Objective To assess the effectiveness of the new anterolateral approach of the distal femur for the treatment of distal femoral fractures. Methods Between July 2007 and December 2009, 58 patients with distal femoral fractures were treated by new anterolateral approach of the distal femur in 28 patients (new approach group) and by conventional approach in 30 patients (conventional approach group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, affected side, type of fracture, disease duration, complication, or preoperative intervention (P gt; 0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, hospitalization days, and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score of knee were recorded. Results Operation was successfully completed in all patients of 2 groups, and healing of incision by first intention was obtained; no vascular and nerves injuries occurred. The operation time and intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency of new approach group were significantly less than those of conventional approach group (P lt; 0.05). But the intraoperative blood loss and the hospitalization days showed no significant difference between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). All patients were followed up 12-36 months (mean, 19.8 months). Bone union was shown on X-ray films; the fracture healing time was (12.62 ± 2.34) weeks in the new approach group and was (13.78 ± 1.94) weeks in the conventional approach group, showing no significant difference (t=2.78, P=0.10). The knee HSS score at last follow-up was 94.4 ± 4.2 in the new approach group, and was 89.2 ± 6.0 in the conventional approach group, showing significant difference between 2 groups (t=3.85, P=0.00). Conclusion New anterolateral approach of the distal femur for distal femoral fractures has the advantages of exposure plenitude, minimal tissue trauma, and early function rehabilitation training so as to enhance the function recovery of knee joint.
Objective To study the effectiveness of anterolateral C-shaped approach in the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture of the femur in elderly patient by comparing with traditional anterolateral approach. Methods Between April 2010 and November 2011, 66 patients with intertrochanteric fracture of the femur were analyzed retrospectively. Of 66 patients, 37 underwent improved anterolateral C-shaped approach combined with fixation of dynamic hip screw (DHS) (improved group), and 29 underwent traditional anterolateral approach combined with fixation of DHS (conventional group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury cause, side, disease duration, fracture type, and complication between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and hospitalization time were recorded; and X-ray films were taken to observe the fracture healing. The hip function was evaluated according to self-established criterion. Results The operation was successfully completed in all patients, and primary healing of incision was achieved. All patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 17.8 months). Bone union was achieved in both groups; the fracture healing time was 3-6 months (mean, 4.8 months). No loosening or breaking of internal fixation was observed during follow-up period. The operation time and postoperative drainage volume of improved group were significantly less than those of conventional group (P lt; 0.05); no significant difference was found in intraoperative blood loss and hospitalization days between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). According to self-established criterion, improved group was significantly better than conventional group in recovery of hip joint motion and function at 6 and 12 months after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Anterolateral C-shaped approach combined with DHS could minimize muscle injury and scar formation, which is beneficial to surgical exposure and early postoperative rehabilitation.
Objective To investigate the influence of the integration of fracture treatment and exercise rehabilitation on the effectiveness in the patients with intertrochanteric fracture of femur. Methods Between January 2007 and December 2009, 3 873 patients with intertrochanteric fracture of femur were surgically treated in 56 hospitals. Of them, 1 970 cases were treated with rehabilitation training according to scale of safety assessment of early exercise rehabilitation of patients with fractures (trial group), 1 903 cases were treated with traditional rehabilitation training methods (control group). There was no significant difference in age, gender, fracture type, internal fixation type, or postoperative safety score between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results All the patients were followed up 13-49 months (mean, 30.5 months). There was no significant difference in the incidences of bone nonunion, delayed union, and systemic complication between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05); significant differences were found in the incidences of incision complication, deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity, and the overall complication between 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). At 6 and 12 months after operation, the trial group was significantly better than the control group in the recovery of hip motion, curative effectiveness classification, and the excellent and good rate (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The treatment of intertrochanteric fracture of the femur guided by the integration of fracture treatment and exercise rehabilitation can apparently improve the prognosis and reduce the incidence of complications.
Objective To compare the effectiveness between improved anterolateral approach and lateral approach in the treatment of senile intertrochanteric fracture. Methods The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed, from 61 patients with senile intertrochanteric fracture treated between February 2008 and February 2010. Of 61 patients, 34 patients underwent improved anterolateral approach combined with fixation of dynamic hip screw (improved group), and 27 patients underwent conventional lateral approach combined with fixation of dynamic hip screw (conventional group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury cause, Evans classification, comorbidities, disease duration, or Harris hip scores between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results The operation was successfully completed in all patients. The operation time, blood loss, perspective frequency during operation, drainage volume, hospitalization days, and out-of-bed time in the improved group were significantly less than those in the conventional group (P lt; 0.05). All patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 18.7 months). Bone union was achieved in both groups; the fracture healing time was (11.64 ± 1.28) weeks in the improved group and was (12.29 ± 1.12) weeks in the conventional group, showing no significant difference (t=2.15, P=0.15). Harris hip scores at 3, 6, and 12 months were significantly better than preoperative scores in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05), and significant differences were found among different time points after operation in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05), between 2 groups after operation (P lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of incision infection, limb shortening, coax vara, internal fixation loosening, main screw cutting-out from femoral head between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05), but the incidence of total complications in the improved group was significantly lower than that in the conventional group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Compared with conventional lateral approach, improved anterolateral approach has the advantages of sufficient exposure, reducing muscle damage and surgical risk in treating intertrochanteric fracture. Operating treatment of improved anterolateral approach combined with early rehabilitation after surgery can recover hip joint function as quickly as possible.