Obtaining a new empirical (n,2n) cross section formula using Flerov and Talyzin non-elastic cross sections at 14-15 MeV.

The knowledge of (n,2n) cross sections is required in shielding and breeding calculations. It's also important, in nuclear reactor applications, for neutron dosimetry research. In nuclear reaction mechanism, (n,2n) reaction channel is the dominant reaction for medium and heavy mass nuclei at 14 MeV energy range. The empirical and semi-empirical (n,2n) reaction cross sections have been investigated by many authors, but theoretical calculations have not been adequate because of the character of the nuclear structure is not exactly known. In this work, a new empirical formula has been proposed to calculate the (n,2n) reaction cross sections at 14-15 MeV neutron incident energy. In the calculations different fitting method have been used to obtain cross-section formula for target nuclei in the range 14 ≤ A ≤ 241 mass number. The (n,2n) experimental cross sections have been taken from EXFOR nuclear data library. In this new formula, the Flerov and Talyzin expression for the inelastic cross section σne was used to fit the experimental (n,2n) cross sections. It has been observed that the obtained formulas give quite coherent results with the experimental data.

Simple parametrization of (n,d) cross sections using Flerov and Talyzin's formula.

This article aims at providing new cross section data from empirical formulas for the (n,d) reactions of which experimental measurements at 14-15 MeV energy are not available or limited. If the experimental data for a nuclear reaction at a given energy are scarce, theoretical calculations and also developing empirical formulas have a critical importance. Here, we propose a new empirical formula of (n,d) reactions for analysis of the relationship between the experimental data and the parameters of empirical formula. The present formula was obtained by using the non-elastic Flerov and Talyzin expression to calculate (n,d) cross sections at 14-15 MeV. Due to the good overall agreement with the measured cross sections, our empirical formula with polynomial fitting model including asymmetry parameter can be useful in planning new experiments of (n,d) reactions for energies around 14 MeV.

Is shoulder geometry important for rotator cuff tears?

PURPOSE: This study is aiming to evaluate some specific anatomic shoulder parameters such as the lateral acromial angle (LAA), acromial index (AI), coracohumeral distance (CHD) and critical shoulder angle (CSA) in rotator cuff tears. METHODS: A total of 100 cases consisting of 50 patients with rotator cuff tears and 50 patients without rotator cuff tears, who underwent shoulder MRI (mangnetic resonance imaging) examination in Istanbul Medipol University Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, participated in this study. In this retrospective study, CCA, LAA, AI and CSA were evaluated in MRI in order to shed light on the theories of rotator cuff tears. RESULTS: There was no significant difference (P Ëƒ .05) in acromial index and coracohumeral distance in the patient group. Lateral acromial angle and critical shoulder angle were significantly different in the patient group compared to the control group (P < .05). There was a weak negative correlation between CSA and CHD. CONCLUSION: In our study, we found that patients with smaller LAA and higher CSA values in MRI images are prone to have rotator cuff tears. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate whether this association has predictive value.

Management of persistent coccydynia with transrectal manipulation: results of a combined procedure.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the results of manual therapy combined with steroid injection with single steroid injection in the treatment of persistent coccydynia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Combined therapy was performed in 21 patients (Group 1) and steroid injection in 23 patients (Group 2). We compared two groups and investigated the combined therapy group in details. Patients were classified according to the underlying cause, BMI, anatomic type of coccyx and duration of symptoms (< 6 or ≥ 6 months). RESULTS: Mean age was 30.5 years at the time of procedures. Mean followup time was 27.8 months. VAS scores were decreased in both groups but combined therapy group had much more better results. Complete pain relief was achieved in 61.9% of patients in Group 1 whereas it was only 17.4% in Group 2. In 23.8% of Group 1, the VAS score was significantly decreased but the feeling of uncomfortability persisted. This was 73.9% in Group 2. We had no relapse in Group 1 but in Group 2 the relapse rate was 56.5%. Underlying cause, body mass index, anatomic type of coccyx and duration of symptoms had no effect on results. CONCLUSION: Manual therapy combined with steroid injection would be an alternative method in case of persistent coccydynia. It is a safe and easy option before surgical treatment.

Which unicondylar prosthesis is better in the mid- term in obese patients: fixed or mobile?

As it is mentioned in the literature, rates of complications and revision are higher in the obese compared to non-obese patients, although obesity does not a contraindication for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and successful outcomes are achieved. However, there is not any study in the literature comparing the outcomes of fixed and mobile unicompartmental prostheses which are applied in the obese patients. Objective of this study was to compare outcomes of our obese patients who we applied fixed or mobile unicompartmental arthroplasty and followed up for 8 years and over. Of 293 patients in whom we performed unicompartmental knee prosthesis due to medial gonarthrosis between 2003 and 2014, 239 patients who were regularly followed-up at least for 18 months were included in this study. Total 248 knees with 193 (77.8%) fixed including bilateral prosthesis in 9 patients and 55 (22.2%) mobile prostheses were retrospectively assessed. The study included 57 patients having BMI >30 kg/ m2 who were regularly followed-up. In the final controls; mean flexion was found as 107° (100-128°)(p < 0.05), mean extension as 3° (0-5°) and mean tibio femoral angle as 4° (1-5°) (p < 0.05) valgus. Postoperative mean WOMAC value was found as 91.23 ± 3.02 (92-96) (p < 0.05) and mean KSS score as 88.3 ± 3.94 (85-100) (p < 0.05). In the final controls, respective knee flexions were seen to be 105° (100-125°) and 108°(105-128°) in the fixed and mobile insert subgroups (p > 0.05). Unicompartmental knee prosthesis is a good treatment option which can be applied also in obese patients and has high survival rates. No significant difference was found between the prostheses with fixed and mobile insert in terms of function and knee scores. However, fixed unicompartmental prosthesis should primarily be preferred in obese patients because of the challenging surgical technique, difficult learning curve and insert dislocation that we encounter with mobile prostheses.

Which Unicondylar Prosthesis Is Better In The Mid-Term In Obese Patients : Fixed Or Mobile?

As it is mentioned in the literature, rates of complications and revision are higher in the obese compared to non-obese patients, although obesity does not a contraindication for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and successful outcomes are achieved. However, there is not any study in the literature comparing the outcomes of fixed and mobile unicompartmental prostheses which are applied in the obese patients. Objective of this study was to compare outcomes of our obese patients who we applied fixed or mobile unicompartmental arthroplasty and followed up for 8 years and over. Of 293 patients in whom we performed unicompartmental knee prosthesis due to medial gonarthrosis between 2003 and 2014, 239 patients who were regularly followed-up at least for 18 months were included in this study. Total 248 knees with 193 (77.8%) fixed including bilateral prosthesis in 9 patients and 55 (22.2%) mobile prostheses were retrospectively assessed. The study included 57 patients having BMI >30 kg/ m2 who were regularly followed-up. In the final controls; mean flexion was found as 107° (100-128°)(p<0.05), mean extension as 3° (0-5°) and mean tibio femoral angle as 4° (1-5°) (p<0.05) valgus. Postoperative mean WOMAC value was found as 91.23 ± 3.02 (92-96) (p<0.05) and mean KSS score as 88.3 ± 3.94 (85-100) (p<0.05). In the final controls, respective knee flexions were seen to be 105° (100- 125°) and 108°(105-128°) in the fixed and mobile insert subgroups (p>0.05). Unicompartmental knee prosthesis is a good treatment option which can be applied also in obese patients and has high survival rates. No significant difference was found between the prostheses with fixed and mobile insert in terms of function and knee scores. However, fixed unicompartmental prosthesis should primarily be preferred in obese patients because of the challenging surgical technique, difficult learning curve and insert dislocation that we encounter with mobile prostheses.

Causes of open fractures: orthopaedic injuries related to home-made agricultural vehicles in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Small vehicles known locally as pat-pats, which are used in agricultural work, are forbidden in traffic. The inherent instability of the vehicle may result in accidents, both on farmland and in traffic. The aim of this study was to evaluate orthopaedic injuries related to pat-pats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients hospitalised for pat-pat accidents in two central hospitals in Samsun between December 2006 and October 2013 were scanned using ICD codes. A total of 46 patients with orthopaedic injuries (43 male, 3 female) with a mean age of 36 ± 13.3 years were evaluated. RESULTS: The most injured age group was between 10 and 49 years (n = 40, 87%), and accidents occurred most in summer (n = 30, 65%). Open fractures were determined in 42 (91%) patients. Amputation was necessary in 4 (8%) patients. The hospitalisation period was a mean of 17.1 ± 14 days. A statistically significant relationship was determined between open fracture type and the hospitalisation period (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: As most of the orthopaedic injuries related to home-made agricultural machines are open fractures, it is important to guard against these types of injuries. The regulations that these machines are not used in traffic should be enforced and safer practices should be applied for use in agriculture.

Surgical treatment of nail bed subungual exostosis.

INTRODUCTION: A subungual exostosis (SE) is a bony overgrowth that is permanently attached to the tip of the distal phalanx. Its pathology differs from osteocartilaginous exostoses in that it mainly involves the overgrowth of normal bone, which may present beneath the toenail or on the sides of the toe. This retrospective study aimed to report the results of surgical treatment when the diagnosis of SE was delayed; the condition was initially considered to be another pathology affecting a different nail or the terminal toe. METHODS: A total of 17 patients (12 female, five male) were included in the study. All surgical resections were performed by the same surgeon using the same surgical technique, with the patient under digital anaesthesia. The patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively (on Weeks 1 and 6, the first year, and the last follow-up visit) using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society questionnaire and the Visual Analogue Scale score. RESULTS: The patients underwent surgery for SE removal between December 2009 and October 2012. Their mean age was 21.3 ± 4.4 (range 14-29) years and the mean follow-up period was 27.1 ± 7.8 (range 18-45) months. Clinical or radiological recurrence was not observed in any of the patients during the follow-up period. Four patients had superficial infections, which were treated using appropriate antibiotic therapies. CONCLUSION: As SE is an uncommon benign lesion, its diagnosis may be delayed. Radiography may be useful in obtaining a differential diagnosis.

A rare localization of osteoid osteoma ­ Presentation of two cases.

Introduction: Osteoid osteoma is a benign osteoid-forming tumor generally localized to the long bones, is rarely localized in the hand and the major symptom is intermittent pain. This study aims to present two patients who were operated on for metacarpal osteoid osteomas. Case Outline: A 16-year-old female patient and an 18-year-old male patient were operated on for metacarpal osteoid osteomas. The major symptom was intermittent pain for both patients. After surgical excision of the niduses, the complaints resolved in both cases. Conclusion: In the case of high suspicion for osteoid osteoma, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging should be performed due to the risk of negative radiographic findings. Surgical excision is curative and a safe method of treatment.

Efficacy of periarticular injection applied trough knee other than posterior capsule in simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate periarticular multimodal drug injection (PMDI) in bilateral total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: In 154 knees of 77 patients, PMDI was administered intraoperatively through the regions other than posterior capsule to one knee; other knee was control. RESULTS: Drug-injected knees had lower visual analog scale scores and higher passive range of motion postoperatively (p < 0.05). The active straight leg raise was higher in drug-injected knees (47 [61%] vs 19 [24.7%], p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PMDI is a safe and effective method of early postoperative pain management in total knee arthroplasty when applied through regions other than posterior capsule.

Surgical treatment results of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most commonly seen peripheral nerve compression syndrome and CTS surgery is the most common surgery done for peripheral nerve compression syndromes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a systemic disease with a component of peripheral neuropathy. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effects of type 2 DM on functional results in type 2 DM patients who underwent carpal tunnel surgery. METHODS: The study included 39 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome which was confirmed by electromyography. Twenty-one patients did not have DM, 18 patients had type 2 DM that were treated for DM and had regulated blood glucose levels. Assessments were done with the Boston scale. All operations were done by the same surgical team using the same surgical technique. Functional and symptomatic scores between the two groups were compared with the Mann-Whitney U test which is the non-parametric version of the Student's t test, and 95% confidence interval p<0.05, which is considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: In patients with type 2 DM, preoperative mean Symptom Severity Score was 3.6±0.35 (2.9 to 4.2) in the last control mean Symptom Severity Score was 1.2±0.16 (1.0-1.7), and preoperative mean functional status score was 3.3±0.56 (2.3 to 4.5) and in the last control mean functional status score was 1.3±0.36 (1.0 to 2.4).The patients without DM, preoperative mean Symptom Severity Score was 3.5±0.45 (2.8 to 4.2) in the last control mean Symptom Severity Score was 1.2±0.19 (1.0 to 1.6), and preoperative functional status score was 3.2±0.47 (2.4 to 4.6) in the last control mean functional status score was 1.3±0.35 (1.0 to 2.5). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Type 2 DM patients with regulated blood glucose levels can be operated without additional procedure during and after surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome like in carpal tunnel syndrome patients without DM.