The anterior approach to arthrodesis of the cervical spine has become a widely accepted. However, anterior interbody fusion in the presence of the posterior instability may be complicated by the bone graft dislodgement, kyphotic deformity or nonunion. As an attempt to prevent this complications, anterior cervical plate after graft placement was introduced. Although, anterior cervical plates provide excellent fixation for the anterior column, potential risk for injury to the spinal cord, soft tissues or screw loosening leading to dysphagia has been reported. Morscher, of Switzerland, has developed an anterior cervical spine locking plate(CLSP) system that attempts to prevent the migration and looseing of screw by using a cross-split screw head that can be locked into the plate. The secondary advantage of this system is the limination of the required posterior cortex purchase. The authors reviewed 42 patients in whom the CLSP system was applied for the treatment of degenerative disease or trauma. With a mean followup of 18 months, all 42 patients went on to fusion. One patient had screws placed in the discal space, hardware failure occurred in two patients. There was no iatrogenic injury to the spinal cord or esophagus. In conclusion, the CLSP system provides a reliable fusion with minimal complications. It should be considered in multilevel anterior cervical arthrosis and cervical fractures.
Arthrodesis ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophagus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Spinal Cord ; Spine ; Switzerland ; Transplants

The authors report the clinical results of ten cases of complex supracondylar fractures treated by external fixation with a mean follow up of 21 months. Six cases were closed comminuted fracture, and four cases were open fractures. By AO classification six cases were type C2, two type C3, one type Al, and one type A3. Four cases had associated vascular injury. Reduction was performed by closed method in eight cases, and two cases were reduced through open wound. All cases healed at average of 142 days. Final healing of all cases occurred with an average range of motion of 3°-119° except one case which required reapplication due to infected nonunion with a gap. In nine cases of the ten functional results were rated as "good", and one case was "fair" by Iowa Knee Rating Scale. In conclusion, definitive external fixation can be a good alternative treatment modality despite previous recommendations to limit external fixation to temporary application in cases of limb salvage, such as severe comminution or pre-existing infection.
Classification ; External Fixators ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Fractures, Open ; Iowa ; Knee ; Limb Salvage ; Methods ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Vascular System Injuries ; Wounds and Injuries

In general. femoral neck fracture in young adult presents poor prognosis due to the high velocity injury, high angle shear fracture, and poor candidate for arthroplasty. In addition to the relative rarity of the injury, the high incidence of aseptic necrosis and nonunion have been reported in the management of these fractures. 25 cases of femoral neck fracture in young adult were treated with multiple pinning and analyzed at Sung-Ae general hospital from 1987 to 1994 after 28 months follow up in average with review of charts, X-ray and clinical result. There were 18 male and 7 female, 5 cases of them had significant polytrauma to other organs or skeletal system, authors tried to treat them as soon as possible to decrease the interval time between fracture and fixation (the average time was 39.7 hours.) Union occurred in all of Garden stage I (4 cases) and II (4 cases), but in Garden stage III (7 among 8 cases) and IV (7 among 9 cases) the union rate was lower. Average union time was 16.5 weeks. The incidence of complications (12%, 3 among 25 cases) was higher in displaced fractures group (Garden stage III, IV) and also in poorly reduced group of Garden’s alignment index. In conclusion, the prognosis of femoral neck fractures in young adult was related with mainly initial reduction and rigid fixation than the initial injury.
Agriculture ; Arthroplasty ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur Neck ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; Necrosis ; Prognosis ; Young Adult

The fat embolism syndrome is a complication which encounters rarely after fractures of pelvis and long bones of lower extremity of severe injury of soft tissue, and may results in microinfarctions in lungs, brain, heart, kidneys and other important organs when fat globules flow from bone marrow into small vessels. And that is the one of the main cause of death within 72 hours after major trauma of long bones. Diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome was made by clinical criteria by Gurd, but, majority of cases didn't show characteristic clinical symptoms or signs. Recently CT and MRI of the brain are adopted to the diagnosis of FFS as a new method. Authors experiences six cases of fat embolism syndrome from Mar. 1991 to Mar. 1994 and analyzed the brain MRI findings. We concluded that the brain MRI findings such as diffuse brain swelling, petechial hemorrhage and microinfarctions were helpful to diagnose clinically apparent or subclinical fat embolism syndrome.
Bone Marrow ; Bones of Lower Extremity ; Brain Edema ; Brain ; Cause of Death ; Diagnosis ; Embolism, Fat ; Heart ; Hemorrhage ; Kidney ; Lung ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods ; Pelvis

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficiency of undercorrection and transpedicular screw fixation through a posterior approach in osteoporotic spine fractures with a thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The surgical treatment of osteoporotic spine fractures with a thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity requires extensive surgical procedures to obtain complete restoration of the sagittal alignment, but it has a few technical limitations due to insufficient mechanical stability at the bone-screw interface. A special strategy is essential for transpedicular screw fixation for osteoporotic spine fractures with a thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 14 osteoporotic spine fracture cases, with a thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity, which had undergone undercorrection and transpedicular screw fixation through a posterior approach, between March 2000 and June 2003, with an average follow-up period of 15. 2 months. According to the Jikei grade of the osteoporosis, 9 and 5 cases were grades 2 and 3, respectively. As a radiographic assessment, we measured the kyphotic angles of the fused segments on the preoperative, postoperative and last follow up thoracolumbar lateral views on standing using Cobb's method, and also assessed the kyphotic angle correction (KAC). The clinical results were evaluated at the last follow-up. RESULTS: The kyphotic angles at the preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up were 33.5 degrees +/- 9.3, 22.4 degrees +/- 6.9 and 24.7 degrees +/- 6.8, respectively. We obtained a mean KAC gain of 11.1 degrees postoperatively (p<0.05), but a loss of 2.3 degrees at the last follow-up (p>0.05). The clinical results were analyzed as good, fair and poor in 8, 5 and 1 case, respectively. Fusions were achieved in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Undercorrection and transpedicular screw fixation for a thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity in osteoporotic spine fractures can be one of the alternatives to avoid fixation failure and an extensive surgical procedure.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Kyphosis ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine*

STUDY DESIGN: This study assessed the final functional results after treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures and compared the relationship between the results and the parameters of reduction and state of the fractures. OBJECTIVES: To define prognostic factors affecting the final results and to present some precautions to minimize the treatment failure. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: In the treatment of the thoracolumbar burst fractures in which flexion loads are predominant, the sagittal contour is crucial to achieve permanent pain-free stability, but definitive therapeutic guidelines have remained a controversal topic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 37 thoracolumbar burst fractures with an average follow up period of 1.8 years: group 1 consisting of 20 cases treated conservatively and group 2 consisting of 17 cases treated surgically with posterior instrumentation. Finally functional results were analysed with the Denis'pain and work scores, and were compared between groups on anterior body height and local kyphosis. RESULTS: A satisfactory pain score less than or equal to P3 was in 15(75%) in group 1 and 15(88.2%) in group 2(p>0.05), but satisfactory work score less than or equal to W3 was in 12(60%) in group 1 and in 14(82.4%) in group 2(p<0.05). But, some loss of body height and local kyphosis in group 1 was not reversely related with functional outcomes. Eight cases in group 1 showing unsatisfactory result in work scores were analyzed as 4 osteoporosis(Jikei grade I, II/III), 3 associated compression fracture of the contiguous vertebra and one combined osteoporosis and compression fracture, showing significant loss of vertebral height and increase of kyphosis(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Functional results of group 1 showing loss of vertebral height less than 50% and increased kyphosis less than 200 were comparable to those of group 2. The osteoporosis and associated compression fracture of adjacent vertebra were the risk group to develop posttraumatic kyphosis and might be added to the surgical indication of the thoracolumbar burst fractures.
Body Height ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression ; Kyphosis ; Osteoporosis ; Spine ; Treatment Failure

The goal of fracture treatment is to restore the patient to pre-injury function level. But the outcome assessment after orthopedic interventions has usually focused on physician-defined parameters of technical success, such as fracture union, alignment and range of motion rather than patient function and quality of life. However, the correlation among improvements in these parameters and functional status, psychosocial well being is inconsistent and weak in the elderly. Therefore authors assessed the functional status after surgical intervention of hip fractures in the elderly with functional recovery score(FRS). Independence in basic activities of daily living, in instrumental activities of daily living, in mobility, freedom from pain and intact memory were assessed in 133 hip fractures in the elderly. The hip fractures in the elderly resulted in 24.8% loss of function after the first year. The older the age, the more the loss of function after surgery of hip fractures. The more functional loss was observed in female patients and in patients with poor postoperative radiological results, but statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The more functional loss was observed in patients with underlying medical disease preoperatively and it was statistically significant (P<0.05). We recommend the evaluation of functional status in the elderly after hip fractures.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Female ; Freedom ; Hip Fractures* ; Hip* ; Humans ; Memory ; Orthopedics ; Quality of Life ; Range of Motion, Articular

Open tibial pilon fractures present extensive soft tissue disruption and common complications such as sepsis or skin slough, and deserve special cosideration in addition to the challenging reconstructive problems. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of limited internal fixation and external fixation for the treatment of the open tibial pilon fractures, and to introduce some idea in Ilizarov device use. We reviewed 27 open tibial pilon fractures treated with limited internal fixation and external fixation from Feb. 1992 to Mar. 1996(follow-up range, 1 to 5 years). Fracture classification(Ruedi and Allgower) was type I in 5, type II in 10 and type III in 12, open wound type(Gustilo-Anderson) was II in 8, IIIA in 17 and IIIB in two. Secondary procedures were 16 soft tissue procedures, 13 bone graftings and 2 limb lengthening. Mean time for removal of the external fixators was 3.5 months(range, 6 to 21 weeks), and clinical union averaged 4.3 months(range, 12 to 25 weeks). At the time of last follow-up, radiologic grading(Burwell and Charnley) showed 13 good(48%), 10 fair(37%) and 4 poor results(15%). Objective functional grading(Ovadia and Beals) showed 5 excellent(19%), 15 good(56%), 6 fair(22%) and 1 poor(4%), and subjective grading 2 excellent(7%), 16 good(59%), 7 fair(26%) and 2 poor(7%). Common complications included 10 wound sepsis(37%), 6 posttraumatic arthritis(22%) and 5 malunions(19%). In conclusion, we cosider limited internal fixation and external fixation is an effective treatment modality till bone union for open tibial pilon fractures, and Ilizarov method using tension wires crossed only through the fracture fragments can provide a sufficient early and late stability.
External Fixators ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ilizarov Technique ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Tibia ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of Nirschl procedure for intractable lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the functional records of surgically treated 21 cases from the 196 cases of lateral epicondylitis, which had been followed up at least 12 months from March 2000 to May 2003. Surgery was generally considered to be indicated if six months of conservative treatments since the first diagnosis had led to no improvement of the symptoms. The patients were evaluated by assessing of Pain Analog Scales (PAS) score. The objective outcomes of all patient after surgery were investigated according to the criteria by Roles and Maudsley. RESULTS: The mean PAS score followed up for 12 months postoperatively, had indicated significant improvements (p<0.001): 0.31 points (range, 0-2) at rest, 1.22 points (range, 0-3) at daily activities, and 2.25 points (range, 0-5) at sports and occupational activities. According to the Roles and Maudsley scores, there were 12 excellent, 7 good, 2 fair from the total of 21 cases; therefore, 19 (90%) cases showed the satisfactory results. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment using the Nirschl procedure for intractable lateral epicondylitis of the elbow is considered as one of recommendable methods for the cases of no response at the conservative treatment.
Diagnosis ; Elbow ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sports ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical results of the treatment of the percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation of bony mallet finger using an 18 gauge needle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2002 to September 2009, we performed closed reduction using an 18 gauge needle and percutaneous fixation with Kirschner wire for 15 cases of bony mallet finger and followed up at least 1 year. The fractures were classified by the Wehbe and Schneider's method. Indications of operative treatment were fractures involving more than 30% of articular surface, fracture fragments displaced more than 3 mm, or subluxation of the distal interphalangeal joint. The results were evaluated by the Crawford criteria. RESULTS: All the fractures united, with an average healing time of 5.3 weeks(4-6 weeks). According to Crawford criteria, 10 cases were excellent, 5 cases were fair at a mean follow-up of 13 months. There were no pin tract infections and migrations of the pin. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation of mallet finger using an 18 gauge needle is an easy technique which can achieve anatomical reduction and diminish operation-related complications.
Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Joints ; Needles