Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
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The initial management of open fractures often requires repeated irrigation and debridement of the open wound and stabilization of the fracture. However, washing out the fracture hematoma could delay the early healing process of stable fractures. Because delayed union and non-union are serious complications, the effect of repeated irrigation and debridement on the fracture healing process was investigated. ⋯ All of the non-healed osteotomies exhibited atrophic non-unions at fifteen weeks. Compared to the control group at the tenth week, the average bone mineral content at the osteotomy site and the area of high mineral density callus (> or = 890 mg/cm3) were significantly lower in Groups III (63%, p = 0.002 and 95%, p = 0.05, respectively) and IV (99%, p < 0.001 and 100%, p = 0.05, respectively). The results of this study suggest that repeated irrigation and debridement, associated with persistent rigid immobilization, may contribute to the development of delayed unions or atrophic non-unions.
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Rib shortening or lengthening are surgical options that are used to address the cosmetic rib cage deformity in scoliosis, but can also alter the equilibrium of forces acting on the spine, thus possibly counteracting in a mechanical way the scoliotic process and correcting the spinal deformities. Although rib surgeries have been successful in animal models, they have not gained wide clinical acceptance for mechanical correction of scoliosis due to the lack of understanding of the complex mechanisms of action involved during and after the operation. The objective of this study was to assess the biomechanical action of different surgical approaches on the rib cage for the treatment of scoliosis using a patient-specific finite element model of the spine and rib cage. ⋯ However, concave side rib shortening and convex side rib lengthening induced important loads on vertebral endplates that may lead to possible scoliotic spine correction depending on the remaining growth potential. Convex side rib shortening and concave side rib lengthening produced mostly cosmetic rib cage correction, but generated inappropriate loads on the vertebral endplates that could aggravate vertebral wedging. This study supports the concept of using concave side rib shortening or convex side rib lengthening as useful means to induce correction of the spinal scoliotic deformity during growth, though the effects of growth modulation from induced loads must be addressed in more detail to prove the usefulness of rib shortening/lengthening techniques.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for lateral epicondylitis--a double blind randomised controlled trial.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is an increasingly popular therapeutic approach to the treatment of a number of soft tissue complaints. Whilst benefit has been demonstrated in calcific tendinitis, evidence is lacking for benefit in the management of non-calcific rotator cuff disorders. ⋯ There appears to be a significant placebo effect of moderate dose ESWT in subjects with lateral epicondylitis but there is no evidence of added benefit of treatment when compared to sham therapy.
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Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is a differentiation factor which has been shown to induce bone formation and heal bony defects in a variety of animal models. A possible application of rhBMP-2 is to accelerate bone regeneration during distraction osteogenesis. which clinically is a long procedure, often involving significant complications. In this study we tested the ability of rhBMP-2 to accelerate the consolidation phase of distraction osteogenesis in a rabbit model of leg lengthening. ⋯ However, at 28 days, BMC of the regenerate was similar in all groups. The average volumetric density of the regenerate was significantly higher in the rhBMP-2 injection group at day 14. In Summary, both injection of rhBMP-2/buffer and implantation of rhBMP-2/ACS enhanced the consolidation stage of distraction osteogenesis in this rabbit model.
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The authors investigated poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) beads as an antibiotic delivery system in vivo for the treatment of various surgical infections. In this study, the copolymer 50:50 poly (DL-lactide):co-glycolide was mixed with vancomycin powder and hot compressing molded at 55 degrees C to form 8 mm in diameter biodegradable antibiotic beads. The antibiotic beads were implanted in the distal femoral cavities of rabbits for in vivo investigation. ⋯ There was no increase in the concentration of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine after the implantation. Histological observations showed that the bead materials were biodegradable, resorbed slowly, and did not cause a significant host reaction. This study offers a biodegradable delivery system of antibiotics to treat various surgical infections.