Shaft Fractures of Both Forearm Bones: The Outcomes of Surgical Treatment with Plating Only and Combined Plating and Intramedullary Nailing

BACKGROUND: Plate fixation is the most commonly used technique for the treatment of shaft fractures of both forearm bones (SFBFBs). However, all fractures are difficult to treat with plate fixation because of soft tissue injuries, fracture patterns, or the patient's condition. The purpose of this study is to compare the functional results of plate fixation only and combined plate and intramedullary (IM) nail fixation in SFBFBs. METHODS: Fifty-nine cases of SFBFBs that were surgically treated from June 2007 to July 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. In this study, 47 cases that were followed up for more than 12 months were included. All SFBFBs were divided into two groups according to the methods used for internal fixation: plate fixation only (group A) and combined plate and IM nail fixation (group B). The fixation methods were determined intraoperatively. Plate fixation was considered as the first option in all cases, but combined plate and IM nail fixation was selected as the second option if it was difficult to be fixed with plate only. Groups A and B comprised of 31 and 16 cases, respectively. The functional results were evaluated by the Grace and Eversmann rating system and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. RESULTS: In groups A and B, a radiologic union was achieved in 30/31 and 14/16 cases and average union time was 11.1 and 17.8 weeks, respectively. According to the Grace and Eversmann rating system, group A had excellent results in 15 cases, good in 14, acceptable in one, and unacceptable in one. Group B had excellent results in three cases, good in nine, acceptable in two, and unacceptable in two. The average DASH score was 7.1 points (range, 0 to 19.2 points) in group A and 15.1 points (range, 0 to 29.6 points) in group B. Three cases of nonunion with unacceptable results achieved a bony union by additional procedures and the functional results of these cases improved to good or excellent. CONCLUSIONS: The functional results and the average union time were superior in group A than in group B. However, we think that combined fixation is a useful method for SFBFBs that cannot be treated with plate fixation only.

Reconstrucción del ligamento colateral ulnar en atletas de béisbol mediante la técnica híbrido DANE TJ / Reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament in baseball athletes by DANE TJ hybrid technique / Réparation du ligament collatéral ulnaire par la technique hybride DANE TJ chez les joueurs de baseball

INTRODUCCIÓN: la lesión del ligamento colateral medial del codo es una de las lesiones más frecuentes e incapacitantes en los atletas de béisbol. En muchos pacientes se requiere de una reconstrucción de esta estructura para lo cual se han descrito varias técnicas. OBJETIVO: evaluar los resultados de la técnica híbrido DANE TJ para el tratamiento de la insuficiencia del ligamento colateral ulnar en nuestros pacientes. MÉTODOS: se realizó un estudio en 12 jugadores de béisbol de alto rendimiento con diagnóstico de lesión del ligamento colateral medial, que no resolvieron con tratamiento conservador, por lo que se les aplicó tratamiento quirúrgico mediante la técnica híbrido DANE TJ. RESULTADOS: la mayoría de los atletas son lanzadores (75 %). En 9 de los 12 pacientes (75 %) existía algún grado de choque postero-medial. La neuritis del cubital estaba presente en el 58,3 % de los pacientes en los cuales se realizó transposición subcutánea anterior del nervio cubital. En 2 pacientes (16,7 %) se presentó un cuadro de parestesias transitorias del nervio cubital que se resolvió con tratamiento conservador. La puntuación promedio de la intensidad del dolor preoperatorio según la Escala Visual Analógica era de 8,1 puntos y se redujo a 1,4 después de un año de la intervención. El resultado fue excelente o bueno en el 83,3 % de los pacientes los cuales se incorporaron a sus actividades deportivas. CONCLUSIONES: la técnica híbrido que combina la fijación del injerto al húmero mediante la técnica Docking con la fijación al cúbito mediante tornillo interferencial, es de fácil ejecución, produce un mínimo daño a los tejidos blandos, y permite lograr un resultado similar al resto de los estudios revisados.

INTRODUCTION: the medial collateral ligament injury of the elbow joint is one of the most common and disabling injuries in baseball athletes. In many patients, a reconstruction of this structure is requires for which several techniques have been described. OBJECTIVE: evaluate the results of DANE TJ hybrid technique for treating ulnar collateral ligament insufficiency in our patients. METHODS: a study was conducted in 12 high-performance baseball players who were diagnosed to suffer medial collateral ligament injury. They did not heel with conservative treatment, so surgical treatment was applied by DANE TJ hybrid technique. RESULTS: most athletes are pitchers (75 %). 9 out of 12 patients (75 %) had some degree of posteromedial shock. Ulnar neuritis was present in 58.3 % of patients in whom anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve was performed. Transient ulnar nerve paresthesia occurred in 2 patients (16.7 %), which were remedied with conservative treatment. The average intensity of preoperative pain score according to the Visual Analogue Scale was 8.1 points and dropped to 1.4 after one year of intervention. The result was excellent or good in 83.3 % of patients who returned to their sports activities. CONCLUSIONS: the hybrid technique that combines the humerus graft fixation by Docking technique fixing the ulna using interferential screw is easily accomplished, minimal damage to soft tissue is caused, and similar results are achieved in comparison to the other studies reviewed.

INTRODUCTION: la lésion du ligament collatéral médial du coude est l'une des lésions les plus fréquentes et invalidantes chez les joueurs de baseball. Dans plusieurs cas, une réparation de cette structure s'avère nécessaire, c'est pourquoi plusieurs techniques opératoires ont été décrites. OBJECTIF: le but de cette étude est d'évaluer les résultats de la technique hybride DANE TJ dans le traitement de cette atteinte du ligament collatéral ulnaire chez nos patients. MÉTHODES: une étude de 12 joueurs de baseball de haut niveau, diagnostiqués d'une lésion du ligament collatéral médial, est réalisée. N'ayant pas répondu au traitement conservateur, on a décidé de leur traiter chirurgicalement par la technique hybride DANE TJ. RÉSULTATS: Neuf sur douze de ces joueurs, dont la plupart sont des lanceurs (75 %), souffraient un certain grade de choc postéro-médial. On a trouvé une névrite cubitale dans 53.3 % des patients ayant donc subi une transposition antérieure sous-cutanée du nerf cubital. Le score moyen de l'intensité de la douleur préopératoire, selon l'Échelle visuelle analogique, était 8.1 points, et a diminué 1.4 points un an après l'opération. Les résultats ont été excellents ou bons dans 83.3 % des patients qui sont donc rentrés aux activités sportives. CONCLUSIONS: la technique hybride combinant la fixation du greffon à l'humérus par la technique Docking et la fixation au cubitus par vis d'interférence est facile à réaliser; elle cause un dommage insignifiant aux tissus mous, et permet d'obtenir un résultat similaire au reste des études révisées.