Uso do laser de CO2 no tratamento da reação tardia de polimetilmetacrilato na face: relato de caso / Use of a carbon dioxide laser in the treatment of delayed polymethylmetacrylate reaction in the face: a case report

O uso de implantes sintéticos para o preenchimento na face pode acarretar reações adversas. Estas podem ocorrer da má técnica ou decorrentes do produto. Entre os materiais utilizados, está o polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA) na forma de microesferas. Trata-se do relato de um caso de reação nodular na face de paciente do sexo feminino, após 15 anos do uso de implante de Artecoll®, produto composto por microesferas de colágeno bovino e PMMA. Foi tratada com laser de gás carbônico. Evidenciou-se o efeito tardio provocado da aplicação de implantes sintéticos na face como o Artecoll®, os fatores limitantes para ressecção convencional com bisturi e tesoura, e a opção da utilização do laser de CO2. Destacando-se a função ablativa e precisa na remoção do tecido comprometido, a preservação dos tecidos sadios e nobres, o grande potencial hemostático e a baixa morbidade, com menor cicatriz, edema, equimose e a rápida recuperação pós-operatória.

The use of synthetic implants as dermal facial fillers may cause adverse reactions, which may occur owing to inappropriate techniques or the intrinsic nature of the product. Polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) microspheres is one of the materials used. This is a report of a case of nodular reaction in the face of a female patient, after 15 years of Artecoll® implant use, a product composed of microspheres of bovine collagen and PMMA. She was treated with a carbon dioxide laser. The delayed effect caused by the application of synthetic implants in the face, such as Artecoll®; the limiting factors of conventional resection with a scalpel and scissors; and the option for the use of carbon dioxide laser are outlined. Highlighted are the ablative and precise functions in the removal of compromised tissue, the preservation of healthy and noble tissues, the high hemostatic potential, and low morbidity, with smaller scars, edema, ecchymosis, and rapid postoperative recovery.

Avaliação biomecânica do cimento ortopédico combinado com antibiótico e azul de metileno / Biomechanical evaluation of orthopaedic cement combined with antibiotic and methylene blue

OBJETIVO: O cimento acrílico é utilizado há anos nas cirurgias ortopédicas, especialmente nas artroplastias do joelho, merecendo atenção também quando utilizado com o acréscimo de antibióticos (para tratamento de infecções) ou corantes (para facilitação de uma possível retirada). Neste estudo procurou-se avaliar diferenças mecânicas entre o cimento ortopédico puro e quando misturado com antibiótico e/ou corante. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados cimento acrílico ortopédico Surgical Simplex®P Stryker, vancomicina em pó e azul de metileno e as misturas submetidas a testes físicos e mecânicos de acordo com a norma ABNT NBR ISO 5833. Avaliou-se: tempo para a formação de massa, capacidade de intrusão, resistência à compressão, resistência ao dobramento (tensão) e temperatura máxima atingida pelas misturas. RESULTADOS: As misturas avaliadas foram aprovadas quanto ao tempo de preparação da mistura, temperatura máxima alcançada, profundidade da intrusão e resistência à compressão. Somente aquela contendo apenas cimento puro foi aprovada no ensaio de flexão. CONCLUSÃO: O acréscimo de vancomicina e/ou azul de metileno ao cimento ortopédico Surgical Simplex®P Stryker reduz a resistência da mistura à flexão, sendo reprovada pela norma ABNT NBR ISO 5833.

OBJECTIVE: Acrylic cement has been used for years on orthopaedic surgeries, especially on knee arthroplasties, deserving special attention when added to antibiotics (for treatment of deep bone infections) or stains (to facilitate its removal). The present study was conducted in order to evaluate potential mechanical differences between the orthopaedic cement itself and when this is added to antibiotic and/or stains. METHODS: Surgical bone cement Simplex®P Stryker, vancomycin and methylene blue were used, and the mixtures were submitted to physical and mechanical tests according the ABNT NBR ISO 5833 rule. The parameters studied here were: time for mass formation, intrusion capability, resistance to compression, resistance to flexion and maximum temperature reached by the mixtures. RESULTS: The evaluated mixtures were approved as to mass formation, maximum temperature, intrusion capability and resistance to compression. Only the one containing pure cement was approved on the flexion essay. CONCLUSION: The addition of vancomycin and/or methylene blue to Surgical Simplex®P Stryker bone cement reduces its resistance to flexion, being unacceptable by the ABNT NBR ISO 5833 rule.

Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Treatment of Osteoporotic Vertebral Body Fractures: Early Result

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous vertebroplasty has recently been introduced as an interesting therapeutic alternative for the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral body fractures in elderly persons with osteoporosis. The authors present the early results of this method. METHOD AND MATERIAL: From July 1999 to April 2000, percutaneous transpedicular technique was used in 20 patients (2 men and 18 women) whose mean age was 67.5 years old(range 59-79) with painful vertebral compression(22) and burst(2) fractures. The interval between fracture and vertebroplasty ranged 1 day to 4 months. The procedure involved percutaneous puncture of the injured vertebra via transpedicular approach under fluoroscopic guidance, followed by injection of polymethylmetacrylate(PMMA) into the vertebral body through a disposable 11-guage Jamshidi needle. RESULT: The most common cause of fracture was slip down and the most frequent injured level was the twelfth thoracic spine. The procedure was technically successful bilaterally in 18 patients(9 thoracic and 15 lumbar spines) with an average injection amount of 7.7ml PMMA in each level. Seventeen(94.4%) patients reported significant pain relief immediately after treatment. Two leaks of PMMA were detected with postoperative CT in spinal epidural space and extravertebral soft tissue without clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION: Although this study represents the early results, percutaneous vertebroplasty seems to be valuable tool in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral body fractures in elderly, providing acute pain relief and early mobilization.

Epidural Leakage of Polymethylmethacrylate Following Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in the Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

OBJECTIVES: The percutaneous vertebroplasty provides a good result in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. But, the epidural leakage of polymethylmetacrylate(PMMA) after vertebroplasty may decrease the therapeutic effects because of the compression of thecal sac and/or nerve roots. The authors carried out a prospective study to evaluate the causative factors of epidural leakage of PMMA and to assess the influence on the outcome. METHODS: This study involved 347 vertebral levels of compression fractures in 159 patients. Among these, the epidural leakages were identified in 92 vertebral levels(26.5%) in 64 patients(40.3%) on post-operative CT scan. RESULTS: The incidence of epidural leakage of PMMA was significantly higher in the level above T7(p=0.001). The large amount of the injected PMMA and the use of an injector also increased the incidence(p=0.03 and p=0.045, respectively). The position of the needle tip in the vertebral body and the pattern of venous drainage did not influence. The immediate post-operative visual analogue scale(VAS) scores and facial scales(FS) were higher in the patients with epidural leakage(p=0.009). But there were no significant differences between the two groups after three months of operation(p=0.541). Conclusions: The incidence of epidural leakage of PMMA after percutaneous vertebroplasty appears to have relationship with the amount of PMMA and the levels injected. The epidural leakage of PMMA reduced the immediate therapeutic effects of vertebroplasty, but did not influence the late outcome. However, the epidural leakage should be avoided because of its potential neurological complications.

The Use of Vancomycin-impregnated Polymethylmetactylate Beads for the Treatment of Chronic Osteomyelitis

One of the current treatment methods for chronic osteomyelitis is removal of the infected and necrotic tissue to reduce the bacterial concentration as much as possible. This is performed concomitantly with antibiotic therapy. Chronic osteomyelitis (C.O.) implies chronic ischemia of the diseased bone. Thus, the treatment for C.O. requires high systemic level of antibiotics. In some cases, however, inherent undesirable adverse effects (for example, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and others) may render this course of treatment difficult. Knowing that residual monomers are released from hardened bone cement, installation of antibiotic-impregnated PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) beads in situ have been one of treatment methods of C.O. When introduced into the wound, they established an exceedingly high level of local antibiotics for prolonged period without high systemic level of antibiotics. We experienced favorable results with vancomycin-impregnated PMMA beads for the treatment of C.O. of the mandible. So, we report it with literature reviews.