Abstract A new kind of soft tissue expander with exteriorized injection valve was reported. Two types of expanders were designed: one with single cyst, single tube and single chamber, and the other with single cyst, single tube but double chambers, i.e, an additional drainage chamber. The drainage orifice could be controlled by a valve. An animal experiment had been conducted, and the outcome suggested that the new expander could provide rapid expansion of the soft tissue, sufficient drainage of the expanded area. The bacterial culture showed that among the 42 samples obtained from the expanded cyst, only 3 were positive. (2 of bacteria and 1 of fungus), suggesting comparatively low cyst infection.
ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effect of using locking compression plate (LCP) as an external fixator and using an external fixator on open fractures of the tibia. MethodsBetween September 2010 and December 2012, 56 patients with the open tibia fractures underwent external fixation using LCP as an external fixator (LCP group, n=22) or external fixator (external fixator group, n=34). We compared the healing time, the rate of postoperative complication and the postoperative function between two groups. ResultsThe mean healing time was 11 weeks (8-28 weeks) and there was 1 case of delayed healing in the LCP group. The mean healing time was 14 weeks and there was 4 cases of delayed healing in the external fixator group. We found significant difference in the healing time (t=2.740, P=0.008) and the infection rate of pin track (13.6% vs 32.4%; χ2=2.496, P=0.114) between the LCP and external fixator group. ConclusionFor open fractures of the tibia, using LCP as an external fixator may increase the healing time and decrease the rate of postoperative complications.