Objective To compare the effectiveness of lower extremity axial distractor (LEAD) and traction table assisted closed reduction and intramedullary nail fixation in treatment of femoral subtrochanteric fracture. Methods The clinical data of 117 patients with subtrochanteric fracture of femur treated by closed reduction and intramedullary nail fixation between May 2012 and May 2022 who met the selection criteria were retrospectively analyzed. According to the auxiliary reduction tools used during operation, the patients were divided into LEAD group (62 cases with LEAD reduction) and traction table group (55 cases with traction table reduction). There was no significant difference in baseline data, such as gender, age, injured side, cause of injury, fracture Seinsheimer classification, time from injury to operation, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, between the two groups (P>0.05). Total incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy frequency, closed reduction rate, fracture reduction quality, fracture healing time, weight-bearing activity time, and incidence of complications, as well as hip flexion and extension range of motion (ROM), Harris score, and VAS score at 1 month and 6 months after operation and last follow-up were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results There were 14 cases in the LEAD group from closed reduction to limited open reduction, and 43 cases in the traction table group. The incisions in the LEAD group healed by first intention, and no complication such as nerve and vascular injury occurred during operation. In the traction table group, 3 cases had perineal crush injury, which recovered spontaneously in 1 week. The total incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy frequency, and closed reduction rate in the LEAD group were significantly better than those in the traction table group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the quality of fracture reduction between the two groups (P>0.05). Patients in both groups were followed up 12-44 months, with an average of 15.8 months. In the LEAD group, 1 patient had delayed fracture union at 6 months after operation, 1 patient had nonunion at 3 years after operation, and 1 patient had incision sinus pus flow at 10 months after operation. In the traction table group, there was 1 patient with fracture nonunion at 15 months after operation. X-ray films of the other patients in the two groups showed that the internal fixator was fixed firmly without loosening and the fractures healed. There was no significant difference in fracture healing time, weight bearing activity time, incidence of complications, and postoperative hip flexion and extension ROM, Harris score, and VAS score at different time points between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionFor femoral subtrochanteric fracture treated by close reduction and intramedullary nail fixation, compared with traction table, LEAD assisted fracture reduction can significantly shorten the operation time, reduce intraoperative blood loss and fluoroscopy frequency, reduce incision length, effectively improve the success rate of closed reduction, and avoid complications related to traction table reduction. It provides a new method for good reduction of femoral subtrochanteric fracture.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of interlocking intramedullary nail fixation system for Sanders type Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures by comparing with open surgery. Methods Forty patients (40 feet) with Sanders type Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures, who were admitted between May 2020 and December 2022 and met the selection criteria, were included in the study. They were randomly allocated into control group and minimally invasive group using a random number table method, with 20 cases in each group. The patients were treated with the interlocking intramedullary nail fixation system in the minimally invasive group and with steel plate internal fixation via a lateral L-shaped incision in the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05) in terms of gender, age, fracture classification and side, cause of injury, time from injury to admission, and preoperative width, length, height, Böhler angle, and Gissane angle of the calcaneus. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, hospital stay, fracture healing time, incidence of complications, as well as pre- and post-operative imaging indicators (Böhler angle, Gissane angle, width, height, and length of the calcaneus) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score of foot were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results The incision length, operation time, and hospital stay of the minimally invasive group were significantly shorter than those of the control group, and the intraoperative blood loss significantly reduced (P<0.05). All patients of the two groups were followed up, with the follow-up time of 8-12 months (mean, 10.2 months) in the minimally invasive group and 8-12 months (mean, 10.4 months) in the control group. No complication occurred in the minimally invasive group after operation. One case of incision epidermal necrosis and 1 case of traumatic arthritis occurred in the control group after operation. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the AOFAS score was significantly higher in the minimally invasive group than in the control group (P<0.05). Imaging examination showed that the calcaneal fractures of the two groups healed, and there was no significant difference in healing time between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with preoperative conditions, the Böhler angle and Gissane angle of the calcaneus in the two groups significantly increased, the width narrowed, and the height and length increased at 3 days after operation and the last follow-up, with significant differences (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between 3 days after operation and last follow-up (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups at each time point (P>0.05). ConclusionThe interlocking intramedullary nail fixation system in treatment of Sanders type Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures has the advantages of minimal trauma, shortened hospital stay, reliable fracture reduction and fixation, and satisfactory foot function recovery.