[Research progress of medial buttress plate assisted fixation for femoral neck fractures in young adults]

[Characteristics of femoral neck fractures in young and middle-aged adults based on fracture mapping technology]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the characteristics of femoral neck fractures in young and middle-aged adults by means of medical image analysis and fracture mapping technology to provide reference for fracture treatment.

METHODS

A clinical data of 159 young and middle-aged patients with femoral neck fractures who were admitted between December 2018 and July 2019 was analyzed. Among them, 99 patients were male and 60 were female. The age ranged from 18 to 60 years, with an average age of 47.9 years. There were 77 cases of left femoral neck fractures and 82 cases of right sides. Based on preoperative X-ray film and CT, the fracture morphology was observed and classified according to the Garden classification standard and Pauwels' angle, respectively. Mimics19.0 software was used to reconstruct the three-dimensional models of femoral neck fracture, measure the angle between the fracture plane and the sagittal plane of the human body, and observe whether there was any defect at the fracture end and its position on the fracture surface. Through reconstruction, virtual reduction, and image overlay, the fracture map was established to observe the fracture line and distribution.

RESULTS

According to Garden classification standard, there were 6 cases of type Ⅰ, 61 cases of type Ⅱ, 54 cases of type Ⅲ, and 38 cases of type Ⅳ. According to the Pauwels' angle, there were 12 cases of abduction type, 78 cases of intermediate type, and 69 cases of adduction type. The angle between fracture plane and sagittal plane of the human body ranged from -39° to +30°. Most of them were Garden type Ⅱ, Ⅳ and Pauwels intermediate type. The fracture blocks were mainly in the form of a triangle with a long base and mainly distributed below the femoral head and neck junction area. Twenty-six cases (16.35%) were complicated with bone defects, which were mostly found in Garden type Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Pauwels intermediate type, located at the back of femoral neck and mostly involved 2-4 quadrants. The fracture map showed that the fracture line of the femoral neck was distributed annularly along the femoral head and neck junction. The fracture line was dense above the femoral neck and scattered below, involving the femoral calcar.

CONCLUSION

The proportion of displaced fractures (Garden type Ⅲ, Ⅳ) and unstable fractures (Pauwels intermediate type, adduction type) is high in femoral neck fractures in young and middle-aged adults, and comminuted fractures and bone defects further increase the difficulty of treatment. In clinical practice, it is necessary to choose treatment plan according to fracture characteristics. Anatomic reduction and effective fixation are the primary principles for the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged adults.

[Effectiveness analysis of medial buttress plate augmented hollow lag screws fixation in combination with sartorius pedicled iliac flap for the treatment of femoral neck fractures in young adults]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of medial buttress plate augmented hollow lag screws fixation in combination with sartorius pedicled iliac flap for the treatment of femoral neck fractures in young adults.

METHODS

The clinical data of 11 young adult patients with femoral neck fractures between February 2013 and February 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 7 males and 4 females with a mean age of 45 years (range, 32-58 years). Fractures were caused by falling from height in 6 cases, by traffic accident in 4 cases, and by sports injury in 1 case. There were 7 cases in the left hip and 4 cases in the right hip. The mean Pauwels angle was 64° (range, 55°-75°). All patients were treated by medial buttress plate augmented hollow lag screws fixation and sartorius pedicled iliac flap. The X-ray film of pelvis, lateral X-ray film of hip joint, CT scan and three-dimensional reconstruction of hip joint were taken after operation to assess fracture healing and position of the internal fixators. The postoperative hip function was evaluated according to the Harris score.

RESULTS

All the incisions healed by first intention, and no complication such as incision infection and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury happened. Re-examination on the second day after operation showed that reduction and fixation of fractures was good. All patients were followed up 18-36 months (mean, 29 months). All fractures achieved bony union. The time of bony union was 16-23 weeks, with an average of 18.2 weeks. One patient (9.1%) got osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) at 30 months after operation. At last follow-up, Harris score was used to evaluate hip joint function, 9 cases were excellent, 1 case was good, 1 case was fair, and the excellent and good rate was 90.9%.

CONCLUSION

Medial buttress plate augmented hollow lag screws fixation in combination with sartorius pedicled iliac flap for the treatment of femoral neck fractures in young adults has the advantage of strong biomechanical stability and can effectively improve the blood supply of femoral head and neck, which subsequently reduce the incidence of ONFH. However, the surgical indication should be fully considered.

Functional outcomes and perceived quality of life following fixation of femoral neck fractures in adults from 18 to 69 years using dynamic hip screw (DHS) and an additional anti-rotation screw- a retrospective analysis of 53 patients after a mean follow-up time of 4 years

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the study was to explore the functional outcome after osteosynthesis with dynamic hip screw (DHS) for adults up to 69 years, and identify potential predictive indicators of either positive impact on quality of life or increase the incidence of complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Out of 85 patients 53 could be contacted, 36 were followed up clinically and radiologically, 17 patients could be interviewed by phone. All fractures have been treated by osteosynthesis with DHS and one additional anti-rotation screw. Functional outcome and quality of life were measured with use of Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF 12). The mean values were compared to two random sample t tests and ANOVA for independent random samples. The connection between an aim variable and selected variables of influence was examined by regression analysis.

RESULTS

The mean HHS showed good functional results with 88 points (median 95.6). Good or excellent results were achieved in 80.4% of cases. The current investigation also delivers promising results with regard to the complication rate: avascular femoral head necrosis (AVN) in 11.3% of cases (n = 6), 9.4% showed non-union (n = 5) and cut out (n = 3) occurred in 5.7%. A secondary conversion to hip arthroplasty (n = 7) had a strong negative impact on everyday life (HHS = 63.3 points, Physical Health Summary Score SF-12 = 34.9 points).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study are promising showing uncomplicated fracture healing in 84.9% of intracapsular femoral neck fractures and a low incidence of complications after osteosynthesis with DHS in patients aged up to 69 years. The quality of the fracture reduction achieved in the axial view and a small tip apex index after an osteosynthetically treated femoral neck fracture with DHS are significant predictive indicators for complications. Diabetes, age > 65 years, osteoporosis, ASA III may also be significant factors for worse results, but showed no statistical significance in our analysis.

[Comparison of femoral neck system and inverted triangle cannulated screws fixations in treatment of Pauwels typle femoral neck fractures]

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of the femoral neck system (FNS) and inverted triangle cannulated screws (ITCS) for the treatment of Pauwels type Ⅲ femoral neck fractures.

Methods

The clinical data of 59 patients with Pauwels type Ⅲ femoral neck fractures treated between May 2019 and November 2020 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were divided into FNS group (28 cases) and ITCS group (31 cases) according to the different internal fixation. There was no significant difference in gender, age, affected side, body mass index, cause of injury, smoking history, alcohol abuse history, Pauwels angle, Garden classification, AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification, and time from injury to operation between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, incision length, intraoperative blood loss, extra assisted reduction procedures (Kirschner wire prying reduction or open reduction), hospitalization stay, and early complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. Garden index and Haidukewych score were used to evaluate fracture reduction. Fracture healing time, lateral thigh irritation, time of partial or total weight-bearing postoperatively, shortening length and degree of femoral neck, change of caput-collum-diaphysis (CCD) angle (the difference of CCD angle between immediate after operation and last follow-up), incidence of osteonecrosis of femoral head and revision surgery were recorded and compared between the two groups. Hip joint function were evaluated by Harris score.

Results

The operation time of FNS group was significantly shorter than ITCS group, and the incision length was significantly longer than ITCS group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss, assisted reduction, Garden index, Haidukewych score, and hospitalization stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). All the incisions healed by first intention. There were 2 deep vein thrombosis in the FNS group and 1 pulmonary infection and 1 deep vein thrombosis in the ITCS group. No significant difference was found in the incidence of early postoperative complications (7.1% vs. 6.5%) between the two groups ( P=1.000). Patients in both groups were followed up 3-14 months, and there was no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups ( t=-0.553, P=0.582). The fracture healing time, Harris score, and the partial weight-bearing time after operation of the FNS group were significantly better than those of the ITCS group ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in total weight-bearing time between the two groups ( Z=-1.298, P=0.194). No lateral thigh irritation was found in the FNS group, while 10 patients in the ITCS group had lateral thigh irritation, and the incidence between the two groups (0 vs. 32.3%) was significant ( P=0.001). At last follow-up, the shortening length and degree of femoral neck and the change of CCD angle in FNS group were significantly less than those in ITCS group ( P<0.05). There was no patient with osteonecrosis of femoral head or reoperation in the FNS group, while 4 patients in the ITCS group underwent reoperation (including 2 cases of osteonecrosis of the femoral head). However, the incidences (0 vs. 6.5%; 0 vs.12.9%) between the two groups were not significant ( P=0.493; P=0.114).

Conclusion

Using FNS to treat Pauwels type Ⅲ femoral neck fracture is simple as well as able to reduce the shortening of the femoral neck and the change of the CCD angle. Also, FNS is conducive to the recovery of hip joint function, which should be considered as a new choice for the treatment of young femoral neck fracture patients.