Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
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While the etiology of de Quervain's disease is unknown, repetitive motion coupled with awkward wrist position and septation within the first dorsal compartment are considered causative factors. We hypothesize that these conditions might produce high gliding resistance, which could then induce micro-damage of the tendons and retinaculum. The purpose of this study was to measure the gliding resistance of the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus tendons within the first dorsal compartment in a human cadaver model. ⋯ A combination of septation and wrist position significantly affected extensor pollicis brevis tendon gliding resistance in this cadaver model. These factors may contribute to the development of de Quervain's disease.
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This study was performed to investigate the effect of shock wave treatment on the healing at tendon-bone interface in rabbits. ⋯ Shock wave treatment significantly improves the healing rate of the tendon-bone interface in a bone tunnel in rabbits. The effect of shock waves appears to be time-dependent.
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The objective of the current study was to test the hypothesis that crush injury to nerve root increases endoneurial fluid pressure (EFP) and decreases blood flow in the associated dorsal root ganglion (DRG). A total of 21 adult, female Sprague-Dawley rats had their left L5 nerve root and DRG exposed. The L5 nerve root was clamped for 2 s with a vascular suture clip just proximal to the DRG (compression group). ⋯ An acute compression to the nerve root increased endoneurial edema, increased EFP in the associated DRG, and reduced DRG blood flow. This combination of increased EFP and decreased blood flow in the DRG may result in neuronal ischemia and sensory dysfunction. These acute pathophysiologic changes may thus have a role in the pathogenesis of low back pain and sciatica due to disc herniation and spinal canal stenosis.
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Rat tibia fractures are often used in fracture healing studies. Usually the fracture is stabilized with an intramedullary pin, which provides bending stiffness, but little torsional stiffness. The objective of this research was to determine the in vitro torsional rigidity of an osteotomized tibia with and without the fibula, and to determine if this difference influences the healing process in vivo. ⋯ Rats with intact fibulas had significantly higher bone mineral density, bending rigidity, and maximum breaking moment compared to rats with a fractured fibula. These results indicate that torsional stability considerably affects the healing process. In a fracture model, it is critical to characterize the mechanical environment of the fracture.
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To investigate the source of osteoprogenitor cells responsible for heterotopic ossification (HO) following total hip arthroplasty in an animal model. ⋯ Although both have some beneficial effect, our results demonstrate that irradiation of the femoral canal is significantly more effective than irradiation of the hip joint and abductor musculature for heterotopic ossification prophylaxis. This suggests that osteoprogenitor cells responsible for heterotopic ossification originate from both the hip abductors and the femoral canal, but the data provide indirect evidence that the femoral canal may be a more dominant source of these cells in the rabbit model.