Volume 21-4, Winter 2012

Exposure of patients and practitioners to ionizing radiation for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes has become the norm rather than the exception. This article discusses the findings from a literature review of intraoperative risks from ionizing radiation to patients and surgeons and the validity of substituting the conventional intraoperative fluoroscopy with computer-assisted orthopedic surgery (CAOS) in orthopedic trauma surgery. Diversity of study designs and measurements exists in reporting intraoperative ionizing radiation, making direct study comparisons difficult. CAOS can effectively reduce the amount of radiation exposure. There are definite advantages and disadvantages for using CAOS in the field of orthopedic trauma. Implementation of CAOS may hold the answer to better patient and surgeon intraoperative radiation safety with decreased operative time and increased procedure precision. The increased safety for patients and surgeons is a critical consideration in recommending CAOS in trauma surgery. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):187–197, 2012) Key words: adverse effects of radiation, CAOS, computer-assisted orthopedic surgery, image-guided navigation, intraoperative fluoroscopy, radiation exposure

In reconstruction of the osteoporotic spine, patients often show poor outcome because of pedicle screw failure. This study used osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic vertebrae to determine the difference in fixation strength between pedicle screws inserted straight forward and pedicle screws inserted in an upward trajectory toward the superior end plate (i.e., end-plate screws). There is some evidence to suggest that end-plate screws have a strength advantage. The particular focus was on osteoporotic vertebrae. Thirty-three vertebrae (T10–L2) were harvested. The bone mineral density (BMD) was measured: 15 vertebrae were greater than 0.8 g/cm2 and designated as nonosteoporotic (average BMD 1.146 š 0.186 g/cm2) and 18 vertebrae were designated as osteoporotic (average BMD 0.643 š 0.088 g/cm2). On one pedicle the screw was inserted straight forward and on the other pedicle the screw was inserted as an end-plate screw. The torque of insertion was measured (Proto 6106 torque screwdriver). Using an MTS Mini Bionix, two types of mechanical testing were carried out on each pedicle: (a) cephalocaudad toggling was first carried out to simulate some physiological type loading: 500 cycles at 0.3 Hz, at š50 N; and (b) then each pedicle screw was pulled out at a displacement rate of 12.5 cm/min.There was no difference in pullout force between the pedicle screws inserted straight forward and the pedicle screws inserted as end-plate screws. This result applies whether the vertebrae were osteoporotic or nonosteoporotic. For both the straight-forward screws and the endplate screws, a statistically significant correlation was observed between torque of insertion and pullout force. The results of this experiment indicate that pedicle screws inserted as end-plate screws do not provide a strength advantage over pedicle screws inserted straight forward, whether the vertebrae are osteoporotic or not. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):198–203, 2012) Key words: biomechanics, osteoporotic, pedicle screw, vertebra

Many research abstracts presented at orthopaedic conferences do not undergo a formal editorial, or peer-review process; however, abstracts are frequently referenced in textbooks and influence clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to determine the publication rate of abstracts formally presented at the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons (SOMOS) annual meetings from 1998 to 2006 that went to full-text publication. Using Google Scholar and PubMed, a literature search was performed for each abstract presented at the annual SOMOS meeting in the years 1998–2006, to calculate the overall full-text publication rate, the average duration from presentation to publication, and the distribution of publications in the various journals. A total of 770 abstracts were presented at the annual SOMOS meetings. The overall full-text publication rate at a minimum of 3 years was 45.7% (352 publications). The average time from presentation to publication was 2.7 years. The published articles appeared in 65 peer-reviewed journals, with notable distribution in Spine (10.0%), The American Journal of Sports Medicine (9.4%), and The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (9.4%). The full-text publication rate of abstracts presented at the annual SOMOS meetings compares favorably with that of other major orthopaedic conferences in the United States. Nonetheless, more than half of abstracts presented at the SOMOS meetings remain unpublished. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):204–209, 2012) Key words: abstracts, publication rate, Society of Military Orthopaedics Surgeons, SOMOS

This study sought to determine the role of the coracoacromial ligament and related arch structures in glenohumeral joint stabilization. Eight fresh-frozen cadaver specimens were tested at multiple angles of glenohumeral abduction and rotation for translations (in the direction of and perpendicular to a 50-N force) in intact, vented shoulders and after three interventions: coracoacromial veil release, coracoacromial ligament release, and anterior acromioplasty. After releasing the veil, an inferior force significantly increased inferior translation at lower angles of abduction with no additional increase after coracoacromial ligament section or acromioplasty. After ligament release or acromioplasty, a superior force increased superior translation at all angles. Few increases in anterior or posterior translations were observed. The coracoacromial veil interacts with the structures of the coracoacromial arch and glenohumeral capsule to limit inferior humeral translation. Likewise, the coracoacromial ligament and the acromian serve to limit superior translation. Attempts to preserve these structures may help improve surgical outcomes. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):210–217, 2012) Key words: biomechanics, coracoacromial arch, impingement, shoulder, translation

Operative treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) is frequently based on lesion size, stability, and surgeon preference. The purpose of this study was to determine if one arthroscopic treatment is superior to another for improving pain in patients with OLTs. Sixty-two patients treated by a single surgeon from 1999 to 2009 had sufficient medical records to be reviewed. Demographics, mechanism of injury, type of operation, lesion characteristics, and pain scores were analyzed. Thirty-one males and 31 females (mean age 32) were included; 54.1% of the lesions were on the medial talar dome and 72.3% were posttraumatic. Seventeen patients underwent arthroscopic debridement and 45 underwent arthroscopic drilling or microfracture. Visual analog scale pain scores were documented in 33 patients, demonstrating a statistically significant decrease at 6 months for debridement (p D .006) and drilling and microfracture (p D .0003) procedures. Neither procedure was superior to the other in pain reduction. No demographic variables were identified that influenced these postoperative pain scores. These results support that most OLTs are posttraumatic lesions caused by inversion or twisting and often occur on the medial talus. Arthroscopic interventions were effective for decreasing pain in both surgical groups. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):218–222, 2012) Key words: ankle sprain, arthritis, arthroscopy, microfracture, osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT), trauma

Firstmetatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis is utilized in the treatment of severe arthritis and hallux valgus. Successful fusion relies on limiting motion at the fusion site and may be achieved through numerous methods. Use of locking plates has recently generated considerable interest, but whether they provide any biomechanical advantage over other available constructs is unclear. Utilizing cyclic loading intended to mimic early weight bearing, the stiffness of three fixation methods for first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis was compared using Sawbones. The one-third tubular plate completed 1.8 and 2.4 times more cycles before failure than the X-type locking plate or crossed screws, respectively. No difference was detected in cycles to failure between the X-type locking plate and crossed screws. One-third tubular plate mean stiffness was 49% greater than crossed screws at all cycles and greater than X-type locking plate by an average of 25%, beginning at cycle 50. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):223–231, 2012) Key words: compression screw, locking plate, metatarsophalangeal, sawbones, stiffness, tubular plate

Synovial spinal cysts are typically found in the lumbar spine, most often at the L4–L5 level. Magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic imaging of choice in the workup of suspected synovial cysts. This study consisted of 24 patients with lumbar synovial cysts treated by cyst excision and nerve root decompression through partial or complete facetectomy and primary posterolateral fusion. The most common location of the cysts was the L4–L5 segment. Synovial tissue was found in histological sections of 18 cysts. At a mean follow-up of 12 (range, 8 to 24) months, 20 patients (83%) had excellent or good results; two patients (8.3%) had fair and two patients (8.3%) had poor improvement. Operative complications included dural tear in two patients and postoperative wound dehiscence in one patient, which were treated accordingly. To eliminate the risk of recurrence synovial cyst excision through partial or complete facetectomy is required. In addition, since synovial cysts reflect disruption of the facet joint and some degree of instability, primary spinal fusion is recommended. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):232–236, 2012) Key words: facetectomy, lumbar cysts, posterolateral fusion, synovial cysts

This study investigates a potential site of bacterial adherence, the implant surface, comparing titanium, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), and composite hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA-HA) interference screws using a bioluminescent in vitro model. Interference screws of three materials, titanium (Arthrex, Naples, FL), bioabsorbable poly-L-lactic acid (BIORCI, Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA), and bioabsorbable composite hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactic acid (BIORCI-HA, Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA) were immersed in a broth of bioluminescent Staphylococcus aureus. The screws were irrigated and then imaged with a photon-capturing camera system yielding a total photon count correlating with residual adherent bacteria. The titanium screws had the lowest mean total bacterial counts followed by the PLLA-HA screws and with the PLLA screws having the highest mean total counts. The difference in means between the titanium group and the PLLA group was statistically significant (p < .001). Titanium interference screws have less bacterial adherence than comparable bioabsorbable PLLA screws. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):237–241, 2012) Key words: bacterial adherence, infection, interference screws

Athletic patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head have few desirable therapeutic options that preserve athletic ability. Because these patients are usually young and healthy, any procedure that avoids total hip arthroplasty would be most desirable. This study prospectively evaluated 15 patients (19 hips) who presented with an average age of 28.5 (range, 12 to 46) years and stages 2 (6/19), 3 (2/19), 4 (9/19), and 5 (2/19) of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. All patients were treated with free vascularized fibular autografting (FVFG) to the femoral head. Postoperative evaluations of pain symptoms and functional activity showed improvements in all patients. The average follow-up time was 8 years. Harris hip scores significantly increased from an average preoperative score of 75.3 to an average postoperative score of 94.8. Seventy-five percent of patients were able to return to their sport after recovery and all patients reported being satisfied with the procedure and would repeat their decision to have surgery. Three patients’ hips were converted to arthroplasty at 3, 11, and 17 years post-FVFG. The results demonstrate that FVFG is a successful therapeutic treatment in athletes with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. It reduces pain, increases activity, and allows most patients to return to their sport, an achievement often not possible with other treatment options. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):242–245, 2012) Key words: athletes, femoral head, free vascularized fibular grafting, osteonecrosis

Over the past several years, advances in the treatment of extensor tendon injuries have focused mainly on changes to postoperative protocols. Traditional static splinting has been found often to result in loss of flexion as well as extension lags at the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints. In addition, early motion, once thought to increase the risk of tendon rupture, has shown encouraging results. The purpose of this article was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to determine the optimal postoperative protocol following extensor tendon repair. A systematic review was conducted of PubMed and Cochrane databases to identify all English-language clinical papers reporting results on the surgical treatment and rehabilitation of extensor tendon injuries. Returned articles were reviewed and included in the study if they reported clinical outcomes following surgical repair. A statistical consultation was placed to aid with data analysis. Nineteen studies were included. Of these, eight studies used static splinting (437 tendons), 12 used dynamic splinting (600 tendons), and five used active motion (240 tendons) for their postoperative protocols. Six studies were comparative, two of which reached level I evidence, while the remaining 13 studies were case series, with level IV evidence. Overall, generally favorable results were found for all three regimens with a high degree of variability with respect to outcomes measures reported and methods used for reporting. Quantitative statistical analysis of outcome measures was not possible given this variability. However, complication rates were as follows: static splinting complication rate was 4.1% with 1.8% requiring tenolysis and 0.9% tendon ruptures, dynamic splinting complication rate was 4.3% with 3.2% extensor tendon lags and 0.2% tendon rupture, and early motion complication rate was 1.7% with 0.8% tendon ruptures. Functional results, when reported, were generally favorable for all three postoperative regimens; however, standardized reporting of functional results is needed for quantitative analysis. Early active motion protocols following extensor tendon repair provides a relatively lower complication rate than other postoperative regimens. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):246–252, 2012) Key words: dynamic splinting, extensor tendon, postoperative rehabilitation

The objective of this study was to determine whether the type of diabetes mellitus (DM) affected the incidence of immediate perioperative complications following joint replacement. From 1988 to 2003, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample recognized 65,769 patients with DM who underwent total hip and knee arthroplasty in the United States. Bivariate and multivariate analyses compared patients with type 1 (n D 8728) and type 2 (n D 57,041) DM regarding common perioperative complications, mortality, and hospital course alterations. Type 1 DMpatients had increased length of stays and inflation-adjusted costs after surgery (p < .001). Type 1 patients also had significant increases in the incidence of myocardial infarction, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, postoperative hemorrhage, wound infection, and death (p < .02). Perhaps because of the differences in the duration of disease and their underlying pathologies, patients with type 1 diabetes carry more significant overall perioperative risks and require more health care resources compared with patients with type 2 diabetes following hip and knee arthroplasty. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):253–260, 2012) Key words: diabetes, total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty

This case report presents a 28-year-old man with foot drop 48 hours after a grade I inversion ankle sprain. Clinical examination and electrodiagnostic studies showed common peroneal nerve palsy. The patient was managed with conservative treatment and rehabilitation and recovered completely 4 months after the injury. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of delayed peroneal nerve injury after grade I ankle sprain. Function of the peroneal nerve should be evaluated in all patients with inversion ankle sprain as part of initial and follow-up evaluations. Early electrodiagnostic studies are helpful to localize and provide indications of the severity of the injury. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):261–265, 2012) Key words: ankle sprain, EMG/NCS, peroneal nerve injury

The late sequela of a simple elbow dislocation includes loss of motion or recurrent instability. This case report involves a patient with a 4-year history of recurrent elbow instability following multiple closed traumatic posterior elbow dislocation, who underwent the simultaneous reconstruction of both medial and lateral collateral ligament complexes, for both varus and valgus instability. The patient was informed and consented that data concerning his case would be submitted for publication. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):266–269, 2012) Key words: elbow, lateral collateral ligament, medial collateral ligament, reconstruction, recurrent instability

Transtibial amputation osteoplasty procedures were originally designed as a technique for achieving a functional end-bearing limb in the post-World War I era; the Ertl procedure is now often used as a reconstructive procedure for failed primary amputations. Modifications of the original periosteal sleevecovering technique include the tibiofibular bone-bridging osteoplasty. The theoretical advantages to this procedure are highly debated among trauma surgeons. For the patient with a lower extremity injury that necessitates a transtibial amputation, there are many psychologic and physiologic factors to consider, and a persistently painful residual limb postamputation may be mentally and physically disabling. Although the advantages of these techniques may be unproven, they are fairly simple and add little additional operative time to the primary transtibial amputation. A surgeon who performs transtibial amputations should at least be aware of the osteoplasty techniques and how to perform them. The decision to use these techniques may then be made by the surgeon on a case-by-case basis, given the individual demands of the patient. This article presents a case report and outlines the use of the fibular bone-bridging osteoplasty technique in transtibial amputations. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):270–274, 2012) Key words: Ertl procedure, osteoplasty, tibiofibular bone bridging, transtibial amputation

This case report presents a teenage patient who initially was thought to have a sports-related injury but ultimately was diagnosed with a primary soft tissue tumor. A previously healthy 16-year-old softball player presented with a history of left knee joint line pain, clicking, and swelling. The patient was presumed to have a lateral meniscus tear. However, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an intra-articular mass. Arthroscopy revealed a 2.5- ð 1.5-cm firm pedicular mass in the lateral joint. Histological exam demonstrated localized pigmented villonodular synovitis. The patient healed uneventfully and returned to sporting activities. This report re-emphasizes the possibility that ‘‘sports tumors’’ can mimic symptoms of a meniscal tear in young athletes. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):275–278, 2012) Key words: arthroscopy, meniscal injury, pediatric sports medicine, pigmented villonodular synovitis, sports tumor

Proximal femoral osteotomies are performed commonly by pediatric orthopedic surgeons. Traditionally, utilization of a blade plate has been the standard method of realignment and fixation of the osteotomized fragments. In conjunction with use of temporary Schanz screws to generate the most appropriate realignment, newer implants with locking fixation capabilities can be used to stabilize essentially ”customized”osteotomies of the proximal femur. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 21(4):279–281, 2012) Key words: femur, osteotomy, podiatry