ObjectiveTo summarize the effectiveness of nitinol memory alloy two foot fixator with autologous cancellous bone grafting in treating old scaphoid fracture and nonunion.MethodsBetween January 2013 and January 2017, 11 patients of old scaphoid fracture and nonunion were treated with nitinol memory alloy two foot fixator and autologous cancellous bone grafting. All patients were male with an average age of 26.1 years (range, 18-42 years). The fractures were caused by sport in 3 cases, falling in 7 cases, and a crashing object in 1 case. The interval between injury and operation was 6-18 months (mean, 8.9 months). Postoperative outcome measures included operation time, fracture healing time, grip strength, range of motion (ROM) of flexion, extension, ulnar deviation, and radial deviation, Mayo score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score.ResultsThe operation time was 35-63 minutes (mean, 48 minutes). All incisions had primary healing with no infection and loosening or breakage of internal fixator. All patients were followed up 12-30 months (mean, 20.7 months). X-ray films showed that fracture healing was achieved in all patients with an average time of 15 weeks (range, 12-25 weeks). All internal fixators were removed after 10-12 months of operation (mean, 11.2 months). At last follow-up, the grip strength, ROMs of flexion, ulnar deviation, and radial deviation were superior to those before operation (P<0.05), no significant difference was found in ROM of extension between pre- and post-operation (t=0.229, P=0.824). There were significant differences in above indexes between affected and normal sides (P<0.05). At last follow-up, the Mayo, VAS, DASH scores were also significantly superior to those before operation (P<0.05).ConclusionFor the old scaphoid fracture and nonunion, Ni-Ti arched shape-memory alloy fixator and autologous cancellous bone grafting can obtain good effectiveness, which is an effective treatment.
Objective To evaluate the result of treating nonunion of lower segment of humerus with combination of rib flaps of cross chest and double plates. Methods From Feburary 2000 to May 2006, 21 cases of nounion of lower segment of humerus were treated. There were 13 males and 8 females with an average age of 36.5 years (range, 17-56 years). Accordingto AO classification, there were 5 cases of type A1.3, 7 cases of type B1.3, 6 cases of type B2.3, 2 cases of type B3.3, and 1 case of type C1.3. All nonunion occurred after internal fixation, which was caused by bone resorption at fracture end in 12 cases, by plates breakage in 3 cases, and by internal fixation loosening in 6 cases; including 8 cases of hypertrophic nonunion and 13 cases of atrophy nonunion without pseudoarthrosis. An average time of nonunion was 1.5 years (from 8 months to 3 years). All cases were treated with combination of rib flaps of cross chest (length, 3.0-3.5 cm) and double plates. The pedicle was divided 8 to 10 weeks after operation and all cases carried out functional exercise. Results The patients were followed up for an average time of 18.2 months (range, 1-3 years). All nounion of lower segment of humerus were healed and no radial nerve injury occurred. Primary heal ing of wound was achieved at both donor and recipient sites. Bony union was achieved in all cases after an average time of 3.5 months (range, 3-5 months) after operation. According to the the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) functional elbow index, the average score was 89.3 (range, 81.7-92.5) and the outcome was excellent in 14 cases, good in 4 cases, and poor in 3 cases, the excellent and good rate was 85.7%. Conclusion Combination of rib flaps of cross chest and double plates is an effective method of treating nonunion of lower segment of humerus.
Objective To compare the results of plate and Kirschner wire fixation in treatment of nonunion of clavicular fracture. Methods From September 1991 to January 2002, 19 patients (9 with plate and 10 with Kirschner wire) were treated. The results were evaluated by reduction, bone union time, recovery of joint function, pain, and correction of deformation. Results The follow-up time was 6-23 months with an average of 11 months. Bone union -occurred after a mean time of 11 weeks. In plate group, 7 patients gained excellent results, 1 good and1 fair. In Kirschner wire group, 3 patients gained excellent results, 3 good, 3 fair and 1 poor. The result of plate is significantly better than that of Kirschner wire fixation(Plt;0.05). Conclusion Plate fixation is a good simple method for treatment of nonunion of clavicular fracture.
ObjectiveTo review the history, current situation, and progress of augmentation plate (AP) for femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nail fixation.MethodsThe results of the clinical studies about the AP in treatment of femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nail fixation in recent years were widely reviewed and analyzed.ResultsThe AP has been successfully applied to femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nail fixation since 1997. According to breakage of the previous nailing, AP is divided into two categories: AP with retaining the previous intramedullary nail and AP with exchanging intramedullary nail. AP is not only suitable for simple nonunion, but also for complex nonunion with severe deformity. Compared with exchanging intramedullary nail, lateral plate, and dual plate, AP has less surgical trauma, shorter healing time, higher healing rate, and faster returning to society. However, there are still some problems with the revision method, including difficulty in bicortical screw fixation, lack of anatomic plate suitable for femoral shaft nonunion, and lack of postoperative function and quality of life assessment.ConclusionCompared with other revision methods, AP could achieve higher fracture healing rate and better clinical prognosis for patients with femoral shaft nonunion. However, whether patients benefit from AP in terms of function and quality of life remain uncertain. Furthermore, high-quality randomized controlled clinical studies are needed to further confirm that AP are superior to the other revision fixations.
Objective To investigate the effect of microsurgical repair of refractory bone defects and nonunion in distal humers. Methods Twelve cases of bone defects and nonunion indistal humerus wererepaired with free vascularised fibular graft and fixed with the anatomical bone plate. Of the 12 cases, 8 had pseudarthrosis, and 4 had bone defects 3-5 cm. Fibular graft ranged from 5-15 cm, 8.5 cm in average. Results After a follow-up of 3-18 months, 8.5 months in average, all cases of free vascularised fibular graft healed within 38 months. The fibular graft thickenedas time passed. Normal recessive osseous elbow joint, improvement in the inflection and extension of elbow joint, and normal revolving of antebrachium were attained. The short of limbs were corrected. Satisfactory functions of supporting and fine operation were attained. Conclusion With the support of anatomical bone plate, the fibular graft can help the recovery of joint functionand repair bone defects and nonunion as to avoid joint replacement with prosthesis.
Objective To explore the methods, fixation points, and effectiveness of staged therapy using external fixation frame in treatment of infectious nonunion near knee joint. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 60 patients with infectious nonunion near knee joint, who underwent staged therapy using external fixation frame between June 2021 and June 2024 and were followed up. There were 48 males and 12 females with an average age of 47.9 years (range, 16-70 years). The disease duration ranged from 9 months to 20 years, with a median of 14 months. Among them, 21 cases of infectious nonunion located in the distal femur, 36 cases in the proximal tibia, and 3 cases in the patella; 12 cases exhibited segmental bone defects (≥4 cm), while 48 cases presented with localized bone defects (<4 cm). Osteomyelitis was classified using the Cierny-Mader system, with 3 cases classified as type Ⅰ, 6 cases as type Ⅱ, 35 cases as type Ⅲ, and 16 cases as type Ⅳ. Preoperative C-reactive protein levels ranged from 15.1 to 55.8 mg/L (mean, 36.4 mg/L). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 35-80 mm/1 h (mean, 56.9 mm/1 h). The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score for knee joint was 69.3±17.7 and the range of motion was (70.61±40.60)°. After debridement and placement of antibiotic carriers at the first-stage operation, unilateral orbital frames (n=14), combined frames (n=27), or Ilizarov frames (n=19) were used for cross joint fixation (n=9) or joint preservation fixation (n=51). After 6-8 weeks of infection control, the bone grafting or bone transport was performed at the second-stage operation based on the type of bone defect, with internal fixation employed as an adjunct if necessary. After operation, the infection control and fracture healing were observed and the bone healing time was recorded. The knee joint function was assessed using the HSS score, and the knee joint range of motion was measured as well as the angle of motion loss. Patients were grouped according to the site of nonunion, type of external fixation frame, and fixation method. The bone healing time, change value of HSS score, and knee joint range of motion loss (difference between pre- and post-operation) were compared between groups. Results All infection markers returned to the normal range within 6 weeks after the first-stage operation. All patients were followed up 12-48 months (mean, 22.0 months) after the second-stage operation. There were 5 cases of needle tract infection during the external fixation period, and 3 cases of infection recurrence after the second-stage operation, all of which were cured after symptomatic treatment. The bone healing time was 6-18 months (mean, 11.0 months). At last follow-up, the HSS score was 88.5±7.9 and the range of motion was (61.84±40.59)°, with significant differences compared to preoperative values (P<0.05); the knee joint range of motion loss was (8.77±11.07)°. The bone healing time was significantly longer in the distal femur group than in the proximal tibia group (P<0.05), and in the unilateral orbital frames group than in the Ilizarov frames group and the combined frames group (P<0.05). The angle of motion loss was significantly larger in the Ilizarov frames group than in the unilateral orbital frames group and the combined frames group (P<0.05). The change value of HSS score was significantly higher in the cross joint fixation group than in the joint preservation fixation group (P<0.05). Conclusion During the first-stage operation, debridement is performed and antibiotic carriers are placed to control infection. External fixation frames are then precisely positioned based on the distance between the lesion and the joint surface, avoiding the infected wound while ensuring mechanical balance. During the second-stage operation, bone grafting options are selected according to the extent of bone defects to enhance the bone union. Postoperative early functional exercises of the knee joint are permitted to improve joint function.
Objective To assess the effectiveness of locking compress plate and extra cortical bone bridge fixation for treating atrophic humeral nonunion. Methods Seventeen patients with atrophic humeral nonuninon were treated with locking compress plate and extra cortical bone bridge fixation between November 2006 and June 2015. Of 17 cases, 11 were male, 6 were female, aged 24-63 years (mean, 38.2 years). Fracture located at the left side in 9 cases and at the right side in 8 cases. The mechanism of injury was traffic accident in 13 cases, falling from height in 3 cases, and heavy pound injury in 1 case. The patients underwent surgery for 1 time in 7 cases, for 2 times in 5 cases, for 3 times in 4 cases, and for 4 times in 1 case. The time from fracture to hospitalization was 10-76 months (mean, 22.6 months). The shoulder function was evaluated by Neer score, and elbow function by Mayo score. Results All incisions healed by first intention. Two cases had transient radial nerve symptoms of numbness. All patients were followed up 27.3 months on average (range, 15-60 months). Radiographic examination showed signs of bone remodeling at 6-8 weeks after operation, and formation of extra cortical bone bridge. All of them achieved bone union within 10 to 41 weeks (mean, 17.6 weeks). At last follow-up, the average Neer score was 83.36 (range, 72-96); and the shoulder function was excellent in 10 cases, good in 5, and fair in 2 with an excellent and good rate of 88.24%. And the average Mayo score was 86.52 (range, 68-100); and the elbow function was excellent in 11 cases, good in 3, and fair in 3 with an excellent and good rate of 82.35%. Conclusion The bone bridging could effectively form by extra cortical grafting technique. Atrophic humeral nonunions can be successfully treated with locking compress plate and extra cortical bone bridge fixation.