Objective To investigate the method and effectiveness of coracoplasty with mini-incision for subcoracoid impingement syndrome. Methods Between May 2006 and September 2011, 4 patients with subcoracoid impingement syndrome were treated, including 3 cases of congenital dysplasia of the coracoid process and 1 case of anterior glenohumeral instability. There were 3 males and 1 female with an average age of 36 years (range, 20-56 years). The disease duration was 6-22 months (mean, 11.2 months). The patients had a history of chronic pain and click of the anterior should, which was aggravated in adduction, internal rotation, and flexion. The results of the coracoid impingement test were positive by Neer and Hawkins-Kennedy impingement sign. The axial CT in adduction position showed that the coracohumeral interval decreased and coracoid index increased. The 2 cm lateral coracoid incision was made and the 0.5-1.5 cm coracoid neck was revealed and cut by osteotomy. The coracoplasty was performed by amputating the conjoined tendon insertion of the short head of the biceps and the coracobrachialis muscle and suturing to proximal coracoid osteotomy surface. Shoulder was fixed with the external braces for 6 weeks. Results Healing of incision by first intention was observed in all cases without any complication. All the 4 patients were followed up from 8 months to 5 years. At last follow-up, pain and click disappeared. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Constant, and simple shoulder test (SST) scores were significantly improved from 7.75, 10.25, 65.50, and 9.75 at preoperation to 0.25, 34.25, 91.25, and 0.25 at last follow-up respectively. The axial CT in adduction position and MRI showed that long coracoid process was removed; the coracohumeral interval was increased to 13.38 mm from 4.16 mm at preoperation; and the coracoid index was decreased to 0.28 mm from 13.08 mm at preoperation. Conclusion Coracoplasty with mini-incision is an effective method to relieve clinical symptoms of subcoracoid impingement, which has less complications and faster recovery.
Objective To explore the effect of minimally invasive and mini-incision surgery (MIS) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) on late osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH). Methods From March 2003, Eighteen patients (22 hips) with ONFH underwent MIS in THA. Their ages ranged from 24to 57 years, including 13 males and 5 females. The mean body mass index ranged from 17.1 to 30.1(24.6 on average). The Harris hip score was 46 points before operation. Modified posterior-lateral approach was adopted, and the MIS THA was performed by cementless prosthesis. As a comparison, 18 patients (22 hips) were performed by conventional THA at the same period. The data, including bleeding volume during operation, incision length, operative time, and postoperative function recovery, were compared. Results Follow-ups were done for 6 to 20 months (11 months on average). Dislocation occurred in one patient that underwent conventional THA 2 days after operation. No complication occurred in MIS THA group. The incision lengths ranged from 8.7 to 10.5 cm (9.3 cm on average) in MIS THA group, being statistically different (Plt;0.01). There was no significant difference in Harris scoring of the function between the two groups both before the operation and after the operation (Pgt;0.05). The operative time was almost the same, but the bleeding volume in MIS THA group was less (Plt;0.05). The function recovery was faster in MIS THA group.Conclusion The MIS THA is an alternative to the treatment of late ONFH. The advantages of MIS THA are fewer trauma, less bleeding volume, and faster recovery. The MIS THA should be performed by surgeons with rich experiences in THA and hospitals with necessary instruments.
Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy between the mini-incision anterior cervical approach thyroidectomy and modified Miccoli endoscopy assisted thyroidectomy for thyroid benign tumor. Methods Clinical data of 80 patients with thyroid benign tumor treated in The First Affiliated Hospital of General Hospital of PLA from Jan.2010 to Jan. 2012 were retrospectively analyzed，and the 80 patients were divided into mini-incision anterior cervical approach thyroidectomy group （n=40） and modified Miccoli endoscopy assisted thyroidectomy group （n=40） according to operative type. The operative time，drainage volume of neck，cosmetic satisfaction score，duration of hospitalization，expense of hospitalization，and rates of postoperative complication of 2 groups were compared and analyzed. Results The operative time of mini-incision anterior cervical approach thyroidectomy group were significantly longer than that ofmodified Miccoli endoscopy assisted thyroidectomy group〔（95.5±20.3）min vs. （62.4±15.5）min，P＜0.05〕，but thecosmetic satisfaction score〔（3.5±0.2） score vs. （4.3±0.1） score〕and expense of hospitalization〔（5 814.6±1 262.3）yuan vs. （9 846.7±1 080.5） yuan〕were lower （P＜0.05）. There were no significant differences on the drainage volumeof neck after operation〔（28.6±5.5） mL vs. （22.2±4.5） mL〕and duration of hospitalization〔（4.5±1.5） d vs. （3.8±0.9） d〕between the 2 groups （P＞0.05）. There were 3 cases happened transient hoarseness in mini-incision anterior cervical approach thyroidectomy group （all recovered in 1 month after operation） and 1 case in modified Miccoli endoscopy assi-sted thyroidectomy group （recovered in 3 months after operation），and there were no significant difference on incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury （P=0.608）. No other complications happened. Conclusions Modified Miccoli endoscopy assisted thyroidectomy has better cosmetic benefit than mini-incision anterior cervical approach thyroidectomy， but more expensive. The patients who have specific cosmetic demand or engage in special profession can choose modified Miccoli endoscopy assisted thyroidectomy.
Objective To explore the short-term therapeutic effect of mini-incision common vertebral pedicle screw internal fixation on thoracoclumbar fractures without neurological injury. Methods The data of 61 patients with thoracolumbar fractures without neurological injury treated with mini-incision common vertebral pedicle screw internal fixation (the mini-incision group, n=32) or percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (the percutaneous group, n=29) from February 2014 to January 2016 was retrospectively collected and analyzed. Total incision length, operation time, blood loss, fluoroscopy times, postoperative bed rest time, hospitalization costs, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), vertebral Cobb angle of correction, and accuracy rate of screw placement were compared between the two groups. Results All the patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months with a mean of 13.4 months. There were no complications such as incision infection and neurovascular injury except for 2 screws breakage in one patient in the percutaneous group. In the mini-incision group, the average total incision length was longer than that in the percutaneous group [(7.33±0.53) vs. (6.38±0.44) cm], while the average operation time was shorter than that in the percutaneous group [(62.66±4.75) vs. (72.93±5.09) minutes]; the differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). In the mini-incision group, the average frequency of fluoroscopy was fewer [(5.63±0.61)vs. (19.07±1.60) times] and the average hospitalization costs was lower [(23.3±1.5) thousand yuan vs. (39.5±1.6) thousand yuan] than those in the than that in the percutaneous group; the differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). No significant difference was found in blood loss, postoperative bed rest time, VAS score, ODI, vertebral Cobb angle of correction, and accuracy rate of screw placement between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Mini-incision common vertebral pedicle screw internal fixation for thoracoclumbar fractures without neurological injury has the advantages of short operation time, less fluoroscopy times, low hospitalization costs and high fixation strength. It may obtain a good short-term effectiveness.