Aims

A core outcome set for adult, open lower limb fracture has been established consisting of ‘Walking, gait and mobility’, ‘Being able to return to life roles’, ‘Pain or discomfort’, and ‘Quality of life’. This study aims to identify which outcome measurement instruments (OMIs) should be recommended to measure each core outcome.

Aims. Prompt and sufficient broad-spectrum empirical antibiotic treatment is key to preventing infection following open tibial fractures. Succeeding co-administration, we dynamically assessed the time for which vancomycin and meropenem concentrations were above relevant epidemiological cut-off (ECOFF) minimal inhibitory concentrations (T > MIC) in tibial compartments for the bacteria most frequently encountered in open fractures. Low and high MIC targets were applied: 1 and 4 µg/ml for vancomycin, and 0.125 and 2 µg/ml for meropenem. Methods. Eight pigs received a single dose of 1,000 mg vancomycin and 1,000 mg meropenem simultaneously over 100 minutes and 10 minutes, respectively. Microdialysis catheters were placed for sampling over eight hours in tibial cancellous bone, cortical bone, and adjacent subcutaneous adipose tissue. Venous blood samples were collected as references. Results. Across the targeted ECOFF values, vancomycin displayed longer T > MIC in all the investigated compartments in comparison to meropenem. For both drugs, cortical bone exhibited the shortest T > MIC. For the low MIC targets and across compartments, mean T > MIC ranged between 208 and 449 minutes (46% to 100%) for vancomycin and between 189 and 406 minutes (42% to 90%) for meropenem. For the high MIC targets, mean T > MIC ranged between 30 and 446 minutes (7% to 99%) for vancomycin and between 45 and 181 minutes (10% to 40%) for meropenem. Conclusion. The differences in the T > MIC between the low and high targets illustrate how the interpretation of these results is highly susceptible to the defined MIC target. To encompass any trauma, contamination, or individual tissue differences, a more aggressive dosing approach may be considered to achieve longer T > MIC in all the exposed tissues, and thereby lower the risk of acquiring an infection after open tibial fractures. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(2):112–120

Aims

Cigarette smoking has a negative impact on the skeletal system, causes a decrease in bone mass in both young and old patients, and is considered a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis. In addition, it disturbs the bone healing process and prolongs the healing time after fractures. The mechanisms by which cigarette smoking impairs fracture healing are not fully understood. There are few studies reporting the effects of cigarette smoking on new blood vessel formation during the early stage of fracture healing. We tested the hypothesis that cigarette smoke inhalation may suppress angiogenesis and delay fracture healing.

Objectives

CT-based three-column classification (TCC) has been widely used in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures (TPFs). In its updated version (updated three-column concept, uTCC), a fracture morphology-based injury mechanism was proposed for effective treatment guidance. In this study, the injury mechanism of TPFs is further explained, and its inter- and intraobserver reliability is evaluated to perfect the uTCC.

Objectives. Meropenem may be an important drug in the treatment of open tibial fractures and chronic osteomyelitis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe meropenem pharmacokinetics in plasma, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCT), and cancellous bone using microdialysis in a porcine model. Methods. Six female pigs were assigned to receive 1000 mg of meropenem intravenously over five minutes. Measurements of meropenem were obtained from plasma, SCT, and cancellous bone for eight hours thereafter. Microdialysis was applied for sampling in solid tissues. The meropenem concentrations were determined using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Results. The penetration of meropenem into cancellous bone, expressed as the ratio of plasma to cancellous bone area under the concentration-curve from zero to the last measured value, was incomplete and delayed. The time with concentration above the minimal inhibitory concentration (T. >MIC. ), for an MIC of 0.5 μg/ml, was shorter for cancellous bone in comparison with both plasma and SCT. For MICs above 0.5 μg/ml, T. >MIC. in cancellous bone was only shorter than SCT. Considering an MIC of 4 μg/ml, no animals achieved the target of 40% T. >MIC. in plasma and cancellous bone, while less than 20% achieved it in SCT. Conclusion. The main finding of this study was short T. >MIC. in cancellous bone after intravenous administration of 1000 mg meropenem. Consequently, in order to achieve sufficient tissue concentration in the cases of open tibial fractures and chronic osteomyelitis, supplemental application of meropenem may be necessary. Cite this article: P. Hanberg, A. Lund, K. Søballe, M. Bue. Single-dose pharmacokinetics of meropenem in porcine cancellous bone determined by microdialysis: An animal study. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:342–348. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.87.BJR-2018-0308.R1

Objectives

The aim of this study was to review the impact of smoking tobacco on the musculoskeletal system, and on bone fractures in particular.

Implant-related infection is one of the leading reasons for failure in orthopaedics and trauma, and results in high social and economic costs. Various antibacterial coating technologies have proven to be safe and effective both in preclinical and clinical studies, with post-surgical implant-related infections reduced by 90% in some cases, depending on the type of coating and experimental setup used. Economic assessment may enable the cost-to-benefit profile of any given antibacterial coating to be defined, based on the expected infection rate with and without the coating, the cost of the infection management, and the cost of the coating. After reviewing the latest evidence on the available antibacterial coatings, we quantified the impact caused by delaying their large-scale application. Considering only joint arthroplasties, our calculations indicated that for an antibacterial coating, with a final user’s cost price of €600 and able to reduce post-surgical infection by 80%, each year of delay to its large-scale application would cause an estimated 35 200 new cases of post-surgical infection in Europe, equating to additional hospital costs of approximately €440 million per year. An adequate reimbursement policy for antibacterial coatings may benefit patients, healthcare systems, and related research, as could faster and more affordable regulatory pathways for the technologies still in the pipeline. This could significantly reduce the social and economic burden of implant-related infections in orthopaedics and trauma.

Cite this article: C. L. Romanò, H. Tsuchiya, I. Morelli, A. G. Battaglia, L. Drago. Antibacterial coating of implants: are we missing something? Bone Joint Res 2019;8:199–206. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.85.BJR-2018-0316.

Objectives

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication following total joint arthroplasty. Non-contact induction heating of metal implants is a new and emerging treatment for PJI. However, there may be concerns for potential tissue necrosis. It is thought that segmental induction heating can be used to control the thermal dose and to limit collateral thermal injury to the bone and surrounding tissues. The purpose of this study was to determine the thermal dose, for commonly used metal implants in orthopaedic surgery, at various distances from the heating centre (HC).

Objectives

As well as debridement and irrigation, soft-tissue coverage, and osseous stabilization, systemic antibiotic prophylaxis is considered the benchmark in the management of open fractures and considerably reduces the risk of subsequent fracture-related infections (FRI). The direct application of antibiotics in the surgical field (local antibiotics) has been used for decades as additional prophylaxis in open fractures, although definitive evidence confirming a beneficial effect is scarce. The purpose of the present study was to review the clinical evidence regarding the effect of prophylactic application of local antibiotics in open limb fractures.

Objectives

The surgical challenge with severe hindfoot injuries is one of technical feasibility, and whether the limb can be salvaged. There is an additional question of whether these injuries should be managed with limb salvage, or whether patients would achieve a greater quality of life with a transtibial amputation. This study aims to measure functional outcomes in military patients sustaining hindfoot fractures, and identify injury features associated with poor function.

Objectives

Infection of implants is a major problem in elective and trauma surgery. Heating is an effective way to reduce the bacterial load in food preparation, and studies on hyperthermia treatment for cancer have shown that it is possible to heat metal objects with pulsed electromagnetic fields selectively (PEMF), also known as induction heating. We therefore set out to answer the following research question: is non-contact induction heating of metallic implants effective in reducing bacterial load in vitro?

Objectives

Ubiquitin E3 ligase-mediated protein degradation regulates osteoblast function. Itch, an E3 ligase, affects numerous cell functions by regulating ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of related proteins. However, the Itch-related cellular and molecular mechanisms by which osteoblast differentiation and function are elevated during bone fracture repair are as yet unknown.

Objectives

To review the systemic impact of smoking on bone healing as evidenced within the orthopaedic literature.