Osteosynthesis - what is it? Surgical repositioning of bone fragments with the help of various fixing structures

The connection of broken bones with the help of surgery allowed to speed up both the process of treatment and rehabilitation of patients with complex fractures. For the first time such a procedure as osteosynthesis of bones was carried out in the 19th century, but because of the appearance of very serious complications of a purulent nature, doctors were forced to stop doing it. Resumed attempts after introduction of antiseptic and aseptic treatment into practice.

What is osteosynthesis?

Many patients with complex fractures are offered to perform osteosynthesis. What it is? This connection of bone fragments by operation. Usually, it is prescribed for the treatment of complex joints, incorrectly fused or fresh uncombined fractures. With the help of osteosynthesis there is fixation of the juxtaposed fragments. Thus, ideal conditions are created for their adhesion, as well as restoring the integrity of the limb.

There are two main types of osteosynthesis:

• Submerged (bone, intraosseous, transosseous);
• External (extra-focus).

There is also ultrasonic osteosynthesis. What it is? This connection of small fragments of bone.

The operations are carried out with the help of different fixatives. For the piercing intraosseous osteosynthesis, nails and pins are used, for the bone - plate with screws, for transosseous - knitting needles and screws. These fixatives are made from chemically, biologically and physically neutral materials. Mainly used are metal constructions made of vitallium, stainless steel, titanium, much less often - of inert plastics and bone. Fixators made of metal, after the fracture is consolidated, are usually removed. The Ilizarov apparatus on the leg is used for external osteosynthesis. Thanks to him, bone fragments are fixed after the comparison. Patients can normally move with full load.

Indications

The osteosynthesis operation is shown as the main recovery technique for:

• Such a fracture that does not grow together without the help of a traumatologist;
• Damage with a probability of perforation of the skin (when the closed fracture is able to go into the open);
• Fracture, complicated by damage to a large artery.

Contraindications

Operative intervention is not recommended for the following conditions:

• If the patient is not feeling well;
• There are open extensive damages;
• Infection of the affected area;
• If there are severe pathologies of any internal organs;
• With the progression of systemic bone disease;
• The patient has a venous insufficiency of the limb.

Types of plates

Plates, which are used during the operation, are made of various metals. The best recognized titanium plates, because this material has an interesting feature: in the air on it immediately forms a film, which in no way will not interact with the tissues of the body. In this case, you can not be afraid of the development of metallosis. That is why many such plates are not removed, but left for life.

Submerged intraosseous osteosynthesis

Another name for the operation is intramedullary osteosynthesis. It is open and closed. In the first case, the fracture zone is exposed, after which the fragments are compared, and a mechanical rod is inserted into the bone marrow canal of the damaged bone. Open osteosynthesis does not require the use of special equipment for connecting fragments, this technique is much easier and more accessible than a closed operation. However, in this case, the risk of infection of soft tissue increases.

Closed intramedullary osteosynthesis is characterized by the fact that they make a comparison of the fragments, after which they make a small incision far from the fracture site. Under X-ray control, a rather long metal hollow rod of the appropriate diameter is inserted through the incision through a special device into the bone marrow canal of the damaged bone along the conductor. After this, the conductor is removed and the wound is sutured.

Submerged bone osteosynthesis

What it is? This method of connecting bone fragments is used for various fractures (comminuted, helical, circumarticular, oblique, transverse, intraarticular), regardless of the bend and shape of the medullary canal. The retainers that are used for such operations are presented in the form of plates of different thicknesses and shapes that are connected to the bone with screws. Many modern plates have special rendezvous devices, including removable and non-removable. After the procedure, a plaster bandage is often applied.

With helical and oblique fractures, bone osteosynthesis is usually performed using metal bands and wire, as well as special rings and semirings made of stainless steel. This method of connecting the bone, especially the wire, is rarely used as an independent method because of not too strong fixation and often serves as a complement to other types of osteosynthesis.

For this operation, soft suture material (silk, catgut, lavsan) is very rarely used, because such threads are not able to withstand muscular traction and displacement of fragments.

Subcutaneous transosseous osteosynthesis

Such surgical repositioning is carried out with the help of bolts, screws, spokes, these locks being conducted in an oblique or transverse direction through the bone walls at the site of injury. A special kind of transosseous osteosynthesis is the bone suture - this is when the canals are drilled in the fragments and ligatures (catgut, silk, wire) are carried through them, which are then tightened and tied. The bone seam is used for fractures of the elbow or patella. Transosseous osteosynthesis involves the imposition of a plaster bandage.

External osteosynthesis

Such repositioning is carried out with the help of special apparatuses (apparatuses Ilizarov, Volkov - Oganesyan). This allows you to compare the fragments without exposing the site of the fracture and firmly fix them. Such a technique is performed without the application of gypsum, and Ilizarov's apparatus on the leg allows the patient to walk with full load.

Complications

After the operation, serious complications can arise. To them results:

• Wrong choice of the procedure for fixing bone fragments;
• Instability of the correlated bone fragments;
• Rough handling of soft tissues;
• Incorrectly selected retainer;
• Non-compliance with asepsis and antiseptics.

Such complications contribute to the wrong fusion of the fracture, its suppuration or complete non-infestation.

Since long massive plates are used for submerged bone osteosynthesis, and for this bone is exposed over a large extent, its blood supply is often impaired, which leads to a slow fusion. After removing the screws, there are numerous holes that weaken the bone.

Conclusion

So, we have analyzed such a technique as osteosynthesis. What it is? This is the most modern way of connecting bone fragments after a fracture. Thanks to him, the process of treatment and rehabilitation of patients is significantly accelerated. Osteosynthesis is carried out with the help of various fixatives. The strongest are titanium plates, which can not even be removed.