Search

To elucidate the accuracy, efficacy, and safety of percutaneous iliosacral screw (ISS) and trans-iliac trans-sacral screw (TITS) insertion using a single C-arm fluoroscopy intensifier. Additionally, the potential risk factors that might cause mal-positioned screws were identified. Patients with pelvic ring injuries who underwent percutaneous screw fixation in a single medical institute were divided into an ISS group (n = 59) and a TITS group (n = 62) and assessed. The angles deviated from ideal orientation (ADIO) of the implanted screw were measured, and potential risk factors for mal-positioned screws were analyzed. Overall, the reduction quality of the pelvic ring was good or excellent in 70 patients (82.4%) by Matta's criteria and in 48 patients (56.5%) by Lefaivre's criteria. ADIO measurements of the ISS and TITS groups via multi-planar computed tomography were 9.16° ± 6.97° and 3.09° ± 2.8° in the axial view, respectively, and 5.92° ± 3.65° and 2.10° ± 2.01° in the coronal view, respectively. Univariate statistical analysis revealed body mass index as the single potential risk factor of mal-positioned screws. With careful preoperative planning and intraoperative preparations, placing ISS and TITS under the guidance of single C-arm fluoroscopy intensifier is a reliable and safe technique. Caution should be exercised when performing this procedure in patients with a high body mass index., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Pipkin type IV femoral head (FH) fracture was thought as poor prognosis. There were several surgical approaches and treatments for this difficult fracture. However, there was no one treatment superior to another. We reviewed a serious of patients with Pipkin type IV FH fracture underwent surgery via a modified Gibson approach., Methods: We reviewed a consecutive series of nine patients with Pipkin type IV FH fracture under surgery via a modified Gibson approach between 2012 and 2013. The surgical procedure was completely described, and the radiological outcome and the functional outcome were also reviewed., Results: The mean follow-up duration was 17 (12-30) months. The mean Merle d'Aubigne score was 16 (8-19). Seven patients had anatomical reductions, and two had imperfect reductions by Matta's grading. There was no early posttraumatic osteoarthritis during the follow-up period. One patient with early post-traumatic osteonecrosis 3 months after index surgery underwent total hip arthroplasty., Conclusions: Through this surgery approach to fix the FH and the acetabulum, the radiological and the functional results were satisfactory. We still need more patients with prospective study to find an optimal surgical approach for Pipkin type IV FH fracture.

Background: Treatment of supraintercondylar (AO/OTA 33-C) and supracondylar (AO/OTA 33-A) femur fractures is generally challenging. Standard treatments include open reduction and internal fixation. However, optimal implants are now being well-defined. This study focus on the comparison between clinical and functional outcomes of fractures treated with condylar buttress plates (CBPs)., Methods: We treated 87 patients with supraintercondylar or supracondylar femur fracture from 2004 to 2008, including 30 supraintercondylar and 24 supracondylar fractures treated with CBPs. Both knee and function scores (per Knee Society) were given to clinical and functional outcomes, and concomitant knee function was assessed per Mize criteria., Results: Union rate of supraintercondylar fractures was 90 % (27/30) and supracondylar fractures was 91.7 % (22/24) (P = 0.68). In supraintercondylar group, 16.7 % revealed postoperative varus deformity, whereas none in supracondylar group (P = 0.045). Knee Society knee score was 73.6 in supraintercondylar group and 85.5 in supracondylar group (P = 0.009); and function score was 62.5 in supraintercondylar group and 83.1 in supracondylar group (P = 0.023). A satisfactory result based on modified Mize criteria was achieved in 50 % of supraintercondylar fractures and in 79.1 % of supracondylar fractures (P = 0.09)., Conclusions: Use of CBPs for supraintercondylar and supracondylar femur fractures treatment led to a high union rate. However, a high rate of varus deformity occurred in patients with supraintercondylar but not supracondylar fractures. Moreover, CBP treatment in patients with supracondylar fractures led to better functional outcomes than those with supraintercondylar fractures.

Objective: To report the perioperative results and surgical outcomes of patients with vertical unstable sacral fractures who underwent lumbopelvic fixation through a modified subcutaneous route for iliac screw fixation., Summary of Background Data: Treating vertical unstable sacral fractures is still challenging for orthopedic surgeons. Among various methods for treating these fractures, lumbopelvic fixation provides a high reduction quality and promising stability for early weight-bearing ambulation. However, wound healing disturbance and surgical site infection (SSI) are the drawbacks of this extensive technique, especially after inserting iliac screws., Methods: Here, we provide an alternative subcutaneous route for iliac screw insertion during lumbopelvic fixation surgery to lessen soft tissue retraction and injury, and thus decrease soft tissue complications., Results: Using this modified technique, 28 patients with vertical unstable sacral fractures were treated between 2012 and 2014. One patient had an SSI (infection rate: 3.5%). All fractures were united with a mean sacral kyphosis correction angle of 10.5°. The mean Majeed score of the 17 patients during the 12-month follow-up was 84.5., Conclusions: The subcutaneous route for iliac screw insertion is a simple, safe, and effective technique when performing lumbopelvic fixation for vertical unstable sacral fractures., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: To overcome the complexity of acetabular fractures, several techniques, such as extensive surgical exposure, transtrochanteric osteotomy, and columnar screw fixation, were reported. However, all these techniques have their disadvantages and limitations. We report the surgical results of a modified technique with posterior columnar screw insertion and neutralization plate in a single Kocher-Langenbeck approach for complex acetabular fractures., Methods: We identified 30 patients with 30 acetabular fractures who had been treated by this technique between 1995 and 2004. Demographic data, perioperative results, and complications were all recorded. The detail of surgical procedure was described and illustrated., Results: There were 13 men and 17 women with mean age of 36.4 years (range, 19-66 years). Mean follow-up duration was 49.2 months (range, 24-112 months). All fractures achieved union, and there was no loss reduction and fixation during the follow-up period. There were five complications during hospital stay, including superficial and deep infection and transient sciatic nerve palsy. There was no loss of reduction during follow-up period. Five patients underwent total hip arthroplasty caused by posttraumatic osteoarthritis and preexisting osteoarthritis. The mean Harris Hip Score at 24-month follow-up was 79.7 (median, 92; range, 33-99)., Conclusion: This study provided a modified surgical technique of percutaneous insertion of posterior columnar screw that appeared to be safe and reliably hold the column in place for healing.

Fifty-two consecutive adult patients with syndesmotic diastasis (SD) were treated with closed anatomical reduction and stable fixation by a trans-syndesmotic cancellous screw. A short leg splint was prescribed for a six week postoperative period. Treatment outcomes of syndesmotic screw removal at various time points were studied and compared (group 1 at six weeks, group 2 at three months and group 3 at an average of nine months). Recurrence of SD, incidence of syndesmotic screw breakage and ankle function were compared among the three groups. Recurrence of SD occurred in 15.8% (3/19) of patients in group 1, 15.0% (3/20) in group 2 and 0% (0/13) in group 3 (p = 0.054). Breakage of the syndesmotic screw occurred in three patients within three months (group 2, 15.0%) and in two patients beyond three months (group 3, each at six and 12 months, 15.4%). None of the group 1 patients experienced screw breakage (p = 0.034). Forty-three patients (82.7%) were classified as having satisfactory outcomes. Ankle function did not significantly differ among the three groups (p = 0.191), with or without syndesmotic screw breakage (p = 0.343) and with or without SD recurrence (p = 0.218). In conclusion, restriction of daily activity for at least three months is required to prevent recurrence. Removal of the syndesmotic screw at six weeks may prevent its breakage but increases the risk of recurrence. Over an average follow-up of 19 months, SD recurrence does not lead to deterioration in ankle function.

Background: To assess clinical and functional outcomes as well as the relative stability of various configurations of tension band wiring approaches for treating olecranon fractures, a retrospective cohort study was conducted., Methods: Seventy-seven consecutive adult patients with 78 olecranon fractures were treated using tension band wiring techniques in three different configurations. The configurations differed in the location of the ends of Kirschner wires with the following locations being used: in the proximal ulnar canal, through the anterior ulnar cortex, and in the distal ulnar canal., Results: Based on average follow-up of 2.76 years (range, 1.1-5.5 years), all three techniques achieved high union rates and low complication rates. However, the Kirschner wires in the first technique allowed proximal pin migration with elbow irritation as compared with the second and the third techniques (p = 0.001, 0.03, respectively)., Conclusions: Placement of the ends of Kirschner wires in the proximal ulnar canal should be avoided whenever possible. Because placement of the ends of Kirschner wires through the anterior ulnar cortex may produce serious complications as reported in medical literature, placement of the ends of Kirschner wires in the distal ulnar canal may be the most effective approach.

Background: Subtrochanteric fractures possess unique characteristics, and no single device used in their treatment is considered absolutely superior to others. Use of sliding compression screws (SCSs) is technically simple. The feasibility of SCS stabilization was evaluated using indirect reduction of fracture fragments., Methods: One hundred and thirty-one acute subtrochanteric fractures without extensive shaft involvement were treated using this technique, and they were classified into 4 groups to evaluate the success rate. After the lag screw was inserted into the femoral head, the side plate was applied onto the distal fragment without exploring the fracture site. At least 4 cortical screws were used to stabilize the distal fragment. Postoperatively, ambulation with protected weight bearing was encouraged at as early a time as was possible., Results: One hundred and thirteen fractures were followed-up for 12 to approximately 38 (mean, 22) months. The union rate was 94.7% (107/113), and the time period until union occurred was 2.5 to approximately 8 (mean, 3.8) months. No statistical difference was noted among the individual groups. Complications included 6 nonunions (5.3%), which were associated with infection in 1 case (0.9%) and implant failure in 2 cases (1.8%)., Conclusions: Compared to other techniques, indirect reduction with SCS stabilization is a feasible method for treating acute subtrochanteric fractures. However, because plate insertion normally requires a large dissecting wound and biomechanically the tension band principle might not be applicable, there may be greatly increased complications with extensively comminuted fractures. Accordingly, if this technique is used for carefully selected fractures, a high success rate can be expected.

Background: Treatment of acute complete acromioclavicular (AC) dislocation is still controversial. Both non-surgical and surgical methods have been reported with similar results. In addition, once surgical treatment is chosen, a satisfactory surgical technique has not been developed yet., Methods: Sixty consecutive patients who sustained 60 acute complete AC dislocations were treated using coracoclavicular (CC) screw fixation supplemented with tension band wiring for the AC joint (n = 30) or coracoacromial (CA) ligament reconstruction (n = 30), respectively. The operating times, functional outcomes, and complications were compared., Results: Twenty-nine patients with tension band wiring (group 1) and 27 patients with CA ligament reconstruction (group 2) were followed-up for 12-47 (mean, 23.6) months. The operating time was 34-57 (mean, 46.3) minutes in group 1 verse 52-93 (mean, 83.4) minutes in group 2 (p < 0.001). The percentage of satisfactory outcomes was 86.2% in group 1 verse 88.9% in group 2 (p = 0.30). Loss of reduction of the AC joint was 13.8 % (4/29) in group 1 verse 3.7% in group 2 (1/27, p = 0.17). Patients who received tension band wiring treatment had a higher rate of unsatisfactory outcomes when loss of reduction of the AC joint occurred (p = 0.01)., Conclusions: Once surgical methods are chosen in patients with acute complete AC dislocation, CC screw fixation supplemented with tension band wiring for the AC joint or CA ligament reconstruction achieved similar satisfactory rates. However, patients who received the former had relatively shorter operating times.

Various patterns of traumatic carpal injury have been described in the literature. Although the combination of scaphoid fracture and scapholunate ligament rupture in the same injury has been reported and these lesions can no longer be considered mutually exclusive, little information is available on management methods and the long-term results of such seemingly paradoxical complex injuries. This study reviews 11 previously described cases and reports an additional two cases of concurrent scaphoid fracture with scapholunate ligament rupture. This concurrent injury has two presentations; namely perilunate fracture-dislocation, which is the most common presentation, and complex scaphoid fracture. No single mechanism of injury exists that accounts for these complex injuries. High-energy trauma was the only characteristic common to all these cases. Most cases had unsatisfactory radiographic results including scaphoid nonunion, avascular necrosis of the lunate or the proximal pole of the scaphoid and arthrotic wrist changes at an average follow-up of 11 months. Managing these difficult problems needs critical recognition and repair of both bony and ligamentous damage. Early proximal row carpectomy or four-corner midcarpal fusion is another option when these injuries preclude stable reduction and fixation.