Double plating - surgical technique and good clinical results in complex and highly unstable proximal humeral fractures.

INTRODUCTION: A stable fixation of highly unstable proximal humerus fractures remains challenging and complication rates, especially secondary varus dislocation, remains high. Different techniques of double plate osteosynthesis have been suggested for the treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures as they are well established for other fractures. The aim of this study was to evaluate an operative technique using an angular stable lateral plate supported by a one-third tubular plate positioned anteriorly at the lesser tuberosity for unstable proximal humeral fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospectively, patients treated with a double plate osteosynthesis were included between January 2014 and December 2017. Out of 31, 25 patients (80.6%) with an average age of 53.1 years ± 12.5 were available for follow-up. 60% of the patients were male. The clinical evaluation consisted of a physical examination and standardised questionnaire including subjective and objective shoulder scores like the Constant-Murley Shoulder Score, Simple Shoulder Score, and Subjective Shoulder Value. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 30.9 months (range, 12-76 months) eighteen patients (72%) had either excellent or good results regarding the Constant-Murley Shoulder Score with a mean value of 77 points ± 17. Average Simple Shoulder Score was 76% ± 0.2 and Subjective Shoulder Value 72% ± 0.2%. Mean NSA at time of follow-up 135° ± 13°. Nine patients had an implant-removal, five in combination with arthrolysis after a mean of 7.2 months. Three patients underwent surgery for secondary arthroplasty. The study shows a complication rate of 16%. No revision-surgery because of secondary varus dislocation was reported. DISCUSSION: Arthroplasty is the less favourable treatment for a younger, active cohort of patients with highly unstable proximal humeral fractures as results are not as good and options for revision are limited. Double plate osteosynthesis can be used in addition to calcar screws, bone graft augmentation, cement augmentation and additional free screws for more multidirectional stability and shows good clinical results despite a higher rate of avascular necrosis and high primary stability with comparable complication-rates to single plate osteosynthesis. It seems to be a valid alternative to primary fracture arthroplasty and can prevent secondary varus displacement.

Diagnosis of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Based on the Clinical Status.

OBJECTIVES: At our institute, we devised a clinical algorithm for diagnosis of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Our approach assisted in the accurate diagnosis and in detection of patients likely to benefit from surgical treatment. The purposes of this study were to propose our diagnostic approach to neurogenic TOS, and to describe the outcomes of surgical and conservative treatment. METHODS: Patients (n = 91) who were suspected to have neurogenic TOS, and therefore, underwent a routine clinical protocol from January 2012 to January 2018 were reviewed. Through the clinical protocol, diagnosis of "true neurologic TOS", "symptomatic TOS", and "not likely TOS" was made. The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score were used to assess the treatment outcomes. Satisfaction with surgery was assessed according to the Derkash classification as excellent, good, fair, or poor. RESULTS: Among 91 patients with presumed neurogenic TOS, 25 patients were "true neurologic TOS", 61 patients were "symptomatic TOS", and five patients were "not likely TOS". Nineteen patients underwent supraclavicular decompression of the brachial plexus whose mean age at the time of surgery was 36.4 years. The VAS average pain score improved from 3.6 to 0.8, and the DASH score improved from 38.4 to 17.1. According to the Derkash classification, ten patients (53%) rated their recovery as excellent, four (21%) as good, and five (26%) as fair. Sixty-seven patients underwent conservative treatment. At the last follow-up visit, their VAS and DASH score were 2.3 and 11.8, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: By using an algorithm, we diagnosed the patients suspected to have neurogenic TOS into three groups based on clinical status. We surgically treated 19 patients using supraclavicular approach, and achieved favorable outcomes.

Efficacy of microbiological culturing in the diagnostics of joint and periprosthetic infections.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of conventional microbiological examinations in the diagnostics of septic joint and periprosthetic inflammations. DESIGN AND SETTING: Evidence Level IV, retrospective clinical study of case series. Patients treated with small and large joint septic inflammations or with periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) were entered into the study. Demographics, microbiological cultures and inflammatory mediators were evaluated. PARTICIPANTS: Between 2012 and 2016, total of 1116 hip and 241 knee surgeries were performed at our Department in relation to prostheses; including primary and revision arthroplasties and further surgeries due to PJI. During this period, 72 patients were operated with large joints infections or PJI and another 65 patients were treated due to small joint infections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome of interest was to evaluate the sensitivity of conventional microbiological cultures in the primary diagnostics of joint and periprosthetic infections. RESULTS: The most frequent bacteria strains were the Staphylococci: in 43 cases (22.16%) Staphylococcus aureus, in 22 cases (11.34%) coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, in 3 cases (1.54%) Staphylococcus epidermidis and in 4 cases (2.06%) methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were detected. In 30 cases (21.88%), the primary microbiological investigation could not reveal the presence of bacteria. CONCLUSION: Based on our data, the efficacy of conventional microbiological testing in the diagnostics of different type of joint infections is questionable. Therefore, further studies are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of novel diagnostic testing tools in prospective randomized controlled trials.

Método para la reconstrucción del ligamento patelofemoral medial utilizando el tendón del cuádriceps: descripción de la técnica y resultados / A Modified method for reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament using quadriceps tendon: a technical tip and results

Introducción La inestabilidad rotuliana y la luxación recurrente es un trastorno prevalente en niños y adolescentes que requiere la reparación quirúrgica del ligamento patelofemoral medial (LPFM), con especial atención en la preservación de las placas de crecimiento en esta población. Materiales y métodos Se describe un método modificado para la reconstrucción del ligamento patelofemoral medial utilizando un autoinjerto del tendón del cuádriceps, que se une con suturas de anclaje al punto isométrico epifisario de la inserción de LPFM. Desde el año 2012 se ha usado esta técnica en pacientes pediátricos en nuestra institución; aquí se presentan los resultados del seguimiento de esta cohorte de pacientes. Resultados Se ha utilizado esta técnica en 5 pacientes con inestabilidad patelofemoral con luxación rotuliana recidivante con una mediana de tiempo de seguimiento posquirúrgico de cuatro años (rango 2-5 años). La mediana del índice Insall­Salvati prequirúrgico fue 1.41. La mediana de puntuación de Kujala antes y después de la cirugía durante la última evaluación fue 76.5 (rango 34-100) y 98.5 (rango 75-100), respectivamente. No hubo casos de reluxación o episodios de subluxación durante el seguimiento. Un paciente presentaba como antecedente síndrome de West que dificultó las mediciones objetivas pre y postquirúrgicas; sin embargo, sus resultados fueron satisfactorios. Discusión Este método modificado constituye una técnica alternativa de fijación del injerto, que, en nuestra experiencia, proporciona resultados satisfactorios, con estabilidad rotuliana causada por la tensión fija del injerto. En los pacientes intervenidos no se han presentado recurrencias ni complicaciones.

Background Patellar instability and recurrent dislocation is a prevalent disorder in children and adolescents that require surgical repair of the medial patellar femoral ligament (MPFL), paying particular attention in preserving the open growth plates in this population. Methods We describe a modified method for reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament using an autograft from the quadriceps tendon, which is attached with anchor sutures to the epiphysial isometric point of the MPFL insertion. Since 2012, this technique has been used in pediatric patients in our institution; here, we present the long-term results of this cohort. Results We have used this technique in 5 patients with patellar instability with recurrent patellar dislocation with a median postsurgical follow-up time of four years (range 2-5 years). The median preoperative Insall­Salvati ratio was 1.41. The median Kujala score before and after surgery during the last evaluation was 76.5 (range 34-100) and 98.5 (range 75-100), respectively. No cases of redislocation or episodes of subluxation were present during the follow-up. One patient presented West syndrome which made difficult pre and postoperative objective assessment; however, his results were satisfactory. Discussion This modified method constitutes an alternative technique of graft fixation, that in our experience, provides satisfactory results, with patellar stability caused by fixed graft tension. In the operated patients, no recurrences nor complications have been present.

A Genetic Predictive Model Estimating the Risk of Developing Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Previous GWASs have revealed several susceptible variants associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Risk prediction based on these variants can potentially improve disease prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the combined effects of genetic factors on the development of AIS and to further develop a genetic predictive model. METHODS: A total of 914 AIS patients and 1441 normal controls were included in the discovery stage, which was followed by the replication stage composed of 871 patients and 1239 controls. Genotyping assay was performed to analyze 10 previously reported susceptible variants, including rs678741 of LBX1, rs241215 of AJAP1, rs13398147 of PAX3, rs16934784 of BNC2, rs2050157 of GPR126, rs2180439 of PAX1, rs4940576 of BCL2, rs7593846 of MEIS1, rs7633294 of MAGI1 and rs9810566 of TNIK. Logistic regression analysis was performed to generate a risk predictive model. The predicted risk score was calculated for each participant in the replication stage. RESULTS: The association of the 10 variants with AIS was successfully validated. The established model could explain approximately 7.9% of the overall variance. In the replication stage, patients were found to have a remarkably higher risk score as compared to the controls (44.2 ± 14.4 vs. 33.9 ± 12.5, p <0.001). There was a remarkably higher proportion of the risk score i.e. >40 in the patients than in the controls (59% vs. 28.9%, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Risk predictive model based on the previously reported genetic variants has a remarkable discriminative power. More clinical and genetic factors need to be studied, to further improve the proba-bility to predict the onset of AIS.