Jonah Hébert-Davies

Incidence of associated injury in posterior shoulder dislocation: systematic review of the literature.

Objective: Posterior shoulder dislocations are rare and often missed. Classically associated with seizures, very little is known about the incidence and type of associated injuries. Unfortunately, the majority of the literature consists of incidental reports or small case series. Our goal was to increase the strength of available data by performing a systematic review. Data Sources: We searched EMBASE and PubMed for the terms “posterior shoulder dislocation.” Our inclusion criteria were articles in either English or French with the words “posterior” and “dislocation” in the abstract or title. All reports of chronic cases or instability as well as those without patient information were excluded. Data regarding demographics, etiology, investigations, associated injuries, treatments, and outcomes were extracted. All data were analyzed by using SPSS 18.0 (IBM, Chicago, IL). Results: A total of 766 articles were found of which 108 were retained for analysis. A total of 475 patients (543 shoulders) were compiled. Seizures were reported in 34% of cases. A majority of dislocations (65%) had associated injuries. Fracture was most common followed by reverse Hill-Sachs and cuff tears. In the absence of fracture or reverse Hill-Sachs injury, the risk of cuff tear increased nearly fivefold (odds ratio, 4.6; P = 0.016). Conclusion: Our results suggest the amount of associated injuries related to posterior shoulder dislocation is far greater than thought. We propose an investigation algorithm for acute posterior shoulder dislocations.

CT scan assessment of the syndesmosis: a new reproducible method.

Objectives: Anatomic reduction of the fibula with regard to the tibia is the goal when treating syndesmotic injuries. No objective method exists to describe the distal tibiofibular relationship. The primary and secondary objectives of this study was to describe and validate radiologic measurements of the syndesmosis and to establish a set of normal values, respectively. Methods: A set of 6 measurements and 2 angles were defined on axial computed tomography scans. These measures describe distal tibiofibular anatomy in rotation, lateral translation, and anteroposterior position. A series of 100 ankle computed tomography scans were measured by 2 evaluators. Interobserver reliability was assessed on a subset of 30 scans by 3 different evaluators. Measurements were repeated 6 weeks later by 2 evaluators for intraobserver reliability. All correlations were evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: Good correlations for nearly all measurements were found, with intraclass correlation coefficients over 0.5. The lateral translation was the most reliable measure with a mean value of 2.8 mm. The mean ratio of anterior tibiofibular distance to posterior tibiofibular distance was 0.54. Proximal to tibial plafond, the fibula is internally rotated 8.7 degrees and at the talar dome level it is in 6.9 degrees of external rotation. Conclusions: Several studies have shown that the reduction of the syndesmosis is essential to restore normal ankle mechanics and prevent secondary degenerative changes. The evaluation criteria developed in this study can give the surgeon a guideline for evaluating syndesmosis anatomy with reliable parameters. Concerning the normal range of motion, our radiologic measurements of 100 normal ankles showed that a significant amount of variability exists in the uninjured distal tibiofibular relationship.

Bias towards dementia: Are hip fracture trials excluding too many patients? A systematic review

Patients with hip fractures are older and often present many co-morbidities, including dementia. These patients cannot answer quality of life questionnaires and are generally excluded from trials. We hypothesized that a significant number of patients are being excluded from these studies and this may impact outcomes. This was a two part study; the first analyzing databases of two ongoing large-scale multi-centred hip fracture trials and the second being a systematic review. The FAITH and HEALTH studies were analyzed for exclusion incidence directly related to dementia. The second part consisted of a systematic search of all relevant studies within the last 20 years. In the FAITH study, a total of 1690 subjects were excluded, 375 (22.2%) of which were due to dementia or cognitive impairment. In the HEALTH study, 575 were excluded with dementia/cognitive impairment representing 207 patients (36%). Following the systematic review, 251 articles were identified 17 of which were retained. The overall prevalence of dementia was 27.9% (range 2-51%). Only two studies compared demented and non-demented groups. In these studies significant increases in both mortality and complications were found. In summary, when investigating hip fractures, choosing appropriate objective endpoints is essential to ensure results are also applicable to patients with dementia.

Validation of the Instability Shoulder Index Score in a Multicenter Reliability Study in 114 Consecutive Cases

Background: Anterior shoulder stabilization surgery with the arthroscopic Bankart procedure can have a high recurrence rate in certain patients. Identifying these patients to modify outcomes has become a focal point of research. Purpose: The Instability Shoulder Index Score (ISIS) was developed to predict the success of arthroscopic Bankart repair. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores predicting a higher risk of recurrence after stabilization. The interobserver reliability of the score is not known. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: This is a prospective multicenter (North America and Europe) study of patients suffering from shoulder instability and waiting for stabilization surgery. Five pairs of independent evaluators were asked to score patient instability severity with the ISIS. Patients also completed functional scores (Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index [WOSI], Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand–short version [QuickDASH], and Walch-Duplay test). Data on age, sex, number of dislocations, and type of surgery were collected. The test-retest method and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC: >0.75 = good, >0.85 = very good, and >0.9 = excellent) were used for analysis. Results: A total of 114 patients with anterior shoulder instability were included, of whom 89 (78%) were men. The mean age was 28 years. The ISIS was very reliable, with an ICC of 0.933. The mean number of dislocations per patient was higher in patients who had an ISIS of ≥6 (25 vs 14; P = .05). Patients who underwent more complex arthroscopic procedures such as Hill-Sachs remplissage or open Latarjet had higher preoperative ISIS outcomes, with a mean score of 4.8 versus 3.4, respectively (P = .002). There was no correlation between the ISIS and the quality-of-life questionnaires, with Pearson correlations all >0.05 (WOSI = 0.39; QuickDASH = 0.97; Walch-Duplay = 0.08). Conclusion: Our results show that the ISIS is reliable when used in a multicenter study with anterior traumatic instability populations. There was no correlation between the ISIS and the quality-of-life questionnaires, but surgical decisions reflected its increased use.

Direct Reduction Technique for Superomedial Dome Impaction in Geriatric Acetabular Fractures

Summary: The treatment of acetabular fractures in the elderly patients remains challenging. The “Gull Sign,” which was recently described, was 100% predictive of failure of reduction and/or fixation. However, we believe that adequate reduction can be achieved and lead to good functional outcomes. Our technique differs from classic methods because it uses an anterior intrapelvic approach (the modified Stoppa) to obtain direct reduction of the impacted fragments. Access to the impacted superomedial dome is achieved by mobilizing the quadrilateral fragment, thus allowing direct visualization of the impacted articular surface. After reduction, definitive fixation is obtained with 3.5-mm cortical screws positioned in the subchondral bone directly over the Gull fragment. Our technique was performed in 9 patients, with a mean follow-up of 2.8 years. The quality of reduction was within 3 mm in 7 patients (78%). The overall conversion rate to total hip arthroplasty was 33%. All patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty either had initial malreduction or suffered an early loss of reduction. Other complications included 1 case of heterotopic ossification (Brooker type II) and 1 case of deep vein thrombosis. There were no infections. The average Harris Hip Score was 81. Good reduction of superior medial dome impaction can be obtained and maintained in the well-selected geriatric patient. We believe that, appropriately used, this direct reduction technique can be an important adjunct to surgeons dealing with this troublesome fracture.

A biomechanical study comparing polyaxial locking screw mechanisms

OBJECTIVE Locking plates have become ubiquitous in modern fracture surgery. Recently, manufacturers have developed locking plates with polyaxial screw capabilities in order to optimise screw placement. It has already been demonstrated that inserting uniaxial locking screws off axis results in weaker loads to failure. Our hypothesis was that even implants specifically designed for polyaxial insertion would experience a drop-off in resistance when using non-perpendicular screws. METHODS Four different types (one monoaxial and three polyaxial locking plates) of readily available small fragment plates were tested. A biomechanical model was developed to test the screws until failure (defined as breakage and rapid loss of >50% force). Screws were inserted at 0, 10 and 15°. RESULTS The standard monoaxial locking mechanism sustained saw a 60% reduction in force (332N vs. 134N) when screws were inserted cross-threaded at 10°. Two polyaxial systems saw similar significant reductions in force of 45% and 34%, respectively at 15°. A third system utilizing an end cap locking mechanism showed highly variable results with large standard deviations. Polyaxial screws showed on average only limited reduction at 10 degrees of insertion angle. CONCLUSION Newer designs of locking plates have attractive properties to allow more surgical options during fixation. However this freedom comes at the price of reduced force. Our results show that the safe zone for inserting these screws is closer to 20°, rather than the 30° indicated by the manufacturers. Also, the various polyaxial locking mechanisms seem to influence the overall resistance of the screws.

Periprosthetic Fractures of the Acetabulum During Cup Insertion: Posterior Column Stability is Crucial

Periprosthetic hip fractures around acetabular components are rare with little information available to guide surgical management of these complex injuries. A retrospective review of intraoperative isolated acetabular periprosthetic fractures from three tertiary surgical units was done. A total of 32 patients were identified with 9 initially missed. Acetabular components were stable (type 1) in 11 patients with no failures; unstable (type 2) in 12 patients and treated with supplemental fixation. Non-union and displacement were correlated with absent posterior column plating. Missed fractures (type 3) had the highest reoperation rate. Anterior patterns all healed, whereas fractures with posterior column instability had a 67% failure rate. Periprosthetic acetabular fracture can heal successfully with posterior column stability. Plating is mandatory for large posterior wall fragments to achieve osteointegration.

Variation of Syndesmosis Anatomy With Growth.

Background: Syndesmosis injury is common in trauma and in the sport medicine population. Diagnosis and treatment of this pathology is controversial in adult population and almost unknown in a growing and immature ankle. The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between the distal tibia and fibula in immature, growing, and mature children. Methods: A retrospective imaging study was performed on ankle magnetic resonance images (MRI), which were divided into 3 groups according to age: immature, growing, or mature. The syndesmosis anatomy was described in 3 planes following an established measurement system. The measurement system was also validated (intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility) on a subgroup of 30 MRIs with 4 surgeons. Results: The measurement system, previously described on CT scans, is valid when used on MRIs. The mediolateral translation significantly increases with growth and external rotation of fibula decreases. The anteroposterior position is also significantly different between groups but the ratios are similar. Conclusions: This study reported differences in distal tibiofibular relationship in a growing population. This information will be crucial in future development of diagnostic and follow-up criteria of syndesmosis injury. It also presented a valid and precise measurement system to describe syndesmotic anatomy in 3 planes. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

Delayed Migration of Greater Tuberosity Fractures Associated With Anterior Shoulder Dislocation.

Objectives: Treatment of greater tuberosity (GT) fractures occurring during anterior shoulder dislocation generally consists of initial closed reduction of the shoulder. Undisplaced fractures are treated conservatively, whereas displaced fractures generally undergo surgical management. Our hypothesis is that many well-reduced GT fractures will migrate. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of GT fractures associated with shoulder dislocation to optimize their management. Design: Retrospective review with prospective outcomes. Setting: Tertiary Level 1 trauma center. Patients: A total of 55 patients with anterior shoulder dislocation and GT fractures were identified. A matched cohort of isolated GT fractures was also identified. Intervention: Closed reduction versus open reduction with or without fixation. Outcome Measurements: Radiographs were evaluated for initial displacement, reduction, Hill–Sachs lesion, and subsequent displacement. Patients were evaluated using the Constant and quick DASH scores at a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. Results: A majority of patients received initial closed reduction, with acceptable reduction of the tuberosity in 85%. With closed reduction, migration of the GT was seen in 9 cases (16%). In younger patients (<70 years), the failure rate increased to 26%. Displacement of the GT was 5.6 times more likely with dislocation than without. Patients with migration were only operated on in 33% of cases, mostly because of late presentation. Conclusions: Treatment of GT fractures occurring with anterior shoulder dislocation is complex. Although outcomes with nonoperative treatment are generally acceptable, a significant proportion of these patients will have tuberosity migration, which may impact function. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Impact of olecranon fracture malunion: Study on the importance of PUDA (Proximal Ulna Dorsal Angulation).

PURPOSE The Proximal Ulna Dorsal Angulation (PUDA) is part of the proximal ulnas normal anatomy. The importance of restoring ulnar anatomy characteristics precisely after olecranon fracture is not known, however, failure to recreate the PUDA after surgery may result in poorer functional outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of minimal proximal ulna malunion on elbow ROM and function at least one year after olecranon ORIF. METHOD A retrospective comparative cohort study took place in three level-1 trauma centers. Forty-nine adult volunteers who underwent ORIF for olecranon fracture were included. Patients were separated into two groups according to PUDA malreduction-defined as more than 5° of difference between the fractured and the contralateral elbow. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Radiographic ROM measurement, demographic data and quality of life questionnaires were recorded (PREE, MEPS, Q-DASH, SF12, VAS). RESULTS The mean follow up was 3 years and 9 months (1-7 years). There was no difference in terms of outcome, quality of reduction or range of motion between patients treated with plate or tension band. The mean PUDA on the fracture side was different from the normal side (2.20 vs 4.90, p<0.001). Fourteen patients (29%) had PUDA malunion. Those patients had decreased elbow flexion (-7°, p=0.011), extension (-11.2°, p=0.013) and total ROM (-18.6°, p=0.006) as opposed to the control group. Both groups had comparable quality of life questionnaire scores. Alcohol consumption was the only risk factor associated with worse scores. CONCLUSION Incidence of olecranon malunion-as defined by PUDA measurement - was 29% and it was associated with decreased elbow range of motion. Alcohol consumption was correlated with a worse prognosis in our series of patients. Tension band and plate fixation can maintain a good reduction in terms of PUDA and the choice of fixation method does not influence outcome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III Therapeutic study.