OTA 2006 Posters


Scientific Poster #94 Basic Science

Pilot Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Reamer/Irrigator/Aspirator (RIA) for Attenuating Polymorphonuclear Priming following Intramedullary Nailing of Femoral Fractures
Steven J. Morgan, MD;
Anand A. Parekh, MRCS (Eng);
Wade R. Smith, MD; Allison E. Williams, ND, PhD; Juan F. Agudelo, MD; Ruth M. Grosskreuz, MD; Phillip C. Eckels, BA; Ernest E Moore, MD
(all authors: a-AO Research Foundation)
Department of Orthopaedics and Department of General Surgery, Denver Health Medical Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine,
Denver, Colorado, USA


Purpose: Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) priming is related to the postinjury inflammatory response in trauma. Intramedullary (IM) reaming causes systemic release of IM contents, a cause of PMN priming. The RIA (Synthes, Paoli, PA) is a flexible, single-pass reamer irrigator and aspirator system designed to reduce the amount of embolic debris. Our purpose was to investigate whether the RIA attenuates postoperative PMN priming compared to a standard reamer following reamed IM nailing of isolated femoral fractures.

Methods: A prospective, randomized protocol was implemented. Inclusion criteria were: unilateral femur fracture requiring intramedullary nailing, age >18, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) <25. Patients were randomized to a standard reamer or the RIA. Blood was obtained and processed at 4 time points: 0 (prior to reaming), 6, 12, and 24 hours. Neutrophil activation markers (CD11b, CD62L and CD66b) were analyzed using flow cytometry and a repeated measures analysis of variance was performed. SPSS 11.5 was used for statistical analysis.

Results: 21 patients were enrolled in the study. Only 16 patients had valid antibody data. The mean age was 33 years. The average ISS was 12 (range, 9-25). There were no statistically significant differences in the antibody levels between the reamer groups (P >0.05). Statistically significant differences were found across time for CD11b between the mean 0 and 12 hour measurements (4.295, 3.936, P <0.01), and the mean 0 and 24-hour measurements (4.295, 5.467, P <0.01). No statistically significant differences were found across time points in the CD62L or CD66b levels (P >0.05). There was a statistically significant interaction between time and reamer group for the CD62L marker. The CD62L levels in the RIA group were higher than the standard reamer group at the 0 and 6-hour measurements, and lower at the 12- and 24-hour measurements. Systemic complications included one case of acute respiratory distress syndrome in the RIA group.

Conclusions/Significance: No differences were found in PMN priming markers between the reamer groups. Our preliminary results suggest that the RIA system does not attenuate PMN priming in a unilateral femur fracture model, but that time may be a critical factor. Further research is needed to determine the effect of time on neutrophil priming in trauma patients, and whether the effect of reamer type may be more pronounced in polytrauma patients.


If noted, the author indicates something of value received. The codes are identified as a-research or institutional support; b-miscellaneous funding; c-royalties; d-stock options; e-consultant or employee; n-no conflicts disclosed, and *disclosure not available at time of printing.
· The FDA has not cleared this drug and/or medical device for the use described in this presentation (i.e., the drug or medical device is being discussed for an "off label" use). · · FDA information not available at time of printing.