Six cases of old fracture of the tibia with large sear, bony defect, and shortening deformity of the limb were treated by elongation osteotomy at epiphysis and compression fixation of the fracture with external semilunar fixation frame. The bony defect ranged from 3cm to 6cm. Bony healing developed in all patients 4-7 months after operation. Early postoperative movement was suggested. The results revealed that there was an obvious improvement of the joint function and the shortened legs were corrected. The advantages of this method are that there is no need of bone grafting and operative treatment of the scar prior to treatment of the bone.
A series of 28 cases of fractures of the small tubular bones of the hand, including Bennetts fracture, were treated with the minor unilateral multifunctional external fixator. After manipulation, a hole was drilled on the proximal and distal parts of the fractured bone. Hand in functional position, the external fixator was set in place. Functional exercises were begun after the fixation. The patients were follwed up for two to six months. The average healing time was thirtyfive days. The average healing time for Bennett’s fractures was twentyeight days, and for the fractures of metacarpal bone was forty-two days. There were no deformity and complication of infection following external fixation.The functional recovery of the hands was satisfactory. The fixator had the following advantages: It was simple and had tight fixation; fractures with infection, was still indicated and could be adjusted according to the clinical purpose.
Objective To investigate the antibacterial and osteogenic capabil ities in vivo of hydroxyapatite (HA)/silver (Ag) coating. Methods HA/Ag coating (Ag qual ity percentage was 3%) and HA coating were deposited to external fixator Schanz screws. The tibial fracture model was establ ished in right hindl imb of 18 adult male Beagle dogs (weighing 15-20 kg). Thetibia was stabil ized with an external fixator and 2 Schanz screws of HA coating at proximal tibia (control group, n=18) and HA/Ag coating at distal tibia (experimental group, n=18), and every screw incision was infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Infection in screw holes and the changes of bone-screw interface were observed by wound grading and X-ray films. Results In control group, wounds infection became worse with time (χ2=13.492, P=0.001), while in experimental group, no obvious change was observed (χ2=0.208, P=0.901). The wound grading of experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group at 1, 2, and 3 weeks (P lt; 0.05). Laser scanning confocal microscope showed that there was bacterial adhesion on the surface of screws in 2 groups, viable becteria mainly in control group and non-viable becteria mainly in experimental group. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation results of the fractured sclerous tissue section showed that an obvious transparent boundary between screw and bone in control group, but no obvious boundary in experimental group. The osseointegration ratios were 76.23% ± 15.54% in control group and 93.42% ± 5.53% in experimental group, showing significant difference (t=8.843, P=0.000). The SEM observation showed that HA/Ag coating integrated with new bone and the surface of implant was filled with new bone in experimental group; obvious interspace was seen between the HA coating and new bone in control group. Conclusion HA/Ag coating has good antibacterial and osteogenic capabil ities, so it can take effects in preventing infection in screw holes and loosening of implants.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of mini external fixators combined with bone cement spacers in the treatment of gouty hallux rigidus with bone defects. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 21 male patients diagnosed with gouty hallux rigidus and bone defects, treated with mini external fixators combined with bone cement spacers between January 2017 and December 2024. The age ranged from 35 to 72 years, with an average age of 61.1 years. The disease duration was 12-35 years, with an average of 18.2 years. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) gout score ranged from 16 to 23, with an average of 18.6. All 21 cases of hallux rigidus were classified as grade 3 according to the Coughlin classification. Clinical efficacy was evaluated preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain, the dorsiflexion angle of first metatarsophalangeal joint in a weight-bearing state, and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Radiological evaluation was performed by measuring the hallux valgus angle (HVA) using weight-bearing X-ray films and the tophi volume using dual-energy CT. Results The operation time ranged from 30 to 56 minutes, with an average of 42.05 minutes. The intraoperative blood loss varied between 10 and 30 mL, averaging 20 mL. All 21 patients were followed up 6-15 months, averaging 9.3 months. One patient experienced delayed wound healing due to the liquefaction of residual tophus; no other patients exhibited complications such as wound or pin tract infections, skin necrosis, fractures, or metastatic metatarsalgia. Six patients experienced acute gout attacks 4-7 days postoperatively, which were effectively alleviated through symptomatic treatment. At 6 months after operation, patients showed significant improvements in HVA, tophus volume, VAS scores, AOFAS scores, and the dorsiflexion angle of first metatarsophalangeal joint compared to preoperative values, with significant differences (P<0.05). ConclusionMini external fixator combined with a cement spacer is an effective treatment for gouty hallux rigidus with bone defects.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of suspension fixation plus hinged external fixator with double plate internal fixation in the treatment of type C humeral intercondylar fractures. Methods Between January 2014 and April 2016, 30 patients with type C (Association for the Study of Internal Fixation, AO/ASIF) humeral intercondylar fractures were treated. Kirschner wire suspension fixation plus hinged external fixator was used in 14 cases (group A), and double plate internal fixation in 16 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury cause, disease duration, injury side, and type of fracture between 2 groups (P>0.05). Results There was no significant difference in operation time and hospitalization stay between 2 groups (P>0.05). But the intraoperative blood loss in group A was significantly less than that in group B (P<0.05); the visual analogue scale (VAS) score at 1 day and 3 days after operation in group A were significantly less than those in group B (P<0.05). Primary healing of incision was obtained in all patients of 2 groups, and no surgery-related complications occurred. The patients were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 12.3 months) in group A and 6-24 months (mean, 12.8 months) in group B. The self-evaluation satisfaction rate was 85.7% (12/14) in group A and was 81.2% (13/16) in group B at 3 months after operation, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.055, P=0.990). Based on the improved Gassebaum elbow performance score at 6 months after operation, excellent and good rate of the elbow function was 78.6% (excellent in 5 cases, good in 6 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case) in group A and was 81.2% (excellent in 6 cases, good in 7 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case) in group B, showing no significant difference between 2 groups (χ2=0.056, P=0.990). Heterotopic ossification occurred at 3 months after operation in 1 case of each group respectively. The X-ray films showed bony union in all cases; no loosening or breakage of screw was observed. The bone union time showed no significant difference between 2 groups (t=–0.028, P=0.978). The time of internal fixation removal, the intraoperative blood loss, and VAS score at 1 day and 3 days after operation in group A were significant better than those in group B (P<0.05). Conclusion The suspension fixation plus hinged external fixator and double plate internal fixation for the treatment of type C humeral intercondylar fractures have ideal outcome in elbow function. But the suspension fixation plus hinged external fixator is better than double plate internal fixation in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative VAS score, and time of internal fixation removal.
Forty cases of intertrochanteric fractures of femur were treated with percutaneous nonmetallic external fixator. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years, and the fractures were all united without coxa vara or shirtening deformities. There was no mortality in this series. This method had the advantages ofbeing simple, save time and effort, less traumatic and early ambulation. The design of the apparatus tallied with the biomechanics of the neck and shaft of the femur.
Objective To investigate the mid- and long-term effectiveness of external fixator distraction arthroplasty in the treatment of moderate to severe ankle arthritis. Methods The clinical data of 23 patients with moderate to severe ankle arthritis treated with external fixation distraction arthroplasty who met the selection criteria between January 2007 and November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 20 males and 3 females; the age ranged from 21 to 65 years, with an average age of 43.7 years. Etiology included 8 cases of primary ankle arthritis, in which 5 cases combined with varus deformity; 15 cases of traumatic ankle arthritis, the cause of injury was 5 cases after ankle fracture surgery, 3 cases after Pilon fracture surgery, 5 cases of chronic ankle instability and repeated sprain, and 2 cases of other causes. According to Takakura staging system, there were 4 cases of stage ⅢA, 12 cases of stage ⅢB, and 7 cases of stage Ⅳ; according to Giannini staging system, there were 5 cases of stage Ⅱ and 18 cases of stage Ⅲ; according to Cheng staging system, 16 cases were in stage Ⅲ, and 7 cases stage Ⅳ. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were used to evaluate the improvement of ankle pain and function before operation and at last follow-up, and the data were analyzed according to different etiological groups. At last follow-up, the surgical results were evaluated subjectively and objectively. The changes of ankle joint space before operation and at last follow-up were compared. The patients were divided into two groups according to their age: ≤45 years old group [young group, 10 cases, aged (35.62±7.41) years old] and >45 years old group [middle-aged and elderly group, 13 cases, aged (54.20±6.20) years old]. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and VAS score were compared before and after operation between the two groups, and the influence of age on distraction arthroplasty was analyzed. ResultsThe external fixator was removed after 3 months of continuous distraction,12 patients got infection around the wire tunnels. All the 23 patients were followed up 13-143 months, with an average of 56.9 months; the follow-up time was (43.46±32.77) months and (69.80±37.79) months in the young group and middle-aged and elderly group, respectively. At last follow-up, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and VAS score significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). According to etiological analysis, there was no significant difference in AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and VAS score before and after operation (P>0.05) in Pilon fracture patients, while the significant difference was found in remaining patients (P<0.05). There was significant difference in AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score before operation between the young group and the middle-aged and elderly group (t=2.110, P=0.040), but no significant difference in preoperative VAS score and the differences in VAS score and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score before and after operation between the two groups (P>0.05). The subjective and objective results of pain evaluation at last follow-up showed that 4 patients had no pain, 12 patients had moderate pain relief, 5 patients had mild pain relief, and 2 patients had no significant pain relief; among the 10 patients who were followed up more than 5 years, there were 2, 5, 2, and 1 patient, respectively; 2 patients who were followed up more than 10 years had moderate pain relief. At last follow-up, the ankle joint space was (3.7±0.4) mm, which significantly increased when compared with before operation [(1.5±0.2) mm] (t=1.791, P=0.002). The ankle joint space was (2.9±0.5) mm in 10 patients who were followed up more than 5 years, and 3.3 mm and 3.0 mm in 2 patients who were followed up more than 10 years. Conclusion Distraction arthroplasty of the ankle joint can achieve satisfactory results in patients with moderate to severe ankle arthritis (except for arthritis caused by Pilon fracture), and age has no significant effect on distraction arthroplasty.