Failure of fixation of trochanteric femur fractures: Clinical recommendations for avoiding Z-effect and reverse Z-effect type complications

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Z-effect and reverse Z-effect are complications that arise from the surgical treatment of pertrochanteric fractures of the femur with proximal femoral nails (PFN) comprising two interlocking head screws. Such complications are induced by the migration of screws in opposite directions, which may lead to failure of the osteosynthesis.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The paper describes three cases of pertrochanteric fractures that were treated with PFN with two interlocking screws that evolved to either Z-effect or reverse Z-effect. Literature-based explanations for this phenomenon are provided together with recommendations of how to avoid such complications.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although intramedullary fixation is an established method of treatment of femoral intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures, the evolution of the procedure may include complications associated with the migration of the interlocking head screws. The occurrence of Z-effect and reverse Z-effect has not been completely elucidated, but the main causes of such complications are probably fracture fixation in varus position, severe medial comminution, inappropriate entry point of the nail and poor bone quality.</p

Femoral shaft fracture: reproducibility of AO-ASIF and Winquist classifications

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate inter-observer reproducibility of AO / ASIF and Winquist-Hansen classifications for shaft fractures of the femur in adults. METHODS: 50 anterior-posterior and profilelateral radiographs were randomly selected, of adult patients awith diaphyseal fracture of the femur. The radiographs were analyzed by 5 observers-a member of the Brazilian Society of Orthopedic Trauma, a radiologist and 3 residents. To assess the concordance between these classifications, we used the statistical index Kappa (K). RESULTS: In all analyses, we observed a statistically significant correlation coefficient between observers (p <0.05) and according to the criteria of Landis and Koch, they were ranked them as good (values of 0.61 to 0.80) or very good (values above 0.80). CONCLUSION: The AO rating and Winquist present a high rate of concordance between observers for shaft fractures of the femur in adults.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a reprodutibilidade interobservadores das classificações AO/ASIF e de Winquist para as fraturas diafisárias do fêmur no adulto. MÉTODOS: foram selecionadas aleatoriamente 50 radiografias de pacientes adultos portadores de fratura diafisária do fêmur nas incidências em antero-posterior e perfil. As radiografias foram analisadas por 5 observadores, sendo um membro da Sociedade Brasileira de Trauma Ortopédico, um radiologista, um residente do terceiro ano de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, um do segundo e um do primeiro. Para avaliar a concordância interobservadores destas classificações, foi utilizado o índice estatístico Kappa (K). RESULTADOS: Em todas as análises, observou-se um coeficiente de concordância entre observadores estatisticamente significativo (valor p < 0,05) e classificado como bom (valores de 0,61 a 0,80) ou muito bom (valores acima de 0,80), segundo os critérios de Landis e Koch. CONCLUSÃO: As classificações AO e Winquist apresentam alto índice de concordância interobservadores para as fraturas diafisárias do fêmur no adulto.Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Hospitais Felício Rocho e da Baleia Departamento do Aparelho LocomotorUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaHospital Felício Rocho Serviço de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais Departamento do Aparelho LocomotorUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Relationship of the Pelvic-Trochanteric Index with greater trochanteric pain syndrome

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to correlate a higher Pelvic-Trochanteric Index (PTI) with an increased varus of the femoral neck with greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS). The secondary objective was to check whether the pelvic width changes with age. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted to compare female patients diagnosed with GTPS (case group) with asymptomatic female participants (control group) from March 2011 to June 2017. On an anteroposterior pelvic radiograph, lines were drawn by two radiologists, and the PTI (ratio of the distance between the greater trochanters and distance between the iliac crests) was defined and the femoral neck-shaft angle was measured. RESULTS: Data collected based on radiographs of 182 female patients (cases) and 150 female participants (controls) showed that the mean PTI was 1.09 (SD=0.01) in the case group and 1.07 (SD=0.01) in the control group (p&lt;0.05), regardless of age. The distance between iliac crests increased with age (p&lt;0.05) in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. It was also found that the mean femoral neck-shaft angle was 130.6° (SD=0.59) and progression of the varus angulation occurred with age in both groups, with a significance level of 5%. CONCLUSIONS: The PTI was higher in patients with GTPS. The femoral neck-shaft angle does not differ between individuals with and without GTPS; however, it does decrease with age. The pelvic width tends to increase with aging in symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals; therefore, the increase in the pelvic width and decrease in the femoral neck-shaft angle can be interpreted as normal in aging women, which could alter the biomechanics of the hips and pelvis

Fasciíte necrosante pós-osteossíntese de fratura transtrocantérica do fêmur

A fasciíte necrosante é uma rara e potencialmente letal infecção de partes moles. A seguir, descreveremos o caso de uma paciente portadora de fratura transtrocantérica do fêmur que evoluiu com fasciíte necrosante após a osteossíntese da fratura. Uma revisão da literatura acerca do tema será abordada