OBJECTIVE: Spinal fusion, vital for treating various spinal disorders, has evolved since the introduction of the minimally invasive Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF) by Pimenta in 2001. Traditionally performed in the lateral decubitus position, LLIF faces challenges such as intraoperative repositioning, neurological complications, and lack of access to lower lumbar levels. These challenges lead to long surgery times, increased rates of perioperative complications, and increased costs. The more recently popularized prone lateral approach mitigates these issues primarily by eliminating patient repositioning, thereby enhancing surgical efficiency, and reducing operative times. This review examines the progression of spinal fusion techniques, focusing on the advantages and recent findings of the prone lateral approach compared to the traditional LLIF.
RESULTS: The prone lateral approach has shown improved patient outcomes, including lower blood loss and shorter hospital stays, and has been validated by multiple studies for its safety and efficacy compared to the LLIF approach. Significant enhancements in postoperative metrics, such as the Oswestry Disability Index, Visual Analog Scale, and radiological improvements have been noted. Comparatively, the prone lateral approach offers superior segmental lordosis correction and potentially better subjective outcomes than the lateral decubitus position. Despite these advances, both techniques present similar risks of neurological complications. Overall, the prone lateral approach has emerged as a promising alternative in lumbar interbody fusion, combining efficiency, safety, and improved clinical outcomes.

UNASSIGNED: Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears in young children are rare and optimal treatment is poorly described. Diagnosis may prove challenging as young children may not be able to verbalize a complete history of injury, may be difficult to examine, and plane film radiographs often appear within normal limits. Surgical treatment carries a risk of physeal arrest, but non-operative treatment may lead to recurrent instability and pain.
UNASSIGNED: We present a case report of a fouryear- old child with a PCL avulsion off the femoral insertion who received an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with combined arthroscopic synovial debridement. We performed a literature review which compared the mechanism, location, concomitant injuries, work up and management of PCL injuries in children under the age of ten compared to adolescents and adults.
UNASSIGNED: Nineteen months following surgery, physical examination revealed full knee range of motion and return to baseline function. Imaging studies confirmed there was no evidence of physeal arrest.
UNASSIGNED: ORIF with arthroscopy can be an effective method to treat PCL avulsions in children under the age of 10 years. This is similar to other case reports which reported positive outcomes with ORIF in this population. Large studies are needed to best understand optimal treatment modalities for PCL injuries in very young children. Level of Evidence: IV.

A developing use of nanotechnology in medicine involves using nanoparticles to administer drugs, genes, biologicals, or other materials to targeted cell types, such as cancer cells. In healthcare, nanotechnology has brought about revolutionary changes in the treatment of various medical and surgical conditions, including in orthopedic. Its clinical applications in surgery range from developing surgical instruments and suture materials to enhancing imaging techniques, targeted drug delivery, visualization methods, and wound healing procedures. Notably, nanotechnology plays a significant role in preventing, diagnosing, and treating orthopedic disorders, which is crucial for patients\' functional rehabilitation. The integration of nanotechnology improves standards of patient care, fuels research endeavors, facilitates clinical trials, and eventually improves the patient\'s quality of life. Looking ahead, nanotechnology holds promise for achieving sustained success in numerous surgical disciplines, including orthopedic surgery, in the years to come. This review aims to focus on the application of nanotechnology in orthopedic surgery, highlighting the recent development and future perspective to bridge the bridge for clinical translation.

BACKGROUND: Evidence has been mixed regarding the effect of topical vancomycin (VCM) powder in reducing surgical site infection (SSI).
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the effect of topical VCM powder for the prevention of SSI in major orthopaedic surgeries.
METHODS: The MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from their inception to September 25th, 2023. Randomized controlled trials comparing topical VCM powder and controls for the prevention of SSI in major orthopaedic surgeries were included. Two reviewers independently screened the title and abstract and extracted relevant data, followed by the assessment of the risk of bias and the certainty of the evidence. Main outcome measures were overall SSI, reoperation, and adverse events. Summary results were obtained using random-effects meta-analysis. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed.
RESULTS: Eight randomized controlled trials yielded data on 4307 participants. VCM powder showed no difference in reducing overall SSI. The cumulative number of patients did not exceed the required information size of 19,233 in our TSA, and the Z-curves did not cross the trial sequential monitoring or futility boundary, suggesting an inconclusive result of the meta-analysis. No difference was found for reoperation. Among SSIs, VCM powder showed a statistically significant difference in reducing Gram-positive cocci SSI. However, the certainty of this evidence was very low.
CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests inconclusive results regarding the effect of VCM powder in reducing SSI in major orthopaedic surgeries. Further trials using rigorous methodologies are required to elucidate the effect of this intervention.

UNASSIGNED: The opioid crisis has become a present concern in the medical field. In an effort to address these complications, antineuropathic pain medications have been considered as alternatives to prescribed opioids.
UNASSIGNED: This review focuses on the analgesic effects of neuromodulators, such as gabapentin, duloxetine, and pregabalin, that provide room for less dependence on narcotic analgesics following orthopedic surgery.
UNASSIGNED: During the database searches, 1,033 records were identified as a preliminary result. After duplicates were removed, an initial screen of each article was completed which identified records to be removed due to absence of a full-text article. Articles were excluded if they were not either prospective or retrospective, showcased an irrelevant medication (such as tricyclic antidepressants) which are not pertinent to this review, or deemed to be unrelated to the topic.
UNASSIGNED: Ultimately, 19 articles were selected. Three different drugs, gabapentin, pregabalin, and duloxetine, were analyzed to compile data on the effectiveness of preventing opioid overuse and addiction following hand surgery. This review identifies potential evidence that peri-operative gabapentin, pregabalin, and duloxetine administration decreases post-operative pain and lowers opioid dependency.
UNASSIGNED: Gabapentin, pregabalin, and duloxetine have potential to further decrease post-operative pain and lower opioid dependency. This review creates an opening for further research in hand surgery to assess an updated protocol for pain management to reduce opioid dependency.

Complex fractures present significant challenges in orthopaedic surgery, particularly in terms of postoperative wound healing. Nutritional status plays a crucial role in the recovery process, with early nutritional support potentially influencing wound healing outcomes. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of early nutritional interventions on postoperative wound healing and scar formation in patients with complex fractures. From an initial pool of 1742 articles, 7 studies were selected for analysis. The results revealed that preoperative nutritional support significantly improved early wound healing, as indicated by lower REEDA scores (SMD = -14.06, 95% CI: [-16.79, -11.32], p < 0.01) 1 week post-surgery. Furthermore, there was a notable reduction in scar formation, as demonstrated by lower Manchester Scar Scale scores (SMD = -25.03, 95% CI: [-30.32, -19.74], p < 0.01) 3 months post-surgery. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating nutritional strategies into the management of complex fractures to optimize postoperative recovery.

Decreased mechanical loading after orthopaedic surgery predisposes patients to develop muscle atrophy. The purpose of this review was to assess whether the evidence supports oral protein supplementation can help decrease postoperative muscle atrophy and/or improve patient outcomes following orthopaedic surgery. A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for randomized controlled trials that assessed protein or amino acid supplementation in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Two investigators independently conducted the search using relevant Boolean operations. Primary outcomes included functional or physiologic measures of muscle atrophy or strength. Fourteen studies including 611 patients (224 males, 387 females) were analyzed. Three studies evaluated protein supplementation after ACL reconstruction (ACLR), 3 after total hip arthroplasty (THA), 5 after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and 3 after surgical treatment of hip fracture. Protein supplementation showed beneficial effects across all types of surgery. The primary benefit was a decrease in muscle atrophy compared to placebo as measured by muscle cross sectional area. Multiple authors also demonstrated improved functional measures and quicker achievement of rehabilitation benchmarks. Protein supplementation has beneficial effects on mitigating muscle atrophy in the postoperative period following ACLR, THA, TKA, and surgical treatment of hip fracture. These effects often correlate with improved functional measures and quicker achievement of rehabilitation benchmarks. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term effects of protein supplementation and to establish standardized population-specific regimens that maximize treatment efficacy in the postoperative period.

UNASSIGNED: There is a lack of physician ethnic and gender diversity amongst surgical specialties. This study analyzes the literature that promotes diversity amongst surgical trainees. Specifically, this study sought to answer (i) how the number of publications regarding diversity in orthopaedic surgery compares to other surgical specialties, (ii) how the number of publications amongst all surgical subspecialties trends over time and (iii) which specific topics regarding diversity are discussed in the surgical literature.
UNASSIGNED: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used to query articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. Broad inclusion criteria for both ethnic and gender diversity of any surgical specialty were utilized.
UNASSIGNED: Our query resulted 1429 publications, of which 408 duplicates were removed, and 701 were excluded on title and abstract screening, leaving 320 to be included. The highest number of related publications was in orthopaedic surgery (n = 73) followed by general surgery (n = 56). Out of 320 total articles, 260 (81.3 %) were published after 2015, and 56 of 73 (76.7 %) orthopaedic-specific articles were published after 2015.
UNASSIGNED: Orthopaedic surgery published the most about ethnic and gender diversity, however, still remains one of the least diverse surgical specialties. With the recent increase in publications on diversity in surgical training, close attention should be paid to ethnic and gender diversity amongst surgical trainees over the coming years. Should diversity remain stagnant, diversification efforts may need to be restructured to achieve a diverse surgeon workforce.
UNASSIGNED: Orthopaedic surgery is the surgical subspecialty that publishes the most about trainee ethnic and gender diversity followed by general surgery. With most of this literature being published over the last eight years, it is imperative to pay close attention to the ethnic and gender landscape of the surgeon workforce over the coming years.

Recent advancements in orthopedic surgery have greatly improved the management of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. This review discusses the latest therapeutic approaches that have emerged in orthopedics. We examine the use of regenerative medicine, including stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, to accelerate healing and promote tissue regeneration. Additionally, we explore the application of robotic-assisted surgery, which provides greater precision and accuracy during surgical procedures. We also delve into the emergence of personalized medicine, which tailors treatments to individual patients based on their unique genetic and environmental factors. Furthermore, we discuss telemedicine and remote patient monitoring as methods for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Finally, we examine the growing interest in using artificial intelligence and machine learning in orthopedics, particularly in diagnosis and treatment planning. Overall, these advancements in therapeutic approaches have significantly improved patient outcomes, reduced recovery times, and enhanced the overall quality of care in orthopedic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To identify interventions educating patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery about postoperative analgesics and explore their associated outcomes.
METHODS: A scoping review using six databases was conducted. Eligible interventions were delivered to adult patients undergoing open orthopaedic procedures that could be feasibly implemented into any setting. Content, delivery methods and outcomes for interventions were described where available.
RESULTS: Eleven studies were included. Content and delivery methods differed substantially. Eight studies aimed to reduce postoperative harm by reducing opioid consumption. Studies also explored pain control (n = 6) and patient satisfaction (n = 4). Health literacy was not assessed in any study. Previous surgical or analgesic experience was infrequently reported.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first scoping review assessing globally adaptable interventions designed to educate orthopaedic patients about postoperative analgesics. A paucity of interventions was found, with a limited range of patient-centred outcomes assessed. Further research is required. Co-designed educational materials with patients is recommended.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite the unclear benefit, clinicians should consider providing postoperative analgesic education to patients. Well-designed education has the potential to improve quality of life at low cost with low risk. Educational material adapted to local health literacy levels and prior surgical and analgesic experience is recommended to maximise engagement and impact.