[Effectiveness comparison of two minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis techniques for proximal humeral shaft fractures]

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of lateral approach minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) and helical plate MIPO in the treatment of proximal humeral shaft fractures.

Methods

The clinical data of patients with proximal humeral shaft fractures who underwent MIPO via lateral approach (group A, 25 cases) and MIPO with helical plate (group B, 30 cases) between December 2009 and April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There was no significant difference in gender, age, injured side, cause of injury, American Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) fracture classification, and time from fracture to operation between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy times, and complications were compared between two groups. The angular deformity and the fracture healing were evaluated according to anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films postoperatively. The modified University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score for shoulder and the Mayo Elbow Performance (MEP) score for elbow were analyzed at last follow-up.

Results

The operation time in group A was significantly shorter than that in group B ( P<0.05). However, the intraoperative blood loss and fluoroscopy times presented no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up 12-90 months, with an average of 19.4 months. There was no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups ( P>0.05). In terms of the quality of postoperative fracture reduction, there were 4 (16.0%) and 11 (36.7%) patients with angulation deformity in group A and group B, respectively, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of angulation deformity ( χ 2=2.936， P=0.087). All fractures achieved bony union, there was no significant difference in fracture healing time between group A and group B ( P>0.05); delayed union occurred in 2 cases and 1 case in group A and group B, respectively (healing time was 30, 42, and 36 weeks after operation, respectively). In group A and group B, 1 patient had superficial infection of incision, respectively; 2 patients and 1 patient had subacromial impact after operation, respectively; and 3 patients in group A had symptoms of radial nerve paralysis of different degrees; all of them were cured after symptomatic treatment. The overall complication incidence of group A (32%) was significantly higher than that of group B (10%) ( χ 2=4.125, P=0.042). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in the modified UCLA score and MEPs score between the two groups ( P>0.05).

Conclusion

Both lateral approach MIPO and helical plate MIPO can achieve satisfied effectiveness in the treatment of proximal humeral shaft fractures. Lateral approach MIPO may be beneficial to shorten the operation time, while the overall complication incidence of helical plate MIPO is lower.

[Application of groin flap combined with medial plantar artery perforator flap for degree - defects of multiple fingers]

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of groin flap combined with medial plantar artery perforator flap (MPAP) for degree Ⅲ-Ⅳ defects of multiple fingers.

Methods

Between January 2018 and June 2019, 12 patients with degree Ⅲ-Ⅳ defects of multiple fingers caused by crushing were admitted. There were 9 males and 3 females with a median age of 29 years (range, 16-42 years). The mean interval between the injury and admission was 3 hours (range, 1-9 hours). The injured fingers of 7 cases were index and middle fingers, 4 cases were middle and ring fingers, and 1 case was index, middle, and ring fingers. All fingers were taken thorough debridement and covered by the vacuum sealing drainage device during the emergency operation. The mean interval between the debridement and flap repairing was 18 hours (range, 12-36 hours). During the first-stage operation, the iliac bone graft was used to reconstruct bone frame, and the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint from the foot was transferred as the digital PIP joint, then the thin groin flap and MPAP were tailored to cover the dorsal and palmar defects, respectively. The size of the groin flap was 7.0 cm×4.5 cm-14.0 cm×9.0 cm, and the size of the MPAP was 8.0 cm×4.5 cm-14.0 cm×6.5 cm. The abdominal donor site was directly sutured, and the foot was repaired with full-thickness skin grafting. The flaps were separated into the finger shape at the second-stage.

Results

All the flaps survived, and the wounds healed by first intention; the incisions in the donor site healed by first intention, and the skin grafts survived completely. All patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 16 months). At last follow-up, the injured finger was similar to the contralateral one in terms of texture, appearance, and color. The mean two-point discrimination was 8 mm (range, 6-10 mm), and the sensate level recovered to the S 3-S 4. According to the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ), the reconstructed hand function was excellent in 8 cases and good in 4 cases. There was no complication in the donor sites.

Conclusion

The degree Ⅲ-Ⅳ defects of multiple fingers were repaired by the groin flap and MPAP, and the reconstructed fingers can perform good texture and motion with being sensate, with less sacrifice on the foot.

[Effectiveness of groin flap with external oblique aponeurosis for tendon and skin defects of dorsal foot]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of groin flap with external oblique aponeurosis in repair of tendon and skin defects of dorsal foot.

METHODS

Between October 2016 and January 2020, 12 patients with compound tissue defects of the dorsal foot caused by trauma were treated. There were 9 males and 3 females, with a median age of 42 years (range, 32-65 years). The size of the skin defects ranged from 8 cm×5 cm to 12 cm×8 cm. All wounds were accompanied by extensor tendon injury, including 6 cases of extensor hallucis longus tendon defect, 5 cases of extensor digitalis longus tendon defect, and 3 cases of extensor digitalis longus tendon and extensor digitorum brevis defects. The interval between injury and admission was 1-6 hours (mean, 3 hours). After admission, the wounds were thoroughly debrided, and the groin flap with external oblique aponeurosis was used to repair the skin and tendon defects in the second stage. The size of skin flap ranged from 10 cm×6 cm to 13 cm×9 cm, and the size of the external oblique aponeurosis ranged from 5.5 cm×3.0 cm to 8.0 cm×5.0 cm. The wounds at donor sties were sutured directly.

RESULTS

All flaps survived completely without significant complications. All incisions of the recipient and donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 16-24 months (mean, 18 months). The flaps were satisfactory in appearance and soft in texture. At last follow-up, 9 cases were excellent and 3 cases were good according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal joint scale criteria. The toe function was satisfactory. The line scar was left without hernia or other morbidity on the donor site.

CONCLUSION

The groin flap with the external oblique aponeurosis can repair the tendon and skin defects of the dorsal foot, with concealed donor site, easy dissection and adjustable thinness, as well as the enough tough aponeurosis.

[Analysis of the influence of tibial component posterior slope angle on short- and mid-term effectiveness of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of tibial component posterior slope angle (TCPSA) on the short- and mid-term effectiveness of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).

METHODS

The clinical data of the patients with anterior medial knee osteoarthritis (KOA) treated by UKA between May 2014 and May 2019 were retrospectively analysed. There were 10 males and 45 females with a median age of 68 years (range, 49-83 years). The body mass index (BMI) was 27.63-52.26 kg/m ², with an average of 40.04 kg/m ². There were 28 cases of left knee, 21 cases of right knee, and 6 cases of double knees. The disease duration was from 7 months to 12 years, with an average of 4.33 years. Measurements of posterior tibial slope (PTS) and TCPSA were performed on the knee joint X-ray films of patients before operation and at last follow-up, respectively. According to the postoperative TCPSA, patients were divided into TCPSA<4° group (group A), 4°≤TCPSA<9° group (group B), and TCPSA>9° group (group C) with the quartile method. Baseline data such as age, gender, BMI, and affected side were compared among the 3 groups, as well as the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and range of motion (ROM) before and after operation.

RESULTS

All 55 patients were followed up 17-72 months, with an average of 36 months. No complication such as prosthesis loosening, infection, tibial plateau collapse, and dislocation of the meniscus pad occurred. The preoperative PTS was (7.38±3.37)°, and the postoperative TCPSA was (6.25±3.22)°, showing no significant difference ( t=1.815, P=0.074). According to postoperative TCPSA, there were 12 knees in group A, 32 in group B, and 17 in group C. There was no significant difference in age, gender, BMI, affected side, and preoperative HSS scores, ROM, and VAS scores among the 3 groups ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the HSS scores, ROM, and VAS scores of the 3 groups significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the difference of the above indicators before and after operation among 3 groups ( P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The patients with anterior medial KOA may have good short- and mid-term effectiveness after UKA. Among the recommended range of TCPSA, there is no significant influence on the postoperative short- and mid-term effectiveness. Long-term effectiveness need to extend the follow-up time and expand the sample size for research verification.