ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of posterolateral approach combined with anteromedial approach in the treatment of trimalleolus fracture.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed of the 20 patients who had been admitted to The Second Department of Orthopedics, The First People's Hospital of Tianshui for trimalleolus fractures from January 2016 to August 2020. They were 16 men and 4 women, aged from 20 to 70 years (average, 49.6 years). The lateral malleolus, posterior malleolus and medial malleolus were treated with reduction and internal fixation using the posterolateral approach combined with the anteromedial approach. Postoperative complications were observed, and the foot function was assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and pain visual analog scale (VAS).Results:In this cohort, the operation time ranged from 85 to 115 minutes, averaging 88.4 minutes and the intraoperative blood loss from 50 to 600 mL, averaging 120 mL. All patients were followed up for 12 to 20 months (mean, 14.5 months). The fracture healing time ranged from 3.2 to 5.4 months, averaging 3.8 months. Follow-ups observed no such complications as infection or necrosis of surgical incision, failure of internal fixation, nonunion, or malunion. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score at 12 months after operation (87.8±6.4) was significantly higher than that before operation (32.3±4.9) ( t=29.454, P<0.001); as for VAS, one case scored 0, 13 cases 1 to 3 points and 6 cases 4 points. Conclusion:In the treatment of trimalleolus fracture, a combination of posterolateral approach and anteromedial approach can lead to definitely positive efficacy because of a significant reduction in operation time, intraoperative bleeding and postoperative complications.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of internal fixation of lateral and medial borders for displaced scapular body fractures via the minimally invasive approach. METHODS: The internal fixation of lateral and medial borders via minimally invasive approach was applied in surgical treatment of 23 patients with scapular body comminuted fractures from January 2014 to June 2018. The lateral approach was made straightly orienting over the lateral border of scapula. The dissection was taken down to the deltoid fascia. The deltoid was retracted cephalically, revealing the external rotators. Blunt dissection was used down to the lateral border between infraspinatus and teres minor, exposing the fracture site. The medial incision was done along the medial border of the scapula over site of the fracture. Dissections were taken down to the fascia and the periosteum. A subperiosteal dissection was then performed to elevate the infraspinatus to the degree necessary to visualize the fracture. The medial and lateral borders of scapula body were fixed with plates and screws in a frame-like way. RESULTS One patient developed the delayed healing of the incisions due to liquefactive fat necrosis. The other 22 patients showed no complications of the incisions. The glenopolar angle (GPA) of fractured scapula was increased from preoperative (25±12) degrees to postoperative (41±5) degrees (P<0.01). The healing time of fractures healed was 3-8 months, with an average time of (4.4±1.3) months. CONCLUSIONS The lateral-medial combined fixation through minimally invasive surgical approach for the scapula body fractures allows visualization of fracture reduction without extensive muscular or subcutaneous flaps, and is associated with successful fracture healing and high functional scores of the shoulder.