Bruce H. Ziran

Intramedullary nailing in open tibia fractures: a comparison of two techniques

We analyzed 51 patients with open tibial fractures treated with intramedullary nailing. In 29 patients the nailing was performed without reaming and in 22 after the “reamed-to-fit” technique. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of union. The nonreamed group required a greater number of secondary procedures to achieve union and had a higher but not statistically significant incidence of infection. Analysis of the operative and anesthesia cost associated with the additional procedures revealed that on average, patients receiving nonreamed nailing incurred a cost of

A dedicated team approach enhances outcomes of osteomyelitis treatment.

4,900 more per fracture than patients of the reamed-to-fit technique. The healing rates of open tibia fractures using either minimally reamed or nonreamed techniques of intramedullary nailing are comparable. No increase in the rate of infection with the reamed-to-fit technique was found. A significant increase in the number of secondary procedures required to achieve union was found with the nonreamed nailing technique.RésuméNous avons analysé 51 malades avec une fracture tibiale ouverte traitée par enclouage centromédullaire. Pour 29 malades l’enclouage a été exécuté sans alésage et pour 22 avec la technique d’alésage adapté. Il n’y avait aucune différence statistique dans le taux de consolidation. Le groupe sans alésage a exigé un plus grand nombre de gestes secondaires pour obtenir la consolidation et avait un plus grande fréquence d’infection sans que cela soit statistiquement significatif. L’analyse du coût opératoire et de l’anesthésie, associée aux procédures supplémentaires montre qu’en moyenne un malade traité sans alésage a un coût de €4,100 de plus par fracture que le malade avec la technique d’alésage adapté. es taux de consolidation des fractures tibiales ouvertes en utilisant l’enclouage avec alésage adapté ou les techniques sans alésage sont comparables. Aucune augmentation dans le taux d’infection avec la technique d’alésage adapté n’a été trouvée. Une augmentation notable du nombre de procédures secondaires nécessaires pour obtenir la consolidation a été notée avec la technique de l’enclouage sans alésage.

Radial nerve transposition with humeral fracture fixation: preliminary results.

To assess the impact of a dedicated musculoskeletal infection team, 70 musculoskeletal infections (traumatic and non-traumatic chronic osteomyelitis, Cierny-Mader Type III or IV) in 58 patients with were treated in two groups. Group I (43 infections) was treated with the assistance of an on-call infectious disease specialist. Group II (27 infections) was treated with the assistance of a dedicated musculoskeletal infectious disease specialist. Overall, there was a 42% success in Group I compared with 78% success in Group II. When stratified by infection type, in patients with Type III infections, there was a 56% success in Group I and a 90% success rate in Group II. For patients with Type IV infections, there was a 25% success rate in Group I and a 71% success rate in Group II. The participation of the dedicated musculoskeletal infectious disease specialist significantly improved patient outcomes.

Primary retroperitoneal sarcomas: common symptoms, common diagnoses, uncommon disease

Humeral shaft fractures traditionally have been managed with closed treatment. In patients with polytrauma, open fractures, and patients at risk for nonunion, open reduction and internal fixation and intramedullary nailing have been advocated. The current study describes a technique used in humeral shaft fractures that reduces the risk of iatrogenic radial nerve injury during plate osteosynthesis in fracture patterns at high risk of nonunion (highly comminuted, transverse fractures). Ten patients who had radial nerve transposition were reviewed retrospectively using the electronic records database at the authors’ institution. The average age of the patients was 27 years and average followup was 25 months. All had humeral shaft fractures, AO class A3.2 in four patients, B3.2 in five patients, and C2.2 in one patient. All fractures were deemed to be at high risk for nonunion. There were no iatrogenic nerve palsies as a result of the transposition, and no infections. Two patients had delayed or nonunion, who achieved healing after a second intervention. Transposition of the radial nerve is a useful adjunct to plating of humeral shaft fractures in patients at high risk for nonunion. The technique is safe, does not cause iatrogenic injury, and protects the radial nerve during all subsequent approaches to the fracture site.

Closed Fractures and Dislocations

Primary retroperitoneal sarcomas may present with symptoms and signs that mimic common musculoskeletal disorders of the extremities that are quite remote from the source of the problem. This often misleads the clinician and results in delays in diagnosis. The authors present 6 patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma who had a common or nonspecific orthopaedic condition of the extremity. Delays in diagnosis ranged from 2 to 30 months. No patient survived his or her tumor. Clinicians should be alerted to the possibility of a retroperitoneal tumor that presents primarily or initially with extremity signs and symptoms but with few or no clues of the presence of a localized sarcoma in the retroperitoneal space.

Knee function after patellectomy and cruciform repair of the extensor mechanism.

Trauma patients commonly present with fractures that add to the difficulty dealing treating such patients. Closed fractures and dislocations, just like open fractures, can add to a patient’s morbidity and even mortality if not dealt in a timely manner. Through proper physical examination and radiographic evaluation, trauma patient’s boney injuries can be diagnosed efficiently and appropriate treatment can be decided. The options for dealing with these issues range from noninvasive, splinting and traction to invasive type of procedures, mainly external fixation. Whichever method is chosen, the key for proper treatment is stabilization of the fracture while not compromising the patient’s physiological status. A treatment philosophy that has been termed Damage Control Orthopaedics (DCO) was developed so that orthopaedic surgeons could effectively contribute to the care of trauma patients without increasing the physiological burden on the patient by increasing inflammatory responses through prolonged procedures. Dislocations can be dealt with effectively using common reduction techniques depending on the type of dislocation. Timely attention is needed for dislocations to reduce the risk of secondary vascular and/or neurological compromise. For closed fractures, noninvasive techniques tend to be used in upper extremity and low-energy fractures where soft-tissue compromise is not a great concern. External fixation is a great option for stable fixation of lower extremity fractures or those fractures that are comminuted, at greater risk of causing soft-tissue compromise, or associated with vascular injuries.