Terrible triad of the elbow--role of the coronoid process: a case report.
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Posterior dislocation of the elbow joint with fracture of both the radial head and coronoid process, the so-called 'terrible triad', is a complex and difficult-to-treat injury. We report a case of a 34-year-old man with terrible triad of the elbow and associated injuries secondary to a fall. The patient was treated with radial head osteosynthesis, resection of the coronoid process fragments, and stabilisation of the ulnohumeral joint by Kirschner wire transfixation. The sequence of treatment steps is provided. The priority for treating multiple injuries should be established. The integrity of the coronoid process is essential for providing the elbow with maximum functionality. (+info)
Bilateral anterior dislocation of the shoulders with proximal humeral fractures: a case report.
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Bilateral simultaneous anterior dislocation of the shoulders with bilateral 3-part fracture of the proximal humeri is unusual. A 42-year-old man presented with pain and restriction of movement on both shoulders. He was injured by a heavy object falling over his back while he was leaning forward holding an overhead bar. His arms were abducted and externally rotated. The injury was not correctly diagnosed, and the patient was treated with repeated manipulations and splintage for 2 weeks. Radiological examination revealed bilateral anterior dislocation of the shoulders with displaced 3-part fractures of the proximal humeri involving the shaft, greater tuberosity, and head. The patient was treated with open reduction and internal fixation through a deltopectoral approach using multiple Kirschner wires. The shoulders were kept immobilised for 3 weeks until the removal of the wires. The patient was able to resume work 3 months after surgery. He had an excellent and comfortable range of motion in both shoulders at one-year follow-up. (+info)
Treatment of the knee stiffness caused by partial patellectomy--technical tricks.
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Partial patellectomy is advised in treating comminuted fractures of patella when accurate reduction and stable fixation cannot be achieved. Usually, after partial patellectomy, the tendon-to-bone junction requires prolonged protection. One of the effects of the prolonged immobilization is lack of knee flexion. Stiffness of the knee was treated with manipulation under anaesthesia. In order to protect patellar ligament insertion to the patella remnant, a Steinmann pin was put through tibial tuberosity, a metal wire was pulled through the patella remnant and tied firmly to the pin. Gentle manipulation was performed and full flexion of the knee was achieved without damaging bone ligament complex. (+info)
The effect of fixation and location on the stability of the markers in navigated total hip arthroplasty: a cadaver study.
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In navigated total hip arthroplasty, the pelvis and the femur are tracked by means of rigid bodies fixed directly to the bones. Exact tracking throughout the procedure requires that the connection between the marker and bone remains stable in terms of translation and rotation. We carried out a cadaver study to compare the intra-operative stability of markers consisting of an anchoring screw with a rotational stabiliser and of pairs of pins and wires of different diameters connected with clamps. These devices were tested at different locations in the femur. Three human cadavers were placed supine on an operating table, with a reference marker positioned in the area of the greater trochanter. K-wires (3.2 mm), Steinman pins (3 and 4 mm), Apex pins (3 and 4 mm), and a standard screw were used as fixation devices. They were positioned medially in the proximal third of the femur, ventrally in the middle third and laterally in the distal portion. In six different positions of the leg, the spatial positions were recorded with a navigation system. Compared with the standard single screw, with the exception of the 3 mm Apex pins, the two-pin systems were associated with less movement of the marker and could be inserted less invasively. With the knee flexed to 90 degrees and the dislocated hip rotated externally until the lower leg was parallel to the table (figure-four position), all the anchoring devices showed substantial deflection of 1.5 degrees to 2.5 degrees . The most secure area for anchoring markers was the lateral aspect of the femur. (+info)
Direct repair for treatment of symptomatic spondylolysis and low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis in young patients: no benefit in comparison to segmental fusion after a mean follow-up of 14.8 years.
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The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term clinical, functional, and radiographic outcome of direct repair of spondylolysis using cerclage wire fixation according to Scott in young patients with symptomatic spondylolysis or low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis as compared to the outcome after uninstrumented posterolateral in situ fusion. Twenty-five out of 28 patients of the direct repair group (89%) and 23 out of 28 of the fusion group (82%) were available for follow-up examination. The assessment by independent observers included a structured interview (Oswestry questionnaire [ODI], visual analogue scale, SRS questionnaire), a clinical examination, functional testing, plain radiography, and MRI. The groups were comparable as to the mean age at operation (18.2 vs. 16.2 years.), the follow-up time (14.8 vs. 15.0 years), and the amount of preoperative slip (7.2 vs. 13.1%). The mean ODI and SRS total scores were significantly better in the fusion group (4.3 [0-16] and 96 [57-117]) as compared to the direct repair group (11.4[0-52] and 87[53-107]; P=0.02 and P=0.011, respectively). In functional testing, both groups reached normal values for abdominal and back muscle strength. The lumbar spine flexion and extension ROM was decreased in both groups showing no statistical difference between the groups. Significant progressive narrowing of the olisthetic disc was detected on the plain radiographs after direct repair. On the flexion-extension radiographs, in the direct repair group, the mobility in the lytic/olisthetic segment was decreased in comparison to normal values from the literature. The mobility at the level above the operated segment was decreased in the direct repair group as compared to the fusion group (P=0.057). On T2-weighted MR images in the direct repair group, the signal intensity of the disc below the affected vertebra was decreased in 17/23 (74%) patients. There was no difference between the groups in the nucleus signal intensity of the adjacent disc above the operated segment. No association between the disc degeneration on MRI and the outcome of the patients could be established. In the direct repair group the following complications were seen: transient nerve root irritation (2), superficial infection (1), UTI (1); in the fusion group the complications were: subcutaneous seroma (2) and UTI (1). There were six re-operations, cerclage removal(4), conversion into segmental fusion(2) in the direct repair group, and one re-operation, instrumented respondylodesis, in the fusion group. In conclusion, the results of direct repair of the spondylolysis using cerclage wire fixation according to Scott were very satisfactory in 76% of the patients after a mean follow-up of 14.8 years. After direct repair, the ODI deteriorated with time leading to a clinically moderate but statistically significant difference in favour of segmental fusion. Lumbar spine mobility was decreased after direct repair. Secondary segmental instability above the spinal fusion was not detected. The procedure does not seem to be capable of preventing the olisthetic disc from degeneration. The theoretical benefits of direct repair could not be proven. (+info)
Square-lashing technique in segmental spinal instrumentation: a biomechanical study.
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Sublaminar wires have been used for many years for segmental spinal instrumentation in scoliosis surgery. More recently, stainless steel wires have been replaced by titanium cables. However, in rigid scoliotic curves, sublaminar wires or simple cables can either brake or pull out. The square-lashing technique was devised to avoid complications such as cable breakage or lamina cutout. The purpose of the study was therefore to test biomechanically the pull out and failure mode of simple sublaminar constructs versus the square-lashing technique. Individual vertebrae were subjected to pullout testing having one of two different constructs (single loop and square lashing) using either monofilament wire or multifilament cables. Four different methods of fixation were therefore tested: single wire construct, square-lashing wiring construct, single cable construct, and square-lashing cable construct. Ultimate failure load and failure mechanism were recorded. For the single wire the construct failed 12/16 times by wire breakage with an average ultimate failure load of 793 N. For the square-lashing wire the construct failed with pedicle fracture in 14/16, one bilateral lamina fracture, and one wire breakage. Ultimate failure load average was 1,239 N For the single cable the construct failed 12/16 times due to cable breakage (average force 1,162 N). 10/12 of these breakages were where the cable looped over the rod. For the square-lashing cable all of these constructs (16/16) failed by fracture of the pedicle with an average ultimate failure load of 1,388 N. The square-lashing construct had a higher pullout strength than the single loop and almost no cutting out from the lamina. The square-lashing technique with cables may therefore represent a new advance in segmental spinal instrumentation. (+info)
Supracondylar humeral fractures in children: ten years' experience in a teaching hospital.
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Although supracondylar fracture is a very common elbow injury in childhood, there is no consensus on the timing of surgery, approach for open reduction and positioning of fixation wires. We report our ten-year experience between 1993 and 2003 in 291 children. Most fractures (285; 98%) were extension injuries, mainly Gartland types II (73; 25%) and III (163; 56%). Six (2%) were open fractures and a neurovascular deficit was seen in 12 (4%) patients. Of the 236 children (81%) who required an operation, 181 (77%) were taken to theatre on the day of admission. Most (177; 75%) of the operations were performed by specialist registrars. Fixation was by crossed Kirschner wires in 158 of 186 (85%) patients and open reduction was necessary in 52 (22%). A post-operative neurological deficit was seen in nine patients (4%) and three (1%) required exploration of the ulnar nerve. Only 22 (4%) patients had a long-term deformity, nine (3%) from malreduction and three (1%) because of growth arrest, but corrective surgery for functional limitation was required in only three (1%) patients. (+info)
Biodegradable pin fixation of elbow fractures in children. A randomised trial.
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A prospective randomised clinical trial was undertaken to compare biodegradable polyglycolic acid pins with standard Kirschner wires used to fix displaced elbow fractures in children. Twenty-four children were enrolled in the trial; 14 had fractures of the lateral condyle of the humerus, eight of the medial epicondyle and two had olecranon fractures. Eleven fractures were fixed with Kirschner wires and 13 with polyglycolic acid pins. Fracture union with full function occurred in all cases within six months. Kirschner wires caused problems including infection in three cases, soft-tissue ossification in one and they required removal under general anaesthesia in nine cases. No such complications occurred with polyglycolic acid pins but one patient in this group developed avascular necrosis and premature fusion of the medial epicondyle. (+info)