Low-intensity electromagnetic and mechanical modulation of bone growth and repair: are they equivalent?

 Signals from both electromagnetic fields (EMF) and ultrasound (US) have a clinically significant effect upon bone repair. Both modalities are now a common part of the orthopedist's armamentarium for the care of delayed union, nonunion, and fresh fractures. Dynamization or controlled weight bearing also enhances bone repair. Consideration of the dosimetry of both EMF and US modalities suggests a possible unifying mechanism for the bioeffects from EMF, US, and strain-generated potentials (SGP) signals based on the time-varying electric field, E(t), associated with each type of stimulus. The E(t) field is directly induced with EMF devices and indirectly induced via the streaming potentials associated with the mechanical movement of ionic fluids within bone caniculi or directly past cell surfaces from US and SGP signals. It is shown that both electrically and mechanically induced E(t) have common waveform characteristics at the treatment site and thus can deliver similar doses of electrical stimulation. It is proposed that the time-varying endogenous electric field, E(t), from a time-varying change in the mechanical environment of healing or remodeling bone, can act as a dose-dependent growth stimulus. Thus, the primary messenger affecting cellular activity is E(t), suggesting that bone repair or remodeling may be interchangeably modulated using mechanical (including US) or electromagnetic signals. Received: December 8, 2001     

Effect of Interlocking Mode on the Outcomes of Exchange Nailing for the Treatment of Aseptic Femoral Shaft Nonunion

BackgroundExchange nailing is a standard treatment for femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nailing. However, substantial uncertainty and controversy remain regarding the mode of interlocking fixation. This study aimed to compare the success rate and time to union of exchange nailing based on interlocking modes.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed all consecutive patients who underwent exchange nailing for aseptic femoral shaft nonunion between February 2000 and February 2021. Patients who underwent exchange nailing using the dynamically locked mode and statically locked mode constituted the dynamic group and static group, respectively. We compared the success rates of the index surgery and the time to union between the groups and measured the extent of interlocking screw migration on the dynamic oblong hole in the dynamic group.ResultsThe dynamic group and static group comprised 17 patients and 18 patients, respectively. All patients in the dynamic group achieved bone union, whereas 5 patients in the static group did not and underwent additional intervention. The success rate of the index surgery was significantly higher in the dynamic group than in the static group (100% vs. 72.2%, p = 0.045). Four of the 5 failed unions in the static group achieved bone union after dynamization. The median time to union was significantly shorter in the dynamic group than in the static group (6.0 months [range, 4.0–6.0] vs. 12.0 months [range, 3.7–21.7], p = 0.035). In the dynamic group, 3 of 17 patients exhibited interlocking screw migration ranging from 1.1 to 4.1 mm.ConclusionsExchange nailing with dynamic mode yields a higher success rate and shorter time to union in aseptic femoral shaft nonunion than that with static mode, without the risk of excessive shortening.     

手术治疗四肢骨折后骨不连263例

目的回顾性分析四肢骨折后骨不连的发生原因及手术治疗结果。方法1996年5月～2005年8月共收治263例四肢骨折后骨不连患者。骨不连部位：股骨近端13例,股骨干57例,胫骨81例,肱骨51例,尺桡骨44例,锁骨5例,髋臼2例,舟骨3例,距骨4例,其它3例。本组患者全部采用手术治疗,其中交锁髓内钉固定157例,钢板螺钉固定72例,外固定架固定34例。植骨方法：单纯自体松质骨移植189例,自体松质骨混合其它材料移植57例,带血管蒂的游离骨瓣移植10例,自体骨髓移植4例,骨加压延长术3例。结果本组患者发生骨不连的主要原因为应力干扰和局部血供差,其次为感染、骨缺损及骨折复位不良、对位差、骨折间隙过大。242例患者获平均14．3个月(4～48个月)随访。242例患者均获骨性愈合,骨折愈合时间平均为5．3个月(3～18个月)。其中220例患者(90．9%)肢体功能优,无跛行等后遗症；22例患者(9．1%)遗留邻近关节活动受限、肢体短缩及跛行等许发症。结论骨不连的发生原因是多方面的,如果在治疗骨折时足够重视,多数骨不连可以避免。骨不连采用手术重新固定加自体植骨可获得良好疗效。     

分叉交锁髓内钉治疗肱骨干骨折不愈合的疗效分析

[目的]探讨分叉交锁髓内钉治疗肱骨干骨折不愈合的疗效。[方法]自2000年1月～2004年11月，用分叉交锁髓内钉治疗肱骨干骨折不愈合25例，均取出原内固定物，顺行插入分叉交锁髓内钉，术中同时行自体松质骨植骨。[结果]20例得到随访，随访时间为10～26个月，所有病例4～10个月均骨性愈合，无切口感染及骨髓炎的发生。[结论]分叉交锁髓内钉内固定能有效控制不良的剪应力，可提供牢靠固定，并发症少，是治疗肱骨干骨折不愈合的理想方法。     

带血管骨皮瓣移植治疗胫骨感染性骨不连

[目的]回顾总结带血管骨皮瓣移植治疗胫骨感染性骨不连的方法和疗效。[方法]从2002年8月~2004年8月,应用单边外固定架稳定骨折端,同时行带血管骨皮瓣移植治疗18例胫骨感染性骨不连,男15例,女3例,年龄18~51岁,平均34岁。清创后胫骨缺损3~8 cm,软组织缺损4 cm×3 cm~18 cm×9 cm。14例行带血管髂骨皮瓣移植修复,4例行带血管肩胛骨皮瓣移植修复,术后随访8~30个月,平均17个月。[结果]18例骨皮瓣全部成活,胫骨及软组织缺损Ⅰ期修复,外固定架固定牢固,获得骨性愈合时间8~13个月,平均10个月,3例出现外固定架钉道感染,1例发生取髂骨处疼痛。[结论]带血管骨皮瓣移植联合外固定架固定是治疗胫骨感染性骨不连行之有效的方法,Ⅰ期解决骨及软组织缺损的问题,促进骨的愈合。     

重建钢板与克氏针固定治疗锁骨骨不连的对比研究

目的比较重建钢板与克氏针固定治疗锁骨骨折骨不连的疗效. 方法 1991年9月～2002年1月采用两种材料固定治疗19例锁骨骨不连,男9例,女10例,年龄34～75岁.病程4～10个月,平均5.4个月.其中,重建钢板组9例,克氏针组10例.根据复位质量、骨愈合时间、肩关节功能、外观畸形、局部有无疼痛及体力劳动等情况评定疗效. 结果 19例均获随访6～23个月,平均11个月.骨愈合时间9～14周,平均11周.重建钢板组:优7例,良1例,可1例;克氏针组:优3例,良3例,可3例,差1例.重建钢板组优于克氏针组(P＜0.05). 结论重建钢板固定是治疗锁骨骨折骨不连的有效方法.     

Preventing delayed union after distal shortening oblique osteotomy of metatarsals in the rheumatoid forefoot

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the surgical methods to prevent delayed union after the distal shortening oblique osteotomy of the lesser metatarsals in the rheumatoid forefoot.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included 107 patients. The patients were classified into the following four groups, each of which represented the addition of a surgical technique to reduce postoperative delayed union: 1st group: original surgical method; 2nd group: a normal saline was dripped on the oscillating saw; 3rd group: the incised periosteum was sutured; 4th group: the osteotomy sites were ligated. The frequencies of delayed union were assessed.

Results: Delayed union occurred in 21 of the 127 metatarsals (16.5%) in the 1st group, 13 of the 99 metatarsals (13.1%) in the 2nd group, 5 of the 94 metatarsals (5.3%) in the 3rd group, and 6 of the 136 metatarsals (4.4%) in the 4th group. The frequency of delayed union decreased significantly with improved surgical procedures (p?=?0.0003).

Conclusions: A combination of techniques that included dripping normal saline on the oscillating saw, ligating the osteotomy sites, and suturing the periosteum at the osteotomy sites decreased the frequency of delayed union after the distal shortening oblique osteotomy of the metatarsals in rheumatoid arthritis patients.     

The missing effect of human recombinant Bone Morphogenetic Proteins BMP-2 and BMP-7 in surgical treatment of aseptic forearm nonunion

IntroductionIn this cohort study, the surgical revision concept of open compression plating and autologous bone grafting with and without additional application of BMP for treatment of aseptic ulna and/or radius shaft nonunion was evaluated. The purpose was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcome, and to determine any difference in osseous healing, range of time between revision surgery and bone healing, and postoperative complications between the cohort groups.Patients and methodsBetween 01/2005 and 03/2015, a prospective, randomised, controlled cohort study was performed in a Level I Trauma Centre. Forty-nine patients were treated with the diagnosis of aseptic diaphyseal ulnar and/or radial shaft nonunion using compression plating and autologous bone grafting. Additional biological augmentation using BMP-2 or BMP-7 was performed in 24 patients. Clinical and radiological follow-up was performed six weeks, three and six months after revision surgery in accordance to the system by Anderson.ResultsThe study group consisted of 38 men and 11 women with a median age of 44 years (range 19–77). Twenty-four out of 49 patients obtained compression plating either with autologous iliac crest bone grafting (11/24 patients) or cancellous bone grafting (13/24 patients) and additional application of BMP-2 (4/24 patients) or BMP-7 (20/24 patients). The remaining 25 patients did not receive any additional application of BMP, but autologous bone grafting. The median follow-up was 15 months (range 6–54 months). Forty-six out of 49 nonunion healed within 12 months after revision surgery with a median time to union of six months. The clinical outcome, as assessed using the system by Anderson, as well as osseous healing, duration of time interval between revision surgery and bone healing, and postoperative complications did not demonstrate significant differences between the cohort groups.DiscussionAtrophic/oligotrophic forearm nonunion healed irrespective of additional application of BMP combined with autologous bone grafting. For successful treatment, radical resection of fibrous nonunion tissue and internal compression plate fixation is required with the aim of achieving high degree of rigid stability. Also, correction of angular deformities, restoration of length, and precise axial alignment of the distal radio-ulnar joint are mandatory prerequisites to successfully achieve bone healing.     

长骨医源性骨不连的临床流行病学调查

目的探讨长骨骨干医源性骨不连的流行病学特征及原因。方法对自2005年1月～2009年2月期间收治的185例肱骨、股骨、胫骨无菌性骨不连,进行了流行病学调查,其中134例与医源性有关。回顾调查此类骨不连的流行病学特征及分析引起医源性骨不连的各种相关因素。结果骨不连的发生部位:肱骨、股骨、胫骨分别占24%、31%、45%;骨不连的患者以青壮年为主;其中骨不连肥大型62例,萎缩型72例;原复位方式切开复位占72%,闭合复位的占15%,有限切开复位占13%;内固定术不能为骨折愈合提供充分的力学稳定51例,手术操作问题11例,内固定技术理念的偏差84例,不恰当的康复指导24例。结论熟悉骨不连的流行病学特点,对于治疗和预防骨不连发生具有重要的意义。