Low risk of nonunion with lateral locked plating of distal femoral fractures—A retrospective study of 191 consecutive patients

Introduction

The reported rate of nonunion of distal femoral fractures varies in the literature. Several risk factors for nonunion following lateral locked plating (LLP) have been described. We aimed to study the rate of nonunion, and risk factors thereof, in a Swedish population where fragility fractures are common. A secondary aim was to study risk factors for reoperation for any cause.

The progress in the classification and treatment of scaphoid nonunion

Scaphoid fracture is the most common carpal fracture, accounting for 50%–80% of all carpal fractures in the Youngers and manual workers. The nonunion rate of scaphoid fractures was approximately 10–15%. Scaphoid nonunion can lead to wrist deformity, wrist collapse, ischemic necrosis, and traumatic osteoarthritis resulting in the loss of wrist function and seriously influence the patients’ lives. Achieving bony union is essential for the treatment of scaphoid nonunion. Although many surgical procedures including various forms of bone grafting have been developed to improve bony union, there is no conclusion about which method is the most effective and optimal. In this review, we provide an overview of the diagnostic, classification and progress in the treatments of scaphoid nonunion fractures.     

带锁髓内钉固定四肢骨折术后骨不连原因分析及防治措施

目的：：讨论分析带锁髓内钉固定四肢骨折术后骨不连的原因及相应的防治措施。方法：本院自2005年1月~2013年12月对286例四肢长干骨骨折采用带锁髓内钉治疗,发生延迟愈合9例,骨不连12例,从多方面分析其原因并提出相应防治措施。结果：12例骨不连病例经采用髂骨游离移植及改变内固定方式,均获得骨性愈合。结论：医源性因素是导致带锁髓内钉固定四肢骨骨折术后骨不连的主要原因,只有严格操作规范,选用正确的内固定、有骨缺损时植骨、遵循生物学固定( biological os-teosynthesis BO)原则、科学的功能锻炼,才是避免骨不连发生的关键。     

四肢创伤骨折后骨不连中应用不同植入物内固定的效果

目的：比较带锁髓内钉和动力加压钢板在四肢创伤骨折后骨不连治疗中的应用效果。方法2012年1月-2014年6月间该院收治的四肢创伤骨折后骨不连患者62例,随机分为加压钢板组(31例)和髓内钉组(31例),比较两组手术相关指标及骨折愈合和膝关节功能恢复情况。结果与加压钢板组相比,髓内钉组术中输血量和术后引流量更低,骨折愈合时间更短,术后感染率(3.23%)更低,随访6个月,患者膝关节功能IKDC评分和Lysholm评分更优,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论带锁髓内钉治疗四肢创伤骨折后骨不连优于动力加压钢板。     

骨皮质剥离加Phemister植骨治疗内固定术后骨不连、骨延迟愈合

目的 探讨骨皮质剥离加Phemister植骨治疗内固定术后骨不连、骨延迟愈合的临床效果.方法 选择2006年2月～2012年10月采用骨皮质剥离加Phemister植骨的方法治疗的四肢长骨干骨折内固定术后骨不连、骨延迟愈合患者12例.根据骨折部位不同,植骨前分别采用锁定钢板内固定术及交锁髓内钉内固定术.对患者术后情况进行随访,统计患者骨折愈合情况及关节功能情况.结果 本组12例患者均获随访,随访时间5～38个月,平均23个月.骨折均骨性愈合,无感染、骨髓炎、骨化性肌炎,内固定松动、钉板断裂等并发症发生.本组12例患者中9例骨关节功能为优,肱骨骨折1例（肩、肘）,尺、桡骨骨折4例（肘、腕）,胫骨骨折2例（膝、踝）,股骨骨折2例（膝）;良2例,1例桡骨骨折患者腕关节功能为良,1例胫腓骨骨折患者膝关节功能为良;1例胫骨骨折患者踝关节功能差.骨折植骨术后各关节功能优良率为91.7％（11/12）.结论 骨皮质剥离加Phemister植骨治疗内固定术后骨不连、骨延迟愈合均获骨性愈合,关节功能良好,疗效满意.     

同种异体骨脱钙骨基质联合BMP修复兔桡骨骨缺损的实验研究

目的：探讨异体脱钙骨基质（DBM）骨泥复合骨形态发生蛋白（BMP）修复家兔桡骨节段性骨缺损的作用。方法：日本大耳白兔54只,雌雄不限,随机分为3组,A组：空白组（缺损区不植入任何材料）,B组：对照组（缺损区植入金世植骨灵）,C组：实验组（缺损区植入DBM骨泥）。建立家兔单侧桡骨骨缺损模型,采用同种异体骨DBM骨泥复合BMP进行修复,复合骨泥中加入骨胶原作为塑形剂,术后4、8、12周观察新骨生成情况,通过形态学、X线、组织学及计算机图像分析等观察指标,并与对照组及空白组进行比较,客观评价骨泥诱导成骨及骨缺损修复能力。结果：DBM与BMP复合骨泥易根据骨缺损大小塑形,术中操作简单。术后A组骨缺损未获骨性修复,B、C组骨缺损均获得骨性愈合,且新骨面积测定显示B、C组间成骨速度无明显差异（P〉0．05）,比A组快（P〈O．01）。结论：异体DBM骨泥复合BMP具有良好的骨修复作用。     

Reamed interlocking intramedullary nailing for the treatment of tibial diaphyseal fractures and aseptic nonunions. Can we expect an optimum result?

The need for reaming and the number of locking screws to be used in intramedullary (IM) tibial nailing of acute fractures as well as routine bone grafting of tibial aseptic nonunions have not been clearly defined. We describe the results of reamed interlocked IM nails in 233 patients with 247 tibial fractures (190 closed, 27 open and 30 nonunions). Ninety-six percent of the fractures were united at review after an average of 4.9 years. No correlation was found between union and nail diameter (P = 0.501) or the number of locking screws used (P = 0.287). Nail dynamization was effective in 82% of fractures. Locking screw(s) breakage was associated with nonunion in 25% of cases. Bone grafting during IM nailing was found not to increase the healing rate in tibial nonunions (P = 0.623). None of the IM nails were removed or revised due to infection. A dropped hallux and postoperative compartment syndrome were found in 0.8 and 1.6% of cases, respectively. Anterior knee pain was reported in 42% of patients but nail removal did not alleviate the symptoms in almost half. This series confirms the place of reamed intramedullary nailing for the vast majority of tibial diaphyseal fractures. It provides an optimum outcome and minimizes the need for supplementary bone grafting in aseptic nonunions.     

Surgical treatment and outcomes of extraarticular proximal tibial nonunions

INTRODUCTION: Although malunion of proximal tibial metaphyseal fractures are not infrequent, nonunion of the proximal tibia is rare. These nonunions can present particular challenges in management, such as malalignment, a short proximal segment, and soft tissue compromise. Few treatment guidelines and long-term outcomes are available. The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term functional outcomes of patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with a proximal tibial nonunion were treated between 1992 and 2005. Five fractures were originally open injuries, but all were aseptic at the time of definitive fixation. All nonunions were treated with a consistent approach of debridement, deformity correction, lateral plating, tensioning and compression, lag screws and bone grafting. Patients were reviewed radiographically and with a Knee Society questionnaire at a mean follow-up of 39 months (range 10-113 months). RESULTS: All nonunions healed at an average of 4 months, and alignment was within 5 degrees of anatomic in all cases. Knee Society function and knee scores improved significantly, to 87.4 and 89.4, respectively (P < 0.05 for both). Functional outcomes were excellent overall. Fourteen of the patients (88%) subjectively returned to their previous activities and were satisfied with their result. CONCLUSIONS: Using an algorithmic approach of débridement, deformity correction, lateral tension band plating with compression, and rigid stabilization, fracture healing and functional outcome can be reliably restored in these difficult fractures.     

The systemic angiogenic response during bone healing

Introduction  Angiogenesis is known to be a critical and closely regulated step during bone formation and fracture healing driven by a complex interaction of various cytokines. Delays in bone healing or even nonunion might therefore be associated with altered concentrations of specific angiogenic factors. These alterations might in turn be reflected by changes in serum concentrations. Method  To determine physiological time courses of angiogenic cytokines during fracture healing as well as possible changes associated with failed consolidation, we prospectively collected serum samples from patients who had sustained surgical treatment for a long bone fracture. Fifteen patients without fracture healing 4 months after surgery (nonunion group) were matched to a collective of 15 patients with successful healing (union group). Serum concentrations of angiogenin (ANG), angiopoietin 2 (Ang-2), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet derived growth factor AB (PDGF-AB), pleiotrophin (PTN) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays over a period of 24 weeks. Results  Compared to reference values of healthy uninjured controls serum concentrations of VEGF, bFGF and PDGF were increased in both groups. Peak concentrations of these cytokines were reached during early fracture healing. Serum concentrations of bFGF and PDGF-AB were significantly higher in the union group at 2 and 4 weeks after the injury when compared to the nonunion group. Serum concentrations of ANG and Ang-2 declined steadily from the first measurement in normal healing fractures, while no significant changes over time could be detected for serum concentrations of these factures in nonunion patients. PTN serum levels increased asymptotically over the entire investigation in timely fracture healing while no such increase could be detected during delayed healing. Conclusion  We conclude that fracture healing in human subjects is accompanied by distinct changes in systemic levels of specific angiogenic factors. Significant alterations of these physiologic changes in patients developing a fracture nonunion over time could be detected as early as 2 (bFGF) and 4 weeks (PDGF-AB) after initial trauma surgery. Authors Stefan Weiss and Gerald Zimmermann contributed equally to this work.