CT and MR arthrograms demonstrate a consistent communication between the tibiofemoral and superior tibiofibular joints

Communications between the tibiofemoral and superior tibiofibular joints (STFJ) have been thought to be infrequent. Previous anatomic studies have revealed these in only 10–64% of cases. In this study, the authors reviewed the results of direct knee arthrography performed in 17 consecutive patients from January 2010 to July 2011 with various knee or STFJ‐related pathologies. In all 17 consecutive cases, the authors demonstrated evidence of knee and STFJ communications. The authors believe that high‐resolution imaging arthrography, especially with physiological loading and delayed imaging, can demonstrate these communications more consistently than unenhanced anatomic studies. Clin. Anat. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Urethral advancement in hypospadias with a distal division of the corpus spongiosum: Outcome in 158 cases

ObjectiveOutcome of urethral mobilization and advancement (Koff procedure) in hypospadias with a distal division of the corpus spongiosum and redo cases with distal urethral failure.Materials and methodsFrom January 1999 to November 2012, 158 children with a distal hypospadias (115 primary cases and 43 redo cases) underwent surgical repair using the Koff technique with a median age at surgery of 21 months (range, 12–217 months).ResultsMean follow-up was 19 months (median, 14 months). Thirty patients (19%) presented with a complication (13.9% in primary cases and 32.5% in redo surgery) mostly at the beginning of our experience. Meatal stenosis was the most common one (3.5% in primary case, 6% overall). Ventral curvature (>10°), which is considered as a possible long-term iatrogenic complication of the Koff procedure, was not found in patients with fully grown penis except in one redo patient who had, retrospectively, an inadequate indication for this type of repair. Of 158 patients, 33 reached the age of puberty (>14 years old) with a mean follow-up of 34 months, only one presented with a significant ventral curvature.ConclusionUrethral mobilization and advancement is a reasonable alternative for anterior hypospadias and distal fistula repair in selected cases. It has two major advantages compared to other techniques: it avoids any urethroplasty with non-urethral tissue and eliminates dysplastic tissues located beyond the division of the corpus spongiosum, which may not grow at the same pace as the rest of the penis. Significant iatrogenic curvature in fully grown penis is not supported by this series.     

新型防旋支具在中西医结合保守治疗胫腓骨骨折中的应用

[目的]探讨新型防旋支具在中西医结合保守治疗胫腓骨骨折中的临床应用效果。[方法]2015年9月—2017年1月行保守治疗的胫腓骨骨折患者64例,随机分为试验组(32例)和对照组(32例)。两组患者入院后均行跟骨牵引术,中医正骨手法复位联合小夹板固定,辅以中药外敷内服。试验组术后采用新型防旋支具固定患肢,防止足部外旋;对照组术后采用传统的方法防止足部外旋。定期进行疼痛视觉模拟评分法(VAS法)评分,应用Kolcaba舒适状况量表(GCQ)检测舒适度改善状况,计算机断层扫描(CT)检查测量骨折旋转移位角度,随访记录骨折愈合时间及并发症情况,采用Johener-Wruhs评分系统对患肢功能进行评价。[结果]试验组骨折旋转移位角度小于对照组,牵引术后第1、3、7天的VAS疼痛评分均低于对照组,舒适度GCQ总分和其中的生理、心理精神维度单项得分均高于对照组,骨折愈合时间短于对照组,肢体功能Johner-Wruhs评分优良率高于对照组。两组间差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。[结论]中西医结合保守治疗胫腓骨骨折过程中应用新型防旋支具,可以有效维持足部中立位,纠正成角及旋转畸形,辅助复位,减轻疼痛,提高患者舒适感受,缩短骨折愈合时间,有利于患肢功能恢复,且不增加并发症的发生,便于护理,安全可靠。     

Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis using posterolateral approach for distal tibial and tibial shaft fractures

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the posterolateral minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) method for managing distal tibial or tibial shaft fractures with severe anterior and medial soft tissue injuries.Materials and methodsFive consecutive patients with three distal tibial and two tibial shaft fractures (three open fractures) at a level-1 trauma and tertiary referral center were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were definitively treated and followed to bone union. Main outcome was measured by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle–hindfoot score, complications, and bone union on radiographs.ResultsThe average follow-up period was 15.8 months (range, 12–24 months). The average AOFAS score was 88.2 (range, 81–90). There were no complications, such as incision breakdown, deep infection, or impingement of the flexor hallucis longus tendon. Bone union was achieved in all cases.ConclusionsPosterolateral MIPO is a feasible option when treating these fractures, especially in cases with severe anterior and medial soft tissue injuries.     

Functional outcomes and complications after treatment of distal radius fracture in patients sixty years and over: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

AimThis network meta-analysis aims to compare functional outcomes and complications between conservative treatment and surgery for distal radius fractures in patients aged 60 years and over.MethodsWe searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of conservative treatment and surgery for distal radius fractures in patients aged 60 years and over. Primary outcomes included grip strength and overall complications. Secondary outcomes included Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores, Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) scores, wrist range of motion and forearm rotation, and radiographic assessment. All continuous outcomes were assessed using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and binary outcomes were assessed using odds ratio (OR) with 95% CIs. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was used to determine a hierarchy of treatments. Cluster analysis was performed for grouping treatments based on the SUCRA values of primary outcomes.ResultsFourteen RCTs were included to compare conservative treatment, volar lockedplate (VLP), K-wires fixation, and external-fixation. VLP outperformed conservative treatment for 1-year and minimum 2-year grip strength (SMD; 0.28 [0.07 to 0.48] and 0.27 [0.02 to 0.53], respectively). VLP yielded the optimal grip strength at 1-year and minimum 2-year follow-up (SUCRA; 89.8% and 86.7%, respectively). In a subgroup analysis of patients aged 60 to 80 years old, VLP outperformed conservative treatment in DASH and PRWE scores (SMD, 0.33 [0.10, 0.56] and 0.23 [0.01, 0.45], respectively). In addition, VLP had the fewest complications (SUCRA = 84.3%). Cluster analysis suggested that VLP and K-wire fixation were more effective treatment groups.ConclusionEvidence to date demonstrates that VLP provides measurable benefits in grip strength and fewer complications to those 60 years of age and over, and that benefit is not reflected in current practice guidelines. There is a subgroup of patients where K-wire fixation outcomes are similar to those of VLP; defining this subgroup may yield substantial societal benefits.     

The role of post-operative radiographs in predicting risk of flexor pollicis longus tendon rupture after volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures – A case control study

Background and aimVolar plating of distal radius fractures is one of the common procedures performed in trauma surgery. Flexor pollicis longus (FPL) rupture has been described as complication following volar plating of distal radius fractures.The aim of our study was to investigate the possible relation between parameters measured on post-operative radiographs and the occurrence of FPL ruptures.Materials and methodsThis was a case control study. The post-operative radiographs of 11 FPL rupture, and 22 non-FPL rupture patients were reviewed with respect to fracture reduction and plate position and the various parameters were calculated by five independent people.Logistic regression was used to examine the importance of the variables.ResultsWe identified two significant factors to predict FPL rupture after volar plating of distal radial fractures. These were radial tilt and plate distance from the joint line. The odds ratio of ruptures was 0.74 (95% CI 0.57–0.95) for every degree of radial tilt <25° and 0.50 (95% CI 0.28–0.88) for every millimetre that the distal end of the plate was away from the volar lip of the distal radius at the wrist joint.ConclusionPost-operative radiographs could help us predict FPL rupture after distal radius volar plating. The findings also highlight the need for good fracture reduction and thoughtful placement of the volar plate intraoperatively to minimise the risk of FPL tendon rupture.