Objective To investigate the safety and effectiveness of using the Taylor spatial frame (TSF) based on the Ilizarov tension-stress principle for treatment of post-burn foot and ankle deformities in adults. Methods A clinical data of 6 patients with post-burn foot and ankle deformities treated between April 2019 and November 2023 was retrospective analyzed. There was 1 male and 5 females with an average age of 28.7 years (range, 20-49 years). There were 3 cases of simple ankle equinus, 2 cases of ankle equinus, midfoot rocker-bottom foot, and forefoot pronation, and 1 case of calcaneus foot and forefoot pronation. Preoperative American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 45.3±18.2, 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) Physical Component Summary (PCS) was 34.3±7.3 and Mental Component Summary (MCS) was 50.4±8.8. Imaging examination showed tibial-calcaneal angle of (79.8±31.5)°, calcaneus-first metatarsal angle of (154.5±45.3)°, talus-first metatarsal angle of (–19.3±35.0)°. Except for 1 case with severe deformity that could not be measured, the remaining 5 cases had talus-second metatarsal angle of (40.6±16.4)°. The deformities were fixed with TSF after soft tissue release and osteotomy. Then, the residual deformities were gradually corrected according to software-calculated prescriptions. TSF was removed after maximum deformity correction and osteotomy healing. External fixation time, brace wearing time after removing the TSF, and pin tract infection occurrence were recorded. Infection severity was evaluated based on Checketts-Otterburns grading. Joint function was evaluated using AOFAS score and SF-12 PCS and MCS. Patient satisfaction was assessed using Likert score. Imaging follow-up measured relevant indicators to evaluate the degree of deformity correction. Deformity recurrence was observed during follow-up. Results The external fixation time was 103-268 days (mean, 193.5 days). The mild pin tract infections occurred during external fixation in all patients, which healed after pin tract care and oral antibiotics. No serious complication such as osteomyelitis, fractures, neurovascular injury, or skin necrosis occurred. After external fixation removal, 3 cases did not wear braces, while the remaining 3 cases wore braces continuously for 6 weeks, 8 weeks, and 3 years, respectively. All patients were followed up 13.9-70.0 months, with an average of 41.7 months. During follow-up, none of the 6 patients had recurrence of foot deformity. At 1 year after operation, the AOFAS score was 70.0±18.1, SF-12 PCS and MCS were 48.9±4.5 and 58.8±6.4, respectively, all showing improvement compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Imaging follow-up showed that all osteotomies healed, and all distraction cases achieved bony union at 6 months after stopping stretching. At 1 year after operation, tibial-calcaneal angle was (117.5±12.8)° and talus-first metatarsal angle was (–3.3±19.3)°, both showing improvement compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Calcaneus-first metatarsal angle was (132.0±14.4)°, which also improved compared to preoperative values but without statistical significance (P>0.05). Except for 1 case with severe deformity that could not be measured, the remaining 5 cases had talus-second metatarsal angle of (18.0±6.4)°. And there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between pre-and post-operative data of 4 patients with complete data. At 1 year after operation, 1 patient was satisfied with effectiveness and 5 patients were very satisfied. Conclusion The TSF, by applying the Ilizarov tension-stress principle for gradual distraction and multi-planar adjustment, combined with soft tissue release and osteotomy, can effectively correct foot and ankle deformities after burns, especially equinus deformity with contracture of the posterior soft tissues of the lower leg. There are still limitations in treating cases with tight, adherent scars on the dorsum of the foot that require long-distance distraction. If necessary, a multidisciplinary approach combined with microsurgical techniques can be utilized.
Objective To investigate the long-term effectiveness of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in treatment of Crowe type Ⅳ developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Methods A clinical data of Crowe type Ⅳ DDH patients treated with primary THA between January 2002 and August 2008 and followed up more than 13 years was retrospectively analyzed. Forty-two patients (45 hips) met the selection criteria and were enrolled in this study. There were 13 males and 29 females with an average age of 43.5 years (range, 18-65 years). There were 39 patients of unilateral hip and 3 of bilateral hips. The preoperative Harris score was 38.3±10.7 and leg length discrepancy of the patients treated with unilateral THA was (50.52±24.51) mm. During operation, 19 hips underwent subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy, with an average length of 25 mm (range, 15-35 mm). The Harris score, subjective satisfaction, prosthesis survival rate, complications, and related imaging indicators were summarized. Results All patients were followed up 13.0-19.6 years (mean, 15.0 years). The complications included 1 hip of femoral nerve palsy, 2 hips of dislocation, 1 hip of periprosthetic fracture, 1 hip of periprosthetic joint infection. At last follow-up, the Harris score was 82.1±9.3, which significantly improved when compared with preoperative one (t=−21.885, P=0.000). The subjective satisfaction was evaluated as very dissatisfactory in 3 hips, dissatisfactory in 1 hip, generally in 4 hips, satisfactory in 17 hips, and very satisfactory in 20 hips. X-ray films showed that the height of the greater trochanter of affected side was 3.01-51.60 mm (mean, 23.22 mm); the descending distance of greater trochanter was 3.95-98.06 mm (mean, 48.20 mm); the affected limb lengthened 3.95-61.63 mm (mean, 34.92 mm); the leg length discrepancy of patients treated with unilateral THA was (12.61±8.56) mm, which was significantly shorter than that before operation (t=11.721, P=0.000). The vertical distance between the center of rotation of the affected side and the teardrop line was (14.65±6.16) mm, and the difference was not significant when compared with (15.60±4.99) mm of the healthy side (t=−0.644, P=0.525); the horizontal distance was (22.21±5.14) mm, and the difference was significant when compared with (34.48±5.63) mm of the healthy side (t=−12.973, P=0.000). Except for the non-union of 1 hip subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy, the other subtrochanteric osteotomies healed well. During follow-up, all the femoral stems obtained bone ingrowth fixation without radiolucent line or radiopaque line. With any reoperation and aseptic loosening as the endpoint, the prosthetic survival rates were 88.64% [95%CI (63.73%, 96.82%)] and 89.19% [95%CI (65.61%, 96.94%)], respectively. Conclusion For Crowe type Ⅳ DDH patients, primary THA combined with subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy if necessary, can obtain satisfactory long-term effectiveness and prosthetic survival rate.