The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first began in China and led to a global novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. [1] As the spread of the pandemic has continued, more than a million deaths were reported due to COVID-19 infection worldwide. [2] Due to the rapid spread of the virus, healthcare systems were exposed to a large number of COVID-19 infection patients which created a potential collapse risk of healthcare systems. [3] Healthcare authorities and governments around the world have made several attempts to overcome the rapid spread of the virus such as lockdowns, school closures, cessation of international transportation. [3] A curfew was announced in Turkey on March 21 st , 2020, for the citizens over the age of 65 years and who had chronic diseases and individuals aged below 20 years. In addition, many businesses Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the indirect impact of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on diabetes-related lower extremity amputations. Patients and methods: Patients who underwent lower limb amputation due to complications of diabetes between August 2019 and February 2020 (control group) and August 2020 and February 2021 (pandemic group) were retrospectively reviewed. None of the patients had a previous COVID-19 infection. Patients' amputation level and latest diabetes follow-up date until amputation were recorded.Results: A total of 19 feet of 19 patients (14 males, 5 females; mean age: 70.0±10.5 years; range, 53 to 91 years) in the control group and 18 feet of 18 patients (12 males, 6 females; mean age: 70.4±11.3 years; range, 54 to 91 years) were included. There was no statistically significant difference in amputation levels between the two groups (p=0.959). The mean time elapsed from the last diabetes control in the control and the pandemic group was 5.9±12.8 months and 8.2±9.8 months, respectively (p=0.038). A total of eight (42.1%) patients in the control group and seven (38.9%) patients in the pandemic group did not have a follow-up for diabetes in the last year prior to amputation (p=0.842). Conclusion:Although the COVID-19 pandemic seems to cause a delay in the routine medical care of patients with diabetes, it appears not to have an indirect effect on the lower extremity amputation level and incidence. Patients' adherence may be the major determinant in amputation surgery.

Abstract Aim Retrograde intramedullary nailing for the treatment of femur fractures is a sound option due to its advantages including ease of implant placement and better control of the distal segment, especially in distal femur fractures. Unfortunately, retrograde femoral nails are not available in most developing countries or rural areas. The primary aim of the study is to investigate the outcomes of an alternative treatment of distal femur fracture with retrograde intramedullary nailing using a tibial nail. Material and Method Patients who had distal femur fractures and underwent retrograde intramedullary nailing with a tibial nail between January 2020 – March 2022 are retrospectively evaluated. Patients who were treated other than a tibial nail, aged below 18, had follow-up less than 6 months, multiple fractures, and open fractures were excluded. Patients’ demographics, time to union, and complications were recorded. Functional outcomes included visual analogue pain score (VAS), Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale, Knee Society Score (KSS), and Short Form-36 (SF36) on the latest follow-up. Results A total of 15 patients (11 male, 4 female) met the inclusion criteria and included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 42.9 ± 17.3 (range, 18 to 72) months. The mean follow-up period was 10.1 ± 5.2 (range, 6 to 18). There was no reduction loss and implant failure during follow-ups. One patient had nonunion. No intraoperative fracture occurred. Persistent knee pain was seen in a patient due to an intraarticular screw and removed arthroscopically. In the latest follow-up, the mean VAS was 0.73 ± 0.70 (range, 0 to2), the mean Tegner score was 5.0 ± 1.5 (range, 3 to 7), the mean Lysholm score was 90.9 ± 9.9(range, 64 to 100), the mean KSS was 86.6 ± 8.6 (range, 70 to 97), and the mean SF-36 score was 96.5 ± 4.7 (range, 87 to 100). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that a tibial nail with retrograde intramedullary nailing has good functional outcomes in the treatment of distal femur fractures. The tibial nail should be considered as an alternative treatment option where distal femoral nails are not available.

These fractures particularly occur in patients below 50 years of age. Approximately 75 to 80% of the clavicle fractures are located in the mid-shaft region. [2] Distal clavicle fractures occur after falling on the open arm or directly on the shoulder and constitute approximately 15 to 20% of all clavicle fractures. [3] Despite being a prevalent injury, the ideal treatment modality remains unclear for mid-shaft clavicle fractures. Traditionally, conservative treatment was the hallmark of the treatment of mid-shaft clavicle fractures. [4] However, conservative treatment has been reported to cause a greater percentage of symptomatic malunion and nonunion, up to 15%, compared to surgical treatment. [5][6][7] On the other hand, surgical treatment has also been Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate whether clavicular symmetry was a valid assumption and to assess the factors that could predict clavicular asymmetry.Patients and methods: Between January 2021 and April 2021, a total of 100 consecutive patients (61 males, 39 females; mean age: 63.6±15.5 years; range, 27 to 94 years) whose both clavicles were adequately seen on chest computed tomography (CT) were retrospectively analyzed. Clavicular lengths were measured on three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of chest CTs by two independent orthopedic surgeons on two separate occasions. The longest distance passing the straight line between the most lateral part of the clavicle at the acromioclavicular joint and the most medial point of the clavicle on the sternoclavicular joint was given as the clavicle length after adjusting tilt of convertible 3D CTs. Clavicular length difference was calculated by subtracting the short clavicle's length from the long clavicle's length. Patients' age and sex were noted. The calculated clavicular length differences were assigned into three groups: ≤5 mm, >5 mm and ≤10 mm, and >10 mm. Results:The mean right and left clavicle lengths were 13.9±1.3 cm and 14.1±1.2 cm, respectively (p<0.001). A total of 29 patients (29%) had >5 mm clavicle asymmetry and six patients (6%) had more than 10 mm clavicular length difference. Age, sex, and clavicular length were not associated with the clavicular length difference. Conclusion:Our study results showed that 29% of the patients had >5 mm clavicular length asymmetry. The clavicular symmetry may not be a valid assumption in the decision making for the surgical treatment of mid-shaft clavicle fractures; thus, this assumption may lead to maltreatment. More factors that can predict clavicle asymmetry should be investigated in future studies.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of locked plating in closed distal femur periprosthetic, and non-periprosthetic fractures. We hypothesized that the outcomes would be superior in the non-periprosthetic distal femur fracture group. Material and Method: Patients who underwent surgery for distal femur fractures between January 2019 and January 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients aged under 18 years, who had multiple fractures, pathological fractures, follow-up less than 6 months, previous history of revision knee arthroplasty, interprosthetic fractures between hip and knee arthroplasties, fixation performed other than distal locking femoral plate and intra-operative periprosthetic fractures were excluded. Patients’ age, gender, laterality, length of hospital stay, and follow-up duration were obtained from hospital registry notes. Fractures were classified using the AO classification system. At the last follow-up, visual analogue scale (VAS), Tegner activity score, Lysholm knee score, and short form 36 (SF-36) scores were noted. Results: A total of 30 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. There were 14 patients in the non-periprosthetic fracture group and 16 patients in the periprosthetic fracture group. The periprosthetic group had significantly lower mean VAS score (p=0.047), Tegner activity score (p=0.015), and Lysholm knee score (p=0.034) than the non-periprosthetic group. The periprosthetic fracture group had significantly inferior quality of life scores compared to non-periprosthetic groups based on SF-36 sub-parameters. Conclusion: Periprosthetic distal femoral fractures have inferior clinical outcomes and quality of life than non-periprosthetic fractures despite having similar fracture healing rate. Orthopaedic surgeons should be aware of the frailty of the patients caused by prior total knee arthroplasty surgery.

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