ABSTRACT
Humeral pseudarthrosis are common with a non-union rate after fracture between 8% and 13%. Several operative methods have been described for the treatment of humeral pseudarthrosis. The aim of this study was to assess a new approach based on compression using a monoplane external fixator without graft. This study was conducted in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, and Traumatology of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital in Sfax-Tunisia between April 2009 and September 2018. Fifty-eight patients were operated on using a dynamic monoplane axial fixation device with continuous compression by manipulating the compression system of the fixator. All the cases were evaluated according to the modified Stewart and Hundley classification. The fracture was located in the middle third in 53.4% of the cases. The pseudarthrosis was hypertrophic in 34.5% of the cases. Fifty-four patients were treated with this method as a first cure of non-union and four patients had previously a first cure for their pseudarthrosis. We noted 11 septic pseudarthrosis. The average follow-up was 47.2 months. We obtained consolidation in 98% of the cases. The average consolidation time was 5.1 months. Based on the modified Stewart and Hundley criteria, 75.8% had very good results. This study highlights that a continuous external compression is effective in the treatment of non-unions, as it allows consolidation without opening the pseudarthrosis site and without bone grafting while having satisfactory anatomical and functional results.
Subject(s)
External Fixators , Fracture Fixation/methods , Humeral Fractures/surgery , Pseudarthrosis/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Treatment Outcome , Tunisia , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis is a dominant autosomic genetic disease characterized by different clinical manifestations. The goal of this work was to study its orthopaedic manifestations and to show the characteristics of their management. METHOD: A retrospective study was carried out on 15 patients having a Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis. For each patient, different orthopaedic manifestations and their evolution after treatment were analyzed. These manifestations were classified in spinal deformities, pseudarthrosis of long bones and tumours of the peripheral nerves. RESULTS: The spinal deformities were observed in 9 cases. A dystrophic scoliosis was observed in 6 patients with an average angle of 50° and was associated to a kyphosis in 5 patients. The treatment was surgical by posterior arthrodesis in 2 cases and circumferential arthrodesis in 2 cases. The congenital curves and pseudarthroses of leg were observed in 5 cases, localized at the lower third of the leg in all cases. An Ilizarov external fixator with segmental osseous transport was carried out in 2 patients. The duration of the external fixator was 23 months ½ with 5 interventions in each case. Four plexiform neurofibromas and 3 nodular neurofibromas were observed. A transformation into neurofibrosarcoma was found in 2 patients. In one case, a resection without functional sacrifice was carried out and in the other case the patient was dead before the resection. CONCLUSION: The orthopaedic manifestations of Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis are frequent, varied and have a difficult management. The functional and sometimes vital prognoses are challenging.
