Objective To investigate the effects of preoperative calcaneal traction versus plaster splint fixation on the prognosis of unstable ankle fractures. Methods Patients with unstable ankle fractures admitted to the first People’s Hospital of Shuangliu District / West China (Airport) Hospital Sichuan University between April 2021 and March 2023 were selected. The enrolled patients were randomly divided into the experimental group (calcaneal traction fixation) and the control group (plaster splint) by using a random number table method. The preoperative waiting time, surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, number of complications, fracture healing time, length of hospital stay, total hospitalization costs, and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores for the ankle joint were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 100 patients were included. Among them, there were 48 cases in the experimental group and 52 cases in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, and Denis-Weber typing (P>0.05). The patients were followed up for 12-26 months, with an average of (18.6±4.5) months. All ankle fractures clinically healed. The experimental group reported two cases of post-traumatic arthritis; the control group had one case of post-traumatic arthritis, one case of preoperative tension blisters with epidermal necrosis, and one case of superficial infection at the surgical incision postoperatively. The preoperative waiting time in the experimental group was significantly shorter than that of the control group [(7.35±3.23) vs. (10.04±5.34) days; P<0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference in the surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, clinical fracture healing time, length of hospital stay, and total hospitalization costs between the two groups (P>0.05). Additionally, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores at postoperative months 1, 3, 6, 12, and at the last follow-up showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions In conclusion, for unstable ankle fractures, there is no significant difference in clinical efficacy between preoperative calcaneal traction and plaster splint fixation. Calcaneal traction may reduce preoperative waiting time and lower the risk of soft tissue complications.
Objective To evaluate the anticoagulant effects of low molecular weight heparin calcium versus fondaparinux sodium (FPX) after intertrochanteric fracture surgery using thromboelastography (TEG). Methods The patient who was hospitalized at the First People’s Hospital of Shuangliu District, requiring surgical intervention for intertrochanteric fracture was selected between September 2020 and September 2022. By using a random number table grouping method, the included patients were divided into the FPX group and the low molecular weight heparin calcium group. All patients underwent TEG was performed after admission, and on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, and color doppler ultrasound of the lower limb vessels was conducted after admission and on postoperative day 7. The occurrence of deep vein thrombosis and TEG indicators were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 80 patients were included, with 40 patients in each group. There was no statistically significant difference in age, gender, and body mass index between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of DVT between the FPX group and the low molecular weight heparin calcium group before surgery (9 vs. 7 cases) and after surgery (4 vs. 8 cases) (P>0.05). The fondaparinux group demonstrated a significantly higher K value compared to the low molecular weight heparin calcium group (P<0.05). Conversely, the MA value and CI value in the fondaparinux group were significantly lower than those in the low molecular weight heparin calcium group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the other TEG parameters between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The TEG findings suggest that the anticoagulant effect of FPX is more effective than that of low molecular weight heparin calcium following surgical treatment of intertrochanteric fractures.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of intravenous combined with topical administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing blood loss after intramedullary fixation of intertrochanteric femoral fractures by a prospective controlled trial.MethodsPatients with intertrochanteric femoral fractures, who were admitted for intramedullary fixation between June 2015 and July 2019, were selected as the study subjects, 120 of whom met the selection criteria. The patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: intravenous administration group (group A, 41 cases), topical administration group (group B, 40 cases), and combined administrations group (group C, 39 cases). In group A, 4 patients occurred deep vein thrombosis of lower extremity before operation, 1 patient died of myocardial infarction on the 5th day after operation, and 1 patient developed severe pulmonary infection after operation. In group B, 2 patients occurred deep vein thrombosis of lower extremity before operation and 1 patient had iatrogenic fracture during operation. In group C, 3 patients occurred deep vein thrombosis of lower extremity before operation and 1 patient developed pulmonary infection before operation and gave up surgical treatment. All the above patients were excluded from the study, and the remaining 107 cases were included in the analysis, including 35, 37, and 35 cases in groups A, B, and C, respectively. There was no significant difference in gender, age, height, body mass, injury cause, fracture side and type, the interval between injury and operation, and preoperative hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit between groups (P>0.05). Intraoperative TXA (15 mg/kg) was injected intravenously in group A at 30 minutes before operation, and 1 g of TXA was injected into the medullary cavity in group B after the proximal femur was grooted and before the intramedullary nail implantation, respectively. TXA was given in group C before and during operation according to the administration methods and dosage of groups A and B. Total blood loss, maximum Hb decrease, blood transfusion rate, operation time, fracture healing time, and the incidence of complications were recorded and compared between groups. The hip joint function were evaluated by Harris score. ResultsThere was no significant difference in operation time between groups (P>0.05). The total blood loss, the maximum Hb decrease, and the blood transfusion rate in group B were the highest, followed by group A and group C, and the differences between groups were significant (P<0.05). No incision infection or pulmonary embolism occurred in the 3 groups after operation. The incidence of anemia in group C was significantly lower than that in groups A and B, the difference was significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of subcutaneous hematoma, aseptic exudation, and deep vein thrombosis of lower extremity between groups (P>0.05). All patients in the 3 groups were followed up 8-35 months, with an average of 16.2 months. The fracture healing time of groups A, B, and C was (6.12±1.78), (5.89±1.63), and (5.94±1.69) months, respectively, and there was no significant difference between groups (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the Harris scores of the hip joints in groups A, B, and C were 83.18±7.76, 84.23±8.01, and 85.43±8.34, and the difference was not significant (P>0.05). ConclusionPreoperative intravenous injection combined with intraoperative topical application of TXA can effectively reduce blood loss and blood transfusion after intramedullary fixation of femoral intertrochanteric fracture, without increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis, and the efficacy is better than that of intravenous injection or topical administration.
