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 investigate ideal screw implant angle in reconstruction of tibiofibular syndesmosis injury by using a biomechanical test. METHODS: A total of 24 ankle specimens from adult cadavers were used as the tibiofibular syndesmosis injury model. According to the angle of screw placement, the tibiofibular syndesmosis injury models were randomly divided into groups A (0°), B (10°-15°), C (20°-25°), and D (30°-35°), and the screws were placed at a level 2 cm proximal to the ankle joint. The displacement of fibula was measured by biomechanical testing machine at neutral, dorsiflexion (10°), plantar flexion (15°), varus (10°), and valgus (15°) positions, with axial load of 0-700 N (pressure separation test). The displacement of fibula was also measured at neutral position by applying 0-5 N·m torque load during internal and external rotation (torsional separation test). RESULTS: In the pressure separation test, group C exhibited the smallest displacement under different positions and load conditions. At neutral position, significant differences were observed ( P<0.05) between group A and group C under load of 300-700 N, as well as between group B and group C under all load conditions. At dorsiflexion position, significant differences were observed ( P<0.05) between group A and group C under load of 500-700 N, as well as between groups B, D and group C under all load conditions, and the displacements under all load conditions were significantly smaller in group A than in group B ( P<0.05). At plantar flexion position, significant differences were observed ( P<0.05) between group D and group C under all load conditions. At valgus position, significant differences were observed ( P<0.05) between group A and group C under load of 400-700 N, as well as between groups B, D and group C under all load conditions. In the torsional separation test, group C exhibited the smallest displacement and group B had the largest displacement under different load conditions. During internal rotation, significant differences were observed ( P<0.05) between group B and group C under all load conditions, as well as between group D and group C at load of 3-5 N·m. During external rotation, significant differences were observed between groups B, D and group C under all load conditions ( P<0.05). No significant difference was detected between groups at the remaining load conditions ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION The ideal screw implant angle in reconstruction of tibiofibular syndesmosis injury was 20°-25°, which has a small displacement of fibula.
Humans ; Bone Screws ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Fibula/injuries* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Adult ; Ankle Joint/surgery* ; Ankle Injuries/surgery* ; Tibia/surgery* ; Male ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Weight-Bearing ; Female ; Cadaver ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*

High ankle sprain (distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury) occurs from rotational injuries, specifically external rotation, and may be associated with ankle fractures. The prevalence of these injuries may be higher than previously reported because they may be missed in an initial examination. Syndesmosis injury can lead to significant complications in injured ankle joints, so a precise physical examination and radiological evaluation is necessary. The most important treatment goal is to have the tibia and fibula located in the correct position with respect to each other and to heal in that position. The methods to fix these injuries is controversial.
Ankle Fractures ; Ankle Injuries* ; Ankle Joint ; Ankle* ; Fibula ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Tibia

An ankle sprain is a relatively common sports-related injury but a severe open ankle sprain (SOAS) is very rare. A 27-year-old female athlete was injured during running and was hospitalized because of an inversed ankle injury with an open wound. She was diagnosed initially with an open-avulsion fracture at the tip of the fibula with an anterior talofibular ligament tear. The patient was finally diagnosed with SOAS from the surgical findings and literature review. SOAS should also be considered if there is a transverse open wound at the time of an ankle injury.
Adult ; Ankle ; Ankle Injuries ; Athletes ; Female ; Fibula ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Ligaments* ; Running ; Tears ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of arthroscopic excision of the os subfibulare in anterior-lateral ankle pain.

METHODSFrom December 2005 to Augest 2014, 16 patients suffering from pain associated with an os subfibulare in the anterior-lateral side of their ankles were reviewed. Among the patients,11 patients were male and 5 were female, with a mean age of (33.5 ± 15.6) years old. The mean maximum diameter of os subfibulare was (0.70 ± 0.26) cm. All the patients underwent excision of the osseous fragments, and had anatomic reconstruction of the anterior talofibular ligament if the anterior-lateral ankle was instable. The average follow-up period was (18.0 ± 4.5) months. To analyze the surgical outcome, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot pain and function scales,visual analogue scale (VAS) and Tegner activity scale were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTSAOFAS scales were preoperative 60.15 ± 14.52 and postoperative 92.35 ± 5.73. There was a significant difference between them (t = -8.251, P = 0.000). The mean VAS score were preoperative 7.35 ± 0.46 and postoperative 2.45 ± 0.98. Statistical significance was also notable (t = 18.105, P = 0.000). Tegner score was significantly increased from preoperative 2.87 ± 1.12 to postoperative 5.78 ± 1.06 (t= -7.548, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONIrrespective of the size of os subfibulare, in patients with pain or instability associated with the os subfibulare, arthroscopic excision combined with reconstruction of ther anterior talofibular ligament or not was effective in restoring ankle function and eliminating pain.

Adult ; Ankle Injuries ; surgery ; Ankle Joint ; surgery ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Female ; Fibula ; surgery ; Humans ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo design a kind of internal fixation device to treat the syndesmosis injury.

METHODSThe elastic syndesmosis hook plate is made of medical stainless steel alloy, which is consisted of locking or common screw fixing hole of the tibial side for the head, tridentate fork like arc anatomical fibula side plate for the tail and serpentine elastic connecting body. By reduction of the joint of the lower tibia and fibula, the steel plate tail is fixed at the side of the fibula and the head is fixed at the side of the tibia for fixing the symphysis.

RESULTSThe design of elastic syndesmosis hook plate is reasonable, and the operation is convenient. There is no need to penetrate the substantia ossea and the plate has elastic micro-movement feature, the problem of internal fixation breakage and loosening is avoid in huge degree, so it is safe and reliable.

CONCLUSIONThe elastic syndesmosis hook plate is a new type medical apparatus of internal fixation of the symphysis, which is worthy of clinical popularization and application.

Ankle Injuries ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Fibula ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Stainless Steel ; Tibia

Either proximal tibial or tibial physeal injuries are rare. The combination of both is even rarer, let alone causes a vascular injury. Early intervention is the key for management. We hereby present an interesting case of simultaneous proximal tibiofibular physeal injury with popliteal arterial occlusion and common peroneal nerve injury. The present case is important in two aspects: firstly it reports a very rare occurrence of simultaneous proximal tibiofibular physeal injury associated with vascular insult and common peroneal nerve injury; secondly it highlights that with timely intervention excellent results can be achieved in paediatric patients.
Adolescent ; Fibula ; injuries ; Fractures, Bone ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Peroneal Nerve ; injuries ; Popliteal Artery ; injuries ; Tibial Fractures ; complications

Hoffa's fracture is an uncommon fracture of the femoral condyle with coronal orientation of the fracture line. The mechanism of injury in pediatric Hoffa's fracture is road traffic accident, sports injury, and trivial injury. Clinical examination and proper imaging is important for diagnosis of pediatric Hoffa's fracture because of high chances of missing these injuries which can lead to nonunion and malunion at the fracture site. Open reduction and anatomical reduction of intraarticular fragment is the gold standard treatment of these fractures. We present a rare case of Hoffa's fracture in a 16-year-old girl with asso ciated ipsilateral fibular fracture.
Adolescent ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Fibula ; injuries ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo analyze the related factors of the infection after operation of open tibiofibula fractures.

METHODSThe clinical data of 141 patients with open tibiofibula fractures underwent surgical treatment from June 2009 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were male and aged from 18 to 61 years old with an average of 39.2 years; all the fractures were unilateral. According to Gustilo typing of fracure, 5 cases were type I, 44 cases were type II, 27 cases were type III a, 56 cases were type III b and 9 cases were type III c. These clinical data included patients' age, gender, body mass index (BMI), underlying diseases, time of operation, fracture site, fracture type, fixation method, postoperative drainage, debridement condition and so on. The postoperative infection conditions were recorded, and the correlation between above factors and infections were analyzed. Finally, the significant related variables were introduced into a Logistic regression model to evaluated their risk.

RESULTSAmong the 141 patients, 22 cases developed with infection (15.6%). The significant relative factors with infection contained fixation method, debridement condition, underlying diseases and postoperative drainage (P < 0.05). The correlativities were stepped up in order, their odds ratios value was 2.451, 3.164, 3.414, 5.117, respectively.

CONCLUSIONActive treatment for underlying diseases before operation, thorough debridement for open wound, suitable fixation method for fracture and thorough draining are effective measures in preventing postoperative infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Debridement ; Fibula ; injuries ; Fractures, Open ; surgery ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Wound Infection ; etiology ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical results of external fixation and AO titanium elastic intramedullary nailing for treatment of tibia-fibula comminuted closed fractures.

METHODSFrom June 2010 to June 2012,58 patients with tibia-fibula comminuted closed fractures were treated with external fixation and AO titanium elastic intramedullary nailing, including 31 males and 27 females with an average age of 38.5 years old ranging from 21 to 57 years old. According to the system of AO Classification, the fractures were classified as type B1 in 9 cases,type B2 in 7 cases, type B3 in 10 cases, type Cl in 14 cases, type C2 in 12 cases,and type C3 in 6 cases. According to the system of Winquist-Hanson,the fractures' comminuted were classified as grade 1 in 23 cases, grade 2 in 17 cases, grade 3 in 12 cases, and grade 4 in 6 cases. According to the system of Johner-Wruhs, clinical results were compared between different type and grade groups by the time of last followed-up.

RESULTSAll 58 patients were followed up with an average time of 6.8 months (ranged from 18 to 36 weeks). All fractures had clinical healing with an average time of 28 weeks (ranged from 24 to 32 weeks). The total rate of good to excellent results was 91.4%. The rate of good to excellent in the group of grade 1 was higher than that of other grades. The complication rates and fracture healing time would increase respectively with higher Winquist-Hanson's grade. The complication rates in the group of type C3 was higher than that of other types, but the rate of good to excellent was lower than that of other types. The complication rates in the group of type B1 was lower than that of other types,but the rate of good to excellent was higher than that of other types.

CONCLUSIONMinimal invasiveusing AO titanium elastic intramedullary nailing combined with external fixation for treatment of tibia-fibula fractures especially for the multiple-segment,long spiral mild-to-moderate comminuted with hidden fracture can get satisfactory reduction and reliable fixation,it conformes to the principle of BO completely, protects the fracture end blood supply,reduces the external fixation time, has less skin soft tissue complications, postoperative function recovered satisfactorily.

Adult ; Bone Nails ; Bone Plates ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fibula ; injuries ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractures, Closed ; surgery ; Fractures, Comminuted ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Tibia ; injuries ; surgery ; Young Adult