Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty vs high tibial osteotomy for knee osteoarthritis:A comparison of clinical and radiological outcomes

BACKGROUND Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty(UKA)and high tibial osteotomy(HTO)are well-established operative interventions in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.However,which intervention is more beneficial to patients with knee osteoarthritis remains unknown and a topic of much debate.Simultaneously,there is a paucity of research assessing the relationship between radiographic parameters of knee joint alignment and patient-reported clinical outcomes,preoperatively and following HTO or UKA.AIM To compare UKAs and HTOs as interventions for medial-compartment knee osteoarthritis:Examining differences in clinical outcome and investigating the relationship of joint alignment with respect to this.METHODS This longitudinal observational study assessed a total of 42 patients that had undergone UKA(n=23)and HTO(n=19)to treat medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.Patient-reported outcome measures(PROMs)were collected to evaluate clinical outcome.These included two disease-specific(Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score,Oxford Knee Score)and two generic(EQ-5D-5L,Short Form-12)PROMs.The radiographic parameters of knee alignment assessed were the:Hip-knee-ankle angle,mechanical axis deviation and angle of Mikulicz line.RESULTS Statistical analyses demonstrated significant(P<0.001),preoperative to postoperative,improvements in the PROM scores of both groups.There were,however,no significant inter-group differences in the postoperative PROM scores of the UKA and HTO group.Several significant correlations associated a more distolaterally angled Mikulicz line with worse knee function and overall health preoperatively(P<0.05).Postoperatively,two clusters of significant correlations were observed between the disease-specific PROM scores and knee joint alignment parameters(hip-knee-ankle angle,mechanical axis deviation)within the HTO group;yet no such associations were observed within the UKA group.CONCLUSION UKAs and HTOs are both efficacious operations that provide a comparable degree of clinical benefit to patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.Clinical outcome has a limited association with radiographic parameters of knee joint alignment postoperatively;however,a more distolaterally angled Mikulicz line appears associated with worse knee function/health-related quality of life preoperatively.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between total hip replacement and total knee replacement

BACKGROUND Total hip replacements(THR)and total knee replacements(TKR)are effective treatments for severe osteoarthritis(OA).Some studies suggest clinical outcomes following THR are superior to TKR,the reason for which remains unknown.This study compares clinical outcomes between THR and TKR.AIM To compare the clinic outcomes of THR anad TKR using a comprehensive range of patient reported outcome measures(PROMs).METHODS A prospective longitudinal observational study of patients with OA undergoing THR and TKR were evaluated using a comprehensive range of generic and joint specific PROMs pre-and post-operatively.RESULTS A total of 131 patients were included in the study which comprised the THR group(68 patients)and the TKR group(63 patients).Both groups demonstrated significant post-operative improvements in all PROM scores(P<0.001).There were no significant differences in post-operative PROM scores between the two groups:Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome scores(P=0.140),Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain(P=0.297)stiffness(P=0.309)and function(P=0.945),Oxford Hip and Knee Score(P=0.076),EuroQol-5D index(P=0.386)and Short-Form 12-item survey physical component score(P=0.106).Subgroup analyses showed no significant difference(P>0.05)between cruciate retaining and posterior stabilised prostheses in the TKR group and no significant difference(P>0.05)between cemented and uncemented fixation in the THR group.Obese patients had poorer outcomes following TKR but did not significantly influence the outcome following THR.CONCLUSION Contrary to some literature,THR and TKR are equally efficacious in alleviating the pain and disability of OA when assessed using a comprehensive range of PROMs.The varying knee prosthesis types and hip fixation techniques did not significantly influence clinical outcome.Obesity had a greater influence on the outcome following TKR than that of THR.

Epidemiology of pelvic and acetabular fractures across 12-mo at a level-1 trauma centre

BACKGROUND Despite motor-vehicle safety advancements and increasingly rigorous workplace safety regulations,trauma/suicide remains the leading cause of death under the age of 45 in the United Kingdom.To promote centralisation of care and optimisation of major trauma outcomes,in 2012 the National Health Service introduced the Trauma Network System.To our knowledge,this is the first study to analyse the epidemiology of pelvic and acetabular trauma over a one-year period at a level-1 trauma centre in the United Kingdom,since nationwide introduction of the Trauma Network System.AIM To characterize the epidemiology of high-energy pelvic and acetabular fractures over a one-year period at a level-1 trauma centre,and explore both resources required to care for these patients and opportunities for future research and injury prevention initiatives.METHODS 227 consecutive patients at a level-1 trauma centre with pelvic and acetabular fractures were analysed between December 2017-December 2018.Paediatric patients(<18 years)and fragility fractures were excluded,leaving 175 patients for inclusion in the study.Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables.RESULTS 72%of pelvic and acetabular fractures occurred in male patients at a median age of 45 years.15%were the result of a suicide attempt.48%of patients required pelvic or acetabular surgery,with 38%undergoing further surgery for additional orthopaedic injuries.43%of patients were admitted to intensive care.The median inpatient stay was 13 days,and the 30-day mortality was 5%.Pelvic ring trauma was more commonly associated with abdominal injury(P=0.01)and spine fractures(P<0.001)than acetabular fractures.Vertical shear pelvic ring fractures were associated with falls(P=0.03)while lateral compression fractures were associated with road traffic accidents(P=0.01).CONCLUSION High energy pelvic and acetabular fractures are associated with concomitant orthopaedic fractures(most commonly spine and lower limb),intensive care admission and prolonged inpatient stays.Most pelvic ring injuries secondary to road traffic accidents are lateral compression type,demonstrating the need for future research to drive advancements in lateral impact vehicle safety along with mental health surveillance for those deemed to be potential suicide risks.

Sternoclavicular joint dislocation and its management: A review of the literature

Dislocations of the sternoclavicular joint(SCJ) occur with relative infrequency and can be classified into anterior and posterior dislocation, with the former being more common. The SCJ is inherently unstable due to its lack of articular contact and therefore relies on stability from surrounding ligamentous structures, such as the costoclavicular, interclavicular and capsular ligaments. The posterior capsule has been shown in several studies to be the most important structure in determining stability irrespective of the direction of injury. Posterior dislocation of the SCJ can be associated with life threatening complications such as neurovascular, tracheal and oesophageal injuries. Due to the high mortality associated with such complications, these injuries need to be recognised acutely and managed promptly. Investigations such as x-ray imaging are poor at delineating anatomy at the level of the mediastinum and therefore CT imaging has become the investigation of choice. Due to its rarity, the current guidance on how to manage acute and chronic dislocations is debatable. This analysis of historical and recent literature aims to determine guidance on current thinking regarding SCJ instability, including the use of the Stanmore triangle. The described methods of reduction for both anterior and posterior dislocations and the various surgical reconstructive techniques are also discussed.

Football injuries of the ankle: A review of injury mechanisms, diagnosis and management

Football is the most popular sport worldwide and is associated with a high injury rate, most of which are the result of trauma from player contact. Ankle injuries are among the most commonly diagnosed injuries in the game. The result is reduced physical activity and endurance levels, lost game time, and considerable medical cost. Sports medicine professionals must employ the correct diagnostic tools and effective treatments and rehabilitation protocols to minimize the impact of these injuries on the player. This review examines the diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative rehabilitation for common football injuries of the ankle based on the clinical evidence provided in the current literature.

Resection and reconstruction of pelvic and extremity soft tissue sarcomas with major vascular involvement: Current concepts

Soft tissue sarcoma accounts for approximately 1% of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States. When these rare malignant mesodermal tumours arise in the pelvis and extremities, they may potentially encase or invade large calibre vascular structures. This presents a major challenge in terms of safe excision while also leaving acceptable surgical margins. In recent times, the trend has been towards limb salvage with vascular reconstruction in preference to amputation. Newer orthopaedic and vascular reconstructive techniques including both synthetic and autogenous graft reconstruction have made complex limb-salvage surgery feasible. Despite this, limb-salvage surgery with concomitant vascular reconstruction remains associated with higher rates of post-operative complications including infection and amputation. In this review we describe the initial presentation and investigation of patients presenting with soft tissue sarcomas in the pelvis and extremities, which involve vascular structures. We further discuss the key surgical reconstructive principles and techniques available for the management of these complex tumours, drawn from our institution's experience as a national tertiary referral sarcoma service.

Patient reported outcome measures in anterior cruciate ligament rupture and reconstruction:The significance of outcome score prediction

BACKGROUND Numerous anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) clinical outcome measures exist.However,the result of one score does not equate to the findings of another even when evaluating the same patient group.AIM To investigate if statistically derived formulae can be used to predict the outcome of one knee scoring system when the result of another is known in patients with ACL rupture before and after reconstruction.METHODS Fifty patients with ACL rupture were evaluated using nine clinical outcome measures.These included Tegner Activity Score,Lysholm Knee Score,Cincinnati Knee Score,International Knee Documentation Committee(IKDC) Objective Knee Score,Tapper and Hoover Meniscal Grading Score,IKDC Subjective Knee Score,Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living Scale(KOS-ADLS),Short Form-12 Item Health Survey and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score.Thirtyfour patients underwent an ACL reconstruction and were reassessed post-operatively.RESULTS The mean total of each of the nine outcome scores appreciably differed from each other.Significant correlations and regressions were found between most of the outcome scores and were stronger post-operatively.The strongest correlation was found between Cincinnati and KOS-ADLS (r=0.91,P<0.001).The strongest regression formula was also found between Cincinnati and KOS-ADLS (R~2=0.84,P<0.001).CONCLUSION The formulae produced from this study can be used to predict the outcome of one knee score when the results of the other are known.These formulae could facilitate the conduct of systematic reviews and meta-analysis in studies relating to ACL injuries by allowing the pooling of substantially more data.

Conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis:A review of the literature

Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)is a common chronic debilitating disease with an estimated prevalence of 23.9%in the general adult population.The condition is characterised by joint pain,functional impairment and significant reduction in quality of life.Management for KOA can generally be divided into conservative(non-operative)and surgical(operative)measures.Conservative management broadly compromises pharmacological and non-pharmacological options and is conventionally the first line treatment to avoid or delay the need for surgical management.The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the current recommendations,efficacy and safety profile of different conservative treatments through a review of the literature.

Mechanical and cellular processes driving cervical myelopathy

Cervical myelopathy is a well-described clinical syndrome that may evolve from a combination of etiological mechanisms. It is traditionally classified by cervical spinal cord and/or nerve root compression which varies in severity and number of levels involved. The vast array of clinical manifestations of cervical myelopathy cannot fully be explained by the simple concept that a narrowed spinal canal causes compression of the cord, local tissue ischemia, injury and neurological impairment. Despite advances in surgical technology and treatment innovations, there are limited neuro-protective treatments for cervical myelopathy, which reflects an incomplete understanding of the pathophysiological processes involved in this disease. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the key pathophysiological processes at play in the development of cervical myelopathy.

Complications in the management of metastatic spinal disease

Metastatic spine disease accounts for 10% to 30% of new cancer diagnoses annually. The most frequent presentation is axial spinal pain. No treatment has been proven to increase the life expectancy of patients with spinal metastasis. The goals of therapy are pain control and functional preservation. The most important prognostic indicator for spinal metastases is the initial functional score. Treatment is multidisciplinary, and virtually all treatment is palliative. Management is guided by three key issues; neurologic compromise, spinal instability, and individual patient factors. Site-directed radiation, with or without chemotherapy is the most commonly used treatment modality for those patients presenting with spinal pain, causative by tumours which are not impinging on neural elements. Operative intervention has, until recently been advocated for establishing a tissue diagnosis, mechanical stabilization and for reduction of tumor burden but not for a curative approach. It is treatment of choice patients with diseaseadvancement despite radiotherapy and in those with known radiotherapy-resistant tumors. Vertebral resection and ante-rior stabilization with methacrylate or hardware(e.g., cages) has been advocated.Surgical decompression and stabilization, however, along with radiotherapy, may provide the most promising treatment. It stabilizes the metastatic deposited areaand allows ambulation with pain relief. In general, patients who are nonambulatory at diagnosis do poorly, as do patients in whom more than one vertebra is involved. Surgical intervention is indicated in patients with radiation-resistant tumors, spinal instability, spinal compression with bone or disk fragments, progressive neurologic deterioration, previous radiation exposure, and uncertain diagnosis that requires tissue diagnosis. The main goal in the management of spinal metastatic deposits is always palliative rather than curative, with the primary aim being pain relief and improved mobility. This however, does not come without complications, regardless of the surgical intervention technique used. These complication range from the general surgical complications of bleeding, infection, damage to surrounding structures and post operative DT/PE to spinal specific complications of persistent neurologic deficit and paralysis.

Cost benefit analysis of the use of tranexamic acid in primary lower limb arthroplasty: A retrospective cohort study

AIM: To examine the cost benefit conferred by the perioperative administration of intravenous tranexamic acid(TXA) in lower limb arthroplasty.METHODS: This study evaluates the use of TXA in 200 consecutive lower limb arthroplasties performed in a single surgeon series. The initial 100 patients(control group) underwent surgery without perioperative administration of TXA while the subsequent 100 patients(TXA group) all received 1 g TXA at the time of induction of anaesthesia. Pre- and post-operative haemoglobin, platelet count, haematocrit, the use of blood product post-operatively, length of stay were examined. A financial analysis of both groups was then undertaken. RESULTS: The mean age of patients in both groups was 63 ± 13 years. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of gender(P = 0.47), proportion of total hip replacement to total knee replacement(P = 0.25) or pre-operative haemoglobin(P = 0.43). In the control group, the transfusion rate was 22%. In the TXA group, the transfusion rate dropped to 2%(P < 0.001). The mean post-operative haemoglobin was 10.82 ± 1.55g/dL in the control group vs 11.33 ± 1.27 g/dL in the TXA group(P = 0.01). The total cost of transfused blood products was €11055 and €603 respectively. The mean length of stay in the control group was 6.53 ± 5.93 d vs 5.47 ± 4.26 d in the TXA group(P = 0.15) leading to an estimated financial saving of €114586. There was one pulmonary embolus in the control group and one deep venous thrombosis in the TXA group.CONCLUSION: Intravenous TXA reduces blood loss in lower limb arthroplasty. This leads to lower transfusion rates, shorter length of stay in hospital and significant financial savings.

Managing extremely distal periprosthetic femoral supracondylar fractures of total knee replacements-a new PHILOS-ophy

We report two cases where a proximal humeral locking plate was used for the fixation of an extremely distal, type Ⅲ peri-prosthetic femoral fractures in relation to a total knee replacement(TKR). In each case there was concern regarding the fixation that could be achieved using the available anatomic distal femoral plates due to the size and bone quality of distal fragment. The design of the Proximal Humeral Internal Locking System(PHILOS) allows nine 3.5-mm locking screws to be placed over a small area in multiple directions. This allowed a greater number of fixation points to be achieved in the distal fragment. Clinical and radiological short-term follow-up(6-12 mo) has been satisfactory in both cases with no complications. We suggest the use of this implant for extremely distal femoral fractures arising in relation to the femoral component of a TKR.

Total hip arthroplasty in patients with Paget's disease of bone: A systematic review

AIM To investigate the clinical and functional outcomes following total hip arthroplasty(THA) in patients with Paget's disease.METHODS We carried out a systematic review of the literature to determine the functional outcome, complications and revision rates of THA in patients with Paget's disease. Eight studies involving 358 hips were reviewed. The mean age was 70.4 years and follow-up was 8.3 years. There were 247 cemented THAs(69%), 105 uncemented THAs(29%) and 6 hybrid THAs(2%). RESULTS All studies reported significant improvement in hip function following THA. There were 19 cases of aseptic loosening(5%) at a mean of 8.6 years. Three cases occurred in the uncemented cohort(3%) at a mean of 15.3 years and 16 cases developed in the cemented group(6%) at a mean of 7.5 years(P = 0.2052). There were 27 revisions in the 358 cases(8%) occurring at a mean of 7 years. Six revisions occurred in the uncemented cohort(6%) at a mean of 8.6 years and 21 in the cemented cohort(9%) at a mean of 6.5 years(P = 0.5117). CONCLUSION The findings support the use of THA in patients with Paget's disease hip arthropathy. The post-operative functional outcome is largely similar to other patients; however, the revision rate is higher with aseptic loosening being the most common reason for revision. Uncemented implants appear to be associated with a lower failure rate, however, there were no modern stem designs fixed using current generation cementing techniques used in the reported studies, and as such, caution is advised when drawing any conclusions.

Total knee arthroplasty in patients with Paget's disease of bone: A systematic review

AIM To determine the functional outcomes, complications and revision rates following total knee arthroplasty(TKA) in patients with Paget's disease of bone(PDB). METHODS A systematic review of the literature was performed. Four studies with a total of 54 TKAs were included for analysis. Functional outcomes, pain scores, complications and revision rates were assessed. The mean age was 72.0 years and the mean follow-up was 7.5 years.RESULTS All studies reported significant improvement in knee function and pain scores following TKA. There were 2 cases of aseptic loosening, with one patient requiring revision of the femoral component 10 years after the index procedure. Malalignment, bone loss, soft tissue contractures were the most commonly reported intraoperative challenges. There were five cases(9%) that were complicated by intra-operative patellar tendon avulsion.CONCLUSION The findings support the use of TKA in patients with PDB. The post-operative functional outcomes are largely similar to other patients, however there are specific perioperative challenges that have been highlighted, in particular the high risk for patellar tendon avulsion.

Atypical Trigger Finger: First Manifestation of Gout

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by hyperuricemia characterized by painful, hot and swollen joints. However, tophi involving carpal tunnel with concomitant presence of finger movement dysfunction as the first presentation of gout is rare. This suggests the involvement of flexor tendon inside the carpal tunnel. Here, we report a case of infiltration of tophi at the flexor tendon of the hand presented as the first clinical manifestation of gout causing trigger finger like symptoms. Patient underwent surgery to confirm the diagnosis and improve flexor tendon excursion. Our patient’s finger movement improved dramatically after operation.

Sternal metastasis-the forgotten column and its effect on thoracic spine stability

Sternal metastases are not studied extensively in the literature. There is a paucity of information on their role in metastatic disease. The concept of the fourth column was described by Berg in 1993, and has been proven in case report, clinically and biomechanical studies. The role of the sternum as a support to the thoracic spine is well documented in the trauma patients, but not much is known about its role in cancer patients. This review examines what is known on the role of the fourth column. Following this we have identified two likely scenarios that sternal metastases may impact management:(1) sternal pathological fracture increases the mobility of the semi-rigid thorax with the loss of the biomechanical support of the sternum-rib-thoracic spine complex; and(2) a sternal metastasis increases the risk of fracture, and while being medical treated the thoracic spine should be monitored for acute kyphosis and neurological injury secondarily to the insufficiency of the fourth column.

Bone mineral density in fracture neck of femur patients:What's the significance?

BACKGROUND The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence(NICE)guidelines have advised further research is required into investigating the added prognostic value of bone mineral density(BMD)in the assessment of fracture risk with the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool(FRAX)score.AIM To investigate the significance of BMD in fracture neck of femur patients and compare it to the outcome of the FRAX score.METHODS Inclusion criteria for this study were all patients who underwent dual-energy Xray absorptiometry(DXA)scan following fracture neck of femur between 2015 and 2017.Analysis of BMD,FRAX scores and patient demographic data was undertaken.RESULTS A total of 69 patients were included in the study,mean age 74.1 years.There was no significant difference between mean BMD of the femoral neck in males(0.65)as compared to females(0.61)(P=0.364).Analyses showed no significant correlation between BMD and menopause age(rs=-0.28,P=0.090).A significant difference was seen of the femoral neck BMD between the different fracture pattern types(P=0.026).A stronger correlation was observed between BMD of femoral neck and FRAX major score(rs=-0.64,P<0.001)than with BMD of lumbar spine and FRAX major score(rs=-0.37,P=0.003).CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that BMD of the femoral neck measured by DXA scan is of added prognostic value when assessing patients for risk of fracture neck of femur in combination with the FRAX predictive scoring system.

Role of the posterior deep deltoid ligament in ankle fracture stability: A biomechanical cadaver study

BACKGROUND The deltoid ligament is a key component of ankle fracture stability.Clinical tests to assess deltoid ligament injury have low specificity.In supination externalrotation(SER)type-IV ankle fractures,there is either a medial malleolus fracture or deltoid ligament injury.These injuries are often considered unstable,requiring surgical stabilisation.We look to identify the anatomical basis for this instability.This study investigates the anatomical basis for such instability by re-creating SER type ankle fractures in a standardised cadaveric study model,investigating the anatomical basis for such instability.AIM To investigate the anatomical basis for fracture instability in SER type ankle fractures.METHODS Four matched pairs of cadaveric limbs were tested for stability both when axially loaded and under external rotation stress.Four matched pairs of cadaveric limbs(8 specimens)were tested for stability when axially loaded to 750 N with a custom rig.Specimens were tested through increasing stages of SER injury in a stepwise fashion before restoring the lateral side with open reduction and internal fixation(ORIF).Clinical photographs and radiographs were recorded at each step.We defined instability in accordance with well accepted radiological parameters:>4 mm medial clear space opening on a mortise-view radiograph or>7 degrees of talar tilt.RESULTS All specimens with an intact posterior deep deltoid ligament were stable.Once the posterior deep deltoid ligament was sectioned there was instability in all specimens.Stabilisation of the lateral side prevented talar shift,but not talar tilt.CONCLUSION If the posterior deep deltoid ligament is intact then SER fractures can be managed without surgery.If the posterior deep deltoid is incompetent,ORIF and cautious rehabilitation is recommended because the talus can still tilt in the mortise.

Cervical Disc Replacement: A Systematic Review of Medline Indexed Literature

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) currently remains as the gold standard treatment for cervical disc herniation and Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) refractory to conservative management. Even though anterior cervical fusion provides excellent clinical results, it has been implicated in abnormal kinematic strain on adjacent disc level resulting in symptomatic adjacent segment disease. Anterior cervical disc replacement (ACDR) is an alternative procedure to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The aims of cervical disc replacement were to preserve the motion at the index level and to protect the adjacent levels from accelerated symptomatic degeneration. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the outcomes of cervical disc replacement published in MEDLINE indexed literature. A literature search was carried out in medical electronic database MEDLINE. Keywords used for the search were Cervical vertebrae, Cervical spine, Neck, Intervertebral disc, Total disc replacement, Arthroplasty, Replacement, Treatment outcome. Two authors reviewed titles and abstracts of all two hundred and thirty six hits. The articles that satisfied the inclusion criteria were critically appraised while remaining articles were discarded. Anterior cervical disc replacement is a relatively new technology in spinal surgery. There are several short and intermediate term follow-up studies to prove the safety and efficacy of ACDR with satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes. More intermediate to long-term follow-up studies are needed to prove the safety and efficacy of ACDR.

Return to sport following toe phalanx fractures:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Evidence-based guidance on return to sport following toe phalanx fractures is limited.AIM To systemically review all studies recording return to sport following toe phalanx fractures(both acute fractures and stress fractures),and to collate information on return rates to sport(RRS)and mean return times(RTS)to the sport.METHODS A systematic search of PubMed,MEDLINE,EMBASE,CINAHL,Cochrane Library,Physiotherapy Evidence Database,and Google Scholar was performed in December 2022 using the keywords‘Toe’,‘Phalanx’,‘Fracture’,‘injury’,‘athletes’,‘sports’,‘non-operative’,‘conservative’,‘operative’,‘return to sport’.All studies which recorded RRS and RTS following toe phalanx fractures were included.RESULTS Thirteen studies were included:one retrospective cohort study and twelve case series.Seven studies reported on acute fractures.Six studies reported on stress fractures.For the acute fractures(n=156),63 were treated with primary conservative management(PCM),6 with primary surgical management(PSM)(all displaced intra-articular(physeal)fractures of the great toe base of the proximal phalanx),1 with secondary surgical management(SSM)and 87 did not specify treatment modality.For the stress fractures(n=26),23 were treated with PCM,3 with PSM,and 6 with SSM.For acute fractures,RRS with PCM ranged from 0 to 100%,and RTS with PCM ranged from 1.2 to 24 wk.For acute fractures,RRS with PSM were all 100%,and RTS with PSM ranged from 12 to 24 wk.One case of an undisplaced intra-articular(physeal)fracture treated conservatively required conversion to SSM on refracture with a return to sport.For stress fractures,RRS with PCM ranged from 0%to 100%,and RTS with PCM ranged from 5 to 10 wk.For stress fractures,RRS with PSM were all 100%,and RTS with surgical management ranged from 10 to 16 wk.Six cases of conservatively-managed stress fractures required conversion to SSM.Two of these cases were associated with a prolonged delay to diagnosis(1 year,2 years)and four cases with an underlying deformity[hallux valgus(n=3),claw toe(n=1)].All six cases returned to the sport after SSM.CONCLUSION The majority of sport-related toe phalanx fractures(acute and stress)are managed conservatively with overall satisfactory RRS and RTS.For acute fractures,surgical management is indicated for displaced,intra-articular(physeal)fractures,which offers satisfactory RRS and RTS.For stress fractures,surgical management is indicated for cases with delayed diagnosis and established nonunion at presentation,or with significant underlying deformity:both can expect satisfactory RRS and RTS.