Objective To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of absorbable screws for the treatment of tibiofibular syndesmotic disruptions by comparing with metallic screws. Methods Between July 2007 and May 2012, 69 patients with tibiofibular syndesmotic disruptions associated with ankle fractures were treated; absorbable screw fixation was used in 38 cases (group A) and metallic screw fixation was used in 31 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury causes, the type of fracture, the side of fracture, and disease duration between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The fracture healing time, weight bearing time, and complications were recorded and compared between 2 groups. According to Baird-Jackson scoring system, the function of the ankle was assessed after 6 months. Results Infection of incision occurred in 3 cases (7.9%) of group A and 2 cases (6.5%) of group B, and skin necrosis of incision in 1 case (2.6%) of group A and 5 cases (16.1%) of group B, showing no significant difference in the incidences of infection and necrosis of incisions between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05); primary healing of incision was obtained in the other patients. The 69 cases were followed up 12-26 months (mean, 18.6 months). The weight bearing time was (2.97 ± 0.59) months in group A and was (3.16 ± 0.74 ) months in group B, showing no significant difference (t=1.175, P=0.244). X-ray films showed that fractures and tibiofibular syndesmotic disruptions healed in 2 groups; the healing time was (5.71 ± 1.01) months in group A and was (5.81 ± 1.08) months in group B, showing no significant difference (t=0.381, P=0.705). No fixation failure, breakage, or loosening occurred in 2 groups. According to Baird-Jackson scoring system, the results were excellent in 29 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 4 cases with an excellent and good rate of 89.5% in group A at 6 months after operation; the results were excellent in 20 cases, good in 7 cases, and fair in 4 cases with an excellent and good rate of 87.1% in group B; no significant difference was found in the excellent and good rate between 2 groups (Z= — 0.991, P=0.321). Conclusion Treatment of tibiofibular syndesmotic disruptions with absorbable screws can get good effectiveness and replace metallic screws because of avoiding additional operation for removing the screw.
Objective To investigate the operative method and effectiveness of repairing defects at medial malleolus in children with vascularized fibular head composite flap. Methods Between November 2008 and January 2011, 8 children with bone and soft tissue defects at the medial malleolus were treated. There were 5 boys and 3 girls, aged 2-9 years (mean, 4.6 years). Injuries were caused by machine twisting in 2 cases and by wheel twisting in 6 cases. Soft tissue defect area ranged from 3.5 cm × 3.0 cm to 7.0 cm × 4.5 cm; defect was total in all medial malleolus. The disease duration from injury to admission was 2-8 hours (mean, 4.5 hours). Defects were repaired with vascularized fibular head composite flap carrying the skin around the head of the fibula in 5 cases, and with vascularized fibular head composite flap and skin flap above the medial malleolus in 3 cases having too large defect (gt; 5 cm × 4 cm). The donor sites were repaired with direct suture in 2 cases and with skin graft in 6 cases. Results All 8 fibular head composite flaps and 3 skin flaps above the medial malleolus survived completely. Wounds healed by first intention; the skin grafts at donor sites survived in the other cases except 1 case having local necrosis, with healing of incision by first intention. The patients were followed up 10 months to 3 years (mean, 22 months). The color and elasticity of the flaps were good. All the children had equal leg length. Of 8 cases, 6 had no joint valgus; 2 cases had progressive ankle varus after 1 year of operation. The ankle flexion and extension function returned to normal in 5 cases, and was slightly limited in 3 cases; horizontal side, forward and backward movements had no difference compared with normal side. According to American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle function evaluation criteria, the results were excellent in 5 cases, and good in 3 cases at 10 months after operation. X-ray film showed that the ankle hole gap development of both sides was similar; no premature closure of the epiphysis or bone bridge formation of the medial malleolus was observed in 6 cases, and bone bridge formed in 2 cases after 1 year of operation. Conclusion The satisfactory short-term effectiveness can be obtained in repairing children medial malleolus and soft tissue defects by vascularized fibular head composite flap, and the reconstructed medial malleolus can develop with the growth of children. Long-term effectiveness still need more follow-up study.
Objective To explore perioperative management and postoperative effectiveness of hemophilia induced lesions of the foot and ankle. Methods Between June 1998 and February 2012, 10 cases (12 feet) of hemophilia induced lesions of the foot and ankle were treated with surgery, including 9 cases (11 feet) of hemophilia A and 1 case (1 foot) of hemophilia B. Single foot was involved in 8 cases and both feet in 2 cases, including 3 left feet and 9 right feet. All were males, aged from 13-41 years (mean, 22.6 years). Disease duration was 5-84 months (mean, 32.2 months). Preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 43.2 ± 21.1. Short Form 36 Health Survey Scale (SF-36) score was 45.4 ± 20.0. All patients were given clotting factors (2 000-3 500 U) for pre-experiment and clotting factors substitution therapy was performed perioperatively. Four cases (4 feet) underwent arthrodesis, and 7 cases (8 feet) underwent Achilles tendon lengthening/tendon transposition (1 patient underwent tendon lengthening on the left foot and arthrodesis on the right foot). Results The operation time was 65-265 minutes (mean, 141.1 minutes); 1 case had 400 mL blood loss and 200 mL autogenous blood transfusion, the other cases had less than 50 mL blood loss and no blood transfusion. Wounds healed by first intention in all patients, no postoperative infection, deep vein thrombosis, or other complications occurred. All cases were followed up 6 months to 14 years and 3 months (median, 22 months). The X-ray films at last follow-up showed the patients undergoing arthrodesis obtained complete joint fusion. AOFAS scores at postoperative 6 months and last follow-up were 78.8 ± 14.7 and 75.8 ± 14.5, respectively; SF-36 scores were 76.6 ± 13.1 and 75.5 ± 13.2, respectively; and significant differences were found when compared with preoperative scores (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference between postoperative 6 months and last follow-up (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion For patients with hemophilia induced lesions of the foot and ankle, surgical treatment could relieve foot and ankle pain and improve the function. Clotting factors pre-experiment at preoperation and substitution therapy at perioperation can reduce the risk of severe postoperative hemorrhage.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of arthroscopic and open ankle arthrodeses. Methods The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed from 30 patients undergoing unilateral ankle arthrodesis between January 2008 and January 2011. Of 30 patients, 14 underwent arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (arthroscopic group), and 16 underwent open ankle arthrodesis (open group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, lesion type, disease duration, and preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospitalization days, postoperative AOFAS score, and bony union rate were observed to evaluate the effectiveness. Results The operation time of arthroscopic group was significantly longer than that of open group (P lt; 0.05); the intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospitalization days of arthroscopic group were significantly less than those of open group (P lt; 0.05). Superficial infection of incision occurred in 1 case of open group, and healing of incision by first intention was obtained in the other patients. All patients were followed up 12 months. No screw breakage was observed. The X-ray films showed bony fusion in 13 cases (92.86%) of arthroscopic group and in 10 cases (62.50%) of open group at 3 months after operation, showing significant difference (χ2=3.850, P=0.049); but no significant difference was found (χ2=0.910, P=0.341) in bony fusion rate between the arthroscopic group (14/14, 100%) and open group (15/16, 93.75%) at 12 months after operation. The AOFAS scores at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after operation were significantly higher than preoperative score in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in AOFAS score between 2 groups at 1 and 3 months (P gt; 0.05), but significant differences were found at 6 and 12 months (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The overall effectiveness of arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis is better than that of open ankle arthrodesis, which can decrease intraoperative blood loss, shorten hospitalization days, get higher bony fusion rate, and obtain good ankle function recovery.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap for repair of skin and soft tissue defect and simultaneous Achilles tendon reconstruction with modified methods of ilio-tibial bundle suture. Methods Between October 2009 and June 2011, 10 cases of Achilles tendon and soft tissue defects were treated. There were 7 males and 3 females, aged from 5 to 60 years (median, 40 years). Injury was caused by spoke in 5 cases, by heavy pound in 3 cases, and by traffic accident in 2 cases. The time between injury and admission was 2-24 hours (mean, 8 hours). The size of wound ranged from 11 cm × 7 cm to 18 cm × 10 cm; the length of Achilles tendon defect was 4-10 cm (mean, 7 cm). Three cases complicated by calcaneal tuberosity defect. After admission, emergency debridement and vacuum sealing drainage were performed for 5-7 days, anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap transplantation of 11 cm × 7 cm to 20 cm × 12 cm was used to repair skin and soft tissue defects, and improved method of ilio-tibial bundle suture was used to reconstruct Achilles tendon. The flap donor site was closed directly or repaired with skin grafting to repair. Results All flaps and the graft skin at donor site survived, healing of wounds by first intention was obtained. All patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 10 months). The flap was soft and flexible; the flap had slight encumbrance in 3 cases, and the others had good appearance. At last follow-up, two-point discrimination was 2-4 cm (mean, 3 cm). The patients were able to walk normally. The range of motion (ROM) of affected side was (24.40 ± 2.17)° extension and (44.00 ± 1.94)° flexion, showing no significant difference when compared with ROM of normal side [(25.90 ± 2.33)° and (45.60 ± 1.84)° ] (t=1.591, P=0.129; t=1.735, P=0.100). According to Arner-Lindhoim assessment method for ankle joint function, all the patients obtained excellent results. Conclusion A combination of anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap for repair of skin and soft tissue defects and simultaneous Achilles tendon reconstruction with modified methods of ilio-tibial bundle suture is beneficial to function recovery of the ankle joint because early function exercises can be done.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of arthroscopic treatment and nonsurgical treatment on ankle degenerative osteoarthropathy. Methods Between July 2009 and June 2011, 58 patients (58 ankles) suffering from ankle degenerative osteoarthropathy underwent arthroscopic treatment (arthroscopic group, n=28) and routine treatment (control group, n=30). There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, disease duration, and degree of ankle degenerative osteoarthropathy between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Mazur score, visual analogue scale (VAS), and Tegner activity scale were used to evaluate the effectiveness. Results Incision healed primarily in arthroscopic group. The patients of 2 groups were followed up 1-2 years, averaged 1.5 years in arthroscopic group and 1.6 years in control group. At last follow-up, Mazur, VAS, and Tegner scores were significantly improved when compared with the preoperative scores in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found at last follow-up between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). According to Mazur scoring, the results were excellent in 8 cases, good in 14 cases, fair in 5 cases, and poor in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 79% in arthroscopic group; the results were excellent in 6 cases, good in 15 cases, fair in 6 cases, and poor in 3 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 70% in control group; and no significant difference was observed between 2 groups (u=0.98, P=0.77). Moreover, there was no correlation between Outerbridge classification and Mazur score in patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment (r=0.18, P=0.34). Conclusion Arthroscopic and nonsurgical treatments of ankle degenerative osteoarthropathy can both achieve good effectiveness.