Showing papers in "Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, American Volume in 2008"

A Systematic Approach to the Plain Radiographic Evaluation of the Young Adult Hip

Abstract: Orthopaedic evaluation of hip pain in the young adult population has undergone a rapid evolution over the past decade1,2. This is in large part due to enhanced awareness of structural hip disorders, including developmental dysplasia of the hip and femoroacetabular impingement1-5. Surgical treatment for these disorders continues to be refined6-9, and our ability to identify patients along the spectrum of disease continues to improve10-15. Yet, despite our advances, obtaining an accurate diagnosis can remain challenging, especially in the setting of mild structural abnormalities. Therefore, radiographic examination is a critical component of the diagnostic evaluation and treatment decision-making process. It is essential that physicians have common and reliable radiographic views as well as parameters for plain radiographic assessment that can serve as a foundation for accurate diagnosis, disease classification, and surgical decision-making. Many different radiographic measurements have been described as indicators of structural disease. In particular, measurements such as the lateral center-edge angle of Wiberg16, the anterior center-edge angle of Lequesne17, the ac-etabular index of depth to width described by Heyman and Herndon18, the femoral head extrusion index19, and the Tonnis angle20 have been used as markers for acetabular dysplasia. Similarly, measurements of acetabular version21, the head-neck offset (initially described by Eijer)3,22, and the alpha angle19 have been used in the diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement. Nevertheless, there is limited literature that provides comprehensive information regarding the details of radiographic evaluation in the young patient with hip symptoms. This paper summarizes the recommendations of the ANCHOR (Academic Network for Conservational Hip Outcomes Research) study group regarding the most important aspects of radiographic technique and image interpretation to evaluate the symptomatic, skeletally mature hip.

Biomechanical Consequences of a Tear of the Posterior Root of the Medial Meniscus: Similar to Total Meniscectomy

Abstract: Background Tears of the posterior root of the medial meniscus are becoming increasingly recognized. They can cause rapidly progressive arthritis, yet their biomechanical effects are not understood. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of posterior root tears of the medial meniscus and their repairs on tibiofemoral joint contact pressure and kinematics. Methods Nine fresh-frozen cadaver knees were used. An axial load of 1000 N was applied with a custom testing jig at each of four knee-flexion angles: 0 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90 degrees. The knees were otherwise unconstrained. Four conditions were tested: (1) intact, (2) a posterior root tear of the medial meniscus, (3) a repaired posterior root tear, and (4) a total medial meniscectomy. Fuji pressure-sensitive film was used to record the contact pressure and area for each testing condition. Kinematic data were obtained by using a robotic arm to record the position of the knees for each loading condition. Three-dimensional knee kinematics were analyzed with custom programs with use of previously described transformations. The measured variables were axial rotation, varus angulation, lateral translation, and anterior translation. Results In the medial compartment, a posterior root tear of the medial meniscus caused a 25% increase in peak contact pressure compared with that found in the intact condition (p Conclusions This study demonstrated significant changes in contact pressure and knee joint kinematics due to a posterior root tear of the medial meniscus. Root repair was successful in restoring joint biomechanics to within normal conditions.

Risk factors for surgical site infection following orthopaedic spinal operations.

Abstract: Background: Surgical site infections are not uncommon following spinal operations, and they can be associated with serious morbidity, mortality, and increased resource utilization. The accurate identification of risk factors is essential to develop strategies to prevent these potentially devastating infections. We conducted a case-control study to determine independent risk factors for surgical site infection following orthopaedic spinal operations. Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study of patients who had had an orthopaedic spinal operation performed at a university-affiliated tertiary-care hospital from 1998 to 2002. Forty-six patients with a superficial, deep, or organ-space surgical site infection were identified and compared with 227 uninfected control patients. Risk factors for surgical site infection were determined with univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The overall rate of spinal surgical site infection during the five years of the study was 2.0% (forty-six of 2316). Univariate analyses showed serum glucose levels, preoperatively and within five days after the operation, to be significantly higher in patients in whom surgical site infection developed than in uninfected control patients. Independent risk factors for surgical site infection that were identified by multivariate analysis were diabetes (odds ratio = 3.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.2, 10.0), suboptimal timing of prophylactic antibiotic therapy (odds ratio = 3.4, 95% confidence interval = 1.5, 7.9), a preoperative serum glucose level of >125 mg/dL (>6.9 mmol/L) or a postoperative serum glucose level of >200 mg/dL (>11.1 mmol/L) (odds ratio = 3.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.4, 7.5), obesity (odds ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.1, 4.7), and two or more surgical residents participating in the operative procedure (odds ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.0, 4.7). A decreased risk of surgical site infection was associated with operations involving the cervical spine (odds ratio = 0.3, 95% confidence interval = 0.1, 0.6). Conclusions: Diabetes was associated with the highest independent risk of spinal surgical site infection, and an elevated preoperative or postoperative serum glucose level was also independently associated with an increased risk of surgical site infection. The role of hyperglycemia as a risk factor for surgical site infection in patients not previously diagnosed with diabetes should be investigated further. Administration of prophylactic antibiotics within one hour before the operation and increasing the antibiotic dosage to adjust for obesity are also important strategies to decrease the risk of surgical site infection after spinal operations. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Nonoperative treatment compared with plate fixation of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures. Surgical technique.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown a high prevalence of symptomatic malunion and nonunion after nonoperative treatment of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures. We sought to compare patient-oriented outcome and complication rates following nonoperative treatment and those after plate fixation of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures. METHODS: In a multicenter, prospective clinical trial, 132 patients with a displaced midshaft fracture of the clavicle were randomized (by sealed envelope) to either operative treatment with plate fixation (sixty-seven patients) or nonoperative treatment with a sling (sixty-five patients). Outcome analysis included standard clinical follow-up and the Constant shoulder score, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, and plain radiographs. One hundred and eleven patients (sixty-two managed operatively and forty-nine managed nonoperatively) completed one year of follow-up. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to patient demographics, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, Injury Severity Score, or fracture pattern. RESULTS: Constant shoulder scores and DASH scores were significantly improved in the operative fixation group at all time-points (p = 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). The mean time to radiographic union was 28.4 weeks in the nonoperative group compared with 16.4 weeks in the operative group (p = 0.001). There were two nonunions in the operative group compared with seven in the nonoperative group (p = 0.042). Symptomatic malunion developed in nine patients in the nonoperative group and in none in the operative group (p = 0.001). Most complications in the operative group were hardware-related (five patients had local irritation and/or prominence of the hardware, three had a wound infection, and one had mechanical failure). At one year after the injury, the patients in the operative group were more likely to be satisfied with the appearance of the shoulder (p = 0.001) and with the shoulder in general (p = 0.002) than were those in the nonoperative group. CONCLUSIONS: Operative fixation of a displaced fracture of the clavicular shaft results in improved functional outcome and a lower rate of malunion and nonunion compared with nonoperative treatment at one year of follow-up. Hardware removal remains the most common reason for repeat intervention in the operative group. This study supports primary plate fixation of completely displaced midshaft clavicular fractures in active adult patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. ORIGINAL ABSTRACT CITATION: “Nonoperative Treatment Compared with Plate Fixation of Displaced Midshaft Clavicular Fractures. A Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial” (2007;89:1-10).

Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Rotator Cuff Deficiency

Abstract: Background: Early designs of reverse shoulder arthroplasty components for the treatment of glenohumeral arthritis associated with severe rotator cuff deficiency in some cases have been associated with mechanical failure. The purpose of this study was to perform a prospective outcomes study of reverse shoulder arthroplasty performed with use of 5.0-mm peripheral locking screws for baseplate fixation and a lateralized center of rotation for the treatment of a rotator cuff deficiency. Methods: From February 2004 to March 2005, 112 patients (114 shoulders) were treated with a reverse shoulder arthroplasty as part of a United States Food and Drug Administration Investigational Device Exemption study. Ninety-four patients (ninety-six shoulders) were available for a minimum follow-up of two years. Of the ninety-six shoulders, thirty-seven had a primary rotator cuff deficiency, thirty-three had a previous rotator cuff operation, twenty-three had a previous arthroplasty, and three had a proximal humeral nonunion. The patients were prospectively followed clinically (the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES] score, the Simple Shoulder Test [SST], and self-reported satisfaction) and radiographically (mechanical failure, loosening, and notching). Patients were videotaped while performing a standard active range-of-motion protocol before and after treatment. These videos were then analyzed in a blinded fashion by three independent observers using a digital goniometer. Results: At two years, the average total ASES scores had improved from 30 preoperatively to 77.6; the average ASES pain scores, from 15 to 41.6; and the average SST scores, from 1.8 to 6.8 (p < 0.0001 for all). Blinded analysis of range of motion showed that average abduction improved from 61° preoperatively to 109.5° (p < 0.0001); average flexion, from 63.5° to 118° (p < 0.0001); and average external rotation, from 13.4° to 28.2° (p < 0.0001). The patients rated the outcome as excellent in fifty-three shoulders (55%), good in twenty-six (27%), satisfactory in eleven (12%), and unsatisfactory in six (6%). There was no evidence of mechanical failure of the baseplate or scapular notching in any of the patients. Six of the ninety-four patients in this study had a complication. Conclusions: Recent advances in reverse shoulder arthroplasty have allowed for improvement in patient outcomes while minimizing early mechanical failure and scapular notching and decreasing the overall complication rate at short-term follow-up. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Tissue engineering of bone: material and matrix considerations

Abstract: When the normal physiologic reaction to fracture does not occur, such as in fracture nonunions or large-scale traumatic bone injury, surgical intervention is warranted Autografts and allografts represent current strategies for surgical intervention and subsequent bone repair, but each possesses limitations, such as donor-site morbidity with the use of autograft and the risk of disease transmission with the use of allograft Synthetic bone-graft substitutes, developed in an effort to overcome the inherent limitations of autograft and allograft, represent an alternative strategy These synthetic graft substitutes, or matrices, are formed from a variety of materials, including natural and synthetic polymers, ceramics, and composites, that are designed to mimic the three-dimensional characteristics of autograft tissue while maintaining viable cell populations Matrices also act as delivery vehicles for factors, antibiotics, and chemotherapeutic agents, depending on the nature of the injury to be repaired This intersection of matrices, cells, and therapeutic molecules has collectively been termed tissue engineering Depending on the specific application of the matrix, certain materials may be more or less well suited to the final structure; these include polymers, ceramics, and composites of the two Each category is represented by matrices that can form either solid preformed structures or injectable forms that harden in situ This article discusses the myriad design considerations that are relevant to successful bone repair with tissue-engineered matrices and provides an overview of several manufacturing techniques that allow for the actualization of critical design parameters

Nail or Plate Fixation of Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures: Changing Pattern of Practice: A Review of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Database

Abstract: Background: A new method of fixation for intertrochanteric hip fractures that involves the use of an intramedullary nail that interlocks proximally into the femoral head was introduced in the early 1990s. Anecdotal observation of practice patterns during the Part II (oral) American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery examination suggested that the use of this method had increased substantially in recent years in comparison with the more traditional sliding compression screw technique. A study of the Part II database was undertaken to detect changing patterns of care for intertrochanteric fractures. Methods: During the process of Board certification, candidates for the Part II (oral) examination submit a six-month surgical case list and patient data into a secure database. The database was searched for all intertrochanteric fractures (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, code 820.20 or 820.21) over a seven-year period (1999 through 2006). The cases were categorized by intramedullary nail or plate fixation on the basis of surgeon-reported Current Procedural Terminology codes. Relative utilization of the two devices was analyzed according to year and region, and the devices were compared in terms of complications and outcomes. Results: A dramatic change in practice was demonstrated, with the intramedullary nail fixation rate increasing from 3% in 1999 to 67% in 2006. Regional variation was substantial. The highest rate of utilization of intramedullary nail fixation was recorded by candidates from the South, Southeast, and Southwest, who converted to the new technology faster than those in the Northeast, Northwest, and Midwest. Overall, patients managed with plate fixation had slightly less pain and deformity in comparison with those managed with intramedullary nailing, with no significant differences being identified in terms of function or satisfaction. Patients managed with intramedullary nailing had more procedure-related complications, particularly bone fracture. Conclusions: From 1999 to 2006, a dramatic change in surgeon preference for the fixation device used for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures has occurred among young orthopaedic surgeons. This change has occurred despite a lack of evidence in the literature supporting the change and in the face of the potential for more complications.

Displacement/Screw Cutout After Open Reduction and Locked Plate Fixation of Humeral Fractures

Abstract: Background: Fixation of proximal humeral fractures is challenging. Locking plate technology offers mechanical advantages for treating unstable fractures in weak bone. In this study, we assessed the radiographic and clinical results of a single surgeon's experience treating proximal humeral fractures with a locked proximal humeral plate. Methods: Fifty-three adult patients with a displaced proximal humeral fracture were treated with a proximal humeral locking plate over a forty-five-month period. A standard postoperative rehabilitation regimen was followed. Radiographs were made at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, and one year and were examined for fracture alignment, fracture displacement, hardware position, and healing. Postoperative outcomes were collected with questionnaires. Results: Fifty-two (98%) of the fifty-three fractures healed by six months. Nineteen patients (36%) had radiographic signs of a complication, including screw cutout with intra-articular displacement in twelve (23%), substantial (>10°) varus displacement in thirteen (25%), and osteonecrosis in two (4%). These radiographic signs of a complication occurred in twelve (57%) of twenty-one patients older than sixty years of age and in seven (22%) of thirty-two patients under sixty years of age (p = 0.0015). Screw cutout occurred in nine (43%) of the twenty-one patients older than sixty years. Patients with a complication had worse functional outcomes as measured with the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (p < 0.05) and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (p < 0.001) questionnaires. We were unable to demonstrate a relationship between fracture type and complications. Revision surgery was performed in seven (13%) of the fifty-three patients. There were no cases of infection, nerve injury, or hardware failure. Conclusions: The use of locking plates in the surgical treatment of proximal humeral fractures is associated with an unexpectedly high rate of screw cutout and revision surgery, especially in patients older than sixty years who have a three or four-part fracture. The indications for open reduction and internal fixation in these patients require continued analysis. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Perioperative Testing for Joint Infection in Patients Undergoing Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract: Background: While multiple tests are used to determine the presence of infection at the site of a total hip arthroplasty, few studies have applied a consistent algorithm to determine the utility of the various tests that are available. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the utility of commonly available tests for determining the presence of periprosthetic infection in patients undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-five consecutive total hip arthroplasties in 220 patients were evaluated by one of two surgeons using a consistent algorithm to identify infection and were treated with reoperation. Receiver-operating-characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-point values for the white blood-cell count and the percentage of polymorphonuclear cells of intraoperatively aspirated hip synovial fluid. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and accuracy were determined. Patients were considered to have an infection if two of three criteria were met; the three criteria were a positive intraoperative culture, gross purulence at the time of reoperation, and positive histopathological findings. Results: Thirty-four arthroplasties were excluded because of the presence of a draining sinus, incomplete data, or a preoperative diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis, leaving 201 total hip arthroplasties available for evaluation. Fifty-five hips were judged to be infected. No hip in a patient with a preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 4200 white blood cells/mL for the white blood-cell count and >80% polymorphonuclear cells for the differential count. However, when combined with an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level, the optimal cut-point for the synovial fluid cell count was >3000 white blood cells/mL, which yielded the highest combined sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the tests studied. Discussion: A synovial fluid cell count of >3000 white blood cells/mL was the most predictive perioperative testing modality in our study for determining the presence of periprosthetic infection when combined with an elevated preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level in patients undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Supracondylar humeral fractures in children.

Abstract: Operative fixation is indicated for most type-II and III supracondylar humeral fractures in order to prevent malunion. Medial comminution is a subtle finding that, if treated nonoperatively, is likely to lead to unacceptable varus malunion. Angiography is not indicated for a pulseless limb, as it delays fracture reduction, which usually corrects the vascular problem. A high index of suspicion is necessary to avoid missing an impending compartment syndrome, especially when there is a concomitant forearm fracture or when there is a median nerve injury, which may mask symptoms of compartment syndrome. Lateral entry pins have been shown, in biomechanical and clinical studies, to be as stable as cross pinning if they are well spaced at the fracture line, and they are not associated with the risk of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury.

The clinical and structural long-term results of open repair of massive tears of the rotator cuff.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: At a mean follow-up of 3.1 years, twenty-seven consecutive repairs of massive rotator cuff tears yielded good and excellent clinical results despite a retear rate of 37%. Patients with a retear had improvement over the preoperative state, but those with a structurally intact repair had a substantially better result. The purpose of this study was to reassess the same patients to determine the long-term functional and structural results. METHODS: At a mean follow-up interval of 9.9 years, twenty-three of the twenty-seven patients returned for a review and were examined clinically, radiographically, and with magnetic resonance imaging with use of a methodology identical to that used at 3.1 years. RESULTS: Twenty-two of the twenty-three patients remained very satisfied or satisfied with the result. The mean subjective shoulder value was 82% (compared with 80% at 3.1 years). The mean relative Constant score was 85% (compared with 83% at 3.1 years). The retear rate was 57% at 9.9 years (compared with 37% at 3.1 years; p = 0.168). Patients with an intact repair had a better result than those with a failed reconstruction with respect to the mean absolute Constant score (81 compared with 64 points, respectively; p = 0.015), mean relative Constant score (95% and 77%; p = 0.002), and mean strength of abduction (5.5 and 2.6 kg; p = 0.007). The mean retear size had increased from 882 to 1164 mm(2) (p = 0.016). Supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscle fatty infiltration had increased (p = 0.004 and 0.008, respectively). Muscles with torn tendons preoperatively showed more fatty infiltration than muscles with intact tendons preoperatively, regardless of repair integrity. Shoulders with a retear had a significantly higher mean acromion index than those without retear (0.75 and 0.65, respectively; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Open repair of massive rotator cuff tears yielded clinically durable, excellent results with high patient satisfaction at a mean of almost ten years postoperatively. Conversely, fatty muscle infiltration of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus progressed, and the retear size increased over time. The preoperative integrity of the tendon appeared to be protective against muscle deterioration. A wide lateral extension of the acromion was identified as a previously unknown risk factor for retearing.

Comparison of health-related quality of life between patients with end-stage ankle and hip arthrosis.

Abstract: Background: End-stage ankle arthrosis is one of the leading causes of chronic disability in North America. Information on this condition is limited. The amount of pain and the reduction in health-related quality of life and function have not been quantified with use of universal outcome measures. The purpose of the present study was to compare the extent of pain, loss of function, and health-related quality of life in two cohorts of patients waiting for the surgical treatment of end-stage ankle or hip arthrosis. Methods: One hundred and thirty patients with end-stage ankle arthrosis who were awaiting total ankle arthroplasty or ankle arthrodesis were recruited through a Canadian Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society multicenter study. All patients prospectively completed the Short Form-36 (SF-36) generic outcome instrument. This cohort was compared with a similar cohort of 130 patients with end-stage hip arthrosis, randomly selected from an existing prospective joint replacement database, who had completed an SF-36 questionnaire prospectively from 2000 to 2005. Results: In both groups, the scores for all SF-36 subscales were approximately two standard deviations below normal population scores. Patients with ankle arthrosis had significantly worse mental component summary scores (p < 0.05), role-physical scores (p < 0.05), and general health scores (p < 0.05). Patients with hip arthrosis reported significantly lower physical function scores (p < 0.05), although the SF-36 physical component summary score was not significantly different between the two groups. The SF-36 physical component summary, bodily pain, vitality, role-emotional, social functioning, and mental health subscale scores were equally affected in both cohorts. Conclusions: The mental and physical disability associated with end-stage ankle arthrosis is at least as severe as that associated with end-stage hip arthrosis. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The geometry of the tibial plateau and its influence on the biomechanics of the tibiofemoral joint.

Abstract: Background: The geometry of the tibial plateau is complex and asymmetric. Previous research has characterized subject-to-subject differences in the tibial plateau geometry in the sagittal plane on the basis of a single parameter, the posterior slope. We hypothesized that (1) there are large subject-to-subject variations in terms of slopes, the depth of concavity of the medial plateau, and the extent of convexity of the lateral plateau; (2) medial tibial slope and lateral tibial slope are different within subjects; (3) there are sex-based differences in the slopes as well as concavities and convexities of the tibial plateau; and (4) age is not associated with any of the measured parameters. Methods: The medial, lateral, and coronal slopes and the depth of the osseous portion of the tibial plateau were measured with use of sagittal and coronal magnetic resonance images that were made for thirty-three female and twenty-two male subjects, and differences between the sexes with respect to these four parameters were assessed. Within-subject differences between the medial and lateral tibial slopes also were assessed. Correlation tests were performed to examine the existence of a linear relationship between various slopes as well as between slopes and subject age. Results: The range of subject-to-subject variations in the tibial slopes was substantive for males and females. However, the mean medial and lateral tibial slopes in female subjects were greater than those in male subjects (p < 0.05). In contrast, the mean coronal tibial slope in female subjects was less than that in male subjects (p < 0.05). The correlation between medial and lateral tibial slopes was poor. The within-subject difference between medial and lateral tibial slopes was significant (p < 0.05). No difference in medial tibial plateau depth was found between the sexes. The subchondral bone on the lateral part of the tibia, within the articulation region, was mostly flat. Age was not associated with the observed results. Conclusions: The geometry of the osseous portion of the tibial plateau is more robustly explained by three slopes and the depth of the medial tibial condyle. Clinical Relevance: The sex and subject-to-subject-based differences in the tibial plateau geometry found in the present study could be important to consider during the assessment of the risk of knee injury, the susceptibility to osteoarthritis, and the success of unicompartmental and total knee arthroplasty.

Acute patellar dislocation in children and adolescents: a randomized clinical trial.

Abstract: Background: The treatment of acute patellar dislocation in children is controversial. Some investigators have advocated early repair of the medial structures, whereas others have treated this injury nonoperatively. The present report describes the long-term subjective and functional results of a randomized controlled trial of nonoperative and operative treatment of primary acute patellar dislocation in children less than sixteen years of age. Methods: The data were gathered prospectively on a cohort of seventy-four acute patellar dislocations in seventy-one patients (fifty-one girls and twenty boys) younger than sixteen years of age. Sixty-two patients (sixty-four knees) without large (>15 mm) intra-articular fragments were randomized to nonoperative treatment (twenty-eight knees) or operative treatment (thirty-six knees). Operative treatment consisted of direct repair of the damaged medial structures if the patella was dislocatable with the patient under anesthesia (twenty-nine knees) or lateral release alone if the patella was not dislocatable with the patient under anesthesia (seven knees). All but four patients who underwent operative treatment had a concomitant lateral release. The rehabilitation protocol was the same for both groups. The patients were seen at two years, and a telephone interview was conducted at a mean of six years and again at a mean of fourteen years. Fifty-eight patients (sixty-four knees; 94%) were reviewed at the time of the most recent follow-up. Results: At the time of the most recent follow-up, the subjective result was either good or excellent for 75% (twenty-one) of twenty-eight nonoperatively treated knees and 66% (twenty-one) of thirty-two operatively treated knees. The rates of recurrent dislocation in the two treatment groups were 71% (twenty of twenty-eight) and 67% (twenty-four of thirty-six), respectively. The first redislocation occurred within two years after the primary injury in twenty-three (52%) of the forty-four knees with recurrent dislocation. Instability of the contralateral patella was noted in thirty (48%) of the sixty-two patients. The only significant predictor for recurrence was a positive family history of patellar instability. The mode of treatment and the existence of osteochondral fractures had no clinical or significant influence on the subjective outcome, recurrent patellofemoral instability, function, or activity scores. Conclusions: The long-term subjective and functional results after acute patellar dislocation are satisfactory in most patients. Initial operative repair of the medial structures combined with lateral release did not improve the long-term outcome, despite the very high rate of recurrent instability. A positive family history is a risk factor for recurrence and for contralateral patellofemoral instability. Routine repair of the torn medial stabilizing soft tissues is not advocated for the treatment of acute patellar dislocation in children and adolescents. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Humeral Insertion of the Supraspinatus and Infraspinatus. New Anatomical Findings Regarding the Footprint of the Rotator Cuff

Abstract: BACKGROUND: It is generally believed that the supraspinatus is the most commonly involved tendon in rotator cuff tears. Clinically, however, atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle is frequently observed in patients with even small to medium-size rotator cuff tears. This fact cannot be fully explained by our current understanding of the anatomical insertions of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. The purpose of this study was to reinvestigate the humeral insertions of these tendons. METHODS: The study included 113 shoulders from sixty-four cadavers. The humeral insertion areas of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus were investigated in ninety-seven specimens. In sixteen specimens, all muscular portions of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus were removed, leaving the tendinous portions intact, in order to define the specific characteristics of the tendinous portion of the muscles. Another twenty-six shoulders were used to obtain precise measurements of the footprints of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. RESULTS: The supraspinatus had a long tendinous portion in the anterior half of the muscle, which always inserted into the anteriormost area of the highest impression on the greater tuberosity and which inserted into the superiormost area of the lesser tuberosity in 21% of the specimens. The footprint of the supraspinatus was triangular in shape, with an average maximum medial-to-lateral length of 6.9 mm and an average maximum anteroposterior width of 12.6 mm. The infraspinatus had a long tendinous portion in the superior half of the muscle, which curved anteriorly and extended to the anterolateral area of the highest impression of the greater tuberosity. The footprint of the infraspinatus was trapezoidal in shape, with an average maximum medial-to-lateral length of 10.2 mm and an average maximum anteroposterior width of 32.7 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The footprint of the supraspinatus on the greater tuberosity is much smaller than previously believed, and this area of the greater tuberosity is actually occupied by a substantial amount of the infraspinatus. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: The present study suggests that rotator cuff tears that were previously thought to involve only the supraspinatus tendon may in fact have had a substantial infraspinatus component as well.

Pulmonary function following early thoracic fusion in non-neuromuscular scoliosis.

Abstract: Background: While early spinal fusion may halt progressive deformity in young children with scoliosis, it does not facilitate lung growth and, in certain children, it can result in thoracic insufficiency syndrome. The purpose of this study was to determine pulmonary function at intermediate-term follow-up in patients with scoliosis who underwent thoracic fusion before the age of nine years. Methods: Patients who had thoracic spine fusions before the age of nine years with a minimum five-year follow-up underwent pulmonary function testing. Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, and maximum inspiratory pressure were measured and compared with age-matched normal values. Patients with neuromuscular disease, skeletal dysplasias, or preexisting pulmonary disease were excluded, while those with rib malformations were included. The relationships between forced vital capacity and age at the time of surgery, length of follow-up, extent of the fusion, proximal level of the fusion, and revision surgery were studied. Results: Twenty-eight patients underwent evaluation. Twenty patients had congenital scoliosis, three had idiopathic scoliosis, three had scoliosis associated with neurofibromatosis, one had congenital kyphosis, and one had syndromic scoliosis. Seventeen patients had one spinal surgery, while eleven had additional procedures. The average age of the patients was 3.3 years at the time of surgery and 14.6 years at the time of follow-up. The average extent of the thoracic spine fused was 58.7%. The average forced vital capacity was 57.8% of age-matched normal values, and the average forced expiratory volume in one second was 54.7%. The forced vital capacity was <50% of normal in twelve of the twenty-eight patients, and two required respiratory support, implying that substantial restrictive lung disease was present. With the numbers studied, no significant correlation could be detected between the age at the time of fusion or the length of follow-up and pulmonary function. The extent of the spine fused correlated with the forced vital capacity (p = 0.01, r = −0.46). Fusions in the proximal aspect of the spine were found to be associated with diminished pulmonary function as eight of twelve patients with a proximal fusion level of T1 or T2 had a forced vital capacity of <50%, but only four of sixteen patients with a fusion beginning caudad to T2 had a forced vital capacity of <50% (p = 0.0004, r = 0.62). Conclusions: Patients with proximal thoracic deformity who require fusion of more than four segments, especially those with rib anomalies, are at the highest risk for the development of restrictive pulmonary disease. Pulmonary function tests should be performed for all patients who have an early fusion. The pursuit of alternative procedures to treat early spinal deformity is merited. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Randomized trial of reamed and unreamed intramedullary nailing of tibial shaft fractures.

Abstract: Results: One thousand two hundred and twenty-six participants (93%) completed one year of follow-up. Of these, 622 patients were randomized to reamed nailing and 604 patients were randomized to unreamed nailing. Among all patients, fifty-seven(4.6%)requiredimplantexchangeorbone-graftingbecauseofnonunion.Amongallpatients,105inthereamed nailing group and 114 in the unreamed nailing group experienced a primary outcome event (relative risk, 0.90; 95% confidenceinterval,0.71to1.15).Inpatientswithclosedfractures,forty-five(11%)of416inthereamednailinggroupand sixty-eight (17%) of 410 in the unreamed nailing group experienced a primary event (relative risk, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.47 to 0.96; p = 0.03). This difference was largely due to differences in dynamization. In patients with open fractures,sixtyof206inthereamednailinggroupandforty-sixof194intheunreamednailinggroupexperiencedaprimary event (relative risk, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.91 to 1.78; p = 0.16). Conclusions: The present study demonstrates a possible benefit for reamed intramedullary nailing in patients with closed fractures. We found no difference between approaches in patients with open fractures. Delaying reoperation for nonunion for at least six months may substantially decrease the need for reoperation. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Orthopaedic surgeon workforce and volume assessment for total hip and knee replacement in the United States: preparing for an epidemic.

Abstract: The demand for health-care services in general, and musculoskeletal care in particular, is expected to increase substantially in the United States because of the growth of the population, aging of the population, public expectations, economic growth, investment in health-care interventions, and improved diagnosis and treatment. The impact of an aging population is demonstrated by the fact that, in 2000, the eleven most costly medical conditions in the United States were far more prevalent among the elderly, and the population of elderly Americans is increasing. It is not clear that the future supply of physicians will be sufficient to meet the increasing demand for health care. The supply of American physicians is limited by the aging and retirement of current physicians, medical school graduation class size of allopathic medical doctors and osteopathic physicians, and United States immigration policies, which limit the number of physicians entering the country. Furthermore, among active physicians, the “effective physician supply” is limited by gender and generational differences, lifestyle choices, changing practice patterns, and variability in physician productivity. At current physician production levels, the ratio of physicians to population will peak between 2015 and 20201. Between 2000 and 2020, the demand for orthopaedic services in this country will increase by 23% while the supply of orthopaedic surgeons will increase by only 2% during the same interval2. During the next few decades, the demand for total joint arthroplasties in the United States may not be met because of an inadequate supply of total joint arthroplasty surgeons. This hypothesis or concern is based on data and trends associated with the prevalence of total joint arthroplasty, projected volumes of total joint arthroplasty, workforce trends in total joint arthroplasty, and reimbursement for total joint arthroplasty. The purposes of this paper are to evaluate the validity of this …

Nonoperative treatment of primary anterior shoulder dislocation in patients forty years of age and younger. a prospective twenty-five-year follow-up.

Abstract: Background: During 1978 and 1979, we initiated a prospective multicenter study to evaluate the results of nonoperative treatment of primary anterior shoulder dislocation. In the current report, we ...

Variability in the Assessment of Fracture-Healing in Orthopaedic Trauma Studies

Abstract: Background: There is a lack of consensus among orthopaedic surgeons in the assessment of fracture-healing. We conducted a systematic review of recent clinical studies of long-bone fracture care that were published in three major orthopaedic journals to identify current definitions of fracture-healing. Methods: MEDLINE and the computerized databases for The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American Volume), The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (British Volume), and the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma were searched from January 1996 through December 2006 with use of title, abstract, keyword, and medical subject headings. Therapeutic clinical studies of long-bone fractures of the appendicular skeleton in adults in which fracture-healing was assessed were selected. Two reviewers independently identified articles and extracted data. Any disagreement was resolved by consensus. We qualitatively and quantitatively summarized the definition of fracture union and the reliability of the assessment of radiographic fracture-healing. Results: One hundred and twenty-three studies proved to be eligible. Union was defined on the basis of a combination of clinical and radiographic criteria in 62% of the studies, on the basis of radiographic criteria only in 37%, and on the basis of clinical criteria only in 1%. Twelve different criteria were used to define fracture union clinically, and the most common criterion was the absence of pain or tenderness at the fracture site during weight-bearing. In studies involving the use of plain radiographs, eleven different criteria were used to define fracture union, and the most common criterion was bridging of the fracture site. A quantitative measure of the reliability of the radiographic assessment of fracture union was reported in two studies. Conclusions: We found a lack of consensus with regard to the definition of fracture-healing in the current orthopaedic literature. Without valid and reliable clinical or radiographic measures of union, the interpretation of fracture care studies remains difficult.

Metal ion measurement as a diagnostic tool to identify problems with metal-on-metal hip resurfacing.

Abstract: Metal-on-metal bearings for hip replacement are gaining popularity as an alternative to the most widely used bearing couple of metal on polyethylene1. The recent resurgence of hip resurfacing with the so-called third and fourth generations of hip resurfacing arthroplasty devices has played a substantial role in the wider use of metal-on-metal bearings2-4. Concerns about the wear of polyethylene and the role of polyethylene wear debris in the process of aseptic loosening have also increased the use of hard-on-hard bearing couples. However, wear still takes place with metal-on-metal bearings, and there is concern about the relatively high levels of metallic ions released into the body as a consequence. Cobalt-chromium alloy is the metal used for metal-on-metal implants and, while these elements are required for normal biological function, high concentrations of cobalt and chromium are toxic and are known to interfere with a number of biological processes5,6. The metal ion levels typically seen in patients with well-functioning metal-on-metal implants are not thought to be close to toxic levels7 and in many instances are not much higher than those in patients with metal-on-polyethylene implants8. However, there is a potential for much higher concentrations of metal wear products in the joint fluid in the vicinity of the bearing surfaces of poorly functioning metal-on-metal implants. It is these very high levels that are thought to be responsible for adverse reactions such as osteolysis9 and the formation of soft-tissue masses10,11 and that give rise to metallosis (defined as gray discoloration of the hip joint)12. It is not clear whether the levels of metal ions measured in blood serum are indicative of the metal ion concentrations in the joint fluid. Perhaps more importantly, the serum concentrations that are …

Recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor: biology and clinical applications

Abstract: The abilities of bone to remodel, fractures to repair, and bone grafts to incorporate are all fundamental reflections of the bone remodeling cycle. This process is characterized by the recruitment and differentiation of osteoblastic and osteoclastic cell populations, whose cellular activities are coordinated and regulated by an elaborate system of growth factors and cytokines. One of the crucial biological factors responsible for reparative osseous activity is platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). The potent stimulatory effects of PDGF as a chemoattractant and mitogen for mesenchymal cells (including osteogenic cells), along with its ability to promote angiogenesis, have been demonstrated in a variety of preclinical models predicting maxillofacial, spine and appendicular skeletal, and soft-tissue applications. The biological profile of PDGF, including its ability to recruit osteoprogenitor cells, makes it particularly suited to address the skeletal defects that are seen with comorbid conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and the effects of smoking. The clinical success and safety that have been demonstrated with use of recombinant human PDGF (rhPDGF) in the repair of periodontal defects have led to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of rhPDGF for this indication. Ongoing pilot and pivotal trials in the United States and internationally will continue to clarify the promising role of PDGF in the treatment of challenging skeletal disorders.

Local recurrence of giant cell tumor of bone after intralesional treatment with and without adjuvant therapy.

Abstract: Background:The use of adjuvants after curettage has been well established for the treatment of giant cell tumor of bone. The purpose of this study was to analyze the rates of recurrence following different types of treatment as well as the influence of various factors of tumor presentation o

The epidemiology of neonatal brachial plexus palsy in the United States.

Abstract: Background: The nationwide incidence of neonatal brachial plexus palsy in the United States is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of this condition in the United States and to identify potential risk factors for neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Methods: Data from the 1997, 2000, and 2003 Kids' Inpatient Database data sets were utilized for this study. Patients were identified with use of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), code 767.6 for neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Previously reported risk factors for this condition, including shoulder dystocia, instrumented delivery, breech delivery, an exceptionally large baby (>4.5 kg), heavy infant weight for gestational dates, multiple birth mates, and cesarean delivery, were also identified with use of ICD-9 codes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to assess the association of neonatal brachial plexus palsy with its risk factors, after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, such as gender, race, and payer status; hospital-based characteristics, such as number of hospital beds, hospital location, region, type, and teaching status; and the effect of time. Results: Over eleven million births were recorded in the database, and 17,334 had a documented brachial plexus injury in the total of three years, yielding a nationwide mean and standard error of incidence of neonatal brachial plexus palsy in the United States of at least 1.51 ± 0.02 cases per 1000 live births. The incidence of this condition has shown a significant decrease over the years (p 4.5 kg) had a fourteen times greater risk, and forceps delivery had a nine times greater risk for injury. Having a twin or multiple birth mates and delivery by cesarean section had a protective effect against the occurrence of neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Forty-six percent of all children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy had one or more known risk factors, and fifty-four percent had no known risk factors. Conclusions: This nationwide study of neonatal brachial plexus palsy in the United States demonstrates a decreasing incidence over time. Shoulder dystocia poses the greatest risk for brachial plexus injury, and having a twin or multiple birth mates and delivery by cesarean section are associated with a protective effect against injury. Most children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy did not have known risk factors. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Defining substantial clinical benefit following lumbar spine arthrodesis.

Abstract: Background: Validated health-related quality-of-life measures have become important standards in the evaluation of the outcomes of lumbar spine surgery. However, there are few well-defined criteria for clinical success based on these measures. The minimum clinically important difference is an important demarcation, but it could be considered a floor value rather than a goal in defining clinical success. Therefore, we sought to define thresholds of substantial clinical benefit for commonly used health-related quality-of-life measures following lumbar spine arthrodesis. Methods: Prospectively collected preoperative and one-year postoperative health-related quality-of-life measures from 357 patients who were managed with lumbar spine arthrodesis for the treatment of degenerative conditions were identified. Candidate substantial clinical benefit thresholds for the Short Form-36 physical component score, Oswestry Disability Index, and back and leg pain numeric rating scales were identified with use of receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to discriminate between patients who reported being “much better” or “about the same” with use of the validated Short Form-36 health transition item and between those who reported being “mostly satisfied” or “unsure” with use of a nonvalidated but more surgery-specific satisfaction-with-results survey. For each health-related quality-of-life measure, three response parameters were used: net change, percent change, and raw score at the time of the one-year follow-up. Results: Substantial clinical benefit thresholds for the Short Form-36 physical component score were a 6.2-point net improvement, a 19.4% improvement, or a final raw score of ≥35.1 points. Substantial clinical benefit thresholds for the Oswestry Disability Index were an 18.8-point net improvement, a 36.8% improvement, or a final raw score of <31.3 points. Substantial clinical benefit thresholds for the back pain and leg pain numeric rating scales were a 2.5-point net improvement or a final raw score of <3.5 points. Substantial clinical benefit thresholds for percent change were 41.4% for the back pain numeric rating scale and 38.8% for the leg pain numeric rating scale. Conclusions: We believe that thresholds of substantial clinical benefit for commonly used health-related quality-of-life measures following lumbar spine arthrodesis are important as they describe a magnitude of change that the patient recognizes as a major improvement.

Glenoid Component Failure in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Abstract: Glenoid component failure is the most common complication of total shoulder arthroplasty. Glenoid components fail as a result of their inability to replicate essential properties of the normal glenoid articular surface to achieve durable fixation to the underlying bone, to withstand repeated eccentric loads and glenohumeral translation, and to resist wear and deformation. The possibility of glenoid component failure should be considered whenever a total shoulder arthroplasty has an unsatisfactory result. High-quality radiographs made in the plane of the scapula and in the axillary projection are usually sufficient to evaluate the status of the glenoid component. Failures of prosthetic glenoid arthroplasty can be understood in terms of failure of the component itself, failure of seating, failure of fixation, failure of the glenoid bone, and failure to effectively manage eccentric loading. An understanding of these modes of failure leads to strategies to minimize complications related to prosthetic glenoid arthroplasty.

Range of impingement-free abduction and adduction deficit after reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Hierarchy of surgical and implant-design-related factors.

Abstract: Background: Evaluations of functional outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty have revealed variable improvements in the range of motion and high rates of scapular notching. The purpose of this study was to systematically examine the impact of surgical factors (location of the glenosphere on the glenoid and tilt angle of the glenosphere on the glenoid) and implant-related factors (implant size, center-of-rotation offset, and humeral neck-shaft angle) on impingement-free abduction motion. Methods: A computer model was developed to virtually simulate abduction/adduction motion and its dependence on five surgical and implant-related factors. Three conditions were tested for each factor, resulting in a total of 243 simulated combinations. The overall motion was determined from 0° of abduction until maximum abduction, which would be limited by impingement of the humerosocket on the scapula. In those combinations in which 0° of abduction could not be achieved, the adduction deficit was recorded. Results: The largest average increase in the range of impingement-free abduction motion resulted from a more lateral center-of-rotation offset: the average increase was 31.9° with a change in the center-of-rotation offset from 0 to 10 mm, and this change resulted in an increase in abduction motion in eighty of the eighty-one combinations. The position of the glenosphere on the glenoid was associated with the second largest average increase in abduction motion (28.1° when the glenosphere position was changed from superior to inferior, with the change resulting in an increase in seventy-one of the eighty-one combinations). These factors were followed by glenosphere tilt, humeral neck-shaft angle, and prosthetic size in terms of their effects on abduction motion. The largest effect in terms of avoiding an adduction deficit was provided by a humeral neck-shaft angle of 130° (the deficit was avoided in forty-nine of the eighty-one combinations in which this angle was used), followed by an inferior glenosphere position on the glenoid (deficit avoided in forty-one combinations), a 10-mm lateral offset of the center of rotation, inferior tilt of the glenosphere, and a 42-mm-diameter prosthetic size. Conclusions: An understanding of a hierarchy of prosthetic design and implantation factors may be important to maximize impingement-free abduction motion as well as to avoid inferior impingement. Clinical Relevance: A better understanding of these factors may lead to a reduction in inferior scapular notching and improvements in impingement-free motion after reverse shoulder replacement.

Results of Internal Fixation of Pauwels Type-3 Vertical Femoral Neck Fractures

Abstract: Background: It has been postulated that femoral neck fractures with a more vertical fracture line (i.e., a high Pauwels angle) may experience more shear forces and therefore may be predisposed to nonunion or loss of fixation. Although there is controversy regarding which fixation method is ideal, we are aware of no large clinical series in which the treatment outcomes of these fractures were evaluated. The purpose of this multicenter study was to evaluate a large consecutive series of high shear angle (>70°) femoral neck fractures to learn more about the outcomes, complications, and performance of various internal fixation strategies. Methods: Between January 1993 and January 2005, seventy-six Pauwels type-3 (Orthopaedic Trauma Association [OTA] type-31B2.3) femoral neck fractures were treated in seventy-five patients with a mean age of forty-two years. Fourteen patients were lost to follow-up. Sixty-two fractures in sixty-one patients were followed to union or revision surgery, with a mean duration of follow-up of twenty-four months. Thirty-seven fractures were treated with cannulated screws and twenty-five, with a fixed-angle device. The reduction quality, accuracy of implant placement, time to surgery, influence of capsular decompression, and rates of nonunion and osteonecrosis were evaluated. Results: Fifty-nine (95%) of the fractures had good-to-excellent reduction, and three had a fair reduction. There was a nonunion of eight (14%) of the fifty-nine fractures with a good-to-excellent reduction and two of the three with a fair reduction. There was a septic nonunion of one fracture treated with a dynamic hip screw. There was an aseptic nonunion of seven (19%) of the thirty-seven fractures treated with screw fixation alone as compared with two (8%) of the twenty-five fractures treated with a fixed-angle device. Osteonecrosis occurred after treatment of seven (11%) of the sixty-two fractures. Conclusions: Despite timely, excellent reduction and accurate implant placement in the vast majority of cases, the nonunion rate was 19% for fractures treated with cannulated screws alone and 8% for those treated with a fixed-angle device. Although these failure rates are not significantly different, we believe that this study documents the challenging nature of this fracture pattern and the ideal fixation device remains undefined. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Predicting Scoliosis Progression from Skeletal Maturity: A Simplified Classification During Adolescence

Abstract: Background: Both the Tanner-Whitehouse-III RUS score, which is based on the radiographic appearance of the epiphyses of the distal part of the radius, the distal part of the ulna, and small bones of the hand, and the digital skeletal age skeletal maturity scoring system, which is based on just the metacarpals and phalanges, correlate highly with the curve acceleration phase in girls with idiopathic scoliosis. However, these systems require an atlas and access to the scoring system, making their use impractical in a busy clinical setting. We sought to develop a simplified system that would correlate highly with scoliosis behavior but that would also be rapid and reliable for clinical practice. Methods: A simplified staging system involving the use of the Tanner-Whitehouse-III descriptors was developed. It was tested for intraobserver and interobserver reliability by six individuals on thirty skeletal age radiographs. The system was compared with the timing of the curve acceleration phase in a cohort of twenty-two girls with idiopathic scoliosis. Results: The average intraobserver unweighted kappa value was 0.88, and the average weighted kappa value was 0.96. The percentage of exact matches between readings for each rater was 89%, and 100% of the differences were within one unit. The average interobserver unweighted kappa value was 0.71, and the average weighted kappa value was 0.89. The percentage of exact matches between two reviewers was 71%, and 97% of the interobserver differences were within one stage or matched. The agreement was highest between the most experienced raters. Interobserver reliability was not improved by the use of a classification-specific atlas. The correlation of the staging system with the curve acceleration phase was 0.91. Conclusions: The simplified skeletal maturity scoring system is reliable and correlates more strongly with the behavior of idiopathic scoliosis than the Risser sign or Greulich and Pyle skeletal ages do. The system has a modest learning curve but is easily used in a clinical setting and, in conjunction with curve type and magnitude, appears to be strongly prognostic of future scoliosis curve behavior. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Fractures of the distal part of the radius. The evolution of practice over time. Where's the evidence?

Abstract: Background: During the administration of the oral (Part II) examinations for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery over the past nine years, it has been observed that orthopaedic surgeons are opting more often for open treatment as opposed to percutaneous fixation of distal radial fractures. Evidence to support this change in treatment is thought to be deficient. The present study was designed to identify changes in practice patterns regarding operative fixation of distal radial fractures between 1999 and 2007 and to assess the results of those treatments over time. Methods: As a part of the certification process, Part II candidates submit a six-month case list to the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. In the present study, we searched the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part II database to evaluate changes in treatment over time and to identify available outcomes and associated complications of open and percutaneous fixation of distal radial fractures. All distal radial fractures that had been treated surgically over a nine-year period (1999 to 2007) were reviewed. The fractures were categorized according to fixation method with use of surgeon self-reported surgical procedure codes. Comparisons of percentage treatment type by year were made. Utilization was analyzed by geographic region, and open and percutaneous fixation were compared with regard to complications and outcomes as self-reported by candidates during the online application process. Results: The proportion of fractures that were stabilized with open surgical treatment increased from 42% in 1999 to 81% in 2007 (p < 0.0001). Although the differences were small, surgeon-reported outcomes revealed that a higher percentage of patients who had been managed with percutaneous fixation had no pain and normal function but some deformity as compared with patients who had had open treatment. Patients who had been managed with percutaneous fixation had a higher overall complication rate (14.0% compared with 12.3%; p < 0.006) and a higher rate of infection (5.0% compared with 2.6%; p < 0.0001) than those who had been managed with open treatment. Patients who had had open treatment had a higher rate of nerve palsy and/or injury (2.0% compared with 1.2%; p = 0.001). No other differences in the reported complication rates were found between the two techniques. Conclusions: A striking shift in fixation strategy for distal radial fractures occurred over the past decade among younger orthopaedic surgeons in the United States. These changes occurred despite a lack of improvement in surgeon-perceived functional outcomes. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.