C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in overweight and healthy adults.

This study aimed to 1) compare levels of high sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) between overweight Thais and apparently healthy controls, and 2) investigate the association between serum hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha levels and other biochemical parameters. A total of 180 health-conscious adults aged 25-60 years, who resided in Bangkok, participated in this study. No significant difference was found in age and sex between the overweight subjects and controls. Serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, glucose, lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were determined in these volunteers. The mean levels of white blood cells (WBC), uric acid, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and hs-CRP were significantly higher in the overweight subjects than those in the controls, whereas high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) values were significantly higher in the controls than the overweight subjects (p < 0.05). Hs-CRP levels were significantly positively correlated with levels of TG, BMI, WC, HC and WHR. HDL-C levels were significantly negative correlated with hs-CRP levels. In conclusion, the prevalence of elevated serum hs-CRP levels was higher in overweight subjects than controls. However, more data in larger and other population groups are needed to confirm this study.

Stability of subchondral bone defect reconstruction at distal femur: comparison between polymethylmethacrylate alone and steinmann pin reinforcement of polymethylmethacrylate.

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is often used to fill the large subchondral defects following intralesional curettage of a giant cell tumor of the bone. Many authors have reported the use of Steinmann pins to reinforce the bone cement. However, whether this is of real benefit in improving the stability of the defect is controversial. Thirteen matched pairs of cadaveric distal femurs were obtained and tested in uni-axial compression to determine the strength of this reconstruction. The strength of normal distal femurs was compared with the strength of defective femurs using 5 matched pairs of cadaveric distal femurs. A significant difference between the two groups was demonstrated in the failure load, stiffness, yield point and total energy absorbed to failure (p < 0.05). The second part consisted of eight matched pairs of specimens filled with PMMA alone versus PMMA with Steinmann pin reinforcement. There was no significant difference in failure load, stiffness, yield point and total energy absorbed to failure (p > 0.05). The addition of Steinmann pins did not significantly improve the strength of the subchondral defect reconstruction in uni-axial compression compared with PMMA reconstruction alone.

The clavicular fracture: a biomechanical study of the mechanism of clavicular fracture and modes of the fracture.

A clavicle is an S-shaped long bone whose biomechanical behavior is unlike that of a straight tubular long bone. When a clavicle is under a compression load along the axis, the force produces a middle one-third clavicular fracture. The present study is a biomechanical study to confirm the clinical observations of the mechanism of the fracture and to discover the tension site and compression site of the fracture, using 12 fresh cadaveric clavicles, a universal testing machine and two special grips. One grip was constructed with a contour like a sternoclavicular articulation. The grip was mounted at the medial end of the clavicle. Another grip was constructed with a contour like an acromioclavicular articulation. The grip was mounted at the lateral end of the clavicle. A load was applied to the lateral clavicle like a force transmitting from the weight of the shoulder girdle. A load was also applied to the medial clavicle like a force from the sternocleidomastoid muscle. A compression load was applied along the axis of the testing clavicle through the upper grips by using a universal testing machine. The result found that the average load of the clavicular fracture was 1526.19 N. The fracture occurred at the middle one-third of the clavicle in the region of the curve of the lateral clavicle changing to the curve of the medial clavicle. While primatic cross section of the clavicle at the fracture site determined a tension and a compression site of the fracture, the fracture took the superoanterior aspect of the clavicle as a tension site and posteroinferior aspect as a compression site. The fracture had a ratio of length of the lateral fragment to the total length of the clavicle of 0.49. This study confirmed that a compression load along the axis of the clavicle produces a middle one-third clavicular fracture as in clinical observation and the fracture took the superoanterior aspect of the clavicle as a tension site.

Reconstruction of the pelvic brim and its role in the reduction accuracy of displaced T-shaped acetabular fracture.

Open reduction of the displaced T-shaped acetabular fracture has a problem of accuracy of the fracture reduction. This study was carried out to demonstrate that the reconstruction of the pelvic brim by approaching the pubo-acetabular fragment plays a role in the accuracy of the reduction of displaced T-shaped acetabular fractures. From 1975 to 1990, a retrospective study was carried out of 22 patients who sustained a displaced T-shaped acetabular fracture. The patients were operated on by open reduction and internal fixation of the ischio-acetabular fragment to the posterior column without restoration of the pelvic brim. Radiographs of the pelvis were reviewed. The result showed that there was displacement of the pubo-acetabular fragment including the medial wall in all cases. As the result of this study, a prospective study between 1990 and 1997 was carried out of 15 patients who sustained displaced T-shaped acetabular fractures including 3 cases with medial displacement of the femoral head. The pubo-acetabular fragment was anatomically reduced and fixed to the anterior column of the acetabulumn as the first approach to restore a disrupted pelvic brim. There, patterns of the acetabular fracture were subsequently re-evaluated especially the ischio-acetabular fragment including the position of the femoral head by using an intraoperative portable X-ray technique. The stability of the hip joint was assessed by hip flexion. The intraoperative radiograph appearances of the ischio-acetabular fragment were visually confirmed by a second surgical exposure. The results showed that the intraoperative radiographs gave spontaneous reduction of the ischio-acetabular fragment in all patients except one. There was a reduction of the displaced femoral head into the hip socket in the three patients. The hip joints were stable in all patients. The second surgical exposure showed that there was good spontaneous reduction of the ischio-acetabular fragment to the posterior column by ligamentotaxis in 14 patients. Therefore, it is not necessary to address the ischio-acetabular fragment. In the exceptional case, the ischio-acetabular fragment was displaced as a free bone which could not be reduced by ligamentotaxis. However, reduction and internal fixation of the ischio-acetabular fragment to the posterior column for complete re-application of the hip joint onto the pelvic ring of this case was facilitated. Postoperative 2 year and 5 year follow-up showed that the fracture had healed without heterotrophic ossification or premature osteoarthrosis of the hip joint. The exceptional case had a broken plate at the anterior column of the acetabulum. Hip function was evaluated clinically using Merle D' Aubigne's hip score. All patients had a "very good score". The study showed that reconstruction of the pelvic brim by anatomical reduction and fixation of the pubo-acetabular fragment to the anterior column plays an important role in the accuracy of fracture reduction of a displaced T-shaped acetabular fracture.

Immediate stabilization of unstable pelvic fractures versus delayed stabilization.

To compare the immediate and long term outcome of immediate stabilization of the unstable pelvic fractures to delayed stabilization with simple external fixation, the study was carried out as a paralell trial with 2 year follow-up. There were 112 patients with 69 males and 43 females who had unstable pelvic fractures. They were allocated randomly into 2 groups. In group 1, 40 patients, conventional management was performed while in group 2, 72 patients, reduction and anterior stabilization of pelvic fractures with a simple external fixator were carried out immediately just after the unstable fractures were detected. Blood transfusion, post operative pain, need of reconstructive surgery of the pelvic fractures and late deformities were less in the group 2. Immediate anterior reduction and stabilization of the unstable pelvic fractures gave encouraging results.

Anterior stabilization in the pubic symphysis separation: a mechanical testing.

Four types of commonly used instruments, 1) external fixation, 2) tension wiring, 3) tension band wiring, and 4) single superior plating, for anterior stabilization of the diastasis pubic symphysis were tested for their mechanical properties under single load to failure in cadaveric pelvis by a universal testing machine. Three directions of loading, transverse tension, vertical tension and saggital compression, were used to test each type of instrumentation. Five specimens of each fixation were used for each direction of testing. The strongest instrumentation was single superior plating. Early mobilization can be advocated in the patient after fixation with this instrument. External fixation could resist transverse and saggital compression load at an acceptable level but not the vertical load. Tension band wiring could better resist vertical load than the other directions. Tensions wiring was the weakest instrumentation and early ambulation should be avoided.

The reconstruction twisted wire-screws for internal fixation of two- and three-part fractures of the proximal humerus.

Using the implants for internal fixation of the proximal humeral fractures has several problems which lead to complications and poor results of the fracture treatment. Because there is no suitable implant for internal fixation of the fracture. Therefore, the reconstruction twisted wire was developed in 1990 to improve the results of the fracture treatment. Between 1990 and 1994, the reconstruction twisted wire was used in 31 patients whose ages ranged from 18 to 90 years. Sixteen patients had displaced two-part surgical neck fractures. Fifteen patients had displaced three-part fractures. Postoperative follow-up ranged from two and a half years to five years and one month. All fractures healed. No avascular necrosis of the humeral head was observed at the follow-up. There was temporary subluxation of the shoulder joint in three patients and loosening of the screws in two patients with marked osteoporosis. One had a rupture of wire between the greater tuberosity and the shaft and loosening of the screw at the greater tuberosity and united with 10 degrees varus deformity. According to the functional scale proposed by Hawkins, 28 of the 31 patients achieved a "good" result and 3 patients had a "fair" result.