Comparison of Conventional Incision and 10 mm Approach for Volar Locking Plates in Dorsal Displaced Distal Radius Fractures.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate whether surgery with a 10 mm approach for volar locking plate fixation provides equivalent early post-operative outcomes to conventional incision surgery for distal radius fractures. Materials and Methods: The subjects were divided into a conventional incision group (mean age: 59.1 years, 8 males and 23 females) and a 10 mm approach group (mean age: 59.9 years of age, 6 males and 20 females). The wrist range of motion; grip strength; visual analog scale (VAS); quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (Q-DASH) score; and modified Mayo score were assessed at 3 months after surgery. In addition, radial inclination, ulnar variance, and volar tilt were evaluated on post-operative radiography. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in the wrist range of motion, grip strength, VAS, Q-DASH score, modified Mayo wrist score, and three parameters of post-operative radiography. All patients in both groups had no complications during the perioperative period. Conclusion: We found that a 10 mm approach obtained early post-operative outcomes and alignment comparable to conventional incision surgery for patients with dorsal displaced distal radius fractures.

Age­related differences for expression of the nerve­specific proteins after peripheral nerve injury.

The effects of aging on axon regeneration currently remain unclear. In addition, the up-regulated expression of neurotrophic factors that occurs within one week of peripheral nerve injury has been shown to play an important role in the axon regeneration. To investigate the effects of aging on axon regeneration, the expression of nerve-specific proteins immediately after peripheral nerve injury were compared between young and aged mice. A mouse peripheral nerve injury model was prepared using the sciatic nerve compression method. In each group, Luxol fast blue staining and immunofluorescence staining were performed to assess the degree of Wallerian degeneration in the sciatic nerve, and to evaluate the expression of repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST)/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3), nerve growth factor (NGF), and semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) in the dorsal root ganglion, respectively. Wallerian degeneration was observed in both young and aged mice after peripheral nerve injury. Significant increases were observed in the expression of REST/NRSF (P<0.0001), NT3 (P=0.0279), and Sema3A (P=0.0175) following peripheral nerve injury in young mice, while that of BDNF (P=0.5583) and NGF (P=0.9769) remained unchanged. On the other hand, no significant differences were noted in the expression of these nerve-specific proteins in aged mice. Based on the results of the present study, compensatory changes induced by peripheral nerve injury were initiated by the up-regulated expression of REST/NRSF in young mice, but not in aged mice.