The Influence of the Mandibular Chin Angle on the Occurrence of Mandibular Condylar Fracture: A Retrospective Study

Background. Condylar fractures are commonly associated with symphysis/parasymphysis fractures. Condylar fractures have been attributed to direct and indirect traumatic forces, the direction and magnitude of the forces, and the condylar anatomy. The chief aim of this study was to determine the association between the newly defined mandibular chin angle and the occurrence of condylar fractures. Materials and Methods. A retrospective study was conducted to analyze two-dimensional computed tomography (2D CT) scans of patients with a history of chin trauma. The outcome was a symphysis/parasymphysis fracture with or without fracture of the mandibular condyle. The Mediff InstaRISPACS web-based platform was used to measure the chin angle. The cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius in the corresponding 2D CT midsagittal image was the standard reference plane to measure the chin angle. The SPSS Version 20 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY) was used for data analysis. Results. The sample size included 120 2D CT scans of patients with symphysis/parasymphysis fractures (60 associated with condylar fractures and 60 without condylar fractures). The mean chin angle in the group without condylar fracture was 133.35 ± 3.87°, which was approximately 15° lesser than in the condylar fracture group (mean, 148.56 ± 5.49°), and these findings were statistically significant P < 0.05 . Conclusion. Individuals with a high chin angle are potentially at a higher risk of sustaining associated condylar fractures.

Incidence and Predictive Factors of Tibial Fracture with Occult Posterior Ankle Fractures

Background. Few studies exist on the predictive factors of tibial fractures with hidden posterior ankle fractures. Objective. To study the incidence and predictive factors of tibial fractures with occult posterior ankle fractures. Methods. Tibial fracture patients were prospectively selected who were admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to May 2021 and their general clinical data, X-ray images, CT images, and other imaging data were collected and then divided them into posterior malleolus fracture group and nonposterior malleolus fracture group according to the presence or absence of posterior malleolus fractures. Multivariate regression analysis and receiver operating curves (ROC) were performed to analyze the influencing factors of tibial fracture with occult posterior ankle fracture. Results. CT showed that 25 (13.44%) patients had occult posterior ankle fractures among 186 patients with tibial fracture. There was no significant difference in gender, age, and locations of tibial fracture between the two groups ( P > 0.05 ). There were statistical differences in the types, locations, and lengths of patients with tibial fracture but without posterior malleolus fractures. The length of the tibia fracture group was significantly lower than the tibia with posterior ankle fracture group ( P < 0.05 ). Logistics regression analysis showed that tibial fracture with occult posterior ankle fracture was not significantly correlated with gender, age, and location of tibial fracture ( P > 0.05 ), but was significantly correlated with tibial fracture type, location, and length (HR = 1.830, P = 0.035 ; HR = 5.161, P = 0.004 ; HR = 1.126, P = 0.030 ). The ROC curve showed that the AUC of length of tibial fracture with occult posterior ankle fracture was 0.599. The YD index suggested that the best cut point for the prediction of tibial fracture with occult posterior ankle fracture was above 13.18%. The sensitivity and specificity of spiral tibial fracture and distal 1/3 tibial fracture for prediction were 88.00% and 63.35%, 92.00%, and 58.39%, respectively, which was significantly higher than that of tibial fracture length ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. Patients with tibial fractures have a higher incidence of occult posterior ankle fractures. Spiral tibial fractures and distal 1/3 tibial fractures have a higher predictive value for tibial fracture with occult posterior ankle fractures and can help clinical detection as soon as possible, which is a more accurate and appropriate treatment.

Long-Term Incidence of Total Knee Arthroplasty after Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Proximal Tibial and Distal Femoral Fractures: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Knee fractures often require open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for knee function recovery. More than one fifth of patients with knee fractures subsequently develop posttraumatic arthritis, and over 5% of them need total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We conducted this nationwide retrospective cohort study using the data of 2,000,000 people in the general population who received TKA and were followed up in the 17-year period 2001–2017, through random sampling of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We matched the ORIF and non-fracture groups by a propensity score, based on age, sex, index date of surgery, and comorbidities enrolled in CCI calculated at a 1:1 ratio. The average proportion of subjects receiving TKA after ORIF for distal femoral or proximal tibial fractures was 2.0 per 1000 person-years, which was significantly higher than that in the non-fracture group. Patients aged 20–65 years and males represented a significantly higher proportion of subjects receiving TKA after ORIF than that in the non-fracture group. The proportion of subjects receiving TKA for the 20–65-year subgroup of the ORIF group was 4%, and that for the male subgroup was 1.5%; both rates increased over the 17-year follow-up period. More aggressive intraoperative and postoperative adjuvant therapies may be necessary for these subgroups.

Unipolar Latissimus Dorsi Transfer for Restoration of Elbow Flexion in Residual Post-traumatic Brachial Plexus Palsy Associated with Distal Humeral Fractures

Introduction Elbow flexion is indispensable for both functioning and nonfunctioning hands. It is well perceived that restoration of elbow function is the first reconstructive priority in cases of brachial plexus injuries. The authors assessed the impact of associated distal humeral fractures on the functional outcome after unipolar latissimus dorsi transfer (ULDT) for restoration of elbow flexion in patients with residual brachial plexus palsy (BPP). Patients and Methods Twenty-three patients operated for restoring elbow flexion after residual post-traumatic BPP (with or without distal humeral fracture) by unipolar latissimus dorsi transfer (ULDT) were reviewed for a retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups; associated distal humeral fracture group (HF-group; 10 patients) and non-associated distal humeral fracture group (NHF-group; 13 patients). Elbow flexion active range of motion (AROM), flexion deformity in addition to Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) were assessed. Results In both groups there were statistically better postoperative MEPS grading (p = 0.007, p = 0.001, respectively) and scoring with a mean of 81 ± 16.1 and 90 ± 4.6, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean postoperative elbow flexion AROM was statistically better in both groups. The mean supination AROM was better in NHF group (p = 0.057). Conclusion The use of ULDT in residual post-traumatic BPP is an efficient procedure in regaining functional flexion and supination. An associated distal humeral fracture does not significantly affect the final functional outcome. Level of Evidence Level IV.

Vertebral osteomyelitis is characterised by increased RANK/OPG and RANKL/OPG expression ratios in vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs

Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) is an infection of the spine mainly caused by bacterial pathogens. The pathogenesis leading to destruction of intervertebral discs (IVDs) and adjacent vertebral bodies (VBs) is poorly described. The present study aimed at investigating the connection between infection and bone/disc metabolism in VO patients. 14 patients with VO (infection group) and 14 patients with burst fractures of the spine (fracture group; control) were included prospectively. Tissue biopsies from affected IVDs and adjacent VBs were analysed by RT-qPCR for mRNA-expression levels of 18 target genes including chemokines, adipokines and genes involved in bone metabolism. Most importantly, the receptor activator of NF-κB/osteoprotegerin (RANK/OPG) expression ratio was drastically elevated in both VBs and IVDs of the infection group. In parallel, expression of genes of the prostaglandin-E2-dependent prostanoid system was induced. Such genes regulate tissue degradation processes via the triad OPG/RANK/RANKL as well as via the chemokines IL-8 and CCL-20, whose expression was also found to be increased upon infection. The gene expression of the adipokine leptin, which promotes inflammatory tissue degradation, was higher in IVD tissue of the infection group, whereas the transcription of omentin and resistin genes, whose functions are largely unknown in the context of infectious diseases, was lower in infected VBs. In summary, similar expression patterns of pro-inflammatory cytokines and pro-osteoclastogenic factors were identified in VBs and IVDs of patients suffering from VO. This suggests that common immuno-metabolic pathways are involved in the mechanisms leading to tissue degradation in VBs and IVDs during VO.

Associations between Zygoma Fracture and Post-Traumatic Headache: A Study among Taiwanese Population

Few studies have discussed the development of post-traumatic headache (PTH) after zygoma fracture. This research aimed to examine the association between zygoma fracture and PTH and its other associated factors. A total of 3043 patients with zygoma fracture and 3043 patients with non-fracture were included in this analysis. They were matched to a non-fracture cohort from the National Health Insurance database according to age, sex, and index year. The incidence of PTH and its association with zygoma fracture were assessed. The zygoma fracture cohort had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of PTH than the non-fracture cohort in a 10-year follow-up. The confounding risk factors of PTH included zygoma fracture, female sex, and comorbidities, including obesity and depression. Female patients under 40 years old who had zygoma fractures had a higher incidence of PTH than the non-fracture group. Moreover, patients with zygoma fractures commonly developed PTH within three months after injury. Female patients under 40 years old with precedent zygoma fractures had a higher incidence rate of PTH than those without fractures. Moreover, patients with zygoma fractures commonly developed PTH within three months after injury. Nevertheless, before widely applying our results, a prospective study must be conducted to verify the risk factors found in this study.

A comparative study of the clinical efficacy of supination-adduction type II ankle fracture surgery based on the medial pilon fracture concept versus the ankle fracture concept

Background A supination-adduction (SAD) ankle fracture is a special type of ankle fracture that results in collapse of the distal tibial articular surface; as such, orthopaedic surgeons require greater awareness of this type of fracture. The severity of this injury lies between that of an ordinary ankle fracture and a pilon fracture, and the treatment of such fractures based on the ankle fracture concept leads to extremely high rates of postoperative complications and a poor prognosis. In this retrospective study, we aimed to explore the treatment of SAD fractures based on the pilon fracture concept. Methods We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 67 patients with Lauge-Hansen supination-adduction type II (SAD-II) ankle fractures, most of whom had a 44-A AO classification. Patients underwent surgical treatment at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2009 to June 2019. The patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical concept employed: 43 patients were included in the ankle fracture surgical concept group, and 24 patients were included in the medial pilon fracture surgical concept group. The therapeutic effect was evaluated based on the Burwell-Charnley radiological reduction standard, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score 1 year after surgery using regression with adjustment for confounding factors. Results All 67 patients were followed up. Twenty-four patients were treated according to the medial pilon fracture concept, and forty-three patients were treated according to the ankle fracture concept. The AOFAS score 1 year after surgery in the medial pilon group (89.83 ± 2.77) was higher than that in the ankle fracture group (83.63 ± 7.97) (p < 0.05). The VAS score 1 year after surgery in the medial pilon fracture group (1.17 ± 0.96) was significantly better than that in the ankle fracture group (2.28 ± 0.96) (p < 0.05). Conclusion Patients with Lauge-Hansen SAD-II ankle fractures treated based on the medial pilon fracture surgical concept had better postoperative outcomes than those treated based on the ankle fracture surgical concept. Level of evidence Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Comparative study of functional outcomes between OTA/AO type C, Gustilo type I/II open fractures and closed fractures of the distal humerus treated by open reduction and internal fixation

Background To evaluate the difference of functional outcomes between OTA/AO type C, Gustilo type I/II open fractures and closed fractures of the distal humerus after open reduction and internal fixation. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with OTA/AO-C distal humerus fractures who were treated in our department from January 2014 to December 2016. The patients were divided into an open fracture group and a closed fracture group. Their baseline characteristics and functional outcomes were analyzed and compared. Results A total of 64 patients treated by operative fixation were identified (25 open and 39 closed injuries), and the average follow-up time was 35.1 ± 13.6 months. There were no significant differences in the range of motion (ROM) of the elbow, Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, complications, hospitalization time, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, or medical costs between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion OTA/AO type C, Gustilo I/II distal humeral open fractures can yield satisfactory clinical results similar to those of closed distal humeral fractures after open reduction and internal fixation. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level III; Retrospective Cohort Comparison; Treatment Study.

Expression of scrum CYR61 mRNA and protein in patients with tibial fracture and its relationship with prognosis

Objective: To explore the relationship between the expression of serum CYR61 mRNA and protein and prognosis in patients with tibial fracture. Methods: Eighty-six patients with tibiofibular fractures (fracture group) admitted to Xi'an Central Hospital from July 2016 to July 2018 and 84 healthy controls (control group) who underwent physical examination in our hospital were selected as the study subjects. The imaging healing score (RUST) and prognosis were divided into two subgroups, 74 in the normal healing group and 10 in the abnormal healing group. The serum CYR61 mRNA and protein expression levels were compared and the relationship between serum CYR61 mRNA and protein expression levels and fracture prognosis was analyzed. Result: The relative expression levels of CYR61 mRNA and protein in the normal healing group were (2.35±0.49) and (0.33±0.10), respectively (2.0210.29) and (0.23±0.07) in the abnormal healing group and 1.8810.37 in the control group.), (0.26±0.06), the difference between the three groups was statistically significant (P<0.05), and the serum CYR61 mRNA and CYR61 protein in the normal healing group were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05), and the serum CYR61 mRNA in the abnormal healing group. CYR61 protein was significantly lower than the normal healing group (P<0.05). The RUST of the normal healing group was (11.3511.51), which was higher than that of the abnormal healing group (7.1710.95), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Serum CYR61 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly positively correlated with prognosis (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of serum CYR61 mRNA and protein were 0.735 and 0.778, respectively, and the Cut-off values were 2.363 and 0.338, respectively. The sensitivities were 60.80% and 54.10%, respectively, and the specificities were 80.00% and 90.00%, respectively. They were 0.408 and 0.441, respectively, thus indicating that serum CYR61 mRNA and protein expression levels have predictive value for prognosis. Conclusion: The higher the mRNA and protein expression levels of serum CYR61 in early stage, the better the prognosis of fracture healing in patients with tibiofibular fractures. To a certain extent, serum CYR61 can be used as a reference for predicting the prognosis of tibiofibular fractures.

Analysis of risk factors related to the re-fracture of adjacent vertebral body after PKP

Background This study aims to investigate the risk factors of vertebral re-fracture after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporosis vertebral compression fracture (OVCF), and to provide reference for clinical prevention. Material and methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 228 OVCF patients admitted on November 6, 2013, solstice, December 14, 2018, which met the inclusion criteria. There were 35 males and 193 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:20, and an age of 61–89 years. All patients were treated with PKP surgery with complete clinical data, and the rate of re-fracture was calculated according to whether re-fracture occurred after surgery, divided into the re-fracture group (24 cases) and the non-refracture group (204 cases). May be associated with subsequent fracture factors (gender, age, number of surgical segment vertebral body, whether with degenerative scoliosis, whether to fight osteoporosis) into a single-factor research, then the single-factor analysis was statistically significant risk factors for multiple logistic regression analysis, further defined after PKP holds the vertebral body fracture independent risk factors. Survival analysis was performed using the time of vertebral re-fracture after PKP as the end time of follow-up, the occurrence of re-fracture after PKP as the endpoint event, and the presence or absence of degenerative lateral curvature as a variable factor. Results All 228 vertebroplasty patients were followed up for a period of 1.8 to 63.6 months. The mean follow-up time was (28.8 ± 15.6) months, and the re-fracture rate was 10.5%. There were statistically significant differences between the re-fracture group and the non-refracture group in age, number of operative vertebral bodies, whether there was a combination of degenerative scoliosis and whether there was anti-osteoporosis treatment (P < 0.05). The results of univariate logistic regression analysis after excluding the mutual influence of various factors showed that the number of vertebral bodies and the group with lateral curvature might be the risk factors for PKP re-fracture after surgery. The above possible risk factors were included in multiple logistic regression analysis to show whether there were independent risk factors for scoliosis and vertebral re-fracture. Survival analysis showed that the mean survival time was 42.1 months, the P value was 0.00, and the mean 95% confidence interval was (34.4–49.7 months), indicating that the combination of degenerative lateral bending might be related to the occurrence of re-fracture. Conclusions Combined scoliosis is an independent risk factor for re-fracture after OVCF laminoplasty and a possible risk factor for re-fracture after surgery.