A new ankle spanning fixator construct for distal tibia fractures: optimizing visualization, minimizing pin problems, and protecting the heel.

Pilon and ankle fractures and ligamentous injuries about the ankle often require external fixation to allow for soft tissue stabilization before definitive surgery. Often used external fixator constructs can cause obscuring of the site of injury on radiographs, pin tract infections, loosening of calcaenal pin fixation, and heel ulcerations. A novel and simple technique of placing the calcaneal pins posteriorly and using a U-shaped bar allows for a construct that reduces or eliminates many of these drawbacks during the time it takes for soft tissue swelling to permit definitive fixation.

The use of a T-plate as "spring plates" for small comminuted posterior wall fragments.

In the treatment of posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum, a modified distal radius T-plate can be substituted for one third tubular spring plates for fixation of thin, small, or comminuted posterior wall fragments. This technique is described as well as a case series of 33 patients with various posterior wall acetabular fractures.

Bilateral, atraumatic, proximal tibiofibular joint instability.

Dislocation of the tibiofibular joint is rare and usually results from a traumatic event. Only 1 case of atraumatic proximal tibiofibular joint instability in a 14-year-old girl has been reported in the literature, however this condition might occur more frequently than once thought. A wide range of treatment options exist for tibiofibular dislocations.

Inhalant abuse of 1,1-difluoroethane (DFE) leading to heterotopic ossification: a case report.

Background: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the formation of mature, lamellar bone within soft tissues other than the periosteum. There are three recognized etiologies of HO: traumatic, neurogenic, and genetic. Presently, there are no definitively documented causal factors of HO.