Indications for Nonbiological Reconstruction of Posttraumatic Bone Defects About the Knee.

3D printing and modeling has continued to grow in popularity over the past decade because the technology has matured and become more affordable and widely available. The main indications for nonbiological reconstruction of large bone defects are principally those patients where the candidate is unlikely to be successful if reconstructed by other means. Bespoke, custom, patient-specific implants can be designed to very effectively address bone loss, incorporating design elements that are particular to the needs of any given unique clinical condition.

A Suprapatellar Approach, When Compared With an Infrapatellar Approach, Yields Less Anterior Knee Pain and Better Patellofemoral Joint Function, for Intramedullary Nailing of Diaphyseal Tibial Fractures: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To assess if a suprapatellar (SP) approach, when compared with an infrapatellar (IP) approach, yielded less patient-reported anterior knee pain and higher patellofemoral joint function at 6 weeks and 12 months postoperatively, when treating tibial fractures with intramedullary nailing.

Design: Prospective, parallel-group randomized control trial.

Setting: Tertiary level 1 trauma care center, Brisbane, Australia.

Combined Technique for the Treatment of Infected Nonunions of the Distal Femur With Bone Loss: Short Supracondylar Nail-Augmented Acute Shortening/Lengthening.

Objective: To evaluate a combined technique for treating distal femoral bone defects after debridement of osteomyelitis, using an external fixator together with a short supracondylar nail.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Single tertiary referral center.

Classification of Bone Defects: An Extension of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association Open Fracture Classification.

Objectives: To develop a post-traumatic bone defect classification scheme and complete a preliminary assessment of its reliability.

Design: Retrospective classification.

Setting: Tertiary referral trauma center.

An articulated antibiotic spacer used for infected total knee arthroplasty: a comparative in vitro elution study of Simplex and Palacos bone cements.

For the staged management of infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA), antibiotic laden polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacers have been recommended. Antibiotic-impregnated PMMA spacers target drug delivery, achieving high local levels while limiting the potential for host toxicity associated with parenteral antimicrobial therapy. This study examined the elution characteristics of an articulating PMMA TKA spacer that has been useful clinically.

Musculoskeletal sepsis: principles of treatment.

Musculoskeletal sepsis is infection of bone, joints, muscles, and skin and often occurs after open fractures. Thus, the main objective in the treatment of open fractures in restoration of function and prevention of infection. It is important to consider all open fracture wounds as contaminated.