Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume:10 Issue: 4, Apr 2022

We are bombarded with numerous emails daily requesting to submit a paper, become a member of the editorial board, or attend a meeting. It implies that there should be a defect in the publishing business model that allows predatory journals to creep in and outnumber legitimate ones. Conventionally, the cost of publishing was covered by subscription (subscriptionbased). Budapest Open Access Initiative (1) was the first to declare open access to scholarly published articles in 2002, followed by the Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing (2) and Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanitiesin 2003 (3). The author-payer model is now called gold open access, in which the author is charged when the paper is accepted for publication.

During seizures, injury of the upper extremities may occur. Standardized guidelines are deficient for diagnosis and perioperative care. 

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically screened using predefined search terms. 

Of the 59 patients included, 36 (61.0%) involved a posterior shoulder dislocation. Associated fractures were observed in 34 (57.6%) cases with surgical procedures performed in 30 (50.8%) patients. Functional outcomes were reported in 44 patients, with over half (23 of 44, [52.2%]) endorsing range of motion deficits. 

Standardized guidelines, to guarantee timely management of injury in post-seizure patients, are needed with a customized treatment approach that accommodates the various aspects of their condition.Level of evidence: II

The two most common surgical treatment modalities for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL), patellar tendon (PT) and hamstring tendon (HS) autografts, have been shown to have outcomes that are both similar and favorable; however, many of these are short or intermediate-term. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a minimum 10-year follow-up data to compare the long-term outcomes of ACL reconstructions performed using PT and HS autografts.

This systematic review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses) guidelines. A search of three databases (PubMed, Cochrane and EMBASE) was performed to identify RCTs with a minimum of 10-year follow-up that compared clinical and/or functional outcomes between PT and HS autografts. 

Four RCTs with a total of 299 patients were included in the study. The mean follow-up ranged from 10.2 to 17 years (mean, 14.79 years). No significant differences in knee laxity or clinical outcome scores were demonstrated in any of the studies. One study found that PT autografts were significantly more likely to have osteoarthritis identified by radiographic findings. Two studies found that patients with PT autografts reported increase kneeling pain, while none of the four studies reported a difference in anterior knee pain. There were no significant differences in graft failure rates.

This review demonstrates no long-term difference in clinical or functional outcomes between PT and HS autografts. However, radiographic and subjective outcomes indicate that patients with PT autografts may experience greater kneeling pain and osteoarthritis. Therefore, orthopaedic surgeons should consider patient-centric factors when discussing graft options with patients.Level of evidence: II

Calcium sulphate is a recent alternative for delayed antibiotic elution in infected bones and joints. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of antibiotic impregnated calcium sulphate (AICS) beads in the management of infected tibia and femur, with regards to patient outcomes and complication rates (including reinfection rate, remission rate and union rate).

Searches of AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, EMCARE, Medline, PubMed and Google Scholar were conducted in June 2020, with the mesh terms: “Calcium sulphate beads” or “Calcium sulfate beads” or “antibiotic beads” or “Stimulan” AND “Bone infection” or “Osteomyelitis” or “Debridement” AND “Tibia” or “Femur”. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of interventions (ROBINS-i) tool, and quality assessed via the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria.

Out of 104 relevant papers, 10 met the inclusion criteria for data extraction. Total infection remission was 6.8%, which was greater than that of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA, 21.2%). Complication rates varied. The main issue regarding AICS use was wound drainage, which was considerably higher in studies involving treatment of tibia alone. Studies using PMMA did not experience this issue, but there were a few incidences of superficial pin tract infection following surgery.

Where AICS was used, it was consistently effective at infection eradication, despite variation in causative organism and location of bead placement. Wound drainage varied and was higher in papers regarding tibial cases alone.Level of evidence: III

The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of insurance payer type on the postoperative outcomes following revision TJA.  A single-institution database was utilized to identify 4,302 consecutive revision THA and TKA. Patient demographics and indications for revision were collected and compared based on patient insurance payer type: (1) Medicaid, (2) Medicare, and (3) private. Propensity score matching and, subsequent, multivariate regression analyses were applied to control for baseline differences between payer groups. Outcomes of interest were rates of complications occurring perioperatively and 90 days post-discharge. After propensity-score-based matching, a total of 2,328 patients remained for further multivariate regression analyses (300 [12.9%] Medicaid, 1022 [43.9%] Medicare, 1006 [43.2%] private). Compared to privately insured patients, Medicaid and Medicare patients had 71% (P<0.01) and 53% (P=0.03) increased odds, respectively, for developing an in-hospital complication. At 90 days post-discharge, compared to privately insured patients, Medicaid and Medicare patients had 88% and 43% odds, respectively, for developing overall major complications. Our propensity-score-matched cohort study found that, compared to privately insured patients, patients with government-sponsored insurance were at an increased risk for developing both major or minor complications perioperatively and at 90-days post-discharge for revision TJA. This suggests that insurance payer type is an independent risk factor for poor outcomes following revision TJA.Level of evidence: III

This study aimed to report objective and subjective knee stability scores for patients who underwent acute repair of avulsed posterolateral corner (PLC) structures or acute reconstruction of midsubstance tears combined with delayed reconstruction of cruciate ligaments.  A total of 48 sport and vehicle accident traumatic patients were enrolled in a three-year follow-up study. The patients were investigated by clinical exams, subjective and objective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Tegner score, Lysholm score, and stress imaging. All scores were compared between the reconstruction and repair groups. Subjective IKDC scores were obtained at 83.3±9.6 and 88.3±4.39 for the reconstruction and repair groups, respectively. Only two patients in the reconstruction group had abnormal objective IKDC scores. Based on the Tegner score, 15 out of 18 patients in the repair group and 20 out of 24 patients in the reconstruction group regained their pre-injury functional level. Mean Lysholm scores for the reconstruction and repair groups were estimated at 83.4±8.2 and 88.2±4.1, respectively. Mean lateral joint opening differences between two knees in the reconstruction and repair groups were -0.2±0.1mm and 0.5±0.1mm, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between groups outcomes. We had no failure of treatment at the final follow-up. Acute intervention within 3 weeks after PLC injuries combined with delayed cruciate ligaments reconstructions showed favorable outcomes. Both repair and reconstruction are effective when deciding based on the type of injury (i.e., avulsion and midsubstance tear).Level of evidence: IV

The calcaneofibular ligament is cut to increase vision in surgical field in minimally invasive surgery of displaced intraarticular calcaneus fractures with subtalar incision. We aimed to investigate whether this causes talar tilt instability in ankle stress radiographs due to the calcaneofibular ligament deficiency in postoperative period. The files of 38 patients who were operated with the diagnosis of displaced calcaneus fracture between 2013 and 2018 were examined retrospectively. All the cases underwent with subtalar approach and the calcaneofibular ligament was repaired after the operation. The age, sex, injury mechanism, follow-up length, type of fracture by the Sanders classification, preoperative and postoperative Bohler’s and Gissane’s angle measurements, talar tilt measurements of intact and fractured side, postoperative calcaneal length, calcaneal height and calcaneal width of the cases were recorded. The obtained data were evaluated statistically.  31 (81.6%) of the cases were men, seven (18.4%) were women. The average age was 31.92±7.95 years. The average follow-up time was 15.82±3.33 months. The preoperative Bohler’s angle was 14.16±3.67 degree, while the postoperative Bohler’s angle was 31.53±4.60 degree (P<0.05). The average talar tilt was 0.96±0.87 degrees on the intact side and 1.19±1.12 degrees on the fractured side (P:0.001). Although the talar tilt values were statistically higher on the fractured side than the intact side, no radiological instability finding was found in any case. The average postoperative Gissane’s angles were 126.45±6.69 degrees. The calcaneal length (P:0.665), calcaneal width (P:0.212) and calcaneal height (P:0.341) were statistically similar between the postoperative fractured foot and intact foot. Sectioning of the calcaneofibular ligament in the surgical treatment with subtalar approach does not cause lateral ankle instability in stress radiographs but may cause laxity. Possible postoperative lateral ankle injuries can be prevented by ankle proprioception exercises.Level of evidence: III

This study aims to demonstrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on providing trauma services at our district general hospital. We aim to identify the impact on specific areas of theatre delay to help optimize theatre efficiency and generate better protocols and improve patient flow for future pandemic waves.

Patients who underwent orthopaedic trauma surgery at our hospital between July-August 2019 (preCOVID-19) and 2020 (first UK wave of COVID-19) were identified retrospectively and grouped by year of operation. Type of operation was recorded, including time for sending, anaesthetic induction, surgical preparation, operating time, and time for transfer to recovery. The two groups were compared for analysis.

Case numbers were similar in both 2019 and 2020 (215vs.213 operations), with a similar proportion being hip fractures (39.1% and 36.6%), respectively. Median sending time (40vs.23 minutes, P <0.00001) and induction time (13vs.8 minutes, P<0.00001) were increased in 2020, a 74% and 63% increase compared to 2019, respectively. Median surgical preparation time (35vs.37 minutes, P=0.06) and operating time (56vs.50 minutes, P=0.16) were not statistically significant. Transfer time in 2020 (16vs.13 minutes, P<0.00001) was significantly increased. Overall case time increased in 2020 (2:40vs.2:11, P<0.00001) by 29 minutes.

COVID-19 had a significant impact on theatre efficiency in our hospital, causing multiple points of delay. As hospitals across the UK restart crucial elective services, focus should be given to maximizing theatre efficiency by providing rapid access COVID-19 testing for patients undergoing emergency surgery. We have proposed and implemented several steps for better theatre utilization. Level of evidence: III

In 2015, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) updated its level of evidence (LOE) scale. We reviewed all studies published in JBJS in the two years before updating the LOE scale, and re-designated according to the updated scale. Level 4 therapeutic studies were the most common (32%). Level 2 prognostic studies had the greatest number of LOE designation changes (26). Near perfect agreement was met for therapeutic (k:0.96) and diagnostic studies (k:0.96). Prognostic studies demonstrated a lower agreement (k:0.65). Studies published in JBJS before 2015 may have different LOE designations if published today.

Professor Issa Navab Shaykh al-Islam (1938-2018) was one of the first orthopedic surgeons in Iran. He studied general medicine, specialty, and subspecialty in France and returned to Iran after completing his education. Following that, he earned a degree in regenerative orthopedics and traumatology from France and was one of the youngest physicians to become a full professor in France at the age of 32. One of his most valuable services was the voluntary treatment of war-injured during the imposed war between Iran and Iraq. Moreover, he helped many students to continue their education in France. He can and should be a role model for upcoming generations. Level of evidence: V