Open fractures: evidence-based best practices.

Open fracture management is a common challenge to orthopaedic trauma surgeons and a burdensome condition to the patient, health care, and entire society. Fracture-related infection (FRI) is the leading morbid complication to avoid during open fracture management because it leads to sepsis, nonunion, limb loss, and overall very poor region-specific and general functional outcomes. This review, based on a symposium presented at the 2022 OTA International Trauma Care Forum, provides a practical and evidence-based summary on key strategies to prevent FRI in open fractures, which can be grouped as optimizing host factors, antimicrobial prophylaxis, surgical site management (skin preparation, debridement, and wound irrigation), provision of skeletal stability, and soft-tissue coverage. When it is applicable, strategies are differentiated between optimal resource and resource-limited settings.

Generation of Cross-Specialty Consensus Statements on Soft Tissue Management via a Modified Delphi Method.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue management (STM) training programs for surgeons are largely tradition based, and substantial differences exist among different surgical specialties. The lack of comprehensive and systematic clinical evidence on how surgical techniques and implants affect soft tissue healing makes it difficult to develop evidence-based curricula. As a curriculum development group (CDG), we set out to find common grounds in the form of a set of consensus statements to serve as the basis for surgical soft tissue education. METHODS: Following a backward planning process and Kern's six-step approach, the group selected 13 topics to build a cross-specialty STM curriculum. A set of statements based on the curriculum topics were generated by the CDG through discussions and a literature review of three topics. A modified Delphi process including one round of pilot voting through a face-to-face CDG meeting and two rounds of web-based survey involving 22 panelists were utilized for the generation of consensus statements. RESULTS: Seventy-one statements were evaluated, and 56 statements reached the 80% consensus for "can be taught as is." CONCLUSIONS: Using a modified Delphi method, a set of cross-specialty consensus statements on soft tissue management were generated. These consensus statements can be used as a foundation for multi-specialty surgical education. Similar methods that combine expert experience and clinical evidence can be used to develop specialty-specific consensus on soft tissue handling.

Pressure reducing skin pie-crusting in extremity trauma: An in-vitro biomechanical study and human case series.

BACKGROUND: Multiple small relaxing skin incisions oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis (so-called "pie-crusting") near traumatic lacerations or surgical incisions in edematous tissue beds have been utilized to achieve primary closure when edema or skin loss would otherwise have made this difficult. Our study hopes to demonstrate (1) biomechanical evidence that pie-crusting decreases wound closure tension and (2) provide a case series with data showing clinical results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a biomechanical cadaveric study and retrospective small series cohort using 16 porcine limbs and 7 patients with 8 wounds in which pie-crusting was performed. An elliptical incision was made on the porcine limbs and the wound closure tension was measured with a hydraulic test machine before and after pie-crusting. The retrospective patient cohort had pie-crusting performed on traumatic wounds that were difficult to primarily close. The patient cohort was assessed by retrospective chart review examining wound dimensions before and after pie-crusting, and wound healing at final follow-up. RESULTS: The biomechanical data showed that pie-crusting the wound with both a single and double row of incisions significantly decreased the closing tension. A single row decreased wound tension by an average of 34%. Using an average of 3.5 parallel layers of pie-crusting at the time of definitive closure all wounds in the patient cohort closed and healed well with no complications at average follow-up (average 18 months). CONCLUSION: Pie-crusting may allow for easier wound closure and decrease the need for skin-grafting in edematous extremity wounds, with minimal patient morbidity.

Total Knee Arthroplasty versus Osteochondral Allograft: Prevalence and Risk Factors following Tibial Plateau Fractures.

Orthopaedic surgeons commonly have the misconception that patients with tibial plateau fractures will likely go on to posttraumatic knee arthritis requiring total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In younger patients, osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation is an alternative method to address posttraumatic knee arthritis. The purpose of this study was (1) to identify our institutional failure rate following tibial plateau open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) (failure was defined as conversion to TKA or OCA); (2) to determine if there are patient- or injury-related risk factors predictive of failure; and (3) to characterize differences between patients treated with TKA versus those treated with OCA transplantation. A 10-year retrospective review was conducted to identify patients treated at our institution with a tibial plateau fracture. Patients included in the final analysis were at least 18 years of age with an articular fracture (AO/OTA 41 B/C). The primary outcome was subsequent ipsilateral OCA or TKA. There were 350 patients (359 tibial plateau fractures) with a mean follow-up of 22.3 months (range, 6-133 months) who met inclusion criteria. Twenty-seven fractures (7.5%) were subsequently converted to a TKA or OCA at an average of 3.75 ± 3.1 years following their initial surgery. Patients who consumed tobacco were 2.3 times more likely to require a joint replacement (confidence interval [CI], 1.0-5.2; p = 0.04). Those patients who received an OCAs were significantly younger as compared with their TKA peers, both at time of initial injury (37 vs. 51 years, p = 0.02) and at time of surgery (41 vs. 55 years, p = 0.009). The joint replacement rate in this study is similar to those studies in the published literature that focused solely on the prevalence of conventional TKA. Tobacco is a risk factor for failure following tibial plateau ORIF. Patients who were treated with an OCA were younger at time of injury and failure.

Use of the Dedicated Orthopaedic Trauma Room for Open Tibia and Femur Fractures: Does It Make a Difference?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the "Dedicated Orthopaedic Trauma Operating Room" (DOTOR) effect on management and outcomes of open tibia and femur fractures. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. LOCATION: University Level I Trauma Center. METHODS: Patients categorized into those managed in the DOTOR versus those managed in a standard on-call operating room (OCOR). Data collected include patient and injury characteristics, time to debridement, and patient outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 297 patients with 347 open tibia and femur fractures were included; 154 patients (174 fractures) were managed in the DOTOR group and 143 patients (170 fractures) were managed in the OCOR group. The average time to debridement was significantly longer for DOTOR (12.9 hours) versus OCOR (5.4 hours). The DOTOR group was 9 times less likely to undergo debridement within 6 hours. The number of patients debrided within 24 hours was similar (90% for DOTOR vs. 96% OCOR). The rate of primary fracture union was significantly higher in the DOTOR (73.2% vs. 56.6%). OCOR patients were twice as likely to have an unplanned surgery. Rates of infection, nonunion, and amputation were similar. CONCLUSION: Despite earlier access to the Operating room for debridement in the OCOR group, there was no difference in the infection rate compared with the DOTOR group. However, patients managed in the DOTOR group were more likely to go on to uncomplicated fracture union and less likely to have an unplanned surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Evaluating the Duration of Prophylactic Post-Operative Antibiotic Agents after Open Reduction Internal Fixation for Closed Fractures.

BACKGROUND: The importance of timely pre-operative antibiotic agents for effective surgical prophylaxis has been established but the optimal duration of antimicrobial coverage post-operatively has not yet been defined clearly. The purpose of this study was to determine if prophylactic post- operative cefazolin for 23 hours decreases the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) after open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of closed extremity fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After Institutional Reviews Board approval, patients undergoing ORIF of closed extremity fractures who had a planned post-operative stay of at least 23 hours were randomly assigned to either receive 23 hours of cefazolin or a placebo. Both groups received weight-based pre-operative cefazolin and intra-operative re-dosing at three-hour intervals until surgery completion. The primary end point was infection. Patients were followed clinically until bony union. Published risk factors were accumulated as a risk score to help determine risk of SSI. RESULTS: A total of 227 patients were randomized to either receive post-operative cefazolin or placebo and 160 patients completed clinical follow-up to bony union. There were 83 patients in the cefazolin group and 77 in the placebo group. Surgical site infections occurred in a total of 15 patients (9.4%) in this trial without any differences between the cefazolin and placebo groups. Patients with diabetes mellitus were 4.33 times more likely to develop an SSI (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-14.38; p = 0.02). Patients with a risk score of two or more were 3.14 times more likely to develop an infection (95% CI, 1.02-9.68; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although not statistically significant, in a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial, patients who were treated with a 23-hour post-operative regimen of antibiotics after ORIF were less likely to develop SSIs. Patients with diabetes mellitus and those with a risk score of two or greater were more likely to develop an SSI.

The Effectiveness of Osteoporosis Screening and Treatment in the Midwest.

INTRODUCTION: With osteoporosis on the rise across the United States, the goal of this prospective study is to determine the effectiveness of our Midwest level-1 trauma center in diagnosing, treating, and educating osteoporosis patients after fracture with the use of questionnaires. Secondarily, we aimed to identify barriers that prevent our patients from complying with bone health recommendations. METHODS: One hundred participants (≥55 years) were given 2 questionnaires (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool and a study-specific questionnaire) that were administered during the patient's visit to the orthopedic trauma clinic. A group of patients diagnosed with osteoporosis was compared to a group of patients not diagnosed with osteoporosis. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 24 (IBM Corp, Chicago, Illinois). RESULTS: Patients who had been diagnosed with osteoporosis were significantly older (72.7 vs 66.5, P = .009) and more were women (86.2% vs 66.2%, P = .043). Significantly, fewer patients without the diagnosis of osteoporosis had a history of fragility fracture (56.3%) compared to 92.9% of those diagnosed with osteoporosis (P < .001). Of those with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) recommended by a healthcare provider, 20 (55.6%) of those without the diagnosis of osteoporosis and 13 (52%) of those with the diagnosis of osteoporosis had DXA screening before their fragility fracture (P = .499). More patients diagnosed with osteoporosis (93.1%) were taking calcium and vitamin D supplementation compared to 66.2% of those without the diagnosis of osteoporosis (P = .005). Only 37.9% of patients with the diagnosis of osteoporosis were receiving US Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for the management of their disease. DISCUSSION: In patients without previous osteoporosis diagnosis, 59 (83.1%) of the 71 claimed that they did not receive any preventative education about osteoporosis, while 21 (72.4%) of the 29 patients with the diagnosis of osteoporosis claimed that they did not receive a preventative education (P = .165). Both groups lacked optimum diagnosis, treatment, and education of osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the need for a deliberate effort of a multidisciplinary team to focus efforts in all stages of osteoporosis management.

Demonstration of the bactericidal effects of the boron neutron capture reaction.

This pilot study represents a paradigm shift, using BNCT for the treatment of bacterial overgrowth on surgically implanted medical devices. In this study, titanium diboride disks were inoculated with S. aureus and irradiated in a thermal neutron beam. After a delivery of 2.6 × 1012 n/cm2 the surviving fraction of S. aureus on an irradiated disk was 3.1 × 10-5 when compared with non-irradiated controls. This pilot study demonstrates proof of principle of boron neutron capture therapy for infection control (BNCIC).

Working length and proximal screw constructs in plate osteosynthesis of distal femur fractures.

BACKGROUND: The study purpose is to evaluate the working length, proximal screw density, and diaphyseal fixation mode and the correlation to fracture union after locking plate osteosynthesis of distal femoral fractures using bridge-plating technique. METHODS: A four-year retrospective review was performed to identify patients undergoing operative fixation of distal femur fractures with a distal femoral locking plate using bridge-plating technique for the metadiaphyseal region. Primary variables included fracture union, secondary surgery for union, plate working length, and diaphyseal screw technique and configuration. Multiple secondary variables including plate metallurgy and coronal plane fracture alignment were also collected. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients with distal femur fractures with a mean age 60 years met inclusion criteria. None of the clinical parameters were statistically significant indicators of union. Likewise, none of the following surgical technique parameters were associated with fracture union: plate metallurgy, the mean working length, screw density and number of proximal screws and screw cortices. However, diaphyseal screw technique did show statistical significance. Hybrid technique had a statistically significant higher chance of union when compared to locking (p=0.02). All proximal locking screw constructs were 2.9 times more likely to lead to nonunion. CONCLUSIONS: Plating constructs with all locking screws used in the diaphysis when bridge-plating distal femur locking plates were 2.9 times more likely to incur a nonunion. However, other factors associated with more flexible fixation constructs such as increased working length, decreased proximal screw number, and decreased proximal screw density were not significantly associated with union in this study.

The Use of Mesh Plates for Difficult Fractures of the Patella.

Patella fractures present some of the more complicated fracture patterns in orthopaedic trauma care. This is partially due to the small size of the fragments but also the articular nature of each fragment. Fixation methods such as cerclage wiring, excision of smaller fragments, and screw fixation of larger fragments all have their own challenges. Our study examined our Level I trauma center's experience with variable angle locked 2.7 mm titanium plates for treatment of comminuted patella fractures or treatment of patellar nonunion. After Institutional Review Board approval, we used billing records to identify 105 patients who had undergone operative management of a displaced patella fracture between January 2011 and December 2015. We reviewed the radiographs of these patients to identify which patients underwent treatment with a mesh plate. We found 16 patients (6 males and 10 females) who had undergone fixation with a mesh plate; mean age was 47 years. Nine patients underwent primary open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and seven underwent mesh plate fixation for failed ORIF of a patella fracture. The mean visual analog pain score was 2.75 (range, 0-9). The mean range of motion was 1 degree of extension (range, 0-10 degrees) to 110 degrees of flexion (range, 45-135 degrees). All fractures healed. Five patients required hardware removal for pain. This review illustrates the effectiveness of the locking mesh plate in two challenging clinical scenarios: that of patellar nonunion and comminuted fractures that preclude standard fixation methods. Although multiple options exist for patellar fracture fixation, the titanium mesh locking plate can be an effective option for retaining the patella in the setting of comminution. Further comparative studies should be undertaken to determine which method of treatment may be superior in the treatment of these fractures.

Prevalence of Low Vitamin D Levels in Patients With Orthopedic Trauma.

Low levels of serum vitamin D have been linked to numerous musculoskeletal and nonmusculoskeletal conditions. Vitamin D deficiency appears relatively high among various patient subpopulations, including patients with fracture nonunion. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in a large population of patients with orthopedic trauma. The study included all patients who were over age 18 years, had no risk factors for vitamin D deficiency, and were treated for an acute fracture at a Level 1 trauma center. Between January 2009 and September 2010, 889 trauma patients had recorded serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Overall prevalence of combined vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency was 77%; prevalence of vitamin D deficiency alone was 39%. There were no statistically significant (P < .05) age or sex differences among the population. There did not appear to be a seasonal difference. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in acute orthopedic trauma patients appear very common. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the clinical significance.

Do 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Correlate With Fracture Complications?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and the likelihood of postoperative complications and fracture reoperation rate in orthopaedic trauma patients receiving vitamin D and calcium supplementation. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Level I trauma center, Midwestern United States. PATIENTS: All orthopaedic trauma patients-18 years or older-over a 20-month period were included with available initial and repeat 25(OH)D serum levels. In total, 201 patients met inclusion criteria. INTERVENTION: All patients received 1000 IU of vitamin D3 and 1500 mg of calcium daily. Vitamin D deficient and insufficient patients also received 50,000 IU of ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) weekly until 25(OH)D levels normalized or fractures healed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: fracture complications and 25(OH)D levels. RESULTS: Fifteen patients experienced postoperative healing complications. There was no significant difference between initial (P = 0.92) or repeat (P = 0.91) 25(OH)D levels between patients with and without fracture healing complications. Twenty-eight patients required repeat orthopaedic surgery. There was no significant difference between initial (P = 0.62) or repeat (P = 0.18) 25(OH)D levels between patients who did or did not require repeat orthopaedic surgery. There was no significant difference between initial (P = 0.66) or repeat (P = 0.89) 25(OH)D levels between patients who did or did not require nonorthopaedic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Serum 25(OH)D levels did not significantly affect the likelihood of fracture healing complications requiring surgery or any nonorthopaedic injury-related surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Geriatric Patients With Fractures Below the Hip are Medically Similar to Geriatric Patients With Hip Fracture.

The objective of this study was to compare a cohort of geriatric patients with operatively managed isolated fractures below the hip to a cohort of geriatric patients with operatively managed isolated hip fractures. All patients greater than 59 years of age admitted to our institution for surgical care of an isolated lower extremity fracture during a 3-year period were included. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: BTH (fracture below the subtrochanteric region of the femur) and HIP (proximal femoral fracture at subtrochanteric region or proximal). We identified 141 patients included in cohort BTH and 205 patients included in cohort HIP. HIP patients were older (P < .01) and less obese (P < .01) but were otherwise very similar. An extensive comorbidity review revealed that the 2 cohorts were similar, with the exception of an increased incidence of dementia (P = .012) or glaucoma (P = .04) in HIP patients and of peripheral neuropathy (P = .014) in BTH patients. HIP patients were more likely to be under active antiosteoporotic medication management and were more likely to be receiving pharmacological anticoagulation at the time of admission. HIP patients and BTH patients were similar with regard to necessity of assistance with ambulation preinjury, but HIP patients were less likely to reside independently at home than were BTH patients (P < .001). HIP patients were also less likely to be discharged directly home from the hospital (P < .001). Geriatric patients with fractures below the hip are medically similar to geriatric patients with hip fracture. Medical comanagement protocols have been extensively published that improve care of geriatric patients with hip fracture; consideration should be given to similar protocol-driven medical comanagement programs for geriatric patients with fractures below the hip.

Effectiveness of Vitamin D Therapy in Orthopaedic Trauma Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of our vitamin D treatment protocol in managing low serum vitamin D levels in orthopaedic trauma patients. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all orthopaedic trauma patients at a university level I trauma center over 20 months. Patients were included if they had an initial and repeat 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D serum level available. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level with less than 20 ng/mL. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level between 20 and 32 ng/mL. The standard regimen for all patients was over-the-counter vitamin D3 1000 IU and 1500 mg of calcium daily. Patients with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency also received 50,000 IU of ergocalciferol (D2) weekly until their 25-hydroxyvitamin D level normalized or their fracture healed. No compliance monitoring was performed except for questioning at each clinic visit. RESULTS: A total of 201 patients met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-two patients had a normal initial 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, and 84% maintained their normal level, whereas 16% became insufficient or deficient. There were 88 patients insufficient initially and 54.5% improved to normal and 8% became deficient. In the vitamin D deficiency group (81), 26% remained deficient and 74% improved to insufficient. The average increase in serum 25-OH vitamin D with treatment (in nanograms per milliliter) was statistically significant for both the insufficient and deficient groups. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D therapy improved the majority of the patients' vitamin D-25-OH level but did not normalize most. Patients with initial deficiency had the largest improvement. This study indicates that vigilance is required to adequately treat a low serum vitamin D-25-OH level.

Hinged external fixation in the treatment of knee dislocations: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Our hypothesis was that patients treated with hinged external fixators as an adjunct to multiple-ligament reconstruction would have fewer reconstruction failures than patients treated without external fixation. METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, patients with a knee dislocation either underwent ligament reconstruction with placement of an external hinged knee brace following surgery (Group A) or underwent ligament reconstruction with placement of a hinged external fixator (Compass Knee Hinge) for six weeks instead of the brace (Group B). The patients were followed clinically and were evaluated with physical examination, Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee knee scores, visual analog scale pain scores, and status regarding return to work and activities. RESULTS: One hundred patients with 103 knee dislocations were enrolled. Seventy-seven patients with seventy-nine dislocations (thirty-two in Group A and forty-seven in Group B), with a minimum follow-up interval of twelve months, were available for evaluation. The mean duration of follow-up was thirty-nine months (range, twelve to eighty-six months). Nine patients (29%) in Group A had failed reconstructions compared with seven (15%) in Group B (p = 0.15). Group-A patients had twenty-two (21%) of 105 reconstructed individual ligaments fail compared with eleven (7%) of 157 reconstructed ligaments in Group B. The difference in ligament failure was significant (p < 0.001; power > 0.8), with more favorable results for the patients managed with the external fixation. CONCLUSIONS: Hinged external fixation as a supplement to reconstruction following knee dislocation was associated with fewer failed ligament reconstructions compared with external bracing. Patients presenting with highly unstable knee dislocations should be considered for hinged external fixation to supplement initial reconstructive procedures.

Comanagement of geriatric patients with hip fractures: a retrospective, controlled, cohort study.

The objective of this 3-year retrospective, controlled, cohort study is to characterize an interdisciplinary method of managing geriatric patients with hip fracture. All patients aged 65 years or older admitted to a single academic level I trauma center during a 3-year period with an isolated hip fracture were included as participants for this study. Thirty-one geriatric patients with hip fracture were treated with historical methods of care (cohort 1). The comparison group of 115 similar patients was treated under a newly developed, institutional comanagement hip fracture protocol (cohort 2). There were no differences in age, sex distribution, or comorbidity distribution between the 2 cohorts. Patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission decreased significantly from 48% in cohort 1 to 23% in cohort 2 (P = .0091). Length of ICU stay for patients requiring ICU admission also decreased significantly, from a mean of 8.1 days in cohort 1 to 1.8 days in cohort 2 (P = .024). Total hospital stay decreased significantly, from a mean of 9.9 days in cohort 1 to 7.1 days in cohort 2 (P = .021). Although no decrease in in-hospital mortality rates was noted from cohort 1 to cohort 2, a trend toward decreased 1-year mortality rates was seen after implementation of the hip fracture protocol. Hospital charges decreased significantly, from US$52 323 per patient in cohort 1 to US$38 586 in cohort 2 (P = .0183). Implementation of a comanagement protocol for care of geriatric patients with hip fracture, consisting of admission to a geriatric primary care service, standardized perioperative assessment regimens, expeditious surgical treatment, and continued primary geriatric care postoperatively, resulted in reductions in lengths of stay, ICU admissions, and hospital costs per patient. On an annualized basis, this represented a savings of over US$700 000 for our institution.

The role of medial comminution and calcar restoration in varus collapse of proximal humeral fractures treated with locking plates.

BACKGROUND: Proximal humeral fractures that are treated with locked plate constructs remain susceptible to collapse into a varus position. The objectives of the present study were to examine how medial comminution affects fracture stability and to determine the effect of calcar fixation on osteosynthesis stability. METHODS: Eleven matched pairs of cadaveric humeri were osteotomized to create standard three-part fractures involving the surgical neck and the greater tuberosity. Five matched pairs were randomly assigned to have the medial calcar region remain intact. Six matched pairs had removal of a 10-mm medially based wedge of bone to simulate medial comminution. All fractures were stabilized in a uniform fashion with a proximal humeral locking plate. The constructs were secured, and the superior portion of the humeral head was subjected to compressive loading to induce varus collapse. Load-to-failure and energy-to-failure values along with stiffness and displacement at the time of failure were determined. RESULTS: Medial comminution decreased the mean load to failure by 48% (523 N) (p = 0.015) and the mean energy to failure by 44% (2009 Nmm) (p = 0.013). The use of calcar screw fixation increased the mean load to failure by 31% (219 N) (p = 0.002) and the mean energy to failure by 44% (1279 Nmm) (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Medial comminution significantly decreased the stability of proximal humeral fracture fixation constructs. Calcar restoration with screw fixation significantly improved the stability of repaired fractures in cadaveric specimens. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The data suggest that medial comminution is a predictor of poor stability of proximal humeral fractures and that stability may be improved through calcar restoration.

Evaluation and management of an irreducible posterolateral knee dislocation.

Irreducible posterolateral knee dislocations are rare and complex injuries that are often difficult to treat. Prompt recognition and appropriate early management are vital to the successful long-term outcome for the patient. In this case report, we highlight a single patient presenting with an irreducible posterolateral knee dislocation following a high-energy trauma. Evaluation and management included careful history and physical examination, appropriate imaging studies, and formulation of an early operative plan, leading to a safe and successful knee reduction for this patient. We review the best available evidence to guide orthopedic surgeons in their evaluation and management of the irreducible knee dislocation.