单臂多功能外固定器治疗肱骨干骨折不愈合24例疗效分析

目的　分析单臂多功能外固定器 +植骨治疗肱骨干骨折不愈合的可行性。方法　应用单臂多功能外固定器 +植骨治疗肱骨干骨折不愈合 2 4例。结果　均获得骨性愈合。结论　应用单臂多功能外固定器 +植骨治疗肱骨干骨折不愈合是一种可行的方法 ,有利于肩关节功能的恢复。     

Treatment of nonunion after femoral neck fracture with valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy: a case report with 18-year follow-up

We herein report the long-term effect of valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy for nonunion after femoral neck fracture. In this report, we describe our experience using valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy to treat nonunion after femoral neck fracture in a 20-year-old woman. The patient was discharged from the hospital 10 days after the operation, the internal fixation device was removed 1 year after the operation, and the patient was then followed up for 18 years. Valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy can effectively treat nonunion after adductive femoral neck fracture.     

Nonunions and malunions after pelvic fractures: why they occur and what can be done?

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1987 and 2005, 55 patients were treated operatively to correct 44 malunions and 11 nonunion of the pelvic ring. These pathologies were the consequence of a nonoperative initial treatment for 38 cases, or of an inappropriate indication, such as the use of an external fixator as the definitive treatment of an unstable pelvic fracture in 15 and symphysis cerclage wiring in 2. Three patients had undergone ORIF of the lumbar spine performed by neurosurgeons, but the pelvic fractures below were ignored. On the basis of damaging mechanisms and of the main instability plane, initial lesions were classified as follows: 32 shearing lesions, 11 rotatory by antero-posterior compression, 7 by lateral compression, 5 mixed. In 23 cases the site of the posterior lesion was the sacrum, 4 of which were H fractures type; 13 were sacroiliac joint dislocations, or rotatory instability of the joint (in 2 cases the lesion was bilateral), 8 were sacroiliac dislocation fractures (crescent fractures); 7 were fractures of the iliac wing. Four patients only had pubic symphysis diastasis. Indications for surgery were pain associated with deformity or instability. Surgery was performed through a multistage procedure. Mean surgery time was 6h (range: 2-10h), with a mean blood loss of 700ml (range: 200-5000ml). Follow-up ranged from a minimum of 16 months to a maximum of 14 years (mean: 5.85 years). RESULTS: At the last follow-up, all patients but one had consolidated and were considered stable. All patients had improved walking ability. Six patients still report pain. Even if most of the deformity were corrected with a significant decrease of pre-operative symptoms achieved, deformity correction was considered satisfactory but not anatomic, in 12 patients (21%). Complications occurred in 24% of patients but most were temporary. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent cause of pelvic malunion or nonunion was inadequate treatment. To reduce the number and the percentage of disabilities, it is necessary that specialised centres provide patients with early treatment that is adequate and definitive.     

逆行交锁髓内钉治疗股骨远端骨折延迟愈合及不愈合

目的 观察逆行交锁髓内钉治疗股骨远端骨折延迟愈合、不愈合的临床疗效。方法 9例股骨远端骨折延迟愈合及不愈合,并伴膝关节不同程度关节功能活动障碍患者,行手术取出内固定,膝关节软组织松解,骨折复位,逆行交锁髓内钉内固定,并取自体髂骨植骨,术后配合CPM行患肢膝关节功能锻炼。结果 术后随访16～26个月全部患者均获得骨性愈合,无内固定物松动、断裂。膝关节功能活动观显改善。结论 逆行交锁髓内钉治疗股骨远端骨折延迟愈合、不愈合,临床效果满意,特别适宜在其它内固定物失败的情况下使用。治疗的关键在于术中膝关节软组织充分松解,骨折块准确复位,扩髓并正确插入合适的髓内钉,静力固定,植骨及术后积极地功能锻炼。     

人骨膜细胞体外培养移植治疗骨不连

目的 探讨骨膜细胞自体移植治疗骨不连的效果。方法 常规细胞培养法行骨膜细胞体外培养,X线透视下经皮注入体外培养的自体骨膜细胞治疗骨不连。结果 治疗骨不连16处,治愈率75％,骨延迟愈合4处,治愈率100％,移植后均无明显全身和局部反应,12～16周达到骨性愈合。结论 人骨膜细胞可经体外培养移植到骨不连处能促进骨的修复。     

Preliminary results of the use of Ilizarov fixation in clavicular non-union

Although clavicular fractures are common, nonunion of clavicle is a rare complication. Clavicular nonunion that occurs due to insufficient stabilization is usually painful and necessitates operative treatment. Seven cases with oligotrophic clavicular nonunion that developed after a conservative process were treated with Ilizarov between January 2000 and December 2002. In all of them, the middle one-third of the clavicle was affected. Details of the cases regarding sex, age information, reason of fracture, previous treatment methods that were applied, nonunion area, nonunion, and duration of frame application were recorded. Two of the cases were female and five of them were male with age mean of 27.1 (19–32 years). Five of these cases had right clavicular injury and two of them had left clavicular injury. Mean nonunion duration was 18 months (range was 6–36 months). All nonunion were fixed and went through acute compression by means of Ilizarov’s external fixators without grafting. The duration between the frame application and union was mean 2.7 months (range was 2.5–3.5 months). Mean follow-up period was 31 months (range was 22–48 months). Cases were evaluated in accordance with the Constant Scoring system. They were able to return to their normal daily activities in 10–15 days. All of them regained full shoulder movement and extension ability. Patients have also been evaluated by using Dash-Score. Union existed for all patients and none of them had any complaints of pain after treatment. Since circular external fixator allows acute compression, early shoulder movements, and requires no such additional procedure as grafting, it is an alternative method which can be used in treating nonunion of clavicle.     

Composite implant of native bovine bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), collagen carrier and biocoral in the treatment of resistant ulnar nonunions: report of five preliminary cases

Introduction Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) has been shown to induce bone formation and union in long bone defects and nonunions. There are, however, no previous reports of BMP being used for ulnar nonunions. We report on five cases of resistant ulnar nonunions treated with a composite implant consisting of a biocoral frame, collagen carrier, and bovine BMP.Materials and methods Four diaphyseal and one olecranon ulnar nonunions were treated using BMP/coral implant combined with internal fixation. Additional autografting was used in three cases. All of the cases were challenging in their own ways: Three of the patients had been operated on earlier for their nonunion without success, one had a 40 mm bone loss, and one had a 9-month-old untreated olecranon fracture. After excision of the sclerotic surfaces of the nonunion, the gap was filled with autograft and a composite implant containing BMP. Fixation was done with a compression plate in the diaphyseal nonunions and with a tension band in the olecranon nonunion.Results Solid union was achieved in all five cases. No infections or other adverse effects were encountered.Conclusion These preliminary results suggest that BMP-containing implants might be a feasible alternative or superior to autografting in the treatment of resistant ulnar nonunions.     

Ultrasound treatment of nonunion of the hook of the hamate in sports activities

Two cases of nonunion of the hook of the hamate were treated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. The patients were baseball players and had been injured as a result of hitting repeatedly. Nonunion was detected on computed tomography (CT) and was exposed to ultrasound for 20 min a day for 4 months. In both cases pain at the hypothenar eminence disappeared, and bone union was confirmed on CT at the end of the ultrasound treatment.     

External fixation in fractured patients aged more than 60 years

Fractures account for significant morbidity and mortality among the elderly. Commonly, surgical procedures like internal fixation are not exempt of complications (infection, soft-tissue problems). In this study, we examined the use of external fixation (EF) in 28 patients aged more than 60 years with a total of 30 fractures. There were 16 men and 12 women with a mean age of 72 (61–85) years. The upper limb was involved in four cases and the lower limb in 26. In half of the cases, open fractures were present, which were classified according to Gustilo: eight type I, six type II, and one type III. Fracture healing, angular deviation and bone aspect in the pin site were accessed radiologically. Clinical criteria included fracture healing, pain and articular function. The average time for fracture union was 7 (2–18) months. The overall rate of complications was high (66.6%). The most common complications were malunion (20%), non-union or delayed union (20%) and superficial pin-tract infection (10%). However, severe complications were rare. No deep infection or soft-tissue problems occurred. We consider that EF can be used not only for open and comminuted fractures but also in closed and minimally comminuted fractures with a high risk of soft-tissue problem where no other fixation is suitable.     

Matrix metalloproteinases and failed fracture healing

During fracture healing and the resulting formation of new bone, an extensive amount of extracellular matrix is synthesized which subsequently undergoes enzymatic remodeling and then mineralization. The remodeling process of mostly collagenous molecules is largely attributable to matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). A variety of members of this protease family and its respective inhibitors – termed tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP) – have been found to be closely related to the fracture healing process. Delays in bone healing or even nonunion could be related to the concentrations of these enzymes or their behavior over time. In this study, serum samples were prospectively collected from patients who had undergone surgical treatment for limb fracture. Serum probes from 15 patients with nonunion of fractures 4 months after surgery have been compared to 15 matched patients with normal bone healing. Postoperative time courses of serum concentrations of MMP-1/-2/-3/-8/-9/-13 as well as TIMP-1/-2 were analyzed using commercially available enzyme immunoassays.

Comparison between both collectives revealed significantly elevated serum concentrations of proMMP-1 in the nonunion group at 2 and 24 weeks after surgery. Similar findings were found for MMP-8 at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. At 1 week after surgery, TIMP-1 serum concentrations were significantly lower in nonunion patients when compared to patients with normal bone repair.

We have been able to show for the first time the course of serum concentrations of MMPs and TIMPs during normal and delayed fracture healing. Characteristic time courses of systemic MMP- and TIMP-levels could be a reflection of local enzyme regulatory mechanisms during fracture healing. An altered balance of the MMP/TIMP system in favor of proteolytic activity as shown in our investigation may be involved in the pathophysiological processes leading to fracture nonunion.