Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L M Fallat.
Today, more emphasis is being placed on ambulatory surgery and its decreased morbidity. Arthroscopic surgery is a valid approach to many disease entities and is very responsive to early ambulation. The authors present a brief history of ankle arthroscopy--the technique, indications and contraindications, difficulties, and possible complications of the procedure.
The tibial pilon fracture is a severe injury that can result in disastrous complications. Articulated unilateral external fixation provides an alternate method for the surgical treatment of intra-articular fractures of the distal tibia. This technique provides early mobilization of the ankle joint, stabilizes the fracture site, and through distraction prevents collapse and displacement of the fracture fragments.
The authors present a retrospective study of 71 fractures seen in 70 patients who had sustained the Danis-Weber type-B fibular fracture. All patients had the fractures fixated with the posterior antiglide plate. Of the 71 cases studied, 2 developed peroneal tendonitis. No other type of complication related specifically to the antiglide plate was noted. Because of the very low incidence of complications and good biomechanical strength, the authors recommend the antiglide plate for the fixation of type-B fibular fracture.
The authors present a retrospective study of 67 transchondral fractures of the talus in 64 patients that were treated surgically. A thorough literature review, physiology of articular cartilage and subchondral bone repair, and a comprehensive treatment of transchondral lesions are presented. Consideration is given to surgical approaches that require fibular and medial malleolar osteotomy, and to open reduction with internal fixation of the transchondral fractures. A new, practical, radiographic classification with appropriate terminology is proposed which acknowledges recent fractures from subsequent avascular necrosis of the lesions.