Use of intramedullary fully-threaded pins in the fixation of feline and canine humeral, femoral and tibial fractures.

Intramedullary fully-threaded pins were manufactured from an alloy of titanium, aluminium and vanadium in a fully-threaded style. Pins were produced in various diameters, ranging from 4 mm to 11 mm. Pin lengths varied from 5 cm to 22 cm. The proximal end of the pins was designed to fit into a hexagonal screwdriver, while the distal end was slightly tapered to allow for ease of entry into cancellous bone. Treatment using the fully-threaded intra- medullary pin was carried out in a total of 175 fractures of the humerus, femur, and tibia in 95 cats (bilateral femur in 1 case) and 77 dogs (bilateral femur in 2 cases). Radiographic follow-up for the cases was performed at monthly intervals. Non-union developed in one dog with a femoral fracture in which cerclage wire had also been used. Delayed healing and lameness were observed in two other dogs. Healing with excessive callus formation was observed in 16 dogs. However, there were not any problems noted in these dogs in regards to limb usage. Clinical and radiological results obtained for the remaining cases were found to be very good. Normal, complete fracture healing occurred between four to 14 weeks in dogs, and between four to 12 weeks in cats. Pins were removed upon observation of satisfactory functional and radiographic recovery. Pins could not be removed from 26 cats and 21 dogs as the owners had declined pin removal, or because the owners were lost to follow-up.

Histopathological effects on epidural tissue of bolus or continuous infusions through an epidural catheter in ewes.

This study was performed to evaluate the histopathological effects of epidural drug injection given either by intermittent bolus or continuous infusion through a catheter on epidural tissue. Fourteen ewes received intermittent bolus injections of morphine with bupivacaine, or a bolus of the same drugs followed by continuous infusion for 5 days. After 5 days, histopathological examination of the epidural space revealed mild to moderate inflammatory changes, and focal fibrosis surrounding the catheter in all ewes. The similarity of the inflammatory reaction in the control and drug treated groups seems to indicate that neither intermittent bolus or continuous infusion after a bolus dose caused histopathological changes in the epidural space beyond that caused by the catheter itself.

Tuberculosis of oral mucosa.

In secondary tuberculosis, lesions of the oral cavity may accompany lesions of the pharynx, lungs, lymph nodes or miliary tuberculosis. A 35-year-old male was suffering from swelling of his right cheek, cough, weakness and weight loss. There were local hyperemia and irregular oral mucous in the inner part of the right cheek. Chest x-ray showed bilateral nodular opacifications and a cavity of 2 cm. Acid-fast bacteria were present in sputum and Lowenstein-Jensen culture was positive. The pathological signs of the biopsy taken from the buccal mucosa including multistratified squamous epithelium were: tubercle structure, Langhans' giant cells and minimal cazeation necrosis. After anti-tuberculous chemotherapy oral and pulmonary lesions were almost in remission. Following this case report of lung tuberculosis accompanied by tuberculosis of oral mucosa, the literature related is reviewed.

Four types of topical anaesthetic agents: evaluation of clinical effectiveness.

In this study, four anesthetic agents of different forms and contents, namely: EMLA 5% Cream (lidocaine 2.5 percent, prilocaine 2.5 percent), Vision-Gel (benzocaine 20 percent), Anesthetic Tabs (tetracaine hydrochloride 0.68 mg, cincocain hydrochloride 0.02 mg), Xylocaine 10% aerosol (lidocaine 10 percent) were evaluated in terms of effectiveness in decreasing the intra-oral injection pain. Six groups each consisting of 20 children were constituted from 120 children aged between 10-15 years. The responses of the patients to the pain were evaluated using a visual analogue scale. Consequently, of all the other anesthetic agents used in the present study, Vision Gel was observed to be the most effective.