The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Mar 2009
Subtalar fusion after displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures: does initial operative treatment matter?
Many patients with displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures require subtalar arthrodesis for the treatment of posttraumatic arthritis. We hypothesized that patients who underwent initial operative treatment would have better functional outcomes as compared with those who underwent initial nonoperative treatment before undergoing a subtalar arthrodesis. ⋯ In our study population, better functional outcomes and fewer wound complications were associated with subtalar fusion for the treatment of symptomatic posttraumatic subtalar arthritis after initial open reduction and internal fixation of a displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture as compared with subtalar arthrodesis for the treatment of symptomatic posttraumatic subtalar arthritis secondary to calcaneal malunion following initial nonoperative treatment. Initial open reduction and internal fixation restores calcaneal shape, alignment, and height, which facilitates the fusion procedure and establishes an opportunity to create a better long-term functional result. We recommend open reduction and internal fixation for the treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures when appropriately indicated.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Mar 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyOpen reduction and internal fixation compared with circular fixator application for bicondylar tibial plateau fractures. Surgical technique.
Standard open reduction and internal fixation techniques have been successful in restoring osseous alignment for bicondylar tibial plateau fractures; however, surgical morbidity, especially soft-tissue infection and wound necrosis, has been reported frequently. For this reason, several investigators have proposed minimally invasive methods of fracture reduction followed by circular external fixation as an alternative approach. To our knowledge, there has been no direct comparison of the two operative approaches. ⋯ Both techniques provide a satisfactory quality of fracture reduction. Because percutaneous reduction and application of a circular fixator results in a shorter hospital stay, a marginally faster return of function, and similar clinical outcomes and because the number and severity of complications is much higher with open reduction and internal fixation, we believe that circular external fixation is an attractive option for these difficult-to-treat fractures. Regardless of treatment method, patients with this injury have substantial residual limb-specific and general health deficits at two years of follow-up.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Mar 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudySlower recovery after two-incision than mini-posterior-incision total hip arthroplasty. Surgical technique.
It has been claimed that the two-incision total hip arthroplasty technique provides quicker recovery than other methods do. To date, however, there have been no studies that have directly compared the two-incision technique with another method in similar groups of patients managed with the same advanced anesthetic and rehabilitation protocol. We posed the hypothesis that patients managed with two-incision total hip arthroplasty would recover faster than those managed with mini-posterior-incision total hip arthroplasty and designed a randomized controlled trial specifically (1) to determine if patients recovered faster after two-incision total hip arthroplasty than after mini-posterior-incision total hip arthroplasty as measured on the basis of the attainment of functional milestones that reflect activities of daily living, (2) to determine if the general health outcome after two-incision total hip arthroplasty was better than that after mini-posterior-incision total hip arthroplasty as measured with Short Form-12 (SF-12) scores, and (3) to evaluate the surgical complexity of the two procedures on the basis of the operative time and the prevalence of early complications. ⋯ Our hypothesis that the two-incision technique for total hip arthroplasty would substantially improve the short-term recovery after total hip arthroplasty compared with the mini-posterior-incision technique was not proved; instead, the patients managed with the mini-posterior-incision technique had the quicker recovery.
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Fractures of the lesser tuberosity are rare injuries, and little is known of their epidemiology. Operative treatment is generally recommended for displaced fractures; however, the outcome of this method of treatment has not previously been studied. The aims of our study were to determine the approximate incidence of lesser tuberosity fractures, as well as the functional outcome following operative treatment in a consecutive series of patients. ⋯ A lesser tuberosity fracture, without an associated humeral head or greater tuberosity fracture, is a rare injury. Open reduction and internal fixation provides excellent restoration of function and range of shoulder movement, with a low risk of complications.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Mar 2009
Spinal hemiepiphysiodesis decreases the size of vertebral growth plate hypertrophic zone and cells.
Hemiepiphysiodesis is a potential method to treat idiopathic juvenile scoliosis early. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a mechanism of curve creation in the pig thoracic model of spinal hemiepiphysiodesis by determining whether the structure of the vertebral growth plate varied with distance from the stapled, concave side of the spine. The hypotheses were that the heights of the hypertrophic zone, hypertrophic cells, and disc would be decreased on the treated side of the treated level as compared with both an unstapled control level and the side opposite the staple. ⋯ Unilateral control of intervertebral joint motion decreased growth plate height, cell size, and disc height.