CT analysis of femoral malrotation after intramedullary nailing of trochanteric fractures.

PURPOSE: Functional results after internal fixation of trochanteric femoral fractures may be negatively affected by healing in a non-physiological position. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and severity of femoral malrotation after nailing of trochanteric fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors conducted a prospective study focused on a CT analysis of malrotation after intramedullary nailing of trochanteric fractures (AO 31A1-3) in 101 patients. We recorded the type of fracture, method of anesthesia, scheduled surgery vs. acute surgery, and the surgeon's experience as possible risk factors for limb malrotation after trochanteric fracture surgeries. RESULTS: The average extent of malrotation was 9° of internal rotation ranging from 29° of external to 48°of internal rotation. In 35% of patients, we observed a rotation greater than 15°, and in 15 patients (15%), the rotation was greater than 25°. The risk of significant internal malrotation was significantly higher than external malrotation (37 vs. 4 patients). None of the factors observed proved to be statistically significant. The effect of general anesthesia and the type of intertrochanteric fracture came closest to having a significant effect on rotational error. CONCLUSION: Improper reduction of a trochanteric fracture is a common problem that can lead to femur malrotation. In our study, a rotational error greater than 15° occurred in 35% of the patients, but none of the monitored factors represented a statistically significant risk for this complication.

Fixation of distal fibular fractures: A biomechanical study of plate fixation techniques.

Ankle fractures are complex injuries with variable prognoses that depend upon many factors. The aim of the treatment is to restore the ankle joint biomechanical stability with maximum range of motion. Most ankle fractures are fibular fractures, which have a typical oblique fracture line in the distal fibula located in the area of the tibiofibular syndesmosis. The aim of this study was to simulate numerically several fixation techniques of the distal fibular fractures, evaluate their stability, determine their impact on surrounding tissue load, and correlate the results to clinical treatment experience. The following three models of fibular fracture fixation were used: (a) plate fixation with three screws attached above/below and lag screws, (b) plate fixation with two screws attached above/below and lag screws, and (c) three lag screws only. All three fracture fixation models were analyzed according to their use in both healthy physiological bone and osteoporotic bone tissue. Based on the results of Finite Element Analysis for these simulations, we found that the most appropriate fixation method for Weber-B1 fibular fractures was an unlocked plate fixation using six screws and lag screws, both in patients with physiological and osteoporotic bone tissue. Conversely, the least appropriate fixation method was an unlocked plate fixation with four screws and lag screws. Although this fixation method reduces the stress on patients during surgery, it greatly increased loading on the bone and, thus, the risk of fixation failure. The final fixation model with three lag screws only was found to be appropriate only for very limited indications.

Distal tibiofibular synostosis after surgically resolved ankle fractures: An epidemiological, clinical and morphological evaluation of a patient sample.

INTRODUCTION: Ankle fractures comprise a highly morphologically and etiologically diverse group of injuries, which includes various degrees of impairment of bone and ligamentous structures. The complete synostosis and incomplete bony bridging of tibiofibular syndesmosis are among the local late complications after surgically treated ankle fractures. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 269 patients were evaluated, including 203 patients with Weber type-B fractures, and 66 patients with Weber type-C fractures. All patients underwent ankle radiography at standard intervals (post-operatively, 6 and 12 weeks, 6 and 12 months). The final assessment one year after osteosynthesis was performed. The study analyzed age, sex, fracture morphology, the location and morphology of ossification, functional outcomes and subjective evaluations of patient status. RESULTS: As risk factors there were found male sex, tibiotalar dislocation, syndesmotic screw fixation and Weber type-C fractures. The severity of subjective difficulties and objective status were not dependent on the size of distal tibiofibular synostosis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Despite relatively extensive imaging findings of complete synostosis or incomplete bony bridging, they only limited functional outcomes to a minimal extent.

The importance of intramedullary hip nail positioning during implantation for stable pertrochanteric fractures: biomechanical analysis.

PURPOSE: Proximal femoral fractures are among the most commonly sustained fractures. The current treatment of stable proximal femoral fractures located in trochanteric region primarily involves the use of two systems: extramedullary dynamic hip screws and intramedullary hip nails. Given that these fractures are mainly found in the elderly population, the necessity of a repeat, due to failure of the first, may jeopardize the patient's life. Decisive factors contributing to the healing of a fracture (or the failure thereof) include fracture pattern, technical implementation of the operation (i.e., position of the implant), implant's properties and its changes in relation to the surrounding bone tissue during loading. Each screw insertion variant results in damage to various load-bearing bone structures, which can be expected to influence healing quality and stability of newly formed bone. METHOD: With the aid of a numerical model and finite element methods, the authors analyzed several different positions of IMHN/PFH-nails in the proximal femur, with the objective of determining positions with an increased risk of failure. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In model situations, it has been shown that in stable fractures results do not depend on absolutely precise positioning and small deflections in the nails and neck screws positions do not significantly increase the risk of failure for the entire fixation. Damage to load-bearing structures relative to various implant placements does not impact the resultant overall fixation stability. Therefore, it is not necessary to re-introduce implants in the ideal position, which can lead to reduced patient radiation doses during surgery.

Anatomist and the pioneer of radiology Étienne Destot--95th anniversary of his death.

Destot was a leading pioneer in radiology, a pupil of Ollier, an anatomist, and researcher who followed in the experimental medicine tradition of Claude Bérnard. This work is an extensive, in depth, look at the life and work of Étienne Destot. On February 5, 1896, he began performing X-ray examinations, less than two months after Roentgen's discovery! His pioneering work described a space bordered by the hamate, capitate, triquetrum, and lunate; this space is now known as Destot's space. Tanton stated that Destot was the first to reveal the mechanism of fractures of the posterior margin of the distal tibia and to emphasize their clinical relevance; in honor of this contribution, Tanton named such a fracture the "fracture of Destot." Moreover, Destot is credited with being the first physician to use the term "pilon" in the orthopedic literature. He first described fractures of the scaphoid in 1905. He also described superficial hematomas, Destot's sign, located above the inguinal ligament or in the scrotum or thigh. Such hematomas are indicative of pelvic fractures. Destot is credited with inventing or improving many pieces of medical equipment (e.g., Lambotte's screw plates, anastomotic boutons for the digestive tube, monopolar endocavital radiological tubes). He was also active in developing technical aspects of equipment (e.g., radioscopic examination of the heart, a prototype of the mobile radiological laboratory). Étienne Destot is best known as a radiologist; however, his influence extends well beyond this field. He was an anatomist and surgeon, the founder of radiology in Lyon, prosector, physician, electrician, researcher, and artist.

The correlation between muscles insertions and topography of break lines in pertrochanteric fractures: a comprehensive anatomical approach of complex proximal femur injuries.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our work was to verify the hypothesis that muscle insertions and ligament attachments have an impact on the course of typical break lines in the area of the trochanteric massif, i.e., to provide a more detailed description of the origins and insertions of the musculo-ligamentous apparatus on the surface of the proximal femur, and to find a potential morphological correlate between muscle insertions and ligament attachments to the proximal femur and the course of the break line in a typical pertrochanteric fracture. METHODS: A detailed dissection of areas of trochanter major et minor, linea et crista intertrochanterica was performed in 50 anatomical preparations of the proximal femur, and the insertions of the muscular-ligamentous structures were described. The set of 600 radiographs were used to obtain projections of typical break lines on the proximal femur, and corresponding areas of exposed bone surface were identified in the anatomical preparations based on the projections and on 15 real specimens of patients after the pertrochanteric fracture osteosynthesis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Bone covered only with the periosteum, with no reinforcing elements of the origin or insertions of muscles or attachments of ligaments, represents the locus minoris resistentiae for beginning of fractures. Variability in the sizes and shapes of pertrochanteric fracture fragments also depends on variability of the locations and sizes of soft tissue attachment areas at specified sites on the proximal femur.