Intramedullary nail versus bridge plate in open tibial fractures - randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Open tibial shaft fractures present a challenge to the orthopedic surgeon, because they are common, have a high rate of complications and still have a controversial treatment. As a result of the high incidence of these fractures, the need of a definitive treatment and the unavailability of the intramedullary nail or a well-trained team, we developed this study to compare the effectiveness of the bridge-plating (BP) with the unreamed intramedullary nail (UIMN) in the treatment of open tibial shaft fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients were included in a prospective, consecutive and random way and then randomized in two groups of treatment: unreamed intramedullary nail and bridge-plating. The primary outcomes were the reoperation rate and the Johner-Wruhs functional criteria. Secondary outcomes were complication rates, partial and total weight bearing time and bone consolidation time. We verified the existence of normality in the quantitative variables for the outcomes using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The Chi-Square test was utilized to compare the methods according to the relative frequencies and the comparison between the methods regarding the average of the quantitative variables was done through the T-Student test. RESULTS: Both the reoperation rates and the functional criteria of Johner-Wruhs showed no difference between the two groups. The exposure time and the total surgical time were longer in the UIMN group, however the consolidation time, partial weight bearing time and total weight bearing time did not show significant difference. A significant difference was found between the groups in the implant failure rate, in favor of UIMN, the angular malalignment was another secundary outcome that showed a non significant difference in favor of UIMN. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that both methods were effective for the treatment of open tibia shaft fractures, however, the implant failure rate was higher in the bridge plate group.

Correlation bettween Individual Anthropometric Characteristics and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tibial Fovea Measurements.

Objective To evaluate possible connections between the weight and height of patients submitted to total knee arthroplasty (TKA), with the length, width and area of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) fovea, as verified during surgery. Methods A total of 33 proximal tibial joint surfaces, obtained from TKA tibial sections of 33 patients, were used in the present study. The ACL was resected with a delicate scalpel to expose the ACL tibial fovea. Then the periphery of this fovea was delimited with a marker pen by means of small dots. Each piece was photographed, and the ACL tibial fovea length, width, and area were measured with the ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) software. Statistical analysis studied the correlation between anthropometrics data of the patients and the measurements of the ACL tibial fovea. Results The ACL tibial fovea length, width, and area were, respectively, 11.7 ± 2.0 mm, 7.1 ± 1.4 mm and 151.3 ± 22.2 mm 2 . There was a statistically significant relationship between the height of the patients and the width of the ACL tibial fovea. The width of the ACL fovea could be predicted by the formula: width = 107.294-(133.179 × height) + (44.009 × squared height). Conclusion The height of the patients may predict the width of the ACL tibial fovea, and therefore, may allow surgeons to choose the more adequate graft for each patient in ACL reconstruction.

Correlation bettween Individual Anthropometric Characteristics and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tibial Fovea Measurements / Correlação entre características antropométricas individuais e as medidas da fóvea tibial do ligamento cruzado anterior

Abstract Objective To evaluate possible connections between the weight and height of patients submitted to total knee arthroplasty (TKA), with the length, width and area of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) fovea, as verified during surgery. Methods A total of 33 proximal tibial joint surfaces, obtained from TKA tibial sections of 33 patients, were used in the present study. The ACL was resected with a delicate scalpel to expose the ACL tibial fovea. Then the periphery of this fovea was delimited with a marker pen by means of small dots. Each piece was photographed, and the ACL tibial fovea length, width, and area were measured with the ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) software. Statistical analysis studied the correlation between anthropometrics data of the patients and the measurements of the ACL tibial fovea. Results The ACL tibial fovea length, width, and area were, respectively, 11.7 ± 2.0 mm, 7.1 ± 1.4 mm and 151.3 ± 22.2 mm2. There was a statistically significant relationship between the height of the patients and the width of the ACL tibial fovea. The width of the ACL fovea could be predicted by the formula: width = 107 . 294 − 133 . 179 × height + 44 . 009 × squared height. Conclusion The height of the patients may predict the width of the ACL tibial fovea, and therefore, may allow surgeons to choose the more adequate graft for each patient in ACL reconstruction.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar possíveis relações entre o peso e altura de pacientes submetidos à artroplastia total do joelho com o comprimento, largura e área da fóvea do ligamento cruzado anterior, verificados na cirurgia. Métodos Um total de 33 superfícies articulares tibias proximais, obtidas nos cortes tibiais de artroplastia total do joelho de 33 pacientes, foram utilizadas no presente estudo. O ligamento cruzado anterior foi dissecado cuidadosamente e ressecado com bisturi delicado, para expor sua fóvea. Depois, a periferia dessa fóvea foi demarcada por pequenos pontos, com um marcador. Cada peça foi fotografada e as medições do comprimento, largura e área da fóvea tibial do ligamento cruzado anterior foram feitas com o programa ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, EUA). A análise estatística avaliou a correlação entre os dados antropométricos dos pacientes com as medidas da fóvea tibial do ligamento cruzado anterior. Resultados O comprimento, a largura e a área médios da fóvea tibial do ligamento cruzado anterior foram, respectivamente 11,7 ± 2,0 mm, 7,1 ± 1,4 mm e 151,3 ± 22,2 mm2. Houve relação estatisticamente significativa entre a altura dos pacientes e a largura da fóvea tibial do ligamento cruzado anterior. A largura da fóvea do ligamento cruzado anterior pôde ser predita pela fórmula: largura = 107 , 294 − 133 , 179 × altura + 44 , 009 × altura ao quadrado. Conclusão A altura dos pacientes pôde a prever a largura da fóvea tibial do ligamento cruzado anterior e, assim, pode ajudar os cirurgiões escolher o enxerto mais adequado para cada paciente, nas reconstruções do ligamento cruzado anterior.

Anatomical Study of Innervation of the Supinator Muscle to Reinnervate the Posterior Interosseous Nerve.

Objective The purpose of this anatomical study was to analyze the possibility of transferring radial nerve branches to the supinator muscle to reinnervate the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) originating from the C7-T1 roots. Methods Thirty members of 15 cadavers, all male, prepared with an intra-arterial glycerol and formaldehyde solution injection, were dissected. Results All dissected limbs presented at least one branch intended for the superficial and the deep heads of the supinator muscle. These branches originated from the PIN. A branch to the supinator muscle, proximal to the arcade of Frohse, was identified in six members. In addition, 2 and 3 branches to the supinator muscle were found in 11 and 4 members, respectively. In two limbs, only one branch detached from the PIN, but it duplicated itself proximal to the arcade of Frohse. Seven limbs had no branches to the supinator muscle at the region proximal to the arcade of Frohse. The branches destined for the supinator muscle were sectioned at the neuromuscular junction for connection with no tension to the PIN. The combined diameter of the branches for the supinator muscle corresponded, on average, to 53.5% of the PIN diameter. Conclusion The radial nerve branches intended for the supinator muscle can be transferred, with no tension, directly to the PIN to restore thumb and finger extension in patients with C7-T1 brachial plexus lesions.

Anatomical Study of Innervation of the Supinator Muscle to Reinnervate the Posterior Interosseous Nerve / Estudo anatômico da inervação do músculo supinador para reinervar o nervo interósseo posterior

Abstract Objective The purpose of this anatomical study was to analyze the possibility of transferring radial nerve branches to the supinator muscle to reinnervate the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) originating from the C7-T1 roots. Methods Thirty members of 15 cadavers, all male, prepared with an intra-arterial glycerol and formaldehyde solution injection, were dissected. Results All dissected limbs presented at least one branch intended for the superficial and the deep heads of the supinatormuscle. These branches originated fromthe PIN. A branch to the supinator muscle, proximal to the arcade of Frohse, was identified in six members. In addition, 2 and 3 branches to the supinator muscle were found in 11 and 4 members, respectively. In two limbs, only one branch detached from the PIN, but it duplicated itself proximal to the arcade of Frohse. Seven limbs had no branches to the supinatormuscle at the region proximal to the arcade of Frohse. The branches destined for the supinator muscle were sectioned at the neuromuscular junction for connection with no tension to the PIN. The combined diameter of the branches for the supinator muscle corresponded, on average, to 53.5% of the PIN diameter. Conclusion The radial nerve branches intended for the supinator muscle can be transferred, with no tension, directly to the PIN to restore thumb and finger extension in patients with C7-T1 brachial plexus lesions.

Resumo Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo anatômico, foi analisar a possibilidade de transferir os ramos do nervo radial destinados ao músculo supinador para reinervar o nervo interósseo posterior (NIP), que se origina das raízes C7-T1. Métodos Foram dissecados 30 membros de 15 cadáveres, todos do sexo masculino, preparados por injeção intra-arterial de uma solução de glicerina e formol a 10%. Resultados Em todos os membros dissecados, encontramos pelo menos um ramo destinado a cada uma das cabeças - superficial e profunda - do músculo supinador. Esses tiveram origem no NIP. Identificamos, proximal à arcada de Frohse, umramo para o supinador em seis membros; 2 ramos para o supinador em 11 membros e 3 ramos em 4 membros. Em dois membros, apenas um ramo desprendia-se do NIP, mas se duplicava proximalmente à arcada de Frohse. Em sete membros, não identificamos ramos para o supinador proximal à arcada de Frohse. Os ramos destinados ao músculo supinador foram seccionados na junção neuromuscular, podendo ser conectados sem tensão ao NIP. O diâmetro somado dos ramos destinados ao músculo supinador correspondeu, em média, a 53,5% do diâmetro do NIP. Conclusão Este estudo anatômico mostra que ramos do nervo radial destinados ao músculo supinador podem ser transferidos diretamente para o NIP semtensão para restaurar a extensão do polegar e dos dedos em pacientes com lesões de plexo braquial C7-T1.