Effects of rigid and kinesio taping on plantar pressure distribution in patients with Lisfranc fracture sequelae.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Lisfranc fractures may regain functional status after anatomical fixation, but they may experience sequelae such as flatfoot deformity and pain associated with foot pressure distribution during weight-bearing. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the impact of Lisfranc fracture sequelae on both the injured and uninjured sides, and how does the antipronation taping affect plantar pressure distribution parameters? METHODS: Twenty-six patients who underwent anatomical fixation for Lisfranc fracture, displaying pronation on the injured side based on the Foot Posture Index-6 test, as well as 15 healthy subjects, participated in this study. Plantar pressure distribution measurements were conducted during barefoot walking for the healthy subjects. In the patient group, measurements were taken under two antipronation taping conditions (kinesio and rigid taping), as well as during barefoot walking. RESULTS: Participants who received anatomical fixation after Lisfranc fracture exhibited significant alterations in plantar pressure distribution parameters on both the injured and uninjured sides, as compared to the control group. After the application of Kinesio Taping to the injured side, there was no significant change observed in the plantar pressure distribution values (p > 0.05). The analysis of the rigid taping on the injured side revealed statistically worse values in peak pressure of the hindfoot (p = 0.027) and maximum force of the midfoot and toes (p = 0.005 and p = 0.013, respectively) compared to the injured barefoot condition. SIGNIFICANCE: Lisfranc fracture sequelae affected plantar pressure distribution on both injured and uninjured sides. Anti-pronation taping (kinesio and rigit), commonly used for foot conditions, did not lead to foot pressure distribution becoming more similar to that of the control group.

Functional hip joint centre determination in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Although functional methods determining the hip joint center (HJC) are becoming increasingly popular, no systematic investigation has been conducted yet to assess the reliability of functional hip joint calibration in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the most reliable way to conduct functional calibration motions for estimating HJC location in children with CP and movement disorders? METHODS: Twenty-two patients with CP were included in the study. A marker set for Plug-in Gait with additional cluster markers was used. Two functional calibration movements, including a new movement, were proposed and tested with one and three repetitions each. Functional HJCs were determined using the SCoRE approach and compared to results obtained by applying the conventional regression method for assessing face validity. RESULTS: The choice of calibration movement had significant impact on SCoRE residuals and HJC location. Increasingly repeating calibration movements did not improve results. A modified star movement by allowing the toes to tip the ground provided the most reliable data and is feasible for children with GMFCS level I-III. The feasibility of the method is further improved by analyzing hip motion in the contralateral stance limb and, among the calibration movements, gave the most precise HJC estimation. SIGNIFICANCE: Type and performance of the functional calibration movement is one key factor for determining a robust HJC. Analyzing the data in the stance leg via the modified star motion yielded robust and reasonable results for the HJC location, which should be validated in further studies that include imaging methods. Using one repetition instead of three seems promising in terms of feasibility for patients with movement disorder.

Pedobarographic, Clinic, and Radiologic Evaluation after Surgically Treated Lisfranc Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Lisfranc injuries are rare, often missed, and may cause permanent structural deterioration of tarsometatarsal joint, despite optimal management. Consequently, a Lisfranc injury may lead to disruption of the biomechanics of the normal foot during walking and may alter the plantar pressure distribution, which is essential for proper gait mechanics. Therefore, the main purpose of the study was to specify the dynamic plantar pressure, radiographic and clinical features, after surgically managed Lisfranc injuries. METHODS: This study was carried out over a period of 10 years and included 62 patients who were surgically treated for Lisfranc injury, with mean 57-month follow-up. Radiological (intermetatarsal, Kite's, first metatarsophalangeal, Meary's, Hibbs' and calcaneal pitch angles, and medial cuneiform-fifth metatarsal distance), pedobarographical, and clinical results with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score assessments for both feet were assessed. RESULTS: In the radiological assessment, the mean first intermetatarsal (p = 0.006) and Meary's angle (p = 0.000) were decreased on the injured feet compared to the uninjured feet on the anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. In the pedobarographic assessment, the injured feet midfoot contact time increased (p = 0.03), and maximum force (p = 0.001), total peak pressure (p = 0.008), and contact area (p = 0.017) decreased, compared to the uninjured feet. The mean AOFAS score was 75/100 at the final follow-up visit. There was seen to be reduced both contact surface area and time of the midfoot. CONCLUSION: Despite surgical management of Lisfranc injuries, the injured foot does not regain functional, radiological, or pedobarographical levels as compared to the uninjured foot for ≥ 57 months.

Biofilm formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis on nitrogen ion implanted CoCrMo alloy material.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the primary cause of medical device-related infections due to its adhesion and biofilm forming abilities on biomaterial surfaces. For this reason development of new materials and surfaces to prevent bacterial adhesion is inevitable. In this study, the adhesion of biofilm forming S. epidermidis strain YT-169a on nitrogen (N) ion implanted as well as on as-polished CoCrMo alloy materials were investigated. A medical grade CoCrMo alloy was ion implanted with 60 keV N ions to a high dose of 1.9 x 10(18) ions/cm(2) at substrate temperatures of 200 and 400 degrees C. The near-surface implanted layer crystal structures, implanted layer thicknesses, and roughnesses were characterized by XRD, SEM and AFM. The number of adherent bacteria on the surfaces of N implanted specimens was found to be 191 x 10(6) CFU/cm(2) for the 200 degrees C and 70 x 10(6) CFU/cm(2) for the 400 degrees C specimens compared to the as-polished specimen (3 x 10(6) CFU/cm(2)). The adhesion test results showed that S. epidermidis strain YT-169a adhere much more efficiently to the N implanted surfaces than to the as-polished CoCrMo alloy surface. This was attributed mainly to the rougher surfaces associated with the N implanted specimens in comparison with the relatively smooth surface of the as-polished specimen.

Chirality transfer during alkylation of chiral amides.

Chiral amides derived from O-methyl mandelic acid and achiral amines underwent enantioselective alpha-methylation on treatment with LTMP followed by addition of methyl iodide; chirality transfer from an undeprotonated chiral amide into an achiral enolate in a mixed aggregate is supposed to be responsible for the asymmetric induction.

Selective synthesis of meso-naphthylporphyrins.

A series of novel meso-(8-substituted naphth-1-yl)porphyrins has been synthesized creating derivatives with a tight recognition environment above the porphyrin plane. The selective synthesis of single atropisomers is discussed. Condensation of bisnaphthaldehyde 12 with phenyldipyrromethane unexpectedly led to selective synthesis of the alpha,alpha-5,10-bridged isomer 14. A mechanism is proposed for this unusual scrambling, and alternative syntheses of alpha,alpha-5,15-bisnaphthylporphyrins are described. Synthesis of 5,15-analogues can be achieved by employing (pentafluorophenyl)dipyrromethane or via presynthesis of a bis(dipyrromethane) derivative 22 (from bisnaphthaldehyde 12) and subsequent condensation with benzaldehyde.