[Manual reduction of 90 degree bending elbow and external fixation with paper splint for treatment of type I capitellum fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To study the operation points of manual reduction for treatment of capitellum fractures of type I and analyze the characteristics of fixation with paper splint. METHODS: From April 2000 to February 2008, 27 cases with capitellum fractures of type I were treated by manual reduction of 90 degrees bending elbow and external fixation with paper splint, included 23 males and 4 females aged from 5 to 14 years old (means 8.9 years) with the course from 1 to 23 hours (averaged 5.4 hours). Before treatment all the wounded elbows were swollen and malfunctioned, the X-ray film showed that the fracture fragments of capitellum were separated and upside down displaced in varying degrees. During reduction, the correct restoration point was found and the reduction was correct, continuous and steady, and coordinated the passive movement of forearm and elbow joint, and the 90 degrees bending elbow was fixed by paper splint. All the patients were assessed according to JOA elbow joint function assessment method. RESULTS: All 27 patients were followed-up for from 6 months to 2 years (averaged 17 months). All the elbow joints were painless, the movement and functions were normal, the elbow joints were stable. After reduction, no complication was found. There were 25 cases with the fracture site reaches or nearly reaches healing of anatomical counterparts, only 2 cases with slight cubitus valgus deformity. According to JOA score 25 cases gained 100 scores and 2 cases gained 97 scores. CONCLUSION: This method has advantage of strong stability, high success rate, firm and easy fixation, without pressure sore and necrosis.

[Effect of zhenggu powder ([Chinese characters: see text]) on the inflammatory cell factor of soft tissue in experimental acute injury].

OBJECTIVE: To probe the recovery mechanism of Zhenggu powder (ZGP) on acute soft tissue injury in cell levels. METHODS: Forty rabbits which established animal model of acute soft tissue injury with hammer hitting,were divided randomly into normal group (A), model group (B), vaseline group (C)and ZGP group (D). Injured part was applied external drug daily after model was made. All animals were killed after using drug for 4 days. The local tissue of injured part was taken pathologic study, and was measured the content of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNFalpha by ELISA method and TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha by RIA method. RESULTS: Muscular tissue of group A was normal. But that of group B and C was aberrant,such as swelling and broken of muscular fiber or infiltration of inflammatory cell. Such histological change of group D was lightly and hyperplasia of blood vessel was found. The contents of IL-1beta, TNFalpha, TXB2 and TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha in group D were lower than that of group B and group C. On the contrary, the contents of 6-keto-PGF1alpha in the group D were higher than that of group B and group C. The difference of content of IL-6 between groups was not obvious. CONCLUSION: ZGP could promote not only the dilution and the transportation of inflammatory cell factors,but also the repair and the regeneration of the injured tissue structures. The therapeutic effect of ZGP was not relative to IL-6.