Percutaneous Reduction Technique Research Articles

Intraoperative Foot Positioning During Percutaneous Calcaneal Fixation: A Technical Note.

Percutaneous screw fixation is a good modality for operative management of extra-articular and some intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum amenable to closed reduction. Tongue-type calcaneal fractures with a dislocated posterior facet are usually treated with percutaneous fixation. When treating calcaneal fractures with substantial soft tissue compromise, particularly open fractures, percutaneous reduction techniques are crucial. They also provide patients with local or systemic contraindications to open reduction with a therapeutic option. We describe the intraoperative positioning of the foot using a lithotomy stirrup during percutaneous fixation of the calcaneal fractures with minimum manipulation of the foot and C-arm and consistent imaging.

Cephalomedullary Nailing of Unstable Geriatric Intertrochanteric Fractures on a Traction Table Combined with Percutaneous Reduction Techniques is Safe and Results in a Low Rate of Cut-out.

To describe a reproducible technique for reduction assessment and percutaneous reduction of unstable intertrochanteric fractures treated with a cephalomedullary nail on a traction table. Retrospective cohort study. Level-1 trauma center. Two-hundred twenty consecutive patients with intertrochanteric fractures. Initial closed reduction performed on a traction table. Accessory incisions were used to facilitate a reduction in 77 patients (35%). All fractures were stabilized with a cephalomedullary nail. Radiographic outcome including union, cut-out and fracture collapse (FC). Surgical outcomes including infection and hematoma were also reported. Mechanical complications (nonunion, cut-out and varus collapse) occurred in 8.8% of patients at one year. Eleven of 13 patients that developed these complications had either sub-optimal implant placement (tip-to-apex distance > 25 mm) or a varus reduction. There was no difference in the incidence of reoperation, nonunion, lag screw cutout, or posttraumatic arthritis based on the use of an accessory incision for fracture reduction. There was a significant increase in FC in patients who received an accessory incision (6.8 mm vs. 5.4 mm, p=0.04). One patient (1%) developed a hematoma in the accessory incision cohort, and one patient (0.7%) that did not have an accessory incision developed a postoperative infection. The current study suggests utilization of accessory incisions assist in reduction is safe and is associated with a low rate of complications. The surgeon should prioritize fracturereduction and optimal implant placement and not hesitate to utilize an accessory incision to assist with fracture reduction. Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Percutaneous Reduction and Provisional Pinning of the Distal Fibula: A Novel Way to Maintain Fibular Length in Temporary Stabilization.

Ankle fractures are commonly observed by orthopaedic trauma surgeons, foot and ankle surgeons, and general orthopaedists with more than 135,000 fractures surgically treated every year in the United States. 1 The soft tissue envelope surrounding the osseous anatomy of the ankle is limited and many injuries, including those that result from higher injury mechanisms and/or those occurring in hosts with vascular and metabolic comorbidities may benefit from a delay in definitive fixation; this may minimize risks of wound healing issues and fracture-related infection. 2,3 Open fractures may benefit from temporizing fixation after debridement and irrigation for the same reasons. 4-6 The benefits of temporizing external fixation in pilon fractures has been recognized for decades. 7 The use of ankle-spanning external fixation for ankle fractures and dislocations has become more frequently used to maintain coronal and sagittal alignment of the ankle mortise as a bridge to definitive fixation. 8-10 However, standard ankle-spanning external fixation techniques do not always directly restore fibular length and rotation, especially in fracture patterns with syndesmotic disruption and/or segmental fibular comminution. Some authors have advocated for limited internal fixation of fibula fractures at time of external fixation application to address this problem, 7 but this still necessitates a surgical approach through a traumatized soft tissue envelope and potentially compromises posterolateral and anterolateral approaches that could be used to address associated Volkman or Chaput fragments. Delayed distal fibular open reduction and internal fixation of shortened fractures has frustrated orthopaedic surgeons for decades and techniques such as "push-pull" screws 11 and extensive soft tissue dissection 12 are often necessary to restore anatomic fibular reduction of length and rotation. Given these challenges, the senior author began to use a technique of percutaneous reduction and buried provisional pinning of the distal fibula to the talus for fibula fractures with persistent shortening after ankle-spanning external fixation of injuries not deemed appropriate for immediate open reduction and internal fixation. We aim to report early results and describe this novel, low-cost surgical technique.

Closed Reduction Technique for Severely Displaced Radial Neck Fractures in Children.

The described technique is useful for achieving closed reduction of severely displaced (i.e., Judet Type-III and IV) pediatric radial neck fractures. It is widely agreed that radial neck fractures with angulation of >30° should be reduced. Various maneuvers have been described, but none uniformly achieves complete reduction in severely displaced radial neck fractures (Types III and IV)1-4. The aim of the present technique is to achieve closed reduction in these severely displaced radial neck fractures without surgical instrumentation. A stepwise approach is described. First, the radial head is viewed in profile under an image intensifier so that it appears rectangular. Varus stress is applied at the medial aspect of the elbow by the assistant, and thumb pressure is applied at the radial head along the posterolateral aspect of the elbow. This results in partial reduction of the radial head. The elbow is then simultaneously flexed and pronated with continuous pressure over the radial head. This final step anatomically reduces the radial head, and hyperpronating the forearm locks it in the corrected position. Operative alternatives to this technique include intra-focal pin-assisted reduction to achieve closed reduction, the Métaizeau technique of achieving indirect closed reduction of the fracture with the aid of a TENS (Titanium Elastic Nailing System) nail, and open reduction5. Nonoperative techniques have also been described for use with Judet Type-II and III fractures, but not with the severely displaced types described in the present article. This technique takes into consideration the anatomy of the capsule and lateral collateral ligament complex. The biomechanical ligamentotaxis helps in achieving anatomic reduction of the radial head. Placing the forearm in pronation tightens the annular and lateral collateral ligaments and prevents redisplacement. There are potential complications with operative treatment, including the risk of nerve injury with percutaneous reduction techniques and the risks of osteonecrosis, premature epiphyseal fusion, and heterotopic ossification with open reduction. These complications can be avoided by the use of the presently described technique. This technique provided satisfactory clinical outcomes in our previous study6, with none of the 10 patients showing signs of growth disturbance, loss of reduction, or reported complications at 12 months. Terminal restriction of supination was observed in 1 patient. No patient had osteonecrosis or elbow deformity. No patient required conversion to an implant-assisted or open reduction procedure. The steps need to be followed sequentially as described in order to achieve an anatomical reduction.After achieving the reduction, it is necessary to keep the forearm in pronation to maintain the reduction with the aid of the lateral ligament complex.This technique may not work in complex fractures with elbow dislocation because of the lack of ligamentous integrity.In the final step, the elbow is pronated and flexed simultaneously, with sustained pressure over the radial head in order to obtain further correction. This is the most critical step of the technique because anatomic reduction of the partially reduced fracture is achieved at this time. Percut. = percutaneousAP = anteroposteriorCR = closed reductionORIF = open reduction and internal fixation.

"In-Out-In" Percutaneous Reduction Technique for Treatment of Valgus-Impacted Femoral Neck Fractures: A Technical Trick and Case Series.

Valgus-impacted femoral neck fractures with or without posterior tilt of the femoral head are very common and full of pitfalls in clinical practice, which may lead to femoral neck shortening (FNS) and avascular necrosis (AVN). The study tries to introduce a novel technical trick aiming at anatomical reduction of valgus-impacted femoral neck fracture with minimally invasive procedure, and summarize the clinical prognosis in case series. In this retrospective study, 24 patients (seven men and 17 women) with valgus-impacted femoral neck fractures between May 2017 and July 2020 were managed by "in-out-in" percutaneous reduction technique (percutaneous reduction group). Another 24 cases (10 men and 14 women) suffering the fractures underwent in situ fixation were enrolled as control group for function comparison (in situ fixation group). All patients were followed up for 24-42months. The clinical outcomes included complications after operations (χ2 test) and Harris Hip Score (HHS) for hip function (unpaired t test) in the two groups. The radiographic outcomes were evaluated by collodiaphyseal angle, posterior tilt angle, and FNS before the operation and during the follow-up in the percutaneous reduction group (unpaired t test). Patients' preoperative data, including age, sex, affected side, fracture types, and medical history, were similar between the two groups, respectively (p > 0.05). After surgery, the mean HHS at 6, 12, and 24months were all better in the percutaneous reduction group (76 ± 6.72, 85.34 ± 6.33 and 90.54 ± 5.81) than that in the in situ fixation group (70.86 ± 6.91, 80 ± 6.11 and 84.1 ± 7.82), respectively (p < 0.05). One patient suffered fixation failure with screws retreat and one patient suffered AVN in the percutaneous reduction group. In the in situ fixation group, AVN occurred in two patients at last follow-up. There was no significant difference in complication amounts between the two groups (p > 0.05). In the percutaneous reduction group, collodiaphyseal angle, posterior tilt angle, and amount of FNS were significantly different between preoperative cases and immediately postoperative cases (p < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference of the measurements among postoperative cases at different time points (within 24h, 6 months, and 2 years postoperatively) (p > 0.05). Our experience of the technique and the case series show that "in-out-in" percutaneous reduction technique for treatment of valgus-impacted femoral neck fracture with or without posterior tilt of the femoral head is safe and effective for achieving successful bone union and satisfactory function.

Displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus: Percutaneous reduction and screw fixation

Background: Extensile open technique to reduce and fix intra-articular calcaneal fractures have a high rate of wound complications. A technique of percutaneous reduction and fixation with screws alone was devised to avoid these problems. The clinical results, & radiographs were evaluated in this study after operational treatment using this approach. Methods: The study looked at 33 patients who had intra-articular calcaneal fractures in Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Science Puducherry from January 2020 to December 2021. At 3 months after the injury, all patients were evaluated for early postoperative sequelae. The clinical outcomes were evaluated for patients who were seen at least 6 months following surgery. The articular reduction was quantitatively analysed in patients who received both preoperative and postoperative radiographic images. Results: No complications were found at the 3-month follow-up. At least 6 months after the injury, screw irritation 9% (3 patients), subtalar osteoarthritis 3% (1 patient) requiring subtalar fusion percent, malunion 9%(3pt), and deep infection 0 percent were among the consequences. The Bohler angle, calcaneal facet height, and width all improved markedly after surgery. The Bohler angle increased by +24.1 degrees on average after surgery, with a loss of 4.9 degrees during the 3-month follow-up, 54.5 percent of patients reported a residual pain level of 3 or lower at the final follow-up.Conclusion: Based on articular reduction and amount of residual discomfort, this study suggests that percutaneous treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures with screws alone could offer acceptable early results.

A novel percutaneous intrafocal reduction technique for brachialis penetrating irreducible type 4 supracondylar humerus fracture

Type 4 supracondylar fractures are challenging to treat. Closed reduction may become impossible due to brachialis muscle penetration and devastating results like a neurovascular injury that may occur during recurrent manipulations. We here report an intra-focal percutaneous reduction technique for maintaining closed reduction. An extensively posterior displaced type 4 supracondylar fracture with a dimple at the antecubital fossa and an extensive ecchymosis is presented. During surgery, we could not obtain closed reduction with the milking maneuver. We inserted an intrafocal K-Wire from the posterior side into the fracture site. With the levering of the wire, the dimple disappeared, after which we maintained the anatomical reduction and fixed the fracture with two lateral K-wires. Neither complication nor residual deformity was observed during postoperative follow-up. To show the exact long-term effects and the safety of this procedure, we need more fractures with brachialis penetration operated on by the described technique.

Percutaneous acetabular anchoring pin-assisted cephalomedullary nailing for subtrochanteric and unstable intertrochanteric fractures

It is important to maintain acceptable reduction and make suitable entry when performing cephalomedullary nailing for subtrochanteric and unstable intertrochanteric fractures; however, this is often challenging due to deforming forces or the unstable nature of the fracture itself. Several percutaneous reduction techniques for fractures have been introduced, but, in some cases, a loss of reduction during the nailing procedure is experienced. To prevent this problem, it is important to keep the proximal fragment stable for the entire nailing procedure. The present study reports favourable outcomes for cephalomedullary nailing for subtrochanteric and unstable intertrochanteric fractures when percutaneous acetabular anchoring pin is used to maintain the proximal fragment stably in the reduced position.

Flexible intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures: closed versus open reduction.

Children's femoral shaft fractures are commonly treated with flexible intramedullary nailing after closed or open reduction, but there is little information concerning indications for open reduction. The purpose of this study was to determine radiographic and clinical features likely to lead to open reduction before flexible intramedullary nailing. Record review identified 158 femoral shaft fractures treated with flexible intramedullary nailing. In addition to patient demographics and mechanism of injury, data obtained included surgeon name, estimated blood loss, type of reduction, type and diameter of nail, type of operating table, the use of percutaneous reduction techniques or supplemental casting, time to and duration of surgery, total time in operating room, and time to union. Fracture ratios were calculated based on established radiographic protocol. Of 158 fractures, 141 were treated with closed reduction and 17 with open reduction. The anteroposterior fracture index (1.3 ± 0.4, P = 0.0007), surgeon (P = 0.002), and flattop operating table (0.05) were associated with open reduction. Smaller lateral diameter of bone at the fracture site, transverse fracture, and surgeon were all found to be independent risk factors for open reduction; patient characteristics, including age, sex, and BMI, did not seem to influence the choice of open reduction. Fractures with a lower fracture index or pattern resembling a transverse fracture rather than oblique or spiral had an increased risk of converting to an open reduction. Surgeon preference and use of flattop tables also had a significant influence on how the fracture was treated.

Outcome of fracture calcaneum managed by conservative versus operative methods a randomized comparative study

Background: Calcaneal fracture is a complex injury that represents 1%–2% of all fractures. However, they make up 60% fractures of the midfoot bones. Due to challenging management of calcaneal fractures, we decided to evaluate the long term outcome of the same. Method: In this series of 61 calcaneal fractures 11 fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation method, 16 fractures by percutaneous reduction technique and 34 were treated conservatively, Creighton-Nebraska scoringhas been chosen, being based on results rather than radiographic criteria. Our average duration of follow is 18 months.Results: In this study total 61 feets of 50 patients. Com90. 9%) had excellent results with 1 fair result in open reduction group with internal fixation group. 5 excellent (31. 2%) with 10 good (62. 5%) and 1 fair (6. 3%) result were obtained in percutaneous reduction group. No patient from operative group and percutaneous reduction group showed poor result. There were Only 3 excellent (8. 8%) results with 10 good (29. 5%), 13 fair (38. 3%), and 8 poor (23. 5%) results in conservative group of patients plication included infection, plantar fascitis, subtalar arthritis.Conclusion: our conclusion is that intra articular fractures of calcaneum should be approached in more practical and scientific manner so that normal anatomy of the subtalar joint and overall shape of the calcaneum can be restored with early range of motion.

Reduction and temporary stabilization of Tile C pelvic ring injuries using a posteriorly based external fixation system.

Tile C pelvic ring injuries are challenging to manage even in the most experienced hands. The majority of such injuries can be managed using percutaneous reduction techniques, and the posterior ring can be stabilized using percutaneous transiliac-transsacral screw fixation. However, a subgroup of patients present with inadequate bony corridors, significant sacral zone 2 comminution or significant lateral/vertical displacement of the hemipelvis through a complete sacral fracture. Percutaneous strategies in such circumstances can be dangerous. Those patients may benefit from prone positioning and open reduction of the sacral fracture with fixation through tension band plating or lumbo-pelvic fixation. Soft tissue handling is critical, and direct reduction techniques around the sacrum can be difficult due to the complex anatomy and the fragile nature of the sacrum making clamp placement and tightening a challenge. In this paper, we propose a mini-invasive technique of indirect reduction and temporary stabilization, which is soft tissue friendly and permits maintenance of reduction during definitive fixation surgical.

Reduction Techniques for Diaphyseal Femur Fractures.

Achieving and maintaining reduction in patients with a diaphyseal femur fracture may be difficult; therefore, thorough preoperative planning is required. To fully prepare for successful surgical management of diaphyseal femur fractures, surgeons must consider appropriate patient positioning and necessary tools, including surgical tables, traction devices, and instruments. Principles of acceptable reduction rely on the restoration of length, alignment, and rotation. Reduction of diaphyseal femur fractures should be attained in the least invasive manner, via percutaneous reduction techniques, if possible, to preserve fracture biology and promote successful fracture healing. Intraoperative assessment of reduction often requires imaging studies of the contralateral extremity as a reference. Intraoperative assessment for associated femoral neck fractures and postoperative clinical examination of the hip and knee are imperative to the successful management of diaphyseal femur fractures. Other reference modalities and clinical examinations are required in patients with bilateral diaphyseal femur fractures.

Percutaneous Reduction and Screw Fixation of Displaced Intra-articular Fractures of the Calcaneus.

Extensile open approaches to reduce and fix intra-articular calcaneal fractures are associated with high levels of wound complications. To avoid these complications, a technique of percutaneous reduction and fixation with screws alone was developed. This study assessed the clinical outcomes, radiographs, and postoperative CT scans after operative treatment with this technique. 153 consecutive patients with 182 intra-articular calcaneal fractures were reviewed. All patients were assessed for early postoperative complications at 3 months from the injury. The clinical results were assessed for patients seen at a minimum of 1 year after surgery (mean follow-up of 2.6 years; 90 patients, 106 feet). In patients who had both preoperative and postoperative CT scans (50 patients, 60 feet), the articular reduction was quantitatively analyzed. At the 3-month follow-up, there were 1% superficial infections and 1% rate of screw irritation. The complications at a minimum of 1 year after injury included screw irritation 9.3%, subtalar osteoarthritis requiring subtalar fusion 5.5%, malunion 1.8%, and deep infection 0.9%. Bohler angle, calcaneal facet height, and width were significantly improved postoperatively ( P < .01). Bohler angle increased on average +24.1 degrees postoperatively with a loss of angle of 4.9 degrees at the 3-month follow-up. There was significant improvement ( P < .01) in posterior talocalcaneal joint reduction on postoperative CT scan but residual displacement remained. At the final follow-up, 54.5% of the patients reported a residual pain level of 3 or lower. This study suggests that reasonable early results could be achieved from the percutaneous treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures using screws alone based on articular reduction and level of residual pain. Level IV, retrospective case series.

Percutaneous Reduction of Displaced Radial Neck Fractures Achieves Better Results Compared With Fractures Treated by Open Reduction.

There is uniform agreement in the literature that radial neck fracture with <30 degrees of angulation and minimal translation in younger children can be managed by casting alone, without the need for closed reduction. For more severe fractures, closed manipulation techniques followed by percutaneous reduction technique (in case closed reduction fails) should be performed before switching to an open reduction technique. Debate still exists regarding the best treatment protocol for severely displaced fractures. Although some surgeons favor open reduction with the argument that repeat manipulations may cause iatrogenic injuries, and stiffness, others believe that open reduction is one of the most contributing factors for poor outcome. On the basis of this paradigm, we present our treatment algorithm based on the data demonstrating that percutaneous reduction of displaced radial neck fractures achieve better results than open reduction.

A percutaneous reduction technique for irreducible and difficult variant of paediatric distal radius and ulna fractures

Background and aimThe objective of this study is to introduce a novel percutaneous reduction technique for irreducible and difficult paediatric radius and ulna fractures in the distal forearm. MethodsFrom May 2010 to January 2012, the percutaneous joystick technique was conducted in 48 children who sustained irreducible or difficult radius and ulna fractures in the distal forearm. The series comprises 32 male and 16 female patients with an average age of 11 years (range, 7–15 years). Among them, 22 patients were <9 years of age. At the final follow-up, the range of motion of the wrist and grip strength of the hand were assessed. Measurements were compared to those on the opposite side. Wrist function was assessed with Mayo Wrist Score. Appearance and patient satisfaction were assessed using the 10-cm visual analogue scale. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. ResultsBone healing was achieved in all patients (radius: mean 3.5 weeks, range, 3–4 weeks; ulna: 3.8 weeks, range, 3–4 weeks), respectively. After an average follow-up period of 39 months (range, 36–45 months), patients had an average range of wrist motion of 74° (range, 65–86°) in flexion and 64° (range, 54–78°) in extension. The mean grip strength of the injured side was 33.7kg (13.8–47.6kg). The mean Mayo Wrist Score was 97 (range, 85–100), including 44 excellent and four good results. The mean scores of appearance and patient satisfaction on the forearm were 9.7 (range, 9–10) and 9.8 (range, 8–10), respectively. No significant difference was found regarding the range of motion and grip strength (p<0.05). ConclusionsThe percutaneous reduction technique is a safe and valuable procedure for irreducible and difficult paediatric fractures of distal radius and ulna.

Balloon treatment of posterior shoulder dislocation with reverse Hill–Sachs injury: description of a new technique

Posterior shoulder dislocations are rare, and are usually the result of seizures. Anterior defects of the humeral head known as "reverse Hill-Sachs lesions" may increase the risk of recurrent dislocation and are difficult to treat. We developed a percutaneous technique for reduction of the dislocation or reduction of the anterior impaction fracture, using percutaneous balloon dilatation and cement fixation. From 2009 to 2012, three patients aged 33, 72 and 75 years were admitted to our institution with a posterior shoulder dislocation showing an anterior "reverse Hill-Sachs" impaction fracture. One case was bilateral (four fractures). Patients were operated upon in the sitting position; the humeral head was stabilised by external fixator pins during balloon inflation. Reduction or filling of the defect was obtained in all cases. All patients were followed up and two patients (three fractures) were examined after one year by an independent observer. The clinical results were assessed using the Constant score and the RAND-36 physical components score. A computed tomography (CT) scan was obtained in all patients before and after the operation and at the latest follow-up. At three months postoperatively, all patients had resumed work or daily life activities with no limitation. The mean Constant score was 71 and RAND-36 score was 85.5. After one year, the mean Constant score was 73 and the RAND-36 score was 86.4 for the two patients who had sufficient follow-up. On the postoperative radiograph and CT scan, sphericity of the humeral head was restored, and the reverse Hill-Sachs impaction was filled or reduced in all cases. There was no recurrent dislocation. Based on this small series, we believe that this technique should be added to our current armamentarium for posterior shoulder dislocations showing a deep impaction fracture of the humeral head that are at risk for recurrent dislocation.

Surgical treatment of frontal sinus fractures: the simple percutaneous reduction revised

Frontal sinus fractures are common fractures in high-energetic trauma. Different treatments options are available for different types of frontal sinus fractures. A fracture that consists only of the anterior wall is most commonly reduced with the coronal approach. This approach is invasive and produces a large scar on the scalp, which can result in an unfavourable situation in patients with alopecia and in balding men. To avoid this, a percutaneous reduction method can be used to treat patients with simple anterior wall fractures. This approach is less invasive and does not result in a conspicuous scar. The disadvantages of this procedure are the absence of direct vision and less control of the fracture, which can reduce the chances of complete reduction. This paper provides an overview of anterior wall fractures of the frontal sinus and elaborates on the simple percutaneous reduction technique.

Percutaneous cerclage wiring and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO): a percutaneous reduction technique in the treatment of Vancouver type B1 periprosthetic femoral shaft fractures

Periprosthetic femoral fractures (PPFs) associated at or near a well-fixed femoral prostheses (Vancouver type-B1) present a clinical challenge due to the quality of the bone stock and instability of the fracture. The purpose of this study was to present a novel reduction technique and analyze clinical and radiographic outcome in patients with Vancouver type-B1 fractures treated with percutaneous cerclage wiring for fracture reduction and maintenance of reduction with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) utilizing a locking compression plate (LCP). Between March 2007 and December 2008, ten consecutive patients with spiral, oblique or wedge Vancouver type-B1 were treated with closed percutaneous cerclage wiring using a new cerclage passer instrument (Synthes) through small 2-3 cm incisions for reduction and maintenance of reduction. Internal fixation with MIPO was obtained utilizing a long LCP Synthes bridging the fracture. The reduction time, fixation time and operative time were recorded. The rehabilitation protocol consisted of partial weight bearing as tolerated. Clinical and radiographic outcomes included evidence of union, return to pre-injury mobility, and surgical complications were recorded. There were three men and seven women with an average age of 74 years (range 47-84 years) at the time the fracture occured. The average follow-up was 13.2 months. One patient died 2 months after surgery due to cardiovascular problems and was excluded. The average reduction time with percutaneous cerclage wiring was 24.4 min (range 7-45 min). The average fixation time was 79 min (range 53-100 min). The average operative time was 103 min (range 75-140 min). Blood loss was minimal and only two patients needed a blood transfusion. All fractures healed with a mean time to union of 18 weeks (range 16-20 weeks). There was one implant which bent 10° in the post-operative period but went on to heal uneventfully within 16 weeks. There was no evidence of loosening of any implants. Seven patients returned to their previous level of mobility. Two patients required a walker. There were no implant failures, wound complications or infections. Percutaneous reduction of spiral, oblique or wedge-type B1 PPFs with percutaneous cerclage wiring combined with minimally invasive locking plate osteosynthesis provided satisfactory reduction, adequate stability and healing in nine patients. Our early results suggest that this reduction technique and fixation may be a useful solution for this growing challenge in orthopaedics. The authors caution that this technique must be done carefully to avoid serious complications, e.g., vascular injury.

Orthogonal Biplanar Fluoroscopy-guided Percutaneous Fixation of a Coracoid Base Fracture Associated With Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation

Coracoid process fractures that involve the coracoid base (inferior pillar) without a concomitant rupture of the coracoclavicular ligaments can destabilize the acromioclavicular joint with its subsequent dislocation; prophylactic or therapeutic operative treatment involving open reduction and internal fixation has been traditionally recommended. This report presents a new technique of percutaneous reduction and stabilization of the coracoid fracture with indirect acromioclavicular joint reduction under fluoroscopic guidance; biplanar visualization of coracoid process anatomy is obtained using 2 specific radiographic/fluoroscopic-beam angulations (Bhatia views), and this permits a guided placement of screws for controlled reduction of this dual injury. The technique is based on the author's original work on coracoid process anatomy and development of radiographic views for orthogonal visualization of coracoid pillars in their entirety. Technical tips to facilitate percutaneous fracture fixation and to avoid potential complications are discussed.

Ipsilateral Pilon and Calcaneus Fractures: Treatment with Circular Frame without Spanning Ankle Joint.

ABSTRACTThis case report describes the treatment of a 48-year-old female patient, smoker, with a closed comminuted pilon fracture (AO/OTA 43-C2.1) and ipsilateral displaced intra-articular calcaneus fracture (AO/OTA 82-C3). Two independent circular frames were applied in a way to preserve tibiotalar range of motion (ROM). The posterior facet of the calcaneus fracture was reduced through a small incision anterior to the tip of the distal fibula. A frame consisting of a two-third ring was applied to the talus and a footplate to the calcaneus was used to hold the reduction of the posterior facet and to correct varus and length. Pilon fracture was similarly reduced with a percutaneous reduction technique and stabilized with the standard two Taylor spatial frame (TSF) rings. During the course of treatment, the tibiotalar joint ROM was maintained. The frame for the calcaneus fracture was removed 10 weeks after the surgery and the frame for the pilon fracture was removed 16 weeks after the surgery. The patient’s last follow-up was 34 months after the injury. She was ambulating independently without limp and she had resumed the preinjury activity level. She had symmetric tibiotalar ROM and 50% reduction in subtalar ROM. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle–Hindfoot score was 76. Radiographs revealed healed pilon and calcaneus fractures, normal alignment of tibiotalar and subtalar joints, with some arthritic changes present to tibiotalar and subtalar joints. In conclusion, utilization of a “below the ankle” frame for the calcaneus fracture and a standard two-ring frame for the pilon fracture helps to avoid soft tissue complications and preserves tibiotalar ROM.How to cite this articleDimitroulias A, Harbacheuski R. Ipsilateral Pilon and Calcaneus Fractures: Treatment with Circular Frame without Spanning Ankle Joint. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr 2019;14(2):111–114.