Fracturas de la base del quinto metatarsiano: ¿es útil mi tornillo de esponjosa con rosca parcial? Experiencia de 10 años / Fractures of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone: is my partially-threaded cancellous screw useful? 10-year experience

OBJETIVO Evaluar el resultado quirúrgico de fracturas de las zonas 2 y 3 de la base del quinto metatarsiano usando tornillos de esponjosa de diámetro de 4,0 mm con rosca parcial. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS Evaluación retrospectiva de pacientes operados entre 2010 a 2019. Incluimos todos los casos sintetizados con este dispositivo con seguimiento mínimo de tresmeses, y excluimos casos operados con otros dispositivos y seguimiento menor a tres meses. Evaluamos la consolidació n y la presencia de complicaciones. Determinamos el largo del tornillo, el diámetro del canal endomedular, la distancia entre el borde proximal de la tuberosidad y la fractura, y la distancia de paso de la rosca sobre el rasgo de la fractura en radiografías anteroposterior (AP) y oblicua del pie. RESULTADOS Evaluamos 39 casos, y la muestra tenía una edad promedio de 27 años, y predominio del sexo masculino. El largo de tornillo más usado fue el de 45 mm, y los diámetros promedios del canal endomedular medidos en las radiografías AP y oblicua fueron de 4,6 mm y 3,96 mm, respectivamente. La distancia del borde de la tuberosidad hasta la fractura fue de 25,8 mm, y la distancia de paso de la rosca sobre el rasgo de la fractura fue en promedio de 24 mm. Hubo 100% de consolidación, en un promedio de 9,4 semanas, y 3 casos de retardo de consolidación, 2 de retroceso de tornillo, 1 de rosca intrafoco, y 1 de fractura cortical superior. No hubo retiros de tornillos a la fecha. DISCUSION No existe consenso respecto al tornillo ideal. La literatura internacional recomienda dispositivos intramedulares de diámetro de al menos 4,5 mm. Existen pocos reportes del uso de tornillos de diámetro de 4,0 mm. CONCLUSIONES El tornillo de esponjosa de diámetro de 4,0 mm con rosca parcial es una alternativa eficaz, segura y con baja tasa de complicaciones para el manejo de estas fracturas en nuestra población.

OBJETIVE To evaluate the surgical result of zone-2 and -3 fractures of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone using partially-threaded cancellous screws with a diameter of 4.0 mm. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective evaluation of patients submitted to surgery between 2010 and 2019. We included all of the cases synthesized with this device with a minimum follow-up of three months, and excluded the cases operated on with other devices and follow-up shorter than three months. We evaluated the consolidation and the presence of complications, and determined, screw length, diameter of the endomedullary canal, the distance between the proximal edge of tuberosity and the fracture, and thread pitch over the fracture line on anteroposterior (AP) and oblique radiographs. RESULTS We evaluated 39 cases, and the sample had an average age of 27 years and male predominance. The most used screw length was 45 mm, and the average diameters of the medullary canal measured on the AP and oblique radiographs were of 4.6 mm and 3.96 mm respectively. The distance from the edge of the tuberosity to the fracture was of 25.8 mm, and the thread pitch over the fracture line was on average 24 mm. The rate of consolidation was of 100%, occurring in an average of 9.4 weeks, and there were 3 cases of consolidation delay, 2 of screw recoil, 1 of intrafocus thread, and 1 of superior cortex fracture. To date, there have been no cases of screw removal. DISCUSSION There is no consensus regarding the ideal screw. The international literature recommends intramedullary devices with a diameter of at least 4.5 mm. There are few reports of the use of screws with 4.0 mm in diameter. CONCLUSIONS The partially-threaded cancellous screw with a diameter of 4.0 mm is an effective and safe option, with a low complication rate for the management of these fractures.

New Principles in Pilon Fracture Management: Revisiting Rüedi and Allgöwer Concepts.

The tibial pilon fracture is a complex lesion, which requires experienced clinical judgment and adequate planning to achieve good results. Treatment concepts enunciated by Rüedi and Allgöwer remain valid but have undergone modifications. The reconstitution of the fibular length is not always the first step to be performed. In the reconstruction of the articular surface, the prognosis is already sealed by the initial cartilage damage, and it is better to achieve stability and alignment. The stabilization of the medial column is essential, but it must be associated with the stabilization of at least one other column in complex fractures.

Posterior pilon fracture: Epidemiology and surgical technique.

OBJECTIVES: To review a case series of patients with posterior pilon variant fracture using a novel approach, focusing on demographic data, injury pattern, surgical results based on computed tomography (CT) scan, and short-term complications. DESIGN: Consecutive case series. SETTING: Level I trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five patients with posterior pilon fracture. INTERVENTION: Posterior pilon fracture open reduction and internal fixation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Parameters measured included age, sex, type of fracture, surgical technique, anatomical reduction, and complications. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients sustained a posterior pilon fracture, accounting for 13.4% of all operatively treated ankle fractures with median follow-up of 21.7 months. The average age of patients was 42 years (22-62); 19/25 (76%) were female, and 6/25 (24%) were male. A modified posteromedial approach was used in 18/25 (72%) patients. Persistent syndesmotic instability was present in 11/25 (44%) patients after posterior malleolar stabilization. Quality of reduction was assessed under CT scan in 19 patients, with 15/19 (78.9%) having anatomic reduction. We report 2/25 (8%) patients with early wound problems and 7/25 (20%) with short-term complications during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Posterior pilon variant fracture appears to be less common than previously reported. Most fractures can be satisfactorily treated through a modified posteromedial approach. Albeit obtaining posterior malleolar fracture rigid fixation, syndesmotic instability was more prevalent than expected. The short-term complication rate was low. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic level IV.

Are locking plates better than non-locking plates for treating distal tibial fractures?

BACKGROUND: Locking and non-locking plates has been used for distal tibia fracture osteosynthesis. Sufficient evidence to favor one implant over the other is lacking in the current literature. Our aim is to compare them in terms of fracture healing, alignment, functional outcome, complications. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients operated on using a percutaneous plate were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into two groups: in group 1 (28 patients) a 4.5mm narrow conventional dynamic compression plate (DCP) was used. In group 2 (40 patients) a titanium locked compression plate (LCP) was used. RESULTS: Mean time to union was 16.2 and 15.4 weeks for group 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.618). 11 patients (39.3%) in group 1 and 4 patients (10%) in group 2 showed malalignment (p=0.016). AOFAS scores at follow up were 89 and 88 in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Implant removal was necessary in 9 cases (32.1%) and 4 cases (10%) in group 1 and group 2, respectively (p=0.042). Three patients (10.7%) in group 1 and three patients (7.5%) in group 2 had an infection. CONCLUSIONS: Both plating systems have similar results in terms of time to union, infection, and AOFAS scores. The LCP seems superior with respect to alignment and the need for implant removal.

Continuous popliteal block for postoperative analgesia in total ankle arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Total ankle arthroplasty is associated with severe postoperative pain. Development of analgesic techniques such as a block with continuous infusion at the popliteal level has been shown to result in good pain control, a decrease in the use of rescue analgesia and a low rate of complications. We reviewed our experience with this method of analgesia in patients who underwent total ankle arthroplasty. METHODS: A prospective study of 30 patients undergoing total ankle arthroplasty was carried out. Twenty-two of these received and maintained a block at the popliteal level with a continuous infusion of bupivacaine, while the remaining eight received no such block. RESULTS: The visual analog scale evaluation (VAS) showed a significant improvement in pain control in the group with the popliteal block after 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours postsurgery, with pain levels peaking and being most different between 6 and 12 hours postsurgery for the two groups. The group with the popliteal block also exhibited a significantly lower consumption of morphine and a greater degree of patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The block with continuous infusion at the popliteal fossa was a safe technique for total ankle arthroplasty postoperative analgesia, which provided good pain control, a lower requirement of opiates and a higher level of patient satisfaction.

Is percutaneous repair better than open repair in acute Achilles tendon rupture?

BACKGROUND: Open repair of Achilles tendon rupture has been associated with higher levels of wound complications than those associated with percutaneous repair. However, some studies suggest there are higher rerupture rates and sural nerve injuries with percutaneous repair. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We compared the two types of repairs in terms of (1) function (muscle strength, ankle ROM, calf and ankle perimeter, single heel rise tests, and work return), (2) cosmesis (length scar, cosmetic appearance), and (3) complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 32 surgically treated patients with Achilles rupture: 17 with percutaneous repair and 15 with open repair. All patients followed a standardized rehabilitation protocol. The minimum followup was 6 months (mean, 18 months; range, 6-48 months). RESULTS: We observed similar values of plantar flexor strength, ROM, calf and ankle perimeter, and single heel raising test between the groups. Mean time to return to work was longer for patients who had open versus percutaneous repair (5.6 months versus 2.8 months). Mean scar length was greater in the open repair group (9.5 cm versus 2.9 cm). Cosmetic appearance was better in the percutaneous group. Two wound complications and one rerupture were found in the open repair group. One case of deep venous thrombosis occurred in the percutaneous repair group. All complications occurred before 6 months after surgery. We identified no patients with nerve injury. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous repair provides function similar to that achieved with open repair, with a better cosmetic appearance, a lower rate of wound complications, and no apparent increase in the risk of rerupture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.