Iatrogenic subclavian arteriovenous fistula is rare and has not been reported as a complication of plate osteosynthesis of clavicle fracture. This article describes the first case of iatrogenic subclavian arteriovenous fistula caused by plate osteosynthesis. A 36-year-old man sustained a right middle clavicle fracture in an injury and underwent open reduction and internal fixation with clavicular compression plate 3 days later in a local hospital. On the second postoperative day, a pulsatile mass and thrill were detected at the right supraclavicular region. The patient was discharged 3 days postoperatively with no extra inspection. Three months later, he was admitted to our institution because the mass was getting bigger and weakness was felt in his right upper limb. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed a subclavian arteriovenous fistula. Vascular surgeons treated the patient successfully using endovascular techniques. The subclavian arteriovenous fistula was eliminated with a fully expanded stent graft, and the plate was removed simultaneously. The result was satisfactory, and the postoperative course was uneventful. This case demonstrated that subclavian arteriovenous fistula could be an iatrogenic complication of screw-and-plate osteosynthesis of clavicle fracture. The operative manipulation in the process of fracture reduction and hole drilling should be meticulous, and the screw length must be accurate. Orthopedic surgeons should be aware of this uncommon complication with plate osteosynthesis of clavicle fracture. We recommend using an endovascular surgical technique for treatment of this complication.

Rationale:The knee joint is an important weight-bearing joint, tibial plateau fractures affect knee function and stability. High-energy intra-articular fractures involving the tibial plateau can cause management-related problems such as wound dehiscence; severe comminution leading to malalignment; and delayed complications such as varus collapse, implant failure, and arthritis of the knee joint. The treatment of severe or complex tibial plateau fractures can be quite difficult. Traditional methods of open reduction and plating require extensive exposures, which may further compromise soft tissue and devascularize bone fragments, leading to infection. In this case, a novel device, double reverse traction combined with MIPPO technique, was used and provided the possibility of minimally invasive and personalized orthopedic surgery to treat severe comminuted Schatzker type VI tibial plateau fracture and tibial shaft fracture and got satisfactory results.Patient concerns:A previously healthy 56-year-old man presented to the emergency room after a fall from a height, who lost the movement of the left knee with pain and swelling.Diagnoses:X-rays showed a tibial plateau comminuted fracture, Schatzker type VI, and tibial shaft fracture.Interventions:Applying less extensile exposure and the indirect reduction technique of double reverse traction and closed reduction combined with minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) technique, we got satisfactory recovery of the severe comminuted Schatzker type VI tibial plateau fracture and tibial shaft fracture.Outcomes:This severe comminuted fracture and tibial shaft fracture were successfully reduced and got satisfactory recovery of knee joint function.Lessons:Double reverse traction combined with MIPPO technique can reduce the risk of surgical complications, such as bleeding, oozing, and wound infection. It can be applied in patients with comorbidities such as cardiac disease, hypertension, and heart failure who may otherwise not be candidates for surgery. The cost burden is lower than that of the traditional traction table.

BACKGROUND Obturator dislocation is a rare type of hip dislocation, accounting for about 2%-5% of all hip dislocations. The occurrence of old unreduced obturator dislocation is even more infrequent, with only 17 cases reported in nine studies, most of which were from the 1950s to 1980s in developing countries. CASE SUMMARY A 38-year-old woman from Hunan Province, China presented with stiffness of the left hip in abduction, flexion, and external rotation after falling from a 2-meter-tall tree onto her left knee 1.5 mo prior. Pelvic radiograph and computed tomography revealed obturator dislocation of the left hip accompanied by impaction fracture at the superolateral aspect of the left femoral head without associated acetabulum fracture. Open reduction was performed, resulting in restoration of the concentric alignment of the left hip. After surgery, 6-wk skin traction was applied and the patient was kept in bed for an additional 2 wk. At 3 mo after surgery, the patient reported experiencing some pain, which did not affect the function of the affected limb, and some movement restriction but no abduction deformity or claudication was present. An X-ray showed that the left hip was homocentric, and there was no sign of posttraumatic arthritis or avascular necrosis. CONCLUSION Open reduction may be an effective treatment strategy for the rare condition of old unreduced obturator dislocation with short neglect time.