Hip fractures are common among elderly individuals. Internal fixation with the intramedullary system has been widely used to treat intertrochanteric femur fractures. The Gamma 3 nail is a useful device for fixating trochanteric fractures of the proximal femur. We report a rare complication of medial pelvic penetration of the lag screw of a Gamma 3 nail two months after surgery. There was a complete separation between the nail body and lag screw, and the lag screw penetrated through the acetabulum into the pelvis. We report a case of unstable intertrochanteric fracture with intrapelvic penetration after surgical treatment with proximal femoral nailing and a case followed by fatal results.
Acetabulum ; Aged ; Femur ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Pelvis

Femur intramedullary nailing can be one of the most predictable procedures in orthopedic traumatology. The advantage of this method is that the fracture site does not have to be widely exposed for reduction, which can minimize soft tissue damage. For this reason, the incidence of complications related to hematoma has been rare. We experienced only one case of sciatic nerve palsy due to hematoma after intramedullary nailing; the patient was receiving an anticoagulant therapy. Therefore, we report this case with literature review.
Anticoagulants* ; Femoral Fractures ; Femur* ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Sciatic Neuropathy* ; Traumatology

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of percutaneous wiring in the reduction of reverse oblique trochanteric fractures (AO classification 31-A3.3) by analyzing the treatment results with or without the use of percutaneous wiring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five cases from January 2008 to August 2014 that could be followed-up for at least one year were selected among patients with unstable trochanteric fractures who underwent either internal fixation or open reduction. Seventeen patients underwent surgery with percutaneous wire fixation but another 18 patients underwent surgery without it. All patients received a closed reduction and internal fixation with an intramedullary nail. The factors evaluated were as follows: the length of operation, loss of blood, length of in-hospital stay, lower limb function scale, return to preinjury daily life, change in femur neck shaft angle, postoperative gap of the fracture site, time taken for bone attachment, quality of post-operative reduction, and complications. RESULTS: No significant difference in the mean operative time, loss of blood, length of in hospital stay, lower limb function scale, return to pre-injury daily life, change in femur neck shaft angle, postoperative gap of the fracture site, and quality of postoperative reduction was observed between the two groups. A significant difference was noted in the time taken for bone attachment (p=0.032). Bone attachment took 13.3 weeks (9–17 weeks) on average when fixed with percutaneous wiring and no patient was found to have any complications. When treated without percutaneous wiring, however, bone attachment took 17.8 weeks (12.5–28.0 weeks) on average and three cases resulted in delayed union. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous wiring is a recommended treatment option for patients with an unstable trochanteric fracture.
Classification* ; Femur Neck ; Femur* ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Hip Fractures* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lower Extremity ; Operative Time

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the radiological and epidemiological characteristics, as well as the clinical course of pelvic insufficiency fractures in the elderly population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At a Haeundae Paik Hospital, we retrospectively reviewed patients with pelvic insufficiency fractures between March 2010 and May 2017. The demographic data of patients were analyzed, and bone mineral density and bone turnover markers were evaluated to estimate the metabolic status of the bone. The radiological characteristics were evaluated by comparing the simple x-ray images with the computed tomography images, and the types of fractures were classified via computed tomography images. For clinical course evaluation, we investigated comorbid complications, and compared the walking ability scale before and 6 months after the fracture. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients were included, with an average age of 76.5 years. All were female except one case. In 5 cases where the initial medical examination was from another institution, the fracture was not found in 3 cases. All cases received conservative treatment. After the diagnosis of pelvic bone fracture using a simple x-ray imaging, additional fractures were found in 81.0% of the study population using a computed tomography. Initiation of gait occurred at an average of 2.8 weeks, and every case except 1 (97.6%) fully recovered their gait ability. CONCLUSION: We concluded that there was a limitation with diagnosing pelvic insufficiency fracture using only a simple x-ray imaging technique. In general, cases in this study showed conservative treatment yielded favorable clinical outcome with relatively less critical complications.
Aged ; Bone Density ; Bone Remodeling ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fractures, Stress* ; Gait ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Pelvic Bones ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Walking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the new hip protector design with respect to the comfort and mobility. The new hip protector was developed based on a pattern of draping and body shape of Korean elderly individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An wearing characteristics evaluation was conducted on 101 elderly women wearing hip protector using a questionnaire of preference and ease of wearing. Hip protectors, with existing and newly developed belt and underwear types, which were previously preferred by the Korean elderly, were evaluated. RESULTS: The newly developed belt type (65.0%) and newly developed underwear type (30.1%) hip protectors were preferred to the existing type (3.9%) and existing underwear type (1.0%) ones. The convenience of the newly developed belt type was greater than 4 out of 5 points (1 for strongly disagree and 5 for strongly agree) for all nine measures, including fit, allowance, mobility, pad placement, pad thickness, pad size, material, design, ease of dressing, and ease of undressing. The newly developed hip protectors showed less discomfort than the existing ones. In particular, the newly developed belt type and developed underwear type improved sitting convenience by 31.1% and 26.1%, respectively, compared with the existing ones. CONCLUSION: The hip protectors developed in the present study is expected to provide better fit for the body shape of Korean elderly individuals and prevent hip fracture due to fall.
Aged* ; Bandages ; Female ; Hip* ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study seeks to determine the anatomically optimal entry point of proximal femoral nail antirotation-II (PFNA-II®) according to geographic features of Korean cadaveric femoral trochanters for successful reduction of osteoporotic proximal femoral fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three adult cadaveric femurs without previous fractures or surgeries were included. Anteroposterior (AP) and lateral images of all femurs and PFNA-II® were taken with an image intensifier. Using the image synthesis process via the image editing program (Adobe Photoshop CS6), the optimal entry point was verified and compared with the tip of the greater trochanter (GT) and the cervicotro-chanteric junction on AP images, as well as the width of the trochanter and the neck on lateral images. RESULTS: The optimal entry point of PFNA-II® was an average distance of 9.1 mm (range, 7–15 mm) medially from the tip of GT on AP images. The center of the nail was located at an average of 30% (range, 21%–44%) area from the posterior margin of the middle neck, which is an average area of 38% (range, 26%–48%) from the posterior cortex of the trochanter on lateral images. Furthermore, the ideal entry point was at the extended line of the cervico-trochanteric junction. CONCLUSION: The optimal entry point, which was found to be medial to the tip of the GT and posterior to the center of the middle femoral neck and the trochanter, was at on the extended line of the cervicotrochanteric junction.
Adult ; Cadaver* ; Femoral Fractures ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Neck

With an aging population and the development of surgical techniques, there is a growing demand for bone reconstruction in areas of trauma, arthroplasty, and spinal fusion Although autogenous bone grafting may be the best method for stimulating bone repair and regeneration, there are still problems and complications, including morbidity related to bone harvesting and limitation of harvest amount. Allogeneic bone grafts have a limited supply and risk of transmission of infectious diseases. Over the past several decades, the use of bone substitutes, such as calcium phosphate, has increased; however, they have limited indications. Biomedical research has suggested a possibility of stimulating the self-healing mechanism by locally transmitting the external growth factors or stimulating local production through a gene transfer. In this review, we evaluate recent advances, including bone graft, bone substitutes, and tissue engineering.
Aging ; Allografts ; Arthroplasty ; Bone Substitutes* ; Bone Transplantation ; Calcium ; Communicable Diseases ; Genes, vif ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Methods ; Regeneration ; Spinal Fusion ; Tissue Engineering ; Transplants

The management of nonunion with severe bone loss is a challenging task to both surgeons and patients. It often requires prolonged and potentially painful treatments. Moreover, it also represents serious socioeconomic issues for patients. Inadequate fracture stability, disrupted biology, such as blood supply and soft tissue, as well as severe bone loss or presence of infection are possible reasons for nonunion. Several different treatment modalities are available, including nail dynamization, plate osteosynthesis, exchange nailing, and adjuvant alternatives, such as electrical or ultrasound stimulation. Autogenous bone graft remains the standard method to reconstruct small defects. Distraction osteogenesis and induced membrane techniques are contemporary strategies of choice for the reconstruction of larger bony defects. Herein, we attempt to describe the key techniques that may be employed in treating nonunion with severe bone loss.
Biology ; Humans ; Membranes ; Methods ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Surgeons ; Transplants ; Ultrasonography

High-velocity gunshot injury (muzzle velocity greater than 609.6 m/s) is uncommon and primarily a military injury. Humerus shaft fracture, caused by a high-velocity gunshot, should be considered as a severe open fracture. The principles of treatment are immediate and aggressive irrigation, wide debridement, primary delayed wound closure, and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. External fixation has been widely used for fracture fixation. We report a case of humerus shaft fracture secondary to high-velocity gunshot (machine gun) injury, with a literature review.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Debridement ; Fracture Fixation ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Humerus ; Military Personnel ; Wounds and Injuries ; Wounds, Gunshot

PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of an additional, 2.7 mm mini-locking plate for tibial pilon fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 21 patients (14 males and 7 females), who were treated with a 2.7 mm mini-locking plate via the anterolateral approach for tibial pilon fractures between September 2012 and April 2014. The mean age was 43.85 years, and the mean follow-up period was 16.6 months. The radiologic outcomes were graded by the Burwell and Charnley modified system and clinical outcomes were evaluated by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hind foot score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: The mean union period was 14.3 weeks. At the final follow-up, radiologic results showed 16 excellent results, 4 fair results, and 1 poor result. The average VAS was 3.4 points; the average AOFAS score was 81.8 points. During the follow-up period, there were three cases of posttraumatic osteoarthritis and one case of superficial skin infection. CONCLUSION: Additional anterolateral, 2.7 mm mini-locking plate may be a good treatment method to manage tibial pilon fractures.
Ankle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Osteoarthritis ; Skin