Fracture Patterns and Mortality in Osteopetrosis: A 7-year Retrospective Analysis from Türkiye's National Registry

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to determine the demographic data, fracture treatment methods, and medical treatments of patients diagnosed with osteopetrosis in the national registry.

METHODS

Patients with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 code Q78.2 for osteopetrosis between January 1, 2016 and April 11, 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Data on sex, age at time of diagnosis, fracture history, mortality, and use of medications were evaluated for all patients. In addition, open reduction and internal fixation, closed reduction and internal fixation, closed reduction and casting, and conservative treatment methods were noted. The number of patients requiring deformity surgery was determined. The incidence and prevalence of osteopetrosis were also calculated in this cross-sectional study.

RESULTS

A total of 476 patients diagnosed with osteopetrosis were identified. The mean age at time of diagnosis of these patients was 5.79 ± 5.43 years. A total of 101 patients died. As the age at diagnosis decreased, the mortality rate of the patients increased with statistical significance ( P <0.001). A total of 192 fractures were seen in 121 osteopetrosis patients in this study. Femur fractures were most common among these patients with osteopetrosis. A history of fracture was statistically significantly less common in patients using a combination of vitamin D + calcium compared with patients not using such medication ( P <0.001). In this 7-year cross-sectional study, the incidence was found to be 1 in 416,000 and the prevalence was 0.00199% in the population under 18 years of age.

CONCLUSION

Younger age at diagnosis is associated with higher mortality in patients with osteopetrosis. In addition, the combination of vitamin D and calcium were associated with lower fracture incidence.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level II.

The effect of reduced acromiohumeral distance and increased acromial thickness on the risk of rotator cuff tear

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the effect of reduced acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and increased acromial thickness (AT) on the risk of rotator cuff tear (RCT).

METHODS

Patients aged 25-70 were included in this retrospective study. Patients who were operated on for RCT between January 2019 and December 2021 were included in group 1, and patients who applied to the outpatient clinic in the same period with a complaint of shoulder pain and no problem on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included in group 2. Three researchers performed AHD and AT measurements on the same true anteroposterior (AP) shoulder radiographs. The second measurement was performed 1 month later when, the first measurements were completed.

RESULTS

Radiographs of 284 patients in group 1 and 234 patients in group 2 were evaluated. In group 1, the mean AHD measurement was 8.25 ± 1.73 mm, and the AT measurement was 8.58 ± 1.06 mm. In group 2, the mean AHD measurement was 10.25 ± 1.4 mm, and the AT measurement was 8.35 ± 0.92 mm. A significant relationship was determined between the RCT and the AHD (P < .001). Also, RCT and AT have a significant relationship (P < .001). The authors determined that the risk of RCT increased 3.45 times when patients with AHD 6-10 mm were compared with patients with AHD >10 mm. In addition, all patients with AHD < 6mm had RCT, and the risk of RCT increased 1.42 times when patients with AT > 8 mm were compared with patients with AT < 8 mm.

CONCLUSION

Acromiohumeral distance and AT measurements are practical, inexpensive, and valuable in evaluating RCT. Decreased AHD and increased AT increase the risk of RCT.

Systematic triage and treatment of earthquake victims: Our experience in a tertiary hospital after the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of our triage system in acceleration of intervention for the musculoskeletal injuries and clinical follow-ups of trauma patients admitted to our center after the Kahramanmaras earthquake.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between February 6^th, 2023 and February 20^th, 2023, a total of 439 patients (207 males, 232 females; mean age: 37.1±19.1 years; range, 1 to 94 years) with earthquake-related musculoskeletal injuries after the Kahramanmaras earthquake were retrospectively analyzed. Data including age, sex, referral city information, removal time from the rubbles, physical examination findings, clinical photos, fasciotomy and amputation stumps and levels, and X-ray images and computed tomography images of all patients were shared and archived in the WhatsApp (Meta Platforms, Inc.® ATTN/CA, USA) group called 'Earthquake' created by orthopedic surgeons. To complete the patient interventions as soon as possible and to ensure order, the patients were distributed with the teams in order through this group by the consultant orthopedic surgeon. The treatments were applied and recorded according to the skin and soft tissue conditions, and fractures of the patients. All treatments were carried out with a multi-disciplinary approach.

RESULTS

Of the patients, 16.2% were children. Lower limb injuries constituted 59.07% of musculoskeletal injuries. Upper limb, pelvic, and spinal cord injuries were observed in 21.9%, 12.7%, and 6.25%, respectively. Conservative treatment was applied to 183 (41.68%) patients. The most common surgical intervention was debridement (n=136, 53.1%). External fixation was applied in the first stage to 21 (8.2%) patients with open fractures. The mean removal time from the rubbles was 32.1±29.38 h. A total of 118 limb fasciotomy operations were applied to the patients. Fifty limb amputations were performed in 40 patients at the last follow-up due to vascular insufficiency and infection.

CONCLUSION

Based on our study results, we believe that a triage system using a good communication and organization strategy is beneficial to prevent treatment delay and possible adverse events in future disasters.

Do Different Approaches Make a Difference in Isokinetic Performance in Elderly Patients With Femoral Neck Fracture Who Underwent Bipolar Endoprosthesis?

Background There are ongoing doubts about the effects of the commonly used anterolateral approach (ALA) and posterolateral approach (PLA) for bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) on hip muscle strength after surgery. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the isokinetic performance of the operated and non-operated hips in patients with femoral neck fractures who underwent BHA with PLA or ALA and to compare the isokinetic performance of the hips and functional results between the two approaches. Materials and methods Forty-one patients who underwent unilateral BHA with PLA or ALA for femoral neck fracture between February 2019 and December 2020 were enrolled. The isokinetic performance of the flexor, extensor, and abductor muscles of the operated and non-operated hips were evaluated by measuring peak torque, total work, and average power. Functional status was assessed using Harris Hip Score and Short Form 36. Results The patients were divided into two groups; those operated with PLA (n=22) and with ALA (n=19). The groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. All isokinetic parameters of the operated hips did not differ between the groups (all p>0.05). In both groups, all isokinetic parameters were significantly lower in the operated hips than in the non-operated hips. Conclusion Although there are debates about potential extensor muscle injury with PLA and potential abductor muscle injury with ALA, this study showed that functional results and the isokinetic performance of both approaches were not different.

The self-assessment of newly graduated orthopedic surgeons on essential surgical procedures

Objective:

The aim of this study was to assess the self-confidence of newly graduated orthopedic surgeons on performing essential surgical procedures.

Methods:

The study included 151 orthopedics and traumatology surgeons who had completed their (orthopedics and traumatology) training within the last year. They were asked to complete an online questionnaire which was available from February 2020 to May 2021. In the questionnaire, newly graduated orthopedic surgeons were asked whether they could do the 18 listed essential adult and 8 listed essential pediatric cases independently. They were asked about patient follow-up systems and who these were supervised by, the demographic data of the city and about the institution they were trained in, and how many times they performed the listed surgeries during their training.

Results:

74 (49%) of the participants received their training in training and research hospitals, 69 (45.7%) in state university hospitals, and 8 (5.3%) in foundation university hospitals. More than 80% of the participants answered, “I can do it independently” for 13 (81.6%) out of 16 adult cases and 7 (87.5%) out of 8 paediatric cases. The average self-efficacy score of the participants was 32.22 out of 36 for adult cases and 15.3 out of 16 for paediatric cases. The total average self-efficacy score was 47.52 out of 52.

Conclusion:

This study has shown us that newly graduated orthopedic surgeons have the self-confidence to handle many of the essential types of cases independently.

Comparison of the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic with a normal period in terms of orthopaedic trauma: Data from a level 1 trauma centre

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics and distribution of trauma surgeries performed in the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the second phase of the pandemic, and the normal period before the pandemic.

METHODS

Three different time periods were determined.Group 1 represented the first wave of the pandemic, in which lockdowns andrestrictions were strictly applied and only emergency and trauma surgeries wereperformed, between 1 April and 31 May 2020. Group 2 represented the second waveof the pandemic, during which restrictions were not applied and only emergencyand trauma surgeries were performed, from 1 September to 31 October 2020. Group3 represented the normal period before the pandemic, including surgeriesperformed between 1 September and 31 October 2019. In addition, patients ineach group were divided into two groups as younger than 16 or older than 16 inorder to understand the difference between paediatric and adult orthopaedictraumas. The distribution of patients and their fractures were evaluated.

RESULTS

In Group 1, the rates of intra-articular fractures, distal extremity fractures, and proximal humerus fractures decreased, while the rate of proximal femur fractures increased (P < 0.05 for all). The frequency of hand fractures treated in Groups 1 and 2 compared to Group 3 was reduced (P < 0.05 for both). There was no statistically significant difference between Groups 2 and 3 for fractures in different parts of the body except for hand fractures (P = 0.001 for hand fractures, P > 0.05 for the other fractures).

CONCLUSION

We observed that the frequency of fractures decreased, and the distribution changed due to severe restrictions and lockdowns in the first wave of the pandemic. When the restrictions and lockdowns were removed in the second wave, the frequency of fractures decreased, but the distribution of fractures was similar to the normal period in 2019.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, Diagnostic Study.

Comparison of local infiltration analgesia and interscalene block for postoperative pain management in shoulder arthroscopy: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Background/aim

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of local infiltration analgesia and interscalene brachial plexus block techniques on postoperative pain control and shoulder functional scores in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Materials and methods

Sixty patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were prospectively included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 was comprised of patients who had interscalene brachial plexus block, while group 2 was comprised of patients who had local infiltration analgesia. In group 1, interscalene block was applied with 20 mL 0.5% bupivacaine. In group 2, the Ranawat cocktail was used for local infiltration analgesia. Sixty milliliters of Ranawat cocktail was applied to the subacromial space and glenohumeral joint in equal amounts. Postoperative pain was assessed by the VAS score. Functional scores of the shoulder were also evaluated by Constant–Murley and UCLA scores. The time of first analgesic requirement and total analgesic consumption in the postoperative period were assessed.

Results

The first analgesic requirement was significantly late in the interscalene brachial plexus block group (p = 0.000). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of total analgesic consumption (p = 0.204). In the postoperative 6th h, the VAS score was 2.43 in the interscalene brachial plexus block group, whereas 2.86 in the local infiltration analgesia group (p = 0.323). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of Constant–Murley shoulder and UCLA scores in the 3rd postoperative month (respectively, p = 0.929, p = 0.671). Besides, postoperative VAS scores and functional scores were negatively correlated (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Local infiltration analgesia is an effective alternative to interscalene brachial plexus block for postoperative pain management and total analgesic consumption in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. However, the interscalene brachial plexus block provides a longer postoperative painless period.