Objective To review the research progress of the location marker of rotational alignment of the distal femur. Methods The recent literature concerning the location marker of rotational alignment of the distal femur at home and abroad was extensively reviewed and analyzed. Results Femoral prosthesis malrotational alignment could lead to some patellofemoral complications, such as dislocation of the patella, snapping, wear, and patellar pain. There are many methods to determining femoral component rotational alignment in the artificial total knee arthroplasty, including transepicondylar axis line, anterior posterior axis, the posterior condyles line, flexion gap balance technology, and computer navigation technology. Correct choice of the rotational alignment of the distal femur is crucial in reducing postoperative complications and the revision rate. Suitable reference axis is chosen during total knee arthroplasty to ensure the accuracy of the rotation axis of the femoral prosthesis, but it is currently still controversial. Conclusion The rotational alignment of the distal femur is an extremely important part to affect the prognosis of total knee arthroplasty. The methods to determine the rotational alignment of the distal femur need to be further improved.
Objective To analyze the effectiveness and application value of epiphysis preserving by the method of physeal distraction for treatment of femur osteosarcoma in children’s limb saving surgery. Methods Between January 2007 and January 2011, 6 patients with femur osteosarcoma underwent epiphysis preserving operation by physeal distraction. There were 4 males and 2 females with a mean age of 11.4 years (range, 9-14 years). The mean disease duration was 4.8 months (range, 1-9 months). The pathology confirmed osteosarcoma in all patients by core needle or open biopsy, including 1 case of osteogenic sarcoma, 1 case of chondroblastic osteogenic sarcoma, 1 case of osteoblastic osteogenic sarcoma, and 3 cases of no classified osteosarcoma. The clinical stage was IIA in 1 case and IIB in 5 cases according to the Enneking staging system. All patients received 2 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before operation. Then physeal distraction was performed for 4-7 days (mean, 5.7 days) based on Cantilde;adell technique. After 1-2 days of physeal distraction, massive allograft bones and interlocking intramedullary nails were used to reconstruct bone defect after tumor resection. All patients received another 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy and were followed up. Bone healing, limb discrepancy, and complications were recorded. Functional outcomes were assessed by the system of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) and the range of motion (ROM) of both knee joints. Results Superficial infection occurred in 1 case and was cured after dressing change, and primary healing was obtained in the other patients. All 6 patients were followed up 2.5 years on average (range, 1-5 years). Symptoms of pain and swelling disappeared. No complication of allograft rejection, loosening or breaking of fixation occurred. No relapse or metastasis happened during follow-up. Bone healing was observed at the metaphysis junction in 5 cases at 6-9 months after operation and in 1 case at 14 months. Delayed union happened at the diaphysis junction in all patients. Different amount of callus formation was seen at the surface of diaphysis junction, but the fracture line remained clear at 12-48 months after operation. At last follow-up, limb discrepancy was 1-3 cm in 4 patients and 3-5 cm in 2 patients; 3 patients had compensatory scoliosis, and 2 patients had claudication. The MSTS score was 27.20 ± 1.92, showing significant difference (t= — 4.12, P=0.00) when compared with preoperative score (19.60 ± 2.74). The ROM of affected knee was (127.00 ± 17.89)°, showing no significant differences when compared with preoperative ROM (109.00 ± 12.45)° (t= — 1.84, P=0.10) and with ROM of normal knee (126.00 ± 9.62)° (t= — 0.11, P=0.92). Conclusion Limb saving surgery by physeal distraction can be used in young patients with open epiphyseal plate, which has the advantages of simple operation, good effectiveness, and less complications.
To investigate the therapeutic effects and the related factors during operation of the less invasive stabilization systemdistal femur（LISSDF）for Types 33A3, C2 and C3 fractures classfied on the criteria by Association of Orthopedics (AO). Methods From August 2004 to December 2005, 26 patients with distal femoral fractures were surgically treated by LISSDF, including 9 patients with Type 33A3, 11 with Type 33C2, and 6 with Type 33C3. There were 15 males and 11 females, aged 3272 years (average, 55 years). The fractures occurred on the left side in 16 patients and on the right side in 10 patients. The fractures resulted from a road traffic accident in12 patients, a fall from the height in 9, and a crush injury in 5. Of the 26 patients, 3 had an open fracture (2 Gustilo Type Ⅰ,1 Gustilo Type ⅡA), with the mean time between the injury and the operation of 4 days (range, 6 h16 d).The operation through a lateral parapatellar incision and a transarticular retrograde plate of osteosynthesis (TARPO) was performed on 17 patients for Type33C2 and 33C3 fracture of the distal femur. The locking head screw (LHS) insertion through the stab incisions and monocortical fixation was performed on 9 patients for Type 33A3 fracture. Results The followup of all the patients for 12-26 months averaged 14.5 months revealed that the bone union was completed in all the 26 patients, 1 of whom had a delayed bone union. The X-ray films showed that the time for the bone union was 1136 weeks averaged 16.1weeks, and the time for the full weight loading was 1326 weeks averaged 17.6 weeks. Superficial infection developed in 1 patient, and the infection was curedafter the dressing changes. The internal fixator attachment was performed on 5 patients 613 months after operation, who had a serious pain in the lateral part of the distal femur. No deep infection，loosening of the internal fixation，breakage or failure of the implants was found in all the patients. Evaluated by the Merchant score system for the knee joint, of the 26 patients 13 achieved an excellent result, 11 achieved a good result, and 2 achieved a fair result, with 92.3% excellent and good results. Based on the Rasmussen criteria for the fracture reduction, the 26 patients had standard scores of 1219 with an average of 17.6; of the 26 patients, 16 had an excellent result, 9 had a good result, and 1 had a fair result. Conclusion The LISS is consistent with the principles of biological osteosynthesis on the design, and the system offers a new and effective internal fixation method for treatment of AO Types A3, C2 and C3 fractures. However, its operation indications and operating instructions should be strictly followed.
Objective To study the clinical outcome of comminuted factures at distal femur and proximal tibia treated with AO less invasive stabilization systems (LISS). Methods The clinical data of 14 cases of distal femoral fracture and proximal tibial fracture from September 2003 to May 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. The injury was caused by traffic accident in 9 cases, by fall in 3 cases and by slipping in 2 cases. Of 14 cases, there were 5 open fractures and 9 close fractures, including 5 cases of distal femoral comminuted fracture and 9 cases of proximal shaft comminuted fractures. According to AO/OTA classification, the fractures were classified as 33C2 in 3 cases，33C3 in 2 cases,41A2 in 2 cases，41A3 in 2 cases，41B2 in 3 cases and 41C2 in 2 cases. All patients were treated by the internal fixation with LISS-distal femur or with LISS-proximal tibia. Healing of wounds, the X-ray films before and after operations, and therecovery of joint function were observed. Results The patients were followed up from 1 month to 20 months (11 months on average). Twelve cases achieved solid osseous unions from 3 months to 5 months postoperativly; 2 cases had a good reduction and recovered smoothly 2-3 months postoperatively. The results were excellent in 10 cases, good in 3 cases and fair in 1 case according to Johner-Wruhs knee scoring. The range of knee flexion-extension was 110-130° in 11 cases, 100° in 2 cases and 80° in 1 case. Conclusion LISS is an effective method of internal fixation for treating comminntedfracture of distal femur or proximal tibia. It has the advantages of less injury, satisfied reduction and reliable fixation.
Objective To explore an effective way fortreating severe complicated distal femoral fractures. Methods Twenty-six patients with complicated distal femoral fracture who all belonged to 33C3.3type according to AO/ASIF lassification, were treated with a lateral condylar buttress plate or self-desinged aliform anatomical plate, and operated on with allogeneic bone grafting. Results All cases were followed up for an average of 14 months (ranging 5-25 months). Twenty-four wounds were primary healing postoperatively, 2 wounds were infected and healed after dressing change. Twenty-four had bone healing after 411 months, 2 needed to operate again because of earlier weight-bearing resulting in fixation failure. According to shelbourne and Brueckmann score, the excellent and good rate was 88.46%. Conclusion The internal fixation forcomplicated distal femoral fracture by self-designed aliform anatomical plate and lateral condylar buttress plate with a great deal of allograft bone is an effective surgical method. As it has long oval holes and the holes are consecutive ,the aliform anatomical plate is more suitable for severe complicated fractures. At the same time, autogenous-ilium transplantation can be substituted by the allograft bone.