The surgical management of high- and low-energy tibial plafond fractures: A combination of internal and external fixation devices

Searching for a New Parameter in the Healing of Tibia Pilon Fractures: Fracture Area Measurement

BACKGROUND

Tibia pilon fractures are associated with high complication rates, decreased quality of life, and low patient satisfaction. Although many factors such as reduction quality and soft-tissue coverage have been identified, researchers continue to investigate the factors that affect healing in tibia pilon fractures. Our objective was to investigate the effect of initial fracture crack width and displacement degree on clinical functional results in tibia pilon fractures.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, 40 patients with Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen and Orthopaedic Trauma Association type 43B and 43C tibia pilon fractures and operated on through the extensile anteromedial approach were analyzed. The demographic data of the patients, injury mechanisms, fracture type, reduction quality, clinical results, and postoperative complications were recorded. To evaluate the objective quantity of initial fracture crack width and displacement, a new parameter was defined: "fracture area." All measurements were conducted using a feature from the picture archiving and communication system on anteroposterior and lateral radiographs taken separately in standard fashion.

RESULTS

With an average follow-up period of 29.2 months (range, 24-40 months), 34 patients (85%) had excellent or good results, whereas only two patients (5%) had poor clinical results. Age, injury mechanism, and reduction quality have a significant relationship with Maryland Foot Score (P < .001, P < .037, and P < .001, respectively). Preoperative fracture area, measured on both the anteroposterior and the lateral views, are significantly related to both Ovadia-Beals Score and Maryland Foot Score (P < .001 for each).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative fracture area measurement has a major effect on healing of tibia pilon fractures. Increased initial fracture area is correlated with poor clinical functional results. High-energy injuries, older age, and poor reduction quality are also related to worse clinical outcomes.

Clinical application of arthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive therapy in Chinese elderly with type III Pilon fracture

Objective

Pilon fracture is so complex that its therapy poses a great challenge to surgeons. Few studies have compared arthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive therapy and external fixation combined with limited internal fixation (EFLIF), and an optimal choice of surgical therapy remains unclear in patients with type III Pilon fracture. Moreover, to our knowledge, very few studies have specifically evaluated arthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive therapy in Chinese elderly with type III Pilon fracture. The current study was performed to observe the clinical application of arthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive therapy, compared with EFLIF, in Chinese elderly with type III Pilon fracture.

Methods

There were 230 Chinese elderly with type III Pilon fracture assigned to undergo EFLIF (group A, n=115) or arthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive therapy (group B, n=115), and followed up for 1 year after surgery.

Results

Age, sex, causes, sides and types of Pilon fractures were not different between the two groups (P>0.05 for all). Compared with EFLIF, arthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive therapy achieved a better reduction result, bone union and Mazur system (P<0.05 for all). Patient satisfaction, screw loosening and infection prevalence were not different between the two groups (P>0.05 for all). There was no skin necrosis in the two groups. Traumatic arthritis had a significantly lower prevalence in participants with arthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive therapy than EFLIF (P<0.05 for all).

Conclusion

Compared with EFLIF, arthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive therapy for type III Pilon fracture significantly improved reduction result, bone union and functional status, and decreased traumatic arthritis, demonstrating that arthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive therapy is an optimal choice for type III Pilon fracture in Chinese elderly.

Late results after a new therapeutic protocol for soft tissue management in the treatment of tibial pylon fractures

The prospective study targets the tibial pylon fractures admitted in our clinic, to which a new treatment protocol was applied, consisting of two surgical steps, assessing in the end the results achieved at the discharge of the patient and later follows up. The study group consist of 196 patients (198 fractures), in the period 2012-2015.

The average evaluation time was of 16 months. The average age of the patients was 46.5 years (19-83 years), this type of fracture especially affecting active people. The etiology was dominated by high falls (109 cases), most of them being work related accidents. The most frequently applied osteosynthesis principle was staged osteosynthesis which consisted of first stage fibula semitubular plate osteosynthesis and external fixator tibia pylon, followed by minimally invasive or limited approach locked plate tibia pylon fixation. (64.14%) Olerud and Molander clinical score at more than one year after the last surgical intervention highlights good results: excellent results in the amount of 37% to 15% in the first lot, good results 52% to 29%, moderate success 7% to 39% and poor 4% to 17%.

Two stage surgery protocol with external fixation in emergency and minimally invasive internal fixation with locked plate performed after the dissappearance of the local edema, as the second surgical step, allows anatomically correct articular reconstruction without skin complications, with decrease of arthitic late complications.

External Fixation combined with Limited Internal Fixation versus Open Reduction Internal Fixation for Treating Ruedi-Allgower Type III Pilon Fractures

Background

The optimal treatment of type III pilon fractures remains controversial. Hence, we performed this study to investigate whether open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is superior to external fixations combined with limited internal fixations (EFLIF).

Material/Methods

From January 2012 to October 2013, a total of 78 patients were included. Twenty-six patients underwent EFLIF and 52 patients underwent ORIF. All subjects were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. All outcomes and complications were recorded.

Results

No statistical differences were observed in Mazur score or ROM between the 2 groups. There were significant differences between the 2 groups in hospital stay (P<0.001), reduction results (P=0.019), screw loosening (P=0.025), and traumatic arthritis (P=0.037).

Conclusions

Similar functional outcomes were achieved in EFLIF and ORIF groups. Due to several limitations of this study, a well-designed randomized controlled trial involving more patients and long-term follow-up is needed to find an optimal treatment protocol.

Advanced foot and ankle fixation techniques in patients with diabetes

This article presents advanced techniques and current fixation constructs that are advantageous for the management of diabetic foot and ankle trauma and Charcot neuroarthropathy. Both these pathologies are often intimately related, and the fixation constructs that are required often require sound biomechanical concepts coupled with innovative approaches to achieve bone healing and limb salvage.

The pilon fracture

Treatment of the ‘pilon’ fracture provides one of the greatest challenges to orthopaedic surgeons today. The force required to fracture the distal tibia can lead to complex fracture configurations and significant soft tissue compromise that challenge subsequent repair. High complication rates have encouraged extensive research over decades into an operative method that limits the insult to the surrounding soft tissue envelope whilst maintaining the stability of the fixation obtained. Two main techniques of fixation that meet such criteria have evolved more than others namely, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF — two-staged protocol) and external fixation (ankle sparing hybrid fixation). Advances in these techniques have seen a significant reduction in the rate of catastrophic complications such as amputation, osteomyelitis and arthrodesis. The legacy of the pilon fracture, however, is such that it is hard to decide which treatment method is best and indeed severe fractures (AO classification type C2 or 3 or Reudi and Allgower type III) are better treated with primary arthrodesis and even amputation in some cases. Both methods have their drawbacks. A high prevalence of pin tract infections and possibly inadequate reduction may occur in some cases treated with external fixators. There is considerable variability of outcome with the two-staged protocol depending on the patients treated, the judgement and skill of the surgeon operating and risk of soft tissue compromise. The two-staged protocol seems to have a greater following and seems on the surface to get over many typical complications. No one treatment method is best for all fractures; in fact both are equally good for simpler fractures. It is their outcome in treating severe fractures that will determine which of the two methods is best and which could be adequately tested with a randomised controlled trial.

Complications of definitive open reduction and internal fixation of pilon fractures of the distal tibia

A series of 49 pilon fractures in a tertiary referral centre treated definitively by open reduction and internal fixation have been assessed and the complications of such injuries examined. A retrospective analysis of case notes, radiographs and computerised tomographs over a seven-year period from 1999-2006 was performed. Infection was the most common postoperative problem. There were seven cases of superficial infection. There was a single case of deep infection requiring intravenous antibiotics and removal of metalwork. Other notable complications were those of secondary osteoarthritis (three cases) and malunion (one case). The key finding of this paper is the 2% incidence of deep infection following the direct operative approach to these fractures. The traditional operative approach to such injuries (initially advocated by Rüedi and Allgöwer in Injury 2:92-99, 1969) consisted of extensive soft tissue dissection to gain access to the distal tibia. Our preferred method is to access the tibia via the "direct approach" which involves direct access to the fracture site with minimal disturbance of the soft tissue envelope. We therefore believe that open reduction and internal fixation of pilon fractures via the direct approach to be a safe technique in the treatment of such devastating injuries.