There has been a substantial increase in the surgical treatment of unstable chest wall injuries recently. While a variety of fixation methods exist, most surgeons have used plate and screw fixation. Rib-specific locking plate systems are available, however evidence supporting their use over less-expensive, conventional plate systems (such as pelvic reconstruction plates) is lacking. We sought to address this by comparing outcomes between locking plates and non-locking plates in a cohort of patients from a prior randomized trial who received surgical stabilization of their unstable chest wall injury.

We used data from the surgical group of a previous multi-centred, prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing surgical fixation of acute, unstable chest wall injuries to non-operative management. In this substudy, our primary outcome was hardware-related complications and re-operation. Secondary outcomes included ventilator free days (VFDs) in the first 28 days following injury, length of ICU and hospital stay, and general health outcomes (SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores). Categorical variables are reported as frequency counts and percentages and the two groups were compared using Fisher's Exact test. Continuous data are reported as median and interquartile range and the two groups were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

From the original cohort of 207 patients, 108 had been treated surgically and had data available on the type of plate construct used. Fifty-nine patients (55%) had received fixation with non-locking plates (primarily 3.5 or 2.7 mm pelvic reconstruction plates) and 49 (45%) had received fixation with locking plates (primarily rib-specific locking plates). The two groups were similar in regard to baseline and injury characteristics. In the non-locking group, 15% of patients (9/59) had evidence of hardware loosening versus 4% (2/49 patients) in the locking group (p = 0.1). The rate of re-operation for hardware complications was 3% in the non-locking group versus 0% in the locking group (p = 0.5). No patients in either group required revision fixation for loss of reduction or nonunion. There were no differences between the groups with regard to VFDs (26.3 [19.6 – 28] vs. 27.3 [18.3 – 28], p = 0.83), length of ICU stay (6.5 [2.0 – 13.1] vs 4.1 [0 – 11], p = 0.12), length of hospital stay (17 [10 – 32] vs. 17 [10 – 24], p = 0.94) or SF-36 PCS (40.9 [33.6 – 51.0] vs 43.4 [34.1 – 49.6], p = 0.93) or MCS scores (47.8 [36.9 – 57.9] vs 46.9 [40.5 – 57.4], p = 0.95).

We found no statistically significant differences in outcomes between patients who received surgical stabilization of their unstable chest wall injury when comparing non-locking plates versus locking plates. However, the rate of hardware loosening was nearly 4 times higher in the non-locking plate group and trended towards statistical significance, although re-operation related to this was less frequent. This finding is not surprising, given the inherent challenges of rib fixation including thin bones, comminution, potential osteopenia and a post-operative environment of constant motion. We believe that the increased cost of locking plate fixation in this setting is likely justifiable given these findings.

Aims

The aims of this network meta-analysis (NMA) were to examine nonunion rates and functional outcomes following various operative and nonoperative treatments for displaced mid-shaft clavicle fractures.

Delayed management of high energy femoral shaft fractures is associated with increased complication rates. It has been suggested that there is less urgency to stabilize lower energy femoral shaft fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of surgical delay on 30-day complications following fixation of lower energy femoral shaft fractures.

Patients ≥ 18 years who underwent either plate or nail fixation of low energy (falls from standing or up to three steps' height) femoral shaft fractures from 2005 – 2016 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) via procedural codes. Patients with pathologic fractures, fractures of the distal femur or femoral neck were excluded. Patients were categorized into early (< 2 4 hours) or delayed surgery (2–30 days) groups. Bivariate analyses were used to compare demographics and unadjusted rates of complications between groups. A multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the rate of major and minor complications between groups, while adjusting for relevant covariables. Head injury patients and polytrauma patients are not included in the NSQIP database.

Of 2,716 lower energy femoral shaft fracture patients identified, 2,412 (89%) were treated within 1 day of hospital admission, while 304 (11.2%) were treated between 2 and 30 days post hospital admission. Patient age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification score, presence of diabetes, functional status, smoking status, and surgery type (nail vs. plate) were significantly different between groups (p After adjusting for all relevant covariables, delayed surgery significantly increased the odds of 30-day minor complications (p=0.02, OR = 1.48 95%CI 1.01–2.16), and 30-day mortality (p < 0 .001), OR = 1.31 (95%CI 1.03–2.14).

The delay of surgical fixation of femoral shaft fractures appears to significantly increase patients' risk of minor adverse events as well as increase mortality. With only 89% of patients being treated in the 24 hour timeframe that constitutes best practice for treatment of femoral shaft fractures, there remains room for improvement. These results suggest that early treatment of all femoral shaft fractures, even those with a lower energy mechanism of injury, leads to improved outcomes.

Distal radius fractures are the most common adult fractures, yet there remains some uncertainty surrounding optimal treatment modalities. Recently, the rate of operative treatment of these injuries has been increasing, however, predictors of outcomes in patients treated surgically remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate independent predictors of 30-day readmission and complications following internal fixation of distal radius fractures.

Patients ≥18 years who underwent surgical intervention for distal radius fractures between 2005 and 2016 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) using procedural codes. Patient demographics, as well as 30-day readmission, complication, and mortality rates were ascertained. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine independent predictors of 30-day outcomes while adjusting for patient age, sex, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) class, functional status, smoking status, comorbidities, and Body Mass Index (BMI).

A total of 10,051 patients were identified (average age 58 ±16). All patients received open reduction and internal fixation with no cases of external fixation identified in the data set. Included fractures were 37% extraarticular and 63% intraarticular. Within 30-days of initial fixation 143 (1.42%) patients were readmitted to the hospital, 71 patients experienced a complication, and 18 (0.18%) patients died. After adjusting for relevant covariables, current smoking increased the odds of readmission by 1.73 (95%Confidence interval [95%CI] 1.15 – 2.50), ASA class III/IV vs. I/II increased the odds of readmission by 2.74 (95%CI 1.85 – 4.06), and inpatient surgery vs. outpatient surgery increased the odds of readmission by 2.10 (95%CI 1.46 – 3.03). Current smoking also increased the odds of complications by 2.26 (95%CI 1.32 – 3.87), while ASA class III/IV increased it by 2.78 (95%CI 1.60 – 4.85), inpatient surgery increased it by 2.26 (95%CI 1.37 – 3.74), and dependent functional status increased it by 2.55 (1.16 – 5.64).

In conclusion, patients with severe systemic disease, current smokers and patients undergoing inpatient surgery are at risk for 30-day readmissions and complications following operative treatment of distal radius fractures. In addition, patients with dependent functional statuses are more likely to experience a complication within 30-days.

This study was designed to compare atypical hip fractures with a matched cohort of standard hip fractures to evaluate the difference in outcomes.

Patients from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program's (NSQIP) targeted hip fracture data file (containing a more comprehensive set of variables collected on 9,390 specially targeted hip fracture patients, including the differentiation of atypical from standard hip fractures) were merged with the standard 2016 NSQIP data file. Atypical hip fracture patients aged 18 years and older in 2016 were identified via the targeted hip fracture data file and matched to two standard hip fracture controls by age, sex, and fracture location. Patient demographics, length of hospital stay, 30-day mortality, major and minor complications, and other hip-specific variables were identified from the database. Binary outcomes were compared using the McNemar's test for paired groups, and continuous outcomes were compared using a paired t-test.

Ninety-five atypical hip fractures were identified, and compared to 190 age, sex, and fracture location matched standard hip fracture controls. There was no statistical difference in body mass index (BMI), race, ASA score, smoking status, timing of fixation, or functional status between the two groups (P>0.05). Thirty-day mortality was significantly higher in the atypical hip fracture group (atypical 7.36%, standard 2.11% p

This is the first study, to our knowledge, that demonstrates an increase in the rate of mortality in atypical hip fractures. Comparing atypical hip fractures with a matched cohort of standard hip fractures revealed a significantly greater 30-day mortality rate with an odds ratio of 3.62 in atypical hip fractures (95% CI 1.03–12.68). Prospective, clinical studies are recommended to further investigate these findings.

Purpose

There is increasing evidence that primary fixation of displaced mid-shaft fractures of the clavicle results in superior short-term outcomes when compared to traditional non-operative methods. However, the results from published studies are limited to relatively short-term (one year or less) follow-up. Accurate data of longer follow-up is important for a number of reasons, including patient prognostication, counseling and care, the design of future trials, and the economic analysis of treatment. The purpose of this paper was to examine the results of the two year follow up of patients enrolled in a previously published randomized clinical trial of operative versus non-operative treatment of displaced fractures of the clavicle.

Purpose

Displaced midshaft clavicular fractures are a common injury with a high occurrence rate in young, active individuals. Non-operative care has traditionally been the standard of care for such fractures, but more recent studies have suggested benefits following primary operative fixation. The purpose of this study was to review the literature on displaced midshaft clavicle fractures, identify randomized controlled trials of operative versus non-operative treatment, and pool the functional outcome and complication rates (including nonunion and symptomatic malunion), to arrive at summary estimates of these outcomes.

Purpose

In a previously published multicenter randomized clinical trial it was shown that young patients (16–60 years-old) with displaced mid-shaft clavicle fractures had superior limb specific outcomes when they were treated with primary plate fixation versus non operative treatment at one year follow-up. This study examines the general health status of this cohort of patients at two-years post injury.

Purpose: This prospective, randomized double-blinded clinical trial compared cemented fixation of the humeral component to uncemented/tissue-in-growth fixation in total shoulder arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis of the shoulder.

Method: All patients presenting with primary osteoarthritis of the shoulder requiring replacement were screened for eligibility. Patients were randomized in the operating room after glenoid preparation to the cemented or uncemented group by a computer-generated, stratified randomization procedure. Outcome measures included disease specific QOL assessment (WOOS), SF-12, ASES, MACTAR, radiographic evaluation of component fixation, operative time, complications and revision surgery. Patients were assessed by a blinded evaluator in post-operative intervals of 2 and 6 weeks, and 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The primary endpoint was the WOOS score at 2 years.

Results: One hundred and sixty-one patients were consented and randomized for the study. There were 80 patients in the cemented and 81 patients in the uncemented group. At baseline, the groups were alike with regards to demographics and baseline evaluations. The WOOS scores at post-operative intervals of 12, 18 and 24 months showed a significant difference (p=0.009, 0.001, 0.028 respectively) in favour of the cemented group. The cemented group also had better strength (3 m p=0.038, 12 m p= 0.036, 18 m p=0.051, 24 m p=0.053) and forward flexion (6m p=0.031, 12 m p=0.04). As expected, the operative time was significantly less for the uncemented group (C = 2.26h +/−.63; U = 1.69h +/− 1.9, p= 0.03).

Conclusion: These findings provide the first evidence that cemented fixation of the humeral head provides better quality of life, strength and ROM than uncemented fixation. This was a Tier 1 Project of the JOINTs Canada group.

Purpose: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) plays an important role in promoting angiogenesis and osteogenesis during fracture repair. Our previous studies have shown that cell-based VEGF gene therapy accelerates bone healing of a rabbit tibia segmental bone defect in-vivo, and increases osteoblast proliferation and mineralization in-vitro. The aim of this project was to examine the effect of exogenous human VEGF (hVEGF) on the endogenous rat VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in a cell-based gene transfer model.

Method: The osteoblasts were obtained from the rat periosteum. The fibroblasts were obtained from the rat dermal tissue. The cells were then cultured to reach 60% confluence and transfected with hVEGF using Superfect. Four groups were:

osteoblast-hVEGF,

The cultured cells were harvested at 1, 3 and 7 days after the transfection. The total mRNA was extracted (TRIZOL); both hVEGF and rat VEGF mRNA were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantified by VisionWorksLS.

Results: The hVEGF mRNA was detected by RT-PCR from transfected osteoblasts after three days of gene transfection. The hVEGF mRNA expression in transfected fibroblasts increased exponentially at days 1, 3 and 7 after the transfection. We compared the endogenous rat VEGF mRNA expression level of the osteoblasts or fibroblasts that were transfected with hVEGF with the cells without the transfection. The hVEGF transfected osteoblasts had a greater rat VEGF mRNA expression than the non-transfected osteoblasts. Furthermore, when hVEGF was transfected to the rat fibroblasts, the endogenous mRNA expression level measured was also greater than that from the non-transfected fibroblasts. Rat VEGF mRNA expression increased in the first three days of the hVEGF transfection, but the expression level was reduced at Day 7.

Conclusion: These results suggest that cell-based hVEGF gene therapy enhances endogenous rat VEGF mRNA expression in both osteoblasts and fibroblasts.

Purpose: In a prospective randomized clinical trial, we have previously reported the “limb-specific” results comparing operative (plate fixation) versus non-operative (sling) treatment for completely displaced fractures of the shaft of the clavicle. We also sought to determine the effect that a fracture of the shaft of the clavicle had on general health status, as measured by the SF-36 General Health Status instrument. We then evaluated the effects of different treatment methods (operative versus non-operative), on general health scores.

Method: We performed a multi-center, randomized clinical trial of operative versus non-operative treatment of completely displaced clavicular shaft fractures in 111 patients. In addition to radiographic, surgeon-based, and limb-specific data we prospectively gathered SF-36 questionnaires at baseline, and at 6 weeks and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-injury.

Results: Results: Both groups had SF-36 scores equivalent to or slightly superior to population norms at baseline. A clavicular shaft fracture had a significant negative effect on SF-36 scores (especially the physical components) in both groups at 6 weeks (p< 0.01) and 3 months (p< 0.01). There was a statistically greater decrease in Physical Component Scores (PCS) in the non-operative group compared to the operative group (P< 0.05). At 6 months, scores had returned to pre-operative levels in the operative group, but remained significantly decreased in the non-operative group (p=0.04). This difference persisted at the one and two year points.

Conclusion: A displaced fracture of the clavicular shaft has a clinically significant negative effect on general health status scores. This effect can be mitigated by primary operative fixation, which restores scores to normal levels by six months post-injury. Patients treated non-operatively for a displaced fracture of the shaft of the clavicle demonstrated lower PCS scores at two years post-injury. This information is useful in counseling patients with regards to treatment options following displaced fractures of the clavicle shaft.

Malunion following displaced fractures of clavicle most commonly occurs with shortening and anterior rotation of the distal fragment. This results in scapular malalignment, which has been documented clinically as scapular winging. However, to our knowledge, this scapular malalignment has never been quantified radiographically. The purpose of our study was to quantify the radiographic parameters in patients with symptomatic midshaft clavicle malunions demonstrating scapular winging.

Fourteen patients with symptomatic midshaft clavicle malunions demonstrating scapular winging of the affected shoulder were identified. Each patient underwent CT scanning of both clavicles and scapulae. A standardised CT protocol was used for each patient. Multiple measurements were used to document the clavicle malunion and scapular malalignment including clavicular length, the distance from the tip of the scapula to the chest wall and to the nearest adjacent spinous process, and the relative height of each scapula on the chest wall. Statistical analysis using the Student t-test was performed.

The mean time from fracture was twenty-nine months. There were eleven males and three females with a mean age of 33.1 years. The mean clavicular shortening was 17mm (P> 0.001). The mean anterior-rotation through the malunion was nine degrees, and showed a trend toward significance (P=0.1). The distal fragment was anteriorly translated 13.5mm (P> 0.001) relative to the opposite normal shoulder. The scapula was displaced laterally 10.3mm (P> 0.001) from the nearest spinous process, superiorly 16.3mm and 12.2mm (P> 0.001) off the chest wall on average compared to the opposite normal shoulder.

Patients with symptomatic clavicle malunions often complain of periscapular pain, and winging of the scapula has been noted in such individuals. Ours is the first study to document and quantify scapular malalignment in this clinical setting. Since most shoulder musculature is scapular based, identification and quantification of scapular malalignment may have important ramifications in decision-making regarding treatment of clavicle fractures and malunions.

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a potentially lethal condition commonly seen in poly-traumatised patients, particularly those with multiple long-bone fractures. Treatment has centered around supportive care and early fracture fixation. Several clinical small trials have suggested corticosteroids benefit patients with FES but its use remains controversial. Our objective was to determine the effect of corticosteroids in preventing FES in patients with multiple long-bone fractures.

We conducted a meta-analysis of randomised trials, searching computerised databases for published studies from 1966–2006. Additionally, we performed hand searches of major orthopaedic journals, meeting proceedings, and texts. Our primary outcome was the rate of FES. Secondary outcomes included presence of hypoxia, petechiae, mortality, infection, and delayed union.

Of the one hundred and four studies identified, nine were potentially eligible, and only seven met all our eligibility criteria. From our pooled analysis of three hundred and eighty-nine patients, we found that corticosteroids reduced the risk of FES by 78% (95%CI: 43–92%, heterogeneity p-value=0.62, I2=10%) and that only eight patients needed to be treated (NNT=7.5) to prevent one case of FES (95%CI: five to thirteen patients). We did not find any significant differences in the rates of mortality, infection, or delayed union.

The current evidence suggests that the use of corticosteroids is beneficial in the prevention of fat embolism syndrome in patients with multiple long-bone fractures. The use of corticosteroids does not appear to significantly increase the risk of complications although a confirmatory large randomised trial is needed.

We conducted a prospective randomised controlled trial to compare functional outcomes, complications and reoperation rates in elderly patients with displaced intra-articular distal humerus fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) or primary semi-constrained total elbow arthroplasty (TEA).

Twenty-one patients were randomised to each treatment group. Two patients died prior to follow-up and were excluded from the study. Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores were collected at six weeks, three months, six months, twelve months and two years. Complication type, duration, management, and treatment requiring reoperation were recorded.

Five patients randomised to ORIF were converted to TEA intraoperatively because of extensive comminution and inability to obtain fixation stable enough to allow early ROM. This resulted in fifteen patients (three male, twelve female) with an average age of seventy-seven years in the ORIF group and twenty-five patients (two male, twenty-three female) with an average age of seventy-eight in the TEA group. MEPS was significantly improved at three months (82 vs 65, p=0.01), six months (86 vs 66, p=0.003), twelve months (87 vs 72, p=0.03) and two years (86 vs 73, p=0.04) in patients with TEA compared with ORIF. DASH scores showed a significant improvement for TEA compared with ORIF between six weeks (43 vs 77, p=0.02) and six months (31 vs 50, p=0.01) but not at twelve months (32 vs 47, p=0.1) and two years (34 vs 38, p=0.6). Reoperation rates for TEA (3/25) and ORIF (4/15) were not statistically different (p=0.2).

TEA for the treatment of comminuted intra-articular distal humeral fractures provides improved functional outcome compared with ORIF.