ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of suspensory external fixation technique in treatment of proximal humeral fractures.MethodsBetween August 2013 and October 2018, 14 patients with proximal humeral fractures were treated with suspensory external fixation technique. There were 10 males and 4 females with an average age of 55.9 years (range, 43-76 years). There were 10 cases of falling injury and 4 cases of traffic accident injury. Among them, there were 9 cases of Neer type Ⅲ and 5 cases of Neer type Ⅳ. The time from injury to operation was 3-7 days (mean, 4.6 days). Nine cases were complicated with osteoporosis. The preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 6.1±1.2. The effectiveness was comprehensively evaluated by hospital stay, fracture healing time, removal time of external fixator, postoperative complications, VAS score, and Neer score of shoulder joint function.ResultsAll operations were successfully completed, and the hospital stay was 6-14 days, with an average of 9.4 days. All the incisions healed by first intention, and no infection or other complications occurred. All patients were followed up 16-60 months (mean, 35.4 months). X-ray films examination showed that all fractures healed, the healing time was 4-7 months (mean, 4.9 months). The removal time of external fixator was 5-8 months (mean, 6.3 months). VAS scores were 1.5±0.8 at 1 month after operation and 1.0±0.9 at last follow-up, both of which were significantly improved when compared with preoperative score, the differences were significant between different time points (P<0.05). Neer score of shoulder joint function was 75-100 (mean, 91.1); 9 cases were excellent, 4 cases were good, and 1 case was fair. The excellent and good rate was 92.9%. During follow-up, there was no adverse events such as acromion impingement, nonunion, or pseudoarthrosis.ConclusionFor proximal humeral fractures, the suspensory external fixation technique is a simple and reliable treatment method that can significantly improve joint function.
Objective To investigate the surgical treatments of Morel-Lavallée lesion with perineal lacerations. Methods From March 2003 to June 2009, 18 cases of Morel-Lavallée lesion with perineal lacerations were treated. There were 16 males and 2 females with a median age of 28.5 years (range, 3-54 years). The time between the injury and hospital ization ranged from 3 hours to 7 days. The lesions were in the greater trochanter (2 cases), the gluteal (2 cases), the lumbar flank (1 case), the lumbar sacrum (3 cases), the pelvic girdle (7 cases), and the hip (3 cases). All the cases were compl icated with perineal lacerations, which included male genital ia defect (2 cases), mangled genital ia (2 cases), and genital ia injuries with anal injuries (14 cases). The main treatments included repeated debridement, external fixation of fractures, vacuum seal ing drainage, skin grafting, reconstruction of genital ia, and anoplasty. Results Three cases died after operation. Two cases died of multiple system organ failure, 1 case died of septic shock. Three cases were amputated and the causes were mangled extremities (2 cases) and osteofascial compartment syndrome (1 case). In 15 survivors, the average time of operations was 3.6 times (range, 3-8 times) and the average hospital ization days was 43.3 days (range, 32-108 days). After a follow-up of 6 months to 2 years, all perineal wounds healed. Anals recovered the normal defecation while one with ostomy was waiting for the secondly resetting of the bowels. Conclusion The treatments of Morel-Lavallée lesion with perineal lacerations were significantly different from simple close Morel-Lavallée lesion. With high mortal ity and disabil ity, Morel-Lavallée lesion with perineal lacerations require more challenging treatment protocols among which the most important is the soft tissue management and nutrition. The satisfactory outcomes come from joint efforts of multiple departments.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the characteristics, treatment, and effectiveness of grade Ⅲ spoke heel injury in children. MethodsBetween January 2007 and June 2013, 31 children with grade Ⅲ spoke heel injuries were treated. There were 19 boys and 12 girls, aged from 3 to 12 years (mean, 5.2 years). The time from trauma to operation was 2 hours to 26 days (mean, 4.4 days). The soft tissue defects of the heels ranged from 3.5 cm×2.5 cm to 8.0 cm×4.5 cm, which all complicated with Achilles tendon and calcaneus tuberosity defects. In 16 cases of large Achilles tendon defects which can not be stretched straightly to calcaneus tuberosities, repair with sl iding gastrocnemius musculocutaneous flaps (16 cm×5 cm to 21 cm×10 cm ) and insertion reconstruction of the tendon were performed. In 15 cases of Achilles tendon defects which can be stretched straightly to calcaneus tuberosities, repair with reversed pedicled flap (4.0 cm×2.5 cm to 8.0 cm×4.5 cm) and insertion reconstruction of the tendon were given. Nerve anastomosis was not performed. The donor site was covered with spl it-thickness skin graft. ResultsAll children were followed up 6 months to 4 years (mean, 13 months). The other flaps survived except 3 cases having partial necrosis. The color and appearance of the flaps were satisfactory, with no impact on wearing shoes and walking. The flaps recovered sensory function. As more follow-up time, the angle of dorsal flexion was gradually improved. Heel raising on one leg was restored. The bone amount of calcaneus tuberosity increased slowly based on X-ray films. ConclusionGrade Ⅲ spoke heel injury in children possesses pecul iar features, surgical methods should be based on defects of Achilles tendon and soft tissue. Dorsal flexion of the ankle is obviously l imited; as follow-up time goes on, the ankle function is progressively improved. However, long-term follow-up is needed.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of simple Ilizarov ring external fixation technique in treatment of tibial plateau fractures complicated with osteofascial compartment syndrome.MethodsBetween September 2013 and March 2017, 30 patients with tibial plateau fractures complicated with osteofascial compartment syndrome were treated with simple Ilizarov ring external fixation technique. There were 23 males and 7 females, with an average age of 34.4 years (range, 23-43 years). The injuries were caused by traffic accident in 12 cases, by falling from height in 4 cases, by falling in 8 cases, and by a crashing object in 6 cases. The time from injury to admission was 1-12 hours (mean, 4.8 hours). According to the Schatzker classification, there was 1 case of type Ⅱ, 3 cases of type Ⅲ, 10 cases of type Ⅳ, 7 cases of type Ⅴ, and 9 cases of type Ⅵ. All patients underwent fasciotomy due to osteofascial compartment syndrome; the interval between fasciotomy and operation was 10-15 days (mean, 12.5 days). Knee Society Score (KSS) and Ilizarov Method Research and Application Association (ASAMI) protocol were used to evaluate knee function.ResultsThe operation time was 110-155 minutes (mean, 123.1 minutes); the intraoperative blood loss was 100-500 mL (mean, 245 mL); the postoperative hospital stay was 3-5 days (mean, 3.8 days). All patients were followed up 20-24 weeks (mean, 22.7 weeks). Except for 2 patients with signs of needle tract infection, no other complication occurred. X-ray films showed that the fractures healed, and the healing time was 10-20 weeks (mean, 14.6 weeks). At last follow-up, the KSS clinical score was 70- 95 with an average of 87.5; the functional score was 70-90 with an average of 79.0. According to ASAMI protocol evaluation, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 24 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case.ConclusionFor tibial plateau fractures complicated with osteofascial compartment syndrome, simple Ilizarov ring external fixation technique can basically restore joint function and has fewer complications. It is a relatively safe and effective treatment method.
Objective To evaluate the characteristics, classification, treatment methods, and cl inical outcomes of the spoke heel injuries in children. Methods From June 2001 to June 2008, 289 children with bicycle or motorcycle spoke heel injuries were treated, including 179 males and 110 females aged 2-12 years old (average 3.9 years old). There were 179 cases of skin contusion and laceration (type I), 83 cases of skin and soft tissue defect with Achilles tendon exposure (type II), and 27 cases of wide skin and soft tissue defect with the Achilles tendon defect and rupture (type III). The defect size of the skin or the soft tissues ranged from 3 cm × 2 cm to 11 cm × 7 cm in type II and type III injury. The time between injury and hospital admission was 1-53 days (average 14.5 days). Child patients with type I injury were managed with dressing or suturing after debridement. For the child patients with type II injury, the wound was repaired with the regional fascia flap in 53 cases, the reverse sural neurocutaneous vascular flap in 19 cases, the reverse saphenous neurocutaneous vascular flap in 9 cases, and the lateral supramalleolar flap in 2 cases. For the child patients with type III injury, 6 cases underwent primary repair of the Achilles tendon followed by the transposition of the reverse sural neurocutaneous vascular flap, 3 cases received primary repair of the wound with the reverse sural neurocutaneous vascular flap and secondary reconstruction of the Achilles tendon with the upturned fascia strip or the ipsilateral il iotibial tract transplant, and 18 cases underwent primary repair of the wound and the Achilles tendon with the sl iding bi-pedicled gastrocnemius musculocutaneous flap. The flap size ranged from 4 cm × 2 cm to 30 cm × 12 cm. All the donor sites were closed bypartial suture and spl it-thickness skins graft. The lower l imbs were immobil ized with plaster spl ints after operation. Results All the flaps survived except for 1 case of type II suffering from distal flap venous crisis 3 days after operation and 6 cases of type III suffering from distal flap necrosis 3-5 days after operation. All those flaps survived after symptomatic treatment. All the skin grafts at the donor site survived uneventfully. All the wounds healed by first intention. All child patients were followed up for 15-820 days (average 42 days). Child patients with type I and type II injury had a full recovery of ankle functions. While 25 cases of type III injury had ankle dorsal extension degree loss (10-30°) and unilateral plantar flexion strength decrease 3 months after operationwithout influence on walking, and 2 cases recovered well. Conclusion Spoke heel injury in children has special mec hanisms of injury, and the choice of proper treatment method should be based on the types of injury.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of the nose ring drain (NRD) technique combined with Ilizarov circular external fixation in treatment of Gustilo ⅢA Pilon fracture.MethodsBetween March 2017 and December 2019, 17 patients with Gustilo ⅢA Pilon fractures were admitted and treated with NRD technique combined with Ilizarov circular external fixation. Among them, there were 11 males and 6 females; the age ranged from 24 to 63 years, with an average of 38.2 years. There were 3 cases of traffic accident injury, 13 cases of falling injury, and 1 case of penetrating injury. There were 13 cases of emergency admittance and 4 cases of wound infection after surgical treatment. Furthermore, there were 2 cases of fibula fractures and 3 cases of lateral malleolus fractures. ResultsAll patients were followed up 8-12 months, with an average of 9.9 months. All wounds healed by first intention, and 4 patients with preoperative infection had no recurrence during the follow-up. The external fixator was removed after fracture healing in 17 patients at 3-7 months after operation (mean, 4.5 months). At last follow-up, the pain score of the ankle joint Kofoe score was 40-50, with an average of 44; the functional score was 17-27, with an average of 25; the mobility score was 8-18, with an average of 14; and the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 8 cases, good in 7 cases, and poor in 1 case.ConclusionFor Gustilo ⅢA Pilon fractures, the NRD technique combined with Ilizarov circular external fixation has advantages of good fracture fixation and drainage effects, which greatly reduces the complications of traditional treatment options and the number of operations.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of self-made limb chronic wound closure device in the treatment of scarred lower limbs and complex skin and soft tissue defects.MethodsBetween January 2014 and January 2017, 29 patients with complex fractures of the lower extremities and skin and soft tissue defects were treated. There were 19 males and 10 females with an average age of 31.1 years (range, 21-66 years). The causes of injury included 14 cases of traffic accidents, 5 cases of falling from height, 4 cases of heavy object crushing injury, 4 cases of mechanical crushing injury, and 2 cases of exposed steel plate after fracture. There were 26 cases of calf fracture and skin defect, 3 cases of metatarsal bone fracture and skin defect of the foot. The skin defect ranged from 5 cm×3 cm to 18 cm×8 cm. The time from injury to admission was 5-31 days, with an average of 14.3 days. All patients underwent a thorough debridement, open wound drainage, self-made chronic wound closure device combined with Ilizarov stretching technique for a slow skin and soft tissue traction. After the wound was cleaned up and the granulation tissue was freshened, the skins on both sides were closed, and then proceed to the second stage operation of skin grafting or direct suture closure based on the size of the wound.ResultsAll patients were followed up 8-20 months, with an average of 13 months. Twenty-nine patients were treated with self-made chronic wound closure device combined with Ilizarov technique for 1-2 times with an average of 1.3 times, then the wound infection was controlled and the granulation tissue grew well. In the course of treatment, the pain was not obvious and the patients had good compliance. All patients’ wounds healed clinically without skin traction complications and formed linear or flaky scars.ConclusionThe self-made chronic wound closure device is effective in repairing complex scarred wounds of lower extremities, and it is easy to operate.