Surgical repair of the distal biceps brachii tendon: clinical and isokinetic long-term follow-up.

Anatomical reinsertion of the avulsed distal biceps tendon is the recommended treatment, but the results are hampered by complications. The purpose of this study is to show the results of patients surgically treated with a non-anatomical reinsertion of this tendon. From 1972 to 2006, 26 non-professional athletic patients were surgically treated by suture of the tendon on the brachialis muscle tendon. At follow-up 23/26 patients underwent clinical and isokinetic evaluation. At a medium follow-up of 84 months, patients provided satisfactory subjective and objective clinical results. Flexion was restored in all patients, while a 10 degrees supination deficit was found in two patients. Dynamometric tests showed satisfactory results both regarding Maximum Strength Power and Endurance tests. Reinsertion of the distal biceps tendon on the brachialis tendon can be considered, in a long-term follow-up, a safe and effective procedure, with low complication rate.

Blood loss in computer-assisted mobile bearing total knee arthroplasty. A comparison of computer-assisted surgery with a conventional technique.

Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) could be useful in reducing the overall blood loss. A prospective randomised study was performed with two groups of 50 patients each of whom were treated for knee arthritis. Patients of group A were treated by a conventional standard procedure, while for patients of group B a specific CAS procedure was used. We determined the intraoperative blood loss according to the Orthopaedic Surgery Transfusion Haemoglobin European Overview (OSTHEO) study. The average blood loss in patients of group A was 1,974 ml (range: 450-3,930 ml) compared to 1,677 ml of patients of group B (range: 500-2,634 ml). A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p = 0.0283). Computer-assisted surgery is highly recommended in TKR to save blood. It creates more possibilities to operate on anaemic patients and subjects who cannot accept blood products by reducing blood loss risk.