Background and Purpose: Long fluoroscopic times and related radiation exposure are a universal concern when C-arm fluoroscopy is used to guide percutaneous procedures. Fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation has been proposed as an alternative guidance method requiring limited fluoroscopic times to achieve precision. The purpose of this experimental study was to compare fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation with C-arm fluoroscopy for guidance with respect to the precision achieved, the fluoroscopic time, and the resources needed. Material and Methods: 114 guide wires were placed in 38 synthetic bone models using either C-arm fluoroscopy (group A) or fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation (group B) for guidance. Precision of guide wire placement was rated on the basis of an individual CT scan on all fracture models of both groups. The fluoroscopic time, the procedure time, and the number of attempts required to place the guide wires were documented as well. Results: An average fluoroscopic time of 26 s was needed with C-arm fluoroscopy to place three guide wires compared with an average fluoroscopic time of 2 s that was needed when fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation was used for guidance (p < 0.0001). Precision of guide wire placement and procedure times required to place the guide wires did not differ significantly between both groups. The number of attempts required for correct placement was found significantly reduced with fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation when compared with fluoroscopic guidance (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Fluoroscopic times to achieve precision are reduced with fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation compared with C-arm fluoroscopy. The impact of this new technique on minimally invasive, percutaneous procedures has to be evaluated in controlled prospective clinical studies.

Background Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) has been reported to be superior to open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in the treatment of different long bone fractures. Nevertheless, in distal fibula fractures, the evidence of MIPO remains scarce. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of the minimally invasive techniques applied to the distal fibula with open reduction and internal fixation within a 12 months follow-up. Methods A consecutive series of patients who underwent surgery using either ORIF or MIPO for the treatment of distal fibula fractures between 2010 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. All distal fibular fractures requiring an operative treatment (Danis-Weber type B ≙ AO type 44 B1, 2, 3 and Danis-Weber type C ≙ AO type 44 C1, 2) were included (ORIF n = 35, MIPO n = 35). Patients were assessed for postoperative pain using a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain (ranging from 0 to 10) and classified into 4 groups: “no pain” for VAS = 0, “low” for VAS = 1–3, “moderate” for VAS = 3–5, and “severe” for VAS = 5–10. In addition, complications of postoperative fracture-related infection, wound healing disorders, vascular and nerve injury and development of nonunion were evaluated and analyzed. Radiologic outcome measures assessing the talocrural angle, lateral and medial clear space, tibiofibular overlap, and talar tilt angle were evaluated postoperatively. Results The overall complication rate showed to be lower in the MIPO group compared to the ORIF group (14% vs. 37%, p = 0.029). Even though not statistically significant, specific surgery-related complications such as skin necrosis (3% vs. 9%, p = 0.275), nonunion (0% vs. 6%, p = 0.139), infections and wound healing disorders (9% vs. 20%, p = 0.141), as well as postoperative pain (17% vs. 26%, p = 0.5) were found more frequently in the ORIF group. The tibiofibular overlap demonstrated to be significantly lower in the ORIF group (3.3 mm vs. 2.7 mm, p = 0.033). The talocrural angle, talar tilt angle, and lateral and medial clear space showed to be equivalent in both groups. Conclusion In this retrospective single-center consecutive series, MIPO was superior to ORIF in the surgical treatment of distal fibula fractures with respect to the overall complication rate. Trial registration EKNZ Project-ID: 2019-02310, registered on the 20th of December 2019 with swissethics

We report a rare case of a 46-year-old woman 2 weeks after a cesarean section with Pfannenstiel incision, who presented at the Emergency Department with a significant abdominal pain accompanied by two episodes of vomiting. After that a clinical examination and an abdominal computed tomography scan were completed, a visceral herniation through Pfannenstiel incision was suspected. The indication of surgical exploration was clear. Finally, the laparotomy revealed a linea arcuata hernia with a hernia of the small intestine. After a reduction of the hernia sac, the defect was repaired and no mesh was placed. An antibiotic treatment with co-amoxicillin for 1 week during the recovery was prescribed. The patient recovered uneventfully and could be discharged by postoperative day 7.

Abstract BackgroundMinimally invasive plate-osteosynthesis (MIPO) has been reported to be superior to open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in the treatment of different long bone fractures. Nevertheless, in distal fibula fractures the evidence of MIPO remains scarce. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of the minimally invasive techniques applied to the distal fibula with open reduction and internal fixation within a 12 months follow-up.MethodsA consecutive series of patients who underwent surgery using either ORIF or MIPO for the treatment of distal fibula fractures between 2010 and 2014 were retrospectively analysed. All distal fibular fractures requiring an operative treatment (Danis-Weber type B ≙ AO type 44 B1, 2, 3 and Danis-Weber type C ≙ AO type 44 C1, 2) were included (ORIF n=35, MIPO n=35). Patients were assessed for postoperative pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain (ranging from 0 to 10) and classified into 4 groups; “no pain” for VAS=0, “low” for VAS=1-3, “moderate” for VAS=3-5 and “severe” for VAS=5-10. In addition, complications of postoperative fracture-related infection, wound healing disorders, vascular and nerve injury as well as development of nonunion, were evaluated and analyzed. Radiologic outcome measures assessing the talocrural angle, lateral and medial clear space, tibiofibular overlap and talar tilt angle were evaluated postoperatively. ResultsThe overall complication rate showed to be lower in the MIPO group compared to the ORIF group (14% vs. 37%, p=0.029). Even though not statistically significant, specific surgery related complications such as skin necrosis (3% vs. 9%, p= 0.275), nonunion (0% vs. 6%, p=0.139), infections and wound healing disorders (9% vs. 20%, p=0.141) as well as postoperative pain (17% vs. 26%, p=0.5) were found more frequently in the ORIF group. The tibiofibular overlap demonstrated to be significantly lower in the ORIF group (3.3mm vs. 2.7mm, p=0.033). The talocrural angle, talar tilt angle, lateral and medial clear space showed to be equivalent in both groups.ConclusionIn this retrospective single-center consecutive series MIPO was superior to ORIF in the surgical treatment of distal fibula fractures with respect to the overall complication rate. Trial registration:EKNZ Project-ID: 2019-02310; registrated 20th of December 2019 with swissethics