Fracturas de húmero distal en pacientes mayores de 65 años: ¿cuál es la mejor opción terapéutica? / Distal humerus fractures in patients over 65 years: what is the best therapeutic option? / Fraturas do úmero distal em pacientes maiores de 65 anos: qual é a melhor opção terapêutica?

Introducción: Las fracturas del húmero distal corresponden al 2% de todas las fracturas. Son los pacientes más añosos, los que presentan mayor desafío terapéutico. Suelen presentarse con huesos osteoporóticos, lo que conlleva a producir fracturas con mayor conminución articular y metafisaria; así como también dificultar una fijación estable y rígida de las mismas, que permita una movilidad precoz. Estas características generan controversia a la hora de elegir el tratamiento adecuado. El objetivo de este estudio es revisar la bibliografía de la última década, acerca de cuál es la mejor opción terapéutica para las fracturas de húmero distal en pacientes añosos. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda sistematizada a través de los buscadores electrónicos PubMed y Timbó en agosto 2019. La búsqueda llego a un total de 475 artículos, de los cuales se seleccionaron 24 según criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Discusión: La mayoría de los estudios analizados son estudios de serie de casos retrospectivos. En los trabajos revisados, existen fracturas tanto extra como intra-articulares. Se analizaron los resultados de los distintos tratamientos realizados según parámetros clínicos, scores funcionales y complicaciones. Conclusiones: El tratamiento conservador es una opción válida para aquellos pacientes en los que el terreno no permita una intervención quirúrgica. Para las fracturas tipo extra-articulares y parcialmente articulares, la reducción abierta y fijación interna es el tratamiento de elección. Para las fracturas articulares completas, no hay diferencias significativas en cuanto a scores utilizados entre la reducción abierta y fijación interna con la artroplastia de codo. Faltan estudios prospectivos que comparen ambos tratamientos.

Introduction: Distal humerus fractures account for 2% of all fractures. It is the elderly patients who present the greatest therapeutic challenge. Osteoporotic bones, more common in this population, lead to the production of fractures with greater joint and metaphyseal comminution. As a result, stable and rigid fixation becomes more difficult, hindering early mobility. These characteristics generate controversy when choosing the appropriate treatment. The aim of this study is to review the literature of the last decade regarding the best therapeutic option for distal humerus fractures in elderly patients. Methods: A systematized search was performed through the electronic search engines PubMed and Timbó in august 2019. The search reached a total of 475 articles, of which 24 were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Discussion: Most of the studies analyzed are retrospective case series studies. In the articles reviewed, there are both extra and intra-articular fractures. The results of the different treatments performed were analyzed according to clinical parameters, functional scores and complications. Conclusions: Conservative treatment is a valid option for those patients where the terrain does not allow surgical intervention. For extra-articular and partial-articular fractures, open reduction and internal fixation is the treatment of choice. For complete articular fractures, there are no significant differences in scores used between open reduction and internal fixation and elbow replacement. There is a lack of prospective studies comparing both treatments.

Introdução: Fraturas do úmero distal correspondem a 2% de todas as fraturas. São os pacientes mais idosos os que apresentam maior desafio terapêutico. Geralmente apresentam-se com ossos osteoporóticos, o que implica produzir fraturas com maior cominuição articular e metafisária; assim como também dificultar uma fixação estável e rígida das mesmas, que permita uma mobilidade precoce. Estas características geram controvérsia na escolha do tratamento adequado. O objetivo deste estudo é rever a bibliografia da última década, sobre qual é a melhor opção terapêutica para fraturas de úmero distal em pacientes idosos. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizada uma pesquisa sistematizada através dos buscadores eletrônicos Pubmed e Timbó em agosto 2019. A pesquisa chegou a um total de 475 artigos, dos quais 24 foram selecionados segundo critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Discussão: A maioria dos estudos analisados são estudos de série de casos retrospectivos. Nos trabalhos revisados, existem fraturas tanto extra como intra-articulares. Foram analisados os resultados dos diferentes tratamentos realizados segundo parâmetros clínicos, scores funcionais e complicações. Conclusões: O tratamento conservador é uma opção válida para os pacientes em que o terreno não permita uma intervenção cirúrgica. Para fraturas tipo extra-articulares e parcialmente articulares, a redução aberta e fixação interna é o tratamento de escolha. Para fracturas articulares completas, não há diferenças significativas em termos de scores utilizados entre a redução aberta e a fixação interna com artroplastia do cotovelo. Faltam estudos prospectivos que comparem os dois tratamentos.

Uso del método de Ilizarov en pie bot pediátrico / Use of the Ilizarov method in pediatric clubfoot

Introducción: El objetivo del tratamiento del pie bot está enfocado en lograr un pie plantígrado, indoloro y que permita el uso del calzado habitual. El objetivo de este trabajo fue medirla incidencia de recidiva luego de obtener la corrección de la deformidad en pacientes con pie bot tratados con tutor de Ilizarov, y analizar los factores pronóstico asociados. Materiales y métodos: Cohorte retrospectiva de factores pronóstico. Se trató con este método a 48 pacientes (70 pies) desde 1988. Se excluyeron los pacientes con falta de corrección de la deformidad en el momento de retirar el tutor (deformidad residual o corrección incompleta). La variable de estudio fue la recidiva. Resultados: El 77 por ciento de los 70 pies eran idiopáticos. Solo 18 pies no habían sido tratados. Todos eran pacientes pediátricos. El promedio de edad en el momento de la cirugía era de 7,9 años. Se incluyeron tres grupos de pacientes: tratados con Ilizarov solo (40,2 por ciento), en combinación con cirugía de partes blandas (38,5 por ciento) y asociado con osteotomías (21,3 por ciento). El seguimiento promedio posoperatorio fue de 10,6 años (de 5,5 a 22). En el 71 por ciento de los pies, los resultados fueron pobres, la deformidad recidivó en un promedio de 38 meses, y fueron necesarias cirugías complementarias para lograr un pie plantígrado. Conclusiones: Presentamos una importante casuística con seguimiento alejado de pie bot recidivado o inveterado, con una alta recidiva de la deformidad (71 por ciento). No encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los subgrupos estudiados (edad, diagnóstico, tratamientos previos y procedimientos asociados). Actualmente no consideramos a esta técnica de primera elección, pues nuestros resultados fueron poco alentadores.

Ilizarov Treatment of Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia: A Multi-Targeted Approach Using the Ilizarov Technique

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) is one of the most challenging problems in pediatric orthopaedics. The treatment goals are osteosynthesis, stabilization of the ankle mortise by fibular stabilization, and lower limb-length equalization. Each of these goals is difficult to accomplish but regardless of the surgical options, the basic biological considerations are the same: pseudarthrosis resection, biological bone bridging of the defect by stable fixation, and the correction of any angular deformity. The Ilizarov method is certainly valuable for the treatment of CPT because it can address not only pseudarthrosis but also all complex deformities associated with this condition. Leg-length discrepancy can be managed by proximal tibial lengthening using distraction osteogenesis combined with or without contralateral epiphysiodesis. However, treatment of CPT is fraught with complications due to the complex nature of the disease, and failure is common. Residual challenges, such as refracture, growth disturbance, and poor foot and ankle function with stiffness, are frequent and perplexing. Refracture is the most common and serious complication after primary healing and might result in the re-establishment of pseudarthrosis. Therefore, an effective, safe and practical treatment method that minimizes the residual challenges after healing and accomplishes the multiple goals of treatment is needed. This review describes a multi-targeted approach for tackling these challenges, which utilizes the Ilizarov technique in atrophic-type CPT.

Problematic tibial nonunion management by distraction osteogenesis and Ilizarov fixator

Forty-nine tibial nonunions that were associated with different difficult problems were treated by radical resection of necrotic and infected bone, distraction osteogenesis for internal bone transport or lengthening, acute or gradual correction of deformities with the aid of Ilizarov external fixator. The included problems were active infection in 30 patients [61.2%], segmental bone defects in 24 patients [48.9%], shortening in 17 patients [34.7%], deformities in 16 patients [32.7%], unhealthy or soft tissues coverage defects in 22 patients [44.9%] and 3 patients with soft tissue contractures [6.1%]. Forty-five patients were males and the other four were females and the mean age was 36.5 years ranging between 16 years to 75 years. All un- united tibiae were united, except 3 patients [6.1%] and the infection was eradicated, except one patient that still had small sinus discharging serous fluid. Equalization of length was occurred in all patients, except two and all segmental bone defects were filled by new bone formation. The mean period of treatment was 10.1 months and the mean period of follow up was 25.9 months. The functional results were 24 excellent [49%], 17 good [34.7%], 3 fair [6.1%] and 5 poor [10.2%]. This method is proved to be an encouraging method to manage such difficult cases

Lower Limb Lengthening in Turner Dwarfism

The aim of this study was to review our cases of lower limb lengthening to treat Turner dwarfism, and to speculate whether or not effective limb lengthening can be achieved in this rare condition. Twelve tibiae and 2 femora were lengthened in 6 patients using the Ilizarov method for the tibia and a gradual elongation nail for the femur. The mean age at the time of surgery was 19 years, and the patients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. The average gain in the tibial and femoral length was 6.2 cm and 6.0 cm, respectively. The average healing index of tibia and femur was 1.9 and 1.7 months. The average tibia-to-femur ratio improved from 0.68 preoperatively to 0.81 postoperatively, and leg-trunk ratios improved from 0.88 to 0.99. Seven segments (50.0 percent) had completed the lengthening protocol without complications. Two segments (14.3 percent) had an intractable pin site infection requiring a pin exchange, and four segments (35.7 percent) had twelve complications (a nonunion at the distraction site, premature consolidation, Achilles tendon contractures and planovalgus). The overall rate of complications was 100 percent for each bone lengthened. All the patients showing a nonunion at the distraction site had a reduced bone mass, which was less than 65 percent of those of the age-matched normal population. Despite the complications, all patients were satisfied with the results, and lower limb lengthening in Turner Dwarfism believed to be a valid option. However, it may require careful management in a specialist unit in order to prevent complications during the lengthening procedure. In addition, the osteopenia associated with an estrogen deficiency leading to problems in consolidation is a difficult issue to address.