Objective To evaluate the surgical techniques and effectiveness of arthroscopic treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tibial eminence avulsion fracture with non-absorbable suture fixation combined with the mini-plate. Methods Between January 2009 and March 2012, 32 patients with ACL tibial eminence avulsion fractures were treated. There were 18 males and 14 females, aged 12-40 years (mean, 17.5 years). The injury causes included traffic accident injury in 15 cases, sport injury in 6 cases, and falling injury in 11 cases. The time from injury to operation ranged 7-18 days with an average of 9.5 days. Before operation, the results of Lachman test were all positive; the Lysholm score was 52.13 ± 4.22 and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score was 44.82 ± 2.44. According to Meyers-McKeever classification criteria, there were 12 cases of type II and 20 cases of type III. After arthroscopic poking reduction of fracture, tibial eminence avulsion fractures were fixed with the Ethibond non-absorbable sutures bypass figure-of-eight tibial tunnel combined with the metacarpal and phalangeal mini-plate. Results Primary healing was obtained in all incisions; no joint infection or skin necrosis occurred after operation. All patients were followed up with an average time of 22.4 months (range, 12-50 months). The patients showed negative Lachman test at 12 weeks after operation. Except 3 patients having knee extension limitation at last follow-up, the knee extension range of motion (ROM) was normal in the other patients; the knee flexion ROM was normal in all patients. The Lysholm score and IKDC score were significantly improved to 94.19 ± 0.93 and 94.35 ± 1.22 at last follow-up, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative values (t=55.080, P=0.000; t=101.715, P=0.000). Conclusion The arthroscopic treatment of ACL tibial eminence avulsion fracture with Ethibond non-absorbable suture fixation combined with mini-plate is an effective procedure with the advantages of minimal trauma, reliable fixation, and satisfactory recovery of the knee joint function.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of arthroscopic screw and suture fixations in treatment of anterior cruciate ligament tibial eminence avulsion fractures. Methods Between January 2002 and January 2009, 43 patients with freshanterior cruciate ligament tibial eminence avulsion fracture were treated, which were rated as types II and III according to Meyers- McKeever-Zaricznyj classification. Fractures were fixed with either screw (screw group, n=21) or nonabsorbable suture (suture group, n=22). There was no significant difference in sex, age, disease duration, and fracture type between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The range of motion (ROM) and Lysholm score were compared between 2 groups, and the knee stabil ity was evaluated based on the Lachman test and KT-2000 measurement. Results The operation time was 48-60 minutes (mean, 51.6 minutes) in the screw group, and 55-68 minutes (mean, 63.2 minutes) in the suture group, showing significant difference (t=4.645, P=0.032). Incisions healed by first intention and no compl ication occurred in 2 groups. All patients were followed up (5.7 ± 0.6) years in the screw group and (5.3 ± 0.5) years in the suture group. The fracture healed completely in both groups; the heal ing time was (3.3 ± 0.6) months in the screw group and (3.2 ± 0.4) months in the suture group, showing significant difference (t=3.723, P=0.019). Between the screw group and the suture group, no significant difference was found in ROM [(128.6 ± 10.1)° vs. (130.2 ± 14.1)°, P gt; 0.05] and Lysholm score (94.6 ± 14.5 vs. 95.1 ± 17.2, P gt; 0.05). The stabil ities based on KT-2000 measurement were also similar between 2 groups at last follow-up [(0.9 ± 0.3) mm vs. (1.0 ± 0.4) mm, P gt; 0.05]. Lachman test of 2 groups were negative. Conclusion Boththe screw and nonabsorbable suture fixation techniques for anterior cruciate l igament tibial eminence avulsion fracture (type II or III) have good results in terms of functional outcome and stabil ity. However, some patients show flexion contractures of 5° or 10°.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of non-absorbable suture or suture anchor fixation by anterior approach in the treatment of anteromedial facet fractures of the ulnar coronoid process. MethodsBetween February 2007 and February 2012,16 cases of anteromedial facet fractures of the ulnar coronoid process were treated with operation.There were 9 males and 7 females,aged 20-80 years (mean,43.5 years).The causes of injury were traffic accident injury in 7 cases,tumble injury in 5 cases,and falling injury from height in 4 cases.The time from injury to operation was 6.8 days on average (range,2-8 days).All cases had closed fractures.According to O'Driscoll classification,there were 4 cases of type Ⅱ a,7 cases of type Ⅱ b,and 5 cases of type Ⅱ c.Among 16 patients,7 had simple anteromedial facet fractures of the ulnar coronoid process,and 9 had associated injury,including terrible triad in 3,Monteggia fractures in 4,and olecranon fractures in 2.All fractures were fixed with non-absorbable suture in 10 cases,and with suture anchor in 6 cases.The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS),range of motion (ROM),and complications were used to assess the elbow function. ResultsThe incisions all healed by first intension,without neurovascular injury.Fifteen patients were followed up 10-48 months (mean,25.3 months).The X-ray films showed that all fractures healed,with the mean healing time of 17.5 weeks (range,11-30 weeks).At last follow-up,the mean MEPS score was 88.5(range,55-100);the results were excellent in 10 cases,good in 3 cases,fair in 1 case,and poor in 1 case,with an excellent and good rate of 86.7%.The mean ROM of flexion and extension was 118°(range,35-145°),and the mean ROM of forearm rotation was 138°(range,85-165°).One case had elbow instability,and 3 had slight pain.No heterotopic ossification and traumatic arthritis occurred during the follow-up. ConclusionThe anteromedial facet fractures of the ulnar coronoid process can be clearly exposed through anterior approach,and the fracture fixation using non-absorbable suture and suture anchor fixation usually can restore the elbow function.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy of absorbable barbed suture versus traditional absorbable suture in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, WanFang Data, CNKI and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect clinical trials of absorbable barbed suture versus traditional absorbable suture in TKA from inception to November, 2017. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies, then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 6 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 5 cohort studies were included, involving 2 008 patients. Meta-analysis showed that the joint capsule suture time of the absorbable barbed suture group [MD=–4.31, 95% CI (–4.72, –3.90), P<0.000 01], the incidence of acupuncture injury during suture [OR=0.14, 95% CI (0.03, 0.61),P=0.009], and incision complication rate [OR=0.56, 95% CI (0.36, 0.88), P=0.01] were significantly lower than the traditional absorbable suture group, but the incidence of suture fracture [OR=23.03, 95% CI (3.08, 172.09),P=0.002] was higher, yet the difference was statistically significant. There were no significant differences in the incidence of superficial infection, deep infection, aseptic redness, incision dehiscence and KSS score at 3 months after operation (P>0.05).ConclusionsAvailable evidence suggests that the use of absorbable barbed sutures to close the TKA surgical incision shortens the time to suture the joint capsule, reduces the incidence of acupuncture injury as well as the overall incidence of incision complications without increasing superficial infection, deep infection, and sterility. The incidence of redness and incision splitting has no significant effects on joint function at 3 months after surgery, however the incidence of suture fracture is higher. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, the above conclusions are required to be verified by more high-quality studies.