Publications by authors named "Milton Little"

Objectives: To compare time, fluoroscopic utilization, and number of misses for placement of far interlocking screws in tibial and femoral nails using a targeting arm (Targeter) versus perfect circle technique (Control).

Methods Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Single-center, large, urban, level 1 trauma center.

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Introduction: To describe current opinions of staff orthopaedic trauma surgeons on the surgical treatment of distal femur fractures, with attention to indications for dual-implant constructs, application techniques, and postoperative rehabilitation.

Methods: A 22-question survey was given to fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeons at institutions visited by the 2022 Orthopaedic Trauma Association Fellows to characterize opinions on techniques, indications, and postoperative weight-bearing status for five example distal femur fractures. Demographic data were collected.

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Objectives: To compare blood loss and transfusion rates in geriatric patients with hip fracture on direct oral anticoagulants undergoing surgery ≤24 hours from admission (Expedited group) versus 24-72 hours from admission (Delayed group).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Level I trauma center.

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Introduction: Studies have demonstrated successful outcomes with early weightbearing following open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of specific ankle fractures. The external validity of an early weightbearing protocol and its effects on patient-reported outcome information scores (PROMIS) has yet to be investigated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of an early weightbearing protocol for all operatively treated ankle fractures and its impact on clinical outcomes and complications.

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Article Synopsis
  • SER4a ankle fractures involve intricate treatment challenges due to complications with the medial clear space, focusing on quantifying joint parameters through weightbearing CT scans.
  • Ten patients with isolated Weber B fibula fractures were studied, revealing consistent abnormal measurements in the medial clear space and differences in rotation and translation of the injured ankle.
  • While joint contact area appeared unchanged between injured and uninjured ankles, significant increases in external rotation and lateral translation were noted, leaving clinical implications of these findings still unclear.
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Objective: Accurate rotational reduction following femoral shaft fracture fixation is absent in up to 28% of cases yet is critical for lower extremity biomechanics. The objective of this cadaveric study was to compare the results of freehand methods of rotational reduction with software-assisted rotational reduction.

Methods: Four fellowship-trained orthopedic trauma surgeons attempted rotational correction in a cadaveric model with fluoroscopic assistance using (1) their method of choice (MoC) and (2) software assistance (SA).

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  • The study investigates the reliability of machine learning algorithms for assessing surgical risk in hip fracture patients, leveraging data from the American College of Surgeons from 2011 to 2018.
  • A total of 95,745 cases were analyzed, and machine learning models were compared to traditional comorbidity indices, showing superior performance in predicting various outcomes such as complications and prolonged hospital stays.
  • Results indicated that machine learning substantially outperformed legacy indices in terms of predictive accuracy, highlighted by significant area under the curve (AUC) improvements for all assessed complications (P < 0.01).
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  • The study investigates the use of mini-fragment implants versus small-fragment implants for open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of ankle fractures, aiming to determine if mini-fragments lead to lower rates of elective implant removal and complications.
  • It analyzed data from 505 patients, finding similar rates of elective implant removal (8.3% for mini-fragment vs. 10.8% for small-fragment) and complication rates (6.7% for mini-fragment vs. 6.5% for small-fragment).
  • The authors conclude that while mini-fragment implants are popular, their higher cost must be weighed against their similar effectiveness to small-fragment implants in terms of implant removal and complications.
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Limb reconstruction in patients with critical-sized bone defects remains a challenge due to the availability of various technically demanding treatment options and a lack of standardized decision algorithms. Although no consensus exists, it is apparent from the literature that the combination of patient, surgeon, and institutional collaborations is effective in providing the most efficient care pathway for these patients. Success relies on choosing a particular surgical approach that manages infection, soft tissue defects, stability, and alignment.

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Objectives: Geriatric patients who sustain hip fractures and are taking factor Xa inhibitors (Xa-I) experience surgical delay. Our institution developed a pharmacokinetic protocol to formally guide and expedite surgical timing for these patients. The protocol is based on the patient's renal function and timing of last Xa-I dose.

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Malreductions in the axial plane (ie, length and rotation) are common when managing long bone fractures. Careful attention to detail during the initial treatment can prevent these malreductions. Various fluoroscopy-based techniques exist for the prevention of malrotation and limb-length discrepancy during surgery for fracture.

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Background: In the current era of evidence-based medicine, scientific publications play a crucial role in guiding patient care. While the lack of diversity among orthopaedic surgeons has been well documented, little is known about the diversity of orthopaedic journal editorial boards. The purpose of this study was to assess the racial/ethnic and gender diversity of U.

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  • The study examined how different levels of drape manipulation during lower extremity fracture surgeries affected contamination rates.
  • Three out of 30 surgeries (10%) showed drape contamination, but no significant differences were found based on drape usage or manipulation.
  • Importantly, none of the patients developed surgical site infections within 90 days post-surgery, indicating the clip drape technique is effective in maintaining sterility.
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Multiple successful strategies exist for the management of critical-sized bone defects. Depending on the location and etiology of an osseous defect, there are nuances that must be considered by the treating surgeon. The induced membrane technique and various modifications of the Ilizarov method (bone transport by distraction osteogenesis) have been the most common methods for biologic reconstruction.

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  • The study highlights a significant increase in female and under-represented in medicine (URiM) residents in orthopaedic surgery from 2001 to 2018, but also indicates they face higher rates of attrition.
  • The analysis showed that female residents experienced nearly twice the overall attrition rate compared to male residents, while URiM residents exhibited even higher attrition rates compared to their White counterparts.
  • The findings suggest systemic issues in residency retention that could further limit diversity in the medical field, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.
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  • * An online survey of 250 fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons revealed that trauma surgeons favored nonoperative management for displaced PHF in patients over 70, while favoring surgery in cases with more severe fractures like dislocations.
  • * Key decision-making factors included patient age, comorbidities, and fracture displacement, with trauma surgeons more likely to choose nonoperative treatment for older patients compared to shoulder surgeons.
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Introduction: Varus after antegrade medullary nailing of the proximal femur is associated with worse outcomes. Anecdotally, a more medialized "trochiformis" entry is beneficial to avoid varus with valgus-bend (greater trochanteric entry) femoral nails. However, the optimal entry point remains unknown.

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Introduction: Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT) is a rare benign tumor (500 cases to date) that can present in combination with a paraneoplastic syndrome called tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO). To the best of our knowledge, it is the first case to date that presented as an orthopedic trauma patient.

Case Report: This is a case of a 61-year-old male who initially presented as a polytrauma patient, but further investigation revealed a PMT causing TIO.

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Importance: Racial and sex disparities are prevalent in surgical trainees. Although retrospective studies on resident attrition have been conducted for individual specialties, this study analyzes racial and sex differences in resident attrition among all surgical subspecialties over an 18-year period.

Objective: To evaluate the racial and sex differences in resident attrition among surgical specialties over an 18-year period.

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  • The study analyzed factors behind 1-star negative reviews for orthopaedic trauma surgeons across major U.S. cities.
  • Reviews were categorized into clinical and nonclinical complaints, with a total of 288 reviews and 655 individual complaints assessed.
  • Nonclinical issues, particularly physician bedside manner and wait times, were more common than clinical complaints, although surgical patients reported more clinical issues compared to nonsurgical patients.
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Introduction: The electronic medical record (EMR) is often used as the primary source for patient medication lists and history. We sought to determine the accuracy of the EMR in documenting opioid prescriptions in patients undergoing fracture repair compared to a statewide database.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at an urban level 1 trauma center.

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Objective: To evaluate the effect of warfarin on blood transfusion and postoperative complications in a low-energy hip fracture population compared with a non-anticoagulated comparison group.

Design: Multicenter Retrospective Cohort.

Setting: Three Urban Level I Academic Trauma Centers.

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We sought to determine the type, frequency, and compensation details of orthopedic call for orthopedic traumatologists. We administered a 24-question survey to all members of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association regarding the number and type of orthopedic surgeons within the call pool, frequency of call, number of hospitals covered, and compensation for weekday, weekend, holiday, and pediatric calls. A total of 105 orthopedic surgeons replied.

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Background: Proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) are common, and their incidence is increasing as the population ages. Despite this, postoperative rehabilitation remains unstandardized and little is known about surgeon preferences. The aim of this study was to assess differences in postoperative rehabilitation preferences and patient education between orthopedic trauma and shoulder surgeons.

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