A novel closed reduction technique for treating femoral shaft fractures with intramedullary nails, haemostatic forceps and the lever principle

Background Faster, easier, more economical and more effective versions of the minimally invasive reduction procedure for femoral shaft fractures need to be developed for use by orthopaedic surgeons. In this study, a fracture table was used to restore limb length, and long, curved haemostatic forceps and the lever principle were utilized to achieve minimally invasive reduction and intramedullary nail fixation of femoral shaft fractures. Methods A retrospective analysis involving 20 patients with femoral shaft fractures reduced with a fracture table; long, curved haemostatic forceps; and the lever principle was conducted. The operative effect was evaluated on the basis of the operative time, reduction time, fluoroscopy time, and intraoperative blood loss. Results All 20 cases were reduced in a closed fashion, and no conversions to open reduction were needed. The average operative time and fracture reduction time for all patients were 69.1 ± 13.5 min (range, 50–100 min) and 6.7 ± 1.9 min (range, 3–10 min), respectively. The fluoroscopy exposure time during the reduction process was 5–15 s, with an average time of 8.7 ± 2.7 s. The average intraoperative blood loss was 73.5 ± 22.5 mL (range, 50–150 mL). The patients exhibited excellent alignment in the injured limb after intramedullary nailing. Seventeen patients successfully completed a follow-up after fracture healing. The healing time ranged from 4 to 6 months. Conclusions Displaced femoral shaft fractures in adults can be treated by a labour-saving lever technique involving fragments, 2 haemostatic forceps and soft tissue envelope-assisted closed reduction and intramedullary nail fixation. This technique is easy to perform; reduces blood loss, the fluoroscopy time and the surgical time for intraoperative reduction; and leads to excellent fracture healing.

Minimally Invasive Reduction of Intraarticular Calcaneal Fractures With Percutaneous Fixation Using Cannulated Screws Versus Kirschner Wires: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Background Several minimally invasive techniques were developed for management of intraarticular calcaneal fractures. This study aimed to compare the functional and radiological outcomes of 2 minimally invasive reduction and fixation techniques using cannulated screws or Kirschner wires (K-wires) for fixation. Methods This study was a retrospective comparative review of patients with displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures, who were treated with cannulated screws or K-wires techniques. Clinical and radiological data were collected and compared between both groups. Functional outcomes and patient satisfaction using the Maryland Foot Score (MFS) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, in addition to the complications, were compared between both groups. Results In total, 70 patients were included in the study: 34 in the cannulated screws group, with a mean age of 35.2 ± 4 years, and 36 in the K-wires groups, with a mean age of 33.4 ± 3 years. The operative time was shorter in the K-wires group (40.5 ± 5.6 minutes) compared to the cannulated screw group (49.5 ± 4.5 minutes), P < .001. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups regarding the radiological parameters, including Bohler’s angle, angle of Gissane, calcaneal width, height, or length. The mean MFS, mean VAS, and complications were not different between the 2 groups. Conclusion Treatment of displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures with minimally invasive reduction and fixation using either cannulated screws or K-wires can achieve similar excellent functional and radiological outcomes, with high patient satisfaction. The use of K-wires has the advantage of reduced operative time than cannulated screws. Levels of Evidence: Level III: Retrospective comparative study

A Development of the Essex-Lopresti Maneuver: Minimally Invasive Reduction and Fixation of Tongue-Type Calcaneal Fractures via a Single Incision

Tongue-type calcaneal fractures are a subset of displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures. A reduction maneuver for this fracture pattern was described by Essex-Lopresti. The aim of this article is to describe a modification of this technique that allows reduction and fixation of tongue-type calcaneal fractures via a single, minimally invasive incision. We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing fixation utilizing this technique at our institution. We identified 13 fractures in 12 patients with a median follow-up of 12 months. Median Böhler angle was 3.5° preoperatively and 26.5° at final follow-up. The median AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) hindfoot score was 78. There were no complications or further surgeries in this series. We believe that reduction and fixation of tongue-type calcaneal fractures using this minimally invasive technique is safe and reliable and avoids the potential soft tissue problems of fixation with more extensive incisions. Levels of Clinical Evidence: Level IV

A Novel Closed Reduction Technique for Treating Femoral Shaft Fractures With Intramedullary Nails, Haemostatic Forceps and the Lever Principal

Background: Faster, easier, more economical and more effective versions of the minimally invasive reduction procedure for femoral shaft fractures need to be developed for use by orthopaedic surgeons. In this study, a fracture table was used to restore limb length, and long, curved haemostatic forceps and the lever principle were utilized to achieve minimally invasive reduction and intramedullary nail fixation of femoral shaft fractures.Methods: A retrospective analysis involving 20 patients with femoral shaft fractures reduced with a fracture table; long, curved haemostatic forceps; and the lever principle was conducted. The operative effect was evaluated on the basis of the operative time, reduction time, fluoroscopy time, and intraoperative blood loss.Results: All 20 cases were reduced in a closed fashion, and no conversions to open reduction were needed. The average operative time and fracture reduction time for all patients were 69.1±13.5 minutes (range, 50–100 minutes) and 6.7±1.9 minutes (range, 3–10 minutes). The fluoroscopy exposure time during the reduction process was 5–15 seconds, with an average time of 8.7±2.7 seconds. The average intraoperative blood loss was 73.5±22.5 mL (range, 50–150 mL). The patients exhibited excellent alignment in the injured limb after intramedullary nailing. Seventeen patients successfully completed a follow-up after fracture healing. The healing time ranged from 4 to 6 months.Conclusions: Displaced femoral shaft fractures in adults can be treated by a labour-saving lever technique involving fragments, 2 haemostatic forceps and soft tissue envelope-assisted closed reduction and intramedullary nail fixation. This technique is easy to perform; reduces blood loss, the fluoroscopy time and the surgical time for intraoperative reduction; and leads to excellent fracture healing.

Comparison of Minimally Invasive Reduction Combined With Medial and External Fixation in the Treatment of Intra-articular Calcaneal Fractures

BackgroundComparison of percutaneous minimally invasive replacement joint inside external fixation technique and tarsal sinus approach to treat Sanders Ⅱ and Ⅲ clinical effect of intra-articular calcaneal fractures.MethodsThe clinical data of 64 cases of calcaneal fracture admitted to our hospital from January 2010 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.According to different surgical methods,they were divided into the percutaneous minimally invasive reduction and internal and external fixation group (30 cases) and the tarsal sinus approach (34 cases).Comparison of two groups of patients with operation time,intraoperative blood loss,hospital stay, postoperative complications and radiographic evaluation including heel bone length,width,height,Bohler Angle,Angle of Gissane,calcaneal varus Angle,clinical efficacy evaluation including the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS),the visual analogue score for pain(VAS) score,health survey profiles (SF - 36) score and score Maryland ankle function.ResultsPatients in both groups were followed up for 12 to 50 months,an average of 24.8 months.All fractures obtained bone union.The waiting time,hospital stay,intraoperative blood loss and incision complications in the percutaneous minimally invasive medial and external fixation group were lower than those in the tarsal sinus group,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01).At the last follow-up,the length,width,height,Angle of Bohler,Angle of Gissane,and Angle of calcaneal varus were significantly increased in both groups (P<0.01),the calcaneal width was significantly lower than that before surgery (P<0.01),and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).Clinical efficacy evaluation The AOFAS,VAS,SF-36 and Maryland scores were (85.28±8.21),(0.84±1.21),(82.95±3.25) and (83.56±3.32) at the last follow-up in the percutaneous minimally invasive medial and external fixation group.The AOFAS, VAS, SF-36 and Maryland scores of the tarsal sinus group were (83.32 ± 7.69),(1.85 ± 1.32),(80.71 ± 5.42),(81.85 ± 2.41) points,and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).ConclusionUnder the condition of having a good command of surgical indications and surgical skills,the use of calcaneoplastic forceps for percutaneous minimally invasive reduction combined with medial and external fixation for treatment of intra-articular calcaneoplasty fractures can achieve similar clinical effects as the tarsal sinus approach.However,the use of calcaneoplastic forceps for percutaneous minimally invasive reduction combined with internal and external fixation has advantages such as fewer complications, less blood loss,and shorter operation time,etc,which is of good safety and worthy of clinical promotion.

Minimally invasive reduction and percutaneous fixation versus open reduction and internal fixation for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures

The aim of this article is to systematically identify and analyse research evidence available to compare the outcomes of minimally invasive reduction and percutaneous fixation (MIRPF) versus open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Articles from 2000 to 2016 were searched through MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Library, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus and ISI Web of Knowledge using Boolean logic and text words. Of the 570 articles identified initially, nine were selected including three randomized controlled trials and six retrospective comparative studies. All nine studies had a total of 1031 patients with 1102 displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Mean follow-up was 33 months. Of these, 602 (54.6%) were treated with MIRPF and 500 (45.4%) were treated with ORIF. Overall incidence of wound-related complications in patients treated with MIRPF was 4.3% (0% to 13%) compared with 21.2% (11.7% to 35%) in the ORIF group Functional outcomes were reported to be better in the minimally invasive group in all studies; however, the results did not reach statistical significance in some studies. All the studies had methodological flaws that put them at either ‘unclear’ or ‘high’ risk of bias for multiple domains. Overall quality of the available evidence is poor in support of either surgical technique due to small sample size, flaws in study designs and high risk of bias for various elements. Individual studies have reported minimally invasive techniques to be an effective alternative with lower risk of wound complications and better functional outcomes. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3:418-425. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170043