Although several surgical techniques for midclavicular fractures have been reported, Knowles pinning has rarely been compared with plating. The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical results of these two alternative techniques. There were 88 patients with midclavicular fractures surgically treated with either a Knowles pin or a plate. All patients were followed up for 12 months with a shoulder score evaluation. The Knowles pin group included 56 patients, with an average age of 40.1 years. The plate group included 32 patients, with an average age of 38.2 years. Both groups were similar in injury mechanism and fracture types (all p values>0.5). Plating has a significantly longer operation time, larger wound incision, higher pain level, more analgesic use, more complications and more symptomatic hardware (all p value<0.05). The shoulder score, union rate and healing time are not significantly different between the two groups (all p values>0.2). In conclusion, if the surgery of mid-third clavicular fractures is indicated, fixation with a Knowles pin has more advantages than plate fixation.

Fifty-two patients with unstable fractures of distal clavicle treated by open reduction and internal fixation with hook plates or tension band wires were retrospectively reviewed. The 52 patients were divided into two groups based on the method of treatment. The hook plate (HP) group included 32 patients and the tension band wire (TBW) group included 20 patients. Both groups were similar in respect to injury mechanisms, compounding medical conditions, and shoulder score (p>0.1). However, hook plating had a significantly lower rate of complication (p=0.01) and symptomatic hardware (p=0.001). In addition, hook plating better facilitated the return to work and athletic activity (p=0.004 and p=0.003, respectively). In conclusion, if surgery of distal clavicular fractures is indicated, internal fixation with a hook plate has more advantages than with tension band wires.Résumé 52 patients présentant une fracture instable de la clavicule ont été traités par réduction sanglante et fixation interne par plaques crochet. Les 52 patients ont été revus et ont été divisés en deux groupes en fonction de la méthode de traitement. L'ostéosynthèse par plaques crochet HP groupe 1 incluait 32 patients et le haubannage TBW 20 patients. Les deux groupes sont identiques en ce qui concerne le mécanisme des traumatismes, les problèmes médicaux, les scores épaule (p>0,1). Cependant le traitement par crochetplaque permet une diminution significative des complications (p=0,01) notamment matérielles (p=0,001). Par ailleurs cette ostéosynthèse par crochet-plaque permet une reprise plus rapide du travail et des activités sportives (p=0,004, 0,003 respectivement). En conclusion, si il existe une indication chirurgicale dans les fractures distales de la clavicule, il est indiqué de réaliser l'ostéosynthèse par crochet-plaque. Cette ostéosynthèse présente beaucoup plus d'avantages que l'ostéosynthèse par hauban.

The study was a retrospective evaluation and comparison. Eighty-four elderly patients (> 60 years) with undisplaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures were treated with osteosynthesis with either dynamic hip screws (DHS) or multiple cannulated screws (MCS). The Singh index was used to evaluate bone quality. All patients were followed up retrospectively for at least 12 months. The clinical results were compared between the DHS and MCS groups. Both groups were similar in respect of injury mechanisms, mean Singh index, injury-surgery interval, gender and age (all p values > or = 0.29). The MCS group had significantly smaller wound incisions, less haemoglobin level drops, lower blood transfusion rates and shorter hospital stays than the DHS group (all p values < or = 0.008). However, the DHS group had a higher rate of overall success when compared to the MCS group (97.5% versus 84.1%, p=0.04). In conclusion, although DHS fixation requires a larger skin incision and more soft tissue dissection, its use in elderly patients with osteoporosis is recommended due to simple, efficacy and high overall success rate.

The study was a retrospective evaluation and comparison. Seventy-five elderly patients (>50 years) with AO type-B2 ankle fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. All patients were followed up retrospectively for at least 12 months. The 75 patients were divided into two groups, based on the method of treatment. The Knowles pin (KP) group included 45 patients with an average age of 62.7 years. The tubular plate (TP) group included 30 patients with an average age of 60.0 years. The clinical results were compared between the two groups. Both of the groups were similar in respect to the injury mechanisms, fracture pattern, open fracture grade, compounding medical conditions, and ankle score (all P values <0.28). However, the KP group had significantly smaller wound incisions, shorter surgery time, shorter hospital stay, less meperidine use, less symptomatic hardware, and lower complication rates than the TP group (all P values <0.03). In conclusion, lateral fixation of AO type-B2 ankle fractures in the elderly by the Knowles pin is recommended due to its simplicity, efficacy and low complication rate.

Open reduction with plating was a reasonably effective procedure for the treatment of Ruedi type I pilon fractures. The long-term outcome of pilon fractures was affected by fracture patterns, fibular length restoration, quality of reduction, and severity of soft tissue injury. Posttraumatic arthrosis affecting the ankle after a severe pilon fracture (Ruedi type II or III) was a progressive disease, and required long-term follow-up.