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This study evaluated the effect of pre-bending dynamic compression plates on fracture site compression. Recommendations of 1 to 2 mm of pre-bend have been proposed, but there does not appear to be experimental data to confirm the optimal pre-bend magnitude. Dynamic compression plating was performed on the lateral convex surface of 18 femoral analogs to fixate a simulated mid-shaft fracture. Plates with 0 mm (flat plate), 1 mm, and 2 mm of pre-bend were evaluated for their production of compression by determining the strain magnitudes for 10 equal-sized zones across the anterior cortex at the osteotomy site using digital imaging correlation. The 0 and 1 mm plates produced significantly more compression at the near cortex (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively) than the 2 mm plate. However, the 0 and 1 mm plates also created visible diastasis at the far cortex, while the 2 mm plate exhibited compression across all zones. The strain magnitudes for the 0 mm (R2 = 0.62) and 1 mm (R2 = 0.86) plates linearly and significantly decreased from the region adjacent to the plate until a region 50%–60% across the analog diameter. In contrast, the 2 mm plate exhibited uniform strains across the osteotomy site. This study demonstrates that pre-bending a dynamic compression plate 2 mm prior to fixation on a convex lateral femur provides the most compression at the far cortex. It also produces more uniform compression across the fracture when compared to 0 and 1 mm of pre-bend.

Introduction: Recent literature suggests that surgical fixation of elderly sacral fractures may reduce time to mobilization and ultimately self-sufficiency. However, it is unclear if predictors of success exist in this subpopulation. The objective of this study was to characterize relative change in ambulation and residential living statuses (pre-injury vs. post-surgery) of elderly patients who received surgical fixation of sacral fractures, as well as determine whether or not demographics and injury characteristics influence these findings. Methods: Fifty-four elderly patients (≥60 years old) receiving percutaneous screw fixation of sacral fractures were retrospectively reviewed. All fractures were traumatic in nature; insufficiency fractures were excluded. Patient and surgical demographic data, as well as 1-year mortality status, was reported. Primary study endpoints included relative change in patient ambulation and residential living statuses (pre-injury to post-surgery). Statistical analyses were performed to assess relative change in ambulation/living status from pre-injury to post-surgery and to determine if predictors of outcome existed. Results: Of the 54 patients who met inclusion criteria, 4 expired prior to discharge, 2 expired post-discharge, and 4 were lost to follow-up. Of those patients discharged, 95.7% regained some form of ambulation at last follow-up (mean: 22.4 ± 18.9 weeks). Of patients living independent pre-injury, 94.9% would eventually return to independent home living. Neither time-to-surgery, concomitant orthopaedic injury, Charlson Comorbidity Index, or injury mechanism were predictors of final ambulation or residential status (p ≥ 0.07). Mortality at 1-year was 11.1%. Discussion: Operative fixation supported a high rate of return to pre-injury ambulation and residential living status. However, there did not appear to be measures predictive of final functional status. Further efforts with larger, prospective cohorts are warranted.

Purpose: The purpose of this video is to present a technique for open reduction and internal fixation of a displaced unstable medial epicondyle avulsion fracture. Method: A 13-year-old boy presented 2 days after injury at our institution after sustaining a medial epicondyle avulsion fracture with incarcerated fragment and posterolateral dislocation of the elbow after a fall off a fence. He described paresthesia in the ulnar nerve distribution and demonstrated slight weakness to intrinsic hand strength on examination. He was urgently reduced under sedation in the emergency department using the Roberts maneuver, a technique consisting of a valgus stress with forearm supination with finger and wrist extension that uses muscle forces to extract the fragment. Successful reduction of the ulna-humeral joint and extraction of the incarcerated medial epicondyle was demonstrated on CT. The patient was then taken in a nonurgent fashion to the operating room for open reduction and internal fixation of the displaced medial epicondyle fracture. Intraoperative examination after fixation demonstrated a congruent and stable elbow. A long-arm cast was then applied. Results: The video is 7-minute, 38-second duration in time and 461 MB in size. Conclusions: Although fixation of medial epicondyle avulsion fractures may be controversial, there are some indications for ORIF including incarcerated epicondylar fragment, suspected entrapment and dysfunction of the ulnar nerve, marked instability of the elbow, and open fracture. Presented in this video is a safe technique for ORIF of the displaced and unstable medial epicondyle avulsion fracture. Video available at: http://links.lww.com/JOT/A790

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