Utility of early active motion for flexor tendon repair with concomitant injuries: A multivariate analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Flexor tendon injury often occurs with concomitant injuries such as fracture, vascular injury, and extensor tendon injury. These injuries are repaired independently, without a comprehensive strategy. We aimed to identify the effect of concomitant injuries and treatment choice on the outcome of flexor tendon repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 118 fingers of 102 adult patients with zone 1-3 flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon injuries who underwent primary surgery at our hospital between April 2009 and December 2017. The 2-strand pull-out, 4-strand Tsuge, 6-strand Lim & Tsai, and 8-strand cross-locked cruciate suturing techniques were used. We performed multivariate analyses, with the active range of motion (AROM) of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints as dependent variables, and age, existence of concomitant injuries, and their treatment as independent variables. RESULTS: The average AROM of the PIP + DIP joints was 130° at the last follow-up, and 'excellent' or 'good' function was obtained in 74 (63%) of 118 fingers by using the Strickland criteria. Old age, concomitant diaphyseal fractures, and specific methods of osteosynthesis, such as pinning, flexor digitorum superficialis injury, and immobilisation for 3 weeks, significantly worsened the results. However, wiring for osteosynthesis and early active motion protocol improved postoperative functional outcome. Although the outcome did not differ among the suture techniques, the 4-strand Tsuge procedure was performed for the two surgically confirmed ruptures of repair that occurred in our series. DISCUSSION: We clarified the superiority of early mobilisation protocols with rigid osteosynthesis procedure, other than pinning. To minimise tendon adhesion or joint stiffness, surgeons should repair the tendon and fractured bone appropriately, to ensure early mobilisation without serious complications.

Surgical management of posterior knee dislocation associated with extensor apparatus rupture.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to report the clinical and functional results of patients who underwent surgical management for posterior knee dislocation associated with extensor apparatus rupture. INTRODUCTION: Posterior knee dislocations associated with extensor apparatus ruptures are defined as rare but complicated injuries, which are difficult to return to the level of activity prior to the injury. The study demonstrated a hypothesis that good knee stability and early gain of range of motion could be achieved with deliberate design of the treatment protocol and proper application of the instruments. METHODS: Fifteen patients with posterior knee dislocations associated with extensor apparatus ruptures were evaluated after reduction and repair of extensor apparatus. Following that, multiple-ligament reconstruction in association with use of a lateral knee-spanning external fixator was applied for at least six weeks. Ligament reconstructions were performed using allografts. Range of motion and knee stability were both measured at each follow-up evaluation at a mean time of 36months. The assessment was made using the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale. RESULTS: The mean Lysholm scale score was 87.6 (range 73-95), with excellent in 11 cases, good in two, and fair in two. In the final evaluation, the range of motion was a mean range of 123.4° (range 100-135). CONCLUSION: The use of a lateral knee-spanning external fixator ensured the safety of repaired vessels, knee stability after reduction, and early rehabilitation with range of motion.

Trauma inguinal penetrante com formação de fístula arteriovenosa e pseudoaneurisma: relato de caso / Acquired arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneurysm secondary to penetrating inguinal trauma: a case report

Os autores apresentam um relato de caso de vítima de acidente de trabalho com ferimento penetrante em região inguinal direita com peça metálica em espiral, que evoluiu com fístula arteriovenosa da artéria femoral profunda com a veia femoral profunda associado a pseudoaneurisma envolvendo essas estruturas e a veia femoral comum. As fístulas arteriovenosas ocorrem frequentemente após traumas e a associação com pseudoaneurisma é fato raro, devendo ser tratadas precocemente após seu diagnóstico. O ultrassom duplex é atualmente o exame mais utilizado para a avaliação inicial e a arteriografia, o padrão ouro para diagnóstico. No paciente em questão foi realizado tratamento convencional com abordagem cirúrgica direta, sutura arterial e ligaduras venosas. Entretanto, nos dias atuais a cirurgia endovascular e a compressão guiada por ultrassom são métodos terapêuticos que têm sido utilizados com sucesso. O paciente evoluiu sem intercorrência, recebendo alta para acompanhamento ambulatorial com preservação do membro.

This article describes the case of a work accident victim with a penetrating wound to the right inguinal region caused by a metal spiral. The patient developed an arteriovenous fistula between the deep femoral artery and deep femoral vein, combined with a pseudoaneurysm surrounding these structures and the common femoral vein. Arteriovenous fistulas frequently occur after traumas, but the combination of fistula and pseudoaneurysm is rare. It is recommended that they be treated immediately after diagnosis. Duplex ultrasound is the most widely used method for initial assessment and arteriography is the gold standard for diagnosis of arteriovenous fistulas. Endovascular surgery has recently been used successfully in such cases. However, this patient was treated conventionally using a direct surgical approach, arterial suture and venous ligatures, and the limb was saved. The patient developed no complications and was discharged to outpatients follow-up.

Advances in Supportive Care for Late Effects of Head and Neck Cancer.

As the population of head and neck cancer survivors increases, it has become increasingly important for health care providers to understand and manage late complications of therapy. Functional deficits can be categorized as general health deficits resulting in frailty or debility, head and neck-specific functional deficits such as swallowing and speech, and musculoskeletal impairment as a result of tumor and treatment. Of critical importance is the growing data indicating that swallow therapy and physical therapy may prevent or ameliorate long-term functional deficits. Oral health complications of head and neck therapy may manifest months or years after the completion of treatment. Patients with hyposalivation are at high risk for dental caries and thus require aggressive oral hygiene regimens and routine dental surveillance. Swallowing abnormalities, xerostomia, and poor dentition may result in dietary adaptations that may cause nutritional deficiencies. Identification and management of maladaptive dietary strategies are important for long-term health. Follow-up with primary care physicians for management of comorbidities such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia may help to limit late vascular complications caused by radiation therapy. Herein, we review late effects of head and neck cancer therapy, highlighting recent advances.

Critical role for Syk in responses to vascular injury.

Although current antiplatelet therapies provide potent antithrombotic effects, their efficacy is limited by a heightened risk of bleeding and failure to affect vascular remodeling after injury. New lines of research suggest that thrombosis and hemorrhage may be uncoupled at the interface of pathways controlling thrombosis and inflammation. Here, as one remarkable example, studies using a novel and highly selective pharmacologic inhibitor of the spleen tyrosine kinase Syk [PRT060318; 2-((1R,2S)-2-aminocyclohexylamino)-4-(m-tolylamino)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide] coupled with genetic experiments, demonstrate that Syk inhibition ameliorates both the acute and chronic responses to vascular injury without affecting hemostasis. Specifically, lack of Syk (murine radiation chimeras) attenuated shear-induced thrombus formation ex vivo, and PRT060318 strongly inhibited arterial thrombosis in vivo in multiple animal species while having minimal impact on bleeding. Furthermore, leukocyte-platelet-dependent responses to vascular injury, including inflammatory cell recruitment and neointima formation, were markedly inhibited by PRT060318. Thus, Syk controls acute and long-term responses to arterial vascular injury. The therapeutic potential of Syk may be exemplary of a new class of antiatherothrombotic agents that target the interface between thrombosis and inflammation.

Can microRNAs control vascular smooth muscle phenotypic modulation and the response to injury?

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration and proliferation are critical events in vascular proliferative diseases. Recent studies have established microRNAs (miRNAs) as important mediators for the modulation of VSMC phenotype by targeting transcription factors and the cytoskeleton, which act as molecular switches for VSMC differentiation. The importance of miRNAs for VSMC development, differentiation, and function is evident by the fact that loss of the miRNA processing enzyme Dicer in VSMCs results in embryonic lethality due to severe vascular abnormalities. Similar abnormalities are observed in adult miR-143/145 knockout mice, indicating that these miRNAs are important for VSMC differentiation and function. However, since miR-143/145 knockout is not embryonically lethal, additional miRNA must be required during embryonic development of VSMCs. In addition, specific miRNAs such as miR-145, miR-21, and miR-221 have been found to regulate neointimal hyperplasia following vascular injury, which provides interesting possibilities for future therapeutical targets against vascular disease. Herein, we summarize recent advances regarding the role of miRNAs in VSMC phenotype modulation and response to injury.