Jack Haglin

Open surgical elbow contracture release after trauma: results and recommendations

BACKGROUND Post-traumatic elbow contracture is a debilitating complication after elbow trauma. The purpose of this study was to characterize the affected patient population, operative management, and outcomes after operative elbow contracture release for treatment of post-traumatic elbow contracture. METHODS A retrospective record review was conducted to identify all patients who underwent post-traumatic elbow contracture release performed by 1 of 3 surgeons at one academic medical center. Patient demographics, injuries, operative details, outcomes, and complications were recorded. RESULTS The study included 103 patients who met inclusion criteria. At the time of contracture release, patients were a mean age of 45.2 ± 15.6 years. Contracture release resulted in a significant mean increase to elbow extension/flexion arc of motion of 52° ± 18° (P < .0005). Not including recurrence of contracture, a subsequent complication occurred in 10 patients (10%). Radiographic recurrence of heterotopic ossification (HO) occurred in 14 patients (14%) after release. Ten patients (11%) elected to undergo a secondary operation to gain more motion. CONCLUSION Soft tissue and bony elbow contracture release is effective. Patients with post-traumatic elbow contracture can make significant gains to their arc of motion after contracture release surgery and can expect to recover a functional elbow arc of motion. Patients with severe preoperative contracture may benefit from concomitant ulnar nerve decompression. HO prophylaxis did not affect the rate of HO recurrence or ultimate elbow range of motion. However, patients must be counseled that contracture may reoccur, and some patients may require or elect to have more than one procedure to achieve functional motion.

Does Use of Oral Anticoagulants at the Time of Admission Affect Outcomes Following Hip Fracture

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare hospital quality outcomes in patients over the age of 60 undergoing fixation of hip fracture based on their anticoagulation status. Materials and Methods: Patients aged 60 and older with isolated hip fracture injuries treated operatively at 1 academic medical center between October 2014 and September 2016 were analyzed. Patients on the following medications were included in the anticoagulation cohort: warfarin, clopidogrel, aspirin 325 mg, rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, and dipyridamole/aspirin. We compared outcome measures including time to surgery, length of stay (LOS), transfusion rate, blood loss, procedure time, complication rate, need for intensive care unit (ICU)/step-down unit (SDU) care, discharge disposition, and cost of admission. Outcomes were controlled for age, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), and anesthesia type. Results: A total of 479 hip fracture patients met the inclusion criteria, with 367 (76.6%) patients in the nonanticoagulated cohort and 112 (23.4%) patients in the anticoagulated cohort. The mean LOS and time to surgery were longer in the anticoagulated cohort (8.3 vs 7.3 days, P = .033 and 1.9 vs 1.6 days, P = .010); however, after controlling for age, CCI, and anesthesia type, these differences were no longer significant. Surgical outcomes were equivalent with similar procedure times, blood loss, and need for transfusion. The mean number of complications developed and inpatient mortality rate in the 2 cohorts were similar; however, more patients in the anticoagulated cohort required ICU/SDU-level care (odds ratio = 2.364, P = .001, controlled for age, CCI, and anesthesia). There was increased utilization of post-acute care in the anticoagulated cohort, with only 10.7% of patients discharged home compared to 19.9% of the nonanticoagulated group (P = .026). Lastly, there was no difference in cost of care. Conclusion: This study highlights that anticoagulation status alone does not independently put patients at increased risk with respect to LOS, surgical outcomes, and cost of hospitalization.

Participation in Recreational Athletics After Operative Fixation of Tibial Plateau Fractures: Predictors and Functional Outcomes of Those Getting Back in the Game:

Background: Tibial plateau fractures can be devastating traumatic injuries to the knee, particularly in active athletes. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to report on the return to participation in recreational athletics after operatively managed tibial plateau fractures. In addition, this study assessed factors associated with the ability to return to participation in recreational athletics after tibial plateau fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation and compared final outcomes between patients who were able to return to recreational athletics and those who could not. The hypothesis was that returning to participation in recreational athletics would be dependent on the time from surgery after operative fixation of tibial plateau fractures. Less severe injuries would be associated with a quicker return to athletics. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: All tibial plateau fractures treated by 1 of 3 surgeons at a single academic institution over an 11-year period were prospectively followed. Final outcomes were evaluated using the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment at latest follow-up. All complications were recorded at each follow-up. Differences between the groups were compared using Student t tests for continuous variables. Chi-square analysis was used to determine whether differences between categorical variables existed. Logistic regression was performed to assess independent variables associated with returning to participation in recreational athletics. Results: A total of 169 patients who underwent operative management of their tibial plateau fracture reported participation in recreational athletics before their injury. By the 6-month time point, 48 patients (31.6%) had returned to participation in recreational athletics, and at final follow-up (mean, 15 months), 89 patients (52.4%) had returned to participation in recreational athletics. Predictors of returning to recreational athletics included white race, female sex, social alcohol consumption, younger age, increased range of motion (ROM), low-energy Schatzker patterns (I-III), injuries not inclusive of orthopaedic polytrauma or open fractures, and no postoperative complications. White race, social alcohol consumption, and increased ROM were associated with returning to athletics at both 6-month and final follow-up. Lack of a venous thromboembolism was associated with returning to athletics at final follow-up. Patients who returned to recreational athletics had associations with better functional outcomes and emotional status than those who did not. Conclusion: The number of patients who returned to participation in recreational athletics gradually increased over time after operative fixation of tibial plateau fractures. Less severe injuries and a lack of postoperative complications were associated with a quicker return to athletics. Predictors of returning to participation in recreational athletics after operatively managed tibial plateau fractures can be used to target patients at risk of not returning to play to provide interventions aimed at improving their recovery, such as early knee range of motion, muscle strengthening, and participation in low-impact activities.

Complications and unplanned outcomes following operative treatment of tibial plateau fractures

INTRODUCTION The operative management of tibial plateau fractures is challenging and post-operative complications do occur. The purpose of this study was three-fold. 1). To report complications and unplanned outcomes in patients who had sustained tibial plateau fractures and were operatively managed 2). To report predictors of these post-operative events 3). To report if differences in clinical outcomes exist in patients who sustained a post-operative event. METHODS Over 11 years, all tibial plateau fractures were prospectively followed. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the validated Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA) score. Demographics, initial injury characteristics, surgical details and post-operative events were prospectively recorded. Students t-tests were used for continuous variables and chi-squared analysis was used for categorical variables. Binary logistic regression and multivariate linear regression were conducted for independent predictors of post-operative events and complications and functional outcomes, respectively. RESULTS 275 patients with 279 tibial plateau fractures were included in our analysis. Ten patients (3.6%) sustained a deep infection. Six patients (2.2%) developed a superficial infection. One patient (0.4%) presented with early implant failure. Two patients (0.7%) developed a fracture nonunion. Eight patients (2.9%) developed a venous thromboembolism. Seventeen patients (6.2%) went on to re-operation for symptomatic implant removal. Nine patients (3.3%) underwent a lysis of adhesions procedure. Univariate analysis demonstrated bicondylar tibial plateau fractures (P<0.001), Moore fracture-dislocations (P=0.005), open fractures (P=0.022), and compartment syndrome (P=0.001) to be associated with post-operative complications and unplanned outcomes. Long-term functional outcomes were worse among patients who developed a post-operative complication or unplanned outcome (P=0.031). CONCLUSION Orthopaedic trauma surgeons should be aware of complications and unplanned outcomes following operatively managed tibial plateau fractures, along with having the knowledge of factors that are associated with development of post-operative events.