Association of acromial morphological parameters and rotator cuff tears, and evaluation of the influence of age and gender on the parameters and impact on cuff tears: A study on a Middle Eastern population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of significant differences regarding the lateral acromial angle, critical shoulder angle, and the acromial index between patients with and without rotator cuff tears. METHOD: The MRIs (Magnetic Resonnance Imaging) of 82 patients were studied. The rotator cuff tear group (RCT group) included 41 patients while the control group also included 41 patients without rotator cuff tears. Acromial parameters and demographical data were extracted for statistical analysis. RESULTS: No statistical significant difference was found in terms of the studied acromial parameters between patients with and without rotator cuff tears. No correlation was found between age and any of the studied parameters. LAA (Lateral Acromial Angle) was found to be significantly different between males and females of the studied sample. However, no difference was found between patients with and without rotator cuff tears when both genders were studied separately. Moreover, no statistical significant difference was found in terms of the studied acromial parameters between males and females when the RCT group and the control group were studied separately. When gender was the covariate in the one-way MANCOVA test, gender was not significantly dependent on the type of groups (RCT group vs control group). CONCLUSION: The results obtained from this study suggested that the studied acromial parameters in patients with rotator cuff tears were not different from the parameters found in patients without rotator cuff tears. Moreover, gender was not found to influence the acromial parameters, with no subsequent effect on the development of rotator cuff tears. Further studies may be required for better understanding on the biomechanics, taking into consideration age, gender, and the given population.

Fatal Acinetobacter baumanii Necrotizing Fasciitis following Open Reduction Internal Fixation in a Polytrauma Patient.

Necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommon and potentially fatal infection that can affect the epidermis, dermis, and more commonly the subcutaneous, fascia, and muscle layers. NF is usually caused by toxin-producing bacteria with a relatively fast progression associated with severe surrounding tissue destruction. Early diagnosis and management are crucial factors for survival. Broad-spectrum antibiotics along with surgical debridement, sometimes multiple, are needed in order to stop or slow down the progression of NF. Despite optimal care, necrotizing fasciitis remains a highly morbid condition with a high mortality rate. We present a case of a 28-year-old male patient with rapidly developing fatal A. baumannii associated with necrotizing fasciitis, after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of multiple fractures after polytrauma.

Alveolar ridge augmentation using chin bone graft, bovine bone mineral, and titanium mesh: Clinical, histological, and histomorphomtric study.

BACKGROUND: Resorption of the alveolar ridge often leaves insufficient bone volume. Very few studies have investigated the quantity and quality of bone formation in humans, following alveolar ridge augmentation, using autogenous bone and bovine bone mineral (BBM) under titanium mesh. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen alveolar bone defects divided into two groups; control group with symphyseal autogenous bone covered by titanium mesh; and test group with symphyseal autogenous bone mixed with BBM in 1: 1 ratio and covered by titanium mesh. The outcomes were evaluated clinically, histologically, and histomorphometrically. RESULTS: Clinical measurements showed that the horizontal bone gain was 3.44±0.54 mm and 2.88±0.57 mm, on average, for control group and test group, respectively. While graft absorption was 2.66±0.98 mm (43.62%) and 1.67±1.00 mm (36.65%), on average, for control group and test group, respectively. In the test group, BBM particles were still recognizable, on histologic analysis. They were surrounded completely or partly by newly formed bone. Clear signs of resorption of the BBM were found, with osteoclast cell noticed in the area. Histomorphometrically, the newly formed bone was 78.40%±13.97% and 65.58%±6.59%, whereas connective tissue constituted 21.60%±13.97% and 23.87%±4.79% for control group and test group, respectively. The remaining BBM particles occupied 10.55%±1.80%. All differences between the control and test groups were not significant (P>.05). CONCLUSION: This investigation suggests that horizonal ridge augmentation with titanium mesh and autogenous bone alone or mixed with BBM are predictable and ridges were augmented even if mesh exposure occurs.