External fixator and/or combined treatment are effective and reliable methods to treat infected nonunion of the distal tibia. Every patient should be evaluated according to their infection level and bony defects for reconstruction.

Ozone therapy enhances new bone formation by autogenous bone graft in the rat calvarial defect model.

A retrospective study was performed in 18 patients with achondroplasia, who underwent bilateral humeral lengthening between 2001 and 2013, using monorail external fixators. The mean age was ten years (six to 15) and the mean follow-up was 40 months (12 to 104). The mean disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score fell from 32.3 (20 to 40) pre-operatively to 9.4 (6 to 14) post-operatively (p = 0.037). A mean lengthening of 60% (40% to 95%) was required to reach the goal of independent perineal hygiene. One patient developed early consolidation, and fractures occurred in the regenerate bone of four humeri in three patients. There were three transient radial nerve palsies. Humeral lengthening increases the independence of people with achondroplasia and is not just a cosmetic procedure.

Age is the primary risk factor on first year mortality in patients older than 75 years old with hip fractures. Addition to older age, more need to blood transfusions, and arthroplasty are other risk factors for first year mortality. It should be kept in mind that after 75 years old first year mortality may be higher if the patient is treated with arthroplasty.

Within the limits of this study, it can be suggested that NAC, when administered systemically, prevents alveolar bone loss in the diabetic rat model.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to report and analyze the long-term outcomes of the patients who underwent high tibial osteotomy (HTO) with three different techniques for the treatment of medial compartment arthrosis.MethodsA total of 187 patients (195 knees) who underwent HTO between 1990 and 2010 were retrospectively evaluated. Eighty-eight knees, opening-wedge osteotomy with Puddu plate (group A); 51 knees, transverse osteotomy below the tubercle with external fixator (group B); and 29 knees, closing-wedge osteotomy with staple fixation (group C) were included in the study. The patients (mean age 44.9 ± 10.6 years, mean follow-up of 12.4 ± 3.2 years) were called for final controls and survival rates of the knees, and functional evaluations of the patients were performed using Knee Society Score (KSS) and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score assessments.ResultsIn the comparison of the three groups, there were no differences regarding the mean age, preoperative arthrosis levels, or preoperative deformity analyses (n.s.). The main finding of these comparisons showed that the closing-wedge osteotomy has the greatest lateralization effect on mechanical axis deviation (MAD) (p = 0.024), the greatest valgization effect on medial proximal tibial angles (MPTA) (p = 0.026), and the lowest posterior tibial slope (PTS) angles (p = 0.032) in comparison to the other groups. There were no functional differences between the three groups in the long-term assessment of patients with KSS and HSS knee scores. According to the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, the probability of the survival of the native knee joint after HTO was 93.4% in 5 years and 71.2% in 10 years in our study group. During the follow-up of the 168 knees, revision surgery with total knee replacement was needed in 27 knees (16%). The mean time from HTO to total knee replacement was 8.9 years in these patients.ConclusionsHTO has acceptable long-term clinical and functional results that should not be underestimated by orthopedic surgeons under pressure to perform arthroplasty operations.

While femoral lengthening and deformity correction can be obtained with classic methods for application of an external fixator, the long period of external fixation, patient discomfort, and plastic deformation of the regenerated bone after removal of the fixator are major disadvantages. Two techniques, fixator-assisted nailing and lengthening over an intramedullary nail, were combined in this series. The duration of the external fixation was reduced compared with that required for classic treatment with an external fixator and patient comfort was increased. In addition, the intramedullary nail prevented fracture and deformation of the regenerated bone.

Haemophilia, a bleeding disorder, causes recurrent intra-articular bleeding of the joints result-ing in chronic haemophilic arthropathy with fixed knee flexion deformity. Mid-long-term results (between 2002 and 2006) of deformity correction in haemophilic patients with Ilizarov type circular external fixators were retrospectively evaluated. There were six patients (five haemophilia A and one haemophilia B). The mean age was 14.7 years (range, 8-22 years) at the time of initial surgery. The mean knee flexion contracture was 45 degrees (range, 30-75 degrees). The mean arc of motion was 58.3 degrees (range, 40-100) before the surgery. The mean duration of follow-up was 8 years (range, 5.5-10 years). The mean duration of external fixation was 4.4 months (range, 2.5-10.5 months). Full extension of the knee joint was obtained in all patients in the early postoperative period. No bleeding, neurological or vascular complications were encountered. The mean amount of recurrence in knee flexion contracture was 10 degrees (range, 0-15 degrees). The amount of the correction was significant (P = 0.0012) and the mean arc of motion was 51.6 degrees (range, 25-90 degrees) that show a decrease of 6.7 degrees (P = 0.04) at the end of follow-up. The circular external fixator is an important, safe and less invasive alternative surgical treatment modality with low recurrence rate. Using the external hinges and distraction during the correction has a protective effect on the joint. It requires a team-work consisting of a haematologist, an orthopaedic surgeon and a physical therapist.