Objective To observe the effectiveness of traumatic dislocation of the knee joint combined with multi ple ligament injuries treated by stages. Methods Between June 2005 and November 2008, 13 cases of traumatic dislocation of the knee joint combined with multi ple ligament injuries were treated by stages, including 9 males and 4 females with an average age of 30.7 years (range, 18-54 years). The dislocations were left knee in 3 cases and right knee in 10 cases. The causes of injury were sports injury in 8 cases, traffic accident injury in 2 cases, fall ing from height injury in 2 cases, and sprain injury in 1 case. The average time from injury to hospitalization was 9 hours (range, 6 hours to 2 days ). Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL) were involved in 8 cases; ACL, PCL, and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in 3 cases; and ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL in 2 cases. The valgus stress testing results of 10 knees were ++ to +++; the varus stress testing results of 5 knees were ++ to +++; all knees showed positive in the anterior or the posterior drawer test and ++ to +++ in Lachman test. The nerve, vessel, MCL, LCL, PCL, meniscus were repaired in the first operation. The functional exercise of knee joint was done after fixation for 3-4 weeks. During the second operation, the ACL was reconstrcted under arthroscopy after the range of motion (ROM) of knee joint was good with anterior instabil ity of knee within 4-6 months. Results All wounds healed by first intention after two operations; no compl ications of infection and compartment syndrome occurred. All cases were followed up 12-60 months with an average of 36 months. Joint effusion of knee occurred in 2 cases at 4 weeks after the first operation and was cured after removal of fluid. At 3 months after the second operation, the results of valgus stress testing and Lachman test were ++ in 1 case, respectively; the results of valgus stress testing, varus stress testing, and Lachman test were + in 1 case, respectively; and others showed negative results. After 12 months of the second operation, the mean flexion of the knee was 123.4° (range, 100-135°), and the mean extension of the knee was 2.3° (range, 0-4°). According to Lysholm evaluation system, 9patients got excellent results, 2 good, and 2 fair; the excellent and good rate was 84.6%. Conclusion It is an effective method in the treatment of traumatic dislocation of the knee joint combined with multi ple ligament injuries by stages.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical application and effectiveness of antibiotic-loaded cement spacer combined with free fibular graft in the staged treatment of infectious long bone defect in the lower extremity. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data from 12 patients with infectious long bone defect in the lower extremity between June 2010 and June 2012. Of the 12 cases, there were 9 males and 3 females with an average age of 33 years (range, 19-46 years), including 3 cases of femoral shaft bone defect, 7 cases of tibial shaft bone defect, and 2 cases of metatarsal bone defect. The causes were traffic accident injury in 7 cases, crashing injury in 3 cases, and machine extrusion injury in 2 cases. The length of bone defect ranged from 6 to 14 cm (mean, 8 cm). The soft tissue defect area ranged from 5.0 cm×3.0 cm to 8.0 cm×4.0 cm companied with tibial shaft and metatarsal bone defect in 9 cases. The sinus formed in 3 femoral shaft bone defects. The time between injury and operation was 1-4 months (mean, 2 months). At first stage, antibiotic-loaded cement spacer was placed in the bone defect after debridement and the flaps were used to repair soft tissue defect in 9 cases; at second stage (6 weeks after the first stage), defect was repaired with free fibular graft (7-22 cm in length, 14 cm on average) after antibiotic-loaded cement spacer removal. The area of the cutaneous fibular flap ranged from 6.0 cm×4.0 cm to 10.0 cm×5.0 cm in 10 cases. ResultsAll wounds healed by first intention, and the healing time was 12-18 days, 14 days on average. Twelve cases were followed up 12-36 months (mean, 17 months). Bone healing time ranged from 4 to 6 months (5.5 months on average). The cutaneous fibular flap had good appearance. The function at donor site was satisfactory; no dysfunction of the ankle joint or tibial stress fracture occurred after operation. The mean Enneking score was 25 (range, 20-28) at last follow-up. ConclusionInfection can be well controlled with the antibiotic-loaded cement spacer during first stage operation, and free fibular graft can increase the bone defect healing rate at second stage. Staged treatment is an optimal choice to treat infectious long bone defect in the lower extremity.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of staged treatment of open Pilon fracture combined with soft tissue defect. Methods Between June 2007 and December 2012, 18 cases of open Pilon fracture combined with soft tissue defect were treated. There were 14 males and 4 females with an average age of 35 years (range, 19-55 years). The causes of injury included falling from height in 12 cases, traffic accident in 4 cases, and crushing by machine in 2 cases. According to AO classification, 1 case was classified as type B2 fracture, 3 cases as type B3 fracture, 5 cases as type C1 fracture, 5 cases as type C2 fracture, and 4 cases as type C3 fracture. Sixteen cases accompanied by fibular fracture (14 cases of simple fibular fracture and 2 cases of communicated fibular fracture). According to Gustilo classification, the soft tissue injuries were all type IIIB. In first stage, debridement and vaccum sealing drainage combined with external fixation were performed; open reduction and internal fixation of simple fibular fracture were used. In second stage, open reduction and internal fixation of Pilon fracture and communicated fibular fracture were performed, and the flaps of 6 cm × 5 cm to 18 cm × 14 cm were applied to repair soft tissue defect at the same time. The donor site was repaired by skin graft. Results Partial necrosis occurred in 2 flaps, the other 16 flaps survived completely. The incisions of donor sites healed by first intention, the skin graft survived completely. The average follow-up interval was 12 months (range, 6-24 months). The X-ray films showed that the bone healing time ranged from 5 to 8 months (mean, 6 months). No internal fixation failure was found. At last follow-up, the average range of motion of the ankle joint was 37° (range, 26-57°). According to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale, the average score was 80.2 (range, 72-86). Traumatic arthritis occurred in 2 cases (11%). Conclusion The staged treatment has the advantages of accurate evaluation of soft tissue injury, shortened cure time, good reduction of the articular surface, and reduced incidence of infection, so it is an optimal method to treat open Pilon fracture combined with soft tissue defect.
Objective To explore the methods, fixation points, and effectiveness of staged therapy using external fixation frame in treatment of infectious nonunion near knee joint. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 60 patients with infectious nonunion near knee joint, who underwent staged therapy using external fixation frame between June 2021 and June 2024 and were followed up. There were 48 males and 12 females with an average age of 47.9 years (range, 16-70 years). The disease duration ranged from 9 months to 20 years, with a median duration of 14 months. Among them, 21 cases of infectious nonunion located in the distal femur, 36 cases in the proximal tibia, and 3 cases in the patella; 12 cases exhibited segmental bone defects (≥4 cm), while 48 cases presented with localized bone defects (<4 cm). Osteomyelitis was classified using the Cierny-Mader system, with 3 cases classified as type Ⅰ, 6 cases as type Ⅱ, 35 cases as type Ⅲ, and 16 cases as type Ⅳ. Preoperative C-reactive protein levels ranged from 15.1 to 55.8 mg/L (mean, 36.4 mg/L). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 35-80 mm/1 h (mean, 56.9 mm/1 h). The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score for knee joint was 69.3±17.7 and the range of motion was (70.61±40.60)°. After debridement and placement of antibiotic carriers at the first-stage operation, unilateral orbital frames (n=14), combined frames (n=27), or Ilizarov frames (n=19) were used for cross joint fixation (n=9) or joint preservation fixation (n=51). After 6-8 weeks of infection control, the bone grafting or bone transport was performed at the second-stage operation based on the type of bone defect, with internal fixation employed as an adjunct if necessary. After operation, the infection control and fracture healing were observed and the bone healing time was recorded. The knee joint function was assessed using the HSS score, and the knee joint range of motion was measured as well as the angle of motion loss. Patients were grouped according to the site of nonunion, type of external fixation frame, and fixation method. The bone healing time, change value of HSS score (difference between pre- and post-operation), and knee joint range of motion loss were compared between groups. Results All infection markers returned to the normal range within 6 weeks after the first-stage operation. All patients were followed up 12-48 months (mean, 22.0 months) after the second-stage operation. There were 5 cases of needle tract infection during the external fixation period, and 3 cases of infection recurrence after the second-stage operation, all of which were cured after symptomatic treatment. The bone healing time was 6-18 months (mean, 11.0 months). At last follow-up, the HSS score was 88.5±7.9 and the range of motion was (61.84±40.59) °, with significant differences compared to preoperative values (P<0.05); the knee joint range of motion loss was (8.77±11.07) °. The bone healing time was significant longer in the distal femur group than in the proximal tibia group (P<0.05), and the unilateral orbital frames group than in the Ilizarov frames group and the combined frames group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the change values of HSS score between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion During the first-stage operation, debridement is performed and antibiotic carriers are placed to control infection. External fixation frames are then precisely positioned based on the distance between the lesion and the joint surface, avoiding the infected wound while ensuring mechanical balance. During the second-stage operation, bone grafting options are selected according to the extent of bone defects to enhance the bone union. Postoperative early functional exercises of the knee joint are permitted to improve joint function.