Suture anchors for primary deltoid ligament repair associated with acute ankle fractures.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical effect of primary suture anchors repair in the treatment of deltoid ligament rupture associated with ankle fractures. 34 patients with acute deltoid ligament rupture associated with ankle fractures were selected between 2011 and 2014. Medial clear space (MCS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, visual analog scale (VAS) were noted. The mean follow-up was 28.4 (range, 22-35) months. The mean AOFAS score was 92.6 (range, 90-95) and the mean VAS score was 1.06±0.65 (range 0 to 2) points at the final follow-up. The mean MCS is (9.10±4.99) mm before and (3.71±0.33) mm after surgery in radiographs. At the postoperative final follow-up, the mean MCS of injured ankle is (3.74±0.32) mm in radiographs, and (3.65±0.17) mm of uninjured contralateral ankle. Using suture anchors for the primary repair of deltoid ligament rupture during the treatment of ankle fractures can achieve satisfactory outcomes.

Direct anterior approach for mini plate fixation of Regan-Morrey type II comminuted ulnar coronoid process fracture.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of Regan-Morrey type II comminuted coronoid process fracture treated with mini plate through the direct anterior approach (DAA). METHODS: Ten patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with mini plate through the DAA between February 2013 and August 2016 was included. There were three women and seven men, with an average age of 34.4 ± 7.5 years. At the final follow-up, the Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, and the elbow range of motion were noted. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 26.3 ± 2.2 (range 24-31) months. The mean elbow arc of motion was 118.5° with a mean arc of extension of 4° ± 5.2° and flexion of 122.5° ± 7.2°.The mean forearm pronation was 72° ± 7.2°, and the mean supination was 68° ± 6.3° with a mean forearm rotation arc of 140°. The average postoperative score according to the MEPS was 91 ± 5.7 points (range 80-100 points), and all patients achieved satisfactory scores (8 excellent and 2 good). The final average VAS score was 0.6 ± 1 (range 0-3). The final average DASH score was 4.0 ± 1.6 (range 2.3-7.4). None of the patients complained about elbow instability that required secondary surgery. No complications of infection, joint incongruency, fracture nonunion, median nerve palsy, or implant failure were reported. CONCLUSIONS: ORIF with mini plate through the DAA for the treatment of the type II comminuted coronoid process fractures can achieve satisfactory outcomes.

[Case control study on open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) for the treatment of proximal humerus fractures in aged].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of close reduction and minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis in treating proximal humerus fractures in the aged. METHODS: From February 2012 to December 2013,39 patients with proximal humerus fractures were treated with minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO group, 21 cases) and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF group, 18 cases). Including 17 males and 22 females in the study, and aged from 67 to 88 years old with an average of (71.8 ± 5.2) years old. In MIPPO group, there were 11 males and 10 females with an average age of (70.0 ± 5.3) years old;and in ORIF group, there were 10 males and 8 females with an average age of (72.0 ± 4.2) years old. Operation time, blood loss during operation, fracture healing time and postoperative complications were recorded. The functions of the shoulder joints were assessed according to Constant-Murley score at final follow-up. RESULTS: All the patients were followed up from 11 to 27 months with an average of 18.1 months. The mean blood loss of the MIPPO group was (176.0 ± 57.4) ml,while the ORIF group was (356.0 ± 66.9) ml (t = 7.22,P = 0.01). The operation time of the MIPPO group was (47.4 ± 14.9) min, while the ORIF group was (92.7 ± 15.8) min (t = 0.79, P = 0.03). Fracture healing time in the MIPPO group and ORIF group was (17.6 ± 5.8), ( 21.7 ± 4.9) weeks, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean Constant-Murley score at final follow-up was 89.7 ± 14.5 in MIPPO group, and 81.8 ± 13.2 in ORIF group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MIPPO has advantages of little trauma, less blood loss, rapid recovery, less vascular damage and so on and can effectively treat the proximal humerus fracture in the aged.

[Myogenic elephant skin cream combined with Vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) for the treatment of bedsores].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the efficacy of the myogenic elephant skin cream combining with VSD for treating severe bedsores. METHODS: Twenty-nine cases of III and IV degree bedsores were treated from June 2009 to June 2013. Among them, 15 cases were treated by myogenic elephant skin cream combined with VSD (VSD group) including 7 males and 8 females with an average age of (69.0±5.3) years old ranging from 17 to 96 years;other 14 cases were treated by the treatment of conventional dressing change (control group) including 6 males and 8 females with an average age of (71.0±4.2) years old ranging from 40 to 86 years. At 7, 14, 21, 28 d after treatments, specimens of wound two groups were respectively taken to examine immunohistochemical CD34 adopted SABC, the number of wild vascular cross were observed as capillary density value under high magnification microscope. It was used to assess the hyperplasia of granulation tissue of wound. The capillary density value and the visual wound observation were indicators for evaluation of clinical efficacy. RESULTS: Seventeen of 19 cases got complete data of specimens of wound at 7, 14, 21, 28 d,included 9 cases of VSD group,8 of control group. In the microscope view, the capillary density of VSD group was higher than that of control group significantly (P<0.05), it showed the application of VSD technology improved hyperplasia of granulation tissue much faster than conventional dressing change. In VSD group, 13 cases with 15 wounds healed, 2 cases with 3 wounds improved; in control group,3 cases with 3 wounds healed,7 cases with 9 wounds improved, 4 cases with 5 wounds were unhealed. CONCLUSION: Using the VSD technology with continuous high pressure suction to clean the drainage of wound and lacuna thoroughly can effectively control infection,promote the growth of granulation tissue, and then applying myogenic elephant skin cream to improve partial blood supply while prompting rapid growth of new granulation tissue and epithelial cell. The risk of this treatment is low,and the course of treatment is short, this provides a safe and effective method for treating bedsores.

Thermoelectric measurement of multi-walled carbon nanotube bundles by using nano-probes.

We report here a method for measurement of thermoelectric power of quasi-one dimensional nano-materials with a simple platform, where individual nanomaterial is assembled with nano-probes in a scanning electron microscope. This approach allows repeated manipulation and thermoelectric measurement of the same loaded nanosample with adjustable number of individual nanotubes or nanowires. It also allows assembly of multiple samples on one measurement stage. For multi-walled carbon nanotube bundles, we have observed a weak trend that, when the number of individual tubes in a bundle varies from ten millions to around a hundred thousand, the thermoelectric power almost remains at around 10 microV/K. When the tube number in the bundle is further reduced, the up-limit of the thermoelectric power gradually increases to a value near 20 microV/K.