"Close-open-close free-flap technique" for the cover of severely injured limbs.

The treatment of severely injured extremities still presents a very difficult task for trauma orthopaedic surgeons. Despite improvements in technology and surgical/microsurgical techniques, sometimes a limb must be amputated, otherwise severe and potentially fatal complications may develop. There is a well-established belief that severe open fractures should be left open. However, Godina proved wound coverage in the first 72 h (after an injury) to be safe and to bring good final results. So early wound cover (no later than one week after an injury) with well vascularized free flaps became the gold standard. Yet for many patients (some of whom have serious health problems), operative treatment needs to be postponed when they arrive to specialized microsurgical departments for microsurgical reconstruction much later than one week after incurring an injury.  As the definite wound cover period from one week to 3 months seems to be hazardous, especially due to the potential of infection, we developed a safe, original flap technique that prevents infection and covers important structures such as exposed bones, tendons, nerves and vessels. We named this technique the "close-open-close free flap technique". It enables difficult wound cover in any biological phase of the wound, by combining complete flap cover first, with the removal of stitches from one side of the flap after 6-12 h. This technique works very well for borderline cases as well; where even after a complete debridement, dead tissue still remains in the wound - making wound cover very dangerous. Closing completely severe open fractures with free (or pedicled) flaps and removing the stitches on one side after 6-12 h, enables orthopaedic surgeons to safely cover any kind of wound in any biological phase of the wound. Additional debridements, lavages and reconstructions can easily be performed under the flap and after the danger of a serious infection has disappeared, definitive wound closure can be carried out.

Ilizarov fixation for the treatment of scaphoid nonunion: a novel approach.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Ilizarov fine-wire compression/distraction technique in the treatment of scaphoid nonunion (SNU), without the use of bone graft. DESIGN: This is a prospective study of 20 consecutive patients in one center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 20 patients (19 males) with a mean SNU duration of 14.5 months. Four patients had proximal pole, 15 had waist, and 1 had a distal SNU. Patients with carpal instability, humpback deformities, carpal collapse, avascular necrosis, and marked degenerative change were excluded. Following frame application, the treatment comprises three stages: The frame is distracted by 1 mm per day until the radiographs show a 2-3 mm opening at the SNU site (mean 10 days); the SNU site is compressed for 5 days, at a rate of 1 mm per day, with the wrist in 15 degrees of flexion and 15 degrees of radial deviation; the wrist is then immobilized in the Ilizarov fixator for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Radiographic (radiography and CT scan) and clinical bony union was achieved in all 20 patients after a mean of 90.3 days (70-130 days). All patients returned to their pre-injury occupations. Thirteen patients had excellent results, four good, and three fair, according to the Mayo wrist score. CONCLUSIONS: In these selected patients, this technique safely achieved bony union without the need to open the SNU site and without the requirement of bone graft.

Radial nerve palsy.

As a result of its proximity to the humeral shaft, as well as its long and tortuous course, the radial nerve is the most frequently injured major nerve in the upper limb, with its close proximity to the bone making it vulnerable when fractures occur.Injury is most frequently sustained during humeral fracture and gunshot injuries, but iatrogenic injuries are not unusual following surgical treatment of various other pathologies.Treatment is usually non-operative, but surgery is sometimes necessary, using a variety of often imaginative procedures. Because radial nerve injuries are the least debilitating of the upper limb nerve injuries, results are usually satisfactory.Conservative treatment certainly has a role, and one of the most important aspects of this treatment is to maintain a full passive range of motion in all the affected joints.Surgical treatment is indicated in cases when nerve transection is obvious, as in open injuries or when there is no clinical improvement after a period of conservative treatment. Different techniques are used including direct suture or nerve grafting, vascularised nerve grafts, direct nerve transfer, tendon transfer, functional muscle transfer or the promising, newer treatment of biological therapy. Cite this article: Bumbasirevic M, Palibrk T, Lesic A, Atkinson HDE. Radial nerve palsy. EFORT Open Rev 2016;1:286-294. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.1.000028.

Giovanni Battista Monteggia (1762-1815).

Giovanni Battista Monteggia was born in Laverne on the 8th of August 1762. Monteggia started his education in the School of Surgery at the Hospital Maggiore in Milano in 1779.This hospital was called "Big House"and it is one of the oldest medical institutions in Italy. He passed exam in surgery in 1781. Monteggia was promoted to assistant at surgery in Maggiore hospital in 1790. He was among the first who gave a complete clinical description of polio. He described traumatic hip dislocation and special forearm fracture which was named after him. Strictly speaking, a Monteggia fracture is a fracture of the proximal third of the ulna with an anterior dislocation of the radial head. Monteggia became a member of the renewed Institute of Science, Literature and Art in Milano in 1813.

Open Dislocation of the High Ankle Joint After Fibular Graft Harvesting.

The free microvascular fibula and soft tissue transfer has become a widely used method for reconstruction of different regions. Donor site morbidity for free fibula microvascular flaps has generally been reported to be low, or at least acceptable. We describe the case of a patient who underwent vascularized free fibula graft harvest for mandibular reconstruction. After 21 months, he had sustained an open dislocation of the left high ankle joint during recreational sports activity. We did not found such case in the published data.

[Baron Gijom Dipitren, Guillaume Dupuytren (1777-1835)].

Baron Dupuytren, Guillaume (1777-1835), French anatomist, pathologyst and surgeon, although was a personal doctor of Napoleon, Lui XVI and Sharles X, remain known for Dupuytrene contracture, due to his name, after he described this disease of palmar fascia in 1833. He started his education at Paris at age of 12, at 18 he was chief demostrator of anatomist prosectors. In 1802. he become surgeon assistant and in 1812 professor of surgery. At age of 38 he become surgeon-in-chief in Hôtel-Dieu the most famous hospital in Europe of that time. Dipitren was a dostor of Lui VIII, who gave him the title of baron in 1823. Also, he was the doctor of Sharles X, and from Napoleon he was decorated by Legue of the Honour. He was the richest doctor of the France, and that time was named Dupuytrens time. He was working the whole day, and was dealing with all parts of surgery, but he become most prominent in orthopaedics, making connections between anatomy, pathology and surgery, what make him popular and famous. Dupuytren dies in age of 58 due to the pleural empyema, but he refused surgery. Before that he had brain stroke, from which he never recover, although he continue with lectures.

[Operative treatment of flexor pollicis longus tendon with Krackow suture, functional results--preliminary results].

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of the injuried flexor tensons is the important part of hand surgery. Tendon adhesions, ruptures, joint contcatures-stifness are only one part of the problem one is faced during the tendon treatment. In spite of improvement in surgical technique and suture material, the end result of sutured flexor tendons still represent a serious problem. THE AIM: To present of operative treatment of flexor pollicis longus injury with Krakow suture technique. METHODS: All patients are treated in the first 48 hours after the accident. The regional anesthesia was performed with use of turniquet. Beside spare debridement, the reconstruction of digital nerves was done. All patients started with active and pasive movements-excercises on the first postoperative day. Follow-up was from 6 to 24 months. In evaluation of functional recovery the grip strenght, pinch strenght, range of movements of interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joiht and DASH score were used. RESULTS: In the last two years there were 30 patients, 25 males (83.33%) and 5 females (16.66%). Mean age was 39.8 years, ranged from 17 to 65 years. According to mechanism of injury the patients were divided in two groups: one with sharp and other with wider zone of injury. Concomitant digital nerve lesions was noticed in 15 patients (50%). CONCLUSION: the Krackow sutrue allowed early rehabilitation, which prevent tendon adhesions, enabled faster and better functional recovery.