ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of debridement-vacuum sealing drainage (VSD)-modified external fixation antibiotic-impregnated cement semi-open technique in treatment of chronic ulcer wounds. MethodsClinical data of 43 patients with chronic ulcer wounds who met the selection criteria and admitted between January 2019 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 23 cases were treated with debridement-VSD-modified external fixation antibiotic-impregnated cement semi-open technique (improved group), and 20 cases were treated with debridement-VSD-traditional antibiotic-impregnated cement technique (control group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, constituent ratio of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, constituent ratio of patients with smoking history, body mass index, wound site, and other baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05). The healing quality and healing time, the positive rate of bacterial culture after bone cement coating, the loosening rate of bone cement, the number of operations, the number of hospitalizations, the length of hospitalization, and the cost of hospitalization were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the control group, the positive rate of bacterial culture after bone cement coating and the loosening rate of bone cement in the improved group was significantly lower, as well as the number of operations, the number of hospitalizations, the length of hospitalization, and hospitalization cost significantly reduced (P<0.05). Wound repair was completed in both groups without amputation. The wound healing quality of the improved group was better than that of the control group and the wound healing time was shorter, the differences were significant (P<0.05). All patients were followed up 1-5 years (mean 3.4 years), and no ulcers recurred during follow-up. ConclusionDebridement-VSD-modified external fixation antibiotic-impregnated cement semi-open technique in the treatment of chronic ulcer wounds can effectively reduce the loosening rate of bone cement, facilitate the induced membrane formation and wound healing, and significantly reduce the number of operations and shorten the length of hospital stay.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of the extended Carlson approach in the treatment of lateral femoral condylar Hoffa fractures.MethodsThe clinical data of 17 patients with lateral femoral condyle Hoffa fractures between September 2012 and January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 10 males and 7 females, with a mean age of 43 years (range, 32-68 years). Fractures were caused by traffic accident in 9 cases, by falling from height in 6 cases, and by the other mechanism in 2 cases. According to the Letenneur’s classification, there were 8 cases of typeⅠ, 6 cases of type Ⅱ, and 3 cases of type Ⅲ. The mean time from injury to operation was 7 days (range, 3-32 days). All patients were treated with extended Carlson approach. Patients with Letenneur types Ⅰ and Ⅲ were fixed by a posterior antigliding plate combined with headless compression screws from anteroposterior direction, and patients with Letenneur typeⅡ were fixed by headless compression screws from anteroposterior direction. The anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films, CT and three-dimensional reconstruction of the knee joint were taken after operation to assess fracture healing and position of the internal fixators. The knee function was evaluated according to Letenneur’s functional assessment system.ResultsAll patients were followed up 13-28 months (mean, 15 months). All the incisions healed by first intention, and no complication such as fracture redisplacement, fracture nonunion, internal fixator fracture, and common peroneal nerve injury occurred. The mean time of fracture healing was 18 weeks (range, 16-32 weeks). At last follow-up, according to Letenneur’s functional assessment system, the knee function was excellent in 12 cases and good in 5 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 100%.ConclusionThe extended Carlson approach for the treatment of lateral femoral condylar Hoffa fractures has the advantages of clear exposure, easy reduction and fixation, high fracture healing rate, few complications, and good recovery of knee joint function.
Objective To explore the effects of fibulectomy on lower limb function and gait of adult patients through gait analysis, in order to provide guidance for clinical treatment. Methods A clinical data of 24 patients who underwent fibulectomy and met the selection criteria between January 2017 and December 2022 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 12 females with an average age of 25 years (range, 18-68 years). The length of fibulectomy was 10-19 cm, with an average of 15 cm. The patients underwent routine rehabilitation training after operation. The occurrence of postoperative complications was recorded, the pain degree of surgical incision was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the residual fibular bone was reviewed by imaging. A gait test system was used before operation and at 6 months after operation to collect gait data of healthy and affected sides under slow, medium, and fast velocity conditions, including gait parameters (foot rotation angle, step length, support phase, swing phase, gait line length, single support line, maximum force 1, maximum force 2) and the tripod area parameters (maximum pressure, time maximum force, and contact time of forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot). Results All incisions healed by first intention after operation. All patients were followed up 1-5 years, with an average of 3 years. The great dorso-extension muscle strength decreased in 3 cases, and the sensory defects in the operative area and distal part occurred in 5 cases. The VAS scores of incisions were 0-6 (mean, 4) at 6 months after operation and 0-5 (mean, 2) at last follow-up. During follow-up, imaging review showed that 5 cases had osteoporotic changes of distal residual bone of the fibula, and the residual segment was shorter and more significant; 3 cases had new bone formation. The results of gait test showed that the gait parameters and the tripod area parameters under the three gait speeds were consistent. There was no significant difference in the gait parameters and the tripod area parameters between the healthy side and the affected side before operation (P>0.05). Compared with the healthy side, the foot rotation angle, the single support line, the maximum force 1, the maximum force 2, and the maximum pressures of the forefoot and midfoot of the affected side significantly decreased after operation (P<0.05), and the step length, the time maximum force of midfoot and hindfoot, and the contact time of the forefoot and midfoot significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with preoperative conditions on the same side, the foot rotation angle, the gait line length of both sides significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the maximum pressures of the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot and the time maximum force of the midfoot significantly increased (P<0.05); the step length on healthy side significantly decreased, while the affected side significantly increased (P<0.05); the maximum force 1 and the maximum force 2 on the healthy side significantly increased, while the affected side significantly decreased (P<0.05); the single support line on the affected side significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion Different degrees of clinical symptoms occurred, gait pattern changes, compensatory gait appears, gait stability decreases, and the risk of tumble increases in adult patients after partial fibulectomy. Therefore, it is recommended to walk slowly after fibulectomy.