Nonoperative Treatment of Posterior Wall Acetabular Fractures After Dynamic Stress Examination Under Anesthesia: Revisited.

Objectives: Performing an examination under general anesthesia (EUA) using dynamic stress fluoroscopy of patients with posterior wall acetabular fractures has been used as a tool to determine hip stability and the need for surgical intervention. The purpose of this study was to further evaluate the effectiveness of this technique, from a source other than its primary advocates, in patients with posterior wall acetabular fractures less than or equal to 50% who were stable on EUA and treated nonoperatively.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Which Anterior Acetabular Fracture Surgical Approach is Preferred? A Survey of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association Active Membership.

Objective: The goal of this survey was to determine the current surgeon-preferred anterior surgical approach for the treatment of acetabular fractures in North America.

Design: Web-based survey; PARTICIPANTS:: Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) members.

Methods: Active members of the OTA were solicited to participate in an OTA-sponsored survey asking for their preferred standard anterior surgical approach to the acetabulum, along with some general demographic data.

Venous thromboembolism after hospital discharge in pelvic and acetabular fracture patients treated operatively.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to determine the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after discharge from the hospital in patients treated operatively with a pelvic ring or acetabular fracture and to define the main time frame in which VTE occurs within the 90-day period after hospital discharge.

Methods: California and Florida State Inpatient Databases from 2005 to 2009 were used to identify patients with clinically significant VTEs within 90 days of hospital discharge. ICD-9 diagnosis codes identified patients with a pelvic ring or acetabular fracture and a VTE.

Current Trends in the Surgical Treatment of Open-Book Pelvic Ring Injuries: An International Survey Among Experienced Trauma Surgeons.

Introduction: In the open-book, rotationally unstable (OTA/AO type 61-B1.1) pelvic ring injury, the posterior sacroiliac complex is believed to remain intact. Therefore, anterior ring stabilization alone has been the standard treatment recommendation.

Does Posterior Fixation of Partially Unstable Open-Book Pelvic Ring Injuries Decrease Symphyseal Plate Failure? A Biomechanical Study.

Objective: Recent clinical study suggests an advantage to adding an iliosacral screw to the anterior fixation construct for anteroposterior compression type-2 (OTA/AO type 61-B1), partially unstable open-book pelvic ring injuries. Others have described stress examination to determine any required supplemental fixation. However, biomechanical studies investigating iliosacral fixation requirements for this injury are lacking.

Instability of the Hip Joint After Posterior Acetabular Wall Fracture: Independent Risk Factors Remain Elusive.

Background: Exact determinants of hip instability have not been established for fractures of the posterior wall of the acetabulum involving ≤50% of the wall. Therefore, examination of the hip under anesthesia (EUA) is routinely performed. Recently, the superior exit point of the fracture has been reported to be an important identifiable risk factor.

Acetabular Fractures: A Problem-Oriented Approach.

The main goals of acetabular fracture management are to restore the congruity and stability of the hip joint. These goals are the same for all patients who have an acetabular fracture, regardless of the morphology or etiology of the fracture. Nevertheless, certain acetabular fracture types and several patient factors pose management challenges for surgeons.

Device Sales Representatives in the Operating Room: Do We Really Need or Want Them? A Survey of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons.

Introduction: The purposes of this study were to determine the current attitude of orthopaedic trauma surgeons toward device sales representatives (DSRs), especially regarding their presence in the operating room (OR), and to establish the existence of any surgeon generational differences.

Methods: A survey was created using a 5-point Likert response scale, related to conflict of interest (COI) and attitudes toward DSRs. Participants were solicited from the Orthopaedic Trauma Association database of 384 active members and 127 (33%) completed the survey.

Anterior total hip arthroplasty using a metaphyseal bone-sparing stem: component alignment and early complications.

Background: Limited-incision total hip arthroplasty (THA) preserves hip abductors, posterior capsule, and external rotators potentially diminishing dislocation risk. However, potential complications also exist, such as component malposition. Specific implants have been manufactured that enhance compatibility with this technique, while preserving metaphyseal bone; however, little data exists documenting early complications and component position.

CT-generated radiographs in patients with pelvic ring injury: can they be used in lieu of plain radiographs?

Background: Pelvic ring injury classification traditionally is made using plain radiographs. Recent studies suggest that computed tomography (CT)-generated images have higher diagnostic accuracy than plain films for the classification of acetabular fractures. However, similar studies have not been performed for pelvic ring injuries.

The Acetabular Fracture Prognostic Nomogram: Does it Work for Fractures of the Posterior Wall?

Objectives: A recently proposed nomogram is an attempt to define the subset of acetabular fractures at risk for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) within 2 years of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Our objectives were to determine whether this nomogram provides information adequate to reliably (1) prognosticate outcome within 2 years after ORIF or (2) identify optimal initial treatment choice (THA vs. ORIF) for patients with a posterior wall fracture.

Does Modified Footwear Improve Gait After Ankle Arthrodesis?

Rocker bottom shoes are commonly recommended for patients who have undergone ankle arthrodesis. Limited data are available to support this recommendation. In the present case-control study, 2 groups of participants were identified for the investigation: a study group (SG) of 9 patients who had previously undergone ankle arthrodesis and a normal group (NG) of 9 healthy volunteers.

Supplemental S1 fixation for type C pelvic ring injuries: biomechanical study of a long iliosacral versus a transsacral screw.

Background: A single iliosacral screw placed into the S1 vertebral body has been shown to be clinically unreliable for certain type C pelvic ring injuries. Insertion of a second supplemental iliosacral screw into the S1 or S2 vertebral body has been widely used. However, clinical fixation failures have been reported using this technique, and a supplemental long iliosacral or transsacral screw has been used.

Do asymptomatic patients have normal function after percutaneous fixation of the posterior pelvic ring? A case-control pilot study.

Background: Following treatment of a posterior pelvic disruption, residual deformity or associated injuries can adversely affect functional recovery. No study has been performed on gait and functional outcome after closed reduction and percutaneous screw fixation (CRPSF) of posterior pelvic disruption in clinically asymptomatic patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if gait and functional outcome are different from normal in asymptomatic patients with a posterior pelvic injury after CRPSF, serving as a pilot study in this regard.

Current management of posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum.

The general goals for treating an acetabular fracture are to restore congruity and stability of the hip joint. These goals are no different from those for the subset of fractures of the posterior wall. Nevertheless, posterior wall fractures present unique problems compared with other types of acetabular fractures.

Nonoperative Treatment of Posterior Wall Acetabular Fractures After Dynamic Stress Examination Under Anesthesia: Revisited.

Objectives: Performing an examination under general anesthesia (EUA) using dynamic stress fluoroscopy of patients with posterior wall acetabular fractures has been used as a tool to determine hip stability and the need for surgical intervention. The purpose of this study was to further evaluate the effectiveness of this technique, from a source other than its primary advocates, in patients with posterior wall acetabular fractures less than or equal to 50% who were stable on EUA and treated nonoperatively.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Ligamentous contributions to pelvic stability in a rotationally unstable open-book injury: a cadaver study.

Introduction: Due to the orientation of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ), as the symphysis widens in an open-book pelvic ring disruption, it should displace inferiorly. The purposes of this study were to reconfirm this inferior displacement and to evaluate the relative contributions of the pubic symphysis (PS), the sacrotuberous/sacrospinous ligament complex (STL/SSL) and the anterior sacroiliac ligament (ASIL) to pelvic ring stability in a rotationally unstable open-book injury.

Methods: For each of 6 cadaver pelves, the right hemipelvis was fixed to a table and the PS was sectioned.

CT-generated radiographs in obese patients with acetabular fractures: can they be used in lieu of plain radiographs?

Background: Acetabular fracture diagnosis is traditionally made with AP and oblique pelvic plain radiographs. Obesity may impair diagnostic accuracy of plain radiographs. New CT reconstruction algorithms allow for simulated radiographs that may eliminate the adverse imaging effects of obesity.

A prospective randomized comparison of two skin closure techniques in acetabular fracture surgery.

Background: Recent publications have shown an infection rate of 5-7 % for acetabular fractures treated with the Kocher-Langenbeck (K-L) approach. Using metallic staples to close hip skin incisions has been considered the gold standard. The purpose of this study was to answer the following: (1) will closure of a K-L incision after acetabular fracture surgery with a running subcuticular monocryl suture, then sealing the wound with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (OCA), result in a lower infection rate compared to metallic staple closure? (2) Do incisions closed with subcuticular monocryl and OCA exhibit decreased drainage? (3) Is there a cost difference between these two methods?

Materials And Methods: In a prospective clinical study, 103 patients with acetabular fractures treated using the K-L approach were randomized into two groups: skin closure with metallic staples (n = 52) versus subcuticular running monocryl suture sealed with OCA (n = 51).

Locked versus standard unlocked plating of the symphysis pubis in a Type-C pelvic injury: a cadaver biomechanical study.

Introduction: The benefits of locked plating for pubic symphyseal disruption have not been established. The purpose of this biomechanical study was to determine whether locked plating offers any advantage over conventional unlocked plating of the pubic symphysis in the vertically unstable, Type-C pelvic injury.

Methods: In each of eight embalmed cadaver pelvis specimens, sectioning of the pubic symphysis in conjunction with a unilateral release of the sacroiliac, sacrospinous, and sacrotuberous ligaments and pelvic floor was performed to simulate a vertically unstable Type-C (Orthopaedic Trauma Association 61-C1.

CD271 as a marker for mesenchymal stem cells in bone marrow versus umbilical cord blood.

CD271 has been applied to isolate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow and other tissues. Umbilical cord blood is a unique resource of stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells. Isolation of MSCs from umbilical cord blood, however, has been inefficient and inconsistent.

External fixation of femoral defects in athymic rats: Applications for human stem cell implantation and bone regeneration.

An appropriate animal model is critical for the research of stem/progenitor cell therapy and tissue engineering for bone regeneration in vivo. This study reports the design of an external fixator and its application to critical-sized femoral defects in athymic rats. The external fixator consists of clamps and screws that are readily available from hardware stores as well as Kirschner wires.