The relationship of distal femur and proximal tibia morphology with anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

PURPOSE: The study aims to determine the correlations between the anatomical structures of the distal femur and proximal tibia associated with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). METHODS: Bilateral extremities of 293 patients [143 ACL-ruptured, 150 ACL-intact] (all male) were included in the study. Femoral bi-condylar width (BCW), intercondylar notch width (NW) in the distal femur, proximal tibia width (TW), and tibial eminence width (EW) parameters were measured in the proximal tibia. Indexes are calculated as intercondylar notch width index (NWI) = NW/BCW, tibial eminence width index (EWI) = EW/TW. RESULTS: BCW, NW, TW, and EW measurements were lower in the ACL-ruptured group, but the difference was statistically significant only in the NW (p = 0.009) and TW (p = 0.005) measurements. There was no difference between groups in the NWI. The EWI parameters were calculated higher in the ACL-ruptured group, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.02). In both groups, there were very strong correlations between BCW and TW (ACL-ruptured r = 0.820, ACL-intact r = 0.877) and between NW and NWI (ACL-ruptured r = 0.862, ACL-intact r = 0.852), also EW and EWI in ACL-intact group (r = 0.947). CONCLUSIONS: The NW and TW measurements may give an idea about injury risk or prevention in morphological measurements. Correlations also show that the femur and tibia should consider together for ACL injuries.

Effect of patellar resurfacing surgery on bleeding in total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative bleeding is one of the most important factors affecting clinical and functional results in total knee arthroplasty. Therefore, many studies have been conducted on bleeding in arthroplasty patients. However, there are very few reports investigating the effect of patellar surface replacement on bleeding in knee arthroplasty. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the effect of patellar surface replacement on postoperative bleeding. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 30 with patellar resurfacing were compared with 39 without patellar resurfacing among patients who had undergone total knee replacement due to primary osteoarthritis. Demographic data, amount of transfusion, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit values, and total, visible, and hidden blood loss values were recorded. RESULTS: No statistical difference was found between the two groups in terms of demographic values. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the amount of blood in the drain, total blood loss, hidden blood loss, and blood transfusion in patients who had and had not undergone patellar resurfacing. A positive significant correlation was found between postoperative drainage volume and total blood loss. CONCLUSION: Patellar component application in patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty does not change the blood loss of the patients.

Effect of patellar resurfacing surgery on bleeding in total knee arthroplasty

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Postoperative bleeding is one of the most important factors affecting clinical and functional results in total knee arthroplasty. Therefore, many studies have been conducted on bleeding in arthroplasty patients. However, there are very few reports investigating the effect of patellar surface replacement on bleeding in knee arthroplasty. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the effect of patellar surface replacement on postoperative bleeding. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 30 with patellar resurfacing were compared with 39 without patellar resurfacing among patients who had undergone total knee replacement due to primary osteoarthritis. Demographic data, amount of transfusion, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit values, and total, visible, and hidden blood loss values were recorded. RESULTS: No statistical difference was found between the two groups in terms of demographic values. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the amount of blood in the drain, total blood loss, hidden blood loss, and blood transfusion in patients who had and had not undergone patellar resurfacing. A positive significant correlation was found between postoperative drainage volume and total blood loss. CONCLUSION: Patellar component application in patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty does not change the blood loss of the patients.

Effect of adding dexmedetomidine to intra-articular levobupivacaine on postoperative pain following arthroscopic meniscus surgery: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo- controlled, clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of adding dexmedetomidine to intra-articular levobupivacaine on postoperative pain levels and analgesic requirements following arthroscopic meniscectomy. METHODS: A total of 60 American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status I-II patients, aged 20 to 62 years, and scheduled for arthroscopic partial meniscectomy under general anesthesia were included in this study. All the patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups (15 patients in each group): Group 1 (8 male, 7 female; mean age = 46.70 ± 13.13 years; 0.9% isotonic 20 ml), group 2 (7 male, 8 female; mean age = 42.60 ± 12.18 years; levobupivacaine 0.5 mg/kg plus 0.9% isotonic), group 3 (8 male, 7 female; mean age = 43.80 ± 12.63 years; 1µg/kg dexmedetomidine plus 0.9% isotonic), and group 4 (7 female, 8 male; mean age = 40.40 ± 11.79 years; levobupivacaine 0.5 mg/kg plus 1µg/kg dexmedetomidine and 0.9% isotonic). All medications were administered at the end of arthroscopic surgery. Pain levels were measured using a Visual Analogous Scale (VAS) and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) at postoperative 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours. RESULTS: VAS scores at rest were significantly lower in Group 4 at postoperative 1th, 2nd, 4th, 6th,12th, and 24th hours than in other groups. The time to take the first analgesic was significantly higher in Group4 (964 ± 288 min), and total analgesic consumption was significantly lower in Group 4 compared to those of other groups. CONCLUSION: Although administration of intra-articular dexmedetomidine alone may have a weaker effect than intra-articular levobupivacaine on postoperative pain relief after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, adding dexmedetomidine to intra-articular levobupivacaine may increase the durationand quality of postoperative analgesia without any side effect. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, Therapeutic Study.

Evaluation of proprioception in patients who underwent ACL reconstruction: measurement in functional position

Background/aim: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries cause mechanoreceptor loss in the joint; therefore, proprioceptive deficits are observed after injury. In particular, proprioceptive measurements made in the functional position give more accurate results, and this is an area that requires further studies. This study aimed to evaluate proprioception in patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction (ACLR) in functional positions used in daily life (closed kinetic chain position), according to joint angles where ACL injuries occur more frequently, in comparison with healthy controls. Materials and methods: Thirty-four participants who underwent ACLR using a hamstring tendon graft (aged 29.18 ± 8.16 years; body mass index (BMI), 26.58 ± 4.02 kg/cm2) and 31 healthy participants (aged 27.35 ± 5.74 years; BMI, 24.76 ± 2.98 kg/cm2) were included. Proprioception was assessed with an active angle repetition test, using an inclinometer in the closed kinetic chain position while standing. Participants were asked to perform single-leg squats until the angle at the knee joint was 30°. After the targeted angle was defined, the participants were asked to find the targeted angle. The difference between the targeted angle and the angle reached by the participants was calculated. Results: A statistically significant difference in the active joint position sense was found among the ACLR extremity, uninvolved extremity, and control extremity (p < 0.05). The proprioceptive sense between the two extremities in the ACLR group was similar, and the proprioceptive sense was worse than that of the control group. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate closed kinetic chain position in patients who underwent ACLR, and it showed that proprioceptive sense was still poor in patients with ACLR compared with the control group, even if an average of 24 months have elapsed since surgery.

Effect on mortality of treatment method and surgery time for hip fracture patients aged over 65 years.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effects on mortality of implant selection used and time to surgery in patients aged over 65 years operated for hip fractures. METHODS: A total of 301 patients aged over 65 years were investigated in this study. Patients were divided into three groups as follows: Group 1 cemented hemiarthroplasty (CH), Group 2 cementless hemiarthroplasty (CLH), and Group 3 proximal femoral nail (PFN). Time of surgery, fracture and demographic information were retrospectively recorded. RESULTS: After removing 59 patients with missing information, this study included 242 patients. Mean age of patients was 80.5 years. When patient groups were examined according to treatment method, Group 1 (n=146) comprised 60.3%, Group 2 (n=54) comprised 22.3% and Group 3 (n=42) comprised 17.4% of the study group. There was no significant difference in survival between the patients operated in the first 48 hours and the patients operated later (p=0.834). There was an effect on the survival of treatment implant selection (p=0.016). Patients with CH were observed to survive longer than patients with CLH and PFN. CONCLUSION: Operation in the first 48 hours was not observed to affect mortality. Additionally, while sex and age were found to be effective on mortality, implant selection was also concluded to affect mortality.

FOXP3 rs3761548 polymorphism is associated with knee osteoarthritis in a Turkish population.

AIM: Functional polymorphisms located in FOXP3 intron 1 was recently found to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although RA is an autoimmune disease, there is supporting evidence that activated maladaptive responses including pro-inflammatory pathways play roles in osteoarthritis (OA), similar to RA. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between rs2232365 (-924A/G) and rs3761548 (-3279A/C) polymorphisms as well as possible changes in the 600 bp promoter region of FOXP3 and knee OA. METHODS: Patients with primary knee OA (n = 300) and healthy individuals (n = 300) were examined for rs3761548 and rs2232365 FOXP3 gene polymorphisms by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism method. The 600 bp promoter region (between -500 and +100) of the gene was also sequenced with direct sequencing in 50 knee OA patients and 50 healthy individuals. RESULTS: There were no sequence variants in the promoter region tested both in OA patients and healthy controls. The SNP rs2232365 showed no association with OA susceptibility and severity and the results of other genetic models were also nonsignificant. On the other hand, rs3761548 AC (P = 0.003), AA + CC (P = 0.0014) as well as AC + AA (P = 0.40) genotypes showed association with Grade 4 knee OA patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that the association between FOXP3 rs2232365 polymorphism and knee OA tended to yield negative results but the FOXP3 rs3761548 C allele was associated with elevated risk of OA in Grade 4 knee OA patients in a Turkish population.

Kinesio taping as a treatment method in the acute phase of ACL reconstruction: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed on investigating the effects of Kinesio taping (KT) in acute postoperative rehabilitation phase of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: Thirty male patients (mean age: 28.1 years) with ACL reconstruction were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) an experimental group to receive a KT treatment through the muscle and lymphatic correction techniques; or (2) a control group for sham KT. Both interventions were applied twice during a 10-day period from the fourth postoperative day. All patients received the same rehabilitation program for three months. The groups were compared according to range of motion (ROM), pain, swelling and muscle strength before treatment and on the fifth and tenth treatment days. Subjective evaluations were made with the Lysholm, modified Cincinnati and Tegner scores on the first and third postoperative months. RESULTS: Intragroup comparisons showed significant improvements in both groups on the fifth and tenth day and first and third month evaluations (p < 0.05). In comparison to the control group, the experimental group showed significant improvements in swelling around the patella, all pain measurements and hamstring muscle strength on the fifth KT day and knee flexion range of motion (ROM), night pain, all swelling measurements and hamstring muscle strength on the tenth KT day (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that KT techniques applied in addition to the acute rehabilitation program of ACL reconstruction are beneficial in treatment of pain, swelling, knee flexion ROM, and hamstring muscle strength. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, Therapeutic study.

Treatment of Bifocal Cyst Hydatid Involvement in Right Femur with Teicoplanin Added Bone Cement and Albendazole.

Although bone involvement associated with cyst hydatid is rarely seen, it can cause unintended results such as high recurrence rate, infection, sepsis, or amputation of relevant extremity. Because of this reason, its treatment is difficult and disputed. In the case of bifocal bone cyst hydatid in right femur, along with albendazole treatment, result of resecting cyst surgically and its treatment with teicoplanin with added bone cement is given. In conclusion, since the offered treatment method both supports bone in terms of mechanical aspect and also can prevent secondary infection, the method is thought to be a good and safe treatment approach.

Weight bearing the same day versus non-weight bearing for 4 weeks in Achilles tendon rupture.

INTRODUCTION: Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) often occurs in 40- to 50-year-old men. Multiple studies discuss the correct treatment strategy based on surgical or nonsurgical intervention, including early mobilization. We aimed to compare the outcomes of bearing weight on the same day with non-weight bearing over a 4-week period of ATR patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Forty-seven ATR patients were conservatively treated and entered into our study. Group 1 consisted of 23 patients treated with partial weight bearing beginning the same day of conservative treatment; Group 2 consisted of 24 patients treated with non-weight bearing after a 4-week period. Patients were at least 18 years old and were followed for 12 months. Evaluation criteria were mechanism of injury, admission time to our clinic, complication rate, and time to return to work. Symptoms and physical activity levels of all patients were assessed on 6 and 12 months after treatment began, according to the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS), Physical Activity Scale (PAS), and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score. RESULTS: Rerupture rates were rate 17.4% (4 patients) in Group 1 and 12.5% (3 patients) in Group 2 (p = 0.81). Time to return to work was shorter in Group 1 compared with Group 2, but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.86). AOFAS, ATRS, and PAS scores at 6 and 12 months showed no significant differences between groups (p = 0.69, p = 0.59, p = 0.89, p = 0.77, p = 0.94, p = 0.66, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study showed that a well-conducted early-weight-bearing treatment has good clinical outcomes, with a complication rate no higher than non-weight-bearing treatment.

Investigation of mechanical strength of teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin impregnated bone cement on Day 1 and Day 15.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical effects of different concentrations of teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin addition in bone cement. METHODS: In an experimental design, 3 different doses of teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin (800, 1600 and 3200 mg) were added to bone cement. Mechanical tests using compression and four-point bending tests were performed on Day 1 and after antibiotic leaching in water at 37°C on Day 15. Specimens that contained no antibiotics served as controls. Mechanical strength for each antibiotic concentration on Day 1 and Day 15 were evaluated. RESULTS: Both teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin significantly decreased the mean strength values in compression and four-point bending tests at Days 1 and 15 (p<0.05). While teicoplanin significantly decreased the mean strength values at high doses in both tests at Days 1 and 15 (p<0.05), ciprofloxacin did not significantly change these values. When the effects of two drugs compared, there were significant differences at the 3200 mg dose at Day 1 and at 1600 and 3200 mg doses at Day 15 in the compression testing and at 3200 mg at Day 15 in the four-point bending test. CONCLUSION: Teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin addition may adversely affect the biomechanical strength of bone cement. Ciprofloxacin addition seems to have less of a negative effect on strength than teicoplanin.

The effect of low dose teicoplanin-loaded acrylic bone cement on biocompatibility of bone cement.

Antibiotic-loaded acrylic bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate, PMMA) is used to prevent or treat infection in total joint replacement surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate biocompatibility and cytotoxicity of the teicoplanin-loaded acrylic bone cement. Cytotoxicity examination of acrylic bone cement balls and 400 mg teicoplanin added acrylic bone cement balls conducted by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) was used to observe adhesion and spreading of cells on surface of the balls. Cytotoxicity examination conducted by MTT assay on acrylic bone cement balls and teicoplanin-added acrylic bone cement balls revealed no cytotoxicity. SEM analysis put forward that cells started to proliferate and adhere on surface of the samples in both groups as a result of 48-hour incubation and that the cell proliferation over acrylic bone cement and teicoplanin-added acrylic bone cement was similar. As a consequence, there was no cytotoxicity in acrylic bone cement and teicoplanin-added acrylic bone cement groups according to results of MTT assay. On the other hand, results of SEM showed that biocompatibility of both groups was similar. In conclusion, teicoplanin-loaded bone cement did not change biocompatibility of bone cement in studied dose.

Arthroscopic-assisted surgical treatment for developmental dislocation of the hip before the age of 18 months.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of arthroscopy assisted surgical treatment of developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH). METHODS: Arthroscopic assisted surgical treatment was performed on nine hips of nine female children with DDH using our method, published previously, between January 2001 and December 2005. Their ages ranged from 9 to 16 months. Percutaneous adductor tenotomies were performed in seven cases. A spica cast and abduction splint were used for 11-17 weeks postoperatively. Acetabular index and Shenton line were used for preoperative and postoperative radiologic evaluation. Also, the cases were evaluated postoperatively with respect to range of motion restriction, and the leg length discrepancy. RESULTS: The average follow-up was 47.7 months (range 22-79 months). Acetabular index measurements of cases in the preoperative/postoperative periods were as follows: preoperative mean angle 39.9° (range 34°-52°)/postoperative mean angle 26° (range 22°-34°). Hip joint restriction and leg length discrepancy were not observed postoperatively. However, two patients had acetabular dysplasia. Acetabular dysplasia was completely resolved in one patient in the third year of follow-up, whereas Salter innominate osteotomy, required in another patient, was in the second year of follow-up. The latter patient was the oldest case (16-month-old) in our series. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, treatment of developmental hip dysplasia with arthroscopic-assisted surgical treatment technique may be safe and effective method. Further clinical studies will be required to confirm this study.

Biomechanical properties of ciprofloxacin loaded bone cement.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical properties of bone cement used in joint replacement surgery after the addition of ciprofloxacin. METHODS: The first group received bone cement only and served as a control for the 4 groups where 500 mg, 1000 mg, 1500 mg and 2000 mg of ciprofloxacin were added to yield 40 g of bone cement. Axial compression tests were conducted using a 50,000 Newton capacity tension-compression testing device. RESULTS: While axial compression strength at failure was 80.2±4.3 MPa in the control group, values in the ciprofloxacin-treated groups decreased with rising concentration of ciprofloxacin to 74.5±5.4 MPa, 70.6±4.8 MPa, 70.5±4.7 MPa, and 69.3±3.4 MPa. CONCLUSION: Bone cement with addition of 500 to 1500 mg ciprofloxacin maintained mechanical axial strength values above 70.0 MPa recommended by American Society for Testing and Materials and can be safely used in joint replacement surgery.

[Radiation synovectomy therapy combined with surgical synovectomy in chronic nonspecific synovitis of the knee joint]. / Diz ekleminin kronik nonspesifik sinovitlerinde cerrahi sinovektomi ile kombine radyasyon sinovektomi tedavisi.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the radiation synovectomy (RS) procedure combined with the surgical synovectomy in the treatment of chronic nonspecific synovitis, which are resistant to medical treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March 2004 and October 2009, 17 knees of the 17 patients (15 males, 2 females; mean age 42.5 years; range 27 to 70 years) who underwent synovectomy surgery, followed by RS procedure with the 90Y at six weeks were included. At the end of a mean 48.7 months (range; 15-126 months) follow-up period, the Lysholm Knee Scale scores were used for functional assessment before and after RS procedure. The nocturnal pain, resting pain, activity pain and effusion were evaluated with the visual analog scale. The patient satisfaction was recorded as excellent, very good, good and poor. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up period, all patients had satisfaction scores of excellent and very good. There was a statistically significant difference between all assessment scores before and after treatment (p<0.05). It was found that none of the cases had radionuclide leakage from the joint in their control scintigraphy following RS procedure. No significant complication was seen except for deep vein thrombosis developed in one case. CONCLUSION: Our study results showed that RS procedure combined with the surgical synovectomy is an effective and safe treatment method for the treatment of cases of chronic nonspecific synovitis which recurs despite medical treatment.

Surgical synovectomy combined with yttrium 90 in patients with recurrent joint synovitis.

Radiation synovectomy (RS) is one of many therapeutic options used for recurrent joint synovitis. Our aim was to analyze the effect of the surgical synovectomy combined with yttrium 90 ((90)Y) in the treatment for recurrent joint synovitis. A surgical combined RS procedure was used on 32 knees of 30 patients. They were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 7 knees of 7 patients (5 women and 2 men) with a mean age of 40.7 years in whom RS was combined with the open synovectomy. Group 2 consisted of 25 knees of 23 patients (21 men and 2 women) with a mean age of 45.5 years in whom RS was combined with the arthroscopic synovectomy. Arthroscopic synovectomy or open surgery biopsy was carried out for all cases who diagnosed of having synovitis. A scintigraphic examination was conducted within 24 h after the RS procedure to investigate the systemic leakage of (90)Y in all patients. The outcome of treatment was assessed based on self-reporting using the visual analogue scale (VAS) of night pain, rest pain, activity pain, effusion, and satisfactory scores. The average follow-up period was 4.15 years. There was a significant difference between before and after treatment in terms of outcome parameters' VAS scores in both groups (p < 0.05). But there was no statistically significant difference between open and arthroscopic synovectomy groups in terms of outcome parameters (p > 0.05). Satisfactory outcome was excellent in 3 patients (42.8 %) in group 1 and 8 patients (32 %) in group 2. Surgical synovectomy with combined (90)Y could treat recurrent joint synovitis successfully. There was no statistically significant difference between open and arthroscopic synovectomy techniques combined with RS procedure.

The long-term effects of extracorporeal shock waves on the epiphysis of the adolescent rat.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal shock waves (ESW) have been successfully used to treat musculoskeletal injuries, tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis. Different side effects of high-energy ESWT on bones, tendons, nerves, epiphysis, and cartilage have been discussed. Although the effects of ESW on the epiphysis in animal models have been described, no studies have investigated the long-term effect of ESW on the immature epiphysis in an animal model. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of ESW on the immature epiphysis in rats. METHODS: Sixteen 4-week old Wistar albino rats, average weight 116.3 grams (109.6-120.2 g) were used for these experiments. The rats were randomly divided into two groups, the ESW 1500 pulses (ESW1500p) group (n = 8) and the ESW 3000 pulses (ESW3000p) group (n = 8). In the ESW1500p group, 1500 pulses, at 4 bar, of 1-Hz shockwaves were applied, once, to the left knees of the rats. In the ESW3000p group, 3000 pulses, at 4 bar, of 1-Hz shockwaves were applied, once, to the left knees of the rats. The right knees (n = 16) of the rats in the two groups were used as the controls. The animals were sacrificed after an 8-month follow-up period. Femoral epiphyses were assessed by use of histology. The femoral length (FL), tibial length (TL), and femoral supracondylar medio-lateral width (MLW) were measured. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between FL, TL, and MLW for the three groups (P > 0.05). The average histological scores were 8.8 (7-10), 17.8 (15-22), and 2.7 (0-4) in the ESW1500p, the ESW3000p groups, and the controls, respectively. The average histological score for the ESW3000p group was significantly higher than those for the ESW1500p group and the controls (P < 0.001). The average histological score for the ESW1500p group was significantly higher than that for the controls (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The histological findings of this study indicate that ESW increased the cellularity and basophilia of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the adolescent rat epiphysis and there were no negative effects on extremity measurements in the long term.

Effect of extracorporeal shock waves on subcondylar mandibular fractures.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on healing of subcondylar mandibular fracture in rats. METHODS: Unilateral subcondylar fracture in 20 Wistar albino rats was used as a fracture model. Each rat was anesthetized 1 day after surgery, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy was performed. On the 21st day after surgery, animals were killed. Mandibles were dissected, all soft tissues were removed after sacrifice, and fractured and nonfractured hemimandibles were obtained from each rat. Histologic analyses were performed by a single pathologist blinded to the samples. RESULTS: The specimens' mean score in bone fracture healing was 7 (1.09) (range, 6-9) in group 1 and 2.57 (1.62) (range, 1-6) in group 2. With respect to the specimens' bone fracture healing score, there was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, our study showed that extracorporeal shock wave therapy accelerated the improvement of fractures in experimentally induced subcondylar mandibular fracture in the rat mandible. We believe that reducing the duration of improvement in subcondylar mandibular fractures by intermaxillary fixation along with extracorporeal shock wave theraphy would contribute to preventing complications such as ankylosis, fibrosis, and hypomobility occuring because of prolonged fixation.

Prevalence of known mutations in the MEFV gene in a population screening with high rate of carriers.

The Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) shows an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance and affects certain ethnic groups. Disease is caused by mutations in MEFV gene and more than 180 mutations have been defined in affected individuals. Current study aimed to determine the frequency-type of the mutations for MEFV gene in Sivas-middle Anatolian city. The cohort was composed of 3340 patients. MEFV gene mutations were studied by multiplex PCR based reverse hybridization stripAssay method. Patients' clinical features were; family history: 68%, erysipelas-like erythema: 17.6%, fever: 89.9%, abdominal pain: 84.2%, peritonitis: 90.2%, arthritis: 33%, pleuritis: 14.2%, parental consanguinity: 21.2%. Current results revealed that M694V is the most frequent mutation (43.12%), followed by E148Q (20.18), M680I(G/C) (15.00%) and V726A (11.32%). The study population has a high rate of carriers and the E148Q mutation frequency was found to be highest when compared to the other regions of Turkey and other Mediterranean groups.