Mehmet Fatih Erol

Does lengthening after acute correction negatively affect bone healing during distraction osteogenesis

OBJECTIVE Lengthening after acute correction has a negative effect on bone healing during distraction osteogenesis. In this study, we investigated whether correcting an acute deformity prior to lengthening resulted in a negative effect on bone healing. METHODS Patients with shortened femora were assigned to 3 matched groups. Retrograde femoral nailing after distal metaphyseal-diaphyseal osteotomy was used in all cases. Group 1 (9 femora) included cases of lengthening >4 cm using intramedullary distraction devices after acute correction. Group 2 (16 femora) included pure lengthening cases of ≥4 cm using intramedullary distraction devices. Group 3 (13 femora) included cases of lengthening ≥4 cm with lengthening and the retrograde nailing method (LORN) following acute correction. RESULTS Healing indices and full weight-bearing times of patients were evaluated. Mean lengthening values were 6.6 (range: 4-14 cm), 5.7 (range: 4-8 cm), and 5.2 cm (range: 4-6.5 cm) in Groups 1-3, respectively, and mean radiographic consolidation index and full weight-bearing times were 31.0±8.2, 30.2±5.5, and 39.0±5.0 day/cm in Groups 1-3, respectively. The consolidation index was significantly better in the Groups 1 and 2 compared to that in Group 3, but no difference was detected between Groups 1 and 2. CONCLUSION Acute correction had no negative effect on bone healing after distraction osteogenesis using new-generation intramedullary distraction devices. We suggest that the negative impact on healing and the prolonged consolidation index in patients undergoing LORN may be due to impaired periosteal blood supply due to fixator pins.

İhmal edilmiş dirsek çıkıklarının menteşeli eksternal fiksatör yardımı ile tedavisi: 2 olgu sunumu

Elbow dislocations are cases that have to be treated in emergency conditions. Neglected elbow dislocations are seen very rarely and the treatment of such cases are more complicated than acute cases. We present two cases of neglected elbow dislocations treated with open reduction and hinged external fixators. Case 1: 23 year old female patient had a neglected posterior dislocation of left elbow with ipsilateral humeral shaft fracture caused by car accident. The patient was treated after 3 months of initial trauma. We have performed open reduction for the joint. After that we fixed the joint whit a hinged external fixator. The humeral shaft fracture was also fixed with the components of the external fixator. Case 2: 33 year male patient had a large bone and soft tissue defect around the left elbow accompanying with neglected medial elbow dislocation. He presented to our clinic with a delay of 2 months. The patient was treated with open reduction and hinged external fixator after re construction of bone defect of distal humerus. Conclusion: The treatment of neglected cases is quite challenging. Open reduction and external fixation has satisfactory results in treatment of late cases of elbow dislocation with the possibility of early rehabilitation. This method can be considered as an option for such cases. J Clin Exp Invest 2014; 5 (2): 307-312

Use of a magnetic bone nail for lengthening of the femur and tibia

Purpose To report our experience with the PRECICE nail for limb lengthening in 23 patients. Methods Records of 15 female and 8 male patients aged 14 to 38 (mean, 23.6) years who underwent lengthening of the tibia (n=6) or femur (n=21) using the PRECICE nail were reviewed. The reasons for lengthening included trauma (n=7), hemihypertrophy (n=2), focal femoral deficiency (n=2), Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (n=1), hip septic arthritis sequelae (n=1), hereditary multiple exostosis (n=1), club foot sequela (n=1), congenital tibial pseudoarthrosis (n=1), fibrous dysplasia (n=1), idiopathic limb length discrepancy (n=7), and cosmetic (n=1). Results The mean follow-up duration was 20.72 months. The mean lengthening was 48.20 mm, and the mean acute angular correction was 15.5°. The mean time to full weight-bearing was 5.15 months, and the mean consolidation index was 1.12 months/cm. The mean maturation index was 0.78 months/cm. One patient had nail breakage during the consolidation phase. The nail was replaced by an intramedullary nail until consolidation, after which another PRECICE nail was used to treat the residual shortening. Eight patients had over-lengthening and the nails were driven back to the desired length. No patient had infection. Conclusion The PRECICE nail is a viable option for lengthening of the femur and tibia.

Effect of cable cerclage on regional blood circulation in rabbits: a scintigraphic study

Purpose To evaluate changes in blood circulation of the femoral cortex in rabbits using scintigraphy before and after cable cerclage alone or combined with an intramedullary Kirschner wire. Method Ten New Zealand rabbits were used. For the right femur, a 2-mm-thick cable was placed around the mid-diaphyseal region and squeezed with a 400-N force and locked with a clip. For the left femur, a 1.8-mm Kirschner wire was inserted retrogradely into the medullary canal, and a 2-mm-thick cable was applied using the same technique. The blood perfusion ratio of the region of interest (ROI) before and after surgery was evaluated using scintigraphy. Results For the right femurs, the mean ROI perfusion ratio decreased by 45% from 2.51 to 1.37 after intervention (p=0.001). For the left femurs, the mean ROI perfusion ratio decreased by 56% from 2.12 to 0.92 after intervention (p<0.001). The mean ROI perfusion ratio post-intervention was higher in the right than left femurs (p=0.017). Conclusion Cable cerclage around the femoral cortex significantly decreased blood circulation in the area.