Chuan-Mu Chen

Cefuroxime-impregnated cement in primary total knee arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized study of three hundred and forty knees.

Background: A prospective, randomized study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of cefuroxime-impregnated cement in the prevention of deep infection after primary total knee arthroplasties performed without so-called clean-air measures, such as laminar flow and body-exhaust suits. Methods: Three hundred and forty primary total knee arthroplasties were performed with cementless fixation of the femoral component and cement fixation of the patellar and tibial components. The knees were randomly divided into two groups. In Group 1 (178 knees), cefuroxime-impregnated cement was used for fixation, whereas in Group 2 (162 knees), the cement did not contain cefuroxime. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding demographic variables, the preoperative or postoperative knee score, the duration of the operation or of the use of the tourniquet, or the amount of blood transfused perioperatively. The average duration of follow-up was forty-nine months (range, twenty-six to eighty months). Results: No deep infection developed in the 178 knees in Group 1, whereas a deep infection developed in five (3.1%) of the 162 knees in Group 2 (p = 0.0238). Two superficial wound infections developed in each group. Conclusions: Cefuroxime-impregnated cement was shown to be effective in the prevention of early to intermediate deep infection after primary total knee arthroplasty performed with use of perioperative systemic antibiotic prophylaxis but no so-called clean-air measures.

Closed humeral shaft fractures: a prospective evaluation of surgical treatment.

OBJECTIVE We tried to define the roles of the rigid dynamic compression plate (DCP) and the semi-rigid Ender nail (EN) in the treatment of closed humeral shaft fractures. DESIGN A prospective, randomized clinical study was performed with detailed comparison parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety-one closed humeral shaft fractures were treated. Randomly, 30 humeri were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with DCP and no bone grafting (BG), 29 were treated with the same procedure but with BG, and 32 were treated with closed reduction and internal fixation with Ender nails. The average follow-up period was 32 months (range, 13-54 months). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In the group with DCP without BG, the average blood loss was 270 mL, operation time was 92 minutes, hospital length of stay was 6.5 days, and union time was 12.5 weeks. In the group with DCP with BG, the average blood loss was 325 mL, operation time was 108 minutes, hospital length of stay was 6.9 days, and union time was 9.4 weeks. In the EN group, the average blood loss was 114 mL, operation time was 54 minutes, hospital length of stay was 5.6 days, and union time was 9.9 weeks. Analysis of variance and Fishers exact test were used to evaluate the statistical significance. CONCLUSION In our experience, for humeral shaft fractures fixed surgically, EN is better than DCP without BG. When DCP is chosen for the means of fixation, prophylactic BG is recommended, especially in cases with more comminution.

Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures in Young Adults Treated With Closed Reduction and Internal Fixation

This article describes the effect of closed reduction and internal fixation with 3 different screw configurations for acute completely displaced femoral neck fractures in young adults. From 2001 to 2006, 136 patients (age range, 20-50 years) who had acute unilaterally completely displaced femoral neck fractures were evaluated retrospectively. All fractures were managed with closed reduction and internal fixation with 3 cannulated screws. The follow-up period was 55 months on average (range, 36-90 months). One hundred twenty-two patients were available for final evaluation of union condition and late complication. Twenty-three patients (18.9%) had nonunion, 15 (12.3%) had fixation failure, and 21 (17.2%) had avascular necrosis of the femoral head. The average duration from injury to surgery was 18.4 hours in the union group and 23.3 hours in the nonunion group, with no statistical significance (P=.196). The average duration from injury to surgery was 17.3 hours in the avascular necrosis of the femoral head group and 22.3 hours in the non-avascular necrosis of the femoral head group, with no statistical significance (P=.155). Vertical- and separated-type screw configurations resulted in a significantly higher nonunion rate (P=.001 and P=.0017, respectively) than parallel configuration. The complication rate in treating completely displaced femoral neck fractures with internal fixation in young adults is high, and screw configuration may further affect results.

Revision With Dynamic Compression Plate and Cancellous Bone Graft for Aseptic Nonunion After Surgical Treatment of Humeral Shaft Fracture

BACKGROUND We evaluated the effect of revision with dynamic compression plate (DCP) and cancellous bone graft for aseptic nonunion after surgical treatments of humeral shaft fracture. METHOD Eighty-six patients with aseptic nonunion of humeral shaft fracture after various surgical treatments were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively between January 1982 and August 2006. There were 59 men and 27 women with the average age of 42 years (range, 19-81 years). Thirty-one fractures were defined as atrophic nonunion, 45 fractures were hypertrophic nonunion, and 10 fractures could not be defined clearly. All the fractures were managed with removal of previous implants, open reduction and internal fixation with DCP, supplemented by cancellous bone graft. The follow-up period was 38 months in average (range, 12-288 months). Functional evaluations were done by Mayo Elbow Performance Index and the modified scale of Constant and Murley. RESULTS All the nonunions united with the average union time of 18 weeks (range, 14-26 weeks). Complications included five temporary radial nerve palsies and two wound infections. In final follow-up, the shoulder and elbow functions of the operated limbs were all noted to be good or excellent. CONCLUSION DCP with cancellous bone graft is a reliable and an effective treatment for revision of aseptic nonunion of humeral shaft fracture after surgical treatment.

Treatment of Nonunion of Humeral Shaft Fracture with Dynamic Compression Plate and Cancellous Bone Graft

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the treatment of aseptic nonunion of the humeral shaft with a dynamic compression plate (DCP) and cancellous bone graft. Methods: One hundred and five cases of nonunion of a humeral shaft fracture between 1982 and 2001 were analyzed retrospectively. The study population comprised 66 males and 39 females with an average age of 46.2 years (range, 17–81 years). Sixty‐seven fractures were defined as atrophic nonunion, and 20 as hypertrophic nonunion, whereas 18 could not be defined clearly. All the fractures were managed by open reduction and internal fixation with DCP and cancellous bone graft. The mean follow‐up period was 20 months (range, 14–28 months). Results: All nonunion fractures united within an average of 16 weeks (range, 10–26 weeks). Complications included 4 patients with temporary radial‐nerve palsies, and 3 patients with wound infections. At the final follow‐up, shoulder and elbow functions of the operated limbs were all satisfactory. Conclusion: Fixation by DCP with supplemental cancellous bone graft is a reliable and effective treatment for nonunion of a humeral shaft fracture.

Surgical treatment of basicervical fractures of femur--a prospective evaluation of 269 patients.

BACKGROUND We elucidate the effect of surgical treatment of acute basicervical fractures of femur by closed reduction and internal fixation with dynamic hip screw (DHS). METHODS From 1992 to 2004, 269 patients who had acute unilaterally basicervical fractures of femur were collected and evaluated prospectively. All the fractures were managed with closed reduction and internal fixation with DHS. The follow-up period was 74.7 months on average (range: 24-150 months). Finally, 241 patients were available for evaluation of union condition and 200 patients were available for evaluation of functional results and late complication. RESULTS Five patients (1.66%) of nonunion and two patients (0.83%) of screw cutout were met. The other 235 patients had uneventfully union with the average union time of 16.5 weeks (range:14-24 weeks). No avascular necrosis of femoral head was noted. CONCLUSION Surgical treatment of acute basicervical fractures of femur by closed reduction and internal fixation with DHS was shown to be very effective.

Double-strut free vascular fibular grafting for reconstruction of the lower extremities

This article reports our experience on the treatment of long-bone defects with double-strut vascular fibular graft in 11 patients. The defects were 6-12 cm in length while 10-25 cm of vascular fibular grafts were harvested. Nine patients achieved solid union in 6 months, and two patients required additional procedures to achieve solid union. No major complications were observed, except for three patients. who had knee stiffness due to long-term immobilization and one patient who had experienced a stress fracture because of strenuous exercise at 10 months after grafting procedures. Bone union in this patient was achieved 3 months after reapplying an external fixator. It is suggested that a rigid external or internal fixator is mandatory in the course of treatment for facilitating early knee mobilization to prevent exacerbation of already compromised knee-joint motion. Vigorous exercise should be avoided for at least 12 months after solid union of the graft to prevent graft fracture. We concluded that the double-strut vascular fibular graft is an effective treatment for complicated long-bone defects of lower extremity.

Treatment of Large Skeletal Defects in the Lower Extremities Using Double-Strut, Free Vascularized Fibular Bone Grafting

This article reports on the use of double-strut, free vascularized fibular grafts to treat six patients with infected nonunion or traumatic bone loss in the femur or tibia after prolonged treatment and multiple operations. The defects were 6-13 cm long. Five patients achieved solid union within 6 months, and one patient required additional cancellous grafting to achieve union at the distal end of the fibula. One patient experienced a stress fracture due to strenuous exercise, and union was achieved 3 months after reapplying an external fixator. Although three patients had some restricted knee motion, all patients had a satisfactory outcome in regard to walking, and no limb-length discrepancies were noted in any patient.

Dynamic Compression Plate and Cancellous Bone Graft for Aseptic Nonunion After Intramedullary Nailing of Femoral Fracture

We evaluated the effect of revision with dynamic compression plate and cancellous bone graft for aseptic nonunion after intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fracture. Fifty patients with aseptic nonunion of femoral shaft fracture after intramedullary nailing were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively between 1996 and 2007. There were 40 men and 10 women with an average age of 44 years (range, 19-76 years). Thirty-five were diaphyseal fractures, 8 were distal fractures, and 7 were proximal fractures. Twenty-eight fractures were defined as atrophic nonunion, 13 fractures were hypertrophic nonunion, and 9 fractures could not be defined clearly. All fractures were managed by retaining previous implants, open reduction and internal fixation with dynamic compression plate, and supplementation by cancellous bone graft. The average follow-up period was 76 months (range, 24-128 months). Functional evaluations were done by Harris Hip score and Hospital for Special Surgery knee score. All nonunions united on average at 24 weeks (range, 18-32 weeks). One superficial wound infection occurred. At follow-up, each patient was evaluated to have satisfactory function results, with near normal hip/knee functions without noticeable pain, and full return to preinjury activities/work without pain.Augmentative dynamic compression plate with cancellous bone graft is a reliable and effective treatment for revision of aseptic nonunion of femoral shaft fracture after intramedullary nailing.

Treatment of acute closed humeral shaft fractures with Ender nails.

The effect of semirigid Ender nails (EN) in the treatment of closed humeral shaft fractures was reviewed and analyzed. Clinical study was set retrospectively with detailed parameters. One hundred and eighteen closed humeral shaft fractures, treated with closed reduction and internal fixation with ENs, were collected. The follow-up period was 78 (24-175) months. The average operation blood loss was 105 cc, operation time was 57 min, hospital stay was 6.5 days, and union time was 10.5 weeks. The postoperative complications included three superficial infections, one iatrogenic radial nerve palsy, eight nail backouts, and eight nonunions. In our experience, for closed humeral shaft fractures fixed surgically, EN is a good choice for its simplicity and efficacy, but the fracture gap should be minimized after fixation and postoperative care should be closely observed.