A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / A detailed pre‐operative examination of a child’s neurovascular status following pediatric elbow fractures is critical to the assessment of these injuries. Without proper documentation of the preoperative exam, apparent postoperative changes in the neurovascular examination may be difficult to determine, and may dictate different treatment strategies. The reported incidence of neurologic (11.3%) and vascular (0.3‐4.6%) injury associated with supracondylar fractures underscores the importance of the preoperative exam. The purpose of this prospective study was to determine how frequently a complete neurovascular exam could be completed in children with elbow fractures. A detailed, specific elbow fracture History and Physical form was developed for prospective use on all pediatric elbow fractures in a tertiary care pediatric trauma hospital from 2013 through 2014. Specific neurovascular exam criteria were documented in an easily used checklist form. Demographic data collected included age, BMI, mechanism of injury, fracture type, comorbidities, pre‐operative pain management, and the operative procedure performed. There were 163 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Attempted neurovascular (NV) exam was documented in 146 of these patients (89.6%). A clinically reliable, complete NV exam was possible in 104 patients (71.2%). In the remainder of the children, the clinician could not determine at least one aspect of the neurovascular exam. A significant correlation was found between age of the subject and ability to obtain a complete exam, with younger children less than age 5 being more likely to have incomplete information on the NV exam (p<0.000001). Gender, BMI, fracture type, pre‐assessment pain control, and potential language barriers had no effect on whether or not the exam was complete. Although a complete and detailed neurovascular examination is considered necessary when evaluating pediatric elbow fractures, over a fourth of our patients (29%) were unable to reliably participate in a full preoperative neurovascular exam. Younger children (less than 5 years of age) were less likely to participate in a complete neurovascular assessment. Neurovascular examinations in the setting of elbow fractures in children less than five years of age were unreliable and incomplete.

Patient reported outcome (PRO) measurement of disability is integral to a patient-centered approach to health care and gauging the biopsychosocial impact of health conditions from the patient's perspective. This thesis investigates disability after proximal humerus, elbow and distal radius fractures; conditions that constitute a major burden in musculoskeletal health care and a substantial impact on health-related quality of life (HrQoL). Disability is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Classification of Disability, Functioning and Health (ICF) as ‘a multi-dimensional construct involving a dynamic interaction between impairment, activity limitations and participation restrictions, that are influenced by contextual factors'. This international, consensus-based framework acts as a guide for the application of outcome measures in performing scientific research. The WHO ICF also considers other patient perspectives on health and health care systems, including patient experience and patient activation within the contextual factors component. Patient experience encompasses aspects such as satisfaction, expectation management and confidence with care, and is measured using a variety of scales and questionnaires. Patient activation relates to 'the knowledge, skills and confidence a person has in managing their own health and health care'. This concept is quantified using patient activation measures (PAMs). The overarching goal of this thesis is to identify the most influential factors predicting disability after proximal humerus, elbow and distal radius fractures. This work also aimed to define the relationship between disability, experience and activation to inform the development of a patient-centred approach to managing these challenging injuries. The first systematic review highlights the dominance of psychosocial factors in influencing disability associated with a range of upper extremity conditions. Few studies have assessed this relationship in specific trauma populations. The second review underlines the paucity of upper extremity PRO measures incorporating fracture populations in their original development. It also reports the highly variable quality of initial studies introducing these measures. The final review demonstrates the superior measurement properties of computer adaptive tests (CATs), a contemporary form of PRO measurement, over fixed-scale instruments. Few studies apply CATs in trauma and few have been performed outside the U.S. These reviews collectively informed the selection of PRO measures for the experimental studies in this thesis. Firstly, a pilot study establishes a methodology for addressing the key objectives and the feasibility of using a web-based platform for measuring patient outcomes. Strong correlation between PROMIS Physical function CAT, a computer adaptive measure of physical function, and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH), a region-specific, fixed scale is observed. The core experiment (n=734) expands upon this work and demonstrates correlations between a range of generic and region-specific measures in an upper extremity trauma population. Disability is shown to correlate with satisfaction, and the strength of this correlation increases over time. Applying PRO measures of disability in populations with shoulder, elbow and wrist fractures show that self-efficacy (i.e. coping ability) within 6 weeks of injury was the strongest predictor of medium-term disability at 6-9 months. In proximal humerus and elbow fractures, kinesiophobia (i.e. fear of movement) within a week of injury was also a strong predictor of disability. The final study concludes that greater patient activation is associated with greater health-related and experiential outcomes. However, psychosocial factors including self-efficacy, superseded activation in predicting disability and satisfaction. This thesis contributes evidence for musculoskeletal health care professionals (HCPs) to consider specific psychosocial factors, such as coping abilities, and patient activation early in the recovery process to improve disability following these injuries.

Background Monteggia fractures and Monteggia-like lesions result after severe trauma and have high complication rates. Preliminary biomechanical studies suggested a correlation between ulnar fracture localization and clinical result. Objectives Key objective was to evaluate whether the site of the ulnar fracture can be correlated to clinical outcome after open reduction and internal stabilization. Methods In a retrospective, monocentric study 35 patients who underwent surgical treatment after suffering a Monteggia injury or Monteggia-like lesion were included. Fractures were classified according to Bado and Jupiter, the site of the fracture location at the proximal ulna and regarding the potential accompanying ligamentary injury. In a follow-up examination validated patient-reported outcome measures and functional parameters were evaluated. Furthermore, treatment strategy and complications were analysed. Results Mean patient age was 51.9 years (± 18.0). 69% were females (n = 24). Follow-up took place after 50.5 months (± 22.1). Fractures were classified according to Bado (I:2, II:27, III:4, IV:2). Bado II-fractures were further classified according to Jupiter (A:7, B:16, C:3, D:1). Cases were divided into subgroups depending upon the distance of the ulnar fracture site in respect to its distal endpoint (A: < 7 cm and B: > 7 cm). Average overall MEPS was 84.1 (± 19.0). Oxford elbow score and DASH were 37.2 (± 10.5) and 20.4 (± 20.5). Average extension capability reached − 7° (± 7.5). Mean flexion was 134.8° (± 19.7). Average pain according to visual analogue scale was 1.6 (± 1.9). We found no differences between the subgroups regarding the PROMs. Subgroup A displayed a worse extension capability (p = 0.027) and patients were significantly older (p < 0.01). Comparing patients with and without fracture of the radial head, we observed no differences. Patients with an accompanying injury of the coronoid process displayed higher pain levels (p = 0.011), a worse functionality (p = 0.027) and overall lower scoring in PROM. Conclusion The presented results suggest that in Monteggia fractures and Monteggia-like lesions, the localization of the ulna fracture can give a hint for its postoperative outcome. However, we could not confirm the hypothesis of an increasing instability in ulnar fractures located further distally (high severity of the potential ligamentous injury). Intraarticular fractures or injuries with a close relation to the joint have a worse prognosis, especially if the coronoid process is injured. Trial registration Registration was done with ClinicalTrials.gov under NCT05325268.

Die Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der suprakondylären und y-kondylären Humerusfraktur im Kindesalter. Die suprakondyläre Humerusfraktur ist die häufigste Ellenbogenfraktur beim Kind, die y-kondyläre Fraktur ist der suprakondylären ähnlich, tritt aber nur selten auf. Es wurden 172 suprakondyläre und 6 y-kondyläre Humerusfrakturen retrospektiv untersucht. Dazu wurden die Daten von 55 ambulant und 123 stationär behandelten Kindern bezüglich Unfallursache, Therapie und Komplikationen ausgewertet. Die Röntgenbilder der stationären Patienten wurden nachbefundet. 32,5% der stationär behandelten Kinder konnten nachuntersucht werden. Die häufigste Unfallursache war ein Sturz aus der Höhe. Im Patientengut waren Frakturen nach Baumann Klassifikation I, II und III zu ähnlichen Teilen vorhanden. Häufigste Behandlungsverfahren waren, ggf. nach geschlossener Reposition, Ruhigstellung in Gipslonguetten oder Blountscher Schlinge, und geschlossene oder offene Reposition und anschließende Fixation mittels Kirschner Drähten. Die häufigsten Komplikationen waren primäre und sekundäre Nervenstörungen, Abweichung der Ellenbogenachse oder Bewegungseinschränkung nach Therapie. 68,5% der nachuntersuchten Patienten hatten ein exzellentes oder gutes Behandlungsergebnis. Die Analyse der Ergebnisse und deren Vergleich mit den Ergebnissen anderer Autoren zeigen Folgendes: Nicht dislozierte Extensionsfrakturen sollten in der Blountschen Schlinge ruhiggestellt werden. Dislozierte Frakturen müssen exakt und schonend, möglichst geschlossen, reponiert werden. Gekreuzte Kirschner Drähte bieten gute Stabilität. Primäre und sekundäre Nervenstörungen haben eine gute Prognose. Radiologische Hilfsmittel wie Baumannwinkel, Rotationsfehlerquotient und Epiphysenachsenwinkel geben nur eine Orientierung bei der Vermeidung von Abweichungen der Ellenbogenachse oder Bewegungseinschränkungen. Y-kondyläre Frakturen mit nur geringer Dislokation der Kondylenfragmente können primär wie suprakondyläre Frakturen behandelt werden. / This paper deals with supracondylar and y-condylar humerus fractures in childhood. The supracondylar humerus fracture is the most frequent elbow fracture in children, the y-condylar fracture is similar to the supracondylar one, but occurs only rarely. 172 supracondylar and 6 y-condylar humerus fractures have been analysed retrospectively. For that purpose data of 55 outpatients and 123 in-house treated children have been analysed with regard to the cause of accident, therapy and complications. The radiographs of the in-patients have been revaluated. 32.5% of the in-patients have been seen for follow-up. Most frequent cause of accident was a fall from a height. Within the group of patients, fractures that were classified to Baumann I, II and III occurred to equal rates. The treatments which were used mostly are immobilization in plaster casts or Blount´s loop, after closed reduction if necessary, and closed or open reduction followed by fixation by Kirschner wires. The most frequent complications were primary and secondary nerval disorders, deviation of the axis of the elbow or limitation of elbow function after therapy. 68.5% of the follow-up patients had an excellent or good outcome. The analysis of the results including their comparison to the results of other authors have led to the following conclusion: Nondisplaced extension fractures should be immobilized by Blount`s method. Displaced fractures have to be reduced accurately and sparing, if possible by closed reduction. Crossed Kirschner wires provide a good stability. Primary and secondary nerval disorders have got a good prognosis. Radiological tools like angle of Baumann, rotation error quotient and angle of epiphyseal axis only provide an orientation in avoiding deviation of elbow axis or limitation of elbow function. Y-condylar fractures with only slight dislocation of the condylar fragments can primary be treated like supracondylar fractures.