ABSTRACT
CASE: A 27-year-old woman with increasing bilateral thigh pain and underlying diagnosis of dysosteosclerosis was diagnosed with bilateral impending pathological femur fractures. Both femurs exhibited abnormal morphology with bowing, thickened cortices, and narrow intramedullary canals. We planned minimally invasive prophylactic plate osteosynthesis. Computed tomography scans of both femora were obtained and used to generate 3-dimensional (3D) printed models. Osteosynthesis plates were precontoured to fit the 3D models and sterilized, and prophylactic fixation was performed using a minimally invasive submuscular technique. CONCLUSION: 3D printed models aided in precontouring fixation plates in a case with challenging bony anatomy, enabling minimally invasive surgery.
Subject(s)
Bone Plates , Fracture Fixation, Internal , Adult , Female , Femur/diagnostic imaging , Femur/surgery , Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods , Humans , Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures , Printing, Three-DimensionalABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aetiology of hallux valgus interphalangeus (HVI) is not well understood. First metatarsophalangeal joint stability, influenced by first metatarsal head shape, may be linked to HVI. We hypothesised that first metatarsal head shape is a risk factor for HVI. No published article could be found in the literature investigating this hypothesis. METHODS: 127 standardised foot radiographs were analysed retrospectively. The hallux valgus angle (HVA) and interphalangeus angle (IPA) were measured. The first metatarsal head shape was divided into chevron, round and flat groups. Statistical analysis was then performed to investigate the relationship between first metatarsal head shape and the occurrence of HVI. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant relationship between first metatarsal head shape and the occurrence of HVI. There was however a negative relationship between HVA and HVI. CONCLUSIONS: The morphology of the first metatarsal head does not seem to be a risk factor for HVI. A known negative relationship between HVA and IPA is reinforced. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort.
