BACKGROUND

In the Philippines and other developing countries, access to high-stability external fixators for traumainduced bone fracture management is limited, as modular external fixators, especially those with snap-on features, are manufactured overseas and are prohibitively expensive for most Filipino patients.

This study aimed to assess the biomechanical performance of a locally-developed modular external fixator prototype for tibial diaphyseal fractures in comparison to available external fixators, such as Roger Anderson and Hoffmann. This provides an initial evaluation for the use of the external fixator as an alternative in terms of its stability.

Using axial compression testing compliant with the ASTM F1541-24 standards, the ultimate strength, yield strength, safe strength, and stiffness were measured across various fixator types and tightening mechanisms, with or without the aid of a wrench. Statistical tools such as the t-test assuming equal variances, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey-Kramer test with a 0.05 level of significance were used to determine any significant differences.

The mechanical performance of the external fixator prototype increased by a factor of 1.5 to 2.5 after the clamps were tightened with the wrench. However, when hand-tightened, it still performed sufficiently, showing a comparable mechanical performance with the Roger Anderson Fixator. In terms of the ultimate, safe, and yield strengths, it performed competitively in comparison with the Hoffmann system. However, there is a significant difference in stiffness between the prototype and the Hoffmann system.

The locally-developed external fixator was comparable biomechanically to the commercially available external fixators and the prototypes in different studies.

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare endocrine malignancy with an indolent course but a high risk of recurrence. Diagnosis remains challenging, requiring integration of clinical, biochemical, radiologic, and histopathologic findings. We report a young patient presenting with primary hyperparathyroidism complicated by multiple pathologic fractures and chronic renal failure. Despite initial surgical and medical management, late aggressive recurrence occurred, resulting in significant systemic complications. This case highlights the need for vigilant long-term surveillance and improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Introduction: Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by the neuroradiological triad of an absent or interrupted pituitary stalk, ectopic posterior pituitary, and anterior pituitary hypoplasia. It is typically diagnosed in infancy or childhood due to growth failure or delayed puberty. Diagnosis in adulthood is uncommon and may occur after decades of untreated hypopituitarism. Case: A 34-year-old Malay male with underlying physical and intellectual disability presented after a mechanical fall resulting in left slipped capital femoral epiphysis, an unusual pathological fracture in adulthood. Clinical examination revealed marked infantilism with complete absence of secondary sexual characteristics (Tanner stage I). Laboratory evaluation demonstrated combined pituitary hormone deficiency, including severe central hypothyroidism, profound hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and central adrenal insufficiency. Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 were undetectable, while prolactin was mildly elevated, consistent with pituitary stalk disruption due to loss of hypothalamic dopaminergic inhibition. Bone age assessment showed severe delay, corresponding to 15 years. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the classical PSIS triad: anterior pituitary hypoplasia with partial empty sella, a high T1 signal nodule at the median eminence representing ectopic posterior pituitary, and non-visualization of the infundibulum, consistent with an absent pituitary stalk. Birth history revealed premature breech delivery, a recognized perinatal risk factor. The patient was commenced on hormone replacement therapy, including levothyroxine, hydrocortisone, testosterone undecanoate, and calcium–vitamin D supplementation. Conclusion This case illustrates that PSIS may remain undiagnosed into adulthood, leading to severe consequences of long-standing hypopituitarism such as osteoporosis and pathological fractures. Clinicians should consider hypopituitarism in adults presenting with unexplained fractures and delayed sexual maturation, particularly when supported by a suggestive perinatal history.
Fractures, Spontaneous ; Pituitary Gland

As a fundamental aspect of bone fracture treatment, fracture reduction plays a decisive role in restoring the structural integrity and function of bones. At present, fracture reduction techniques mostly rely on semi-automatic interaction methods or healthy-side bone templates for registration, which have many limitations in clinical practice. In order to enhance treatment efficiency and accuracy, an automatic fracture reduction algorithm is proposed. This algorithm utilizes the similarity of fracture cross-sections for registration, thereby reducing the workload of physicians and eliminating the need for a healthy-side bone template. Initially, the closed edge is identified and extracted by analyzing the differences in the fracture surface and the calorific value diagram of the roughness distribution. Next, the fracture section is determined by using the identified closed edge as a guideline for regional expansion and similarity matching. During the registration phase, the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm is highly sensitive to distance. Therefore, the geometric features of point clouds are incorporated into the objective function of the registration algorithm to mitigate the influence of noise, and fracture section registration is implemented one by one. Finally, the algorithm is tested and compared on 180 simulated datasets and 16 publicly available datasets. The results show that the proposed algorithm significantly improves the registration accuracy, and the registration error of clinical bone fracture cases is controlled within 1.7 mm.
Algorithms ; Fractures, Bone/therapy* ; Humans

Objective:To compare the outcomes of simultaneous versus staged nasal bone reduction and septoplasty in the treatment of traumatic nasal bone fractures with associated septal fractures. Methods:Patients with traumatic nasal bone fractures, with or without septal fractures, were recruited from two hospitals and divided into three groups. Group A underwent simultaneous nasal bone reduction and septoplasty, Group B underwent staged nasal bone reduction and septoplasty, and Group C underwent nasal bone reduction only. Nasal appearance scores and nasal congestion Visual Analogue Scale （VAS） scores were measured preoperatively, at 2 weeks postoperatively, and at 3 months postoperatively. For Group B, scores were also recorded at 2 weeks and 3 months after the second-stage surgery. Differences were analyzed using statistical software. Results:Two weeks post-surgery, the nasal appearance scores significantly decreased in all three groups compared to preoperative scores （P< 0.01）, with no statistically significant differences between the groups （P= 0.43, 0.71, 0.58）. In Group A, the VAS score for nasal congestion decreased significantly following simultaneous surgery （P<0.01）. In Group B, there were no significant differences in nasal congestion VAS scores between pre-surgery and post-first-stage, nor between three months post-first-stage and two weeks post-first-stage （P= 0.61, 0.13）. However, the VAS scores significantly decreased after the second-stage surgery compared to pre-surgery, and three months post-second-stage surgery compared to three months post-first-stage surgery （P<0.01）. The VAS scores for nasal congestion at two weeks post-surgery in Group A were lower than those in Group B after the first-stage surgery （P<0.01）. The incidence rates of nasal adhesions post-surgery in Groups A, B, and C were 0%, 6.9%, and 4.3%, respectively. Conclusion:For traumatic nasal bone fractures with associated septal fractures, performing simultaneous nasal bone reduction and septoplasty under general anesthesia using endoscopy is more time-efficient compared to staged surgery, and it results in a lower occurrence rate of post-surgical nasal adhesions.
Humans ; Nasal Bone/surgery* ; Nasal Septum/injuries* ; Treatment Outcome ; Rhinoplasty/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Skull Fractures/surgery* ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent

Objective:To investigate the effect of intraoperative ultrasound-guided nasal bone fracture repair on the clinical outcome of pediatric patients with nasal bone fracture. Methods:A total of 83 patients with nasal bone fracture who underwent prosthesis in our hospital from June 2022 to March 2024 were selected and assigned to control group （endoscopic nasal bone fracture repair） and experimental group （ultrasound-guided nasal bone fracture repair） using random number table method. Both groups were treated with the same nursing measures after surgery. There were 41 cases in the control group and 42 cases in the experimental group. The evaluation parameters of nasal bone fracture, nasal ventilation function, nasal appearance and olfactory function score, postoperative complications and satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Results:The operation time and hospital stay were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group （P<0.05）, and secondary repair case （n=0） in the experimental group was significantly less than in the control group （P<0.05）. Compared to preoperative status, the minimum nasal cross-sectional area, nasal volume and total nasal expiratory volume of the two groups increased three months post-operatively, and those in the experimental group were higher （P<0.05）, nasal expiratory and inspiratory resistance, nasal appearance and olfactory disorder scores decreased and those in the experimental group were lower （P<0.05）. The postoperative complications incidence in the experimental group was lower than in the control group （7.14% and 14.63%, respectively, P>0.05）. The overall satisfaction in the experimental group was higher than in the control group（90.48% and 82.93%, respectively, P>0.05）. Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided nasal fracture repair can effectively shorten the operation time, improve the success rate, and promote the postoperative recovery of nasal appearance and nasal function, reduce complications, and enhance the overall satisfaction of children and their families.
Humans ; Nasal Bone/surgery* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Child ; Female ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Postoperative Period ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Ultrasonography

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of posterior single-level osteotomy with 360° release and correction for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) complicated with moderate to severe kyphosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 11 patients with OVCF complicated with moderate to severe kyphosis between January 2022 and March 2023. There were 4 males and 7 females with an average age of 57 years ranging from 47 to 69 years. The disease duration ranged from 3 to 15 months, with an average of 7 months. Fracture segments included T ₁₁ in 3 cases, T ₁₂ in 5, L ₁ in 2, and L ₂ in 1. The T value of lumbar spine bone density was -5.0 to -2.0, with an average of -3.5. The preoperative neurological function was grade E according to Frankel grading. The Pfirrmann classification of the intervertebral disc above the injured vertebra was grade Ⅲ in 8 cases and grade Ⅳ in 3 cases. All patients underwent posterior single-level osteotomy with 360° release and correction. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and postoperative complications were recorded. Thoracolumbar local kyphosis Cobb angle, the mean height of the functional spinal unit (FSU), the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and the sagittal index (SI) were measured. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate the improvement of pain and function before operation, at 1 month after operation, and at last follow-up. RESULTS: The operation successfully completed in all patients, and there was no obvious complication. The operation time ranged from 100 to 190 minutes, with an average of 153 minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss ranged from 200 to 800 mL, with an average of 468 mL. The length of hospital stay was 8-14 days (mean, 12 days). All patients were followed up 6-24 months, with an average of 12.4 months. At last follow-up, all the 11 patients had bony fusion in the osteotomy area, and there was no displacement or subsidence of the Cage, no complication such as internal fixation failure or pseudarthrosis formation was found. The Cobb angle of local thoracolumbar kyphosis, the mean height of FSU, SVA, and SI significantly improved immediately after operation and at last follow-up when compared with preoperative ones, and the VAS score and ODI also significantly improved at 1 month after operation and at last follow-up ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in above indexes between the two time points after operation ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Posterior single-level osteotomy with 360° release and correction is an effective surgical method for treating OVCF complicated with moderate to severe kyphosis, with definite early effectiveness.
Humans ; Kyphosis/etiology* ; Male ; Female ; Osteotomy/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged ; Spinal Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Fractures, Compression/diagnostic imaging* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/complications* ; Treatment Outcome ; Lumbar Vertebrae/injuries* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/injuries* ; Operative Time ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy of external fixation and internal fixation with steel plate in the treatment of unstable distal radius fractures (AO-23C type), based on the principles of Chinese osteosynthesis (CO). METHODS: Forty-eight patients with unstable distal radius fractures between January 2022 and February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into the CO external fixation group and internal fixation group. CO external fixation group consisted of 25 patients, including 7 males and 18 females, aged from 37 to 56 years old with an average of ( 52.6±11.3) years old. Among them, there were 7 patients of traffic accidents and 18 patients of falls, resulting in a total of 25 patients of closed fractures and no open fractures, the treatment was conducted using closed reduction and CO external fixation. The internal fixation group consisted of 23 patients, comprising 8 males and 15 females, age ranged from 41 to 59 years old, with an average age of(53.3±13.7) years old. Among them, 8 patients resulted from car accidents while the remaining 15 patients were caused by falls. All 23 patients were closed fractures without any open fractures observed. The technique of open reduction and internal fixation with steel plate was employed. The perioperative data, including injury-operation time, operation duration, blood loss, and length of hospital stay, were assessed in both groups. Additionally, the QuickDASH score and visual analogue scale (VAS) were evaluated. Range of motion and grip strength assessment, imaging findings such as palmar inclination angle, ulnar declination angle, radius length, articular surface step, intra-articular space measurements were also examined along with any complications. RESULTS: The follow-up duration ranged from 0 to 24 months, with an average duration of (16.0±3.8) months. The CO external fixation exhibited significantly shorter time from injury to operation (2.4±3.3) d vs (7.4±3.7) d, shorter operation duration (56.27±15.23) min vs (74.10±5.26) min, lower blood loss (14.52±6.54) ml vs (32.32±10.03) ml, and reduced hospitalization days (14.04±3.24 )d vs (16.45±3.05) d compared to the internal fixation group (P<0.05). The QuickDASH score at 12 months post-operation was (8.21±1.64) in the CO external fixation group, while no significant difference was observed in the internal fixation group (7.04±3.64), P>0.05. There were no statistically significant differences in VAS between two groups at 6 weeks, as well as 1 and 3 months post-surgery (P>0.05). Additionally, there were no significant disparities observed in terms of range of motion and grip strength between two groups at the 2-year follow-up after the operation (P>0.05). After 12 months of surgery, the CO external fixation group exhibited a significantly smaller palmar inclination angle (17.90±2.18) ° vs (19.87±3.21) °, reduced articular surface step (0.11±0.03) mm vs (0.17±0.02) mm, and shorter radius length (8.16±1.11) mm compared to the internal fixation group (9.59±1.02) mm, P<0.05. The ulnar deviation angle and intra-articular space did not show any significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). The reduced fell within the allowable range between the CO external fixation group (23 out of 25 cases) and the internal fixation group (21 out of 23 cases) was not statistically significant (P=0.29). There was no significant difference in complications between the two groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSION Both the CO external fixation and open reduction with plate internal fixation demonstrate clinical efficacy in managing unstable distal radius fractures. The CO external fixation offers advantages in shorter injury-to-operation times, reduced intraoperative blood loss, and decreased surgical durations, while radial shortening is more effectively controlled by internal fixation.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures/physiopathology* ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; External Fixators ; Retrospective Studies ; Fracture Fixation/methods* ; Wrist Fractures

OBJECTIVE: To compare the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of closed reduction with Kirschner wire fixation versus open reduction with plate fixation for treating osteoporotic Colles' fractures in middle-aged and elderly patients. METHODS: Between January 2018 and January 2023, 119 patients with Colles fractures were retrospectively analyzed, including 39 males and 80 females, aged from 48 to 74 years old with an average of(60.58±6.71) years old. The time from injury to operation ranged 1 to 13 days with an average of (5.29±2.52) days. According to the surgical method, they were divided into Kirschner wire fixation group (Kirschner wire group) and plate internal fixation group (plate group). In Kirschner wire group, there were a total of 68 patients, comprising 21 males and 47 females. The average age was (61.15±6.24) years old, ranged from 49 to 74 years old. Among them, 41 cases involved the left side while 27 cases involved the right side. In the plate group, there were a total of 51 patients, including 18 males and 33 females. The average age was (59.78±5.71) years old ranged from 48 to 72 years old. Among them, there were 31 cases on the left side and 20 cases on the right side. The following parameters were recorded before and after the operation:operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization days, hospitalization expenses, postoperative complications, and radiographic parameters of distal radius (distal radius height, ulnar deviation angle, palmar tilt angle). The clinical efficacy was evaluated at 3 and 12 months after the operation using Gartland-Werley and disabilites of the arm shoulder and hand (DASH) scores. RESULTS: The patients in both groups were followed up for a duration from 12 to 19 months with an average of(13.32±2.02) months. The Kirschner wire group exhibited significantly shorter operation time compared to the plate group 27.91(13.00, 42.00) min vs 67.52(29.72, 105.32) min, Z=-8.74, P=0.00. Intraoperative blood loss was also significantly lower in the Kirschner wire group than in the plate group 3.24(1.08, 5.40) ml vs 21.91(17.38, 26.44) ml, Z=-9.31, P=0.00. Furthermore, patients in the Kirschner wire group had a shorter length of hospital stay compared to those in the plate group (8.38±2.63) days vs (11.40±2.78) days, t=-3.12, P=0.00. Additionally, hospitalization cost was significantly lower in the Kirschner wire group than in the plate group 10 111.29(6 738.98, 13 483.60) yuan vs 15 871.11(11 690.40, 20 051.82) yuan, Z=-5.62, P=0.00. The incidence of complications was 2 cases in the Kirschner wire group and 1 case in the plate group, with no statistically significant difference(P>0.05). At 3 months postoprative, the radial height of the Kirschner wire group was found to be significantly smaller than that of the plate group, with measurements of (11.45±1.69) mm and (12.11±1.78) mm respectively (t=-2.06, P=0.04). However, there were no statistically significant differences observed in ulnar deviation angle and palmar tilt angle between the two groups (P>0.05). The DASH score and Gartland-Werley score in the Kirschner group were significantly higher than those in the plate group at 3 months post-operation (19.10±9.89) vs (13.47±3.51), t=4.34, P=0.00;(11.15±3.61) vs (6.41±2.75), t=8.13, P=0.00). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups at 12 months post-operation (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Compared to plate internal fixation, closed reduction with Kirschner wire support fixation yields a slightly inferior recovery of radial height;however, there is no significant disparity in the functional score of the affected limb at 12 months post-operation. Nonetheless, this technique offers advantages such as shorter operation time, reduced intraoperative blood loss, decreased hospitalization duration, and lower cost.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Bone Wires ; Bone Plates ; Retrospective Studies ; Colles' Fracture/surgery* ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Open Fracture Reduction/methods* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery*