[Short-term effectiveness of staged management in treatment of complex tibial plateau fracture with severe soft tissue injury].

Objective: To evaluate short-term effectiveness of staged management for complex tibial plateau fracture with severe soft tissue injury. Methods: A clinical data of 12 patients with complex tibial plateau fractures and severe soft tissue injuries between July 2017 and March 2021 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. There were 7 males and 5 females with an average age of 43.1 years (range, 33-58 years). All patients were traffic accident injuries and admitted to hospital within 24 hours after injury. The tibial plateau fractures were closed fractures. According to the Schatzker classification standard, the fractures were rated as type Ⅳ in 3 cases, type Ⅴ in 4 cases, and type Ⅵ in 5 cases. According to the Tscherne classification standard, the soft tissue injuries were rated as grade Ⅱ in 4 cases and grade Ⅲ in 8 cases. The treatment of all patients was divided into 3 stages. In the first stage, emergency trans-articular fracture fixation with external fixator was performed; in the second stage, the fracture reduction and internal fixation were performed and bone cement was implanted to fill the bone defect; in the third stage, the bone cement was removed and the bone graft was performed to repair defect. All patients performed joint function exercise after operation as early as possible. Results: There was no neurological symptom after all staged managements, the incisions healed by first intention, and no complications such as incision infection or necrosis occurred. All patients were followed up 6-32 months (mean, 16.9 months). The fractures were all anatomical reduction confirmed by the X-ray films after operation. During follow-up, there was no obvious loss of reduction, loosening and rupture of internal fixator, or collapse of the articular surface. All fractures healed after 14-20 weeks (mean, 17.6 weeks). The posterior slope angle of the tibial plateau was (9.7±2.3)° and the varus angle was (3.9±1.9)° immediately after bone grafting, and were (8.5±2.9)° and (4.3±1.9)° respectively at 6 months after operation. There was no significant difference between the two time points ( t=0.658, P=0.514; t=-1.167, P=0.103). At last follow-up, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score was 85-96 (mean, 91.2), and the range of motion of knee was 110°-135° (mean, 120.9°). Conclusion: The staged management for complex tibial plateau fracture with severe soft tissue injury can obtain good short-term effectiveness, but the long-term effectiveness needs to be further followed up.

[An anatomical study and clinical evaluation of modified subinguinal approach for treatment of acetabular fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical results of modified subinguinal approach without iliac osteotomy for anterior surgical treatment of acetabular fractures which involve the anterior wall and medial wall or in combination with femoral neck fracture. METHODS: The subinguinal approach was modified after anatomical study on 12 adult cadavers. Between May 2010 and March 2012, 34 patients with acetabular fracture that involved the anterior wall and medial wall or in combination with femoral neck fracture were treated with open reduction and internal fixation through modified subinguinal approach in 15 cases and through modified subinguinal approach combined with Kocher-Langenbeck approach. There were 28 males and 6 females with an average age of 31.1 years (range, 20-64 years). According to the Letournel-Judet classification, there were 15 cases of anterior acetabular/column fractures, 8 cases of anterior acetabular/column fractures combined with trear half transverse fractures, 7 cases of double column fractures, and 4 cases of T shape fractures. The time between injury and operation was 5-16 days (mean, 7.4 days). RESULTS: Anatomy results: the inguinal ligament was reflection and continuity from the aponeurosis of obliquus externus abdominis with a length of (11.09 +/- 0.24) cm, which form part of abdominal muscle. The conjugate of inguinal ligament and iliopsoas muscle on the anterosuperior iliac spine was (0.69 +/- 0.08) cm. The vertical distance from the saphenous vein to the inguinal ligament was (3.58 +/- 0.49) cm. CLINICAL RESULTS: all the cases were followed up 4-24 months (mean, 14.6 months). No complication was observed, such as wound infection, internal fixation loosening, and iatrogenic injury to the sciatic or femoral nerve. The bone union time was 12-16 weeks (mean, 14 weeks). According to Matta reduction criteria for acetabular fractures, anatomic reduction were achieved in 21 cases, satisfactory reduction in 10 cases, and unsatisfactory reduction in 3 cases at 1 week after operation. According to D'Aubigne and Postel criteria for hip function, the results were excellent in 25 cases, good in 4 cases, fair in 3 cases, and poor in 2 cases at last follow-up. Heterotopic ossification (Brooker's grade I) occurred in 8 cases. CONCLUSION: The modified subinguinal approach can keep the inguinal ligament intact, provide broad visualization of anterior and medial wall of acetabulum and anterior hip capsule, which is a better modification and supplement for classic ilioinguinal approach.

[Comparative anatomical study on subinguinal and ilioinguinal approaches and clinical application in acetabular fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To compare anatomical differences between subinguinal and ilioinguinal approaches for the treatment of acetabular fracture and investigate clinical therapeutic effect of subinguinal approach. METHODS: Seven fresh human bodies were chosen, comparative study were performed on the right and left side on the same specimen. Ilioinguinal approaches were adopted on the left and subinguinal were adopted on the right. Inner part of incision started to sun wild above pubic symphysis at 2 cm, and lateral incision ranged from iliac to anterior superior spine about 5 cm. Length and transverse diameter of the first window exposed and lliopsoas freeness were tested and compared. Fifteen acetabular fracture patients treated through subinguinal approach were compared from May 2010 to August 2012. Among all patients, including 12 males and 3 females aged from 20 to 65 years old with an average of 40.6 years old. Matta criteria were used to evaluate clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Length and transverse diameter of the first window exposed and lliopsoas freeness through subinguinal approach were better than through ilioinguinal approach (P<0.01). In 15 patients with acetabular fracture, 10 patients obtained anatomical reduction and 10 patients got satisfied reduction in accordance with Matta criteria. X-ray results of all patients were excellent. CONCLUSION: Compared with ilioinguinal approach, subinguinal approach could enlarge visualization of the first window and simplify surgical procedure. It is an ideal approach to expose anterior and anterior-medialis wall of acetabulum and anterior hip capsule.