Trauma News

Managing the treatment and follow-up of ambulatory orthopedic and trauma patients during the COVID-19 pandemic requires thorough short-, medium- and long-term planning, according to Donald J. McBride, FRCS, president of the British Orthopaedic Association.

Use of radiographic fracture displacement to guide surgical and clinical decision-making may yield excellent functional outcomes and comparable complication rates among pediatric patients with lateral condyle fractures, according to results.

Patients with distal radius fractures who received digital media therapy after volar open reduction and internal fixation had significant improvements in functional outcomes in the early rehabilitation period compared with patients who underwent traditional therapy, according to results.

Patients with an acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture and hypoalbuminemia based on preoperative serum albumin levels were statistically more likely to develop major complications, such as sepsis, septic shock, pulmonary embolism, reintubation and prolonged intubation, according to study results.

Results showed comparable preoperative pain scores and opioid medication usage between patients who did and those who did not undergo reduction prior to surgical intervention of isolated, closed, neurovascularly intact, displaced distal radius fractures.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons announced Marc F. Swiontkowski, MD, FAAOS, has received the Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughn Award for research he and his colleagues conducted into outcomes after operative treatment of femoral neck fractures.

Results showed an association of fewer skin complications and less orthotic-related pain with use of a casting orthosis for mallet finger immobilization compared with a traditional thermoplastic splint.

Published results showed either internal or external fixation after lateral closing-wedge corrective osteotomy yielded reliable outcomes with a low rate of complications and satisfactory functional results in pediatric patients with cubitus varus.

Study results showed a large variation in the treatment of ankle sprains and Salter-Harris 1 distal fibula fractures by pediatric orthopedic surgeons, with increased complications found with cast treatment and continued pain reported as a common complication for both treatments.

Implementation of a fracture liaison service program may lead to effective treatment for osteoporosis among patients with fragility fractures of the hip, according to results.