Fractures of the femoral head: a narrative review

Fractures of the femoral head are rare injuries, which typically occur after posterior hip dislocation. The Pipkin classification, developed in 1957, is the most commonly used classification scheme to date. The injury is mostly caused by high-energy trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or falls from a significant height. Emergency treatment consists of urgent closed reduction of the hip joint, followed by non-operative or operative treatment of the femoral head fracture and any associated injuries. There is an ongoing controversy about the suitable surgical approach (anterior vs. posterior) for addressing fractures of the femoral head. Fracture location, degree of displacement, joint congruity and the presence of loose fragments, as well as concomitant injuries are crucial factors in choosing the adequate surgical approach. Long-term complications such as osteonecrosis of the femoral head, posttraumatic osteoarthritis and heterotopic ossification can lead to a relatively poor functional outcome. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:1122-1131. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.210034

Ligamentous injuries of the hand and wrist

Ligament injuries in the hand and wrist can lead to instability or dislocation of the joint. Instability is manifest by abnormal joint movement with loading and leads to disability through symptoms of pain, weakness or inability to tolerate load acutely and disruption of joint congruity produces arthritis through excessive contact pressure on the joint surface. The anatomy, mechanisms of injury, diagnosis and treatment of ligament injuries are described according to the joints affected.

The effect of distal tibial tuberosity high tibial osteotomy on postoperative patellar height and patellofemoral joint degeneration

Background Distal tibial tuberosity high tibial osteotomy (DTT-HTO) can prevent distalization of the tibial tuberosity and thus patellar infera. However, no studies on the clinical and radiological effects of DTT-HTO on the patellofemoral joint have been conducted. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of DTT-HTO on patella height and patellofemoral joint congruity based on the severity of patellofemoral joint OA. Methods Twenty-nine patients (33 knees) who underwent DTT-HTO and second-look arthroscopy when implant was removed between January 2018 and May 2020 were eligible for the study. Among them, 6 were males, and 23 were females, with ages from 51 to 78 years old. The Caton-Deschamps index (CDI), congruence angle (CA), and lateral patellar tilt (LPT) were measured to evaluate the effect of surgery on patellar height and patellofemoral joint congruity. The weight-bearing line ratio (WBLR) was measured to assess lower limb alignment. The cartilage lesion in the patellofemoral joint was assessed arthroscopically during surgery and implant removal by the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grading system at 18–24 months after surgery. The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scale was used to evaluate knee joint function. Results Twenty-nine patients were followed up for 18–28 months. The preoperative CDI, CA, and LPT changed from 0.92 ± 0.16 to 0.89 ± 0.14, from 5.52 ± 2.19 to 5.44 ± 2.27, and from 6.95 ± 2.88 to 6.54 ± 2.42, respectively, and the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The preoperative WBLR significantly increased from 16.72 ± 6.77 to 58.77 ± 7.69% (p < 0.001). The cartilage lesions in the patella and femoral trochlea did not progress significantly from the first- to the second-look arthroscopy, according to the ICRS grades (p > 0.05). The HSS score significantly improved from 50.64 ± 19.18 preoperatively to 67.33 ± 14.72, 81.63 ± 11.92, and 82.73 ± 8.05 at the 3-month, 12-month, and last follow-up after surgery (p < 0.001). Conclusion DTT-HTO can effectively prevent patellar infera, and its effects on postoperative patellofemoral joint congruity and patellofemoral joint OA progression are inconspicuous. It can be recommended as a treatment of varus knee combined with patellar infera or patellofemoral joint OA.

The Effect of Distal Tibial Tuberosity High Tibial Osteotomy on Postoperative Patellar Height and Patellofemoral Joint Degeneration

Background: Distal tibial tuberosity high tibial osteotomy (DTT-HTO) can prevent distalization of the tibial tuberosity and thus patella infra. However, no studies on the clinical and radiological effects of DTT-HTO on the patellofemoral joint have been conducted. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of DTT-HTO on patella height and patellofemoral joint congruity based on the severity of patellofemoral joint OA.Methods: Twenty-nine patients (33 knees) who underwent DTT-HTO and second-look arthroscopy when implant removal between January 2018 and May 2020 were eligible for the study. Among them, 6 were males, and 23 were females, with ages from 51-78 years old. The Caton-Deschamps index (CDI), congruence angle (CA) and lateral patellar tilt (LPT) were measured to evaluate the effect of surgery on patellar height and patellofemoral joint congruity. The weightbearing line ratio (WBLR) was measured to assess lower limb alignment. The cartilage lesion in the patellofemoral joint was assessed arthroscopically during surgery and implant removal by the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grading system at 18-24 months after surgery. The Hospital for Special Surgery scale (HSS) was used to evaluate knee joint function.Results: Twenty-nine patients were followed up for 18-28 months. The preoperative CDI, CA and LPT changed from 0.92±0.16 to 0.89±0.14, from 5.52±2.19 to 5.44±2.27 and from 6.95±2.88 to 6.54±2.42, respectively, and the differences were not statistically significant (p＞0.05). The preoperative WBLR significantly increased from 16.72±6.77% to 58.77±7.69% (p < 0.001). The cartilage lesions in the patella and femoral trochlea did not progress significantly from the first- to the second-look arthroscopy, according to the ICRS grades (p＞0.05). The HSS score significantly improved from 50.64±19.18 preoperatively to 67.33±14.72, 81.63±11.92 and 82.73±8.05 at the 3-month, 12-month, and last follow-up after surgery (p < 0.001).Conclusion: DTT-HTO can effectively prevent patellar infra, and its effects on postoperative patellofemoral joint congruity and patellofemoral joint OA progression are inconspicuous. It can be recommended as a treatment of varus knee combined with patella infra or patellofemoral joint OA.

‘Umbrella construct’ – an innovative technique for reconstruction of the proximal humerus after curettage in locally aggressive benign bone tumours

Aim Reconstructing locally aggressive benign bone tumours of the proximal humerus after intralesional curettage is a challenge. We present a novel reconstruction technique ‘ Umbrella construct’ where a femoral head and a strut allograft are combined to reconstruct the cavity. Complications, graft incorporation time, functional (Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score [MSTS]) and oncological outcomes were evaluated. Methods Between January 2006 and June 2017, 11 cases (10 giant cell tumours, 1 chondroblastoma) underwent curettage followed by reconstruction with Umbrella construct. There were six females and five males with a mean age of 23 years (range 14–36 years). The maximum longitudinal extent of disease was 9 cm (range 5–9 cm). Results The median follow-up was 54 months (range 34–122 months). The mean allograft incorporation time was 7 months (5–8 months). One patient had a graft fracture which was managed conservatively. Two cases developed local recurrence and the construct was revised to a prosthesis in both. The mean MSTS score for the nine cases with retained graft was 27 (23–29). Conclusions Umbrella construct is an effective reconstruction modality which helps to maintain joint congruity and limb length. It has acceptable oncological outcomes with good function.

Effect of Akin Osteotomy on Hallux Valgus Correction After Scarf Osteotomy With Hallux Valgus Interphalangeus

Background: Recurrence after hallux valgus correction is a relatively frequent occurrence. Little is known about the importance of initial correction on radiologic outcome. The objective of our study was to determine postoperative radiologic parameters correlating with loss of correction after scarf osteotomy and the combined scarf/akin osteotomy, respectively. Methods: Loss of correction was evaluated based on a group of 53 feet with isolated scarf osteotomy (S group) and a group of 17 feet with combined scarf and akin osteotomy (SA group) in a retrospective analysis. The intermetatarsal angle (IMA), the hallux valgus angle (HVA), the distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), the proximal to distal phalangeal articular angle (PDPAA), the position of the sesamoids, and joint congruity were measured in weight-bearing radiographs preoperatively and postoperatively throughout a mean follow-up of 44.8 ± 23.6 months. Results: Loss of correction was comparable between the S and the SA group ( P > .05). In contrast, we found higher loss of HVA correction in the S subgroup with a preoperative PDPAA above 8 degrees ( P = .011), whereas loss of correction in the S subgroup below 8 degrees of PDPAA was comparable to the SA group. In the S group, loss of correction showed significant correlation with postoperative IMA ( P = .015) and PDPAA ( P = .008), whereas in the SA group a correlation could be detected for IMA only ( P = .045). Conclusion: In cases with a PDPAA above 8 degrees, we recommend a combined scarf/akin osteotomy to diminish the potential for loss of correction. Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic, retrospective comparative series.