Minimally invasive treatment for fractures of lower extremity amputees using a rapid reductor

A traction table is recommended for lower limb fractures, while it is unavailable for amputees to immobilize the ipsilateral foot to remain stationary and reduce the fracture. For these patients, our rapid reductor can be applied to guarantee stable fixation and optimal reduction, allowing satisfactory implant positioning. This study aims to evaluate the prognosis of amputee patients with lower limb fractures treated by minimally invasive techniques that employ a rapid reductor to reduce the fracture.

Between 2013 and 2014, 11 cases of amputees suffering from a lower limb fracture were enrolled in the study, including four transtibial amputees with a tibial plateau fracture, three transtibial amputees with a femoral shaft fracture, and four transfemoral amputees with a femoral neck fracture. All fractures involved the amputated ipsilateral lower limbs, which were all reduced in a closed fashion using a rapid reductor. During the operation, the rapid reductor was connected to the injured limb for skeleton traction to reduce the fracture and then used to maintain the reduction for subsequent minimally invasive fixation. The operation time, reduction time, fluoroscopy time, and intra-operative blood loss were recorded. Follow-ups were conducted to evaluate the union of the fractures and the functional recovery.

All 11 cases were treated successfully using this minimally invasive technique, with anatomical or nearly anatomical reduction reached in all fractures. The average operative time, reduction time, fluoroscopy time, and intra-operative blood loss were 60 minutes (range, 46-90 minutes), 13.2 minutes (range, 7-20 minutes), 19.8 seconds (range, 6-65 seconds), and 95 mL (range, 80-170 mL), respectively. No incidents of reductor-induced complications occurred during the operation. Patients were followed up for an average of 20.8 months (range, 18-24 months). All fractures healed well on an average of six months. At the latest follow-up, all 11 cases reported satisfactory functional recovery of the fixed limbs, which were similar to that before the fractures.

The rapid reductor can be used to efficiently reduce and maintain ipsilateral fractures of the amputated lower extremity in a closed fashion, which can facilitate minimally invasive fixation of the fractures. The patients can achieve excellent outcomes.