Clinical application of a self-designed controllable and portable double-pin traction device on calf / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical application of our self-designed controllable and portable double-pin traction device on calf in the treatment of tibiofibular fractures.Methods Our controllable and portable double-pin traction device on calf was designed to fulfill the purpose of traction and address current problems in traction for tibiofibular fractures.This device is composed of double-hole connectors,nuts of various specifications,traction pin sleeves,2 transfixion pins and 2 threaded rods for traction.The transfixion pins are fixed at conventional traction positions.The threaded rods for traction are paralleled to the long axis of lower limb and located on both sides of the calf.Bone ends can be distracted by adjusting the nut of M8 width and the speed of pulling can be controlled.This device can be used not only for rapid traction during surgery but also for slow traction preoperatively.It was applied in the 30 patients with tibiofibular fracture who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,920th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force from January to December 2017.Their radiographs were taken before traction and at 3 and 6 days after traction to observe the changes in overlapped fracture ends and fracture gap.The lengths of distraction were measured.After limited open reduction,fracture gaps and tensions of surrounding soft-tissues were observed.Results Their radiographs before and after traction demonstrated that their overlapped and displaced fracture ends were distracted more or less.The length of distraction ranged from 7.2 mm to 45.8 mm (mean,23.1 mm);it was ＜ 15 mm in 6 cases,between 15 mm and 30 mm in 18,between 31 mm and 45 mm in 5,and ＞ 45 mm in one.Their radiographs showed that regular traction for 6 days was more obvious than that for 3 days.The limited open reduction revealed that the gap between fracture ends was expanded,the soft-tissue tension effectively relaxed,the overlapping of fracture ends diminished,and the dissection of surrounding soft-tissue and periosteum decreased,leading to less difficulty in reduction.In fractures near the joint or involving the articular surface,the joint space was expanded.The 30 patients were followed up for one to 16 months (mean,5.8 months).No such complications as pin site infection,traction fracture or osteomyelitis was observed.Conclusion Our self-designed controllable and portable double-pin traction device on calf is effective and advantageous,because it is simple,easy,light in weight,and controllable for traction speed.