Ultrasonographic and power doppler parameters of nails fail to differentiate between onychodystrophy in patients with psoriasis vulgaris or psoriatic arthritis

Abstract Background Nail involvement is frequent in patients with psoriasis (Pso) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and there is a relationship between nail involvement and inflammation of the enthesis. The main objective of the present study is to describe the ultrasound findings and clinical characteristics of nails from patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis with and without nail dystrophy. Methods A cross-sectional study including consecutive patients with PsO and PsA was carried out. The study patients were divided into 4 groups, totaling 120 participants. Group 1: patients with psoriasis vulgaris and clinically normal nails; Group 2: patients with psoriasis vulgaris and onychodystrophy; Group 3: patients with psoriatic arthritis and clinically normal nails; Group 4: patients with psoriatic arthritis and onychodystrophy; All patients were submitted to dermatological and rheumatological clinical analysis. Ultrasound examinations was performed by a single examiner, blinded to all clinical data, with ultrasound high resolution, in B-mode or gray-scale (GS), Power Doppler (PD) and Spectral Doppler. Results A significant difference was found between the groups regarding the variable Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (p = 0.008) and body surface area (BSA) (p = 0.005), with patients with psoriatic arthritis having lower PASI and BSA compared to patients with only cutaneous psoriasis. A positive relationship was found with the average ultrasound thickness of the nail bed and the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) in correlation analysis (rho = 0.344). When we grouped patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, there was no significant difference between the cutaneous psoriasis groups and the psoriatic arthritis groups in terms of nail plate GS (p = 0.442), nail bed PD (p = 0.124). Conclusion Greater nail bed thickness indicates early psoriatic nail disease, as confirmed in our study correlating NAPSI with nail bed thickness. Ultrasonography is a low-cost exam, promising in the evaluation, showing that the ultrasound grayscale is consistent with those who have dystrophic nails, but it can't distinguish psoriasis from psoriatic arthritis, even in those with nail dystrophy.

Comparison of Anatomic Locking Titanium Plate and Intramedullary Nail in the Treatment of Distal Tibial Fractures / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectivesTo compare the clinical efficacy and complications of anatomic locking titanium plate （hereinafter referred to as “titanium plate screw”） and intramedullary nail in the treatment of distal tibial fractures.Methods From September 2019 to September 2021， 32 patients diagnosed with AO-A fracture of distal tibia at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were included in this study. Of these， 15 cases were treated with titanium plate screws and 17 cases were treated with intramedullary nails. General surgical indexes， fracture healing time and postoperative operation were compared between the two groups.ResultsAll patients were followed up for 10 to 20 months， with an average of 12 months. The operative time and intraoperative fluoroscopy times of intramedullary nail group were longer than those of titanium plate screw group， but the preoperative waiting time and hospitalization days was less or were fewer than those of titanium plate screw group， the difference was statistically significant （P < 0.05）. There was no significant difference in fracture healing time between the two groups （P> 0.05）. At 6 weeks after operation， VAS scores in both groups were lower than those before operation， with statistically significant difference （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in VAS scores between the intramedullary nail group and the titanium plate screw group （P> 0.05）. AOFAS scores 6 months after surgery， ankle joint motion and complication rate 1 year after surgery in intramedullary screw group were better than those in titanium plate screw group， and the differences were statistically significant （P< 0.05）. There was no significant difference in AOFAS scores between the two groups at 1 year after operation （P> 0.05）.ConclusionTitanium plate screw and intramedullary nail are both effective methods for the treatment of distal tibial AO-A fracture， and there is no significant difference in long-term clinical efficacy. Intramedullary nail has fewer soft tissue complications， less impact on ankle motion， faster recovery and higher safety， while titanium plate screw has a higher probability of postoperative soft tissue infection. We suggest that in clinical work， preoperative evaluation of patients should be done well. Under the premise of grasping the indications， intramedullary nail has fewer complications and certain advantages.

Onychomatricoma on the fourth toenail: A rare tumor in a rare localization

Onychomatricoma is a rare benign tumor of the nail matrix, characterized by finger-like projections that invade the nail plate. The fingernails of Caucasian women are most commonly affected. Because this tumor can easily mimic other more prevalent ungual diseases, it is crucial to be acquainted with its characteristic clinical and histopathologic features. The authors present a case of a 40-year-old man with an onychomatrichoma in the fourth left toenail, which was initially misdiagnosed and treated as onychomycosis

Tratamiento de la fractura diafisaria de húmero con clavo intramedular "Telegraph®"

Introducción: El enclavado intramedular acerrojado por vía anterógrada es uno de los métodos quirúrgicos para el tratamiento de la fractura diafisaria de húmero y tiene como ventaja ser una técnica por mínimo acceso. Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados del tratamiento de la fractura diafisaria de húmero con el clavo intramedular acerrojado anterógrado "Telegraph®". Métodos: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, longitudinal y descriptivo en 16 pacientes con fractura diafisaria de húmero; intervenidos quirúrgicamente con el sistema intramedular "Telegraph®" en el Hospital Ortopédico Docente "Fructuoso Rodríguez". Se evaluaron los resultados según la escala QuickDASH. Resultados: Predominaron los pacientes entre 40 y 60 años y del sexo femenino. El tiempo medio de seguimiento estuvo entre 27,25 ± 4,5 meses. El tipo de fractura A2a (trazo simple, oblicuo, del tercio medio) fue la más frecuente. Hubo pocas complicaciones y no afectaron el resultado final. A los 6 meses de la operación, el 75 % de los pacientes presentó un grado de dificultad nulo o incipiente. Conclusiones: Con el uso del clavo intramedular acerrojado "Telegraph®" se obtienen resultados funcionales satisfactorios por lo que constituye una opción válida de tratamiento.

Introduction: Locked intramedullary nailing by antegrade approach is one of the surgical methods for the treatment of humeral diaphyseal fracture and has the advantage of being a minimal access technique. Objective: To evaluate the results of the treatment of the diaphyseal fracture of the humerus with the Telegraph® antegrade locked intramedullary nail. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal, descriptive study was carried out in 16 patients with diaphyseal fracture of the humerus; underwent surgery with the Telegraph® intramedullary system at Fructuoso Rodríguez Orthopedic Hospital. The results were evaluated according to the QuickDASH scale. Results: There was a predominance of patients between 40 and 60 years of age and of the female sex. The mean follow-up time was 27.25 ± 4.5 months. The type of A2a fracture (simple, oblique line, of the middle third) was the most frequent. There were few complications and they did not affect the final result. Six months after the operation, 75% of the patients had no or incipient degree of difficulty. Conclusions: The use of Telegraph® locked intramedullary nail, satisfactory functional results are obtained, establishing a valid treatment option.

Resultados de la osteosíntesis en fracturas intertrocantéricas inestables de fémur con clavo femoral proximal

Introducción: Las fracturas intertrocantéricas del extremo proximal del fémur constituyen el grupo nosológico con mayor morbilidad y mortalidad de las lesiones traumáticas del esqueleto. Objetivo: Evaluar la reducción, la colocación del implante y el tiempo de consolidación. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal y prospectivo de 114 pacientes con diagnóstico de fracturas del extremo proximal del fémur tratadas con clavo femoral proximal, y un seguimiento posoperatorio de un año. Resultados: Se alcanzó un resultado clínico funcional de excelente a bueno en el 82,4 % de los casos. Se evidenciaron signos radiológicos de consolidación en un promedio de 4,2 meses en la mayor parte de la muestra. Conclusiones: La pérdida de la fijación constituyó la complicación más frecuente; por tanto, se considera que el enclavado femoral proximal ofrece buenos resultados en el tratamiento de fracturas intertrocantéricas inestables del fémur.

Introduction: Intertrochanteric fractures of the proximal end of the femur constitute the nosological group with the highest morbidity and mortality of traumatic skeletal injuries. Objective: To evaluate reduction, implant placement and consolidation time. Methods: A descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study was carried out in 114 patients with diagnosis of fractures of the proximal end of the femur treated with proximal femoral nailing, and a one-year postoperative follow-up. Results: A functional clinical result from excellent to good was achieved in 82.4% of the cases. Radiological signs of consolidation were evidenced in an average of 4.2 months in most of the sample. Conclusions: Loss of fixation was the most frequent complication; therefore, proximal femoral nailing is considered to offer good results in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures of the femur.

Evaluación funcional y de calidad de vida en el seguimiento de pacientes con artropatía de Charcot tratados mediante artrodesis de tobillo con clavo centromedular retrógrado bloqueado / Functional evaluation and quality of life in the follow-up of patients with Charcot arthropathy treated by ankle arthrodesis with a locked retrograde nail

Resumen: Introducción: la artropatía de Charcot es una condición incapacitante, no infecciosa, progresiva, que se caracteriza por destrucción ósea y articular en pacientes con neuropatía sensorial. En casos avanzados, en los que se tiene deformidad severa e inestabilidad de tobillo, se requieren procedimientos más invasivos como la artrodesis de tobillo con clavo centromedular retrógrado bloqueado. Se desconoce si en estos pacientes las puntuaciones de la valoración funcional postquirúrgica con la escala de AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) correlaciona con las puntuaciones de la escala de calidad de vida medida con el test EuroQol-5D y las posibles complicaciones postquirúrgicas. Material y métodos: se trata de un ensayo autocontrolado de práctica clínica habitual, cuasiexperimental, longitudinal y prospectivo con recolección ambispectiva (retrospectiva y prospectiva) de datos para evaluar los resultados funcionales y de calidad de vida a un año de seguimiento de los pacientes con artropatía de Charcot tratados mediante artrodesis de tobillo con clavo centromedular retrógrado bloqueado del 1 de Enero de 2010 al 1 de Noviembre de 2018. Resultados: la consolidación se logró en nueve casos de un total de 11 pacientes para una tasa de éxitos de 81.8% y únicamente dos casos (18.2%) en los cuales no se observó consolidación. Las escalas de AOFAS y EuroQol-5D se correlacionaron positivamente de acuerdo con la correlación de Pearson. Conclusiones: las escalas de AOFAS y EuroQol-5D se correlacionan positivamente, obteniéndose 45 y 63% con resultados aceptables y satisfactorios respectivamente en ambas escalas.

Abstract: Introduction: Charcot's arthropathy is a disabling non-infectious, progressive condition characterized by bony and articular destruction in patients with sensory neuropathy. In advanced cases with deformities and ankle instability, it requires a more invasive treatment as an ankle fusion with a retrograde locked intramedullary nail. It is unknown if, in these patients, the functional results of AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) correlate with the quality of life ones from the EuroQol-5D test and the possible postoperative complications. Material and methods: the design is experimental, longitudinal prospective with ambispective data analysis (retrospective and prospective) to evaluate the functional results and life quality with a year of following patients with Charcot's arthropathy diagnosis treated with a retrograde locked nail from January 1, 2010, to November 1, 2018. Results: this study resulted in complete consolidation from nine out of 11 cases, with a success rate of 81.2%, and only two cases (18.2%) developed nonunion. AOFAS and EuroQol-5D tests correlate positively in agreement with the Pearson correlation. Conclusions: AOFAS and EuroQol-5D correlate positively, having a 45 and 63% of acceptable and satisfactory results, respectively, for both tests.

Geriatric intertrochanteric fractures – A challenge to manage

Background: Intertrochanteric fractures are among the frequently seen fractures in the elderly population. Treating these fractures is very challenging considering the fact that the quality of bone is poor and highly osteoporotic. The high failure rates with dynamic hip screw (DHS) especially in unstable fractures lead to the development of intramedullary devices such as proximal femoral nail (PFN) which has got multiple advantages over DHS. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 30 patients above the age group of 60 years with unstable intertrochanteric fractures conducted in a tertiary institute between February 2021 and June 2022. Results were analyzed clinically and radiologically using the Modified Harris hip score. Results: Patients’ age group was 61–85 years with a mean age of 69 years, comprising 63% female and 37% male. The average Harris hip score was 83.76 at 24 weeks’ follow-up with 33.33% excellent, 56.66% good, 3.33% fair, and 6.67% poor. Postoperative complications included revision surgery in two patients, superficial infection in one patient, Z effect in one patient, peri-implant fracture in one patient. Conclusion: Treatment with PFN for unstable intertrochanteric fracture has the advantages of closed reduction, less tissue damage, early rehabilitation, and return to work. Osteosynthesis with short PFN resulted in good-to-excellent functional and radiological outcomes.

A peculiar case of onychomycosis caused by Cladosporium halotolerans

ABSTRACT A 49-year-old patient with changes in the nails of the hallux for 10 years was diagnosed with onychomycosis. The identity of the causative agent was confirmed as Cladosporium halotolerans from the Cladosporium sphaerospermum species complex using molecular techniques. MALDI-TOF identified the agent as C. sphaerospermum complex species. Overall, species such as onychomycosis agents should attract special attention to avoid mistakes in the identification process while considering a probable contaminant as responsible for the disease. These species deserve attention since there are rare descriptions of them as causes of onychomycosis. It is important to recognize them as causes of disease and not just as a probable contaminant.

Outcome of buttress plate-nail construct used for reconstruction of broken lateral wall in intertrochanteric fractures / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#Intramedullary implants are well accepted fixation of all types of intertrochanteric (IT) fractures, both stable and unstable types. Intramedullary nails have an ability to effectively support the posteromedial part, but fail to buttress the broken lateral wall requiring lateral augmentation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of proximal femoral nail augmented with trochanteric buttress plate for broken lateral wall with IT fractures, which was fixed to the femur through hip screw and anti-rotation screw nail.@*METHODS@#Of 30 patients, 20 had Jensen-Evan type III and 10 had type V fractures. Patients with IT fracture of broken lateral wall and aged more than 18 years, in whom satisfactory reduction was achieved by closed methods, were included in the study. Patients with pathologic or open fractures, polytrauma, prior hip surgery, non-ambulatory prior to surgery, and those who refused to participate were excluded. The operative time, blood loss, radiation exposure, quality of reduction, functional outcome, and union time were evaluated. All data were coded and recorded in Microsoft Excel spread sheet program. SPSS 20.0 was used for data analysis and normality of the continuous data was checked using Kolmogorv Smirnov test.@*RESULTS@#The mean age of patients in the study was 60.3 years. The mean duration of surgery (min), mean intra-operative blood loss (mL) and mean number of exposures were 91.86 ± 12.8 (range 70 - 122), 144.8 ± 3.6 (range 116 - 208), and 56.6 (range 38 - 112), respectively. The mean union time was 11.6 weeks and the mean Harris hip score was 94.1.@*CONCLUSION@#Lateral trochanteric wall in IT fractures is significantly important, and needs to be reconstructed adequately. Nail-plate construct of trochanteric buttress plate fixed with hip screw and anti-rotation screw of proximal femoral nail can be successfully used to augment, fix or buttress the lateral trochanteric wall giving excellent to good results of early union and reduction.

Effect of titanium plate internal fixation combined with titanium nail intermaxillary traction on jaw fractures / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective:To observe the difference in the effect of simple titanium plate internal fixation and titanium plate internal fixation combined with titanium nail intermaxillary traction in the treatment of jaw fractures and their impact on the oral and maxillofacial function of patients.Methods:From August 2016 to May 2021, 94 patients with jaw fractures admitted to the Department of Stomatology, Linyi Central Hospital, Shandong (supplementing the gender, age range and average age of the patients), were divided into 47 cases in the control group, and the titanium plates were used alone, combined operation group 47 cases, titanium plate internal fixation combined with intermaxillary traction with titanium nails. The changes of oral and maxillofacial function and fracture healing were measured before operation and 3 months after operation, and the perioperative indicators and postoperative complications were recorded.Results:Three months after operation, the scores of maxillofacial function, mouth function and masticatory function in the combined operation group (0.52±0.09 points, 0.67±0.12 points, 0.58±0.08 points) were significantly lower than those in the control group (1.05±0.21 points, 1.14±0.22 points, 1.02±0.21 points) ( t=15.90, 12.86, 13.42, P<0.05). The effective rate of the combined operation group was 95.74% (45/47), which was significantly higher than that of the control group (80.85%, 38/47) (χ 2=5.05, P<0.05); there was no significant difference in operation time and hospitalization time between the groups ( P>0.05), the fracture healing time in the combined surgery group (65.02±7.06) d was significantly shorter than that in the control group (82.69±10.25) d ( t=9.73, P<0.05). The postoperative complication rate of combined treatment group was 6.38% (3/47), which was significantly lower than the control group 21.28% (10/47) (χ 2=4.37, P<0.05). Conclusions:In the treatment of jaw fractures, titanium plate internal fixation combined with titanium nail intermaxillary traction treatment can significantly improve the oral and maxillofacial function of patients, promote postoperative fracture healing, improve curative effect and reduce the incidence of complications compared with simple titanium plate internal fixation.

Proximal femoral bionic nail versus proximal femoral nail antirotation in treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fracture: a comparison of short-term efficacy / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Objective:To compare the short-term effects of proximal femoral bionic nail (PFBN) and proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) in the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture.Methods:Retrospectively analyzed were the data of 56 patients with intertrochanteric fracture of the femur who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedic Trauma, The People's Hospital of Juye County and Trauma Center, Central Hospital Affiliated to The First Medical University of Shandong from August 2020 to April 2022. The patients were divided into 2 even groups according to their internal fixation methods ( n=28). In the PFBN fixation group, there were 12 males and 16 females with an age of (70.4±7.8) years; by AO classification, there were 4 cases of type 31-A1, 16 cases of type 31-A2, and 8 cases of type 31-A3. In the PFNA fixation group, there were 10 males and 18 females with an age of (73.0±8.9) years; by AO classification, there were 2 cases of type 31-A1, 16 cases of type 31-A2, and 10 cases of type 31-A3. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture reduction, fracture healing time, Harris hip score, and complications were compared between the 2 groups. Results:There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in the preoperative general data, showing comparability ( P>0.05). The follow-up time was (7.3±0.9) months for the PFBN group and (7.4±1.1) months for the PFNA group, showing no significant difference ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference either between the 2 groups in operation time, intraoperative blood loss or quality of fracture reduction ( P>0.05). The PFNA group had significantly shorter fracture healing time [(3.9±0.9) months] than the PFNA group [(4.7±1.1) months], and a significantly higher Harris hip score at the last follow-up [(83.9±4.3) points] than the PFNA group [(81.0±3.4) points] (both P<0.05). Fixation failed in one patient in the PFNA group due to cut-out of the head and neck screws while no complications were observed in the PFBN group. Conclusion:In the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture of the femur, PFBN fixation may result in stronger fixation to effectively avoid cut-out of the head and neck screws, and faster fracture healing and functional recovery of the hip than PFNA fixation.

Fixation with a retrograde pubic ramus intramedullary nail for anterior pelvic ring fractures / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of a retrograde pubic ramus intramedullary nail (RPRIN) in the treatment of anterior pelvic ring fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 14 patients with anterior pelvic ring fracture who had been treated and followed up at Department of Traumatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital From June 2020 to February 2021. There were 10 males and 4 females with an age of (44.8±12.5) years. By the AO/OTA classification for pelvic fractures, 5 cases were type 61-A, 4 cases 61-B, and 5 cases type 61-C; by the Nakatani classification, 1 case belonged to unilateral zone Ⅰ fracture, 5 cases to unilateral zone Ⅱ fracture, 2 cases to unilateral zone Ⅲ fracture, 3 cases to right zone Ⅱ and left zone Ⅲ fracture, 2 cases to zone Ⅲ fracture on both left and right sides, and 1 case to zone Ⅱ fracture on both sides. The time from injury to operation was (7.8±1.8) days. All the anterior pelvic ring fractures were fixated with a RPRIN. The time and fluoroscopic frequency for placement of every single RPRIN, quality of fracture reduction, and pelvic function and incidence of postoperative complications at the last follow-up were recorded.Results:A total of 18 RPRINs were placed in the 14 patients. For placement of each RPRIN, the time was (35.9±8.6) min, and the fluoroscopic frequency (22.8±1.9) times. No complications such as infection occurred at any surgical incision after RPRIN placement. According to the Matta scoring, the quality of postoperative fracture reduction was assessed as excellent in 7 cases, as good in 5 cases and as fair in 2 cases. The 14 patients were followed up for (18.1+1.5) months. Their X-ray and CT images of the pelvis at the last follow-up showed that the fractures healed well and the intramedullary nails were placed in the cortical bone of the anterior ring of the pelvis. According to the Majeed scoring at the last follow-up, the pelvic function was assessed as excellent in 10 cases, as good in 3 cases and as fair in 1 case. One patient reported discomfort during squatting 2 months after operation but the symptom improved 3 months later without any special treatment. No patient experienced such complications as displacement or slippage of RPRIN, or pain at the insertion site.Conclusion:RPRIN is effective in the treatment of anterior pelvic ring fractures, showing advantages of small surgical incision, limited intraoperative fluoroscopy and short operation time.

Femoral neck system and cannulated compression screw fixation in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in the young and middle-aged patients: efficacy comparison / 中华创伤杂志

Objective:To compare the efficacy of femoral neck system (FNS) and cannulated compression screw (CCS) in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in the young and middle-aged patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 91 patients with femoral neck fracture admitted to Fuzhou Second Hospital from July 2020 to December 2021, including 52 males and 39 females; aged 23-65 years [(48.9±10.3)years]. Garden classification of the fracture found that 31 patients were with type I, 9 with type II, 12 with type III and 39 with type IV. Pauwels classification of the fracture found that 7 patients were with type I, 33 with type II and 51 with type III. A total of 53 patients were treated with FNS fixation (FNS group) and 38 patients with CCS fixation (CCS group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, Haidukewych fracture reduction quality, hospitalization time, Barthel index, fracture healing time, and weight-bearing time were compared between the two groups. The hip function was assessed by Harris hip score in both groups at postoperative 3 months, 6 months and 1 year and at the final follow-up. The incidences of postoperative complication and secondary surgery were also compared between the two groups.Results:All the patients were followed up for 15-31 months [(22.2±5.5)months]. There were no significant differences in the operation time, Haidukewych fracture reduction quality, hospitalization time, or Barthel index (all P>0.05). The intraoperative blood loss in the FNS group was 50.0(20.0,85.0)ml, which was more than that in the CCS group [20.0(10.0,50.0)ml] ( P<0.01). The fracture healing time, partial weight-bearing time, and full weight-bearing time in the FNS group [4.0(3.0,5.0)months, 3.0(2.0,3.0)months, 5.0(4.5,6.0)months] were shorter than those in the CCS group [6.0(5.0,7.0)months, 3.0(2.8,4.0)months, 6.0(6.0,7.0)months] (all P<0.01). The Harris hip score at postoperative 3 months, 6 months and 1 year and at the final follow-up were 74.0(71.0,77.0)points, 87.0(84.0,88.5)points, 91.0(88.0,95.0)points, and 94.0(91.0,96.0)points in the FNS group, significantly higher than those in the CCS group [73.0(70.0,74.0)points, 82.5(79.8,87.0)points, 88.0(83.5,91.0)points, 89.0(84.0,93.0)points] (all P<0.05 or 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of postoperative complication or secondary surgery between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with CCS, FNS can shorten fracture healing time, allow patients to carry full weight as soon as possible, and significantly improve hip function in the treatment of middle-aged and young adults with femoral neck fracture, although there is more intraoperative blood loss.

The clinical characteristics of nail involvement in pemphigus patients and the correlation between nail involvement and the severity of pemphigus / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of nail involvement in patients with pemphigus and the correlation between nail damage and the severity of pemphigus.Methods:The clinical data of 23 patients with pemphigus combined with nail damage admitted to the People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2011 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, the manifestations of pemphigus combined with nail damage were summarized. The nail damage number of patients with pemphigus complicated with nail damage of different genders were analyzed, as well as the distribution of nail damage in nail and toenail. The titer of anti-desmocoglycoprotein(dsg) antibody was detected in all patients. The relationship between nail damage and disease severity and course in pemphigus patients was analyzed.Results:A total of 132 damage nails were found in 23 patients (14 males and 9 females) with pemphigus, including 66 nails in male, 66 nails in female, 82 nails and 50 toenails. There were 10 forms of nail damage, of which chronic paronychia was the most common. The number of damage nails between different genders in pemphigus patients was statistically significant (χ 2=9.183, P<0.001). The distribution of nail and toenail damage in pemphigus patients was statistically significant (χ 2=10.880, P<0.001). Of the 23 patients, only 3 were positive for dsg1 and 1 was positive for dsg3. There were 19 patients with both positive for dsg1 and dsg3. The titers of dsg1 and dsg3 were compared in 14 patients before and after nail damage. The results showed that the titers of anti-dsg antibody in pemphigus patients after nail damage were significantly higher than before. Thirteen of the 23 patients had nail damage at the time of the initial onset of pemphigus. The nail damage occurred from 6 weeks before the onset to 4 weeks after the onset. The nail damage occurred in 10 patients when the disease recurred. The nail damage occurred within 4 weeks before or at the same time with the blister. Conclusions:The number of damage nails per capita in female patients with pemphigus and nail damage was significantly higher than that in male patients, and nail damage was more common. The titers of anti-dsg antibody will be at a high level when pemphigus patients with nail damage, and the condition gets worse. Nail involvement is positive to the severity of the disease, and it can prolong the time of disease.

Anterolateral or Posteromedial Plate-Assisted Intramedullary Nailing for Fixation of Proximal Third Tibia Fractures: A Biomechanical Study / 医用生物力学

Objective To study the stability of plate-assisted intramedullary nailing for fixing proximal third tibiafractures, compare and observe biomechanical characteristics of anterolateral or posteromedial plate-assisted intramedullary nailing after fixation of proximal third tibia fractures. Methods Eight artificial tibia of 4th-generation sawbones were divided into two groups based on location of the assisted plate, namely, anterolateral plate group and posteromedial plate group, with 4 specimens in each group. Each two locking bolts were fixed to theintramedullary nail proximally and distally, and each three bicortical screws were fixed to the plate proximally and distally. The specimens were osteotomized with a 10-mm defect which located 0. 5 cm to the proximal locking bolt of intramedullary nail or 5-6 cm distally to the knee joint line, in order to simulate an AO/ OTA 41-A2 type proximal third tibia fracture after fixation of intramedullary nail. After osteotomy was finished, axial compression test, three point bending test, cyclic loading and overstress test were conducted by mechanical testing machine. The results of axial stiffness and three-point stiffness between two groups were compared and analyzed. Results Axial compression test showed that the average axial stiffness in posteromedial plate group was lower than that in anterolateral plate group, but no significantly statistical differences were found between the two groups. Three point bending test showed that the average bending stiffness in posteromedial plate group was significantly higher than that in anterolateral plate group when stimulating either varus stress (plate located at pressure side of the fracture, t = 3. 679, P<0. 05) or valgus stress (plate located at tension side of the fracture, t = 8. 975, P<0. 05). Conclusions Plate-assisted intramedullary nailing for fixation of proximal third tibia fractures can minimize the angulation malalignment, improve the stability of nailed proximal tibial fragment and allow the early weight bearing. Both anterolateral and posteromedial plate-assisted intramedullary nail can provide satisfactory axial stability for proximal third tibia fractures, while posteromedial plate-assisted intramedullary nail shows better bending stability than anterolateral plate in countering varus or valgus stress deformity. This study provides an essential basis for clinical decision making about plate-assisted intramedullary nailing for fixing proximal third tibia fractures.

Surgical Treatments for Femoral Shaft Fractures: A Narrative Review

@#Femoral shaft fractures are increasingly common due to various traumatic injuries. Intramedullary nail (IMN) is considered the gold standard treatment for these fractures, but comorbidities often require thorough trauma life support and intensive care. The primary goal of treatment is rigid fixation, early mobilisation, and long-term functional recovery. This article reviews current concepts in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures, including the effects of early or delayed operation, differences between antegrade or retrograde intramedullary nailing, alternative methods to using a fracture table, methods to predict nail length before operation, assessing femoral rotation during an operation, and complications.

Compartment Syndrome following Intramedullary Nail Fixation in Closed Tibial Shaft Fractures

@#Introduction: Compartment syndrome complicating intramedullary nailing of closed tibia fractures has been described as early as the 1980s, but currently remains less described in literature compared to compartment syndrome directly following trauma. This study aims to review this potentially disabling complication and highlight the importance of timely diagnosis and management of compartment syndrome following fracture fixation, not just after fracture itself, via a review of three cases. Material and methods: A retrospective study of a series of three cases was conducted. The type of fracture, wait time to fixation, surgery duration, reaming, size of nail implant used, tourniquet time, and surgical technique were recorded. Time to diagnosis of compartment syndrome, compartment pressure if available, extent of muscle necrosis, reconstructive procedures performed, and post-operative complications were analysed. Results: The three cases following high-energy trauma from road traffic accidents presented from January to May 2010. Compartment syndrome was diagnosed clinically for all cases, between one to six days post-operatively and supported by elevated compartment pressure measurements in two of the three cases. Conclusion: This study advocates thorough clinical monitoring and maintaining strong clinical suspicion of compartment syndrome in patients even after intramedullary nail fixation of tibial shaft fractures to achieve timely limbsalvaging intervention. While intercompartmental pressure can be used to aid in diagnosis, we do not advise using it in isolation to diagnose compartment syndrome. Tendon transfer improves functional mobility and provides a good result in patients with severe muscle damage, while skin grafting sufficient in patients with minimal muscle damage.

A Case Report of Nail-Patella Syndrome / 罕见病研究

Nail-patella syndrome (NPS) is a hereditary rare disease that can involve fingernail, patella, elbow, and iliac bones. In this article, we report a case of a girl-9 and 1 quarter years old who had asthmatic contractures in both elbows, thumbnail hypoplasia in both hands, patellar dislocation of both knees, iliac angle protrusion of both sides, and scoliosis. Whole exome sequencing suggests the presence of a LMX1B NM_002316.4:c.706G > C(p.Ala236Pro) mutation. NPS is an autosomal dominant disease associated with gene mutation of LMX1B, which can be diagnosed by combining the patient′s clinical manifestations and genetic results. The treatment now only targets on symptoms, relieving the localized severe lesion but not cure right now.

Surgical technique and effectiveness of titanium elastic nail assisted retrograde channel screw implantation in superior pubic branch / 中国修复重建外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the surgical technique and effectiveness of titanium elastic nail (TEN) assisted retrograde channel screw implantation of superior pubic branch.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 31 patients with pelvic or acetabular fractures treated with retrograde channel screw implantation in superior pubic branch between January 2021 and April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 16 cases were implanted with assistance of TEN (study group) and 15 cases were implanted under the guidance of C-arm X-ray machine (control group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, Tile classification of pelvic fracture, Judet-Letournal classification of acetabular fracture, and time from injury to operation between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, fluoroscopy times, and intraoperative blood loss of each superior pubic branch retrograde channel screw were recorded during operation. X-ray films and three-dimensional CT were reexamined after operation, the quality of fracture reduction was evaluated by Matta score standard, and the position of channel screw was evaluated by screw position classification standard. The fracture healing time was recorded during the follow-up, and the postoperative functional recovery was evaluated by Merle D'Aubigne Postel score system at last follow-up.@*RESULTS@#Nineteen and 20 retrograde channel screws of superior pubic branch were implanted in the study group and the control group, respectively. The operation time, fluoroscopy times, and intraoperative blood loss of each screw in the study group were significantly less than those in the control group ( P<0.05). According to the postoperative X-ray films and three-dimensional CT, none of the 19 screws in the study group penetrated out of the cortical bone or into the joint, and the excellent and good rate was 100% (19/19); in the control group, there were 4 screws of cortical bone penetration, and the excellent and good rate was 80% (16/20); the difference between the two groups was significant ( P<0.05). Matta score standard was used to evaluate the quality of fracture reduction, there was no patient in the two groups with poor reduction results, and the difference was not significant between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incisions of the two groups healed by first intention, and there was no complication such as incision infection, skin margin necrosis, and deep infection. All patients were followed up 8-22 months, with an average of 14.7 months. There was no significant difference in healing time between the two groups ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the difference in functional recovery evaluated by the Merle D'Aubigne Postel scoring system between the two groups was not significant ( P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#TEN assisted implantation technique can significantly shorten the operation time of retrograde channel screw implantation of superior pubic branch, reduce the times of fluoroscopy, and have less intraoperative blood loss and accurate screw implantation, which provides a new safe and reliable method for minimally invasive treatment of pelvic and acetabular fractures.

A comparative analysis of distal locked and unlocked long proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA-II) in the fixation of stable intertrochanteric fractures / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#Long proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA-II) is a preferred implant in recent years for fixation of pertrochanteric fractures, especially in osteoporotic patients. The purpose of this study is to prospectively investigate the effect of distal locking in long PFNA-II fixation of stable intertrochanteric fractures.@*METHODS@#A total of 58 patients with isolated stable intertrochanteric fractures and treated in our hospital during the study period of 2017-2019 by distal locked or unlocked long PFNA-II fixation were included in this study. Patients who had multiple injuries or open fractures were excluded. There were 40 female and 18 male patients, with 33 affecting the left side and 25 the right side. Of them, 31 belonged to the distal locked group (group A) and 27 to the unlocked group (group B). Surgical procedures and implants used in both groups were similar except for the distal locking of the nails. General data (age, gender, fracture side, etc.) showed no significant difference between two groups (all p > 0.05). The intraoperative parameters like operative time, radiation exposure and follow-up parameters like functional and radiological outcomes were recorded and compared. Statistical tests like the independent samples t-test Fischer's exact and Chi-square test were used to analyze association.@*RESULTS@#The distribution of the fractures according to AO/OTA classification and 31A1.2 type of intertrochanteric fractures were most common in our study. All the included fractures united and the average functional outcome in both groups were good and comparable at the end of one year. The operative time (mL, 107.1 ± 12.6 vs. 77.0 ± 12.0, p < 0.001) and radiation exposure (s, 78.6 ± 11.0 vs. 40.3 ± 9.3, p < 0.001) were significantly less among the patients in group B. Fracture consolidation, three months after the operative procedures, was seen in a significantly greater proportion of patients in group B (92.6% vs. 67.7%, p = 0.025). Hardware irritation because of distal locking bolt was exclusively seen in group A, however this was not statistically significant (p = 0.241).@*CONCLUSION@#We conclude that, in fixation of stable intertrochanteric fractures by long PFNA-II nail, distal locking not only increases the operative time and radiation exposure but also delays the fracture consolidation and increases the chances of hardware irritation, and hence is not required.