The treatment of intra-articular calcaneus fractures with severe soft tissue damage with a hinged external fixator or internal stabilization: long-term results.

We developed a hinged external fixator for the treatment of dislocated intra-articular calcaneus fractures with severe soft tissue damage. The external fixation was performed with a known external fixator system. The screw insertion points were biomechanically tested by defining a virtual rotation axis through the center of the talus to allow early active motion in the ankle joint. Long-term follow-up was performed after an average of 7.3 years. Results were graded with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Radiographs were reviewed according to Sanders classification. Four open fractures and 33 cases with extremely swollen soft tissue, blisters, or compartment syndromes were treated. In 24 cases (64.9%), the hinged fixator was the final method of treatment (group I). A change to open reduction with internal fixation was performed in 13 fractures (35.1%) when soft tissue problems were minimal (group II). There were no late amputations, osteomyelitis, or malunions. According to Sanders classification, group I consisted of 14 type II, 8 type III, and 2 type IV fractures. Pin loosening or pin infection was seen in 4 cases, but there was no redislocation. The Böhler's angle improved in 43%, gaps in the posterior facet were closed in 41%, and any shortening or deviation of the axis was corrected in 82% of the cases. The AOFAS score for the group averaged 66.5. According to Sanders classification, group II consisted of 8 type II and 5 type III fractures. The Böhler's angle improved in 88%, and gaps in the posterior facet were closed in 87%. Any shortening or deviation of the axis was corrected in 95%, and the AOFAS score averaged 61.3. Significant differences in patient outcome scores between open reduction with internal fixation and hinged fixator were not found. P value was > .05. The hinged external fixator frame can be used in all calcaneus fracture types without soft tissue limitation. The hinged fixator allows early movement in the ankle joint, the risk of infection is minimized, and secondary plate fixation remains possible.

Hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder after four-part fracture of the humeral head: a long-term analysis of 34 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the treatment outcomes of patients with four-part fracture of the humeral head after primary and secondary hemiarthroplasty. PATIENTS: Retrospective long-term analysis of 46 patients from 1996 to 2002 of patients with 47 four-part fractures of humeral head. Patients with malignant disease were excluded. INTERVENTION: Aequalis (Tornier, Burscheid, Germany). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Absolute and relative constant scores at 5-year follow-up examination without age or sex normalization, radiographic parameters of calcification, dislocation of tuberosities, prosthetic loosening, and dislocation of joint. RESULTS: Eighteen patients treated by primary and 16 patients treated by secondary arthroplasty were assessed clinically and radiologically after a mean follow-up of 64 (60-96) months. The absolute Constant scores at follow-up were 54.9 to 48.5 points, respectively. The relative scores were 61.4% and 57.3%, respectively. Dislocation of tuberosities with severe loss of function was found in five cases treated by primary arthroplasty (13.5%) and in 12 treated by secondary arthroplasty (75.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients in both groups was free of pain or suffered minor pain as determined by the Constant score. Safe fixation of the tuberosities is a prerequisite for functional exercises and is better achieved in primary arthroplasty. A computed tomography scan before operative therapy aids in making the decision between open reduction and internal fixation or hemiarthroplasty.

Dynamic and functional gait analysis of severely displaced intra-articular calcaneus fractures treated with a hinged external fixator or internal stabilization.

The purpose of this article was to assess functional gait outcome. Fifty-five patients with severely displaced intra-articular calcaneus fractures and soft tissue damage were evaluated prospectively with computerized dynamic pedography and a clinical scoring scale. The treatment protocol assigned 30 patients to open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and 25 to closed reduction and stabilization with a biomechanically tested hinged external fixator. Gait parameter was evaluated by measuring plantar pressure distribution, length of a double-step, double-step duration, standing duration, effective foot length, and width of gait. Pedographic measurements were performed with a custom-made gait analysis system (medilogic Gangas, Berlin, Germany). Results were graded by an extended protocol of questionnaires and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot scales. Radiographs were reviewed according to the Sanders classification at the time of follow-up (7.3 years). All measurements were statistically analyzed (t test; Mann-Whitney U test). Aberrations were associated with all calcaneal fractures in both groups. Dynamic gait analysis showed gait asymmetry in all patients. The type of treatment (ORIF or a hinged fixator) of severely displaced calcaneus fractures did not affect gait analysis nor result in significantly different (P > .05) patient outcome scores. The gait analysis system allows a valid dynamic pedographic measurement. The hinged external fixator can be recommended in displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures with severe soft tissue damage to reduce complications associated with ORIF. ACFAS Level of Clinical Evidence: 2c.

Value of fat-suppressed PD-weighted TSE-sequences for detection of anterior and posterior cruciate ligament lesions--comparison to arthroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate fat-suppressed (FS) proton-density-weighted (PDw) turbo spin-echo (TSE) magnetic resonance imaging for the detection of anterior and posterior cruciate ligament lesions in comparison to arthroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study 31 knee joints were imaged on a 1.5T MR scanner (Vision, Siemens, Erlangen) prior to arthroscopy using following sequences: (a) sagittal FS-PDw/T2w TSE (TR/TE: 4009/15/105 ms); (b) sagittal PDw/T2w TSE (TR/TE:3800/15/105 ms). Further imaging parameters: slice thickness 3mm, FOV 160 mm, matrix 256 x 256. A total of 62 anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL/PCL) were evaluated, standard of reference was arthroscopy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (ppv) and negative predictive value (npv) and accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-one cruciate ligament ruptures were detected in arthroscopy, 19 ACL- and 2 PCL-ruptures (on MRI 34/124, 25/62 ACL, 9/62 PCL lesions). For all four sequences in the 31 patients with arthroscopic correlation sensitivity, specificity, ppv, npv and accuracy were 86%, 98%, 95%, 93% and 94% for detection of tears, and 84%, 100%, 100%, 80% and 90% for ACL-ruptures respectively. The two PCL-ruptures were true positive in all sequences, one intact PCL was diagnosed as torn (false positive). CONCLUSIONS: Fat-suppressed PDw/T2w TSE-MR sequences are comparable to PDw TSE sequences for the detection of ACL/PCL-lesions.

Experimental and clinical evaluation of acromioclavicular joint structures with new scan orientations in MRI.

The objective of the study was to evaluate MRI for visualization of acromioclavicular (ac) joint structures in cadaveric shoulders, asymptomatic volunteers and symptomatic patients with trauma of the ac-joint. Three cadaveric shoulders were examined to find adequate planes and sequences for MRI. Afterwards, MR images were correlated to corresponding anatomical sections. Six asymptomatic volunteers and 13 patients were scanned in a 1.5 T Magnetom Vision with three sequences in the following planes: (1) parallel to the clavicle; (2) orthogonal to the ac joint, each time a fat-suppressed proton density-weighted + T2-sequence (TR/TE 4,000/15 ms) was performed; (3) parallel to the clavicle, T1-SE (TR/TE 817/20 ms). The parameters were: slice thickness 3 mm, field-of-view 180 mm, matrix 210x256 pixels. Standard of reference in the patients was clinical examination and conventional X-rays. Classification was by Rockwood grades I-VI. MRI allowed excellent visualization and diagnoses of ac-joint structures in volunteers and patients (n=6 normal, n=1 Rockwood I, n=5 Rockwood II, n=3 Rockwood III, n=4 Rockwood V). On MRI, in one lesion type II and III each, a lower lesion type was suspected clinically and by X-ray. In one patient additional information by MRI led to surgery. MRI allows excellent anatomical display of ac-joint structures and can give clinically relevant information on type and extension of ac-joint trauma, which may influence therapy.