Cancio-Bello, Alexandra

Background: Tendinopathies are common in middle-aged women. While estrogen regulates tendon remodeling, the influence of systemic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the risk of tendon degeneration remains unclear. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between systemic HRT use and tendon injuries/repair in perimenopausal women. It was hypothesized that systemic HRT would be associated with an increased incidence of tendon injuries and repair. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Using the TriNetX Research Network, we identified female patients aged ≥45 years diagnosed with major tendon abnormalities, including rotator cuff tears, bicipital tendinitis, lateral or medial epicondylitis, Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinitis, or quadriceps strain, from January 2004 to July 2025. HRT exposure was defined as systemic estrogen and/or progestin use within 1 year before a diagnosis. Patients with contraindications to HRT were excluded. After 1:1 propensity score matching, 2 groups of 63,836 patients each were generated. Primary outcomes included diagnosis rates of specific tendon conditions; secondary outcomes were lifetime rates of corresponding tendon repair procedures. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The independent t test and chi-square test were used for analysis. Results: HRT users had significantly higher rates of several tendon abnormalities compared to matched controls, including rotator cuff tears (39.2% vs 37.9%, respectively; P < .001), bicipital tendinitis (13.3% vs 11.0%, respectively; P < .001), lateral epicondylitis (27.8% vs 22.7%, respectively; P < .001), and medial epicondylitis (6.8% vs 5.3%, respectively; P < .001). Achilles tendinopathy had similar rates between the 2 groups (14.6% vs 14.5%, respectively; P = .387). Surgical repair was more common in the HRT group, including biceps tendon repair/tenodesis (3.9% vs 3.3%, respectively; OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.10-1.23]; P < .001), rotator cuff repair (6.6% vs 6.2%, respectively; OR, 1.06 [95% CI, 1.01-1.11]; P = .013), and Achilles tendon repair (0.7% vs 0.6%, respectively; OR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.06-1.41]; P = .005). Conclusion: Our study showed that systemic HRT use in women aged ≥45 years was associated with an increased risk of tendon injuries and a greater likelihood of surgical repair, although the absolute risk differences were modest. These findings underscore the need for awareness of the possible musculoskeletal effects of hormone therapy and highlight an underexplored area in women's orthopaedic health.

Abstract Osteochondral lesions of the knee, particularly in patients with early osteoarthritic changes, remain a clinical challenge. The Agili‐C implant (CartiHeal, Smith & Nephew), an aragonite‐based osteochondral scaffold, offers a single‐stage, off‐the‐shelf solution designed to regenerate both cartilage and subchondral bone. Unlike cell‐based therapies, Agili‐C eliminates the need for cell harvesting, culturing, or bioreactors, and avoids the morbidity associated with autografts and allografts. Recent multicenter randomized controlled trials have showed superior functional outcomes and pain reduction with Agili‐C compared to microfracture and debridement, even in patients with early osteoarthritis (Kellgren‐Lawrence grades 0‐3). This Technical Note describes the surgical technique for Agili‐C implantation and highlights key technical pearls to optimize outcomes.

Case: Three cases of pediatric patients with knee injuries from cactus thorns are included. These cases are variable in presentation ranging from acute inflammatory responses to permanent limb deformity secondary to growth arrest. Definitive treatment also varied widely from nonoperative conservative management to multiple arthroscopic and open surgeries. Conclusion: Pediatric cactus thorn injuries have varied presentations, requiring a high level of clinical suspicion for diagnosis and treatment to prevent permanent damage.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate tranexamic acid (TXA) when administered immediately on hospital presentation in patients with extracapsular peritrochanteric hip fractures to determine its effect on (1) transfusion rates, (2) estimated blood loss, and (3) complications. METHODS: Design: Prospective, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial. Setting: Single-center, Level 1 trauma center. Patient Selection Criteria: All patients with isolated OTA/AO 31-A fracture patterns from 2018 to 2022 were eligible for inclusion. Study drug was administered in the emergency department at the time of presentation—1-g bolus over 10 minutes followed by a 1-g infusion over 8 hours. Outcome Measures and Comparisons: The primary outcome was the rate of red blood cell transfusion hospital days 1–4. Secondary outcomes included estimated blood loss and complications including venous thromboembolic events, stroke, myocardial infarction, all-cause 90-day readmissions, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-eight patients were included—64 patients were randomized to intravenous TXA and 64 patients to intravenous normal saline (ie, placebo). There was no difference in the rate of red blood cell transfusion between treatment arms between hospital days 1–4 (27% in the TXA arm vs. 31% in the placebo arm, P = 0.65). Patients randomized to placebo who required transfusion received a mean of 2.30 units compared with 1.94 units in the TXA cohort (P = 0.55). There was no difference in the estimated blood loss between hospital days 1–4. There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications including venous thromboembolic events, stroke, myocardial infarction, 90-day readmission, or death. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study do not support the use of preoperative TXA for reducing blood loss for geriatric patients with extracapsular hip fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between a screw's radiographic relationship to the piriformis fossa with position on CT in the clinical setting. Methods: Intraoperative fluoroscopic images of patients treated with cannulated screw fixation of a femoral neck fracture, who also had a postoperative CT scan, were retrospectively evaluated by 4 fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeons. The posterosuperior screw on the AP fluoroscopic view was determined to be above the piriformis fossa (APF) or below the piriformis fossa (BPF). Using CT scan to determine IOI placement, the ability to predict IOI position based on fluoroscopic imaging was evaluated by calculating accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and interobserver reliability. Results: 73 patients met inclusion criteria. The incidence of IOI screw placement was 59% on CT evaluation. The use of the PF landmark accurately predicted CT findings in 89% of patients. A screw placed APF was 90% sensitive and 88% specific in predicting cortical breach, with near-perfect interobserver agreement (κ = 0.81). Conclusion: The use of the PF radiographic landmark is highly sensitive and specific in predicting the placement of an IOI posterosuperior femoral neck screw. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between preoperative international normalized ratio (INR) and postoperative mortality and other outcomes after hemiarthroplasty for geriatric femoral neck fractures. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: A single Level-I trauma center. Patients/Participants: Patients ≥55 years of age with OTA/AO 31B proximal femur fractures [1556 patients (1616 hips)] Intervention: Hip hemiarthroplasty. Main Outcome Measurements: Ninety-day mortality, postoperative transfusion within 72 hours, and 90-day postoperative outcomes. Results: Adjusting for confounders, the association of preoperative INR and 90-day mortality was not statistically significant [hazard ratio (HR): 1.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97, 1.8; P = 0.08]. Dementia (HR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.4–2.6; P < 0.001), Charlson Comorbidity Index (HR: 1.1; 95% CI: 1.1–1.2; P < 0.001), and age by decade (HR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–1.8; P = 0.002) were associated with 90-day mortality. Increasing INR was significantly associated with blood transfusion [odds ratio (OR) 1.4; 95% CI 1.03–1.6; P = 0.031]. Preoperative hemoglobin <10 g/dL (OR 13.7; 95% CI 8.4–23.3; P < 0.001) was also associated with a postoperative transfusion, whereas intraoperative tranexamic acid use (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.2–0.5; P < 0.001) was inversely associated with postoperative transfusion rate. INR was associated with superficial wound infection (HR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1–3.7; P = 0.02) and noninfected wound complications (HR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1–2.4; P = 0.007). Risk of superficial infection increased when INR was >1.8. Conclusion: When controlling for confounders, preoperative INR was not significantly associated with 90-day mortality. Underlying medical conditions contribute to postoperative mortality more than an elevated INR. However, INR is associated with superficial wound complications. This risk becomes statistically significant as INR rises above 1.8. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.