Objective:To compare the effectiveness of TightRope system and plate-screw internal fixation in the treatment of avulsion fractures of the posterior calcaneal tuberosity of Beavis type Ⅱ.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of the 42 patients with avulsion fracture of the posterior calcaneal tuberosity of Beavis type Ⅱ who had undergone surgical treatment at Foot-ankle Surgery Center, The Fourth Hospital of Wuhan from January 2019 to January 2024. There were 25 males and 17 females, with an age of (64.4±10.1) years. The left side was affected in 23 cases and the right side in 19 cases. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their different ways of internal fixation: a TR group of 22 cases subjected to open reduction and internal fixation with TightRope system and a PS group of 20 cases subjected to open reduction and plate-screw internal fixation. The operation time, bone healing time, complications, and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, MOS item short form health survey (SF-36) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) at 12 months after operation were compared between the 2 groups.Results:There were no significant differences in the preoperative clinical baseline data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up for (19.9±3.1) months. In the TR group, the operation time [(59.3±7.1) min] was significantly shorter than that in the PS Group [(72.1±10.7) min], the incidence of complications [4.5% (1/22)] significantly lower than that in the PS group [35.0% (7/20)], and the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score [(83.5±8.2) points] and SF-36 scale score [(88.2±5.3) points] were significantly higher than those in the PS Group [(64.4±10.8) points and (78.6±11.2) points] (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the bone healing time or VAS pain score at 12 months after operation between the 2 groups ( P<0.05). Conclusions:In the treatment of avulsion fractures of the posterior calcaneal tuberosity of Beavis type Ⅱ, compared with the plate-screw internal fixation, the TightRope system can shorten operation time, improve functional recovery, and reduce complications.

Objective:To compare the effectiveness of TightRope system and plate-screw internal fixation in the treatment of avulsion fractures of the posterior calcaneal tuberosity of Beavis type Ⅱ.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of the 42 patients with avulsion fracture of the posterior calcaneal tuberosity of Beavis type Ⅱ who had undergone surgical treatment at Foot-ankle Surgery Center, The Fourth Hospital of Wuhan from January 2019 to January 2024. There were 25 males and 17 females, with an age of (64.4±10.1) years. The left side was affected in 23 cases and the right side in 19 cases. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their different ways of internal fixation: a TR group of 22 cases subjected to open reduction and internal fixation with TightRope system and a PS group of 20 cases subjected to open reduction and plate-screw internal fixation. The operation time, bone healing time, complications, and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, MOS item short form health survey (SF-36) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) at 12 months after operation were compared between the 2 groups.Results:There were no significant differences in the preoperative clinical baseline data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up for (19.9±3.1) months. In the TR group, the operation time [(59.3±7.1) min] was significantly shorter than that in the PS Group [(72.1±10.7) min], the incidence of complications [4.5% (1/22)] significantly lower than that in the PS group [35.0% (7/20)], and the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score [(83.5±8.2) points] and SF-36 scale score [(88.2±5.3) points] were significantly higher than those in the PS Group [(64.4±10.8) points and (78.6±11.2) points] (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the bone healing time or VAS pain score at 12 months after operation between the 2 groups ( P<0.05). Conclusions:In the treatment of avulsion fractures of the posterior calcaneal tuberosity of Beavis type Ⅱ, compared with the plate-screw internal fixation, the TightRope system can shorten operation time, improve functional recovery, and reduce complications.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of arthroscopic anatomical reconstruction of the ligament with autologous semitendinosus tendon in the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) complicated with multiple ligament laxity.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 34 patients with CLAI plus multiple ligament laxity who had been treated at Foot and Ankle Surgery Center, The Fourth Hospital of Wuhan from March 2014 to December 2021. They were 8 males and 26 females with an age of (32.2±5.6) years. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on their treatment methods. A reconstruction group of 20 cases were treated by arthroscopic reconstruction of the ligament with autologous semitendinosus tendon while a repair group of 14 cases treated by arthroscopic repair of the ligament with the modified Brostr?m procedure. The 2 groups were compared in terms of surgical time, and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, talar tilt (TT), anterior translation of the talus (ATT), and complications at the last follow-up.Results:The 2 groups were comparable because there were no statistically significant differences in the general data, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, VAS pain score, TT, or ATT before surgery between the 2 groups ( P > 0.05). The surgical time for the reconstruction group [(97.5±11.4) min] was significantly longer than that for the repair group [(53.6±10.7) min] ( P < 0.05). All the 34 patients were followed up for (35.4±3.5) months. The TT, ATT, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, and VAS pain score at the last follow-up were all significantly improved compared with the preoperative values in both groups ( P < 0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score [(90.6±3.6) points], TT (6.0°±1.5°), and ATT [(3.6±1.4) mm] at the last follow-up in the reconstruction group were all significantly better than those in the repair group [(84.1±11.0) points, 8.6°±4.3°, and (6.6±4.1) mm] ( P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the VAS pain score between the 2 groups at the last follow-up ( P > 0.05). All incisions healed at one stage without such complications as nerve or vascular injury. CLAI recurrence occurred in 5 cases in the repair group, significant worse than that in the reconstruction group (no recurrence) ( P=0.015). Conclusion:In the treatment of CLAI complicated with multiple ligament laxity, arthroscopic anatomical reconstruction of the ligament with autologous semitendinosus tendon can effectively improve ankle function, enhance ankle stability, and reduce recurrence of the condition.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of arthroscopic minimally invasive reduction in the treatment of talus posterior process fractures.Methods:The clinical data were retrospectively studied of the 42 patients with talus posterior process fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Hospital of Wuhan from January 2010 to June 2021. There were 25 males and 17 females, aged from 21 to 60 years (average, 40.5 years). They were assigned into 2 groups according to their different treatments. In the arthroscopic group of 15 cases, arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation (ARIF) were conducted via the posteromedial and posterolateral approaches; in the open reduction group of 27 cases, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) were conducted via the posteromedial para-Achilles approach. The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, blood loss, hospital stay, fracture clinical healing time, postoperative complications, and the American Society for Foot and Ankle Surgery (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score at one year postoperation.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability ( P> 0.05). The arthroscopic group incurred significantly less blood loss [(32.0±11.5) mL], hospital stay [(5.3±1.8) d], and fracture clinical healing time [(4.6±1.0) months], and a significantly lower incidence of postoperative complications [20.0% (3/15)] than the open reduction group did [(80.0±15.2) mL, (8.4±2.4) d, (6.3±2.2) months, and 29.6% (8/27)], but significantly longer operation time [(74.0±8.9) min] than the open reduction group [(62.9±5.1) min] ( P<0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores at one year postoperation in both groups were higher than those before operation. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores in the arthroscopic group [(83.0±13.0) points] were significantly higher than those in the open reduction group [(72.3±16.0) points] ( P<0.05). Conclusion:ARIF is a preferred minimally invasive treatment for talus posterior process fractures, because it leads to a smaller incision, less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, quicker clinical healing, a lower incidence of postoperative complications, and better functional improvement of the ankle and hindfoot than ORIF.

Objective:To investigate the effect of subfibular ossicle excision on the clinical efficacy of Brostr?m procedure for chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI).Methods:From March 2014 to December 2018, 76 patients were treated by the modified Brostr?m procedure using the suture anchor technique for CLAI at Department of Foot & Ankle Surgery, Wuhan Fourth Hospital. Of them, 33 had subfibular ossicles (SFO group) and 43 did not (NSFO group). In the SFO group, there were 19 males and 14 females, aged (28.4±8.6) years; in the NSFO group, there were 21 males and 22 females, aged (27.8±7.4) years. Subfibular ossicles were excised in the SFO group. The 2 groups were compared in terms of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at preoperation and the final follow-up.Results:The 2 groups were comparable due to insignificant differences between them in their preoperative general data ( P>0.05). All the patients were followed up for 24 to 72 months (average, 28 months). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores improved significantly from 54.5±3.4 to 95.7±2.1 in the SFO group and significantly from 56.2±2.7 to 95.2±2.4 in the NSFO group at the final follow-up; the VAS scores reduced significantly from 5.7±1.8 to 1.6±1.4 in the SFO group and significantly from 5.7±1.6 to 1.7±1.2 in the NSFO group at the final follow-up (all P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in terms of AOFAS or VAS scores at the final follow-up ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Since the modified Brostr?m procedure plus subfibular ossicle excision may result in similar good clinical efficacy as merely the modified Brostr?m procedure may for the CLAI patients without subfibular ossicle, subfibular ossicle excision should be suggested for the CLAI patients with subfibular ossicle.

Objective:To compare the therapeutic effects between sequential therapy of external-internal fixation and internal fixation alone in the treatment of high-energy pilon fracture.Methods:A total of 61 patients with high-energy pilon fracture were enrolled by our team for this retrospective analysis who had been treated from January 2015 to July 2017. They received sequential therapy of external-internal fixation (the sequential group) or internal fixation alone (the internal group). In the sequential group of 26 cases, there were 19 males and 7 females (aged from 18 to 65 years), 4 cases of type C1, 8 cases of type C2 and 14 cases of type C3 by the OTA classification, and 7 cases of closed injury and 19 cases of open injury. In the internal group of 35 cases, there were 25 males and 10 females (aged from 19 to 64 years), 6 cases of type C1, 13 cases of type C2 and 16 cases of type C3 by the OTA classification, and 21 cases of closed injury and 14 cases of open injury. The 2 groups were compared in terms of postoperative infection, fracture reduction, fracture union time, nonunion, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) and reduced range of motion between healthy and affected ankles.Results:There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in gender, age, fracture type, injury cause or follow-up time ( P>0.05), but a significant difference in soft tissue injury favoring the sequential group ( P=0.010). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in postoperative infection rate [15.4% (4/26) versus 17.1% (6/35)], fracture reduction, fracture union time [(7.4±3.4) months versus (6.5±3.2) months], nonunion rate [7.7% (2/26) versus 8.6% (3/35)], AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score (71.7±29.4 versus 74.4±19.5), or SF-36 (83.1±9.9 versus 83.8±7.9) ( P>0.05). The reduced range of motion between healthy and affected ankles at 6 months postoperation in the sequential group (34.6°±7.2°) was significantly greater than that in the internal group (23.7°±5.1°) ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the reduced range of motion between healthy and affected ankles at 2 years postoperation (26.0°±11.1° versus 21.8°±11.3°) ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Although both sequential therapy of external-internal fixation and internal fixation alone can lead to fine clinical efficacy in the treatment of high-energy pilon fracture, the former may be more suitable for the patients with severe soft tissue injury.

Primary female urethral adenocarcinoma is rare. This paper reports a case of primary urethral mucinous adenocarcinoma complicated with signet ring cell carcinoma. The patient underwent urethral tumor resection in another hospital. Postoperative examination indicated that the tumor remained, and the tumor was completely removed after urethral tumor resection. After 11 months of follow-up, there was no tumor residue or recurrence.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients after selective ankle or mid-hindfoot surgery.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 109 patients with ankle or mid-hindfoot disease who had been treated from January 2018 to December 2019 at Department of Orthopaedics, Wuhan Fourth Hospital. They were 65 males and 44 females, aged from 32 to 74 years (average, 49.0 years). Ultrasonography was performed at preoperative 1 day, postoperative 2 and 6 weeks to determine the occurrence, location and clinical symptoms of DVT. The patients were divided into an early DVT group, a late DVT group and a DVT-free group according to the occurrence and onset time of DVT. The 3 groups were compared in terms of gender, age, body mass index and tourniquet duration.Results:The incidence of postoperative lower limb DVT was 22.9% (25/109). All the thromboses were observed beyond the distal plane of the popliteal vein. 72.0% of the DVT patients were clinically asymptomatic. There was no significant difference in gender, age or body mass index between early DVT group ( n=17), late DVT group ( n=8) and DVT-free group ( n=84) ( P>0.05). The incidence was 68.0% (17/25) for early DVT and 32.0% (8/25) for late DVT. The intraoperative tourniquet duration for the early DVT group [(77.7±12.3) min] was significantly longer than that for the late DVT group [(66.8±11.2) min] and for the DVT-free group [(65.9±10.5) min] ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The majority of postoperative DVTs may be clinically asymptomatic in patients after selective ankle or mid-hindfoot surgery. Although DVT tends to occur within postoperative 2 weeks, its risk may continue after 2 weeks. Increased tourniquet duration may be associated with incidence of early DVT.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical application of an individualized 3D printed drill template to create a fibular channel in the anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligament for chronic lateral ankle instability.Methods:From October 2012 to June 2015, 15 patients with lateral ankle in-stability underwent surgery at Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, The Fourth Hospital of Wuhan.They were 4 men and 11 women, with a mean age of 26.3 years (range, from 18 to 42 years).For each of them, anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligament was performed through a fibular channel which was created with the aid of an individualized 3D printed drill template.The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were used to assess the patients preoperation and at the last follow-up.Results:The 15 patients obtained a mean follow-up of 15.2 months (range, from 12 to 18 months).Their preoperative AOFAS scores (47.1±3.8) were increased to 88.3±4.7 at the last fol-low-up, and their preoperative VAS scores (5.8±1.8) decreased to 1.55±1.35 at the last follow-up, showing significant differences ( P<0.05).There were 11 excellent and 4 good cases by the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale.No significant complications were found. Conclusion:In the anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligament for chronic lateral ankle instability, an individualized 3D printed drill template can help create a fibular channel which exactly fits each individual, leading to positive therapeutic effects.

Objective:To report our experience in the emergent foot and ankle surgery in the epidemic of COVID-19.Methods:The data of 18 patients with acute foot and ankle injury were reviewed who had been admitted to the Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Wuhan Fourth Hospital from 20th January, 2020 to 26th February, 2020. They were 11 men and 7 women, aged from 18 to 70 years (average, 42.5 years). There were 5 cases of acute open injury and 13 ones of acute closed injury. COVID-19 infection was diagnosed or suspected in 5 cases but not in the other 13 cases. Emergency operation was carried out for 2 patients with open injury plus COVID-19 infection and one with complicated pilon fracture plus COVID-19 infection, one of whom received secondary operation. One patient with closed fracture of the left calcaneus plus COVID-19 infection was hospitalized from emergency department for secondary surgery, and another with closed fracture of the right lateral malleolus was referred to the isolation ward after emergency plaster fixation. Of the 10 patients with closed injury but without COVID-19 infection, 3 received conventional secondary surgery after admission and the others conservative treatment at the outpatient department. Recorded were COVID-19 infections in the patients after admission and in the medical staff. The measures taken and experience in control and prevention of COVID-19 infection after outbreak of the epidemic were reviewed.Results:Of the 11 patients who had been hospitalized for foot and ankle injury in emergency, 5 were definitely diagnosed of or suspected of COVID-19 infection and 6 free of COVID-19 infection. During hospitalization, COVID-19 infection was confirmed in the 5 cases and no COVID-19 infection occurred in the other 6 patients. No COVID-19 infection occurred in the medical staff; no cross infection was observed between the patients and the medical staff.Conclusions:Reasonable strategies are advised to balance the foot and ankle surgery and epidemic prevention. A simplified management is not advised for all the cases. The operative procedures in emergent foot and ankle surgery should be optimized in line with the epidemic control and prevention principles to facilitate functional rehabilitation for the patients.