Open Reduction and Internal Fixation with Plate and Screw versus Triplanar External Fixation in the Surgical Treatment of Calcaneal Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures (DIACF) is debated. This study compares open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with minimally invasive osteosynthesis (MIOS). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 70 patients with DIACF treated between January 2018 and September 2022, divided into ORIF (n = 50) and MIOS (n = 20) groups. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Maryland Foot Score (MFS) and the Creighton-Nebraska Health Foundation Assessment Scale (CNHFAS). Radiographic outcomes, complication rates, and reintervention rates were evaluated. A chi-square analysis examined the correlation between Sanders classification and treatment choice. Results: The chi-square analysis indicated no significant correlation between the complexity of the fracture and the type of treatment chosen (χ2 = 0.175, p = 0.916). Additionally, the Cochran-Armitage test for trend showed no significant trend in the choice of treatment based on fracture complexity (statistic = 0.048, p = 0.826). A Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a longer time to reintervention for MIOS (p = 0.029). Complication rates were similar, with specific complications varying between groups. Quality-of-life outcomes were comparable. Conclusions: ORIF is preferable for high-demand patients due to better anatomical outcomes, while MIOS suits high-risk patients by reducing reinterventions and complications. Further randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in an Infant with COVID-19: A Case Report with Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 infection tends to be lethal to the elderly population. However, sometimes children are also involved. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a female infant with a corrected gestational age of 39 weeks and 4 days with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and co-infection of Klebsiella pneumoniae that was supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). RESULTS: We reported the clinical case and reviewed the literature articles on ECMO and Covid-19 in infants and children up to two years of age. CONCLUSION: It is crucial to be aware of certain risk factors (severe prematurity, coinfection), which, when linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection, must immediately alert us to the possible criticality of the clinical condition of patients, as highlighted by our own clinical case.

Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes and Treatment Algorithm for Septic Arthritis in Children.

BACKGROUND: Septic arthritis (SA) in children is an acute inflammatory disease of the joints. If not treated promptly, it could become a surgical emergency. The incidence of the disease in children in Europe is approximately 2-7 per 100,000 children. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate which of these treatments-arthrocentesis, arthrotomy, and arthroscopy-provides better results in children and when to use them. METHODS: Three independent authors conducted a systematic review of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE databases to assess studies with any level of evidence that reported the surgical outcome of SA. Two senior investigators evaluated and approved each stage's findings. RESULTS: A total of 488 articles were found. After screening, we chose 24 articles that were suitable for full-text reading based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results of our analysis showed that there are no numerically significant differences reported in the literature on clinical and radiographic outcomes by surgical technique. CONCLUSIONS: We developed an algorithm that could be used if septic arthritis is suspected. Based on our results, the surgical technique to be used will depend on the operator who will perform it.