Category Archives: Orthopedics

PUBLISHED: Deltoid Ligament Repair

Deltoid Ligament Repair
William B. Hogan1Eric M. Bluman, MD, PhD2
1Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
2Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Injury to the medial deltoid ligament complex is rare as it is the strongest of the ankle ligaments. However, damage to this structure can occur, often in association with an avulsion fracture of the medial malleolus due to the ligamentous strength of the complex. Deltoid ligament repair remains a primary option for patients with severe acute injuries, or patients with chronic instability who have failed conservative measures.

Repair of the medial ankle ligaments provides improved stability with reduced risk of recurrent sprains and potential damage to local cartilage. This article presents a case of a young woman with concomitant medial and lateral ankle instability who successfully underwent deltoid ligament repair for her medial ligament injury.

Right Distal Tibial Oblique Fracture Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) with Medial Neutralization Non-locking Plate

Right Distal Tibial Oblique Fracture Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) with Medial Neutralization Non-locking Plate
Andrew M. Hresko, MDEdward Kenneth Rodriguez, MD, PhD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Diaphyseal tibial fractures are common injuries that are most often treated with intramedullary nailing. However, certain patient factors may necessitate alternative treatment strategies such as open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) with plates and screws. Presence of a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the injured extremity is one such factor. TKA is a common operation that is only increasing in popularity, and management of tibia fractures distal to TKA may be a frequently encountered clinical scenario.

This video presents a technique for ORIF of a distal diaphyseal tibia fracture distal to a TKA that precludes intramedullary nail fixation. The fracture is fixed with lag screws and secured with an anatomically-contoured distal tibia locking-compression plate (LCP) in neutralization mode.

PUBLISHED: Carbon Fiber Implant for Fixation of a Pathologic Subtrochanteric Fracture

Carbon Fiber Implant for Fixation of a Pathologic Subtrochanteric Fracture
Paul A. Rizk, MD; Joseph O. Werenski; Santiago A. Lozano-Calderon, MD, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital

This case presents a patient with a pathologic subtrochanteric femur fracture secondary to an undiagnosed primary lung adenocarcinoma. The fracture, occurring in the context of persistent atraumatic thigh and knee pain, prompted swift identification of its pathological nature in the Emergency Department. The treatment plan involved open reduction and internal fixation utilizing a carbon fiber nail, considering the immediate need for stabilization and underlying oncologic factors.

This article highlights the strategic use of carbon fiber implants in managing pathologic fractures, offering advantages in postoperative imaging, disease monitoring, and precision in radiation therapy planning. The multidisciplinary approach underscores the importance of considering implant selection nuances, especially in metastatic bone disease, to optimize outcomes.

PUBLISHED: Brostrom-Gould Procedure for Lateral Ankle Instability

Brostrom-Gould Procedure for Lateral Ankle Instability
William B. Hogan1Eric M. Bluman, MD, PhD2
1Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
2Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Acute ankle sprains are most frequently treated conservatively, although some surgeons may advocate acute repairs in certain situations. Surgery is indicated for chronic sprains with persistent ankle instability despite well-designed conservative management. Several anatomic and nonanatomic operative procedures are available. The Broström-Gould procedure is a widely-used operative intervention for the treatment of chronic lateral ankle sprains. It consists of an anatomic repair or reconstruction of the injured lateral ankle ligament complex (Broström procedure), followed by suturing of the inferior extensor retinaculum to the periosteum of the distal fibula (Gould modification).

This article describes the standard Broström-Gould procedure starting with the identification of the anatomic landmarks. The skin incision follows the anterior border of the distal fibula, and careful subcutaneous dissection is carried out to expose the extensor retinaculum and the torn ligaments. This is followed by bone preparation and ligament repair utilizing a box stitch technique while holding the ankle in an appropriate position. Finally, the Gould portion of the procedure is demonstrated.

PUBLISHED: Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Mandibular Body and Parasymphyseal Fractures with Maxillomandibular Fixation and Broken Tooth Extraction

Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Mandibular Body and Parasymphyseal Fractures with Maxillomandibular Fixation and Broken Tooth Extraction
Derek Sheen, MD1Cheryl Yu, MD2Sarah Debs, MD2Peter Kwak, MD2Nima Vahidi, MD3Daniel Hawkins, DDS2Thomas Lee, MD, FACS2
1University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
2Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
3Upstate Medical Center

This is a case discussing a 21-year-old male who suffered from both non-comminuted mandibular parasymphyseal and body fractures as a result of a motor vehicle accident, requiring open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) without postoperative maxillomandibular fixation (MMF). The fracture was complicated by a broken tooth root, which required extraction.

After intraoperative MMF, ORIF was performed. The parasymphyseal fracture was plated using two locking four-hole 2-mm thick miniplates utilizing two locking screws on either side of the fracture with one plate along the alveolar surface (monocortical screw) and one along the basal surface (bicortical screw). For the right body fracture, a three-dimensional locking ladder plate was used via a transbuccal trocar approach for additional exposure needed for proper screw placement. Once the hardware was secured, the patient was taken out of MMF and restoration of premorbid occlusion was confirmed. Lastly, watertight mucosal closure was performed using absorbable sutures and Dermabond (cyanoacrylate adhesive).

PUBLISHED: Rotator Cuff Repair (Cadaver Shoulder)

Rotator Cuff Repair (Cadaver Shoulder)
Patrick Vavken, MD1Sabah Ali2
1Smith and Nephew Endoscopy Laboratory
2University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Rotator cuff tears represent the vast majority of shoulder disorders treated by orthopaedic surgeons. From partial-thickness tears in overhead throwing athletes to full-thickness tears in the elderly, the prevalence of rotator cuff tears continues to increase over time. While some cases are asymptomatic, most patients with rotator cuff tears report shoulder pain, limited range of motion, and nighttime pain with difficulty sleeping on the affected shoulder. When nonsurgical treatment is insufficient in relieving the symptoms, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair becomes a viable option for many patients.

This is the case of a rotator cuff repair of a full-thickness tear that extends into the infraspinatus on a cadaver shoulder in the beach chair position. The tear was repaired by placing an anchor, retrieving and passing three suture arms, and tying the suture. This article outlines the natural history, preoperative care, intraoperative technique, and postoperative considerations of rotator cuff repairs.

PUBLISHED: Portal Placement for Hip Arthroscopy

Portal Placement for Hip Arthroscopy
Steven D. Sartore1Scott D. Martin, MD2
1Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
2Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Center

Hip arthroscopy is a well-established technique that has become a mainstay in the repair of bony and ligamentous injuries when conservative methods fail to return adequate joint mobility and function. The technique has both diagnostic and therapeutic utility and its use as a minimally invasive orthopedic surgery continues to advance. Several studies have suggested that arthroscopic surgical management has more favorable outcomes in certain circumstances when compared to hip-specific conservative measures.

The approach to establishing adequate sites for portal placement is dependent upon recognizing the pertinent anatomy of the surgical site.  At the same time, the operator must be mindful of the desired views once access to the joint space has been obtained. Proper visualization of the desired joint region is critical to reducing the conversion of THAs into inherently riskier total joint procedures. Additionally, the neurovascular landscape of the groin presents technical challenges with the procedural approach, which requires significant skill to avoid vital structures in the area. Acetabular labral tears are frequently repaired with this type of operative management as techniques and approaches become more refined. Here, the authors present the case of a 24-year-old woman who is undergoing an arthroscopic anterior labral repair, highlighting both the anatomical landmarks and the access points for portal placement used in the procedure.

PUBLISHED: Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of a Diaphyseal Periprosthetic Humeral Fracture

Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of a Diaphyseal Periprosthetic Humeral Fracture
Ikechukwu C. Amakiri1Michael J. Weaver, MD2
1Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College
2Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Periprosthetic humeral shaft fractures are increasing in incidence as shoulder replacements become more common. Surgical management of humeral shaft fractures can only be deemed appropriate when the degree of pain, the extent of disability, and the number of comorbid conditions are taken into consideration.

Among trauma surgeons there exists no preferred surgical approach to fractures of different segments of the humerus; however, the anterolateral approach to midshaft fractures is the most common although viable alternative approaches exist. In this case, we perform an open reduction and internal fixation of a diaphyseal periprosthetic humeral fracture with a posterior triceps sparing approach.

PUBLISHED: Bone Graft for Nonunion of Right Thumb Proximal Phalanx Fracture

Bone Graft for Nonunion of Right Thumb Proximal Phalanx Fracture
Sudhir B. Rao, MD1Mark N. Perlmutter, MS, MD, FICS, FAANOS2Arya S. Rao3Grant Darner4
1Big Rapids Orthopaedics
2Carolina Regional Orthopaedics
3Columbia University
4Duke University School of Medicine

In this video, the authors describe and demonstrate a surgical technique for the treatment of an unstable nonunion of a proximal phalangeal fracture of the thumb.

The video describes the surgical exposure, preparation of the nonunion site, harvesting of autogenous iliac corticocancellous bone graft, bone grafting of the defect, and stabilization with K-wire fixation.

PUBLISHED: Retrograde Femoral Intramedullary Nail for a Midshaft Femoral Fracture with an Ipsilateral Subtrochanteric Fracture

Retrograde Femoral Intramedullary Nail for a Midshaft Femoral Fracture with an Ipsilateral Subtrochanteric Fracture
Jason P. Den Haese Jr.1Michael J. Weaver, MD2
1Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
2Brigham and Women’s Hospital

This case illustrates a midshaft femoral fracture with an ipsilateral subtrochanteric fracture that is repaired with a retrograde femoral intramedullary nail technique. The annual incidence of midshaft femur fractures is approximately 10 per 100,000 person-years (most commonly low-energy falls in elderly females). Generally, these patients will present with pain, inflammation, and shortening of the leg.

Retrograde femoral intramedullary nail placement is one of the most prevalent methods for treatment. It was initially discovered in 1970 and refined in 1995 to have improved surgery time, bleeding, and postoperative adverse outcomes. This procedure has proven to be particularly beneficial in obese and non-ambulatory patients, and those with multisystem injuries; it also has shown some benefit in pregnant women due to decreased pelvic radiation exposure.

This case presents a woman with a femoral shaft fracture and an ipsilateral subtrochanteric fracture. Given this patient’s multiple ipsilateral femur fractures, it was favorable to intervene with a retrograde femoral intramedullary nail. The procedure was done in a supine position due to favorable imaging throughout the operation.