BACKGROUND: The treatment of upper cervical spine disorders through a posterior pedicle fixation approach have been carried out in some domestic large hospitals, but this surgery is still considered as a difficulty of cervical spine surgery. In order to minimize the risk of surgery, the authors designed a program of individual operations, and combined with self-developed pedicle locating and directing speculum to determine precise intraoperative position of pedicle screws, and no report is found by searching related database in China.OBJECTIVE: To improve the one-time success rate of internal fixation screws, to investigate the biomechanical effect of the implant, to formulate a simple, practical, individual protocol for atiantoaxial pedicle screw-plate system based on related data. METHODS: A total of 31 patients were recruited from Department of Orthopaedics in the 251 Hospital of Chinese PLA, between January 2002 and September 2006. Under the guidance of self-made atlantoaxial locating and directing speculum, the entrance point and angle for screw insertion, as well as screw diameter and length were determined according to the results of X-ray and CT measurement. Atlas pedicle screw was inserted at left (19.93±1.32) mm, and right (19.16±1.3) mm; Atlas pedicle screw insertion angle to inside was left (23.72±2.09)°, and right (23.35±1.91)°; Atlas pedicle screw insertion angle to side of head was (9.00±1.20)°. Axis pedicle screw was inserted at left (13.14±0.82) mm, and right (13.85±0.79) mm; Axis pedicle screw insertion angle to inside was left (24.52±1.26)°, and right (20.42±1.42)°; Axis pedicle screw insertion angle to side of head was (25.00±3.00)°.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: ①Totally 124 pedicle screws were implanted into 31 patients, and 122 screws were of one-time success. The precision rate was 98.39%. Two screws were secondly inserted because of cutting lateral cortical bone of pedicle for deviation of inward angle. ②Occipital neuralgia was found in 2 cases postoperatively and cured after one month of treatment;screws penetrated atlas left vertebral lateral wall in 2 cases, no spinal or vertebral artery injury was found. ③Radiographs showed that atlas was completely reduced in all patients, and apposition of dentoid process of axis fracture was good. CT films showed the screws a good location to the vertebrarterial spinal cord. ④The follow-up visit was averaged of 10.5 months. Bony fusion was found in all patients. No screw-plate breakage was found. No inflammatory or rejection reactions occurred.⑤By JOA scale, there were 16 cases of excellent, 12 cases of good, 2 cases of fine, and 1 case of poor. The excellent and good rate was 90%. It is suggested that the success rate of atlantoaxial pedicle screw-plate mplantation can be improved through a biomechanical angle.

To screen the harmful substance 5-hydroxymethyl furfural content in commercially available traditional Chinese medicine injection which are commonly used, and to preliminarily evaluate the quality of these injections, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural was taken as an index. The contents of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural in 56 samples which consist of 23 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine injections and glucose injection were determined using LC-MS/MS, and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural was detected in 52 of these samples. The minimal content was 0.0038 microg x L(-1) and the maximum content was 1420 microg x mL(-1). The contents of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural were significantly different in traditional Chinese medicine injection which came from different kinds, manufacturers or batches. The results showed the quality difference of commercially available traditional Chinese medicine injection is significant taking 5-hydroxymethyl furfural content as assessment index. More attention should be paid to the safety of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural in traditional Chinese medicine injection, and unified limitation standard should be set to improve medication safety of traditional Chinese medicine injection.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of posterior pedicle screw internal fixation as add-on to transpedicular bone grafting in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures in elderly patients.Methods The 86 elderly patients with thoracolumbar fracture admitted to our hospital were enrolled in the retrospective study.All patients were divided into a control group(n=40)receiving posterior short-segment pedicle fixation,and a study group(n=46)undergoing transpedicular bone grafting as add-on to posterior short-segment pedicle fixation.The recovery of lumbar function and neurological function were compared between the two groups.Results The Cobb angle of the injured vertebrae was significantly decreased in two groups at one week after operation,and then increased slightly with time-lapse(Ftime =86.34,P＜0.05).The whole Cobb angle of injured vertebrae was lower in the study group than in the control group(F =7.68,P＜0.05).The Cobb angle reduction of injured vertebrae was more in the study group than in the control group (Ftime× groups =4.19,P ＜0.05).The height of the anterior and posterior edges of injured vertebrae was significantly increased in two groups at 1 week after operation,and then decreased slightly with time-lapse(Ftime =75.87 and 66.92,P ＜0.05).The overall level of anterior and posterior edges height of injured vertebrae was higher in the study group than in the control group(Fgroup =9.75 and 6.76,P＜0.05).The increased height of anterior and posterior edges of injured vertebrae was higher in the study group than in the control group(Ftime× groups =7.59 and 5.21,P＜0.05).The bone fusion rate was higher in the study group than in control group (97.8 ％ vs.82.5 ％,P ＜ 0.05).The failure rate of internal fixation was lower in the study group than in the control group (2.2 ％ vs.17.5％,x2 =5.96,P ＜ 0.05).The recovery of neurological function was better in the study group than in the control group(Z =2.12,P ＜0.05).The Oswestry disability index(ODI)in two groups was decreased with time-lapse(Ftime =85.49,P＜0.05).The overall ODI level was lower in the study group than in the control group(Fgroup =47.28,P＜0.05).The decrement of ODI index was larger in the study group than in the control group(Ftime× groups =8.97,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Posterior pedicle screw internal fixation in combination with transpedicular bone grafting are safe and effective in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures in the elderly,which can improve the stability of vertebral compression,and promote the recovery of neurological function and lumbar function.

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of minimally invasive treatment of C type pilon fracture with single main plate combined with multiple planar screws for supporting fixation. Methods: From January 2013 to March 2017, data of 22 patients treated by minimally invasive treatment with single main plate combined with multiple planar screws for supporting fixa-tion were retrospectively analyzed. There were 17 males and 5 females, aged from 23 to 69 years (average, 51.2 years). All cases were closed fractures involving fibula including weight hitting (5 cases), traffic accident (7 cases) and fall injury (10 cases). There were 3 cases of 43-C1 type, 11 cases of 43-C2 type and 8 cases of 43-C3 type according to AO/OTA classification. According to the Rüedi-Allgöwer classification, there were 5 cases of type Ⅱ and 17 cases of type Ⅲ. Complications were recorded postopera-tively and the articular surface reduction was evaluated using the Burwell-Charnley score. At the last follow-up, Tornetta’s pilon fracture clinical treatment outcome criteria was used to evaluate ankle joint function. Results: All the patients were followed up for 13 to 25 months (average, 17.3 months). There were 20 cases of anatomical reduction, 1 case of fair reduction and 1 case of poor reduction according to the Burwell-Charnley score. All the 22 patients were healed with healing time of 3 to 6 months (aver-age, 4.8 months). The efficacy was evaluated according to the evaluation criteria of the clinical treatment results of pilon fracture by Tornetta: excellent in 8 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 3 cases, and poor in 1 case. The excellent and good rate was 81.8% (18/22) . All patients had no complications such as wound edge blistering, skin necrosis and infection. Among them, 1 case of internal fixa-tion rejection occurred, and the incision was well healed after removal of the internal fixation after 3 months. Conclusion Mini-mally invasive treatment of C type pilon fracture with single main plate combined with multiple planar screws for supporting fixa-tion not only provides a better anatomical reduction of the articular surface, but also effectively reduces or even avoids incision complications. The long-term clinical results are satisfactory.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical effect of Kocher-Langebeck (K-L) approach without cutting the short external rotator muscles of hip for treatment of cetabular posterior column fractures.Methods A retrospective case series study was performed on 28 patients with acetabular fractures admitted from June 2015 to February 2017.There were 23 males and 5 females,averagely aged 43.6 years (range,26-71 years).According to the Letournel classification,there were 9 patients with simple fractures,14 back wall and back pillar fractures and 5 cross fractures.All patients were combined with posterior dislocation.The patients were given tibial tubercle traction after hip joint reduction in the hospital.During the surgery,K-L approach was adopted without cutting the short external rotator muscles of hip.Operation duration and intraoperative bleeding were recorded.Visual analogue score (VAS) was recorded before and after operation.The X-ray at 1 day,6 weeks,3 months and 1 year after operation were reviewed to evaluate fracture healing time.Matta criteria were used to assess the surface flatness of joint.The modified Merle d'Aubigné-Postel scoring system was applied to evaluate the function of hip joint.Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.Results The operation duration was 76-120 min (mean,94 min),and the intraoperative blood loss was 120-320 ml (mean,265 ml).All patients were followed up for average 16 months (range,10-24 months).Preoperative VAS was 5-10 points [(7.5 ± 1.3) points],and 0-3 points [(0.9 ± 0.8) points] 6 months after operation (P ＜ 0.01).All fractures healed and the average healing duration was 10.1 weeks (range,6-12 weeks).According to the Matta criteria,24 patients were graded excellent and 4 good,with excellence rate of 100％.According to the modified Merle d'Aubigné-Postel grading system,clinical results were graded excellent in 23 patients,good in 5,with excellence rate of 100％.Transient sciatic nerve injury occurred in 3 patients after surgery,and the nerve function of these patients fully recovered within 3 months after operation.There were no infection,heterotopic ossification and other complications.The wound healing was good,without liquefaction or cracking.Sciatic nerve injury was found in five patients,three of whom were performed with a transient lesion and recovered within 3 months.Conclusion In the posterior pathway surgery for acetabular posterior column fractures,the K-L approach without cutting the short external rotator muscles of hip can be used to complete the internal fixation with a high rate of fracture healing,sound reduction outcome,satisfactory functional recovery and few complications.

Objective To explore the application of micro screws in holistic management of comminuted fracture of posterior acetabular wall combined with posterior hip dislocation.Methods From October 2013 to March 2016,38 patients (38 hips) were managed for comminuted fracture of posterior acetabular wall combined with posterior hip dislocation.They were 29 males and 9 females,aged from 15 to 71 years (average,38.6 years).According to the Letournel-Judet classification,there were 35 simple fractures of posterior acetabular wall and 3 complex fractures (2 fractures of posterior column plus posterior wall and one transverse plus posterior wall fracture).All fractures were comminuted and involved the posterior wall.The posterior Kocher-Langenbeck approach was selected for all the patients.Intraoperative exploration revealed the comminuted posterior walls were complicated with broken acetabular rims and ruptured glenoid rims to various degrees.Micro screws or micro screw-plate system were used to repair the comminuted fractures and broken acetabular rims,bridge support fixation with a locking plate followed pelvic reconstruction,and at the same time the ruptured glenoid rims were sutured so that the whole posterior articular structure around the posterior wall was repaired and reconstructed in a holistic manner.Results All the 38 patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months (average,17.6 months).By the Matta assessment,the reduction was excellent in 36 cases and fine in 2,giving an excellent to good rate of 100％.All fractures got united after 9 to 14 weeks (average,10.2 weeks).By the improved Merle d'Aubigne & Postel criteria,the clinical outcome was excellent in 35 cases and good in 3,giving an excellent to good rate of 100％.After surgery,heterotopic ossification occurred in one case,and transient paralysis of the sciatic nerve in 3 cases.No infection,necrosis of the femoral head,joint pain,joint malfunction or unstable walking was observed.Conclusion In the management of comminuted fracture of posterior acetabular wall combined with posterior hip dislocation,the lesions of the whole posterior wall can be repaired primarily in a holistic manner by repairing the shattered posterior wall of the acetabulum wth micro plate and screw system and simultaneous suture and fixation of the broken actabular rim and ruptured glenoid rim.

Objective To investigate effectiveness of the modified Kocher-Langenbeck (K-L) approach for acetabular fractures.Methods A consecutive series of 58 patients with acetabular fracture were treated operatively from January 2013 to December 2016.They were divided into 2 groups according to the approaches used.In the experimental group of 30 patients (25 males and 5 females with an average age of 42.6 ± 13.8 years),the modified K-L approach was used not to dissect the external rotation short muscles and the anterior approach was also used when necessary.In the control group of 28 patients (24 males and 4 females with an average age of 45.2 ± 10.2 years),the traditional K-L approach was used and in combination with the anterior approach when necessary.The 2 groups were comnpared in terms of operation time,intraoperative blood loss,reduction,fracture union time and functional recovery of the affected hip at the last follow-up.Results The experimental group reported significantly shorter operation time (94.2 ± 32.8 min) and significantly less intraoperative bleeding (220.8 ± 96.7 mL) than the control group (135.8 ± 88.0 min and 405.5 ±95.7 mL) (P ＜ 0.05).According to the Matta's criteria for reduction,the experimental group had 24 excellent,4 good and 2 fair cases (an excellent to good rate of 93.3％) while the control group had 20 excellent,3 good and 5 fair cases (an excellent to good rate of 82.1％),showing no significant differences between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).All the 58 patients obtained follow-up for 6 to 24 months (average,16 months).The fracture union time was 10.1 ± 1.9 weeks for the experimental group and 9.9 ±2.1 weeks for the control group,showing no significant differences between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).According to the modified Merle d'Aubigne & Postel scoring for the functional recovery of the affected hip at the last follow-up,the experimental group had 23 excellent,5 good and 2 fair cases (an excellent to good rate of 93.3％) while the control group had 12 excellent,6 good,6 fair and 4 poor cases (an excellent to good rate of 64.2％),showing a significant difference between the 2 groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with the traditional K-L approach,the modified K-L approach has advantages of small trauma,less hemorrhage and good postoperative recovery so that it can be a good choice among the posterior approaches for acetabular fractures.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of minimally invasive single locking plate combined with multiplanar screw internal fixation on pilon fracture of distal tibia. Methods A retrospective case control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 51 patients with pilon fracture involving distal tibial articular surface admitted to 81th Group Military Hospital of the Army from January 2013 to August 2017. Among the patients, 20 patients including 15 males and five females, aged (37. 5 ± 9. 9)years were treated with closed traction reduction or open joint reduction through minimally invasive incision and single main locking plate combined with multiplanar screw placement ( study group) . There were 13 patients with type II and seven patients with type III according to Ru edi-Allgwer classification of fracture. In addition, 31 patients were treated with open reduction and multi-plate internal fixation (control group), including 25 males and six females, aged (43. 4 ± 11. 3) years. There were 20 patients with type II and 11 with type III according to Ru edi-Allgwer classification. The operation time, fracture healing time, postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Burwell-Charnley imaging evaluation criteria were used to assess the quality of fracture reduction. At the last follow-up, ankle function was assessed by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ( AOFAS) ankle-hind foot functional score. Results All 51 patients were followed up for 6-24 months, with an average of 16 months. The operation time was (82. 5 ± 19. 2)minutes in the study group and (127. 7 ± 40. 8)minutes in the control group (P<0. 05). The fracture healing time was (10. 8 ± 1. 6)weeks in the study group and (11.0 ±1.5) weeks in the control group (P>0.05). Local skin necrosis (not above the plate) occurred in two patients in the study group and in three patients in the control group, with the wounds being healed within 3 months after dressing change and vacuum sealing drainage ( VSD) . In the control group, one patient had severe infection and recovered after treatment of steel plate removal, debridement and irrigation, and external fixator fixation. Three patients in the control group had skin necrosis resulting in plate exposure, who received transferred skin flaps to cover the wound. The incidence of postoperative complications were 10％ (2/20) and 23％ in the study group and the control group, respectively (7/31) (P >0. 05), with the incidence of severe complications for 0 and 13％(4/31)(P<0. 05), respectively. According to Burwell-Charnley imaging evaluation criteria, 18 patients obtained anatomical reduction in the study group, one had unsatisfactory reduction and one had poor reduction, with satisfaction rate of 90％. In the control group, 29 patients obtained anatomical reduction and two had unsatisfactory reduction, with satisfaction rate of 94％ (P>0. 05). At the last follow-up, AOFAS ankle-hind foot function scores were excellent in 12 patients, good in five patients, fair in two patients and poor in one patient in the study group with excellence rate of 85％, while the scores were excellent in 20 patients, good in six patients, fair in three patients and poor in two patients in the control group, with excellence rate of 84％ (P>0. 05). Conclusion For pilon fracture of distal tibia, both minimally invasive single locking plate combined with multi-plate screw internal fixation and open reduction combined with multi-plate internal fixation have good reduction effect and satisfactory recovery of ankle function, but the former can significantly shorten the operation time and reduce the incidence of serious complications after operation.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of articular compression molding techniques in the surgery for acetabular posterior wall fracture. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of the 28 patients (28 hips) with fracture of acetabular posterior wall plus comminuted compression of articular surface who had been treated using the articular compression molding techniques at Department of Orthopedics, The Hospital of 81 Group Army of PLA from January 2014 to January 2018. They were 25 males and 3 females, aged from 26 to 63 years (average, 49.3 years). The time from injury to surgery ranged from 4 to 12 days (average, 7.8 days). According to the Letournel-Judet classification, all were single element (simple) posterior wall fractures combined with posterior dislocation of the femoral head and articular compression of different degrees; transient sciatic nerve injury was complicated in 12 cases. The posterior hip dislocations were timely and successful reset at emergency treatment. The compression fractures of the posterior wall and hip joint were treated by open reduction and internal fixation via the acetabular posterior (K-L) approach. The articular compression was treated by 4 stabilization techniques: absorbable screwing and blocking technique in 10 cases, indwelling screwing in 12 cases, indwelling Kirschner wiring in 2 cases and die push and squeeze tamping in 4 cases. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding and complications were recorded. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by the modified Merle d’Aubigne & Postel scoring criteria at the final follow-up. Results: The operation time lasted from 76 to 118 minutes (average, 94.2 minutes); the intraoperative bleeding ranged from 100 to 320 mL (average,220.8 mL). No incision liquefaction, infection or other complications occurred. The 28 patients were followed up for 10 to 36 months (average, 17.6 months). According to the Matta scoring criteria, 24 cases achieved anatomical reduction but 4 dissatisfactory reduction. By the modified Merle d’Aubigne & Postel scoring criteria at the final follow-up, the efficacy was evaluated as excellent in 26 cases and as good in 2. Heterotopic ossification was observed in 3 cases and microscopic free dense shadow in the joint cavity (about 2 mm in the round ligament) in 3 cases. There were no cases of obvious traumatic arthritis or osteoarthritis, femoral head necrosis, walking pain, lameness or hip abduction weakness. The 12 patients complicated with preoperative transient sciatic nerve injury recovered within 3 months after surgery. Conclusion The articular compression molding techniques can effectively treat severely comminuted articular compression in the acetabular posterior wall fracture and improve reduction of articular surface and hip joint matching, leading to stability and good joint function.

Objective To explore the efficacy of temporary titanium plate screwing for positional maintenance in reduction and internal fixation for displaced acetabular fractures.Methods A retrospective study was conducted of the 28 patients (28 hips) with displaced acetabular fracture who had been treated by open reduction and internal fixation from October 2013 to March 2016.They were 20 males and 8 females,aged from 24 to 68 years (average,42.3 years).The time from injury to surgery ranged from 7 to 21 days(average,14.5 days).According to the Letournel-Judet classification,there were 2 posterior column fractures,4 transverse fractures,5 posterior column plus posterior wall fractures,6 transverse plus posterior wall fractures,2 T-shaped fractures,3 anterior and posterior transverse fractures and 6 double column fractures.The posterior acetabular approach or combined anterior and posterior approach was used.In all the patients temporary titanium plate screwing was conducted to fix one side of the fracture so as to facilitate accomplishment of open reduction and internal fixation without losing the indirect anatomic reduction of the intraarticular fracture.After the open reduction and internal fixation was accomplished,the temporary screw fixation was removed in 26 patients but retained in 2 patients as needed.The reduction quality,complications and outcomes at the final follow-ups were recorded.Results All the 28 patients were followed up for 10 to 36 months (mean,15.6 months).By the Matta criteria,anatomical reduction was achieved in 26 cases,unsatisfactory reduction in one and poor reduction in one,yielding an anatomic reduction rate of 92.9％.By the improved Mere d'Aubigne & Postel criteria,the clinical outcomes at the final follow-up were excellent in 27 cases and good in one,yielding a good to excellent rate of 100％.Postoperatively,heterotopic ossification of different severities occurred in 11 cases but did not affect their joint function;transient paralysis of the sciatic nerve was reported in 6 cases but recovered 3 months after surgery.No complications like avascular necrosis of the femoral head or walking pain were observed during follow-ups.Conclusion Temporary fixation with titanium plate screws during open reduction and internal fixation for displaced acetabular fractures can effectively improve the reduction and fixation of the articular surface,leading to satisfactory short-term clinical outcomes.