The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature on Gustilo-Anderson (GA) type IIIB open tibial shaft (AO-42) injuries to determine the consistency of reporting in the literature. A search of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed to identify relevant studies published from January 2000 to January 2021 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The study was registered using the PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews. Patient/injury demographics, management and outcome reporting were recorded. There were 32 studies that met the inclusion criteria with a total of 1,947 patients (70.3% male, 29.7% female). There were 6 studies (18.8%) studies that reported on comorbidities and smoking, with mechanism of injury reported in 22 (68.8%). No studies reported on all operative criteria included, with only three studies (9.4%) reporting for time to antibiotics, 14 studies (43.8%) for time from injury to debridement and nine studies (28.1%) for time to definitive fixation. All studies reported on the rate of deep infection, with a high proportion documenting union rate (26/32, 81.3%). However, only two studies reported on mortality or on other post-operative complications (2/32, 6.3%). Only 12 studies (37.5%) provided any patient reported outcomes. This study has demonstrated a deficiency and a lack of standardized variable and outcome reporting in the orthopaedic literature for Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB open tibial shaft fractures. We propose a future international collaborative Delphi process is needed to standardize

Introduction. The heterogeneity of outcomes used in the field of lower limb lengthening surgery (LLLS) affects our ability to synthesize evidence. This hampers robust systematic reviews and treatment recommendations for clinical practice. Ultimately this reduces the impact of research for both patients and healthcare professionals. This scoping review aimed to describe the outcomes and outcome measurement instruments (OMIs) used within the field of LLLS. Method. A systematic literature search of WOS, Scopus, Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library identified all studies reporting outcomes in children and adults after LLLS. All outcomes and OMIs were extracted verbatim. An iterative process was used to group outcome terms under standardized outcome headings categorized using the COMET Taxonomy of Outcomes. Result. Data saturation was achieved in 2020. A total of 142 studies were included between 2024-2020, reporting 2964 verbatim outcomes with 663 standardized outcome terms collapsed into 119 outcome headings (subdomains). A total of 29 patient-reported and 26 clinician-reported outcome instruments were identified. The most commonly reported outcome was “Lengthening amount”, reported in over 72% of the included studies, while “health-related quality of life” was measured in 16% and all life impact outcomes were reported in 19% of the included studies. Conclusion. A large number of peer-reviewed publications are available, demonstrating that significant resources are being devoted to research on LLLS. However, reported outcomes for people with LLLS are heterogeneous, subject to reporting bias, and vary widely in the definitions and measurement tools used to collect them. Outcomes likely to be important to patients, such as quality of life and measures of physical function, have been neglected. This scoping review identifies a need to standardize outcomes and outcome measures reported on patients recovering from lower limb lengthening surgery; this can be addressed by creating a core set of outcomes

Introduction. Patellar tendinopathy is a highly prevalent clinical diagnosis supported by ultrasound changes. Numerous interventions are targeted at improving both symptoms and structure of dysfunctional tendons, however little is known of the diagnostic value in a changing ultrasound profile whilst patient reported outcome measures determine recovery. The aim of this study was to assess if change in ultrasound measure is congruent with change in Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment – Patella (VISA-P) score and therefore indicates the use of using ultrasound to assess patellar tendinopathy during symptom change. Method. Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cinahl) were search in January 2014. Studies selected contained ultrasound and VISA-P scores from ≥ 2 type points. All included studies were quality assessed depending on type and available data underwent meta-analysis. Result. 10 papers of varying study type, of limited to high quality, were synthesised. Meta-analysis indicated that change in ultrasound measure was not congruent with change in VISA-P score. Conclusion. The variation in study quality, along with significant heterogeneity of ultrasound measure outcomes and reporting may influence the congruency of the data, but the association between gradual structure change and varying vascularity with pain or function is questionable throughout tendinopathy literature

Prosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) is a devastating complication that can occur after total joint replacement surgery. With increasing antimicrobial resistance, there is a need for non-antibiotic approaches to treat and prevent PJI. Doping calcium phosphates with antimicrobial ions shows promise for these purposes. This systematic review aims to search and summarise the evidence-base for the potential of calcium phosphates doped with different antimicrobial ions. A systematic review was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Web-Of-Science, Cochrane Library and Emcare of in vitro and animal studies on the antimicrobial activity of (co)substituted calcium phosphates according to PRIMSA guidelines.. The research protocol, listing search terms and in/exclusion criteria, was registered a priori at . https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/HEP18U. Data was extracted regarding ions, micro-organisms and antimicrobial activity. The search retrieved 1017 hits of which 148 papers were included. The substitution of 33 different ions was reported. Silver (n= 46), zinc (n=39), copper (n=18) and magnesium (n=14) were the most commonly doped ions. 36 different micro-organisms were studied of which E. coli (n=109), S. aureus (n=99), and C. albicans (n=22) were the most common. 6 different outcomes were reported, most commonly the K-ratio (n=53), the log CFU (n=41) and the bacterial inhibition zone (n=39). A validated outcome for the evaluation of biofilm prevention was lacking. There was considerable heterogeneity in studied ions, micro-organisms and reported outcomes. A lack of clearly defined reporting guidelines in the field of antimicrobial materials has led to the use of clinically irrelevant micro-organisms and a general lack of consistency of the methods used and the reported results. Currently, there is no universally accepted measure for the effectiveness required from biomaterials for treatment and prevention of PJI

To describe clinical situations for use of modified VAC in POC based on: diagnosis, comorbidities, BMI, wound size in cm, days following trauma when VAC was first applied, total duration of uninterrupted use, frequency of change, settings, bacterial growth, outcomes. To report the outcomes of mVAC use in POC within 6 months to help improve and standardize its application in the institution. This study involves data gathering from inpatients handled by orthopedic surgeons in training and subspecialty rotations in POC. The data collected are highly dependent on the doctors-in-charge's complete charting, thorough reporting and accurate documentation. Modified Vacuum Assisted Closure (mVAC) is used frequently in this study and is defined as a form of revised, adapted and reformed use of VAC based on available materials in the involved institution. The materials that are included are, but not limited to the following: sterile Uratex™ blue foam, nasogastric or suction tubing, phlegm suction machine, Bactigras™ and Opsite™ or Ioban™. A total of 58 patients were included in the study. The average age of the population was 35 and are predominantly male. The most common mechanism of injury was motorcycle accident and 37 of the patients were diagnosed with an open fracture of the lower extremity with open tibia fractures (22) being the most common. Average wound area measured was 24.12 cm. 3. All patients yield a bacteria growth with e. coli being the most frequent. Average during of uninterrupted use was 39 days. Of the 58 included in the study, 8 patients underwent STSG, 2 had a flap coverage surgery, 4 patients eventually underwent amputation and 33 with complete resolution of soft tissue defect after conversion to biologic dressing post-mVAC. The rest of the population were still ongoing mVAC at the end of the study. mVAC is an alternative temporary medium for soft tissue coverage for cases with or without concomitant fractures. mVAC promotes removal of exudate from the wound, supports wound apposition and granulation bed proliferation. Usage mVAC helps prepare for skin coverage procedure and on some cases leads to full resolution of defect

Fragility ankle fractures are traditionally managed conservatively or with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) fusion is an alternative option for the geriatric patient. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides a detailed analysis of the functional and clinical outcomes of hindfoot nailing for fragility ankle fractures presented so far in the literature. A systematic search was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, identifying fourteen studies for inclusion. Studies including patients over 60 with a fragility ankle fracture, treated with TTC nail were included. Patients with a previous fracture of the ipsilateral limb, fibular nails, and pathological fractures were excluded. Subgroup analyses were performed according to (1) open vs closed fractures, (2) immediate post-operative FWB vs post-operative NWB, (3) majority of cohort are diabetics vs minority of cohort are diabetics. Meta-regression analyses were done to explore sources of heterogeneity, and publication bias was assessed using Egger's test. The pooled proportion of superficial infection, deep infection, implant failure, malunion, and all-cause mortality was 0.10 (95%CI:0.06-0.16; I2=44%), 0.08 (95%CI:0.06-0.11, I2=0%), 0.11 (95%CI:0.07-0.15, I2=0%), 0.11 (95%CI:0.06-0.18; I2=51%), and 0.27 (95%CI:0.20-0.34; I2=11%), respectively. The pooled mean post-operative OMAS score was 54.07 (95%CI:48.98-59.16; I2=85%). The best-fitting meta-regression model included age and percentage of male patients as covariates (p=0.0263), and were inversely correlated with higher OMAS scores. Subgroup analyses showed that studies with a majority of diabetics had a higher proportion of implant failure (p=0.0340) and surgical infection (p=0.0096), and a lower chance of returning to pre-injury mobility than studies with a minority of diabetics (p=0.0385). Egger's test (p=0.56) showed no significant publication bias. TTC nailing is an adequate alternative option for fragility ankle fractures. However, current evidence includes mainly case series with inconsistent outcome measures reported and post-operative rehabilitation protocols. Prospective RCTs with long follow-up times and large cohort sizes are needed to clearly guide the use of TTC nailing for ankle fractures

Abstract. Objectives. Achilles tendon ruptures are common in the UK, with data demonstrating a significant rise in incidence over the past years. Chronic Achilles ruptures have been less well defined in literature, and repair techniques vary significantly. A surge in publications reporting various management options for chronic Achilles ruptures has necessitated a review that systematically maps and summarises current evidence regarding treatments and identifies areas for future research. This scoping review aims to improve knowledge of various treatment strategies and their associated outcomes, thereby aiding clinicians in optimising treatment protocols. Methods. The Arksey and O'Malley, Levac and Peters frameworks were used. A computer-based search in PubMed, Embase, Emcare, Cinahl, ISI Web of Science and Scopus was performed for articles reporting the treatment of chronic Achilles ruptures. Two reviewers independently performed title/abstract and full text screening according to a pre-defined selection criteria. Results. A total of 747 articles were identified, of which 73 were finally included. Various management strategies were described with flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer being the most common. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was the most commonly reported outcome, but 16 other measures were described within the literatures. All studies comparing pre- and post-operative outcomes reported a significant improvement. 50 studies reported complications, with an overall pooled complication rate of 168/1065 (15.8%). Conclusions. Beneficial results were reported following various techniques, but comparison between these was challenging due to the low-level study designs used and confounding factors including treatment delay and tendon gap size. Further research exploring the efficacy of different techniques is required to facilitate the development of evidenced-based treatment protocols. Such a work would allow for clinicians to better understand the suitability of specific techniques, thereby selecting the optimal management strategy for each individual patient

Introduction and Objective. Several studies have described double and triple femoral neck lengthening osteotomies to correct coxa brevis deformity, however, no overview exists in literature. Our aim was to perform the first systematic review of the outcomes of double and triple femoral neck lengthening. Materials and Methods. After an extensive search in Pubmed, CINAHL and Embase libraries for published articles using the following search strategy: ‘(((proximal femoral deformity) OR hip dysplasia) OR coxa brevis) AND (((femoral neck lengthening) OR double proximal femoral osteotomy) OR triple proximal femoral osteotomy)’, we included studies reporting the results of double and triple femoral neck osteotomies. Clinical and radiological outcomes, and reported complications were extracted. The review process was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results. After evaluating 456 articles, we included 11 articles reporting 149 osteotomies in 143 patients (31% male, 64% female, 5% unspecified). Mean age of the patients was 20 years (range 7 years to 52 years). Indications were developmental hip dysplasia (51%), Perthes disease (27%), infection (6%), post-trauma (4%), congenital disorders (2%), slipped capital femoral epiphysis (1%), idiopathic (3%) and unknown (6%). The mean limb length discrepancy reduced by 12 mm (0 mm to 40 mm). In total, 65% of 101 positive Trendelenburg sign hips experienced improvement of abductor muscle strength. An 18% (9% to 36%) increase could be found in functional hip scores. Mean increase in articulo-trochanteric distance was 24 mm (10 mm to 34 mm). Five patients older than 30 years at the time of osteotomy and two younger patients with prior hip incongruency had disappointing results and required arthroplasty. In all, 12 complications occurred in 128 osteotomies, in which complications were reported. Conclusions. This first systematic review of double and triple femoral neck lengthening osteotomies shows that favorable outcomes and few complications can be expected in coxa brevis, however, excessive caution is required in older patients with incongruent hips

Introduction. Management of the patellofemoral surface in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains a topic of debate. Incidence of anterior knee pain and incidence of repeat operation have been the focus of several recent meta-analyses, however there is little recent data regarding patients” subjective ability to kneel effectively after TKA. The purpose of this study was to compare patient reported outcomes, including reported ability to kneel, after total knee arthroplasty with and without patellar resurfacing. Methods. Retrospective chart review of 84 consecutive patients who underwent primary TKA with patella resurfacing (56 knees) or without patella resurfacing (28 knees) having a minimum of 2.5 year follow up was performed. Oxford knee scores (OKS), visual analog pain scores (VAS), and questionnaires regarding ability to kneel were evaluated from both groups. Inability to kneel was defined as patients reporting inability or extreme difficulty with kneeling. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to determine normality of data. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare the OKS and VAS between groups. Chi square test was used to compare kneeling ability between groups. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 23 (IBM, Aramonk, NY). Results. The 84 patients included 26 males and 58 females with average age 66.5 (range 46–91). Average follow up was 51 months (range 30–85). There was no significant difference in the percentage of female patients (64% vs 79%), age (67.8 vs 63.8), or reoperation rate (4% vs 7%) between the resurfaced and non-resurfaced groups. There was significantly longer follow up in the non-resurfaced group (57 vs 48 months). There was no statistically significant difference between the resurfacing and non-resurfacing group in terms of OKS (39 vs 38) or VAS (2.5 vs 3.0). However, those patients who did not have their patellofemoral joint resurfaced were more likely to report ability to kneel when compared to the resurfacing group (64% vs 39%, p=0.035). Kneeling ability was not correlated with duration of follow up, patient age or VAS. Kneeling ability was higher in female patients (57%) than males (27%), p=0.017. Discussion. There is concern for increased anterior knee pain and reoperation in patients whose patellae are not resurfaced. However, their failure to imnprove after revision to a resurfaced patella has left some room for depate as to whether or not the lack of resurfacing is the cause of their problems. This study did not show any increase in knee pain or reoperation between groups. There was an increased subjective ability to kneel in paients whose patellae were not resurfaced. This may have implications for the subset of paeitnts whose work or hobbies may require kneeling. There have been previous reports that subjective ability to kneel and actual ability may differ, and also that kneeling can be taught by a therapist. Our data also shows that female gender had a higher reported rate of kneeling

Summary Statement. An autologous thrombin activated 3-fold PRP, mixed with a biphasic calcium phosphate at a 1mL:1cc ratio, is beneficial for early bone healing in older age sheep. Introduction. The management of bone defects continues to present challenges. Upon activation, platelets secrete an array of growth factors that contribute to bone regeneration. Therefore, combining platelet rich plasma (PRP) with bone graft substitutes has the potential to reduce or replace the reliance on autograft. The simple, autologous nature of PRP has encouraged its use. However, this enthusiasm has failed to consistently translate to clinical expediency. Lack of standardisation and improper use may contribute to the conflicting outcomes reported within both pre-clinical and clinical investigations. This study investigates the potential of PRP for bone augmentation in an older age sheep model. Specifically, PRP dose is controlled to provide clearer indications for its clinical use. Methods. Eighty 11mm diameter defects of 20mm in depth were created in the cancellous bone within the epiphyseal region of the medial proximal tibia and distal femur of twenty five-year-old sheep. The defects were treated with three doses of an autologous thrombin activated PRP combined with a biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP). Activated platelet poor plasma (PPP) and the BCP alone provided reference groups, while the autograft and empty defects served as controls. All animals were sacrificed at four weeks post-operatively for radiographic assessment, micro-computed tomography quantification, histological assessment, histomorphometric quantification of new bone area and bone ingrowth, and weekly fluorochrome bone label quantification. TGF-β1 concentrations were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results. The PRP had a 2.9-fold (0.4) increase in platelet concentration, a 0.57-fold (0.09) decrease in leukocytes, and a 0.65-fold (0.11) decrease in fibrinogen. After activation, the PRP had an 8.9-fold (1.5) increase in TGF-β1 serum concentration above baseline. Eleven (11) mm diameter cancellous bone defects in the hind legs of five-year-old sheep do not spontaneously heal within four weeks. PRP dose had a significant effect on the radiographic grade. The highest dose of PRP treatment had a significantly greater micro-CT BV/TV over the BCP alone (PRP: 30.6±1.8%; BCP: 24.5±0.1%). All doses of PRP treatment were significantly greater than the BCP alone for both the histomorphometric new bone area (PRP: 14.5±1.3%; BCP: 9.7±1.5%) and bone ingrowth depth (PRP: 2288±210µm; BCP:1151±268µm). From week two onwards, PRP had a significant effect on the weekly bone ingrowth over BCP, however, autograft had the greatest amount of fluorescently labelled bone within the first three weeks. PRP has a significant effect on the shape and density of osteoblasts within the central region of the defect compared to the BCP alone, however, was not significantly different to autograft. TGF-β1 appeared a better predictor of healing outcomes than platelet concentration, however both had relatively weak correlations (r<.324). Conclusion. PRP induces new bone formation with a dose dependant response at four weeks when used with a biphasic calcium phosphate in older age sheep

Background. Recent years have witnessed a paradigm shift in the assessment of outcome in spine surgery, with patient-centred questionnaires replacing traditional surgeon-based assessments. The assessment of “complications” — loosely defined as new/unexpected problems arising as a result of surgery — has not enjoyed this same enlightened approach. Methods. Patients with lumbar degenerative disorders operated with the goal of pain relief, completed a questionnaire 1 year post-operatively enquiring about complications arising as a consequence of their operation. They rated the bothersomeness of any such complications on a 5-point adjectival scale. Global outcome of surgery and satisfaction were rated on 5-point Likert scales. Results. Of 2946 (92% compliance) patients completing the questionnaire, 861 (29%) reported complications, most commonly sensory disturbances (37% of those with complications) or ongoing pain (22%), followed by motor problems (9%), pain plus sensory disturbances (8%), and problems with wound healing (6%). The corresponding “bothersomeness” ratings for these were: 1% not at all, 23% slightly, 26% moderately, 31% very, and 19% extremely bothersome. Bothersomeness was significantly correlated with global outcome (Rho=0.51, p<0.0001) and satisfaction (Rho=0.43, p<0.0001). A good global outcome was reported by 80% of patients with no complications and only 58% of those with complications; satisfaction was 88% and 72%, respectively. Conclusion. Most complications reported by the patient are perceived to be at least moderately bothersome and are hence not inconsequential. Complications and their severity should be assessed from both the patient's and the surgeon's perspective — not least to better understand the reasons for poor outcome and dissatisfaction with treatment. Conflicts of Interest. None. Source of Funding. None

Background/Purpose of study. The increasing aging of the population will see a growing number of patients presenting for spine surgery with appropriate indications but numerous medical comorbidities. This complicates decision-making, requiring that the likely benefit of surgery (outcome) be carefully weighed up against the potential risk (complications). We assessed the influence of comorbidity on the risks and benefits of spine surgery. Methods. 3′699 patients with degenerative lumbar disorders, undergoing surgery with the goal of pain relief, completed the multidimensional Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI; scored 0–10) before and 12 months after surgery. At 12mo they also rated the global treatment outcome and their satisfaction. Using the Eurospine Spine Tango Registry, surgeons documented surgical details, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores and surgical/general complications. Results. 29.8% patients were rated ASA1 (normal healthy), 44.8% ASA2 (mild/moderate systemic disease), 25.0% ASA3 (severe) and 0.4% ASA4 (life-threatening). In going from ASA1 to ASA3 (ASA4 group too small), surgical complications increased significantly from 3.6% to 11.1% and general complications increased from 2.3% to 12.6%; 12-month outcomes showed a corresponding decline, with a good global outcome being reported by 78% ASA1 patients, 76% ASA2, and 68% ASA3. Satisfaction with treatment was 87%, 85%, and 79%, respectively and reduction in COMI, 4.2±2.9, 3.7±3.0, and 3.3±3.0 points, respectively. Conclusion. The negative impact of comorbidity on the outcome of spine surgery has not been well investigated/quantified to date. The ASA grade may be helpful in producing algorithms for decision-making and preoperative counselling regarding the corresponding risks and benefits of surgery. No Conflict of interest. No funding obtained. This abstract has not been previously published in whole or substantial part nor has it been presented previously at a national meeting

Objectives

Evidence -based medicine (EBM) is designed to inform clinical decision-making within all medical specialties, including orthopaedic surgery. We recently published a pilot survey of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA) membership and demonstrated that the adoption of EBM principles is variable among Canadian orthopaedic surgeons. The objective of this study was to conduct a broader international survey of orthopaedic surgeons to identify characteristics of research studies perceived as being most influential in informing clinical decision-making.