Treatment of femur supracondylar fracture with retrograde interlocking intramedullary nails in elderly patients

Objective： To report 32 cases of femur supracondylar fracture treated with retrograde interlocking intramedullary nails in elderly patients. Methods： According to the AO classification, all of 32 cases were classified as extra-articular type A. 32 cases were treated with interlocking intramedullary nail by closed insertion from intercondylar fossa of the knee. All cases accepted CPM exercise as early as possible after operation. Results： Following up 5 to 15 months, all fractures united within an average duration of 5.3 months （4-7 months）. According to the Shelbourne scale, the excellent rate of the knee function was 86.3%. Conclusion： Retrograde interlocking intramedullary nail is useful alternative implant for the treatment of osteoporotic supracondylar fracture of femur, particularly of the type A fracture in the elderly population. Its merits include stable fixation, high rate of fracture union and few complications.

Indirect Reduction and Intramedullary Pinning in Severely Displaced Radial Neck Fractures in Children

Fractures of the radial neck account for 5-10% of traumatic lesions of the elbow in the child. Conservative method of reduction may fail to reduce severely displaced fractures. Open reduction of severely displaced radial neck fractures is associated with a high incidence of complications. The present study describes the results achieved after closed and indirect reduction of the severely displaced radial head using a 2-mm K-wire passed intramedullary from near the radial styloid. The bent tip of the K-wire was used to manipulate the displaced head back to the shaft without opening the fracture site. The indirect reduction of the radial head using bent intramedullary K-wire is a simple, minimally invasive method, easy to perform, and obtains encouraging results with few complications. Intramedullary pin also achieves fixation of the radial head after reduction and prevents its secondary displacement.

Minimally invasive treatment of forearm double fracture in adult using Acumed forearm intramedullary nail: A case report

BACKGROUND Currently,open reduction internal fixation is the conventional surgical method for treatment of double ulna and radius fracture.However,open reduction is associated with a high risk of complications.This case of forearm double fracture involved a patient treated using an Acumed intramedullary nail.The patient experienced good follow-up outcomes.The Acumed forearm intramedullary nail enables early functional exercise and hastens healing of the fracture.Few studies have reported on the use of this approach for the treatment of fractures.CASE SUMMARY A 23-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital after 5 h of pain,swelling,and limited activity of left forearm caused by a careless fall.Physical examination showed stable basic vital signs,swelling of the left forearm,and severe pain when pressing on the injured part of the forearm.Further,friction was felt at the broken end of the bone;the skin was not punctured.Movement of the left hand was normal,and the left radial artery pulse was normal.Three-dimensional computed tomography examination showed an ulna fracture of the left forearm and comminuted fracture of the radius.The fracture was located in the upper third of the radius,with significant displacement on the fracture side.Clinical diagnosis further confirmed the left radius comminuted fracture and ulna fracture.After analyzing the fracture pattern,age,and other patient characteristics,we chose an Acumed nail for treatment and achieved good follow-up outcomes.CONCLUSION Acumed forearm intramedullary nail for fixation of ulna and radius fracture reduced complication risk and resulted in good follow-up outcomes.

Evaluation of the bone metabolism balance and traumatic reaction of minimally invasive mippo intramedullary nail internal fixation treatment of femoral shaft fractures

Objective:To evaluate the bone metabolism balance and traumatic reaction of minimally invasive mippo intramedullary nail internal fixation treatment of femoral shaft fractures. Methods:80 patients with femoral shaft fractures who were treated in our hospital between May 2011 and December 2016 were collected and divided into control group (n=40) and observation group (n=40) according to random number table, control group received conventional steel plate internal fixation treatment, and observation group received minimally invasive mippo intramedullary nail internal fixation treatment. Differences in serum levels of bone formation indexes, bone resorption indexes, inflammatory factors, and pain mediators and so on were compared between two groups of patients before operation and 1 week after treatment.Results: Before operation, differences in serum levels of bone formation indexes, bone resorption indexes, inflammatory factors and pain mediators were not statistically significant between two groups of patients. After operation, serum bone formation indexes P ICP, BGP, BALP and ALP levels in observation group were higher than those in control group;serum bone resorption indexesβ-CTX and OPG levels were lower than those in control group;serum inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and CRP levels were lower than those in control group;serum pain mediators SP, PGE2 and 5-HT levels were lower than those in control group.Conclusion:Minimally invasive mippo intramedullary nail internal fixation treatment of femoral shaft fractures can promote the bone formation, relatively inhibit bone resorption and cause less traumatic reaction.

Risk Assessment of Retrograde Intramedullary Nailing for Proximal Humeral Fracture

In proximal humeral fracture except AO classification 11A1, fixations with a locking plate and nails are recommended. We performed mechanical tests to investigate whether retrograde intramedullary nailing has fixation stability comparable to those of anterograde intramedullary nailing and locking plate which achieve clinically favorable outcomes. In retrograde intramedullary nailing, a nail entry point is made in the diaphysis, for which reduction of stiffness of the humerus is of concern. Thus, we investigated the influence of a nail entry point made in the diaphysis on humeral strength. Retrograde intramedullary nailing had fixation stability against bending and a force loaded in the rotation direction comparable to those of anterograde intramedullary nail and locking plate. Displacement by the main external force loaded on the humerus, compressive load, was less than half in the bone fixed by retrograde intramedullary nailing compared with that in the bone fixed with a locking plate, showing favorable fixation stability. It was clarified that stiffness of the humerus against rotation and a load in the compression direction is not reduced by a nail entry point made by retrograde intramedullary nailing.

Screw Intramedullary Nailing for Fractures of the Humeral Shaft

The debate continues over the management of diaphyseal fractures of the humerus. There are a variety of extramedullary as well as intramedullary implants. We aim to propose a technique of passing the screw intramedullary nails and achieve union with least trauma to the shoulder and the rotator cuff. The multiple elastic screw nails achieve the inherent stability based on the principle of “three point fixation”. We aim to propose that the screw intramedullary nail is an effective implant to facilitate uneventful fracture union, with rapid recovery, low morbidity and low learning curve capable of being replicated in any smaller operative set up.

Finite Element Analysis Study of Prototype of a Novel Intramedullary Injectable Bioresorbable Polymer Fixator versus a Volar Plate for Surgical Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures

Complications and shortcomings of volar plating, which is very widely used for surgical treatment of distal radius fractures, are well known. Thus, there is scope for alternative innovative surgical methods. In the present work, we used the finite element analysis method to compare the biomechanical performance of a model of a construct comprising a simulated distal radius fracture considered fixated using a notional intramedullary injectable bioresorbable polymer-bioresorbable balloon osteosynthesis system (“fixator”) versus using a commercially-available volar locking plate (VP). The biomechanical parameters determined were longitudinal stiffness and factor of safety under each of the applied loads.?For the fixator model, 1) each of the biomechanical parameters was markedly influenced by fracture gap fill ratio (FGFR) (defined as the proportion of the volume of the fracture gap that is considered occupied by the expanded polymer-filled balloon)?but not by modulus of elasticity assigned to the polymer;2) with FGFR = 100%, stiffness was comparable to that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy VP construct model;and 3) stiffness was within the range of literature values for stiffness of constructs comprising simulated fractures in fresh cadaveric distal radii fixated using metal volar locking plate. These results suggest that the fixator may be an alternative modality to metal volar plating and, as such, deserves further evaluation.

Bone metabolism and trauma degree of magnetic-guided intramedullary nail fixation for femoral shaft fracture

Objective:To explore the effect of magnetic-guided intramedullary nail fixation on bone metabolism and trauma degree in patients with femoral shaft fracture.Methods: A total of 128 patients with femoral shaft fractures who received surgical treatment in the hospital between April 2016 and November 2017 were divided into control group (n=64) and study group (n=64) according to the random number table method. Control group received the traditional intramedullary nail treatment, and study group received magnetic-guided intramedullary nail treatment. The differences in serum levels of bone metabolism indexes and inflammatory factors were compared between the two groups 48 h after surgery.Results: 48 h after surgery, serum bone formation indexes BGP, PⅠNP, PⅠCP and BAP levels of study group were higher than those of control group whereas bone resorption indexesβ-CTX, TRACP5b and NTX levels were lower than those of control group;serum inflammatory factors TGF-β, hs-CRP, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17 levels were lower than those of control group.Conclusion:Compared with traditional intramedullary nail therapy, magnetic-guided intramedullary nail fixation can more effectively balance the bone metabolism status and reduce the fracture end trauma in patients with femoral shaft fracture.

Trauma and bone metabolism of magnetic navigation intramedullary nail and traditional intramedullary nail fixation treatment of femoral shaft fracture

Objective:To analyze the trauma and bone metabolism of magnetic navigation intramedullary nail and traditional intramedullary nail fixation treatment of femoral shaft fracture. Methods:58 patients with femoral shaft fracture treated in our hospital between December 2011 and December 2015 were divided into observation group and control group by random number table (n=29). Control group received conventional intramedullary nail fixation treatment, and observation group received magnetic navigation intramedullary nail fixation treatment. 24 h after surgery, blood coagulation indexes, enzymology indexes, bone metabolism indexes and angiogenesis indexes were determined;6 months after surgery, bone mineral density levels were determined. Results:24 h after surgery, peripheral blood thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) levels of observation group were significantly higher than those of control group, and serum fibrinogen (FIB), D-Dimer (D-D), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CKMB), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), sex hormone-binding globulin type I (SHBG), collagen cross-linked carboxyl-terminal telopeptide (CTX) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) content were lower than those of control group while bone gla protein (BGP), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-α), angiogenin 1 (Ang-1), recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) content were higher than those of control group;6 months after surgery, fracture end bone mineral density (BMD) value of observation group was higher than that of control group. Conclusions:Magnetic navigation intramedullary nail treatment of femoral shaft fracture can more effectively reduce the surgical trauma, improve bone metabolism and increase bone mineral density.

Olecranon anatomy:Use of a novel proximal interlocking screw for intramedullary nailing,a cadaver study

AIM: To define the optimum safe angle of use for an eccentrically aligned proximal interlocking screw(PIS) for intramedullary nailing(IMN).METHODS: Thirty-six dry cadaver ulnas were split into two equal pieces sagitally. The following points were identified for each ulna: the deepest point of the incisura olecrani(A), the point where perpendicular lines from A and the ideal IMN entry point(D) are intersected(C) and a point at 3.5 mm(2 mm safety distance from articular surface + 1.5 mm radius of PIS) posterior from point A(B). We calculated the angle of screws inserted from point D through to point B in relation to D-C and B-C. In addition, an eccentrically aligned screw was inserted at a standard 20° through the anterior cortex of the ulna in each bone and the articular surface wasobserved macroscopically for any damage.RESULTS: The mean A-C distance was 9.6 mm(mean ± SD, 9.600 ± 0.763 mm), A-B distance was 3.5 mm, C-D distance was 12.500 mm(12.500 ± 1.371 mm) and the mean angle was 25.9°(25.9°± 2.0°). Lack of articular damage was confirmed macroscopically in all bones after the 20.0° eccentrically aligned screws were inserted. Intramedullary nail fixation systems have well known biological and biomechanical advantages for osteosynthesis. However, as well as these well-known advantages, IMN fixation of the ulna has some limitations. Some important limitations are related to the proximal interlocking of the ulna nail. The location of the PIS itself limits the indications for which intramedullary systems can be selected as an implant for the ulna. The new PIS design, where the PIS is aligned 20°eccentrically to the nail body, allows fixing of fractures even at the level of the olecranon without disturbing the joint. It also allows the eccentrically aligned screw to be inserted in any direction except through the proximal radio-ulnar joint. Taking into consideration our results, we now use a 20° eccentrically aligned PIS for all ulnas. In our results, the angle required to insert the PIS was less than 20° for only one bone. However, 0.7° difference corresponds to placement of the screw only 0.2 mm closer to the articular surface. As we assume 2.0 mm to be a safe distance, a placement of the screw 0.2 mm closer to the articular surface may not produce any clinical symptoms.CONCLUSION: The new PIS may give us the opportunity to interlock IMN without articular damage and confirmation by fluoroscopy if the nail is manufactured with a PIS aligned at a 20.0° fixed angle in relation to the IMN.

Rotary self-locking intramedullary nail for long tubular bone fractures

Background Intramedullary nails had been widely used in the treatment of long-bone fractures because of less interference of fractures and center bearing biomechanical advantage. However, it had been also found many shortcomings such as broken nails, delayed healing and was modified in order to achieve better efficacy and reduce complications. The aim of the present study is to compare the efficacy of rotary self-locking intramedullary nails （RSIN） with that of interlocking intramedullary nails （IIN） in the treatment of long-bone fractures.

Surgical Fixation of Fourth and Fifth Metacarpal Shaft Fractures with Flexible Intramedullary Absorbable Rods： Early Clinical Outcomes and Implications

Background： To avoid the irritation of tendons and soft tissues as well as hardware-related problems, we designed an intramedullary fixation with bioabsorbable rods for the treatment of the metacarpal shaft fractures. Methods： Five patients with nine shaft fractures of the fourth and fifth metacarpi were treated with intramedullary absorbable implants and followed up with an average of 4.2 months postoperatively. Results： At final follow-up, all patients achieved fracture union with no signs of inflammatory or subcutaneous effusion. There was no shortening, angulatory, or rotatory deformity. There was almost full active extension range of motion （ROM） of the metacarpophalangeal joints while the active flexion ROM of these joints was 80.7 ± 9.6°. hand was 94.0 ± 9.6%. X-rays showed that the arch of the second Compared with the contralateral hand, the grip strength of the injured to fifth metacarpal heads was smooth. There were no intramedullary lytic changes and soft tissue swellings. Conclusion： The intramedullary absorbable implants are a safe, simple, and practical treatment for fourth and filth metacarpal fractures with good early clinical outcomes and no significant complications.

Comparative study on treatment of midshaft tibial fracture with expandable and interlocking intramedullary nails

Objective ： To evaluate the clinical results of treatment of midshaft tibial fracture with expandable intramedullary nails compared with interlocking intramednilary nails. Methods： From June 2003 to August 2005, 46 patients （27 males and 19 females, aged 20-74 years, mean =38.4 years ） with midshaft tibial fracture were treated surgically in our department. The causes of fractures were traffic injury in 21 patients, fall injury in 6, tumbling injury in 11 and crushing injury in 8. According to AO/ ASIF classification, Type A fracture was found in 16 patients, Type B in 11, Type C1 in 5, and Type C2 in 2. Open fractures were found in 12 patients, according to Gustilo classification, Type Ⅰ in 9 patients and Type Ⅱin 3 patients. Based on the patients＇consent, 24 patients were treated with expandable intramedullary nails （Group A ） and 22 with interlocking intramedullary nails （Group B ）. The operation time, blood loss during operation, X-ray fluoroscopic times, hospitalization time, weight bearing time after operation, healing time of fracture and complications of all the patients were recorded. The clinical effects of all the cases were evaluated according to the criteria of Johner-Wruhs. Results： All the patients were followed up for 12,34 months （ mean = 16.2 months）. The time of operation, the blood loss, X-ray fluoroscopic times, hospitalization time and healing time of fracture of Group A significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05 ） compared with those of Group B, but the time for weight bearing after operation, the Johner- Wruhs degree of clinical effects and complications had no significant difference between Group A and Group B （P〉0.05）. Conclusions： Expandable intramedullary nail can shorten operation time, decrease blood loss and reduce invasion, which is a safe and effective treatment method for tibial midshaft fracture.

Retrograde interlocking intramedullary nailing under arthroscopy for supracondylar femoral fracture

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of retrograde interlocking intramedullary nailing under arthroscopy on supracondylar femoral fractures. Methods: From June 1999 to December 2000, 17 patients with supracondylar femoral fracture were treated with arthroscopically assisted implantation of retrograde interlocking intramedullary nail and close reduction. Results: More than 6 month follow up study after operation in 11 patients revealed that the average healing time was 3 months. Average range of the knee motion for all the patients was more than 90 degrees. There was no implant breakage and infection. Conclusions: This new method, combining the advantage of arthroscope and retrograde interlocking intramedullary nail, can provide a stable and reliable fixation, and meanwhile is less invasive to the soft tissue and knee, less operative time and blood loss, minimal disruption of the blood supply in fracture site. It is conducive to the fracture healing and the functional recovery of the knee joint and worthwhile to be recommended.

Treatment of nonunions of humeral fractures with interlocking intramedullary nailing

Objective： To introduce the experience of treating nonunions of humeral fractures with interlocking intramedullary nailing. Methods： Twelve patients with humeral nonunions were treated with interlocking intramedullary nailing. The time interval between trauma and surgery was 10.5 months on average. Open reduction with anterograde approach was performed. Axial compression was specially applied to the fracture site with humeral nail holder after insertion of distal locked screws. Iliac bone grafting was added. Results： The average follow-up period was 21 months （ranging 9-51 months）. All patients achieved osseous union 5.8 months after treatment on average. Eleven patients hadgood functions of the shoulder joints and the upper extremities. No patient experienced any permanent neurological deficit. Refracture of the original ununited region occurred in one patient after removal of the internal fixator one year later, but union was achieved after closed re-intramedullary nailing fixation. Conclusion： Humeral interlocking intramedullary nailing is an effective alternative treatment for humeral nonunion.

Role of percutaneous cerclage wire in the management of subtrochanteric fractures treated with intramedullary nails

Purpose： Cerclage wire application has emerged as a potential therapeutic adjunct to intramedullary nailing for subtrochanteric fractures. But its popularity is plagued by the concern of possible negative effect on fracture zone biology. This study was intended to analyze the clinico-radiological outcome and complications associated with cerclage wire application. Methods： Retrospective analysis was performed on all the subtrochanteric fractures operated with intramedullary nailing between January 2012 and January 2016. After exclusion, 48 patients were available with an average follow-up of 20.8 months. Long oblique, spiral, spiral wedge or comminuted fracture configurations with butterfly fragments were particularly considered for cerclage wire appli- cation, which was employed by percutaneous cerclage passer in 21 patients. Assessment was done in terms of operation time, blood loss, quality of reduction, neck-shaft angle, follow-up redisplacement, union time, complications, and final functional evaluation by Merle d＇Aubigne＇-Postel score. Results： Average operation time and blood loss were significantly higher in cerclage group （p 〈 0.05）. However, cerclage use substantially improved quality of reduction in terms of maximum cortical displacement （p = 0.003） and fracture angulation （p - 0.045）; anatomical reduction was achieved in 95.23% of cases as compared to 74.07% without cerclage. Union time was shorter, although not statis- tically different （p - 0.208）, in cerclage group. Four patients in non-cerclage group developed non-union, 2 of them had nail breakage. No infection or any other implant related complications were reported with cerclage use. Conclusion： Minimally-invasive cerclage wire application has proved to be beneficial for anatomical reconstruction in difficult subtrochanteric fractures, whenever applicable, without any harmful effect on fracture biology.

Elastic intramedullary nail for treatment of extremity fractures in children

Objective： To assess the clinical therapeutic effects of elastic intramedullary nail on extremity fractures in children. Methods： From June 2005 to March 2008, 40 children with extremity fractures were treated by elastic intramedullary nail, in whom femoral shaft fractures occurred in 26 cases, tibiofibular fractures in 8 cases, radial capitular fractures in 4 cases, ulnoradial fractures in 2 cases. All patients were treated by closed reduction and elastic intramedullary nail fixation. Results： All the fractures gained satisfactory reduction and healing. The average duration needed for fracturehealing was 1-2 months. Postoperative follow-up confirmed a sound functional recovery. Conclusions： The elastic intramedullary nail is a minimally invasive and effective surgical approach for treatment of extremity fractures in children. It allows early functional exercises after operation and secures a satisfactory bone union and functional recovery.

Z-effect after intramedullary nailing systems for trochanteric femur fractures

Purpose： The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of Z-effect after dual lag screw intramedullary nailing systems and risk factors contributing to this effect. We hypothesized that long nails provide more neck strength due to a longer lever than short nails and are therefore less likely to develop a misbalance of a higher head compressive strength than neck compressive strength, Methods： In this retrospective cohort study 103 patients treated operatively with a dual lag screw intramedullary nailing device for （sub）trochanteric hip fracture were included, We analysed patient charts regarding patient and operation characteristics. Furthermore we conducted radiologic mea- surements within the 2-year follow-up period to investigate the quality of fracture fixation, implant failure and predictors for Z-effect. The re-operation risk was investigated with multivariate regression analysis, Results： The incidence of （reversed） Z-effect in this study was 9% （n 80）; 6 out of 7 Z-effects occurred in the short nail group, which was not significant. Patients who were treated with a long nail had a significant larger number of complications in comparison with the short nail group （median 2 vs 0,5, p = 0.001）. The long nail group received more often erythrocytes blood transfusions （82% vs 31%, p 〈 0.01） and had a longer hospital stay （13 vs 21 days, p 〈 0.05）. Migration of lag screws （p 〈0.05） and unstable fracture type （p 〈 0.05）, were risk factors for re-operation. The re-operation rate within 2 year after surgery was 21%, of which one fourth was due to a Z-effect. Conclusion： The nail length was not associated with the development of a Z-effect. Migration of lag screws after intramedullary nailing is common and a risk factor for re-operation.

Intramedullary bone pedestal formation contributing to femoral shaft fracture nonunion:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Femoral shaft fracture is a commonly encountered orthopedic injury that can be treated operatively with a low overall delayed/nonunion rate.In the case of delayed union after antegrade or retrograde intramedullary nail fixation,fracture dynamization is often attempted first.Nonunion after dynamization has been shown to occur due to infection and other aseptic etiologies.We present a unique case of diaphyseal femoral shaft fracture nonunion after dynamization due to intramedullary cortical bone pedestal formation at the distal tip of the nail.CASE SUMMARY A 37-year-old male experienced a high-energy trauma to his left thigh after coming down hard during a motocross jump.Evaluation was consistent with an isolated,closed,left mid-shaft femur fracture.He was initially managed with reamed antegrade intramedullary nail fixation but had continued thigh pain.Radiographs at four months demonstrated no evidence of fracture union and failure of the distal locking screw,and dynamization by distal locking screw removal was performed.The patient continued to have pain eight months after the initial procedure and 4 mo after dynamization with serial radiographs continuing to demonstrate no evidence of fracture healing.The decision was made to proceed with exchange nailing for aseptic fracture nonunion.During the exchange procedure,an obstruction was encountered at the distal tip of the failed nail and was confirmed on magnified fluoroscopy to be a pedestal of cortical bone in the canal.The obstruction required further distal reaming.A longer and larger diameter exchange nail was placed without difficulty and without a distal locking screw to allow for dynamization at the fracture site.Post-operative radiographs showed proper fracture and hardware alignment.There was subsequently radiographic evidence of callus formation at one year with subsequent fracture consolidation and resolution of thigh pain at eighteen months.CONCLUSION The risk of fracture nonunion caused by intramedullary bone pedestal formation can be mitigated with the use of maximum length and diameter nails and close follow up.