Objective To explore the application of intramedullary nail fixation combined with auxiliary plate and bone cement in the palliative treatment of pathologic fracture of extremities caused by metastatic tumors. Methods Clinical data of 11 cases with pathologic fracture of extremities caused by metastatic tumors between April 2015 and October 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated by intramedullary nail fixation combined with auxiliary plate and bone cement. There were 6 males and 5 females with an age of 54-72 years (mean, 62.9 years). The disease duration was 1.0-1.5 months. Of the 11 patients, 4 metastatic tumors were diagnosed at humerus, 6 at femur, and 1 at tibia, respectively. And the tumor infiltration length ranged from 3.3 to 5.6 cm (mean, 4.6 cm), the depth could reach the bilayer of limb bones. All the patients had suffered the limbs pain and incapability of physical movement. The preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 6.36±1.03, and the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score was 42.73±10.09. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications were recorded. The VAS score, KPS score, and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score were used to evaluate the effectiveness at 3 months after operation. Results The operation time was 1.1-1.8 hours (mean, 1.5 hours), the intraoperative blood loss was 102.5-211.3 mL (mean, 135.6 mL). Postoperative limb incisions healed well without infection, necrosis, and delayed healing or other complications. All the patients were followed up 7-10 months (mean, 8.2 months). At 3 months after operation, the functions of limbs recovered. The VAS score decreased to 0.82±0.75 and the KPS score increased to 85.45±5.22, both showing significant difference when compared with preoperative ones (t=35.218, P=0.000; t=–18.470, P=0.000); and the MSTS score was 23.91±2.47. At last follow-up, the anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films showed that all the limbs healing well and no breakage of intramedullary nail and steel plate, or loosening in bone cement, limb shortening, malalignment, or other complications occurred. Conclusion In treating metastatic tumors of extremities, the combination of intramedullary nail fixation with auxiliary plate and bone cement will contribute to an invariable length and fixed location for limbs, resulting in biomechanical stability for skeleton. Under this premise, the tumor lesions can be eliminated and pathological pains be relieved, so as to improve patients’ life quality.
ObjectiveTo explore the application of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in precise and individualized surgical treatment of severe distal humeral bone defect.MethodsFive patients with severe distal humeral bone defects were treated with customized 3D printing prostheses between December 2010 and December 2015. There were 4 males and 1 female, with an age of 23-57 years (mean, 35 years); and the length of the bone defect was 5-12 cm (mean, 8 cm). The cause of injury was mechanical injury in 2 cases and strangulation in 3 cases. All of them were the open fracture of Gustilo type Ⅲ. There were 2 cases of radial fracture, 1 case of cubital nerve injury, and 3 cases of radial nerve injury. The time from injury to one-stage operation was 6-18 hours (mean, 10 hours). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and intraoperative fluoroscopy were recorded. During follow-up, the anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films of the elbow joints were performed to identify whether there was prosthesis loosening; Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and upper extremity Enneking score were used to evaluate limb function.ResultsThe operation time was 140-190 minutes (mean, 165 minutes). The intraoperative blood loss was 310-490 mL (mean, 415 mL). The intraoperative fluoroscopy was 1-3 times (mean, 1.6 times). Five patients were followed up 14-38 months (mean, 21 months). The wound exudate occurred in 1 case and cured after anti-inflammatory local dressing change; the subcutaneous hematoma occurred in 1 case, and improved after color Doppler ultrasound guided puncture and drainage. The MEPS scores and the Enneking scores were all significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). Except MEPS score between 6 and 12 months after operation had no significant difference (P>0.05), there were significant differences in MEPS scores and Enneking scores between the other time points (P<0.05). During the follow-up, no prosthetic loosening or joint dislocation occurred.Conclusion3D printing technology can achieve personalized treatment of severe distal humeral bone defects, obtain relatively good elbow joint function, and has less postoperative complications and satisfactory effectiveness.