Functional Outcomes of Patella Fractures Treated With Anterior Plate Osteosynthesis at One Year.

Objectives: To evaluate the functional outcomes of patients with displaced patellar fractures treated with anterior plate constructs.

Design: Prospective cohort and retrospective clinical and radiographic assessment.

Setting: Level I Trauma Center.

Implant Failure Rates and Cost Analysis of Contoured Locking Versus Conventional Plate Fixation of Distal Fibula Fractures.

The authors analyzed 330 consecutive Weber B distal fibula fractures that occurred during a 3-year period and were treated with either a contoured locking plate or a conventional one-third tubular plate to compare the cost and failure rates of the 2 constructs. The primary outcomes were failure of the distal fibular implant and loss of reduction. Secondary outcomes were surgical wound infection requiring surgical debridement and/or removal of the fibular implant, and removal of the fibular plate for persistent implant-related symptoms.

CT characterizing the anatomy of uninjured ankle syndesmosis.

Although it is expert opinion that transsyndesmotic screws are placed obliquely 30° from posterolateral to anteromedial in the transverse plane, this has not been formally studied, and there is inconsistency regarding the congruency of the distal tibiofibular joint. Thirty-eight computed tomography (CT) scans of the lower extremity were used to examine the rotational profile of the axis of the syndesmotic joint in relation to the femoral transepicondylar axis and to describe the congruency of this joint. The axis of the distal tibiofibular joint was 32°±6° externally rotated in relation to the transepicondylar axis.

The effect of obesity on early failure after operative syndesmosis injuries.

Objective: The goal of this investigation was to determine if obese patients with syndesmotic injuries have a higher incidence of early postoperative failure compared with nonobese patients.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Level 1 urban trauma center.