Reamed versus unreamed intramedullary locked nailing in tibial fractures

The statistical fragility of intramedullary reaming in tibial nail fixation: a systematic review

PURPOSE

To report the statistical stability of prospective clinical trials evaluating the effect of intramedullary reaming on rates of non-union in tibial fractures through calculation of the fragility metrics for non-union rates and all other dichotomous outcomes.

METHODS

Literature search was conducted for prospective clinical trials evaluating the effect of intramedullary reaming on non-union rates in tibial nailing. All dichotomous outcomes were extracted from the manuscripts. The fragility index (FI) and reverse fragility index (RFI) were calculated by determining the number of event reversals required for a statistically significant outcome to lose significance and vice-versa. The fragility quotient (FQ) and reverse fragility quotient (RFQ) were calculated by dividing the FI or RFI by the sample size, respectively. Outcomes were defined as "fragile" if the FI or RFI was found to be less than or equal to the number of patients lost to follow-up.

RESULTS

Literature search identified 579 results which produced ten studies meeting the criteria for review. There were 111 outcomes identified for analysis, of which 89 (80%) exhibited statistical fragility. For reported outcomes across the studies the median and mean FI was 2, the median FQ was 0.019, the mean FQ was 0.030, the median RFI was 4, the mean RFI was 3.95, the median RFQ was 0.045, and the mean RFQ was 0.030. Four studies reported outcomes which were found to have an FI of 0.

CONCLUSIONS

The studies evaluating the effect of intramedullary reaming on tibial nail fixation demonstrate considerable fragility. On average, two event reversals for significant findings, and four event reversals for insignificant findings are sufficient to alter statistical significance.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, systematic review of Level I and Level II studies.

Systematic Review and Analysis of the Quality of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing Reamed and Unreamed Intramedullary Nailing of Tibial Fractures

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the quality of research and reporting of randomized controlled trials comparing the use of reamed and unreamed intramedullary nails for tibial fractures with validated scoring systems.

DATA SOURCE

PubMed using the search terms "tibia" AND "reamed OR unreamed" AND "intramedullary OR nail." Filters were applied for the years 1991-2019, full articles, human subjects, and English language.

STUDY SELECTION

Inclusion criteria were (1) prospective and randomized trials, (2) studies reported >80% follow-up, and (3) articles amenable to scoring with the chosen scoring systems. Exclusion criteria were (1) skeletally immature patients or (2) incomplete data sets.

DATA EXTRACTION

Articles were assessed with the Coleman Methodology Score, the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials systems, and Cowan's Categorical Rating by 2 independent observers.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Scores for individual articles were averaged for the 2 observers. The total and subcategory scores for all included articles were also averaged with SD from both observers. Categories from the 2 grading systems with deficient reporting were measured as a percentage based on grading from both observers. Data were analyzed using kappa statistic and correlation coefficient to assess agreement and reliability.

CONCLUSIONS

All included articles supported the use of reamed tibial intramedullary nails, but the overall quality of the literature fell in the middle of both the modified Coleman Score and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials grading scheme ranges despite being Oxford Level 1.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

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

Measuring outcomes following tibial fracture

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine how outcome is measured following adult tibial fracture in the modern era of functional outcome measurement and patient reported outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic review of publications since 2009 was performed, looking specifically at acute, adult tibial shaft fractures. Ovid Medline, Embase, PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched for relevant titles which were then screened by two authors with adjudication where necessary by a third. Relevant articles were reviewed in full and data was extracted concerning the study participants, study design and any measures that were used to quantify the results following fracture. The results were collated and patient reported outcome measures were assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) standards.

RESULTS

A total of 943 titles and articles were reviewed, with 117 included for full analysis. A wide range of clinical and radiological "outcomes" were described, along with named clinician- and patient-reported outcome measures. There was considerable heterogeneity and lack of detail in the description of the simplest outcomes, such as union, infection or reoperation. Reported clinician and patient reported outcome measures are variably used. None of the identified patient reported outcome measures have been validated for use following tibial fracture.

CONCLUSION

We recommend definition of a core outcome set for use following tibial fracture. This will standardise outcome reporting following these injuries. Furthermore, there is need for a validated patient reported outcome measure to better assess patient important outcomes in this patient group.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a patient-reported hip outcome score

PURPOSE

We aimed to perform psychometric testing for the translated Oxford Hip Score (OHS) for use as a recommended tool to measure treatment outcomes.

METHODS

The original English questionnaire was translated and culturally validated using the instrument developer's guidelines and the ISPOR principles of good practice. One hundred patients completed the form together with the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and EQ-5D-5 L. Fifty patients repeated the form after two days. They were suffering from hip osteoarthritis, had had hip replacement or underwent osteosynthesis for a fracture of the trochanteric region.

RESULTS

The questionnaire had a high degree of reliability with a Cronbach α of 0.917 at the initial completion and 0.917 at the second testing, respectively. The two results were strongly positive and significantly correlated (Pearson's r = 0.947; p < 0.001). The OHS was strongly and significantly correlated with the HHS (Pearson's r = 0.880 initial and r = 0.840 s; p < 0.001) and strongly, positive and significantly correlated with the EQ-5D-5 L VAS (Pearson's r = 0.614 initial and r = 0.704 s; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that the translation of the OHS is a reliable, reproducible and valid measure of function in patients who undergo treatment for hip pathology.

Case series of patients with pathological dyaphiseal fractures from metastatic bone disease

INTRODUCTION

Fractures on pathologic bone have major impact on life quality. The appropriate treatment is not standardized, but the current literature delineates that surgery must provide adequate stabilization for the life expectancy. We aimed to review the epidemiology, treatment outcomes and survival in our department.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The electronic database from a major referral centre was searched for patients treated for tumours and fractures by the corresponding ICM-10 codes over five years. Eighty-nine patients were identified. Eleven females and nine males, with an average age of 64 years underwent 23 operations during the selected timeframe. Six fractures were subtrochanteric, five at the femoral neck and five at the femoral diaphysis. Seventeen cases were metastatic carcinomas, out of which five mammary, three pulmonary and seven carcinomas of undetermined origin without immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Fourteen types of surgical intervention were osteosynthesis with intramedullary nails and six were partial hip replacements of which one had proximal femur resection and revision stem hemiarthroplasty. Four patients had single metastatic lesions which underwent resection and defect filling using PMMA cement (polymethylmethacrylate). The follow-up period ranged between two and seven years or until death. Only five patients (25%) were alive at the last follow-up. Local recurrence appeared in one patient. There was one immediate post-operative complication (dehiscent wound) and one implant failure after five years and was replaced with a larger diameter (exchange nailing).

CONCLUSION

Both hip arthroplasty and femoral nailing are safe and routine procedures that are performed with relatively technical ease and low surgical stress and few peri-operative complications for the patient. They allow for immediate mobilization and weight-bearing with moderate and rapidly decreasing pain and discomfort.