• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.95-99
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic outcomes of distal fibular fractures and to analyze the risk factors associated with nonunion. Materials and Methods: Between January 2009 and March 2016, 13 patients who had final nonunion with ankle fracture were included. In the control group, 370 patients who had undergone bony union and removed metal implants were included. All patients underwent the same surgical procedure and had the same treatment method, ultimately achieving satisfactory open reduction results with less than 2 mm fracture gap. Surgical treatment of fracture was considered to have the same effect on nonunion, and factors that might be associated with nonunion were evaluated. SPSS ver. 13.0 (SPSS Inc., USA) was used for all statistical analyses. Pearson's chi-square test and multi-variate regression analysis were performed to determine the factors affecting nonunion of distal fibular fracture. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant, and relative risk was assessed. Results: The mean age of 13 patients was 46.9 years (range, 16~57 years); there were 8 men and 5 women. Among the 13 patients with nonunion, atrophic was the most common (12 cases). The association between the injury mechanism and the Lauge-Hansen classification and diabetes mellitus was not statistically significant. Distal fibular fractures with tibia shaft fracture (p=0.015) and Danis-Weber type C fracture (p=0.023), open fracture (p=0.011), and smoking (p=0.023) were significantly associated with nonunion. Conclusion: In this study, the combined injury of the ipsilateral tibia shaft fracture, open fracture, and Danis-Weber type C fracture may increase the possibility of nonunion. Therefore, caution is advised to prevent nonunion.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.93-98
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• 2023

Purpose: This study compared the functional and cosmetic treatment outcomes of intramedullary nailing (IM nail) and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) for distal tibia shaft fractures. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight patients with distal tibia shaft fractures (distal 1/3 of the diaphysis, AO/OTA [AO Foundation/Orthopaedic Trauma Association]) 43 managed by an IM nail (n=30) or MIPO (n=18) who had minimum one-year follow-up were enrolled in this study. The radiological, functional, and cosmetic outcomes in the two groups were compared retrospectively. Results: All patients achieved bone union. The mean bone union time of the IM nail and MIPO groups was 18.5 and 22.6 weeks, respectively (p=0.078). One patient in the MIPO group showed posterior angulation and valgus deformity of more than five degrees. The mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) functional scores were similar: 83.3 in the IM nail group and 84.6 in the MIPO group (p=0.289). The most salient difference was the cosmetic result of the surgical scar. The length of the scars around the ankle in the IM nail group was significantly smaller than the MIPO group (2.6 cm vs. 10.6 cm; p=0.035). The patient satisfaction survey of surgical scars revealed a significantly higher satisfaction rate in the IM nail group than in the MIPO group (93% vs. 44%; p<0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that both treatment methods for distal tibia shaft fractures have similar therapeutic efficacy regarding the radiological and functional outcomes. On the other hand, the IM nail technique showed superior cosmetic outcomes than the MIPO technique. IM nails may be more recommended in patients with high demand for cosmetic results.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.388-399
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• 1993

The adequate treatment of tibia fracture is one of the most difficult due to severe commiuntion, open wound, delayed union, angulation deformity and infection. We treated 38 fractures of the tibia by Interlocking intramedullary nail from Feb. 1983 to Mar. 1993, 35 cases of the tibia fracture were fresh, 13 cases of fracture were open. The other 3 cases were delayed union and nonunion. The Mean follow-up was 14.0 months. The results were as followings. 1. Of the 38 fractures, 37 fractures united and the mean union time was 18.7 weeks. 2. Interlocking intramedullary nail could be used to the majority of fractures of the proximal & distal tibia shaft fractures. 3. The Interlocking nail had rigid rotational stability and was appropriate for the treatment in severe unstable fractures, commninution and open with bone loss. 4. Delayed union or nonunion was a good indication for intramedullary nailling. 5. The major complication were valgus deformity of 2 cases, varus deformity of 1 case, 1 case deep infection. 6. Interlocking intramedullary nailing provided rigid fixation of fracture and then made early joint motion exercise and ambulation.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 1998

Free vascularized fibular is the most usuful bony donor of the long bone reconstruction in reconstructive microsurgical field. It has many benifits such as very strong strut tubular bone, very reliable vascular anatomy with large vascular diameter with long pedicle, minimal donor site morbity too. In that situations of the huge long bone defects in distal femur or proximal tibia, the defective bony shape and strength of the transplanted fibular bone is not enough if only one strut of the fibula is transfered. The bony circulation of the fibula has two ways, one from nutrient artery via peroneal artery through nutrient foramen which makes endosteal arterial network inside of the fibula, another way is periosteal network through outside encircling vascular network of the bone which distributed in muscle sleeves of the fibular diaphysis. Authors modified free vascularized fibular bone graft with transverse osteotomy is made from the anterolateral aspect of the fibular shaft just distal to entry of the nutrient artery. This produces two vascularized bone struts that may be folded pararell to each other but that remain connected by the periosteum and muscle cuff surrounding the peroneal artery and veins. The proximal strut is vascularized by both a periosteal and endosteal blood supply, whereas the distal strut is vascularized by a periosteal blood supply alone. This procedure can call "doule barrel" free vascularized fibular graft. We performed 7 cases of doule barrel fashined fibular transplantation on distal femur and proximal tibial large defects. Average bone union time takes 7 months from that procedure. There were no significant bone union time differences between both proximal and distal struts. After solid union of the transfered double barrel fibular graft, there were no stress fracture in our series. We can propose double barrel free vascualized fibular graft is usuful method in that cases with very large bone defect on large long bones especially metaphyseal defects.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.80-86
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• 2010

Purpose: The skeleton is commonly affected by metastatic cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of treating metastatic pathologic fractures in lower extremities using locking plates. Materials and Methods: Between 2004 and 2010, we evaluated 12 patients (13 cases) of metastatic pathologic fractures in lower extremities, treated with the locking plate. Mean patient age was 62.2 years (range, 50-81 years), the locations of the fractures were; proximal femur in 2 cases, femoral mid-shaft in 3, distal femur in 3, proximal tibia in 4, and distal tibia in 1 case. The interval to wheelchair ambulation, pain relief and complications were evaluated. Additionally, we assessed operation time and postoperative blood loss. Results: Mean time from operation to wheelchair ambulation was 3.2 days (range, 1-6 days). Mean VAS scores improved from a preoperative score of 8.1 points (range, 7-9 points) to a score of 2.7 points (range, 2-4 points) at 1 week postoperatively. No early complications associated with surgery were encountered. Mean operation time was 88.4 minutes (range, 70-105 minutes), and mean postoperative blood loss was 246.5 ml (range, 130-320 ml). Conclusion: Internal fixation of metastatic pathologic fractures using a locking plate in the lower extremity can be an effective treatment option in the meta- or diaphyseal area of long bones with massive bony destruction or poor bone stock by offering early ambulation, pain relief and low postoperative complications.