Percutaneous Fixation as an Option for Traumatic Neurologically Intact Thoracolumbar Vertebral Fractures

Background: The most frequent spinal fracture is the thoracolumbar fracture. Minimally invasive percutaneous fixation of cases having thoracolumbar vertebral fractures without neurological impairments has remained controversial. The advantages of minimally invasive percutaneous fixation are decreasing muscle and soft tissue injury, decreasing blood loss and infection rate, in addition to shortening hospital stay and recovery times. In comparison to the open technique, percutaneous fixation is adequate for treating thoracolumbar (TL) fractures without causing neurological impairments & with satisfactory outcomes in terms of kyphosis decline. Elevated radiation exposure to the surgeon &the patient, lack of decompression and fusion via bone graft, & a steep learning curve are all disadvantages of percutaneous fixation of vertebral fractures. Methods: This study was retrospectively conducted on forty-eight patients, age ranging from 16 to 65 years old, with a thoracolumbar (TL) fracture without causing neurological impairments who were meeting the eligibility criteria for fixation in the period from July 2019 to January 2024. Results: We included the forty-eight patients who met the inclusion criteria (34 males and 14 females) their ages ranged from 16 to 65 years. The most common pathology was L1 fracture in 38 patients. No major complications were experienced, only wound infection in five patients which was treated efficiently with repeated dressings and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Four patients experienced misdirected screws, only in one patient the screw encroach into the spinal canal with no deficit experienced, while the other three showed minimally laterally deviated screws. Conclusion: The advantages of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in thoracolumbar fractures through preservation of posterior musculature, are less blood loss, shorter operative time, lower infection risk, less post-operative pain, shorter rehabilitation time as well as a shorter hospital stay. Limitations of percutaneous fixation include the inability to achieve direct spinal canal decompression and, not having the option to perform a fusion and also requiring a learning curve to master the anatomy and technique.

Percutaneous fixation of neonatal humeral physeal fracture: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Neonatal distal humeral physeal fractures are rare and difficult to diagnose.Thus,missed diagnoses and delayed healing are possible.Few studies have reported surgical treatment,because a callus may develop at the fracture site 5 d after the fracture,resulting in difficult reduction,and reduction of the limb may cause further physeal injury.Other surgical challenges include the provision of adequate anesthesia and complexity of the operation.However,without appropriate reduction and fixation,a varus elbow deformity may develop.Manual reduction and percutaneous pin fixation are ideal treatment options.CASE SUMMARY A 4-day-old neonate with left elbow pain accompanied by limited movement for 4 d was admitted,and diagnosed with delayed physeal fracture of the distal humerus based on physical examination,ultrasonography,and magnetic resonance imaging.The patient was treated by manual reduction combined with percutaneous pin fixation under arthrography.Postoperatively,the reduction was successful.The upper limbs could have been lifted and the fingers could have been moved freely on the second day after the operation.CONCLUSION The techniques of manual reduction and percutaneous pin fixation,to treat neonatal distal humeral physeal fractures,are safe and reliable.

Evaluation of Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation in Patients with Pyogenic Spondylitis of the Thoracolumbar Spine

Background: Basic principle for the treatment of pyogenic spondylitis (PS) is conservative care, but surgical intervention is often required when conservative treatment may fail. We have experienced many conservative cases of various complications due to long-term bed rest and poor pain control. Recently we have adopted percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) fixation for the treatment of PS as a minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) fusion to reduce such morbidity of the conservative care. Objective: To evaluate the impact of PPS fixation in patients with PS. Study Design: A retrospective analysis of the medical records. Subjects, Methods: We reviewed 54 consecutive patients who underwent treatment in our hospital for PS during 2005-2018 and observed for more than 12 months. Of those we excluded cases showing effectiveness to initial treatment (it was defined fever relief or C-reactive protein (CRP) inversion in 3 weeks of antibiotics) so that this study is a retrospective study in cases showing initial treatment resistance. Finally, this study included 29 cases. Medical records of these 29 cases were reviewed for baseline, organism isolated and its detection rate, the clinical outcome in 12 months (Discharge, Transfer, Death), the period from the first visit to our hospital to fever relief, CRP inversion, ambulation, and Discharge or Transfer. Results: These cases were divided into two groups, the conservative group (C-group): 17 cases, and the PPS group (P-group): 12 cases. There is no statistically significant difference in fever relief (p = 0.051) and CRP inversion (p = 0.208). The period to ambulation and discharge or transfer was significantly shorter in group P (p = 0.020, p = 0.031). 1-Year survival rate was 92% in the P-group, and 71% in the C-group. There is no statistically significant difference (p = 0.354) between the two groups. The rate of Discharge to home and care facility is 58% in P-group, and 47% in C-group. And the rate of Transfer is 34% in P-group, and 35% in C-group. Conclusion: PPS fixation was effective to achieve shortening the period to ambulation and discharge or transfer. But it was not effective in infection control. This suggests that PPS fixation should be aggressively administered to patients who can expect pain relief and early ambulation by PPS fixation in the patient of PS showing resistance to initial treatment.

Clinical significance of Baumann's angle in the percutaneous pinning fixation for supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children

To evaluate the clinical significance of Baumann’s angle in the closed reduction and percutaneous pinning fixation for supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children.Methods There were 97 children (male 59,female 38,mean age of 6.8 years) with displaced supracondylar fracrtures of the humerus were treated in this hospital.Under fluoroscopy guidance,three-dimensional displacement of fractures was corrected by closed reduction.The percutaneous Kirschner wire pinning was applied only if the radiographs demonstrated that Baumann’s angle was less than 4 degree compared to that on the normal side.All of them were followed up for 34.5 months (range,12 to 48 months).Results There was one case with ulnar nerve palsy associated with the pinning.There were no Volkmann’s contracture in this group.X-ray examinations revealed an average 73.7 degrees of Baumann angle on the injured and 72.8 on uninjured side.An average 7.6 degrees of the carrying angle on the injured and 9.7 on uninjured side were also demonstrated by radiography.Five patients developed slight cubitus varus deformity.The result according to Flynn criteria were excellent in 85 patients (87.6%),good in 12 patients (12.4%).Conclusion The satisfactory results can be gained in children with displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus by restoration of the normal Baumann angle and percutaneous pinning fixation.18 refs,2 figs.

Computer navigated percutaneous screw fixation for traumatic pubic symphysis diastasis of unstable pelvic ring injuries

Displaced and unstable pelvic ring injuries have been treated mainly by open reduction and internal fixation. The goal of treatment relies on restoration of pelvic anatomy with stable internal fixation, allowing early mobilization of the patient.The symphysis pubis dislocation （〉25 mm） is consistent indication for anterior internal fixation.3 In most situations, the fixation of the displaced symphysis pubis requires extensive exposure, which may lead to complications including blood loss, neural or vascular injury, postoperative infections, wound healing problems and heterotopic bone formation.

Axial and tangential views of the acromioclavicular joint： the introduction of new projections

Background Routine anteroposterior radiographs of the acromioclavicular （AC） joint with or without weight bearing have limitations in demonstrating the AC joint. Transarticular fixation with Kirschner wire is a treatment choice for AC dislocations. However, percutaneous fixation of the AC joint is technically demanding. The C-arm fluoroscopy can be used as routine intraoperative guidance to facilitate this procedure. The current study aims to introduce new projections, the axial and tangential views of AC joint, to help evaluate the severity of the injury and facilitate the percutaneous procedure. Methods Three shoulder specimens were used to find the projection directions of the axial and tangential views of the AC joint by using the digital radiography （DR） unit. The axial and tangential views were taken of 20 adult volunteers by referencing the projection directions determined in the shoulder specimens. The angles showed on the DR system and the angles between the coronal plane of the body and the vertical plane of the flat panel detector （FPD） during taking these radiographs were recorded. The C-arm fluoroscopy unit was used to take the axial and tangential views referencing the angles measured on the DR system. Routine anteroposterior radiographs of the AC joint were taken on the volunteers. The minimal distances from the distal clavicle to the acromion were measured on both tangential and anteroposterior radiographs. The data was statistically analyzed. Results The clear axial and tangential radiographs of AC joints of the volunteers were obtained using both DR and C-arm fluoroscopy units. The angles demonstrated on the DR window are （20.8±2.4）° for male and （18.3±2.3）° for female. During taking the axial views, the angles between the coronal plane of the body and vertical plane of FPD are （23.3±3.2）° for male and （20,1±2.4）° for female. During taking tangential views, the corresponding angles are （117.5±3.7）° for male and （113.1±3.3）° for female. On the tangential radiographs, the minimal distance from the distal clavicle to the acromion is （6.1±1.2） mm, wider than the same measurement on the anteroposterior radiographs （P 〈0.05）. Statistical analyses showed no significant differences in the above-mentioned angles and the minimal distances between the left and right AC joints （P 〉0.05）. There were no significant differences in the above-mentioned angles between DR and C-arm fluoroscopy units （P 〉0.05）. Conclusions The axial and tangential radiographs of the AC joint can demonstrate the joint clearly and they can be easily obtained with both DR system and C-arm fluoroscopy unit in similar projection directions.