Clinical efficacy of bone transport technology in Chinese older patients with infectious bone nonunion after open tibial fracture

Objective This study was designed for the first time to analyze clinical efficacy of bone transport technology in Chinese older patients with infectious bone nonunion after open tibial fracture. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed 220 older patients with infectious bone nonunion after open tibial fracture. There were 110 patients receiving bone transport technology (Group A) and 110 patients receiving membrane induction technique with antibiotic bone cement (Group B). Results There were 164 male patients and 56 female patients, with an age range of 65 to 71 years and an average age of 67 ± 1.3 years. Traffic accident, high-fall injury and crush injury account for 45.5, 27.7 and 26.8%, respectively. Age, gender, histories, causes and fracture location had no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05 for all). Operation time in the Group A was significantly shorter than that in the Group B (P < 0.05). Linear and positional alignment (70.9 vs. 57.3), American Knee Society knee function score (167.7 ± 14.9 vs. 123.8 ± 15.7), Baird-Jackson ankle function score (89.9 ± 3.5 vs. 78.4 ± 4.9), bone healing index (43.0 ± 2.0 vs. 44.3 ± 3.0) and clinical recovery (8.2 vs. 4.5) of patients in the Group A were significantly better than those in the Group B (P < 0.05 for all). Wound infection in the Group A (7.3%) was significantly less than that in the Group B (16.4%; P < 0.05). There were neither a neurovascular complication nor a recurrence of infection in the two groups. Conclusion Bone transport technology achieved better knee and ankle joint function recovery and superior bone healing and clinical efficacy than membrane induction technique with antibiotic bone cement, suggesting that bone transport technique is worthy of extensive promotion to improve clinical condition of older patients with infectious bone nonunion after open tibial fracture.

Functional Outcome of Open Tibial Fracture Using Illizarov Apparatus

The better treatment for tibial fractures are very vague and difficult. Since the tibia is covered by soft tissue coverage fixing of plate becomes very difficult as it creates wound complications, mainly in case of severe fractures.In this study of 20 cases of open communited fractures of tibia with the Ilizarov ring fixator hybrid technique was used, it was found that this technique has a major advantages in treatment and management of the tibial fracture.

Outcome of External Fixator Management of Gustilo Anderson Type III Tibial Fractures in Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Type III open tibial fracture is the commonest type of open tibia fracture. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of Gustilo-Anderson type III open tibial fracture managed with external fixator. Patients that presented with Gustilo-Anderson type III open tibial fractures were recruited. Patients with bone pathology, prior debridement and concomitant spinal cord injury were excluded. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. A structured proforma was used to collect the participant’s socio-demographic data, time of injury, fracture location, interval and number of debridement, need for skin graft or flap, duration of hospital stay, outcome of treatment, complications and events at follow-up. Wound biopsy was taken and processed for microscopy, culture, and sensitivity. Delayed union was diagnosed when the fracture united between 4-6 months. Non-union was defined as a varus or valgus angulation of >5 degrees or anterior or posterior angulation of >10 degrees. Patients were followed up for 6 months. Chi square was used to determine association between categorical variables. SPSS 20 was used for analysis. Significance was p value <0.05. Of 35 patients, males were 22 (62.9%) while females were 13 (37.1%) and mean age was 38 years. Average interval between injury and presentation was 14.5 hours. Fourteen (40%) patients had type IIIA, 18 (51.4%) patients had type IIIB while 3 (8.6%) patients had type IIIC. Mean time to fixation was 59.2 hours. Wound infection, malunion, delayed union, pin loosening and compartment syndrome were found in 42.9%, 21.3%, 21.3%, 11.5% and 1.6% respectively. Infection rate was significantly positively correlated with grade of fracture (p=0.04) and time to debridement (p=0.018). A significant association between the mechanism of injury and associated injury (p=0.027) but not mechanism of injury and grade of type III fracture (p=0.292). Significant difference between the duration of hospital stays and categories of type III fractures (p = 0.026) but not associated injury (p=0.403). No significant difference in location of fracture and time of union (p=0.723). Type III fractures managed with external fixator is associated with some complications among which infection is the commonest and delay in treatment is associated with higher risk. Post-debridement microscopy and culture is a better predictor of wound infection.

Monocular loss of vision following an open tibial fracture: a case of Enterococcus casseliflavus endogenous endophthalmitis

Rare intraocular complication in a healthy immunocompetent patient with an atypical organism following presumed haematogenous spread after a highly contaminated open tibial fracture.