ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of the screw-based intermaxillary traction combined with occlusal splint in the treatment of pediatric mandibular condylar fracture. MethodsBetween June 2005 and December 2013, 35 pediatric patients with 49 mandibular condylar fractures were treated, and the clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. There were 25 boys and 10 girls, aged 3-13 years (mean, 7.3 years). The injury causes included falling (18 cases), traffic accident (14 cases), and violence (3 cases). The time between injury and treatment was 2-30 days (mean, 6.8 days). Restricted mouth opening was observed, and the maximal mouth opening was (22.74±7.22) mm except 3 patients who were too young to measure. Condylar fractures were located at the left (12 cases), at the right (9 cases), at bilateral (14 cases) based on the sites; and fractures were classified as intra-capsular (35 fractures), neck (10 fractures), and subcondylar (4 fractures) based on the fracture line. Four self-drilling titanium screws were inserted into the alveolar bone of both maxilla and mandible. After screw inserting, an occlusal splint with a fulcrum was used on the affected side and elastic band was put to perform anterior intermaxillary traction. After 1 month, the screws and splint were removed. Follow-up examinations were carried out on schedule. ResultsAll the patients were followed up from 6 months to 8 years and 10 months (median, 71 months). No screw-related complication occurred in the others except one case of screw loosening. The postoperative maximal mouth opening was (38.82±2.02)mm. Mild joint noise was found in 4 cases and opening deviation occurred in 6 cases. Radiographic results demonstrated complete condyle remodeling was achieved in 24 cases (32 fractures), and moderate remodeling in 11 cases (17 fractures) at last follow-up. ConclusionThe screw-based intermaxillary traction combined with occlusal splint might be an effective method for pediatric mandibular condylar fracture. The screw-related complications may be avoided by careful preoperative investigations.
Objective To observe the effect of continuous elastic outside distraction on the change of collagen content in female mini pig’s ni pples and their supporting tissues, and to investigate the mechanism of continuous elastic outside distraction correcting inverted ni pples. Methods Three 3-month-old female mini pigs (weighing 18.5-22.0 kg), which had 12 nipples, were employed. Four nipples of each minipig were not treated as control group (n=12), and the other nipples were continuously distracted with inverted nipple correction instruments as experimental group (n=24). The nipple specimens were harvested at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after distraction and HE staining was performed to observe the change oftheir tissue structure. And saturated picric acid sirius red staining was used to observe the distribution and content of collagen types I and III, image analysis software for quantitative analysis. Results The control group had normal structure of epidermis at all time points. In experimental group, the epidermis thickened; basal cells, fibroblasts, and capillary significantly prol iferated along with the times; and the content and the density of collagen types I and III increased gradually. There were significant differences in collagen type I at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and in collagen type III at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks between 2 groups (P lt; 0.01). There were significant differences in the ratio of collagen type I to III at 2 and 4 weeks between 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Continuous elastic outside distraction can increase the quantity of collagen types I and III in the tissue, the thickness of the dermis, and the height of the nipple, which may be one of key mechanisms of correction the inverted nipple by continuous elastic outside distraction.
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 probe into the clinical value of supine cervical vertebra traction with neck flexion in treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. MethodsFrom August 2011 to December 2013, 71 patients were divided randomly into a treatment group of 36 cases and a control group of 35 cases. They were treated respectively with supine cervical vertebra traction with neck flexion, and cervical vertebra traction on a sitting position. Both groups had acupuncture, moxibustion, massage and medium frequency electrotherapy. The period of observation was 15 days. We evaluated the results by surveying physiological curvature of the cervical spine on lateral radiograph, and visual analogue scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), criteria of diagnosis and therapeutic effect of syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine syndrome and clinical assessment scale for cervical spondylosis (CASCS) were also used. ResultsPhysiological curvature of cervical spine was much improved in both groups after treatment (P<0.05). The distance of cervical vertebra arc between vertebral anterior edge sequences in treatment group before treating was (4.07±3.63) mm and it was (9.03±4.31) mm after treatment. For the control group, those two numbers were respectively (4.13±3.02) and (8.87±3.97) mm. There was no significant difference in the distance of cervical vertebra arc and its increase between vertebral anterior edge between the two groups after treatment. There was significant difference in the efficiency rate between the two groups (P<0.05) (treatment group 100.00%, control group 97.14%). When cured rate and cured-markedly effective rate were added, the treatment group (80.56%) was much better than the control group (51.43%) (P<0.01). As to VAS score, NDI and CASCS scores, both groups got much better after treatment (P<0.01). For VAS, the treatment group decreased from 8.43±0.75 before treatment to 1.40±0.61 after treatment, while the control group from 8.35±0.78 before treatment to 2.55±0.59 after treatment. For NDI, the treatment group decreased from 54.13±7.44 before treatment to 10.78±4.55 after treatment, while the control group from 55.85±8.72 to 12.66±5.48. For CASCS, the treatment group rose from 34.88±5.39 before treatment to 74.65±6.73 after treatment, while the control group from 34.77±4.89 to 69.03±6.21. After treatment, VAS score of the treatment group was much lower than the control group (P<0.01). There was no difference between the two groups on NDI (P>0.05). CASCS score of the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group after the treatment (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the increase of CASCS score between the two groups after treatment (P>0.05). ConclusionVertebra traction combined with acupuncture, moxibustion, massage and medium frequency electrotherapy is therapeutic for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and traction at a supine and flexing position is better.
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.
The authors made a profound review on the development and the recent status of craniomaxillofacial surgery in China during past three decades. The emphases were placed on the following aspects: the modifications of the reconstructive procedure and minimal invasive mode, the researches on molecular genetic characteristics of the congenital craniofacial malformations, the clinical applications of three-dimensional digital computer-aided techniques (including three-dimensional printing and prefabricated template for precious osteotomies), the craniomaxillofacial defects reconstructing by using the distraction osteogenesis and osseous integrated titanium implant and prothesis, etc. Finally, the authors outlooked prospectively the future trends of the craniomaxillofacial surgery.