Unstable posterior acetabular fractures: Early results of delayed reduction and fracture fixation using the Kocher-Langenbeck approach with trochanteric flip osteotomy

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">Unstable posterior acetabular fractures resulting from high energy trauma present major challenges to any orthopedic surgeon especially if the treatment has been delayed.<br /><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> The purpose of this paper is to describe the early results of delayed treatment of a series of patients with posterior acetabular fractures with concomitant hip dislocations, surgically approached using the Kocher-Langenbeck with a trochanteric flip osteotomy.<br /><strong>METHODS:</strong> Five (5) male patients (mean age 35.6 years, range 23-58 years) who sustained unstable posterior acetabular fractures, underwent surgical treatment using the Kocher-Langenbeck approach with the trochanteric flip osteotomy, during the period of May 2014 to October 2015. Clinical and radiographic evaluations of each patient were performed, while complications were documented.<br /><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Mean follow-up was 8 weeks (range 2-12 weeks). There was adequate exposure of the posterior and superior acetabulum in all patients. Post-operative radiographs in four of five patients were graded "anatomic" while hip range of motion of these four patients averaged 78.7% of the uninjured hip. One patient with "poor" reduction underwent a second operation to reserve a failure of the initial fixation using the same surgical approach. No other complications were reported.<br /><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> This modified approach provides adequate exposure of both posterior and superior acetabulum and also allows inspection of the articular surfaces of both acetabulum and femoral head, which are limited in the standard Kocher-Lagenbeck approach. With excellent exposure, congruent reduction can readily be achieved while permitting early hip range of motion post-surgery.</p>

Comparison of the hybrid locking plate, standard dynamic compression plate, and standard dynamic compression plate augmented with bone cement for fixation of osteoporotic humeral shaft fractures: A cadaveric biomechanical study

BACKGROUND: Studies comparing the relative strength of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) augmented fixation, standard plating and locked compression plate (LCP) system are few. The use of either the bone cement-augmented dynamic compression plate or the Hybrid LCP constructs may provide an additional tool for the treatment of fractures in patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: Eighteen (18) osteoporotic cadaveric humeral bones were assigned randomly to each of three groups (Dynamic Compression Plate [DCP], DCP augmented with bone cement, and the Hybrid LCP system) and tested in anterior-posterior bending and torsion/external rotation. The load to failure values were obtained and the results for each specimen compared. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the standard DCP and Hybrid LCP group (p-value=0.012), and in the cement-augmented and Hybrid LCP group (p-value=0.099) in torsion/external rotation loading. No significant difference was observed between the standard DCP and bone-cement augmented group (p-value=0.248). No significant difference was observed among the three groups in terms of stiffness (p-value=0.3868) in the four-point anterior-posterior bending modality. Screw pull-out of the implant was observed only in the regular DCP group in torsion/external rotation loading stress. CONCLUSION: Significant differences were seen between the three constructs in torsion/external rotation but not in anterior-posterior four-point bending. Bone failure, but not screw pull-out, was seen in the Hybrid LCP and bone cement-augmented DCP groups in torsion. This study showed that the LCP system and the bone cement-augmented constructs may provide greater screw purchase to the osteoporotic humerus.