Improving Postoperative Radiographs for the Correction Planning of Hexapod External Fixator Using an Additional Foot Ring

Abstract

Abstract Background: It is challenging to determine the orthogonality of radiographs in daily clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to show the usefulness of an additional foot ring which might determine the orthogonality of postoperative radiographs for the correction planning of hexapod external fixator. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 81 consecutive trauma patients with tibial shaft fractures treated by the hexapod external fixator at our institution from September 2014 to July 2019. Starting in March 2016, the postoperative radiographs for fracture reduction planning were obtained under the control of an additional foot ring. In this simple way, the radiologist and the patient himself can easily control the rotation position of the limb while taking the radiographs, and the two X-rays are orthogonal to each other. The final data consisted of 47 patients in traditional radiographs (Group Ⅰ) and 34 patients under the control of foot ring during the radiographic process (Group Ⅱ). The demographic data, original postoperative deformities, number of repeated radiographs after the first postoperative radiological examination, time to the satisfactory reduction achieved, and external fixation time in all patients were documented and analyzed. Results: Satisfactory reduction and bone union were achieved in all patients. There were no statistical significances between the two groups in the demographic data, original postoperative deformities, and external fixation time (P>0.05). The mean number of repeated radiographs after the first postoperative radiological examination (1.2 times) and mean time to the satisfactory reduction achieved (3.0 days) in patients with an additional foot ring used were all less than that (2.1 times, 5.3 days) in patients without foot ring (P<0.05). Conclusions: The additional foot ring is a practical device to ensure the orthogonality of postoperative radiographs for the correction planning of hexapod external fixator. Radiation exposure, duration of deformity correction, and cost for patients might be reduced due to the less repeated radiographs with the wrong position.

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