Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis of the humeral shaft with regard to adjacent anatomical characteristics

The study goal was to evaluate the distances from the radial (RN), the musculocutaneous (MN) and axillary nerves (AN) and the medial neurovascular bundle of the upper arm to a minimally invasive applied plate and to define its relation to the RN during different degrees of malrotation during MIPO. The sample involved ten upper extremities. Application of a PHILOS plate was performed through a Delta-split. Intervals between the AN, MN, RN and the medial vascular bundle were defined at various positions. The humeral shaft was artificially fractured at a height of about the mean of the plate. The distal fragment was brought into 15° and 30° internal (IR) as well as external rotation (ER) and here, the plate’s relation to the RN was evaluated. The medial neurovascular bundle intersected the plate at its distal part in two specimens. Regarding the distances from the RN to the plate during different rotation positions the distances became significantly longer during ER, respectively shorter during IR. The medial neurovascular bundle and the RN were identified as the main structures at risk. Care must be taken during distal screw placement and malrotation exceeding 15° must be avoided during MIPO.

EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF DISTAL TIBIAL FRACTURES STABILIZED WITH DISTAL TIBIAL LOCKING PLATE

Background: The present study is an attempt to evaluate the results of locking compression plate for distal tibia in lower tibial fractures using open reduction internal fixation and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis technique. Methods: The patients attending the OPD/Emergency OPD in post graduate institute of medical education and research, chandigarh during September 2018 to August 2019 with distal tibial fractures. The patients treated with locking compression plates using MIPO or ORIF are reviewed for inclusion and exclusion criteria’s. Patients fitting into inclusion criteria has formed the study group. Results: Out of 52 patients, 48.4% patients undergo open reduction internal fixation had excellent results and 28.6% patients undergo MIPPO technique had excellent results. p value is 0.352 which is not significant. Overall 40.4% patients had excellent results. Conclusion: We observed excellent/ good functional outcome in 65.3% of patients. Keywords: Functional outcome, MIPPO, Tibia

A minimally invasive cerclage of the tibia in a modified Goetze technique: operative technique and first clinical results

Introduction In spiral fractures of the tibia, the stability of an osteosynthesis may be significantly increased by additive cerclages and, according to biomechanical studies, be brought into a state that allows immediate full weight bearing. As early as 1933, Goetze described a minimally invasive technique for classic steel cerclages. This technique was modified, so that it can be used for modern cable cerclages in a soft part saving way. Method After closed reduction, an 8 Fr redon drain is first inserted in a minimally invasive manner, strictly along the bone and placed around the tibia via 1 cm incisions on the anterolateral and dorsomedial tibial edges using a curette and a tissue protection sleeve. Via this drain, a 1.7 mm cable cerclage can be inserted. The fracture is then anatomically reduced while simultaneously tightening the cerclage. Subsequently, a nail or a minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis is executed using the standard technique. Using the hospital documentation system, data of patients that were treated with additional cerclages for tibial fractures between 01/01/2014 and 06/30/2020 were subjected to a retrospective analysis for postoperative complications (wound-healing problems, infections and neurovascular injury). Inclusion criteria were: operatively treated tibial fractures, at least one minimally invasive additive cerclage, and age of 18 years or older. Exclusion criteria were: periprosthetic or pathological fractures and the primary need of reconstructive plastic surgery. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Results 96 tibial shaft spiral fractures were treated with a total of 113 additive cerclages. The foregoing resulted in 10 (10.4%) postoperative wound infections, 7 of which did not involve the cerclage. One lesion of the profundal peroneal nerve was detected, which largely declined after cerclage removal. In 3 cases, local irritation from the cerclage occurred and required removal of material. Conclusion In the described technique, cerclages may be inserted additively at the tibia in a minimally invasive manner and with a few complications, thus significantly increasing the stability of an osteosynthesis. How this ultimately affects fracture healing is the subject of an ongoing study.

Prevalence and risk factors for pseudarthrosis in humeral shaft fractures treated by minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis: A 10-year review

Introduction Fractures of the humeral shaft account for about 3% to 5% of all fractures. Although conservative treatment remains the first choice, there are a number of surgical indications. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis shows good functional results. However, complications have been reported, such as non-union. Objective To assess the prevalence and risk factors for non-union after treatment of humeral shaft fractures using minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis. Materials and methods This retrospective study was carried out in patients treated by minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis between 2009 and 2019. Demographic data and variables related to the fracture that could influence bone healing were analysed. The unpaired t-test and Mann–Whitney test were used for the statistical analyses. Categorical variables were analysed using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test Results The study population showed a male predominance (53 of 75, 70.7%). The average time for fracture healing was 19.8 ± 15.3 weeks. Seven patients developed non-union. Only the presence of an open fracture increased the likelihood of non-union. Conclusions The prevalence of non-union in patients treated by minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis was 9.3%. Patients with open fractures were six times more likely to progress to non-union. Fracture characteristics (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen classification, fracture location and plate working length) did not influence progression to non-union.

Treatment of humeral shaft fractures: a new minimally-invasive plate osteosynthesis versus open reduction and internal fixation: a case control study

Background To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new minimally-invasive surgical approach–anteromedial minimally-invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO)–in the treatment of middle and distal humeral shaft fractures. Methods Fourteen patients with humeral shaft fracture treated with anteromedial MIPO from November 2016 to March 2020 (MIPO Group) were selected as the study subjects. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) were used to treat 14 patients with humeral shaft fractures as the control group (ORIF group). The two groups were fixed with a locking compression plate (LCP) or LCP + multi-directional locking screw system (MDLS). The incision length, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy time, operation time, length of hospital stay, fracture healing time, QuickDASH score and Constant score were observed and compared between the two groups. Results Fourteen patients were enrolled in each group. The incision length (7.79 ± 2.39 cm), intraoperative blood loss (96.07 ± 14.96 mL), operative time (110.57 ± 21.90 min), hospital stay (6.29 ± 1.49 days) and fracture healing time (14.94 ± 0.99 weeks) in the MIPO group were all lower than those in the ORIF group, and the difference was statistically significant for each parameter (P < 0.05). The intraoperative fluoroscopy time (20.07 ± 3.22) in the MIPO group was significantly higher than that in the ORIF group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in age (P = 0.078), QuickDASH score (P = 0.074) or Constant score (P = 0.293) between the two groups and no postoperative complications occurred in any of the patients. Conclusion The anteromedial approach MIPO technique has the advantages of less trauma, less bleeding, low risk of nerve injury and high rate of fracture healing. It is one of the most effective methods for the treatment of middle and middle–distal humeral shaft fractures.