Abstract:PurposeProximal humerus fractures in adults are approached with a high suspicion for potential associated glenohumeral dislocation. Axillary views of the shoulder can be painful and possibly even lead to dynamic angulation of the proximal humerus fracture. The incidence of associated glenohumeral dislocation in the paediatric population is unclear and it would be useful to determine whether children with proximal humerus fracture require specific axillary view imaging to rule out dislocation.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 220 proximal humerus fractures in 218 total children. Imaging and follow-up clinic notes were reviewed for potential glenohumeral dislocation.ResultsAverage patient age was 9.8 years SD 3.8 with 55% of the patients male and a wide variety of mechanisms of injury. None of the 220 fractures evaluated showed radiographic evidence of a shoulder dislocation, and all 218 children had a follow-up appointment at least 21 days after the injury without any clinical concern of a missed shoulder dislocation.ConclusionNo paediatric patients presenting with proximal humerus fractures had a corresponding glenohumeral joint dislocation in our relatively large series. We recommend obtaining this additional imaging only in cases with higher energy mechanisms, if there is suspicion of subluxation or dislocation on anteroposterior and scapular-Y views or if there is clinical concern.Level of EvidenceLevel III Diagnostic

Purpose: To determine whether surgeon specialty affects complications after open operative care of distal upper-extremity fractures. Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Database from 2005 to 2016. Patients were included if they received open operative treatment by an orthopedic or a plastic surgeon for distal radius/ulna, carpal, metacarpal, or phalangeal fracture. Univariate analysis and multivariable analysis of perioperative complications were performed to identify differences between the 2 specialties. Major complications assessed were 30-day reoperation and mortality. We also assessed transfusion, thromboembolic, surgical site infections, cardiac, pulmonary, and renal complications. Results: A total of 20,512 patients were included. Most cases performed by orthopedic surgeons (71.2%) were for distal radius/ulna fractures, whereas the majority of cases performed by plastic surgeons were for metacarpal (41.0%) and phalangeal (37.9%) fractures. No difference was identified in most perioperative complications between specialties. Plastic surgeons had a higher incidence of surgical site infections (1.2% vs 0.5%) on univariate analysis. However, when controlling for variables such as patient demographics and comorbidities in multivariable analysis, surgical specialty was not significantly associated with surgical site infection. Rather, surgery on phalangeal bones (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] ¼ 2.745; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.559e4.833), higher wound class (wound class 3 aOR ¼ 3.630; 95% CI, 2.003e6.577), and smoking (aOR ¼ 1.970; 95% CI,1.279e3.032) were independent risk factors for surgical site infection. Plastic surgeons were found to operate on proportionally more smokers, patients with higher wound class, and phalangeal fractures (37.9% of all fracture cases) compared with orthopedic surgeons Conclusions: Orthopedic and plastic surgeons achieve equivalent outcomes from a safety perspective after open operative treatment of upper-extremity fractures in terms of mortality and 30-day reoperation, which suggests that both specialties can safely perform call-related operative upper-extremity fracture care. Plastic surgeons operated on more smokers, patients with higher wound class, and phalangeal fractures, all of which were associated with increased incidence of surgical site infection, revealing differences in practice composition from their orthopedic colleagues. Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic III.

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