Management of Femoral Shaft Fracture in Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome with External Fixator.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare complex malformation characterized by the clinical triad of capillary malformations, soft tissue and bone hypertrophy, and venous/lymphatic malformation. Fractures of long bones in such cases are challenging to treat. A 12-year-old female with this syndrome presented with femoral shaft fracture of right thigh. She was initially kept on skeletal traction for two weeks and then she underwent closed reduction and immobilization with external fixator with uneventful intraoperative and postoperative period. Fracture united at four and half months.

Risk Factors For Necrotizing Fasciitis And Its Outcome At A Tertiary Care Centre.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a serious and potentially fatal condition where there is rapid progression of inflammation of skin, subcutaneous tissue, and superficial fascia and can be mono-microbial or poly-microbial. The disease is rapidly progressive in nature and if not promptly treated leads to significant morbidity or even mortality. This study was designed to explore the various risk factors commonly present and study the outcome of the disease. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study done in tertiary centre over period of one year from April 2014 to March 2015. Patient admitted with soft tissue infection were presumptively made diagnosis of NF based on clinical features and final diagnosis was made after pre-operative surgical findings. RESULTS: Forty two (40.38%) patients had final diagnosis of NF out of 102 soft tissue infections. Twentynine (69%) of 42 patients with NF fully recovered with surgical and medical management. Eleven (26.2%) of these patients succumbed to their illness and two (4.8%) needed amputation of limb to control the infection. The most common co-morbid condition was alcoholism, followed by diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of necrotizing fasciitis in patients admitted with soft tissue infection was 40.38%. Mortality and morbidity due to this condition was found to be high.

Management of trochanteric fractures of the femur with external fixation in high-risk patients.

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the outcome of trochanteric fractures of the femur after external fixation in a group of elderly patients with high surgical risk. The study population consisted of 50 patients with trochanteric fractures of the femur and a mean age of 87 years who were classified by an anaesthetist as ASA 3 or 4 and considered not suitable for conventional fractures fixation. The fracture was fixed with an external fixator under spinal anaesthesia. The final follow-up was at 12 months. All fractures healed within 12 weeks. Superficial pin tract infection occurred in 30 patients, and fracture united with a shortening of 14 mm (5-20) in 12 patients. No implant failures or limitation of knee movements were recorded. Five patients died within 1 year. External fixation is a valuable treatment alternative for trochanteric fracture of the femur in elderly patients.

Improvised cost-effective halo vest brace using a recycled Ilizarov ring and a threaded rod.

We designed less expensive halo vest brace using an Ilizarov ring and a threaded rod, which is as effective as the normal halo vest. It can be used in any orthopedic set-up.