Summary: Severe open fractures present challenges to orthopaedic surgeons worldwide, with increased risks of significant complications. Although different global regions have different resources and systems, there continue to be many consistent approaches to open fracture care. Management of these complex injures continues to evolve in areas ranging from timing of initial operative debridement to the management of critical-sized bone defects. This review, compiled by representative members of the International Orthopaedic Trauma Association, focuses on several critical areas of open fracture management, including antibiotic administration, timing of debridement, bone loss, soft tissue management, and areas of need for future investigation.

Introduction. The fractures that occurred around trochanteric nails (perinail fractures, PNFs) are becoming a huge challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. Although presenting some specific critical issues (i.e., patients outcomes and treatment strategies), these fractures are commonly described within peri-implant ones and their treatment was based on periprosthetic fracture recommendations. The knowledge gap about PNFs leads us to convene a research group with the aim to propose a specific classification system to guide the orthopaedic surgeon in the management of these fractures. Materials and Methods. A steering committee, identified by two Italian associations of orthopaedic surgeons, conducted a comprehensive literature review on PNFs to identify the unmet needs about this topic. Subsequently, a panel of experts was involved in a consensus meeting proposing a specific classification system and formulated treatment statements for PNFs. Results and Discussion. The research group considered four PNF main characteristics for the classification proposal: (1) fracture localization, (2) fracture morphology, (3) fracture fragmentation, and (3) healing status of the previous fracture. An alphanumeric code was included to identify each characteristic, allowing to describe up to 54 categories of PNFs, using a 3- to 4-digit code. The proposal of the consensus-based classification reporting the most relevant aspects for PNF treatment might be a useful tool to guide the orthopaedic surgeon in the appropriate management of these fractures.

The successful treatment of proximal humeral fractures remains challenging for shoulder surgeons, and failure rates are high, regardless of initial treatment. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and radiographic midterm results of onlay lateralized cementless stem reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in patients with valgus/varus malunion proximal humerus fracture sequelae without metaphyseal osteotomy. We retrospectively studied 35 cases with the diagnosis of fracture sequelae of the proximal part of the humerus with valgus/varus malunion. The mean duration of follow-up was 4.6 years (range, 2 to 7 years), and the mean time between fracture and arthroplasty was 6 years (1 to 32 years). Seventeen patients (48.6%) had initially been treated nonoperatively. The Constant score (CS), active range of motion, and radiographs of the affected shoulders, as well as the acromion to greater tuberosity (AGT) distance and deltoid length (DL), were analyzed before surgery and at their latest follow-up. A total of thirty-three patients (94.3%) rated their outcome as very good or good. Mean CS, forward flexion, and external rotation improved significantly (p < 0.0001), as did internal rotation and pain (p < 0.05). AGT distance significantly increased postoperatively from 14.7 to 43.3 mm, as did DL from 143 to 170 mm (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the outcomes and valgus/varus deformity, previous surgeries, or AGT distance/DL. A total of four complications occurred (11.4%): two dislocations were detected (5.7%) and successfully revised with a longer cemented stem. Onlay lateralized uncemented stem RSA improves clinical outcomes and decreases complications when treating valgus/varus malunion fracture sequelae, avoiding intraoperative technical challenges, such as tuberosities osteotomy conscious of bone loss and proper deltoid tensioning.

The incidence of fragility fractures of the acetabulum (FFA) is constantly increasing. Generally, these fractures are related to a fall on the greater trochanter involving the anterior column. The management of FFA is extremely difficult considering both patients’ comorbidities and poor bone quality. Both non-operative and several operative treatment protocols are available, and the choice among them is still ambiguous. The proposed surgical techniques for FFA [namely open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), percutaneous fixation and total hip arthroplasty (THA)] are associated with a high complication rate. The treatment with the higher early mortality is the ORIF + THA, while the one with the lowest is the non-operative. However, at longer follow-up, this difference dreadfully change is becoming the opposite. Frequently ORIF, percutaneous fixation, and non-operative treatment need a subsequent re-operation through a THA. This latter could be extremely difficult, because of poor bone quality, acetabular mal union/non-union, bone gaps and hardware retention. However, the outcomes of each of the proposed treatment are mostly poor and controverted; therefore, a comprehensive patient evaluation and an accurate fracture description are required to appropriately manage acetabular fracture in the elderly.

High Energy Musculoskeletal Traumas (HEMTs) represent a relevant problem for healthcare systems, considering the high social costs, and both the high morbidity and mortality. The poor outcomes associated with HEMT are related to the high incidence of complications, including bone infection, fracture malunion and non-union. The treatment of each of these complications could be extremely difficult. Limb reconstruction often needs multiple procedures, rising some questions on the opportunity in perseverate to try to save the affected limb. In fact, theoretically, amputation may guarantee better function and lower complications. However, amputation is not free of complication, and a high long-term social cost has been reported. A comprehensive literature review was performed to suggest possible ways to optimize the limb preservation surgeries of HEMT’s complications in order to ameliorate their management.