Objective To determine the effectiveness and the safety of the Taylor spatial frame in treatment of intermediate or distal tibiofibula fractures. Methods The clinical data of 74 patients with intermediate or distal tibiofibular fractures treated between January 2015 and January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. According to fixation methods, they were divided into internal fixation group (26 cases) and external fixation group (48 cases). There was no significant difference in the age, gender, cause of injury, type of fracture, time from injury to operation between 2 groups (P>0.05). The intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, fixator removal time, and complications were recorded and compared. The final function evaluation criteria of Johner-Wruhs humeral shaft fracture were used to evaluate the function of the affected limb. The lower limb force line recovery after operation was evaluated according to the standard evaluation of LUO Congfenget al. Results Both groups were followed up 6-22 months (median, 14 months). All patients obtained the fracture healing. The intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, and fixator removal time were significantly higher in the internal fixation group than those in the external fixation group (P<0.05). There were 1 case of plate exposure, 1 case of delayed fracture healing, and 1 case of plate fracture in the internal fixation group; and there were 2 cases of delayed fracture healing and 4 cases of soft tissue defect in the external fixation group; no significant difference was found in the incidence of complications between 2 groups (χ2=0.015, P=0.904). The function of the affected limb was evaluated by Johner-Wruhs standard at 10 months after operation, the results was excellent in 19 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 2 cases in the internal fixation group, with an excellent and good rate of 92.3%; the results was excellent in 42 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 2 cases in the external fixation group, with an excellent and good rate of 95.7%; showing no significant difference between 2 groups (χ2=0.392, P=0.531). The lower limb force line recovery after operation was evaluated according to the standard evaluation of LUO Congfeng et al.at 4 months after operation, the results was excellent in 24 cases, fair in 1 case, poor in 1 case in the internal fixation group, with an excellent and good rate of 92.3%; the results was excellent in 46 cases, fair in 1 case, poor in 1 case in the external fixation group, with an excellent and good rate of 95.8%; showing no significant difference between 2 groups (χ2=0.520, P=0.471). Conclusion The use of Taylor spatial frame in the treatment of the intermediate or distal tibiofibular fractures can obviously reduce the healing time and complications than the internal fixation of the plate. It can reduce the fracture treatment cycle and is beneficial to the fracture healing and limb function recovery, which is relatively safe and reliable.
Objective To investigate the effect of axial stress stimulation on tibial and fibular open fractures healing after Taylor space stent fixation. Methods The data of 45 cases with tibial and fibular open fractures treated by Taylor space stent fixation who meet the selection criteria between January 2015 and June 2016 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were divided into trial group (23 cases) and control group (22 cases) according to whether the axial stress stimulation was performed after operation. There was no significant difference in gender, age, affected side, cause of injury, type of fracture, and interval time from injury to operation between 2 groups (P>0.05). The axial stress stimulation was performed in trial group after operation. The axial load sharing ratio was tested, and when the value was less than 10%, the external fixator was removed. The fracture healing time, full weight-bearing time, and external fixator removal time were recorded and compared. After 6 months of external fixator removal, the function of the limb was assessed by Johner-Wruhs criteria for evaluation of final effectiveness of treatment of tibial shaft fractures. Results There were 2 and 3 cases of needle foreign body reaction in trial group and control group, respectively, and healed after symptomatic anti allergic treatment. All the patients were followed up 8-12 months with an average of 10 months. All the fractures reached clinical healing, no complication such as delayed union, nonunion, or osteomyelitis occurred. The fracture healing time, full weight-bearing time, and external fixator removal time in trial group were significantly shorter than those in control group (P<0.05). After 6 months of external fixator removal, the function of the limb was excellent in 13 cases, good in 6 cases, fair in 3 cases, and poor in 1 case in trial group, with an excellent and good rate of 82.6%; and was excellent in 5 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 4 cases, and poor in 3 cases in control group, with an excellent and good rate of 68.2%, showing significant difference between 2 groups (Z=–2.146, P=0.032). Conclusion The axial stress stimulation of Taylor space stent fixation can promote the healing of tibial and fibular open fractures and promote local bone formation at fracture site.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of dynamization of external fixation on open tibia and fibula fracture union.MethodsThe clinical data of 26 cases of open tibia and fibula fractures treated by external fixation were retrospectively analysed. According to different postoperative treatment methods, the patients were divided into elastic dynamic group (group A, n=13) and constant elastic fixation group (group B, n=13). There was no significant difference in gender, age, and fracture type between 2 groups (P>0.05). The removal time of external fixator in group B was evaluated by fracture healing time, X-ray film, and doctor’s experience. In group A, the growth of callus was examined based on X-ray film at 12 weeks after operation; the axial mechanical load ratio was tested, and dynamic loading was carried out when the axial mechanical load ratio was 5%-10%. The using time of external fixator, fracture healing time, and incidence of complications were compared between 2 groups.ResultsAll patients were followed up 4-13 months, with an average of 5.7 months. During the treatment, there was no complication such as loosening or breaking of the external fixator, fracture displacement, or re-fracture in 2 groups. The using time of external fixator in group A was (24.77±1.42) weeks and the fracture healing time was (23.04±1.30) weeks, which were all significantly reduced when compared with those in group B [(34.38±1.71) weeks and (32.46±1.66) weeks] (t=16.10, P=0.00; t=15.58, P=0.00). In group A, there were 2 cases of needle tract infection and 1 case of muscle weakness, the incidence of complication was 23.1%; in group B, there were 3 cases of needle tract infection, 1 case of muscle weakness, and 1 case of delayed union of fracture, the incidence of complication was 38.5%; there was no significant difference in the incidence of complication between 2 groups (P=1.000).ConclusionDynamization of external fixation can promote union of open tibia and fibula fractures with a high security.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of Taylor spatial frame (TSF) in the treatment of tibiofibular fractures and computer-assisted closed reduction.MethodsThe clinical data of 30 cases of tibiofibular fractures with soft tissue injury treated with TSF between January 2015 and September 2017 was retrospectively analyzed. According to different reduction methods, the patients were divided into control group (15 cases, open reduction in TSF external fixation) and trial group (15 cases, closed reduction in 1-3 days after TSF external fixation). There was no significant difference in the general data such as gender, age, affected side, cause of injury, AO classification of fracture, time from injury to operation between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, and removal time of external fixator were recorded and compared between the two groups. At 3 months after removal of external fixator, the limb function was evaluated according to Johner-Wruhs criteria for evaluating the final effect of tibial shaft fracture treatment.ResultsBoth groups were followed up 9-16 months, with an average of 14 months. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, and removal time of external fixator in the trial group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were 2 cases of superficial infection of the external fixation (1 case in each group), 1 case of incision infection (control group), 1 case of delayed fracture healing (control group), 2 cases of traumatic arthritis (1 case in each group); no significant difference was found in the incidence of complications between the two groups (χ2=0.370, P=0.543). The wounds of soft tissue defect healed by the first intension in both groups. At 3 months after removal of the external fixator, the limb function results in the trial group were excellent in 3 cases, good in 9 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 80.0%; in the control group, the results were excellent in 3 cases, good in 8 cases, fair in 3 cases, and poor in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 73.3%. There was no significant difference in incidence of complication between the two groups (χ2=0.917, P=0.821).ConclusionCompared with intraoperative open reduction, postoperative computer-aided closed reduction can shorten the operation time, reduce the intraoperative blood loss, reduce the risk of long-term operation, avoid to destroy the blood supply of fracture end, shorten the healing time of fracture and the wearing time of stent, and alleviate the pain of patients after TSF treatment of tibiofibular fracture.