Purpose: The study aimed to examine the pattern of motorization and the mortality rate related to road traffic crashes in Zunyi (a city in northern Guizhou province of China) from 2013 to 2022, and to identify the epidemiological characteristics of these crashes with to provide insights that could help improve road safety.
Methods: Data were obtained from the Zunyi traffic management data platform, and the mortality rates were calculated. We deployed various analytical methods, including descriptive analysis, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test of categorical variable, circular distribution map analysis, and Rayleigh test to characterize the traits of road traffic crashes in the region.
Results: During the 10-year study period, 7488 people died due to road traffic accidents, with males accounting for 70.4% and females 29.6% (χ2 = 101.97, p < 0.001). The mortality rate increased from 7.80 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013 to 10.70 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016, but then decreased to 9.54 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019. A notable finding was that the death rate per 10,000 vehicles declined from 16.09 deaths per 10,000 vehicles in 2013 to 5.48 deaths per 10,000 vehicles in 2022. The study also found that vulnerable road users represented nearly half (48.76%) of all accident fatalities, and unlicensed or inexperienced driving contributed significantly to the occurrence of road traffic accidents.
Conclusion: Although the number of road traffic accidents in Zunyi has decreased, there are still some critical issues that need to be addressed, particularly for vulnerable road users and unlicensed drivers. Our results highlight the need of targeted interventions to address the specific risk factors of road traffic crashes, particularly those affecting vulnerable road users and drivers without sufficient experience or license.
Purpose: The purpose of this cadaveric study was to compare the volume and weight of bone graft harvested using the curettage vs. the trephination technique from the anterior iliac crest.
Methods: Embalmed cadavers were studied in this experimental research. The right hemipelvis of each cadaver was used for the trephine bone harvesting technique, whereas the left hemipelvis was used for the conventional curettage technique. The weight and the volume of the harvested bone were measured and statistically compared between the 2 sides. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test was employed to compare the graft volume and weight obtained from the right and left sides of the hemipelvis.
Results: Ten embalmed adult cadavers were used in this study. All subjects were Caucasian males with a mean age of 59.8 years (range 44 - 73 years) at the time of death. A total of 81 cylindrical bone grafts were harvested from the right iliac crest. In 9 out of 81 (11.1 %), the cortex of the ilium was penetrated by the chisel. The mean weight of the bone graft harvested with the trephine technique (26.97 ± 2.32) g was heavier than the curettage technique (23.74 ± 2.09) g (p = 0.007). Similarly, the volume of the bone graft was higher in the trephine technique (8.40 ± 0.84) cm3 compared to the curettage technique (6.60 ± 1.26) cm3 (p = 0.011). The trephination technique lasted a mean of (12.76 ± 1.87) min (range 10.30-16.10 min), while the curettage technique lasted a mean of (14.53 ± 0.89) min (range 13.50-16.00 min) (p = 0.028).
Conclusion: Harvesting anterior iliac crest bone graft with the trephine technique provides a higher bone volume and weight than the conventional curettage technique. The trephine technique might be advocated over the curettage technique, especially when a large amount of autologous bone graft is required. However, a meticulous harvesting technique should be followed to prevent complications, particularly the three-dimensional anatomy should be kept in mind, and the depth of trephination should be well-controlled.
Clinical trial registration: Institutional Review Board registration: 2022/499.
Hip firearm injuries are rare injuries that could lead to serious complications, such as posttraumatic hip arthritis and coloarticular fistula. We report a case of a 25-year-old male who sustained a pelvic injury caused by a single bullet which led to a bilateral acetabular fracture, concomitant with a colon injury treated on an emergency basis by a diverting colostomy; acetabular fractures were treated conservatively by traction. After the patient recovered from the abdominal injury, he was presented with bilateral hip pain and limited motion; plain radiographs showed bilateral hip arthritis with proximal migration of the femoral head and bilateral acetabular defect classified as Paprosky type ⅢA. Reconstruction of the hips was performed using the same technique: impaction bone grafting for acetabular defect reconstruction and a reversed hybrid total hip arthroplasty (THA) 6 months apart. The patient presented with loosening of the left THA acetabular cup 3 years later, which was revised; then he presented with a discharging sinus from the left THA with suspicion of coloarticular fistula, which was confirmed using CT with contrast material. A temporary colostomy and fistula excision were performed, and a cement spacer was applied to the hip. After clearing the infection, a final revision THA for the left hip was performed. Treating post-firearm hip arthritis by THA is challenging, especially in the situation of neglected cases with the presence of an acetabular defect. Concomitant intestinal injury increases the risk of infection with the possibility of coloarticular fistula formation, which could present later. Working with a multidisciplinary team is paramount.
Previous studies have confirmed that Achilles tendon occurs Achilles thickening after repair surgery of the rupture. Although this mechanism has been elucidated in the laboratory, there are few reports on its impact on clinical function. We designed a retrospective study to investigate the Achilles thickening after Achilles tendon rupture repair and its correlation between the elasticity and postoperative function.
In this retrospective analysis, patients who underwent surgical treatment for acute Achilles tendon rupture from April 2016 to April 2020 were included. All the patients were regularly followed up at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. American Orthopaedic Foot Ankle Surgeon (AOFAS) scale and Leppilahti score were used to evaluate functional outcomes. Achilles elasticity was measured by ultrasound shear wave of elasticity. Achilles thickening was calculated as maximal transverse and longitudinal diameter in cross-sectional plane of magnetic resonance scan. Sample t-tests was used for different follow-up periods. Correlation between Achilles thickening and other factors were analyzed using Pearson's method. p < 0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference.
AOFAS scale and Leppilahti score at 1 year were significantly higher than at 3 months postoperatively (both p < 0.001). These functional scales were also improved at 2-year follow-up significantly (both p < 0.001). The dorsiflexion difference showed gradually recovery in each follow-up period (t = −17.907, p < 0.001). The elasticity of the Achilles appeared to continuously decreases during the postoperative follow-up period in all position sets (p < 0.001). In thickening evaluation, the cross-sectional area of the thickest plane of Achilles was significantly higher at 1 year postoperatively (310.5 ± 25.2) mm2 than that at 3 months postoperatively ((278.0 ± 26.2) mm2, t = −8.219, p < 0.001) and became thinner in 2-year magnetic resonance scan ((256.1 ± 15.1) mm2, t = 16.769, p < 0.001). The correlations between Achilles thickening, elasticity, and functional outcome did not show statistical significance (p > 0.05) in every follow-up period.
Achilles tendon thickens after surgery in the 1st year, but begins to gradually return to thinning about 2 years after surgery. There was no significant correlation between the increase and decrease of thickening and the patients' clinical function scores, Achilles elasticity, and bilateral ankle dorsiflexion difference.
Bosworth fracture and dislocation is relatively rare, accounting for about 1% of ankle fractures. It is characterized by the proximal fibula fracture embedded in the posterolateral distal tibia. Due to an insufficient understanding of this fracture, it is easy to cause missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis in clinical practice. Due to the insertion of the fracture, it is challenging to perform closed reduction, and improper treatment is easy to cause complications. Surgical treatment is recommended for this type of fracture. In order to improve the understanding of orthopedic surgeons about Bosworth fracture and dislocation, this paper reports the diagnosis and treatment of 2 cases of Bosworth fracture and dislocation, and reviews the literature on Bosworth fracture's mechanism, diagnosis, classification, complications, and treatment options in recent years.
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have become an increasingly popular mode of public transportation in recent years. As the incidence of related injuries rises, it is important to understand specific fracture patterns unique to e-scooters and electric bikes (e-bikes) to help guide management. The purpose of this study was to review the prevalence and describe specific fracture patterns of e-scooter and e-bike related injuries at the busiest level 1 trauma center in the borough of Manhattan.
Chart review to determine mechanism of injury was performed on all patients for whom an orthopedic consult was requested from 1/1/2021 to 12/31/2021. All patients whose injuries were sustained due to an e-scooter or e-bike were further reviewed for demographics, injury characteristics including fracture pattern, and definitive injury management. Any patients who had an orthopedic consult placed for a reason other than an acute injury were excluded. Descriptive statistics are reported as frequency (percentage) for categorical variables and means for continuous variables.
Of the 1815 orthopedic consults requested, 1357 (74.8%) were for acute injury management. Of those with acute injuries, 119 (8.8%) sustained 136 e-scooter or e-bike related injuries. There were 92 (77.3%) males at an average age of (33.8 ± 15.7) years. Approximately one-fifth of all patients presented in June 2021 (26, 21.8%). There was a 9.2% rate of open fractures. The 136 injuries were evenly split between the upper and lower extremities, with 57 (47.9%) upper extremity, 57 (47.9%) lower extremity injuries, and 5 (4.2%) concomitant upper and lower extremity injuries. The most common fracture patterns were ankle fractures (16, 11.7%), followed by tibial shaft (14, 10.2%), tibial plateau (13, 9.5%), and radial head fractures (11, 8.0%). There was a 33.3% incidence of associated posterior malleolar fractures in the spiral tibial shaft fractures, 31.0% of posterior malleolar involvement and 18.8% of isolated vertical medial malleolar fractures in the ankle fractures, and 61.5% of posterior comminution in the tibial plateau fractures.
E-scooter and e-bike related injuries have a high incidence of tibial shaft fractures, ankle fractures, tibial plateau fractures, and radial head fractures. There should be a high index of suspicion for posterior and medial involvement in lower extremity fractures sustained due to e-scooter or e-bikes. Identifying specific fracture patterns seen in e-scooter and e-bike related mechanisms will help guide management of these injuries.
Hip fractures in elderly have a high mortality. However, there is limited literature on the excess mortality seen in hip fractures compared to the normal population. The purpose of this study was to compare the mortality of hip fractures with that of age and gender matched Indian population.
There are 283 patients with hip fractures aged above 50 years admitted at single centre prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients were followed up for 1 year and the follow-up record was available for 279 patients. Mortality was assessed during the follow-up from chart review and/or by telephonic interview. One-year mortality of Indian population was obtained from public databases. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) (observed mortality divided by expected mortality) was calculated. Kaplan-Meir analysis was used.
The overall 1-year mortality was 19.0% (53/279). Mortality increased with age (p < 0.001) and the highest mortality was seen in those above 80 years (aged 50 – 59 years: 5.0%, aged 60 – 69 years: 19.7%, aged 70 – 79 years: 15.8%, and aged over 80 years: 33.3%). Expected mortality of Indian population of similar age and gender profile was 3.7%, giving a SMR of 5.5. SMR for different age quintiles were: 3.9 (aged 50 – 59 years), 6.6 (aged 60 – 69 years), 2.2 (aged 70 – 79 years); and 2.0 (aged over 80 years). SMR in males and females were 5.7 and 5.3, respectively.
Indian patients sustaining hip fractures were about 5 times more likely to die than the general population. Although mortality rates increased with age, the highest excess mortality was seen in relatively younger patients. Hip fracture mortality was even higher than that of myocardial infarction, breast cancer, and cervical cancer.