Complication rates after direct anterior vs posterior approach for hip hemiarthroplasty in elderly individuals with femoral neck fractures

BACKGROUND Dislocation rates after hemiarthroplasty reportedly vary from 1%to 17%.This serious complication is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates.Approaches to this surgery are still debated,with no consensus regarding the superiority of any single approach.AIM To compare early postoperative complications after implementing the direct anterior and posterior approaches(PL)for hip hemiarthroplasty after femoral neck fractures.METHODS This is a comparative,retrospective,single-center cohort study conducted at a university hospital.Between March 2008 and December 2018,273 patients(a total of 280 hips)underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasties(n=280)for displaced femoral neck fractures using either the PL(n=171)or the minimally invasive direct anterior approach(DAA)(n=109).The choice of approach was related to the surgeons’practices;the implant types were similar and unrelated to the approach.Dislocation rates and other complications were reviewed after a minimum followup of 6 mo.RESULTS Both treatment groups had similarly aged patients(mean age:82 years),sex ratios,patient body mass indexes,and patient comorbidities.Surgical data(surgery delay time,operative time,and blood loss volume)did not differ significantly between the groups.The 30 d mortality rate was higher in the PL group(9.9%)than in the DAA group(3.7%),but the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.052).Among the one-month survivors,a significantly higher rate of dislocation was observed in the PL group(14/154;9.1%)than in the DAA group(0/105;0%)(P=0.002).Of the 14 patients with dislocation,8 underwent revision surgery for recurrent instability(posterior group),and one of them had 2 additional procedures due to a deep infection.The rate of other complications(e.g.,perioperative and early postoperative periprosthetic fractures and infection-related complications)did not differ significantly between the groups.CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the DAA to bipolar hemiarthroplasty for patients with femoral neck fractures is associated with a lower dislocation rate(<1%)than the PL.

Bipolar hip arthroplasty using conjoined tendon preserving posterior lateral approach in treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures

BACKGROUND Hip fractures account for 23.8%of all fractures in patients over the age of 75 years.More than half of these patients are older than 80 years.Bipolar hemiarthroplasty(BHA)was established as an effective management option for these patients.Various approaches can be used for the BHA procedure.However,there is a high risk of postoperative dislocation.The conjoined tendon-preserving posterior(CPP)lateral approach was introduced to reduce postoperative dislocation rates.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the CPP lateral approach for BHA in elderly patients.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed medical data from 80 patients with displaced femoral neck fractures who underwent BHA.The patients were followed up for at least 1 year.Among the 80 patients,57(71.3%)were female.The time to operation averaged 2.3 d(range:1-5 d).The mean age was 80.5 years(range:67-90 years),and the mean body mass index was 24.9 kg/m^(2)(range:17-36 kg/m^(2)).According to the Garden classification,42.5%of patients were typeⅢand 57.5%of patients were typeⅣ.Uncemented bipolar hip prostheses were used for all patients.Torn conjoined tendons,dislocations,and adverse complications during and after surgery were recorded.RESULTS The mean postoperative follow-up time was 15.3 months(range:12-18 months).The average surgery time was 52 min(range:40-70 min)with an average blood loss of 120 mL(range:80-320 mL).The transfusion rate was 10%(8 of 80 patients).The gemellus inferior was torn in 4 patients(5%),while it was difficult to identify in 2 patients(2.5%)during surgery.The posterior capsule was punctured by the fractured femoral neck in 3 patients,but the conjoined tendon and the piriformis tendon remained intact.No patients had stem varus greater than 3 degrees or femoral fracture.There were no patients with stem subsidence more than 5 mm at the last follow-up.No postoperative dislocations were observed throughout the follow-up period.No significance was found between preoperative and postoperative mean Health Service System scores(87.30±2.98 vs 86.10±6.10,t=1.89,P=0.063).CONCLUSION The CPP lateral approach can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative dislocation without increasing perioperative complications.For surgeons familiar with the posterior lateral approach,there is no need for additional surgical instruments,and it does not increase surgical difficulty.

Direct anterior compared to posterior approach for hip hemiarthroplasty following femoral neck fractures

The differences in complication rates between the direct anterior and posterior approaches for hemiarthroplasty in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures are not yet fully understood.Dislocation,a severe complication associated with increased mortality and often requiring additional surgery,may occur less frequently with the direct anterior approach compared to the posterior approach.Careful consideration of patient demographics is essential when planning the surgical approach.Future research in this area should focus on robust randomized controlled trials involving elderly patients recovering from femoral neck fractures.

Comparative efficacy of proximal femoral nail vs dynamic condylar screw in treating unstable intertrochanteric fractures

BACKGROUND Among the most frequent hip fractures are trochanteric fractures,which usually occur from low-energy trauma like minor falls,especially in older people with osteoporotic bones.AIM To evaluate the treatment efficacy of dynamic condylar screws(DCS)and proximal femoral nails(PFN)for unstable intertrochanteric fractures.METHODS To find pertinent randomized controlled trials and retrospective observational studies comparing PFN with DCS for the management of unstable femoral intertrochanteric fractures,a thorough search was carried out.For research studies published between January 1996 and April 2024,PubMed,EMBASE,Scopus,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,and Google Scholar were all searched.The complete texts of the papers were retrieved,vetted,and independently examined by two investigators.Disputes were settled by consensus,and any disagreements that persisted were arbitrated by a third author.RESULTS This study included six articles,comprising a total of 173 patients.Compared to the DCS,the PFN had a shorter operation time[mean difference(MD):-41.7 min,95%confidence interval(95%CI):-63.04 to-20.35,P=0.0001],higher success rates with closed reduction techniques[risk ratio(RR):34.05,95%CI:11.12-104.31,P<0.00001],and required less intraoperative blood transfusion(MD:-1.4 units,95%CI:-1.80 to-1.00,P<0.00001).Additionally,the PFN showed shorter fracture union time(MD:-6.92 wk,95%CI:-10.27 to-3.57,P<0.0001)and a lower incidence of reoperation(RR:0.37,95%CI:0.17-0.82,P=0.01).However,there was no discernible variation regarding hospital stay,implant-related complications,and infections.CONCLUSION Compared to DCS,PFN offers shorter operative times,reduces the blood transfusions requirements,achieves higher closed reduction success,enables faster fracture healing,and lowers reoperation incidence.

Watson-Jones Anatomical Approach for Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Proximal Femoral Fractures without Image Intensifier in a Low-Resource Setting

Introduction: Standard procedures for surgical fixation of proximal femoral fractures (PFF) require an image intensifier which in developing countries remains a luxury. We hypothesized that, with a well-codified technique, the Watson Jones approach (WJA) without image intensifier nor traction table, can allow open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of PFF using Dynamic hip screw (DHS), with satisfactory outcome. Patients and methods: Forty one consecutive patients (mean age 59.5 ± 21.6 years, 61% males) who were followed in a Teaching Hospital for PFF treated by ORIF using the WJA and DHS from January 2016 to December 2020 were reassessed. The outcome measures were the quality of the reduction, the positioning of the implants, the tip-apex distance (TAD), the rate and delay of consolidation, the functional results using Postel Merle d’Aubigné (PMA) score, the rate of surgical site infection (SSI) and the overall mortality. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with mechanical failure. Results: The mean follow-up period was 33.8 ± 15.0 months. Fracture reduction was good in 31 (75.6%) cases and acceptable in 8(19.5%) cases. Implant position was fair to good in 37 (90.2%) patients. The mean TAD was 26.1 ± 3.9 mm. Three patients developed SSI. Consolidation was achieved in 38 (92.6%) patients. The functional results were good to excellent in 80.5% of patients. The overall mortality rate was 7.3%. There were an association between mechanical failure and osteoporosis (p = 0.04), fracture reduction (p = 0.003), and TAD (p = 0.025). In multivariate logistic regression, no independent factors were predictive of mechanical failure. Conclusion: This study shows that ORIF using DHS for PFF via the Watson-Jones approach without an image intensifier can give satisfactory anatomical and functional outcomes in low-resource settings. It provides and validates a reliable and reproducible technique that deserves to be diffused to surgeons in austere areas over the world.

Relationship between preoperative psychological stress and shortterm prognosis in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture

BACKGROUND Older adults are at high risk of femoral neck fractures(FNFs).Elderly patients face and adapt to significant psychological burdens,resulting in different degrees of psychological stress response.Total hip replacement is the preferred treatment for FNF in elderly patients;however,some patients have poor postoperative prognoses,and the underlying mechanism is unknown.We speculated that the postoperative prognosis of elderly patients with FNF may be related to preoperative psychological stress.AIM To explore the relationship between preoperative psychological stress and the short-term prognosis of elderly patients with FNF.METHODS In this retrospective analysis,the baseline data,preoperative 90-item Symptom Checklist score,and Harris score within 6 months of surgery of 120 elderly patients with FNF who underwent total hip arthroplasty were collected.We analyzed the indicators of poor short-term postoperative prognosis and the ability of the indicators to predict poor prognosis and compared the correlation between the indicators and the Harris score.RESULTS Anxiety,depression,garden classification of FNF,cause of fracture,FNF reduction quality,and length of hospital stay were independent influencing factors for poor short-term postoperative prognoses in elderly patients with FNF(P<0.05).The areas under the curve for anxiety,depression,and length of hospital stay were 0.742,0.854,and 0.749,respectively.The sensitivities of anxiety,depression,garden classification of FNF,and prediction of the cause of fracture were 0.857,0.786,0.821,and 0.821,respectively.The specificities of depression,FNF quality reduction,and length of hospital stay were the highest at 0.880,0.783,and 0.761,respectively.Anxiety,depression,and somatization scores correlated moderately with Harris scores(r=-0.523,-0.625,and-0.554;all P<0.001).CONCLUSION Preoperative anxiety,depression,and somatization are correlated with poor short-term prognosis in elderly patients with FNF and warrant consideration.

Consolidation of a Femoral Neck Fracture in Sickle Cell Disease Patient after Surgical Abstention: A Beneficial and Favorable Outcome

Femoral neck fracture is classically a traumatic pathology in the elderly but it can also occur in young people during a road traffic accident or occasionally when the femoral neck has been weakened by a pathological process. In sickle cell patients, the hip is often subjected to aseptic necrosis. The authors report the case of the child NL, aged 5 years and 4 months in whom a fracture of the femoral neck classified Delbet 3 was found as well as his sickle cell status discovered and in whom treatment by surgical abstention was carried out with a favorable evolution. This association of factors of the femoral head necrosis or nonunion is unusual and confirms the osteogenetic potential of a child. However, monitoring is necessary because other anomalies may reveal themselves.

Surgical strategy of the treatment of atypical femoral fractures

The atypical femoral fracture(AFF)has been attracting significant attention because of its increasing incidence;additionally,its treatment is challenging from biological and mechanical aspects.Although surgery is often required to manage complete AFFs,clear guidelines for the surgical treatment of AFFs are currently sparse.We reviewed and described the surgical treatment of AFFs and the surveillance of the contralateral femur.For complete AFFs,cephalomedullary intramedullary nailing spanning the entire length of the femur can be used.Various surgical techniques to overcome the femoral bowing common in AFFs include a lateral entry point,external rotation of the nail,and the use of a nail with a small radius of curvature,or a contralateral nail.In the case of a narrow medullary canal,severe femoral bowing,or pre-existing implants,plate fixation may be considered as an alternative.For incomplete AFFs,prophylactic fixation depends on several risk factors,such as a subtrochanteric location,presence of a radiolucent line,functional pain,and condition of the contralateral femur;the same surgical principles as those in complete AFFs can be applied.Finally,once AFF is diagnosed,clinicians should recognize the increased risk of contralateral AFFs,and close surveillance of the contralateral femur is recommended.

Bilateral sequential femoral neck stress fractures in young adult with HIV infection on antiretroviral therapy: A case report

BACKGROUND Femoral neck stress fractures are rarely encountered among young adults and are often associated with either repetitive excessive loading or underlying bone pathology.Preliminary research has indicated human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)/antiretroviral therapy(ART)as predisposing agents to osteopenia and osteoporosis related complications.We report a case of HIV/ART induced insufficiency fracture in a resource limited setting in Central India.Our aim is to increase awareness and promote screening of HIV/ART related osteopenia and osteoporosis in order to prevent catastrophic orthopaedic complications.CASE SUMMARY A 35-year-old HIV positive male presented with a stress fracture of left femoral neck.The patient was on ART and reported no comorbidities.He went on to be successfully managed surgically.However,during work-up osteopenia of the contralateral proximal femur was recognised using Singh’s Index.Six months post-op the patient presented with right-sided femoral-neck stress fracture.At this stage the patient was nonconcordant with ART and denied surgical fixation.CONCLUSION In the absence of co-morbidities,several mechanisms of HIV/antiretroviral therapy may have played a role in predisposing our patient towards such a presentation.We recommend routine screening all HIV-infected patients for osteopenia,especially in younger individuals.In low resource settings and district hospitals,pelvis radiograph&Singh’s index can be used for screening.

Meta-analysis of the clinical efficacy of the Gamma3 nail vs Gamma3U-blade system in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures

BACKGROUND The traditional Gamma3 nail is a mainstream treatment for femoral intertrochanteric fractures.Literature reports that the Gamma3U-blade system can increase the stability of the Gamma3 nail and reduce complication incidence.However,comparative studies between the Gamma3U-blade and Gamma3 systems are limited;hence,this meta-analysis was performed to explore the clinical efficacy of these two surgical methods.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy of Gamma3 and Gamma3 U-blade for intertrochanteric fractures.METHODS A computerized search for Chinese and English literature published from 2010 to 2022 was conducted in PubMed,Cochrane,CNKI,Wanfang,and VIP databases.The search keywords were gamma 3,gamma 3 U blade,and intertrochanteric fracture.Additionally,literature tracking was performed on the references of published literature.The data were analyzed using Revman 5.3 software.Two individuals checked the inputs for accuracy.Continuous variables were described using mean difference and standard deviation,and outcome effect sizes were expressed using ratio OR and 95%confidence interval(CI).High heterogeneity was considered at(P<0.05,I2>50%),moderate heterogeneity at I2 from 25%to 50%,and low heterogeneity at(P≥0.05,I2<50%).RESULTS Following a comprehensive literature search,review,and analysis,six articles were selected for inclusion in this study.This selection comprised five articles in English and one in Chinese,with publication years spanning from 2016 to 2022.The study with the largest sample size,conducted by Seungbae in 2021,included a total of 304 cases.Statistical analysis:A total of 1063 patients were included in this meta-analysis.The main outcome indicators were:Surgical time:The Gamma3U blade system had a longer surgical time compared to Gamma3 nails(P=0.006,I2=76%).Tip-apex distance:No statistical significance or heterogeneity was observed(P=0.65,I2=0%).Harris Hip score:No statistical significance was found,and low heterogeneity was detected(P=0.26,I2=22%).Union time:No statistical significance was found,and high heterogeneity was detected(P=0.05,I2=75%).CONCLUSION Our study indicated that the Gamma3 system reduces operative time compared to the Gamma3 U-blade system in treating intertrochanteric fractures.Both surgical methods proved to be safe and effective for this patient group.These findings may offer valuable insights and guidance for future surgical protocols in hip fracture patients.

PFNA2 versus 95 Degree Condylar Blade Plate in the Management of Unstable Trochanteric Fractures

Purpose: The proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) is known to have advantages in enhancing the anchorage ability of internal fixation in elderly unstable osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture patients. However whether it is superior to condylar blade fixation is not clear. This study aimed to determine which treatment has better clinical outcomes in older patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 86 patients over the age of 60 with unstable trochanteric fractures within the past 3 weeks, were included in this prospective study conducted from June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2021. All the intertrochanteric fractures were classified according to AO/OTA classification. Among them, 44 cases were treated with the Proximal Femoral Nail (PFNA2) with or without an augmentation screw, and 42 cases were treated with the Condylar Blade Plate. In addition, the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion, postoperative weight-bearing time, hospitalization time, Harris score of hip function, Kyle’s criteria and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results: The mean duration of surgery for the PFN group was 66.8 minutes (on average), whereas for the condylar blade plate group, it was 99.30 minutes (on average). The PFNA2 group experienced less blood loss (average of 80 mL) compared to the condylar blade plate group (average of 120 mL). Union and partial weight-bearing occurred earlier in the PFNA2 group (14.1 weeks and 10.6 weeks, respectively) compared to the Condylar blade plate group (18.7 weeks and 15.8 weeks). In two patients from the PFNA2 group, screw backing out and varus collapse complications were encountered;however, these patients remained asymptomatic and did not require revision surgery. In two other patients, screw cut out and breakage of the nail at the helical screw hole leading to non-union of the proximal femur were observed during the nine-month follow-up, necessitating revision surgery with prosthetic replacement. Among the condylar blade plate group, three patients experienced complications, including blade breakage at the blade and plate junction. In two cases, the fracture united in varus, and in one case, the blade cut through, resulting in non-union of the femoral head, which required revision surgery. According to the Harris hip score and Kyle’s criteria, a good-excellent outcome was observed in 92.85% of cases in the PFNA2 group and 90.90% of cases in the condylar blade plate group. Conclusion: Both the Proximal Femoral Nail A2 and Condylar blade plate are effective implants for the treatment of unstable trochanteric fractures. The intramedullary implant promotes biological healing and allows for early ambulation with minimal complications. Similarly satisfactory restoration of anatomy and favorable radiological and functional results can be achieved with the biological fixation provided by the 95-degree condylar blade plate. However, the use of PFNA2 internal fixation technique has the advantage of less trauma in elderly patients than the 95-degree condylar blade plate.

Effects of individual shock wave therapy vs celecoxib on hip pain caused by femoral head necrosis

BACKGROUND Celecoxib has been used to treat hip discomfort and functional difficulties associated with osteonecrosis of the femoral head(ONFH),although significant adverse reactions often follow long-term use.Extracorporeal shock wave therapy(ESWT)can delay the progression of ONFH,alleviate the pain and functional limitations it causes,and avoid the adverse effects of celecoxib.AIM To investigate the effects of individual ESWT,a treatment alternative to the use of celecoxib,in alleviating pain and dysfunction caused by ONFH.METHODS This was a randomized,controlled,double-blinded,non-inferiority trial.We examined 80 patients for eligibility in this study;8 patients were excluded based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.A total of 72 subjects with ONFH were randomly assigned to group A(n=36;celecoxib+alendronate+sham-placebo shock wave)or group B(n=36;individual focused shock wave[ESWT based on magnetic resonance imaging three-dimensional(MRI-3D)reconstruction]+alendronate).The outcomes were assessed at baseline,at the end of treatment,and at an 8-wk follow-up.The primary outcome measure was treatment efficiency after 2 wk of intervention using the Harris hip score(HHS)(improvement of 10 points or more from the baseline was deemed sufficient).Secondary outcome measures were post-treatment HHS,visual analog scale(VAS),and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)scores.RESULTS After treatment,the pain treatment efficiency of group B was greater than that of group A(69%vs 51%;95%CI:4.56%to 40.56%),with non-inferiority thresholds of-4.56%and-10%,respectively.Furthermore,the HHS,WOMAC,and VAS scores in group B dramatically improved during the follow-up period as compared to those in group A(P<0.001).After therapy,the VAS and WOMAC in group A were significantly improved from the 2nd to 8th wk(P<0.001),although HHS was only significantly altered at the 2 wk point(P<0.001).On the 1st d and 2nd wk after treatment,HHS and VAS scores were different between groups,with the difference in HHS lasting until week 4.Neither group had severe complications such as skin ulcer infection or lower limb motorsensory disturbance.CONCLUSION Individual shock wave therapy(ESWT)based on MRI-3D reconstruction was not inferior to celecoxib in managing hip pain and restrictions associated with ONFH.

Subchondral fatigue fracture of the femoral head in young military recruits:Potential risk factors

BACKGROUND Subchondral fatigue fracture of the femoral head(SFFFH)mainly occurs in young military recruits and might be confused with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.However,less research focuses on the risk factor for SFFFH.AIM To evaluate the intrinsic risk factors for SFFFH in young military recruits.METHODS X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging data were used for analysis.Acetabular anteversion of the superior acetabulum,acetabular anteversion of the center of the acetabulum(AVcen),anterior acetabular sector angle(AASA),posterior acetabular sector angle,superior acetabular sector angle,neck-shaft angle(NSA),inferior iliac angle(IIA),and ischiopubic angle were calculated.Then,logistic regression,receiver operating characteristic curve analysis,and independent samples t-test were performed to identify the risk factors for SFFFH.RESULTS Based on the results of logistic regression,age[odds ratio(OR):1.33;95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.12-1.65;P=0.0031]and treatment timing(OR:0.86;95%CI:0.75-0.96;P=0.015)could be considered as the indicators for SFFFH.AVcen(P=0.0334),AASA(P=0.0002),NSA(P=0.0007),and IIA(P=0.0316)were considered to have statistical significance.Further,AVcen(OR:1.41;95%CI:1.04-1.95)and AASA(OR:1.44;95%CI:1.21-1.77),especially AASA(area under curve:66.6%),should be paid much more attention due to the higher OR than other indicators.CONCLUSION We have for the first time unveiled that AASA and age could be key risk factors for SFFFH,which further verifies that deficient anterior coverage of the acetabulum might be the main cause of SFFFH.

Management of femoral neck fractures in the young patient: A critical analysis review

Femoral neck fractures account for nearly half of all hip fractures with the vast majority occurring in elderly patients after simple falls.Currently there may be sufficient evidence to support the routine use of hip replacement surgery for low demand elderly patients in all but non-displaced and valgus impacted femoral neck fractures.However for the physiologically young patients,preservation of the natural hip anatomy and mechanics is a priority in management because of their high functional demands.The biomechanical challenges of femoral neck fixation and the vulnerability of the femoral head blood supply lead to a high incidence of non-union and osteonecrosis of the femoral head after internal fixation of displaced femoral neck fractures.Anatomic reduction and stable internal fixation are essentials in achieving the goals of treatment in this young patient population.Furthermore,other management variables such as surgical timing,the role of capsulotomy and the choice of implant for fixation remaincontroversial.This review will focus both on the demographics and injury profile of the young patient with femoral neck fractures and the current evidence behind the surgical management of these injuries as well as their major secondary complications.

Advances in the Restoration and Fixation of Lateral Femoral Wall Fracture

Hip fractures,especially intertrochanteric fractures,are more common with aging.After decades of progress,it is a general consensus to carry out internal fixation for this group of patients.However,the recent focus is on unstable intertrochanteric fractures to ensure better prognosis and prevent internal fixation failure.The lateral femoral wall,as a novel concept,is often disregarded.Many scholars have recognized that the lateral wall of the proximal femoral plays a crucial role in the stability of internal fixation for intertrochanteric fractures.In this paper,the historical evolution,definition,clinical significance,injury classification,choice of internal fixation,and possible prognosis of lateral femoral wall fracture are reviewed in order to provide clinicians strong evidence of treatment strategies.

Low-velocity simultaneous bilateral femoral neck fracture following long-term antiepileptic therapy:A case report

BACKGROUND Simultaneous bilateral femoral neck fractures are relatively rare injuries.They are usually associated with underlying metabolic bone disorders or systemic diseases.Long-term use of narcotics and bisphosphonates can also result in similar fracture patterns;however,association of this fracture type with longterm use of antiepileptic drugs is not very common.Only one such case has been reported in the literature.This article describes the second.CASE REPORT We report a case of simultaneous displaced bilateral femoral neck fractures in a 50-year-old epileptic patient,who had taken phenytoin for the past 3 years.The fractures were a result of low-velocity injury following a fall from the bed.The fractures were managed with a bilateral hemi-replacement arthroplasty.Oral bisphosphonates were given to improve the bone quality in the post-operative period.The patient had a good post-operative outcome,that was sustained throughout the entire follow-up period of 1 year.CONCLUSION Antiepileptic drugs should be supplemented with bisphosphonates and vitamin D to improve bone quality and prevent fractures in epileptic patients.

Systematic review of dynamization vs exchange nailing for delayed/non-union femoral fractures

AIM To analyze the literature on efficacy of dynamamization vs exchange nailing in treatment of delayed and nonunion femur fractures.METHODS Ultimately, 31 peer-reviewed articles with 644 exchanged nailing patients and 131 dynamization patients were identified and analyzed. The following key words were inputted in different combinations in order to search the field of publications in its entirety: "nonunion", "delayed union", "ununited", "femur fracture", "femoral fracture", "exchange nailing", "dynaiz(s)ation", "secondary nailing", "dynamic", "static", and "nail revision". The initial search yielded over 150 results, and was refined based on the inclusion criteria: Only studies reporting on humans, non-unions and delayed unions, and the usage of exchange nailing and/or dynamization as a secondary treatment after failed IM nailing. The resulting 66 articles were obtained through online journal access. The results were filtered further based on the exclusion criteria: No articles that failed to report overall union rates, differentiate between success rates of their reported techniques, or articles that analyzed less than 5 patients. RESULTS Exchange nailing lead to fracture union in 84.785% of patients compared to the 66.412% of dynamization with statistically comparable durations until union(5.193 ± 2.310 mo and 4.769 ± 1.986 mo respectively). Dynamically locking exchange nails resulted in an average union time of 5.208 ± 2.475 mo compared to 5.149 ± 2.366 mo(P = 0.8682) in statically locked exchange nails. The overall union rate of the two procedures, statically and dynamically locked exchange nailing yielded union rates of 84.259% and 82.381% respectively. Therefore, there was no significant difference between the different locking methods of exchange nailing for union rate or time to union at a significance value of P < 0.05. The analysis showed exchange nailing to be the more successful choice in the treatment of femoral non-unions in respect to its higher success rate(491/567 EN, 24/57 dynam, P < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference between the success rates of the two procedures for delayed union fractures(25/27 EN, 45/55 dynam, P = 0.3299). Nevertheless, dynamization was more efficient in the treatment of delayed unions(at rates comparable to exchange nailing) than in the treatment of non-unions.CONCLUSION In conclusion, after examination of factors, dynamization is recommended treatment of delayed femur fractures, while exchange nailing is the treatment of choice for non-unions.

Titanium elastic nailing in diaphyseal femoral fractures of children below six years of age

AIM To report the clinical and radiographic results of titanium elastic nail(TEN) in diaphyseal femoral fractures of children below age of six years.METHODS A retrospective analysis of 27 diaphyseal femoral fractures in children younger than six years treated with TEN between 2005 and 2015 was conducted. Patients were immobilized in a cast for 5 wk and the nails were removed from 6 to 12 wk after surgery. Twenty-four cases were clinically and radiographically re-evaluated using the Flynn's scoring criteria, focusing on: Limb length discrepancy, rotational deformity, angulation, hip and knee range of motion(ROM), functional status, complications, and parent's satisfaction.RESULTS Sixteen males and eight females with a mean age of 3.2 years at the time of treatment were re-evaluated at an average follow-up of 58.9 mo. No cases of delayed union were observed. The mean limb lengthening was 0.3 cm. Four cases experienced limb lengthening greater than 1 cm and always minor than 2 cm. Twelve point five percent of the cases showed an angulation < 10°. Complete functional recovery(hip and knee ROM, ability to run and jump on the operated limb) occurred in 95.7% of cases. Complications included two cases of superficial infection of the TEN entry point, one case of refracture following a new trauma, and one TEN mobilization. According to the Flynn's scoring criteria, excellent results were obtained in 79.2% of patients and satisfactory results in the remaining 20.8%, with an average parent's satisfaction level of 9.1/10.CONCLUSION TEN is as a safe, mini-invasive and surgeon-friendly technique and, considering specific inclusion criteria, it represents a useful and efficacy option for the treatment of diaphyseal femoral fractures even in patients younger than six years of age.

Revisiting Pauwels' classification of femoral neck fractures

Pauwels’femoral neck fracture classification is based on the biomechanical principle that shear stress and varus force increase along more vertically oriented fractures,resulting in higher risk of fracture displacement and ultimately nonunion.This principle continues to guide construct selection for femoral neck fracture internal fixation and is the foundation for treating non-union with valgus osteotomy.However,with poor inter-and intra-rater reliability,dated treatment recommendations,and unreliable prognostic value,the Pauwels classification cannot be directly applied in its entirety to the management of femoral neck fractures in modern practice.

Arthroplasty vs proximal femoral nails for unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures in elderly patients: a systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Proximal femoral nails(PFNs)are the most common method for the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures(IFFs),but postoperative bed rest is required.There is a large amount of blood loss during the operation.Osteoporosis in elderly patients may cause nonunion of fractures and other complications.Arthroplasty can give patients early weight bearing and reduce financial burden,but whether it can replace PFNs remains controversial.AIM To compare the clinical outcomes of arthroplasty and PFNs in the treatment of unstable IFFs in elderly patients.METHODS A search was conducted in the PubMed,Embase,and Cochrane Library databases and included relevant articles comparing arthroplasty and PFN.The search time was limited from January 1,2005 to November 1,2020.Two investigators independently screened studies,extracted data and evaluated the quality according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.According to the research results,the fixed effect model or random effect model were selected for analysis.The following outcomes were analyzed:Harris Hip score,mortality,complications,operation time,blood loos,hospital stay,weight-bearing time,fracture classification and type of anesthesia.RESULTS We analyzed four randomized controlled trials that met the requirements.A total of 298 patients were included in these studies.According to the AO/OTA classification,there are 20 A1 types,136 A2 types,42 A3 types and 100 unrecorded types.Primary outcome:The Harris Hip Score at the final follow-up of the PFN group was higher[mean difference(MD):9.01,95%confidence interval(CI):16.57 to 1.45),P=0.02].There was no significant difference between the two groups in the rate of overall mortality[risk ratio(RR):1.44,P=0.44]or the number of complications(RR:0.77,P=0.05).Secondary outcomes:blood loss of the arthroplasty group was higher(MD:241.01,95%CI:43.06–438.96,P=0.02);the operation time of the PFN group was shorter(MD:23.12,95%CI:10.46–35.77,P=0.0003);and the length of hospital stay of the arthroplasty group was shorter[MD:0.97,95%CI:1.29 to 0.66),P<0.00001].There was no difference between the two groups in the type of anesthesia(RR:0.99).There were only two studies recording the weight-bearing time,and the time of full weight bearing in the arthroplasty group was significantly earlier.CONCLUSION Compared with PFN,arthroplasty can achieve weight bearing earlier and shorten hospital stay,but it cannot achieve a better clinical outcome.Arthroplasty cannot replace PFNs in the treatment of unstable IFFs in elderly individuals.