ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Ilizarov technique yields satisfactory results in difficult situations. Widely displaced fracture of the patella after failed osteosynthesis is a difficult situation. We are reporting one such case in a 27 years old male treated by modified Ilizarov technique. CASE REPORT: A 27-years old male with transverse fracture of the patella was fixed with tension band wiring. He indulged in heavy manual work including bicycling after 15 days of operation contrary to advice that led to loosening of implants and failure of reduction. He reported after 2 months of failure. A modified Ilizarov technique was contemplated. Implants were removed. After cleaning the margins, opposite olive wires (2 in each fragment) mounted in traction units were attached to two full rings, each fixed to distal femur and tibia. Sub-acute docking was done on the table followed by gradual docking till the fragments came in contact to each other. Compression was applied across the fracture site after confirmation of docking by X-ray at the rate of 0.25 mm every 3rd day till 1.0 mm of compression was achieved. Full weight bearing was possible immediately after surgery. Regular follow up was carried out to look for any pin site problems and loss of compression. Assembly was removed after X-ray confirmed sound healing after 2 months. Initially there was restriction of movements at the knee joint which improved gradually with physiotherapy. At one year follow-up, the patientcould squat completely. CONCLUSION: Widely displaced fracture of the patella after failed osteosynthesis is a difficult situation Modified Ilizarov technique is beneficial for treating such a situation in terms of function and restoration of anatomy as it avoids soft tissue scarring which may follow in an attempt to do an open reduction. Gradual stretching of the soft tissue and subsequent controlled compression at the fracture site is the advantage of this technique.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cast immobilisation after successful closed reduction is a standard treatment for displaced extra-articular fractures of lower end radius. The position of the wrist during immobilisation is controversial. Immobilisation in dorsiflexion prevents redisplacement after closed reduction. Our aim is to determine the effectiveness of immobilization of wrist in dorsiflexion in such cases and evaluate anatomical and functional outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study included 54 patients, above 19 years of age with closed extra-articular fractures of lower end radius treated conservatively with below elbow cast application. The wrist was maintained in 15° of dorsiflexion during plaster immobilisation. At 24 weeks, functional results were evaluated with subjective symptoms and objective signs, as per modified Demerit Point Score System. Anatomical result was evaluated based on the scheme devised by Lidstrom (1959) and modified by Sarmiento et al. (1980). RESULTS: 76% patients had Excellent to Good subjective symptoms. Out of 42 patients that had residual dorsal angulation of less than 10°, 37 had excellent to good functional outcome. 39 of the 43 patients who had loss of radial length less than 6 mm had excellent to good functional outcome. 40 out of 49 patients having loss of radial angulation less than 9° showed excellent to good functional outcome. Functional result was directly proportional to anatomical outcome. CONCLUSION: Cast immobilization of extra articular fractures of lower end radius with wrist in dorsiflexion prevents re-displacement of the fragments resulting in satisfactory anatomical & functional outcome.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Conventional wire fixation of Ilizarov rings often fails to provide 90-90 configuration because of vital structures, which is essential for optimum stability. Hybrid assembly with half pins is an alternative. The aim of this study is to compare the results of Hybrid assembly with that of conventional classic circular transfixion wire Ilizarov assembly in 50 cases of infected nonunion of tibia between 1994 and 2003. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study includes two groups with 25 patients in each group: Group (A) conventional Ilizarov assembly and Group (B) hybrid Ilizarov assembly. Thirty-five cases developed infected nonunion following road traffic accidents while others after fall (6) bullet injury (4), infected osteosynthesis (3) and assault (2). There were 45 males and five females with mean age (18 to 56 years). All active cases (n=28) were treated by debridement including removal of implants in infected osteosynthesis. Twenty out of 22 cases in the quiescent group (non draining for last three consecutive months) were treated without open debridement; only two cases required open debridement for various reasons. All the cases were finally treated as atrophic aseptic nonunion with bone defect and were classified according to ASAMI. Type B1: length of the limb maintained with bone gap (14 cases in both Group A and B) and Type B3: combined shortening with defect (five and seven cases in Group A and B respectively), were treated by bifocal osteosynthesis. Only one case in the B3 group was treated by trifocal osteosynthesis to shorten the time. Type B2: segments in contact with limb shortening (total nine cases; five and four cases in Group A and B respectively) with shortening up to 2 cm (total five cases) were treated with monofocal osteosynthesis while shortening up to 5 cm and beyond (total four cases) were treated with bifocal osteosynthesis. RESULTS: The cases were followed up for two to six years and the results were evaluated by Paley criteria of bony results (union, infection, deformity and leg-length discrepancy) and Functional Results (significant limp, equinus rigidity of the ankle, soft-tissue dystrophy, pain and inactivity). In both the groups, 24 cases out of 25, had excellent to good bony result with Group B having twice more excellent result than Group A. Functional results were found to be similar in both the groups. Although persistence of infection and Grade III pin tract infection (PTI) were slightly higher in Group B, complications like delayed consolidation of regenerate, refracture, deformity and aneurysm of vessel were less in this group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Ilizarov methodology produced a satisfactory result in infected nonunion of the tibia. Hybrid assembly was a fruitful advancement in the Ilizarov armamentarium. The results were comparable to Conventional assembly in terms of docking site problems, corticotomy site problems, PTIs and other problems.
