A series of 28 cases of fractures of the small tubular bones of the hand, including Bennetts fracture, were treated with the minor unilateral multifunctional external fixator. After manipulation, a hole was drilled on the proximal and distal parts of the fractured bone. Hand in functional position, the external fixator was set in place. Functional exercises were begun after the fixation. The patients were follwed up for two to six months. The average healing time was thirtyfive days. The average healing time for Bennett’s fractures was twentyeight days, and for the fractures of metacarpal bone was forty-two days. There were no deformity and complication of infection following external fixation.The functional recovery of the hands was satisfactory. The fixator had the following advantages: It was simple and had tight fixation; fractures with infection, was still indicated and could be adjusted according to the clinical purpose.
Objective To investigate the antibacterial and osteogenic capabil ities in vivo of hydroxyapatite (HA)/silver (Ag) coating. Methods HA/Ag coating (Ag qual ity percentage was 3%) and HA coating were deposited to external fixator Schanz screws. The tibial fracture model was establ ished in right hindl imb of 18 adult male Beagle dogs (weighing 15-20 kg). Thetibia was stabil ized with an external fixator and 2 Schanz screws of HA coating at proximal tibia (control group, n=18) and HA/Ag coating at distal tibia (experimental group, n=18), and every screw incision was infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Infection in screw holes and the changes of bone-screw interface were observed by wound grading and X-ray films. Results In control group, wounds infection became worse with time (χ2=13.492, P=0.001), while in experimental group, no obvious change was observed (χ2=0.208, P=0.901). The wound grading of experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group at 1, 2, and 3 weeks (P lt; 0.05). Laser scanning confocal microscope showed that there was bacterial adhesion on the surface of screws in 2 groups, viable becteria mainly in control group and non-viable becteria mainly in experimental group. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation results of the fractured sclerous tissue section showed that an obvious transparent boundary between screw and bone in control group, but no obvious boundary in experimental group. The osseointegration ratios were 76.23% ± 15.54% in control group and 93.42% ± 5.53% in experimental group, showing significant difference (t=8.843, P=0.000). The SEM observation showed that HA/Ag coating integrated with new bone and the surface of implant was filled with new bone in experimental group; obvious interspace was seen between the HA coating and new bone in control group. Conclusion HA/Ag coating has good antibacterial and osteogenic capabil ities, so it can take effects in preventing infection in screw holes and loosening of implants.
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanical stability of the three-dimensional (3-D) external fixator for osteoporotic fracture so as to provide the biomechanical basis for clinical application.
MethodsForty-five fresh frozen adult tibial specimens were selected to rapidly prepare the extracorporal tibia osteoporotic fracture models, and were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=15). Fractures were fixed with 3-D external fixators (3-D external fixators group), intramedullary nails (intramedullary nail group), and plate (plate group) respectively. Five specimens randomly from each group were used to do axial compression test, three-point bending test, and torsion test with microcomputer control electronic universal testing machine, then the mechanical parameters were calculated.
ResultsIn the axial compression test, the displacement of 3-D external fixator group and intramedullary nail group were shorter than plate group, showing significant differences (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between 3-D external fixator group and intramedullary nail group (P>0.05). In the three-point bending test and torsion test, the deflection and the torsional angle of 3-D external fixator group and intramedullary nail group were smaller than plate group, showing significant differences (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between 3-D external fixator group and intramedullary nail group (P>0.05).
ConclusionThe 3-D external fixator can fix fracture three-dimensionally from multiple plane and it can offer strong fixing. It is biomechanically demonstrated to be suitable for osteoporotic fracture.
【摘要】 目的 探討多功能外固定支架治療老年股骨粗隆間骨折的療效和優點。 方法 2007年7月-2009年10月，采用外固定架治療28例老年股骨粗隆間骨折患者，其中男11例，女17例；年齡74~91歲，平均81歲。致傷原因:摔傷25例，交通事故傷3例。骨折按Evans分型:Ⅰ型1例，Ⅲ型15例，Ⅳ型12例。受傷至手術時間2~7 d。 結果 術后患者切口均Ⅰ期愈合，無延遲愈合及其他早期并發癥發生。28例均獲隨訪，隨訪時間5~14個月，平均9個月。X線片示骨折全部愈合，愈合時間11～24周，平均17周。無髖內翻和下肢短縮等并發癥發生。術后3個月，采用Harris評分進行功能評價，優18例，良7例，差3例，優良率89.3%。出現輕度針道感染7例，中度5例，重度2例，針道感染率50%；合并糖尿病者2例出現中度針道感染，2例出現重度針道感染。重度者經局部換藥、應用抗生素后愈合，后又反復出現，2~3個月取釘后愈合。無骨感染發生，患者均未出現褥瘡，合并癥無明顯加重。 結論 外固定架治療粗隆間骨折，手術創傷小，操作簡便，符合生物力學原理，可以早期離床活動及早期骨折愈合。【Abstract】 Objective To explore the effectiveness and advantages of multifunctional external fixator for the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly patients. Methods Twenty-eight patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures including 11 males and 17 females receiving external fixator treatment between July 2007 and October 2009 were enrolled in this study. Their age ranged from 74 to 91 years old with the average to be 81 years. Twenty-five patients had the disease because of ground falls, and the other 3 were due to traffic accidents. Based on the Evans Type classification, there were 1 Type-Ⅰ case, 15 Type-Ⅲ cases, and 12 Type-Ⅳ cases. The time between injury and surgery was ranged from 2 to 7 days. Results All incisions of the patients healed during phase Ⅰ without delayed healing or other early complications. Follow-up was done to all the patients for 5 to 14 months, averaging 9 months. X-ray showed all fractures healed, and the healing time ranged from 11 to 24 weeks with an average of 17 weeks. No varus or leg shortening or other complications occurred. Three months after surgery, based on the Harris hip score for functional evaluation, there were 18 excellent cases, 7 good cases and 3 poor cases with a excellent and good rate of 89.3%. Mild pin tract infection was detected in 7 patients, moderate in 5, and severe in 2 with a total pin tract infection rate of 50%. Two patients with diabetes suffering from severe pin tract infection recovered by local medication and antibiotics, but the infection reoccurred repeatedly till the healing nails were taken. No bone infection of ulcers occurred, and the existing complications were not aggravated. Conclusion Treatment of intertrochanteric fractures with multifunctional external fixator is minimally invasive, simple, and consistent with biomechanical principles, which can promote early activities out of bed and early fracture healing for the patients.
Forty cases of intertrochanteric fractures of femur were treated with percutaneous nonmetallic external fixator. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years, and the fractures were all united without coxa vara or shirtening deformities. There was no mortality in this series. This method had the advantages ofbeing simple, save time and effort, less traumatic and early ambulation. The design of the apparatus tallied with the biomechanics of the neck and shaft of the femur.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of mini external fixators combined with bone cement spacers in the treatment of gouty hallux rigidus with bone defects. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 21 male patients diagnosed with gouty hallux rigidus and bone defects, treated with mini external fixators combined with bone cement spacers between January 2017 and December 2024. The age ranged from 35 to 72 years, with an average age of 61.1 years. The disease duration was 12-35 years, with an average of 18.2 years. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) gout score ranged from 16 to 23, with an average of 18.6. All 21 cases of hallux rigidus were classified as grade 3 according to the Coughlin classification. Clinical efficacy was evaluated preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain, the dorsiflexion angle of first metatarsophalangeal joint in a weight-bearing state, and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Radiological evaluation was performed by measuring the hallux valgus angle (HVA) using weight-bearing X-ray films and the tophi volume using dual-energy CT. Results The operation time ranged from 30 to 56 minutes, with an average of 42.05 minutes. The intraoperative blood loss varied between 10 and 30 mL, averaging 20 mL. All 21 patients were followed up 6-15 months, averaging 9.3 months. One patient experienced delayed wound healing due to the liquefaction of residual tophus; no other patients exhibited complications such as wound or pin tract infections, skin necrosis, fractures, or metastatic metatarsalgia. Six patients experienced acute gout attacks 4-7 days postoperatively, which were effectively alleviated through symptomatic treatment. At 6 months after operation, patients showed significant improvements in HVA, tophus volume, VAS scores, AOFAS scores, and the dorsiflexion angle of first metatarsophalangeal joint compared to preoperative values, with significant differences (P<0.05). ConclusionMini external fixator combined with a cement spacer is an effective treatment for gouty hallux rigidus with bone defects.
