Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma最新文献

Summary: Modern techniques of rib fracture fixation surgery follow the AO principles of fracture reduction, fixation, and appropriate soft tissue handling. Fixation techniques can be performed using anatomic reduction and rigid fixation, or bridge plate fixation for comminuted fractures. Anatomic and nonanatomic plates can be used, although titanium precontoured locking plates are the most commonly used. Other contemporary intra- and extramedullary fixation strategies have also been developed. Intrathoracic fixation is a novel technique, however, limited literature on clinical outcomes currently exists. This article discusses techniques of reduction, fixation, and tips and tricks for surgical fixation of rib fractures.

Summary: The ribs, sternum, and costal margin provide a rigid, but flexible chest wall that functions to provide protection to the vital cardiothoracic organs, while also allowing for varying levels of respiration based on physiologic need. The latter function is accomplished through various muscular attachments and rib articulations with both the axial spine posteriorly and the sternum anteriorly. The accessory muscles of inspiration rely on the downward slope and outward curve of each rib, which when contracted move the ribs upward and outward, in turn forcing the sternum anterior and increasing the thoracic volume. Ribs are also classified as true, false, or floating based on their attachment anteriorly to the costal cartilage and sternum. Ribs 1-7 are considered true ribs as their costal cartilage directly articulates with the manubrium and sternum. Ribs 8-10 are considered false ribs because their costal cartilage connects to the cartilage of the immediately superior rib instead of the sternum itself. This complex cartilaginous structure is referred to as the costal margin, which provides attachments for the diaphragm and various abdominal muscles. Although historically thought to be a consistent structure, its variable nature has recently been defined in cadaveric studies. Ribs 11 and 12 are considered floating ribs because they have rudimentary cartilage caps and are not attached to the sternum at all. The sternum comprises the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process. Each component has differing mobility, muscle attachment, and function.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to profile modified Radiographic Union Scale for Tibia (mRUST) scores over time in distal femur fractures treated with intramedullary nails and identify predictors of radiographic union timing and delayed progression.

Methods:

Design: Multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Ten Level I Trauma Centers.

Patient selection criteria: The inclusion criteria were patients with distal femur fractures (OTA/AO 33A and 33 C) treated with intramedullary nails, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year or until radiographic union or reoperation. The exclusion criteria were fractures treated with combination nail-plate constructs, pathologic fractures, and patients younger than 18 years old.

Outcome measures and comparisons: The primary outcome was the mRUST score at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified the optimal 3-month mRUST score predicting reoperation. Multivariable models were used to identify predictors of radiographic union timing and delayed progression.

Results: The study included 155 fractures in 152 patients, with a mean patient age of 51 and a mean follow-up of 17 months. A 3-month mRUST score of ≤8 predicted reoperation with a PPV of 25% and a NPV of 99%. The timing of radiographic union was associated with tobacco use (1.2 months later; P = 0.04), open fracture (1.4 months later; P = 0.04), and the use of topical antibiotics (2.1 months longer; 95% CI, 0.33-3.84; P = 0.02); however, topical antibiotics were at high risk of being confounded by injury severity. Delayed progression to fracture healing, wherein the most rapid radiographic healing occurs more than 3 months postoperatively, was predicted by chronic kidney disease ( P < 0.01).

Conclusions: A 3-month mRUST score >8 suggests a very high likelihood of avoiding reoperation for nonunion. Tobacco use and open fractures were associated with a longer time to radiographic union. Chronic kidney disease is associated with a delayed radiographic progression, suggesting a need for adjusted expectations and management strategies in these patients.

Level of evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Objectives: To investigate and compare the predictive ability of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association-Open Fracture Classification (OTA-OFC) and the Gustilo-Anderson classification systems for fracture-related infections (FRI) in patients with open tibia fractures.

Methods:

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic trauma center.

Patient selection criteria: Patients aged 16 years or older with an operatively treated open tibia fracture (OTA-AO 41, 42, and 43) between 2010 and 2021.

Outcome measures and comparisons: The primary outcome was FRI. The OTA-OFC and the Gustilo-Anderson classifications were compared in their ability to predict FRI.

Results: Eight hundred ninety patients (mean age, 43 years [range, 17 to 96]; 75% men) with 912 open tibia fractures were included. In total, 142 (16%) had an infection. The OTA-OFC was not significantly better at predicting FRI than the Gustilo-Anderson classification (area under the curve, 0.66 vs. 0.66; P = 0.89). The Gustilo-Anderson classification was a stronger predictor of FRI than any single OTA-OFC domain, explaining 72% of FRI variance. Only the addition of the OTA-OFC wound contamination domain to Gustilo-Anderson significantly increased the variance explained (72% vs. 84%, P = 0.04). Embedded contamination increased the risk of FRI by approximately 10% as the risk of FRI with embedded contamination was 16% for type I or type IIs, 26% for type IIIAs, 45% for type IIIBs, and 46% for type IIICs.

Conclusions: The more complex OTA-OFC system was not better than the Gustilo-Anderson classification system in predicting FRIs in patients with open tibia fractures. Adding embedded wound contamination to the Gustilo-Anderson classification system significantly improved its prognostic ability.

Level of evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Summary: Thoracic injuries are common, occurring in up to 60% of polytrauma patients and represent 25% of trauma deaths. Thoracic trauma frequently involves injury to the pleural space resulting in hemothorax and pneumothorax-effective management of the pleural space is essential. Reviewed in this article is management of the pleural space in chest wall trauma (including pneumothorax and hemothorax), and chest tube placement, indications for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, management, and complications.

Summary: Effective management of bony and cartilaginous thoracic injury is a vital part of the care of the polytraumatized patient. Commonly because of high-energy accidents including motor vehicle collisions and falls, these patients routinely require multidisciplinary care and surgical intervention. As our understanding of unstable chest wall injuries and pulmonary sequelae of the injury grows, it is imperative that injury patterns and surgical approaches become familiar to the orthopaedic trauma-trained surgeon. Common rib fracture patterns and muscle-sparing surgical approaches are detailed, with the goal of restoring chest wall stability to improve the mechanics of respiration and pain control in these challenging patients.

Summary: Chest wall trauma is rapidly evolving and now represents a multidisciplinary field with incredible growth in research and surgical intervention; however, even with more than 800 publications on chest wall trauma to date, surgical indications are not black and white. Injury patterns need to be better defined and outcome measurements need to evolve for accurate longer term functional assessment of patients if this field of surgery is to move beyond historical indications for operative intervention. This essay will communicate what is known about operative indications in a way that stratifies the need for surgery.