Trans-olecranon fracture dislocations: How should we treat them?

BACKGROUND: Trans-olecranon fracture dislocations are the least frequent complex elbow instability. Proper surgical treatment should be performed to avoid postoperative complications. METHODS: A retrospective design study was performed. Patients that suffered from this injury, treated at our center from 2010 to 2016 were included. Fifteen patients were analyzed. Functional results were measured using DASH, MEPS and VAS scores. Average time from injury to first surgical treatment was 4.87 days. Radial head fracture was present in seven cases and coronoid process in three patients. Most frequent complication was hardware disturbances in five patients. Mean follow up was 3.65 years. RESULTS: Mean range of motion (ROM) was evaluated 1 year postoperatively: 129° flexion, 6° flexion contracture, and less than 5° deficit of pronation/supination. Clinical and functional results are encouraging, DASH 36.38, MEPS 100 and VAS 0.46. CONCLUSION: Trans-olecranon fracture dislocations could obtain functional range of movement, pain relief and good functional outcomes with a standardized protocol of surgical fixation. It is important to achieve proper ulnar fixation, focusing in reestablishing dorsal angulation, and also to treat radial head and coronoid injuries properly, if present.

Resultados funcionales del tratamiento quirúrgico percutáneo de las lesiones sutiles del complejo tarso-metatarsiano / Study of the functional results of the percutaneous surgical treatment of subtle injuries of the tarso-metatarsian complex

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: El concepto Lisfranc sutil define lesiones por baja energía del complejo articular tarso-metatarsiano (CTM) que suponen inestabilidad articular. Con frecuencia pasan desapercibidas, con secuelas a largo plazo. El objetivo es evaluar los resultados clínico-funcionales de los pacientes con lesiones CTM ligamentosas grado II-III (clasificación de Nunley y Vertullo) tratados con cirugía percutánea. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo sobre 16 pacientes intervenidos percutáneamente por lesión ligamentosa CTM. Se recogieron datos demográficos, días de demora del diagnóstico, técnica quirúrgica, reducción articular en carga (adecuada si espacio C1-M2 menor de 2 mm) y puntuación de la escala Manchester-Oxford (MOXFQ). Muestra constituida por nueve varones y siete mujeres, edad media de 43,6 años (17-71) y seguimiento medio 22 meses (12-28). RESULTADOS: El diagnóstico se demoró más de 24 horas en cuatro pacientes (3-6 días). En 11 pacientes el tratamiento consistió en reducción cerrada y síntesis percutánea con tornillos canulados desde M2 a C1 y desde C1 a C2. En tres pacientes se suplementó con agujas Kirschner en los radios laterales. Dos pacientes se trataron con único tornillo M2 a C1. No se consiguió una reducción anatómica en seis pacientes, con una media de 2,6 mm entre C1-M2 (2,1-3 mm); la puntuación media funcional MOXFQ de estos pacientes fue 41,1% (IC 95% 23,1-59,1%), peores resultados comparando con la reducción anatómica: 17,2% (IC 95% 5,7-28,7); diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p < 0,01). CONCLUSIÓN: Las lesiones sutiles del CTM son poco frecuentes y pueden pasar desapercibidas. El tratamiento quirúrgico con síntesis percutánea ofrece buenos resultados clínico-funcionales a medio plazo. La reducción anatómica es un factor determinante para el buen resultado funcional de nuestros pacientes

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The concept subtle Lisfranc defines low energy lesions of the tarsometatarsal joint complex (TMC) that involve joint instability. Often unnoticed, with long-term sequelae. The objective is to evaluate the clinical-functional results of patients with MTC ligament damage grade II-III (Nunley and Vertullo classification) treated with percutaneous surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 16 patients who underwent percutaneous surgery for MLC ligament damage. Demographic data, days of delay in diagnosis, surgical technique, joint reduction in load (adequate if C1-M2 space is less than 2 mm) and Manchester-Oxford scale (MOXFQ) score were collected. The sample consisted of nine males and seven females, mean age 43.6 years (17-71) and mean follow-up of 22 months (12-28). RESULTS: Diagnosis was delayed for more than 24 hours in four patients (3-6 days). In 11 patients the treatment consisted of closed reduction and percutaneous synthesis with cannulated screws from M2 to C1 and from C1 to C2. In three patients it was supplemented with Kirschner wires in the lateral radii. Two patients were treated with only M2 to C1 screws. An anatomical reduction was not achieved in six patients, with a mean of 2.6 mm between C1-M2 (2.1-3 mm); the mean functional MOXFQ score of these patients was 41.1% (IC 95% 23.1-59.1%), worse results compared to the anatomical reduction: 17.2% (IC 95% 5.7-28.7); statistically significant difference (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Subtle injuries from MTC are rare and can go unnoticed. Surgical treatment with percutaneous synthesis offers good clinical-functional results in the medium term. The anatomical reduction is a determining factor for the good functional result of our patients

Study of the functional results of the percutaneous surgical treatment of subtle injuries of the tarso-metatarsian complex. / Resultados funcionales del tratamiento quirúrgico percutáneo de las lesiones sutiles del complejo tarso-metatarsiano.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The concept subtle Lisfranc defines low energy lesions of the tarsometatarsal joint complex (TMC) that involve joint instability. Often unnoticed, with long-term sequelae. The objective is to evaluate the clinical-functional results of patients with MTC ligament damage grade II-III (Nunley and Vertullo classification) treated with percutaneous surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 16 patients who underwent percutaneous surgery for MLC ligament damage. Demographic data, days of delay in diagnosis, surgical technique, joint reduction in load (adequate if C1-M2 space is less than 2 mm) and Manchester-Oxford scale (MOXFQ) score were collected. The sample consisted of nine males and seven females, mean age 43.6 years (17-71) and mean follow-up of 22 months (12-28). RESULTS: Diagnosis was delayed for more than 24 hours in four patients (3-6 days). In 11 patients the treatment consisted of closed reduction and percutaneous synthesis with cannulated screws from M2 to C1 and from C1 to C2. In three patients it was supplemented with Kirschner wires in the lateral radii. Two patients were treated with only M2 to C1 screws. An anatomical reduction was not achieved in six patients, with a mean of 2.6 mm between C1-M2 (2.1-3 mm); the mean functional MOXFQ score of these patients was 41.1% (IC 95% 23.1-59.1%), worse results compared to the anatomical reduction: 17.2% (IC 95% 5.7-28.7); statistically significant difference (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Subtle injuries from MTC are rare and can go unnoticed. Surgical treatment with percutaneous synthesis offers good clinical-functional results in the medium term. The anatomical reduction is a determining factor for the good functional result of our patients.