[Conventional Vs. reverse nerve grafting for peripheral nerve repair in lower extremity of rats]

Autograft is the best option in nerve defects when end-to-end repair can not sufficiently preserve nerve continuity. Theoretically, if the severed nerve is reversely grafted, it may prevent axonal growth into nerve branches, and larger amounts of axons will reach the target organ and more satisfactory results will be obtained. In this study we aimed to compare conventional versus reverse nerve grafting. This study was performed in Animal laboratory of Hazrat Fatemeh Hospital from April till August 2011. We randomly divided 40 Wistar rats into two groups. We excised 1.5 cm of the right sciatic nerve and anastomosed it conventionally between the proximal and distal ends of the nerve in rats in group A and in a reverse manner in rats in group B. The rats' footprints were recorded in the first and 16[th] weeks after surgery. In week 16, the grafted nerves were removed under anesthesia for pathological examination and axon count. Subsequently, the results were compared clinically by sciatic functional index [SFI] through footprint analysis and paraclinically by axon count. A p-value smaller than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Conventional and reverse nerve grafting no had statistically significant differences in clinical assessment in the first and 16[th] weeks [P=0.87] post-surgically and also no difference in paraclinical assessment in week 16 [P=0.68]. We had no significant clinically or para clinically differences between two approaches. It should be considered that the diameter and length of nerves and muscles in human is larger than rats, so the results of nerve repair may differ in human. We suggest a study in animal model which is anatomically more similar to human

effect of enoxaparin and clopidogrel on survival of random skin flap in rat animal model

Necrosis of skin flaps is considered as an important complication in reconstructive surgery. We conducted an experimental study to investigate the efficacy of low-molecular weight heparin, clopidogrel and their combination to improve the flap survival. Forty male, adult Sprague-Dawlay rats were divided randomly into 4 groups. Standard rectangular, distally based dorsal random pattern skin flap was elevated. To prevent the graft effect, a sterile sheet was put under the flap. No pharmacological agent was administered for the control group. In group 2, single subcutaneous dose of enoxaparin [3.2 mg/kg] was immediately administrated after surgery. In group 3, clopidogrel [25 mg/kg] was given orally for 7 days. In group 4, both enoxaparin and clopidogrel were administrated. The rats were evaluated on post-operative day 7 for viable and necrotic portions of flaps. The mean and SD of necrosis was 17.79 +/- 2.5 cm in the control group, 16.20 +/- 3.1 cm in low-molecular weight heparin, 15.25 +/- 3.8 cm in combined therapy group and 13.69 +/- 2.7 cm in clopidogrel group. Clopidogrel was the only pharmaceutical agent that produced a significant increase in the flap survival area. Clopidogrel may be an effective pharmaceutical agent that significantly increases viability of random skin flaps in rats, but low-molecular weight heparin and their combination did not have any significant beneficial effects

Large hydatid cyst of ovary

Human Hydatid cyst is a wide spread disease. Its an endemic disease in Iran. It's caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Hydatid cyst although known to occur in most organs and body areas, is extremely rare in the female reproductive organs. This is a case report of ovarian Hydatid cyst in a 42-year-old woman. She presented with feeling of enlargement of abdomen and abdominal pain. On physical examination, a large mass in lower abdomen palpated. On imaging study, ultrasonography reported a large heterogeneous multicystic mass measuring 155 97 mm in pelvic cavity and hypo gastric area. The CT-scan with IV contrast reported a huge cystic lesion, containing multiple septi in pelvic cavity that could be due to ovarian lesion. After surgical procedure, histopathological examination showed typical laminated and germinative layers with hexagonal scolecies of Hydatid cyst. Since the common sites of hydaid cyst are liver and lung and the imaging studies are highly diagnostic for Hydatid cysts, this illustrated case is interesting for uncommon site, not suggested by imaging studies and with clinical [surgical] impression of malignant ovarian tumor