Lag screw with DHS (LSD) for vertical angle femoral neck fractures in young adults.

Vertical Pauwels Type III fractures of the neck of femur in young patients are difficult fractures to treat. These are usually as a result of high energy trauma which are associated with a significant degree of fracture comminution in the neck of femur. This makes the fracture reduction and fixation difficult. Many fixation methods and implants have been described for use in these fractures but are not without reported complications such as non-union and varus collapse. In this article, we highlight the incidence of fracture comminution in both the anterior and posterior cortices of the femoral neck, better visualised with axial computed tomography scanning and describe a simple technique utilizing lag screws and a DHS implant to adequately address these fractures.

Anatomy of clavicle in the Indian population and its applicability in pre-contoured plating.

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the clavicle are traditionally treated non-operatively, but with the increase of high-energy trauma, there has been an increase in the operative management of these fractures. Controversy exists on the type of fixation for middle third clavicle fractures. The anatomically pre-contoured plates are low-profile mechanically sound plates which do not cause much soft tissue irritation. METHODS: To characterise the clavicular morphology through computerised tomography and determine the applicability of pre-contoured plates for our population. RESULTS: In this study, the mean total length was 145.31 mm and the apex of superior clavicle bow was located 38.15 mm from the acromial end, thereby giving a zone of 107.16 mm for plating. In the 107.16 mm of platable zone, the zone of ideal fracture location was 43.16 mm. Superior anterior plates had a good fit in 89.3% of the CT subset, whereas superior plates had a good fit in only 71.6% of the population. CONCLUSION: Superior anterior pre-contoured clavicle plates have approximately 98% good to fair compatibility for clavicles in the South Indian population without any need for further intra-operative moulding.

Enchondroma with Osteopoikilosis Coexisting Together -A Rare Clinical and Radiological Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Osteopoikilosis and enchondroma existing together have not been reported in literature, and this is the first report of the management of the same. CASE REPORT: A 26-year-old male presented with dull aching pain with swelling around the knuckle of the left index finger of 1 month duration. On examination, there was a swelling of approximately 1x1 cm on the dorsal aspect. Typical radiographic changes of osteopoikilosis and enchondroma were present. CONCLUSION: Enchondroma coexistence with osteopoikilosis is rare. Diagnosis is suspected on plain radiographs and confirmed by the histopathologic study. Enucleation of the tumor with bone graft provides good results.

Validation of navigation assisted cup placement in total hip arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: Computer navigation has the potential to provide precise intraoperative knowledge to the surgeon. Previous studies with navigation have confirmed its function for improved component position but few studies have reported the accuracy and precision of navigation system in clinical use. With this study we propose to evaluate the efficacy of navigation in guiding cup placement. METHODS: Fifty-six patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty were prospectively included in this study. Stryker imageless navigation system which is accurate to 0.5° was used in all cases. Intraoperative data was collected for the acetabular component position using navigation for the freehand cup placement and the final cup placement done using navigation. Postoperative evaluation of component position was done with computed tomography (CT) and the deviation from intraoperative freehand and navigation values were calculated. RESULTS: The mean inclination of the freehand reading was 39.5° (range, 20°-58°), mean version of freehand reading was 10.7° (-6°- 27°), and the mean navigation reading was 43.2° (37°-49°) for inclination and 13.0° (-8° - 24°) for version. On postoperative CT scan analysis the mean inclination was 45.3° (34°-56°) and mean version was 15.1° (4°-25°). The deviation of the freehand inclination from the post operative CT scan reading was 11.4° (1°-30°) and the version deviated by a mean of 10.8° (2°-26°). The deviation of the navigation reading from the CT scan reading had a mean of 5.3° (1°-13°) for inclination and 5.6° (1°-17°) for version. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of the navigation system over conventional freehand cup placement is validated by this study.

Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis for humerus diaphyseal fractures.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique is reported as a satisfactory procedure for the treatment of humeral shaft fractures by the anterior approach by several authors. However, none of the published reports had a significant follow-up nor have they reported patient outcomes. We evaluated the clinical, radiographic, and functional outcome over a minimum follow-up of 2 years using the same MIPO technique to humeral shaft fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 32 adult patients with diaphyseal fractures of the humerus treated with MIPO between June 2007 and October 2008 were included in the study. Patients with metabolic bone disease, polytrauma, and Gustilo and Anderson type 3 open fractures with injury severity score >16 were excluded from the study. All cases were treated with closed indirect reduction and locking plate fixation using the MIPO technique. The surgery time, radiation exposure, and time for union was noted. The shoulder and elbow function was assessed using the UCLA shoulder and Mayo elbow performance scores, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 32 patients in the study, 19 were males and 13 were females. The mean age was 39 years (range: 22-70 years). Twenty-seven of the thirty-two patients (84.3%) had the dominant side fractured. We had eight cases of C2 type; five cases of C1 and A2 type; four cases of B2 type; three cases each of B3, B1, and A1 type; and one case of A3 type of fracture. The mean surgical time was 91.5 minutes (range: 70-120 minutes) and mean radiation exposure was 160.3 seconds (range: 100-220 seconds). The mean radiological fracture union time was 12.9 weeks (range: 10-20 weeks). Shoulder function was excellent in 27 cases (84.3%) and good in remaining 5 cases (15.6%) on the UCLA score. Elbow function was excellent in 26 cases (81.2%), good in 5 cases (15.6%), and fair in 1 case (3.1%) who had an associated olecranon fracture that was fixed by tension band wire in the same sitting. CONCLUSION: MIPO of the humerus gives good functional and cosmetic results and should be considered one of the management options in the treatment of humeral diaphyseal fractures.

Locking distal radius plate--early results from India.

BACKGROUND: Restoration of wrist function to close to preinjury levels of patients with intra-articular distal end radius fractures is of concern. Open reduction and internal fixation with angular stable screw fixation implants is coming in vogue but little literature evidence supports it. The objectives of this study are to assess the ability of volar locking plates to maintain fracture reduction when used to treat dorsally displaced intra-articular distal radial fractures and to assess the patient-related outcome after this procedure. METHODS: In a prospective study from March 2008 to September 2009, 23 cases of intra-articular distal radius fractures were included in the study. All these fractures underwent open reduction and internal fixation with 2.4 volar locking distal radius plates. Every patient was reviewed with a minimum follow-up of 36 weeks (9 months to 2 years). Radiographs were taken to assess fracture union or for any potential loss of fracture reduction. Functional outcome was assessed with evaluation of range of movements of the wrist and pain as per the Visual Analog Scale. RESULTS: Radiologic union was noted by the end of 18 weeks in 3 subjects, at the end of 24 weeks in 13 subjects and by 30th week in 6 patients. As for overall functional outcome, 4 patients had excellent outcome, 18 had good outcome, and 1 patient had poor outcome. None of our patients had neurovascular injuries or tendon ruptures during this period. CONCLUSION: Volar locking plate is a viable option for treating intra-articular distal radius fractures.

Ipsilateral hip and femoral shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nails.

This study retrospectively analysed 34 patients with ipsilateral hip and femoral shaft fractures treated over a period of 10 years between January 1995 and January 2005. They had an average age of 35 years. Twenty-six (76.47%) of these cases suffered high-velocity trauma (RTA); six others had fallen from a height (17.65%), and two had suffered only minimal trauma (5.88%). Twenty were extracapsular (58.82%) and 14 were intracapsular. They were evaluated with an average follow-up of 28 months, both clinically and radiologically; 26 patients (76.47%) had a good result (Friedman and Wyman score). When the intracapsular fracture was detected postperatively, there was one delayed union and one non-union. When the fracture is diagnosed preoperatively, we recommend reconstruction nail fixation. If the hip fracture is diagnosed intra- or postoperatively following nailing of the shaft, we propose the miss-a-nail technique as an option.

Post-traumatic syringomyelia.

Progressive post-traumatic cystic syringomyelia is an uncommon and increasingly recognized cause of morbidity following spinal cord injury. We hereby report a 35-year-old gentleman who sustained wedge compression fracture of L-1 vertebral body 15 years back and had complete paraplegia with bowel/bladder involvement. The neurological deficit recovered with minimal residual motor deficits and erectile dysfunction. He presented now with increasing neurological deficits associated with pain and paresthesia. The MRI spine showed a syrinx extending from the site of injury up to the medulla. He underwent a syringo-peritoneal shunt and at followup his pain and motor functions had improved but erectile dysfunction was persisting.