Objective To discuss methods of pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures among middle and old aged patients with different degree of osteoporosis, and to improve the clinical result by individualized treatment according to fracture characteristics. Methods There were totally 25 patients, 17 males, and 8 females. These patients with a mean age of 52 years (range, 43-63 years), had suffered from thoracolumbar burst fractures consisted of 1 T11 fracture, 6 T12 fractures, 8 L1 fractures, 7 L2 fractures, 3 L3 fractures. According to Jikeis osteoporosis grading system, 5 patients were of early stage, 7 of stage Ⅰ, 13 of stageⅡ. Posterior stabilization with the short-segment pedicle screw system were given to all the patients, among which 6 RF, 8 AF, 5 USS, 6 Socon were performed. Fifteen patients received anterolateral decompression, and ten patients accepted no decompression at all. Some measures were taken in order to enhance the fixation stiffness for pedicle screw system, such as increasing the screws diameter, using the vertebral body reducer to reduce the depressed vertebral body and so on. To enhance vertebral body strength after fracture union, transpedicular bone graft was also performed. Results All the patients achieved fracture union during the follow-up with a mean period of 28 months (range, 9-48 months). All of the fractures were reduced satisfactorily, SI (sagittal index) was improved from 53% to 89% after operation. No fracture of screws or rods occurred, also no screw loosened. No reduction loss was found. Conclusion In order to decrease failure rate of pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar fractures among middle and old aged patients, osteoporosis of vertebral body should never be neglected and, of course, treatment should be given with individualized fixation.

Objective To introduce the diagnosis and treatment of the missed adolescent humeral capitellar fracture malunion.Methods Retrospectively analyzed 6 cases with missed adolescent capitellar fracture malunion treated by the author from Jul.2010 to Mar.2015 and their follow-up results.Among them, 5 were male and 1 was female.The average age is (14.33 ± 1.86) years, 4 were left-side and 2 were right.Results The average time from injury to the operation is (8.67 ± 3.88) months.Before operation, the average elbow flexion was (91.67° ±7.53°), the average elbow extension was (40.0° ± 8.94°), the average range of flexion and extension activities was (51.67° ±11.69°).Forearm rotation was not limited.Average M EPS score was (80.83 ± 4.92).Released the elbow in 3 cases with additional medial incision.The fragment was fixed by HCS.The lateral collateral ligament was repaired by suture anchors (2 cases) or by trans-os suture(4 cases).Three cases were fixed by DJDⅡ Stryker hinged external fixatorswhich were removed after 8 weeks.The average postoperative follow-up time was (39.33 ± 20.42) months.Postoperatively, the average elbow flexion was (138.33° ±7.528°), the average elbow extension was (5.0° ± 4.472°), the average range of flexion and extension activities was (133.33° ±9.832°).Forearm rotation is not limited.The average MEPS score was 100.Conclusions The adolescent capitellar fracture is prone to be missed and cause malunion, elbow stiffness or other complications which is very difficult to deal with.By complete elbow release, osteotomy and internal fixation, the lateral collateral ligament repair, and hinged external fixator if necessary, the final elbow function can be improved.

Objective:To introduce the surgical techniques and treating results of the old “terrible triad”of the elbow.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 1 1 cases of old “terrible triad”of the elbow treated by the author from March 2009 to February 2014 were performed,with 9 males and 2 females;mean age was (31.82 ±8.66)years (17-45 years).The average time after injury was (6.36 ±2.50) weeks (4-12 weeks),with 7 cases on the left and 4 right.The combined injury included 2 cases with distal radius fractures,1 with ankle fractures,fractures of the distal radius and the head injury (minor epidural hematoma,no surgery),and 1 with Pilon fractures and L4 fractures (fixed at local hospital). All the patients had elbow stiffness and joint dislocation,and 2 patients had symptoms of ulnar nerve. Mason classification of radial head fractures:2 cases were type Ⅰ,5 were type Ⅱ,4 were type Ⅲ. Classification of the coronoid process:Regan &Morrey:1 was type Ⅰ,10 were type Ⅱ;according to O’Driscoll classification,all the fractures were tip fracture,one was the first subtype,10 were the second subtype.The elbow were released,the coronoid process were fixed by lasso suture combined with Kirschner wires.Radial head fractures were resected in 1 case,and replaced in 1 case,3 cases with no
treatment,6 cases with osteotomy and 3.0 mm headless compression screw (HCS)fixation.The lateral collateral ligament complex and the common extensor tendon were repaired to the humeral lateral epicon-dyles,No.2 Ethibon was used in 2 cases through bone holes,and suture anchorsin the other 9 cases.All the patients were fixed by Stryker DJDⅡhinged external fixator to protect the bone and soft tissue.Re-sults:The average follow-up time was (38.36 ±21.92)months (19-77 months).All the patients had no obvious pain,instability and ulnar nerve symptoms in the last follow-up.The average elbow flexion was 134.09°±12.41°(100°-140°),average extension was -15.91°±14.46°(-40°-0°),range of flexion and extension was 118.18°±23.80°(70°-140°).Average pronation was 70.91°±26.63° (20°-90°),supination was 70.91°±26.63°(20°-100°).The range of motion (ROM)of forearm rotation was 150.91°±43.00°(40°-180°).Average Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS)was 96.36 ±5.04 (85 -100).X-ray showed that no degenerative changes.Five patients had heterotopic os-sifications,according to Hastings and Graham grading:1 case was grade Ⅰ,3 cases were grade ⅡA, 1 case was ⅡB.Conclusion:The old “terrible triad”of elbow with no operative history is difficult to treat.The elbow’s functions and stabilization can be recovered by thorough elbow release,repair of coro-noid process and anterior capsule,radial head fractures,lateral collateral ligament and the common ex-tensor tendon insertion,combined with hinged external fixator.Joint stiffness and heterotopic ossification are common complications.

Objective:To discuss the diagnosis,differential diagnosis,classification methods and treat-ment of the capitellar fractures of the distal humerus.Methods:In the study,28 adult patients with the capitellar fractures were treated in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from Sep.2008 to Jan.2014.There were 10 females and 18 males with an average age of 34 years (range:14-66 years).According to Dubber-ley classification:ⅠA type in 6 cases,ⅠB type in 2 cases,ⅡA type in 8 cases,ⅡB type in 4 cases,ⅢA type in 4 cases,and ⅢB type in 4 cases.Sixteen patients were treated with a single Kochr approach,1 with a lateral approach combined with a medial approach,2 combined with anterior elbow approach and 9 combined with posterior median approach.All of the fractures were fixed with Herbert screws,7 cases with support plates,and 4 cases with the hinged elbow external fixator.All of the pa-tients were followed up for clinical examination and radiograph check.They were evaluated with Broberg-Morrey score system.Results:The average follow-up time was 28.5 months (range 12 -72 months). The average bone union time was 8 weeks.The average ulnohumeral motion was 1 12°(60°-150°)and forearm rotation was 145°(100°-170°).The average Broberg-Morrey score was 92.5 points (range:62-100 points).The excellent and good rate was 91.8%.The complications of traumatic arthritis was in 2 cases and elbow stiffness was in 2 cases.Conclusion:Attention should be paid to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of capitellar fractures without missing the combined injury.According to Dubberley classification,appropriate surgical approach and the internal and external fixed methods could be chosen. Early postoperative,reasonable and effective exercise is helpful to the recovery of elbow joint function.

Objective To discuss causes and treatment outcomes of radial nerve injury related to hinged external fixators applied to the elbow,enhance understanding of the injury and thereby reduce its clinical incidence.Methods The study involved five cases who experienced radial nerve injury in the wake of application of unilateral hinged external fixators to the elbow.Exploration and neurolysis was perfomed at 3-12 weeks after injury since no signs of nerve recovery.Afterwards,follow-up was made for all cases.Results Causes of radial nerve injury were as follows:proximal humerus Schanz screws stretched and compressed radial nerve by tethering soft tissues into cicatricial bands in two cases; distal humerus Schanz screws compressed radial nerve by tethering soft tissues adjacent to radial nerve to cicatricial bands in one case; distal humerus Schanz screws compressed radial nerve in motion of the elbow by tethering thickened intermuscular septa and further forcing the enlargement of muscle force in two cases.Forces of muscles supplied by radius nerve reached fourth or fifth rank at postoperative one-year follow-up.Conclusions Radial nerve is vulnerable in the application of unilateral hinged external fixators to the elbow due to its special path and relative stability.Accordingly,injury to radial nerve can be reduced and even avoided by knowing its anatomy features and standardizing the operation in use of external fixators.Exploration and treatment immediately after the confirmation of radial nerve injury can achieve good prognosis.

Objective To investigate the causes and treatment of postoperative nonunion of the intercondylar fracture of humerus. Methods Twenty-six patients suffering from postoperative nonunion of the intercondylar fracture of humerus, 14 males and 12 females, were analyzed in this study. Four cases underwent total elbow arthroplasty(TEA), and the other 22 received refixation and autografting, 4 of whom healed only after 2 operations. The causes of postoperative nonunion were analyzed. Results This group had 28 unstable fixations, 16 postoperative plaster external fixations and 21 significant bone defects. On average, they had a follow-up of 11.4 months (4 to 41 months). In the 4 TEA cases, the average flexion was 112° (90° to 130°) and the extension 18° (0 to 35°). Their average MEPS score was 85(80 to 90 points). The other 22 cases achieved bone union ultimately, with an average flexion of 97.7°± 10. 0° (70° to 110°),an average extension of 30. 9°± 12.8°(0 to 60°), and an average motion arc of 66. 8°± 10. 5° (50° to 90°).Their average MEPS score was 81.4 ± 11. 1 points (65 to 100 points). Conclusions Inadequate internal fixation, elbow stiffness due to plaster external fixation and significant bone defects are the main causes for postoperative nonunion of the intercondylar fracture of humerus. 90-90 plate fixation and parallel plate fixation, together with constructive bone grafting, can achieve bone union in most cases, though the motion arc of the elbow is still unsatisfactory.

Vertebral compression fractures, the most common complication of the osteoporosis, results in significant morbidity of prolonged and intractable pain in some patients. Vertebroplasty procedure that involves percutaneous injection of bone cement into a collapsed vertebra has recently been introduced to treat osteoporotic patients who have prolonged pain following vertebral compression fracture. To determine the details of the procedure and to gather information on its safety and efficacy, we performed a MEDLINE search using the terms ‘vertebroplasty’. We reviewed reports of these procedures in patients with osteoporosis. Several reports suggest that the vertebroplasty is associated with pain relief in 67% to 100% of the cases. Short-term complications, mainly the result of extravasation of cement, can increase pain and damage from heat or compression to the spinal cord or nerve roots. Proper patient selection and good technique can decrease such complications so that the decompression surgery is rarely needed. But long-term complications, which include foreign-body reaction at the cement-bone interface, the wear of the cement, and increased risk of fracture in the adjacent vertebrae due to changes of mechanical stresses, have not been fully evaluated. In short, there is still a long way to go for the vertebroplasty.

Objective To observe the curative effect of open reduction and internal fixation for capitellum and trochlea fractures.Methods A retrospective case series study was performed on 14 patients with capitellum and trochlea fractures without involving lateral and lateral column treated by open reduction and internal fixation from April 2008 to August 2016.There were four males and 10 females, aged from 24 to 62 years (mean, 41.4 years).Dubberley classification was type ⅠA in four patients, type ⅠB in three, type ⅡA in two, type ⅡB in one, type ⅢA in two, type ⅢB in two.Three patients were combined with ipsilateral capitulum radius fractures, and one patient with ipsilateral ulna olecranon fracture.Visual analogue scale (VAS) for elbow pain, elbow activity and Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) were evaluated.Postoperative complications were also observed.Results All patients were followed up for 24-55 months (mean, 27.2 months).Fracture healed after (21.3±2.1)weeks.VAS was (2.1±1.9) points at 24 months postoperatively, with painless in three patients, mild pain in seven and moderate pain in four.Elbow flexion and extension angle was (93.4±15.2)°, elbow flexion angle was (114.3±11.1)°, elbow extension angle was (33.6±20.7)°, forearm front rotation angle was (75.2±12.5)°, and forearm back rotation angle was (83.2±8.2)°.No patients had elbow instability, ischemic necrosis or internal fixation loosening.MEPS was (74.2±17.8)points, including excellent results in 3 cases, good in 8, fair in 2 and poor in 1.One case of Dubberley type ⅢA developed mild ulnar nerve symptom and alleviated after 3 months.Five cases (two type ⅢA, one type ⅢB, one type ⅡA, one type ⅡB) had a small amount of heterotopic ossification 6 month after operation, but elbow flexion and extension activity was good.One case of Dubberley type ⅢB combined with fracture of the olecranon process had elbow heterotopic ossification 1 month after operation, further developed large displaced ossification around the elbow 6 months after operation, and showed elbow flexion and extension of 30° 2 years after operation that was significantly limited compared to the contralateral side.Conclusion Open reduction and internal fixation of capitellum and trochlea fractures can improve elbow activity and reduce incidence of postoperative complication.

Objective:To discuss the effect of single low dose local radiotherapy and indomethacin to-gether in the prevention of recurrence of ectopic ossification around the elbow after resection.Methods:From Jun.2009 to Dec.2011,we performed excision of ectopic ossification around the elbow in 78 stiff elbows.For each case,we used both medial and lateral approaches,and we performed both anterior and posterior capsulectomies and removal of ectopic ossification.In the lateral approach,we started proximal-ly,the lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus was exposed from the interval between extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL)and triceps,and then distally passed the interval between ECRL and extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB).With the medial approach,after releasing the ulnar nerve,the pronator teres muscle origin was reflected from the medial epicondyle,and then the common flexor-pronator tendon was split longitudinally distally and the brachalis and the anterior portion of the flexor-pronator group were dissected off the anterior humerus.If there was forearm rotation dysfunction,we used extensive lateral ap-proach,the anconeus muscle was reflected from the ulna and the scar tissue and ectopic ossification around the proximal radioulnar joint were resected.The important structures,such as the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL)and the anterior part of the medial collateral ligament (AMCL),should be carefully protected,because they were important for the elbow stability.Anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve depended on the patients’condition.We performed low dose radiotherapy 4 hours before opera-tion,and we used indomethacin for 6 weeks after operation.In these patients,there were 46 males and 32 females,whose age averaged (35.8 ±7.9)years (16 -65 years).According to Hastings-Graham classification,there were 56 ⅡA,5 ⅡB,6 ⅡC and 1 1 Ⅲ before operation.Results:We followed up these patients for 26 months with an average of 24-36 months,all the patients improved their elbow func-tion,and no recurrence of ectopic ossification appeared except for 1 patient.For this patient,his elbow function was excellent,and according to Hastings-Graham classification,his ectopic ossification was of typeⅠ.Conclusion:Single low dose local radiotherapy and indomethacin together are effective in the prevention of recurrence of ectopic ossification around the elbow after excision.

Objective To classify tibial plateau fractures based on the analysis of the morphology and injury mechanisms of 200 cases of tibial plateau feature.Methods We collected the X-ray and CT images of 200 consecutive cases of tibial plateau fracture in i99 patients who had been treated at our department from January 2010 to April 2011.They were 134 males and 65 females,from 15 to 77 years of age (average,45.7 years).According to the Schatzker classification,9 cases were type Ⅰ (4.5％),105 type Ⅱ (52.5％),19type Ⅳ (9.5％),37type Ⅴ (18.5％),30type Ⅵ (15.0％),and none type m.The fracture morphology and injury mechanism of each case were analyzed to propose a new classification system.Results Fractures of tibial plateau can be classified into the following five types:(a) Lateral condylar fracture and valgus injury (100 cases,50％).The injury mechanism is the axial force on the valgus and extended knee joint.(b) Fracture-dislocation injury (24 cases,12.0％).This type includes typical Schatzker type Ⅳ,and some cases of Schatzker type Ⅵ associated with lateral subluxation.Its mechanism is a compound force of valgus,varus,rotational and axial stresses.The rotational force is the key factor leading to subluxation of the knee joint.(c) Double-condylar fracture (40 cases,20.0％).This type is caused by an axial force on the extended knee,including Schatzker type Ⅴ and some cases of Schatzker type Ⅵ not associated with knee subluxation.(d) Posterior condylar fracture and flexion injury (32 cases,16.0％).This type only involves the posterior condylar plateau,and is caused by an axial force on the flexed knee.Based on the morphology,posterior condylar fractures can be further divided into three subtypes:simple split of posteromedial condyle,simple collapse of posterolateral condyle,and a combination of the two.(e) Frontal plateau compression fracture and hyperextension injury (4 cases,2.0％).This type is caused by an axial force on the hyper-extended knee.It is characterized by significant compression of the anterior plateau and intact posterior plateau.Conclusion Based on the morphological features and injury mechanisms,tibial plateau fractures can be classified into 5 types:lateral condylar fracture,fracture-dislocation injury,double-condylar fracture,posterior condylar fracture,and frontal plateau compression fracture.