Complications following limb-threatening lower extremity trauma

Substantial improvement in prophylactic antibiotic administration for open fracture patients: results of a performance improvement program

OBJECTIVES

Administration of early and appropriate antibiotic in treating patients with open fractures is an important early factor in preventing infection and optimizing outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of an orthopaedic trauma performance improvement program directed at early antibiotic administration for open fracture patients at our trauma center.

DESIGN

Retrospective comparative cohort study of patients treated for an open fracture by before and after implementation of our performance improvement program specifically designed to address early open fracture care.

SETTING

Single metropolitan level 2 regional trauma center.

PATIENTS

Patients with open fractures treated by orthopaedic surgery (hand and spine excluded) at our institution between January 2012 and December 2013 were included. Patients transferred from another facility were excluded.

INTERVENTION

Patients were divided into one of the following 2 groups. Group 1 included patients treated before our open fracture performance improvement program (January 2012-December 2012) and group 2 comprised those treated after the program was instituted (January 2013-December 2013).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Patient demographics, injury factors, and performance measures relating to early open fracture care [eg, the characteristics of early antibiotic administration in their treatment course, including timeliness of prophylactic intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy and reasons for delay or omission of these treatments] were evaluated.

RESULTS

Group 1 was comprised of 127 patients with a total of 142 open fractures, whereas group 2 included 132 patients with a total of 156 open fractures. Patient and injury factors were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Group 1 received IV antibiotics at an average of 70.5 minutes after arrival at our institution compared with group 2 who received antibiotics at an average of 32.4 minutes (P < 0.001). The average times from emergency department arrival to physician evaluation improved from 6.5 to 4.5 minutes (P = 0.02) and antibiotic order to antibiotic delivery improved from 37 to 13 minutes (P < 0.001) for group 1 compared with group 2, respectively. The average time between physician evaluation and antibiotic showed a trend toward improvement (12.7-8.0 minutes, P = 0.57). Fifty percent of patients in group 1 (63/127) had antibiotics initiated within 1 hour of hospital arrival, whereas 78% (100/132) in group 2 had antibiotics initiated within 1 hour (P < 0.001). Eighty-five percent (112/127) of patients in group 1 had antibiotics initiated within 3 hours of hospital arrival, whereas 95% (125/132) in group 2 had antibiotics initiated within 3 hours (P = 0.03). Of those patients receiving standard antibiotics (cephalosporin), 79% (85/107) in group 1 and 91% (104/114) in group 2 received the recommended dose of IV antibiotic for their body weight (e.g., 2 g cefazolin for patients of >80 kg) (P < 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Optimal treatment of open fracture patients with early and appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis was lacking for many patients at our trauma center. A multifaceted performance improvement program specifically concentrating on education, accountability, and antibiotic availability aimed at this aspect of orthopaedic trauma care was very effective in improving our early treatment of these patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic level III. See instructions for authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Lower extremity soft tissue reconstruction and amputation rates in patients with open tibial fractures in Sweden during 1998-2010

Background

The rates of soft tissue reconstruction and amputation after open tibial fractures have not been studied on a national perspective. We aimed to determine the frequency of soft tissue coverage after open tibial fracture as well as primary and secondary amputation rates.

Methods

Data on all patients (> = 15 years) admitted to hospital with open tibial fractures were extracted from the Swedish National Patient Register (1998–2010). All surgical procedures, re-admissions, and mechanisms of injury were analysed accordingly. The risk of amputation was calculated using logistic regression (adjusted for age, sex, mechanism of injury, reconstructive surgery and fixation method). The mean follow-up time was 6 (SD 3.8) years.

Results

Of 3,777 patients, 342 patients underwent soft tissue reconstructive surgery. In total, there were 125 amputations. Among patients with no reconstructive surgery, 2% (n = 68 patients) underwent amputation. In an adjusted analysis, patients older than 70 years (OR = 2.7, 95%, CI = 1.1-6) and those who underwent reconstructive surgery (OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.6-5.8) showed higher risk for amputation. Fixations other than intramedullary nailing (plate, external fixation, closed reduction and combination) as the only method were associated with a significant higher risk for amputation (OR 5.1-14.4). Reconstruction within 72 hours (3 days) showed better results than reconstruction between 4–90 days (p = 0.04).

Conclusions

The rate of amputations after open tibial fractures is low (3.6%). There is a higher risk for amputations with age above 70 (in contrast: male sex and tissue reconstruction are rather indicators for more severe soft tissue injuries). Only a small proportion of open tibial fractures need soft tissue reconstructive surgery. Reconstruction with free or pedicled flap should be performed within 72 hours whenever possible.

Fluid collections in amputations are not indicative or predictive of infection

BACKGROUND

In the acute postoperative period, fluid collections are common in lower extremity amputations. Whether these fluid collections increase the risk of infection is unknown.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

The purposes of this study were to determine (1) the percentage of patients who develop postoperative fluid collections in posttraumatic amputations and the natural course of the collection; (2) whether patients who develop these collections are at increased risk for infection; and to ask (3) are there objective clinical or radiologic signs that are associated with likelihood of infection when a fluid collection is present?

METHODS

We performed a review of all 300 patients injured in combat operations who sustained at least one major lower extremity amputation (at or proximal to the tibiotalar joint) and were treated definitively at our institution between March 2005 and April 2009. We segregated the groups based on whether cross-sectional imaging was performed less than 3 months (early group) after closure, greater than 3 months (late group) after closure, or not at all (control group, baseline frequency of infection). Our primary study cohort where those patients with a fluid collection in the first three months. The clinical course was reviewed and the primary outcome was a return to the operating room for irrigation and débridement with positive cultures. For those patients with cross-sectional imaging, we also collected objective clinical parameters within 24 hours of the scan (white blood cell count, maximum temperature, presence of bacteremia, tachycardia, oxygen desaturation), extremity examination (presence of erythema, warmth, and/or drainage), and characteristics of the fluid collections seen (size of the fluid collection, enhancement, complexity (simple versus loculated), surrounding edema, skin changes, tract formation, presence of air, and changes within the bone itself). The presence of a fluid collection on imaging was analyzed to determine whether it was associated with infection. We further analyzed clinical parameters, objective physical examination findings at the extremity, and characteristics of the fluid collection to determine if there were other parameters associated with infection.

RESULTS

Over half (55%) of the limbs demonstrated fluid collection in the early postoperative period and the prevalence decreased in the late group (11%; p = 0.001). There was no association between the presence of a fluid collection and infection. However, there was an association between objective clinical signs at the extremity (erythema and/or drainage) and infection (p < 0.001) in our primary study cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Fluid collections are common in combat-related amputations in the immediate postoperative period and become smaller and less frequent over time. In the absence of extremity erythema and wound drainage, imaging of a residual limb to evaluate for the presence of a fluid collection appears to be of little clinical use.

Local antibiotic delivery by a bioabsorbable gel is superior to PMMA bead depot in reducing infection in an open fracture model

OBJECTIVES

Local delivery allows a high concentration of antibiotics to be achieved in the wound while avoiding the side effects and cost of systemic administration. Beads molded from polymethylmethacrylate cement are commonly used for local antibiotic delivery but are not ideal. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a bioabsorbable gel delivering vancomycin and gentamicin is more effective in reducing infection than beads delivering vancomycin and tobramycin.

METHODS

This study used a segmental defect rat model contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus and treated with clinically relevant local antibiotic doses, delivered by gel or beads. In the gel group, 1 mL of gel containing gentamicin and vancomycin was spread throughout the wound. In the bead group, four 3-mm beads containing tobramycin and vancomycin were placed in the wound, 2 in the defect and 2 in the adjacent tissue envelope, there was also a control group that received no antibiotic treatment. After 14 days, bone and hardware was harvested for separate microbiological analysis.

RESULTS

There was a significantly lower infection rate in groups treated with antibiotics delivered by gel compared with those treated with either antibiotic beads or no antibiotics at all (P < 0.001). Quantitative cultures also demonstrate significantly less bacteria in the wounds treated with the gel than in the control or bead groups (P ≤ 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that antibiotic delivery by a gel is superior to beads. The authors propose that antibiotic depot by polymethylmethacrylate antibiotic beads is less effective because this method has to rely on diffusion of the antibiotic from the high concentration close to the beads to all regions of the wound.

Potential prognostic factors predicting secondary amputation in third-degree open lower limb fractures

BACKGROUND

With regard to the improved surgical possibilities and the rising tendency of attempted limb salvage, the topic of secondary amputation becomes increasingly important. The aim of this study was to identify potential prognostic factors predicting secondary amputation in third-degree open lower limb fractures.

METHODS

All patients experienced third-degree open fractures of the lower limb without primary amputation (1994-2012). Prognostic factors were investigated to explain the final outcome of these patients (limb salvage vs. secondary amputation).

RESULTS

From a total of 408 open diaphyseal tibia fractures, 93 consecutive fractures were identified (Gustilo-Anderson [G/A] type IIIA, n = 38; G/A type IIIB, n = 41; G/A type IIIC, n = 14) including seven patients with primary amputation. Definite limb salvage was achieved in 72 patients (88%), whereas in 10 patients (12%), secondary amputation was necessary. The median time to secondary amputation was 12 days (range, 2-1,573 days). The median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 11 (range, 9-41), and the median Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS) was 4 (range, 2-9). The MESS was significantly higher in the amputation group compared with the limb salvage group (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, statistical testing revealed that the amount of complex fractures (p = 0.0132), the soft tissue damage (p = 0.0050), the vascular injury rate (p = 0.0110) and the fasciotomy rate (p = 0.0468) were significantly higher in the amputation group. In 60%, the limitations for limb salvage were infectious complications and/or, in 40%, was irreversible vessel occlusion after initial vessel reconstruction.

CONCLUSION

The current study findings indicate that MESS is highly prognostic, but considering the significant advances in reconstructive techniques, decision making in patients with an MESS of 7 or greater should be reevaluated for the everyday clinical use.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic study, level III. Therapeutic study, level IV.

Reoperation after combat-related major lower extremity amputations

OBJECTIVE

Complication rates leading to reoperation after trauma-related amputations remain ill defined in the literature. We sought to identify and quantify the indications for reoperation in our combat-injured patients.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients.

SETTING

Tertiary Military Medical Center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS

Combat-wounded personnel sustaining 300 major lower extremity amputations from Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom from 2005 to 2009.

INTERVENTION

We performed a retrospective analysis of injury and treatment-related data, complications, and revision of amputation data. Prerevision and postrevision outcome measures were identified for all patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome measure was the reoperation on an amputation after a previous definitive closure. Secondary outcome measures included ambulatory status, prosthesis use, medication use, and return to duty status.

RESULTS

At a mean follow-up of 23 months (interquartile range: 16-32), 156 limbs required reoperation leading to a 53% overall reoperation rate. Ninety-one limbs had 1 indication for reoperation, whereas 65 limbs had more than 1 indication for reoperation. There were a total of 261 distinct indications for reoperation leading to a total of 465 additional surgical procedures. Repeat surgery was performed semiurgently for postoperative wound infection (27%) and sterile wound dehiscence/wound breakdown (4%). Revision amputation surgery was also performed electively for persistently symptomatic residual limbs due to the following indications: symptomatic heterotopic ossification (24%), neuromas (11%), scar revision (8%), and myodesis failure (6%). Transtibial amputations were more likely than transfemoral amputations to be revised due to symptomatic neuromata (P = 0.004; odds ratio [OR] = 3.7; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.45-9.22). Knee disarticulations were less likely to require reoperation when compared with all other amputation levels (P = 0.0002; OR = 7.6; 95% CI = 2.2-21.4).

CONCLUSIONS

In our patient population, reoperation to address urgent surgical complications was consistent with previous reports on trauma-related amputations. Additionally, persistently symptomatic residual limbs were common and reoperation to address the pathology was associated with an improvement in ambulatory status and led to a decreased dependence on pain medications.

Common factors and outcome in late upper extremity amputations after military injury

OBJECTIVES

Much attention has been given to lower extremity amputations that occur more than 90 days after injury, but little focus has been given to analogous upper extremity amputations. The purpose of this study was to determine the reason(s) for desired amputation and the common complications after amputation for those combat-wounded service members who underwent late upper extremity amputation.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

SETTING

Tertiary trauma center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS

All US service members who sustained major extremity amputations from September 2001 to July 2011 were analyzed.

INTERVENTION

Late (>90 days after injury) upper extremity amputations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Amputation level(s), time to amputation, age, number of operations, pre/postoperative complications, reason(s) for desiring amputation, and disability outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Seven of 218 (3.2%) upper extremity amputees had a late upper extremity amputation (>90 days from injury to amputation). The mean and median number of days from injury to amputation was 689 and 678, respectively. The most common preamputation complications were loss of wrist or finger motion (7, 100%), neurogenic pain (4, 57%), and heterotopic ossification (4, 57%). Three (43%) patients (2 persistent and 1 new onset) had neurogenic pain and 2 (29%) had heterotopic ossification after amputation. Only 57% (4 of 7) of amputees used their prostheses regularly.

CONCLUSIONS

Service members undergoing late upper extremity amputation seem to have different pre- and postoperative complications than those patients undergoing late lower extremity amputations. It was common for the amputee to not wear their prostheses and to experience similar complications after amputation, albeit in a less severe form.

Translational research to improve the treatment of severe extremity injuries

OBJECTIVES

Severe extremity injuries are the most significant injury sustained in combat wounds. Despite optimal clinical management, non-union and infection remain common complications. In a concerted effort to dovetail research efforts, there has been a collaboration between the UK and USA, with British military surgeons conducting translational studies under the auspices of the US Institute of Surgical Research. This paper describes 3 years of work.

METHODS

A variety of studies were conducted using, and developing, a previously validated rat femur critical-sized defect model. Timing of surgical debridement and irrigation, different types of irrigants and different means of delivery of antibiotic and growth factors for infection control and to promote bone healing were investigated.

RESULTS

Early debridement and irrigation were independently shown to reduce infection. Normal saline was the most optimal irrigant, superior to disinfectant solutions. A biodegradable gel demonstrated superior antibiotic delivery capabilities than standard polymethylmethacrylate beads. A polyurethane scaffold was shown to have the ability to deliver both antibiotics and growth factors.

DISCUSSION

The importance of early transit times to Role 3 capabilities for definitive surgical care has been underlined. Novel and superior methods of antibiotic and growth factor delivery, compared with current clinical standards of care, have been shown. There is the potential for translation to clinical studies to promote infection control and bone healing in these devastating injuries.

Special Considerations for Multiple Limb Amputation

It has been estimated that more than 1.6 million individuals in the United States have undergone at least one amputation. The literature abounds with research of the classifications of such injuries, their etiologies, epidemiologies, treatment regimens, average age of onset (average age of amputation), and much more. The subpopulation that is often overlooked in these evaluations, however, is comprised of individuals who have suffered multiple limb loss. The challenges faced by those with single-limb loss are amplified for those with multiple limb loss. Pain, lifestyle adjustment, and quality of life return are just a few key areas of concern in this population. Along with amputations resulting from trauma, many individuals with multiple amputations have endured them as a result of dysvascular disease. Over recent years, amputations as a result of dysvascular disease have risen to comprise more than 80 % of new amputations occurring in the United States every year. This compares to just 54 % of total current prevalence. Those with diabetes comorbid with dysvascular disease make up 74 % of those with dysvascular amputations, and these individuals with diabetes comorbid with dysvascular disease have a 55 % chance of enduring an amputation of their contralateral limb within 2-3 years of their initial amputation. With the well-documented aging of the nation's population and the similarly skyrocketing prevalence of dysvascular disease and diabetes, it can be expected that the number of individuals with multiple limb loss will continue to increase in the United States. This article outlines the recommended measures of care for this particular subpopulation, including pain management, behavioral health considerations, strategies for rehabilitation for various levels and variations of multiple limb loss, and the assistive technology and adaptive equipment that might be available for these individuals to best enable them to continue healthy, fulfilling lives following amputation.

Management of post road traffic accident compound leg defects using fasciocutaneous flaps

OBJECTIVE

To highlight the role of fasciocutaneous flaps in the management of leg and foot defects sustained after trauma, in rural India.

METHOD

This was a prospective study conducted on patients with traumatic defects of the leg and foot, admitted between May 2001 and April 2007. Selection of flaps was done on the basis of defect size, site and condition of surrounding tissue. Ipsilateral flaps (proximally- and distally-based), contralateral-leg flaps and free flaps (anterolateral thigh and radial forearm) were raised according to standard techniques and wounds resurfaced accordingly. The outcome was considered 'excellent' when there was no flap necrosis and no donor site morbidity, 'good' when there was some infection, either at the donor or recipient site, but no necrosis, 'satisfactory' when partial flap necrosis and 'poor' when there was flap loss.

RESULTS

One-hundred and ten patients (86 males and 24 females) with post-traumatic leg defects underwent reconstruction with different fasciocutaneous flaps. The ages of the patients ranged from 6 years to 58 years, with a mean age of 28.2 +/- 11.5 years. Forty cases (37%) underwent immediate reconstruction within the first 72 hours and in 70 cases (63%) delayed reconstruction was done. Hospital stay of the patients ranged from 8 days to 54 days, with a mean of 20.2 +/- 1.9 days. There were no complications recorded at donor site. The overall results were considered excellent in 92 cases (84%), good in 12 (11%), satisfactory in four (3.6%) and poor in two cases (1.8%), where flap necrosis occurred.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest fasciocutaneous flaps are convenient, simple, reliable and easy to manage. The majority of compound leg defects can be reconstructed with fasciocutaneous flaps either from the ipsilateral leg, contralateral leg or in the form of free flaps.

Long-term results and costs of muscle flap coverage with Ilizarov bone transport in lower limb salvage

OBJECTIVES

To determine long-term outcomes and costs of Ilizarov bone transport and flap coverage for lower limb salvage.

DESIGN

Case series with retrospective review of outcomes with at least 6-year follow-up.

SETTING

Academic tertiary care medical center.

PATIENTS

Thirty-four consecutive patients with traumatic lower extremity wounds and tibial defects who were recommended amputation but instead underwent complex limb salvage from 1993 to 2005.

INTERVENTION

Flap reconstruction and Ilizarov bone transport.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Outcomes assessed were flap complications, infection, union, malunion, need for chronic narcotics, ambulation status, employment status, and need for reoperations. A cost analysis was performed comparing this treatment modality to amputation.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients (mean age: 40 years) were included with 14 acute Gustilo IIIB/C defects and 20 chronic tibial defects (nonunion with osteomyelitis). Thirty-five muscle flaps were performed with 1 flap loss (2.9%). The mean tibial bone defect was 8.7 cm, mean duration of bone transport was 10.8 months, and mean follow-up was 11 years. Primary nonunion rate at the docking site was 8.8% and malunion rate was 5.9%. All patients achieved final union with no cases of recurrent osteomyelitis. No patients underwent future amputations, 29% required reoperations, 97% were ambulating without assistance, 85% were working full time, and only 5.9% required chronic narcotics. Mean lifetime cost per patient per year after limb salvage was significantly less than the published cost for amputation.

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term results and costs of bone transport and flap coverage strongly support complex limb salvage in this patient population.

A Prospective Study of the Outcome of Patients with Limb Trauma following the Haitian Earthquake in 2010 at One- and Two- Year (The SuTra2 Study)

Background Severe limb trauma is common in earthquake survivors. Overall medium term outcomes and patient-perceived outcomes are poorly documented. Methods and Findings The prospective study SuTra2 assessed the functional and socio-economic status of a cohort of patients undergoing surgery for limb injury resulting in amputation (A) or limb preservation (LP) one year and two years after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. 305 patients [A: n=199 (65%), LP: n=106 (35%)] were evaluated. Their characteristics were: 57% female; mean age 31 years; 74% of principal injuries involved the lower limb; 46% of patients had an additional severe injury; 60% had fractures, of which two-thirds were compound or associated with severe soft tissue damage; 15% of amputations were traumatic. At 2 years, 51% of patients were satisfied with the functional outcome (A: 52%, LP: 49%, ns). Comparison with the 1-year status indicates a worsening of the perceived functional status, significantly more pronounced in amputees, and an increase in pain complaints, mainly in amputees (62% and 80% of pain in overall population at 1- and 2-year respectively). Twenty eight percent (28%) of LP and 66% of A considered themselves as “cured”. 100% of LP and 79% of A would have chosen a conservative approach if an amputation was medically avoidable. Two years after the earthquake, 23·5 % of patients were still living in a tent, 30% were working, and 25·5% needed ongoing surgical management. Conclusions Only half the patients with severe limb injuries, whether managed with amputation or limb preservation, deemed their functional status satisfactory at 2 years. The patients’ perspective, clearly favors limb conservative management whenever possible. Prolonged care and rehabilitation are needed to optimize the outcome for earthquake survivors with limb injuries. Humanitarian respondents to catastrophes have professional and ethical obligations to provide optimal immediate care and ensure scrupulous attention to long-term management. Keywords Haiti earthquake, limb injury, two-year outcome, patients’ perspective, amputation, limb salvage

Risk factors for infection and amputation following open, combat-related calcaneal fractures

BACKGROUND

High-energy open calcaneal fractures are severe injuries complicated by high rates of infection, uncertain functional outcomes, and frequent need for later amputation.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of 102 consecutive combat-related open calcaneal fractures. Patient demographics, injury mechanisms, fracture and wound characteristics, associated fractures, and methods of fracture fixation were reviewed to determine risk factors for eventual amputation or infection.

RESULTS

Eighty-nine patients, with a mean age of twenty-six years, sustained 102 open calcaneal fractures (thirteen bilateral). After a mean follow-up of four years (range, five to ninety-two months), 42% (forty-three limbs) underwent amputation. A delayed amputation (more than twelve weeks from the time of injury) was performed in 15% (fifteen) of 102 open calcaneal fractures. In a multivariate Cox proportional-hazards survival model with time to amputation as the end point, the blast mechanism of injury, plantar wound location, larger size of open wound (in square centimeters), and escalating Gustilo and Anderson classification types (p < 0.05 for all) were predictive of eventual amputation. At the time of the final follow-up, patients who had undergone amputation had lower visual analogue scale scores for pain (2.1 compared with 4.0; p < 0.0001) and higher Tegner activity levels (5.4 compared with 3.5; p < 0.0001) than limb salvage patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower-extremity amputation following open calcaneal fractures is predicted by the injury mechanism, wound location and size, and open fracture type and severity. After short-term follow-up, patients with open calcaneal fractures eventually requiring amputation exhibit improved pain and activity levels compared with patients with continued, ostensibly successful limb salvage.

Major amputation of lower extremity: prognostic value of positive bone biopsy cultures

BACKGROUND

To assess the correlation between culture results of section's osseous slice biopsy (SOB) and the distal infected site responsible for the amputation performed concomitantly during major amputation of lower extremity. The influence of a positive culture of SOB on the patients' outcome was also evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of medical charts of patients who underwent SOB during major amputation of lower extremity at our institution from 2000 to 2009.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients (42 males/15 females, mean age 52.16years) who undergone major limb amputation (47 below knee and ten above knee) were included. The initial medical conditions of the investigated patients were: trauma (n=32), infection (n=13), trophic disorders (n=10) and tumor (n=2). The major cause of amputation was an uncontrolled infection, accouting for 64.9% of the cases (37/57) (foot=5, ankle=8, leg=24), the remaining 20 patients had trophic disorders of lower limb. Twenty-one (36.8%) from 57 biopsies were sterile, 12 (21.1%) doubtful and 24 (42.1%) positive. Thirty-one (54.4%) patients had an antibiotic-free interval before limb amputation. Independently of the bacterial species, 69.6% of the microorganisms identified from SOB were found in the distal infected site. Patients with positive SOB had a significantly longer interval between the decision to amputate the patient and the surgical procedure (200.2 vs. 70.1days; P<0.03) and a shorter total duration of antibiotic therapy before amputation than patients with negative SOB (3.68 vs. 6.08months; P<0.03). The delay for complete healing was significantly higher in patients with a positive SOB compared with those with a negative SOB (3.57 vs. 2.48months; P<0.03).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the infection may extend from the distal site to the level of amputation in a large proportion of cases and that the delay with which the amputation is performed after the decision has been taken may play a role in this event.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Study level IV: retrospective observationnal study.

Delayed amputation following trauma increases residual lower limb infection

INTRODUCTION

Residual limb infection following amputation is a devastating complication, resulting in delayed rehabilitation, repeat surgery, prolonged hospitalisation and poor functional outcome. The aim of this study was to identify variables predicting residual limb infection following non-salvageable lower limb trauma.

METHODS

All cases of non-salvageable lower limb trauma presenting to a specialist centre over 5 years were evaluated from a prospective database and clinical and management variables correlated with the development of deep infection.

RESULTS

Forty patients requiring 42 amputations were identified with a mean age of 49 years (±19.9, 1SD). Amputations were performed for 21 Gustilo IIIB injuries, 12 multi-planar degloving injuries, seven IIIC injuries and one open Schatzker 6 fracture. One limb was traumatically amputated at the scene and surgically revised. Amputation level was transtibial in 32, through-knee in one and transfemoral in nine. Median time from injury to amputation was 4 days (range 0-30 days). Amputation following only one debridement and within 5 days resulted in significantly fewer stump infections (p = 0.026 and p = 0.03, respectively, Fisher's exact test). The cumulative probability of infection-free residual limb closure declined steadily from day 5. Multivariate analyses revealed that neither the nature of the injury nor pre-injury patient morbidity independently influenced residual limb infection.

CONCLUSION

Avoiding residual limb infection is critically dependent on prompt amputation of non-salvageable limbs.

The Development of an Experimental Model of Contaminated Muscle Injury in Rabbits

Extent of tissue trauma and contamination determine outcome in extremity injury. In contrast to fracture, osteomyelitis, and closed muscle injury studies, there are limited small animal models of extremity muscle trauma and contamination. To address this we developed a model of contaminated muscle injury in rabbits. Twenty-eight anesthetized New Zealand White rabbits underwent open controlled injury of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU). Twenty-two animals had subsequent contamination of the injured muscle with Staphylococcus aureus. All animals were sacrificed at 48 hours and the level of muscle injury and contamination determined by quantitative histological and microbiological analysis. A 1-kg mass dropped 300 mm onto the mobilized FCU resulted in localized necrosis of the muscle belly. Delivery of a mean challenge of 3.71 × 106 cfu/100 µL S aureus by droplet spread onto the injured muscle produced a muscle contamination of 8.79 × 106 cfu/g at 48 hours. Ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes demonstrated clinically significant activation. All animals had normal body temperature and hematological parameters throughout and blood and urinalysis culture at autopsy were negative for organisms. This model allows reproducible muscle injury and contamination with the organism ubiquitous to extremity wound infection at a level sufficient to allow quantitative assessment of subsequent wound care interventions without incurring systemic involvement.

Critically assessing the Haiti earthquake response and the barriers to quality orthopaedic care

BACKGROUND

Although numerous authors have described surgical experiences following major disasters, little is known regarding the needs of and barriers to care faced by surgeons during such disasters.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

We therefore (1) identified and compared recurrent interview themes essential to the disaster response following the 2010 Haiti earthquake; (2) determined the difference in reported disaster equipment management task difficulty between disaster-trained and untrained volunteers; and (3) approximated the quantity of various procedures performed.

METHODS

We conducted 14 interviews with selected orthopaedic surgeon volunteers. We also invited the 504 members of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), who registered as Haiti earthquake volunteers, to complete an online survey; 174 (35%) completed the survey and 131 (26%) were present in Haiti during the 30 days after the earthquake. Recurrent interview themes were identified, quantified, and compared using Poisson regression analysis. The difference in disaster equipment management difficulty scores was determined with a Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

RESULTS

Of 10 recurrent interview themes, group organization (31 occurrences) was mentioned much more often than all but two of the remaining nine themes. Compared with disaster-untrained respondents, equipment management tended to be less challenging for disaster-trained respondents. Transporting to the treatment site and security during storage at the site were less challenging (19.5% and 16.5% decreases, respectively). Revision surgeries, guillotine amputations, fasciotomies, and internal fixations, suggestive of inappropriate disaster care, were frequently reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Organizational and training barriers obstructed orthopaedic care delivery immediately after the Haiti earthquake. Disaster training and outcomes require further study to improve care in future catastrophes.

Extremity Trauma, Dressings, and Wound Infection

The manner in which high-energy transfer limb injuries are dressed can alter the wound environment through manipulation of the bacterial burden, thus minimizing tissue degradation and influencing healing potential. Infection is the principal complication of such wounds, and antiseptic soaked gauze is accepted in early coverage of extremity wounds despite a lack of evidence to support this practice. There has been resurgence in the use of silver in acute wounds, through dressings manipulated to deliver sustained elemental silver to the wound interface. In vitro and in vivo experimentation of silver dressings are characterized however by methodological compromise, primarily through lack of similarity of models to the physiology of the healing wound. Results from in vitro studies caution against the use of silver because of evidence of cytotoxicity, but this is not reproduced in in vivo or clinical experimentation, leading to ambiguity. Review of silver dressing application in burns and chronic wound studies fails to support its use over other dressing systems. Similarly, evidence for the use of silver in acute limb wounds is lacking. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the use of silver dressings in acute wound care and highlights in particular the paucity of evidence regarding its routine use in extremity injury.

Negative pressure wound therapy reduces the effectiveness of traditional local antibiotic depot in a large complex musculoskeletal wound animal model

OBJECTIVES

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used to help manage open wounds. Surgeons also often use local antibiotic depot as adjunctive therapy in an effort to reduce infection rates. These 2 techniques have been reported to be used in conjunction, but there are little data to support this practice. We sought to compare the contamination levels of wounds treated with the commonly used antibiotic bead pouch technique to wounds that received both antibiotic beads and NWPT.

METHODS

The effectiveness of a bead pouch was compared with antibiotic beads with NPWT. The anterior compartment and proximal tibia of goats were injured and inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus. Six hours later, the wounds were debrided and the animals were assigned to a group; the bacteria level was quantified immediately before and after initial debridement and 2 days after treatment.

RESULTS

The wounds in the antibiotic bead pouch group had 6-fold less bacteria than the augmented NPWT group, 11 ± 2% versus 67 ± 11% of baseline values, respectively (P = 0.01). As expected, high levels of the antibiotic were consistently recovered from the augmented NPWT effluent samples at all time points.

CONCLUSIONS

NPWT reduces the effectiveness of local antibiotic depot. These results can provide surgeons with the information to personalize the adjunctive therapies to individual patients, with the degree of difficulty in managing the wound and concern for infection being the 2 variables dictating treatment.

Negative pressure wound therapy reduces deep infection rate in open tibial fractures

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on deep infection rate in open tibial fractures.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study. Data was collected from medical records and radiographs.

SETTING

Two level-1 trauma centers.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS

Patients who sustained an open tibial fracture which underwent delayed soft tissue coverage between January 2002 and December 2007 were included. Exclusion criteria included open fractures receiving a combination of NPWT and conventional dressings, fractures which were treated with a primary amputation, and fractures associated with mortality.

INTERVENTION

: NPWT with reticulated open cell foam or conventional dressings at surgeon's discretion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT

Deep infection rate.

RESULTS

A total of 229 open tibial fractures in 220 patients met the inclusion criteria and received either NPWT (166/229-72%) or conventional dressings (63/229-28%). There was a decreased rate of deep infection in the NPWT group compared with the conventional dressing group [8.4% (14/166) vs. 20.6% (13/63); P = 0.01]. Univariate predictors of deep infection included Gustilo type {odds ratio (OR): 3.13 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.74-5.64]; P < 0.001} and use of NPWT [OR: 0.35 (95% CI: 0.16-0.80); P = 0.01]. When adjustment was performed for Gustilo type with multivariate analysis, use of NPWT was found to reduce the risk of deep infection by almost 80% [OR: 0.22 (95% CI: 0.09-0.55); P = 0.001].

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that NPWT reduces the rate of deep infection when used for the dressing of traumatic wounds in open tibial fractures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Reoperations following combat-related upper-extremity amputations

BACKGROUND

Amputation revision rates following major upper-extremity amputations have not been previously reported in a large cohort of patients. We hypothesized that the revision rates following major upper-extremity amputation were higher than the existing literature would suggest, and that surgical treatment of complications and persistent symptoms would lead to improved outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of ninety-six combat-wounded personnel who had sustained a total of 100 major upper-extremity amputations in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Prerevision and postrevision outcome measures, including prosthesis use and type, the presence of phantom and residual limb pain, pain medication use, and return to active military duty, were identified for all patients.

RESULTS

All amputations resulted from high-energy trauma, with 87% occurring secondary to a blast injury. Forty-two residual limbs (42%) underwent a total of 103 repeat surgical interventions. As compared with patients with all other levels of amputation, those with a transradial amputation were 4.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.75 to 12.46) times more likely to have phantom limb pain and 2.8 (95% CI: 1.04 to 7.39) times more likely to require neuropathic pain medications. In the group of patients who underwent revision surgery, regular prosthesis use increased from 19% before the revision to 87% after it (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort, revision amputation to address surgical complications and persistently symptomatic residual limbs improved the patient's overall acceptance of the prosthesis and led to outcomes equivalent to those following amputations that did not require revision.

Observational studies in the era of randomized trials: finding the balance

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) constitute the gold standard for the generation of evidence-based medicine, but may not always be feasible. Furthermore, randomization alone does not guarantee the utility of the research, as evidenced by thousands of uninformative RCTs documented in the literature. Observational studies, including longitudinal, retrospective, and case-control designs, can contribute to the body of evidence in meaningful ways, provide useful information when an RCT is unethical or not feasible, generate hypotheses for RCTs, or provide preliminary work to better inform design of future RCTs. They can also be used to study rare outcomes, risk factors, and side effects, and to examine whether results from RCTs translate into effective treatment in routine practice. Use of modern statistical techniques, both in the study design and in the analysis stage, can improve the usefulness of the evidence obtained from observational studies.

Limb wounding and antisepsis: iodine and chlorhexidine in the early management of extremity injury

Extremity injury and contamination as consequence are features of high-energy wounding. A leading cause of disability and the commonest cause of late complications, prevention of wound infection determines the ultimate outcome in these populations. Multiple variables influence the development of infection, one of which is the dressing used on the wound. Antiseptic-soaked gauze dressings feature in the early management of limb trauma despite a lack of evidence to support this. Iodine and chlorhexidine are ubiquitous in other aspects of health care however, and a plethora of studies detail their role in skin antisepsis, the recommendations from which are often anecdotally applied to acute wounding. To contextualize the role for antiseptic dressing use in acute, significant limb injury this review explores the evidence for the use of chlorhexidine and iodine in skin antisepsis. The paucity of experimental data available for antiseptic use in early wound management and the need for further research to address this evidence void is highlighted.

Management of the mangled extremity

The management of a mangled extremity continues to be a matter of debate. With modern advances in trauma resuscitation, microvascular tissue transfer, and fracture fixation, severe traumatic extremity injuries that would historically have been amputated are often salvaged. Even if preserving a mangled limb is a technical possibility, the question is often raised whether the end result will also be functional and what treatment would lead to the best patient outcome. The road to salvage is often prolonged with significant morbidity, reoperations, financial costs, and even mortality in some instances. Numerous factors have been implicated in the outcome of these injuries, and a number of scoring systems have been designed in an attempt to help guide the treating surgeon in the acute phase. However, much controversy remains on the ability of these grading systems to predict successful salvage of the mangled extremity. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of injury, various available scoring systems, initial management, outcome and specific differences between lower and upper extremity trauma injuries.

Perioperative Management of Peripheral Vascular Trauma

Peripheral vascular trauma is not uncommon in the civilian setting, and it can be uniquely challenging because of the limited time during which intervention can salvage an ischemic extremity. Injuries can be from a blunt or penetrating mechanism, and these injuries can be isolated or can be in the setting of a complex multisystem trauma. The intent of this review is to discuss the perioperative management of peripheral vascular trauma with an emphasis of predicting, preventing, and managing common postoperative complications.

Proximal sural traction neurectomy during transtibial amputations

Symptomatic neuroma formation after trauma-related transtibial amputations remains a clinical problem. The sural nerve is frequently overlooked in its vulnerable subcutaneous location in the posterior myofasciocutaneous flap and commonly leads to chronic pain and decreased prosthesis use. The standard sural traction neurectomy may actually predispose the sural neuroma to form in a region that becomes symptomatic with prosthesis wear. The proposed modified proximal sural traction neurectomy using a standard or extended posterior flap begins with identification of the sural nerve in the subcutaneous tissue of the distal flap in identical fashion to a standard sural neurectomy. In the proximal posterior flap, a limited anterior approach is then performed and gentle traction on the distal end of the sural nerve aids in the identification of the most proximally accessible portion of the medial sural cutaneous nerve. After locating the medial sural cutaneous nerve proximally, a neurectomy at this location is performed, allowing the retraction of the nerve into a healthy tissue bed substantially more proximal than with a standard sural neurectomy. This technique ensures that the resulting neuroma does not form directly at the distal end of the residual limb where it is, in our experience, more likely to become symptomatic.

Incidence and risk factors for amputation in foot and ankle trauma

Mobility, especially in elderly patients, is often a proxy for overall health. It is thus of interest to understand the rates of lower extremity amputation and the risk factors for these procedures in the trauma population. We compared the rates of lower extremity amputation in low- versus high-level trauma by analyzing the National Trauma Data Bank. We also attempted to identify the risk factors in the low-level trauma population with foot and ankle trauma that predispose to lower extremity amputation. The factors associated with lower extremity amputation in foot and ankle trauma differed slightly from those in other multi-trauma patients. The factors associated with lower extremity amputation in the low-level foot and ankle trauma population that were statistically and clinically significant in this study included male gender, confounding injury, other trauma type versus blunt trauma, penetrating versus blunt trauma, occurrence of fracture, and occurrence of crush injury or wound. Understanding these risk factors will assist in educating patients and their family about their prognosis. Also, understanding these risk factors will assist surgeons with patient selection when considering salvage procedures.

Rehospitalization after combat injury

BACKGROUND

Frequency of rehospitalization and associated resource requirements are unknown for combat casualties. Differences may also exist in readmission rates for injuries to separate body regions. This study investigates rehospitalization of combat casualties with a hypothesis that extremity injuries cause the greatest number of readmissions and require the greatest resources to treat.

METHODS

A Department of Defense database was queried for hospital admissions of a previously published cohort of service members initially wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan between October 2001 and January 2005. Cohort admission data were collected from October 2001 to February 2008. Body region injured was assigned using International Classification of Diseases Ninth Edition primary diagnosis codes. Resource utilization was calculated using the 2008 Department of Defense billing calculator.

RESULTS

Our cohort consisted of 1,337 service members with 2,899 admissions. Three hundred forty-one service members had 670 readmissions. Of rehospitalizations, 64% were for extremity injuries making up 66% of all rehospitalization days. Seventy percent of service members injured had at least one admission for extremity injury. Wound debridement made up 12% of all readmissions, and 92% of these were for extremity injuries. The estimated cost of rehospitalization for extremity injuries for this conflict to date is $139 million.

CONCLUSIONS

Extremity injuries have been shown to result in the greatest long-term disability and require the greatest resource utilization during initial treatment. This study demonstrates that they also are the most frequent cause of rehospitalization and require the greatest resource utilization during rehospitalization.

Dual-purpose bone grafts improve healing and reduce infection

OBJECTIVE

To determine if a dual-purpose bone graft can regenerate bone and reduce infection in highly contaminated bone critical size defects in rats.

METHODS

Biodegradable polyurethane (PUR) scaffolds were loaded with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and vancomycin (Vanc). The release kinetics of the BMP-2 were tuned to take advantage of its mechanism of action (ie, an initial burst to recruit cells and sustained release to induce differentiation of the migrating cells). The Vanc release kinetics were designed to protect the graft from contamination until it is vascularized by having a burst for a week and remaining well over the minimum inhibitory concentration for Staphylococcus aureus for 2 months. The bone regeneration and infection reduction capability of these dual-purpose grafts (PUR+Vanc+BMP-2) were compared with collagen sponges loaded with BMP-2 (collagen+BMP-2) and PUR+BMP-2 in infected critical size rat femoral segmental defects.

RESULTS

The dual-delivery approach resulted in substantially more new bone formation and a modest improvement in infection than PUR+BMP-2 and collagen+BMP-2 treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

The PUR bone graft is injectable, provides a more sustained release of BMP-2 than the collagen sponge, and can release antibiotics for more than 8 weeks. Thus, the dual-delivery approach may improve patient outcomes of open fractures by protecting the osteoinductive graft from colonization until vascularization occurs. In addition, the more optimal release kinetics of BMP-2 may reduce nonunions and the amount of growth factor required.

Is revision surgery following lower-limb amputation a worthwhile procedure? A retrospective review of 71 cases

There is little written about the value of revision surgery on lower-limb amputations. We report on 71 revision amputation procedures performed by a single surgeon in this retrospective analysis. The majority of our revisions (61%) were in amputees who had suffered trauma. We judged success from a surgical and a rehabilitation perspective using scoring systems. Revisions for bony and soft-tissue pathology had good outcomes from a surgical (85% and 82%) and a rehabilitation perspective. Revisions for infection had satisfactory results from a surgical perspective (73%) but less so from a rehabilitation perspective (25%). The results of the revisions for pain were poor showing surgical success only 50% of the time where a neuroma was suspected and only 25% when there was no apparent cause. There was little or no improvement in rehabilitation in both the pain groups. Revision surgery for certain pathologies gives a good surgical outcome and can improve pain and mobility status. Patient selection for surgery is key and evaluation by a multidisciplinary team is recommended.

Effect of various concentrations of antibiotics on osteogenic cell viability and activity

Infection is a common complication of open fractures. Systemic antibiotics often cause adverse events before eradication of infected bone occurs. The local delivery of antibiotics and the use of implants that deliver both growth factors and antimicrobials are ways to circumvent systemic toxicity while decreasing infection and to reach extremely high levels required to treat bacterial biofilms. When choosing an antibiotic for a local delivery system, one should consider the effect that the antibiotic has on cell viability and osteogenic activity. To address this concern, osteoblasts were treated with 21 different antibiotics over 8 concentrations from 0 to 5000 µg/ml. Osteoblast deoxyribonucleic acid content and alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) were measured to determine cell number and osteogenic activity, respectively. Antibiotics that caused the greatest decrement include rifampin, minocycline, doxycycline, nafcillin, penicillin, ciprofloxacin, colistin methanesulfonate, and gentamicin; their cell number and ALP were significantly less than control at drug concentrations ≤ 200 µg/ml. Conversely, amikacin, tobramycin, and vancomycin were the least cytotoxic and did not appreciably affect cell number and ALP until very high concentrations were used. This comprehensive evaluation of numerous antibiotics' effects on osteoblast viability and activity will enable clinicians and researchers to choose the optimal antibiotic for treatment of infection and maintenance of healthy host bone.

Operative complications of combat-related transtibial amputations: a comparison of the modified burgess and modified Ertl tibiofibular synostosis techniques

BACKGROUND

The complications of bone-bridging amputations remain ill defined. The purpose of this study was to compare the early and intermediate-term complications leading to reoperation between the modified Burgess and modified Ertl tibiofibular synostosis in combat-related transtibial amputations.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive, contemporaneous cohorts of thirty-seven modified Ertl bone-bridge and 100 modified Burgess combat-related transtibial amputations. The primary outcome measure was the need for reoperation following definitive closure.

RESULTS

At a mean follow-up of two years (range, nine to forty-eight months), there was a 53% overall reoperation rate. The overall complications included infection (34%), neuroma excision (18%), heterotopic ossification excision (15%), myodesis failure (4%), and scar revision (7%). A significantly higher rate of overall complications (p = 0.008) was noted in the bone-bridge group. Additionally, there was an increased rate of noninfectious complications in the bone-bridge group (p = 0.02). A positive selection bias was also noted for performing bone-bridge amputations late (p = 0.0002) and outside the zone of injury (p < 0.0001). Bone-bridge-specific complications occurred in 32% of the modified Ertl group. Delayed union or nonunion of the synostosis (11%) and implant-related complications (27%) predominated. Three bone bridges were ultimately removed.

CONCLUSIONS

Reoperations were needed at a significantly greater rate overall and for noninfectious complications following bone-bridge synostosis compared with modified Burgess transtibial amputations. Additionally, despite the positive selection bias favoring the bridge synostosis cohort, infection rates were not lower in that group. Detailed patient counseling and careful patient selection are indicated prior to performing modified Ertl amputations, particularly in the absence of convincing evidence regarding objective functional benefits from the procedure.

Socio-economic outcome after blunt orthopaedic trauma: Implications on injury prevention

Background

Several large studies have identified factors associated with long-term outcome after orthopaedic injuries. However, long-term social and economic implications have not been published so far. The aim of this investigation is to study the long-term socio-economic consequences of patients sustaining severe trauma.

Methods

Patients treated at a level one trauma center were invited for a follow-up (at least 10 years) examination. There were 637 patients who responded and were examined. Inclusion criteria included injury severity score (ISS) ≥ 16 points, presence of lower and upper extremity fractures, and age between 3 and 60 years. Exclusion criteria included the presence of amputations and paraplegia. The socio-economic outcome was evaluated in three age groups: group I (< 18 years), group II (19 - 50 years), and group III (> 50 years). The following parameters were analyzed using a standardized questionnaire: financial losses, net income losses, pension precaution losses, need for a bank loan, and the decrease in number of friends.

Results

510 patients matched all study criteria, and breakdown of groups were as follows: 140 patients in group I, 341 patients in group II, and 29 patients in group III. Financial losses were reported in all age groups (20%-44%). Younger patients (group I) were associated with less income losses when compared with other groups (p < 0.05). Financial deterioration was more frequently reported in age group II (p < 0.05). Social consequences (number of friends decreased) were predominantly stated in patients younger than 18 years old (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Economic consequences are reported by polytraumatized patients even ten or more years after injury. Financial losses appear to be common in patients between 19 and 50 years. In contrast, social deprivation appears to be most pronounced in the younger age groups. Early socio-economic support and measures of injury prevention should focus on these specific age groups.

Covering the below-knee amputation stump with the pedicled dorsalis pedis flap from the ipsilateral foot: a case report

It is important to preserve the length, appropriate durable skin, and sensation of the stump when performing below-knee amputation to achieve functional ambulation with a prosthesis. There are many reports of reconstruction procedures using microvascular surgery to preserve the optimum length of the amputation stump for prosthesis; however, free tissue reconstruction is necessary to accompany with the donor site morbidity. In this report, we describe our experience with a below-knee amputation and stump covering using the pedicled dorsalis pedis flap from the no longer usable foot in the case of a severe osteomyelitis of a lower extremity after highly contaminated Gustilo type IIIB fracture. We achieved a well-healed amputated stump with enough length for a prosthesis and for protective sensation. The pedicled dorsalis pedis flap is easily elevated without microvascular anastomosis and is one useful option for the reconstruction of the below-knee amputated stump in the specific case.

Volumetric muscle loss

Prevention of infection, as well as bone covering and healing, is paramount in the management of limb injury with associated muscle injury. Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is the traumatic or surgical loss of skeletal muscle with resultant functional impairment. No standardized evaluation protocol exists for the characterization and quantification of VML. Clinical photographs and video recordings, range of motion measurements, manual muscle strength testing, and isokinetic muscle function testing may prove to be useful in documenting VML. Current treatment options include functional free muscle transfer and the use of advanced bracing designs. Advances in powered bracing and regenerative medicine may one day provide additional therapeutic options. Further research on VML is warranted.

Traumatic and trauma-related amputations: part I: general principles and lower-extremity amputations

Deliberate attention to the management of soft tissue is imperative when performing an amputation. Identification and proper management of the nerves accompanied by the performance of a stable myodesis and ensuring robust soft-tissue coverage are measures that will improve patient outcomes. Limb length should be preserved when practicable; however, length preservation at the expense of creating a nonhealing or painful residual limb with poor soft-tissue coverage is contraindicated. While a large proportion of individuals with a trauma-related amputation remain severely disabled, a chronically painful residual limb is not inevitable and late revision amputations to improve soft-tissue coverage, stabilize the soft tissues (revision myodesis), or remove symptomatic neuromas can dramatically improve patient outcomes. Psychosocial issues may dramatically affect the outcomes after trauma-related amputations. A multidisciplinary team should be consulted or created to address the multiple complex physical, mental, and psychosocial issues facing patients with a recent amputation.

Lower Extremity Assessment Project (LEAP)--the best available evidence on limb-threatening lower extremity trauma

Lower Extremity Assessment Project (LEAP) study set out to answer many of the questions surrounding the decision of whether to amputate or salvage limbs in the setting of severe lower extremity trauma. A National Institutes of Health-funded, multicenter, prospective observational study, the LEAP study represented a milestone in orthopedic trauma research, and perhaps in orthopedics. The LEAP study attempted to define the characteristics of the individuals who sustained these injuries, the characteristics of their environment, the variables of the physical aspects of their injury, the secondary medical and mental conditions that arose from their injury and treatment, their ultimate functional status, and their general health. In the realm of evidence-based medicine, the LEAP studies provided a wealth of data, but still failed to completely determine treatment at the onset of severe lower extremity trauma.

Evolving techniques in foot and ankle amputation

Multiple clinical pathways lead to lower extremity amputation, including trauma, dysvascular disease, congenital defects, and malignancy. However, the principles of successful amputation-careful preoperative planning, coordination of a multidisciplinary team, and good surgical technique-remain the same. Organized rehabilitation and properly selected prostheses are integral components of amputee care. In the civilian setting, amputation is usually performed as a planned therapy for an unsalvageable extremity, not as an emergency procedure. The partial loss of a lower limb often represents a major change in a person's life, but patients should be encouraged to approach amputation as the beginning of a new phase of life and not as the culmination of previous treatment failures.