[Knee angular deformity correction using unicorticotomy and callus distraction by external fixation method and presentation of new external fixation device for varus correction of proximal tibia].

The main goal of this paper is to present clinical results of surgical correction of angular (varus and valgus) deformities of knee area. Goal is also to present new external fixation device for surgical treatment of varus deformity of proximal tibia. As material it has been used series of 70 patients treated during the period of 6.5 years in University Orthopaedic and traumatology clinic. Biomechanical investigation of 80% cut bone model fixed by new external fixation device was performed in the measurement laboratory of Mechanical Faculty University of Nis. Clinical results of treatment of 58 high tibial surgeries (49 varus and 9 valgus) and 12 distal femur surgeries (2 varus and 10 valgus) showed that unicorticotomy and callus distraction by the use of Mitkovic external fixation device leaded to correction and bone union. Superficial pin tract infection happened in 9 patients and has been successfully treated without pins removal. Biomechanical investigation of new device showed that during axial loading of bone model by 690 N (70 kg) movement of medial distal end of bone model was 0.30 mm while posterior distal end of bone model was 0.26 mm. From results obtained in can be concluded that unicorticotomy and gradual callus distraction by the use of external fixation is one reliable method. Biomechanical testing of new external fixation device showed that it is more stable in control of varus and posterior position of proximal tibial fragment.

Surgical treatment of displaced acetabular fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Acetabular fractures are severe injuries, generally caused by high-energy trauma, most frequently from traffic accidents or falls from heights. Fractures of the extremities, head injuries, chest, abdomen and pelvic ring injuries are most commonly associated injuries. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fractures. The open anatomical reduction of the articular surface combined with a rigid internal fixation and early mobilisation have become the standard treatment of these injuries. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 22 patients of average age 43.13 years. The patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation at the Orthopaedic Clinic of Nis from 2005-2009. The follow-up was 12 to 60 months, with the average of 21.18 months after surgery. RESULTS: All injured patients were operated on between 4 and 11 days (5.7 days on the average). According to the classification by Judet and Letournel, 15 (68.18%) patients had an elementary acetabular fracture, whereas 7 (31.82%) patients had associated fracture. A satisfactory postoperative reduction implying less than 2 mm of displacement was achieved in 19 (86.36%) patients. The radiological status of the hip joint, determined according to Matta score, was excellent in 15 (68.18%) patients, good in 4 (18.18%) patients and moderate in 3 (13.63%) patients. According to Merle d'Aubigné Scale, the final functional results of the treatment of all operated patients were excellent in 12 (54.54%) patients, good in 7 (31.81%) patients and moderate in 3 (13.63%) patients. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of dislocated acetabular fractures requires an open reduction and a stable internal fixation. Excellent and good results can be expected only if anatomical reduction and stable internal fixation are achieved.

[Surgical treatment of the aseptic femoral shaft nonunion].

Femoral shaft nonunions is difficult complication and a big challenge for the orthopaedic surgeons. These complications occur after open femoral fractures, comminuted fractures, segmental fractures, the infection, after the inadequate fixed osteosynthesis, the systemic disease, and smokers. The paper presents the results of treatment aseptic femoral shaft nonunion in 18 patients. They were primarily operated by the method of internal compresive plate fixation and external fixation (open fractures). For fixation we used dinamic internal fixator by Mitkovic. All nonunions treated by this method are healed. In patients with atrophic femoral shaft nonunions in addition to fixation was performed and bone grafting. This implant has proved successful in the treatment of femoral shaft nonunion. During the fixation no periostal and intramedullary vascularization damage, which is an important prerequisite for bone healing. Implant enables biological and mechanical conditions for nonunion healing.

[External fixation in the treatment of open tibial shaft fractures].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Besides the conquasant fractures, open tibia shaft fractures belong to the group of the most severe fractures of tibia. Open tibia shaft fracture is one of the most common open fractures of long bones. They most frequently occur as a result of traffic accidents caused by the influence of a strong direct force. METHODS: Within the period from January, 2000 to December 31, 2005 at the Clinic for Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Clinical Center Nis, 107 patients with open tibial fractures were treated. We analyzed 96 patients with open tibial fracture. In the series analyzed, the male sex was prevalent--there were 74 men (77.08%). The mean age was 47.3 years. The youngest patient was 17 years old, while the oldest patient was 79. According to the classification of the Gustilo et al. in the analysed group there were 30 (31.25%) open tibial fractures of the I degree, 31 (32.29%) of the II degree, 25 (26.05%) of the III A degree, 8 (8.33%) of the III B degree and 2 (2.08%) of the III C degree. In 95 of the patients the treatment of open tibia shaft fractures consisted of the surgical treatment of wound and the external fixation of the fractured bone using "Mitkovic" type external fixator with a convergent method of pin applications. One primary amputations had been done in patients with grade IIIC open tibial fracture with large soft tissue defect. RESULTS: Of the 96 open tibial fractures available for follow-up, 73 (76.04%) healed without severe complications (osteitis, pseudoarthrosis, valgus malunion and amputation). There were nine (9.38%) soft tissue pin track infections and six (6.25%) superficial wound infections. The mean time of union was 21 (14-36) week. Among severe local complications associated with open tibial fractures, in eight patients (8.33%) was registered osteitis, and in nine patients (9.38%) fracture nonunion and the development of pseudoarthrosis. Three of the patients (3.13%) had more than 10 degree valgus malunion. In one patients (1.04%) deep pin track infection developed. Two patients (2.08%) had below the knee amputation (one primary in patient with type III C open fracture and one secondary after the development of deep infections). CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of wounds, external fixation, leaving the wounds open and performing necessary debridements, adequate drug therapy administration are essential for obtaining good results in patients with open tibial shaft fractures.

[External skeletal fixation of the tibial shaft fractures]. / Spoljasnja skeletna fiksacija u lecenju preloma potkolenice.

AIM: To present the possibility of a succesfful use of external skelatal fixation in treating the open and closed tibial shaft fractures with Mitkovic's external fixator. METHODS: External fixation was used in 115 patients with 118 fresh tibial shaft fractures, 82 males (71.3%) and 33 females (28.7%), average age 43.92 years (16-84). Open tibial shaft fractures were present in 37 (31.36%). All the fractures were treated with Mitkovic's external fixator type M 20. RESULTS: The results of external fixation were excellent or good in 94.07% of the cases, and bad in 5.08%. Pin tract infection appeared in 7 (5.93%) patients. In only 3 cases an external fixator was removed and treatment continued with the functional braces. Nonunion occurred in 6 (5.08%) patients, of which 4 were with open fractures (2 Gustilo type IIIB, 1 Gustilo type IIIA, 1 Gustilo type II) and 2 with the segment fractures. Compartment syndrome was observed in 1 (0.85%) patient with closed fracture. Malunion was found in 2 (1.69%) patients. CONCLUSION: External fixation of tibial shaft fractures is a simple and effective method to enable the safe healing of fractures, early mobilization of the patients, early weight-bearing, as well as early rehabilitation. Fixation of tibial shaft fractures was unilateral with convergent pins orientation, and there was also a possibility of compression and distraction.

Open subtalar dislocation treated by distractional external fixation.

Subtalar dislocation is a rare injury, constituting approximately 1% of acute dislocations, and often is the result of high-energy trauma, particularly falls from heights. We present a case of a 33-year-old man who sustained a Gustilo type IIIB open subtalar dislocation when he fell 4 m from a scaffold. After irrigation and debridement, a Mitkovic distractional external fixator was applied medially for 6 weeks while the wound healed by secondary intention. Physical therapy was initiated along with partial to full weight bearing during the next 3 months. The patient returned to work at 8 months postinjury. At 24 months, the patient had a normal gait with pain only during prolonged periods of standing or walking. X-rays and MRI were normal with no signs of avascular necrosis or posttraumatic arthritis. Ankle joint range of motion was dorsiflexion 5 degrees and plantar flexion 45 degrees with moderately limited subtalar joint motion. The distractional external fixator allowed for complete wound care and unburdening of the talus, which perhaps reduced the possibility of avascular necrosis.

[Open wedge osteotomy and callus distraction by means of the external fixator in distal femur and proximal tibia in knee arthrosis with valgus and varus deformity]. / Open wedge osteotomija i kalusna distrakcija spoljnim fiksatorom na distalnom femuru i proksimalnoj tibiji kod artroze kolena sa valgus i varus deformitetom.

Various methods can be applied for treatment of knee deformity. One of them is open wedge osteotomy and callus distraction by means of the external fixator. This paper presents the results of treatment of 16 patients with knee arthrosis associated with varus and valgus deformities (10 varus and 6 valgus deformities). Open wedge osteotomy of the varus deformity was performed in the proximal tibia, and in case of the valgus deformity in the distal part of the femur. The patients who were operated on had a knee varus larger than 10 degrees and a knee valgus larger than 12 degrees. Prior to open wedge osteotomy and application of the external fixator, knee arthroscopy was performed (meniscectomy, cartilage drilling and shaving, debridement, the extraction of loose bodies). After one-year follow-up, the final outcome of the treatment was positive in all patients. The treatment alleviated the pain in these patients. The method is minimally invasive and relatively easily applied. Mitkovic's external fixator type M20-CD-V allows for continuous callus distraction with simultaneous correction of the varus or valgus knee deformity.

[Surgical treatment of pertrochanteric fractures using dynamic methods of internal and external fixation]. / Hirursko lecenje pertrohanternih preloma dinamickim metodama spoljasnje i unutrasnje fiksacije.

Pertrochanteric fractures usually occur in patients over 65 years of age, with greater loss of skeletal mass (osteoporosis). Nonsurgical methods of treatment are accompanied by relatively high lethality rate. Moreover, they do not produce satisfactory anatomical and functional results. Surgical treatment by using dynamic implants represents a method of choice in the fixation of pertrochanteric fractures. This paper presents the treatment results of 110 patients, 61 with pertrochanteric fractures, who were surgically treated by the dynamic method of internal fixation, and 49 patients who were treated by the method of external fixation. Dynamical implants enabled both dynamization and compression of the fracture in the axis of the neck, as well as the diaphysis of the femur, which lowered the risk of mechanical complications, and, at the same time, provided effective healing of the fracture, early activation, and mobilization of the patients on whom the surgery was performed. In patients infected by various diseases, for whom surgical trauma represents a life threat, the external fixation is recommended as a method of choice.