Objective To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of absorbable screws for the treatment of tibiofibular syndesmotic disruptions by comparing with metallic screws. Methods Between July 2007 and May 2012, 69 patients with tibiofibular syndesmotic disruptions associated with ankle fractures were treated; absorbable screw fixation was used in 38 cases (group A) and metallic screw fixation was used in 31 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury causes, the type of fracture, the side of fracture, and disease duration between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The fracture healing time, weight bearing time, and complications were recorded and compared between 2 groups. According to Baird-Jackson scoring system, the function of the ankle was assessed after 6 months. Results Infection of incision occurred in 3 cases (7.9%) of group A and 2 cases (6.5%) of group B, and skin necrosis of incision in 1 case (2.6%) of group A and 5 cases (16.1%) of group B, showing no significant difference in the incidences of infection and necrosis of incisions between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05); primary healing of incision was obtained in the other patients. The 69 cases were followed up 12-26 months (mean, 18.6 months). The weight bearing time was (2.97 ± 0.59) months in group A and was (3.16 ± 0.74 ) months in group B, showing no significant difference (t=1.175, P=0.244). X-ray films showed that fractures and tibiofibular syndesmotic disruptions healed in 2 groups; the healing time was (5.71 ± 1.01) months in group A and was (5.81 ± 1.08) months in group B, showing no significant difference (t=0.381, P=0.705). No fixation failure, breakage, or loosening occurred in 2 groups. According to Baird-Jackson scoring system, the results were excellent in 29 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 4 cases with an excellent and good rate of 89.5% in group A at 6 months after operation; the results were excellent in 20 cases, good in 7 cases, and fair in 4 cases with an excellent and good rate of 87.1% in group B; no significant difference was found in the excellent and good rate between 2 groups (Z= — 0.991, P=0.321). Conclusion Treatment of tibiofibular syndesmotic disruptions with absorbable screws can get good effectiveness and replace metallic screws because of avoiding additional operation for removing the screw.
Objective To evaluate the feasibil ity and effectiveness of allograft osteochondral transplantation with arthroscopic assistance for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) associated with large osteochondral defects. Methods From January 2004 to May 2007, 13 patients with OCD with large osteochondral defects were treated. There were 7 males and 6 females, aged 18-59 years with an average of 35.8 years. The locations were left side in 8 cases and right side in 5 cases. The disease course was 7 days to 20 years with the median duration of 42 months. Four cases had obvious sprained history. The involved locations were lateral portion of the medial femur condyle (MFC) in 5 cases, thochlea area of MFC in 2 cases and lateral femur condyle in 6 cases. The range of motion was (95.0 ± 13.5)° and the Lysholm score was 62.23 ± 7.79. According to International Cartilage Repair Society classification system and the Guhl classification of OCD under arthroscopy, all the patients were type IV. Defect areas were 3-7 cm2 with an average of 4.32 cm2. The depths of defects were 0.8-2.0 cm with an average of 1.55 cm. Allograft osteochondral transplantation combining with adsorbable screw was appl ied for the lesions. The patients were closely instructed to do exercise through following up. Results The wounds all healed by first intention Thirteen cases were followed up for 2.2 years (14 months to 4 years) after operation. Three months after operation, 2 cases had pain after continuous exercise for 1 hour, they were directed in the methods of functional exercise and to strengthen their quadriceps femoris. Medicine was given in 2 patients who had sign of friction feel ing of joint 6 months after operation. The range of motion at the last follow-up was (137.0 ± 9.8)°, showing statistically significant difference when compared with that before operation (P lt; 0.05). The X-rays and EMRI examinations at following-up indicated that bone healed well and articular facet was integrity. The Lysholm score was 92.08 ± 7.64 one year after operation, showing statistically significant difference when compared with that before operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Allograft osteochondral transplantation with arthroscopic assistance is a useful method in treatment of OCD with large osteochondral defects of the knees.
Objective To summarize the treatment method and to analyze short-term therapeutic effect of Pipkin fracture. Methods From January 2002 to January 2007, 14 cases of Pipkin fracture were treated. There were 10 males and 4 females with an average of 33.5 years (ranged from 28 to 52 years). Fractures were caused by traffic accident. According to Pipkin’s classification, there were 4 cases of type I, 6 cases of type II, 2 cases of type III and 2 cases of type IV. The time from injury to operation was 24 hours to 8 weeks. All patients received open reduction under Kocher-Langenbeck approach, mel iorative posterior-lateral approach or combined approaches. Absorbable screws and suture l ine internal fixation wereperformed in fracture of the femoral head, titanium cannulated screws were used to fix the femoral intertrochanteric fracture in type III, and acetabular tridimensional memory fixation systems were used to fix the posterior acetabular fractur in type IV. Results All cases had one-stage wound heal ing, no compl ications of deep infection and thrombosis of deep vein of lower l imb occurred. All the patients were followed up for 12 - 48 months (mean 26 months). One case of type III fracture for Pipkin had necrosis of femoral head after 1 year of reduction and fixation, and received total hip replacement; other patients achieved bony heal ing after 6-10 months (mean 8 months). According to D’Aubigue-Postel score, the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 6 cases, fair in 2 cases and poor in 1 case; the excellent and good rate was 78.6%. Conclusion It is important for the patients with Pipkin fracture to early diagnose, to select proper operation approach, to stably fix fracture and to manage after operation in reducing compl ication and recovering hip joint function.
To explore a new approach to treat old scaphoid fracture by grafting bones from distal radius and fixing absorbable screws. Methods From January 2002 to May 2007, 18 patients with old scaphoid fractures were treated by grafting bones from distal radius and fixing absorbable screws. All of the 18 patients (13 males and 5 females, aged from 17 to 41 years old) had the injury history of the palm of hand touching the ground. They felt tenderness on the anatomical snuff-box and tubercle of scaphoid bone. The grasping force decreased. The range of motion of the wrist was (36 ± 2)° extension/(30 ± 3)° flexion, (8 ± 3)° radial is/(13 ± 2)° ulnaris. Results The average postoperative follow-up period was 15.7 months．A total of 18 cases achieved bone union. The range of motion of the wrist in the 16 healed cases was (68 ± 2)° extension/(65 ± 3)° flexion, (15 ± 3)° radial is/(28 ± 5)° ulnaris. There was no pain of motion and symptom of powerlessness. As to the other 2 cases, the range of motion of the wrist was (40 ± 8)° extension/(35 ± 6)° flexion, (8 ± 5)° radial is/(12 ± 5)° ulnaris; no obvious improvement was found; the patients occasionally felt painful in daily l ife; the extension force decreased. No infection and break of internal fixation were seen. Conclusion The absorbable screw as a new biomaterial for internal fixation has obvious advantages of good biocompatibil ity, promoting union of the fracture and no need of a second operation for removal．
Objective To assess the treatment effect of intra-articular fracture with absorbable screws and rods.Methods From June 1998 to August 2004， 35 patients with intra-articular fracture were treated by absorbable screws and rods made of self-reinforcedpolyglycolicacid (SR-PGA) and self-reinforcedpoly-L-Lacticacid (SR-PLLA). Of 35 patients, 30 were males and 5 were females (aged from 4 to 62 years). All cases had intra-articular or periarticular fracture. The interval between injury and operation was 3 hours to 29 days. Fracture were fixed with full thread screws of SR-PGA in 9 cases, with tensile screws of SR-PLLA in 26 cases, with rods of SR-PLLA in 15 cases. Bone traction orplaster external fixation were carried out postoperatively. Results The patients were followed from 3 months to 60 months with an average of 28 months．The wounds healed by first intention, and the healing time of bone was 1－3 months. No dislocation, infection and local effusion occurred. Functional recovery was satisfactory．According to AASO articular function standard, the results were excellentin 26 cases, good in 7 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 1 case; the total excellent and good rate was 94.3%. Conclusion Internal fixationof absorbable screws and rods are a perfect procedure in treating intraarticular and periarticularfracture, which can avoid the pain of taking out internal fixation materials because of second operation．
Objective To compare advantage and disadvantage of internal fixation method for tibia intercondylar eminence fracture between absorbable screw and metallic screw. Methods From 1996 to 2002, 200 patients with fracture of tibia intercondylar eminence were divided into group A (with absorbable screw, n=120) andgroup B (with metallic screw, n=80). And the biological compatibility, biomechanics, bone union and complications were compared between two groups.Results There were no obvious differences in operating time and circumstance of recovery position between two groups. Group A was obviously better than group B in biological compatibility, biomechanics, bone union, joint function recovery. The average healing time of group A was three months, that of group B was three and half months. The good rates of joint function in two groups were 98.0% and 95.0% respectively. The occurrence rates of wound arthritis were 1.7% and 3.7%. There wassignificant difference between them(P＜0.01). Conclusion Absorbable screw is a more ideal material of internal fixation to treat tibia intercondylar eminence fracture.
OBJECTIVE: To study a new kind of operation for displaced talar neck fractures. METHODS: From April 1996 to March 2001, 9 talar neck fractures were treated by internal fixation of absorbable lag screw with a medial approach and cut of medial malleolus to expose the fractures. A non-weight-bearing below-knee cast was applied for 6 to 12 weeks after operation. Once union of the fracture site is apparent, the patient should remain non-weight bearing in a removable short-leg and keep exercise every day. RESULTS: All the patients received follow-up from 15 to 60 months with an average of 28 months. The fractures healed from 20 to 42 weeks. The excellent and good rate of function was 77.8% (7/9) according to American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Score(AOFAS). One case had the complication of superficial infection of wound and skin edge necrosis after operation, which was Hawkins type III. Late complication included two cases of avascular necrosis(AVN). Among them, one AVN of Hawkins type II was caused by early weight-bearing five weeks after operation and gained the fair score. The other AVN of Hawkins type III was inefficient to conservative therapy and proceeded ankle fusion in the end. The AOFAS of the patient was bad. CONCLUSION: Treatment of talar neck fractures by internal fixation of absorbable lag screw with a medial approach is an ideal method. It can gain a satisfactory result by the operation, strict postoperative care and rehabilitation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of open reduction by mini incision and absorbable screw internal fixation for the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tibial eminence avulsion fracture. MethodsBetween January 2006 and July 2012, 90 patients (90 knees) with ACL tibial eminence avulsion fracture were treated. There were 58 males and 32 females, aged from 10 to 58 years with an average of 33.7 years. The causes of injury were traffic accident injury in 60 cases, sports injury in 22 cases, and falling injury in 8 cases. The disease duration was 1-365 days with a median of 106 days. Combined injuries included 14 cases of meniscus injury, 5 cases of medial collateral ligament injury, and 3 cases of avulsion fracture of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. All patients underwent open reduction by mini incision and internal fixation with absorbable screw. Postoperative rehabilitation exercise was performed. ResultsTwo patients had delayed healing of incision, and others obtained primary healing. All the patients were followed up 6-72 months (mean, 40.1 months). X-ray examination showed that bone union was achieved in all patients at 3-12 months after operation; nail tail came off in 7 cases at 4-13 months after operation, and the nail tail was taken out under arthroscopy. At 6-12 months after operation, the range of motion (ROM), Tegner score, Lysholm score, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score were significantly increased when compared with preoperative ones (P < 0.05). ConclusionA combination of open reduction by mini incision and absorbable screw internal fixation for the treatment of ACL tibial eminence avulsion fracture has the advantages of easy operation, firm fixation, and satisfactory functional rehabilitation, so it is a safe and effective method for the treatment of ACL tibial eminence avulsion fracture.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of bioabsorbable screw and metallic screw for Maisonneuve fracture.MethodsThe clinical data of 68 patients of Maisonneuve fracture treated with open reduction and internal fixation between October 2012 and October 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Metallic screw fixation was used in 37 cases (group A) and absorbable screw fixation was used in 31 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in age, gender, weight, operated side, cause of injury, time from injury to operation, and complications between the two groups (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the tibiafibular clear space (TFCS), tibiafibular overlap (TFO), medial clear space (MCS), and syndesmotic malreduction rate were recorded. And the dorsiflexion and plantar-flexion range of motion, pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, ankle and hind foot score of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), and Olerud-Molander (OM) score were recorded.ResultsAll patients were followed up 25-43 months, with an average of 32.3 months. There was no significant difference in the operation time between the two groups (t=1.229, P=0.282). All the fractures healed, and there was no significant difference in fracture healing time between the two groups (t=1.367, P=0.413). At last follow-up, the syndesmotic malreduction rate of group A was 16.2% (6/37), showing no significant difference when compared with group B [6.2% (2/31)] (χ2=1.549, P=0.213). There were 3 complications in group A, 1 was superficial wound infection, 1 was local heterotopic ossification due to failure to remove the screws in time, 1 was local heterotopic ossification of the screws; and there were 2 complications in group B, 1 was rejection and 1 was local heterotopic ossification of the screws. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (χ2=0.068, P=0.794). There was no significant difference in TFCS, MCS, TFO, ankle dorsiflexion and plantar-flexion range of motion, AOFAS score, OM score, and VAS score between the two groups at last follow-up (P>0.05).ConclusionCompared with metallic screw, absorbable screws provide adequate fixation and functional recovery with avoiding screw removal and lower syndesmotic malreduction.