Acetabular fractures present a challenge. Anatomical reduction can be achieved by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). However, in elderly patients with complex fracture patterns and osteoporotic bone stock, “fix and replace” has become an option in the management of these injuries. This involves ORIF of the acetabulum to enable insertion of a press fit cup and subsequent cemented femoral stem at the index surgery.

A Retrospective analysis of all operatively managed acetabular fractures by a regional Pelvic and Acetabular Trauma service (01/01/2018-30/05/2023) STATA used for analysis. 34 patients undergoing “fix and replace” surgery. Of the 133 patients managed with ORIF, 21 subsequently required Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). Mean follow up was 2.7 years versus 5.1. There was no statistical significance between the two groups with regards to BMI or sex. Mean age in the “fix and replace” group was 68 compared to 48 in the ORIF and subsequent THA group. This reached statistical significance between the two groups (p=0.001).ASA and Charlson Comorbidity Index (3 and 3 in “fix and replace” and 2 and 1.2 in ORIF to THA group) and Charlson Comorbidity Index both were statistically significantly different (p=0.006 and p=0.027, respectively). High energy mechanism of injury accounted for 56% of the “fix and replace” group compared to 48% in the ORIF to THA. 74% of “fix and replace” were associated fractures compared to 53% of ORIF to THA. Wait to surgery was 3 days for “fix and replace” while 186 days was the mean wait time from listing to THA for the ORIF to THA group. Complication rate was 41% versus 43% in the two groups. 14% in the ORIF to THA group developed PJI versus 6% in “fix and replace”.

Fix and replace allows early mobilisation in frailer, elderly patients. Our results show fewer returns to theatre and less PJI in patients having arthroplasty as part of “fix and replace” than subsequent to Open reduction internal fixation.

Aim

infected segmental bone defect (ISBD) is frequent in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the Masquelet technique in the treatment of ISBD in a low-resource setting.

Our objective was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis, comparing differences in clinical outcomes between either autologous or synthetic bone grafts in the operative management of tibial plateau fractures: a traumatic pattern of injury, associated with poor long-term functional prognosis.

A structured search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Bone & Joint and CENTRAL databases from inception until 07/28/2021 was performed. Randomised, controlled, clinical trials that compared autologous and synthetic bone grafts in tibial plateau fractures were included. Preclinical studies, clinical studies in paediatric patients, pathological fractures, fracture non-union or chondral defects were excluded. Outcome data was assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 (ROB2) framework and synthesised in random-effect meta-analysis. Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidance was followed throughout.

Six comparable studies involving 352 patients were identified from 3,078 records. Following ROB2 assessment, five studies (337 patients) were eligible for meta-analysis. Within these studies, more complex tibia plateau fracture patterns (Schatzker IV-VI) were predominant. Primary outcomes showed non-significant reductions in articular depression at immediate postoperative (mean difference −0.45mm, p=0.25, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): −1.21-0.31mm, I²=0%) and long-term (>6 months, standard mean difference −0.56, p=0.09, 95%CI: −1.20-0.08, I²=73%) follow-up in synthetic bone grafts. Secondary outcomes included mechanical alignment, limb functionality, defect site pain, occurrence of surgical site infections, secondary surgery, perioperative blood loss, and duration of surgery. Blood loss was lower (90.08ml, p<0.001, 95%CI: 41.49-138.67ml, I²=0%) and surgery was shorter (16.17minutes, p=0.04, 95%CI: 0.39-31.94minutes, I²=63%) in synthetic treatment groups. All other secondary measures were statistically comparable.

Our findings supersede previous literature, demonstrating that synthetic bone grafts are non-inferior to autologous bone grafts, despite their perceived disadvantages (e.g. being biologically inert). In conclusion, surgeons should consider synthetic bone grafts when optimising peri-operative patient morbidity, particularly in complex tibial plateau fractures, where this work is most applicable.

Introduction

Open tibial fractures (OTF) rank first among lower limb fractures in sub-Saharan Africa and bone infection remains the main challenge. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with chronic bone infection after OTF in a limited-resource setting.

Note: No previous similar study to this has been carried out in the Republic of Ireland, to our knowledge. Ankle fractures are the most common lower limb fracture in all age groups in Ireland. Approximately 43% of all ankle fractures will require operative fixation.¹ 82% of all operative ankle procedures in Ireland are carried out on patients between 18–65 years old.

We felt it was imperative to study the incidence within various age groups, the associated length of hospital stay and to offer suggestions in reducing this length-of-stay.

The National Hospital Inpatient Enquiry system (data collection accuracy 95.9%–98.2%), ICD-coding and data from the Central Statistics Office were analysed.²

14,903 ankle fractures underwent ORIF between 2002–09 (average 1,928/year). While there was a statistical increase in ORIF's in the over 65 group, there was no overall increase in the incidence of surgical procedures.

The average length-of-stay in 2002 was 4.8 days, but had significantly dropped to 4.0 days by 2009. This was most marked in the over 65's where it decreased from 10.5 to 7.7 days.

The annual incidence of ankle fractures requiring operative intervention in Ireland was 44.43 per 100,000 persons.

This study highlights many issues, namely: a)

While there is a significant decrease in length-of-stay to 4 days, we feel this figure could be significantly reduced further.

Classical AO teaching recommends that a syndesmosis screw should be inserted at 25 to 30 degree angle to the coronal plane of the ankle. In practice accurately judging the 25/30 degree angle can be difficult, and there are several reports based on post operative CT scans demonstrating that a significant minority of patients have poorly operatively reduced syndesmotic injuries.

The CT scans of 200 normal ankles in one hundred individuals which had been performed as part a CT angiogram were retrospectively examined. The centroid of the fibula and tibia in the axial plane 15mm proximal to the talar dome was calculated. Since a force vector between the centroid of the fibula and the tibia in the axial plane should not displace the fibula relative to the tibia, a line connecting the two centroids was therefore postulated to be the ideal syndesmosis line, and also the optimum position in which to place a compression clamp after reducing the syndesmosis. Where this ideal line passed through the lateral border of the fibula, and through the medial malleolus was then noted.

The ideal syndesmosis line was shown to pass through the fibula with in 2mm of the lateral cortical apex of the fibula, and the anterior half of the medial malleolus in 100% of the ankles studied. The results support the concept that in the operatively reduced syndesmosis, the anterior half of the medial malleolus can be used as a reliable guide for aiming the syndesmosis drill hole, provided that the fibular entry point is at or adjacent the lateral fibular apex.

The corollary of these findings is that a screw inserted through a plate on the standard antero-lateral border of the fibula, or a plate in the anti-glide position posteriorly, cannot lie in the centroidal axis of the ankle.

Introduction

The classical Colles fracture (extraarticular, dorsally angulated distal radius fracture) in patients with osteoporotic bone is becoming increasingly more frequent. There still appears to be no clear consensus on the most appropriate surgical management of these injuries. The purpose of this study is to appraise the use of percutaneous extra-focal pinning, in the management of the classical colles fracture.