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Case Report: Innovative Treatment of a Difficult Femoral Fracture in a Transtibial Amputee

Daniel C. Perry, MB ChB (Hons), MRCS (Eng)
Steve Martin, MBAOP
Selvadurai Nayagam, FRCS (Orth)
Badri Narayan, FRCS (Orth)

ABSTRACT

An Ilizarov external fixator was used in the treatment of a femoral fracture in a transtibial amputee. In order to facilitate full weightbearing, an endoskeletal prosthesis was attached to the lower end of the frame. We believe this is the first such report in the English literature. The patient has consented for her details and relevant images to be used for publication. (J Prosthet Orthot. 2007;19:117–119.)

A 44-year-old woman sustained a closed injury to her right thigh after she fell down a flight of stairs. Twenty-seven years before, she had been involved in a road traffic collision and had undergone a right-sided transtibial amputation for a severe open tibial fracture. An associated ipsilateral femoral fracture was treated in traction.

Until her recent injury, she worked full time as a landlady in a pub and was independently mobile with a transtibial prosthesis. She smoked about 30 cigarettes per day. Radiographs (Figure 1 and Figure 2 ) revealed a comminuted distal femoral fracture, just below the site of a previous malunion (varus with posterior translation).

The manner of the malunion posed technical difficulties with the usual methods of internal stabilization for fractures of this region. Options for treatment were discussed with the patient. A decision was taken to use a circular external fixator based on the rationale of minimally invasive surgery coupled to facilitation of early functional loading. An Ilizarov frame was applied with two levels of fixation in the proximal segment. The distal segment of the femur was too short for two levels of fixation, prompting the need for stabilization across the knee with an additional level of fixation in the tibial stump (Figure 3 ).

The patient was seen by a prosthetist a week after application of the Ilizarov frame. A 12-mm copolymer polypropylene sheet was fixed to the tibial ring using four 120-mm rods. The prosthetic shin was then attached via a male pyramid connector to the prosthetic dynamic sach foot. This enabled the patient to take weight on the leg (Figure 4 and Figure 5 ), with eventual independent ambulation without walking aids.

Autologous iliac crest bone grafting was performed at 3 months for tardy evidence of radiological healing. Radiological union (Figure 6 ) was achieved at 5 months, and the fixator was removed 6 months after application. The patient was able to use her original prosthesis, and has reported no problems since then.

DISCUSSION

This woman presented a unique problem in that she had a comminuted fracture just below a varus and posteriorly translated malunion, which prevented straightforward internal stabilization by either plate or intramedullary nail. Closed retrograde nailing would have meant the addition of an osteotomy close to the comminuted fracture. The canal appeared sclerotic and difficult to negotiate. Furthermore, this woman had no symptoms from her preexistent malunion and mobilized well despite this.

Skeletal traction would not be appropriate because of the likely length of hospital stay.

Circular external fixation allows stabilization to be achieved with minimal disruption of the inherent tissue and bone viability, as well as providing stability to enable early functional use. However, the challenge of facilitating the latter in a transtibial amputee required fashioning a frame construct that would be amenable to attachment of a prosthesis. The decision to bridge the knee through use of wires in the tibia thus not only provided additional control of the fracture site but also enabled prosthetic fitting.

Case reports in the literature have previously illustrated the use of external fixator techniques for the purpose of lengthening short amputation stumps,^1–6 but there are no previous reports of this technique being employed to treat a fracture in an amputee. The necessity to bear weight was biologically and socially important in this case and has been demonstrated previously in lengthening amputation stumps. In 2003, Villarruel et al. outlined how this could be achieved using a Hoffmann external fixator (Stryker Howmedica Osteonics, Geneva, Switzerland),⁷ but although other studies have alluded to the similar techniques being achieved with circular frames, the details of such have not been outlined. Circular frame techniques used in such fractures in lowerlimb amputees have not been reported, nor have the details of the articulation between a prosthetic leg and a circular frame been detailed.

CONCLUSION

This case illustrates how the biomechanical advantages of stable external fixation coupled to modified prosthetic fitting can effectively accomplish a restoration of independent existence for a transtibial amputee. The added benefit of stimulation through weightbearing in this system has brought a difficult fracture to a successful union in a reasonable period.

Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Copyright © 2007 American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists.

Correspondence to: Badri Narayan, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP, United Kingdom; e-mail:

DANIEL C. PERRY, MB CHB (HONS), MRCS (ENG), is a Registrar in Trauma and Orthopaedics, Merseyside, United Kingdom.

STEVE MARTIN, MBAOP, is affiliated with The Donald Todd Rehabilitation Centre, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

SELVADURAI NAYAGAM, FRCS (ORTH), is affiliated with the Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

BADRI NARAYAN, FRCS (ORTH), is affiliated with the Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

References:

1. Horesh Z, Levy M, Stein H. Lengthening of an above-knee amputation stump with the Ilizarov technique—a case report. Acta Orthop Scand 1998;69:322–328.
2. Eldridge J, Armstrong P, Krajbich JI. Amputation stump lengthening with the ilizarov technique. A Case Report. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1990;256:76 –79.
3. Park HW, Jahng JS, Hahn SB, Shin DE. Lengthening of an amputation stump by the Ilizarov technique. A case report. Int Orthop 1997;21:274 –276.
4. Latimer H, Dahners L, Bynum D. Lengthening of below-the-knee amputation stumps using the Ilizarov technique. J Orthop Trauma 1990;4:411– 414.
5. Mertens P, Lammens J. Short amputation stump lengthening with the Ilizarov method: risks versus benefits. Acta Orthop Belg 2001;67:274 –278.
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7. Villarruel G, Hercegovics-Perri T, Setoguchi Y, Watts HG. Temporary prosthetic fitting over tibial stump lengthening device. J Prosthet Orthot 2003;15:113–117.