The Translated Proximal Humerus Fracture: A Comparison of Operative and Nonoperative Management.

OBJECTIVES: To report on the long-term outcomes of the management of translated proximal humerus fractures. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study was conducted from January 2010 to December 2018. SETTING: Academic Level 1 trauma center. PARTICIPANTS/PATIENTS: A total of 108 patients with a proximal humerus fracture with ≥100% translation, defined as no cortical bony contact between the shaft and humeral head fragments, were included. INTERVENTION: Patients were managed nonoperatively with sling immobilization or with operative management as determined by the treating surgeon. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures were the Oxford Shoulder Score, EQ-5D-5L, return to work, and radiological outcomes. Complications recorded included further surgery, loss of position/fixation, nonunion/malunion, and avascular necrosis. RESULTS: Of the 108 patients, 76 underwent operative intervention and 32 were managed nonoperatively. The mean (SD) age in the operative group was 54.3 (±20.2) years and in the nonoperative group was 73.3 (±15.3) years ( P < 0.001). There was no association between Oxford Shoulder Score and management options (mean 38.5 [±9.5] operative versus mean 41.3 [±8.5] nonoperative, P = 0.48). Operative management was associated with improved health status outcomes; EQ-5D utility score adjusted mean difference was 0.16 (95% CI, 0.04-0.27; P = 0.008); EQ-5D VAS adjusted mean difference was 19.2 (95% CI, 5.2-33.2; P = 0.008). Operative management was associated with a lower odds of nonunion (adjusted OR 0.30; 95% CI, 0.09-0.97; P = 0.04), malunion (adjusted OR 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.51; P = 0.003), and complications (adjusted OR 0.07; 95% CI, 0.02-0.32; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Translated proximal humerus fractures with ≥100% displacement demonstrate improved health status and radiological outcomes after surgical fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Case Report: Midshaft clavicle fracture with concomitant high grade (Type V) acromioclavicular joint dislocation.

Introduction: Concomitant acromioclavicular joint dislocation and midshaft clavicle fracture are rare injuries, generally resulting from high energy trauma, with limited previous experience in management. Case: A 30 year old male presented following a pushbike accident. He had suffered a head on collision with another cyclist. Radiographic examination demonstrated a displaced midshaft clavicle fracture with a Rockwood Type V acromioclavicular joint dislocation. Operative management was undertaken using a dual plating technique. At six month follow up the patient demonstrated full range of motion and had no pain. Conclusion: Appropriate radiographic evaluation and careful intraoperative assessment are required using the principles of management for acromioclavicular joint injuries, along with stabilization of the mid-clavicular fracture to reduce the risk of non-union.

Comparison of state-of-the-art machine and deep learning algorithms to classify proximal humeral fractures using radiology text.

INTRODUCTION: Proximal humeral fractures account for a significant proportion of all fractures. Detailed accurate classification of the type and severity of the fracture is a key component of clinical decision making, treatment and plays an important role in orthopaedic trauma research. This research aimed to assess the performance of Machine Learning (ML) multiclass classification algorithms to classify proximal humeral fractures using radiology text data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from adult (16 + years) patients admitted to a major trauma centre for management of their proximal humerus fracture from January 2010 to January 2019 were used (1,324). Six input text datasets were used for classification: X-ray and/or CT scan reports (primary) and concatenation of patient age and/or patient sex. One of seven Neer class labels were classified. Models were evaluated using accuracy, recall, precision, F1, and One-versus-rest scores. RESULTS: A number of statistical ML algorithms performed acceptably and one of the BERT models, exhibiting good accuracy of 61% and an excellent one-versus-rest score above 0.8. The highest precision, recall and F1 scores were 50%, 39% and 39% respectively, being considered reasonable scores with the sparse text data used and in the context of machine learning. CONCLUSION: ML and BERT algorithms based on routine unstructured X-ray and CT text reports, combined with the demographics of the patient, show promise in Neer classification of proximal humeral fractures to aid research. Use of these algorithms shows potential to speed up the classification task and assist radiologist, surgeons and researchers.

Comparison of the quality of documentation between electronic and paper medical records in orthopaedic trauma patients.

Objective The medical record is critical for documentation and communication between healthcare professionals. This study compared the completeness of orthopaedic documentation between the electronic medical record (EMR) and paper medical record (PMR). Methods A review was undertaken of 400 medical records (200 EMR, 200 PMR) of patients with operatively managed traumatic lower limb injury. The operative report, discharge summary and first and second out-patient reviews were evaluated using criteria designed by a senior orthopaedic surgeon and senior physiotherapist. The criteria included information deemed critical to the post-operative care of the patient in the first 6 weeks post-surgery. Results In all cases, an operative report was completed by a senior surgeon. Notable findings included inferior documentation of patient weight-bearing status on the operative report in the EMR than PMR group (P = 0.018). There was a significant improvement in the completion of discharge summaries in the EMR compared with PMR cohort (100% vs 82.5% respectively; P < 0.001). In the PMR group, 70.0% of discharge summaries were completed and adequately documented, compared with 91.5% of those in the EMR group (P < 0.001). At out-patient review, there was an improvement in documentation of weight-bearing instructions in the EMR compared with PMR group (81.1% vs 76.2% respectively; P = 0.032). Conclusion The EMR is associated with an improvement in the standard of orthopaedic medical record documentation, but deficiencies remain in key components of the medical record. What is known about the topic? Medical records are an essential tool in modern medical practice and have significant implications for patient care and management, communication and medicolegal issues. Despite the importance of comprehensive documentation, numerous examples of poor documentation continue to be demonstrated. Recently, significant changes to the medical record in Australia have been implemented with the conversion of some hospitals to an EMR and the implementation of the My Health Record. What does this paper add? Standards of patient care should be monitored continuously and deficiencies identified in order to implement measures for improvement and to close the quality loop. This study has highlighted that although there has been improvement in medical record keeping with the implementation of an EMR, the standard of orthopaedic medical record keeping continues to be below what is expected, and several key areas of documentation require improvement. What are the implications for practitioners? The implications of these findings for practitioners are to highlight current deficiencies in documentation and promote change in current practice to improve the quality of medical record documentation among medical staff. Although the EMR has improved documentation, there remain areas for further improvement, and hospital administrators will find these observations useful in implementing ongoing change.

The use of the ligament augmentation and reconstruction system for posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in isolated and multiligament knee injuries: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Ligament Augmentation and Reconstruction System (LARS) in posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction in isolated PCL injuries and multiligament knee injuries, analysing clinical, radiographic, and patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). METHODS: A systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines was performed through Embase via Ovid, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies reviewing LARS use for PCL reconstruction. The methodological quality was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) criteria. RESULTS: From 225 results screened, 13 studies were included published between 2004 and 2020, analysing LARS use for PCL reconstruction. Mean follow-up was 21 months to 11.9 years, however only four studies had follow-up of over five years. Results in isolated PCL reconstruction utilising LARS demonstrated scores that were consistent with good function and minimal limitation in daily or sporting activities, in addition to a significant improvement in knee laxity and low complication rates. Symptomatic rupture and synovitis rates were both 1.7% in this group. LARS use in complex multiligament injuries demonstrated satisfactory PROMs, although there was concern regarding residual laxity on stress radiography. CONCLUSIONS: LARS demonstrates good outcomes in PCL injury reconstruction in the short to mid-term, particularly in isolated PCL injuries, achieving equivocal or improved results compared to autograft reconstruction using hamstring tendon in the three comparative studies included. LARS has a quicker recovery time and no donor-site morbidity, however long-term data is lacking. Utilising LARS for reconstruction of the PCL in multiligament injuries revealed more variable results.

PRECICE intramedullary nail in the treatment of adult leg length discrepancy.

BACKGROUND: Limb length discrepancy in adults is not an uncommon occurrence following trauma and limited literature exists on limb lengthening in skeletally mature populations using modern techniques. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes of limb lengthening surgery using the PRECICE magnetic limb lengthening intramedullary nail in an adult population. METHOD: From 2013 to 2018, 21 adult patients were operated by a single surgeon, using the PRECICE nail, for lower limb length discrepancies. Low energy femoral osteotomies were performed via a limited approach. Tibial osteotomies were performed using a percutaneous technique and Gigli saw. A distraction rate of 0.75 mm/day was used as a standard protocol with change in rate of 0.25 mm/day implemented as required. Patients were followed up until radiological evidence of consolidation. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 36.4 years (range 21-65), with 19 patients being male. Seventeen femoral and four tibial lengthenings were performed. Mean follow up was 15.1 months (range 6-30). Eleven patients underwent deformity correction at time of nail insertion (10 femoral, 1 tibial). All patients achieved correct lengthening (mean gain 36.5 mm, range 18-80 mm). All patients consolidated their regenerate bone (mean 268 days, range 99-825). Mean femoral consolidation index was 6.5, mean tibial consolidation index was 16.1 (p = 0.002). Six patients had delayed consolidation of regenerate bone. Increasing age (p = 0.04), number of prior operations (p = 0.03), and smoking (p = 0.01) were associated with delayed consolidation. Four of 21 (19%) patients suffered a complication, with one implant failure. CONCLUSIONS: The PRECICE intramedullary nail is a reliable limb lengthening device in skeletally mature patients, providing predictable lengthening and bone regeneration.

Patient Comprehension of Common Orthopedic Terminology.

BACKGROUND: Medical terminology is often complex and confusing to lay people. Even common terms used by health care professionals often have other meanings and can easily be misinterpreted. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify patient comprehension of common orthopedic terminology across multiple hospital settings. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2016 until November 2016 at an Academic Level 1 trauma center. One hundred and fifty emergency department patients and 150 orthopedic inpatients with isolated orthopedic injuries were included. Participants completed a questionnaire consisting of 12 multiple-choice questions determining patient comprehension of common orthopedic terminology. KEY RESULTS: Total comprehension scores on the questionnaire were scored as number correct out of 11. In the emergency department, the mean total score was 5.01 compared to 5.45 in orthopedic inpatients (p = .046). Patients in both groups demonstrated poor understanding of medical terms (including fracture, ruptured tendon) and anatomical terms. In contrast, nonmedical terminology such as broken bone was better understood. Fifty-seven percent of participants stated that they understood their orthopedic condition completely. Notably, there was no correlation (r = .15) between comprehension and participants describing that they completely understood their orthopedic condition. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency department patients and orthopedic inpatients demonstrate poor comprehension of orthopedic terminology. Health care professionals should assume a poor level of comprehension during their interactions with orthopedic patients and ensure that patient communication is clear, concise, and informative to facilitate better patient comprehension, informed consent, and an improved doctor-patient relationship. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2019;3(3):e187-e193.]. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This study evaluated patient comprehension of common orthopedic terminology in orthopedic inpatients and patients presenting to the emergency department with orthopedic injuries. This study found that patients demonstrate poor understanding of terminology used commonly by health care professionals, and that patients demonstrated little insight into their lack of comprehension. These findings have implications for doctor-patient communication, informed consent, and patient satisfaction.

Outcomes of total hip arthroplasty surgery in heart and lung transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, arthroplasty in heart and lung transplant patients has been undertaken to manage transplant-related complications. More recently, arthroplasty is increasingly being performed for end-stage osteoarthritis. This study reviewed short-term outcomes and complications of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in heart and lung transplant recipients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of heart and lung transplant recipients who underwent THA was identified using ICD-10 coding. Post-operative complications and hospital outcomes were collected using the patient medical record. RESULTS: Thirteen patients underwent 17 primary THA between 2008 and 2017, including five for osteoarthritis and 12 for femoral head avascular necrosis. Of the 13 patients, nine were bilateral sequential lung transplant recipients and four were orthotopic heart transplant recipients. The mean patient age was 61 years, with nine being male. Overall, five patients had one post-operative complication with eight having two or more complications. Surgical complications included three intraoperative fractures, three patients with superficial infection and one with deep infection requiring surgery. Seven patients had significant bleeding requiring blood transfusion. Prosthetic dislocations occurred in two patients, with one patient requiring revision surgery (developing a joint infection). Other complications included one pulmonary embolism, two episodes of pneumonia and six episodes of acute kidney injury, whilst three patients developed post-operative delirium. At 6-week follow-up, five patients had ongoing pain and seven had limitations with mobility. At 12-month follow-up, three patients reported ongoing pain. CONCLUSION: Complications following THA after transplant are common. The risks and benefits of THA should be carefully considered preoperatively in this cohort.

Comparison of health literacy in privately insured and public hospital orthopaedic patients.

Objective The aim of the present study was to quantify and compare patient health literacy between privately insured and public orthopaedic patients. Methods As part of the present cross-sectional study, elective postoperative orthopaedic patients across two sites were recruited and asked to complete a questionnaire at the first postoperative out-patient review. Patients were divided into three groups: (1) a public group (Public); (2) a private group (Private-pre); and (3) a private group that completed the questionnaire immediately after the out-patient review (Private-post). The questionnaire consisted of six questions regarding surgical management, expected recovery time and postoperative instructions. Patients were further asked to grade their satisfaction regarding information received throughout their management. Results In all, 150 patients completed the questionnaire, 50 in each of the three groups. Patients in the Public, Private-pre and Private-post groups answered a mean 2.74, 3.24 and 4.70 of 6 questions correctly respectively. The Private-pre group was 1.46-fold more likely to demonstrate correct health literacy than the Public group, whereas the Private-post group was 2.44-fold more likely to demonstrate improved health literacy than the Private-pre group. Patient satisfaction with information received was not associated with health literacy. Conclusion Limited health literacy in orthopaedic patients continues to be an area of concern. Both private and public orthopaedic patients demonstrated poor health literacy, but private patients demonstrated significant improvement after the out-patient review. What is known about the topic? Limited health literacy is a growing public health issue worldwide, with previous literature demonstrating a prevalence of low health literacy of 26% and marginal health literacy of 20% among all patient populations. Of concern, limited health literacy has been shown to result in a range of adverse health outcomes, including increased mortality and chronic disease morbidity. It has also been associated with an increased rate of hospitalisation and use of healthcare resources. Previous work in the orthopaedic trauma setting has found poor levels of health literacy and poor understanding of diagnosis, management and prognosis in the Australian public health system. Promisingly, it has been shown that simple, targeted interventions can improve patient health literacy. What does this paper add? This study further highlights that health literacy exhibited by orthopaedic patients is poor, particularly among patients in the public healthcare system. The present study is the first to have demonstrated that health literacy is poor among patients in both the public and private healthcare systems, despite these patients having distinctly different demographics. Promisingly, the present study shows that, unlike public orthopaedic out-patient review, private orthopaedic out-patient review appears to be effective in increasing patient health literacy regarding their orthopaedic condition and its management. What are the implications for practitioners? Health literacy is essential for patients to effectively communicate with doctors and achieve good health outcomes. Healthcare professionals need to be aware that a large proportion of patients have poor health literacy and difficulty understanding health-related information, particularly pertaining to that surrounding diagnosis, management and prognosis. This study highlights the need for healthcare professionals to ensure that they communicate with patients at an appropriate level to ensure patient understanding during the pre-, peri- and postoperative stages of management. Further, healthcare professionals should be aware that there is potential to improve patient health literacy at routine out-patient review, provided that this opportunity is used as an educational resource.

Comparison of the Source and Quality of Information on the Internet Between Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: An Australian Experience.

BACKGROUND: The internet is a valuable tool, but concerns exist regarding the quality and accuracy of medical information available online. PURPOSE: To evaluate the source and quality of information on the internet relating to anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR) compared with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to 50 ACLR patients in Australia to determine their use of the internet to research their operation and their familiarity with the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee. The most common search terms were determined, and the first 70 websites returned by the 5 most popular search engines were used to assess the quality of information about ACLR and ALLR. Each site was categorized by type and was assessed for quality and validity using the DISCERN score, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and a novel specific content score for each procedure. The presence of the Health on the Net Code (HONcode) seal was also recorded. RESULTS: The majority (84%) of ACLR patients used the internet to research their operation. The quality of information available for ALLR was significantly inferior to that for ACLR according to the DISCERN score (37.3 ± 3.4 vs 54.4 ± 4.6; P < .0001) and specific content score (5.3 ± 1.3 vs 11.0 ± 1.5; P < .0001). ACLR websites were predominantly physician produced, while the majority of ALLR websites were academic. In contrast to ACLR websites, the majority of ALLR websites did not provide information on the indication for treatment or potential complications. ALLR websites scored better on the JAMA benchmark criteria due to the predominance of academic websites. A greater proportion of ACLR websites (14.6%) versus ALLR websites (2.5%) provided an HONcode seal. Correlation was demonstrated between the DISCERN score and specific content scores for both ACLR and ALLR but not with JAMA benchmark criteria. The specific content score had high reliability for both ACLR and ALLR. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients undergoing ACLR in Australia used the internet to research the procedure. The quality of information on the internet relating to ALLR was significantly inferior to information about ACLR. Most ALLR websites failed to include crucial information about the indication or options for treatment, prognosis, and potential complications. Surgeons should be aware of the information to which their patients are exposed through the internet and should be proactive in directing patients to appropriate websites.

Health Literacy in Orthopaedic Trauma Patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the level of health literacy in a postoperative orthopaedic trauma population and to evaluate the efficacy of a simple predischarge discussion strategy, targeted at improving health literacy. DESIGN: A pre-post intervention study was conducted from April 2014 to January 2015. SETTING: Academic Level 1 trauma center. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred ninety consecutive orthopaedic trauma patients with operatively managed lower limb fractures were recruited. All eligible participants agreed to participate. INTERVENTION: The first ninety-nine patients received usual care (UC). The following 91 patients received a structured predischarge discussion, including x-rays, written and verbal information, from the orthopaedic staff (DG). Patients were then randomized into health literacy evaluation before first outpatient review or after first outpatient review. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was a questionnaire determining health literacy. RESULTS: Ninety-six (97%) of the UC patients and 87 (96%) of the discussion patients (DG) completed the interview. UC preoutpatient (n = 46) demonstrated a mean score of 4.67 of a maximum 8. UC postoutpatient (n = 50) demonstrated a mean score of 5.42. DG preoutpatient (n = 47) demonstrated a mean score of 6.70. DG postoutpatient (n = 40) demonstrated a mean score of 7.08. CONCLUSIONS: Australian orthopaedic trauma patients demonstrate poor health literacy, with this not showing improvement after their first outpatient follow-up visit. The use of a time efficient, structured predischarge discussion improved patient health literacy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

A novel combination technique of cold crystalloid perfusion but not cold storage facilitates transplantation of canine hearts donated after circulatory death.

BACKGROUND: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) represents a potential new source of hearts to increase the donor pool. We showed previously that DCD hearts in Greyhound dogs could be resuscitated and preserved by continuous cold crystalloid perfusion but not by cold static storage and could demonstrate excellent contractile and metabolic function on an in vitro system. In the current study, we demonstrate that resuscitated DCD hearts are transplantable. METHODS: Donor Greyhound dogs (n = 12) were divided into perfusion (n = 8) and cold static storage (n = 4) groups. General anesthesia was induced and ventilation ceased for 30 minutes to achieve circulatory death. Donor cardiectomy was performed, and for 4 hours the heart was preserved by controlled reperfusion, followed by continuous cold perfusion with an oxygenated crystalloid perfusate or by static cold storage, after which orthotopic heart transplantation was performed. Recovery was assessed over 4 hours by hemodynamic monitoring. RESULTS: During cold perfusion, hearts showed continuous oxygen consumption and low lactate levels, indicating aerobic metabolism. The 8 dogs in the perfusion group were weaned off bypass, and 4 hours after bypass produced cardiac output of 4.73 ± 0.51 liters/min, left ventricular power of 7.63 ± 1.32 J/s, right ventricular power of 1.40 ± 0.43 J/s, and left ventricular fractional area shortening of 39.1% ± 5.2%, all comparable to pre-transplant values. In the cold storage group, 3 of 4 animals could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass, and the fourth exhibited low-level function. CONCLUSIONS: Cold crystalloid perfusion, but not cold static storage, can resuscitate and preserve the DCD donor heart in a canine model of heart transplantation, thus rendering it transplantable. Controlled reperfusion and cold crystalloid perfusion have potential for clinical application in DCD transplantation.

Medical record keeping and system performance in orthopaedic trauma patients.

Objective The medical record is critical for documentation and communication between healthcare professionals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate important aspects of the orthopaedic medical record and system performance to determine whether any deficiencies exist in these areas. Methods Review of 200 medical records of surgically treated traumatic lower limb injury patients was undertaken. The operative report, discharge summary and first and second outpatient reviews were evaluated. Results In all cases, an operative report was completed by a senior surgeon. Weight-bearing status was adequately documented in 91% of reports. Discharge summaries were completed for 82.5% of admissions, with 87.3% of these having instructions reflective of those in the operative report. Of first and second outpatient reviews, 69% and 73%, respectively, occurred within 1 week of the requested time. Previously documented management plans were changed in 30% of reviews. At 6-months post-operatively, 42% of patients had been reviewed by a member of their operating team. Discussion Orthopaedic medical record documentation remains an area for improvement. In addition, hospital out-patient systems perform suboptimally and may affect patient outcomes. What is known about the topic? Medical records are an essential tool in modern medical practice. Despite the importance of comprehensive documentation in the medical record, numerous examples of poor documentation have been demonstrated, including substandard documentation during consultant ward rounds by junior doctors leading to a breakdown in healthcare professional communication and potential patient mismanagement. Further inadequacies of medical record documentation have been demonstrated in surgical discharge notes, with complete and correct documentation reported to be as low as 65%. What does this paper add? Standards of patient care should be constantly monitored and deficiencies identified in order to implement a remedy and close the quality loop. The present study has highlighted that the standard of orthopaedic trauma medical record keeping at an Australian Level 1 trauma centre is below what is expected and several key areas of documentation require improvement. This paper further evaluates the system performance of the out-patient system, an area where, to the authors knowledge, there is no previous work published. The findings show that the performance was below what is expected for surgical review, with many patients failing to be reviewed by their operating surgeon. What are the implications for practitioners? The present study shows that there is a poor level of documentation and a standard of out-patient review below what is expected. The implications of these findings will be to highlight current deficiencies to practitioners and promote change in current practice to improve the quality of medical record documentation among medical staff. Further, the findings of poor system performance will promote change in the current system of delivering out-patient care to patients.