[Effect of freshening technique on docking site in tibial bone transport management].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of freshening technique on docking site in tibial bone transport management. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study was conducted about the effect of freshening technique on docking site in 20 cases(15 males and 5 females) treated with tibial bone transport from January of 2014 to December of 2019. The age of patients ranged from 19 to 62 years old, with an average of (42.3±11.5)years old. Seven patients had infectious bone defect and 13 patients had non-infectious. Application of freshening technique immediately after docking included resection of invaginated skin or soft tissue, removal of closed sclerotic bone, re-apposition, increasing the contact, acute compression of freshened docking site and grafting from adjacent medullary or bone debris, followed by post-operative gradual compression. RESULTS: The amount of segmented bone defect ranged from 5 to 15 cm, with an average of(9.2±2.9) cm. Time required from osteotomy to contact of butt end ranged from 26 to 243 days, with an average of(109.1±51.1) days. The duration needed from 3 to 7 months with an average of(3.7±1.1) months before reaching radiological healing criterion in docking site. Fourteen out of 15 concurrent fibular osteotomy were united. Consolidation time for distracted callus ranged from 5 to 28 months, with an average of (15.0±6.5) months. Bone healing index(BHI) ranged from 0.8 to 2.8 months/cm, with an average of (1.6±0.5) months. One surgical site infection (5%) in tibial was noted. No refractures were found in follow-up ranged from 12 to 73 months, with an average of(37.6±20.3) months after fixator removal. CONCLUSION: Freshening technique immediately after docking had advantages of the shorter healing time, avoidance of refracture, and independance of necessity for remote autograft harvest.

[Clinical research of Schatzker type IV tibial plateau fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristic, treatment and prognosis of tibial plateau fracture Schatzker type IV. METHODS: According to the roentgenogram and CT scan in 51 patients, Schatzker type IV injury is divided into 3 types: split, total condylar, depression. In the treatment of split and total condylar injury, if there was no articular depression on CT scan, reduction is done through medial approach; if CT scan demonstrated articular depression, middle approach was used to reduce the depression and bone graft. In split injury, buttress plate was fix on posterior-medial side. In total condylar injury, buttress plate is fix on medial side. In depression injury, fracture was reduced through medial approach, bone graft and buttress plate was fix on medial side. Thirty-three patients were followed up in 41 months averagely. And the statistical analysis was done. RESULTS: The average Lysholm score of 33 patients was 83.2. Eight patients were excellent, 9 were good, 14 were fair, 2 were poor. The range of motion from 30 degrees to 147 degrees (average 110 degrees ). The factors that caused bad results were: the fracture was not anatomical reduced; tibial plateau is more than 4 mm wider than femoral condylar or lateral subluxation exceed 8 mm; varus deformity of knee. They also caused the increase of osteoarthritis. CONCLUSIONS: In order to get anatomical reduction and stable fixation, the approach and fix pattern should be chosen on the bases of classification and CT scan of Schatzker IV injury. The factors which influence the prognosis are: (1) tibial plateau is more than 4mm wider than femur condylar, or lateral subluxation more than 8 mm; (2) Varus deformity. Attention should be paid to avoid these during operation.