Prevalence of chondromalacia patella according to patella type and patellofemoral geometry: a retrospective study

Abstract BACKGROUND: The relationships between the morphometric structure of the patellofemoral joint, patella type and chondromalacia patella are still a matter of debate. OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of chondromalacia patella by determining the patella type and making patellofemoral morphometric measurements. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective cohort study in an orthopedics and traumatology clinic in Turkey, conducted between June 2017 and November 2019. METHODS: This study involved 562 knees of 522 patients with anterior knee pain (246 males and 316 females; mean age 46.59 years). The patients were grouped according to presence of chondromalacia patella (group I) or absence of chondromalacia patella (group II). The patella type, lateral trochlear inclination, medial trochlear inclination, trochlear angle, sulcus angle, patellar tilt and Insall-Salvati index were assessed. Group comparisons were made using chi-square tests or Student t tests. The r value was used to determine the magnitude of relationships between pairs of variables. RESULTS: Among the 562 knees evaluated, 265 (50.71%) presented type I patella, 195 (36.7%) type II, 100 (12.3%) type III and 2 (0.3%) type IV. Group I consisted of 448 knees and group II consisted of 114 knees. Significant differences were found between the groups in terms of age, gender, patella type and lateral inclination angles (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Detecting the patella type and making lateral inclination measurements in patients with anterior knee pain are of great importance for diagnosing suspected chondromalacia patella, particularly in the early degenerative period.

Is pectoralis muscle index a risk factor for mortality in left ventricular assist device patients?

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether sarcopenia measured from pectoralis muscles is a risk factor for long-term mortality in left ventricular assist device patients. METHODS: Patients aged >18 years implanted with a left ventricular assist device in a single center between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively included. Patients without a thoracic computed tomography scan performed within 3 months of left ventricular assist device implantation and without computed tomography scans appropriate for pectoralis muscle measurement were excluded. Pectoralis muscle measurements were made on thoracic computed tomography slices, and pectoralis muscle indices were calculated for each patient. Sarcopenia was defined as being in the gender-specific lowest tertile of pectoralis muscle index. Survival was compared between patients with and without sarcopenia. RESULTS: The study was conducted on 64 left ventricular assist device patients who met the inclusion criteria. Notably, 21 (32.8%) of the study patients were sarcopenic. Diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia were more common in patients with 2-year mortality in our cohort. Patients with sarcopenia had a worse 2-year survival (p<0.001). Sarcopenia had an adjusted hazard ratio of 4.04 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-12.02, p=0.012), while diabetes mellitus was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.14 (95%CI 1.17-8.39, p=0.023). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia defined by low pectoralis muscle index increases the risk for 2-year mortality in left ventricular assist device patients.

Late open conversion in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm after endovascular repair / Conversão tardia para cirurgia aberta em um aneurisma roto da aorta abdominal após reparo endovascular

Abstract Despite technological advances, the long-term outcomes of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) are still debatable. Although most endograft failures after EVAR can be corrected with endovascular techniques, open conversion may still be required. A 70-year-old male patient presented at the emergency unit with abdominal pain. Twice, in the third and fourth years after the first repair, a stent graft had been placed over a non-adhesive portion of the stent graft due to type Ia endoleaks. In the most recent admission, a CT scan showed type III endoleak and ruptured aneurysm sac. On this occasion the patient underwent late open conversion. The failure was repaired with total preservation of the main endovascular graft body and interposition of a bifurcated dacron graft. This case demonstrates that lifelong radiographic surveillance should be considered in this subset of patients. Late open conversion following EVAR of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms can be performed safely.

Resumo Apesar dos avanços tecnológicos, os desfechos de longo prazo do reparo endovascular de aneurismas da aorta abdominal (endovascular aortic aneurysm repair - EVAR) ainda são objeto de debate. Embora a maioria das falhas de endoenxerto após EVAR possam ser corrigidas com técnicas endovasculares, conversão para cirurgia aberta ainda pode ser necessária. Um paciente de 70 anos de idade, do sexo masculino, apresentou-se no serviço de emergência com dor abdominal. Duas vezes, dois e quatro anos após o primeiro reparo, um enxerto foi colocado sobre uma porção não adesiva do stent devido a endoleak tipo Ia. Na mais recente hospitalização, a tomografia computadorizada mostrou endoleak tipo III e ruptura de um saco aneurismático. Nesta ocasião, o paciente foi submetido a conversão tardia para cirurgia aberta. A falha foi tratada com preservação total do corpo principal do enxerto endovascular e interposição de um enxerto tipo Dacron bifurcado. Este caso demonstra que a vigilância radiográfica ao longo de toda a vida deveria ser considerada nesse subgrupo de pacientes. Conversão tardia para cirurgia aberta após EVAR de aneurismas rotos da aorta abdominal pode ser realizada com segurança.

Malaysian Senior Dental Officers' Perceptions Of The Employability Of Male Dental Nurses And Possible Policy Implications

Background: In Malaysia, training to enter dentalnursing profession is only open to women. Ironically,there are no such gender restrictions on training forany other health related professions in Malaysia.Aim: Therefore this study aims to assess theperceptions of Malaysian Senior Dental Officers(SDOs) towards the employability of male workers inthe dental nursing profession and to compare findingsfrom male and female SDOs. Methods: This crosssectional study was carried out on all SDOs inMinistry of Health, Malaysia, using a self-administeredquestionnaire. Descriptive statistics and a chi squaretest were used to address the study objectives. Results:Of the 112 participants, 78 SDOs returned thequestionnaire, yielding a response rate of 70%. Themajority of SDOs had positive perceptions of theemployment of male dental nurses. It was indicated thatgender is an important indicator for workforcedevelopment, and that the employment of both maleand female dental nurses would enhance productivity.Almost 70% of SDOs perceived that the productivityof oral health service would be enhanced by havingmale and female dental nurses but 84.6% disagreedthat male dental nurses would be more productive thanfemale. Two thirds of SDOs disagreed that male dentalnurses would increase satisfaction among malepatients. About 64% of male SDOs disagreed thatdental nursing profession is associated with femaletraits. There was no significant difference betweenperceptions by male and female SDOs for anystatements. Conclusion: The majority of MalaysianSDOs have positive perceptions towards theemployability of male dental nurses, and perceiveddental nursing as a suitable profession for bothgenders. Training for the dental nursing professionshould therefore be made available for men.

Reduction of postsurgical adhesions in a rat model: a comparative study

BACKGROUND: Adhesion formation after peritoneal surgery is a major cause of postoperative bowel obstruction, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. In this study, we compared the possible individual effects of phosphatidylcholine (PC), Seprafilm® II, and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and the combined effects of phosphatidylcholine and t-PA on postoperative adhesion formation in a rat surgical model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 Wistar male rats underwent median laparotomy and standardized abrasion of the visceral and parietal peritoneum. phosphatidylcholine, Seprafilm II, and t-PA alone and phosphatidylcholine and t-PA in combination were applied intraperitoneally at the end of the surgical procedure. Seven days after surgery, a relaparotomy was performed for adhesion grading and histopathological examination. RESULTS: A comparison of adhesion stages demonstrated a significant difference between the control group and the study groups (p<0.001). The adhesion grade of the combined treatment group was statistically different from that of the other groups (p<0.05). In the t-PA group and the combined group, six and two rats, respectively, developed hematomas locally on the cecum. CONCLUSIONS: PC, t-PA, and Seprafilm II used individually reduced the adhesion grade. The t-PA and phosphatidylcholine combination was most effective in reducing adhesion formation. On the other hand, usage of t-PA alone or in combination may increase risk of bleeding. More detailed studies are needed, and future studies on the efficacy of a material for decreasing adhesion formation should include a comparison of several control materials in the same model.