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Carlo Bellabarba

Publications and source records attributed to Carlo Bellabarba.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Complications associated with surgical stabilization of high-grade sacral fracture dislocations with spino-pelvic instability.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation of 19 consecutive patients with sacral fracture dislocations and cauda equina syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To review the safety and patient impact of early surgical decompression, and rigid segmental stabilization in patients with high-grade sacral fracture dislocations. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The ideal treatment for patients presenting with fracture dislocations of the sacrum resulting from high-energy mechanisms remains unknown. Previous studies consisted of multicenter case reviews that showed satisfactory outcomes with either nonoperative or a variety of surgical methods. However, over the last 20 years, no consistent treatment algorithm for these severe injuries has emerged. The advent of rigid, low-profile segmental fixation of the lumbar spine to the pelvic ring has offered a solution to many of the surgical challenges. This study evaluates the rate of complications of this method. It is intended to serve as a foundation for further evaluation and development of this treatment strategy, and as a basis for future comparison studies. METHODS: Patients were treated with a formally established algorithm, including resuscitation, and clinical assessment with detailed neurologic assessment and radiographic workup with pelvic computerized tomography and reformatted views. Electrophysiologic testing was conducted to confirm the presence of sacral plexus injuries in patients who were unable to be examined. Patients received neural element decompression and open reduction with segmental internal fixation through a midline posterior approach by connecting lower lumbar pedicle screws to long iliac screws when the patient's general medical condition allowed for surgical intervention. A formal sacroiliac arthrodesis was not performed. For the purposes of this study, patients were assessed specifically for the following adverse events: (1) infection, (2) wound healing, (3) neurologic deterioration following surgical treatment, (4) postoperative loss of sacral fracture reduction, (5) instrumentation failure, (6) axial lumbopelvic pain requiring further treatment, and (7) unplanned secondary surgery. RESULTS: There were 19 patients with an average age of 32 years treated according to this algorithm. Fracture reduction was successfully maintained in all patients. During the index surgical intervention, 14/19 patients (74%) had had either a traumatic dural tear or nerve root avulsion. Major complications involved fracture of the connecting rods in 6/19 patients (31%) and wound healing disturbances in 5/19 (26%). There were no lasting complications such as chronic osteomyelitis noted. In patients followed over a 1-year period, the visual analog score, referable to the sacral injury, averaged 5.5 on a scale of 0-10. CONCLUSIONS: Rigid segmental lumbopelvic stabilization allowed for reliable fracture reduction of the lumbosacral spine and posterior pelvic ring, permitting early mobilization without external immobilizaton and neurologic improvement in a large number of patients. Complications were primarily related to infection, wound healing, and asymptomatic rod breakage, and were without long-term sequelae.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Decompression and lumbopelvic fixation for sacral fracture-dislocations with spino-pelvic dissociation.

PURPOSE: To report results of sacral decompression and lumbopelvic fixation in neurologically impaired patients with highly displaced, comminuted sacral fracture-dislocations resulting in spino-pelvic dissociation. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SETTING: Regional level one trauma center. PATIENTS: Nineteen patients with highly displaced, comminuted, irreducible Roy-Camille type 2-4 sacral fractures with spino-pelvic instability patterns and cauda equina deficits were identified over a 6-year period, 18 of which met the 12-month minimum follow-up criterion. INTERVENTION: All were treated with open reduction, sacral decompression, and lumbopelvic fixation. Radiographic and clinical results were evaluated. Neurological outcome was measured by Gibbons' criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Radiographic evaluation with computed tomography scan and antero-posterior, lateral, and oblique views of the pelvis to assess alignment, hardware position and decompression. Clinical evaluation emphasizing neurological outcome as described by Gibbons' criteria. RESULTS: Sacral fractures healed in all 18 patients without loss of reduction. Average sacral kyphosis improved from 43 to 21 degrees. Fifteen patients (83%) had full or partial recovery of bowel and bladder deficits, although only 10 patients (56%) had improved Gibbons scores. Average Gibbons score improved from 4 to 2.8 at 31-month average follow-up (range: 12 to 57 mo). Wound infection (16%) was the most common complication. Complete recovery of cauda equina function was more likely in patients with continuity of all sacral roots (86% vs. 0%, P = 0.00037) and incomplete deficits (100% vs. 20%, P = 0.024). Although not statistically significant, recovery of bowel and bladder function specifically was more closely associated with absence of any sacral root discontinuity (86% vs. 36%, P = 0.066) than on completeness of the injury (100% vs. 47%, P = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Lumbopelvic fixation provided reliable fracture stability and allowed consistent fracture union without loss of alignment. Neurological outcome was, in part, influenced by completeness of injury and presence of sacral root disruption.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Is the absence of an ipsilateral fibular fracture predictive of increased radiographic tibial pilon fracture severity?

OBJECTIVE: Despite their frequent occurrence, there is little clinical or biomechanical data associating the status of the fibula with any injury pattern of the tibial plafond. Similarly, the integrity of the fibula is not assessed in the commonly used tibial pilon fracture classification schemes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in the radiographic severity of tibial pilon injuries with fibular fractures compared with those without fibular fractures by using a rank-order method. DESIGN: Case-control, radiographic review. SETTING: Urban level-1, university trauma center. PATIENTS: During a 36-month period, 20 consecutive tibial pilon injuries without associated fibular fractures were retrospectively identified by using a prospectively gathered trauma database (group 1). During the same time period, an additional 197 tibial pilon injuries with fibula fractures were identified and classified according to the AO/OTA System. This included 48 AO/OTA 43B-type (24.4%) and 149 AO/OTA 43C-type (75.6%) fractures. From this larger group of patients, an age- (+/-5 years) and gender- matched cohort of 20 tibial pilon injuries with fibular fractures were randomly selected electronically (group 2). INTERVENTION: Digital concealment of the fibula on the anteroposterior and lateral injury radiographs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Before definitive fixation, 3 orthopaedic traumatologists independently ranked the digitized anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of all 40 patients according to severity with 40 representing the most severe injury. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement between the 3 evaluators showed a significant positive association (Kendall's concordance coefficient = 0.87; P = 0.0001). The overall mean rank score for tibial pilon injuries with fibula fractures was 24.4, whereas those without fibula fractures was 16.7 (t test = 0.02). When evaluated within the AO/OTA classification system, the mean rank score for C-type tibial pilon fracture patterns was 10.3 in group 1 and 8.7 in group 2 (P = 0.5). AO/OTA C-type tibial pilon fracture patterns were observed more commonly in group 2 than in group 1 (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that, overall, tibial pilon injuries with fibular fractures were statistically ranked as more radiographically severe than those without fibular fractures. Fibular fractures are more commonly associated with C-type injuries than B-type injuries. There was no difference in severity in C-type injuries with or without fibular fractures; however, C-type injuries were ranked, as a group, significantly more radiographically severe than B-type injuries.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The safety of fluoroscopically-assisted thoracic pedicle screw instrumentation for spine trauma.

BACKGROUND: Pedicle screw fixation is considered biomechanically superior to other stabilization constructs. However, the potential for severe complications have discouraged its use in the thoracic spine. Our goal is to determine the incidence of major perioperative complications following the placement of thoracic pedicle screws using anatomic landmarks and intraoperative fluoroscopy in patients with spine fractures. METHODS: Retrospective review of 245 consecutive patients with spine fractures requiring pedicle screw fixation between T1 and T10 at a regional Level I trauma center between 1995 and 2001. Database and medical record review were used to identify the incidence of major perioperative complications. A major complication was defined as a potentially life-threatening vascular injury, neurologic deterioration, pneumothorax or hemothorax, and tracheoesophageal injury. Patients were monitored for these complications from the time of surgery until discharge. RESULTS: In all, 1,533 pedicle screws were placed between T1 and T10 in 245 patients. No patient sustained a major complication related to screw placement. Three patients (1.2%) required a secondary procedure for prophylactic revision of four (0.26%) malpositioned screws. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the safety of pedicle screws in the thoracic spine using preoperative imaging evaluation, standard posterior element landmarks and intraoperative fluoroscopy.

Bone Screws↗
PubMed2006

Diagnosis and treatment of craniocervical dislocation in a series of 17 consecutive survivors during an 8-year period.

OBJECT: Craniocervical dissociation (CCD) is a highly unstable and usually fatal injury resulting from osseoligamentous disruption between the occiput and C-2. The purpose of this study was to elucidate systematic factors associated with delays in diagnosing and treating this life-threatening condition and to introduce an injury-severity classification with therapeutic implications. METHODS: In a retrospective evaluation of institutional databases, the authors reviewed medical records and original images obtained in 17 consecutive surviving patients with CCD treated between 1994 and 2002. Images and clinical results of treatment were evaluated, emphasizing the timing of diagnosis, clinical effect of delayed diagnosis, potential clinical or imaging warning signs, and response to treatment. Craniocervical dissociation was identified or suspected on the initial lateral cervical spine radiograph acquired in two patients (12%) and was diagnosed based on screening computerized tomography findings in two additional patients (12%). A retrospective review of initial lateral x-ray films showed an abnormal dens-basion interval in 16 patients (94%). The 2-day average delay in diagnosis was associated with profound neurological deterioration in five patients (29%). Neurological status declined in one patient after a fixation procedure was performed. There were no cases of craniocervical pseudarthrosis or hardware failure during a mean 26-month follow-up period. The mean American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score of 50 improved to 79, and the number of patients with useful motor function (ASIA Grade D or E) increased from seven (41%) preoperatively to 13 (76%) postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of CCD was frequently delayed, and the delay was associated with an increased likelihood of neurological deterioration. Early diagnosis and spinal stabilization protected against worsening spinal cord injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Distraction external fixation in lateral compression pelvic fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the results and describe the technique of closed reduction and placement of a two-pin supra-acetabular external fixator, followed by immediate weight bearing, in the treatment of displaced vertically stable lateral compression pelvic fractures. DESIGN: Prospective, consecutive. SETTING: Regional trauma center. PATIENTS: A consecutive series of fourteen patients with displaced, vertically stable lateral compression pelvic fractures who were transported to a regional trauma center. INTERVENTION: Surgical treatment with closed reduction and maintenance of the distraction force with a two-pin, single-bar, supra-acetabular external fixator, followed by immediate weight bearing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Healing rate and time, operative blood loss and time, quality of reduction, time to full weight-bearing, and incidence of complications, including neurovascular deficits, loss of reduction, nonunion, pin tract infections, and chronic pain. RESULTS: A symmetric reduction of both hemipelves was achieved in all fourteen patients. Time to healing averaged 8.2 weeks (seven to twelve weeks), and no fixator required removal before healing. There were no delayed unions or nonunions, and none of the fractures displaced significantly after initial reduction. Average surgical time was thirty-seven minutes (range, twenty-five to sixty minutes) with an estimated blood loss of less than fifty milliliters. Patients were allowed to bear full weight immediately and were able to do so without ambulatory assistive devices within an average of twelve days (range, three to eighteen days). Complications consisted of three minor pin tract infections, one temporary lateral femoral cutaneous nerve palsy, one late pin tract abscess, and one patient with chronic low-back pain. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of type B lateral compression injuries of the pelvic ring with anterior distraction external fixation is a highly effective yet relatively simple and minimally invasive treatment method. Surgical time and blood loss are minimal, and patients can be effectively and rapidly mobilized. Based on our experience, we believe this method to be a valuable tool in the treatment of these fractures.

Acetabulum↗
PubMed2003

Accuracy of thoracic vertebral body screw placement using standard fluoroscopy, fluoroscopic image guidance, and computed tomographic image guidance: a cadaver study.

STUDY DESIGN: A surgical simulation study in human cadaver spine specimens was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of thoracic vertebral body screw placement using four different intraoperative imaging techniques. OBJECTIVE: To compare standard fluoroscopy, fluoroscopy-based image guidance with two different referencing methods, and computed tomography-based image guidance by the measuring the time required for screw placement, the radiation exposure to specimen and surgeon, and the accuracy of screw position in the thoracic spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Image guidance provides additional anatomic information to the surgeon and may improve safety of technically difficult surgical procedures. The placement of screws in the thoracic spine is a technically demanding procedure in which inaccurate screw positioning places the spinal cord, nerve roots, and paraspinal structures such as the aorta and pleural space at risk for injury. Image-guided surgery may improve the accuracy of thoracic screw placement. METHODS: Using four different intraoperative imaging methods, two experienced surgeons placed 337 vertebral body screws through the pedicles of thoracic vertebrae in 20 human cadaver thoracic spine specimens. The specimens then were examined with radiographs, computed tomography, and anatomic dissection to determine screw position. Measurements included procedure setup and screw insertion time, radiation exposure to the specimen, the surgeon's hand, the surgeon's body, frequency, direction, and magnitude of screw perforation through the cortical margins of thoracic vertebrae. RESULTS: As compared with surgery using standard fluoroscopy, fluoroscopy-based image guidance that uses multiple reference marks and computed tomography-based image guidance improves the accuracy of thoracic vertebral body screws, but increases the time required for screw placement and the specimen radiation exposure. Exposure to radiation is minimal at the surgeon's body level and dependent on surgical technique at the surgeon's hand level. Screw perforation occurs most frequently in the lateral direction. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroscopy-based image guidance that uses only a single reference marker for the entire thoracic spine is highly inaccurate and unsafe. Systems with registration based on the instrumented vertebrae provide more accurate placement of thoracic vertebral body screws than standard fluoroscopy, but expose the patient to more radiation and require more time for screw insertion.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Midline sagittal sacral fractures in anterior-posterior compression pelvic ring injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of an uncommon variant of the anterior-posterior compression pelvic injury, in which the posterior ring injury is a midline sagittal sacral fracture extending into the spinal canal. DESIGN: Prospective, consecutive series. SETTING Two regional trauma centers. PATIENTS: A consecutive series of 10 patients with rotationally displaced, vertically stable anterior-posterior compression pelvic ring fractures (OTA type 61-B1) in which the posterior ring injury is a midline sagittally oriented sacral fracture involving the spinal canal (Denis zone III). This injury pattern comprised 0.6% of pelvic fractures and 1.4% of sacral fractures treated at these two institutions during a 10-year period. INTERVENTION: Patients were treated according to the same principles used in more commonly seen types of anterior-posterior compression pelvic ring injuries. Nine patients were treated with reduction and anterior pelvic stabilization at an average of 5 days after injury, 8 of whom were treated with open reduction and internal fixation and 1 with external fixation. No posterior pelvic fixation was used. One patient with nondisplaced bilateral pubic ramus fractures was treated nonoperatively. Immediate weight bearing was allowed as tolerated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Prospectively collected clinical follow-up data emphasized a detailed neurologic examination, whereas radiographic evaluation involved anteroposterior, inlet, and outlet plain radiographic views of the pelvis. RESULTS: An anatomical or near-anatomical reduction of the pelvis was achieved and maintained in all patients. Fractures healed at an average of 10 weeks. At an average follow-up of 31 months (range 20-46 months), there were no objective neurologic deficits that could be attributed to sacral root injury and no significant residual pain or gait disturbance related to the pelvic fracture. Loss of bowel or bladder function, loss of perianal sensation or sphincter tone, and lumbosacral radicular pain or sensorimotor deficit were specifically absent in all patients. Three patients, however, complained of sexual dysfunction at final follow-up. None of these patients had clinical evidence of sacral root/plexus injury secondary to the fracture. One additional patient, who sustained a urethral tear, required a chronic suprapubic catheter because of stricture. Six patients, one of whom had needed repair of a retroperitoneal bladder tear, had no urogenital sequelae. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Patients who sustain sagittally oriented midline fractures of the sacrum that extend into the spinal canal (Denis zone III) as part of displaced, vertically stable anterior-posterior compression pelvic injuries, have a low incidence of neurologic deficit attributable to sacral root or plexus injury. This is in contrast to the high rate of neurologic deficit (>50%) otherwise reported in zone III sacral fractures, particularly in those associated with a displaced transverse component. In the midline sagittal fracture variant, simultaneous lateral displacement of both bony and neural elements through the midline may protect the sacral roots and plexi from significant traction or shear injury by maintaining the spatial orientation between the sacral foramina and sciatic notch. Long-term sequelae were related to urogenital complaints rather than to musculoskeletal problems, as 4 of the 10 patients in this series had either sexual or urologic dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Fractures of the calcaneus.

Displaced fractures of the calcaneous are relatively common injuries that remain a treatment enigma. Virtually all aspects of the management of calcaneal fractures are a source of debate. Contemporary imaging, reduction, and fixation techniques attempt to improve the long term results of these injuries. The complex fracture fragments displace in predictable patterns. Meticulous surgical technique, restoration of extra- and intra-articular anatomy, and obtaining rigid fracture fixation are critical to obtaining satisfactory operative results. This article extensively reviews the controversies and summarizes the current opinions in the management of displaced calcaneal fractures.

Bone Screws↗
PubMed2002

Indirect reduction and plating of distal femoral nonunions.

OBJECTIVE: To observe and report the clinical results of indirect reduction and plating in the treatment of distal femoral nonunions. DESIGN: Prospective consecutive study. SETTING: Regional trauma center. PATIENTS: A consecutive series of twenty patients with nonunion of the distal femur, nineteen of whom had undergone operative initial fracture care. INTERVENTION: Surgical treatment with indirect reduction techniques using the 95-degree condylar blade-plate, condylar buttress plate, or locking condylar plate with autologous cancellous bone grafting in 45 percent of patients. Emphasis was placed on preoperative planning, intraoperative attention to soft tissue sparing, and selection of the appropriately applied implant to correct deformity, when present, and obtain union. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Healing rate and time, operative blood loss and time, incidence of complications including instrumentation failure, loss of fixation, infection, and postoperative malalignment. Both the Böstman and Hospital for Special Surgery knee scores were used to quantify postoperative clinical results at an average follow-up of twenty-three months (range 12 to 60 months). RESULTS: All twenty nonunions healed without further intervention at an average of fourteen weeks (range 12 to 20 weeks) postoperatively. There were no intraoperative complications. Average operative time was 154 minutes (range 90 to 240 minutes), and blood loss was 245 milliliter (range 100 to 400 milliliters). Average Böstman knee score improved from eighteen to twenty-five points, and average Hospital for Special Surgery score improved from fifty-eight to eighty points. Average arc of knee motion improved from 92 to 110 degrees. There was no patient with significant postoperative axial or rotational malalignment (>5 degrees) or limb length discrepancy (more than one centimeter). One patient with a history of osteomyelitis became infected postoperatively and healed without consequence after a debridement procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary plating techniques are effective in the treatment of distal femoral nonunions. Union occurred reliably with few complications, resulting in a majority of good or excellent clinical results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Transcalcaneal talonavicular dislocation.

BACKGROUND: The combination of dorsal dislocation of the navicular from the talus and an associated comminuted fracture of the calcaneus (transcalcaneal talonavicular dislocation) is an unusual and severe injury. Six cases have been described previously. The purposes of this study were to report the prevalence of this injury and the variations in injury pattern and to characterize methods of treatment and patient outcomes. METHODS: Eight patients with nine cases of transcalcaneal talonavicular dislocation were treated by the senior author between January 1, 1990, and February 28, 1998. The comminuted fracture of the calcaneus was apparently caused by plantar flexion of the talus through the anterior portion of the calcaneus. There were five open Grade-III injuries and three associated lacerations of the posterior tibial artery. After initial provisional stabilization of the hindfoot and management of the soft tissues, all injuries were treated with delayed open reduction and internal fixation of the calcaneus and fusion of the subtalar joint. At the last follow-up examination, the outcomes were rated with the Maryland foot score, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot rating score, and the Creighton-Nebraska score for all patients who had not had an amputation. RESULTS: The duration of follow-up ranged from 1.1 to eight years. Chronic osteomyelitis developed in four patients, and three of them ultimately had an amputation. The Creighton-Nebraska scores for the remaining six feet ranged from 33 to 92 points, with only one having a good or excellent result. Five of the six patients had a limp, difficulty with shoe wear, limitation with regard to walking, and moderate pain. CONCLUSIONS: Transcalcaneal talonavicular dislocation is a severe injury that often leads to osteomyelitis and amputation. Patients who do not lose the leg as a result of uncontrolled infection should be counseled to expect severe functional limitations and/or chronic pain.

Adult↗