Objective To investigate the effectiveness and biomechanical analysis of 3 fixation methods of screw anterior-posterior fixation (SAPF), screw posterior-anterior fixation (SPAF), and buttress plate fixation (BPF) in treatment of posterior Pilon fractures. Methods Fifteen fresh-frozen skeleto-ligamentous lower leg specimens were harvested to establish the models of posterior Pilon fracture, and then fracture was fixed with BPF (n=5), SAPF (n=5), and SPAF (n=5). Vertical force was loaded to internal fixation failure in a speed of 1 cm/minute with servohydraulic testing machine. The instantaneous loads of 1 mm and 2 mm steps and the failure modes were recorded. Between May 2008 and December 2011, 56 patients with posterior Pilon fracture were treated with SAPF (SAPF group) in 11 cases, or SPAF (SPAF group) in 26 cases, or BPF (BPF group) in 19 cases. There was no significant difference in age, gender, injury cause, side, disease duration, and complications among groups (P gt; 0.05). Clinical and radiographic examinations were used to assess the reduction and healing of fracture; the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the functional outcomes. Results No breaking or bending was observed in all specimens, fixation failure was caused by cancellous bone compression. The instantaneous loads of 1 mm and 2 mm steps were the largest in BPF group, larger in SPAF group, and smallest in SAPF group, showing significant differences among 3 groups (P lt; 0.05). A total of 47 cases were followed up 16-54 months (9 in SAPF group, 22 in SPAF group, and 16 in BPF group), with a mean time of 35.2 months. Fixation failure was found in 2 cases of SAPF group; the other cases obtain bony union within 3 to 4 months (mean, 3.2 months) with no fixation failure. The AOFAS score was significantly lower in SAPF group than in SPAF and BPF groups (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found between SPAF and BPF groups (P gt; 0.05). The VAS score was significantly higher in SAPF group than in SPAF and BPF groups (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found between SPAF and BPF groups (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion SAPF could not reach enough fixation strength for the posterior Pilon fracture; both SPAF and BPF could reach rigid fixation, and have good effectiveness. And from the biomechanical points, BPF could reach better fixation strength than screw fixations.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of compression screw combined with Buttress plate through direct axillary approach for Ideberg typeⅡ scapular glenoid fractures. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 11 patients with Ideberg type Ⅱ scapular glenoid fractures treated with compression screws combined with Buttress plate fixation through the direct axillary approach between January 2014 and June 2022. There were 7 males and 4 females, aged from 34 to 75 years, with an average of 56.0 years. The causes of injury included 4 cases of falling from height injury, 4 cases of heavy object injury, and 3 cases of traffic accident injury. The time from injury to operation was 2-5 days, with an average of 3.8 days. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, complications, and fracture healing time were recorded. The Constant-Murley score, American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and shoulder joint flexion, abduction, external rotation (neutral position), and internal rotation (neutral position) range of motion were used to evaluate shoulder joint pain and function. ResultsThe operation time was 45-105 minutes, with an average of 79.0 minutes; the intraoperative blood loss was 80-200 mL, with an average of 99.2 mL; the hospital stay was 3-8 days, with an average of 5.8 days. One patient had poor wound healing after operation, and the wound healed after strengthening dressing change; the rest wounds had primary healing, and no axillary nerve paralysis occurred. Except for 1 patient lost follow-up, the remaining 10 patients were followed up 10-54 months, with an average of 26.4 months. The postoperative X-ray film examination showed that the fractures healed well within 8-15 weeks, with an average of 11.0 weeks. There was no complication such as fracture displacement, internal fixator failure or fracture during follow-up. At last follow-up, the patient’s shoulder joint flexion, abduction, external rotation (neutral position), and internal rotation (neutral position) range of motion, Constant-Murley score, and ASES score significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). ConclusionCompression screw combined with Buttress plate through direct axillary approach is an effective way to treat Ideberg typeⅡ scapular glenoid fracture, with advantages of small trauma, concealed incision, and good effectiveness.