ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the surgical method and clinical efficacy for open tarsometatarsal joint injuries.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2011 to January 2015, 21 patients with open tarsometatarsal joint injuries were treated with stage-surgery method, including 14 males and 7 females with an average age of 45.6 years old ranging from 20 to 75 years. Injury site occurred in the left foot of 13 cases and right foot of 8 cases. Traffic injury was in 5 cases, crush injury in 6 cases, heavy crushing was in 10 cases. According to Myerson to classify for tarsometatarsal joint injury, 5 cases were type B2, 9 cases were type C1, and 7 cases were type C2. And according to Gustilo to typing for soft tissue injury, 5 cases were type IIB, 10 cases were type IIIA, 6 cases were type IIIB. Fracture healingand complications were observed after operation and clinical effects were evaluated according to the midfoot score of AOFAS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were followed up from 11 to 40 months with an average of 16.2 months. The fracture healing time was from 10 to 16 weeks with an average of 12.3 weeks. No complications such as deep infection, nonunion and osteomyelitis were found. Midfoot score of AOFAS at last follow-up was 83.0±14.9, 9 cases got excellent results, 8 good, 2 fair, 2 poor. Two patients complicated with severe traumatic arthritis once again underwent tarsometatarsal arthrodesis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>For the treatment of open tarsometatarsal joint injury, reasonable debridement, comprehensive assessment for the soft tissue injury, correctly grasp the surgical indications and time of internal fixation, can reduce the incidence of deep infection and osteomyelitis.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore individual choice and therapeutic effect of distal fibula internal fixation in treating ankle fractures in elderly.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 2012 to April 2015, 68 elderly patients with ankle fractures were treated by surgical operation, included 37 males and 31 females with an average of 69.2 years old ranging from 62 to 81 years. According to Danis-Weber classification, there were 19 cases belong to type A, 31 cases belong to type B, and 18 cases belong to type C. According to Lange-Hanson classification, 22 cases were supinatio-extorsion, 18 were pronate-extorsion, 19 were supinatio-adduction, and 9 were pronate-abduction. All patients were performed individyually with different internal fixation methods for the treatment of distal fibula fracture according to different types of fracture. Clinical results were evaluated based on clinical examination, radiographic evaluation and AOFAS score.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twelve patients were treated with Herbert screw, 7 cases with Kirschner wire tension band, 5 cases with 1/3 tube plate, 6 cases with reconstruction plate, 17 cases with fibular end dissection steel plate composite, and 21 cases with distal fibula anatomic locking plate. All patients were followed up from 12 to 26 months with an average of 17.7 months. The operative incision of all patients were primary healed. And there was no bone nonunion, ankle instability, internal fixation loosening and fracture occurred. Fracture healing time ranged from 2.7 to 4 months with an average of 3.2 months, and had significant differences among different groups(<0.05). There were no statistical differences in AOFAS score, VAS score and motion of ankle joint among different internal fixation groups(>0.05). Dorsal stretch was 6° to 18° with an average of 15°, plantar flexion ranged from 26°to 47° with an average of 37°. AOFAS score at the latest following-up was 88.4±4.3, 34 patients got an excellent result, 30 good and 4 fair.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Good clinical results could be obtained by using individualized internal fixation for distal fibula fracture for the treatment of the ankle fractures in elderly.</p>