The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
-
J Bone Joint Surg Am · Feb 2010
Intraobserver and interobserver agreement in the measurement of displaced humeral medial epicondyle fractures in children.
Fractures of the humeral medial epicondyle occur frequently in children. The decision to pursue operative or nonoperative treatment often hinges on the amount of perceived fracture displacement. This study was performed to assess both intraobserver and interobserver agreement in the measurements of displacement of these fractures on radiographs by orthopaedic surgeons with various levels of training. ⋯ Intraobserver agreement with regard to measurement of displacement of medial epicondyle fractures of the humerus varied among the reviewers but was low overall. Interobserver agreement was best for the measurements on the anteroposterior radiographs, but this was also low overall. These findings cast doubt on whether the amount of perceived displacement should be used as a criterion for choosing operative or nonoperative management of fractures of the humeral medial epicondyle. Agreement may be improved to acceptable levels by adopting a standard set of measurement guidelines, which include use of the anteroposterior radiograph when possible and consistently measuring at the point of maximal displacement.
-
J Bone Joint Surg Am · Feb 2010
Outcome following open reduction and internal fixation of open pilon fractures.
A variety of treatment options exist for open pilon fractures of the distal end of the tibia. In this study, we evaluated the use of a staged protocol designed to minimize the risk of soft-tissue complications and to allow for optimal reduction of the fracture. ⋯ Open reduction and internal fixation of open pilon fractures was accomplished with an acceptable outcome and a low prevalence of soft-tissue complications. We believe these results can be reproduced through routine use of an individualized treatment algorithm including the use of staged procedures, meticulous soft-tissue management, liberal use of temporizing external fixation, and a patient-specific approach to fixation and soft-tissue coverage.