Reimbursement for Hip Fractures: The Impact of Varied Current Procedural Terminology Coding Using Relative Value Units.

Background: Many orthopedic practices routinely code hip fracture hemiarthroplasty as Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) 27125 even though 27236 is the correct CPT code. Our objective is to determine the financial impact this simple mistake has on surgeon reimbursement.

Methods: Our data comprised cases assigned International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code S72.

Dual small fragment plating improves screw-to-screw load sharing for mid-diaphyseal humeral fracture fixation: a finite element study.

Background: A smaller humerus in some patients makes the use of a large fragment fixation plate difficult. Dual small fragment plate constructs have been suggested as an alternative.

Objective: This study compares the biomechanical performance of three single and one dual plate construct for mid-diaphyseal humeral fracture fixation.

Dual plating of humeral shaft fractures: orthogonal plates biomechanically outperform side-by-side plates.

Background: Single large-fragment plate constructs currently are the norm for internal fixation of middiaphyseal humerus fractures. In cases where humeral size is limited, however, dual small-fragment locking plate constructs may serve as an alternative. The mechanical effects of different possible plate configurations around the humeral diaphysis may be important, but to our knowledge, have yet to be investigated.

Adult trauma: getting through the night.

It is now recognized that the treatment of many orthopaedic injuries can be, and in many cases should be, deferred until a later date. For example, surgical repair of most fractures of the proximal and distal tibia is now delayed until soft-tissue healing has occurred. Acute treatment involves only provisionally reducing and stabilizing such fractures using a joint-spanning external fixator.

Plating of the distal radius.

Distal radius fractures are common injuries that can be treated by a variety of methods. Restoration of the distal radius anatomy within established guidelines yields the best short- and long-term results. Guidelines for acceptable reduction are (1) radial shortening < 5 mm, (2) radial inclination > 15 degrees , (3) sagittal tilt on lateral projection between 15 degrees dorsal tilt and 20 degrees volar tilt, (4) intra-articular step-off < 2 mm of the radiocarpal joint, and (5) articular incongruity < 2 mm of the sigmoid notch of the distal radius.