José Octávio Soares Hungria

Osteossíntese provisória das fraturas expostas da diáfise da tíbia com fixador externo não transfixante

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the pinless external fixator for the provisional treatment of Gustilo and Anderson grade I and II open fractures. METHODS: In a prospective study, 36 open diaphyseal fractures of the tibia were sequentially treated with a pinless fixator followed by massive, blocked, non-edged intramedullary nail. Mean age was 28 years, and 88.9% of the patients were male. The mechanism of trauma was: motorcycle accident in 47.1%, being run over by vehicle in 36.1%. Among the patients, 9 (25.0%) had associated lesions. According to the AO classification, 12 patients (33.3%) had suffered type A fractures, 18 patients (50.0%), type B fractures, and 6 patients (16.6%), type C fractures. According to the Gustilo and Anderson classification, 13 patients (36.1%) had grade I opened fractures, and 23 (63.9%) had grade II fractures. The mean time of external fixation was six days, ranging from 3 to 22 days. RESULTS: 32 patients had a satisfactory evolution. Fixator-related complications were seen in four patients: in three, the installed fixator could not be converted, and one had surface fibular neurapraxia. CONCLUSION: The pinless external fixation helps as provisional fixation of open diaphyseal fractures of the tibial when the intention is to later convert to intramedullary osteosynthesis.

Tertiary assessment of trauma patients in a hospital in the city of São Paulo: a question of necessity

Objective To minimize the occurrence of missed injuries, the tertiary evaluation was introduced consisting of reassessment of the patient, 24 hours after admission, with: complete history, physical examination, review of exams and diagnostic testing if necessary. Methods Observational study evaluating trauma patients admitted to a teaching hospital in São Paulo, according to a protocol for tertiary evaluation. Results Between February and May 2012, for 12 weeks, 182 patients were submitted to tertiary evaluation, 100 (55%) polytraumatized and 82 (45%) were victims of low-energy trauma. Neglected lesions were observed in 21 (11.5%) patients, who had 28 missed injuries. Of these 28 lesions, seven (25%) required surgical treatment. Conclusion Strategies including formal tertiary evaluation, the protocol applied for assessing trauma victims, seem to be beneficial in these patients, regardless of the mechanism of trauma. The method is easily applied, effective and has low cost in identifying missed injuries in the victims of trauma.

Resistência mecânica às forças de tração e flexão: proposta de novo desenho para os pinos de Schanz dos fixadores externos monolaterais

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mechanical resistance to traction and flexion of three models of Schanz pins, two of them available in Brazil, and the one proposed in this study: a conic pin with 5.0 mm diameter, 40 mm thread length, 3.2 mm bore, and the one proposed in this paper, with 5.0 mm in diameter, 3.2 mm bore, and 15 mm thread length, in order to show which one is the most effective. METHODS: The authors built 48 test samples divided in six groups, with eight sample per group. Traction strength was tested in groups 1, 2, and 3 using a traction machine manufactured by ITM®. To check flexion strength in groups 4, 5, and 6, they used a bench perforator manufactured by Cardoso® FFC-20 in the pin installation, and then the Universal Assay Machine ZD100PU. RESULTS: In traction tests, the conic pins stood a mean traction of 98.462 kgf, those with uniform long thread (40 mm) 283.70 kgf, and the proposed pins with uniform thread of 15 mm, stood the mean strength of 116.947 kgf. The statistic difference among the groups was not significant. In the flexion test, the conic pins stood a strength of 6.563 kgf, the pins with uniform thread of 40 mm stood the mean strength of 6.177 kgf, and the proposed pins stood the mean strength of 30.275 kgf, there being a significant difference when compared to the previous groups. CONCLUSIONS: The three models of Schanz pins presented equivalent traction strength, and the proposed model - thread length of 15 mm - is significant more resistant to flexion strengths.

Comparative study between lateral decubitus and traction table for treatment of pertrochanteric fractures with cephalomedullary nails

Objective To perform a retrospective radiographic assessment of the reduction and implant position in the femoral head in patients with pertrochanteric fractures treated with cephalomedullary nailing in the lateral position versus traction table. Methods Radiographs of patients with pertrochanteric fracture of the femur treated with cephalomedullary nailing in the lateral position and traction table were retrospectively evaluated. For the evaluation we used the anteroposterior radiographic view of the pelvis and the lateral view of the affected side. The cervicodiaphyseal angle, the tip-apex distance (TAD), and the spatial position of the cephalic component in the head were measured. Two patient groups were created, one group operated on the traction table and another group operated in the lateral position. Results Regarding the cervicodiaphyseal angle observed in the traction table group, the results of 11 patients (61.1%) were outside the acceptable parameters proposed in the present study. Both groups were equivalent regarding TAD and the position of the cephalic component in the head. Conclusion A difference in the cervicodiaphyseal angle was observed; the group operated on the traction table had 11 patients (61.1%) whose measurements were outside the acceptable parameters.

FRATURA BIMALEOLAR DO TORNOZELO: UMA SIMPLES FRATURA?

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the frequency of deltoid ligament injury in bimalleolar supination-external rotation type fractures and whether there is a correlation between the size of the fractured medial malleolus and deltoid ligament injury. Methods: Twenty six consecutive patients underwent magnetic resonance exams after clinical and radiographic diagnosis of bimalleolar supination-external rotation type ankle fractures. Results: Thirteen patients (50%) presented deltoid ligament injury associated to bimalleolar ankle fracture. Partial injury was present in seven (26.9%) patients and total injury in six (23.1%). Regarding medial fragment size, the average was 2.88 cm in the absence of deltoid ligament injury. Partial injuries presented 1.93 cm and total 2.1 cm on average. Conclusion: Deltoid ligament injury was present in 50% of bimalleolar ankle fractures. Smaller medial malleolus fragments, especially concerning the anterior colliculus, presented greater association with partial deltoid ligament injuries. Level of Evidence IV, Cross Sectional Study.

Lateral decubitus for treating pertrochanteric fractures using cephalomedullary nails

Objective To perform a retrospective radiographic evaluation on the fracture reduction and implant position in the femoral head among patients with pertrochanteric fractures who had been treated using a cephalomedullary nail in lateral decubitus; and to assess factors that might interfere with the quality of the fracture reduction and with the implant position in using this technique. Methods Nineteen patients with a diagnosis of pertrochanteric fractures of the femur who had been treated using cephalomedullary nails in lateral decubitus were evaluated. For outpatient radiographic evaluations, we used the anteroposterior view of the pelvis and lateral view of the side affected. We measured the cervicodiaphyseal angle, tip-apex distance (TAD), spatial position of the cephalic element in relation to the head, and the bispinal diameter. To make an anthropometric assessment, we used the body mass index. Two groups of patients were created: one in which all the criteria were normal (TAD ≤25 mm, cervicodiaphyseal angle between 130° and 135° and cephalic implant position in the femoral head in the central–central quadrant); and another group presenting alterations in some of the criteria for best prognosis. Results Female patients predominated (57.9%) and the mean age was 60 years. Seven patients presented a central–central cephalic implant position. One patient present a cervicodiaphyseal angle >135° and the maximum TAD was 32 mm; consequently, 12 patients presented some altered criteria (63.2%). None of the characteristics evaluated differed between the patients with all their criteria normal and those with some altered criteria, or showed any statistically significant association among them (p > 0.05). Conclusion The technique described here enabled good reduction and good positioning of the implant, independent of the anthropometric indices and type of fracture.

Biomechanical study: resistance comparison of posterior antiglide plate and lateral plate on synthetic bone models simulating Danis-Weber B malleolar fractures

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare different positions of plates in lateral malleolar Danis-Weber B fractures on synthetic bone: a lateral plate and a posterior antiglide plate. Methods Short oblique fractures of distal fibula at the level of the syndesmosys were simulated with a fibular osteotomy in sixteen synthetic fibula bones (Synbone®). Eight fractures were fixed with lateral plating associated with an independent lag screw, and the other eight were fixed with posterior antiglide plating with a lag screw through the plate. A strain gage was installed at the center of each plate at the osteotomy site. Supination and external rotation forces were applied to each of the two groups at the bend. Results The lateral position plate group suffered more deformity in response to supination forces compared to the group with the posterior antiglide plate, but this result was not statistically significant. In the tests with external rotation forces, the posterior antiglide plating group had significantly higher resistance (p < 0.05). Conclusion When subjected to external rotation forces, osteosynthesis with posterior antiglide plate models simulating type B fractures of the lateral malleolus of the ankle is more resistant than that of the neutralization plate.

Resultados do tratamento das fraturas da diáfise do fêmur ipsilaterais às do colo ou transtrocantérica

Objective: To perform a radiographic and functional evaluation of the complications of diaphyseal fractures of the femur associated with ipsilateral fractures of the trochanter or the neck of the femur. Methods: From 2002 to 2007, seventeen patients were treated, of which 88% were men, with a mean age of thirty-one years and three months. Ten (59%) had associated fractures of the femoral neck and seven (41%) had associated trochanteric fractures. The final range of motion of the hip and knee, the radiographic fracture consolidation, and the type of implant, used were evaluated, both at the time and retrospectively, based on the patients’ records. The mean follow-up time was 48 months. Results: All the trochanteric fractures consolidated without residual deformities. Of the femoral neck fractures, three (30%) presented delayed consolidation and two consolidated with in varus deformity. Two patients had delayed diaphyseal consolidation. All the associated diaphyseal/trochanteric fractures had good or excellent functional outcomes. Of the associated neck fractures, seven (70%) had excellent or good results, two had regular results, and one had a bad result. Conclusions: The association of diaphyseal with trochanteric femur fractures showed better radiographic and functional results, with less complications, than the association of diaphyseal and femoral neck fractures.

Late postoperative analysis of the tip-apex distance (TAD) in pertrochanteric fractures: is there an accommodation of the implant within the bone?

INTRODUCTION This study measured the tip-apex distance (TAD) values in the immediate postoperative period and following weight-bearing and fracture impaction in patients undergoing osteosynthesis with dynamic hip screw and cephalomedullary nail. OBJECTIVE To correlate the Baumgaertner index in the immediate postoperative period with values obtained after impaction of the fracture with the accommodation of the cephalic implant in the femoral head. PATIENTS AND METHODS Radiographic TAD measurements were taken with AGFA-VIEW® of 82 patients with a mean age of 72 years with pertrochanteric fractures who were operated on and the fracture fixed with DHS- Synthes®, TFN-Synthes®, or Gamma Nail III-Stryker® in the immediate postoperative period, and following weight-bearing and fracture impaction (mean 3-8 weeks after surgery). RESULTS The overall average TAD decreased from 20.3mm to 18.2mm. Regardless of the instability of the fracture, the age of the patient or the implant used, TAD decreased between the immediate postoperative period and following fracture impaction. CONCLUSION The osteosynthesis of pertrochanteric fractures was associated with important accommodation of the cephalic implant in the femoral head with decreased TAD values after weight-bearing.

Postoperative infection in patients undergoing inspection of orthopedic damage due to external fixation

Objective To conduct a retrospective analysis on cases undergoing inspection of orthopedic damage, at an orthopedic emergency service in a teaching hospital, with the aim of evaluating patients with postoperative infection after conversion to internal osteosynthesis. Methods This was a retrospective analysis covering the period from June 2012 to June 2013, on patients who underwent inspection of orthopedic damage due to external fixation and subsequently were converted to definitive osteosynthesis using a nail or plate. Results We found an infection rate of 13.3% in our sample and, furthermore, found that there had been technical errors in setting up the fixator in 60.4% of the cases. Conclusion We found an infection rate that we considered high, along with inadequacies in constructing the external fixator. We emphasize that this procedure is not risk-free and that training for physicians who perform this procedure should be mandatory.