Objective::This study aims to investigate the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity on the accuracy of echocardiographic estimation of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).Methods::Patients who were diagnosed with PAH and had a right heart catheterization (RHC) and echocardiography examination were selected retrospectively from May 2018 to December 2021. sPAP measured by RHC is used as the gold standard. A difference in sPAP of less than 10 mmHg between echocardiographic estimation by peak TR velocity and RHC measurement was defined as accurate, with a difference ≥10 mmHg considered inaccurate. The factors affecting the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results::A total of 138 patients aged (45.57 ± 15.97) years with PAH were enrolled. sPAP measured by echocardiography and RHC were (80.83 ± 23.46) and (81.62 ± 30.05) mmHg, respectively. The values of the 2 methods were highly correlated ( r = 0.809, P < 0.01) and Bland-Altman plots showed good consistency. The accuracy rate of sPAP estimation by echocardiography was 42.03% (58/138). In the 57.97% (80/138) of patients where echocardiography was inaccurate, sPAP was overestimated in 28.26% (39/138) and underestimated in 29.71% (41/138). Univariate analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the accurate and inaccurate groups in World Health Organization-Function Class, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, severity of TR, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), sPAP-RHC, mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance ( P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified the TR severity (odds ratio = 2.292, 95% confidence interval: 1.126–4.667, P = 0.022) and TAPSE (odds ratio = 0.733, 95% confidence interval: 0.621–0.865, P < 0.001) as independent predictors for the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation. Conclusion::Higher TR severity and lower TAPSE values reduce the accuracy of sPAP estimated by echocardiography. Therefore, TR severity and right heart function should be considered when echocardiography is used to estimate sPAP by the TR velocity.

Objective::This study aims to investigate the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity on the accuracy of echocardiographic estimation of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).Methods::Patients who were diagnosed with PAH and had a right heart catheterization (RHC) and echocardiography examination were selected retrospectively from May 2018 to December 2021. sPAP measured by RHC is used as the gold standard. A difference in sPAP of less than 10 mmHg between echocardiographic estimation by peak TR velocity and RHC measurement was defined as accurate, with a difference ≥10 mmHg considered inaccurate. The factors affecting the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results::A total of 138 patients aged (45.57 ± 15.97) years with PAH were enrolled. sPAP measured by echocardiography and RHC were (80.83 ± 23.46) and (81.62 ± 30.05) mmHg, respectively. The values of the 2 methods were highly correlated ( r = 0.809, P < 0.01) and Bland-Altman plots showed good consistency. The accuracy rate of sPAP estimation by echocardiography was 42.03% (58/138). In the 57.97% (80/138) of patients where echocardiography was inaccurate, sPAP was overestimated in 28.26% (39/138) and underestimated in 29.71% (41/138). Univariate analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the accurate and inaccurate groups in World Health Organization-Function Class, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, severity of TR, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), sPAP-RHC, mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance ( P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified the TR severity (odds ratio = 2.292, 95% confidence interval: 1.126–4.667, P = 0.022) and TAPSE (odds ratio = 0.733, 95% confidence interval: 0.621–0.865, P < 0.001) as independent predictors for the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation. Conclusion::Higher TR severity and lower TAPSE values reduce the accuracy of sPAP estimated by echocardiography. Therefore, TR severity and right heart function should be considered when echocardiography is used to estimate sPAP by the TR velocity.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect assistant with pelvic unlocking reduction frame for the treatment of old Denis I or II sacral fractures combined with sacral plexus nerve injury.Methods:From January 2013 to October 2020, 37 patients diagnosed with old sacral fractures with sacral plexus nerve injury which Gibbons classification was grade III were divided into the use group and the non-use group according to whether assisted with pelvic unlocking reduction frame. Eighteen patients (11 males, 7 females, mean age 38±6.4, range from 13-56) were selected into the use group and nineteen patients (14 males, 5 females, mean age 42±10.7, range 19-59) were selected into the non-use group. The three-dimensional (3D) pelvic model (1∶1) was printed before operation. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding, Matta score, visual analogue scale (VAS), Majeed score and gibbons sacral nerve injury grade of the two groups were compared. The healing time and complications of each group was recorded.Results:The average operation time of the use group and the non-use group was 121.0±16.2 min and 182.6±16.2 min, respectively, with significant difference ( t=11.54, P<0.001). The mean operative bleeding was 686±382 ml of the use group and 963±348 ml of the non-use group ( t=2.38, P=0.003). The quality of fracture reduction was evaluated according to Matta scoring standard: the excellent and good rate of the use group was 94% (17/18), and that of the non-use group was 68% (13/19) ( P=0.039). The curative effect was evaluated according to the Majeed score: the use group was 88.72±7.03 points, and that of the non-use group was 72.00±9.75 points ( t=5.96, P<0.001) at 1 year post-operative. One year after operation, the VAS scale of the use group was 0.83±0.71 points, and that of the non-use group was 1.00±0.82 points ( t=0.66, P=0.512). According to Gibbons classification, 15 patients were grade I, 1 patient was grade II and 2 patients were grade III in the use group and 11 patients were grade I, 3 patients were grade II and 5 patients were grade III in the non-use group one year after operation ( Z=-1.04, P=0.401). One patient in the use group presented rupture of plate without symptoms. In the non-use group, 1 case with internal iliac vein rupture which treated with gelatin sponge and no obvious bleeding after operation. 4 cases with unequal length of lower limbs, walking claudication. The complication rate of the use group was 6% (1/18), and that of the non-use group was 26% (5/19) ( P=0.042) . Conclusion:The lateral rectus abdominis approach combined with pelvic unlocking reduction frame can reduce the operation time and bleeding, improve the fracture reduction in the treatment of old Denis type I and II sacral fractures with sacral plexus injury.

Objective:To investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of the lateral-rectus approach combined with the Pfannenstiel approach in the treatment of pelvic fractures complicated with urethral rupture.Methods:From January 2013 to June 2021, 20 patients with pelvic fracture complicated with urethral rupture were surgically managed through the lateral-rectus approach and the Pfannenstiel approach at Department of Traumatic Surgery, Center for Orthopaedic Surgery, the Third Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University. They were 15 males and 5 females, with an average age of 42 years (from 18 to 55 years). By the Tile classification, there were 11 cases of type B and 9 cases of type C. The first-stage urethral realignment was performed via the Pfannenstiel approach in the supine position after general anesthesia in conjunction with an urologist; at the second-stage, the lateral-rectus approach was used to reduce and fixate the acetabular or pelvic fractures. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture reduction quality, pelvic functional recovery and complications were documented.Results:In this cohort, the operation time ranged from 80 to 240 min, averaging 140.5 min; the time for simple urethral convergence ranged from 20 to 30 min; the intraoperative blood loss ranged from 400 mL to 2,000 mL, averaging 730 mL. According to the Mears andVelyvis evaluation for fracture reduction quality, anatomical reduction was achieved in 13 cases, satisfactory reduction in 6 cases, and unsatisfactory reduction in one. The 20 patients were followed up for 12 to 68 months (mean, 37 months) after surgery. One fracture got nonunited but the other fractures got united after 3.0 to 4.5 months (mean, 3.5 months). According to the Majeed scoring system, the pelvic function at 12 months after surgery was excellent in 12 cases, good in 6 and fair in 2, giving an excellent and good rate of 90% (18/20). Screw loosening was found in one patient, traction injury to the lumbosacral trunk nerve in another patient, varying degrees of dysuria which responded to periodic urethral dilation in 8 patients, urethral stricture in 3 patients and erectile dysfunction in 5 patients. No abdominal hernia or pelvic infection was observed.Conclusions:The lateral-rectus approach combined with the Pfannenstiel approach can be used effectively to reduce and fixate the pelvic and acetabular fractures, and to repair the urethral rupture in one stage as well. They are also safe due to a low incidence of such complications as abdominal wall hernia and pelvic infection.

Objective:To explore the surgical method and clinical efficacy of lateral-rectus approach (LRA) in the treatment of fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) in the elderly.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted for elderly FFP patients from January 2011 to December 2019. All the pelvic fractures should be exposed and reduced through LRA and fixed with pelvic reconstruction plates and channel screws. Then, a total of 30 elderly patients were included in the study, including 9 males and 21 females, with an average age of 72.5 years (range, 60-87 years). Fractures were caused by car accident in 5 cases, by falling from high places in 8 cases and by tumbling in 17 cases. According to the FFP classification, there were 6 cases of type IIc (6/30, 20%), 22 cases of type III (22/30, 73.33%, of which 13 cases were type IIIa, 7 cases were type IIIb, and 2 cases were type IIIc), 2 cases of type IVa (2/30, 6.67%). Among that, 2 cases suffered ipsilateral acetabular fractures, 17 suffered medical diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, etc., and none suffered extremities fractures or other types of injuries. Surgical field was exposed retroperitoneally through LRA, combined with lower limb traction to reduce the anterior and posterior pelvis ring fractures. Then, the reductions were done in direct visions and verified through X-ray fluoroscopy. After that, the posterior ring was fixed with reconstruction plate and/or sacroiliac screws, and the anterior ring was fixed with reconstruction plate or INFIX. The quality of fracture reduction was evaluated by Matta score and the postoperative function was evaluated by Majeed score.Results:All the 30 patients were surgical treated through LRA. The time from injury to operation was 5 to 20 days, with an average of 9.9 days. The operating time ranged from 35 to 150 min (mean, 73.5 min) and the intraoperative bleeding ranged from 220 to 2 400 ml (mean, 586.7 ml). Fractures were successfully reduced under direct vision and the positions of the plates and screws were monitored through X-ray fluoroscopy during the operation. Postoperative X-rays and CT scans showed satisfactory reduction of the pelvic ring. According to Matta criteria, the quality of fracture reduction was evaluated as excellent in 18 cases, good in 6 cases, fair in 4 cases and poor in 2 cases. The overall excellent and good rate was 80% (24/30). All patients were followed up for 6-24 months, the fractures were all healed, and all fractures healed for 2-5 months, with an average of 3.5 months. At the last follow-up, Majeed scores were 86.1±6.11 (range, 66-92), including 21 excellent cases, 7 good cases and 2 fair cases, with an excellent and good rate of 93.3% (28/30). As for complications, 1 patient developed deep venous thrombosis of the affected lower limb, and the thrombosis disappeared after thrombolytic therapy. One patient had fat liquefaction in the incision, and the wound healed after intensive dressing change. After INFIX fixation, 2 patients showed numbness on the lateral thigh of the affected side, and the symptoms were relieved after symptomatic treatment. Four patients were found to have internal fixation screws loosening during follow-up, but still achieved good fracture healing.Conclusion:The entire hemipelvic ring could be exposed through LRA without cutting the peritoneum, so that the sacroiliac joint, ilium wing and anterior ring fractures could be reduced under direct version. In the treatment of pelvis fragility fractures of the elderly, effective reduction and fixation could be achieved using reconstruction plates or channel screws through LRA.

Objective:To evaluate the anterior expansion of sacral foramen and decompression of sacral plexus via the lateral-rectus approach (LRA) in the surgical treatment of sacral fractures complicated with sacral plexus injury.Methods:From January 2013 to June 2018, 11 patients were treated at Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University for obsolete sacral fractures complicated with sacral plexus injury. They were 8 males and 3 females, aged from 17 to 54 years (average, 38 years). According to the Denis classification, all the sacral fractures belonged to Denis Zone Ⅱ. According to British Medical Research Council (BMRC) grading system, the nerve injury was complete damage in 2 cases and partial damage in 9. The mean time from injury to surgery was 6 months (range, from 0.7 to 12.0 months). After the sacroiliac joint was exposed via the LRA, the lumbosacral trunk was exposed and released between iliac vessels and the iliopsoas. Next, the S1 foramen was expanded and the S1 nerve root was released after separation of the median sacral artery and the internal iliac artery. Reduction and fixation of the sacroiliac joint was carried out for patients with unstable sacral fracture. X-ray and CT examinations of the pelvis were performed to evaluate fracture healing and neurological function recovery postoperatively.Results:Of this cohort of 11 cases, operation succeeded in 10 but failed in one whose sacral fracture was found to have completely healed with the S1 foramina totally occluded. The surgical time averaged 110 min (range, from 70 to 220 min) and the blood loss 1, 100 mL (range, from 450 to 2, 800 mL). Postoperative X-ray and CT examinations showed that the sacral foramens were expanded significantly without any complications. The follow-up time averaged 18 months (range, from 12 months to 4 years). By the BMRC grading system at the last follow-up, the neural function was completely recovered in 5 cases, partially recovered in 4 cases and not recovered in one.Conclusion:Significant anterior expansion of sacral foramen and decompression of sacral plexus via the LRA is a viable and effective alternative for treatment of sacral fractures complicated with sacral plexus injury.

Objective:To explore the efficacyof direct anterior approach (DAA) combined with direct posterior approach (DPA) for the treatment of Pipkin IV fracture.Methods:Data of 18 patients with Pipkin IV fracture treated through DAA combined with DPA from January 2016 to April 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 13 males and 5 females, with an average age of 43.2 years (range,19-56 years). Fractures were caused by traffic accident in 15 and by falling in 3. The fracture lines of 13 cases were located below the fovea of the femoral head and 5 cases were located above the fovea. According to Letournel-Judet classification for acetabular fractures, there were 14 cases of posterior acetabular wall fractures, 2 cases of posterior wall fractures involving posterior column, and 2 transverse plus posterior wall fractures. The operation was performed through DAA approach to treat the femoral head fractures, and DPA approach was used to treat acetabular fractures. Radiographs and CT scans of the pelvis were reexamined after surgery, and fracture reduction, healing, and complications such as femoral head necrosis, sciatic nerve injury, superior gluteal neurovascular injury and heterotopic ossification were evaluated. Quality of acetabular reduction was evaluated according to the criteria proposed by Matta. Thompson-Epstein scoring system was used to evaluate hip function.Results:The average operation time was 133 min (range, 75-205 min). And the average blood loss was 371 ml (range, 240-600 ml). All 18 patients were followed up for 6 to 36 months, with an average period of 15.7 months. All fractures healed 10 to14 weeks after surgery. Three patients had symptoms of sciatic nerve injury after the injury, who recovered 6 to 12 weeks after the operation. All femoral head fractures were reduced. According to Matta criteria of reduction quality, anatomic reduction was gained in 13 cases, and satisfactory reduction was obtained in 3 cases, while unsatisfactory reduction was found in 2 cases, and the overall satisfactory rate was 88.9%(16/18). Two patients had Brooker I level heterotopic ossification. There was no iatrogenic vascular injury, avascular necrosis of femoral head, infection, internal fixation failure or other complications. According to the Thompson-Epstein scoring system at the latest follow-up, the functional results of the affected hip were excellent in 7 cases, good in 8, fair in 2 and poor in 1.Conclusion:Treatment of Pipkin IV fractures through DAA combined with DPA approach reduces surgical invasion. And it can directly reduce and fix the femoral head and posterior acetabular fracture, and protect the important structures such as the arteriae circumflexa femoris medialis, sciatic nerve and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, and reduce the occurrence of complications such as femoral head necrosis and heterotopic ossification. Therefore, DAA combined with DPA is aneffective method for the treatment of Pipkin IV fractures.

Objective:To investigate the surgical techniques and clinical efficacy of periacetabular osteotomy through the lateral-rectus approach (LRA) for obsolete acetabular fractures.Methods:The 22 patients with old acetabular fracture were retrospectively analyzed who had been admitted to Department of Traumatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital to Southern Medical University from June 2012 to June 2019. They were 16 males and 6 females, aged from 22 to 61 years (average, 45.0 years). By the Judet-letournel classification, there were 4 anterior + posterior hemitransverse fractures, 2 T-shaped fractures and 16 both column fractures. The time from injury to surgery was 3 to 12 weeks in 15 cases, 3 to 6 months in 5 cases, 9 months in one case, and 3 years in one case. After the whole acetabulum was exposed outside the peritoneum through LRA in all patients, periacetabular osteotomy was conducted under direct vision, followed by fixation with multiple reconstruction plates or integrated acetabular airfoil anatomical plates after reduction. Recorded were the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture reduction quality, affected hip function and complications in the patients.Results:In this cohort the operation time ranged from 110 to 205 min, averaging 140.5 min; intraoperative blood loss ranged from 500 to 2,100 mL, averaging 1,250.4 mL. According to the Matta X-ray criteria, the postoperative reduction was assessed as excellent in 7 cases, as good in 11 and as poor in 4, yielding an excellent and good rate of 81.8% (18/22). All the 22 patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months (mean, 22.1 months) and achieved fracture union. The one-year follow-up showed that their modified Merle d'Aubigné & Postel scores ranged from 6 to 18 points, averaging 14.6 points and giving 6 excellent, 10 good, 3 fair and 2 poor cases [an excellent and good rate of 72.7% (16/22)]. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head developed in 2 patients one of whom underwent total hip replacement.Conclusions:As LRA can expose the entire hemipelic ring from the medial side of the pelvis, the periacetabular osteotomy can be performed and the fractures of anterior or posterior column and the quadrilateral area can be reduced under direct vision through the medial side of the acetabulum. Moreover, ideal results can be achieved with the use of multiple reconstruction plates or integrated acetabular airfoil anatomical plates.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of lateral-rectus approach(LRA) for vertical shear fracture of pelvis combined with lumbosacral plexus nerve injury.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted of the 37 patients who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital to Southern Medical University for vertical shear pelvic fracture combined with lumbosacral plexus nerve injury from August 2010 to August 2018. They were 25 males and 12 females, aged from 18 to 61 years (mean, 36.2 years). By the Tile classification, there were 31 cases of type C1.3, 5 cases of type C2 and one of type C3. LRA was used in all the patients to explore and release the lumbosacral plexus nerve and to reduce the sacral fracture. The posterior ring was fixated with an anterior iliac plate or sacral screws before fixation of the anterior ring and treatment of the acetabular fracture. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, quality of fracture reduction, fracture union time and recovery of nerve and muscle strength were recorded.Results:For this cohort, the operation time ranged from 105 to 228 minutes (mean, 155.0 minutes) and the intraoperative bleeding volume from 680 to 2, 440 mL (mean, 1, 070 mL). Thefollow-up time ranged from 1 to 8 years (average, 2 years). According to the Matta criteria, the quality of fracture reduction was evaluated as excellent in 21 cases, as good in 12 cases and as fair in 4 cases, giving an excellent and good rate of 89.2%. Follow-ups revealed reduction loss in 4 patients, nonunion and reduction loss in one patient and bony union in the other 32 patients after 8 to 12 weeks (mean, 10.1 weeks). According to the criteria by the Nerve Injuries Committee of the British Medical Research Council (BMRC), the recovery of nerve and muscle strength achieved M5 (full recovery of neurological symptoms) in 22 cases, M4 (fine recovery of neurological symptoms) in 7 cases, M1, M2 and M3 (partial recovery of neurological symptoms) in 5 cases, and M0 (no recovery of neurological symptoms) in 3 cases.Conclusion:LRA is an ideal surgical approach for treatment of pelvic vertical shear fractures complicated with lumbosacral plexus nerve injury, because it can well expose the medial pelvic joint from the sacroiliac joint to the symphysis pubis, allow direct release of the lumbosacral plexus nerve compressed and stretched, and, together with traction of the lower limbs, lead to satisfactory fracture reduction.

Objective:To explore the surgical technique and the clinical efficacy of the lateral-rectus approach with traction reduction by the modified Starr pelvic reduction frame for Tile C pelvic nonunions and malunions.Methods:Data of 7 patients with Tile C pelvic nonunions and malunions from June 2017 to June 2018 who were treated via the lateral-rectus approach combined with traction reduction by the modified Starr pelvic reduction frame were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 males and 2 females, aged from 22 to 53 (mean, 40 years). The injury mechanism included 3 cases of car accident injury, 3 of falling injury and 1 of crushing injury. The reasons for retreatment were pain in 7 cases, inability to walk and sit in 3, unequal length of lower limbs and lameness in 3. According to Tile classification, there were 4 cases of C1 type, 2 of C2 type and 1 of C3 type. A complete pelvic model with equal size as the patient’s pelvis was 3D-printed out according to three-dimensional reconstruction CT. The osteotomy or release site was designed, and the preoperative plan was detailed. Expose and release via the lateral rectus approach combined with traction reduction was conducted using the modified Starr pelvic reduction frame. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications were collected. Visual analogue scale (VAS) at 6 months after surgery were recorded. Majeed score was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. The quality of fracture reduction was evaluated by the Mears-Velyvis radiological evaluation criterion at the latest follow-up.Results:The operation time was 140-280 min, with an average of 190 min. The intraoperative blood loss was 700-2,800 ml, with an average of 1,250 ml. In 6 cases, the final fixation was performed at one time, while 1 case of Tile C3 type was performed in two stages. All patients were followed up for 10-22 months, and all the fractures healed. The mean time of bony union was 8 weeks (range, 6-12 weeks). The VAS of the 7 patients was improved from an average of 6.4 points to an average of 0.7 points during 6 months postoperative follow-up. The Majeed clinical efficacy score of the latest follow-up was improved from the average 60 points preoperative to 85 points postoperative. According to the Mears-Velyvis radiological evaluation criterion, the satisfaction rate reached 85.7%(6/7). After operation, 1 case occurred obturator nerve injury who recovered within 3 months, and 1 case remained limb shortening deformity of 1 cm. There was no fixation failure.Conclusion:The anterior osteotomy via the lateral-rectus approach can fully cut off nonunions and malunions of the pelvis, effectively release the soft tissues around the osteotomy site, with minimal surgical trauma and low risks of neurovascular injuries. Combined the modified Starr pelvic reduction frame, it can effectively correct pelvic deformities, lower limb rotation and unequal length deformities to achieve the expected effect of surgery.