Is there a trend towards semi-extended knee positioning during intramedullary tibial nailing in Latin America? A survey among 990 orthopaedic surgeons.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Latin American orthopaedic trauma surgeons preference regarding knee positioning and entry portals for IM nailing and identify the reasons of these preferences.

Methods: Using the AO Trauma database, 22.285 surveys were distributed by email to Latin American orthopaedic surgeons.

Ankle function after reconstruction of post-traumatic soft tissue defects with soleus and/or gastrocnemius local muscle flaps.

Local muscle flaps are especially advantageous when treating soft tissue defects, but one disadvantage is the potential functional deficits associated with the muscle transfer. In this study, we evaluated ankle function among patients (cases) who underwent reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the leg using local flaps of the gastrocnemius and/or soleus muscle. Function was compared between the affected and contralateral non-affected limb and against patients (controls) with open tibial fractures who required no soft tissue reconstruction.

Treatment of fracture-related infection in Latin America (FRILA). Proposal for a multicentre regional registry.

Postoperative bone infection is a severe complication in the treatment of fractures. The management of this pathology is challenging, but recent advances have been made to achieve standardization that can help diagnosis and decision-making. However, we are unaware of studies validating these models in Latin America.

Factors Associated with the Development of Early Complications after Total Knee Arthroplasty.

 To diagnose risk factors for the development of local or medical postoperative complications up to 30 days after surgery in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty  The present analysis included all patients who underwent knee arthroplasty performed in this hospital during the study period, based on data from medical records of the patients, with the aim of investigating factors related to the occurrence of local or medical complications during hospitalization and up to 30 days after the procedure, if they needed any additional intervention.  Out of the 157 patients included in the study, 17.1% had some complication.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Prevalence of Burnout among Residents in Orthopedics.

 The primary objective of the present study is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of burnout syndrome among residents in orthopedic surgery. As a secondary objective, characteristics associated with the risk of developing the severe form of the syndrome were assessed.  In the present cross-sectional study, graduating orthopedic residents were evaluated before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effectiveness of an Online Course on Fracture-Related Infections.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an online course to enable orthopaedic surgeons to acquire the core competencies necessary to prevent and treat fracture-related infections (FRI). This study included orthopaedic surgeons and residents from Latin American countries who attended an online course focused on FRI. The online course included: didactic lectures, small-group clinical case discussions, and panel case discussions.

Adapting non-medical applications for medical use: Ethical limits, coverage, and validation.

The widespread adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices amongst healthcare providers opened new possibilities arising from the use of non-medical apps, social media, meeting platforms, and non-medical devices with intended medical purposes, thus expanding the communication and imaging chat systems between these professionals and their patients, as well as amongst healthcare professionals. However, adapting non-medical applications, social media, videoconference platforms and devices for medical use present potential limitations, barriers, and risks, which should be fully recognized to reduce crossing the fine line between ethical and unethical. In the herein study, we analyse the ethical limits, coverage, and validation of non-medical applications adapted for medical use.

Benefits of intraoperative music on orthopedic surgeries under spinal anesthesia: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To determine whether instrumental music influences the anxiety status and intraoperative sedative requirements of a patient DESIGN: A single center, prospective, randomized controlled trial SETTING: Patients between 18 and 65 years, physical status of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA I or II) who underwent lower limb orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia.

Interventions: Patients were assigned to one of two groups: (1) Music Group: patients hearing instrumental music through a headset during the entire procedure or (2) No Music Group: patients wearing headphones without music MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Before and after the procedure, the anxiety status of the patient was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and intraoperative sedative drug consumption was quantified.

Results: A total of 107 patients were analyzed.

Functional outcomes of the anterior subcutaneous internal pelvic fixator (INFIX) technique for pelvic ring injuries: A case series.

Introduction: Anterior external fixation is a well-established technique for treating pelvic ring injuries, but many complications are associated with it. The subcutaneous anterior internal fixator (INFIX) technique is associated with reduced complication rates and is less uncomfortable for patients.

Objective: This study evaluated functional outcomes among patients with pelvic ring injuries treated using the INFIX method.

Quick-DASH as a main early outcome of humeral shaft fractures: A Latin American multicenter prospective study.

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the Quick-Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (DASH) score as the main early (90 days) outcome in a prospective multicenter observational Latin American study on isolated humeral shaft fractures.

Methods: From December 2015 to April 2017, in six Latin American countries, patients 18 years or older with a closed, isolated nonpathological 12A, 12B, or 12C AO/OTA (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association) fractures were included. The 90 (±10)-day Quick-DASH score was used to compare the results of the different treatments.

Induced-Membrane Technique in the Management of Posttraumatic Bone Defects.

Background: Critical-size bone defects are defined as bone defects where spontaneous regeneration is not expected without treatment. The characteristics of bone defects (etiology, location, size, presence of infection, and soft-tissue conditions) vary greatly and, to be effective, the treatment method should address this variability. The induced-membrane technique, or Masquelet technique, is a method for treating critical-size bone defects of various sizes and anatomic locations.

Demographics and clinical features of humeral shaft fractures: The Latin American multicentre prospective study (HSF-LAMPS).

Purpose: To present transversal data (demographic and clinical) on isolated humeral shaft fractures (HSFs) in Latin American countries.

Methods: Patients were enrolled between December 2015 and April 2017 at 11 medical institutions from six Latin America countries.

Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥18 years and a closed, isolated 12A, 12B, or 12C fracture (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification).

Computed Tomography vs Standard Radiograph in Preoperative Planning of Distal Radius Fractures with Articular Involvement.

Introduction: Distal radius fractures with articular involvement are more likely to require surgical management. Treatment decisions are based on parameters which are obtained from plain radiographs. This study aims to determine the differences between computed tomography and standard radiographs in the preoperative planning of distal radius fractures with articular involvement.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY INFECTION AFTER SURGICAL TREATMENT OF FRACTURES.

Objective: Infection after the internal fixation of fractures is a major complication. Early infection is particularly challenging, because it occurs when the fracture is not yet united. The objective of this study is to identify possible factors related to the development of early infection in patients treated with internal fixation for fractures.

Bone union with an in situ spacer after the first stage of the induced membrane technique.

Introduction: We report a case of an infected bone defect in the tibia in which the treatment was stopped in the first stage of the induced membrane technique. The polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacer, retained in the bone defect, was encapsulated by the bone regeneration.

Case Report: A 37-year-old male patient with a 7-cm infected bone defect in the tibia was submitted to the first stage of the induced membrane technique with debridement and implantation of a PMMA spacer with antibiotics.

Reliability of the radiographic union scale in tibial fractures (RUST).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the inter- and intra observer reproducibility of the radiographic score of consolidation of the tibia shaft fractures.

Methods: Fifty-one sets of radiographs in anteroposterior (AP) and profile (P) of the tibial shaft treated with intramedullary nail were obtained. The analysis of X-rays was performed in two stages, with a 21-day interval between assessments by a group of nine evaluators.

Autologous bone graft in the treatment of post-traumatic bone defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This meta-analysis aimed to determine the bone union rate of bone defects treated with the different autologous bone graft techniques.

Methods: The PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases were searched using the terms: 'fracture' AND ('bone loss' OR 'defect' OR 'defects') AND 'bone graft', restricted to English language, to human species, and to a publication period from January 1999 to November 2014. Data were extracted by one of the reviewers and then checked by the second.

Membrane Induced Osteogenesis in the Management of Posttraumatic Bone Defects.

Objective: To evaluate the union rate of posttraumatic bone defects treated with the induced membrane technique.

Design: Single-center retrospective case series.

Setting: Level I trauma center.