Injury
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A coronal fracture of the posterior femoral condyle, also known as a Hoffa fracture, is an unusual injury, and there are only a handful of case reports or series exploring it. The optimal fixation method of these intraarticular fractures remains controversial; improper or unstable fixation usually lead to an unsatisfactory prognosis. The use of posterior-anterior or reversed lag screw fixation is still a popular method. Additional buttress plating is also recommended for fixation of these difficult fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical strength of four different fixation patterns for this uncommon fracture. ⋯ It was concluded that the lateral position implanted plate is biomechanically the strongest fixation method for Letenneur type I Hoffa fractures. However, this plate fixation is not recommended for all cases. The choice of internal fixation pattern depends on the surgeons.
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Tibial plateau fractures are complex and the current evidence for postoperative rehabilitation is weak, especially related to the recommended postoperative weight bearing. The primary aim of this study was to investigate if loading in the first 12 weeks of recovery is associated with patient reported outcome measures at 26 and 52 weeks postoperative. We hypothesized that there would be no association between loading and patient reported outcome measures. ⋯ Significant associations were identified between the loading ratio at 2 weeks and knee-related quality of life at six months (R2=0.392), and between the loading ratio at 6 weeks combined with injury severity and knee-related quality of life at 26 weeks (R2=0.441). In summary, weight bearing as tolerated does not negatively affect the results of tibial plateau fracture and may therefore be safe for postoperative management. These findings should be taken in context of the sample size, which was not sufficient for sub-group analysis to investigate the role of impaction grafting.
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Accidents are common in the agricultural industry, particularly among dairy farmers. How said farmers get hurt is well established, but far less is known about how distal, socio-environmental factors influence injuries. This study examined associations between medically-attended agricultural injuries and: (1) personal sociodemographic characteristics, and (2) farm environment features and general safety practices. ⋯ Dairy farmers in this analysis who did not live at their dairy operation, did not provide safety training to all their workers, or had individually-purchased health insurance were more apt to get injured, but more research is needed to confirm these findings in prospectively designed studies. How these factors can be directly addressed or otherwise used to better focus farm injury prevention initiatives should also be explored.
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Observational Study
Asymmetry in gait pattern following bicondylar tibial plateau fractures-A prospective one-year cohort study.
Despite the high number of studies evaluating outcomes following tibial plateau fractures, the literature lacks studies including the objective assessment of gait pattern. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate asymmetry in gait patterns at 12 months after frame removal following ring fixation of a tibial plateau fracture. ⋯ Compared to a healthy reference population, gait asymmetry is common 12 months after frame removal in patients treated with external ring fixation following a tibial plateau fracture of the tibia.
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The treatment of limb threatening trauma on the distal tibia or hindfoot often results in posttraumatic osteoarthritis requiring tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis. The purpose of this study was to present a case series of patients undergoing various techniques of joint fusion after bone reconstruction and deformity correction as a salvage procedure. The study should help trauma surgeons making decisions in limb salvage and deformity correction in complex lower leg and foot injuries by presenting options and treatment strategies. ⋯ IV, Case series.