Objective To compare the effectiveness between locking compression plate (LCP) and locked intramedullary nail (IMN) for humeral shaft fractures of types B and C. Methods Between January 2010 and January 2012, 46 patients with humeral shaft fractures of types B and C were treated, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. LCP was used for internal fixation in 22 cases (LCP group), and IMN in 24 cases (IMN group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury causes, the side of fracture, the site of fracture, the type of fracture, associated injury, and time from injury to operation between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The regular clinical examination and evaluation of radiography were done. Shoulder function was evaluated by Neer grading system and elbow function was evaluated by Mayo elbow performance score after operation. Results The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in IMN group were significantly lower than those in LCP group (P lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in hospitalization time between 2 groups (t=0.344, P=0.733). All patients were followed up 16.8 months on average (range, 12-24 months). At 6 months after operation, bone nonunion occurred in 1 patient of LCP group and in 2 patients of IMN group; the bone healing rate was 95.5% (21/22) in LCP group and 91.7% (22/24) in IMN group, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.000, P=1.000). Except for nonunion patients, the bone healing time was (11.77 ± 0.75) weeks in LCP group and (11.38 ± 0.82) weeks in IMN group, showing no significant difference (t=1.705, P=0.095). Between LCP and IMN groups, significant differences were found in radial nerve injury (4 cases vs. 0 case) and impingement of shoulder (0 case vs. 6 cases) (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference in superficial infection (1 case vs. 0 case) and iatrogenic fracture (1 case vs. 2 cases) (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in shoulder function and elbow function at 1 year after operation between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion LCP fixation and IMN fixation for humeral shaft fractures of types B and C can achieved satisfactory results. More attention should be paid to avoiding radial nerve injury by fixation of LCP; nail tail should be buried deeply into the cortex of the greater tuberosity and rotator cuff should be protected to decrease the rate of impingement of shoulder by fixation of IMN.
Objective To analyze the effectiveness of volar locking compression plate (LCP) and radial styloid process plate for the treatment of type C fractures of the distal radius. Methods Between May 2010 and May 2011, 24 cases of type C fractures of the distal radius were treated, including 8 males and 16 females with an average age of 52 years (range, 23-73 years). Injury was caused by falling in 20 cases and by traffic accident in 4 cases. All were fresh closed fractures. The locations were the left side in 15 cases and the right side in 9 cases. According to AO typing, there were 16 cases of type C2 and 8 cases of type C3. The preoperative palmar tilt angle ranged from — 60 to 25° (mean, — 45.3°); the preoperative ulnar inclination angle ranged from — 16 to 13° (mean, 8.2°); and the preoperative radial length shortening was 8-18 mm (mean, 12 mm). The time from injury to operation was 3-10 days (mean, 5.2 days). Results All operation incisions healed primarily. All patients were followed up 9-16 months (mean, 13.5 months). The healing time of fracture was 8-12 weeks (mean, 10.2 weeks). The articular surface was smooth and the radial length was recovered. The postoperative palmar tilt angle ranged from 8 to 15° (mean, 12.3°); the postoperative ulnar inclination angle ranged from 18 to 26° (mean, 22.3°). No loss of reduction, refracture, or carpal tunnel syndrome occurred during follow-up. The average range of motion of the wrist was 45.3° (range, 30-70°) in dorsal extension, was 50.2° (range, 26-78°) in palmar flexion, was 13.5° (range, 8-25°) in radial inclination, was 23.6° (range, 15-32°) in ulnar inclination, was 65.7° (range, 35-90°) in pronation, and was 72.5° (range, 20-90°) in supination at last follow-up. According to the wrist function by Gartland-Werley scoring, the results were excellent in 12 cases, good in 8 cases, and fair in 4 cases; and the excellent and good rate was 83.3%. Conclusion Treatment of type C fractures of the distal radius with volar LCP and radial styloid process plate can reconstruct normal anatomic structures and get good functional recovery.
Objective To evaluate the cl inical significance of minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) appl ied in Neer II, III parts fractures of proximal humeraus. Methods The cl inical data were retrospectively analyzed, from 30 patients with Neer II, III parts fractures of proximal humeraus in accordance with selection criteria, who were treated with manual reduction and plaster external fixation (11 cases, non-operative group) or with MIPPO (19 cases, operative group) between January 2008 and May 2010. In non-operative group, there were 6 males and 5 females with an average age of 60 years (range, 56-80 years) and with an average time of 10 hours (range, 3-24 hours) between injury and reduction, including 8 cases of Neer II and 3 cases of Neer III. In operative group, there were 13 males and 6 females with anaverage age of 65 years (range, 45-78 years) and with an average time of 3 days (range, 1-5 days) between injury and operation, including 9 cases of Neer II and 10 cases of Neer III. There was no significant difference in gender, age, fracture type, and time from injury to operation (P gt; 0.05). The shoulder joint function before and after treatments was evaluated according to Constant-Murley Score (CMS) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons’ Form (ASES) scoring systems. Results Thirty patients were followed up. In operative group, the follow-up time ranged from 11 to 18 months (mean, 12 months); all incisions healed by first intention with no compl ication of internal fixation failure, infection, or nerve injury. In non-operative group, the follow-up time ranged from 9 to 15 months (mean, 11 months). The X-ray films showed that fractures healed without humeral head necrosis in 2 groups. The bone heal ing time in operative group and non-operative group was (11.47 ± 2.48) weeks and (11.82 ± 2.44) weeks, respectively, showing no significant difference (t=0.369, P=0.889). The CMS score and ASES score at each time point after treatment were significantly better than those before treatment (P lt; 0.05); the CMS scores in operative group were better than those in non-operative group at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year after treatment (P lt; 0.05); and the ASES score in operative group was better than that in non-operative group at 3 weeks and 3 months after treatment (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found at 1 year after treatment (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion MIPPO fixation using the locking compression plate is an effective option for Neer II, III parts fractures of proximal humeraus. It can provide good functional recovery of the shoulder joint so that patients can get back to their normal l ife as soon as possible.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of long PHILOS locking compression plate on the proximal humerus and humeral shaft fractures. Methods From March 2005 to December 2007, 35 cases with the proximal humerus and humeral shaft fractures were treated with long PHILOS locking compression plate, including 16 males and 19 females aged 29-68 years old (average 54.5 years old). There were 34 cases of fresh and close fracture, and the time from injury to operation was 3-9 days. One case had delayed union of fracture 5 months after receiving T-plates and internal fixation with steel plate. For the proximal humerus fracture, 7 cases had 2 parts of fracture, 19 had 3 parts of fracture, and 9 had 4 parts of fracture according to Neer classification; while for the humeral shaft fracture, 3 cases were classified as A1, 5 as A2, 10 as B1, 3 as B2, 6 as B3, 7 as C1 and 1 as C3 according to AO classification. Postoperatively, Neer scoring system was employed to evaluate the function of shoulder joint and HSS scoring system was adopted to evaluate the function of elbow joint. Results All incisions healed by first intension, and 30 cases were followed up for 12-33 months (average 18.2 months). Postoperatively, 2 cases had symptoms of radial nerve paralysis, which disappeared within 3 weeks; 1 case suffered from humeral head necrosis and received the secondary operation of humeral head replacement; humeral head was reduced evenly in 1 case, and 2 cases felt chronic sl ight pain in shoulder joints and received no further treatment. X-ray films showed 29 cases had fracture heal ing 6 months after operation, and all the patients had bone union 12 months after operation except 1 case receiving humeral head replacement. No such compl ications as screw lossening and internal fixation loosening occurred. By Neer scoring system, 6 cases were graded as excellent, 19 as good, 3 as fair, 2 as poor, and the excellent and good rate was 83.3%. By HSS scoring system, 16 cases were gradedas excellent, 14 as good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. Conclusion Applying long PHILOS locking compression plate in the treatment of the proximal humerus and humeral shaft fractures provides a sol id fixation and high satisfactory rate with minor compl ications.
Objective To evaluate the cl inical and radiological outcomes of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) with locking compression plate (LCP) in the treatment of proximal humeral shaft fracture. Methods From July 2004 to April 2008, 26 patients with displaced fractures of the proximal humeral shaft were recruited, including 8 males and 18 females. Age of patients averaged 66 years old (range, 34-82 years old). According to AO classification, there were 4 cases of type A1, 2 cases of type A2, 8 cases of type B1, 4 cases of type B2, 2 cases of type B3, 4 cases of type C1 and 2 cases of type C2. The time from injury to surgery averaged 2 days (range, 1-5 days). There were 8 osteoporotic fractures. Results All surgical wound healed primarily, and there was no wound infection. Three patients had postoperative radial nerve neurapraxia, which recovered at 4, 6, 8 months respectively. All patients were followed up for 6-24 months with an average of 14.1 months. Radiological examination revealed bony union within 6 months in 25 cases. There was 1 delayed union which remained asymptomatic and eventually healed at 8 months with acceptable Constant-Murley score. There were 3 cases of shoulder impingement syndrome diagnosed at 3 months post-operatively. After implant removal, they all achieved an acceptable Constant-Murley score. According to Constant-Murley scoring system, there were 11 excellent, 10 good and 5 acceptable results. The excellent or good rate was 80.8%. Conclusion MIPO technique using LCP is an effective method to treat proximal humeral shaft fractures, which facil itates functional recovery of the shoulder joint. During the surgery, it is important to achieve a good fracture reduction and to avoid compl ications.
Objective To review the outcomes of geriatric distal humeral fracture fixed with locking compression plate (LCP). Methods From January 2005 to December 2007, 24 patients (20 females and 4 males) with distal humeral fracture underwent open reduction and internal fixation with LCP. Their average age was 75.5 years old, ranged from 60 to 93 years old. Fracture was caused by injury from fall in 22 cases, by traffic accident in 1 case, and by direct hit in 1 case. There were 12 cases of type A2, 2 cases of type A3, 2 cases of type B1, 2 cases of type C1, 2 cases of type C2, 4 cases of type C3 fractures according to AO/ASIF classification. X-ray films in AP and lateral view were taken preoperatively. CT scan with three dimensional reconstructions was done in more comminuted fracture only. Open reduction with triceps sparingtechnique was used in all except type B fracture, and olecranon osteotomy was considered only in more comminuted C3fracture. The average interval between injury and operation was 3 days (range, 1-6 days). Outcome measures includedpain assessment, range of motion, and Mayo elbow performance score and findings at 1 year follow-up. Results Theaverage length of follow-up was 25 months (range, 12-48 months). All 24 fractures were healed within 6 months with anaverage of about 4 months. At 1 year follow-up, 83% (n=20) of patients felt no pain and 17% (n=4) of patients had mildpain; 83% of patient can gain a flexion range of more than 100°; according to Mayo elbow performance score, the meanscores of type A, B and C fracture groups were 97, 85, and 89, respectively, and the post-operative performance of typeA fracture was significantly better than that of type B and C (P=0.034). Four patients had postoperative compl ications.Conclusion Open reduction and internal fixation of geriatric distal humeral fracture can achieve relatively good functionalresult and bony union despite of age.
Objective To evaluates the appl ication of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique in treatment of distal tibia fractures with locking compression plate (LCP). Methods From August 2002 to August 2007, 62 subjects were recruited (36 males and 26 females) at mean age of 44 years old (range, 21-87 years old). According to AOclassification, there were 8 cases of type A1, 15 cases of type A2, 9 cases of type A3, 7 cases of type B3, 11 cases of type C1, and 12 cases of type C2. Of them, 52 patients had closed fractures and 10 had open fractures. Ten open fractures included 6 Grade I fracture and 4 Grade II fracture. The time from injury to operation was 8 hours to 6 days. The X-ray films were taken after 3 months of operation. Results Near anatomical reduction was achieved in 56 fractures and acceptable reduction in 6 fractures. Mean operation time was 43 minutes (range, 37-120 minutes). Primary heal ing of surgical wounds was observed in all cases. Subjects were followed up for 23 months on average (ranged, 18-45 months). All fractures healed with a mean heal ing time of 19.5 weeks (range, 16-32 weeks). According to Teeny and Wiss ankle scoring system, 30 patients got excellent results, 25 good, and 7 fair; and the excellent and good rate was 88.7% at 12-month follow-up. There were 7 cases of delayed soft tissue infection which needed implant removal. There was one compl ication of compartment syndrome which required fasciotomy. There was one case with loss of reduction (valgus tilting of tibial plafond) that required bone grafting. Conclusion The results of MIPO LCP in treatment of distal tibia fractures were satisfactory. This technique was safe with no incidence of serious compl ications.
Objective To summarize the cl inical appl ication of minimally invasive percutaneous locking compression plate (LCP) internal fixation in the treatment of tibial fractures and to evaluate its cl inical effects. Methods From September 2005 to September 2007, 13 patients with tibial fractures were treated with indirect reduction and minimally invasive percutaneous LCP internal fixation, 8 males and 5 females, aged 18-35 years old (27 on average). Among them, the fractures were caused by traffic accidents in 3 cases, by fall ing in 5 cases, by fall ing from height in 4 cases and by bruise in 1 case. The fractures were located at 1/3 upper tibia in 2 cases, at 1/3 medium tibia in 6 cases and at 1/3 lower tibia in 5 cases. All fracture were closed ones. According to the AO classification, 4 cases were type A, 7 type B and 2 type C. The time between fractures and operation was from 3 hours to 5 days (2.5 days on average). Results All incisions obtained heal ing by first intention. All patients were followed up for 10-18 months (13 months on average). All fractures reached cl inical heal ing, and the heal ing time was 12-20 weeks (16 weeks on average). There was no delayed fracture heal ing, nonunion, infection and internal fixation failure. No compl ications such as rotation, crispatura deformity and internal fixation loosening were found. According to the HSS scoring, the function of the knee joint was graded 85-95 (90 on average), and the range of motion was 100-130° (120° on average). According to the AOFAS Ankie Hindfoot Scoring, the function of the ankle joint was graded 80-95 (92.4 on average). Nine cases were excellent, 4 good, and the choiceness rate was 100%. Conclusion Minimally invasive percutaneous LCP internal fixation is in accord with biological set principles and beneficial for tibial fracture heal ing and reconstruction of soft tissues.
Objective To introduce a method for fixation in periprosthetic fracture with locking compression plate (LCP). Methods Duringthe surgery, a long 12-hole LCP was placed to the lateral side of the femur. Six holes of the plate were placed proximal to the main fracture line to make sure that there could be enough cortex units for rigid fixation of proximal fragments. Locking screws used except for the most proximal hole where a 4.5 mm screw was used instead. Results The patient was pain free at the fracture site one week after the surgery,and was able to walk with a cane 3 months after the surgery. Bone union was evident radiographically 3 months after the surgery. There was no loose signs around the stem. Six months after the surgery, the patient recovered full function without pain. Conclusion In our experience from this case, LCP in treating periprosthetic fracture was easy and less time consuming, more over, extensive periosteal stripping could be avoided. LCP is a good choice in treating some periprosthetic fractures.
ObjectiveTo compare the therapeutic effect between intramedullary fixation and external fixation on intertrochanteric fracture. MethodsBetween June 2005 and June 2011, 32 patients with Evans-Jensen type Ⅲ intertrochanteric fracture were treated with proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA), Gamma nail, dynamic hip screw plate (DHS) or locking compression plate (LCP), separately. The operation duration, peri-operative bleeding, load time, Harris hip score and postoperative complications were observed in the patients, and were used to analyze the therapeutic effect among the four methods. ResultsShorter operation duration, less bleeding in the surgery, smaller quantity of drainage after the operation (P<0.05) were found in group Gamma and group PFNA compared with those in group DHS and LCP. The duration of hospitalization didn't differ much between the two fixation systems (P>0.05). The difference in operation duration, operative bleeding and post-operative drainage between group Gamma and PFNA, and between group DHS and LCP was not significant (P>0.05). ConclusionThe intramedullary fixation was better than external fixation for Evans-Jensen type Ⅲ intertrochanteric fracture.