Richard Jenkinson

Intraoperative diagnosis of syndesmosis injuries in external rotation ankle fractures.

Objective: This study was designed to compare intraoperative fluoroscopic stress testing, static radiographs, and biomechanical criteria for the diagnosis of distal tibiofibular syndesmotic instability associated with external rotation type ankle fractures. Design: Prospective, consecutive series. Setting: Academic level 1 trauma center. Patients/Participants: Thirty-eight skeletally mature patients with unstable unilateral external rotation ankle fractures were prospectively recruited. Intervention: Before surgery, the treating surgeon detailed the operative treatment plan, including need for syndesmotic fixation. In pronation-external rotation injuries, biomechanical criteria were applied to predict syndesmotic instability. Ankles were examined using intraoperative fluoroscopic external rotation stress tests. The contralateral uninjured limb was used as a control. A 7.2-Nm force was applied for the external rotation stress examination. Stress testing was performed after lateral malleolar fixation and repeated after medial and syndesmotic fixation. Main Outcome Measures: The incidence of syndesmotic instability was determined based on radiographic clear space measurements and compared with previously published criteria. Results: Intraoperative fluoroscopy detected unpredicted syndesmotic instability in 37% of ankles. In supination-external rotation (OTA 44B) injuries, unpredicted syndesmosis instability was found in 10 of 30 patients (33%). In pronation-external rotation injuries (OTA 44C), 4 of 7 patients (57%) were associated with syndesmosis disruption not predicted by biomechanical criteria. In bimalleolar fractures, syndesmosis fixation improved stability compared with rigid bimalleolar fixation alone (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Preoperative radiographs and biomechanical criteria are unable to routinely predict the presence or absence of syndesmosis instability. Rigid bimalleolar fixation was frequently not sufficient to stabilize syndesmotic disruption. Intraoperative stress fluoroscopy is a valuable tool for detection of unstable syndesmotic injuries.

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing complications following total joint arthroplasty for rheumatoid arthritis versus for osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVEnMost of the evidence regarding complications following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is based on studies of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), with little being known about outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of the present study was to review the current evidence regarding rates of THA/TKA complications in RA versus OA.nnnMETHODSnData sources used were Medline, EMBase, Cinahl, Web of Science, and reference lists of articles. We included reports published between 1990 and 2011 that described studies of primary total joint arthroplasty of the hip or knee and contained information on outcomes in ≥200 RA and OA joints. Outcomes of interest included revision, hip dislocation, infection, 90-day mortality, and venous thromboembolic events. Two reviewers independently assessed each study for quality and extracted data. Where appropriate, meta-analysis was performed; if this was not possible, the level of evidence was assessed qualitatively.nnnRESULTSnForty studies were included in this review. The results indicated that patients with RA are at increased risk of dislocation following THA (adjusted odds ratio 2.16 [95% confidence interval 1.52-3.07]). There was fair evidence to support the notion that risk of infection and risk of early revision following TKA are increased in RA versus OA. There was no evidence of any differences in rates of revision at later time points, 90-day mortality, or rates of venous thromboembolic events following THA or TKA in patients with RA versus OA. RA was explicitly defined in only 3 studies (7.5%), and only 11 studies (27.5%) included adjustment for covariates (e.g., age, sex, and comorbidity).nnnCONCLUSIONnThe findings of this literature review and meta-analysis indicate that, compared to patients with OA, patients with RA are at higher risk of dislocation following THA and higher risk of infection following TKA.

Risk of total knee arthroplasty after operatively treated tibial plateau fracture: a matched-population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUNDnThe aims of operative treatment of displaced tibial plateau fractures are to stabilize the injured knee to restore optimal function and to minimize the risk of posttraumatic arthritis and the eventual need for total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of our study was to define the rate of subsequent total knee arthroplasty after tibial plateau fractures in a large cohort and to compare that rate with the rate in the general population.nnnMETHODSnAll patients sixteen years of age or older who had undergone surgical treatment of a tibial plateau fracture from 1996 to 2009 in the province of Ontario, Canada, were identified from administrative health databases with use of surgeon fee codes. Each member of the tibial plateau fracture cohort was matched to four individuals from the general population according to age, sex, income, and urban/rural residence. The rates of total knee arthroplasty at two, five, and ten years were compared by using time-to-event analysis. A separate Cox proportional hazards model was used to explore the influence of patient, provider, and surgical factors on the time to total knee arthroplasty.nnnRESULTSnWe identified 8426 patients (48.5% female; median age, 48.9 years) who had undergone fixation of a tibial plateau fracture and matched them to 33,698 controls. The two, five, and ten-year rates of total knee arthroplasty in the plateau fracture and control cohorts were 0.32% versus 0.29%, 5.3% versus 0.82%, and 7.3% versus 1.8%, respectively (p < 0.0001). After adjustment for comorbidity, plateau fracture surgery was found to significantly increase the likelihood of total knee arthroplasty (hazard ratio [HR], 5.29 [95% confidence interval, 4.58, 6.11]; p < 0.0001). Higher rates of total knee arthroplasty were also associated with increasing age (HR, 1.03 [1.03, 1.04] per year over the age of forty-eight; p < 0.0001), bicondylar fracture (HR, 1.53 [1.26, 1.84]; p < 0.0001), and greater comorbidity (HR, 2.17 [1.70, 2.77]; p < 0.001).nnnCONCLUSIONSnTen years after tibial plateau fracture surgery, 7.3% of the patients had had a total knee arthroplasty. This corresponds to a 5.3 times increase in likelihood compared with a matched group from the general population. Older patients and those with more severe fractures are also more likely to need total knee arthroplasty after repair of a tibial plateau fracture.

Relation between surgeon volume and risk of complications after total hip arthroplasty: propensity score matched cohort study

Objectives To identify a cut point in annual surgeon volume associated with increased risk of complications after primary elective total hip arthroplasty and to quantify any risk identified. Design Propensity score matched cohort study. Setting Ontario, Canada Participants 37u2009881 people who received their first primary total hip arthroplasty during 2002-09 and were followed for at least two years after their surgery. Main outcome measure The rates of various surgical complications within 90 days (venous thromboembolism, death) and within two years (infection, dislocation, periprosthetic fracture, revision) of surgery. Results Multivariate splines were developed to visualize the relation between surgeon volume and the risk for various complications. A threshold of 35 cases a year was identified, under which there was an increased risk of dislocation and revision. 6716 patients whose total hip arthroplasty was carried out by surgeons who had done ≤35 such procedure in the previous year were successfully matched to patients whose surgeon had carried out more than 35 procedures. Patients in the former group had higher rates of dislocation (1.9% v 1.3%, P=0.006; NNH 172) and revision (1.5% v 1.0%, P=0.03; NNH 204). Conclusions In a cohort of first time recipients of total hip arthroplasty, patients whose operation was carried by surgeons who had performed 35 or fewer such procedures in the year before the index procedure were at increased risk for dislocation and early revision. Surgeons should consider performing 35 cases or more a year to minimize the risk for complications. Furthermore, the methods used to visualize the relationship between surgeon volume and the occurrence of complications can be easily applied in any jurisdiction, to help inform and optimize local healthcare delivery.

Delayed debridement of severe open fractures is associated with a higher rate of deep infection

This study explores the relationship between delay to surgical debridement and deep infection in a series of 364 consecutive patients with 459 open fractures treated at an academic level one trauma hospital in North America. The mean delay to debridement for all fractures was 10.6 hours (0.6 to 111.5). There were 46 deep infections (10%). There were no infections among the 55 Gustilo-Anderson grade I open fractures. Among the grade II and III injuries, a statistically significant increase in the rate of deep infection was found for each hour of delay (OR = 1.033: 95% CI 1.01 to 1.057). This relationship shows a linear increase of 3% per hour of delay. No distinct time cut-off points were identified. Deep infection was also associated with tibial fractures (OR = 2.44: 95% CI 1.26 to 4.73), a higher Gustilo-Anderson grade (OR = 1.99: 95% CI 1.004 to 3.954), and contamination of the fracture (OR = 3.12: 95% CI 1.36 to 7.36). These individual effects are additive, which suggests that delayed debridement will have a clinically significant detrimental effect on more severe open fractures. Delayed treatment appeared safe for grade 1 open fractures. However, when the negative prognostic factors of tibial site, high grade of fracture and/or contamination are present we recommend more urgent operative debridement.

Radiotherapy for the prophylaxis of heterotopic ossification: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data.

INTRODUCTIONnFollowing surgery, the formation of heterotopic ossification (HTO) can limit mobility and impair quality of life. Radiotherapy has been proven to provide efficacious prophylaxis against HTO, especially in high-risk settings.nnnPURPOSEnThe current review aims to determine the factors influencing HTO formation in patients receiving prophylactic radiotherapy.nnnMETHODSnA systematic search of the literature was conducted on Ovid Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Studies were included if they reported the percentage of sites developing heterotopic ossification after receiving a specified dose of prophylactic radiotherapy. Weighted linear regression analysis was conducted for continuous or categorical predictors.nnnRESULTSnExtracted from 61 articles, a total of 5464 treatment sites were included, spanning 85 separate study arms. Most sites were from the hip (97.7%), from United States patients (55.2%), and had radiation prescribed postoperatively (61.6%) at a dose of 700cGy (61.0%). After adjusting for radiation site, there was no statistically significant relationship between the percentage of sites developing HTO and radiation dose (p=0.1) or whether radiation was administered preoperatively or postoperatively (p=0.1). Sites with previous HTO formation were more likely to develop recurrent HTO than those without previous HTO formation (p=0.04). There was a statistically significant negative relationship between the HTO development and the cohort mean year of treatment (p=0.007).nnnCONCLUSIONnDecreases in rates of HTO over time in this patient population may be a function of more efficacious surgical regimens and prophylactic radiotherapy.

Delayed wound closure increases deep-infection rate associated with lower-grade open fractures: a propensity-matched cohort study.

BACKGROUNDnPrimary closure of skin wounds after debridement of open fractures is controversial. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether primary skin closure for grade-IIIA or lower-grade open extremity fractures is associated with a lower deep-infection rate.nnnMETHODSnWe identified 349 Gustilo-Anderson grade-I, II, or IIIA fractures treated at our level-I academic trauma center from 2003 to 2007. Eighty-seven injuries were treated with delayed primary closure, and 262 were treated with immediate closure after surgical debridement. After application of a propensity score-matching algorithm to balance prognostic factors, 146 open fractures (seventy-three matched pairs) were analyzed.nnnRESULTSnAfter application of a propensity score-matching algorithm with adjustment for age, sex, time to debridement, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, fracture grade, evidence of gross contamination, and a tibial fracture rather than a fracture at another anatomic site, the two treatment groups were compared with respect to the prevalence of infection. Deep infection developed at the sites of three of the seventy-three fractures treated with immediate closure (infection rate, 4.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 11.5) compared with thirteen in the matched group of seventy-three fractures treated with delayed primary closure (infection rate, 17.8%; 95% CI, 9.8 to 28.5) (McNemar test, p = 0.0001).nnnCONCLUSIONSnImmediate closure of carefully selected wounds by experienced surgeons treating grade-I, II, and IIIA open fractures is safe and is associated with a lower infection rate compared with delayed primary closure.

Association Between Wait Time and 30-Day Mortality in Adults Undergoing Hip Fracture Surgery

Importance Although wait times for hip fracture surgery have been linked to mortality and are being used as quality-of-care indicators worldwide, controversy exists about the duration of the wait that leads to complications. Objective To use population-based wait-time data to identify the optimal time window in which to conduct hip fracture surgery before the risk of complications increases. Design, Setting, and Participants Population-based, retrospective cohort study of adults undergoing hip fracture surgery between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2014, at 72 hospitals in Ontario, Canada. Risk-adjusted restricted cubic splines modeled the probability of each complication according to wait time. The inflection point (in hours) when complications began to increase was used to define early and delayed surgery. To evaluate the robustness of this definition, outcomes among propensity-score matched early and delayed surgical patients were compared using percent absolute risk differences (RDs, with 95% CIs). Exposure Time elapsed from hospital arrival to surgery (in hours). Main Outcomes and Measures Mortality within 30 days. Secondary outcomes included a composite of mortality or other medical complications (myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and pneumonia). Results Among 42 230 patients with hip fracture (mean [SD] age, 80.1 years [10.7], 70.5% women) who met study entry criteria, overall mortality at 30 days was 7.0%. The risk of complications increased when wait times were greater than 24 hours, irrespective of the complication considered. Compared with 13 731 propensity-score matched patients who received surgery earlier, 13 731 patients who received surgery after 24 hours had a significantly higher risk of 30-day mortality (898 [6.5%] vs 790 [5.8%]; % absolute RD, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.23-1.35) and the composite outcome (1680 [12.2%]) vs 1383 [10.1%]; % absolute RD, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.43-2.89). Conclusions and Relevance Among adults undergoing hip fracture surgery, increased wait time was associated with a greater risk of 30-day mortality and other complications. A wait time of 24 hours may represent a threshold defining higher risk.

Understanding why people do or do not engage in activities following total joint replacement: a longitudinal qualitative study.

OBJECTIVEnNumerous studies report large and significant improvements in basic mobility and activities of daily living following total hip or knee replacement (TJR). Nevertheless, quantitative research has shown minimal increase in participation in activities that benefit overall health. This study explored why people do or do not engage in activities following hip or knee TJR.nnnMETHODnThis was a longitudinal qualitative study. Sampling was guided by constructivist grounded theory and data collected using open-ended, semi-structured interviews. Participants were recruited using maximum variation sampling based on age, sex and joint replaced (hip or knee). Data were analysed using a constant comparative approach and coded for thematic patterns and relationships from which overarching themes were constructed.nnnRESULTSnTwenty-nine patients participated in interviews prior to, and 8 and 18 months post following TJR. A high degree of variability with regard to participants return to activities was found and five emergent themes were identified that accounted for this variability. These themes highlight the importance of issues beyond medical factors alone, such as socio-cultural factors that partially determine participants participation in activity following TJR.nnnCONCLUSIONnFindings suggest that multi-faceted experiences impact participation in activity following TJR. These experiences include changes in identity and lifestyle that preclude a return to normal. There is an urgent need for supports to increase peoples activity post-TJR in order to facilitate enhancement of post-surgery levels of engagement. Approaches that take into consideration more personalized interventions may be critical to promoting healthy aging in people with TJR.

Where is the patient in models of patient-centred care: a grounded theory study of total joint replacement patients

BackgroundPatient-centered care ideally considers patient preferences, values and needs. However, it is unclear if policies such as wait time strategies for hip and knee replacement surgery (TJR) are patient-centred as they focus on an isolated episode of care. This paper describes the accounts of people scheduled to undergo TJR, focusing on their experience of (OA) as a chronic disease that has considerable impact on their everyday lives.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with participants scheduled to undergo TJR who were recruited from the practices of two orthopaedic surgeons. We first used maximum variation and then theoretical sampling based on age, sex and joint replaced. 33 participants (age 38-79 years; 17 female) were included in the analysis. 20 were scheduled for hip replacement and 13 for knee replacement. A constructivist approach to grounded theory guided sampling, data collection and analysis.ResultsWhile a specific hip or knee was the target for surgery, individuals experienced multiple-joint symptoms and comorbidities. Management of their health and daily lives was impacted by these combined experiences. Over time, they struggled to manage symptoms with varying degrees of access to and acceptance of pain medication, which was a source of constant concern. This was a multi-faceted issue with physicians reluctant to prescribe and many patients reluctant to take prescription pain medications due to their side effects.ConclusionsFor patients, TJR surgery is an acute intervention in the experience of chronic disease, OA and other comorbidities. While policy has focused on wait time as patient/surgeon decision for surgery to surgery date, the patient’s experience does not begin or end with surgery as they struggle to manage their pain. Our findings suggest that further work is needed to align the medical treatment of OA with the current policy emphasis on patient-centeredness. Patient-centred care may require a paradigm shift that is not always evident in current policy and strategies.