A NEW APPROACH IN THE MINIMINVASIVE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES
Name of the Authors Prof. Dr. Stefan CRISTEA, Fl. GROSEANU, A. PRUNDEANU, V. PREDESCU, M. GAVRILA, D. GARTONEA, A. PAPALICI
Corresponding Author’s Name: Stefan CRISTEA
Corresponding Author’s email address: drstefancristea@yahoo.com
Corresponding Author’s fax number: 0040212555296
Stefan CRISTEA M.D., Ph.D., Professor Departament of Orthopaedic Surgery. Emergency Hospital Saint Pantelimon Sos.Pantelimon 344, sect 2, C.P. 021623, Bucuresti – Romania Email drstefancristea@yahoo.com Mobile 0040722388877, Fax 0040212555296
** Conflict of Interest Statement:
~ No funds were received in support of this study.
~ No benefits in any form have been or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript
A NEW APPROACH IN THE MINIMINVASIVE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES
Prof. Dr. Stefan CRISTEA, Fl. GROSEANU, A. PRUNDEANU, V. PREDESCU, M. GAVRILA, D. GARTONEA, A. PAPALICI
ABSTRACT
The use of biological cement with provisory closed percutaneous Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation enabled the treatment of 12 patients with fractures.
Within the period November 2010 – February 2011, we have treated at Saint Pantelimon Emergency Orthopaedics Clinic 12 patients using this specific method, namely: 8 humeral fractures; 1 distal radial fracture; 1 distal radial fracture associated with carpal scaphoid fracture; 1 ankle fracture and a delayed union of distal tibial fracture.
In the specialized literature, the use of bone substitutes or of biological bone cement has never been described in treatment of fractures without the opening of the fracture site. Some bone fillers for bone defects have been injected before, together with osteosynthesis means, plates and screws respectively.
The assessment of the results has to take into account the consolidation range of each type of fracture, and the cast fixation must be extended accordingly. The recovery shall depend upon the fracture’s callus biology, the fracture’s type and location as well as the age of the patient.
We evaluate the results after clinical and radiological criteria. Consolidation was achieved in all cases.
We will present also the complications related to first use of this new method.
The use of KRYPTONITE – X injected under fluoroscopic control in the conservative treatment of the fractures is a novelty. Thus it is introduced the perspective of an innovative way of treating the fractures. Consolidation was achieved in all cases.
Keywords: Biological cement, Conservative treatment of the fractures, Percutaneous, Osteosynthesis, Osteointegration
AIM: Orthopedic surgeons have always tried a conservative treatment of fractures. The application of such treatment is difficult, requiring a long period of immobilization and the results are inaccurate. The injection of biological factors, of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP), in the fracture site, together with some osteosynthesis means has been performed before, but without spectacular results. The injectible bone void fillers have been used to stabilize screws or nails, such as hydroset, norian, glass ceramics, plaster. The use of a substance which actions like a glue, but in the same time it will be osteointegrated is very attractive. We have chosen the injection of Kryptonite- X as biological cement and as glue.
The use of biological osteoinductive, osteoconductive cement, along with temporary fixation provides consolidation without classical surgical intervention. The presence of KRYPTONITE - X biological cement in the fracture site or in the surrounding soft tissues should not give foreign body reaction, but it should ensure both inter fragmentary fixation and its osteointegration.
METHOD: In the specialized literature, the use of bone substitutes or of biological bone cement has never been described in treatment of fractures without the opening of the fracture site. Some bone fillers for bone defects have been injected before, together with osteosynthesis means, plates and screws respectively [1,2,3,4] .
We have chosen the injection of Kryptonite- X as biological cement and as glue. The inconvenient of slow achievement of mechanical resistance, has been compensated by the use of temporary percutaneous K-wire fixation.
We used the percutaneous injection of biological cement in the fracture site after the fracture reduction along with provisory closed percutaneous K-wire fixation for the treatment of 12 patients with fractures.
Within the period November 2010 – February 2011, we have treated at Saint Pantelimon Emergency Orthopaedics Clinic 12 patients using this specific method, namely: 8 humeral fractures: 4 humeral shaft fractures and 4 humeral neck fractures, of which one fracture dislocation; 1 distal radial fracture; 1 distal radial fracture associated with carpal scaphoid fracture; 1 ankle fracture and 1 delayed union of distal tibial fracture – table 1.
Table 1 case group
Patient Fracture type Removal of external fixation Consolidation period
weeks Functional recovery
weeks Complications Removal of Kriptonite
1. Humeral shaft fracture 6 w 8 w Complete within 8 w - -
2. Humeral shaft fracture 7 w 10 w Complete within 12 w Soft tissue injection and secondary septic reaction 7 w
3. Humeral shaft fracture 7 w 9 w Complete within 10 w - -
4. Humeral shaft fracture 6 w 8 w Complete within 9 w - -
5. Humeral neck fracture 4 w 4 w Complete within 7 w - -
6. Humeral neck fracture 6 w 6 w Complete within 8 w - -
7. Humeral neck fracture 4 w 5 w Complete within 7 w - -
8. Humeral neck fracture - dislocation 3 w + 4 w 7 w Complete within 8 w - -
9. Distal radial fracture 6 w 6 w Complete within 8 w - -
10. Distal radial fracture Carpal scafoid fracture 4 w + 5 w 8 w Complete within 10 w Soft tissue injection and CRPS 5 w
11. Ankle fracture - hyperparathyroidism - 12 w Complete within 16 w - -
12. Delayed union of distal tibial fracture - 12 w After Kryptonite inj 80 % within 12 w - -
Under fluoroscopic control of the reduction and temporary K-wire fixation we have injected percutaneous biological cement in the fracture site with 18 G needles, Fig.1.
Fig.1 Reduction (A)and temporary osteosynthesis, the placement of the needles in the fracture site(B), X-ray control (C), K-wire cutting at the edge of the bone(D)
We used „KRYPTONITE-X”, biological liquid, radio-opaque cement that hardens in 15-25 minutes.
This consists of:
• Component A - prepolymer (73% phenylIzocyanat), Polyol castor oil 24%, 3% polypropylene carbonate;
• Component B - Polyol castor oil 96%, 4% ricinoleic acid, catalyst 1%;
• Component C - Ca carbonate 33%, 67% Barium Sulfate.
The three components mix for 1 minute, then polymerize within 3 minutes.
For 3 to 8 minutes the compound remains in liquid state, so that it can be injected in maximum 8 minutes. One should note that in this stage its volume doubles and an exothermic reaction takes place with a maximum of 430C.
The compound is moldable for 15 up to 25 minutes and within 24 hours it obtains an 80% bone-like resistance.
The injection of biological cement should me made under fluoroscopic control in order to properly fill the fracture site and to prevent its migration into the soft tissues. This method uses Kryptonite-X as superglue, as biological cement which does not imply removal because it is osteointegrated.
RESULTS: The assessment of the results has to take into account the consolidation range of each type of fracture, and the cast fixation must be extended accordingly. The recovery shall depend upon the fracture’s callus biology, the fracture’s type and location as well as the age of the patient.
The humeral shaft fractures have consolidated between 8 – 10 weeks and the patients have fully regained the mobility of the shoulder and elbow in maximum 3 months. The shoulder fracture dislocation including the scapulo-humeral joint needed a temporary fixation for 3 weeks with K-wires. For the humeral neck fracture the consolidation was obtained in 4 – 6 weeks. The full recovery of the shoulder was obtained in 2 months Fig.2.
A B C
Fig 2. (A)Humerus shaft fracture – reduction, 18 G needle placement, cement injection ,(B) Fracture dislocation – orthopaedic reduction and percutaneous X-ray osteosynthesis at 3 weeks (C)
The ankle fracture was on pathologic bone due to a secondary hyperparathyroidism. In this case we filled the peroneal bone defect with Kryptonite through open reduction with plate and screws. The patient was further diagnosed and treated by an endocrinologist surgeon. The ankle fracture has consolidated in 3 months when full bearing gait was allowed.
The distal radial fracture was associated with a carpal scaphoid fracture. The orthopaedic reduction, the percutaneous temporary fixation with K-wires of the 2 fractures and the percutaneous injection under fluoroscopic control of Kryptonite resulted in a 2 months consolidation period Fig.3.
A B
C D
Fig 3. Distal radial fracture associated with a carpal scaphoid fracture – orthopaedic reduction, percutaneous temporary fixation with K-wires of the 2 fractures(A), CT control (B), X-ray control (C), final result(D)
In two cases Kryptonite has accidentally elapsed between soft tissues during injection, the supplier of this product ensuring us that there would be no further problem.
One of them had a local septic response and cleaning measures included removal of cement.
The other case suffered from a complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) of the wrist and the removal of the cement led to healing. These cases have favored the histological analysis of cement and soft tissues at 5 and 7 weeks after injection. The injection into soft tissue of small quantities of cement does not raise special problems.
The removal of Kryptonite-X was necessary only when the injected cement elapsed outside the fracture site inducing impingement or conflict with the surrounding soft tissue. Complications were due to the establishment and adjustment of the surgical technical details during the treatment.
Bone consolidation has been achieved in all cases. The delayed union of distal tibial fracture has consolidated 3 months after injection, and walking with free-loaded orthosis was allowed.
Unfortunately the building phase of the substance is being obtained in 20 to 30 minutes, during which we must hold firm and maintain fracture reduction.
It is this why we inserted percutaneous K-wires after reduction under fluoroscopic control, to facilitate the procedure. After installing the 18 G needles in the fracture site under fluoroscopic control, the substance is being injected in liquid form, firmly immobilizing the fracture. One must make sure the substance does not elapse excessively between soft tissues. There are thus obtained bone welding spots that will allow the biological consolidation process of bone. Callus formation is variable depending upon the fracture’s type and the patient’s age. It is required that the immobilization is maintained until consolidation, either with K-wires or plaster casts or orthosis devices. The histological data confirm complete integration of kriptonite Matrix Fig4.
Fig 4. The histological data confirm complete integration of kryptonite Matrix in femoral defect in mouse at 1 year – [1]
The discovery of new substances may enable the future achievement of a rapid intimate and resistant inter fragmentary fracture contact, without the need for temporary immobilization of the fracture to allow the biology of the callus to facilitate the osteointegration of the injected substance.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of KRYPTONITE – X injected under fluoroscopic control in the conservative treatment of the fractures is a novelty. It is thus introduced the perspective of an innovative way of treating fractures. Consolidation has been achieved in all cases.
Complications were due to the establishment and adjustment of the surgical technical details during the treatment.
The discovery of new substances may enable the future achievement of a rapid intimate and resistant inter fragmentary fracture contact, without the need for temporary immobilization of the fracture to allow the biology of the callus to facilitate the osteointegration of the injected substance
Conflict of interest statement None
REFERENCES
1. Adams D.J., Barrero M., Jiang X.,Roew D.W. (2008) Persistent osteoconductivity of calcium trigliceride bone cement in osteoporotic bone – 54 th Annual Meeting of the orthopaedic research society, San Francisco, Mar 2-5, 2008 33:1711
2. Vallittu P.K., Mitteinen V., Alakujaila P. (1995) Residual monomer content and its release intowater from denature base materials – Dent Materials 1995; 11, 338-42
3. Zins, James E. M.D.; Moreira-Gonzalez, Andrea M.D.; Papay, Frank A. M.D. (2007) Use of Calcium-Based Bone Cements in the Repair of Large, Full-Thickness Cranial Defects: A Caution Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 120(5):1332-1342, October 2007.
4. Fedak P., Kolb E., Borsato G. et. al (2010) Kriptonite bone cement prevents pathologic sternal displacement – Ann. Thoracic Surg. 90: 979-85, 2010
EJOS-D-11-00070R1
A NEW APPROACH IN THE MINIMINVASIVE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES
European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology
1. A NEW APPROACH IN THE MINIMINVASIVE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES
Journal: European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology DOI: 10.1007/s00590-011-0838-2
Stefan CRISTEA, Fl. GROSEANU, A. PRUNDEANU, V. PREDESCU, M. GAVRILA, D. GARTONEA, A. PAPALICI