Possible factors for ankle fractures

Background/Aim. Classification of ankle fractures is commonly used for selecting an appropriate treatment and prognosing an outcome of definite management. One of the most used classifications is the Danis-Weber classification. To the best of our knowledge, in the available literature, there are no parameters affecting specific types of ankle fractures according to the Danis-Weber classification. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation of the following parameters: age, body weight, body mass index (BMI), height, osteoporosis, osteopenia and physical exercises with specific types of ankle fractures using the Danis-Weber classification. Methods. A total of 85 patients grouped by the Danis-Weber classification fracture types were analyzed and the significance of certain parameters for specific types of ankle fractures was established. Results. The proportion of females was significantly higher (p < 0.001) with a significantly higher age (59.9 years, SD ? 14.2) in relation to males (45.1 years, SD ? 12.8) (p < 0.0001). Type A fracture was most frequent in the younger patients (34.2 years, SD ? 8.6), and those with increased physical exercises (p = 0.020). In type B fracture, the risk factor was osteoporosis (p = 0.0180), while in type C fracture, body weight (p = 0.017) and osteoporosis (p = 0.004) were significant parameters. Conclusion. Statistical analysis using the Danis-Weber classification reveals that there are certain parameters suggesting significant risk factors for specific types of ankle fractures.

AUTOMATIC SPINAL FRACTURE DIAGNOSIS AND SURGICAL MANAGEMENT BASED ON 3D IMAGE ANALYSIS AND RECONSTRUCTION OF CT TRANSVERSE SECTIONS

This paper describes an image analysis method that uses automatic algorithms for the evaluation of 3D geometry of vertebral bones and spinal anatomic curve in the diagnosis of compression and burst fractures. The method uses a radial B-spline curve to approximate the ellipse-like vertebral body on a transverse section with a concave feature to evaluate the compression of the canal, and infers the anatomic curve of a vertebral body by linearly regressing the centers of B-spline approximate ellipse-like boundaries of the transversal sections passing the vertebral body. This method, then, calculates the reduced angle and height for recovering the compression fracture by comparing the regressed centerlines of neighboring bodies of the fracture body with the normal spinal anatomic curve. The prototype system can be used as a qualitative and quantitative tool for the diagnosis of compression and burst fractures using transverse sections, and for the instruction to plan accurate surgical procedures. An example demonstrates the fractured spine can be accurately diagnosed and instructed to operate by our method that achieved anatomic stability, released the syndrome of nerve compression and bone pain.