Winquist View of the Femoral Neck: Ideal Visualization of Femoral Neck Fixation.

Background: Despite the increased frequency of cephalomedullary fixation for unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures, failure with screw cut-out and varus collapse remains a significant failure mode. Proper positioning of implants into the femoral neck and head directly influences the stability of fracture fixation. Visualization of the femoral neck and head can be challenging and failure to do so may lead to poor results; Obstacles include patient positioning, body habitus, and implant application tools. We present the "Winquist View," an oblique fluoroscopic projection that shows the femoral neck in profile, aligns the implant and cephalic component, and assists in implant placement. Methods: With the patient in the lateral position, the legs are scissored when possible. Following standard reduction techniques, the Winquist view is used to check reduction prior to surgical draping. Intraoperatively, we rely on a perfect image to place implants in the ideal portion of the femoral neck, with a trajectory that achieves the center-center or center-low position of the femoral neck. This is achieved by incorporating the anterior-posterior, lateral, and Winquist view. Results: We present 3 patients who underwent fixation with a cephalomedullary nail for intertrochanteric hip fractures. The Winquist view facilitated excellent visualization and positioning in all cases. All postoperative courses were uneventful, without failures or complications. Conclusion: While standard intraoperative imaging may be adequate in many cases, the Winquist view facilitates optimal implant positioning and fracture reduction. With lateral imaging, implant insertion guides may obscure visualization of the femoral neck during which Winquist view is the most helpful. Level of Evidence: V.

Locked Lateral Plating Versus Retrograde Nailing for Distal Femur Fractures: A Multicenter Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The 2 main forms of treatment for distal femur fractures are locked lateral plating and retrograde nailing. The goal of this trial was to determine whether there are significant differences in outcomes between these forms of treatment. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Twenty academic trauma centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: One hundred sixty patients with distal femur fractures were enrolled. One hundred twenty-six patients were followed 12 months. Patients were randomized to plating in 62 cases and intramedullary nailing in 64 cases. INTERVENTION: Lateral locked plating or retrograde intramedullary nailing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Functional scoring including Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment, bother index, EQ Health, and EQ Index. Secondary measures included alignment, operative time, range of motion, union rate, walking ability, ability to manage stairs, and number and type of adverse events. RESULTS: Functional testing showed no difference between the groups. Both groups were still significantly affected by their fracture 12 months after injury. There was more coronal plane valgus in the plating group, which approached statistical significance. Range of motion, walking ability, and ability to manage stairs were similar between the groups. Rate and type of adverse events were not statistically different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both lateral locked plating and retrograde intramedullary nailing are reasonable surgical options for these fractures. Patients continue to improve over the course of the year after injury but remain impaired 1 year postoperatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Patient-Reported Outcomes of Femoral Head Fractures with a Minimum 10-Year Follow-Up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical-reported and patient-reported outcomes of patients with femoral head fractures treated at a single level I trauma center with a minimum 10-year follow-up. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Academic Level-1 Trauma Center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: One hundred one consecutive femoral head fractures were identified for this study. The final study group consisted of 28 patients with a minimum of 10 years of clinical follow-up. INTERVENTION: All patients were treated with one or in combination with the following treatments: nonoperative management, open reduction and internal fixation, fragment excision, or total hip arthroplasty (THA). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Oxford Hip Score (OHS) at final follow-up along with clinical and radiological complications: infection, avascular necrosis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, heterotopic ossification, and conversion to THA. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with greater than 10 years of follow-up were included in this evaluation. The average follow-up was 14 years, and the average age was 39.2 years. Surgical management occurred in 86% of patients, and the mean time to definitive treatment was 3.7 days. Overall, 21 patients (75%) experienced a complication. Seven patients (30%) were later converted to a THA at an average of 6.4 years from initial injury. Three of the 7 late THA conversions (43%) required later revision. OHSs were obtained in all 28 patients at the final follow-up. The average OHS was 36.6. The mean OHS of the native hips was 37 at an average follow-up of 13.6 years. The mean OHS of primary THA was 41, and the mean OHS of secondary THA at final follow-up was 31.4, but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.134). CONCLUSIONS: Patients should be counseled that the long-term results of open reduction and internal fixation may be satisfactory but unfortunately are not predictable. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Acute total hip arthroplasty versus open reduction internal fixation for posterior wall acetabular fractures in middle-aged patients.

INTRODUCTION: Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) is the standard of care for displaced acetabular fractures, but the inability to achieve anatomic reduction, involvement of the posterior wall, articular impaction, and femoral head cartilaginous injury are known to lead to poorer outcomes. Acute total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a reasonable treatment option for older patients with an acetabular fracture and risk factors for a poor outcome, but it is only described in case series. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes of ORIF and acute THA in middle-aged patients with an acetabular fracture from a single center. METHODS: Retrospective case-controlled study of patients aged 45 to 65 years old with acetabular fractures involving the posterior wall treated with acute THA or ORIF at a level 1 trauma center between 1996 and 2011. Patients were matched by fracture pattern and age at a 2 (ORIF):1 (acute THA) ratio. Functional outcome, complications, and reoperation rates of acute THA and ORIF were compared. RESULTS: Sixteen acute THA patients (average age 56.4 years) and 32 ORIF patients (average age 54.3 years) were evaluated at an average follow-up of 6.2 years (range 1-15.2). The average Oxford Hip Score in the acute THA group was 44 compared to 40 in the ORIF group (P = .075). Complication rates were similar between both the groups. Twelve hips (37%) in the ORIF group had undergone THA or been referred for THA, and 2 revisions (13%) had occurred in the acute THA group. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that those undergoing acute THA had significantly better survival of their index procedure (P = .031). CONCLUSIONS: Both ORIF and acute THA for high-energy acetabular fractures involving the posterior wall in middle-aged patients can provide excellent results, with acute THA patients achieving improved survival of the index procedure and improved functional scores.

APC Injuries With Symphyseal Fixation: What Affects Outcome?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the symphyseal position at union, implant failure, and the type of posterior ring injury on validated outcome measures. DESIGN: Retrospective review with prospectively collected validated outcome data. SETTING: Two academic level 1 trauma centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: We evaluated 54 patients with operatively treated anterior-posterior compression (APC) type 2 and 3 injuries. INTERVENTION: Thirty-five APC type 2 and 19 APC type 3 injuries were reviewed at a minimum of 2 years after surgery. Average follow-up was 7 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were evaluated with validated EuroQol five dimensions (EQ5D), EuroQol health index, Visual Analog Score (VAS) pain, Majeed pelvic scores, and change in work status. The final anterior-posterior (AP) radiograph available was reviewed for implant failure and displacement. Revision surgery was documented based on implant status and displacement at final follow-up. RESULTS: There were trends toward better outcomes for APC type 2 for EQ5D and VAS pain. Patients with injury severity score (ISS) >16 had worse reported health, Majeed scores, and VAS pain. Nineteen patients had failure of fixation. There were no differences in any outcome measure; trends toward better Majeed score were found for patients with intact fixation. Displacements >15 mm anteriorly at final follow-up negatively affect outcomes with significantly worse EQ5D, reported health, and Majeed score. Two patients required revision surgery. There were no differences in final outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found for APC type 2 versus type 3 injuries. Higher injury severity score resulted in worse outcomes and more pain. Outcomes were not effected by implant failure; however, major loss of reduction (>15 mm) anteriorly did negatively impact outcomes. Patients with failure who were revised to union did not have worse outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Nonunion of the Femur and Tibia: An Update.

Delayed union and nonunion of tibial and femoral shaft fractures are common orthopedic problems. Numerous publications address lower extremity long bone nonunions. This review presents current trends and recent literature on the evaluation and treatment of nonunions of the tibia and femur. New studies focused on tibial nonunion and femoral nonunion are reviewed. A section summarizing recent treatment of atypical femoral fractures associated with bisphosphonate therapy is also included.

Is Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Fixation of Unstable Posterior Ring Injuries as Accurate as Open Reduction and Internal Fixation?

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this retrospective review was to determine whether a closed reduction technique for unstable pelvic ring injuries is as accurate as an open technique. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Two academic Level 1 trauma centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: We reviewed the records of 113 patients who had unilateral unstable pelvic ring injuries (Bucholz type 3, OTA type 61-C1) treated with closed reduction and percutaneous fixation (CRPF) or open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF). INTERVENTION: Sixty patients were treated at one institution with open reduction and percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation. This involved prone positioning and a gluteus maximus sparing approach for direct visualization and reduction of the fracture. A second cohort of 53 patients was treated at a separate institution with closed reduction and percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation. This involved supine positioning and skeletal traction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative and postoperative plain radiographs of the pelvis were reviewed and standardized measurements were made to compare quality of reduction. RESULTS: We were able to measure displacement within 0.1 mm. Overall reduction quality was slightly better for the CRPF group. The largest average difference in postoperative displacement was seen at the iliac wing height on anteroposterior pelvis radiographs with 6.3 mm (range 0-19.6) in the ORIF group versus 1.9 mm (range 0-4.7) in the CRPF group. CONCLUSIONS: The closed reduction technique described here is as effective as the ORIF technique in obtaining reduction of unstable pelvic ring injuries (Bucholz type 3, OTA type 61-C1). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Does Removal of the Symphyseal Cartilage in Symphyseal Dislocations Have Any Effect on Final Alignment and Implant Failure?

OBJECTIVES: To compare final symphyseal alignment, incidence of implant failure, and revision surgery with and without symphyseal cartilage excision in patients with symphyseal dislocations treated operatively. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Two academic level 1 trauma centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: We reviewed the records of 96 patients (89 men, 7 women) who had anterior posterior compression (APC) type 2 and 3 injuries requiring anterior plating. The average age was 46 years, and the average Injury Severity Score was 15.6. INTERVENTION: Fifty patients were treated with symphyseal cartilage removal, whereas a second cohort of 46 patients was treated without removal of the symphyseal cartilage at the time of symphyseal open reduction and internal fixation during the same time period in a different center. Operative indications were the same for both centers, with iliosacral screws used only for type 3 injuries. Both centers used 6-hole plates through a rectus sparing approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Symphyseal separation was measured radiographically on preoperative and postoperative anteroposterior (AP) and outlet projections. The incidence of implant failure was recorded from the final postoperative radiograph available. Revision surgery was documented. RESULTS: The symphyseal space after cartilage excision was less than if retained, which was maintained through union. The incidence of implant failure was statistically lower when symphyseal cartilage was excised. There were 2 revisions of symphyseal fixation in the symphyseal retention group for implant failure versus none when excised. CONCLUSIONS: Symphyseal cartilage excision led to closer apposition of the symphyseal bodies, which correlated with substantially lower rates of implant failure, and revision surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The perfect reduction: approaches and techniques.

Anatomic reduction of femoral neck fractures is difficult to obtain in a closed fashion. Open reduction provides for direct and controlled manipulation of fracture fragments. This can be accomplished via multiple approaches. The anterolateral, or Watson-Jones, approach or Smith-Petersen, or direct anterior, approach are the two most frequently used. Percutaneous techniques have also been described, though they lack the visual confirmation of reduction of a traditional open approach. These can be performed using a fracture table or with a free leg on a radiolucent table in either supine or lateral positions. Knowledge of the hip and pelvis anatomy is crucial for the preservation of critical femoral neck vasculature. Intra-operative fluoroscopy together with direct visualization provides the framework for successful manipulation of the fracture fragments, temporary stabilization, and ultimately fracture fixation.

Functional outcomes after total hip arthroplasty for the acute management of acetabular fractures: 1- to 14-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: This study reports the complications and functional outcomes in patients treated acutely with combined open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and immediate total hip arthroplasty (THA) for displaced comminuted acetabular fractures. DESIGN: Single surgeon retrospective case series. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS: Thirty-three consecutive patients (18 women; mean age, 66 years) from 1996 to 2011 with an average follow-up of 5.6 years (range, 1-14.3 years) were included in this study. INTERVENTION: ORIF and immediate THA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Oxford Hip Score and reoperation. METHODS: All patients had at least 1 year of telephone or clinical follow-up. Postoperative complications, reoperations, and available radiographs were reviewed. RESULTS: Six patients died of causes unrelated to their injuries or surgery; before death, these patients had well-functioning hips. There was a 15% complication rate. At last follow-up, 94% of hips remained in situ and were functioning well. The average Oxford Hip Score at final follow-up was 17 (range, 12-32), with 93% of patients reporting good to excellent function. There was no statistical association between fracture type, age, or fixation type and outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Acute ORIF and immediate THA for selected acetabular fractures is a safe viable treatment option with good to excellent functional outcomes and may reduce the need for 2 separate operations in many patients. Functional outcomes are equivalent to those after primary THA for osteoarthritis. This study does not address at which age acute THA is a cost-effective treatment option. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic level IV. See Instructions for authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

How to get the most out of your orthopaedic fellowship: thinking about practice-based learning.

Practice-based learning and improvement is an important skill set to develop during an orthopaedic trauma fellowship and is 1 of the 6 core competencies stated by the ACGME. The review of clinic cases is best done using a few simple models to develop a structured approach for studying cases. Three common sense and easy-to-use strategies to improve clinical practice are as follows: performing each case three times, studying the 4 quadrants of patient outcomes, and the application of the Pareto 80/20 rule. These principles help to develop a structured approach for analyzing and thinking about practice-based experiences.

Locked plates reduce displacement of vertically unstable pelvic fractures in a Mechanical Testing Model.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare a locked screw construct to a single iliosacral screw for fixation of a vertically unstable pelvic ring injury in a transforaminal sacral fracture model. METHODS: Orthopaedic Trauma Association type 61-C1.3a2c5 fractures were created in 10 fresh frozen cadaveric pelvis specimens. Specimens were divided into two groups of five. In both groups, the anterior ring was stabilized with a six-hole 3.5-mm reconstruction plate. In the locked plate (LP) group, the posterior injury was stabilized using a two-hole locking plate with one solid 5.0-mm locking iliosacral screw directed onto the S1 body and a second locking screw directed into the lateral sacral ala. In the iliosacral screw group, the posterior injury was stabilized using a single cannulated 7.3-mm screw. Testing was conducted on a Materials Testing System. Values for displacement and rotation were recorded. Each pelvis was axially loaded with a compressive sine wave from 175 N to 350 N for 10,000 cycles to simulate limited weight bearing, with data recorded at 1,000 cycle increments. RESULTS: Two specimens in the iliosacral screw group displaced more than 1 cm during the first 1,000 cycles. These two specimens displayed gross fracture motion in all planes. All five specimens in the LP group completed 10,000 cycles of testing with less than 1 cm of displacement. A vector displacement calculation from the plane displacement data revealed that the LP group had significantly less displacement (median 1.9 mm) than the specimens in the iliosacral group (median 6.7 mm; p = 0.008) after 10,000 cycles. CONCLUSIONS: A two-hole plate locked head screw construct resulted in less displacement than a single iliosacral screw in a transforaminal sacral fracture model.

Elevated body mass index increases early complications of surgical treatment of pelvic ring injuries.

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and postoperative complications and to determine the incidence of reoperation after surgical treatment of pelvic ring injuries. SETTING: Three Level I trauma centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective review of 184 consecutive surgically treated pelvic ring injuries (Orthopaedic Trauma Association 61) was performed. Two patients died in the initial postoperative period, and the remaining 182 patients were followed for a minimum of 3 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Complications that were evaluated included wound infection and dehiscence, loss of reduction, iatrogenic nerve injury, deep venous thrombosis, pneumonia, and the development of decubitus ulcers. Body mass index was calculated for each patient, and a BMI greater than 30 kg/m considered to be obese as defined by the National Institutes of Health. RESULTS: There were 132 males and 50 females with an average age of 36.4 years (range, 14-83 years). There were 48 (26%) patients with a BMI over 30 kg/m. Complications occurred in 46 of 182 patients (25.3%) with 26 occurring in the 48 patients with BMI greater than 30 kg/m (54.2% complication rate) and 20 occurring in the 134 patients with BMI less than 30 kg/m (14.9% complication rate). Complications included 20 infections (four superficial wound dehiscence and 16 deep), 23 losses of reduction, five deep vein thromboses, three pulmonary embolus, three pneumonia, two decubitus ulcers, and three iatrogenic nerve injuries. Reoperation was required in 29 of 182 (15.9%) patients with 16 (8.8%) irrigation and débridement, and 17 (9.3%) refixation procedures. All wound complications occurred after open exposures. Open exposures were performed for the anterior pelvic ring in 143 of 182 (78.6%) patients, the posterior pelvic ring in 64 of 182 (35.2%) patients, and percutaneous treatment of the posterior pelvic ring was performed in 80 of 182 (44.0%) patients. Logistic regression modeling analyzing BMI as a continuous variable found a relationship between increasing BMI and complication rate (P < 0.0001) and need for reoperation (P = 0.0013). Odds ratios analysis revealed that obese patients (BMI greater than 30 kg/m) were 6.87 (95% confidence interval, 3.25-14.49) times more likely to have a complication and 4.68 (95% confidence interval, 2.03-10.76) times more likely to undergo reoperation than patients with BMI less than 30 kg/m. CONCLUSIONS: Body mass index correlates with an increased rate of complications and reoperation after operative treatment of pelvic ring injuries.

Incidence of deep venous thrombosis after temporary joint spanning external fixation for complex lower extremity injuries.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in a prospective protocol of early spanning external fixation with the concurrent use of low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in patients with high-energy lower extremity trauma. SETTING: Three level I trauma centers. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PATIENTS: One hundred thirty-six consecutive patients with 151 complex lower extremity injuries were treated with a protocol of immediate joint spanning external fixation application and LMWH administration within 24 hours of admission. A total of 143 external fixators were applied. Early patient mobilization was encouraged and possible due to the skeletal stability provided by the external fixator. There were 87 men and 49 women with a mean age of 43 years. There were 62 proximal tibia fractures (Orthopaedic Trauma Association [OTA] Fracture Classification 41), 4 tibial shaft fractures (OTA 42), 49 distal tibia-fibula fractures (OTA 43, 44), 14 femur fractures (OTA 32, 33), 8 calcaneus fractures (OTA 73), 10 knee dislocations, and 4 talus fracture dislocations. Forty-eight injuries (32%) were open. INTERVENTION: Temporary joint spanning external fixator placement, LMWH administration, and early mobilization within 24 hours of admission. Duplex ultrasonography of the bilateral lower extremities within 1 day to 3 days before fixator removal and definitive fixation procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Presence of DVT on duplex ultrasound examination. RESULTS: Duplex ultrasonography was negative for DVT in all but three patients for an incidence of 2.1% (3 of 143 fixators). There were no bleeding complications secondary to the use of LMWH while the temporary external fixator was in place. CONCLUSION: The incidence of DVT in patients treated with a protocol of early joint spanning external fixation and LMWH administration does not exceed historical controls. The early restoration of limb length, alignment, and stability allows early mobilization, which may contribute to the prevention of DVT.

The management of complications associated with tibial fractures.

Tibial fractures are common and frequently require surgical stabilization. These two factors mean that complications when treating this difficult injury are to be expected. The objectives in the treatment of open tibial shaft fractures are to prevent sepsis, achieve union, and restore function of the limb. However, these goals are often compromised by infection, compartment syndromes, and bone loss associated with many tibial shaft fractures. Recent studies provide a better understanding of the factors involved in the initial care of patients with open tibial fractures and have challenged prior dogmas and practices. An example is studies that define the relationship between the time to débridement of open fractures and subsequent infection. The diagnosis of compartment syndromes continues to be challenging. Careful review of clinical criteria will assist physicians in the early recognition and the management of compartment syndromes. Despite uncomplicated initial care, infections will occur. However, improved knowledge in the basic science of infections, specifically infections about orthopaedic implants, has led to the development of protocols for treatment and obtaining union. Bone loss, a result of either infection or trauma, is one of the most difficult complications to manage. Research regarding bone morphogenesis and the synthesis of multiple compounds has created new options for treating tibial fractures with bone loss.

Single-leg-stance radiographs in the diagnosis of pelvic instability.

BACKGROUND: In the nonacute setting, the diagnosis of pelvic instability is difficult. Patients who present with pelvic pain may have underlying instability. The purpose of the present study was to report the effectiveness of single-leg-stance radiographs in the diagnosis of pelvic instability in a consecutive series of patients presenting with pelvic pain. METHODS: Thirty-eight consecutive patients (twenty-four women and fourteen men) ranging in age from eighteen to seventy-eight years who presented with pelvic pain and a history of injury (twenty-seven), childbirth (seven [four primiparous and three multiparous]), or osteopenia (four) were evaluated with a visual analog scale pain score and a standard series of radiographs in an attempt to identify pelvic instability. The average time from the onset of symptoms to the evaluation was forty-one months (range, six weeks to twenty-seven years). Each patient was evaluated with supine anteroposterior, inlet, and outlet pelvic radiographs; a standing anteroposterior pelvic radiograph; and two single-leg-standing pelvic radiographs (one with the patient standing on the left leg and one with the patient standing on the right leg). A positive finding was defined as >or=0.5 cm of vertical translation measured at the symphyseal bodies between the two single-leg-stance radiographs. RESULTS: Of the thirty-eight patients, twenty-five demonstrated pelvic instability (average, 1.98 cm; range, 0.5 to 5 cm). With the numbers available, the average visual analog scale pain score for the patients with a stable pelvis was not significantly different from that for the patients with an unstable pelvis (6.4 +/- 2.9 compared with 7.3 +/- 1.9; p = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: Standing anteroposterior and single-leg-stance pelvic radiographs aid in the diagnosis of pelvic instability more effectively than do the standard three radiographs of the pelvis made in the supine position or a standing anteroposterior radiograph of the pelvis alone. Additional studies will be needed to correlate this instability with clinical symptoms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.