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 study the efficacy of closed reduction with a self-developed T-frame plus robotic navigation in the treatment of supracondylar humeral fractures of Gartland type Ⅲ in children.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 67 children with supracondylar fracture of Gartland type Ⅲ who had undergone surgery at The Fifth Hospital of Harbin from January 2023 to March 2024. There were 35 males and 32 females with an age of (5.6±1.2) years. The children were divided into 2 groups according to different surgical methods. The control group (33 cases) was treated by closed reduction and internal fixation with percutaneous K-wire and the study group (34 cases) by closed reduction with a self-developed T-frame plus robotic navigation for internal fixation with percutaneous K-wire. The operation time, anatomical reduction, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, intraoperative needle adjustment, Flynn score at the last follow-up and complications were compared between the 2 groups.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). All children were followed up for (6.3±2.5) months after surgery. There were no significant differences in operation time, Flynn score at the last follow-up or incidence of complications between the study and the control groups ( P>0.05). The rate of anatomical reduction in the study group (97.1%, 33/34) was significantly higher than that in the control group (54.5%, 18/33), and the intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency [(11.6±2.5) times] and needle adjustment (5.6±1.2) times in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group [(37.2±2.1) times and (28.7±3.9) times] ( P<0.05). Conclusions:In the treatment of supracondylar humeral fractures of Gartland type Ⅲ in children, our self-developed T-frame can play a good role in fracture reduction and temporary fixation, avoiding iatrogenic secondary injuries caused by freguent reduction and adjustment of needle threading in the course of robotic navigation.

Objective To summarize the features of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRi) of hepatic cystic echinococcosis, and investigate the key points of identification and diagnosis.Methods The clinical data of 58 patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from August 2011 to August 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients received plain and enhanced scan of CT and MRI.Hepatic cystic echinococcosis was divided into the 5 types according to the literatures, including unilocular echinococcasis in type Ⅰ, multivesicular hydatid cysts in type Ⅱ, anechoic content with detachment of laminated membrane from the cyst wall in type Ⅲ, calcification of lesions in type Ⅳ and mixed echinococcosis in type Ⅴ.Patients who were diagnosed as with definite or suspected hepatic cystic echinococcosis underwent surgery.The follow-up including observing the recurrence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis was performed by outpatient examination and telephone interview at postoperative month 3, 6, 12 for 1 year and then once every year up to August 2015, and was ended if there was no recurrence for more than 5 years.Results (1) The results of CT and MRI examinations: of the 58 patients, 54 received scan of CT and 21 received scan of MRI.Seventeen patients were detected in type Ⅰ with clear-boundary and low-density cystic lesions by CT examination;MRI examinations showed there were single or multiple, round or oval abnormal signal including low T1WI signal, high T2 WI signal and low T1 WI and T2WI signal of cyst wall.Thirteen patients were detected in type Ⅱ, CT examination showed the daughter cysts of multiple sizes were found in the mother cyst, arranged in honeycomb or wheel shape;MRI examination showed there were lower T1 WI signal in the daughter cyst and higher T2 WI signal in the daughter cyst compared with signal in the mother cyst, and low signal in the cyst wall of the daughter cyst and mother cyst.Six patients were detected in type Ⅲ with capsule in capsule sign and water snake sign by CT examination and ribbon sign by MRI examination.Thirteen patients were detected in type Ⅳ, CT examination showed there were irregular high-density calcified shadow with the performances for return sample or sample volume skins changes.Nine patients in type Ⅴ had more than 2 kinds of lesions.(2) Diagnosis: 4 patients were misdiagnosed by CT examination including 3 with preoperative diagnosis of hepatic cyst and 1 with preoperative diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma of liver, with an accurate rate of diagnosis of 92.6％ (50/54).Two patients with preoperative diagnosis of hepatic cystic adenocarcinoma were misdiagnosed by MRI examination, with an accurate rate of diagnosis of 90.5％ (19/21).(3) Treatment and follow-up: 58 patients underwent surgery, including 40 undergoing internal capsule removal with external capsule suturing (31 with open operation and 9 with laparoscopic operation), 10 undergoing partial hepatectomy and 8 undergoing external capsule enucleation.Of 58 patients, 3 were complicated with effusion of residual cavity, 2 with unclosed external capsule, 1 with bile leakage and then was cured after 4-8 week drainage.Fifty patients were followed up for 12.0-48.0 months with a median time of 27.1 months and a follow-up rate of 86.2％ (50/58).During the follow-up, 1 patient undergoing internal capsule removal had recurrence at postoperative month 8 and was cured by CT-guided interventional therapy using absolute alcohol, and other patients had no recurrence.Conclusions There was a higher accuracy in CT and MRI examinations for hepatic cystic echinococcosis.Honeycomb and wheel shapes are characteristic findings of hepatic cystic echinococcosis in type Ⅱ.The characteristic performances of CT examination for hepatic cystic echinococcosis in type Ⅲ are capsule in capsuleand water snake signs, and characteristic performances of MRI examination is ribbon sign.The ring-like enhancement of edge by MRI examination is an essential of identification and diagnosis between hepatic cystic echinococcosis and hepatic cyst, and irregular calcification is a differential point between hepatic echinococcosis and hepatic tumor.