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Fracture of the olecranon
Abstracts
325
It deals briefly with the subject of internal fixation of broken ribs, but does not come down firmly on either side. Webb A. K. (1978) Flail chest: management and complication. Br. J. Hosp. Med. 20, 406. Fractures Zygomatic
and dislocations fractures
The authors consider previous classifications, some of which resulted in 10 and even 15 different types of fractures, to be unnecessarily complicated and they recommend but 3 types. Their first type includes about 15 per cent of fractures that are so little displaced that they need no treatment. They emphasize, however, the need to examine carefully three radiographic views, namely Water’s, Caldwell’s and the submentovertical, lest the degree of displacement be underestimated. Their second category includes about 70 per cent that would remain in place after simple elevation by Gillies’s method; the remaining 10 per cent or so that were comminuted and required fixation of the fragments by wires after either open correction or elevation by Gillies’s method form the third group. Apart from comminution, these unstable fractures were characterized by wide separation of the frontozygomatic suture. Larsen 0. D. and Thomsen M. (1978) Zygomatic fractures for practical use. I. A simplified classification. II. A follow-up study for 137 patients. Stand. J. Plasf. Reconstr.
Surg. 12, 55.
the A0 plate lies in its ability to provide really rigid fixation even of segmental and comminuted fractures. They obtained 60 per cent excellent, 32 per cent good and only 2 per cent bad results. They did not have any complications from the operation itself in any of their cases. They had two indifferent results, one of which was due to the use of a medullary nail which required a very long period of plaster fixation before union occurred and there was one case which had delayed union in which a plate was used, but it finally united satisfactorily. Mascitti T., Scolari P., Feroldi G. et al. (1977) Treatment of fractures of the shaft of the humerus. Minerva
Ortopedica
Fractures
third
of the femur
28, 385.
of the femur
A series of 52 patients was treated by inserting four Knowels pins which had been provided with threads near their points; 36 were followed up and all found to have satisfactory results with live femoral heads and good activity. It was found that most of these operations could be done under local anaesthesia and that good results were achieved irrespective of the pattern in which the four pins were inserted. Some were inserted parallel, some spreading out in the femoral head and some set in a criss-cross manner. Most of the patients were over 70, but there were a few younger ones. The younger age group were treated with plaster of Paris spicas postoperatively, but this was found to he hazardous in the older patients. Pitto E., Giusti E. and Santini S. (1977) The treatment of sub-capital fractures in the neck of the femur with modified Knowels pins. Minerva Ortopedica 28, 463. Fractures
of the lower
These authors treated 50 cases of fracture of the lower third of the femur including some involving the joint and were able to follow-up all except 9 of them. Their results were 13 excellent cases, 22 good cases, 8 indifferent cases and 2 poor cases. They conclude that these fractures should be treated by internal fixation and that the best method is to use the A0 condylar plate. In the authors’ opinion the advantages of internal fixation lie in the possibility of getting real anatomical reduction of the joint components and the ability to get active movement within a few days of the operation. Mordente G. and Gaeta V. (1977) The treatment of fractures of the lower third of the femur. Minerva Ortopedica
Fractures
28, 601.
of the humerus
These authors operated on 40 fractures of the shaft of the humerus in a 5-year period using an A0 plate in the large majority of cases. They consider that this is the best method of treating all tvoes of fractures of the shaft of the humerus. Theyusedthe posterior approach in all cases and believe that the special advantage of
Fracture
of the olecranon
This reports a series of 50 cases of fractures of the olecranon treated with the tension wire system described by the A0 school. In this method two Kirschner wires are inserted longitudinally across the fracture, a drill hole is made in the distal fragment and a figure of eight wire passed superficially through the drill hole and across the fracture, gaining a purchase on the projecting Kirschner wires which are then bent over and driven home. The advantage of this method is that every movement of the elbow provides a compression force on the articular surface and produces excellent congruity of the humero-ulnar joint. They achieved 88 per cent of excellent or good results and their bad results were attributed to lack of cooperation on the part of the patient in one case and over long immobilization in three other cases. This author advocates the wider adoption of this technique. Cescato G. (1977) Fracture of the olecranon. Minerva
Ortopedica
28, 607.
Fat embolism Chemical composition of fat emboli This article comprises an attempt to determine whether fat emboli chemically resemble more closely
325
It deals briefly with the subject of internal fixation of broken ribs, but does not come down firmly on either side. Webb A. K. (1978) Flail chest: management and complication. Br. J. Hosp. Med. 20, 406. Fractures Zygomatic
and dislocations fractures
The authors consider previous classifications, some of which resulted in 10 and even 15 different types of fractures, to be unnecessarily complicated and they recommend but 3 types. Their first type includes about 15 per cent of fractures that are so little displaced that they need no treatment. They emphasize, however, the need to examine carefully three radiographic views, namely Water’s, Caldwell’s and the submentovertical, lest the degree of displacement be underestimated. Their second category includes about 70 per cent that would remain in place after simple elevation by Gillies’s method; the remaining 10 per cent or so that were comminuted and required fixation of the fragments by wires after either open correction or elevation by Gillies’s method form the third group. Apart from comminution, these unstable fractures were characterized by wide separation of the frontozygomatic suture. Larsen 0. D. and Thomsen M. (1978) Zygomatic fractures for practical use. I. A simplified classification. II. A follow-up study for 137 patients. Stand. J. Plasf. Reconstr.
Surg. 12, 55.
the A0 plate lies in its ability to provide really rigid fixation even of segmental and comminuted fractures. They obtained 60 per cent excellent, 32 per cent good and only 2 per cent bad results. They did not have any complications from the operation itself in any of their cases. They had two indifferent results, one of which was due to the use of a medullary nail which required a very long period of plaster fixation before union occurred and there was one case which had delayed union in which a plate was used, but it finally united satisfactorily. Mascitti T., Scolari P., Feroldi G. et al. (1977) Treatment of fractures of the shaft of the humerus. Minerva
Ortopedica
Fractures
third
of the femur
28, 385.
of the femur
A series of 52 patients was treated by inserting four Knowels pins which had been provided with threads near their points; 36 were followed up and all found to have satisfactory results with live femoral heads and good activity. It was found that most of these operations could be done under local anaesthesia and that good results were achieved irrespective of the pattern in which the four pins were inserted. Some were inserted parallel, some spreading out in the femoral head and some set in a criss-cross manner. Most of the patients were over 70, but there were a few younger ones. The younger age group were treated with plaster of Paris spicas postoperatively, but this was found to he hazardous in the older patients. Pitto E., Giusti E. and Santini S. (1977) The treatment of sub-capital fractures in the neck of the femur with modified Knowels pins. Minerva Ortopedica 28, 463. Fractures
of the lower
These authors treated 50 cases of fracture of the lower third of the femur including some involving the joint and were able to follow-up all except 9 of them. Their results were 13 excellent cases, 22 good cases, 8 indifferent cases and 2 poor cases. They conclude that these fractures should be treated by internal fixation and that the best method is to use the A0 condylar plate. In the authors’ opinion the advantages of internal fixation lie in the possibility of getting real anatomical reduction of the joint components and the ability to get active movement within a few days of the operation. Mordente G. and Gaeta V. (1977) The treatment of fractures of the lower third of the femur. Minerva Ortopedica
Fractures
28, 601.
of the humerus
These authors operated on 40 fractures of the shaft of the humerus in a 5-year period using an A0 plate in the large majority of cases. They consider that this is the best method of treating all tvoes of fractures of the shaft of the humerus. Theyusedthe posterior approach in all cases and believe that the special advantage of
Fracture
of the olecranon
This reports a series of 50 cases of fractures of the olecranon treated with the tension wire system described by the A0 school. In this method two Kirschner wires are inserted longitudinally across the fracture, a drill hole is made in the distal fragment and a figure of eight wire passed superficially through the drill hole and across the fracture, gaining a purchase on the projecting Kirschner wires which are then bent over and driven home. The advantage of this method is that every movement of the elbow provides a compression force on the articular surface and produces excellent congruity of the humero-ulnar joint. They achieved 88 per cent of excellent or good results and their bad results were attributed to lack of cooperation on the part of the patient in one case and over long immobilization in three other cases. This author advocates the wider adoption of this technique. Cescato G. (1977) Fracture of the olecranon. Minerva
Ortopedica
28, 607.
Fat embolism Chemical composition of fat emboli This article comprises an attempt to determine whether fat emboli chemically resemble more closely