Evaluating the use of preoperative antibiotics in pediatric orthopaedic surgery

Pediatric Patients Who Underwent Elbow Arthroscopy Had an 86% Return-to-Sport Rate, a 12% Reoperation Rate, and a 3.7% Complication Rate

Purpose

To assess the applicability and safety of elbow arthroscopy in the pediatric population at our institution by analyzing the indications and complications in a large pediatric patient series.

Methods

We retrospectively identified all patients who underwent elbow arthroscopy at age 18 years or younger from 2006 to 2017 performed by a single fellowship-trained surgeon. The exclusion criteria were follow-up shorter than 8 weeks and open surgical procedures (not fully arthroscopic). Medical records were reviewed for baseline characteristics, indications for elbow arthroscopy, range of motion, complications, and reoperations.

Results

In total, 191 patients (64 boys and 127 girls) were included, with a median age of 15.5 years (interquartile range, 14.0-16.7 years). Indications for arthroscopic surgery were grouped into treatment of osteochondritis dissecans (60%), debridement for bony or soft-tissue pathology (35%), contracture release (3%), and diagnostic arthroscopy (3%). The complication rate was 3.7%, including 4 minor complications (3 superficial wound problems and 1 case of transient ulnar neuropathy) and 3 major complications (1 case of manipulation under anesthesia for stiffness, 1 deep infection, and 1 [unplanned] reoperation for persistent locking within 1 year of the index procedure). Subsequent surgery was required in 23 patients (12%) because of newly developed, persisting or recurring elbow problems. Of the patients, 86% were able to return to sports.

Conclusions

Pediatric elbow arthroscopy performed by an experienced surgeon using a standardized technique for a wide variety of elbow conditions has an acceptable complication rate that is similar to rates in the previously published literature on elbow arthroscopy in the pediatric and adult populations; however, a significant proportion of patients needed subsequent surgery in the following years.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Peri-operative Antibiotic Prophylaxis in K-Wire Fixation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction

There are currently no standardised guidelines on whether antibiotic prophylaxis is required for Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation to minimise the risk of surgical site infection when used in patients undergoing clean orthopaedic surgery.

Purpose

To compare the outcomes of antibiotic prophylaxis versus no antibiotic in K-wire fixation when used in either in trauma or elective orthopaedics.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines and a search of electronic information was conducted to identify all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised studies comparing the outcomes of antibiotic prophylaxis group versus those without antibiotic in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in which K-wire fixation was used. Incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) was the primary outcome. Random effects modelling was used for the analysis.

Results

Four retrospective cohort studies and one RCT were identified with a total of 2316 patients. There was no significant difference between the prophylactic antibiotic and no antibiotic groups in terms of incidence of SSI (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, P = 0.18).

Conclusions

There is no significant difference in administering peri-operative antibiotics for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery using K-wire.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Distal Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis

Prior evidence is clear that in clean, elective soft-tissue hand procedures less than 2 hours, antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the boney procedures of the hand involving implanted hardware. Previous studies reviewing complications after distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint arthrodesis did not analyze whether patients receiving antibiotics before surgery had a significant difference in the infection rate.

Methods

A retrospective review of clean, elective DIP arthrodesis was conducted between September 2018 and September 2021. The subjects were aged 18 years and older and underwent elective DIP arthrodesis for the treatment of osteoarthritis or deformity of the DIP joint. All the procedures were performed using an intramedullary headless compression screw. The rates of postoperative infections and treatments required for infections were recorded and analyzed.

Results

Overall, 37 unique patients had at least one case of DIP arthrodesis that met the criteria for inclusion in our analysis. Twenty of the 37 patients did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis, and 17 of the 37 patients received antibiotic prophylaxis. Five of the 20 patients who did not receive antibiotics prophylactically developed infections, and none of the 17 patients who received antibiotics prophylactically developed an infection. Fisher exact test revealed a significant difference in the infection rates between the two groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in infections with respect to smoking or diabetes status.

Conclusion

Antibiotic prophylaxis should be administered for clean, elective DIP arthrodesis, using an intramedullary screw.

Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Children Undergoing Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: To establish the role of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) in the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) in children undergoing surgery. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of six databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus. Study Selection: Included studies (irrespective of design) compared outcomes in children undergoing surgery, aged 0 to 21 years who received SAP with those who did not, with SSI as an outcome, using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions for SSI. Data Extraction: Two independent reviewers applied eligibility criteria, assessed the risk of bias, and extracted data. Results: A total of six randomized control trials and 26 observational studies including 202,593 surgical procedures among 202,405 participants were included in the review. The pooled odds ratio of SSI was 1.20; (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91-1.58) comparing those receiving SAP with those not receiving SAP, with moderate heterogeneity in effect size between studies (τ² = 0.246; χ² = 69.75; p < 0.001; I² = 57.0%). There was insufficient data on many factors known to be associated with SSI, such as cost, length of stay, re-admission, and re-operation; it was therefore not possible to perform subanalyses on these. Conclusions: This review and metanalysis did not find a preventive action of SAP against SSI, and our results suggest that SAP should not be used in surgical wound class (SWC) I procedures in children. However, considering the poor quality of included studies, the principal message of this study is in highlighting the absence of quality data to drive evidence-based decision-making in SSI prevention in children, and in advocating for more research in this field.

Hold the Antibiotics: Are Preoperative Antibiotics Unnecessary in the Treatment of Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures?

BACKGROUND

Supracondylar humerus (SCH) fracture is the most common elbow injury in children and often treated with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP). There is little published evidence supporting or refuting the use of perioperative prophylactic antibiotics for SCH CRPP in the pediatric population. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the rate of surgical site infection for patients with and without preoperative antibiotics.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients less than or equal to 16 years from 2012 to 2018 who underwent primary CRPP. Open fractures, multilimbed polytraumas, and immunodeficient patients were excluded. Infection rates were compared using a noninferiority test assuming a 3% infection rate and a predefined noninferiority margin of 4%. A total of 255 patients were needed to adequately power the study.

RESULTS

Of the 1253 cases identified, 845 met eligibility criteria. A total of 337 received antibiotics, and 508 did not. Preoperative nerve injury (P=0.0244) and sterilization technique (P<0.0001) were associated with antibiotic use: 4 patients developed an infection; there were successfully treated superficial infections, and 1 was a deep infection requiring a formal debridement. There were 8 patients that had a recorded mal-union, and 6 patients required additional procedures; 1 patient had a postoperative compartment syndrome on postoperation day 1. The infection rates among patients treated with and without antibiotics were 0.60% and 0.40%, respectively. The absence of antibiotics was not clinically inferior to using antibiotics (P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Infection remains a rare complication following CRPP of SCH fractures. According to our current data, not giving perioperative antibiotics was not inferior to using perioperative antibiotics for preventing superficial or deep infection in patients undergoing CRPP of SCH fractures. With the increase in attention to antibiotic stewardship, it is important to eliminate unnecessary antibiotic use while continuing to maintain a low rate of surgical site infection.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV-case series. This is a therapeutic study that investigates the results from a case series.

Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Patients of Neonatal and Pediatric Age Undergoing Orthopedic and Hand Surgery: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Consensus Study

Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a potential complication in any type of surgery and can occur up to one year after the procedure in the case of implant placement. In the field of orthopedic and hand surgery, the rate of SSIs is a relevant issue, considering the need for the placement of synthesis devices and the type of some interventions (e.g., exposed fractures). This work aims to provide guidance on the management of peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis for the pediatric and neonatal population undergoing orthopedic and hand surgery in order to standardize the management of patients and to reduce, on the one hand, the risk of SSI and, on the other, the development of antimicrobial resistance. The following scenarios were considered: (1) bloodless fracture reduction; (2) reduction of unexposed fracture and grade I and II exposed fracture; (3) reduction of grade III exposed fracture or traumatic amputation; (4) cruel fracture reduction with percutaneous synthesis; (5) non-traumatic amputation; (6) emergency intact skin trauma surgery and elective surgery without synthetic media placement; (7) elective orthopedic surgery with prosthetic and/or synthetic media placement and spinal surgery; (8) clean elective hand surgery with and without bone involvement, without use of synthetic means; (9) surgery of the hand on an elective basis with bone involvement and/or with use of synthetic means. This manuscript has been made possible by the multidisciplinary contribution of experts belonging to the most important Italian scientific societies and represents, in our opinion, the most complete and up-to-date collection of recommendations regarding the behavior to be adopted in the peri-operative setting in neonatal and pediatric orthopedic and hand surgery. The specific scenarios developed are aimed at guiding the healthcare professional in practice to ensure the better and standardized management of neonatal and pediatric patients, together with an easy consultation.

Efficacy of Antibiotics in Supracondylar Fractures

BACKGROUND

Controversy exists surrounding antibiotic use in the setting of pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures treated with closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation. While the reported incidence of infection in the literature is low, surgeons frequently administer preoperative antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review preoperative antibiotic use and incidence of infection in children with supracondylar humerus fractures treated with closed reduction and K-wire fixation. It was hypothesized that antibiotic administration will not affect the incidence of infection following this procedure.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 1053 patients with supracondylar humerus fractures treated with closed reduction and K-wire fixation at 3 institutions between 2006 and 2016. Patient demographics, antibiotic administration and follow-up data were reviewed in 905 patients.

RESULTS

Of 905 patients, 755 patients received preoperative antibiotics and 150 patients did not. The incidence of infection was 2.5% (n=22) in the group that received preoperative antibiotics and 2.0% in the group that did not receive antibiotics with an overall incidence of infection of 2.4%. The difference between groups did not reach significance (P>0.5). The majority of infections were treated with oral antibiotics with or without early pin removal. Four patients, all in the preoperative antibiotic group, required surgical debridement and intravenous antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS

Retrospective review of the incidence of infection in closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of supracondylar humerus fractures found no difference between patients who received preoperative antibiotics and those who did not receive preoperative antibiotics.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III-therapeutic.

Outpatient paediatric hand surgery: strategy in healthcare implementation and cost-efficient manner

The increasingly cost of health care is a relevant problem as well as prolonged waiting time for admission also in emergencies. Effective cost containment measures and expenditure controls are needed to achieve and maintain clinical and organizational appropriateness. Outpatient management has proven to be the most useful method for lower-cost treatment in less severe pathologies, requiring surgery without hospitalization. The current study provided to evaluate how this model was successfully applied also to the paediatric population in hand surgery. Methods. A retrospective cohort study of 645 patients from 8 to 18 years (mean age 14.9) was performed in children treated in outpatient setting from 2015 to 2019. The direct costs were evaluated as well as the mean waiting time for surgery, comparing the data with the previous five-year period. The mean reduction in waiting time for children emergencies was 57% (from 72 to 31 h) due to the Outpatient setting into a dedicated Day-Surgery Service organizational model. The visual graphed data showed a general clear growing trend towards outpatient surgery in adults and children. The overall effect was a 29.2% of reduction in spending between expected and achieved costs, recovering resources toward the increasing technology and innovation expenditures. Outpatient paediatric hand surgery was an effective and attractive option which leaded to decreased individual and social costs, with increased clinical and organizational appropriateness. Thus, reduced delay in treatment and provided benefits for children and familiars.

Prevention of Infection in Foot and Ankle Surgery

The literature for prevention of surgical infection related primarily to foot and ankle surgery is sparse, with most attention on total joint replacement and abdominal surgery. Attention should be paid to preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative elements, which can have an effect on the development of postoperative infection. Although antibiotic prophylaxis typically is discussed in isolation, inclusion of this step into the process enhances the overall evaluation of surgery with respect to infection. This evolution provides for better patient outcomes and decreases the likelihood of an infection incurred after foot and ankle surgery.

What's New in Pediatric Orthopaedic Quality, Safety, and Value? A Systematic Review With Results of the 2016 POSNA Quality, Safety, and Value Initiative (QSVI) Challenge

BACKGROUND

Enhancing the safety, quality, and value of care provided is a point of emphasis for modern health care systems. We performed a review of recent literature to highlight those efforts relevant to pediatric musculoskeletal care.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed database for all papers related to quality improvement, patient safety, and/or value in pediatric orthopaedics published from October 1, 2012 to October 31, 2017, yielding 193 papers.

RESULTS

A total of 36 papers were selected for review based upon new findings. Papers were selected based on significant contributions in the following categories: casting safety, antibiotic stewardship/infection prevention, perioperative care pathways, blood conservation, venous thromboembolic disease prevention, and imaging safety/appropriateness.

CONCLUSIONS

There have been numerous advances in safety, quality, and value in pediatric orthopaedic care. Quality improvement efforts emphasizing provider education and safety monitoring can lead to a decrease in cast-related complications. Perioperative care pathways and bundles are associated with a decrease risk of surgical site infection and decreased length of stay in pediatric spinal deformity surgery. Increased scrutiny has been placed on the value of routine follow-up radiographs in pediatric fracture and spinal deformity care.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4-literature review.

CTV, III GFH, Weber AE. Should antibiotics be administered before arthroscopic knee surgery? A systematic review of the literature

AIM

To explore the current evidence surrounding the administration of prophylactic antibiotics for arthroscopic knee surgery.

METHODS

Databases were searched from inception through May of 2018 for studies examining prophylactic antibiotic use and efficacy in knee arthroscopy. Studies with patient data were further assessed for types of arthroscopic procedures performed, number of patients in the study, use of antibiotics, and outcomes with the intention of performing a pooled analysis. Data pertaining to “deep tissue infection” or “septic arthritis” were included in our analysis. Reported data on superficial infection were not included in our data analysis. For the pooled analysis, a relative risk ratio was calculated and χ² tests were used to assess for statistical significance between rates of infection amongst the various patient groups. Post hoc power analyses were performed to compute the statistical power obtained from our sample sizes. Number needed to treat analyses were performed for statistically significant differences by dividing 1 by the difference between the infection rates of the antibiotic and no antibiotic groups. An alpha value of 0.05 was used for our analysis. Study heterogeneity was assessed by Cochrane’s Q test as well as calculation of the I² value.

RESULTS

A total of 49682 patients who underwent knee arthroscopy for a diverse set of procedures across 19 studies met inclusion critera for pooled analysis. For those not undergoing graft procedures, there were 27 cases of post-operative septic arthritis in 34487 patients (0.08%) who received prophylactic antibiotics and 16 cases in 10911 (0.15%) who received none [risk ratio (RR) = 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29-0.99, P = 0.05]. A sub-group analysis in which bony procedures were excluded was performed which found no significant difference in infection rates between patients that received prophylactic antibiotics and patients that did not (P > 0.05). All anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction studies used prophylactic antibiotics, but two studies investigating the effect of soaking the graft in vancomycin in addition to standard intravenous (IV) prophylaxis were combined for analysis. There were 19 cases in 1095 patients (1.74%) who received IV antibioitics alone and no infections in 2034 patients who received IV antibiotics and had a vancomycin soaked graft (RR = 0.01, 95%CI: 0.001-0.229, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Prophylactic antibiotics are effective in preventing septic arthritis following simple knee arthroscopy. In procedures involving graft implantation, graft soaking reduces the rate of infection.

Prophylactic antibiotics in soft-tissue procedures in children with cerebral palsy

PURPOSE

Data on the benefits of perioperative prophylactic antibiotics in the paediatric population are lacking. In this study, we aimed to assess the rate of infection after isolated soft-tissue procedures in patients with cerebral palsy with and without preoperative prophylactic antibiotics between 2009 and 2015.

METHODS

We reviewed the records of all children with cerebral palsy who underwent isolated soft-tissue procedures (on the upper and lower limb) at our hospital between 2009 and 2015. Children with at least 30-day postoperative follow-up were included. Children who had groin incisions were excluded.

RESULTS

Two groups were identified: the antibiotic group (77 children with 203 incisions and 343 procedures) had one surgical site infection; the no-antibiotic group (48 children with 102 incisions and 177 procedures) had no surgical site infections.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the use of preoperative antibiotics does not change the rate of postoperative surgical site infections.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III therapeutic study.

Current Evidence Regarding Routine Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Hand Surgery

Background: Although routine antibiotic prophylaxis immediately preceding an orthopedic surgery has become the standard of care in most cases, this practice is poorly defined in hand surgery. The purpose of this analysis is to review the most current literature of antibiotic use in hand surgery. Methods: A careful review of the literature regarding routine antibiotic prophylaxis in hand surgery was made. Current relevant resources were used in the construction of this review. Results: There is a mixed consensus on the role for prophylactic antibiotics in hand surgery with some resources and data showing support and others opposed. Conclusions: Based on the current literature, the authors recommend the following patient characteristics not receive antibiotics: clean hygienic patients, without autoimmune disease, and those not taking steroid medication. Surgical characteristics that would render prophylaxis unnecessary include those without hardware, those without reasonable risk of hematoma formation, or those performed at an ambulatory surgery center as opposed to a large hospital. However, the decision should be made on a case-by-case basis weighing the evidence presented.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Septic Arthritis and Osteomyelitis after Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning of a Supracondylar Humerus Fracture: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Infectious complications of closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of supracondylar humerus fractures are exceedingly rare. Although postoperative Pseudomonas infection is a feared complication associated with noncompliance and a wet cast, there are no reports in the literature of this occurring. We present the devastating complication of a pediatric patient who developed Pseudomonas aeruginosa subperiosteal abscess, osteomyelitis, and elbow septic arthritis after presenting to the clinic multiple times with a wet cast after closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of a supracondylar humerus fracture. We describe the treatment course for this patient, followed by the sequelae of posterolateral rotary instability. This case not only confirms that patients can get Pseudomonas infections if they get their cast wet but also stresses the importance of patient communication and compliance in preventing unfortunate complications.

Utility of Postoperative Antibiotics After Percutaneous Pinning of Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures

BACKGROUND

Pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures are common injuries that are often treated surgically with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. Although surgical-site infections are rare, postoperative antibiotics are frequently administered without evidence or guidelines for their use. With the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms and heightened focus on health care costs, appropriate and evidence-based use of antibiotics is needed. We hypothesized that postoperative antibiotic administration would not decrease the rate of surgical-site infection.

METHODS

A billing query identified 951 patients with operatively treated supracondylar humerus fractures at our institution over a 15-year period. Records were reviewed for demographic data, perioperative antibiotic use, and the presence of surgical-site infection. Exclusion criteria were open fractures, open reduction, pathologic fractures, metabolic bone disease, the presence of other injuries that required operative treatment, and follow-up <2 weeks after pin removal. χ and Fisher exact test were used to compare antibiotic use to the incidence of surgical-site infection.

RESULTS

Six hundred eighteen patients met our inclusion criteria. Two hundred thirty-eight patients (38.5%) received postoperative antibiotics. Eleven surgical-site infections were identified for an overall rate of 1.8%. The use of postoperative antibiotics was not associated with a lower rate of surgical-site infection (P=0.883). Patients with a type III fracture (P<0.001), diminished preoperative vascular (P=0.001) and neurological status (P=0.019), and postoperative hospital admission (P<0.001) were significantly more likely to receive postoperative antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of postoperative antibiotics after closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures does not decrease the rate of surgical-site infection.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III-therapeutic.

Pediatrician preferences, local resources, and economic factors influence referral to a subspecialty access clinic

BACKGROUND

Pediatric patients seek timely access to subspecialty care within a complex delivery system while facing barriers: distance, economics, and clinician shortages. Aim We examined stakeholder perceptions about solutions to the access challenge. We engaged over 300 referring primary care pediatricians in the evaluation of Access Clinics at an academic children's hospital.

METHODS

Using an anonymous online survey, we asked pediatricians about their and their patients' experiences and analyzed factors that may influence referrals. Findings Referring pediatricians reported satisfaction; they provided feedback about their patients' experiences, physician communication, and referral influences. Distance from the Access Clinic does not correlate with differences in referral volume; living in areas with higher child populations and higher median income is associated with more referrals. Referring pediatricians have strong opinions about referrals, are attuned to patient experiences, and desire bi-directional communication. Multiple factors influence referral to and acceptance of Access Clinics, but external influences have less impact than expected.

Evaluating the use of antibiotic prophylaxis during open reduction and internal fixation surgery in patients at low risk of surgical site infection

BACKGROUND

Widespread overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics contribute to increasingly antibiotic-resistant pathogens and higher health care costs. It is not clear whether routine antibiotic prophylaxis can reduce the rate of surgical site infection (SSI) in low-risk patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. We designed a simple scorecard to grade SSI risk factors and determined whether routine antibiotic prophylaxis affects SSI occurrence during open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) orthopaedic surgeries in trauma patients at low risk of developing SSI.

METHODS

The SSI risk scorecard (possible total points ranged from 5 to 25) was designed to take into account a patient's general health status, the primary cause of fractures, surgical site tissue condition or wound class, types of devices implanted, and surgical duration. Patients with a low SSI risk score (≤8 points) who were undergoing clean ORIF surgery were divided into control (routine antibiotic treatment, cefuroxime) and evaluation (no antibiotic treatment) groups and followed up for 13-17 months after surgery.

RESULTS

The infection rate was much higher in patients with high SSI risk scores (≥9 points) than in patients with low risk scores assigned to the control group (10.7% vs. 2.2%, P<0.0001). SSI occurred in 11 of 499 patients in the control group and in 13 of 534 patients in the evaluation group during the follow-up period of 13-17 months. The SSI occurrence rate did not differ significantly (2.2% vs. 2.4%, P=0.97) between the control and evaluation groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine antibiotic prophylaxis does not significantly decrease the rate of SSI in ORIF surgical patients with a low risk score. Implementation of this scoring system could guide the rational use of perioperative antibiotics and ultimately reduce antibiotic resistance, health care costs, and adverse reactions to antibiotics.

American college of foot and ankle surgeons' clinical consensus statement: perioperative prophylactic antibiotic use in clean elective foot surgery

Some controversy exists regarding the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in elective foot and ankle surgery. A task force was appointed by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) to provide a clinical consensus statement on this topic. The panel members performed a literature search and identified 6 studies that met the inclusion criteria. They then developed a list of 13 questions about which they attempted to reach consensus using a modified Delphi method. The questions were grouped into 4 categories: indications for antibiotic prophylaxis relative to surgical procedure; antibiotic prophylaxis in high-risk patients; antibiotic selection; and timing of antibiotic prophylaxis. Consensus was reached for all 13 questions. The panel members found that studies pertaining specifically to elective foot and ankle surgeries that were not level I evidence generally did not recommend prophylaxis. They also found that multispecialty guidelines, which reflect data that are stronger, tended to recommend routine prophylaxis, especially for surgeries involving hardware. In addition, many hospital systems support routine prophylaxis by surgeons. More high-level evidence is required to make a definitive determination about whether prophylaxis is necessary in elective foot and ankle surgery. Until that time, routine prophylaxis will likely be continued at most institutions, because few complications have been reported with the practice.

Open reduction internal fixation of lateral humeral condyle fractures in children. A series of 105 fractures from a single institution

Lateral humeral condyle fractures account for 17 % of the distal humeral condyle fractures. Displaced and/or rotated fractures require appropriate reduction and stabilisation. There are, however, a number of controversies in the surgical management of these patients. The aim of the present study was to review the results of patients with a displaced lateral humeral condyle fracture treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). We retrospectively reviewed children treated with ORIF of lateral humeral condyle fractures at a single institution over a period of 13 years. All cases were identified through the trauma register. Case notes and radiographs were retrieved. Fracture classification, mode of fixation, time to union, and final outcomes at the latest follow-up were reviewed. One hundred and five lateral condyle fractures were identified in 76 male and 29 female patients. Average age was 6.2 years. Ninety-two were Milch type II and 13 Milch type I. According to the Jacob’s classification, 38 were type II and 67 type III. All fractures were treated with open reduction and fixation with K-wires. Average time to radiological union was 33 days. Follow-up ranged between 2 and 8 years (average 3.2 years). Radiological hypertrophy of the lateral condyle was present in 45 cases (42 %). Three patients developed a pseudo-cubitus varus deformity. Further four patients developed a true cubitus varus. There was one case of superficial infection of the K-wires and one case of delayed union. At the latest follow-up, 96 % of the patients achieved an excellent final result and 4 % a good final result. Our results demonstrate that fracture union and excellent final outcomes can be expected in all patients using our protocol, whereby all patients with a displaced fracture are managed by ORIF with K-wire fixation, with the wires only being removed after there is evidence of radiological union. Compared to recent reports of closed reduction internal fixation, this series demonstrates good results with no complications directly relating to the open reduction technique. Level of evidence Case series, Level IV.