Publications by authors named "Conor F Mccarthy"

Introduction: As illustrated by the "Walker Dip," there is growing concern regarding the lack of combat casualty care during peacetime. Surgical volume and case complexity are paramount for training and skill sustainment. We sought to quantify the recent orthopedic trauma surgical case load of all military orthopedic surgeons across the Military Health System (MHS).

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  • Meniscal injuries are prevalent, and even with advanced repair methods, the success rates are still quite low.
  • New treatments involving biologics show promise, but there is not enough solid evidence on their effectiveness for meniscal healing.
  • This text discusses a method of using amniotic tissue, specifically umbilical cord allograft, in repairing meniscal tears to possibly improve healing outcomes.
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Introduction: Pelvic asymmetry has been noted in pelvic imaging, and might influence the development of various spinal pathologies, most notably scoliosis. There is a limited understanding of the relationship between pelvic asymmetry and sex and ancestry, and limited use of 3D modeling. The purpose of this study was to identify pelvic asymmetry and morphology differences between sex and ancestry utilizing 3D modeling on young adults in an osteological collection.

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  • Blast-related traumatic heterotopic ossification (tHO) leads to complications in healing and quality of life for combat-injured patients, especially those with burns.
  • A study using a rat model showed that adding a thermal burn to pre-existing blast injuries significantly increased the volume of tHO.
  • The research revealed that the combined effects of blast overpressure and burn injuries exacerbate pro-inflammatory responses, highlighting the need for better understanding and treatment of such injuries in combat scenarios.
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Introduction: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a complex pathology often observed in combat injured casualties who have sustained severe, high energy polytraumatic extremity injuries. Once HO has developed, prophylactic therapies are limited outside of surgical excision. Tourniquet-induced ischemia injury (IR) exacerbates trauma-mediated musculoskeletal tissue injury, inflammation, osteogenic progenitor cell development and HO formation.

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Some of the most common human systemic diseases-both benign and malignant-affect bone regulation, formation, and homeostasis (the cellular balance regulated by osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts). This review discusses our current understanding of the molecular components and mechanisms that are responsible for homeostasis and interactions resulting in dysregulation (dysfunction due to the loss of the dynamic equilibrium of bone homeostasis). Knowledge of key pathways in bone biology can improve surgeon understanding, clinical recognition, and treatment of bone homeostasis-related diseases.

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  • Severe open lower extremity injuries require careful debridement to eliminate contaminated and non-viable tissues, while preserving any viable tissues that can be used for future reconstruction.
  • The aim of reconstruction is to restore as much functionality to the limb as possible, with the choice between salvaging the limb or opting for amputation depending on various factors like the type of injury and patient needs.
  • The article discusses strategies for preserving viable tissues as "spare parts" during debridement and how these can be utilized later as grafts to improve healing and limb function.
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Case: A 30-year-old semiprofessional football player presented with chronic bilateral quadriceps tendon ruptures. Both quadriceps tendon ruptures were unsuitable for isolated primary repair because of tendon retraction and immobility. A novel reconstruction technique using semitendinosus and gracilis tendon autografts was performed to restore both lower extremities' disrupted extensor mechanisms.

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Background: Percutaneous epiphysiodesis using transphyseal screws (PETS) is a common procedure to correct lower extremity limb-length discrepancies in the pediatric population. A potential complication of this procedure is development of tibial valgus deformity, which may occur secondary to decreased screw purchase in the thinner medial proximal tibial epiphysis. The thickness of the proximal tibial epiphysis has not yet been well quantified, which was the aim of this study.

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Background: Patellar tendon ruptures have a reported incidence of 0.68 per 100,000 person-years in the general population. The epidemiology of surgically treated patellar tendon ruptures in the US military has yet to be reported, which would provide opportunity for identification of risk factors for these otherwise healthy and active patients.

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Previous anatomic data has suggested that during pediatric medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction, the femoral tunnel must be angled distally and anteriorly to avoid damage to the distal femoral physis and then intercondylar notch. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal degree of fluoroscopic angulation necessary to radiographically determine the presence of intercondylar notch violation. Fourteen adult cadaveric human femora were disarticulated and under fluoroscopic guidance, Schöttle's point was identified.

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Background: The long-term consequences of tibial torsion remain unclear. This study evaluated whether syndesmotic injuries are associated with tibial torsion.

Methods: A collection of over 3000 cadaveric skeletons was screened for irregular bony prominence along the lateral distal tibia, consistent with previous syndesmosis injury.

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Case: A 30-month-old boy with a displaced medial condyle fracture and no history of an elbow dislocation was found to have an entrapped median nerve.

Conclusion: Entrapment of the median nerve is a potential consequence of a displaced medial condyle fracture, even when there are no neurologic deficits on presentation. This provides additional support for open reduction of these fractures rather than percutaneous treatment or nonoperative management.

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