MP fixation via sinus tarsi approach is superior to CS fixation in Sanders types 2 and 3 calcaneal fractures.

ObjectivesOsteoarthritis (OA) and vitamin D deficiency are common health conditions in older people. Whether vitamin D concentration is associated with knee OA is controversial. In this study, we aimed to determine the association between serum concentrations of vitamin D and osteoarthritic knee pain.Subjects and MethodsVitamin D concentrations were measured with the 25 hydroxyvitamin D test in patients presenting with clinical symptoms of primary knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis was graded on the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale from anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Patients completed a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) for indicating pain and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Vitamin D concentration was defined as severely deficient (<10 ng/mL), insufficient (10 to 19 ng/mL), or normal (20 to 50 ng/mL).ResultsOf 149 patients (133 women), the mean age was 63.6 years. Mean vitamin D concentration was 11.53 ng/mL, and 90% patients were vitamin D deficient. Mean WOMAC score was 57.2, and VAS pain score was 7.5. Kellgren-Lawrence grade was 2 for 10 patients, grade 3 for 61, and grade 4 for 88. Mean BMI was 33.4. Mean values of VAS, WOMAC, and BMI did not differ by vitamin D status.ConclusionSerum vitamin D concentration is not associated with knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis.

Prognostic study, Level I.

Objective: To evaluate functional and radiological results following treatment with the single-plane external fixator limb reconstruction system (LRS) for open tibial diaphyseal fractures resulting from high-energy trauma. Subjects and Methods: From a total of 62 patients who were operated on between 2011 and 2014 for open tibial diaphyseal fractures resulting from high-energy trauma, 50 tibias from 49 patients (males: 32, females: 17) were classified as type 3 according to the Gustilo-Anderson open fracture classification, and definitive treatment was applied with the LRS. The patients ranged in age from 20 to 36 years. Time to union, time of external fixator usage, complications and functional results according to the Johner-Wruhs criteria were recorded. Results: The mean follow-up period was 23 ± 12 months (range: 11-44). Of the 50 tibias, full union was achieved with the LRS in 48 (96%). No shortness or deformity was observed in any patient. Knee and ankle range of movement were measured as full in all patients at the final follow-up examination after removal of the LRS. The mean time to union was 20.4 ± 4 weeks (range: 16-24). The mean time of external fixator use was 20 weeks (range: 16-24 weeks). Conclusion: In this study, for the definitive treatment of open tibia diaphyseal fractures, the LRS was an optimal and safe choice that offered single-stage surgery.

Aim: To present the functional and radiological results and evaluate the effectiveness of a computer-assisted external fixator (spider frame) in patients with lower extremity shortness and deformity. Materials and methods: The study comprised 17 patients (14 male, 3 female) who were treated for lower extremity long bone deformity and shortness between 2012 and 2015 using a spider frame. The procedure’s level of difficulty was determined preoperatively using the Paley Scale. Postoperatively, the results for the patients who underwent tibial operations were evaluated using the Paley criteria modified by ASAMI, and the results for the patients who underwent femoral operations were evaluated according to the Paley scoring system. The evaluations were made by calculating the External Fixator and Distraction indexes. Results: The mean age of the patients was 24.58 years (range, 5–51 years). The spider frame was applied to the femur in 10 patients and to the tibia in seven. The mean follow-up period was 15 months (range, 6–31 months) from the operation day, and the mean amount of lengthening was 3.0 cm (range, 1–6 cm). The mean duration of fixator application was 202.7 days (range, 104–300 days). The mean External Fixator Index was 98 days/cm (range, 42–265 days/cm). The mean Distraction Index was 10.49 days/cm (range, 10–14 days/cm). Conclusion: The computer-assisted external fixator system (spider frame) achieves single-stage correction in cases of both deformity and shortness. The system can be applied easily, and because of its high-tech software, it offers the possibility of postoperative treatment of the deformity.