Are inhaled corticosteroids associated with an increased risk of fracture in children?

Inhaled corticosteroids are widely used in the long-term management of asthma in children. Data on the relationship between inhaled corticosteroid therapy and osteoporotic fracture are inconsistent. We address this issue in a large population-based cohort of children aged 4–17 years in the UK (the General Practice Research Database). The incidence rates of fracture among children aged 4–17 years taking inhaled corticosteroids (n=97,387), taking bronchodilators only (n=70 984) and a reference group (n=345,758) were estimated. Each child with a non-vertebral fracture (n=23,984) was subsequently matched by age, sex, practice, and calendar time to one child without a fracture. Fracture incidence was increased in children using inhaled corticosteroids, as well as in those receiving bronchodilators alone. With an average daily beclomethasone dose of 200 g or less, the crude fracture risk relative to nonusers was 1.10 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96–1.26]; with dosage of 201–400 g, it was 1.23 (95% CI, 1.08–1.39); and with dosages over 400 g, it was 1.36 (95% CI, 1.11–1.67). This excess risk disappeared after adjustment for indicators of asthma severity. The increased risk of fracture associated with use of inhaled corticosteroids is likely to be the result of the underlying illness, rather than being directly attributable to inhaled corticosteroid therapy.     

Is pin-plate overlap in tibial plateau fractures associated with increased infection rates?

IntroductionDespite advances in the treatment of high energy proximal tibia fractures, including the utilization of staged management with external fixation, the infection rate remains high. Overlap between external fixator pin sites and definitive internal fixation has been proposed as a risk factor for infection.MethodsThis retrospective study reviews 244 patients with staged knee-spanning external fixation followed by delayed definitive internal fixation at two separate level one trauma centers. Presence of pin-plate overlap as well as several other known risk factors for infection were recorded and measured to include open fractures, compartment syndrome, operative time and number of incisions. Development of deep infection was the primary outcome. Both univariate and multivariate statistics were applied to determine differences in rates of infection.Results65 (26.6%) patients had presence of pin-plate overlap while 179 (73.4%) patients had no overlap. There were no differences between overlapping and non-overlapping groups with respect to other infectious risk factors. Deep infection occurred in 34 (13.9%) total patients, 18 (27.7%) were in patients with pin-plate overlap and 16 (8.9%) in those without overlap. (P = 0.003; RR 3.01, 95% CI 1.51–4.76).DiscussionThis large, multicenter study demonstrated a statistically significant association between pin-plate overlap and the development of deep infection in tibial plateau fractures. On multivariate analysis, pin-plate overlap was identified as an independent risk factor for infection. When treating these complex injuries, surgeons should consider the definitive fixation construct when placing external fixation pins.     

Proximal tibiofibular joint dislocation associated with tibial shaft fractures – 7 Cases

ObjectiveLower leg fractures of the tibia with or without fracture of the fibula are very common. Proximal tibiofibular joint (PTFJ) dislocation is a very rare injury that can occur together with a tibia shaft fracture. As there is only scarce literature about this injury available, we would like to present our experience with the treatment of this entity.MethodsWe present a small case series of seven patients. In most cases, the tibia fracture was nailed in a closed technique. After distal locking the proximal fibula was exposed by a lateral approach exposing and preserving the peroneal nerve. After anatomical reduction into the corresponding articular facet of the proximal tibia, the fibula was transfixed to the tibia with a positioning screw. This indirectly provided a correct length and rotation of the tibia, which could finally be locked to the nail by inserting the proximal locking bolts. The positioning screw was removed after six weeks prior to full loading. Six of seven patients had been followed up by at least 7 months post-treatment.ResultsOut of 663 prospectively collected tibia shaft fractures treated at our institution from 1/2001 to 7/2014, we found seven patients with associated PTFJ dislocation. All except one had been caused by a high energy trauma. After one year, five patients showed excellent results with full range of motion and returning to their sporting activities as before the accident. Two patients have impaired function due to associated injuries. None complained of persistent pain or instability of the PTFJ.ConclusionPTFJ dislocation with tibia shaft fracture can easily be overlooked if one is not familiar with this injury. It is important to diagnose and treat this uncommon dislocation anatomically to achieve good results. Otherwise, as the literature shows, it can lead to chronic instability of the proximal fibula with snapping, proximal fibular pain and even peroneal nerve palsy. Furthermore in complex tibial fractures correct length and rotation only can be restored after referencing with the fibula. We recommend a high index of suspicion of this injury with high energy tibia shaft fractures especially in cases with intact fibula.     

Systemic effects of bilateral tibial versus bilateral femoral shaft fractures. Is there a difference?

The authors investigated the prevalence and the difference in the severity of systemic complications following intramedullary nailing of bilateral tibial and femoral shaft fractures. A retrospective chart analysis of 12 consecutive patients with bilateral tibial shaft fractures (TF) and 14 patients with bilateral femoral shaft fractures (FF) was performed. The incidences of bilateral tibial fractures and bilateral femoral shaft fractures were 3.8% and 4.6% respectively. The median Injury Severity Score (ISS) in TF group was 13 (9-29) compared to 16 (9-34) in the FF group (p = 0.169). The mean resuscitation requirements were 4.2 (3-11) litres of colloids and crystalloids and 1.7 (0-10) units of blood in the TF group and 10.6 (6-16) litres of colloids and crystalloids and 9.2 (5-25) units of blood in the FF group (p = 0.002). In the TF group there was 1 death compared to 2 in the FF group. In the TF group, there were 2 cases of ARDS, 4 cases of deep sepsis and 3 above knee amputations. In the FF group, there were 6 cases of ARDS (p = 0.04), 1 case of deep sepsis and 1 above knee amputation. Patients with bilateral tibial shaft fractures revealed lower ISS, resuscitation requirements, ARDS, associated injuries, and mortality when compared to bilateral femoral shaft fractures. This is probably due to the anatomical difference in the morphology of the bones, volume of liberated intravascular marrow fat, organisation and layout of the venous capillary network and severity of associated injuries.     

Do Poller screws effect union in tibial shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nailing?

IntroductionTibial shaft fractures are a commonly encountered challenge presented to orthopaedic trauma surgeons. Intramedullary nailing (IMN) is often the treatment of choice and whilst effective, complications of delayed and/or non-union can cause significant morbidity and necessitate additional operative procedures. The use of Poller screws during IMN are a recognised way of aiding fracture reduction, however the clinical benefits of this are debated. This study evaluated the outcome of tibial shaft fractures treated with IMN with or without the addition of Poller screws.MethodsRetrospective cohort study of all patients undergoing IMN following tibial shaft fractures over a 5-year period. 154 operated tibial shaft fractures were identified, with patients divided into 3 groups - Group 1: IM nailing alone, Group 2: IMN + 1 conventional Poller screw, or Group 3: IMN + 2 Poller screws placed Epicentrically across the fracture site. Data collected included demographics, length of stay, fracture type, position and AO classification grade, operative time, and operating surgeons' grade. Primary outcome measure was the incidence of delayed and/or non-union. Secondary outcomes were differences in rates of infection and additional orthopaedic procedures between the 3 groups.ResultsOverall 139/154 fractures (90.3%) achieved a timely union. There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.05) in fracture union between the 3 groups, with 75/88 fractures healing in group 1 (IMN alone) compared to 44/46 in Group 2 (IMN + 1 Poller screw) and 20/20 in group 3 (IMN + 2 Poller screws). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of superficial infection, (p = 0.95) additional procedures (p = 0.23) or deep infection (p = 0.65) between the 3 groups.ConclusionThe addition of Poller screws appear to be a safe and effective adjunct in the treatment of tibial shaft fractures via IMN. Further prospective randomised trials are needed to fully elucidate both the role and potential benefits of Poller screw augmentation in acute lower limb fracture management.     

Adrenalectomy for bilateral and recurrent pheochromocytoma: increased intraoperative risk?

Adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma is per se associated with a specific intraoperative cardiovascular risk caused by catecholamine secretion during manipulation of the tumor. Bilateral or multiple, and recurrent chromaffine tumors are special subentities with a potentially more intensified and longer surgical preparation. The aim of our study was to examine these effects on hemodynamic changes compared with those observed for primary, solitary tumors. Of the 82 studied interventions between February 1992 and May 2005, 58 were seen to involve primary, unilateral tumors, 17 involved bilateral (1 trilateral) findings, and there were 7 cases of recurrency. The hemodynamic changes related to primary, solitary pheochromocytomas revealed a higher frequency of intraoperative blood pressure crises (37%) compared with the comparative groups (11.8% in bilateral and 0% in recurrent tumors), as well as higher maximum pCO2 values noted. The intraoperative blood loss was more pronounced in interventions involving recurrencies. Aside from an appropriate preliminary therapy using an alpha-blocker and the careful surgical preparation of the adrenal gland, the different hemodynamic changes possibly may be related to the presence of smaller tumors in bilateral pheochromocytoma, as well as being based upon the already existent ligature of the draining vein in the event of recurrent procedures. The extent to which the adrenergic effect of the increased maximum pCO2 value plays a role on the development of higher maximum blood pressure values and more frequent intraoperative blood pressure crises continues to remain unclear.     

Which displaced spiral tibial shaft fractures can be managed conservatively?

The aim of the present study was to establish a threshold for the initial displacement of a spiral tibial shaft fracture beyond which its retention in an acceptable position cannot be guaranteed by plaster immobilization. We reviewed the records and radiographs of 131 plaster cast-treated patients with spiral tibial shaft fracture, initially displaced 50% or less, for patients whose fracture had either lost its acceptable retention or consolidated in an unacceptable position. The fractures were classified, according to the true initial displacement as measured on the first radiographs, into four pairs of categories using cut-off points of 10, 20, 30 and 40% of the diameter of the tibial diaphysis. Comparison was then made of the proportions of failed treatments between each of these pairs. Plaster cast treatments failed in 28% when the true initial displacement was 30% or less, and in 46% when the true initial displacement was more than 30%. The risk of failed plaster cast treatment increased when true initial displacement exceeded 30%. In all patients whose plaster cast treatment was interrupted the true initial displacement was more than 30%. We therefore conclude that diaphyseal fractures of the tibia for which the initial displacement exceeds 30% are not suitable for plaster cast treatment.

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Résumé L’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer le seuil de déplacement initial des fractures spiroı¨de du tibia après lequel la position acceptable ne peut être garantie sous immobilisation platrée. Nous avons revu les dossiers et les radiographies de 131 patients platrés présentant une fracture spiroı¨de du tibia avec un déplacement initial de 50% ou moins, pour découvrir les patients dont les fractures, soit ont perdu une réduction acceptable, soit se sont consolidées dans une position non-acceptable. Les fractures ont été classées selon le déplacement initial réel, mesurées sur les radiographies d’entrée. Quatre paires de catégories ont été crées en utilisant comme points de mesure, à savoir: 10, 20, 30 et 40% du diamètre de la diaphyse du tibia. Puis les proportions des traitements non réussies entre chacune des ces paires étaient comparées. Les traitements sous platre ont abouti à l′échec dans 28% des cas quand le déplacement initial réel était de 30% ou moins, et dans 46% des cas quand le déplacement initial réel était plus que 30%. Le risque de l’échec de traitement par platre n’a augmenté que légèrement quand le déplacement initial a dépassé les30%. Le degré de déplacement initial réel des fractures dont les traitements platrés ont été interrompus était de plus de 30%. Ainsi nous aboutissons à la conclusion que les fractures de la diaphyse tibiale dont le déplacement initial dépasse 30% ne conviennent pas pour le traitement par immobilisation platrée.

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Accepted: 17 March 2000     

Turn down for what? Patient outcomes associated with declining increased infectious risk kidneys

Transplant candidates who accept a kidney labeled increased risk for disease transmission (IRD) accept a low risk of window period infection, yet those who decline must wait for another offer that might harbor other risks or never even come. To characterize survival benefit of accepting IRD kidneys, we used 2010‐2014 Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data to identify 104 998 adult transplant candidates who were offered IRD kidneys that were eventually accepted by someone; the median (interquartile range) Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) of these kidneys was 30 (16‐49). We followed patients from the offer decision until death or end‐of‐study. After 5 years, only 31.0% of candidates who declined IRDs later received non‐IRD deceased donor kidney transplants; the median KDPI of these non‐IRD kidneys was 52, compared to 21 of the IRDs they had declined. After a brief risk period in the first 30 days following IRD acceptance (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] accept vs decline: _1.222.06_3.49, P = .008) (absolute mortality 0.8% vs. 0.4%), those who accepted IRDs were at 33% lower risk of death 1‐6 months postdecision (aHR _0.500.67_0.90, P = .006), and at 48% lower risk of death beyond 6 months postdecision (aHR _0.460.52_0.58, P < .001). Accepting an IRD kidney was associated with substantial long‐term survival benefit; providers should consider this benefit when counseling patients on IRD offer acceptance.     

Long-term outcome after tibial shaft fracture: is malunion important?

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the shaft of the tibia often heal with some angulation. Although there is biomechanical evidence that such angulation alters load transmission through the joints of the lower limb, it is not clear whether it can eventually lead to osteoarthritis. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-four individuals who had sustained a tibial shaft fracture were assessed in a research clinic thirty to forty-three years after the injury. The subjects were evaluated with regard to self-reported lower limb joint pain, stiffness, and disability (assessed with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities [WOMAC] osteoarthritis questionnaire); clinical signs of osteoarthritis; and radiographic evidence of osteophytes and joint-space narrowing in the knees, ankles, and subtalar joints. RESULTS: Twenty-two (15%) of the 151 subjects who reported no other knee injury reported at least moderate knee pain, and eight (6%) of the 145 subjects who reported no other ankle injury reported at least moderate ankle pain. Seventeen (13%) of the 135 subjects who reported no other knee or ankle injury reported at least moderate disability. The ipsilateral side demonstrated a higher prevalence than the contralateral side in terms of pain with passive ankle movement (nineteen versus nine subjects, p = 0.02), pain with passive subtalar movement (fifteen versus four subjects, p = 0.01), and radiographic signs of ankle joint space narrowing (twelve subjects versus one subject, p = 0.0055). Knee osteoarthritis was frequently bilateral. Forty-seven fractures (29%) healed with coronal angulation of > or = 5 degrees. Apart from an association between shortening of > or = 10 mm and self-reported knee pain (p = 0.016), there were no significant univariate associations between these malunions and the development of osteoarthritis. Seventeen (15%) of 114 eligible subjects had overall malalignment of the lower limb, defined as a hip-knee-ankle angle outside the normal range of 6.25 degrees of varus to 4.75 degrees of valgus. This malalignment was due to the fracture malunion in nine subjects and predated the fracture in eight. In limbs with varus or valgus malalignment, there was an excess of subtalar stiffness (p = 0.04) and a nonsignificant trend toward more frequent knee pain. In limbs with varus malalignment, there was a nonsignificant trend toward more frequent radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis in the medial compartment of the knee joint. Most of the subjects in whom osteoarthritis was observed had normal overall alignment of the lower limb. CONCLUSIONS: The thirty-year outcome after a tibial shaft fracture is usually good, although mild osteoarthritis is common. Fracture malunion is not the cause of the higher prevalence of symptomatic ankle and subtalar osteoarthritis on the side of the fracture. Although varus malalignment of the lower limb occurs occasionally and may cause osteoarthritis in the medial compartment of the knee, other factors are more important in causing osteoarthritis after a tibial shaft fracture.     

Are chronic dialysis patients at increased risk for cancer?

This review summarizes the plausible mechanisms of carcinogenesis, critically analyzes the literature on cancer risk and discusses issues of cancer screening in chronic dialysis patients. Despite conflicting results among various studies, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that there is a heightened incidence of at least some cancers in dialysis patients. The data most convincingly support an increased risk of genitourinary malignancies. Screening for the common solid organ cancers (prostate, colon, breast and cervix) should be individualized, and is appropriate only for the minority of patients with a life expectancy on dialysis of 10 years or longer. Further research is needed before routine screening for bladder or renal cell cancers can be recommended.     

Is a bicuspid aortic valve a risk factor for adverse outcome after an autograft procedure?

BACKGROUND: Recently, bicuspid aortic valve disease is posed to be a possible risk factor for dilatation of the pulmonary autograft. METHODS: Analysis of all 123 patients in our prospective cohort with their native aortic valve in situ at the autograft procedure. RESULTS: The bicuspid aortic valve group (n = 81) had more males (p = 0.05), prior cardiac surgery (p = 0.02), prior aortic valve balloon dilatation (p = 0.01), aortic stenosis (p = 0.03), and less deterioration of left ventricular function (p = 0.02) than the tricuspid group (n = 42). Hospital mortality occurred in 3 patients (bicuspid 2, tricuspid 1). The follow-up was 99% complete (median, 5.3 years; SD, 3.5; range, 0.1 to 13.4) with a total of 674 patient years. During follow-up 4 patients died (bicuspid 2, tricuspid 2). Overall survival was 95% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89% to 98%) at 5 and 10 years. Seven patients required reoperation for autograft failure, all structural. Freedom from autograft reintervention was 97% (95% CI, 92% to 100%) at 5 years and 89% (95% CI, 79% to 98%) at 10 years. There were no differences in outcome between the groups. Four patients required reoperation for allograft failure, all structural. Freedom from allograft reoperation was 99% (95% CI, 97% to 100%) at 5 years and 91% (95% CI, 82% to 100%) at 10 years. There was no difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: An autograft procedure in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve is justified. Bicuspid aortic valve disease is not a contraindication for an autograft procedure. Patients with a bicuspid aortic valve will meet the limitations of the autograft procedure in the same frequency as the overall autograft population.