Jones fracture, a specialized fracture that occurs at the base of the fifth metatarsal, is located in the junction region of the proximal metaphysis and epiphysis of the metatarsal. Its treatment remains challenging because of its unique location, high functional demands from its victims and a high rate of delayed union or nonunion after surgical or non-surgical treatment. We present a review of recent studies on the mechanisms, risk factors, treatments, and rapid rehabilitation concepts for Jones fracture, hoping to deepen the understanding of the fracture so as to improve its treatment outcomes.

To compare the effects of advanced bone flap and no bone flap on the healing of osteotomy gap in open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OW-HTO) for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis and knee inversion.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 85 patients who had undergone OW-HTO from March 2021 to December 2021 at Trauma Emergency Centre, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University for medial compartment osteoarthritis and knee inversion. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether bone flap was grafted. In group A of 42 patients who received advanced bone flap intraoperatively, there were 32 females and 10 males with an age of (63.7±6.6) years; in group B of 43 patients who received no advanced bone flap intraoperatively, there were 31 females and 12 males with an age of (63.2±9.4) years. The measures recorded and compared between the 2 groups included: osteotomy gap healing rates at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months postoperatively; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at 6 and 18 months postoperatively; medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) and femorotibial angle at immediate postoperation and 18 months postoperation; postoperative complications.Results:The differences in preoperative general information between the 2 groups were not statistically significant, showing comparability ( P>0.05). The osteotomy gap healing rates at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months postoperatively in group A were significantly higher than those in group B ( P<0.05). The WOMAC (26.1±5.9), VAS (4.1±1.4), and KOOS (47.0±9.7) scores at 6 months postoperatively in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (31.3±8.3, 4.8±1.6, and 56.1±11.9) ( P<0.05), but the differences in the above indicators between the 2 groups at 18 months postoperatively were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in MPTA or femorotibial angle at immediate postoperation between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). At 18 months postoperatively, the MPTA in group A (88.7°±1.1°) was significantly better than that in group B (87.7°±1.5°) ( P<0.05). The total complication rate in group B [27.9% (12/43)] was signifcantly higher than that in group A [2.4% (1/42)]( P<0.05). Conclusions:In the OW-HTO treatment of the patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis and knee inversion, application of an advanced bone flap to fill the osteotomy gap can accelerate the gap healing and reduces occurrence of delayed healing or non-healing of the osteotomy gap.

Objective:To explore the clinical effectiveness of a self-designed robot reduction system for femoral intertrochanteric fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 57 patients with intertrochanteric fracture who had been treated at Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Affiliated Central Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from June 2022 to February 2023. The patients were divided into a robot group (using the self-designed robot reduction system to assist intramedullary nailing) and a traction bed group (using a traction bed to assist intramedullary nailing) based on their fracture reduction method. The robot group: 31 patients, 11 males and 20 females, with an age of (78.7±9.3) years; 16 left and 15 right sides; 17 cases of type 31-A1, 12 cases of type 31-A2 and 2 cases of type 31-A3 by the AO/OTA classification. The traction bed group: 26 patients, 12 males and 14 females, with an age of (78.7±7.7) years; 13 left and 13 right sides; 16 cases of type 31-A1, 9 cases of type 31-A2 and 1 cases of type 31-A3 by the AO/OTA classification. The 2 groups were compared in terms of reduction and operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy frequency, reduction quality, and VAS and Harris score at preoperation, 1 week and 6 months postoperation.Results:The 2 groups were comparable due to insignificant differences in their preoperative general data ( P>0.05). The robot group was significantly better than the traction bed group in reduction time [(4.4±2.2) min versus (9.4±3.2) min], operation time [(29.0±13.5) min versus (49.3±13.3) min], intraoperative blood loss [(76.5±30.5) mL versus (115.0±38.4) mL], fluoroscopy frequency [(10.2±2.6) times versus (14.8±3.2) times], and good/excellent rate of reduction [80.6% (25/31) versus 50.0% (13/26)] ( P<0.05). All patients were followed up for (6.8±0.3) months. Respectively, the VAS scores at preoperation and 6 months postoperation was (6.2±1.3) and (2.4±0.8) points for the robot group, and (6.3±1.3) and (2.7±0.8) points for the traction bed group, showing no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). However, the VAS score was (3.3±1.2) points for the robotic group and (4.8±1.5) points for the traction bed group at 1 week postoperation, showing a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups ( P<0.001). Respectively, the Harris scores at preoperation and 6 months postoperation were (35.3±3.0) and (88.7±3.4) points for the robot group, and (35.6±2.9) and (87.2±3.5) points for the traction bed group, showing no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). However, the Harris score was (57.3±3.7) points for the robotic group and (46.7±2.8) points for the traction bed group at 1 week postoperation, showing a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups ( P<0.05). The patient satisfaction rates in the robot and traction bed groups were 96.8% (30/31) and 92.3% (24/26), respectively, showing no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Our self-designed robot reduction for femoral intertrochanteric fractures can effectively shorten reduction and operation time, reduce bleeding and fluoroscopy frequency, and enhance anatomical reduction.

Objective:To evaluate our self-designed pre-positioned 3D honeycomb guide device in the internal fixation with percutaneous cannulated screws for femoral neck fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 60 patients with femoral neck fracture who had been treated with cannulated screw fixation at Department of Orthopaedics, Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2019 to June 2022. According to the difference in intraoperative positioning for placement of cannulated screws, the patients were divided into a study group of 30 cases whose placement of cannulated screws was assisted by our self-designed pre-positioned 3D honeycomb guide device, and a control group of 30 cases whose cannulated screws were positioned freehand. In the study group, there were 17 males and 13 females with an age of (44.9±9.2) years, and 2 cases of type Ⅱ, 18 cases of type Ⅲ, and 10 cases of type Ⅳ by the Garden classification. In the control group, there were 11 males and 19 females with an age of (43.5±7.9) years), and 1 case of type Ⅱ, 16 cases of type Ⅲ, and 13 cases of type Ⅳ by the Garden classification. Closed reduction and inverted triangle internal fixation with 3 cannulated screws were conducted for all fractures. The Garden crossline index, operation time, fluoroscopy frequency, needle drillings, fracture healing time, and Harris hip functional score at the last follow-up were compared between the 2 groups. The postoperative imaging indicators in the 2 groups were measured, including screw spacing, distance from screw to neck cortex, screw coverage area, parallel deviation between screws, and deviation from screw to neck axis.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up for (14.4±1.9) months after surgery. In the study group, operation time [(33.1±5.5) min], fluoroscopy frequency [(13.7±2.2) times], needle drillings [(3.7±0.6) times], distance from screw to neck cortex [(12.4±2.8) mm], parallel deviation between screws in the anteroposterior view (2.2°±1.1°), parallel deviation between screws in the lateral view (2.4°±1.0°), deviation from screw to neck axis in the anteroposterior view (4.0°±0.9°) and deviation from screw to neck axis in the lateral view (3.2°±0.8°) were all significantly smaller than those in the control group [(46.5±8.6) min, (23.1±5.2) times, (11.0±2.2) times, (19.0±3.3) mm, 6.5°±2.6°, 7.1°±2.9°, 7.7°±2.6°, and 9.2°±3.1°] (all P<0.05). The screw spacing [(45.7±5.8) mm] and screw coverage area [(74.1±10.9) mm 2] in the study group were both significantly larger than those in the control group [(31.3±7.7) mm and (55.5±9.0) mm 2] ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in Garden crossline index, fracture healing time, follow-up time, or Harris hip functional score at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). Follow-ups revealed 1 case of bone non-union in the study group and 2 cases of bone non-union and screw withdrawal in the control group, but no such complications as infection, deep vein thrombosis, screw penetration or rupture, or femoral head necrosis in either group. Conclusion:In the internal fixation with percutaneous cannulated screws for the treatment of femoral neck fractures, our self-designed pre-positioned 3D honeycomb guide device can shorten surgical time, significantly reduce fluoroscopy frequency and needle drillings, and effectively improve accuracy of screw placement.

Objective:To compare the curative effects between modified double-reverse traction technique and traditional open reduction in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 70 patients with Schatzker type Ⅳ-Ⅴ tibial plateau fracture who had undergone surgical treatment at The Third Department of Orthopaedics, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to December 2022. The patients were divided into an observation group treated with modified double-reverse traction and a control group treated with traditional open reduction. In the observation group of 37 cases, there were 20 males and 17 females with an age of (44.6±13.5) years, and 9 cases of type Ⅳ and 28 cases of type V by the Schatzker classification; in the control group of 33 cases, there were 18 males and 15 females with an age of (45.9±13.7) years, and 10 cases of type Ⅳ and 23 cases of type Ⅴ by the Schatzker classification. The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, length of main incision, intraoperative blood loss, Rasmussen imaging score before discharge, and knee function score of American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), fracture healing and complications at 6 months postoperatively.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing group comparability ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up for (14.3±1.4) months. The observation group was significantly better than the control group in operation time [(113.9±11.4) min versus (151.82±10.37) min], length of main incision [4 (4, 5) cm versus 6 (6, 7) cm], intraoperative blood loss [30 (20, 35) mL versus 55 (50, 65) mL], VAS [0 (0, 0) point versus 0 (0, 1) points] and HSS score [(89.8±3.1) points versus (86.0±3.5) points] ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in Rasmussen imaging score before discharge, or fracture healing rate or complication rate at 6 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of Schatzker type Ⅳ-Ⅴ tibial plateau fractures, modified double-reverse traction technique is worthy of clinical application and promotion, because it is advantageous over traditional open reduction in terms of shorter operation time, smaller surgical incision, less intraoperative blood loss, less postoperative pain and better knee function.

Objective:To explore the biomechanical stability of a novel anchor-loop internal fixation system in the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation using cadaveric specimens.Methods:The acromioclavicular ligaments were severed in 12 complete shoulder joint specimens, in which the quasi-static non-destructive cycle experiment was performed until the coracoclavicular ligaments failed. The failure intensities of the coracoclavicular ligaments were recorded. Next, the 12 specimens were randomly divided into groups A, B, C and D ( n=3), in which 4 different internal fixation materials were used respectively to reduce and fix the acromioclavicular joint. Group A was subjected to 3.5 mm clavicular hook locking compression plate, group B to 5 mm soft tissue with wire anchor, group C to 10 mm Endobutton steel plate, and group D to the novel anchor-loop internal fixation system (5 mm soft tissue with wire anchor + 10 mm Endobutton steel plate). An X-ray machine was used to evaluate the reduction and internal fixation of the acromioclavicular joint. After the shoulder specimens were securely fastened by a homemade fixation jig to a 100 KN electronic universal mechanical testing machine, each experimental specimen was subjected to a destructive static tensile mechanic determination in the vertical direction at a loading speed of 100 mm/min. The load-displacement curves were recorded and drawn by a computer connected with the biomechanical testing machine. The failure strength and failure causes were recorded for each internal fixation. Results:The fracture strength of the coracoclavicular ligament in 12 cadaver specimens was (374.6±0.8) N. The mechanical load of internal fixation failure was (409.5±2.6) N in group A, (297.8±3.4) N in group B, (375.2±3.1) N in group C and (376.2±3.1) N in group D. The internal fixation failure was due to clavicular fracture in 2 specimens and to acromial fracture in 1 specimen in group A, to anchor protrusion in all the 3 specimens in group B, to coracoid base fracture in all the 3 specimens in group C, and to anchor protrusion in all the 3 specimens in group D. The mechanical loads of internal fixation failure were significantly different among the 4 experimental groups ( P<0.05). The mechanical load of internal fixation failure in group D was significantly different from that in groups A and B ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Our self-developed novel anchor-loop internal fixation system can effectively reposit the acromioclavicular joint to treat acromioclavicular joint dislocation, because it conforms to the biomechanical characteristics of the acromioclavicular joint, and is easy to handle. Therefore, its feasibility is high.

Objective:To evaluate the reliability and clinical application of a self-established classification system for the lower 1/3 humeral fractures in adults.Methods:A retrospective study was performed to analyze the 88 patients with lower 1/3 humeral fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Fuzhou between January 2013 and December 2020. There were 61 males and 27 females with an age of (34.6±12.7) years. The lower 1/3 humeral fractures were classified according to the location of the fracture line, displacement, and bone mass into 3 types: type Ⅰ: transverse and short oblique ones; type Ⅱ: oblique and spiral ones; type Ⅲ: oblique and spiral ones with butterfly-shaped bone mass. After a junior orthopedic surgeon, an intermediate orthopedic surgeon, a senior orthopedic surgeon, and a radiologist had learned this novel classification system, they were asked to classify the lower 1/3 humeral fractures in this cohort independently to assess the reliability of the classification system. Our treatments were based on this novel classification. Open reduction and internal fixation with a unilateral plate through a lateral approach was performed for type Ⅰ fractures, internal fixation with a unilateral plate plus compression screws through a lateral approach for type Ⅱ fractures, and double plate internal fixation through the ulnar and anterolateral approaches for type Ⅲ fractures. The functions of the radial, ulnar, and musculocutaneous nerves and fracture healing time were observed postoperatively. The shoulder and elbow functions were evaluated using Neer shoulder function score and Mayo elbow function score.Results:Of the 88 patients in this cohort, 20 were type Ⅰ, 25 type Ⅱ, and 43 type Ⅲ. The mean Kappa value for inter-observer reliability was 0.878 at the first stage and 0.914 at the second stage, and the mean Kappa value for intra-observer reliability was 0.950. All patients were followed up for (14.1±3.7) months. Iatrogenic injury to the radial nerve was observed in 2 patients, but no injury to the ulnar nerve, the musculocutaneous nerve or important blood vessels or failure of internal fixation was reported. All patients achieved bony union after (12.7±2.0) weeks. The maximum elbow flexion was 137.8°±4.8°, and the maximum elbow extension 2.4°±1.6°. The Mayo elbow function score was (92.0±3.1) points and the Neer shoulder function score (92.2±3.2) points.Conclusions:Our classification system for the lower 1/3 humeral fractures in adults is reliable. As the treatments corresponding to the novel classification system can achieve satisfactory clinical outcomes, the classification system has a clinical value.

Objective:To characterize the biomechanics of distal dynamic locking and distal static locking of proximal femur bionic nails (PFBN) in fixation of intertrochanteric fractures by a finite element analysis.Methods:The CT image data from the hip to the upper tibia from an adult male volunteer were used to establish a three-dimensional model of the femur by Mimics 20.0 and Geomagic 2013 which was processed further into a model of Evans type I intertrochanteric fracture by software NX 12.0. With reference to the internal fixation parameters commonly used, 4 models of PFBN fixation were established: distal single transverse nail dynamic locking (model A), single oblique nail dynamic locking (model B), single nail static locking (model C) and double nail dynamic locking (model D). Abaqus 6.14 software was used to load and analyze the internal fixation stresses and displacements of fracture ends.Results:Under a 2100N loading, the peak stress was located upon the main nail in the 4 models. The smallest peak stress upon the main nail was in Model D (161.9 MPa), decreased by 15.9% compared with model A (192.5 MPa), by 15.6% compared with model B (191.9 MPa), and by 0.9% compared with model C (163.3 MPa). The peak stress upon the fixation screw was the largest in model A (95.3 MPa), the smallest in model B (91.5 MPa), and 91.5 MPa and 92.2 MPa in models C and D, respectively. The overall displacements of the implants, in a descending order, were 10.14 mm in model A, 10.10 mm in model B, 10.09 mm in model C, and 10.05 mm in model D. Similarly, the displacements of fracture ends were 0.125 mm in model A, 0.121 mm in model B, 0.110 mm in model C, and 0.098 mm in model D.Conclusion:Compared with dynamic locking, distal static locking of PFBN provides a better mechanical stability and reduces stress concentration upon internal fixation.

Objective:To compare the clinical outcomes between percutaneous Kirschner wire leverage plus plaster fixation and elastic intramedullary nailing in the treatment of radial neck fractures in children.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 60 children with radial neck fracture who had been treated by percutaneous Kirschner wire leverage plus plaster fixation at Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Children's Hospital of Soochow University from January 2016 to July 2023 (set as an internal fixation-free group). They were 30 males and 30 females (34 left and 26 right sides) with an age of (7.7±3.0) years. At the same time, another cohort of 60 patients were chosen as an intramedullary nailing group who had been treated by percutaneous Kirschner wire leverage plus elastic intramedullary nailing and matched in age and gender with those in the internal fixation-free group. The preoperative fracture angulation, operative time, hospitalization time, fracture angulation on the first postoperative day, fracture angulation at 1 month postoperatively, rate of angulation loss after reduction, Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) at the last follow-up and complications were compared between the 2 groups.Results:There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in their preoperative general data, showing comparability ( P<0.05). The 120 pediatric patients were followed up for (7.5±3.2) months. The operative time [(27.4±15.0) min] and hospitalization time [(3.4±1.9) d] in the internal fixation-free group were significantly shorter than those in the intramedullary nailing group [(45.4±13.5) min and (4.4±1.3) d] ( P<0.05). The preoperative fracture angulation (50.8°±1.9°), fracture angulation on the first postoperative day (11.3°±1.2°), fracture angulation at 1 month postoperatively (12.1°±1.3°), rate of angulation loss after reduction (2.9%±0.5%), and MEPS at the last follow-up [(90.4±2.0) points] in the internal fixation-free group showed no significant differences from those in the intramedullary nailing group [49.5°±1.7°, 11.1°±1.2°, 13.3°±1.5°, 3.9%±1.4%, and (90.2±2.3) points] ( P>0.05). None of the patients in the internal fixation-free group developed pin-tail irritation sign or premature epiphyseal closure after surgery, whereas 3 patients in the intramedullary nailing group developed pin-tail irritation sign and 2 ones premature epiphyseal closure after surgery, showing a significant difference in the complication rate between the 2 groups [0 (0/60) versus 8.3% (5/60)] ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Percutaneous Kirschner wire leverage plus plaster fixation and close elastic intramedullary nailing can both achieve satisfactory outcomes in the treatment of radial neck fractures in children. However, percutaneous Kirschner wire leverage plus plaster fixation needs shorter operative time and hospitalization time, leads to fewer complications, and requires no reoperation to remove internal fixation.

Objective:To explore the clinical application of three-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CTA) in repair of limb wounds with free lateral thoracic perforator flaps.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 61 patients with limb soft tissue defects who had been treated at The Third Department of Orthopedics, Xingtai General Hospital of North China Medical and Health Group from January 2018 to September 2022. There were 37 males and 24 females with an age of (43.9±12.0) years. Thirty-three left and 28 right sides were injured. Soft tissue defects ranged from 4.0 cm × 3.0 cm to 17.0 cm × 8.0 cm, and flap areas from 5.0 cm × 4.0 cm to 18.0 cm × 9.0 cm. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the different preoperative vascular exploration methods: an ultrasound group of 30 cases subjected to ultrasound Doppler examination and a 3D-CTA group of 31 cases subjected to 3D-CTA examination. The preoperative findings were compared with those of intraoperative exploration in the 2 groups. The operation time, flap survival rate, patient satisfaction with trauma repair, sensory recovery of the flap area, and the excellent and good rate of the donor area were also compared between the 2 groups.Results:The differences in preoperative general data between the 2 groups were not statistically significant, indicating the 2 groups were comparable ( P>0.05). In the ultrasound group, the inraoperative classification of the lateral thoracic perforator flaps showed a low concordance with preoperative classification (Kappa coefficient of 0.104, P=0.088). In the 3D-CTA group, the classification of lateral thoracic perforator flaps was consistent with the preoperative 3D-CTA examination (Kappa coefficient of 1.00, P<0.001). The preoperative measurements in the 3D-CTA group found that the diameter at the origin of the lateral thoracic artery was (1.2±0.3) mm, the vascular pedicle length (8.1±2.1) cm, and the diameter at the perforator exit (0.6±0.2) mm; the preoperative surface positioning at the perforator exit found that the perforator exit was (1.6±0.3) cm above the horizontal line of the subscapular angle and (5.3±1.4) cm outside the vertical line of the subscapular angle. These measurements were similar to the intraoperative ones [(1.1±0.3) mm, (8.3±2.4) cm, (0.7±0.2) mm, (1.5±0.4) cm, and (5.2±1.5) cm], showing no significant differences ( P>0.05). In contrast, the preoperative measurements of the above indexes in the ultrasound group did not coincide with the actual intraoperative measurements, and the differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.05). The operation time, flap survival rate, rate of patient satisfaction with wound repair, rate of sensory recovery in the flap area, and the excellence and good rate of the donor area in the 3D-CTA group were (52.9±16.7) min, 100.0% (31/31), 96.8% (30/31), 83.9% (26/31), and 87.1% (27/31), respectively, which were significantly better than those in the ultrasound group [(76.3±21.4) min, 86.7% (26/30), 76.7% (23/30), 60.0% (18/30), 63.3% (20/30)] ( P<0.05). Conclusions:As preoperative 3D-CTA examination can clarify the types and anatomical characteristics of the lateral thoracic artery and its perforators, it helps the design and harvest of the lateral thoracic perforator flaps. Compared with the ultrasound Doppler examination, preoperative 3D-CTA examination shortens operation time, raises survival rate of the flaps, and facilitates recovery of the appearance and function of the limb wounds, and leads to little impact on the donor site.