PURPOSE: Ultrasonography has been used increasingly in orthopaedic practice credited to its low cost, easy accessibility, non-invasiveness, reproducibility, and safety from radiation. The purpose of this study was to test the validity and efficacy of ultrasonography as an adjunct in the assessment of fracture healing in long bones treated with intramedullary interlocking devices and its predictive value in determining the need for a secondary surgical procedure. METHODS: This was a descriptive longitudinal study of 40 skeletally mature patients from November 2016 to February 2019, who sustained long bone fractures of the tibia or femur treated using intramedullary interlocking nails. Patients with comminuted and segmental fracture patterns were excluded from the study. Each patient was evaluated at 6- and 12-week post-surgery using standard orthogonal radiographs and ultrasonography to assess fracture healing. Patients were then followed up until fracture union. Quantitative data was analyzed using frequency statistics and descriptive data with inferential statistics. RESULTS: Ultrasonography predicted 87.5% union and 12.5% delayed or non-union as early as 6 weeks after surgery, while radiographs predicted 22.5% union as late as 3 months of follow-up. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in assessing fracture healing were 100% and 97.2%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 80.0%. Vascular resistance index was less than 0.5 in all patients who developed delayed or non-union. CONCLUSION Ultrasonography is able to predict fracture outcomes much earlier than standardized radiographs with comparable sensitivity and specificity. Vascular resistance index is an objective parameter in assessing callus quality and predicting fracture outcomes.
Humans ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Ultrasonography/methods* ; Adult ; Fracture Healing ; Tibial Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Femoral Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Longitudinal Studies ; Bone Nails ; Young Adult ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Adolescent

PURPOSE: Intertrochanteric fractures undergoing proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) surgery are associated with significant hidden blood loss. This study aimed to explore whether intramedullary administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) can reduce bleeding in PFNA surgery for intertrochanteric fractures in elderly individuals. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted from January 2019 to December 2022. Patients aged over 60 years with intertrochanteric fractures who underwent intramedullary fixation surgery with PFNA were eligible for inclusion and grouped according to random numbers. A total of 249 patients were initially enrolled, of which 83 were randomly allocated to the TXA group and 82 were allocated to the saline group. The TXA group received intramedullary perfusion of TXA after the bone marrow was reamed. The primary outcomes were total peri-operative blood loss and post-operative transfusion rate. The occurrence of adverse events was also recorded. Continuous data was analyzed by unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, and categorical data was analyzed by Pearson Chi-square test. RESULTS: The total peri-operative blood loss (mL) in the TXA group was significantly lower than that in the saline group (577.23 ± 358.02 vs. 716.89 ± 420.30, p = 0.031). The post-operative transfusion rate was 30.67% in the TXA group and 47.95% in the saline group (p = 0.031). The extent of post-operative deep venous thrombosis and the 3-month mortality rate were similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION We observed that intramedullary administration of TXA in PFNA surgery for intertrochanteric fractures in elderly individuals resulted in less peri-operative blood loss and decreased transfusion rate, without any adverse effects, and is, thus, recommended.
Humans ; Tranexamic Acid/administration & dosage* ; Hip Fractures/surgery* ; Male ; Aged ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/adverse effects* ; Blood Loss, Surgical/prevention & control* ; Antifibrinolytic Agents/administration & dosage* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Nails ; Middle Aged ; Blood Transfusion/statistics & numerical data*

PURPOSE: To methodically assess the effectiveness of augmentative plating (AP) and exchange nailing (EN) in managing nonunion following intramedullary nailing for long bone fractures of the lower extremity. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched to gather clinical studies regarding the use of AP and EN techniques in the treatment of nonunion following intramedullary nailing of lower extremity long bones. The search was conducted up until May 2023. The original studies underwent an independent assessment of their quality, a process conducted utilizing the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data were retrieved from these studies, and meta-analysis was executed utilizing Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 8 studies involving 661 participants, with 305 in the AP group and 356 in the EN group. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that the AP group exhibited a higher rate of union (odds ratio: 8.61, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 4.12 - 17.99, p < 0.001), shorter union time (standardized mean difference (SMD): -1.08, 95% CI: -1.79 - -0.37, p = 0.003), reduced duration of the surgical procedure (SMD: -0.56, 95% CI: -0.93 - -0.19, p = 0.003), less bleeding (SMD: -1.5, 95% CI: -2.81 - -0.18, p = 0.03), and a lower incidence of complications (relative risk: -0.17, 95% CI: -0.27 - -0.06, p = 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the time for union in the AP group in nonisthmal and isthmal nonunion of lower extremity long bones was shorter compared to the EN group (nonisthmal SMD: -1.94, 95% CI: -3.28 - -0.61, p < 0.001; isthmal SMD: -1.08, 95% CI: -1.64 - -0.52, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION In the treatment of nonunion in diaphyseal fractures of the long bones in the lower extremity, the AP approach is superior to EN, both intraoperatively (with reduced duration of the surgical procedure and diminished blood loss) and postoperatively (with an elevated union rate, shorter union time, and lower incidence of complications). Specifically, in the management of nonunion of lower extremity long bones with non-isthmal and isthmal intramedullary nails, AP demonstrated shorter union time in comparison to EN.
Humans ; Bone Nails/adverse effects* ; Bone Plates/adverse effects* ; Femoral Fractures/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/methods* ; Fractures, Ununited/surgery* ; Lower Extremity/injuries*

PURPOSE: Flexible intramedullary nails (FIN) enable minimally invasive and immediate fracture stabilisation, while facilitating early active movement in metacarpal fractures. This systematic review aims to compare locked, non-locked, single, and double FIN and their post-operative outcomes in metacarpal fractures. METHODS: A primary literature search was performed on July 15, 2024. English-language studies investigating acute metacarpal fractures, treated with FIN were included. Analyses included: the 5th metacarpal neck fractures locked vs. non-locked FIN; 5th metacarpal neck fractures non-locked single vs. dual FIN; and the 2nd-5th metacarpal fractures locked vs. non-locked FIN. The National Institute for Health tool and the JBI tool were used to assess study quality for controlled trials and case series, respectively. RESULTS: Thirteen studies (n=649 fractures) were eligible, with 12 low risks of bias. There was no difference in overall complication rates between locked and non-locked, and single and double non-locked FIN. Non-locked FIN demonstrated reduced metacarpophalangeal joint penetration (odds ratio (OR): 3.30 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-8.80; p=0.017 and delayed union (OR: 6.95; 95% CI: 1.86-25.97; p=0.004), but increased tendon irritation (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.05-0.83; p=0.027 vs. locked FIN. Overall operative times were lower for single vs. double non-locked nails (mean difference: 9.17; 95% CI: 6.12-12.22; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate low complication rates and excellent functional results using FIN to fix displaced metacarpal fractures. Although complication profiles are contrasting, there is no clear benefit in using locked or double nails compared to a single non-locked FIN.
Humans ; Metacarpal Bones/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/methods* ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Bone Nails

PURPOSE: Hidden blood loss (HBL) during the perioperative period significantly impacts postoperative recovery and complications, yet it is frequently disregarded. This study aimed to investigate the effects of tip-apex distance (TAD) and calcar-referenced tip-apex distance (calTAD) on HBL in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures utilizing proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA). The study also seeks to evaluate the possible decrease in HBL subsequent to PFNA treatment by optimizing nail positioning. METHOD: A historical cohort study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2022. Patients diagnosed with unilateral acute closed femoral intertrochanteric fracture and who underwent PFNA internal fixation surgery met the inclusion criteria, and were grouped according to the value of calTAD and TAD. The participants were divided into low TAD group (TAD<20 mm) and high TAD group (TAD≥20 mm); low calTAD group (calTAD<7.625 mm) and high calTAD group (calTAD≥7.625 mm), respectively. The primary outcome measures were intraoperative blood loss (including HBL, overt blood loss, and total blood loss). Continuous data were analyzed using an independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, and categorical data were analyzed using the Pearson Chi-square test. Univariate analysis was used to evaluate the association between various indicators and perioperative HBL. A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis model was used to determine the independent factors affecting perioperative HBL. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 131 patients were initially included, of which 80 were assigned to the calTAD group (with 61 in the high calTAD group and 19 in the low calTAD group), and 80 were assigned to the TAD group (with 34 in the high TAD group and 46 in the low TAD group). The average HBL for the low TAD group was 772.85 mL, whereas for the high TAD group it was 919.68 mL (p>0.05). The average HBL for the low calTAD group was 611.42 mL, whereas for the high calTAD group it was 904.97 mL (p<0.05). Subsequent analysis revealed that the patient's height, preoperative hemoglobin levels, changes in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels from pre- to post-surgery, and calTAD are independent risk factors influencing HBL. CONCLUSION In summary, our investigation revealed a significant correlation between the positioning of nails in PFNA and HBL during the perioperative period. By optimizing the placement of the cephalic nail, specifically by ensuring a calTAD of less than 7.625 mm, a significant decrease in HBL can be attained. Additionally, we identified that height, preoperative hemoglobin, differences in preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit, and the positioning of the cephalic nail were independent risk factors for HBL.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Blood Loss, Surgical/prevention & control* ; Female ; Hip Fractures/surgery* ; Aged ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/methods* ; Bone Nails ; Perioperative Period ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over

OBJECTIVE: To compare the short-term effectiveness between Gamma 3 intramedullary nails and Gamma 3 U-Blade system in the treatment of osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 124 elderly patients with osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures, who were admitted between February 2020 and February 2023 and met the selection criteria. The fractures were fixed with Gamma 3 intramedullary nails in 65 patients (control group) and Gamma 3 U-Blade systems in 59 patients (UB group). The differences between the two groups were not significant in age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, bone mineral density, time from injury to operation, fracture classification, and affected side ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and fracture healing time were recorded; the tip-apex distance, fracture reduction quality, and lag screw position were evaluated on X-ray films at immediate after operation; the lag screw sliding distance and change value of neck-shaft angle were measured on X-ray films at last follow-up. Harris hip score at 1 year after operation and the occurrence of internal fixation-related complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital stay in the UB group increased compared to the control group, but the differences were not significant ( P>0.05). All patients in both groups were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 17.1 months). At 12 months after operation, there was no significant difference in the Harris hip score between the two groups ( P<0.05). Radiological examination showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05) in terms of tip-apex distance, fracture reduction quality, and lag screw position. Fractures healed in both groups, and there was no significant difference in healing time ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the change value of neck-shaft angle and lag screw sliding distance in the UB group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05). During follow-up, no related complications occurred in the UB group, while 6 cases (9.2%) in the control group experienced complications, and the difference in the incidence was significant ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION For the osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly, the Gamma 3 U-Blade system fixation can achieve good short-term effectiveness, with better imaging results compared to Gamma 3 intramedullary nails fixation.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Hip Fractures/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/methods* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Bone Nails ; Bone Screws ; Aged, 80 and over ; Treatment Outcome ; Fracture Healing ; Operative Time ; Length of Stay

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the novel bone hook combined with finger-guided technique in the treatment of irreducible intertrochanteric femoral fractures in elderly. METHODS: Between January 2021 and August 2023, 23 elderly patients with irreducible intertrochanteric femoral fractures were treated with the novel bone hook combined with finger-guided technique. There were 10 males and 13 females; the age ranged from 68 to 93 years (mean, 76.2 years). The time from injury to operation ranged from 36 to 76 hours (mean, 51.2 hours). According to the classification standard proposed by TONG Dake et alin 2021, there were 10 cases of typeⅠA, 1 case of typeⅠB, 6 cases of type ⅡA, 4 cases of type ⅡB, and 2 cases of type ⅡC. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequences, and quality of fracture reduction were recorded. The fracture healing time and occurrence of postoperative complications were observed during follow-up. At last follow-up, the Harris scoring system was used to evaluate the hip joint function. RESULTS: The operation time was 42-95 minutes (mean, 52.1 minutes). The intraoperative blood loss was 40-420 mL (mean, 126.5 mL). Intraoperative fluoroscopy was performed 14-34 times (mean, 20.7 times). According to the criteria proposed by Chang et al, the quality of fracture reduction was rated as good in 20 cases and acceptable in 3 cases. All patients were followed up 6-20 months (mean, 10.2 months). X-ray film showed that all fractures healed with the healing time of 3.0-5.5 months (mean, 4.0 months). At last follow-up, the Harris score of the hip joint ranged from 82 to 97 points (mean, 90.4 points). Among them, 14 cases were rated as excellent and 9 cases as good. No complication such as coxa vara, cutting of the cephalomedullary nail, nail withdrawal, or nail breakage occurred during follow-up. CONCLUSION The treatment of elderly patients with irreducible intertrochanteric femoral fractures by using the novel bone hook combined with finger-guided technique can achieve high-quality fracture reduction and fixation, and has a good effectiveness.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Hip Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Fracture Healing ; Treatment Outcome ; Operative Time ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/instrumentation* ; Bone Nails ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Feasibility Studies ; Fingers

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of three internal fixation methods, namely hollow screw combined with Kirschner wire tension band, hollow screw combined with anchor nail, and modified 1/3 tubular steel plate, in the treatment of avulsion fracture of tibial tubercle (AFTT) in adolescents. METHODS: Between January 2018 and September 2023, 19 adolescent AFTT patients who met the selection criteria were admitted. According to different internal fixation methods, patients were divided into group A (8 cases, hollow screw combined with Kirschner wire tension band), group B (6 cases, hollow screw combined with anchor nail), and group C (5 cases, modified 1/3 tubular steel plate). There was no significant difference in the baseline data of age, gender, side, cause of injury, Ogden classification, and time from injury to operation among the three groups ( P>0.05). The range of motion (ROM), weight-bearing time, normal activity time of knee joint, and the hospital for special surgery (HSS) score at last follow-up were recorded and compared among the three groups. Recorded whether the fracture was displaced, whether the fracture line was blurred at 1 month after operation, whether there was epiphyseal dysplasia, and whether there was incision infection and other complications. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in hospital stay between the groups ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up 10-24 months, with an average of 14.3 months; there was no significant difference between the groups ( P>0.05). All the incisions healed well without soft tissue irritation or fracture nonunion, and no limb shortening deformity or epiphyseal dysplasia was found during follow-up. At 1 month after operation, the knee joint ROM and hospitalization expenses in group A were better than those in groups B and C, the fracture healing time, knee joint weight-bearing time, and normal activity time of knee joint were better than those in group C, and the hospitalization expenses in group C were better than those in group B, with significant differences ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the other indicators between the groups ( P>0.05). In group A, the fracture line was blurred 1 month postoperatively, the fracture ends were in close contact, and there was no fracture displacement; in groups B and C, the fracture line was clear in 2 cases, and 1 case in group C had slight fracture displacement; except for 1 case in group B, there was no fracture split in the other two groups. There was no significant difference in the incidences of blur of fracture line, fracture displacement, and intraoperative bone split between the groups at 1 month after operation ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the HSS scores of knee joints in the three groups were excellent and good, and there was no significant difference between the groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Hollow screw combined with Kirschner wire tension band technique is effective in treating adolescent AFTT, which has the advantages of stabilizing fracture, accelerating fracture healing and rehabilitation, early feasible knee joint functional exercise, and reducing hospitalization expenses.
Humans ; Tibial Fractures/surgery* ; Adolescent ; Male ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Female ; Fractures, Avulsion/surgery* ; Bone Wires ; Bone Screws ; Bone Plates ; Treatment Outcome ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Bone Nails ; Weight-Bearing ; Fracture Healing

OBJECTIVE: To explore the advantages and effectiveness of the independently developed intelligent orthopedic robot-assisted distal locking of femoral intramedullary nails. METHODS: Thirty-two adult cadaveric femur specimens were randomly divided into two groups, with 16 specimens in each group. The experimental group used the intelligent orthopedic robot to assist in the distal locking of femoral intramedullary nail holes, while the control group used the traditional method of manual locking under X-ray fluoroscopy. The locking time, fluoroscopy times, and the success rate of first locking were recorded and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The locking time of the experimental group was (273.94±38.67) seconds, which was shorter than that of the control group [(378.38±152.72) seconds], and number of fluoroscopies was (4.56±0.81) times, which was less than that of the control group [(8.00±3.98) times]. The differences were significant [ MD=73.054 (-37.187, 85.813), P=0.049; MD=1.969 (-1.437, 2.563), P=0.002]. The first locking success rate of the experimental group was 100% (16/16), which was significantly higher than that of the control group (68.75%, 11/16) ( P=0.043). CONCLUSION The efficiency of distal locking of femoral intramedullary nails assisted by the intelligent orthopedic robot is significantly higher than that of the traditional manual locking method under fluoroscopy, as it can markedly reduce the time required for distal locking of femoral intramedullary nails, decrease intraoperative radiation exposure, and increase the success rate of locking.
Humans ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/instrumentation* ; Bone Nails ; Fluoroscopy ; Femur/diagnostic imaging* ; Femoral Fractures/surgery* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/instrumentation* ; Cadaver ; Adult ; Robotics ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To investigate short-term effectiveness of using expert adolescent lateral femoral nail (EALFN) in treating femoral shaft fractures in older children and adolescents. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 17 patients with femoral shaft fractures who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted between July 2020 and June 2024. All fractures were fixed with EALFN after reduction. There were 11 males and 6 females, with a mean age of 13.3 years (range, 11-16 years). The average body weight was 51.2 kg (range, 40-84 kg), and the average height was 162.1 cm (range, 150-172 cm). The causes of injury included traffic accidents ( n=9), falling from height ( n=1), and simple falls ( n=7). One patient had an open fracture treated with an external fixator and experienced delayed fracture healing. The remaining patients were closed fractures, with an average time from injury to operation of 5.8 days (range, 2-10 days). Operation time and postoperative hospital stay were documented. During follow-up, X-ray films were taken to observe the fracture healing, and the bilateral femoral length, femoral neck-shaft angle, widest femoral neck diameter (FND), and articular trochanteric distance (ATD) were measured at last follow-up. Hip function was assessed using the Harris score. The differences in the all indicators between the healthy and affected sides were compared. RESULTS: The operation time ranged from 65 to 130 minutes (mean, 94.1 minutes). Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 5 to 40 days (mean, 16.7 days). All patients were followed up 7-36 months (mean, 14.4 months). One patient exhibited delayed fracture healing during follow-up. The distal locking nail was removed at 6 months after operation, and partial weight-bearing was initiated following dynamic fracture stabilization. The fracture healing was achieved, and the intramedullary nail was removed at 24 months after operation. The other fractures healed with the healing time of 6-20 months (mean, 9.6 months), and the intramedullary nails were removed. During follow-up, no femoral fracture, abnormal development of the greater trochanter, or ischemic necrosis of the femoral head occurred. At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in femoral length, femoral neck-shaft angle, FND, ATD, or Harris score between the affected and healthy sides ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION For older children and adolescents with femoral neck fractures, the application of EALFN fixation aligns more closely with the principles of intramedullary central fixation and rapid rehabilitation. This approach is associated with fewer complications and superior short-term effectiveness.
Humans ; Male ; Femoral Fractures/surgery* ; Female ; Child ; Adolescent ; Retrospective Studies ; Bone Nails ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/instrumentation* ; Fracture Healing ; Treatment Outcome