1.Adhesions as an Uncommon Complication of K-Wiring in Paediatric Phalangeal Fractures
Medicine and Health 2019;14(1):203-208
Paediatric hand fractures are common and prompt management is mandatory to
achieve a good functional outcome. However many fail to realize that treating a
fracture does not only involve bones but the soft tissues, as well. K-wiring itself
can be difficult with multiple attempts inadvertently injuring the flexor or extensor
tendons and resulting in adhesions. We highlight this possible complication of
K-wiring which we believe is under reported due to the perception that K-wiring
is a simple procedure. We present a case of a 9-year-old child, who sustained a
closed displaced fracture of the base of the proximal phalanx (Salter Harris type 2)
of the left index finger. He underwent percutaneous K-wiring but was complicated
with severe adhesions of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) and flexor digitorum
superficialis tendons (FDS). He was unable to flex the proximal and distal
interphalangeal joints of the affected finger. We subsequently performed tendon
adhesiolysis twice together with A2 pulley reconstruction, to restore movement
of the finger. K-wiring of the fingers are not just simple bony procedures but also
involve soft tissue components which can be prone to adhesions
2.Mortality Rate and Ten Years Survival of Elderly Patients Treated with Total Hip Arthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fractures
Nanchappan NS ; Chopra S ; Samuel A ; Therumurtei L ; Ganapathy SS
Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal 2021;15(No.2):136-142
Introduction: Mortality following traumatic femoral neck
fractures in the elderly (age >60 years) is influenced by many
factors. Addressing some of them may reduce the mortality
rate thus improving patient survival and quality of life.
Materials and methods: This study was a retrospective
research using data collected from Hospital Sultanah
Bahiyah, Kedah between the years 2008-2018. We measured
outcomes such as age, gender, hospital stay, default rate,
ambulation post-surgery, American Society of
Anaesthesiologists score (ASA) and surgical timing in
correlation with mortality rate and 10-year survival of
elderly patients treated with Total Hip Arthroplasty for
femoral neck fractures in this centre.
Results: A total of 291 traumatic femoral neck fractures
aged above 60 years post total hip arthroplasty performed
were included. There was higher number of female (n =233)
compared to male (n=53) Estimated 10 years survival from
Kaplan Meier was 42.88% (95% CI: 33.15, 52.54). One year
mortality rate in our study was found to be 18.9%. The
average time to event was 7.1 years (95% CI:33.15, 52.24)
with a mean age group of 75.
Discussion: Total hip arthroplasty patients not ambulating
after surgery had a 4.2 times higher hazard ratio compared to
ambulators. Those with pre-existing systemic disease (ASA
III and IV) were found to have the highest hazard ratio,
almost five times that of healthy patients, after adjusting for
confounding factors. Delay of more than seven days to
surgery was found to be a significant factor in 10-year
survival with a hazard ratio of 3.8, compared to surgery
performed earlier.
Conclusion: Delay of more than 7 days to surgery in 10
years survival was significant with high hazard ratio. It is a
predictor factor for survival in 10 years. A larger sample size
with a prospective design is required to confirm our findings
regarding “unacceptable surgical timing” for femoral neck
fractures in patients above 60 years of age.