Pulmonary thromboembolism after distal ulna and radius fractures surgery: A case report and a literature review

BACKGROUND Pulmonary thromboembolism(PTE)is a serious postoperative complication that can occur after a fracture.Generally,PTE is caused by the falling off of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis(LEDVT)after lower limb fracture surgery.LEDVT and PTE after upper extremity fracture surgery are very rare.PTE is one of the most common clinical causes of sudden death.Venous thromboembolism includes PTE and DVT.We experienced one case of LEDVT and PTE after distal ulna and radius fracture surgery.The purpose of our report is to raise awareness for orthopedic surgeons that PTE can occur after distal ulna and radius fracture surgery,and patients with high risk factors should be considered for prevention and treatment of thrombosis in a timely manner.CASE SUMMARY We report a 51-year-old Chinese male who had severe fractures of the left distal ulna,radius and little finger after a motorcycle accident.The patient underwent external fixation,open reduction and internal fixation.On the third post-operative day,computed tomographic pulmonary angiography showed PTE.Doppler ultrasonography showed thrombus formation in the bilateral posterior tibial veins.After a period of anticoagulation therapy,on the 25th d after the PTE,computed tomographic pulmonary angiography showed that thrombus in both sides of the pulmonary artery disappeared.Furthermore,about 4 mo after the PTE,thrombosis in the deep veins of the lower limbs disappeared.About 1 year after the surgery,X-rays showed good fracture healing,and the function of the wrist joint recovered well.CONCLUSION Though rare,PTE can occur after distal ulna and radius fracture surgery and patients with high risk factors should be considered for prevention and treatment of thrombosis in a timely manner.

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.

A Galeazzi-variant type fracture-dislocation in adults

Objective：Fracture of either radius or ulna with a dislocation either at the proximal or distal radioulnar joint （DRUJ） is not a common injury and is inherently unstable.Here we report a case series,with both-bone forearm fractures associated with dislocation of DRUJ,as a Galeazzi-variant type fracture-dislocation,and try to analyze this injury pattern.Methods：The study was based on 6 patients having Galeazzi-variant type fracture-dislocation of different age （20 to 45 years）.All fractures were closed type.Two fractures involved the same level and three fractures were at different levels of radius and ulna shaft.After thorough examination and investigations they were treated with limited contact dynamic compression plate without additional fixation for DRUJ.Results：All cases were followed up for 24 weeks.The maximum incidence occurred in age group between 31 and 40 years.All the fractures of both radius and ulna were united in average time of 12 weeks.Range of motion of wrist and elbow,supination and pronation at final follow-up were normal.There was no subsequent re-subluxation or dislocation of the DRUJ in any of the cases.Conclusion：Galeazzi variant in adult is a new undescribed pattern of forearm with wrist injury.Stable open reduction and internal fixation of both-bone forearm fractures is mandatory,followed by 3 to 4 weeks of immobilization in a cast for the healing of disrupted DRUJ.