot deformities associated with HCS can be challenging and have not previously been described in the literature. Underlying bone and connective tissue abnormalities intrinsic to the syndrome may increase the risk of recurrence after surgical correction. Consideration should be given to such post-operative complications when treating foot deformities in a patient with HCS.