【Abstract】 Objective To explore the effectiveness of bone grafting by intervertebral disc endoscope for postoperativenonunion of fracture of lower limb. Methods Between August 2004 and August 2008, 40 patients (23 males and 17 females) with postoperative nonunion of femoral and tibial fracture, aged 20-63 years (mean, 41.5 years) were treated. Nonunion of fracture occurred at 10-16 months after internal fixation. During the first operation, the internal fixation included interlocking intramedullary nail ing of femoral fracture in 12 cases and plate in 16 cases, and interlocking intramedullary nail ing of tibial fractures in 9 cases and plate in 3 cases. The X-ray films showed hypertrophic nonunion in 24 cases, common nonunion in 3 cases, and atrophic nonunion in 13 cases. Results The average operation time was 61 minutes (range, 40-80 minutes), and the blood loss was 80-130 mL (mean, 100 mL). The hospital ization time were 6-11 days (mean, 8.1 days). Incisions healed by first intention in all patients with no complication of infection or neurovascular injury. Forty patients were followed up 10-16 months (mean, 12.3 months). The X-ray films showed that all patients achieved healing of fracture after 4-10 months (mean, 6.8 months). No pain, disfunction, or internal fixation failure occurred. Conclusion Bone grafting by intervertebral disc endoscope is an effective method for treating postoperative nonunion of femoral and tibial fracture.
Objective To investigate the cl inical results of the flap pedicled with collateral branch of descendingrarus of lateral circumflex femoral artery with digital three-dimensional reconstruction technique for lower l imb soft tissue defects. Methods Between March 2009 and January 2010, 7 patients with lower l imb soft tissue defects were treated with free flap pedicled with collateral branch of descending rarus of lateral circumflex femoral artery. There were 6 males and 1 female with an age range from 6 to 51 years. They were injured by traffic accident (4 cases), or by object hit from height (3 cases). The locations were foot in 2 cases, ankle in 2 cases, and anterior tibia in 3 cases. The disease duration was 8 hours to 40 days (mean, 20 days). All the cases compl icated by exposure of tendons or bones. The areas of soft tissue defect ranged from 12 cm × 7 cm to 20 cm × 14 cm. Free flaps were transplanted at 4 to 16 days after symptomatic treatment. Before operation, all the flaps were designed with digital three-dimensional reconstruction technique. The size of flaps ranged from 15 cm × 9 cm to 22 cm × 16 cm The donor sites were closed directly in all cases. Results All the flaps survived. The wounds and incisions at donor sites healed by first intention. All the patients were followed up 6 to 12 months. The texture, appearance, and function of the flaps were satisfactory, and no compl ication occurred. All the flaps had protective sensation, which could meet the requirement of the daily l ife. The function of ankle was satisfactory with normal walk; the extension was 19-22° and the flexion was 30-36°. No obvious scar formed at donor sites. Conclusion The flap pedicled with collateral branch of descending rarus of lateral circumflex femoral artery has rel iable blood supply, easy operation, l ittle influence on the donor site, and high success rate with digital three-dimensional reconstruction technique. It is an excellent option for repairing lower l imb soft tissue defects.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells transplantation on lower l imb chronic venous ulcer. Methods Between May 2009 and September 2010, 17 patients with lower l imb chronic venous ulcer were treated with autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells transplantation (transplantation group) and 10patients treated without cells transplantation served as control group. In the transplantation group, there were 9 males and 8 females with age of (33.3 ± 6.1) years, including 11 cases of simple great saphenous vein varicosity and 6 cases of chronic venous insufficiency; the area of ulcer was (4.39 ± 2.46) cm2; and the duration of ulcer ranged from 3 months to 6 years. In the control group, there were 4 males and 6 females with age of (39.2 ± 10.3) years, including 7 cases of simple great saphenous vein varicosity and 3 cases of chronic venous insufficiency; and the area of ulcer was (5.51 ± 2.63) cm2; and the duration of ulcer ranged from 3 months to 2 years. All patients in both groups were classified as C6 according to Cl inical Etiology Anatomy Pathophysiology (CEAP) classification. No signficant difference was found in the general data between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The heal ing process of ulcer was observed. The granulation tissue was harvested for HE staining before operation and at 3 days after operation in the transplantation group. The microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothel ial growth factor (VEGF) expression of ulcer granulation tissue were observed. Results In the transplantation group, ulcer heal ing was accelerated; complete heal ing was observed in 15 cases, partial heal ing in 1 case, and no heal ing in 1 case with the median heal ing time of 22 days. However, in the control group, the heal ing process was slower; complete heal ing of ulcer was observed in 7 cases and no heal ing in 3 cases with the median heal ing time of 57.5 days. There was significant difference in the heal ing time between 2 groups (Z=0.001 4, P=0.002 7). HE staining showed a great number of microvessels in the granulation tissue in the transplantation group. The immunohistochemical staining showed that MVD was significantly increased (t=3.120, P=0.008) after cell ransplantation (32.1 ± 12.8) when compared with that before transplantation (22.1 ± 6.7). The VEGF expressionafter transplantation (8.05% ± 5.10%) was increased sl ightly when compared with that before transplantation (6.13% ±4.20%), but the difference was not significant (t=1.150, P=0.268). Conclusion Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cellstransplantation can stimulate granulation tissue growth and improve ulcer heal ing.
Objective To explore the middle-term outcome of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells transplantation in the treatment of lower l imb ischemia. Methods From March 2003 to June 2005, 65 patients with lower l imb ischemia were treated by autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells transplantation. Of the patients, there were 50 males and 15 females, with a mean age of 66.5 years (range 36-89 years), including 4 cases of simple arteriosclerotic occlusion,5 cases of thromboangiitis obl iterans and 56 cases diabetic lower l imb ischemia. A total of 400 mL bone-marrow blood were extracted from the posterior superior il iac crest. And then the mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone-marrow blood in the laboratory. The amount of transplantation bone marrow mononuclear cells was (0.60-1.80) × 109 (mean 1.05 × 109). Twelve patients received cell transplantation from two to four times and the other patients one time. According to the improvement of cl inical finding, the outcome was evaluated. Results All the patients were followed up for 8-56 months (mean 21.5 months). There were 8 deaths, and the mortal ity was 12.3%; 5 were due to myocardial infarction and heart failure and 3 were due to cerebral infarction. The general effective rate was 70.8% (46/65) and the recurrent rate was 10.7% (7/65). Of them, the response to treatment lasted over 12 months in 42 cases, accounting for 91.3% (42/46); over 24 months in 24 cases, accounting for 52.2% (24/46); and over 37 months in 12 cases, accounting for 26.1% (12/46). The effective rates were 100% in 12 patients who received 2-4 times transplantation and 64.2% in 53 patients who received 1 time transplantation, showing statistically significant difference between them (P lt; 0.001). Conclusion The middle-term outcome of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells transplantation show that it is a feasible and simple method for treatment of lower l imb ischemia.
Objective To study the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on repairing chronic wounds of lower l imbs. Methods From May 2007 to November 2007, 47 patients suffering from chronic wounds of lower l imbs were treated. There were 41 males and 6 females, aged from 15 to 68 years (43.2 years on average). The disease was caused by tibiofibulafracture in 20 cases, calcaneus fracture in 4 cases, metatarsal fracture in 1 case, multiple open fracture of lower l imbs in 3 cases, tibia osteomyel itis in 10 cases, femur osteomyel itis in 1 case, soft tissue injury of ankle in 4 cases, infection after amputation in 2 cases, infection after foot orthomorphia in 1 case, and infection after calcaneus tendon neoplasty in 1 case. Their chronic wounds did not healed after 2 to 4 months of therapy. Among them, chronic wounds compl icated with fracture nonunion in 23 cases and positive bacterial culture result in 38 cases. Debridement and autogenous PRP gel injection were appl ied every 2 months and for twice. Results The patients were followed up for 4 months after the first PRP injection. Two months after the first PRP injection, chronic wounds contracted significantly in 34 patients with purulence and necrosis tissue cleaned up, circulation of soft tissue improved and exposed bone or muscle tissue covered by neogenetic granulation. No patient was completely cured. Two months after the second PRP injection, the average coverage rate was 79.3% ± 18.0%, the total cure rate was 29.8%. The volume of the chronic wounds decreased by (9.3 ± 4.9) mL after PRP therapy (2.5 ± 2.7) mL when compared with (11.8 ± 5.6) mL of before therapy, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). X-ray photograph showed that among the 23 cases of fracture nonunion, fracture healed completely in 9 cases; bony callus formation increased obviously in 12 cases; no significant change was observed in 2 cases. No aggravated sign of osteomyel itis was notified. Positive results of bacterial culture reduced to 15 cases. Conclusion PRP efficiently enhances the recovery of soft tissue defect and speeds up the chronic wounds heal ing oflower l imbs.