Background: Scapular osteotomy for malunion can lead to resolution of pain and functional improvement in scapula fracture sequelae. Understanding three-dimensional bone morphology and analysing post-traumatic deformity is the main step of planning and the key to success of the procedure. 3D models and patient-specific guides are a growing technology to enhance accuracy of planning and to assist during surgery. Case presentation: We report the case of a 50 years old male, complaining of pain and limited function after a malunited scapular body fracture. Clinical assessment showed a severe impairment of shoulder function with active and passive forward flexion limited to 80°, absent external rotation, and internal rotation limited to the buttock. X-rays and CT scan showed an excessive lateral border offset of 53 mm and complete displacement of the glenoid segment anteriorly and medially to the scapular body, with impingement between the lateral most prominent scapular bone spur and humeral shaft. Glenopolar angle was 19°, scapular body angulation on the sagittal plane was 12°. Corrective osteotomy was planned on a virtual interactive rendering and on 3D printed models. Patient-specific guides were developed to perform a body-spine osteotomy with removal of a bone wedge, and a glenoid-spine osteotomy; a patient-specific wedge spacer was used to hold the reduction during plate fixation. Follow-up up to 12 months after surgery demonstrated improvement in scapula anatomy, shoulder girdle function, and patient-reported outcomes. Conclusions: For the first time in scapula malunion surgery, patient-specific osteotomy guides were succesfully used during surgery to perform osteotomies and to assist in reduction maneuvers.
Trauma is one of the main causes of death in younger people and ongoing disability worldwide. In Europe, while there is generally good organization of trauma reception and acute treatment, rehabilitation from major musculoskeletal injuries is less well defined and provided. This article documents the diverse approaches to rehabilitation after major injury in 6 European nations. The recognition of need is universal, but achieving a robust rehabilitation strategy is more elusive across the varying health care systems. Switzerland has the most robust service in the insured population. In the other countries, particularly where there is a reliance on public institutes, this provision is at best patchy. In the Netherlands, innovative patient-empowering strategies have gained traction with notable success, and in the United Kingdom, a recent randomized trial also showed this approach to be reproducible and robust. Overall, there is a clear need for learning across the national systems and implementation of a minimum set of standards.
7 June 2023 in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
Posterior column fractures are common acetabular injuries. Although displaced fractures require open reduction and fixation, undisplaced patterns may benefit from percutaneous screw fixation. The combination of iliac oblique with inlet and outlet views offers an intuitive and panoramic rendering of the bony corridor into the posterior column; lateral cross table view completes the sequence of fluoroscopic projections. Herein we describe the use of outlet/inlet iliac views and a detailed procedure for percutaneous retrograde posterior column screw fixation.
Pelvic fractures associated with hemodynamic instability present a major challenge in trauma care, carrying mortality rates up to 30%. Successful management requires a multidisciplinary approach focused on resuscitation, mechanical stabilization, and hemorrhage control. Based on the 2024 International Orthopaedic Trauma Association (IOTA) Annual Meeting Pelvic Symposium, this review summarizes current recommendations for the management of hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic fractures. Initial skeletal stabilization typically involves noninvasive pelvic binding devices, such as sheets or commercially available binders, employed in both pre-hospital and hospital settings. Subsequent resuscitation strategies include hypotensive resuscitation—restricting fluid administration to maintain lower blood pressure until bleeding is controlled—and damage control resuscitation—consisting of rapid surgical interventions aimed at achieving hemostasis. Current best practice also includes early empirical administration of balanced transfusion products guided by massive transfusion protocols, with targeted adjustments based on point-of-care testing results. Hemorrhage control methods vary depending on available resources: angioembolization effectively manages arterial bleeding in well-resourced facilities, whereas preperitoneal pelvic packing offers a quick, accessible solution for venous and bone-related hemorrhage, particularly in low-resource environments. Although the timing of pelvic binder removal and definitive invasive skeletal stabilization remains controversial, recent evidence supports early definitive internal fixation within 24 hours post-injury.