Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of periosteal induction technique combined with transfer of sural neurovascular flap in treatment of post-traumatic osteomyelitis of calcaneus with soft tissue defect.Methods:Clinical data, from January 2017 to December 2022, of 17 patients in the Army Institute for Traumatic Orthopaedics, the 920th Hospital of Joint Service Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Amy with post-traumatic calcaneal osteomyelitis combined with soft tissue defect were retrospectively studied. The patients were 11 males and 6 females, with 46.5 (17-68) years in average. All patients received surgical treatment with periosteal induction technique in 2 phased surgies. Thorough debridement, antibiotics blended bone cement filling and wound coverage with sural neurovascular flap were carried out in phase-I surgery; The phase-II surgery were performed at 6-8 weeks after infection control to remove bone cement and then to transfer bone grafts for periosteal induction. After surgery, flap healing and infection control were observed. The infection control, pain improvement, recovery of ankle function and improvement of quality of life were evaluated by comparison of following parameters before and after surgery per phase: infection indicators [white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)], Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, and MOS 36-item Short form Health Survey (SF-36, Boston Institute of Health, USA).Results:All 17 patients completed the two-phased surgical treatment, with an average interval of 9.4 (8-16) weeks between phase-I and phase-II surgery. All patients were included in the postoperative follow-up of 25.8 (13-40) months. After debridement in phase-I surgery, the sizes of soft tissue defect were found at 3.0 cm×2.0 cm-6.0 cm×8.0 cm. All flaps survived from the reconstructive surgery of sural neurovascular flap. Postoperative distal flap necroses occurred to 4 patients but all healed after further debridement. Recurrence of postoperative infection occurred to 2 patients and the infection control was achieved after the phase-I rescue surgery. Good outcomes without recurrence of infection were achieved after phase-II surgery. The postoperative follow-up at 1 year after phase-II surgery showed a statistically significant improvement of infection in blood indicators and reductions in VAS score, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and SF-36 score in comparison with those before surgery ( P<0.05). In addition to WBC, there were also significant differences in pairwise comparisons between each group at different time points ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of post-traumatic calcaneal osteomyelitis with soft tissue defect, a combination of periosteal induction technique and sural neurovascular flap is beneficial to infection control, bone defect reconstruction, recovery of ankle function and improvement of quality of life.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of periosteal induction technique combined with transfer of sural neurovascular flap in treatment of post-traumatic osteomyelitis of calcaneus with soft tissue defect.Methods:Clinical data, from January 2017 to December 2022, of 17 patients in the Army Institute for Traumatic Orthopaedics, the 920th Hospital of Joint Service Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Amy with post-traumatic calcaneal osteomyelitis combined with soft tissue defect were retrospectively studied. The patients were 11 males and 6 females, with 46.5 (17-68) years in average. All patients received surgical treatment with periosteal induction technique in 2 phased surgies. Thorough debridement, antibiotics blended bone cement filling and wound coverage with sural neurovascular flap were carried out in phase-I surgery; The phase-II surgery were performed at 6-8 weeks after infection control to remove bone cement and then to transfer bone grafts for periosteal induction. After surgery, flap healing and infection control were observed. The infection control, pain improvement, recovery of ankle function and improvement of quality of life were evaluated by comparison of following parameters before and after surgery per phase: infection indicators [white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)], Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, and MOS 36-item Short form Health Survey (SF-36, Boston Institute of Health, USA).Results:All 17 patients completed the two-phased surgical treatment, with an average interval of 9.4 (8-16) weeks between phase-I and phase-II surgery. All patients were included in the postoperative follow-up of 25.8 (13-40) months. After debridement in phase-I surgery, the sizes of soft tissue defect were found at 3.0 cm×2.0 cm-6.0 cm×8.0 cm. All flaps survived from the reconstructive surgery of sural neurovascular flap. Postoperative distal flap necroses occurred to 4 patients but all healed after further debridement. Recurrence of postoperative infection occurred to 2 patients and the infection control was achieved after the phase-I rescue surgery. Good outcomes without recurrence of infection were achieved after phase-II surgery. The postoperative follow-up at 1 year after phase-II surgery showed a statistically significant improvement of infection in blood indicators and reductions in VAS score, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and SF-36 score in comparison with those before surgery ( P<0.05). In addition to WBC, there were also significant differences in pairwise comparisons between each group at different time points ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of post-traumatic calcaneal osteomyelitis with soft tissue defect, a combination of periosteal induction technique and sural neurovascular flap is beneficial to infection control, bone defect reconstruction, recovery of ankle function and improvement of quality of life.

Objective:To investigate the biofilm genes and quorum sensing genes of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in the wounds of diabetic foot patients. Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. The 233 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii were cultured from 177 inpatients (128 males and 49 females, aged (56±10) years) with diabetic foot admitted to the Department of Diabetic Foot of Tianjin Medical University Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital from October 2020 to September 2023. Two hundred and thirty-three Acinetobacter baumannii strains were detected by bacterial culture from the diabetic foot wounds of the aforementioned patients. All Acinetobacter baumannii strains were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, followed by analysis of their resistance rate using kinetic turbidimetric assay by a fully automated microbiological analysis system. Ten CRAB strains (from 10 patients, 9 males and 1 female, aged (63±13) years) and 10 carbapenem sensitive Acinetobacter baumannii (CSAB; from 10 patients, 8 males and 2 females, aged (63±9) years) strains were randomly selected, and the whole DNA genome was extracted and sequenced. The antibiotic resistance genes were annotated using a comprehensive antibiotic resistance gene database, and a phylogenetic tree was drawn to analyze the homologous relationship between CRAB and CSAB. The 7 housekeeping genes of Acinetobacter baumannii was entered into the PubMLST website to analyze the multi-locus sequence typing of CRAB and CSAB. All the measured genes were put into the PubMLST website to search for the biofilm genes bap, csuA, csuB, csuA/B, csuC, csuD, csuE, pgaA, pgaB, pgaC, pgaD, bfmR, bfmS, ompA carried by each Acinetobacter baumannii, as well as the quorum sensing genes abaI and abaR, and flagellar gene pilA. The differences in carrying these genes between CRAB and CSAB were compared. The biofilm genes and quorum sensing genes carried by CRAB and CSAB carrying oxacillinase (OXA) resistance gene blaOXA were analyzed. Gross observation was performed to check if there was gel-like membrane-like substance in the diabetic foot wounds infected with CRAB and CSAB, and if so, the microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscope. Results:Among the detected Acinetobacter baumannii, the positive detection rates of CSAB, CRAB, multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and pan-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were 16.7% (39/233), 83.3% (194/233), 95.3% (222/233), and 34.3% (80/233), respectively, and no fully drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii was detected. Among 233 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, the resistance rate to carbapenem antibiotics exceeded 80%; the resistance rate of cefoperazone/sulbactam was relatively low, at 37%; the resistance rates to the other cephalosporin antibiotics (cefotaxime, ceftazimide, cefotetan, and cefuroxime) were more than 80%; the resistance rates to all penicillin antibiotics were greater than 80%; the resistance rates to quinolone antibiotics were all over 60%; the resistance rate to minocycline was only 12%; the resistance rates to tigecycline and colistin did not exceed 1%. The phylogenetic tree showed that 10 CRAB strains were highly homologous, while 10 CSAB strains had low homology. The analysis of multi-locus sequence typing showed that 10 CRAB strains were all the same type; among the 10 CSAB strains, except 1 strain without typing, the remaining 9 CSAB strains had 7 types. Eight of 10 CRAB strains contained complete biofilm genes and quorum sensing genes. The biofilm genes from the strains of CSAB were incomplete and none carried the bap gene. Neither CRAB nor CSAB carried the flagellar gene pilA. Compared with that carried by CRAB, biofilm genes bap, csuA, csuC, and csuD and quorum sensing genes abaI and abaR carried by CSAB were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The main blaOXA categories carried by CRAB were blaOXA-23-like (specifically BlaOXA-167) and blaOXA-51-like (specifically blaOXA-66), both of which had carbapenase activity. Eight of 10 CRAB strains carried both blaOXA-66 and blaOXA-167, and all of them had relatively complete quorum sensing genes and biofilm genes. The main blaOXA categories carried by CSAB were blaOXA-51-like and blaOXA-213-like. Although they had carbapenemase activity, clinical drug sensitivity test showed that they were all sensitive to carbapenem antibiotics. Gel-like and membrane-like substance could be seen in wounds infected with CRAB, which were biofilm; no gel-like and membrane-like substance was found in the wound infected with CSAB. Conclusions:CRAB and CSAB in diabetic foot wounds are significantly different in terms of multi-locus sequence typing, carrying biofilm genes, quorum sensing genes, and blaOXA gene, leading to differences in antibiotic resistance between the two.

Objective:To investigate the biofilm genes and quorum sensing genes of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in the wounds of diabetic foot patients. Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. The 233 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii were cultured from 177 inpatients (128 males and 49 females, aged (56±10) years) with diabetic foot admitted to the Department of Diabetic Foot of Tianjin Medical University Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital from October 2020 to September 2023. Two hundred and thirty-three Acinetobacter baumannii strains were detected by bacterial culture from the diabetic foot wounds of the aforementioned patients. All Acinetobacter baumannii strains were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, followed by analysis of their resistance rate using kinetic turbidimetric assay by a fully automated microbiological analysis system. Ten CRAB strains (from 10 patients, 9 males and 1 female, aged (63±13) years) and 10 carbapenem sensitive Acinetobacter baumannii (CSAB; from 10 patients, 8 males and 2 females, aged (63±9) years) strains were randomly selected, and the whole DNA genome was extracted and sequenced. The antibiotic resistance genes were annotated using a comprehensive antibiotic resistance gene database, and a phylogenetic tree was drawn to analyze the homologous relationship between CRAB and CSAB. The 7 housekeeping genes of Acinetobacter baumannii was entered into the PubMLST website to analyze the multi-locus sequence typing of CRAB and CSAB. All the measured genes were put into the PubMLST website to search for the biofilm genes bap, csuA, csuB, csuA/B, csuC, csuD, csuE, pgaA, pgaB, pgaC, pgaD, bfmR, bfmS, ompA carried by each Acinetobacter baumannii, as well as the quorum sensing genes abaI and abaR, and flagellar gene pilA. The differences in carrying these genes between CRAB and CSAB were compared. The biofilm genes and quorum sensing genes carried by CRAB and CSAB carrying oxacillinase (OXA) resistance gene blaOXA were analyzed. Gross observation was performed to check if there was gel-like membrane-like substance in the diabetic foot wounds infected with CRAB and CSAB, and if so, the microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscope. Results:Among the detected Acinetobacter baumannii, the positive detection rates of CSAB, CRAB, multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and pan-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were 16.7% (39/233), 83.3% (194/233), 95.3% (222/233), and 34.3% (80/233), respectively, and no fully drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii was detected. Among 233 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, the resistance rate to carbapenem antibiotics exceeded 80%; the resistance rate of cefoperazone/sulbactam was relatively low, at 37%; the resistance rates to the other cephalosporin antibiotics (cefotaxime, ceftazimide, cefotetan, and cefuroxime) were more than 80%; the resistance rates to all penicillin antibiotics were greater than 80%; the resistance rates to quinolone antibiotics were all over 60%; the resistance rate to minocycline was only 12%; the resistance rates to tigecycline and colistin did not exceed 1%. The phylogenetic tree showed that 10 CRAB strains were highly homologous, while 10 CSAB strains had low homology. The analysis of multi-locus sequence typing showed that 10 CRAB strains were all the same type; among the 10 CSAB strains, except 1 strain without typing, the remaining 9 CSAB strains had 7 types. Eight of 10 CRAB strains contained complete biofilm genes and quorum sensing genes. The biofilm genes from the strains of CSAB were incomplete and none carried the bap gene. Neither CRAB nor CSAB carried the flagellar gene pilA. Compared with that carried by CRAB, biofilm genes bap, csuA, csuC, and csuD and quorum sensing genes abaI and abaR carried by CSAB were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The main blaOXA categories carried by CRAB were blaOXA-23-like (specifically BlaOXA-167) and blaOXA-51-like (specifically blaOXA-66), both of which had carbapenase activity. Eight of 10 CRAB strains carried both blaOXA-66 and blaOXA-167, and all of them had relatively complete quorum sensing genes and biofilm genes. The main blaOXA categories carried by CSAB were blaOXA-51-like and blaOXA-213-like. Although they had carbapenemase activity, clinical drug sensitivity test showed that they were all sensitive to carbapenem antibiotics. Gel-like and membrane-like substance could be seen in wounds infected with CRAB, which were biofilm; no gel-like and membrane-like substance was found in the wound infected with CSAB. Conclusions:CRAB and CSAB in diabetic foot wounds are significantly different in terms of multi-locus sequence typing, carrying biofilm genes, quorum sensing genes, and blaOXA gene, leading to differences in antibiotic resistance between the two.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of induced membrane technique in the staged treatment of adult chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis (CHOM) of long bone.Methods:The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of the 22 adult patients with CHOM of long bone who had been admitted to the 920th Hospital, Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA from January 2016 to December 2019. There were 18 males and 4 females, aged from 16 to 56 years (average, 31.81 years). Their disease duration ranged from 0.6 to 42.0 years, averaging 18.4 years. By the Cierny-Mader anatomical classification, 4 cases were type Ⅰ, 6 cases Type Ⅲ, and 12 cases type Ⅳ. In the first stage, the bone defects were filled with antibiotic bone cement after thorough debridement. In the second stage when the infection had been controlled, the bone defects were repaired with bone grafts after removal of the bone cement. Bone healing time and complications were followed up. The treatment effects were evaluated by comparisons of the infection control indexes [including clinical manifestations like local redness, swelling, pus, and pain, and blood white blood cell count, C-Reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as well] before the primary surgery, before the secondary surgery and at the last follow-up.Results:The volumes of the bone defects after stage-one debridement ranged from 54 cm 3 to 176 cm 3 (mean, 90.9 cm 3). All patients were followed up for 20 to 51 months (mean, 30.1 months) after surgery. All bone defects healed after 4 to 11 months (mean, 6.6 months). Postoperatively, infection developed at the bone extraction site of the posterior superior iliac spine in 3 cases and pain was observed at the donor site in one case, but the conditions were relieved after symptomatic treatment. Fracture and plate breakage occurred at the bone defect site in one case who had fallen down 7 months after operation, but responded to reoperation. The last follow-up revealed such symptoms as redness, swelling and pus discharge in none of the patients. The white blood cell count [(5.70 ± 1.57) × 10 9/L and (5.65 ± 1.58) × 10 9/L], CRP [(7.56 ± 2.57) mg/L and (7.25 ± 3.83) mg/L] and ESR [(9.64 ± 2.90) mm/h and (10.55 ± 5.23) mm/h] before the secondary surgery and at the last follow-up were significantly lower than those before the primary surgery [(8.24 ± 2.18) × 10 9/L, (49.54 ± 19.56) mg/L, and (42.68 ± 13.77) mm/h] (all P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the indexes before the secondary surgery and at the last follow-up ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:In the staged treatment of adult CHOM of long bone, the induced membrane technique can effectively control infection, achieve repair of bone defects, and reduce complications.

Objective:To evaluate Masquelet technique plus flap transfer in repair of tibial infected defects complicated with extensive soft tissue defects in the lower leg.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed in the 23 patients who had been treated by Masquelet technique plus flap transfer at Institute of Orthopedics and Trauma, 920 Hospital for tibial infected defects complicated with extensive soft tissue defects in the lower leg from March 2016 to June 2019. They were 15 males and 8 females, aged from 18 to 59 years (average, 38.4 years). The duration of disease ranged from 6 to 312 months (average, 23.6 months). All patients underwent surgery by 2 stages:1) debridement, locking compression plate fixation, formation of induced membrane by antibiotic-loaded bone cement, and repair of soft tissue defects with lower leg flaps; 2) removal of bone cement and fixation 6 to 8 weeks after infection control, fixation of broken ends after rinse, followed by grafting of cancellous bone particles in the induced membrane. The area of wound soft tissue defects after debridement ranged from 4.0 cm × 3.5 cm to 18.0 cm × 6.0 cm, and the length of bone defects from 6 to 12 cm (average, 8.4 cm). Locally grafted were pedicled fasciocutaneous flap in 4 cases, sural nerve nutrition skin flap in 9 cases (including 4 anterograde and 5 retrograde ones), saphenous nerve nutrition vascular flap in 7 cases (including 2 anterograde and 5 retrograde ones), retrograde superficial peroneal nerve nutrient vessel flap in one and free flap in 2 cases. The curative efficacy was evaluated according to the Paley fracture healing scores.Results:All the 23 patients were followed up for 9 to 46 months (average, 15.6 months). Flaps healed by the first stage in 18 cases and after skin grafting in 3 cases; skin flap transfer was conducted again in 2 cases. Infection was controlled in 21 cases but recurred in 2 cases at 9 and 14 months respectively after secondary surgery. The time for bone reunion ranged from 4 to 11 months (average, 6.2 months). According to the Paley criteria for fracture healing, 21 cases were excellent, one was good and one poor.Conclusion:In the treatment of tibial infected defects complicated with extensive soft tissue defects, Masquelet technique plus transfer of a variety of lower leg flaps can result in reliable outcomes because it controls infection, promotes formation of complete induced membrane and accelerates the process of bone reconstruction along with repair of soft tissue defects.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of induced membrane technique combined with staged internal fixation for treatment of infected femoral nonunion.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 21 patients with infected femoral nonunion treated from January 2016 to December 2018 in 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA. There were 13 males and 8 females, with the age of 18-57 years [(38.9±6.7)years]. The duration of nonunion was 7-78 months [(27.1±11.4)months]. All patients were treated by induced membrane technique in two stages. At stage I, the original internal fixation was removed and debrided thoroughly, then the antibiotic-loaded bone cement and locking compression plate (LCP) were placed. The length of bone defect following debridement was 5-15 cm[(7.4±1.9)cm]. At stage II, the bone defect was reconstructed with bone grafts and fixed with the intramedullary nail and/or LCP. The wound condition, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were recorded after stage I surgery and at the last follow-up to measure infection control. The complications and bone healing time were recorded. The bone healing was evaluated by the Paley criteria and the functional recovery of the affected limb was evaluated by the range of motion of the knee at the last follow-up.Results:All patients were followed up for 23-43 months [(31.9±6.7)months]. The infection recurred in 4 patients after stage I surgery, and the wound healed after repeated debridement. There was no infection recurrence after stage II surgery. The white blood cell count, CRP and ESR were (6.1±1.8)×10 9/L, (10.1±3.1)mg/L, (10.2±3.4)mm/h at the last follow-up, significantly decreased from preoperative (15.0±4.8)×10 9/L, (69.8±14.8)mg/L, (66.2±13.2)mm/h ( P<0.05). The incidence of complications was 43%. Besides infection recurrence in 4 patients after stage I surgery, the donor site at the posterior superior iliac spine in 3 patients showed delayed healing, and the limb shortening occurred in 2 patients with the discrepancy of 3 cm and 4 cm. Bony union was observed in all patients within 6-16 months [(8.8±2.7)months]. The results were excellent in 19 patients and good in 2 patients according to the Paley criteria at the last follow-up. The knee range of motion was significantly improved from preoperative 30.0°(15.0°, 110.0°) to 90.0°(61.5°, 120.0°) at the last follow-up ( P<0.05). Conclusion:For infected femoral nonunion, the induced membrane technique combined with staged internal fixation can effectively control infection, achieve bony union, and promote functional recovery.

Objective To evaluate surgical treatment of chronic tibial osteomyelitis of Cierny-Mader type Ⅳ with Ilizarov technique and lesion osteotomy. Methods From January 2010 to May 2016, 39 patients with chronic tibial osteomyelitis of Cierny-Mader type Ⅳ were treated at our center. They were 33 males and 6 females, 8 to 54 years of age (average, 33.8 years). After debridement and lesion osteotomy, the tibia was fixated with Ilizarov external fixator. Bone was transported to the bone defect after corticotomy was performed on the proximal and/or distal tibial metaphyses simultaneously. Bifocal corticotomy was per-formed in 11 cases, proximal corticotomy in 21 cases, and distal corticotomy in 7 cases. The transport began 3 to 5 days after operation at a speed of 0.5 to 1.0 mm/d initially. The speed was lowered according to the bone healing and pain. Radiographic examination was done every 2 weeks to observe transporting deviation and osteogenesis in the transporting area. The transporting was adjusted whenever any abnormality was observed. The bone transporting lasted for 50 to 130 days (average, 62.4 days). Results The patients were fol-lowed up for 11 to 49 months (average, 21 months). All the soft tissue wounds healed uneventfully and there was no relapse of osteomyelitis. The bone defects in the 32 cases were reconstructed primarily. Nonunion of fracture ends happened in 5 cases and nonunion of the bone lengthening zone in 2 cases. The 7 cases of nonunion were healed after secondary bone grafting. Malalignment happened in 5 cases, 4 of which responded to timely adjustment of the external fixation and one of which had to receive secondary bone grafting after failure in adjustment of the external fixation. Ankle joint dysfunction occurred in 7 cases, 5 of which re-sponded to functional exercise and 2 of which accepted joint dysfunction because they refused surgery after unsatisfactory functional exercise. Pin tract infection of different severities occurred in 9 cases, one of which was treated by replacement of the K-wires under local anesthesia and the other 8 of which responded to rein-forced dressing change. Conclusions Chronic tibial osteomyelitis of Cierny-Mader typeⅣcan be treated by Ilizarov technique and lesion osteotomy. However, the Ilizarov technique should be improved because of the risks of multiple complications which can be reduced significantly by strengthening postoperative instruction, nursing, and regular follow-up.

The development of muscle strength evaluating system based on Android system was developed in this research. The system consists of a lower unit and an intelligent mobile terminal. The pressure sensor of the lower unit was used to collect muscle strength parameters. And the parameters were sent to the Android device through the wireless Bluetooth serial port. Then the Android device would send the parameters to the doctor monitored platform through the Internet. The system realized analyzing the muscle strength parameters and real-time displaying them. After it ran on the Android mobile phones, it showed an effective result which proved that the system combined with mobile platform could make more convenient for the patients to assess their own muscle strength. It also provided reliable data references for doctors to know the patients' rehabilitation condition and to make the next rehabilitation plan.
Cell Phone ; Humans ; Internet ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Muscle Strength

Because of the safety and flexibility, pneumatics shows prospects of application in the field of rehabilitation. This article introduced the application of pneumatics in rehabilitation for stroke.