Objective To describe the characteristics of short arm deformity in patients with achondroplasia, and summarize the progress of its lenthening and reconstruction, so as to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. MethodsThe literature on the lenthening of upper limb with achondroplastic short arm deformity at home and abroad in recent years was reviewed, and the characteristics, extension methods, postoperative management, effectiveness evaluation, and related complications of short arm deformity were summarized. Results Achondroplastic short arm deformity affect the patient’s daily perineal hygiene activities. Although the upper limb is proportionately shortened, the humerus is mainly short limb deformity. Bilateral humeral lengthening is a common treatment method, and the traditional lengthening tools are mainly external fixation, guided by Ilizarov distraction osteogenesis concept; intramedullary lengthening is the latest treatment method. Lengthening percentage and healing index are commonly used for clinical evaluation indexes, and complications such as nerve injury may occur during upper limb lengthening. Conclusion In addition to appearance improvement, achondroplastic short arm lengthening is of great significance in achieving self-management of individual perineal hygiene. Lenthening and reconstruction methods are constantly being innovated and improved.
External fixation devices are essential tools in the field of foot and ankle reconstruction. Mastering the fundamental knowledge and skills of external fixation is crucial for the effective application of this technique. Currently, domestically produced external fixation systems for the foot and ankle can meet the needs of treating various foot and ankle traumas, deformities, and functional reconstruction. Through this special issue on “External fixation and foot and ankle reconstruction”, we provide a detailed introduction to the essential knowledge and skills that physicians must acquire to proficiently manage external fixation and foot and ankle reconstruction.
Objective To explore some operative problems of correcting paralytic scoliosis(PS) by using vertebral pedicle screwsrods system. Methods From May 2000 to May 2005, 18 patients with PS were corrected by screwsrods system which were made of titanium alloy.There were 10 males and 8 females, aging from 11 to 26 years. The primary disease included poliomyelitis in 13 patients and myelodysplasia (MS) in 5 patients (2 cases for second correction) with scoliosis of an average 85° Cobb angle (55-125°). The pelvic obliquity was found in all patients with an average 24° angle (355°).Of the 18 patients,3 cases were given perioperative halo-pelvic traction, 2 cases were given vertebral wedge osteotomy and correction and fixation, the other patients were purely underwent the treatment of pedicle screwrods system implants. Fusion segment at operation ranged from 6 to 15 sections, applied screws the most was 16,the fewest was 6. Results There were no wound infections and neurologic complications, all wounds healed by the first intention. Allscoliosis obtained obvious correction (P＜0.001), the correction rate averaged 52.95% (44%-81%); the majority of lumbar kyphosis and pelvic obliquity were apparently corrected. The average clinical follow-up (16 cases) was 21 months(6-36 months),there was no implants failure. One patient with MS had a worse Cobb magnitude, the other patients had no curve progression (P＞0.05). Conclusion The use of vertebral pedicle screwsrods fixation to multiple vertebral bodys and short segment fusion for PS, the treatment method is reliable and the outcome is satisfactory. While performing the correcting operative procedures, the spinal, pelvic and lower extremity deformities and functions should be all considered as a whole.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of Ilizarov technique in treatment of the clubfoot after burns.MethodsBetween March 2012 and February 2017, 12 patients (17 feet) with clubfoot after burns were treated with Ilizarov technique. There were 10 males (14 feet) and 2 females (3 feets) with an average age of 38 years (range, 18-52 years). There were 3 cases of left foot, 4 cases of right foot, and 5 cases of both feet. According to the Qin’s classification of clubfoot deformity, there were 5 feet of degreeⅠ, 9 feet of degreeⅡ, and 3 feet of degree Ⅲ.ResultsAll clubfeet were completely corrected without local skin necrosis, needle tract infection, or acroanesthesia. All patients could walk with a heavy load. Pationts were followed up from 4 months to 3 years (mean, 10 months). At last follow-up, according to the International Clubfoot Study Group (ICFSG) score, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 7 feet, good in 7 feet, and fair in 3 feet, with the excellent and good rate of 82.4%.ConclusionUsing Ilizarov technique can gradually correct the clubfoot deformity with the advantages of minimal invasion, safeness, and simpleness.
Objective To review the progress of knee-salvage treatment based on the step therapy idea for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods The domestic and foreign literature in recent years was searched, and the treatments of KOA at different stages were summarized and analyzed. Results The treatment of KOA is aimed at alleviating symptoms, delaying structural changes of joints, maintaining joint function, and improving quality of life. So the conservative treatment is still the first choice for KOA at early stage. Arthroscopic surgery can assist in the diagnosis and classification, simultaneously remove the intra-articular irritants, and limitedly repair the cartilage. Osteotomy is suitable for the KOA with abnormal lower extremity weight bearing line and articular line. And it can effectively balance the weight bearing stress of knee joint, improve the clinical symptom, and alleviate the progression of disease. Joint distraction can improve the mechanical environment of knee joint and repair the defect cartilage partly. With the technical development, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is back in fashion in recent years. It is a kind of real joint surface replacement, which is an important means of knee preservation method in patients with anterior medial KOA. Conclusion At present, there are many knee-salvage treatments based on the severity of the disease. Osteotomy and UKA are the most widely used and successful surgical techniques for knee preservation. However, the indications should be properly selected, and the surgeon should accumulate enough clinical experience. Otherwise, it is difficult to achieve good results.
ObjectiveTo review the research progress of intramedullary lengthening nail technology.MethodsThe foreign literature on the development history, types, advantages and disadvantages, indications and contraindications, complications, and effectiveness of intramedullary lengthening nail were reviewed and analyzed.ResultsThe intramedullary lengthening nail system mainly includes mechanical type, electric motor drive type, and magnetic drive type. Compared with traditional external fixation and lengthening technology, the intramedullary lengthening nail technology has certain advantages in incidence of complications, bone healing, postoperative functional rehabilitation, incision aesthetics, convenience, and patient satisfaction. However, there are also shortcomings, such as pain, uncontrollable distraction rate, device failure, etc. In the clinical application of intramedullary lengthening nails for limb lengthening, the indications should be grasped reasonably, and the related complications should be prevented and treated.ConclusionIntramedullary lengthening nails provide a new option for limb lengthening, and the initial effectiveness is good. It is one of the development direction of limb lengthening technology.
Objective To analyze the characteristics of patients with secondary lower limb deformity of spina bifida based on the QIN Sihe Orthopedic Surgery Case Data, and provide the references for clinical research, diagnosis, and treatment. Methods A clinical data of 1 012 patients with secondary lower limb deformity of spina bifida between October 12, 1986 and December 31, 2020 selected from QIN Sihe Orthopedic Surgery Case Data was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 231 cases (22.83%) had undergone orthopedic surgery for lower extremity deformities in other hospitals. The gender, age at surgery, indicators related to spina bifida (deformity side, comorbidity, sensory disturbance level), and information related to surgery (operating time, surgical site, postoperative fixation method) were analyzed. Results Of the 1012 patients, 457 were males and 555 were females. The age was 3-51 years at the time of surgery, with a median of 18.0 years; among them, the 15-30 years old group had the most patients, accounting for 53.16%. Most deformities involved both lower limbs (652 cases, 64.43%). There were 111 cases of ulcers in the weight-bearing area of the foot, 265 cases of gatism, 554 cases of sensory disturbance, and 85 cases of abnormal hair on the waist. From 2010 to 2019, there were significantly more patients undergoing surgery than before 2010, reaching 61.17%. Sensory disturbances mostly occurred in the ankle and foot. A total of 1 149 sites were treated with surgery, of which the most ankle joint deformities were corrected by surgery, accounting for 84.33%. The main fixation methods after orthopedic surgery were external fixation, including Ilizarov external fixation (442 cases), combined external fixation (315 cases), and plaster fixation (189 cases). Conclusion Spina bifida can be secondary to severe deformities of the lower limbs, mainly in the ankles. Common complications include ulcers in the weight-bearing area, dysfunction of urine and feces, and sensory disturbances; external fixation is the main method of fixation after surgery.
Ilizarov’s technology is an internationally recognized clinical treatment method for limb orthopedics, but there are many complications related to external fixation. With the development and progress of the times, the remote-control intramedullary lengthening nails had risen to prominence on the international stage as the second generation of orthomelic technology based on Ilizarov’s technology. Since the first remote-control intramedullary lengthening nail appeared in the 1980s, after more than 40 years of development, there are currently more than 3 types of extension mechanisms in remote-control intramedullary lengthening nails and a mature and stable clinical treatment model has been formed during the past long-term clinical treatment and experiments, such as the End-Point-First (EPF) program proposed by Professor Peter H. Thaller in Germany. Compared with Ilizarov’s technology, the remote-control intramedullary lengthening nail has obvious advantages in convenience, comfort, risk of infection, soft tissue injury, postoperative pain, and controllability of limb lengthening. This article mainly introduces the development and clinical treatment concept of remote-control intramedullary lengthening nail and the latest clinical treatment status of limb lengthening therapy abroad, hoping to provide new cognition and ideas for the further development of limb orthopedics in China.
ObjectiveTo review the research progress on correction of severe foot and ankle deformities with digital hexapod external fixators. Methods The relevant research literature on digital hexapod external fixators at home and abroad in recent years was reviewed and analyzed. Taking Taylor spatial frame (TSF) as a representative, this article elaborates on the research progress of this technology in the treatment of severe foot and ankle deformities from aspects such as device principle, technical characteristics, clinical application, complication management, and controversial perspectives, aiming to provide theoretical references for clinical application. Results The treatment of severe foot and ankle deformities is a complex challenge in orthopedics, often involving multiple plane alignment abnormalities, muscle weakness, soft tissue contractures, and joint dysfunction. The digital hexapod external fixators (such as TSF), based on the principle of six degrees of freedom motion and combined with computer-assisted technology, enables precise correction of multi-dimensional deformities. Conclusion The digital hexapod external fixators provides a minimally invasive and efficient option for the treatment of severe foot and ankle deformities, and shows significant advantages in the treatment of complex post-traumatic deformities, neuromuscular deformities, diabetes Charcot arthropathy, and other diseases.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of QIN Sihe’s surgical strategy combined with Ilizarov technique in treating foot and ankle deformities on the verge of amputation. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 56 patients (62 feet) with foot and ankle deformities on the verge of amputation treated with QIN Sihe’s surgical strategy and Ilizarov technique between May 2010 and December 2020. Among them, there were 39 males and 17 females. The age ranged from 8 to 62 years (median, 27.5 years). QIN Sihe’s surgical strategy: subcutaneous release or open lengthening of contracted Achilles tendons, limited correction of bony deformities through multiple osteotomies during surgery, tendon transfer to balance the power of the foot and ankle, simultaneous percutaneous osteotomy and correction of tibial torsion deformity to restore the weight-bearing line of the lower extremity, and installation of Ilizarov foot and ankle distraction devices for slow distraction and correction of residual foot and ankle deformities. After removal of external fixation, individualized braces were used for protection during exercise and walking. For patients with bilateral deformities, staged surgeries were performed. The effectiveness was evaluated according to the QIN Sihe’s Postoperative Evaluation Criteria for Lower Limb (Foot and Ankle) Deformity Correction and Functional Reconstruction at last follow-up. Results All patients achieved the preoperative expected orthopedic and functional reconstruction goals. The postoperative wearing time of external fixator was 3-7 months, with an average of 5.5 months. The incidence of pin tract infection during the treatment period was 6.5% (4/62). All patients were followed up 25-132 months (median, 42 months). All 56 patients successfully retained their limbs. At last follow-up, foot and ankle deformities were corrected, the weight-bearing line was basically restored, and plantigrade feet were restored. At last follow-up, according to QIN Sihe’s Postoperative Evaluation Criteria for Lower Limb (Foot and Ankle) Deformity Correction and Functional Reconstruction, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 37 cases (39 feet), good in 18 cases (21 feet), and fair in 1 case (2 feet). The excellent and good rate was 96.8% (60/62). Conclusion The combination of QIN Sihe’s surgical strategy and Ilizarov technique in treating foot and ankle deformities on verge of amputation is minimally invasive, safe, and the therapeutic effect is controllable. This combined approach has unique advantages in preserving limb function and restoring biomechanical balance.