Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Lateral Versus Dorsal Plating For Treating Metacarpal And Phalanx Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Joshua W. Hustedt, Collin C. Barber, Michael Bonnelli, Lloyd P. Champagne

UNM Orthopaedic Research Journal

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between the dorsal and lateral plate position for metacarpal and phalanx fractures.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected patient data for 186 fractures treated by a single surgeon between 2009 and 2011. Rates of plate removal, total arc of postoperative motion (TAM), and patient and injury demographics were tested for association with plating position.

Results: Increasing age, larger plates, and dorsal plating were found in univariate analysis to be associated with decreased TAM and increased plate removal in phalanx but not in metacarpal fractures.

Conclusions: These …

Determining Frequency And Defining The Patient Profile Of Sacral Insufficiency Fractures, Blake Obrock, Jeremy Wearn, Matthew L. Dehart, Paxton Gehling, Amer M. Mirza

UNM Orthopaedic Research Journal

Background: Insufficiency fractures at the sacrum represent a considerable cause of low back pain and disability within the geriatric population. However, there has never been a large-scale study examining the epidemiologic trends associated with the disease, and thus this condition has been largely under recognized.

Methods: This study analyzed a Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to trend frequency and burden of sacral insufficiency fractures (SIF). All inpatient stays from 1998 to 2010 noted on the NIS were included if the case maintained at least one or more diagnostic code. A total of 257,697 unique admissions (63% women, 37% men) met …

Sciatic Nerve Palsy After Operative Treatment Of Subtrochanteric Femur Fracture Resulting From Postoperative Hematoma: A Case Report, Tony G. Pedri, Gehron P. Treme

UNM Orthopaedic Research Journal

Treatment of subtrochanteric femur fractures can be difficult owing to high risk of complications. No cases of sciatic nerve palsy after hematoma following open reduction and intramedullary nailing of a subtrochanteric femur fracture have been reported. We describe a 28-yearold man who presented with a subtrochanteric fracture in the left femur after a motor-vehicle collision, in whom open reduction and intramedullary nailing led to an immediate postoperative hematoma and sciatic nerve palsy. Prompt diagnosis and early wound exploration resulted in complete resolution of the palsy at 1 month postoperatively. Our findings reinforce the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment in …