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Objective:To investigate the efficacy of 3D-printed quantitative bone implants assisting second-stage Masquelet technique for the treatment of long-segment bone defect following Gustilo type IIIB and IIIC tibial fractures.Methods:A retrospective case series analysis was made on 26 patients with long-segment bone defect following Gustilo type IIIB and IIIC tibial fractures treated in Wuxi Ninth People′s Hospital from July 2015 to December 2020, including 20 males and 6 females; aged 19-63 years [(46.5±4.5)years]. Gustilo classification was type IIIB in 23 patients and type IIIC in 3. In the first stage, all patients had thoroughly emergent debridement, removal of all free bone pieces, restoration of the length and force line plus externally fixion, and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) of the residual wound. After 2-7 days, the external fixation was removed and replaced by internal fixation, with the bone cement filling in the defect area and the free flap covering the wound. The length of tibial bone defect was 5-14 cm [(6.3±0.4)cm], and the tibial defect volume was 12.2-73.1 cm 3 [(33.6±9.2)cm 3]. In the second stage (6-19 weeks after injury), the bone cement was removed, followed by autologous bone grafting. Prior to bone grafting, digital technology was used to accurately calculate the bone defect volume, and an equal volume of bone harvesting area was designe to produce the 3D printed osteotomy template. Bone grafting was conducted after bone removal according to the osteotomy template during operation. The success rate of one-time iliac bone extraction, bone harvesting time, and bleeding volume were recorded. Pain in the bone extraction area was evaluated by visual analogue score (VAS) at 1 day and 1 month after operation and at the last follow-up. Wound healing, complications, and bone healing were observed. Life quality was evaluated by health survey brief form (SF-36) including scores of physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) before bone grafting and at the last follow-up. Results:All the patients were followed up for 13-53 months [(32.3±12.5)months]. One-time iliac bone extraction was successful in all the patients. Bone harvesting time was 15-30 minutes [(21.0±2.5)minutes]. The bleeding volume was 50-120 ml [(62.3±29.0)ml]. The VAS was 1-4 points [(1.2±0.9)points] at 1 day after operation, higher than these (0.0±0.0)points at 1 month after operation and at the last follow-up (all P<0.01). Totally, 25 patients obtained wound healing after operation, except for 1 patient with superficial wound infection after bone grafting that was healed by dressing change. There was 1 patient with bone infection after 3 months of bone grafting that was healed by repeated surgery with Masquelet technique in the first and second stage. Besides, 2 patients had symptoms of cutaneous nerve injury in the iliac donor area. The time of bone healing was 4-7 months [(5.8±0.8)months]. The scores of PCS and MCS in SF-36 at the last follow-up were (73.6±12.8)points and (83.6±13.2)points, significantly higher than those before bone grafting [(46.8±0.5)points, (60.7±2.0)points] (all P<0.01). Conclusion:Second-stage Masquelet technique with 3D printed quantitative bone implants for the treatment of long-segment bone defect following Gustilo type IIIB and IIIC tibial fractures is associated with shortened bone harvesting time, attenuated pain, reduced complications, accelerated bone healing and improved function.
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Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of Nice knot combined with elastic intramedullary nailing fixation in treatment of Robinson type 2B midshaft clavicular fracture in adults. Methods: Between March 2016 and January 2018, 20 patients with Robinson type 2B midshaft clavicular fractures were treated with reduction and internal fixation by Nice knot and elastic intramedullary nailing. There were 13 cases and 7 cases, with an average age of 43 years (range, 18-56 years). The causes of injury included the traffic accident in 6 cases, falling in 12 cases, and falling from height in 2 cases. The interval between injury and admission ranged from 1 hour to 2 days (mean, 3.2 hours). The fractures were classified as Robinson type 2B1 in 16 cases and type 2B2 in 4 cases. The length of incision, the operation time, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score on the 2nd day after operation, the fracture healing time, the postoperative shoulder function and the Disability of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, the complications, and the time of second surgical removal of internal fixator and incision length were recorded. Results: The length of incision was 2-6 cm (mean, 4.7cm). The operation time was 45-120 minutes (mean, 77.2 minutes). The VAS score was 1-5 (mean, 3.2) on the 2nd day after operation. All incisions healed by first intention and no infection or nerve injury occurred. All patients were followed up 12-32 months (mean, 18.6 months). All fractures healed with the healing time of 10-15 weeks (mean, 12.1 weeks). The Constant score was 92-98 (mean, 96.3) and DASH score was 0-6.4 (mean, 3.1). The elastic intramedullary nailing bending and hypertrophic nonunion occurred in 1 case and the skin stimulated by elastic nail tail in 1 case after operation. The internal fixators were removed at 12-26 months (mean, 14.6 months) after operation. And the length of incision was 1-2 cm (mean, 1.3 cm) and the operation time was 5-15 minutes (mean, 9.0 minutes). Conclusion: For the midshaft clavicular fracture in adults, the procedure of the Nice knot combined with elastic intramedullary nail has advantages of small incision, light pain, rapid fracture healing, small secondary operation injury, and avoiding the risk of clavicular epithelial nerve injury, and can obtain good effectiveness.
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Objective To explore the clinical application of antcrolateral thigh flap transplantation in repairing wound around the knee with descending genicular artery as the recipient vessel,when anterior or posterior tibial vessel could not be utilized.Methods From January,2015 to May,2017,free anterolateral thigh flaps obtained from anastomosis of descending genicular artery and great saphenous vein were transplanted to repair the skin soft tissue defect around the knee combined with tendon and bone exposure in 7 patients,after preoperative color Doppler sonography ultrasound (CDU) for precise positioning.There were 4 males and 3 females,with the flap area ranging from 18.0 cm×8.0 cm-38.0 cm×8.0 cm.All of the donor sites were sutured directly.Postoperative followedup was done termly.Results All the patients were followed-up for 6 to 14 months,with an average of 8.9 months.Typically,2 cases had large defect areas,with distal flap necrosis of 6.0 cm and 4.0 cm,respectively,which were resected and achieved secondary skin graft healing on the residual surface.Additionally,4 cases had completely survived flaps and achieved secondary skin graft healing on the residual surface.The remaining 1 case had completely survived flap,but the distal flap near the anteromedial tibia developed bone exposure as a result of the complicated osteomyelitis.As a result,the patient received gastrocnemius myocutaneous flap to repair the wound.Conclusion Anterolateral thigh flap transplantation in repairing skin soft tissue defect wound around the knee,with descending genicular artery as the recipient vessel,can achieve satisfactory clinical efficacy,which can serve as one choice for flap repair in wound around the knee.
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Objective To investigate the clinical therapy of early internal fixation combined with perforator flap for forearm open fractures of Gustilo types Ⅲ B & Ⅲ C.Methods A retrospective study was conducted of the 45 patients with forearm open fracture of Gustilo type ⅢB or Ⅲ C who had been treated from July 2012 to October 2016 at Department of Traumatic Orthopaedics,The Ninth People's Hospital of Wuxi.They were 26 men and 19 women,aged from 20 to 61 years (average,41 years).Twenty cases were Gustilo type ⅢB and 25 Gustilo type ⅢC.By AO classification,8 cases were type A,21 ones type B,and 16 ones type C.The wound size ranged from 4 cm × 3 cm to 36 cm × 8 cm.Thirty-three patients were treated by primary internal fixation plus secondary transfer with a perforator flap,12 ones by secondary internal fixation plus transfer with a perforator flap.The period from injury to secondary flap transfer ranged from 5 to 20 days (average,12 days).In this series,36 anterolateral thigh perforator flaps,5 latissimus dorsal muscular flaps and 4 lateral arm flaps were transferred.Results All the 45 free flaps survived with no deep infection or osteomyelitis.Partial necrosis happened at the distal ends of 2 latissimus dorsal muscular flaps which were cured by skin graft.Postoperative circulatory crisis happened after transfer of an anterolateral thigh perforator flap which survived with 5 cm skin necrosis at the distal end after successful surgical exploration.Superficial wound infection happened in 12 patients with no deep or bone infection.All the patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months (average,18.5 months).All the flaps were soft in texture,with varying degrees of pigmentation.The sensory recovery was S2 in 8 flaps,S3 in 29 flaps,and S4 in 8 flaps.Obvious scar hyperplasis was observed at the donor site in 5 cases while no obvious scar hyperplasis was observed in the other 40 ones.All the fractures got united after 4 to 14 months (average,8.6 months).Nonunion happened in 2 patients who were treated with autologous iliac graft 8 months after operation.By Anderson criteria,the curative efficacy was assessed as excellent in 15 cases,as good in 21,as fair in 7 and as poor in 2,yielding an excellent to good rate of 80.0％.Conclusion Early internal fixation combined with perforator flap transfe is an effective strategy for treatment of forearm open fractures with soft tissue defects of Gustilo types Ⅲ B &Ⅲ C,due to its advantages of shortened treatment period,possibility for early rehabilitation,decreased complications and satisfactory functional recovery.
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Objective To assess the clinical efficacy of perforators positioning technique in anterolateral thigh perforator sub lobe flap transplantation for reconstructing soft tissue defects of forearm or hand.Methods A retrospective case series study was performed to analyze 24 patients with forearm and hand soft tissue defects admitted from January 2013 to August 2017.There were 18 males and six females,aged 31-68 years (mean,52.3 years).The wound defect areas ranged from 11 cm × 10 cm to 18 cm× 14 cm.The anterolateral thigh sub lobe perforator flaps were used for repair.CT angiography (CTA) combined with color Doppler ultrasound (CDS) was used to determine the perforator position before operation.After the appropriate thigh side was selected according to the perforator position and the wound area,the lobed flaps were designed to ensure all the flaps for the stage I suture after the length was converted into width.All patients obtained stage Ⅱ repair,and the repair time was 5-29 days,with an average of 13 days.The accuracy of perforation positioning was observed during operation (the error was not more than 1 cm for accurate positioning).The flap survival and complications were recorded within 2 weeks after operation.Follow-up was performed using the seven indicators of flap function to evaluate the efficacy.Results The positioning accuracy rate was 99％.One case was seen necrosis about 2 cm at the proximal end of flap.Two cases had arterial crisis after flap operation and survived after active exploration.In two nonunion cases because of wound infection around the flap,one case was healed after dressing change,and another case was healed after debridement.The donor site of the flap obtained stage Ⅰ direct suture,and one case was seen obvious scar hyperplasia at the donor site.Flaps were made thinner in two patients with hand defects at the later stage.All 24 patients were followed up for 7-33 months,with an average of 18.3 months.According to the seven indexes of the flap function,the results were excellent in seven cases,good in 13,fair in three,and poor in onee,with an excellent and good rate of 83％.The flaps appeared soft with good color at the last follow-up.Conclusions In the treatment of soft tissue defects of forearm or hand using anterolateral thigh flap,conversion from length to width and direct suture of donor site can cover the wound well and reduce complications.Perforators positioning technique can facilitate precise preoperative planning and intraoperative accurate cutting.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of free flap transplantation in repairing the Gustilo type ⅢB and ⅢC fractures of tibia and fibula combined with soft tissue defects.Methods A retrospective case series study was conducted on the clinical data of 46 patients who had Gustilo type ⅢB and ⅢC fractures of tibia and fibula with soft tissue defects admitted from June 2013 to January 2017.There were 34 males and 12 females,aged 1-67 years (mean,39 years).The wound defect areas ranged from 6 cm × 20 cm to 7 cm × 38 cm.According to the Gustilo fracture classification,there were 31 cases of type ⅢB and 15 cases of type ⅢC.According to the AO fracture typing,there were five cases of type A,23 type B,and 18 type C.All patients were repaired with free flap transplantation,among which 40 patients were treated with anterolateral thigh flap and six with latissimus dorsi flap.The areas of anterolateral thigh flap ranged from 6 cm × 13 cm to 14 cm ×32 cm,and those of the latissimus dorsi flap from 6 cm × 22 cm to 7 cm × 40 cm.Efficacy was evaluated by flap survival rate,complications,fracture healing time,lower limb function scoring system (LEFS),and skin flap function.Results All limbs were salvaged successfully.One case of total flap necrosis and eight cases of postoperative crisis occurred.After active exploration and treatment,three cases were seen distal local necrosis,and the total survival rate was 91％.Infection at the donor site was found in two cases.The complication incidence rate was 4％.All patients were followed up for 7-42 months,with an average of 19 months.The fracture healing time averaged 43.5 weeks,and the LEFS score averaged 54 points.According to the seven indexes of flap function,the results were excellent in 1 1 cases,good in 29 cases,fair in four cases,and poor in two cases,with an excellent and good rate of 87％.Conclusion Free flap transplantation can achieve satisfactory efficacy in treating Gustilo type ⅢB and ⅢC of tibia and fibula combined with soft tissue defects,with high limb salvage rate and good function recovery.
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Objective@#To investigate the clinical therapy for Gustilo type Ⅲ B、ⅢC open fractures with skin and soft tissue defects on the upper extremities.@*Methods@#From July 2014 to July 2016, 19 patients with Gustilo type Ⅲ open fractures (type ⅢB 12 cases , type ⅢC 7 cases) and soft-tissue defects in upper extremity were admitted, including 14 males and 5 females , aged 22 to 59 years (average 42 ). All the cases were treated by staged treatment. In the first stage, early debridement, nerves, vessels and tendons repairment, fixation of the fractures, VSD for the wound were performed. One patient underwent amputation 5 days after first operation. All the other 18 patients received flap transplantion, including 10 anterolateral thigh perforator flaps, 3 latissimus dorsal muscular flaps and 5 free lateral arm flaps.@*Results@#8 patients were followed up for an average duration of 14.5 months(ranged from 7 to 23 months). Partial necrosis happened at the distal end of one anterolateral thigh perforator flap and healed with skin-grafting.1 flap encountered vascular complication which survived with 5cm-in-width skin necrosis at the distal end of the flap after successful surgical exploration. 1 case had superficial infection at wound. The wounds at donor sites were primarily healed except for 1 case with skin graft necrosis and superficial infection. All the other flaps survived completely. The patients received 2-6 operations each. The average hospital stay was 34 days (12-71 days). All Skin flap texture was soft and had varying degrees of pigmentation. The flap sensory recovery was S2 in 4 cases, S3 in 9 cases, S4 in 5 cases. 1 case had obvious scar hyperplasia.@*Conclusions@#Staged surgical treatment in Gustilo type Ⅲ open fractures with soft-tissue defects in upper extremity provide a high survival rate of flaps and satisfactory results. The treatment is well tolerate by patients.