Trauma News

The FDA published a draft guidance document that provides performance criteria for non-spinal metallic bone screws and associated washers intended for orthopedic non-spinal fracture fixation, osteotomy or small joint fusion, or arthrodesis being submitted through the safety and performance-based pathway.

CHICAGO — At the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting, Judith F. Baumhauer, MD, discussed a study that looked at syndesmotic screw removal after ankle fracture fixation in symptomatic patients. She said symptomatic patients who underwent screw removal after ankle fracture fixation saw improvements in range of motion and pain relief.

LAS VEGAS — Early protected movement improved functional outcomes compared with immobilization and splinting in patients with Boxer’s fractures, according to results presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting.

LAS VEGAS — Patients 60 years of age or older reported satisfaction with treatment of distal radius fractures when they recovered slightly more than half of their grip strength and two-thirds of their wrist arc of motion, according to results presented here.

The answer to the question is “yes and no.” Orthobiologics are adjuvants that are thought to improve the endogenous healing potential of the injured skeletal element. Although orthopedic implants and surgical techniques have improved significantly over the last few decades, we still encounter fractures that, despite all efforts, fail to unite. These are the situations where orthobiologics will make a difference. Unfortunately, at this stage, we are unable to predict at the time of the index surgery who will unite and who will end up with a nonunion. In addition, we can often only guess whether a growth factor is needed, a fracture site is lacking skeletal stem cells or the stem cells are less osteogenic due to an underlying medical condition. Once we are able to identify the fracture that will require augmentation with a biologic, such as bone marrow aspirate concentrate, platelet-rich plasma or others, then we will be able to recommend meaningful use of orthobiologics for primary trauma cases. Until then, the use will be limited to patients in which the past medical history or clinical appearance of the injured limb suggest suboptimal healing potential. While this is not a wrong approach per se, it will lead to overuse of these costly products.


Some factors related to the patient or surgery, including inadequate blood flow and fracture stability, can result in fracture nonunion. However, literature shows most of these traumatic fractures promptly heal after surgical treatment. For those that do not, sources told Orthopedics Today the use of orthobiologics may provide a needed boost in healing.

LAS VEGAS — Older patients with distal radius fractures experienced faster recovery when treated with internal fixation using a volar locking plate system compared with external fixation, percutaneous pinning or casting, according to results presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting.

This year’s EFORT Travelling Fellowship took place in Tartu and Tallinn, Estonia from 12 to 18 May 2019. Twelve participants from Europe were given the opportunity to interact, visit local hospitals and take part in lectures on everything from highly specialized trauma to ortho-geriatrics.

EFORT Open Reviews is the new open access journal from EFORT and Bone & Joint Publishing. All articles are free to read online with no subscription required.

Helmet use was “extremely rare” and alcohol consumption beyond the legal limit and illicit substance use “was common” among electric or motorized scooter drivers involved in accidents. In addition, extremity fractures were the most frequent injury among these patients, researchers said.