Bakri, Karim

Background: Salter-Harris fractures of the distal phalanx with or without clinical evidence of nail-bed laceration are frequently undertreated. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients with distal phalanx Salter-Harris fractures treated between 2004 and 2016. Results: Seventy patients were treated for 72 Salter-Harris fractures at a mean ± SD age of 11.3 ± 3.7 years. Median follow-up was 6 weeks (interquartile range, 4 to 12.6 years). The thumb was most commonly involved (n = 21), followed by long (n = 18), ring (n =17), small (n = 9), and index (n = 7) fingers. Sport-related injuries accounted for 39 fractures (54 percent). Forty-two fractures (58 percent) had at least one clinical finding suggestive of nail-bed laceration (subungual hematoma, subluxation of the proximal nail plate, skin laceration proximal to the eponychial fold, bleeding from underneath the nail plate, eponychial fold laceration, and nail plate avulsion). Among 42 fractures with at least one feature of nail-bed laceration, surgical exploration was undertaken in 38 fractures. At exploration, a nail-bed laceration was found in 31 fractures (82 percent) and soft-tissue interposition was found in 18 (47 percent). Fractures with clinical features of nail-bed laceration (n = 42) were treated with open reduction and splinting (n = 25), open reduction and percutaneous pinning (n = 13), or splinting (n = 4). Excellent results were obtained, with few unfavorable outcomes. Infectious complications occurred in six patients. Conclusion: The high rate of nail-bed laceration and soft-tissue interposition in Salter-Harris fractures with clinical features of nail-bed laceration mandates surgical exploration. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Background: The vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap has been used to reliably reconstruct posterior soft-tissue defects following resection of high sacral tumors, providing skin and soft-tissue bulk. Current literature examining the use of these flaps for high sacral reconstruction is limited. The purpose of this study was to report the authors’ institution's outcome on the use of the vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap to reconstruct a high sacral defect following an oncologic resection. Methods: Eighty-seven patients (29 female and 58 male) underwent vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap surgery to reconstruct a posterior wound following high sacral tumor resection from 1994 to 2016. The mean age and body mass index were 52 years and 27.8 kg/m2, respectively. The mean follow-up was 6 years. Results: Sixty-eight patients (79 percent) sustained a complication, most commonly a wound complication [n = 41 (47 percent)]. Twenty patients (23 percent) sustained a donor-site wound complication, most commonly a wound dehiscence (n = 10). Complications resulted in a reoperation in 44 patients (51 percent), with total flap failure occurring in one (1 percent). Preoperative radiotherapy and obesity were found to increase the risk of wound complications (p = 0.004 and p = 0.02, respectively) and deep infection (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: Complications were common following vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap surgery; however, total flap loss was not. Patients with obesity and preoperative radiotherapy should be cautioned on their increased risk of complications. Currently, the vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap is the authors’ preferred means of soft-tissue reconstruction following high sacral tumor resection. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Background: Following resection of malignant tumors of the spine and pelvis, reconstructive surgeons often face large structural defects. Unlike reconstruction in the extremities, wherein a free vascularized fibular graft (FVFG) is a highly utilized option for segmental osseous reconstruction, there are limited data on the use of an FVFG in the spine and pelvis. The aim of this study was to review our institution’s experience with reconstruction with use of an FVFG following oncological resection in the spine and pelvis. Methods: We reviewed 24 cases involving the use of an FVFG in reconstruction of segmental osseous defects of the spine and pelvis following oncological resection from 2000 to 2015. The cohort consisted of 12 male and 12 female patients with a mean age of 37 years and a mean follow-up of 5 years. Fifty-four percent of the reconstructions were spinopelvic or sacropelvic. Results: The overall 2, 5, and 10-year rate of survival was 76%, 55%, and 37%, respectively. With regard to disease-free survival, the overall 2, 5, and 10-year rate was 81%, 72%, and 48%. The overall rate of union was 86%, with a mean time to union of 7 months. Complications were common, with 83% of the patients sustaining at least 1 postoperative complication. Following the procedure, the mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society rating was 53%. Conclusions: An FVFG provides a durable means of reconstruction of osseous defects in the spine and pelvis. Although patient function was acceptable following these large reconstructions, the rate of postoperative complications was high. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.