Clinical outcomes of doubled-suture Nice knot augmented plate fixation in the treatment of comminuted midshaft clavicle fracture.

BACKGROUND: Free bone fragments were difficult to be fixed in many comminuted midshaft clavicle fractures, and the absence of cortical alignment in comminuted fractures had direct influence on the stability of fixation. This survey was performed to assess the efficacy of doubled-suture Nice knot augmented plate fixation in the treatment of comminuted midshaft clavicle fractures. METHODS: Between 2013 and 2018, all patients with comminuted midshaft clavicle fractures treated with doubled-suture Nice knot augmented plate fixation were retrospectively reviewed and included in this research. Demographic data of the patients, characteristics of the fractures, intraoperative parameters and follow-up data of the patients were evaluated and summarized. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients were included in this study. The mean follow-up time was 25.6 months (range, 12-60 months). The number of male patients was 38 (67.9 %) and of the female patients was 18 (32.1 %). The average age of all patients was 47.89 ± 16.5 years. The mean time of surgery was 85.6 ± 24.0 min. The average length of incision was 9.2 ± 1.9 cm. The number of doubled-suture Nice knot applied ranged from 1 to 5 knots. All the patients reached bone union after the treatment. There was no implant failure or neurovascular injury observed. And most of the patients showed good functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The doubled-suture Nice knot could provide reliable fixation for small bone fragments in comminuted clavicle fractures. Combination of the doubled-suture Nice knot and plate screws fixation was a safe and effective method in comminuted midshaft clavicle fractures treatment.

Role of IL-17 in nucleus pulposus cell proliferation and metabolism cultured in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of cytokine, interleukin-17 (IL-17) in human degenerative disc disease. METHODS: Through magnetic resonance imaging, human degenerative disc tissues were confirmed from the isolated nucleus pulposus cells, which were then cultured in vitro. The cells were cultured with and without different concentrations of IL-17. 2 ng/mL, 5 ng/mL, 10 ng/mL, 15 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL IL-17 concentrations were used for stimulation. After 72 hours, the inhibition rate of proliferation was measured by MTS method. For 48 and 96 hours, the nucleus pulposus cells were cultured with and without the appropriate IL-17 concentrations. The mRNA and protein expression levels of the matrix macromolecules and degrading tissue genes were measured by Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: It was noted that nucleus pulposus cell proliferation was inhibited after culturing in vitro with IL-17 stimulation, and it was further observed that the inhibition effect was significantly stronger with 15 ng/mL IL-17 concentration. With the dosage of 15 ng/mL, IL-17 stimulation induced multiple cellular responses, such as the significant increase in mRNA expression for both aggrecan (ACAN) and type I collagen (COLLA1) genes (P<0.05), and the significant decrease in mRNA expression of both degrading tissue genes, MMP3 and TIMP3 (P<0.05). Western blot results also showed that the protein level of COL1A1 was significantly decreased (t=3.199, P=0.006), while the protein level of one peptidases (ADAMTS5) significantly increased (t=2.667, P=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that IL-17 can inhibit proliferation and affect the metabolism of the cultured nucleus pulposus cells in vitro, and these findings could possibly contribute to the degenerative changes that occur in DDD through extracellular matrix synthesis inhibition, promoting nucleus pulposus extracellular matrix degradation and disrupting the metabolic balance.

[Comparison of three methods for the treatment of aged femoral intertrochanteric fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reasonable methods of treatment for aged intertrochanteric fractures through the comparison and analysis about the clinical data and follow-up results of three kinds of treatment method of elderly intertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: From June 2004 to June 2010,131 patients with intertrochanteric fractures were treated and reviewed retrospectively. Among them, 72 patients were treated with dynamic hip screw (DHS) included 20 males and 52 females with an average age of (72.5 +/- 5.5) years, 43 patients were treated with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) included 12 males and 31 females with an average age of (72.8 +/- 4.9) years and 16 patients were treated with hemiarthroplasty included 4 males and 12 females with an average age of (76.0 +/- 5.0) years. The three groups of patients were statistically analyzed and compared on surgical trauma including operation time, blood loss, incision length, X-ray exposure, and on postoperative recovery including non-weight-bearing walking time, the hospitalization time, the healing time, the recovery of joint function and complications. RESULTS: All patients were followed-up from 6 months to 3 years (means 18.2 months). In surgical trauma: the results of length of incision,operation time and blood loss was DHS>hemiarthroplasty>PFNA. PFNA group had the most X-ray exposure, hemiarthroplasty group had the least. In postoperative recovery: the results of in non-weight-bearing walking time, hospitalization time and healing time was DHS>PFNA>hemiarthroplasty. Harris scores at 12 weeks after operation in hemiarthroplasty was higher than that of DHS and PFNA, but there was no statistical difference between DHS and PFNA. The incidence of postoperative complications in DHS group was more than that of PFNA group, but there were not significant differences among three groups. CONCLUSION: PFNA is prepered in the treatment of senile intertrochanteric fractures. DHS fixation is more suitable for primary hospital and AI-type fracture and the fracture near the entry point of PFNA. The hemiarthroplasty is one of the best ways to treat unstable comminuted and/or severe osteoporosis of elderly intertrochanteric fracture. However,it isn't generally considered.