Operative treatment for spinal deformities in cerebral palsy

The higher the functional impairment, the more likely patients with cerebral palsy (cP) are to develop a scoliotic deformity. This is usually long-sweeping, C-shaped, and progressive in nature, since the causes of the deformity, such as muscular weakness, imbalance, and osteoporosis, persist through adulthood. In contrast to idiopathic scoliosis, not only is the spine deformed, the patient is also sick. This multimorbidity warrants a multidisciplinary approach with close involvement of the caregivers from the beginning. Brace treatment is usually ineffective or intolerable in light of the mostly stiff and severe deformities and the poor nutritional status. The pros and cons of surgical correction need to weighed up when pelvic obliquity, subsequent loss of sitting balance, pressure sores, and pain due to impingement of the rib cage on the ileum become issues. General risks of, for example, pulmonary or urogenital infections, pulmonary failure, the need for a tracheostoma, permanent home ventilation, and death add to the particular surgery-related hazards, such as excessive bleeding, surgical site infections, pseudarthrosis, implant failure, and dural tears with leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. The overall complication rate averages around 25 %. From an orthopedic perspective, stiffness, marked deformities including sagittal profile disturbances and pelvic obliquity, as well as osteoporosis are the main challenges. In nonambulatory patients, long fusions from T2/T3 with forces distributed over all segments, low-profile anchors in areas of poor soft tissue coverage (sublaminar bands, wires), and strong lumbosacropelvic modern screw fixation in combination with meticulous fusion techniques (facetectomies, laminar decortication, use of local autologous bone) and hemostasis can be employed to keep the rate of surgical and implant-related complications at an acceptably low level. Excessive posterior release techniques, osteotomies, or even vertebrectomies in cases of very severe short-angled deformity mostly prevent anterior one- or two-stage releases. Despite improved operative techniques and implants with predictable and satisfactory deformity corrections, the comorbidities and quality-of-life related issues demand a thorough preoperative, multidisciplinary decision-making process that takes ethical and economic aspects into consideration.     

Risk factors for complications and in-hospital mortality: An analysis of 19,834 open pelvic ring fractures

BackgroundOpen pelvic fractures are rare injuries, associated with high patient morbidity and mortality. Few studies have investigated the impact of patient demographics, comorbidities, and injury related factors on complication and mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to: (1) identify the overall incidence of complications and mortality after open pelvic fractures, (2) compare patient factors between those who did and did not develop complications, (3) identify perioperative independent risk factors for complications and mortality.MethodsA query was performed for patients with open pelvic fractures between 2007 and 2017 using the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank. Patient and injury specific variables were collected and complications were identified using International Classification of Disease Ninth and Tenth edition Codes. Patient demographic and perioperative data was compared using Fisher’s exact test and chi-square test for categorical variables, and Welch’s t-test for continuous variables. Using pooled data from multiple imputations, logistic regressions were used to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals of independent risk factors for complications.ResultsA total of 19,834 open pelvic fracture cases were identified, with 9622 patients (48.5%) developing at least one complication. Patients who developed complications were older (35.0 vs 38.1 years), and had higher Injury Severity Scores (17.7 vs 26.5), lower Glasgow Coma Scores (14.2 vs 11.7), and a larger proportion presenting with hypotension (21% vs 6.9%). After pooled regression involving 19 factors, these were the strongest independent predictors of inpatient complication and mortality.ConclusionWe report a mortality rate of 14%, with an inclusive complication rate of 48.5%. Evaluating risk factors for morbidity and mortality for this devastating orthopaedic injury provides knowledge of an inherently sparse population.Level of EvidenceLevel II, Retrospective study.     

Total hip arthroplasty in acetabular fractures

Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is a well-accepted treatment for established hip arthritis following acetabular fractures. If a conservatively managed or operated case progresses to non-union/mal-union failing to restore the joint integrity, it may eventually develop secondary arthritis warranting a total hip arthroplasty. Also, in recent years, acute total hip arthroplasty is gaining importance in conditions where the fracture presents with pre-existing hip arthritis, is not amenable to salvage by open reduction and internal fixation, or, a poor prognosis is anticipated following fixation.There are several surgical challenges in performing total hip arthroplasty for acetabular fractures whether acute or delayed. As a separate entity elderly patients pose a distinct challenge due to osteoporosis and need stable fixation for early weight bearing alleviating the risk of any thromboembolic event, pulmonary complications and decubitus ulcer. The aim of surgery is to restore the columns for acetabular component implantation rather than anatomic fixation. Meticulous preoperative planning with radiographs and Computed Tomography (CT) scans, adequate exposure to delineate the fracture pattern, and, availability of an array of all instruments and possible implants as backup are the key points for success. Previous implants if any should be removed only if they are in the way of cup implantation or infected. Press fit uncemented modern porous metal acetabular component with multiple screw options is the preferred implant for majority of cases. However, complex fractures may require major reconstruction with revision THA implants especially when a pelvic discontinuity is present.