OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of three-dimensional (3D) printed customized hemi-pelvic prosthesis for pelvic reconstruction after resection of massive pelvic tumors. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 26 patients with massive pelvic tumors who met the selection criteria and were treated between November 2021 and May 2024. The cohort included 11 males and 15 females, with a mean age of 52.65 years (range, 17-73 years). Histopathological diagnoses were as follows: 9 cases of chondrosarcoma, 2 of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, 4 of spindle cell sarcoma, 2 of osteosarcoma, 1 of solitary fibrous tumor, 1 of myxoid chondroma, 1 of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, 1 of chondromyxoid epithelioma, and 5 of metastatic malignant tumors. According to the Enneking classification, tumor involvement was distributed as 4 cases in zones Ⅰ+Ⅱ, 9 in zones Ⅱ+Ⅲ, 3 in zones Ⅰ+Ⅳ, 8 in zones Ⅰ+Ⅱ+Ⅲ, and 2 in zones Ⅰ+Ⅱ+Ⅳ. The disease duration ranged from 3 to 40 months, with a mean of 9.85 months. All patients underwent reconstruction with customized 3D-printed hemi-pelvic prostheses. The effectiveness was evaluated by Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score and Harris hip score before operation and at last follow-up, and pain levels were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score before operation, at 3 months after operation, and at last follow-up. RESULTS: The operation time ranged from 186 to 528 minutes, with a mean of 334.58 minutes. The intraoperative blood loss ranged from 1 400 to 4 000 mL, with a mean of 2173.08 mL, and the transfusion volume ranged from 750 to 3 500 mL, with a mean of 1 659.62 mL. All 26 patients were followed up 10-42 months (mean, 18.5 months). Postoperative complications included prosthetic dislocation in 2 cases, which were attributed to improper positioning during home care and an accidental fall, respectively. One patient developed a vesicocutaneous fistula and poor wound healing due to pre-existing tumor invasion into the bladder. One patient experienced failure and loosening of the internal fixation at 8 months after operation caused by local tumor recurrence, and subsequently died at 14 months postoperatively due to progression of brain metastases. Postoperative complications such as poor healing of incisions, prosthetic dislocation, or failure of internal fixation was not observed in the remaining patients. At last follow-up, the walking ability of most patients recovered to varying degrees. The VAS scores at 3 months and at last follow-up significantly improved when compared with those before operation, and the scores at last follow-up further improved when compared with 3 months after operation, all showing significant differences ( P<0.05). The MSTS scores and Harris scores at last follow-up were significantly higher than those before operation ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION 3D printed customized hemi-pelvic prosthesis is effective for reconstruction of massive pelvic tumors after resection, but there are still some limitations, and soft tissue reconstruction should be paid attention to.
Humans ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Pelvic Bones/surgery* ; Bone Neoplasms/surgery* ; Adolescent ; Pelvic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Prosthesis Design ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Prostheses and Implants

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of TiRobot-assisted minimally invasive treatment for fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) in elderly patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 176 patients with FFP who were admitted between July 2018 and July 2024 and met the selection criteria. Among them, 95 patients underwent TiRobot-assisted closed reduction and minimally invasive cannulated screw fixation (robot group), while 81 patients underwent traditional open reduction and plate screw fixation (control group). There was no significant difference in baseline data such as gender, age, fracture classification, disease duration, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores between the two groups ( P>0.05). The following parameters were recorded and compared between the two groups, including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative transfusion rate, volume of intraoperative blood transfusion, maximum incision length, hospital stay, maximum residual displacement, reduction quality, fracture healing time, incidence of complications, VAS scores, Majeed pelvic function scores, and functional grading. RESULTS: All surgeries in both groups successfully completed. The robot group exhibited significantly shorter operation time, reduced intraoperative blood loss, lower intraoperative transfusion rate, smaller volume of intraoperative blood transfusion, shorter maximum incision length, and shorter hospital stay compared to the control group ( P<0.05). In the robot group, a total of 14 INFIX internal fixation frames and 280 cannulated screws were implanted, among which 250 screws were rated as excellent, 17 as good, and 13 as poor, resulting in a screw placement excellent and good rate of 95.36%. Radiological review revealed that the excellent and good rate of reduction quality was in 91.58% (87/95) in the robot group and 81.48% (66/81) in the control group, with no significant difference in postoperative maximum residual fracture displacement or reduction quality between the two groups (P>0.05). All patients in both groups were followed up 12-66 months, with an average of 28.9 months, and there was no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups ( P>0.05). The fracture healing time in the robot group was significantly shorter than that in the control group ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, both groups showed significant improvement in VAS scores compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05); the change values of VAS scores, Majeed scores, and the excellent and good rate of Majeed pelvic function were significantly higher in the robot group than in the control group ( P<0.05). Regarding postoperative complications, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gait changes, secondary surgeries, heterotopic ossification, incision infections, walking difficulties, internal fixation failure, or mortality rates ( P>0.05); however, the incidence of delayed wound healing was significantly lower in the robot group than in the control group ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION TiRobot-assisted minimally invasive treatment of elderly FFP is superior to traditional open reduction and internal fixation in terms of surgical trauma control, postoperative rehabilitation speed, and functional recovery.
Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/instrumentation* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Pelvic Bones/surgery* ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Bone Plates ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Treatment Outcome ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Operative Time ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Bone/surgery*

OBJECITVE: To investigate the effectiveness of three-dimensional (3D) printing-assisted vascularized fibular graft for repairing metatarsal defects. METHODS: Between November 2021 and February 2024, 11 patients with varying degrees of metatarsal defects caused by trauma were treated. There were 10 males and 1 female, aged 22-67 years, with a mean age of 51.2 years. The defect locations were as follows: the first metatarsal in 4 cases, the fifth metatarsal in 2 cases, the first and the second metatarsals in 1 case, the first to third metatarsals in 1 case, the third and the fourth metatarsals in 1 case, the third to fifth metatarsals in 1 case, and the first to fifth metatarsals in 1 case. The preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 67.0 (48.5, 72.5). Based on 3D-printed bilateral feet models and mirrored healthy-side foot arch angles for preoperative planning and design, the vascularized fibular graft was performed to repair the metatarsal defects. At last follow-up, the medial and lateral longitudinal arches of bilateral feet were measured on weight-bearing X-ray films, and functional assessment was conducted using the AOFAS score. RESULTS: All operations were successfully completed, with an operation time ranging from 180 to 465 minutes (mean, 246.8 minutes). All incisions healed by first intention, with no occurrence of osteomyelitis. All patients were followed up 6-22 months (mean, 10 months). X-ray film reviews showed bone graft healing in all cases, with a healing time of 3-6 months (mean, 5 months). All patients underwent internal fixator removal at 6-12 months after operation. At last follow-up, no significant difference was observed in the medial and lateral longitudinal arches between the healthy and affected feet ( P>0.05). The AOFAS score of the affected foot was 78.0 (73.5, 84.0), showing a significant improvement compared to the preoperative score ( P<0.05). The effectiveness was rated as excellent in 1 case, good in 7 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case. Linear scarring remained at the donor site, with no functional impairment in adjacent joint movement. CONCLUSION 3D printing-assisted vascularized fibular graft for repairing metatarsal defects can effectively restore the physiological angle of the foot arch, facilitate the recovery of weight-bearing alignment, promote good bone healing, and yield satisfactory clinical outcomes.
Humans ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Fibula/blood supply* ; Female ; Metatarsal Bones/injuries* ; Adult ; Bone Transplantation/methods* ; Aged ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To establish digital model of Ideberg typeⅡregional glenoid fracture anatomical plate with 3D metal printing technology. METHODS: The scapular imaging data of a 34-year-old healthy male volunteer were retrospectively selected. Mimics 15.01, NX 12.0 and other software were used to design Ideberg typeⅡ regional scapular fracture guide plate system. STL data were input into a metal 3D printer to print 1∶1 scapular model and anatomical plate of scapular pelvis with guide sleeve. The fit of the plate was tested in vitro and the accuracy of the screw position was evaluated by imaging. The printing time of scapular model, design of the nail path and making time of the anatomic guided plate were recorded. RESULTS: 3D metal-printed Ideberg typeⅡ guide plate for scapular fracture fitted well to 3D printed scapular model, the locking screw was oriented accurately, and X-ray and CT showed good screw position. The printing time of scapula model, time of nail path design and special-shaped anatomical guide plate production were 52.0, 15.0 and 320 min, respectively. CONCLUSION Anatomical plates based on 3D metal printing technology could achieve good adhesion of Ideberg typeⅡ regional fractures and precise screw placement, providing a new and accurate surgical method for the treatment of Ideberg typeⅡ glenoid fractures.
Humans ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Fractures, Bone/diagnostic imaging* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Pelvic Bones/surgery* ; Metals ; Scapula/surgery* ; Models, Anatomic

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of self-made anatomical tower-shaped pads combined with splint plaster fixation in the treatment of unstable 2nd to 5th metacarpal fractures and to provide a reference for clinical practice. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 98 patients with unstable 2nd to 5th metacarpal fractures treated with self-made anatomical tower-shaped pads combined with splint plaster fixation between January 2019 and December 2022. There were 74 males and 24 females, aged from 19 to 63 years old with an average of (41.58±7.23) years old. The total active movement (TAM) score was used to evaluate the metacarpophalangeal joint function. Complications and fracture healing time were recorded. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for a period ranging from 1 to 5 months, with an average duration of (3.45±1.03) months. Among the 98 patients, anatomical alignment was achieved in 75 patients, with 68 patients still maintaining anatomical alignment after fixation removal. Functional alignment was achieved in 23 patients, with 20 patients maintaining functional alignment even after fixation removal. There were 10 patients with displacement after reduction. The average fracture healing time was (5.78±1.14) weeks, and the fracture healed well without any angular or rotational deformities. TAM score was utilized to assess the hand function of patients 3 months post-treatment. The extension range of motion (10.72±1.35)° and flexion range of motion (83.19±4.08)° of the metacarpophalangeal joint were significantly higher than the pre-treatment values of (8.25±0.68)° and (70.35±2.36)°, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). TAM outcomes were excellent in 92 cases, good in 5, fair in 1, and poor in none. CONCLUSION The implementation of self-made anatomical tower-shaped pad combined with splint plaster fixation is effective for the conservative management of unstable 2nd to 5th metacarpal fractures.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Metacarpal Bones/surgery* ; Splints ; Retrospective Studies ; Fractures, Bone/therapy* ; Casts, Surgical ; Young Adult ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation*

PURPOSE: Lateral compression (LC) injuries account for more than two-thirds of all pelvic fractures. The goal of surgical treatment is to provide adequate stability and early mobilization. The consensus on posterior fixation of such injuries is strong in the literature; however, the necessity of anterior ring fixation is not clear. Therefore, this study was formulated to determine the practicability of posterior-only fixation in LC injuries. METHODS: Between March 2015 and May 2020, all patients with LC type pelvic ring fractures who were admitted and operated upon in a single level 1 trauma center were included in this cross-sectional observational study. Demographic data, co-morbidities, treatment, types of surgical fixation, concomitant injuries and surgeries, surgical complications, length of hospital stay, injury to weight bearing duration, and follow-up period were documented. Functional outcome and quality of life were assessed using Majeed score and SF-36 questionnaire. Non-normally distributed data were presented as median (Q₁, Q₃) and normally distributed data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients were included, with a mean age of 29.8 years. All patients were managed operatively with posterior-only fixation. The median Majeed score was 90 (76, 95). The median physical component summary score was 69.37 (38.75, 85.62). The median mental component summary score was 63.95 (39.25, 87.87). There was no significant difference compared to population norms of both physical component summary and mental component summary. Injury to weight bearing time correlated significantly (p = 0.002) with Majeed score as well as SF-36 score (p = 0.044). No other variable had a significant association with outcomes. CONCLUSION Posterior-only fixation is sufficient for fixing LC injuries with up to 80% of cases having good to excellent functional outcomes. However, comparative studies with larger sample sizes are needed for further validation.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Pelvic Bones/surgery* ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Quality of Life ; Adolescent ; Length of Stay

PURPOSE: The fixation method commonly employed worldwide for treating unstable fractures of the posterior pelvic ring is the percutaneous iliosacral screw technique. However, prolonged operation time and frequent fluoroscopies result in surgical risks. This study aimed to investigate whether a new triangulation method could reduce operative and fluoroscopy times and increase the accuracy of screw placement. METHODS: This study is a real-world retrospective cohort analysis that examined a patient cohort who underwent percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022. Inclusion criteria were patients (1) diagnosed with posterior pelvic ring instability who underwent pelvic fracture closed reduction and percutaneous S1 transverse-penetrating iliosacral screw placement and (2) aged >18 years. Exclusion criteria were: (1) combined proximal femoral fractures, (2) severe soft tissue injury in the surgical area, (3) incomplete imaging data, and (4) declining to provide written informed consent by the patient. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the screw insertion method: conventional and triangulation methods. Screw placement and fluoroscopy times recorded by the C-arm were compared between the 2 methods. The accuracy of screw placement was evaluated by Smith grading on postoperative CT. Normality tests were conducted to assess the distribution of the quantitative variables and the Chi-square test was used to compare the qualitative variables. RESULTS: The study included a total of 94 patients diagnosed with posterior pelvic ring instability, who underwent percutaneous iliosacral screw placement. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 46 patients treated with the conventional surgical method and 48 patients received the triangulation method. The operation time (61.13±9.69 vs. 35.77±6.27) min and fluoroscopy frequency times (52.15±9.29 vs. 24.40±4.04) of the triangulation method were significantly reduced (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The use of a triangular positioning technique for the surface positioning of percutaneous iliosacral screws could reduce the operative time and fluoroscopy frequency. And the screw placement accuracy using this new method was comparable to that using other conventional methods.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Bone Screws ; Pelvic Bones/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Fluoroscopy ; Aged ; Sacrum/surgery* ; Operative Time

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

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology and distribution of hand fractures in Singapore. METHODS: A total of 701 hand fractures in 596 patients aged 21 years and above from a single centre were reviewed from 2010 to 2011. Details regarding the patient demographics, occupation, mechanism of injury, associated injuries and treatment were obtained. RESULTS: Hand fractures were particularly significant in patients between the ages of 21 and 40 years 58.9% of the total cases. The relative risk of hand fractures in males was 5.5 times greater than that in females. The majority of hand fractures occurred at the workplace (47.7%), with crush injury being the main mechanism of injury (33.6%). The most common locations of hand fracture were the little finger ray (31.2%) and distal phalanges (37.7%). There were 170 cases that underwent surgical fixation, which accounted for 24.3% of all fractures. Fixation rate was similar for both closed and open fractures but was significantly higher in the proximal and middle phalanges compared to the distal phalanx and metacarpal ( P < 0.001). With regards to surgical fixation methods, wires were commonly used in either tuft fractures (100.0%) or intra-articular fractures (69.9%), whereas plates and screws were commonly used in shaft fractures (65.5%). CONCLUSION The most significant population that sustained hand fractures in Singapore are young to middle-aged males who are skilled manual workers. The most commonly involved ray and location of hand fractures are the little finger ray and the distal phalanges, respectively, as they are in a relatively more exposed location.
Humans ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Hand Injuries/surgery* ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Hand Bones/injuries* ; Retrospective Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of nickel-titanium shape memory staples in treating multiple metatarsal fractures. METHODS: The clinical data of 27 patients with multiple metatarsal fractures who were treated between January 2022 and June 2023 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analysed. The cohort consisted of 16 males and 11 females, aged 33-65 years (mean, 47.44 years). The causes of injury included heavy object impact in 11 cases, traffic accidents in 9 cases, and crush in 7 cases. Simultaneous fractures of 2, 3, 4, and 5 bones occurred in 6, 6, 4, and 8 cases, respectively, with tarsometatarsal joint injury in 3 cases. Fixation was performed using staples for 16, 22, and 9 fractures in the metatarsal neck, shaft, and the base, respectively, and 5 tarsometatarsal joint injuries. Preoperative soft tissue injuries were identified in 8 cases and classified according to the Tscherne-Oestern closed soft tissue injury classification as type Ⅰ in 5 cases and type Ⅱ in 3 cases. One case of type Ⅱexhibited preoperative skin necrosis. The patients were treated with fixation using nickel-titanium shape memory staples. Complications and fracture healing were documented. At last follow-up, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) forefoot score was used to evaluate the function, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the pain. RESULTS: The 27 patients were followed up 9-19 months (mean, 12.4 months). Postoperative X-ray films revealed no loss of fracture reduction, and all fractures achieved bony union. No internal fixator loosening, breakage, or other mechanical failures was observed. The mean fracture healing time was 3.13 months (range, 3-4 months). Postoperatively, 4 cases (2 of Tscherne-Oestern type Ⅰ, 2 of type Ⅱ) developed superficial skin necrosis, which resolved with dressing changes. No infection was observed in the remaining patients, and all wounds healed. At last follow-up, the AOFAS forefoot score ranged from 70 to 95, with an average of 86.6, of which 19 cases were excellent, 6 cases were good, and 2 cases were fair, with an excellent and good rate of 92.6%; the VAS score ranged from 0 to 3, with an average of 0.9, of which 24 cases were excellent, and 3 cases were good, with an excellent and good rate of 100%. CONCLUSION The use of nickel-titanium shape memory staples in the treatment of multiple metatarsal fractures can effectively protect local skin and soft tissues and minimize secondary damage associated with internal fixator insertion. It is a viable surgical option for management of multiple metatarsal fractures.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Titanium ; Nickel ; Retrospective Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Aged ; Metatarsal Bones/surgery* ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Sutures ; Fractures, Multiple/surgery*