【Abstract】 Objective To explore the cause of the perioprative period compl ication of scandinavian total anklereplacement(STAR) and to summarize the experience in the treatment and prevention. Methods From March 1999 toNovember 2006, 35 patients were given total ankle replacement(TAR) with STAR system. There were 19 males and 16 femaleswith an average age of 50.5 years (27 to 68 years), including 12 cases of posttraumatic arthritis, 8 cases of osteoarthritis and 15cases of rheumatoid arthritis. All patients had pain of ankle joint, swell ing and l imitation of joint motion. The disease coursewas 9-64 months. The curative effect was estimated by Kofoed total ankle scoring system. The mean preoperative ankle scorewas 29(6-48); the mean pain score was 18.3(0-35); the mean function score was 11.7(6-18); and the mean activity score was9.2(3-12). The type of all compl ications were record, and its cause, prevetion and treatment were analyszed. Results Thirtythreepatients achieved heal ing by first intention, 2 achieved delayed union because of infection. Twenty-eight patients werefollowed up 3-80 months (mean 43.5 months). Medial malleolus fracture occurred in 2 cases, unstable ankle joint introversion in2 cases, l imitation of ankle dorsiextension in 1 case and 1 case had hypoesthesia at intermediate dorsal skin of foot and 3rd-5thmetatarsal skin without obvious dysfunction; all were treated with symptomatic medication. The postoperative mean ankle scorewas 85.5 (58-95); the mean pain score was 48.3(35-50); the mean function score was 20.7(18-30); the mean activity score was17.2(16-20). There were statistically significant differences when compared with preoperative score(P lt; 0.01). The cl inical resultswere excellent in 16 patients, good in 9 patients and fair in 3 patients. The X-ray films showed no loosening and subsidence ofprosthesis. Conclusion Although STAR can retain the functions of the operated joint, it has its special compl ications. It isimportant to obey operation principle with proficient operative technique, to strictly control surgical indication and to intensifyperioperative period treatment so as to decrease the compl ications.
Objective To study the prevention and management of early compl ications associated with anterior cervical spinal surgery. Methods From November 1998 to December 2006, 363 cases were treated with anterior cervicalsurgery, including 268 males and 95 females aged 17-79 years．In these cases, 224 suffered from cervical spondylosis, 39 from cervical disc herniation, 87 from cervical trauma, 9 from cervical tumor and 4 from cervical tuberculosis. Forty-eight cases with anterior cervical surgery were fused by autogenous il iac bones, 132 cases with anterior cervical surgery were fused by autogenous il iac bones and anterior cervical spine locking plates, and 183 cases with anterior cervical surgery were fused by titanium mesh cage and anterior cervical spine locking plates. Results A total of 282 cases were followed up for 3 months to 5 years with the average of 1 year and 11 months. Twenty-three compl ications associated with surgery were found, with an incidence of 8.16%. Three cases of transient superior laryngeal nerve palsy recovered within 3-7 days after the restriction of l iquid diet and fluid replacement. Two cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy recovered by 3-month pronunciation practice. One case of spinal cord injury was treated with medicine for dehydration and anti-inflammation, and was restored to preoperative muscle power of inferior extremity after 6 months. Two cases of CSF leakage were cured with moderate local compression and meticulous water-tight wound closure. Among the 10 patients with compl ications of internal fixation, one suffering mild dysphagia was reoperated, while the others were treated with cephal-cervico-thorax plaster external fixation and recovered with sol id fusion within 3-18 months. Among the 4 cases with cervical hematoma, 1 died of wrong rescue procedures and 1 was infected. Conclusion Adequate preoperative preparation, thorough understanding of anatomy related to the anterior approach and skilled surgical technique are essential for preventing the early postoperative compl ications of anterior cervical spinal surgery．
Objective To explore a surgical method for chronic osteomyel itis of sternum after thoracotomy. Methods From January 2006 to February 2009, 11 cases of chronic osteomyelitis after thoracotomy (2 cases of coronary bypass, 6 cases of mitral valve replacement, and 3 cases of ventricular defect repair) were admitted. Of them, there were 6 males and 5females, aged from 6 to 62 years (median 34 years), including 6 cases of simple osteomyelitis of sternum, 2 cases of osteomyelitis of sternum with suppurative infection of mediastinum, and 3 cases osteomyel itis of sternum with costal chondritis. Necrotic sternum were excised and defect was from 4 cm × 3 cm to 7 cm × 4 cm. Greater pectoral muscle flap was designed from 8 cm × 5 cm to 10 cm × 6 cm on one side and was transferred to defect. Negative drainage and sensitive antibiotics were administered after operation. Results Healing by first intention was achieved in 10 patients except 1 patient who had a few discharge at the drainage outlet and whose incision healed 1 week later. The follow up was from 3 to 10 months with an average of 6 months. The formed scars were flat with soft texture in 8 patients and moderately hypertrophy in 3 patients. The wounds healed without pain, relapse or abnormal function of donor upper limb. Conclusion Transplantation of greater pectoral muscle flap is an effective way to repair chronic osteomyelitis of sternum after thoracotomy.
Objective To investigate the cl inical appl ication effect of the new bone harvester. Methods Between August 2006 and October 2009, 112 patients underwent autogenous il iac bone graft and were followed up. There were 71 males and 41 females with a median age of 42 years (range, 11-71 years), including 45 cases of comminuted fracture of the l imbs, 47cases of bone nonunion, and 20 cases of benign bone tumor. According to different methods of bone harvesting, the patients were divided into 5 groups: group A (n=32, with new bone harvester), group B (n=29, with tricortical bone harvester), group C (n=15, with internal lamina harvester), group D (n=23, with external lamina harvester), and group E (n=13, with bicortical il iac bone by saw). There was no significant difference in general data of 5 groups (P gt; 0.05). The incision length, operation time, and peri-operative bleeding volume were compared. At 4 days, 7 days, 60 days, and 1 year postoperatively, the pain degree was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS), and the incidence rates of peri pheral nerve injury, fracture, haematoma, ventral hernia, il iac crest sag, and chronic pain were observed. Results The incision length and the operation time in group A was shorter than those in other groups, the peri-operative bleeding volume in group A was less than in other groups, the VAS in group A was the lowest among 5 groups, showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05). The occurrence rates of chronic pain and il iac crest sag in group A were lower than those in group B, showing significant differences at 1 year after operation (P lt; 0.01). There was no significant difference in the incidence rates of peripheral nerve injury, fracture, haematoma, ventral hernia, il iac crest sag, and chronic pain between group A and groups C, D, E (P gt; 0.05), and in the incidence rates of peri pheral nerve injury, fracture, haematoma, and ventral hernia between group A and group B (P gt; 0.05). The total compl ication in group A was the lowest among 5 groups, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The new bone harvester is minimally invasive bone harvester,which has the advantages of short operation time and incision length, less bleeding volume, low VAS and complications.
Objective To compare the difference of anterior knee pain between mobile-bearing prosthesis and fixedbearing prosthesis after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods Between January 2008 and October 2008, 72 patients withosteoarthritis were treated with primary TKA. All patients were randomly divided into fixed-bearing prosthesis group (n=37)and mobile-bearing prosthesis group (n=35). In fixed-bearing prosthesis group, there were 8 males and 29 females with an average age of 69.6 years (range, 57-76 years), weighing from 55 to 92 kg (mean, 66.7 kg); the locations were the left knee in 20 cases and the right knee in 17 cases; the body mass index (BMI) ranged from 17.6 to 37.3 (mean, 26.2); the disease duration was 3-22 years; the Knee Society Score (KSS) knee score, function score, patellar score, and pain score were 29.4 ± 15.3, 33.4 ± 16.8, 7.2 ± 2.5, and 2.5 ± 2.2, respectively; and the Insall-Salvati (I-S) index was 1.6 ± 0.3. In mobile-bearing prosthesis group, there were 9 males and 26 females with an average age of 68.2 years (range, 58-73 years), weighing from 50 to 86 kg (mean, 67.9 kg); the locations were the left knee in 30 cases and the right knee in 5 cases; the BMI ranged from 18.4 to 34.4 (mean, 25.6); the disease duration was 6-18 years; the KSS knee score, function score, patellar score, and pain score were 30.9 ± 14.7, 31.4 ± 14.4, 6.8 ± 3.1, and 2.0 ± 2.3, respectively; and the I-S index was 1.6 ± 0.2. There was no significant difference in general data between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results All incisions healed by first intention; no deep vein thrombosis of lower l imbs or pulmonary embol ism occurred. All patients were followed up 12-16 months. In mobile-bearing prosthesis group, knee infection occurred in 1 case, dislocation of the knee in 1 case, and cl icking of the knee in 3 cases; in fixed-bearing prosthesis group, cl icking of the knee occurred in 1 case. There was no significant difference in KSS knee score, function score, patellar score, or pain score between 2 groups (P lt; 0.05) at last follow-up; and there was no significant difference in congruence angle, lateral patellofemoralangle, patellar tilt angle, lateral patellar displacement, patellar displacement, or I-S index between 2 groups at last follow-up (P gt; 0.05). Anterior knee pain occurred in 7 cases (18.9%) of the fixed-bearing prosthesis group and in 5 cases (14.3%) of the mobilebearing prosthesis group, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.227, P =0.634). There were significant differences in KSS knee score, function score, patellar score, and I-S index between patients with anterior knee pain and patients without anterior knee pain (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Fixed-bearing prosthesis and mobile-bearing prosthesis have the same short-term effectiveness and the incidence of anterior knee pain.
Objective To summarize and analyze the operation-correlated compl ications of total knee arthroplasty (TKA)with posterior stabil ized prosthesis (PS). Methods From October 2000 to October 2007, 707 cases (816 knees) underwent TKA. All the TKA knees were divided equally into former and latter groups according to the operation time (408 knees for each group). In the former group (October 2000 to January 2005, n=350), there were 63 males (84 knees) and 287 females (324 knees), aging (63.5 ± 7.8) years. A total of 198 left knees affected and 210 right knees affected; 292 single kneesaffected and 58 both knees affected. There were 304 knees of osteoarthritis, 84 knees of rheumatoid arthritis and 20 knees of other disease. The disease course was (9.3 ± 5.6) years. The knee range of motion (ROM) was (97.2 ± 8.7)°, the HSS score was 47.4 ± 12.2. In the latter group (January 2005 to October 2007, n=357), there were 77 males (92 knees) and 280 females (316 knees), aging (62.7 ± 6.3) years. A total of 221 left knees affected and 187 right knees affected; 306 single knees affected and 51 both knees affected. There were 278 knees of osteoarthritis, 109 knees of rheumatoid arthritis and 21 knees of other disease. The disease course was (8.6 ± 5.1) years. The knee ROM was (101.1 ± 10.3)°, the HSS score was 49.3 ± 11.2. We modified the method of lateral patellar retinaculum release and used a new femoral rotational al ignment technique in the latter group. The intraoperative and postoperative compl ications were divided into mild, moderate and severe. The HSS score, ROM and compl ications of the knee were compared and analyzed statistically during the follow-up. Results The former group was followed up 5.3 years (1 to7 years), compl ications occurred in 278 knees (68.1%), including mild in 136 knees (33.3%), moderate in 135 knees (33.1%) and severe in 7 knees (1.7%). The latter group was followed up 2.1 years (0.5 to 3.5 years), compl ications occurred in 159 knees (39.0%), including mild in 111 knees (27.2%), moderate in 47 knees (11.5%) and severe in 1 knee (0.2%), and there was significant difference between them (P lt; 0.001). There was significant difference in increased ROM between the former group (6.0 ± 3.7)° and the latter group (14.4 ± 4.2)° after operation (P lt; 0.05). There was significant difference in increased HSS score between the former group (36.9 ± 3.7)and the latter group (44.0 ± 4.2) after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The TKA is a complex operation with innumerable potential compl ications. To accumulate operative experience and improve surgical skills are the key points to reduce the operation-correlated compl ications.
Objective To investigate the reasons of failure of Gamma nail treatment for intertrochanteric fractures and define operative techniques of the revision surgery. Methods From January 1999 to January 2008, 20 cases of 432 patients treated with Gamma nails for intertrochanteric fractures were revised. There were 9 males and 11 females, aged 24-87 years (median 65 years). Among them, there were 4 cases of femoral shaft fracture, 2 cases of screw penetrating the femoral head,11 cases of screw cutting out the femoral head and neck, 2 cases of internal rotation malformation, and 1 case of nfection. The operative procedures of revision were as follows: 4 cases were treated with the long Gamma nail, 4 cases by adjusting the position of Gamma nail, 11 cases with artificial femoral head replacement, and 1 case by removing Gamma nail and debriding and reimplant the Gamma nail. Results The hospital ization days were 16-28 days (21.2 days on average); the bleeding volume during operation was 150-600 mL (380 mL on average). All wounds healed by first intention. Bed rest days were 7-15 days (12.5 days on average). All the patients were followed up for 1-8 years (5 years on average). The operations were successful, the femoral intertrochanteric fracture and femoral shaft fracture reached bony union. Compl ications such as loosening, breakage of hardware and coxa adduct were not observed. No loosening and dislocation of the prosthesis occurred. Among the patients with compl ications, 9 patients were treated with a Gamma nail again. Fracture heal ing was achieved within 2 to 5 months, with an average of 3 months. According to the WANG Fang et al. criterion for hip joint function, the results were excellent in 7 cases and good in 2 cases. In 11 patients who receieved artificial femoral head replacement, the hip joint function restored to normal. Harris score was 90-93. Conclusion Various causes such as osteoporosis, ti p-apex distance ( 25 mm), femoral shaft malformation, Gamma nail shortcomings may lead to compl ications after Gamma nail treatment for intertrochanteric fractures. Good results will be achieved by different revision techniques.
Objective To investigate the donor-site compl ications of the anterolateral thigh flap and its influencing factors. Methods Between July 1988 and July 2007, 427 patients were treated with anterolateral thigh flap. Among them, 33 patients had postoperative donor-site compl ications and their cl inical data were analyzed retrospectively. There were 21 malesand 12 females aged 14-47 years old (average 32.7 years old). The size of the wound defect ranged from 16 cm × 7 cm to 28 cm × 13 cm. The area of the flap harvested during operation ranged from 16 cm × 7 cm to 30 cm × 13 cm. The donor sites were treated by direct suture in 7 cases; free spl it-thickness skin graft in 23 cases, and reverse superficial epigastric artery flap repair in 3 cases. The size of graft in the donor site ranged from 10 cm × 5 cm to 18 cm × 8 cm. The occurrence of short-term (within 4 weeks) and long-term (over 6 months) compl ications were analyzed. Results All patients were followed up for 8-54 months (average 21 months). There were 26 patients (78.8%) with short-term and long-term compl ications and 7 patients (21.2%) with long-term compl ications. The short-term compl ications included skin graft necrosis in 23 cases (69.7%), wound infection in 17 cases (51.5%), and muscle necrosis in 2 cases (6.1%). The long-term compl ications included non-heal ing wounds in 21 cases (63.6%), serious scar in 28 cases (84.8%), discomfort in 25 cases (75.8%), and dysfunction of the quadriceps femoris in 16 cases (48.5%). Conclusion The occurrence of anterolateral thigh flap donor-site compl ications is related to the anatomical structure of the anterolateral thigh region, the surgical procedure, and the patient’s physique.
Objective To investigate the causes and managements of acetabular fracture during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods Between May 2005 and July 2008, 9 patients (9 hi ps) suffered from acetabular fractures during primary THA. There were 1 male and 8 females with an average age of 63.3 years (range, 41-73 years), including 4 cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip, 2 cases of rheumatoid arthritis, 1 case of old femoral neck fracture, 1 case of avascular necrosis of femoral head, and 1 case of ankylosing spondyl itis. Three left hips and 6 right hips were involved. The preoperative Harris score was 40.4 ± 2.9. All the patients underwent cementless THA. Among nine acetabular fractures, 8 fractures were stable (2 anterior wall fractures and 6 posterior wall fractures), which were fixed by additional augmentation screws in 7 cases and accepted no special treatment in 1 case; 1 fracture was unstable (posterior wall fracture with posterior column incomplete fracture), which was treated by bone grafting and additional screws. Results The postoperative X-ray films showed that the position of the prosthesis were favorable. All incisions healed by first intention without early compl ication. Nine patients were followed up 1-4 years (mean, 2 years and 7 months). The Harris score was 87.8 ± 3.9 at last follow-up, showing significant difference when compared with the preoperative score (t=44.904, P=0.000). The X-ray films showed fracture heal ing at 8 weeks. No loosening occurred. Conclusion When primary THA is performed, the preoperative X-ray film should be studied and measured carefully, operation should be accurate and violence should be avoided. The diameter of the acetabular component should be equal to the diameter of a drill or not larger than 2 mm. In patients with severe osteoporosis, the diameter of the acetabular components should be the same diameter as a drill and additional screws are used to fix, or cemented cup is used. Once an acetabular fracture occurs during the primary THA, additional screw or bone grafting with additional screws should be chosen according to the fracture type and stabil ity, and good cl inical results can be expected.
Objective To review and investigate the compl ication and the treatment in Nuss procedure for correction of pectus excavatum. Methods From September 2005 to March 2009, 221 patients with pectus excavatum were treated withNuss procedure, including 189 males and 32 females and aging 2 years old and 10 months to 25 years old (median 8 years and 7 months old). Of 18 patients with recurrent pectus excavatum, 12 patients underwent a Ravitch procedure and the recurrence time of the depression after the first operation was less than 1 year in 2 patients, 1-3 years in 3, 3-5 years in 5, and over 5 years in 2; 6 patients underwent a stemotumover operation and the recurrence time of the depression after the first operation was less than 1 year in 2 patients, 1-3 years in 1 and 3-5 years in 3. The other 203 patients had a primary Nuss procedure, and the course of disease was from 18 months to 24 years. The preoperative CT scan showed the Haller index was 4.36 ± 1.34. Results The operation in all the patients were performed successfully without compl ications of death, massive hemorrhage and intrathoracic organ injury. The time of operation was 25-80 minutes (mean 40 minutes). The bleeding volume during procedure was 5-25 mL, with an average of 10 mL. Local allergy occurred in 3 cases after 7-10 months of operation, wound reject reaction in 2 cases after 3 and 11 months respectively, and effusion in 3 cases after 6-10 months; incision healed after dressing change. Incision healed primarly in the other patients. Pneumothorax occurred in 3 cases when the operation finished and in 7 cases after 2-4 days, pleural effusion in 4 cases after 3-5 days of operation, Nuss plate displacement in 2 cases after 3 days and 9 months, respectively. The patients having compl ication recovered well after treatment. The compl ication rate was about 8.72% (17/195). The followupperiod was 2-37 months for 195 patients. The postoperative Haller index was 2.52 ± 0.32 after 3 months of operation, showing statistically significant difference when compared with that before operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Nuss procedure with non-thoracoscopic assistance for correction of pectus excavatum is safe because of less trauma and compl ication.