ObjectiveTo verify the feasibility of a self-designed magnetic anchoring and traction device (MATD) for assisting two-port video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy.MethodsThree Beagle dogs were selected as animal models with age ranging from 1-6 years and weight ranging from 8-12 kg, and they underwent two-port video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy after general anesthesia. We used the MATD to retract the esophagus to different directions, which assisted mobilizing esophagus, detecting the nerves along esophagus and dissecting paraesophagus lymph nodes. The operation time, blood loss and feasibility of the MATD were recorded.ResultsWith the aid of the MATD, we successfully retracted and mobilized the esophagus, detected the nerves and dissected the lymph nodes in three Beagle dog models. During the operation, the MATD provided sufficient and steady traction of esophagus to achieve a good exposure of the operative field, effectively decreasing the interference between working instruments. The MATD worked well. The mean operation time was 30 min, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was about 10 mL.ConclusionIt is effective to use the MATD to assist retracting esophagus during video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy. The magnetic anchoring and traction technique can assist to expose the surgical field, decrease the interference between the working instruments and have the potential clinical application.
To find new technique for repair of peripheral nerve defect, the nerve elongation repair technique was adopted. Two cases with nerve defect were treated by this method. One was a 12 year old male, the defect length of right radial nerve was 7.2 cm at the elbow. The other one was a 28 year old male, the defect length of left ulnar nerve the was 5 cm at elbow. In this method, the nerve was elongated by slow stretch from distal and proximal end of the ruptured nerve. After a few days, the nerve was repaired by direct suture. After operation, the function of nerves were recovered in 119 days and 114 days respectively. Follow-up for 5 years, the function of the effected limbs were recovered to the normal side. It was concluded that: (1) the peripheral never can be elongated by slow stretch; (2) to stretch the nerve end in a rubber tube can prevent adhesion and connective tissue blocking; (3) strength and supporting point of stretching should be designed carefully.
Pathological myopia, characterized by progressive elongation of the axial length and formation of posterior staphyloma, is accompanied by chorioretinal irreversible degeneration. It is also the focus and biggest challenge of myopia control and blindness prevention. For managing progressive early-onset pathologic myopia and myopic traction maculopathy, episcleral pressurization of macula is a practical option. It can be divided into posterior scleral reinforcement surgery and macular buckling surgery according to the presence or absence of operative top pressure ridge after surgery, both of which are different in terms of implanted materials, procedures and indications. The implanted materials, procedures and indications are different between the two. Under the background of soaring prevalence of myopia, it is necessary to modify and cautiously popularize the techniques of episcleral pressurization of macula to provide high level clinical evidence for management of pathological myopia.
ObjectiveTo observe the medium-term clinical and radiological outcomes of anterior release internal distraction in treatment of severe and rigid scoliosis. MethodsBetween March 2009 and March 2012, 26 patients with severe and rigid scoliosis were treated with anterior release, posterior internal distraction, and two stage posterior spinal fusion. There were 11 males and 15 females with an average age of 19.6 years (range, 14-25 years). The average disease duration was 13.6 years (range, 3-24 years). All cases were idiopathic scoliosis. Of 26 cases, 2 cases were rated as Lenke type I, 8 as type Ⅱ, 13 as type IV, 1 as type V, and 2 as type VI. The apical vertebrae located at T6 in 1 case, at T7 in 3 cases, at T8 in 7 cases, at T9 in 13 cases, and at T10 in 2 cases. The average 4 vertebral bodies were released by anterior approach, and average 14 vertebral bodies were fused after posterior surgery. Fourteen patients received 2 times distraction. Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire was used to access health-related quality of life. The radiological parameters were measured, including coronal plane Cobb angel of major curve, apical vertebral translation (AVT), C7 plumb line-center sacral vertical line (C7PL-CSVL), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and thoracic kyphosis (TK) at pre-and post-operation. ResultsThe average total operation time was 592.7 minutes; the average total blood loss volume was 1 311.2 mL; and total hospitalization cost was (14.7±1.4)×104 yuan RMB. The coronal plane Cobb angle of major curve was (55.7±16.5)°, and the TK was (43.2±16.2)° after first distraction. The patients were followed up 2-5 years (mean, 3.8 years). Temporary dyspnea and pleural effusion occurred in 1 case respectively after distraction, and symptoms disappeared after symptomatic treatment. Screw loosening and pseudoarthrosis formation was observed in 1 case at 6 months after fusion, good recovery was achieved after revision. No infection or neurological complication was found. The coronal plane Cobb angel of major curve, TK, and AVT after fusion and at last follow-up were significantly lower than preoperative ones (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between at post-fusion and last follow-up (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in C7PL-CSVL and SVA between at pre-and post-operation (P>0.05). At last follow-up, SRS-22 questionnaire scores were 4.32±0.42 for active degree, 4.54±0.58 for mental health, 3.97±0.76 for self-image, 4.09±0.64 for pain, and 4.03±0.83 for satisfaction degree. ConclusionAnterior release internal distraction can provide satisfactory correction results for severe and rigid scoliosis with higher safety and lower incidence of complication.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness and advantages of skeletal tractor in closed reduction and proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) internal fixation of intertrochanteric fracture compared with traction table.MethodsThe clinical data of 86 patients with intertrochanteric fractures, who were treated with closed reduction and PFNA internal fixation between October 2016 and March 2018 and met the selection criteria, was retrospectively analysed. Among them, 44 cases were treated with skeletal tractor (trial group) and 42 cases were treated with traction table (control group). There was no significant difference between the two groups in gender, age, cause of injury, fracture side, AO classification, and degree of osteoporosis (P>0.05). The preoperative position time, operation time, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and postoperative Harris score were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe operation was successfully completed in both groups. Compared with the control group, the patients in the trial group had shorter preoperative position time and operation time, fewer intraoperative fluoroscopy times, and less intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05). The patients were followed up 12-21 months in trial group (mean, 14.2 months) and 12-22 months in control group (mean, 14.3 months). Venous thrombosis of lower extremity occurred in 8 patients (3 cases of trial group and 5 cases of control group) after operation. Internal fixation failure occurred in 5 patients (2 cases of trial group and 3 cases of control group) during 1 year after operation. All fractures healed except for those with internal fixation failure, the fracture healing time was (11.6±2.9) weeks in trial group and (12.4±3.6) weeks in control group; and there was no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.250, P=0.214). At 1 year after operation, Harris score of the trial group was 86.2±5.9 and that of the control group was 84.1±6.1. There was no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.768, P=0.080).ConclusionCompared with traction table, skeletal tractor in closed reduction and PFNA internal fixation of intertrochanteric fracture can significantly shorten the preoperative position time and operation time, reduce the intraoperative fluoroscopy times, improve the operation efficiency, and have similar effectiveness.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of the reverse traction device in the preoperative treatment of high-energy tibial plateau fractures. Methods A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 33 patients with high-energy tibial plateau fractures who met the selection criteria between December 2020 and December 2023. All patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. According to the preoperative traction method, they were divided into the observation group (16 cases, treated with a reverse traction device on the day of admission) and the control group (17 cases, treated with heel traction on the day of admission). There was no significant difference in baseline data such as gender, age, body mass index, affected side, cause of injury, fracture Schatzker classification between the two groups (P>0.05). Preoperative waiting time, preoperative related complications (nail channel loosening, nail channel oozing, nail channel infection, soft tissue necrosis, soft tissue infection, deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity, etc.), operation time, and total hospitalization time were recorded and compared between the two groups. On the 4th day after traction, visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the pain relief of the patients, the swelling value of the affected limb was measured, and the Immobilization Comfort Questionnaire (ICQ) score was used to evaluate the perioperative hospital comfort of the patients. Results Both groups of patients completed the operation successfully, and the operation time, total hospitalization time, and preoperative waiting time of the observation group were significantly less than those of the control group (P<0.05). There was no preoperative related complications in the observation group; in the control group, 3 patients had nail channel loosening and oozing, and 2 cases had the deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity; the difference in the incidence of complication between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). On the 4th day after traction, the ICQ score, VAS score, and limb swelling value of the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group (P<0.05). X-ray films showed that the tibial plateau fracture separation and lower limb alignment recovered after calcaneal traction in the control group, but not as obvious as in the observation group. The fracture gap in the observation group significantly reduced, the tibial plateau alignment was good, and the lateral angulation deformity was corrected. Conclusion The use of reverse traction treatment in patients with high-energy tibial plateau fractures on admission can accelerate the swelling around the soft tissues to subside, reduce patients’ pain, shorten the preoperative waiting time, improve the patients’ preoperative quality of life, and contribute to the shortening of the operation time, with a good effectiveness.
ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and advantages of the lower extremity axial distractor assisted closed reduction and retrograde intramedullary nail internal fixation in the treatment of distal femoral fractures.MethodsThe clinical data of 49 patients with distal femoral fractures treated with retrograde intramedullary nail internal fixation between April 2016 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different methods of intraoperative reduction, the patients were divided into trial group (29 cases, using lower extremity axial distractor to assist closed reduction) and control group (20 cases, using free-hand retraction reduction). There was no significant difference in general information between the two groups (P>0.05), such as gender, age, side of injury, cause of injury, and fracture classification. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and callus formation time were recorded and compared between the two groups. The function of the affected limb was evaluated according to the Schatzker-Lambert standard at 1 year after operation.ResultsAll patients successfully completed the operation. In the control group, there was 1 case with open reduction and internal fixation, and the rest of the two groups were closed reduction. There was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no complication such as vascular or nerve injury and iatrogenic fracture, etc. during and after operation, and the incisions healed by first intention. Except for 2 patients in the trial group who were lost to follow-up at 3 months after operation, the rest of the patients were followed up 12-36 months, with an average of 16.0 months. There was no significant difference in the callus formation time between the two groups (t=2.195, P=0.145). During the follow-up, postoperative knee joint stiffness occurred in 1 case in the control group, which improved by strengthening the knee joint function exercise and removing the internal fixator; the rest were not found to be associated with delayed or nonunion fractures, knee stiffness, and internal fixation complication. The function of the affected limb was evaluated according to the Schatzker-Lambert standard at 1 year after operation, the trial group achieved excellent results in 22 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 96.3%; in the control group, the results were excellent in 16 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate was 95.0%; showing no significant difference in the excellent and good rate between the two groups (χ2=0.451, P=0.502).ConclusionThe lower extremity axial distractor assisted closed reduction and retrograde intramedullary nailing for the treatment of distal femoral fractures is convenient, which has satisfactory efficacy.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of self-made adjustable tractor for correction of inverted ni pple. MethodsBetween March 2005 and March 2011, 37 female patients with inverted ni pples (69 ni pples) underwent continuous traction with self-made adjustable tractor for 2 to 4 months. The age ranged from 18 to 46 years (mean, 23 years). Of 37 cases, 5 had unilateral inverted ni pple, and 32 had bilateral inverted ni pples, including 8 cases (15 ni pples) of mild inversion, 16 cases (30 ni pples) of moderate inversion, and 13 cases (24 ni pples) of severe inversion. The 2 cases (4 ni pples) recurred after traditional surgical method, and 1 case (2 ni pples) had infection because of severe inversion before traction. ResultsNo infection or hemodynamic disorder occurred during traction. All cases were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 8.2 months). Wound healed after traction in 1 patient (2 ni pples) with infection because of severe inversion; 2 recurrent cases (2 ni pples) were cured after re-traction; wire dislocation occurred in 1 case (1 ni pple), and was cured after changing traction position. The shape, sensation, and erectile function were normal after treatment with no scar. ConclusionContinuous traction with selfmade adjustable tractor is a good method for all the types of inverted ni pple. It is a simple, safe, effective, and minimally invasive method without scar.