Articular impaction injuries in the lower limb

[摘要] Treatment of impacted fractures of the lower limb is technically demanding and requires extensive experience of multiple forms of fixation and bone grafting. One of the primary challenges is the need for rigid fixation, which will allow the patient to weight-bear early, thus facilitating early post-operative rehabilitation and prevention of stiffness. When the joint surface is involved, anatomical restoration of the surface is of paramount importance to eliminate the risk of a residual step-off and inadequate joint congruency, which frequently leads to the development of post-traumatic arthritis. A 2-mm articular step or depression is considered the maximal limit of ‘permitted’ incongruency that can be managed by non-operative means.1 The effective filling of the subchondral bone voids following successful elevation of osteochondral fragments remains an essential part of treatment as it provides structural support, eliminating the risk of secondary collapse and subsequent failure.

[学科分类] 神经科学

[关键词] articular impaction;cartilage damage;void;bone grafts;bone graft substitutes