Comparison between Screw Fixation and Tension Band Wiring for the Treatment of Medial Malleolar Fractures / 대한정형외과학회잡지

In the treatment of malleolar fracture, anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation are essential to prevent the complications such as infection, malunion or nonunion, traumatic arthritis, skin necrosis and joint contracture. But it is often difficult to obtain rigid fixation for medial malleolar fracture because of its comminution or thin cortex with osteoporosis. Generally, two operative methods are available for medial malleolar fracture, which are malleolar lag screw fixation and tension band wiring. The purpose of this paper is to analyze which operative method is better for anatomical reduction and rigid fixation and has less postoperative complications for medial malleolar fractures. From March 1992 through March 1995, 88 patients had undergone surgical intervention for medial malleolar fractures. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to operative method for medial malleolar fracture. For one group, malleolar lag screw together with or without a K-wire was used in 48 patients, and for the other group, tension band wiring was used in 40 patients. The average follow-up periods were 14 months in screw fixation group and 13 months in tension band wiring group. The average union time were 15.4 weeks (8-17 weeks) in screw fixation group and 12.2 weeks (6-15 weeks) in tension band wiring group. 27 cases (56%) showed excellent result in screw fixation group and 30 cases (75%) in tension band wiring group. In the patient over 50 years old, 2 (15%) in 13 cases showed excellent result of screw fixation group, while 5 (45%) in 11 cases of tension band wiring group. We concluded that tension band wiring is a better method for medial malleolar fracture to obtain early union and to prevent postoperative complications, especially in the elderly patient.

Changes of Tc - 99m - HDP Bone Scan Findings in Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral head ( ANFH ) Treated with Vascularized Fibular Graft / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Vascularized fibular graft is one of the treatment option for avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH) and has been known as providing a strut mechanical support and new vascular bed. It is very important to evaluate a healing process in femoral head after vascularization procedure. But a plain radiographic finding has a problem to assess pathological changes of ANFH treated with vascularized fibular graft. Authors analyzed chronogical changes of Tc-99m-HDP bone scan in 31 cases of ANFH treated with vascularized fibular graft from April, 1991 to May, 1994 and following results were obtained. l. Until 2 months after surgery, no change in size of cold defect area and no significant change in extent of RI uptake in reactive zone were noted. 2. During 2 months and 6 months after surgery, slight decrease in size of cold defect area and minimal changes in extent of RI uptake in reactive zone were observed. 3. During 6 months and 12 months after surgery, size of cold defect area decreased to 1/2 and changes in extent and degree of RI uptake in reactive zone were observed. 4. During 1 year and 2 years after surgery, size of cold defect area were minimal and sometimes faded away. RI uptake with decreased density in reactive zone broadened and moved to subchondral area. 5. After 2 years after surgery, cold area faded away and small increased RI uptake were observed in same site. In conclusion, Tc-99m-HDP bone scan which is economic and easily applicable in a patient is very useful for follow up study in ANFH treated with vascularized fibular graft.

Staged Reconstruction for Old Electrical Burns Around the Wrist / 대한정형외과학회잡지

In our series with old electrical burn around the the wrist, there are several characteristics: for example, bad scarring in palm and volar aspect of wrist and distal forearm, large multiple defects of the flexor tendons, low median and ulnar nerve palsy, and occasionally insufficient blood supply. Between 1992 and 1995, we treated 8 cases of 7 patients with staged reconstruction. 4 patients with bilateral involvements had below-elbow amputee of contralateral upper extremity. The common approachs in each were soft tissue coverage, staged tendon reconstructiuon, and opponensplasty. The length of time between the injury and tendon reconstruction was 9 months on an average. Soft tissue coverage consisted of: 1. free tissue transfer (n=3), 2. abdominal (n=3) or groin (n=2). Total numbers of flexor tendon reconstruction were 26. Among them, staged reconstruction using silicone prosthesis were done in 18 tendons and primary tendon graft following tenolysis were done in 8 tendons. The time between first and second stage tendon reconstruction was 4.13 months. In all cases, opponen-splasty using extensor indicis proprius (n=4), extensor pollicis longus (n=2), and extensor digiti mini- mi (n=l), were performed. Good functional improvement of the hand were obtained in all cases. Patient s satisfaction were much better than the degree of functional improvement of the hand.

Surgical Treatment of Pathological Dislocation of Child Hip After Acute Osteomyelitis of Ilium / 대한정형외과학회잡지

A case of pathological hip dislocation in a child, aged 2 years 6 months, who had surgical treatment, is reported. The boy has history of osteomyelitis of right ilium at age of 10 month, which ended up with the right hip dislocation. Postoperatively cephalocotyloid relation of the right hip was very well reestablished during five years of postoperative observation. Through this case, it is reconfirmed that a child hip has a natural remodelling power even in case of hip joint destruction.