ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of peripheral nerve surgery assisted by Da Vinci robotic system. MethodsThe recent domestic and international articles about peripheral nerve surgery assisted by Da Vinci robotic system were reviewed and summarized. ResultsCompared with conventional microsurgery, peripheral nerve surgery assisted by Da Vinci robotic system has distinctive advantages, such as elimination of physiological tremors and three-dimensional high-resolution vision. It is possible to perform robot assisted limb nerve surgery using either the traditional brachial plexus approach or the mini-invasive approach. ConclusionThe development of Da Vinci robotic system has revealed new perspectives in peripheral nerve surgery. But it has still been at the initial stage, more basic and clinical researches are still needed.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of the modified Urbaniak operation to treat avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH). MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 38 patients (41 hips) with ANFH treated between February 2010 and October 2012 with the modified Urbaniak operation (to add lateral femoral incision based on femoral greater trochanter incision, to preserve the original fibula flap drilling, decompression and filling through trochanteric outer cortex, and to select the descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery as the supply vessel). Of 38 cases, 25 were male (28 hips), 13 were female (13 hips), aged 16-52 years (mean, 34 years); there were 19 cases (21 hips) of alcoholic ANFH, 9 cases (9 hips) of traumatic ANFH, 5 cases (6 hips) of hormone ANFH, and 5 cases (5 hips) of idiopathic ANFH. The disease duration ranged from 10 months to 6 years (mean, 3.7 years). According to Ficat staging criteria, 24 hips were rated as stages II and 17 hips as stage III. The preoperative Harris hip scores were 80.63±5.02 and 77.06±6.77 in patients at stage II and III respectively. The related complications were recorded after operation. According to the findings of postoperative X-ray films, 4 grades were improvement, stabilization, deterioration, and failure; improvement or stabilization was determined to radiological success. According to the Harris score to evaluate the function of hips, more than 80 was determined to clinical success. ResultsHealing by first intention was achieved in all patients after operation. Three cases had numbness and hypoaesthesia of the lateral femoral skin, 1 case had abnormal sensation of the dorsal foot, which had no effect on daily life. Thirty-eight cases (41 hips) were followed up 1 year to 3 years and 3 months (mean, 2 years and 3 months). There was no complication such as hip joint stiffness, hip or groin persistent pain, hip joint infection, or ankle instability. At last follow-up, the X-ray films showed improvement in 23 hips (56.1%), stabilization in 17 hips (41.5%), and deterioration in 1 hip (2.4%); 40 hips obtained the radiological success. According to the Harris score, the results were excellent in 17 hips, good in 20 hips, fair in 3 hips, and poor in 1 hip with an excellent and good rate of 90.2%; 37 hips achieved the clinical success. The Harris scores were 89.92±4.12 and 86.53±5.70 in patients at stage II and III respectively at last follow-up, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative ones (t=7.011, P=0.000;t=4.412, P=0.000). ConclusionThe modified Urbaniak operation has the advantages of more convenient operation, less complications, higher safety, and better hip functional recovery. It is an effective method to treat ANFH.
ObjectiveTo study intraoperative reduction strategy in treatment of femoral neck fracture using cannulated screw fixation and the relationship between excellent and good rate of reduction and postoperative effectiveness. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 174 cases of femoral neck fracture treated between August 2005 and March 2015. There were 78 males and 96 females with an average age of 53.8 years (range, 23-75 years). The injury causes were falling in 85 cases, traffic accident in 61 cases, and falling from height in 28 cases. According to Garden typing, there were 35 cases of type I, 56 cases of typeⅡ, 47 cases of typeⅢ, and 36 cases of typeⅣ. The time from injury to operation was 1-7 days (mean, 2.74 days). Based on reduction strategy, closed 3 hollow compression screws were used; evaluating standards for fracture reduction effect were also established. Harris score was used for effectiveness evaluation. ResultsAll the cases received follow-up of 12-42 months (mean, 36.5 months). Bone healing was obtained in 152 cases at 6-12 months (mean, 9 months). Non-union and internal fixation failure occurred in 9 and 3 patients respectively, who underwent hemiarthroplasty; femoral head necrosis occurred in 6 patients after removing internal fixator at 15-26 months (mean, 18.5 months) after operation, who underwent total hip arthroplasty; 4 patients with non-union received vascular pedicle iliac flap transplantation. No other serious complications were observed. At last follow-up, the excellent and good rate of reduction was 94.29% for Garden type I, 91.07% for typeⅡ, 87.23% for typeⅢ, and 75.00% for typeⅣ, with a total excellent and good rate of 87.36%; the excellent and good rate of Harris score was 97.14% for Garden type I, 78.57% for typeⅡ, 68.09% for typeⅢ, and 50.00% for typeⅣ, with a total excellent and good rate of 73.56%. ConclusionTo obtain high Harris score in fixation of femoral neck fractures by using hollow screws, surgeons not only need reasonable technology, but also follow correct and good reduction strategy and assessment, fracture complexity is inversely proportional to excellent and good rate of reduction. Higher excellent and good reduction rate of complexity fracture should be obtained as much as possible in order to achieve good prognosis.