Mortality Rate and Outcomes of Omicron Variant Positive Patients with Osteoporotic Fractures: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: During the lockdown period associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, increased mortality rates among patients with COVID-19 have been reported. This study aimed to analyze the mortality rate of osteoporotic hip fractures in patients who were COVID-19-positive after the lockdown during the Omicron period. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed with 194 patients who were aged 70 years or more and diagnosed with osteoporotic hip fracture. The patients were divided into two groups according to their COVID-19 diagnoses. Surgery was performed within 10 days of diagnosis. Age, sex, past medical history, time until surgery, postoperative complications, and the primary outcome of mortality rate at 30 and 90 days were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 194 patients, 13 and 181 were in the COVID-19-positive and negative group, respectively. The total, 30-day, and 90-day mortality rates in the control and COVID-positive group were 11% and 0% (P=0.368), 1.7% and 0% (P=1.000), and 5.0% and 0% (P=1.000), respectively. No significant differences were observed in age, sex, history, time to surgery, postoperative complications, or postoperative mortality. In 1:1 propensity score matching, the time to surgery was 5.34 days in patients who were COVID-19-positive, and 3.00 days in patients who were COVID-19 negative, with no statistical significance (P=0.09). Age, sex, medical history, postoperative complications, and postoperative mortality were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the COVID-19 diagnosis, surgical treatment without delay is believed to result in positive outcomes in older patients with osteoporotic hip fractures, as no significant differences in mortality rate and respiratory complications were observed between patients who were COVID-19-positive and those who were COVID-19 negative.

Analyzing the Risk Factors of Mortality after Osteoporotic Hip Fractures Using the National Health Insurance Service Sample Cohort 2.0 Database.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine risk factors that affect mortality following osteoporotic hip fracture in patients 50 years or older using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) sample cohort 2.0 database. Materials and Methods: Data from 2,533 patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria for the NHIS sample cohort 2.0 database were used in this study. Data from patients who suffered osteoporotic hip fractures between 2002-2015 were used. An analysis of correlations between the incidence of osteoporotic hip fractures and various factors (sex, age, underlying diseases, etc.) was performed. Analysis of the associations between the mortality of osteoporotic hip fracture and the various factors with hazard ratio (HR) was performed using Cox regression models. Results: Patient observation continued for an average of 38.12±32.09 months. During the observation period, a higher incidence of hip fracture was observed in women; however, higher mortality following the fracture was observed in men (HR=0.728; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.635-0.836). The incidence and mortality of fractures increased when there were increasing age, more than three underlying diseases (HR=1.945; 95% CI, 1.284-2.945), cerebrovascular diseases (HR=1.429; 95% CI, 1.232-1.657), and renal diseases (HR=1.248; 95% CI, 1.040-1.497). Also, higher mortality was observed in patients who were underweight (HR=1.342; 95% CI, 1.079-1.669), current smokers (HR=1.338; 95% CI, 1.104-1.621), and inactivity (HR=1.379; 95% CI, 1.189-1.601). Conclusion: Male gender, the presence of cerebrovascular or kidney disease, a more than three underlying diseases, underweight, a current smoker, and inactivity were risk factors that increased mortality.

Risk Factors for Mortality Associated With Pelvic Fractures at a Level I Trauma Center.

Pelvic bone fractures are usually caused by high-energy trauma and are often accompanied by organ injuries. For hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic bone fractures, knowing the anatomic type of fracture-whether it is a pelvic ring injury or an acetabular fracture-might be helpful in prioritizing treatment. A total of 302 patients with pelvic bone fractures who received treatment at the authors' level I trauma center between March 1, 2015, and February 28, 2017, were included in this study. Patients with pelvic bone fractures were enrolled in the Korea Trauma Data Bank and classified by anatomic type of pelvic bone fracture: pelvic ring injury, acetabular fracture, or combined fractures. The authors used t tests to analyze survival and death groups and multivariate regression to analyze mortality factors. Different types of pelvic bone fractures had significantly different mortality rates (P<.001). Forty-four (22.6%) of 195 patients with pelvic ring injuries and 6 (18.8%) of 32 patients with combined fractures died. Meanwhile, only 1 of 75 patients with isolated acetabular fractures died (1.3%). The mortality rate was lowest for type A pelvic ring injuries (8.2%) and highest for type C pelvic ring injuries (68.2%). The difference was statistically significant (P<.001). It is commonly acknowledged that age, combined injuries, higher Injury Severity Score, and lower initial systolic blood pressure are risk factors for mortality, but research has shown that classification and anatomic type of pelvic bone fracture are also highly related. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(6):e724-e728.].

The usefulness of reformatting CT scanning plane to distinguish sacral dysmorphism and introducing the variable of elevated height for predicting the possibility of trans-sacral screw fixation.

INTRODUCTION: Ilio-sacral screw fixation has been used for sacral fractures and sacroiliac joint dislocations. However, it is associated with significant complications including screw loosening with backing-out and loss of reduction. Trans-sacral screw fixation is indicated for rigid fixation in specific circumstances including bilateral posterior ring injuries, osteoporotic bone, or to supplement other types of posterior ring fixation. HYPOTHESIS: The reformatting the CT scanning plane may distinguish sacral dysmorphism and predict the possibility of trans-sacral screw fixation by introducing the new indicator. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The CT data of 112 adult cadavers (61 males and 51 females) were imported into Mimics® software and a 7.0 mm-sized trans-sacral screw was virtually placed in the ideal position of S1. The osseous widths around screw in the axial images (AxWS1) were measured. By reformatting the CT scanning plane parallel to the superior endplate of S1, the AxWRS1 was measured and the height of elevated segment in the upper sacrum (elevated height) was assessed as a new preoperative indicator. RESULTS: Cortical violation around screw was detected in 26 models and was considered as sacral dysmorphism. The average AxWS1 was measured as 13.70±2.76mm in the non-dysmorphism group, and 5.81±2.19mm in the dysmorphism group, with statistical difference (p<0.001). By reformatting the CT scanning plane, the average AxWRS1 increased to 16.61±2.79mm in the non-dysmorphism group, and 8.04±2.62 in the dysmorphism group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). The elevated height was 3.29±4.19mm in the non-dysmorphism group, and 17.52±3.09mm in the dysmorphism group, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). Based on the ROC curve analysis, the cut-off value of elevated height was 12.90mm (sensitivity 1.0 and specificity 1.0). DISCUSSION: By reformatting the CT scanning plane, the osseous width around screw was widened, and the new preoperative indicator of elevated height could be introduced to predict the possibility of trans-sacral screw fixation into S1. If the elevated height exceeded 13mm, the pelvis was assigned to sacral dysmorphism and thus, could not apply the trans-sacral screw fixation into S1. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, controlled laboratory study.

Fragment specific fixation technique using 2.7 mm VA LCP for comminuted posterior wall acetabular fractures: a novel surgical technique.

PURPOSE: The purposes of the study were to introduce surgical technique of fragment-specific fixation technique using multiple 2.7-mm variable-angle locking compression plates (VA LCPs) in comminuted posterior wall acetabular fractures and reported its clinical results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among the 68 patients, 23 with comminuted posterior wall factures with ≥ 3 fragments in the CT scan and no column involvement with a minimum follow-up duration of 12 months were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the clinical results after the treatment of comminuted posterior wall acetabular fractures via the fragment-specific fixation technique using 2.7-mm variable-angle locking compression plates (VA LCPs) retrospectively. RESULTS: The average duration of follow-up was 26.8 months. Anatomical reduction was achieved in eighteen patients. Imperfect reduction was achieved in five patients. 22 patients achieved fracture union and one patient underwent revision surgery owing to acute postoperative infection. There were no complications, including loss of reduction, fixative failures, sciatic nerve palsy, heterotopic ossification, and early posttraumatic arthritis among 22 patients. The average functional outcome was measured as 'very good'. CONCLUSION: Fragment-specific fixation technique using 2.7-mm VA LCPs for comminuted posterior wall acetabular fractures could be an acceptable alternative means of surgical fixation.

Comparison of the Clinical Outcomes of Open Surgery Versus Arthroscopic Surgery for Chronic Refractory Lateral Epicondylitis of the Elbow.

Numerous surgical options have been introduced for the treatment of chronic refractory lateral epicondylitis of the elbow, but it remains unclear which option is superior. The clinical outcomes of an open surgery group and an arthroscopic surgery group were evaluated, and the results of the 2 procedures were compared. From among patients with lateral epicondylitis refractory to 6 months of conservative treatment, 68 patients satisfying study criteria were recruited. Open surgery was performed in 34 cases (group 1), and arthroscopic surgery was performed in 34 cases (group 2). Compared with preoperatively, the 2 groups had significantly improved values for grip strength, range of motion, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score at 12 months postoperatively. Group 1 had significantly greater improvements in grip strength and visual analog scale pain score compared with group 2 (P=.048 vs P=.006). Group 2 had significantly greater (P=.045) improvement in pronation compared with group 1. Group 2 returned to work sooner than group 1. On the questionnaire regarding satisfaction with surgery 24 months postoperatively, 4 patients (12%) in group 2 reported dissatisfaction compared with no patients in group 1. Open surgery and arthroscopic surgery both yielded good clinical results. Nonetheless, for patients requiring muscle strength or having severe pain at work, open surgery would be more effective. [Orthopedics. 2018; 41(4):237-247.].