Effect of cannulated screws with deep circumflex iliac artery-bone grafting in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young adults

Experimental analysis of femoral head intraosseous vascular anastomosis in the treatment of porcine subcapital femoral neck fractures

Introduction

Femoral neck fractures are challenging injuries associated with a compromised blood supply to the femoral head, leading to a high risk of avascular necrosis and poor clinical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of femoral head intraosseous vascular anastomosis in the treatment of porcine sub-capital femoral neck fractures.

Methods

Ten Landrace pigs were used as experimental animal models. The femoral head was completely removed after femoral neck sub-cephalic fracture. It was fixed on the medial side of the knee joint, and the blood supply to the femoral head was reconstructed by anastomosing the femoral head vessels. One week later, blood flow in the femoral head was observed by borehole, digital subtraction angiography examination, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Further, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling tests were performed to detect pathological changes in the femoral head.

Results

After one-week, digital subtraction angiography of the femoral head revealed a blood circulation rate of 70 %, and the blood seepage rate of the borehole was 80 %. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling test results showed that necrosis of bone marrow cells in the experimental group was significantly improved compared to that in the control group.

Discussion

This study highlights the potential benefits of femoral head intraosseous vascular anastomosis in the treatment of porcine sub-capital femoral neck fractures. Further research and clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings and to explore the translational potential of this technique in human patients.

Research hotspots and trends in internal fixation of femoral neck fractures from 2010 to 2022: A 12-year bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND

This study endeavors to scrutinize the hotspots and trends in the literature concerning the internal fixation of femoral neck fractures (INFNF) through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. Notably, this analytical process encompasses both qualitative and quantitative components.

METHODS

The present study has utilized the Science Citation Index-Expanded from the Web of Science Core Collection to extract datasets ranging from January 1, 2010, to August 31, 2022. Quantitative analysis was carried out using sophisticated analytical tools such as the Bibliographic Item Co-Occurrence Matrix Builder, the Online Analysis Platform of Literature Metrology, and CiteSpace software. Further, the major Medical Subject Headings terms and their subheading counterparts associated with INFNF were extracted from the PubMed2XL website using the corresponding PMIDs. These Medical Subject Headings terms were employed in conducting a co-word clustering analysis. Ultimately, the Graphical CLUstering TOolkit program was utilized to execute a co-word biclustering analysis to discern the prevailing hotspots in this domain.

RESULTS

Between January 1, 2010, and August 31, 2022, a total of 463 publications were issued on INFNF. The INJURY-INTERNAL JOURNAL OF THE CARE OF THE INJURED stood out as the most extensively perused journal in this area. Notably, China emerged as the foremost contributor to publishing articles within the last 12 years, followed by the United States and Canada. McMaster University was identified as the leading institution in INFNF research, while Bhandari M emerged as the most prolific author in this field. Moreover, the study identified five notable research hotspots within the domain of INFNF.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has identified five critical areas of research in the field of INFNF. It suggests that the primary focus of future research is likely to center on advancing internal fixation methods and robot-assisted instrumentation for femoral neck fractures. As such, this study provides valuable insights into future research directions and ideas for those working in this field.

The Risk of Avascular Necrosis Following the Stabilization of Femoral Neck Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head often requires surgical treatment and is often associated with femoral neck fractures. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of recent research on the risk of AVN following the stabilization of fractured femoral neck with implants in PubMed. We assessed the effect of age on AVN incidence among patients aged > 50 and younger, depending on fracture type, Garden stage, Pouwels degree, Delbet stage, and age category. We followed PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies were defined as research articles describing real-world studies reporting on the risk of AVN following primary surgical fracture stabilization with implants, published between 1 January 2011 and 22 April 2021. Fifty-two papers met the inclusion criteria, with a total of N = 5930 with surgically managed fractures. The pooled mean AVN incidence was significantly higher among patients with displaced fractures (20.7%; 95% CI: 12.8−28.5%) vs. those with undisplaced fractures (4.7%; 95% CI: 3.4−6.0%). No significant correlation was observed between AVN incidence weighted by sample size and time interval from injury to surgery (p = 0.843, R2 = 0.01). In conclusion, the risk of AVN following femoral neck fractures was generally high, especially in patients with displaced fractures. The time from injury to surgery did not correlate with AVN incidence.

Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head-Overview and Current State of the Art

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is caused by disruption of the blood supply to the proximal femur. The alterations in the blood supply may occur following a traumatic event or result from a non-traumatic cause. Femoral neck fracture and hip dislocation and associated surgical procedures, corticosteroid therapy, and alcohol abuse frequently lead to AVN development. Type of fracture (displaced or undisplaced) and time between injury and surgery are the most critical factors in assessing the risk of developing AVN. Diagnosis of AVN can be established based on patients’ complaints, medical history, and radiographic findings. There is no consensus on the treatment of patients with AVN to date. Non-surgical methods are dedicated to patients in the early pre-collapse stages of the disease and consist of pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy. Surgery is recommended for patients with advanced disease.

Medial Buttress Plate and Allograft Bone-Assisted Cannulated Screw Fixation for Unstable Femoral Neck Fracture with Posteromedial Comminution: A Retrospective Controlled Study

Objective

To investigate the outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation combined with medial buttress plate (MBP) and allograft bone‐assisted cannulated screw (CS) fixation for patients with unstable femoral neck fracture with comminuted posteromedial cortex.

Methods

In a retrospective study of patients operated on for unstable femoral neck fractures with comminuted posteromedial cortex from March 2016 to August 2020, the clinical and radiographic outcomes of 48 patients treated with CS + MBP were compared with the outcomes of 54 patients treated with CS only. All patients in the CS + MBP group were fixed by three CS and MBP (one‐third tubular plates or reconstructive plates) with bone allografts. The surgery‐related outcomes and complications were evaluated, including operative time, blood loss, union time, femoral head necrosis, femoral neck shortening, and other complications after the operation. The Harris score was evaluated at 12 months after the operation.

Results

All patients were followed up for 12–40 months. The average age of patients in the CS‐only group (54 cases, 22 females) and CS + MBP group (48 cases, 20 females) was 48.46 ± 7.26 and 48.73 ± 6.38 years, respectively. More intraoperative blood loss was observed in the CS + MBP group than that of patients in CS‐only group (153.45 ± 64.27 vs 21.86 ± 18.19 ml, t = 4.058, P = 0.015). The average operative time for patients in the CS + MBP group (75.35 ± 27.67 min) was almost double than that of patients in the CS‐only group (36.87 ± 15.39 min) (t = 2.455, P < 0.001). The Garden alignment index of patients treated by CS + MBP from type I to type IV was 79%, 19%, 2%, and 0%, respectively. On the contrary, they were 31%, 43%, 24% and 2% for those in the CS‐only group, respectively. The average healing times for the CS‐only and CS + MBP groups were 4.34 ± 1.46 and 3.65 ± 1.85 months (t = 1.650, P = 0.102), respectively. Femoral neck shortening was better in the CS + MBP group (1.40 ± 1.73 mm, 9/19) than that in the CS‐only group (4.33 ± 3.32 mm, 24/44). Significantly higher hip function was found in the CS + MBP group (85.60 ± 4.36 vs 82.47 ± 6.33, t = 1.899, P = 0.06). There was no statistical difference between femoral head necrosis (4% vs 11%, χ² = 1.695, P = 0.193) and nonunion (6% vs 9%, χ² = 0.318, P = 0.719).

Conclusion

For unstable femoral neck fractures with comminuted posteromedial cortex, additional MBP combined with bone allografts showed better reduction quality and neck length control than CS fixation only, with longer operative time and more blood loss.

The effect of anteromedial support plate with three cannulated screws in the treatment of Pauwels type III femoral neck fracture in young adults

PURPOSE

This study is aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of anteromedial support plate combined with three cannulated screws on Pauwels type III femoral neck fractures in young adults.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 27 patients with Pauwels type III femoral neck fracture treated by anteromedial support plate combined with three cannulated screws. The results of fracture healing and complications for all patients were assessed by postoperative imaging examination. The Harris hip score was used to evaluate the functional outcome of the hip at the last follow-up.

RESULTS

The fracture union was achieved in 25 patients (92.6%). However, two patients required reoperation (two for nonunion). Early implant failure occurred in one patient, neck shortening in one patient and coxa vara in one patient. The excellent or good outcome of the Harris hip score was 96% for the 25 patients with satisfactory fracture union.

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary results indicate that anteromedial support plate combined with three cannulated screws is a good alternative in the treatment of Pauwels type III femoral neck fractures in young adults with high union rate and low incidence of complications including nonunion and avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Vascularized Fibular Grafting in Treatment of Femoral Neck Nonunion: A Prognostic Study Based on Long-Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and prognostic factors predicting success of revision surgery with free vascularized fibular grafting (FVFG) for treatment of femoral neck nonunion.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled patients who underwent revision surgery with FVFG between January 2001 and January 2013 in a tertiary hospital in China. A total of 98 patients with a minimum 5-year follow-up were included for analysis. The criteria for FVFG failure were conversion to hip arthroplasty, recommendation for a hip arthroplasty, or a Harris hip score of <80 points. Demographic information, the preoperative neck shortening ratio (NSR), the fixation method, and postoperative radiographic parameters including the postoperative NSR and neck-shaft angle (NSA) were recorded for prognostic analysis.

RESULTS

At an average of 9.8 ± 3.5 years (range, 3 to 17 years) postoperatively, the overall success rate of this surgical procedure was 77% (75 of 98). The success and failure groups had no significant differences in age, fixation method, interval between initial fixation and revision surgery, or postoperative NSA. The success group had a significantly higher NSR than the failure group both preoperatively (77.8% versus 62.4%, p < 0.001) and postoperatively (87.6% versus 78.4%, p = 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed an optimal cutoff for preoperative NSR of 60% to predict the outcome. Patients with a preoperative NSR of >60% had a success rate of 91% (68 of 75).

CONCLUSIONS

Revision surgery with FVFG and internal fixation is an effective and important option for treating nonunion of the femoral neck in young patients without severe preoperative shortening and neck resorption (preoperative NSR of >60%).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.