Retained Surgical Drains in Orthopedics: Two Case Reports and a Review of the Literature

Though a relatively rare event, retained surgical drains are preventable and can lead to significant consequences. Two case reports from our institution are discussed as examples for the challenging management of this problem as well as an overview of techniques for the prevention and removal of retained drains based on the current literature

A Curricular Model for Simulation Within Orthopaedic Residency Training

Introduction:. American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery/American Council on GraduateMedical Education Residency Review Committee training requirements have necessitated the need for the adoption of simulation education into existing programmatic requirements. Current guidelines focus only on interns at a potentially significant cost to programs; both in total dollar amount and time. Methods:. The authors aim to provide a model that can maximize utility for all resident levels, manage cost by maximizing the use of cadaveric material, and allow integration of varied industry support. Results:. The Oregon Health & Science University Orthopaedic education program has developed a high-fidelity training curriculum that (1) is applicable to both junior and senior residents (2) has minimized the cost per resident with the reuse of cadaveric specimens and (3) has nurtured partnerships with industry stakeholders to reduce bias in training by collaborating with most major industry representatives. Conclusion:. The simulation curriculum outlined in this manuscript may serve as a reference for other programs and institutions to develop their own residency educational curriculum models

Collagen X Longitudinal Fracture Biomarker Suggests Staged Fixation in Tibial Plateau Fractures Delays Rate of Endochondral Repair.

ObjectivesTo use a novel, validated bioassay to monitor serum concentrations of a breakdown product of collagen X in a prospective longitudinal study of patients sustaining isolated tibial plateau fractures. Collagen X is the hallmark extracellular matrix protein present during conversion of soft, cartilaginous callus to bone during endochondral repair. Previous preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated a distinct peak in collagen X biomarker (CXM) bioassay levels after long bone fractures.SettingLevel 1 academic trauma facility.Patients/participantsThirty-six patients; isolated tibial plateau fractures.Intervention(3) Closed treatment, ex-fix (temporizing/definitive), and open reduction internal fixation.Main outcome measurementsCollagen X serum biomarker levels (CXM bioassay).ResultsTwenty-two men and 14 women (average age: 46.3 y; 22.6-73.4, SD 13.3) enrolled (16 unicondylar and 20 bicondylar fractures). Twenty-five patients (72.2%) were treated operatively, including 12 (33.3%) provisionally or definitively treated by ex-fix. No difference was found in peak CXM values between sexes or age. Patients demonstrated peak expression near 1000 pg/mL (average: male-986.5 pg/mL, SD 369; female-953.2 pg/mL, SD 576). There was no difference in peak CXM by treatment protocol, external fixator use, or fracture severity (Schatzker). Patients treated with external fixation (P = 0.05) or staged open reduction internal fixation (P = 0.046) critically demonstrated delayed peaks.ConclusionsPilot analysis demonstrates a strong CXM peak after fractures commensurate with previous preclinical and clinical studies, which was delayed with staged fixation. This may represent the consequence of delayed construct loading. Further validation requires larger cohorts and long-term follow-up. Collagen X may provide an opportunity to support prospective interventional studies testing novel orthobiologics or fixation techniques.Level of evidenceLevel II, prospective clinical observational study

Unilateral Sacral Fractures Demonstrate Slow Recovery of Patient Reported Outcomes Irrespective of Treatment

Objectives: To report functional outcomes of unilateral sacral fractures treated both operatively and nonoperatively Design: Prospective, multicenter, observational Setting: 16 level 1 trauma centers Patients/participants: Skeletally mature patients with unilateral zone 1 or 2 sacral fractures categorized as: displaced nonoperative (DN), displaced operative (DO), nondisplaced nonoperative (NN), nondisplaced operative (NO) Main outcome measurements: Pelvic displacement was documented on injury plain radiographs. Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) scores were obtained at baseline and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months following injury. Displacement was defined as greater than 5 mm in any plane at the time of injury. Results: 286 patients with unilateral sacral fractures were initially enrolled, mean age 40 and mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) 16 were included. One hundred twenty-three patients completed 2 year follow up as follows; 29 DN, 30 DO, 47 NN, and 17 NO with 56% loss to follow-up at 2 years. Highest dysfunction was seen at 3 months for all groups with mean SMFA dysfunction scores; 25 DN, 28 DO, 27 NN, 31 NO. Mean SMFA scores at 2 years for all groups were 13 DN, 12 DO, 17 NN, 17 NO. Conclusions: All groups (operative/nonoperative and displaced/non-displaced) reported worst function 3 months following injury and all but (DN) continued to recover for 2 years following injury, with peak recovery for DN seen at 1 year. No functional benefit was seen with operative intervention for either displaced or non-displaced injuries at any time point

Role of single-dose intravenous iron therapy for the treatment of anaemia after orthopaedic trauma: protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial

Introduction Orthopaedic trauma and fracture care commonly cause perioperative anaemia and associated functional iron deficiency due to a systemic inflammatory state. Modern, strict transfusion thresholds leave many patients anaemic; managing this perioperative anaemia is an opportunity to impact outcomes in orthopaedic trauma surgery. The primary outcome of this pilot study is feasibility for a large randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate intravenous iron therapy (IVIT) to improve patient well-being following orthopaedic injury. Measurements will include rate of participant enrolment, screening failure, follow-up, missing data, adverse events and protocol deviation.Methods and analysis This single-centre, pilot, double-blind RCT investigates the use of IVIT for acute blood loss anaemia in traumatically injured orthopaedic patients. Patients are randomised to receive either a single dose infusion of low-molecular weight iron dextran (1000 mg) or placebo (normal saline) postoperatively during their hospital stay for trauma management. Eligible subjects include adult patients admitted for lower extremity or pelvis operative fracture care with a haemoglobin of 7–11 g/dL within 7 days postoperatively during inpatient care. Exclusion criteria include history of intolerance to intravenous iron supplementation, active haemorrhage requiring ongoing blood product resuscitation, multiple planned procedures, pre-existing haematologic disorders or chronic inflammatory states, iron overload on screening or vulnerable populations. We follow patients for 3 months to measure the effect of iron supplementation on clinical outcomes (resolution of anaemia and functional iron deficiency), patient-reported outcomes (fatigue, physical function, depression and quality of life) and translational measures of immune cell function.Ethics and dissemination This study has ethics approval (Oregon Health & Science University Institutional Review Board, STUDY00022441). We will disseminate the findings through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.Trial registration number NCT05292001; ClinicalTrials.gov

Healing Time and Complications in Operatively Treated Atypical Femur Fractures Associated with Bisphosphonate Use: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort

© 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterize demographics, healing time, and complications of a large series of operatively treated atypical femur fractures. Design: Retrospective multicenter review. Setting: Seventeen academic medical centers. Patients: Bisphosphonate-related fractures as defined by American Society of Bone and Mineral Research. Fractures had to be followed for at least 6 months or to union or revision. Intervention: Operative treatment of bisphosphonate-related fracture. Main Outcome Measurements: Union time and complications of treatment, as well as information about the contralateral limb. Results: There were 179 patients, average age 72, average body mass index 27.2. Average follow-up was 17 months. Twenty-one percent had a previous history of fragility fracture; 34% had prodromal pain. Most (88%) lived independently before injury. Thirty-one percent had radiographic changes suggesting stress reaction. Surgical fixation was with cephalomedullary nail (51%), IM nail (48%), or plate (1%). Complications included death (4), PE (3), and wound infection (6). Twenty (12%) patients underwent revision at an average of 11 months. Excluding revisions, average union time was 5.2 months. For revisions, union occurred at an average of 10.2 months after intervention. No association was identified between discontinuation of bisphosphonates and union time (P 0.5) or need for revision (P 0.7). Twenty-one percent sustained contralateral femur fractures; 32% of these had pain and 59% had stress reaction before contralateral fracture. Conclusions: In this series, surgery had a 12% failure rate and delayed average time to union. Twenty-one percent developed contralateral femur fractures within 2 years, underscoring the need to evaluate the contralateral extremity. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence

Locked Lateral Plating vs. Retrograde Nailing for Distal Femur Fractures: A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVES: The main two forms of treatment for distal femur fractures are locked lateral plating and retrograde nailing. The goal of this trial was to determine whether there are significant differences in outcomes between these forms of treatment. DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial. SETTING: 20 academic trauma centersPatients/Participants: 160 patients with distal femur fractures were enrolled. 126 patients were followed 12 months. Patients were randomized to plating in 62 cases and to intramedullary nailing in 64 cases. INTERVENTION: Lateral locked plating or retrograde intramedullary nailing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Functional scoring including SMFA, Bother Index, EQ Health and EQ Index. Secondary measures included alignment, operative time, range of motion, union rate, walking ability, ability to manage stairs and number and type of adverse events. RESULTS. Functional testing showed no difference between the groups. Both groups were still significantly affected by their fracture 12 months post injury. There was more coronal plane valgus in the plating group, which approached statistical significance. Range of motion, walking ability & ability to manage stairs were similar between the groups. Rate and type of adverse events were not statistically different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both lateral locked plating and retrograde intramedullary nailing are reasonable surgical options for these fractures. Patients continue to improve over the course of the year following injury, but remain impaired one year post operatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence