ObjectiveTo investigate the application effect of wire reduction technique guided by minimally invasive wire introducer in the treatment of difficult-reducing intertrochanteric fractures.MethodsBetween April 2016 and April 2018, 30 patients with intertrochanteric fractures who had difficulty in closed reduction under the traction bed were treated. There were 17 males and 13 females, aged from 60 to 93 years (mean, 72 years). The causes of injury included falls in 22 cases and traffic accidents in 8 cases. The fractures were classified according to AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification: 12 cases of type A1, 12 cases of type A2, and 6 cases of type A3. Intramedullary nail incision and self-made minimally invasive wire introducer were used to assist reduction of intertrochanteric fracture, and then intramedullary nail internal fixation was performed.ResultsThe operation time was 30-70 minutes, with an average of 45 minutes. The intraoperative blood loss was 100-210 mL, with an average of 160 mL. One case died of cerebrovascular accident at 3 months after operation; the remaining 29 cases were followed up 6-18 months, with an average of 8.3 months. Postoperative DR reexamination showed that all patients had a good reduction in the fracture end, no retraction, fracture displacement, hip valgus deformity, and other serious complications occurred. The fracture was completely healed and the healing time was 3-8 months, with an average of 6 months. At 3 months after operation, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 1-3, with an averge of 1.7. According to Harris functional score of hip joint, 26 cases were excellent and 3 cases were good.ConclusionFor the difficult-reducing intertrochanteric fractures, minimally invasive wire introducer is used to insert steel wire into the incision of head and neck nail for assisted reduction, which can achieve satisfactory reduction results and improve the effectiveness of intertrochanteric fracture.
Objective To explore the safety and effectiveness of the “talus home technique (THT) ” in the surgery of pronational open ankle fractures (POAF). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 14 patients with POAF admitted between January and December 2023 who met the selection criteria. There were 7 males and 7 females; age ranged from 26 to 58 years, with a median age of 53 years. Injury causes included 9 cases of traffic accident injury, 3 cases of fall from hight injury, and 2 cases of crush injury. There were 5 cases of type Ⅱ, 6 cases of type ⅢA, and 3 cases of type ⅢB according to Gustilo classification; and 6 cases of pronation-abduction grade Ⅲ and 8 cases of pronation-external rotation grade Ⅳ according to Lauge Hansen classification. Emergency first-stage debridement of the ankle joint was performed, followed by second-stage open reduction and internal fixation surgery. The THT was used through a limited incision on the lateral malleolus to restore the height of the lateral malleolus, rotational alignment, and anatomical relationship of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis (DTFS). Wound healing was observed postoperatively. At 4 months postoperatively, weight-bearing anteroposterior, lateral, and mortise view X-ray films and CT scans of both ankles were reviewed to measure the medial clear space (MCS), tibiofibular clear space (TFCS), distal fibular tip to lateral process of talus (DFTL), and anterior/posterior syndesmosis distances of DTFS, and the quality of reduction of ankle fractures was evaluated. Ankle joint function was assessed using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, and active dorsiflexion/plantar flexion range of motion were recorded at last follow-up. Results After second-stage internal fixation, 8 patients achieved wound healing by first intention, 1 case had skin edge necrosis, 2 cases had local skin necrosis, 1 case had extensive medial soft tissue defect, and 2 cases developed medial wound infection with sinus formation. All 14 patients were followed up 13-24 months (mean, 16.8 months). Postoperative X-ray films showed 1 case of delayed union of the lateral malleolus, which healed after bone grafting at 12 months; the remaining 13 cases achieved clinical union at 3-8 months (mean, 5 months). At 4 months postoperatively, X-ray films and CT examination showed no significant differences in MCS, TFCS, DFTL, and anterior/posterior syndesmosis distances of DTFS between the healthy and affected sides (P>0.05), with no poor DTFS reduction. AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score ranged from 80 to 95, with an average of 87.7; ankle range of motion ranged from 10° to 25° in dorsiflexion, with an average of 19.64°; plantar flexion ranged from 32° to 50°, with an average of 41.21°. Conclusion THT is safe and effective in POAF surgery. It can restore lateral malleolar height and rotational alignment, enhance DTFS reduction quality, and deliver satisfactory short-term functional recovery of the ankle.