Meta-Analysis: Functional Outcome of ORIF Versus Primary Subtalar Arthrodesis of Sanders Type II and Type III Calcaneal Fractures.

The choice of treatment for Sanders Type II and Type III calcaneal fractures remains controversial with unclear patient functional outcomes. A meta-analysis was done to compare the functional outcome of ORIF vs primary subtalar arthrodesis (PSA) according to American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) hindfoot-ankle scores. The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library Databases were searched by two independent evaluators. Fourteen studies met the eligible criteria. ORIF of 501 Type II and Type III fractures was compared to primary subtalar arthrodesis treatment of 57 Type II and Type III fractures. AOFAS for a mixed ORIF group of "Type II and III" fractures was 82.16 ± 1.58 at average follow-up of 25.3 months. For a mixed PSA group of "Type II and III" fractures, the AOFAS was 74.22 ± 2.45 at average follow-up of 28.0 months. This showed a difference between ORIF and primary subtalar arthrodesis of 7.94 points (95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.75-7.98; p value .004) favoring ORIF when adjusting for minimally invasive and percutaneous methods. Without adjustment, there was a difference of 6.54 points favoring ORIF (95% CI = 6.22-6.46; p value .017). In conclusion, while high-quality randomized controlled trials comparing ORIF to primary subtalar arthrodesis for Type II and Type III fractures would further elucidate superior treatment outcomes, this meta-analysis of available data shows a tendency for ORIF of Type II and Type III Sanders calcaneal fractures to have a better functional outcome at approximately 2 years postoperatively compared to primary subtalar arthrodesis.

Acute neck pain in the ED: Consider longus colli calcific tendinitis vs meningitis.

Presented here is a rare cause of severe neck pain - acute longus colli calcific tendinitis - in a 54year old man who presented to the emergency department. The neck pain is due to inflammation caused by calcium hydroxyapatite crystal deposition in the tendons on the longus colli muscles. This is non-infectious. The gold standard for diagnosis is a CT neck which best shows the calcifications in the anterior vertebral column of C1-C4, where the tendons of these muscles insert bilaterally. Longus colli calcific tendinitis is not life-threatening and patients will make a full recovery after treatment with NSAIDs. However, this condition is often confused with life-threatening conditions such as infection (meningitis or retropharyngeal abscess), intracranial hemorrhage, trauma, herniation of cervical discs, or malignancy (Estimable et al. (2015) [1]). Symptoms associated with calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle are non-specific and include mild fever, moderate-severe headache, neck pain, and drastically reduced range of motion of the neck. More specific symptoms are the presence of dysphagia and odynophagia. Lab findings usually are significant for mild leukocytosis, and elevated ESR and CRP. Awareness of this condition by E.D. physicians can avoid unnecessary invasive interventions, increased costs, and delays that result from incorrect diagnosis and treatment. This is a unique case in which a patient who was afebrile with a normal ESR was worked up for meningitis and an intracranial process, and also empirically treated for meningitis before finally being diagnosed with acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle in the E.D.