To explore a new approach to treat old scaphoid fracture by grafting bones from distal radius and fixing absorbable screws. Methods From January 2002 to May 2007, 18 patients with old scaphoid fractures were treated by grafting bones from distal radius and fixing absorbable screws. All of the 18 patients (13 males and 5 females, aged from 17 to 41 years old) had the injury history of the palm of hand touching the ground. They felt tenderness on the anatomical snuff-box and tubercle of scaphoid bone. The grasping force decreased. The range of motion of the wrist was (36 ± 2)° extension/(30 ± 3)° flexion, (8 ± 3)° radial is/(13 ± 2)° ulnaris. Results The average postoperative follow-up period was 15.7 months．A total of 18 cases achieved bone union. The range of motion of the wrist in the 16 healed cases was (68 ± 2)° extension/(65 ± 3)° flexion, (15 ± 3)° radial is/(28 ± 5)° ulnaris. There was no pain of motion and symptom of powerlessness. As to the other 2 cases, the range of motion of the wrist was (40 ± 8)° extension/(35 ± 6)° flexion, (8 ± 5)° radial is/(12 ± 5)° ulnaris; no obvious improvement was found; the patients occasionally felt painful in daily l ife; the extension force decreased. No infection and break of internal fixation were seen. Conclusion The absorbable screw as a new biomaterial for internal fixation has obvious advantages of good biocompatibil ity, promoting union of the fracture and no need of a second operation for removal．
Objective To introduce an effective method of treating old scaphoid fracture. Methods From April 1995 to April2002,11 patients with old scaphoid fracture were treated with transposition of vascularized periosteal flap and internal fixation; if necessary, the radial styloid was removed. Out of 11 patients( 8 males and 3 females, aged from 17 to 46 years), the fracture siteswere medialscaphoid in 7, the proximal one in 2 and the distal one in 2. The X-ray filmsshowed separated fracture lines. The fracture lines were less than 1 mm in 4patients and more than 1 mm in 3 patients. Sclerosis of skeleton ends and cystoid degeneration occurred in 2 patients, respectively. Results After a follow-up of 3 to 24 months, the fracture healing was obtained within 4 months in 9 casesand within 6 to 7 months in 2 cases. Internal fixation was taken out 3 months after bone healing. The carpal joint pain and weakness vanished in all cases.Conclusion Transposition of vascularized periosteal flap and internal fixation have many advantages, such as easy dissection, rich blood supply, quick new bone formation, short time of fracture healing and satisfactory function recovery of carpal joint.
OBJECTIVE: To explore a method of reconstruction of hip joint function after deformed healing of the upper 1/3 of fractured femur as a complication of old fracture dislocation of hip joint. METHODS: A patient with loss of function in hip joint and fusion of knee joint was treated with lock for femur intra-medullary fixation in April 1997. RESULTS: Before operation, the diseased hip joint lost its most functions and the entire lower extremity was disabled because the knee joint had been fused. One year after operation, the follow-up examination revealed that the patient could walk by crutches without discomfort, his daily life and work recovered to normal. CONCLUSION: It is effective to treat a patient suffering old fracture-dislocation of hip joint complicated with deformed healing of the upper 1/3 of fractured femur by means of individualized artificial joint replacement and a prosthesis body with lock for femur intra-medullary fixation, and it is helpful for the development of a new clinical idea to reconstruct functions in the management of some particular cases.
Abstract To understand the femoral head activity in old fracture of femoral neck, 159 cases from 1982 to 1994 were observed through X-ray film, pathological sections, transparent electronic microscope, tetracycline label technique and ECT examination. The results showed that under a status without stress, the avascular femoral head tended to be repaired in its natural way. The collapse of femoral head was caused by stress to some extent duringthe active repair process. Great attention should be paid in treating fracture of femoral neck that load should never be put on the femoral head during the process of fracture healing.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical outcome of Ponte osteotomy for old osteoporotic multi-segment vertebral fracture combined with thoracolumbar kyphosis in elderly. MethodsBetween April 2007 and December 2012, 11 elderly patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis caused by old osteoporotic multi-segment vertebral fracture received Ponte osteotomy. There were 4 males and 7 females, with an average age of 69 years (range, 62-76 years) and with an average disease duration of 4 years (range, 10 months to 7 years). A total of 51 vertebrae was involved in fracture, including T5 in 1, T8 in 1, T9 in 1, T10 in 5, T11 in 8, T12 in 11, L1 in 11, L2 in 10, and L3 in 3. Based on Frankel classification, there were 9 cases of grade E and 2 cases of grade D. The Cobb angle of thoracolumbar kyphosis and the distance of sagital plane between C7 plump line and the posterior superior corner of S1 (sagittal vertical axis distance, SVA) were measured at pre-operation, at 2 weeks after operation, and last follow-up. The effectiveness of the treatment was appraised by visual analogue scale (VAS). ResultsAll the operations were successfully completed. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 3 cases, and was cured after symptomatic treatment. Eleven patients were followed up 22 months on average (range, 7-38 months). Back pain symptoms, the appearance, and the trunk balance were significantly improved after operation. Postoperatively neurological symptoms were not aggravated. In 2 cases of grade D, 1 case recovered to grade E, and 1 case had no improvement. Osseous fusion was observed at 6.7 months on average (range, 5-9 months) in 10 patients except 1 patient who had no complete fusion at 7 months after operation. There was no infection, failure of internal fixation, or other complications. At 2 weeks after operation and last follow-up, the VAS score, Cobb angle, and SVA were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between at 2 weeks and last follow-up (P>0.05). The correction rate of Cobb angle was 70.6%±2.2% at 2 weeks after operation and was 66.7%±1.3% at last follow-up, showing no significant difference (t=25.20, P=0.13). ConclusionPonte osteotomy is effective for old osteoporotic multi-segment vertebral fracture combined with thoracolumbar kyphosis in elderly. It can obtain satisfactory sagittal balance.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy and the indications of posterolateral fusion and pedicle screw short-segment fixation via injured vertebra for treating old thoracolumbar fracture combined with kyphosis in elderly patients. MethodsBetween January 2012 and December 2014, 24 patients with old thoracolumbar fracture and kyphosis received posterolateral fusion and pedicle screw short-segment fixation via injured vertebra. Of 24 cases, 8 were male and 16 were female with an average age of 66.3 years (range, 56-79 years). The mean disease course was 17.5 months (range, 5-36 months). There were 13 cases of osteoporosis, 9 cases of osteopenia, and 2 cases of normal bone. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was 6.53±0.95, and Oswestry disability index (ODI) was 52.63%±5.74% preoperatively. The thoracolumbar kyphosis located at T10 to L2, and the kyphotic Cobb angle was (28.79±5.04)° before operation. ResultsThe operation was completed successfully without related complications. The operative time was 1.2-2.3 hours (mean, 1.6 hours), and intraoperative blood loss was 80-210 mL (mean, 158 mL). No nerve injury occurred. Poor healing of incision was observed in 1 patient with diabetes, and primary healing of incision was obtained in the other patients. Nineteen patients were followed up 6-30 months (mean, 14.4 months), and there were 2 deaths. Pain relief and function recovery were obtained in 19 patients after operation. The VAS score and ODI were significantly decreased to 2.4±0.7 and 32.14%±5.12% at last follow-up (t=8.542, P=0.000; t=9.826, P=0.000). The kyphotic Cobb angle was significantly decreased to (21.23±4.30)° at immediate after operation (P < 0.05) and to (23.68±4.35)° at last follow-up (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between at immediate and last follow-up (P > 0.05). No loosening or breakage of internal fixation was observed during follow-up. ConclusionPosterolateral fusion and pedicle screw short-segment fixation via injured vertebra is a safe and effective treatment for elderly patients with old thoracolumbar fracture combined with kyphosis (Cobb angle less than 40°).