Objective To study the MRI diagnosis of sacral fracture with sacral neurological damage and its cl inical appl ication. Methods From October 1999 to October 2007, 20 cases of sacral fracture (Denis classification, Type II)with sacral neurological damage were examined by obl ique coronal MRI of sacrum to show the whole length of sacral nerve. There were 17 males and 3 females, aged 30-55 years. The time from injury to hospital ization varied from 1 day to 23 months. The injury was caused by traffic accident in 10 cases, smash of heavy object in 8 cases and crush in 2 cases. Eight cases were accompanied by pubis fracture and 4 cases by urethral disruption. All patients accepted the examination of X-ray, CT and spiral CT 3D reconstruction. X-ray showed the displacement of fracture fragment was backwards and upwards, and sacral-hole l ine was vague, asymmetric and distorted. CT showed that sacral neural tube was left-right asymmetry, the displacement of fracture fragment was backwards and upwards, combining with the compression and intruding to sacrum center at different section levels. The cl inical manifestations, international standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury recommended by American Spinal Injury Association International Spinal Cord Society, comparison between normal and abnormal MRI and Gierada’s results were the basis for cl inical diagnose and MRI diagnose, which was confirmed by operation. Results Nerve injury diagnosed by cl inical manifestation were S1 (17 cases), S2 (14 cases), S3 (7 cases), and S4 (6 cases). Nerve injury diagnosedby MRI were S1 (17 cases), S2 (14 cases), S3 (3 cases), and S4 (2 cases). Nerve injury confirmed by operation were S1 (17 cases), S2 (14 cases), S3 (7 cases), and S4 (1 case). Obl ique coronal MRI of sacrum showed the whole length of sacral nerve and its adjacent relationship, detecting bone fragment compression and route alteration of never were evident in 5 cases, the fat disappearance around the site of nerve root injury in 19 cases, narrowness of sacral nerve canal in 17 cases and the abnormally enlarged sacral nerve in 11 cases. Conclusion Obl ique coronal MRI of sacrum is of great value in the local ization and the qual itative diagnosis of sacral neurological damage.
Objective To compare the effects of operative versus nonoperative treatment for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Methods All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of operative versus nonoperative treatment for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures were identified. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed by two reviewers independently. Results Four published trials involving 530 patients were included. All studies compared operative with nonoperative treatment. It was clear that operative treatment was superior to nonoperative treatment in terms of helping patients back to work, reducing problems wearing shoes, expanding the range of motion of subtalar joint, and improving the recovery of Bohler’s angle. As for foot pain, there was no difference between the two methods. Because the outcome measures varied across the trials, a meta-analysis could not be performed. Conclusions Both operative and nonoperative treatments produce comparable long-term outcomes in the treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Because of the poor reporting of outcomes, it is not possible to determine if there is any significant difference in outcome measures apart from those listed above. More trials with high methodological quality are needed.
Objective To discuss the effect of three-dimensional (3D) printing individualized model and guide plate in bone tumor surgery. Methods Between October 2015 and December 2016, 3D printing individualized model and guide plate for making preoperative surgical planning and intraoperative treatment were used in 5 patients of bone tumor. All the patients were male, with a median age of 32 years (range, 9-58 years). There were 1 case of cystic echinococcosis at left pelvis and pathological fracture of the proximal femur; 1 case of left iliac bone osteoblastoma associated with aneurysmal bone cyst; 1 case of fibrous dysplasia of the left femur (sheep horn deformity) with pathological fracture; 1 case of metastatic carcinoma of right calcaneus (tumor staging was T2N0M0); and 1 case of Ewing sarcoma of left femur (tumor staging was T2N0M0). The disease duration ranged from 1 month to 10 years (mean, 2.25 years). Results The operation was completed successfully. The operation time was 2.6-7.5 hours (mean, 4.9 hours). The intraoperative blood loss was 200-2 500 mL (mean, 1 380 mL). The intraoperative fluoroscopy times was 1-6 times (mean, 3.8 times). There was no infection after operation, and the blood supply and nerve function were good. All the patients were followed up 3-16 months (mean, 5.4 months). No loosening or breaking of the internal fixator occurred. According to Enneking scoring system, the limb function score was 15-26 (mean, 21); and the results were excellent in 2 cases, good in 2 cases, and fair in 1 case. Conclusion 3D printing technology can make the implementation of the better preoperative planning and evaluation in bone tumor surgery, and it provides a new reference for individualized treatment in patients with bone tumor.