Objective To explore the cl inical effects of different operative procedures in treatment of upper humerus fracture nonunion. Methods From May 2001 to September 2007, 43 cases of upper humerus fractures nonunion were treated, including 31 males and 12 females with an average age of 37 years (range, 20-57 years). The causes were trafficaccident injury in 14 cases, fall ing injury from height in 11 cases, tumbl ing injury in 7 cases, heavy pound injury in 6 cases, machine injury in 4 cases, and pathological injury in 1 case. The time from fracture to hospital ization was 10-52 months (23 months on average). After open reduction, patients were treated respectively by bone-graft plus locking compression plate fixation (9 cases), scapula flap rotation displacement plus locking compression plate fixation (15 cases), and scapula flap rotation displacement plus locking compression plate plus tibia bone lamella fixation (19 cases). Results All incisions healed by first intention. The X-ray films showed good fracture reduction. No symptoms of infection and nerve injury occurred. Forty-three patients were followed up 12 to 25 months with an average of 18 months. All of them achieved radiographic union within 3.0 to 7.5 months (4.9 months on average). According to comprehensive assessing standard of X-ray film and functions of shoulder and elbow, the results were excellent in 21 cases, good in 15 cases, fair in 4 cases, and poor in 3 cases; the excellent and good rate was 83.7%. Conclusion In the treatment of upper humerus fractures nonunion, locking compression plate can provide stable fixation. It can achieve satisfactory results so long as the right method of bone graft is chosen according to fracture site situation. But for patients undergoing repeated surgery or having nonunion for long times and poor fracture site situation, after open reduction, scapula flap rotation displacement plus locking compression plate plus tibia bone lamella fixation has good outcome.
Objective To explore an ideal operative treatment to preserve the hi p joint for the old femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients. Methods Between January 2002 and June 2006, 28 cases of old femoral neck fracture, 23 males and 5 females, aged 19-55 years old (37.6 on average), were reconstructed with free il iac grafts and fixed by dynamic hi p screws (DHS) and/or canulated screws. Multi ple vascular bundles derived from lateral circumflex femoral vascular were implanted in 19 cases. All the 28 cases were close fractures, with 17 of left hip and 11 of right hip. In terms of the fracture site, 4 cases were infer-head, 17 were per-neck and 7 were fundamental-form. The Harris score was 25-72 (49.6 onaverage) before operation. No callus formation was found on X-ray films in all cases; sclerosis and cyst were found in 4 cases and osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) was confirmed by MRI. The duration between initial injury and surgery was 1-21 months (8.6 months on average). Results No deep infection was observed in all 28 cases, and paralysis of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh was observed in 5 cases, and was better 6 months after operation with no special treatment. All 28 cases were followed up for 20-72 months (35.8 months on average). A total of 25 fractures healed within 4-8 months, with the heal ing rate of 89.3%; 3 fractures had nonunion and received artificial hip replacement. During the follow-up, 7 cases (25%) developed ONFH confirmed by MRI within 18 months, and 5 cases (17.9%) developed femoral head collapse. The Harris score was 27-100 (82.7 on average). Leg length discrepancy was not observed and the gait was fairly normal. Conclusion The femoral neck reconstruction procedure can restore the normal anatomy of femoral head and neck and the blood supply, so as to promote fracture heal ing as well as delay or avoid the artificial joint replacement. Therefore, it is an important treatment to preserve the hip joint for the old femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients.
Objective To report the clinical outcome of the transposition of the radial styloid bone flap pedicled on the recurrent branch of the radial artery in the treatment of scaphoid nonunion. Methods From March 2000 to June 2005,the procedure was done in 18 patients with scaphoid nonunion, a small bone flap(1.5 cm×3.5 cm×0.5 cm) pedicled on the recurrent branch of radial artery to the styloid process was raised from the radial styloid process and grafted into the corresponding slot chiseled along the vertical axis of scaphoid crossing the fracture line. Of 18 patients, 15 were males and 3 were females, aging 18-39 years. The locations were lumbar scaphoid in 11 patients and proximal scaphoid in 7 patients,among whom 5 had presented avascular necrosis in the proximal fragments of the scaphoid. Pain occurred in the act of wrist motion, and became obvious in the case of dorsiextension and radial deviation. Compression pain was observed in the stuff nest. The wrist joint activity is subjected to limit. The X-ray showed hardening and cystic degereration at fracture end and obviously widening fracture line. Results The scaphoid fracture healed in all 18 cases, the 5 proximal scaphoid fracture fragments which had previously been necrosed survived, a mean healing time of scaphoid was4 months. A follow-up of 1 to 5 years revealed normal wrist motion without pain in all cases. The life and job was good every day. Conclusion Transposition of the bone flap pedicled on the recurrent branch of the radial artery to the scaphoid is relatively simple and can effectively treat scaphoid nonunion and avascular necrosis with a great value in clinical application.
OBJECTIVE: To present a surgical choice for nonunion and bone defect. METHODS: From November 1994 to October 1997, 17 cases of nonunion of fracture and massive bone defect were treated by autogenous iliac bone and fibular bone with vascular anastomosis. Of 17 cases, there were 10 cases of nonunion of bone fracture, 7 cases of bone defect following tumor resection (4 cases of benign and 3 cases of malignant). Autogenous fibular bone grafting with vascular anastomosis, ranging from 12 cm to 29 cm in length, were employed in 12 cases; autogenous iliac bone grafting, ranging from 7 cm x 3 cm to 9 cm x 5 cm in size, were utilized in the other 5 cases. All of 17 cases were followed up for 10 months to 5 years, 3 years and 7 months in average, and were evaluated from clinical manifestation. RESULTS: Bone union was achieved in 10 cases of nonunion of fracture after bone grafting, bony refilling of the bone defect was observed in 4 cases due to benign tumor and 1 case due to malignant tumor. The other 2 cases of malignant tumor died from lung metastasis of the tumor 10 months and 12 months after bone grafting, respectively. CONCLUSION: Bone grafting is an effective surgical option in treatment of nonunion of fracture and bone defect.
In order to investigate the blood supply of osteo-periosteal flap of lateral inferior part of tibia, 40 lower limbs of adult cadavers were observed. The result showed that the superior malleolar branch was the biggest branch on the lateral inferior part of tibia and served as the main blood supply to the above area. It originated from the anterior tibial artery, 3.1 +/- 0.8 cm above the intermalleolar line. During its way to the anterior border of the tibia, it gave out the ascending and descending branches. The ascending branch was along the anterior border upward and anastomosed with the musculo-periosteol branch of the anterior tibial artery at the level of 6.3 +/- 1.3 cm above the intermalleolar line. The decending branch was anastomosed with the anterior medial malleolar artery. For the anastomosis between the superior malleolar branch with the peripheral vessels, the osteo-periosteol flap could be designed at the lateral side of the lower part of tibia in size of 8-10 cm x 4-6 cm. This was a new donor area of osteo-periosteol flap for repair of non-union of bone in lower end of tibia or arthrodesis of the ankle joint.
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.