Assessing vascular status and risk of latent ischemia with ankle fracture: a case report and algorithm for treatment

Anterior Tibial to Dorsalis Pedis Bypass to Manage Acute Ischemia Attributed to Pilon Fracture

Pilon fractures of the distal tibia are usually the result of a high-energy trauma and can affect seriously the arterial vasculature carrying an increased risk of amputation at the malleolar level or higher. Such cases represent a challenge for the orthopedic surgeons and a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory in order to salvage the threatened limb. We present an unusual case of a closed pilon fracture with injury of all tibial vessels leading to acute limb threatening ischemia. The patient was treated successfully with external fixation and a short tibial-pedal bypass with use of an autologous reversed saphenous vein graft. This example dictates how a distal leg fracture can be dramatic and that awareness of vascular examination coupled with high suspicion of vascular damage can be limb-saving. Multidisciplinary approach is warranted since the topology and complexity of the ankle lesions necessity staged orthopedic reconstructions with tibio-distal bypass and appropriate skin coverage of the distal anastomosis.

Roles of Trauma CT and CTA in Salvaging the Threatened or Mangled Extremity

Extremity arterial injuries account for up to 50% of all arterial traumas. The speed, accuracy, reproducibility, and close proximity of modern CT scanners to the trauma bay have led to the liberal use of CT angiography (CTA) when a limb is in ischemic jeopardy or is a potential source of life-threatening hemorrhage. The radiologist plays a critical role in the rapid communication of findings related to vessel transection and occlusion. Another role of CT that is often overlooked involves adding value to surgical planning. The following are some of the key questions addressed in this review: How does CTA help determine whether a limb is salvageable? How do concurrent multisystem injuries affect decision making? Which arterial injuries can be safely managed with observation alone? What damage control techniques are used to address compartment syndrome and hemorrhage? What options are available for definitive revascularization? Ideally, the radiologist should be familiar with the widely used Gustilo-Anderson open-fracture classification system, which was developed to prognosticate the likelihood of a functional limb salvage on the basis of soft-tissue and bone loss. When functional salvage is feasible or urgent hemorrhage control is required, communication with trauma surgeon colleagues is augmented by an understanding of the unique surgical, endovascular, and hybrid approaches available for each anatomic region of the upper and lower extremities. The radiologist should also be familiar with the common postoperative appearances of staged vascular, orthopedic, and plastic reconstructions for efficient clinically relevant reporting of potential down-range complications. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2022.

Secondary below-knee amputation following open reduction and internal fixation of a closed pilon fracture: A case report and algorithm for management

RATIONALE

Despite significant advances in surgical techniques and implants, the clinical outcome of high-energy pilon fractures remains unsatisfactory, which continues to represent numerous challenges for orthopedic trauma surgeons.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 62-year-old man injured his right ankle after falling from a 3 m high place. There were no open wounds or other complications.

DIAGNOSES

According to the X-ray and CT scans, the patient was diagnosed with pilon fracture (type AO-43-C2) and lateral malleolus fracture of the right limb.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was initially treated with calcaneal traction upon admission to a primary hospital. Five days after the injury, the patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the fracture and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) for wound closure.

OUTCOMES

The patient presented to our hospital on the 9th day after the first ORIF operation because of critical ischemia of the affected foot and distal lower leg. Blood circulation did not improve after a series of salvage treatments, and below-knee amputation was ultimately performed.

LESSONS

This is a rare case of complete ischemic necrosis following ORIF surgery of a closed pilon fracture due to iatrogenic damage. Standardized treatment that strictly follows the guidelines, instructions, or expert consensus should be promoted in this kind of complicated pilon fracture.

An Unexpected Intra-operative Encounter of Anterior Tibial Vessels Entrapment in the Fracture of Tibial Pilon: A Case Report and Literature Review

We present a rare case of a comminuted tibial pilon fracture with entrapment of anterior tibial vessels in fracture site, which was unexpectedly discovered intra-operatively. Following safe extrication of vessels and fracture fixation through minimally invasive approach, the patient recovered uneventfully. Phenomenon of anterior neurovascular entrapment should be kept in mind while dealing with high-energy tibial pilon fractures. Astute clinical examination, judicious use of imaging modality, and strict intra-operative vigilance are key to successful outcome.

Longer Operative Time Is Independently Associated With Surgical Site Infection and Wound Dehiscence Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of the Ankle

Background: Little is known regarding the association of operative time with adverse events following foot and ankle surgery. This study tests whether greater operative time is associated with the occurrence of adverse events following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the ankle. Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for cases of ankle ORIF (primary CPT codes 27766, 27769, 27792, 27814, 27822, 27823) performed during 2005-2016. Operative time was tested for association with the occurrence of adverse events with controls for baseline characteristics and primary CPT code. Results: A total of 20 591 procedures met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The average (±SD) operative time was 75.7 (±37.3) minutes and varied by baseline characteristics and primary CPT code. After controlling for these factors, a 15-minute increase in operative time was associated with an 11% increase in risk for developing surgical site infection (SSI; relative risk [RR]: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.06-1.16), 20% for wound dehiscence (RR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.11-1.29), 10% for anemia requiring transfusion (RR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.04-1.17), 60% for cerebrovascular accident (RR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.17-2.18), 14% for unplanned intubation (RR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.03-1.26), and 7% for extended length of hospital admission (RR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.05-1.09). Conclusion: Operative time is linearly and independently associated with the risks for SSI, wound dehiscence, and other adverse events following ORIF of the ankle. Efforts should be implemented to safely minimize operative duration without compromising the technical components of the procedure. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV.

[The treatment of Tillaux bone block in the Ruedi-Allgower type Pilon fractures]

Objective

To analyze the importance and effectiveness of Tillaux bone block in Ruedi-Allgower type Ⅲ of Pilon fracture surgery.

Method

Twenty-one patients with Pilon fractures with Tillaux dislocation were treated between February 2010 and September 2013. There were 17 males and 4 females, aged from 28 to 68 years with an average age of 42.9 years. The causes of injury included falling from height in 13 cases, falls injury in 4 cases, crush injury in 2 cases, and sprained injury in 2 cases. X-ray film and CT examination showed that all 21 patients had fibula fracture and Tillaux bone block had obvious displacement. According to AO/OTA classification, there were 3 cases of type C1.2, 1 case of type C1.3, 10 cases of type C2, and 7 cases of type C3. The duration from injury to operation ranged from 4 to 31 days, with an average of 10 days. All cases of Pilon fracture were treated with open reduction and plate internal fixation. Steel plate or screw was used to fixation for Tillaux block; allograft bone graft was selected for compression of fracture.

Results

There were 2 cases of skin necrosis at the corner of wound after operation, and the wound healed after corresponding treatment; the wound healed at first intention in the other 19 cases. The effect of surgical reduction was evaluated by Burwell-Chamley imaging scoring system within 72 hours after operation, there were 19 cases of anatomical reduction and 2 cases of general reduction. All the 21 patients were followed up 18-48 months, with an average of 24.9 months. No complication such as nerve injury, loosening of internal fixation, or periprosthetic fracture was found during follow-up. All fractures obtained bone healing, which lasted from 4 to 8 months, with an average of 6 months. The ankle and hindfoot scores of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) were used to evaluate the ankle and hindfoot function at 1 year after operation or at last follow-up, the results were excellent in 13 cases, good in 6 cases, and fair in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 90.5%. Internal fixator was removed from 19 patients at 15-19 months after operation. There were 17 cases of joint hyperplasia and 4 cases of osteoarthritis. All joint mobility was restored. The functional recovery of the ankle joint was evaluated according to the Olerud-Molander ankle fracture score standard, the results were good in 6 cases, fair in 8 cases, and poor in 7 cases at postoperative full weight training; and after 1 year of full weight training, the results were excellent in 10 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 6 cases, and poor in 2 cases.

Conclusion

The Tillaux bone block is a reliable marker for the reduction of complex Pilon fractures. The reconstruction of the Tillaux can improve the effectiveness of complex Pilon fractures.

Aplastic Posterior Tibial Artery in the Presence of Trimalleolar Ankle Fracture Dislocation Resulting in Below-the-Knee Amputation

We present an interesting, but unfortunate, case of an 86-year-old female who sustained a trimalleolar ankle fracture dislocation that resulted in below-the-knee amputation after open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report describing popliteal variants that ultimately resulted in critical limb ischemia and below-the-knee amputation after foot and ankle trauma. The anatomic variation altered the expected outcome from a relatively straightforward surgical case. We introduce the previously described lower extremity Allen test and describe how it can be a useful adjunct in the initial physical examination of lower extremity trauma. The ability to identify abnormal distal perfusion to the foot could provide enough insight to warrant evaluating the patient with angiography or computed tomography angiography.