ObjectiveTo explore the safety and effectiveness of Taylor spatial frame (TSF) in the treatment of medial compartmental osteoarthritis (MCOA) of the knee and the adjustment of the lower extremity force line at the same time.MethodsThe clinical data of 30 patients with MCOA who underwent high tibial osteotomy (HTO) between October 2016 and April 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different fixation methods, they were divided into external fixation group (TSF external fixation, 16 cases) and internal fixation group (locking steel plate internal fixation, 14 cases). There was no significant difference between the two groups in gender, age, side, disease duration, mechanical femur tibia angle (MFTA), and other general data (P>0.05). The operation time and intraoperative blood loss of the two groups were recorded and compared; MFTA was used to evaluate the recovery of the lower extremity force line at last follow-up; Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score was used to evaluate the clinical effecacy before operation and at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after operation.ResultsThe operation time and intraoperative blood loss of external fixation group were significantly less than those of internal fixation group (P<0.05). All patients were followed up 9-16 months, with an average of 12 months. There were 2 cases of delayed healing in the internal fixation group and 1 case of delayed healing in the external fixation group, and all healed after symptomatic treatment. All patients in the two groups had no complication such as needle infection, nonunion at osteotomy, osteomyelitis, and so on. At last follow-up, MFTA standard was used to evaluate the recovery of force line. The results of external fixation group were all excellent, while the results of internal fixation group were excellent in 10 cases and good in 4 cases. The difference between the two groups was significant (Z=–2.258, P=0.024). The HSS scores in the two groups were significantly improved at each time point after operation, and gradually improved with time after operation (P<0.05). The HSS score of the external fixation group was significantly higher than that of the internal fixation group (t=2.425, P=0.022) at 3 months after operation; and there was no significant difference between the two groups at other time points (P>0.05).ConclusionTSF has unique advantages in HTO treatment of MCOA patients and correction of lower extremity force line, such as shorter operation time, less bleeding, firm fixation, and less complications. It can accurately adjust the lower extremity force line after operation and has good effectiveness. It is an effective and safe fixation method.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of Taylor spatial frame (TSF) in the treatment of tibiofibular fractures and computer-assisted closed reduction.MethodsThe clinical data of 30 cases of tibiofibular fractures with soft tissue injury treated with TSF between January 2015 and September 2017 was retrospectively analyzed. According to different reduction methods, the patients were divided into control group (15 cases, open reduction in TSF external fixation) and trial group (15 cases, closed reduction in 1-3 days after TSF external fixation). There was no significant difference in the general data such as gender, age, affected side, cause of injury, AO classification of fracture, time from injury to operation between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, and removal time of external fixator were recorded and compared between the two groups. At 3 months after removal of external fixator, the limb function was evaluated according to Johner-Wruhs criteria for evaluating the final effect of tibial shaft fracture treatment.ResultsBoth groups were followed up 9-16 months, with an average of 14 months. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, and removal time of external fixator in the trial group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were 2 cases of superficial infection of the external fixation (1 case in each group), 1 case of incision infection (control group), 1 case of delayed fracture healing (control group), 2 cases of traumatic arthritis (1 case in each group); no significant difference was found in the incidence of complications between the two groups (χ2=0.370, P=0.543). The wounds of soft tissue defect healed by the first intension in both groups. At 3 months after removal of the external fixator, the limb function results in the trial group were excellent in 3 cases, good in 9 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 80.0%; in the control group, the results were excellent in 3 cases, good in 8 cases, fair in 3 cases, and poor in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 73.3%. There was no significant difference in incidence of complication between the two groups (χ2=0.917, P=0.821).ConclusionCompared with intraoperative open reduction, postoperative computer-aided closed reduction can shorten the operation time, reduce the intraoperative blood loss, reduce the risk of long-term operation, avoid to destroy the blood supply of fracture end, shorten the healing time of fracture and the wearing time of stent, and alleviate the pain of patients after TSF treatment of tibiofibular fracture.