Objective To evaluate the outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation of complex tibial plateau fractures with improved three combined approaches.Methods In the period from July 2014 to February 2016,7 complex tibial plateau fractures underwent surgical treatment.These patients included 5 male and 2 female,aged from 24 to 68 years old (average,39.7± 15.3 years).According to Schatzker classification,they were all of type V.And all of type 41B-3.1 by AO/OTA classification.All these fractures were exposed and reduction via three combined approaches.First let the patients lied in lateral prone position,expose the anterolateral and the posterolateral of the tibia1 plateau,and fix the fractures of the posterior in the posterolateral approach,then fix the fractures of the lateral in the anterolateral approach.Then turn the patients to supine position,fix the fractures of the medial in the anteromedial incision.All patients received regular reexamination.The knee function was evaluated at the final follow-up using The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score,the activity of the knee was evaluated by Lysholm score,and the stability of the knee was checked by Lachmantest and Pivot-shift test.The tibial plateau angle,the posterior slope angle and Rasmussen X-ray score were assessed on the X-ray films.Results The average time of operation is (3.3±0.9) h,and the hemorrhage volume in operation was (341± 106) ml for the 7 patients.The wounds of 6 patients healed by (11.8± 1.3) days,while the wound of the rest one of them occurred fat liquefaction after operation who is very fat (BMI ＞ 30) and suffered from diabetes.His wound healed by 21 days.These patients obtained follow-ups of 8 to 14 months (average,11.4±2.8 months).The average full weight-bearing time was 2-3 months (average,2.5±0.4 months).The fractures healed after 8 to 16 weeks (average,11.1 ±2.8 weeks).No displacement of the fractures or breakage of the implants occurred in our series.Nobody has activity limitation of the knee or pain because of the implant,and no never symptoms were noted postoperatively,so we would not take out the implant for these patients.The mean HSS score was 93.1±4.8 (range,from 85 to 100) at the final follow-up,and the excellent rate is 100％.The Lysholm score was 97.1±3.6 (range,from 90 to 100) at the final follow-up.The Lachman test and the Pivot-shift test were negative in our patients,and the mean knee flexion was 128.6±12.8°(range,from 105°to 140°).The fractures were all anatomical reduction by the X-ray after operation,and there had being no displacement of the fractures or breakage of the implants occurred during the follow-up period.The mean posterior slope angle was 8.29±2.87° (range,from 4 °to 12°),which was 8.71±2.63° (range,from 5 °to 14°) 6months after operation.The mean tibial plateau angle was 86.00± 1.41° (range,from 84 °to 88°),which was 86.43± 1.62° (range,from 84 °to 89°) 6 months after operation.The mean Rasmussen X-ray score was 16.86±1.57 (range,from 14 to 18),which was 16.57±1.51 (range,from 14 to 18) 6 months after operation,and the excellent rate are 100％.Conclusion For the complex tibial plateau fractures which simultaneous involved the medial,the lateral and the posterior,the improved three combined approaches showed the advantages of the convenient operation,the satisfactory results of reduction and fixation,and the less trauma and secondary damage,and could be worth for clinic.

Objective:To evaluate the outcomes of complex hyperextension tibial plateau fractures treated via combined anteromedial and anterolateral approaches.Methods:From January 2013 through July 2018, 11 complex hyperextension tibial plateau fractures were surgically treated at Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital to Nanjing Medical University. The patients were 7 males and 4 females, aged from 23 to 62 years (average, 41.5 years). All the fractures affected both tibial condyles. Of them, 6 had hyperextension varus injury, 3 simple hyperextension injury without varus or valgus at the coronal view, and 2 hyperextension valgus injury. All their fractures were exposed and reset via combined anteromedial and anterolateral approaches. After surgery, orthosis of the knee joint was used to protect the affected limbs and the patients were followed up regularly at the outpatients department. At the final follow-up, the knee function was evaluated using The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scoring system while the posterior slope angle and the tibial plateau angle were assessed on their X-ray films.Results:No neurological symptoms were observed in the 11 patients whose wounds healed by the first intention. They were followed up from 6 to 28 months (average, 18.5 months). All the fractures obtained anatomical reduction by the X-ray after operation. Regular follow-ups showed no reduction loss, implants loosening or breakage. The fractures united after 10 to 16 weeks (average, 12.5 weeks). At immediate postoperation, the posterior slope angle was 12.8°±1.6° and the tibial plateau angle 3.8°±1.1°; at 6 months postoperation, the posterior slope angle was 11.9°±1.7° and the tibial plateau angle 3.6°±1.8°. There were no significant differences between immediate postoperation and 6 months postoperation in the above indexes ( P>0.05). At the final follow-up, the HSS scores ranged from 85 to 96 (mean, 90.4), the knee flexion from 120° to 140° (mean, 127.2°), and the knee extension from -5° to 5° (mean, 0°). Conclusions:Surgery via combined anteromedial and anterolateral approaches can lead to fine short-term outcomes for the complex hyperextension tibial plateau fracture which affects both tibial condyles. As long-term outcomes have not been available, further observations should be made. In addition, since this type of fractures is likely complicated with neurovascular or ligament lesions, attention should be paid to the injury to such soft tissues.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy between coracoclavicular ligament anatomical reconstruction and clavicular hook plate in the treatment of Neer Ⅱb distal clavicular fractures.Methods:A total of 64 patients with Neer Ⅱb clavicular fracture were treated at Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital to Nanjing Medical University from September 2016 to June 2019. They were 35 males and 29 females, aged from 19 to 68 years (average, 50.7 years). They were assigned into 2 groups according to their operative methods: a reconstruction group of 30 cases undergoing coracoclavicular ligament anatomical reconstruction and a hook plate group of 34 cases undergoing fixation with a clavicular hook plate. The 2 groups were compared in terms of hospital stay, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, surgical incision length, postoperative coracoclavicular separation ratio, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Constant-Murley shoulder scores at 3, 6 and 12 months after operation, and postoperative complications.Results:There was no significant difference in general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability between groups ( P>0.05). Operations were completed uneventfully and surgical incisions healed by primary intention in both groups after operation. All the patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months (average, 14.6 months). The operation time [(74.6±22.0) min] and incision length [(10.4±0.4) cm] were significantly shorter but the intraoperative blood loss [(90.2±5.3) mL] was significantly less in the hook plate group than those in the reconstruction group [(95.6±20.8) min, (12.4±0.9) cm and (74.2±3.5) mL] ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in hospital stay between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). At 3, 6 and 12 months after operation, the VAS scores (1.8±0.5, 1.2±0.3 and 1.1±0.2) and Constant-Murley scores (85.2±4.6, 91.1±2.6 and 92.1±2.2) in the reconstruction group were significantly better than those in the hook plate group (3.2±1.0, 1.6±0.3 and 1.5±0.3; 73.6±2.9, 85.9±4.6 and 87.0±3.1) ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, the postoperative coracoclavicular separation ratio (elevation) in the hook plate group (0.20±0.16) was significantly greater than that in the reconstruction group (0.10±0.05) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of Neer ⅡB distal clavicular fractures, coracoclavicular ligament anatomical reconstruction may lead to better fixation and fewer postoperative complications than a clavicular hook plate, demonstrating fine clinical efficacy.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of anatomical reconstruction of coracoclavicular ligament at the original insertion point and clavicular hook plate fixation in the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation.Methods:Retrospective analysis was made on the data of 67 patients with acromioclavicular joint dislocation who received surgical treatment in the Department of Orthopaedics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from June 2015 to January 2021. According to the surgical method, they were divided into reconstruction group (using the technique of anatomical reconstruction of coracoclavicular ligament at the original insertion point) and hook plate group (using the clavicular hook plate). There were 37 cases in the reconstruction group, including 26 males and 11 females, aged 47.2±9.6 years (range, 18-65 years), 13 cases on the left and 24 cases on the right. Among the 37 patients, 8 were sports injuries, 14 were falls, 11 were traffic accidents, and 4 were external force injuries. The average time from injury to surgery was 8.3±2.3 days. There were 30 cases in the hook plate group, including 24 males and 6 females, aged 47.4±9.7 years (range, 18-67 years), 12 cases on the left and 18 cases on the right. Among the 30 patients, 7 were sports injuries, 11 were falls, 9 were traffic accidents, and 3 were external force injuries. The average time from injury to surgery was 7.9±2.6 days. The surgical time, incision length, intraoperative bleeding, hospital stay, postoperative coracoclavicular separation ratio, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Constant-Murley score and visual analog scale (VAS) were used to assess the shoulder joint function and pain degree of patients.Results:Both groups of patients were followed up, with a follow-up time of 12.3±0.4 months for the reconstruction group and 12.2±0.5 months for the hook plate group. The operation time (105.8±10.0 min), incision length [12.0 (11.0, 13.0) cm] and hospitalization time (6.8±2.1 d) in the reconstruction group were longer than those in the hook plate group [48.3±4.9 min, 10.0 (10.0, 11.0) cm, and 5.5±2.7 d], while the intraoperative blood loss (75.1±3.9 ml) was less than that in the hook plate group (90.3±6.3 ml), the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The VAS [4.0 (3.0, 5.0), 3.0 (3.0, 3.0), 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) points] and Constant-Murley score (65.4±4.5, 84.9±2.5, 90.1±2.5 points) of the reconstruction group at 3 days, 3 months, and 12 months after surgery were better than those of the hook plate group [5.0 (4.0, 5.0), 4.0 (4.0, 4.0), 3.0 (3.0, 4.0) and 56.9±3.5, 79.6±4.0, 86.8±2.4 points], the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, there was a statistically significant difference in the separation ratio of coracoclavicular distance between the reconstruction group (0.12±0.08) and the hook plate group 0.22±0.15 ( t=3.25, P=0.002). There was no significant difference ( Z=-0.52, P=0.605) in the separation ratio of acromioclavicular distance [0.16 (0.05, 0.25) and 0.16 (0.04, 0.40)]. In the hook plate group, 6 cases had shoulder joint foreign body sensation and 2 cases had acromioclavicular joint redislocation (both Rockwood type III). Because the shoulder joint function did not affect their daily life, neither patient underwent secondary surgery. And no case of acromioclavicular joint redislocation occurred in the reconstruction group. Conclusion:Compared with the clavicular hook plate fixation, anatomic reconstruction of coracoclavicular ligament at the original insertion point in the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation can reduce the pain of the shoulder joint earlier, which has the characteristics of small trauma, good effect, and reduces the steps of internal fixation removal, and has good clinical curative effect.

Objective:To compare the effect of reduction and internal fixation of composite acetabular fracture with the modified two-window iliofemoral approach and ilioinguinal approach.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was used to analyze the clinical data of 160 patients with composite acetabular fracture admitted to First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2016 to August 2021, including 117 males and 43 females, aged 15-78 years [(44.1±16.0)years]. According to the Letournel classification system, there were 101 patients with both-column fracture, 5 with anterior wall/column combined with posterior semi-transverse fracture and 24 with T-shaped fracture. A total of 80 patients were treated using the modified iliofemoral incision combined with limited Pfannstiel incision (modified two-window iliofemoral approach group) and the other 80 patients were treated using the ilioinguinal approach (ilioinguinal approach group). The fracture healing was observed. The operation time and intraoperative bleeding volume were compared between the two groups. The quality of fracture reduction was evaluated by Matta scoring standard at 1 day and 6 months after operation. The modified Merle d′Aubigne & Postel scoring standard was used to evaluate the function of the affected hip joint at the last follow-up. The incidence of complications such as neurovascular injury, iatrogenic bladder injury, heterotopic ossification and femoral head necrosis were compared between the two groups.Results:All patients were followed up for 12-78 months [(43.3±17.9)months], with bony union of the fracture. The operation time and intraoperative bleeding volume in modified two-window iliofemoral approach group were 150.0 (123.8, 180.0)minutes and 600.0 (500.0, 787.5)ml when compared to 190.0 (150.0, 240.0)minutes and 700.0 (562.5, 887.5)ml in ilioinguinal approach group (all P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the quality of fracture reduction at 1 day and 6 months after operation, function of hip joint at the last follow-up and incidence of complications (all P>0.05). Conclusions:For reduction and internal fixation of composite acetabular fracture, the modified two-window iliofemoral approach has advantages over the ilioinguinal approach in reducing operation time and intraoperative bleeding, although both methods yield similar results in fracture reduction quality, postoperative hip function and complication rate.

Objective:To conduct an MRI observation on the incidences of ligamentous injuries and fracture morphology in Schatzker type Ⅳ tibial plateau fracture (TPF) and investigate their influence on knee stability.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 30 patients with Schatzker type Ⅳ TPF who had undergone surgery at Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital from January 2010 to December 2019 and whose preoperative X-ray, CT and MRI were available. They were 18 males and 12 females, aged from 22 to 75 years (mean, 45.4 years). They were divided into a dislocation-free group and a dislocation group according to the absence or presence of knee dislocation on their anteroposterior X-ray films. The fracture morphology was assessed on CT according to the modified three-column classification. The incidences of ligamentous injuries [involving anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), posterolateral complex (PLC) and anterolateral ligament (ALL)] were investigated on MRI. The 2 groups were compared in fracture morphology and incidences of ligamentous injuries. Multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was used to identify the main factor contributing to preoperative knee dislocation.Results:The dislocation group had 12 patients and the dislocation-free group 18. The fracture involving medial+posteromedial+posterolateral columns was found in 66.7% of the patients (20 cases), and accounted for 83.3% (10 cases) in the dislocation group. The incidence was 96.7% (29 cases) for ACL injury, 43.3% (13 cases) for PCL injury, 70.0% (21 cases) for MCL injury, 90% (27 cases) for PLC injury, 73.3% (22 cases) for ALL injury and 90% (27 cases) for the multiple-ligament disruption. There was a significant difference in the posterolateral column injury between the dislocation-free group [55.6% (10/18)] and the dislocation group [91.7% (11/12)] ( P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between the 2 group in the injury to any other single ligament or multiple ligaments ( P>0.05). The MLR analysis confirmed that the posterolateral column injury was a risk factor for coronary plane dislocation in Schatzker type Ⅳ TPF( P<0.05). Conclusions:In Schatzker type Ⅳ TPF, the incidences of ligamentous injuries are very high but the fracture of posterolateral column may be the main cause for preoperative knee dislocation in some patients.