In cases of humeral diaphyseal fractures, is lateral approach surgery without radial nerve exploration as effective and safe as conventional surgery?

BACKGROUND: This study compares the efficacy and safety of lateral approach surgery with and without radial nerve dissection in treating humeral diaphyseal fractures. It assesses clinical, radiological, and complication outcomes, providing a description of the surgical methods and perioperative benefits. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 71 patients admitted between May 2015 and December 2022 who underwent lateral approach surgery for humeral diaphyseal fractures. Group 1, consisting of 34 patients without radial nerve dissection, and Group 2, comprising 37 patients with radial nerve dissection, were compared. Parameters such as age, gender, fracture side (right/left), fracture type, follow-up time, surgical duration, blood loss, radiological and clinical evaluations (including Shoulder-Elbow range of motion [ROM] and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score [Q-DASH]), and complications were examined. Surgical techniques and outcomes were documented. RESULTS: Both groups exhibited comparable distributions in age, gender, fracture types, and follow-up times (p>0.05). Group 1 demonstrated significantly lower surgical duration and blood loss compared to Group 2 (p<0.05 for both). Clinical assessment revealed satisfactory shoulder and elbow ROM within functional limits for all patients, with no instances of infection. Q-DASH scores were similar between groups. Postoperative radial nerve palsy occurred in one patient in Group 1 and three patients in Group 2, with all cases resolving uneventfully during outpatient follow-ups. Radiological assessment confirmed uneventful union in all patients. CONCLUSION: Lateral approach surgery without radial nerve dissection for humeral diaphyseal fractures offers comparable effectiveness and safety to conventional surgery, with potential perioperative advantages such as reduced operation time and blood loss.

Is intramedullary nailing of femoral diaphyseal fractures in the lateral decubitus position as safe and effective as on a traction table?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the radiological and clinical results of femoral diaphyseal fractures operated in the lateral decubitus position with those operated in the supine position on a traction table and to detail the perioperative surgical technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 2018 and January 2022, in this prospective, randomized, and single-blind comparative study, 75 patients diagnosed with adult femoral diaphyseal fractures to whom intramedullary nails were applied were operated in the lateral decubitus position without a traction table (Group 1, 37 patients) and in the supine position with a traction table (Group 2, 38 patients). Preoperative age, gender, fracture mechanism, fracture type, and surgical waiting times were determined. Perioperative anesthesia type, surgery preparation time, surgical time, number of fluoroscopy doses, amount of bleeding, and type of reduction were evaluated, and detailed observational descriptions of the surgical techniques were made. In the postoperative period, radiological evaluations were made with x-ray radiography and orthoroentgenogram, while in the clinical evaluation, hip-knee joint range of motion and rotational evaluation were made with the Craigs test. Follow-up periods were determined and complications noted. RESULTS: The average age was 32 in Group 1 and 28 in Group 2, the female/male ratio was 1:36 in Group 1 and 5:33 in Group 2, and the follow-up period was 18.2 months Group 1 and 21.7 months in Group 2. No significant difference was detected between the groups in terms of age, gender, fracture mechanism, fracture type, anesthesia type, surgical waiting time, and follow-up period (p > 0.05). Compared to Group 2, the shorter preparation time, surgical time, and number of fluoroscopy doses in Group 1 were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). The differences in the amount of bleeding and need for open reduction were not statistically significant between the groups (p > 0.05), and no statistical difference was found in joint range of motion and rotational evaluation in clinical evaluation in both groups (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of complications between groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found the lateral decubitus method without a traction table to be a safe and effective alternative to the supine method with a traction table in terms of the radiological and clinical results and that it also has the advantages of shortening the surgical time, reducing radiation exposure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1 prospective, randomized, single-blind controlled study.

Comparison of below-knee and above-knee amputations with demographic, comorbidity, and haematological parameters in patients who died.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish mortality predictive parameters with a higher contribution to mortality by comparing the demographic data, comorbid factors, and haematological values of patients who underwent below-knee and above-knee amputation and had died during the follow-up period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2014 and January 2022, 122 patients in a single centre who developed foot gangrene due to chronic diabetes and underwent below-knee or above-knee amputation were evaluated retrospectively. Patients who died of natural causes during the post-operative period were included in the study. Those who were amputated below the knee were assigned to Group 1, and those who were amputated above the knee were assigned to Group 2. The patients' age, gender, side of amputation, comorbid diseases, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), death time, and haematological values at the time of first admission were compared between the two groups and statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: Group 1 (n = 50) and Group 2 (n = 37) had similar distributions in terms of age, gender, side of operation, number of comorbidities, and CCI (p > 0.05). Group 2's mean ASA score and c-reactive protein (CRP) levels were statistically higher than those of Group 1 (p < 0.05). Death time, albumin value, and HbA1c levels were statistically lower in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups in haemogram, white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes, neutrophils, creatinine, and Na values at the time of first admission (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: A high ASA score, low albumin value, and high CRP value were significant predictors of high mortality. Creatinine levels and HbA1c values were quite ineffective in predicting mortality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3, retrospective comparative study.

Are external fixators as effective as volar plates in multi-fragmented radius distal intra-articular fractures (AO type C)?

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the radiological and clinical results of VP and EF applications in multi-fragmented radius distal intra-articular fractures (AO type C) in our clinic. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 80 patients who underwent surgery for radius distal fracture (AO type C) between 2014 and 2020. Group 1 comprised patients who were treated with VP, and Group 2 comprised patients who were treated with EF. Radiological evaluation was performed by measuring radial inclination, radial length, volar tilt, intra-articular step-off and ulnar variance by two-way radiography. The clinical findings were evaluated using the Gartland and Werley scoring system, and complications were noted. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, side, fracture subtypes and follow-up time (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in radiological parameters (based on cut-off values) (p > 0.05). The clinical evaluation did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.613). CONCLUSION: EF is as successful as VP in providing radiological cut-off values. EF treatment can be used as an effective and safe alternative method for multi-fragmented radius distal intra-articular fractures.

Association between fracture type and the risk of bleeding in intertrochanteric femur fractures.

Introduction: The current study aimed to determine the association between fracture type and pre-operative hemoglobin level decrease in intertrochanteric fractures. Further, the erythrocyte unit required in replacement therapy until discharge according to fracture type was evaluated. Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 194 patients diagnosed with intertrochanteric femur fracture who received proximal femoral nail implantation. Among them, 122 met the inclusion criteria, and they were divided into group 1 (stable fracture) and group 2 (unstable fracture) according to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen classification. Data on age, sex, fracture side, surgical waiting time, pre- and post-operative hemoglobin levels, and total erythrocyte units required were assessed. Then, statistical analysis was performed. Results: The stable and unstable groups were similar in terms of age, sex, fracture side, and surgical waiting time (p > 0.05). The average erythrocyte units required in replacement therapy were 1.62 (total: 96) in group 2 and 0.91 (total: 57) in group 1. Moreover, group 2 was more likely to require eythrocyte replacement than group 1 (p = 0.001). The average hemoglobin level decreases were 1.70 g/dL in group 1 and 1.95 g/dL in group 2. The pre-operative hemoglobin level decrease had a similar distribution in both groups (p = 0.239). Conclusions: The pre-operative blood loss volume was similar between unstable and stable intertrochanteric fractures. Moreover, at unstable group, the need for erythrocyte replacement therapy was high in the whole period until discharge.

Is proximal femoral nailing of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in the lateral decubitus position without a traction table as safe and effective as on a traction table?

OBJECTIVES: Using proximal femoral nailing (PFN) in the lateral decubitus (lateral) position may be an option when no traction table is available. We hypothesized that applying PFN would be effective and reliable in the lateral position without a traction table. To test our hypothesis, we compared the two techniques in a prospective, randomized controlled study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients (> 60 years of age) with unstable intertrochanteric fractures were randomly operated on prospectively in the lateral position without a traction table (Group 1) or in the supine position with a traction table (Group 2) between April 2018 and April 2019. We compared the surgery preparation time, total anesthesia time, duration of surgery, fluoroscopy exposure time, and amount of bleeding between the two procedures. The type-apex distance (TAD), collodiaphyseal angle (CDA), reduction quality, and lag quadrant were measured radiologically. The Harris Hip Score (HHS) was also calculated. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 18.5 (14-27) months in Group 1 and 19.9 (14-27) months in Group 2. The mean follow-up time, mean age, sex distribution, and fracture pattern were similar between the groups. The preparation time and total anesthesia time of Group 2 were longer than those of Group 1, and the fluoroscopy time of Group 2 was shorter than that of Group 1 (p < 0.05). No significant differences in surgical time, bleeding amount, TAD, CDA, target lag quadrant, reduction quality, or the HHS were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that PFN is a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures when a traction table is not available in the operating room.