Extra-articular distal tibial fractures, is interlocking nailing an option? A prospective study of 147 cases

Purpose:Distal tibia fractures comprise about 7%-10% of lower extremity trauma.Because of the peculiarity of the soft tissue and subcutaneous location of the bone there are many controversies in the ideal treatment of distal tibia fractures especially extra articular pilon fractures.Plating is fraught with complications of wound dehiscence and infection.There are limited studies which document outcomes in such cases using intramedullary interlocking nail.We intend to study the outcome and complications of extra articular distal tibial fractures treated with interlocking nailing.Methods:This is a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care orthopaedic hospital in southern India.There are 147 patients of distal tibia extra-articular fractures managed by IM nailing with follow up of more than one year were included in this study.Only cases with fresh injury (less than 1 week),fracture below the isthmus,closed and open Gustilo Anderson type 1 and 2 fractures were included in the study.Patients were reviewed at 3,6,12 and 24 weeks after surgery and thereafter at one year and were assessed for clinical and radiological signs of healing,any complications,time to union and functional outcome.Results:There were 102 males and 45 females (male/female ratio is 2.3∶1) with a mean age of 38.96 (range 23-65) years.According to AO classification,there were 78 cases (53.06%) of 43-A1,39 cases (26.53%) of 43-A2 and 30 cases of 43-A3 constituting 20.40%.The fracture united in all the patients at an average of 18 weeks (range 16-22 weeks),none of the patient in our series had a delayed or non-union.Two patients (1.47%) had the fracture united in mild valgus but it was well within the acceptable limits (<5°).The functional outcome was assessed in all the patients at final follow up using Olerud and Molander score all the patients fared an excellent to good score,there were no cases with poor score.Conclusion:Intramedullary nailing is a viable option to treat distal tibial fractures with excellent outcome.Wound complications related to plating can be avoided but meticulous surgical technique is key to avoid malunion.

Do we really need to repair the pronator quadratus after distal radius plating?

Purpose:Fractures of distal radius are one of the common orthopaedic injuries.Placing the plate on volar surface requires release of underlying pronator quadratus(PQ)muscle.No consensus is present in the literature about the repair or not of the PQ.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of PQ repair on functional outcome and complications.Methods:Retrospectively 83 patients of distal radius fractures managed with volar plating between 2014 and 2016 were evaluated.Demographic data,operative notes and physical therapy records were retrieved.Patients were divided into group A where PQ repair was done and group B where no repair was done.Functional data such as range of motion(ROM),grip strength,visual analogue scale(VAS)score and disabilities of arm,shoulder and hand(DASH)score at 4 weeks,3 months,6 months and finial follow-up were retrieved.Results:Totally 63 patients(n=29 in group A and n=34 in group B)with the mean age of 51.64 years were examined.Patients were followed up for a mean of 35.2 months(range 27.2-47.1 months)in group A and 38.6 months(range 28.6-51.0 months)in group B.Though functional outcome of the affected limb was not significantly different between two groups after 3 months,PQ repair did affect the recovery at an early stage.Repair group had significantly better ROM(p=0.0383)and VAS score at 4 weeks(p=0.017)while grip strength(p=0.014)was significantly better at 3 months.Conclusions:Repair of PQ may provide pain relief and increased ROM in early postoperative period and hence every attempt should be made to achieve the repair.

Epidemiologic pattern of paediatric supracondylar fractures of humerus in a teaching hospital of rural India： A prospective study of 263 cases

Purpose： This prospective study aimed to investigate the epidemiologic parameters of supracondylar humeral fractures in children admitted to a teaching institution of a developing country primarily catering to rural population, to find any preventable cause of such injuries. Methods： All suspected cases of supracondylar humeral fracture reporting to emergency or outpatients department were analysed for various epidemiologic parameters including age, sex, laterality, time of presentation, associated injuries, neurovascular complications and classification over a period of four years. Results： We analysed a total of 263 patients and most of the fractures were seen in 5-8-year age group with a mean of 7.9 years. A total of 157 cases were males and non-dominant extremity was involved in 65% of fractures in our series. Fall on outstretched hand was the predominant cause of injury and fall from rooftop was the predominant mode. In all patients, 36.12% reported to our hospital 1 week after injury, 39.92% presented to hospital within 48 h after trauma and the remaining 23.95% presented 48 h to 1 week after trauma. None had a bilateral injury. Gartland type 3 fractures constituted 54.37% of patients, followed by type 1 （23.95%） and type 2 （21.67%）. Conclusion： Almost one fourth of supracondylar humeral fractures in children can be prevented by installing railing of rooftops and stairs. It is necessary to educate people on hazards of treatment by traditional bonesetters. Moreover, the children with supracondylar humeral fractures should be screened for associated injuries.

Reducing shoulder dislocation without anaesthesia or assistant:Validation of a new reduction manoeuvre

Purpose:Shoulder dislocation comprises 60%of all major joint dislocations worldwide and a number of reduction techniques are described in the literature w让h varying degrees of success.The description of a large number of techniques speaks for itself that no method is effective all the times and one should be acquainted with more than one technique.An ideal method of reduction should be simple,easily reproducible,relatively painless that can be performed unassisted without sedation or anaesthesia w让h minimal or no further complications.We report our results of using a novel method of anterior shoulder reduction described recently in the literature that claims to fulfil most of the characteristics of an ideal method if not all.Methods:This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care centre.All the cases of primary anterior shoulder dislocation presenting within three days of injury without any associated fracture or spine trauma with or without greater tuberosity fracture were included.The reduction was done using a novel method by orthopaedic residents in all cases.The need for a second reduction attempt or anaesthesia was considered a treatment failure.Time taken for reduction,pain felt during reduction and complications if any were noted.Results:There were 47(77.04%)males and 14(22.95%)females with a mean age of(37.04±12.63)years.The new technique was effective in locating a shoulder dislocation on the first attempt in 58 of the 61 dislocated shoulders(95.08%).The remaining three shoulders were reduced on second attempt by the same technique.Sedative,pre-medication or anaesthesia was not used in any case.The average time taken for the shoulder reductio n was(130.5±25.8)sec onds and con fide nee interval(95%)124-137 s.Iatrogenic complications were not seen in any of the patients.Conclusion:This relatively painless technique of shoulder reduction is easy to acquire and practice in emergency department.The advantages of this manoeuvre and its associated safety may justly lead surgeons to select it as their primary method for reduction of anterior shoulder dislocations.

Epidemiological profile of pediatric ocular trauma in a tertiary hospital of northern India

Purpose： Ocular trauma is one of the most common causes of acquired blindness in children. It measures about 8%-14% of total childhood injuries. This study aims to determine the epidemiological profile of ocular trauma in the pediatric age group attending a tertiary hospital in northern India. Methods： A retrospective study was conducted in our hospital between June 2014 to July 2015 and all the children aged 0-16 years presenting with ocular trauma in eye outpatient department and emergency were enrolled in the study. Various epidemiological parameters like age, sex distribution, duration of presentation, mode of injury, type of injury and final visual outcome were analyzed. Results： Of total 357 patients, 271 （76%） were below the age of 12 years： 41.1% of children with ocular trauma belonged to age group 2-6 years. The male to female ratio was 2.9：1. Out of total patients, 242 （67.8%） presented with closed globe injury. Among the closed globe injury, the history of fall was present in about 35% of children, followed by trauma while playing with bat/ball （15.7%） and finger nail trauma （13.2%）. Among open globe injury, trauma with needle, knife, glass and pen were common causes. Home was the most common place of injury （47.8%）, followed by streets （17.9%） and playground （14.9%）. Conclusion： Children are vulnerable to ocular trauma and need more supervision. Sharp objects like needles, knives, household chemicals like acids should be out of reach of children.