Treatment of segmental bone defects in rats by the stimulation of bone marrow osteo-progenitor cells with prostaglandin E2.

An alternative to bone grafting is engineered osteo-conductive material that carries osteo-progenitor cells with osteo-stimulant factors impregnated on a malleable osteo-conductive material. We used bone marrow stem cells as the source of osteo-progenitor cells and stimulated them with prostaglandin E2 using demineralised bone matrix as a carrier. We treated 35 skeletally mature male Wistar albino rats with segmentary radial bone defects using five different treatment groups. Group I received no treatment; the remaining four groups all received a mixture of bone marrow and demineralised bone matrix. In group III, a copolymer was added. In group IV, prostaglandin E2 and in group V prostaglandin E2 within a copolymer was added to the mixture. Eight weeks after the surgical procedure, the rats were sacrificed. Radiological and histological evaluation of the radial bone showed that while there was no significant healing in groups I, II and III, there was a significant healing response in groups IV and V.

A novel biodegradable PCL film for tendon reconstruction: Achilles tendon defect model in rats.

This study aims to investigate applicability of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) biodegradable films for repair of gaps in Achilles tendons in a rat model, also comparing surgical repair versus no repair approaches. PCL was synthesized with tailor-made properties, then, PCL films were prepared by solvent casting. Seventy-five outbred Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into five groups: (i) sham operated (skin incision only); (ii) no repair (complete division of the Achilles tendon and plantaris tendon without repair); (iii) Achilles repair (with a modified Kessler type suture); and (iv) plasty of Achilles tendon defects with the biodegradable PCL films, and (v) animals subjected to 1 cm mid-substance defect with no repair. Functional performance was determined from the measurements of hindpaw prints utilizing the Achilles functional index. The animals were killed 8 weeks after surgery and histological and biomechanical evaluations were made. All groups subjected to Achilles tendon division had a significant functional impairment that gradually improved so that by day 28 there were no functional impairments in any group whereas animals with a defect remained impaired. The magnitude of the biomechanical and morphological changes at postoperative 8 weeks were similar for no repair group (conservative), Achilles repair group and tendonplasty group (biodegradable PCL film group). The initial rate of functional recovery was significantly different for primary suture, Achilles repair group and PCL film group (p>0.01). But, at the 28th day, functional recovery was quite similar to the other groups. In summary, our results suggest that the PCL film can be an alternative biomaterial for tendon replacement.

The relationship of the heel pad compressibility and plantar pressure distribution.

Loss of heel pad elasticity has been suggested as one of the possible explanations of heel pain. This study aimed to determine the effect of heel pad thickness and its compressibility to heel pressure distribution, in 47 (94 feet) normal subjects and 59 (94 feet) patients with heel pain, using radiological measurements and EMED-SF (Novel, Munich) plantar pressure distribution measurement system. Both heels of the patients and control group were radiographed with and without weight bearing. The ratio of the heel pad thickness in loading to unloading position was defined as "the heel pad compressibility index." The plantar peak pressure of the heel was measured at heel strike phase of the gait cycle. The compressibility index for control and patient groups were found to be 0.60 and 0.69, respectively. The peak pressure under the heel pad was recorded to be 28.4 N/cm2 for patients and 31.7 N/cm2 for control group. No significant difference was found for heel pad compressibility index and heel pad pressures between patient and control groups (p > 0.05). This study revealed that there is no relationship between heel pad compressibility and pressure distribution of the heel pad both in control and patient group. We feel the flexibility of the heel pad does not have any influence on heel pain syndromes.

Multiple hemangiomas of the foot: a case report.

Although hemangiomas are common soft tissue tumors, it rarely involves the feet. We are reporting a forty-seven-year-old female with multiple hemangiomas of her left foot without pain. During surgery there were seven well-defined masses that were totally excised after ligation of penetrating vessels. The microscopic investigation revealed mixed-type (capillary and cavernous) hemangioma. We had not experienced any recurrence after two years follow up period.

Footprint and radiographic analysis of the feet.

There is controversy concerning the definition and measurement of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. Various techniques are reported to assess the medial arch height, including radiographic measurements and footprint analysis, which are the most commonly used methods. Some authors define footprint analysis as unreliable for measuring the arch height. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between radiologically measured angles and the arch index obtained from footprint analyses in 38 children with flexible pes planus. A positive correlation of arch index was found between lateral talo-horizontal and lateral talo-first metatarsal angles (p < 0.05). These angles have been used by some authors to describe the height of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. This study demonstrated that footprint analysis could be used effectively for screening studies and at individual office examinations.