A 49-year-old male patient with compartment syndrome of the right leg caused by acute carbon monoxide poisoning was admitted on December 30, 2019. The patient had a 10-year history of chronic nephritis and began dialysis treatment due to renal failure 1 month ago. Emergency surgical decompression for compartment syndrome was performed after admission. Two weeks later, the patient was diagnosed as the novel coronavirus pneumonia caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection. Then, the patient was transferred to the isolation ward, where he was given anti-infection, anti-virus, expectorant, heat-clearing and detoxifying drugs, bedside dialysis, and nutrition support symptomatic treatment. After 2 weeks of treatment, the patient is getting better, with no fever, cough, wheezing, and other discomfort. Meanwhile, the sensory and motor functions of right lower limb recovered gradually. This case is rare, severe, and difficult to diagnose and treat. It is the first reported case of novel coronavirus pneumonia after orthopedic surgery.
Objective To investigate the efficacy on clinical condition assessment and the safety of ultrasound-guided osteofascial chamber puncture manometry in evaluating the pressure of the osteofascial chamber in patients with venomous snake bites. Methods Patients with venomous snake bites admitted to the Department of Emergency Medicine of West China Hospital of Sichuan University between April 2021 and January 2023 were prospectively included, and their basic information, physiological indicators (heart rate, blood pressure), laboratory examination indicators, physical signs, treatment methods and prognosis were collected. The patients whose extremal pressure was measured by osteofascial chamber puncture under ultrasound guidance were selected as the manometry group. Patients who were bitten by venomous snakes at the same time without puncture pressure measurement were randomly selected as the control group at a ratio of 1∶1. The bleeding, infection, nerve injury, length of hospital stay and long-term prognosis of the two groups were compared to explore the safety of ultrasound-guided osteofascial chamber puncture manometry. The correlation between the pressure measured in the manometry group and creatine kinase (a representative index of acute poisoning severity score) was analyzed to explore the efficacy of ultrasound-guided osteofascial chamber puncture manometry in evaluating the disease. Results There was no significant difference between the manometry group and the control group in new or aggravated infection, bleeding, nerve injury (such as numbness and anesthesia), hospital treatment time, final detumescence time of the affected limb, or final adverse prognosis (P>0.05). There was a positive correlation between the measured pressure and creatine kinase (rs=0.286, P=0.002). Conclusions The higher pressure measured by ultrasound-guided osteofascial chamber puncture manometry is, the more serious the poisoning condition may be. In addition, ultrasound-guided osteofascial chamber puncture manometry does not prolong the hospital time of patients or the final swelling reduction time of the affected limb, and does not increase the incidence of bleeding, infection, nerve damage or eventual adverse prognosis events. It has clinical practicability and feasibility.
Objective To pay attention to the diagnosis and treatment of the complications associated with closed multifractures in metacarpals. Methods From 1997 to 2000, out of 382 patients with closed multi-fractures in metacarpals, 12 had complications. In 7 cases of fractures at the second , third , fourth and fifth metacarpal shaft, complicated by acute compartment syndrome in hand, compartmental fascia were incised for decompress; open reduction and internal fixation were performed. In 4 cases of fractures at the metacarpal base, complicated by acute carpal tunnel syndrome, the fracture was reduced and fixed without transection of the transverse carpal ligament. In 1 case of fracture at metacarpalbase, complicated by direct contusion of the median nerve, the fracture was reduced without treatment of the median nerve. Results All patients were followed up for 3 months. Fracture healed 46 weeks postoperatively. No claw deformity anddysfunction of the median nerve occurred. The arc of motion of the proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints were normal.Conclusion During fracture reduction, we should pay attention to the complications associated with closed multi-fractures at metacarpal to decrease hand malfunction.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of simple Ilizarov ring external fixation technique in treatment of tibial plateau fractures complicated with osteofascial compartment syndrome.MethodsBetween September 2013 and March 2017, 30 patients with tibial plateau fractures complicated with osteofascial compartment syndrome were treated with simple Ilizarov ring external fixation technique. There were 23 males and 7 females, with an average age of 34.4 years (range, 23-43 years). The injuries were caused by traffic accident in 12 cases, by falling from height in 4 cases, by falling in 8 cases, and by a crashing object in 6 cases. The time from injury to admission was 1-12 hours (mean, 4.8 hours). According to the Schatzker classification, there was 1 case of type Ⅱ, 3 cases of type Ⅲ, 10 cases of type Ⅳ, 7 cases of type Ⅴ, and 9 cases of type Ⅵ. All patients underwent fasciotomy due to osteofascial compartment syndrome; the interval between fasciotomy and operation was 10-15 days (mean, 12.5 days). Knee Society Score (KSS) and Ilizarov Method Research and Application Association (ASAMI) protocol were used to evaluate knee function.ResultsThe operation time was 110-155 minutes (mean, 123.1 minutes); the intraoperative blood loss was 100-500 mL (mean, 245 mL); the postoperative hospital stay was 3-5 days (mean, 3.8 days). All patients were followed up 20-24 weeks (mean, 22.7 weeks). Except for 2 patients with signs of needle tract infection, no other complication occurred. X-ray films showed that the fractures healed, and the healing time was 10-20 weeks (mean, 14.6 weeks). At last follow-up, the KSS clinical score was 70- 95 with an average of 87.5; the functional score was 70-90 with an average of 79.0. According to ASAMI protocol evaluation, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 24 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case.ConclusionFor tibial plateau fractures complicated with osteofascial compartment syndrome, simple Ilizarov ring external fixation technique can basically restore joint function and has fewer complications. It is a relatively safe and effective treatment method.