Objective To study the method and effect of transferring the pedicled second metatarsal base for repairing bone defect of lateral malleolus. Methods Thirty lower limb specimens were anatomized to observe the morphology, structure and blood supply of the second metatarsal bone . Then transferring of thepedicled second metatarsal base was designed and used in 6 patients clinically.All cases were male, aged from 24 to 48 years old, and the area of bone defect was 3-4 cm. Results Followed up for 3-11 months, all patients healed primarily both in donor and recipient sites. There were excellent results in 4 cases and good results in 2 cases . The morphology and function of the malleoli were satisfactory. Conclusion Transferring of the pedicled second metatarsal base for repairing bone defect of lateral malleolus is an effective and reliable operative method.
Objective To investigate the rehabilitation treatment methods for distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury triad after the second surgery. Methods We reported the postsurgical rehabilitation treatment for a 16-year-old male who received second surgery for internal fixation screw rupture on August 20th 2014, due to weight bearing too early after his first surgery in March 2014 for distal tibiofibular syndesmosis diastasis combined with lateral malleolus fracture, ligamenta talofibulare anterius and deltoid ligament rupture. The patient was treated in the Rehabilitation Center of National Sports Training Center on September 25th, 2014. By analyzing the rehabilitation assessment results, a secondary ankle impingement syndrome was detected and following modified treatments were implemented. Results At the end of the first course of treatment, right ankle muscle strength, range of motion and Y balance tests were all weaker than the left. At the end of the second course of treatment, all data were better than the first course. At the end of the third course, all data were close to normal value except the right leg forward squat. Conclusions Through comprehensive rehabilitation, assessment feedback and further treatment improvement, complex cases like distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury triad after second injury can be well handled. However, more cases should be collected and investigated.
Objective To explore a suitable repairing method for skin defects of the foot and ankle, and to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the different repairing methods. Methods From January 2000 to October 2005, 36 patients with skin defects of the foot and ankle underwentthe repairing treatment, of whom 35 were males and 1 was female, aged 5-62 years, averaged 38 years. Of the 36 patients, 12 had an injury by a machine, 22 had a traffic accident, 1 had an infection, and 1 had a cold injury. And the injuries involved the dorsum of the foot, heel, forefoot, and medial or lateral malleolus. The injuries were respectively treated by 2 different repairing methods, the repair with the coverage by the lateral supramalleolar flaps and the repair with the coverage by the reverse sural neurocutaneous flaps. The skin defectsranged in area from 5 cm×4 cm to 20 cm×10 cm. The lateral supramalleolar flapwas used in 15 patients (15 flaps) with a flap area of 5 cm×4 cm-15 cm×8 cm,and the reverse sural neurocutaneous flap was used in 21 patients (22 flaps) with a flap area of 6 cm×4 cm20 cm×10 cm. We retrospectively observed the therapeutic results and compared the success rates of the two methods. Results Of the 36 patients, 15 underwent the repair with the coverage by 15 lateral supramalleolar flaps; 10 achieved a complete survival of the flaps, 2 developed an epidermal necrosis over the distal part, and 3 developed a complete necrosis.The other 21 patients underwent the repair with the coverage by 22 reverse sural neurocutaneous flaps. Of the 22 flaps, 21 had a complete survival, and only 1 failed to survive. The comparison revealed that there was no difference in the color, texture, and contour of the flaps between the 2 repaired groups. And the patients in the 2 groups were equally satisfied with the repairing treatments. The sensation of the flaps recovered to S0-S1. Conclusion The repairing of the foot and ankle skin defects with the coverage by the lateral supramalleolar flaps or by the reverse sural neurocutaneous flaps can achieve a similar good therapeutic result. However, the repair with the lateral supramalleolarflaps is more suitable for the skin defect of a smaller area over the medial orlateral malleolus, or the proximal dorsum of the foot; the repair with the reverse sural neurocutaneous flaps is more suitable for the skin defect of a larger area over the foot and ankle without serious destruction of the malleolar arterial rete.
Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of reducing posterior malleolar fractures via the modified Rammelt transfibular approach. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 26 patients with ankle fractures who met the selection criteria and were admitted between September 2023 and May 2024. There were 13 males and 13 females, aged from 14 to 59 years (median, 43.5 years). Causes of injury included traffic accident (1 case), falls (7 cases), and sprains (18 cases). Time from injury to operation ranged from 1 to 13 days (mean, 3.9 days). According to the Lauge-Hansen classification, there were 5 supination-external rotation type Ⅲ fractures and 21 supination-external rotation type Ⅳ fractures. According to the Bartoníček classification for posterior malleolar fractures, there were 12 type Ⅱ fractures, 10 type Ⅲ fractures, and 4 type Ⅳ fractures. During operation, the fracture was exposed via the modified Rammelt transfibular approach; then, the fracture reduction was achieved under direct vision using techniques such as towel clip traction, posterolateral compression, and lifting with a posterior transverse periosteal elevator; finally, the fracture was fixed using anteroposterior cannulated screws or Kirschner wires. The incision healing was observed after operation. At 4 months after operation, X-ray film and CT were reviewed to evaluate the quality of fracture reduction. The medial clear space, tibiofibular clear space, and the anterior/posterior tibiofibular syndesmotic distances were measured. At last follow-up, the ankle function was assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and the range of motion. Results The marginal necrosis occurred in 2 lateral malleolar incisions, and superficial infection occurred in 1 lateral malleolar incision; the remaining incisions healed by first intention. All 26 patients were followed up 13-21 months (mean, 15.6 months). X-ray films showed that fractures in 25 patients achieved clinical union within 3-8 months (mean, 5.4 months); 1 case had delayed union of the lateral malleolus. At 4 months after operation, no significant difference was found between the injured and healthy sides in the medial clear space, tibiofibular clear space, or the anterior/posterior tibiofibular syndesmotic distances (P>0.05). No malreduction of the posterior malleolus or the tibiofibular syndesmosis occurred. At last follow-up, the AOFAS score ranged from 80 to 100 (mean, 91.9). The range of motion ranged from 17° to 22° (mean, 21.0°) in active ankle dorsiflexion and from 40° to 49° (mean, 44.6°) in plantar flexion. Internal fixator was removed in 12 patients at 1 year after operation, with no ankle instability occurring. Ankle joint degeneration was observed in 1 patient at last follow-up. Conclusion The modified Rammelt transfibular approach is a safe and reliable technique. It enables precise reduction under direct vision, improves the quality of reduction for the distal tibial articular surface and the tibiofibular syndesmosis, and provides satisfactory ankle functional recovery in short-term follow-up.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of multi-segment inverted Y-shaped vein transplantation using the anterior lateral malleolar venous network for repair of amputated palm injury distal to the superficial palmar arch. Methods Between September 2018 and July 2023, 5 patients with amputated palm injury distal to the superficial palmar arch were treated. There were 3 males and 2 females with an average age of 35.4 years (range, 29-52 years). The time from injury to admission was 1-6 hours (mean, 3.2 hours). The multi-segment inverted Y-shaped vein transplantation in the anterior lateral malleolar venous network were used to repair the common and proper palmar digital arteries; the another anterior lateral malleolar venous network was used to repair the dorsal vein of the hand. The soft tissue defect of dorsal hand in 1 patient was repaired with the pedicled ilioinguinal flap, and the wound at the donor site was directly sutured. Postoperative treatment included anti-infection therapy, antispasmodic therapy, and thrombosis prevention measures. Results The partial necrosis of the fingertip of the thumb occurred in 1 case, and the marginal necrosis of the abdominal flap after operation occurred in 1 case. The remaining fingers showed good blood supply with normal tension. The incision at donor site of the abdominal flap healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 8-41 months (median, 19 months). At last follow-up, the hand contour was satisfactory; the grasping function, opposition function, and proprioception recovered, and two-point discrimination ranged from 5 to 7 mm (mean, 6 mm). According to the upper extremity function evaluation criteria issued by Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association, the functional outcomes were excellent in 3 cases, good in 1 case, and fair in 1 case. Conclusion The multi-segment inverted Y-shaped vein transplantation using the anterior lateral malleolar venous network for repairing defects in the common and proper palmar digital arteries distal to the superficial palmar arch offers advantages such as superficial location, flexible harvesting, and high compatibility. This technique has demonstrated favorable outcomes in complex transmetacarpal amputation reconstruction.
ObjectiveTo investigate the application of lateral malleolus hook-plate for the treatment of stageⅡsupination-adduction type medial malleolus fractures. MethodsBetween January 2011 and June 2013, 21 patients with stageⅡsupination-adduction type ankle fractures were treated with lateral malleolus hook-plate, including 12 males and 9 females with an average age of 55.5 years (range, 27-65 years). The injury causes were sprain in 17 cases and traffic accident in 4 cases. The mean time between injury and admission was 12.4 hours (range, 2-72 hours). The tibial distal medial articular surface collapse was found in 7 cases by CT examination and in 3 cases by X-ray film. Of 21 cases, there were 12 cases of low transverse fractures of lateral malleolus, 7 cases of short oblique fractures of lateral malleolus, and 2 cases of ankle joint lateral collateral ligament injury without fractures of lateral malleolus. After operation, the clinical outcome was evaluated according to the talus-leg angle, the recovery of Coin-sign continuity, inside-outside and top ankle gap, talus slope, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Olerud-Molander score, Kofoed evaluation standards, and patient satisfaction. ResultsSeventeen cases were followed up 18.7 months on average (range, 12-25 months). Primary healing was obtained in 16 cases except 1 case of delayed healing. Fracture healed at an average of 14.6 weeks (range, 12-16 weeks). All cases achieved anatomical reduction, the continuity of Coin-sign, and consistency of inside and outside joint gap; no talus tilt occurred. There was no complication of reduction loss, loosening or breakage of internal fixation, or osteoarthritis during follow-up. The talus-leg angle of the affected side was significantly improved to (83.4±1.8)° at 1 week after operation from preoperative (74.8±7.1)° (t=5.370, P=0.000), but no significant difference was found when compared with normal side (83.8±2.3)° (t=0.676, P=0.509). The AOFAS score, Olerud-Molander score, and range of motion at 1 week, 3 months, and 1 year after operation were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P < 0.05). According to Kofoed evaluation standard, the outcome was excellent in 15 cases and good in 2 cases; the excellent and good rate was 100%. According to patient satisfaction, the outcome was excellent in 13 cases, good in 3 cases, and poor in 1 case; the excellent and good rate was 94.1%. ConclusionThe use of lateral malleolus hook-plate for fixation of stageⅡsupination-adduction type medial malleolus fracture not only can effectively maintain anatomical reduction and supporting function, but also can prevent re-collapsing of the reset joint surface. The surgical method can not increase soft tissue complication, so it is a safe and effective method.