Historically, ankle fractures have been treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedures, which are considered safe and effective. Patient characteristics may contribute to postoperative difficulties thereby increasing risk of hospital readmission. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of and reasons for 30-day readmission and postoperative complications following ORIF for ankle fractures. A retrospective review of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database from 2015 to 2021 identified patients undergoing ORIF for ankle fractures. Patient demographics, complication incidence, and reasons for unplanned hospital readmission were collected. Multivariable analyses identified patient risk factors for any adverse event (AAE) and readmission within 30-days of surgery. The 29,905 patients queried who underwent ORIF procedures for ankle fractures between 2015 and 2021 were 49.6 ± 18.40 years of age, 30.9 ± 7.10 kg/m2, and 40.81% male. Of this cohort, 981 (3.30%) experienced 30-day postoperative adverse events, with surgical site infections (SSI; 1.25%) the most common. Unplanned readmission was observed in 2.08% of patients after a mean of 14.64 days. Surgical site related readmissions were 20.55% (n = 128) of reported readmissions with the most common being superficial incisional SSI. Notable risk factors for adverse events included ASA class (OR = 1.579, P < .001), COPD (OR = 1.522, P < .001), bleeding disorders (OR = 1.489, P = .001), diabetes (OR = 1.254, P = .008), and current smoking status (OR = 1.295, P = .002). Risk factors for readmission were ASA class (OR = 1.762, P < .001), COPD (OR = 1.599, P < .001), bleeding disorder (OR = 1.711, P < .001), diabetes (OR = 1.494, P < .001), end stage renal disease (OR = 3.304, P < .001), steroid use (OR = 2.144, P < .001), and current smoking status (OR = 1.667, P < .001). Despite a low adverse event rate, 2% of patients required unplanned readmission after ORIF for ankle fractures. Surgical site complications account for almost half of reported readmissions. ASA class and various medical comorbidities were found to significantly increase the risk of postoperative adverse events and hospital readmission.

Background: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is an alternative to anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for treating glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA), particularly in elderly patients. This study evaluates 90-day postoperative complication rates and identifies risk factors for adverse outcomes in RSA and TSA patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX Research NLP Network to identify patients aged 65–90 years who underwent RSA or TSA for OA from 2006 to 2024. 1:1 propensity score matching controlled for demographics and comorbidities. Orthopedic and infectious complications were compared using multivariate logistic regression. Results: The final matched cohort included 4,117 RSA and TSA patients. RSA was associated with significantly higher odds of orthopedic complications compared to TSA. Significant risk factors for orthopedic complications in RSA included nicotine dependence (OR, 1.592; P=0.001) and hypertension (OR, 1.545; P=0.001). In TSA, risk factors included male sex (OR, 0.702; P=0.005), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 1.650; P=0.016), and obesity (OR, 1.776; P<0.001). For infections, RSA risk factors were male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.698; P=0.005), heart failure (OR, 2.396; P<0.001), and diabetes (OR, 1.525; P=0.039). Diabetes was the only significant risk factor in TSA (OR, 2.453; P=0.003). Conclusions: RSA carries a higher risk of orthopedic complications and infection than TSA within 90 days. Distinct risk factors for each procedure highlight the need for patient-specific risk stratification to optimize preoperative assessment and surgical decision-making. Level of evidence: III.

Background and Objectives: Hepatic resection offers promising outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but can be constrained by factors like patient suitability. Continuous advancements in laparoscopic and robotic technologies have made minimally invasive hepatectomies (MIHs) a viable alternative to open hepatectomies with benefits in terms of recovery and complications. Materials and Methods: We completed a retrospective review on 138 HCC patients who underwent OH or MIH between 2010 and 2020 at the Hume-Lee Transplant Center. Univariate and multivariate analyses were completed on demographic, clinical, and tumor-specific data to assess the impact of these variables on overall and disease-free survival at 1, 3, and 5 years. Preoperative metrics like length of hospital stay (LOS) and operation duration were also evaluated. Results: Of the 109 OH and 29 MIH patients, MIH patients demonstrated shorter LOS and operative times. However, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were similar between groups, with no significant variations in 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. Age > 60 years and a lack of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) were significant predictors of inferior OS and DFS in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: MIH is an efficient substitute for OH with comparable survival, even in older patients. The reduced LOS and operation time enhance its feasibility, and older patients previously denied for curative resection may qualify for MIH. Preoperative TACE also enhances survival outcomes, emphasizing its general role in managing resectable HCCs. Both robotic and laparoscopic hepatectomies offer acceptable short- and long-term clinical outcomes, highlighting MIH as the standard choice for HCC patients.