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.

Postacute Management of Older Adults Suffering an Osteoporotic Hip Fracture: A Consensus Statement From the International Geriatric Fracture Society.

Background: The majority of patients require postacute care (PAC) after a hip fracture. Despite its importance, there is no established consensus regarding the standards of care provided to hip fracture patients in PAC facilities.

Methodology: A writing group was created by professionals from the International Geriatric Fracture Society (IGFS) with representation from other organizations.

Ankle Fractures: An Expert Survey of Orthopaedic Trauma Association Members and Evidence-Based Treatment Recommendations.

Objectives: To describe current practice patterns of orthopaedic trauma experts regarding the management of ankle fractures, to review the current literature, and to provide recommendations for care based on a standardized grading system.

Design: Web-based survey.

Participants: Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) members.

Effect of Preoperative Transthoracic Echocardiogram on Mortality and Surgical Timing in Elderly Adults with Hip Fracture.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) on mortality, postoperative complications, surgical timing, and length of stay in individuals with surgically treated hip fracture.

Design: Retrospective chart review of hospital records.

Setting: Level I and II trauma centers.

Current Practice in the Management of Open Fractures Among Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons. Part B: Management of Segmental Long Bone Defects. A Survey of Orthopaedic Trauma Association Members.

Objectives: Treatment of segmental long bone defects is one of the areas of substantial controversy in current orthopaedic trauma. The main purpose of this survey was to determine current practice and practice variation within the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) membership on this topic.

Design: Survey.

Current Practice in the Management of Open Fractures Among Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons. Part A: Initial Management. A Survey of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons.

Objectives: Open fractures are one of the injuries with the highest rate of infection that orthopaedic trauma surgeons treat. The main purpose of this survey was to determine current practice and practice variation among Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) members and make treatment recommendations based on previously published resources.

Design: Survey.

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.