Treatment of fragility fractures of the distal tibia in the elderly is demanding because of osteopenic bone quality, the delicate soft tissue cuff and frequent critical circulation. Among other indications to minimize soft tissue damage retrograde nailing has been reported as salvage for failed surgical management of ankle fractures [1]. Retrograde nailing has been extended to special indications as ankle fragility/osteoporotic, open distal tibia and talus, complex tibial pilon fractures, and aseptic non-unions [2] - [8].

We report on a case of pathologic two-level fractures of the tibia due to extensive bone destruction by a plasma cell myeloma treated using a retrograde ankle arthrodesis nail after failed plate osteosynthesis with infected soft tissue necrosis.

The now 83 year old lady was diagnosed at age 77 years to have a multiple myeloma IgG kappa diagnosed on the occasion of a pathologic fracture L3 treated by corporektomy and spondylodesis. The situation was well controlled clinically under oncologic treatment for the following 5 years until she suffered a pathologic fracture of the ulna, which was treated by plate osteosynthesis and irradiation. Shor- tly thereafter a proximal meta-diaphysial tibia fracture distal to a total knee replacement implanted 10 years ago occurred (Figure 1).

The fracture was categorized as “periprosthetic pathologic” with stable endoprosthetic components. Computed Tomography (CT) performed for tumor staging revealed the involvement of the entire tibia with a large distal meta-diaphysial osteolysis. Stabilizing the proximal fracture zone and prophylactically the distal osteolytic zone was planned using a locking nail fixation preserving the well fixed tibial component.

After reaming forwarding the nail over the tibial isthmus was imposed by the curvature of the nail and limitations of the entry point caused by the endoprosthesis.

It was then decided to stabilize the proximal fracture only with a short medial locking compression plate LCP DePuy Synthes® (Figure 2) avoiding the risk of distal soft tissue failure.

Postoperatively the tibia was irradiated with 30 Gy over 2 weeks. The patient could walk pain free for 4 months.

She then developed incapacitating pain caused by the fragile distal osteolysis with impending fracture. To stabilize the entire tibia the short plate was exchanged to a contoured left proximal lateral LCP DePuy-Synthes® tibia plate (Figure 3).

Whereas the proximal wound healed well skin necrosis developed distally exposing the tibial tendon with contamination of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Figure 4). Angiography revealed vascular conditions not allowing for a free microvascular muscle transfer. Angioplasty of the Aa. poplitea, tibialis anterior and posterior, resection of the exposed tibialis anterior tendon, repeated débridements, split skin grafting, VAC-treatment, and parenteral antibiotic (Zavicefta^® {Avibactam + Ceftazidim}) over a period of 3 months led to secondary wound healing and normalization of infective serum parameters.

The plate was never exposed and was removed after complete healing of the soft tissue cuff.

Ongoing pain at ambulation distally even following normalization of infective parameters suggested insufficiency of the fixation. At this time it was considered to change stabilization of the distal insufficiency fracture by an ankle arthrodesis nail and the proximal pseudarthrosis again by a plate. Contamination of the implants with Pseudomonas aeruginosa could not be excluded; it was therefore decided for a staged procedure. At removal of the plate screw fracture and pathologic mobility proved that insufficiency through the large osteolysis had developed (Figure 5). Culture of the sonicated plate proved continued growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

After extensive discussion with the patient including the option of amputation 3 weeks later, complete wound healing and normalization of infection parameters operative stabilization deemed feasible. Because of the two-level fracture-ins- tability with persistent periprosthetic pseudarthrosis at the proximal meta-diaphy- sial zone and the pathologic distal zone, weight bearing tolerable stabilization of the entire tibial bone was mandatory.

The distal pseudarthrosis was stabilized with the 30 cm long T2 ankle arthrodesis nail Stryker® and the proximal persistent fracture by an overlapping DePuy Synthes® LCP tibia plate (Figure 6). The ankle arthrodesis nail was implanted according to standard operative technique. Tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis was omitted to reduce additional soft tissue compromise.

No further bacterial growth from the tibia bone marrow aspirate, nor vital myeloma cells were found at pathologic examination.

Immediately postoperative the patient was comfortable at rest and having only minimal pain around the hind foot with protected weight bearing using canes. Wounds healed primarily. Healing of the fractures cannot be expected around the plasma cell myeloma following irradiation.

Since 2 months postoperative the patient walks without using canes inside her condominium, outdoors she uses canes or a rollator.

Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) of distal tibia fractures inherently carries the general risk of wound healing and even more in the elderly due to vascular compromise as experienced in the presented patient.

Including the talo-calcaneal block for stabilization of ankle fractures was first reported by Duke [9] using a Steinmann pin. The first report using an intramedullary nail including the hindfoot was reported by Lemon et al. [2]. Al-Nammari et al. [6] used a retrograde femoral nail as the then available ankle arthrodesis nails were too short to cross the isthmus of the tibia. A short Stryker T2 arthrodesis nail gave a satisfactory result in the case of Hsu and Szatkowski [7]. Stryker® now provides the T2® Ankle Arthrodesis Nail with lengths up to 30 cm that appeared appropriate for the needs in our case allowing for anatomic position of the hind foot. Neither Al-Nammari et al. [6], Lemon et al. [2] nor Hsu et al. [7] performed tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis. Lemon’s case [2] continued to have excellent function after removal of the nail.

Instead of replating with the longer plate risking wound healing problems known when exposing the distal tibia we should have already considered retrograde nailing. This may have spared the patient prolonged morbidity and repeated surgeries.

In this patient, retrograde nailing proved to be very satisfactory. Tumor cases often present the “non-standard problems” and therefore frequently ask for “non- standard” solutions.

Concomitant problems regarding the unique fracture patterns, neoplastic bone involvement and irradiation, and degenerative vascular changes needed multidisciplinary collaboration developing innovative ideas possibly deviating from standard concepts.

Solutions may sometimes consist in “off-label use” of “off-the-shelf” materials available for standard indications. Having used this less invasive method initially could have spared additional morbidity in the presented patient.

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.

The patient agreed to publish her case in the presented form.

Exner, G.U., Ma- quieira, G.J., Forster, N. and Schai, P.A. (2021) Ankle Arthrodesis Nail Combined with Lock- ing Compression Plate to Stabilize Two-Level Pathologic Tibial Fractures. Open Journal of Orthopedics, 11, 301-307. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojo.2021.1110028