An overview of the orthopedic patient profile in the first five days following February 6th, 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake: A single-center experience in the earthquake zone.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the patient profile at a medium-volume hospital located in the earthquake zone among patients who received orthopedic treatment within the first five days after the natural disaster that was considered a major earthquake. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between February 6th, 2023 and February 10th, 2023, a total of 338 patients (156 males, 182 females; mean age: 42.2±9.7 years; range, 0 to 87 years) who received orthopedic treatment in our center were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into four groups according to age as follows: infants (younger than one year of age), children (one to 13 years), adults (14 to 59 years), and elderly (60 years or older). RESULTS: Considering the age distribution, 291 (86%) patients were young adults. A total of 173 orthopedic surgeries were performed, including internal fixation in 63 patients, external fixation in 11 patients, upper/lower extremity fasciotomy in 47 patients, amputation in 39 patients, and soft tissue debridement in 13 patients. CONCLUSION: It is of utmost importance to recognize the principles of emergency fracture fixation and fasciotomy to successfully perform orthopedic surgeries after a natural disaster such as a major earthquake, particularly when the number of earthquake victims is considerably high.

Postoperative Outcomes for Plate-Screw Fixation in Adolescent Patients with Ankle Fracture.

BACKROUND: We compared postoperative outcomes in adolescent patients who did and did not undergo plate-screw fixation of at least one of the lateral, medial, or posterior malleoli in ankle fractures. It was hypothesized that using plate-screw fixation would not negatively affect postoperative outcomes. METHODS: All of the preoperative data and postoperative outcomes for 56 patients with ankle fractures aged 12 to 15 years who underwent surgical treatment between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2017, were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were grouped into plate-screw fixation (n = 15) and non-plate-screw fixation (n = 41) groups and as high- and low-energy trauma patients. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in postoperative outcomes between the plate-screw fixation and non-plate-screw fixation groups. The mean American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score of high-energy trauma patients was significantly lower than that of low-energy trauma patients (P < .001), and the rate of degenerative change in high-energy trauma patients was significantly higher than that in low-energy trauma patients (P = .008). There were no significant differences between high- and low-energy trauma patients with respect to other postoperative outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: If anatomical reduction is performed without damaging the growth plate, postoperative clinical outcomes may be near perfect regardless of screw-plate fixation use. Postoperative outcomes of adolescent ankle fracture after high-energy trauma, independent of Salter-Harris classification and surgical treatment methods, were negative.

Comparison of three surgical methods in the treatment of intraarticular comminuted distal radius fractures: Volar locking plate, non-bridging external fixator, and bridging external fixator.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate both clinical and radiological results of intraarticular comminuted distal radius fractures treated with volar locking plate (VLP), non-bridging external fixator (NbEF), and bridging external fixator (BEF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 95 patients (44 males, 51 females; median age 49 years; interquartile range (IQR), 37 to 60 years) who were treated with VLP, NbEF, or BEF due to intraarticular comminuted distal radius fractures between January 2010 and April 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. 34 of these patients were treated with a VLP (VLP group), 30 with a NbEF (NbEF group) and 31 with a BEF (BEF group). In the final follow-up, all patients were evaluated according to clinical and radiological parameters. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 5 (IQR, 4 to 6) years. The VLP and NbEF groups had better results than the BEF group in terms of wrist range of motion, loss of grip strength, Green O'Brien, Mayo Modified Wrist, The Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) and VAS scores. The VLP group had the most significant radiological improvement. CONCLUSION: Although clinical and radiological results for intraarticular comminuted distal radius fractures are more significantly improved in patients treated with VLP, favorable results close to VLP can be also obtained with NbEF. The BEF seems to be the least effective treatment option among the three surgical methods.

Examining implant superiority in the treatment of simple pertrochanteric fractures of the proximal femur in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological results of the proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) with those of the dynamic hip screw (DHS) and percutaneous compression plate (PCCP) in the treatment of simple pertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: A total of 203 patients were included in the study. PFNA fixations were performed in 73 patients (PFNA group), DHS in 68 patients (DHS group), and PCCP in 62 patients (PCCP group). The main outcome measurements were perioperative properties, the Harris hip score, changes in the neck-shaft angle, and loss of the abductor muscle strength. Data were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The mean estimated total blood loss and the number of patients receiving the blood transfusion rate in the PFNA group were statistically significantly lower. The mean operation and fluoroscopy times in the PCCP group were statistically significantly higher. The mean loss of the abductor muscle strength and changes in the neck-shaft angle in the PFNA group were statistically significantly higher. The mean Harris hip scores were similar. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that although PFNA was superior with regard to the perioperative data, DHS and PCCP were superior in maintaining the reduction and the abductor muscle strenght. All three implants were similar and had satisfactory functional outcomes.

Functional and radiological outcomes of multiple dorsal carpometacarpal fracture dislocations treated with open reduction and internal fixation.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of patients with multiple dorsal carpometacarpal (CMC) joint fracture dislocations treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 14 patients (12 males, 2 females; mean age 35.1 years; range, 22 to 64 years) between January 2013 and December 2017. Our main outcome measurements were the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) score, loss of grip strength, limitation of range of motion (ROM), and Kellgren-Lawrence osteoarthritis classification identified with radiographs and computed tomography images. RESULTS: The mean QuickDASH scores at seventh week and third month were 73.57 (range, 65-90) and 29.11 (range, 25-42.5), respectively. The mean QuickDASH score at seventh, ninth, and 12th month, and final follow-up was 4.64 (range, 0-30) and the QuickDASH score at these follow-up points was not 0 for only three patients. The mean loss of grip strength was 32.14% and two patients (14.29%) had limitation of ROM in third proximal interphalangeal joint at final follow-up. Four patients had grade I, nine patients had grade II, and one patient had grade III osteoarthritis according to Kellgren-Lawrence classification at final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Although functional results demonstrated that multiple CMC joint fracture dislocations can be treated with ORIF, the high rate of osteoarthritis is a disadvantage.

The Effect of Single High-Dose Preoperative Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Administration to Reduce Blood Loss in Patients with Primary Total Knee Replacement.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of single-dose tranexamic acid (TA) 20 mg/kg preoperatively to reduce blood loss in patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR). METHODS: A total of 387 patients (82 males, 305 females) undergoing TKR between January 2014 and December 2018 were included in the study. The T + group was administrated intravenous (iv) TA 20 mg/kg 20 min before the skin incision. We determined perioperative blood loss, the amount of drainage postoperative 24 h, the amount of drainage after postoperative 24-48 h, total volume of drains, total volume of blood loss, postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and amount of total blood transfusion. RESULTS: In terms of demographic data, no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups. Perioperative blood loss and total volume of blood loss was found statistically higher in T - group compared to T + group. Postoperatively, the mean hemoglobin and hematocrit levels of T - group were statistically significantly lower than T + group. CONCLUSION: A single 20 mg/kg iv TA administration before TKR reduces bleeding during surgery and within 24 h postoperatively.