OBJECTIVETo improve the treatment for severe open tibia-fibular fracture.

METHODSFrom 1994 to 2000, 146 patients with severe open tibia-fibular fracture were treated. According to Gustilo classification, all patients were of type III. Among them, 96 patients belonged to III A, 36 III B, and 18 III C. One hundred and eight patients were male and 38 female, aged from 11 to 68 years, with an average of 31. All patients were treated with unilateral external fixator combined with simple internal fixation (general screw or Kirschner wire). Thirty patients were treated with secondary flap operation. Among them, 19 patients received pedicle gastrocnemius muscle flaps, 9 free vastus lateralis muscle flaps, and 2 free latissimus dorsi muscle flaps.

RESULTSThree patients of type IIIB were subjected to amputation because of advanced age and associated cerebral or thoraco-abdominal injury. Five patients of type III C had amputation because of insufficient postoperative blood supply and necrosis. The rupture of other 138 patients was well reduced, and firmly fixed. They were followed up for 6 months-6 years, with an average of 2.5 years. The average time of fracture-union was 27 weeks, and the average time for removal of fixtors was 28 weeks. The motion of knee joint ranged from 0 to 120 degree in 110 patients; from 0 to 100 degrees in 25, and from 0 to 90 degrees. The motion of ankle joint was approximately normal.

CONCLUSIONSFor patients with severe open tibia-fibular fracture, comprehensive analysis should be made for preservation of the wounded limb or amputation as for elderly patients with vessel-nerve injury or with cerebral- thoracoabdominal injury, emergency amputation should be done. Unilateral external fixator combined with simple internal fixation (general screw or Kirschner wire) for severe open tibia-fibular fracture is advantageous for a simple and reliable fixation. It is less traumatic.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fibula ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Open ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) capsule for replenishing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood on Notch/Hes1 signaling pathway in the renal tissue and vascular endothelial CD34 and CD144 expressions in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: Rat models of early-stage diabetic nephropathy were established by left nephrectomy and high- fat and high- sugar feeding combined with intraperitoneal injection of STZ. The rats were randomized into model group, benazepril group, and high-, moderate-, and low-dose TCM capsule groups for corresponding treatments, with 6 normal rats as the control group. After 8 weeks of drug treatment, blood glucose and 24-h urinary albumin of the rats were measured, and the renal histopathology was observed with HE staining; Hes1 expression in the renal tissue was detected with immunohistochemical staining, and the renal expressions of CD34 and CD144 were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the rat models of diabetic nephropathy showed obvious abnormalities in 24- h urinary albumin and expressions of Hes1, CD34 and CD144d. The TCM capsule at both the high and moderate doses significantly reduced 24-h urinary albumin in the rats; the renal expressions of Hes1 and CD34 was significantly reduced in all the dose groups, and the expression of CD144 was significantly reduced in the high- dose group. Compared with benazepril group, the TCM capsule obviously reduced CD34 expression at all the 3 doses and lowered CD144 expression at the low dose. Histopathologically, the rats in the model group showed glomerular hypertrophy, increased mesenteric matrix, thickening and widening of the mesenteric membrane, and nodular hyperplasia. These pathologies were obviously alleviated by treatment with the TCM capsule at the high and moderate doses. CONCLUSIONS The Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) capsule for replenishing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood can reduce Hes1, CD34 and CD144 in kidney tissue of model rats, play a protective role on kidney function and delay the development of DN.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor HES-1