ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of three different operative methods in the treatment of closed fracture of the tibial shaft. MethodsBetween January 2012 and May 2014, 94 patients with closed fracture of the tibial shaft were treated, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Fracture was fixed with locking plate (external fixation) in 25 cases (group A), with intramedullary nail in 34 cases (group B), and with minimally invasive locking plate in 35 cases (group C). There was no significant difference in gender, age, reasons of injury, fracture types, and time from injury to operation among groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy frequency during operation, fracture union time, and complications were recorded. The effectiveness was evaluated according to Johner-Wruhs criteria. ResultsThe operation time and fluoroscopy frequency during operation in groups A and C were significantly less than those in group B (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups A and C (P>0.05). The intraoperative blood loss in groups A and C was significantly less than that in group B (P<0.05), and the blood loss in group A was significantly less than that in group C (P<0.05). All patients were followed up 15.61 months on average (range, 12-41 months). There was no significant difference in fracture union time among 3 groups (F=1.712, P=0.186). The excellent and good rates of groups A, B, and C were 92.00%, 88.24%, and 91.43% respectively according to Johner-Wruhs criteria at 12 months after operation, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.301, P=0.860). At 12 months after operation, the complication incidences of groups A (12.00%, 3/25), and C (15.55%, 5/35) were significantly lower than that of group B (44.12%, 15/34) (P<0.017), but no significant difference was found between groups A and C (P>0.017). ConclusionUsing locking plate as external fixation and minimally invasive locking plate internal fixation are better than intramedullary nail fixation in treating closed fracture of tibial shaft because of less injury and lower complication incidence, and locking plate as external fixation is better than minimally invasive locking plate internal fixation because of less injury.
ObjectiveTo explore the early outcome of 3 different operation methods in the treatment of multi-segmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 74 patients with multi-segmental CSM treated between January 2011 and March 2013. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to operation methods:open-door expansive laminoplasty by plate was used in 21 patients (group A), open-door expansive laminoplasty by anchor fixation in 28 patients (group B), and conventional unilaterally open-door expansive laminoplasty in 25 patients (group C). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease druation, affected segments, preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and cervical curvature of C2-7 among 3 groups (P > 0.05). The peration time, intraoperative blood loss, and JOA score, cervical curvature, incidence of axial symptoms were recorded. ResultsThere was no significant difference of operation time and intraoperative blood loss between group A and group B (P > 0.05). All incisions healed by first intention. Cerebrospinal leak occurred in 2 cases (1 case of group B and 1 case of group C) and C5 nerve root palsy in 4 cases (2 cases of group A, 1 case of group B, and 1 case of group C); all the symptoms disappeared after symptomatic treatment. The patients were followed up 12-39 months (mean, 18.3 months). The position of internal fixation was good without loosening and pulling out in groups A and B. Reclosed open-door was observed in 2 cases of group C, which disappeared after the second surgery. The JOA scores were significantly increased at 6 months after operation when compared with preoperative scores in groups A, B, and C (P < 0.05). The cervical curvature of C2-7 at postoperation was significantly improved when compared with preoperative one in groups B and C (P < 0.05) except group A (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in JOA score and the cervical curvature among 3 groups at 6 months after operation (P < 0.05). The incidence of axial symptoms were 4.76% (1/21), 35.71% (10/28), and 72.00% (18/25) in groups A, B, and C respectively, showing significant differences (P < 0.017). ConclusionOpen-door expansive laminoplasty by plate has better early outcome than open-door expansive laminoplasty by anchor fixation and conventional unilaterally open-door expansive laminoplasty in the treatment of multi-segmental CSM.