Serdar Necmioglu

Treatment of multifragmentary fractures of the femur by indirect reduction (biological) and plate fixation

We present a retrospective review of the results of 43 multifragmentary femur fractures treated under the principle of indirect reduction (biological) and plate fixation. Fractures were caused by high-energy trauma in all patients. Sixteen were subtrochanteric, 14 diaphyseal and 13 supracondylar. There were 13 open fractures. In six of the patients with diaphyseal fractures, a plate was inserted through isolated proximal and distal incisions only, deep to the vastus lateralis. None of the fractures was treated with bone graft. The mean follow-up time was 28.3 months. Union was achieved in 41 patients within a mean period of 4.25 months. There was delayed union in one patient (subtrochanteric), non-union in two, infection in three, malunion in three, leg shortening in six and mild knee stiffness in seven. In eight patients with diaphyseal fractures in whom a single incision was performed, the average time for fracture healing was 4.14 months in seven and non-union developed in one. In six patients with diaphyseal fractures, in whom proximal and distal incisions were performed, the average time for fracture healing was 4 months. There was no difference (P>0.05) between single and double incision with reference to infection and time to union, but the indirect reduction methods must be meticulously implemented. The implants we used are cheaper and more easily supplied than many others. The success rate is high when the technique is correctly implemented. We believe that this is a treatment of choice in countries with low socioeconomic status, no efficient health insurance system and no intraoperative image intensification.

Treatment of closed femoral diaphyseal fractures with external fixators in children

Abstract From August 1992 to July 1996, 57 patients with closed femoral fractures were treated by external fixator in the Orthopaedic and Traumatology Clinics, School of Medicine, Dicle University. The technique was applied to children with closed femoral fractures. Their mean age was 6 (range 4–12) years old. The mean hospitalisation period was 8 (range 5–15) days. Fixators were removed on an average of 55 (range 38–79) days. The mean follow-up period was 18 (range 9–36) months. Pintract infection was observed in 3 and refracture in 1 patient. Infection was controlled with oral antibiotics and local dressing. An external fixator was applied to a patient in whom refracture developed. No patient had malunion, nonunion, or leg length discrepancy. We propose that external fixation in closed femoral shaft fractures of children could be a rational alternative mode of therapy, since it has some advantages and can be easily removed without undergoing a second round of anaesthesia.

Problem fractures associated with gunshot wounds in children.

Twenty-seven fractures in 22 children (14 female, 8 male; average age: 10.5) who suffered gunshot wounds were retrospectively evaluated. Fourteen of the fractures were caused by high-velocity weapons, four by low-velocity weapons, and nine by shotguns. One of the fractures was undisplaced, two were displaced, 10 were comminuted, seven were comminuted and displaced, and seven had bony defects. Accompanying pathologies included four physeal, three articular, four visceral, four arterial, six peripheral nerve, and one spinal cord injury. Initial treatment involved external fixation in 15 patients and internal fixation in one patient for bone stabilization, while the remaining patients were treated conservatively.Late-stage surgery was necessary to achieve soft-tissue coverage in three patients and to achieve union in six patients. Major complications included amputation in one patient, non-union in two, delayed union in one, osteomyelitis in one, paraplegia in one, and loss of peripheral nerve functions in three. The treatment of fractures associated with firearm injuries in children is never simple. Fracture defects, accompanying peripheral nerve damage and involvement of the joint negatively is affect the outcome, increasing the chance that late-stage surgery will be necessary. Internal bone transport appears to be an efficacious technique in the treatment of bone and soft-tissue defects associated with firearm injuries in children.

Is external fixation in pediatric femoral fractures a risk factor for refracture

The aim of this study was to investigate whether external fixation is a risk factor for refracture by comparing the outcomes of children who received three different forms of treatment of femoral fractures. One hundred ninety-two patients treated for femoral fracture between 1990 and 1999 who underwent final examination were assessed. One hundred were treated with hip spica casting after traction, 57 with closed reduction and external fixation, and 35 with open reduction and external fixation. Morbidity results such as time to union, length of hospital stay, refracture, and wire site infection were statistically evaluated. Patients undergoing open reduction had a greater time to union and length of hospital stay and a higher refracture rate. The difference was statistically significant. Wire site infection occurred in all three groups; there was no statistically significant difference between groups. The authors concluded that external fixation is not a risk factor for refracture in the treatment of pediatric closed femoral diaphyseal fractures, and that it may be used with ease in clinics with shortages of personnel and space.

The results of rehabilitation on motor and functional improvement of the spinal tuberculosis

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the result of rehabilitation on motor and functional improvement in spinal tuberculosis. METHOD Prospective case study. Data were collected from 47 patients with spinal tuberculosis medically and/or surgically treated, and rehabilitated over 6 months of period, after spinal decompression and fusion. The main outcome measures were motor development of the patients who were evaluated at the beginning, in the 1st week, in the 3rd month, and in the 6th month. Functional development of the patients was evaluated at the beginning and in the 6th month. Functional assessment was made according to Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and motor examination was made according to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA). RESULTS The study population consisted of 47 patients (22 males and 25 females) mean aged 37.9 +/- 18.3 years (range 5-76 years). The most common site of spinal tuberculosis was the thoracic region. Localized back pain, paraparesis, sensory dysfunction and fever were typical clinical manifestations. Surgical management was performed as anterior or posterior drainage of abscess and/or stabilization of the spine. The rehabilitation program was performed in all patients during the preoperative, early postoperative and late postoperative 6 month periods. Muscle-strengthening exercises on necessary localization such as pectoral, abdominal, lower extremities; truncal and sacrospinal extensors were started for the rehabilitation. The motor score for the lower limbs and the MBI scores for activities of daily living (ADL) and mobility improved significantly (P < 0.001). The self-care and mobility categories of the MBI on admission; were 14.8% severely dependent and 10.6% independent. However, at the end of the rehabilitation program, 4.2% were severely dependent and 70.2% independent. IN CONCLUSION Early diagnosis and appropriate medical and/or surgical treatment together with a rehabilitation program will improve the life quality of patients with spinal tuberculosis.

Anthropometric study of patients treated for clubfoot.

The anthropometric characteristics of patients treated for clubfoot were used to investigate whether the dimensions of the foot were affected by the method of treatment. A total of 68 patients followed up for an average of 9 years were divided into three groups: group 1, conservatively treated; group 2, surgically treated; group 3, conservatively treated on one side and surgically treated on the other. The following average discrepancies in foot length were obtained: group 1, 0.91 cm; group 2, 1.5 cm; group 3, 1.09 cm. Toe lengths were shorter to the same extent as the other dimensions of the foot. These discrepancies were statistically significant. The following average discrepancies in foot width were obtained: group 1, 0.05 cm; group 2, 0.37 cm; group 3, 0.054 cm; these were insignificant. The authors believe that the degree of discrepancy may depend not solely on the method, but on the severity of the deformity as well.

Post therapeutic lower extremity rotational profiles in children with DDH

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate post-therapeutic lower extremity rotational profiles in children with developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH), the differences between these values and those of normal children, and the relationship between these differences and clinical and radiological results.MethodsIn 82 lower extremities of 64 patients, the foot-progression angle was measured clinically and the transmalleolar axis angle photographically, and hip rotations and thigh–foot angle were measured both clinically and photographically. The data obtained were compared with Staheli’s data for normal children. In addition, clinical and radiographic data were compared within subgroups and with Staheli’s data. Student’s t-test and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical evaluation.ResultsThe medial rotation of the hip, the average clinical value was 44.66º, and the photographic value was 42.28º. Lateral rotation of the hip, the average clinical value was 38.01º, and the average photographic value was 37.29º. Thigh–foot angle, his angle was clinically 8.23º and photographically 9.68º. Angle of the transmalleolar axis, the photographic average was 21.59º. Foot-progression angle, the clinical average was 10.70º. It was determined that the lower extremity rotational profiles of children with DDH treated after walking did not differ from those of normal children, but that the internal and external hip rotations of McKay type III and IV patients were below those of normal children and of McKay type I and II patients.ConclusionLower extremity rotational profiles in children with DDH who received appropriate treatment were the same as those for normal children.