Anatomical Variations of the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve and Iatrogenic Injury After Autologous Bone Grafting From the Iliac Crest

Traumatic bilateral acetabular fracture secondary to high-energy trauma in healthy adults

BACKGROUND

Bilateral acetabular fracture is a very rare presentation among the trauma patients, as the pattern and the degree of the forces required to fracture both acetabula is very unique. The primary purpose of this study is to report a series of adult patients presenting with post-traumatic bilateral acetabular fracture without any history of pathological or metabolic bone disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, 18 cases of traumatic bilateral acetabular fracture were included. There was predominance of both column (four patients on left and six on right) followed by anterior column (two patients left and four on right) and posterior wall (three patients left and right). They were treated surgically through open reduction and internal fixation. All cases were followed up for at least 13 months. Matta's criteria were used for radiological evaluation on plain radiographs. Functional outcome was evaluated using the Merle d'Aubigne and postel score at final follow-up.

RESULTS

No patients were lost during the follow-up period; there was one case of surgical site infection. There were three cases of postoperative osteoarthritis, one case of heterotrophic ossification, one case of persistent sciatic nerve palsy and one case of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve palsy. The radiological evaluation according to Matta's criteria revealed anatomic reduction in 12 patients, imperfect reduction in three patients while other three patients had poor reduction. According to modified Merle d'Aubigne and Postel score, 10 cases were rated as excellent, five cases as good and three cases presented fair (one case) to poor (two cases) results.

CONCLUSION

We report an unusual case series of bilateral acetabular fracture successfully managed surgically with good clinical outcome. With the increasing incidence of route traffic accidents, such cases would probably be recurrent in the upcoming years.

How to Approach a Hip PARTI With Confidence: Ultrasound-Guided Parallel Transverse in-Plane Technique for Intra-articular Hip Interventions

The "parallel transverse in-plane" technique for ultrasound-guided intra-articular hip interventions ensures needle visualization for the entire procedure, with the needle clearly shown entering the joint. With the widely described longitudinal in-plane approach, needle visualization can be poor, necessitating reliance on tissue distortion, which can reduce user confidence and safety. The parallel transverse in-plane approach is invaluable in those with anterior thigh skin breakdown and where anterior access is contraindicated. The approach also allows a broad width of the synovium to be traversed and is therefore well suited to synovial biopsy. This short Technical Innovation highlights this alternative approach to hip joint intervention.

[Application of modified three longitudinal and five transverse method in perforating branch location before anterolateral thigh perforator flap repair]

Objective

To explore the feasibility and accuracy of modified three longitudinal and five transverse method in locating perforating branches before anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTP) repair.

Methods

Between January 2019 and December 2019, 41 patients with skin and soft tissue defects were repaired with ALTP. There were 31 males and 10 females. The age ranged from 18 to 61 years, with an average of 32 years. The soft tissue defects were caused by trauma in 38 cases, and the time from injury to operation was 3-7 days, with an average of 4 days. The wounds left after excision of scar contracture deformity because of burn in 3 cases. Soft tissue defects located at upper limbs in 16 cases and lower limbs in 25 cases. The size of soft tissue defects ranged from 10 cm×4 cm to 25 cm×12 cm. Before operation, zonesⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳwere formed on the anterolateral thigh by modified three longitudinal and five transverse method. The perforating branches were detected in these four zones by Doppler ultrasound, and the skin flaps were designed according to the wound area. The perforating branches were explored during operation, and the distribution and types of perforating branches in each zone and the relationship between perforating branches and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve were observed. The ALTP with the size of 12 cm×5 cm to 30 cm×10 cm was used to repair the wound, and the donor site was sutured directly or repaired with the flap.

Results

A total of 117 perforating branches were detected in 41 patients before operation, and 111 perforating branches were found during operation, with a false positive rate of 5%. The probability of perforating branches in zonesⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ were 56%, 73%, 76%, and 66% respectively, and the false positive rates were -9%, 7%, 16%, and 4%, respectively. All perforating branches located near the trunk of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, especially in posterolateral area. There were only 1 perforating branch in 6 cases, 2 perforating branches in 12 cases, 3 perforating branches in 10 cases, and 4 perforating branches in 13 cases. The main types of perforating branches in zonesⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ were transverse perforating branches, oblique perforating branches, descending perforating branches, and descending perforating branches, respectively. Partial distal necrosis occurred in 2 cases and complete necrosis occurred in 1 case after operation, and the wounds were repaired with skin grafts. The remaining 38 flaps survived successfully, and the wounds and the incisions of donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3 to 12 months, with an average of 6 months. The appearance and texture of the skin flap were acceptable, and linear scar remained in the donor site.

Conclusion

It can simply locate and distinguish the perforating branches and better protect the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve by using the modified three longitudinal and five transverse method before ALTP repair.

The Stoppa combined with iliac fossa approach for the treatment of both-column acetabular fractures

Background

At present, the choice of surgical approach for both-column fractures is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of the Stoppa combined with iliac fossa (S+IF) approach in the treatment of both-column fractures.

Methods

In this retrospective case series, 76 patients were included in the study from 2014 to 2018. They were divided into two groups according to the surgical approaches. The differences of intraoperative blood loss, operative time, quality of reduction, clinical outcome, and perioperative complications were compared between the two groups.

Results

All patients had undergone the IL approach or the S+IF approach. The average operative time was 156.2 min (110~210 min) in group I and 126.5 min (80~180 min) in group II (P < 0.001). The average blood loss in group I was 784.1 ml, while the average blood loss in group II was 625.3 ml (P = 0.007). According to Matta’s criteria, 28 cases obtained anatomic reduction and 12 cases got imperfect reduction in group I; 21 cases obtained anatomic reduction and 7 cases got imperfect reduction in group II (P > 0.05). The clinical outcome (excellent to good) was 66% in group I versus 69% in group II (P > 0.05). The complication rates were 18.2% in group I and 12.5% in group II (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

As a minimally invasive surgical approach, the S+IF approach is a valuable alternative to the IL approach for the treatment of both-column acetabular fractures if these two anterior approaches can achieve fracture exposure, reduction, and fixation.

Traction table versus double reverse traction repositor in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures

A novel reduction technique of intramedullary nailing (IMN) for femoral shaft fractures was introduced, and in this study, its therapeutic effect was compared with patients treated with the traditional traction table. From November 2012 to August 2015, the patients with femoral shaft fractures fixed with anterograde IMN were reviewed. Seventy-four patients treated with the traction table and forty-eight patients treated with the double reverse traction repositor (DRTR) met the inclusion criteria of this study. The surgical time, blood loss, open reduction rate and complications were reviewed in this study. The fracture healing was assessed by the radiographs conducted at each follow-up. The functional outcome (hip and knee flexion, Harris Hip Score, and Lysholm knee score) was evaluated at the final follow-up. Average surgical time, blood loss, hip and knee flexion, and Harris Hip Score showed no difference (P > 0.05) between the two groups. However, the DRTR was superior to the traction table in fracture healing, Lysholm knee score, open reduction and complications rate (P < 0.05). Thus, we concluded that minimally invasive treatment of femoral shaft fractures could be obtained with the DRTR.

Minimally invasive treatment of both-column acetabular fractures through the Stoppa combined with iliac fossa approach

Both-column fractures are the most complicated group of acetabular fractures. Although great progress of surgical technique has been made, the choice of approach is controversial. All the fragments could be exposed and managed through combined ilioinguinal and Kocher-Langenbeck (IL+KL) approaches, which has been widely used to conduct the both-column fractures. However, the clinical popularization may be restricted for high rate of complication. Most internal area of the hemipelvis could be exposed through Stoppa combined with iliac fossa (S+IF) approach. The majority of both-column fractures were managed through IL+KL approaches or S+IF approach in our institution. The comparison of the two surgical methods was done in this study. The purpose is to examine whether S+IF approach could achieve the satisfactory reduction and fixation for both-column fractures.

"Anterior subcutaneous pelvic internal fixator (INFIX), Is it safe?" A cadaveric study

INTRODUCTION

Anterior pelvic internal fixator (INFIX) is used to treat unstable pelvic ring injuries. Nerve injury complications with this procedure have been reported.

OBJECTIVES

This anatomic study attempted to identify structures at risk after application of INFIX.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

INFIX was applied in fifteen fresh, frozen, anatomical specimens using polyaxial pedicular screws and subcutaneous rods. Surgical dissection was done to identify the structures at risk including the femoral nerve (FN), femoral artery (FA), femoral vein (FV) and the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) related to which are potentially affected by the implant.

RESULTS

All structures at risk were closer to the rod than to the pedicular screw. Measurements were made between the rod and the structures at risk. The LFCN was an average of 13.49±1.65mm (95% CI 12.871-14.103) from the lateral end of the rod. The FN was an average of 12.43±3.42mm (95% CI 11.151-13.709), the FA was an average of 12.80±3.67 (95% CI 11.430-14.173) and the FV was an average of 13.48±3.73 (95% CI 12.082-14.871) below the rod. No direct compression of the rod to the structure at risk was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The femoral nerve is the structure most at risk of compression by the INFIX rod. Careful surgical technique is required in every step of this surgery. We suggest using polyaxial screws and recommend that during screw insertion the surgeon should leave some space between the screw and rectus fascia. The the rod should be trimmed as short as possible to reduce LFCN irritation.