Objective To compare the effectiveness of expandable intramedullary nail(EIMN) versus locked compression plate (LCP) in the treatment of humeral shaft fractures of AO types A and B.Methods The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed and compared of the 44 humeral shaft fractures which had been treated between May 2012 and February 2016.There were 26 men and 18 women,from 23 to 66 years of age (average,41.5 years).By AO classification,22 cases were type 12-A and 22 type 12-B.EINM was used in 22 patients with an average age of 41.3 ± 1 1.7 years and LCP in 22 ones with an average age of 41.6 ± 10.3 years.The 2 groups were compared in terms of intraoperative blood loss,operative time,hospital stay,union time,union rate,Constant and Mayo scores at the final follow-ups,and complications as well.Results The 2 groups were compatible without significant differences in the preoperative demographic data (P ＞ 0.05).All the 44 patients were followed up for 10 to 18 months (average,12 months).The intraoperative blood loss (76.4 ± 18.66 mL),operative time (69.1 ± 13.2 min),incision length (5.8 ± 1.5 cm) and union time (13.2 ± 8.4 w) in the EIMN group were significantly better than those in the LCP group (138.6 ± 39.4 mL,96.4 ± 14.2 min,8.5 ± 1.4 cm and 18.4 ± 6.6 w,respectively) (P ＜ 0.05).There was also a significant difference between the 2 groups in the total complication rate[18.2％ (4/22) versus 50.0％ (11/22)] (P ＜0.05).No deep infection or should pain was observed in either group.Conclusions Inthe treatment of humeral shaft fractures of AO types 42-A and 42-B,compared with LCP,EIMN may have advantages of less intraoperative blood loss,operative time,union time and complications.The 2 methods are similar in hospital stay and final functional recovery of the should joint.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of anti-infective reconstituted bone xenograft (ARBX) combined with external fixation in the treatment of adult infective nonunion of humeral shaft.Methods A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 18 patients with infected nonunion of humeral shaft admitted to Xijing Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from January 2014 to December 2016.There were 10 males and eight females,aged 19-62 years [(36.9 ± 11.8)years].According to Umiarov classification of infective nonunion,there were 11 patients with type Ⅲ and seven with type Ⅳ.All patients were treated with anti-infective reconstituted bone xenograft (ARBX) combined with external fixation.The number of operations,bone healing time,bone healing rate,infection control rate,postoperative weight bearing time,the time of external fixation removal,postoperative complications,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),and C-reactive protein (CRP) before and after operation were recorded.Fracture healing and functional recovery were evaluated using the Johner-Wruch lower limb function score.Results The patients were followed up for 12-30 months [(21.3 ±5.6)months].The operation was performed for (1.4 ±0.9) times,with time of bone healing for (16.6 ± 5.8)months,bone healing rate of 83％ (15/18),and infection control rate of 94％ (17/18).The postoperative weight bearing time in 15 patients who obtained bone healing was (3.3 ± 1.5)months after operation,and the external fixation removal time was (18.5 ± 4.2) months after operation.There were three patients with nonunion after operation including one with infection recurrence.Five patients were found with nail tract infection.ESR and CRP at postoperative 3 months [(13.1 ± 8.4)mm/h and (5.6 ± 4.6)mg/L] were significantly lower than those before operation [(47.3 ± 19.2)mm/h and (23.4 ± 7.4) mg/L] (P ＜ 0.05).According to Johner-Wruch lower limb function scores,the results were excellent in nine patients,good in four,fair in one,and poor in four,with excellent and good rate of 72％.Conclusion ARBX combined with External fixation can effectively treat infective nonunion of humeral shaft,improve bone healing rate,and promote function recovery.

Objective:To identify the risk factors affecting the healing of defective bony nonunion.Methods:The studies reporting the risk factors for healing of defective bony nonunion between January 2000 and March 2022 were retrieved by computer from the VIP, Wanfangdata, CNKI, Web of Science, PubMed, and Medline databases. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. the RevMan 5.3 software was used to perform a meta-analysis of the general factors, injuries and surgical-related factors affecting the healing of defective bony nonunion.Results:Included in this Meta analysis were 17 studies with 1,236 patients. The NOS score of the included studies was from 5 to 8. The meta-analysis showed the following: age ( MD=-4.27, 95% CI: -8.29 to 2.91, P < 0.01), smoking ( OR=3.56, 95% CI: 2.81 to 6.32, P < 0.01), soft tissue defect ( OR=3.54, 95% CI: 2.21 to 5.69, P < 0.01), combined ipsilateral fibular fracture ( OR=4.18, 95% CI: 1.24 to 14.03, P=0.02), venous thrombosis ( OR=4.27, 95% CI: 1.05 to 17.44, P=0.04), and postoperative infection ( OR=2.96, 95% CI: 1.97 to 4.47, P < 0.01) were significant risk factors for the healing of defective bone nonunion. Minor bone defect ( SMD=-0.67, 95% CI: -1.25 to -0.10, P=0.02), proximal to distal bone transport ( OR=-0.42, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.77, P < 0.01), short-term external fixation ( MD=-3.92, 95% CI: -7.10 to -0.73, P=0.02), and autologous bone grafting ( OR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.95, P=0.04) were protective factors for the healing of defective bony nonunion. Conclusions:High age (senility), smoking, soft tissue defect, ipsilateral fibular fracture, venous thrombosis, and postoperative infection are risk factors affecting the healing of defective bony nonunion. Minor bone defect, proximal to distal bone transport, short-term external fixation, and autologous bone grafting are protective factors affecting the healing of defective bony nonunion. Surgeons can predict early the prognosis of patients with defective bony nonunion based on the above factors.

In February 2023, a 48-year-old male with cough and expectoration was admitted to the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine of Peking University People’s Hospital. CT indicated mediastinal soft-tissue mass under the tracheal carina. Meta-genomics next generation sequencing of mediastinal abscess suggested infection with Tropheryma whipplei, which was positive for periodic acid-Schiff staining. The patient had no history of diarrhea, weight loss, or joint pain. The patient was diagnosed with Whipple’s disease and treated with ceftriaxone followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy. After 1-year post-discharge therapy, the patieny’s symptoms and general condition improved significantly, and remained to follow.

Objective: To establish an efficient classification and treatment system for limb long bone defects. Methods: Based on the length of bone defect, soft tissue injury and wound infection, a new classification and treatment system was proposed with reference to Gustilo-Anderson classification for open fractures and Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA) classification. Results: We divided the limb long bone defects into 3 types, each of which was subdivided into 4 subtypes depending on concomitant soft tissue defect and/or infection. Type Ⅰ are bone defects less than 4 cm in length, including type Ⅰa (simple bone defects with a limited extent), type Ⅰb (bone and soft tissue defects), type Ⅰc (bone defects with infection) and type Ⅰd (bone defects with infection and soft tissue defects). Type Ⅱ are bone defects ranging from 4 to 10 cm in length, including type Ⅱa (simple bone defects with a large extent), type Ⅱb (bone and soft tissue defects), type Ⅱc (bone defects with infection) and type Ⅱd (bone defects with infection and soft tissue defects). Type Ⅲ are bone defects larger than 10 cm in length, including type Ⅲa (simple bone defects with a very large extent), type Ⅲb (bone and soft tissue defects), type Ⅲc (bone defects with infection) and type Ⅲd (bone defects with infection and soft tissue defects). Conclusion Our new classification and treatment system for long limb bone defects is more efficient and intuitive, facilitating clinical diagnosis and treatment of limb long bone defects.