Long-Term Outcomes of Cementless Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty in Young Patients With Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: The Impact of Implant Improvements and Preoperative Stage.

Introduction Advancements in bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) implants in the mid-1990s contributed to favorable short-term outcomes for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), particularly in cases without acetabular cartilage lesions. Nevertheless, long-term results remain unclear. In this study, we investigated (i) the impact of new-generation BHA implants and (ii) the effect of the preoperative stage on long-term outcomes in young patients with ONFH. Methods The records of consecutive patients with ONFH who underwent cementless BHA were retrospectively reviewed. Patients aged ≥60 years, with <10 years of follow-up, or who underwent acetabular reaming during surgery were excluded. Radiographical and clinical outcomes of patients who received first-generation BHAs and new-generation BHAs (developed after 1998) were compared by stratifying based on preoperative stage 2/3A and 3B/4, according to the Japanese Investigation Committee classification. Results Overall, 50 hips from 39 patients (mean age: 44.6 years; 64% male) with an average follow-up of 18.6 years were included. The frequency of advanced-stage patients was significantly higher in the first-generation BHA group than in the new-generation group. Regarding postoperative outcomes, the first-generation BHA group had higher acetabular erosion grades (p<0.001) and more femoral component loosening than those in the new-generation group (p<0.001). Revisions were performed in eight hips (seven in the first-generation and one in the new-generation BHA groups, p<0.001). In the new-generation BHA group, there were no significant differences in patient background between stage 2/3A and 3B/4 groups, and only one case in the stage 3B/4 group required revision. In the new-generation group, the grade of acetabular erosion was significantly higher for stage 3B/4 than stage 2/3A (p<0.001); other radiographical and clinical outcomes did not differ significantly between stages. Conclusion New-generation BHAs have significantly better implant survival rates for early-stage ONFH than those of first-generation BHAs. These findings indicate that BHA is an acceptable treatment option for early-stage ONFH in young patients.

[Long-term result of aortic root remodeling using the Florida sleeve technique in a patient with connective tissue dysplasia and aortic root aneurysm without aortic insufficiency]. / Otdalennyi rezul'tat ekzoprotezirovaniya kornya aorty po metodike Florida Sleeve u bol'nogo s soedinitel'notkannoi displaziei i anevrizmoi kornya aorty bez aortal'noi nedostatochnosti.

Aortic root remodeling using the Florida sleeve technique was proposed as a simpler alternative to classical reconstructive interventions in patients with aortic root aneurysm without aortic insufficiency. We present a 10-year result of valve-sparing surgical treatment using the Florida sleeve technique in a patient with connective tissue dysplasia and aortic root aneurysm.

Long term postoperative results and quality of life after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis in sub-sahara African countries, the case of Cameroon: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Lumbar spinal stenosis is a frequent and disabling disease of the elderly. However, the impact of its surgery on the long term (≥5 years) postoperative results and quality of life has not yet been evaluated in our setting. Methods: The study population consisted of 224 patients operated between 2010 and 2017 at the Yaounde Central Hospital and the Yaounde General Hospital, of whom 33 were evaluated. Long term postoperative results were defined as reoperations, indication for reoperation, time elapsed to reoperation and control-X ray findings. Quality of life (QOL) was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NRS), and compared to reported preoperative values. The one-way analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for associations between patient characteristics and quality of life outcomes. Results: Participants had a mean age of 57.3 years. 21% of participants were reoperated at least once, two years later on average due to reappearance of their clinical pictures. QOL significantly improved from being crippled (mean ODI 67.5%) and having severe pain (mean NRS 8) before surgery, to moderate disability (mean ODI 34.4%, p < 0.01) and moderate pain (means NRS 4, p < 0.01) five years later. Having large family support was the only factor independently associated with improved ODI and NRS (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Lumbar spinal stenosis surgery is still beneficial five years later. Large cohort studies need to be conducted in our setting.

Long-term clinical results of alumina ceramic medial pivot total knee arthroplasty: a 10-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The newly-designed alumina ceramic medial pivot total knee prosthesis was introduced to reduce polyethylene wear and better fit the anatomical morphology of the Asian population. This study aimed to clarify the long-term clinical results of alumina medial pivot total knee arthroplasty over a minimum follow-up period of 10 years. METHODS: The data of 135 consecutive patients who underwent primary alumina medial pivot total knee arthroplasty were analyzed in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were examined over a minimum 10-year follow-up period. The knee range of motion, Knee Society Score (KSS) knee score, Knee Society Score function score, and radiological parameters were assessed. The survival rate was also evaluated by using reoperation and revision as endpoints. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period lasted 11.8 ± 1.4 years. Patients who were not followed accounted for 7.4% of the total cohort. Knee and function scores of KSS improved significantly following total knee arthroplasty (P < 0.001). In 27 individuals (28.1%), a radiolucent line was observed. Aseptic loosening occurred in three cases (3.1%). The survival rates for reoperation and revision were 94.8% and 95.8% 10 years after the operation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: During a minimum 10-year follow-up period, the present model of alumina medial pivot total knee arthroplasty showed good clinical outcomes and survival rates.

Long-term recurrence rate in anterior shoulder instability after Bankart repair based on the on- and off-track concept.

BACKGROUND: Since its first proposal, the concept of on- and off-track lesions in anterior shoulder instability has gained clinical relevance as a tool to predict the failure rate of arthroscopic Bankart repair. Current literature only reports either short-term follow-up or long-term results of small sample sizes. The aim of this study was to provide a long-term evaluation of recurrent instability following arthroscopic Bankart repair in a large cohort using the on-track vs. off-track concept as a predictor for failure. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 271 patients who underwent primary arthroscopic Bankart repair for anterior shoulder instability between 1998 and 2007. All patients with a minimum follow-up of 78 months and a preoperative computed tomographic (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan were included into the study. Preoperative CT and/or MRI scans were used to determine the glenoid track and width of Hill-Sachs lesion. Recurrence of instability was defined as presence of instability symptoms (dislocation, subluxation, and/or apprehension) or revision surgery (stabilization procedure) and was assessed as the primary outcome parameter. RESULTS: The glenoid track of 163 shoulders was assessed (female n = 51, male n = 112) with a mean follow-up of 124 months (99.4-145.6, standard deviation = 2.5) and a mean age of 24 years (20-34.). An off-track Hill-Sachs lesion was found in 77 cases (47%), and in 86 cases (53 %) it was on-track. The rate of recurrent instability in the off-track group was 74% (n = 57) compared with 27% (n = 23) in the on-track group (P < .001). The overall rate of revision surgery due to instability was 29% (n = 48) after a mean time of 50.9 months (±42.8) following Bankart repair. The rate of revision surgery in the off-track group was 48% (n = 37) after a mean of 53.5 months (±42.0) vs. 13% (n = 11) after 42.3 months (±46.3) in the on-track group (P < .001). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the on- and off-track concept helps to distinguish patients for whom an isolated arthroscopic Bankart repair yields long-term benefits. Because of the high rate of recurrent instability in the off-track group, an off-track lesion should be treated surgically in such a way that the off-track lesion is converted into an on-track lesion.

Direct femoral head approach without surgical dislocation for femoral head chondroblastoma: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Chondroblastomas are rare, benign, locally aggressive lesions that appear in the epiphysis. Surgery for femoral head chondroblastoma (FHCB) is difficult. Conventional treatment with curettage via a drilled tunnel along the femoral neck can damage the growth plate and is associated with high local recurrence rates. The trapdoor procedure, which directly facilitates lesion access from the femoral head articular surface, can reduce local recurrence and avoid growth plate damage, although it requires surgical dislocation. Little is known about the long-term results of this direct articular surface approach, and there are no case reports on trapdoor procedures without dislocation. CASE PRESENTATION: We report two cases (patients aged 12 and 15 years) of FHCB presented with coxalgia treated using the trapdoor procedure without surgical dislocation. Both surgeries were performed with patients in the semi-lateral position. The hip joint was exposed via an anterior approach, and a capsulotomy was performed at the superior rim of the acetabulum, followed by the external rotation of the hip joint. With a fine osteotome, a rectangular flap (trapdoor) was opened on the cartilage surface in the lateral non-weight-bearing area, and curettage of the lesion followed by bone and/or bone substitute grafting was performed. Subsequently, the trapdoor was replaced in its original position. There has been no local recurrence or femoral head aseptic necrosis after more than 6 and 12 years for patients 1 and 2, respectively. Both patients had musculoskeletal tumor society scores of 100% at follow-up and are enjoying a normal active life. CONCLUSIONS: This direct femoral head approach without dislocation may be a simple treatment alternative for FHCB.

Three-year prospective outcomes of laparoscopic intraperitoneal on-lay mesh repair of abdominal incisional hernia.

BACKGROUND: Incisional hernia (IH) can be treated with an intraperitoneal on-lay mesh (IPOM). This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes, recurrence rates, and chronic pain after laparoscopic IH repair. METHOD: The data of 50 patients who underwent laparoscopic IPOM repair between March 2018 and May 2021 were prospectively collected. RESULTS: The standard IPOM technique was used on 41 patients (82%), whereas the IPOM-plus technique was used on nine patients (18%). There was a history of IH repair for 12 patients (24%), and two of them recurrent hernias. The average body mass index was 24.7, and the average defect size was 17.6 cm2 . The mean operative time was 145.7 minutes, and the mean hospital stay was 3.5 days. There were minor complications in nine patients (18%), a case of bowel injury (2%), and a case of bladder injury (2%). Recurrent hernias were observed in three patients (6%) over a mean follow-up period of 17.9 months (4-36 months). One patient had postoperative chronic pain lasting 3 months. The width and size of the hernia were risk factors for recurrence. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic IPOM repair was a safe and effective method of treating IH, with a low incidence of postoperative complications, chronic pain, and recurrence.

Retethering risk in pediatric spinal lipoma of the conus medullaris.

OBJECTIVE: Lipoma of the conus medullaris (LCM) causes neurological symptoms known as tethered cord syndrome (TCS). The symptoms can be seen at diagnosis and during long-term follow-up. In this report, pediatric patients with LCMs who underwent untethering surgery, under the policy of performing surgery if diagnosed regardless of symptoms, were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate long-term surgical outcomes. Possible risk factors for retethered cord syndrome (ReTCS) were evaluated in the long-term follow-up period. METHODS: A total of 51 consecutive pediatric patients with LCMs who underwent a first untethering surgery and were followed for > 100 months were retrospectively analyzed. The surgery was performed with the partial removal technique. Pre- and postoperative clinical and radiological data were reviewed to analyze the outcomes of surgery and identify potential risk factors for ReTCS. RESULTS: During follow-up, 12 patients experienced neurological deterioration due to ReTCS. The overall 10-year and 15-year progression-free survival rates were 82.3% and 75.1%, respectively. On univariate analysis, a lipoma type of lipomyelomeningocele (OR 11, 95% CI 2.50-48.4; p = 0.0014), patient age at the time of surgery (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.14-1.18; p = 0.0070), and the mean patient growth rate after surgery (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.12-3.41; p = 0.0040) were significant factors associated with ReTCS. Cox proportional hazard models showed that a lipoma type of lipomyelomeningocele (HR 5.16, 95% CI 1.54-20.1; p = 0.010) and the mean growth rate after surgery (HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.00-3.50; p = 0.040) were significantly associated with the occurrence of ReTCS. CONCLUSIONS: More complex lesions and a high patient growth rate after surgery seemed to indicate increased risk of ReTCS. Larger prospective studies and registries are needed to define the risks of ReTCS more adequately.

Minimum 15-year results of metasul 28-mm metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty in patients younger than 50 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Some propitious mid- and long-term studies had been reported for MoM bearings; however, most studies have addressed specific patient groups rather than younger, active patients, who probably represent the most suitable population for investigations on wear and osteolysis. The purpose of this study to evaluate the long-term results of second-generation metal-on-metal cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients aged <50 years. METHODS: From December 1997 to January 2004, primary THA using a metal-on-metal bearing cementless implant was performed in 63 patients (72 hips) aged <50 years. The mean follow-up duration was 18.6 (range, 15.9-22.1) years, and the mean age at initial operation was 39 (range, 22-49) years. Clinical results, complications, survivorship, osteolysis, and aseptic loosening were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean Harris hip score and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index scores were improved from 57.8 (range, 28-69) points and 73.4 (range, 63-94) points preoperatively to 91.7 (range, 80-100) points and 25.5 points (range, 17-38) points, respectively, at the last follow-up. Osteolysis lesions were found in 12 hips (acetabulum, 6 and femur, 6). The notching occurred on the femoral stem neck occurred in 12 hips. The mean serum cobalt and chromium concentrations were 2.3 (range, 0.2-10.6) µg/L and 1.7 (range, 0.4-8.1) µg/L, respectively, at a mean follow-up of 12.7 years in 32 patients (50.1%). The Kaplan-Meier survivorship curve analysis with revision for any reason as the endpoint revealed that 93.1% survived at 18.6 years' follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Second-generation metal-on-metal cementless THA was found to produce satisfactory clinical and radiographic results with a low revision rate for osteolysis and aseptic loosening in patients aged less than 50 years.

Impact of Hybrid Operating Rooms on Long-Term Clinical Outcomes Following Fenestrated and Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the impact of hybrid operating room (HOR) guidance on the long-term clinical outcomes following fenestrated and branched endovascular repair (F-BEVAR) for complex aortic aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospectively collected registry data were retrospectively analyzed to compare the procedural, short- and long-term outcomes of consecutive F-BEVAR performed from January 2010 to December 2014 under standard mobile C-arm versus hybrid room guidance in a high-volume aortic center. RESULTS: A total of 262 consecutive patients, including 133 patients treated with a mobile C-arm equipped operating room and 129 with a HOR guidance, were enrolled in this study. Patient radiation exposure and contrast media volume were significantly reduced in the HOR group. Short-term clinical outcomes were improved despite higher case complexity in the HOR group, with no statistical significance. At a median follow-up of 63.3 months (Q1 33.4, Q3 75.9) in the C-arm group, and 44.9 months (Q1 25.1, Q3 53.5, p=0.53) in the HOR group, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of target vessel occlusion and limb occlusion. When the endograft involved 3 or more fenestrations and/or branches (complex F-BEVAR), graft instability (36% vs 25%, p=0.035), reintervention on target vessels (20% vs 11%, p=0.019) and total reintervention rates (24% vs 15%, p=0.032) were significantly reduced in the HOR group. The multivariable Cox regression analysis did not show statistically significant differences for long-term death and aortic-related death between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that better long-term clinical outcomes could be observed when performing complex F-BEVAR in the latest generation HOR.

Long-term results of tricuspid reconstruction with pericardium in an infant.

We report the long-term clinical outcome of an 8-month-old infant who underwent tricuspid reconstruction using fresh autologous pericardium for severe tricuspid regurgitation due to defects in the leaflets of the tricuspid valve after ventricular septal defect closure and ablation. Ten years after surgery, the tricuspid function is good with mild regurgitation and mild stenosis. From the age of 8 months to 11 years, the patient's body weight and height increased fourfold and twofold, respectively. Thus, a fresh autologous pericardial patch could be the material of choice for tricuspid leaflet repair in pediatric patients.

Voice After Rhinoplasty. An Important Question for the Opera Singers.

OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of the study was to evaluate the influence of cosmetic and functional rhinoplasty on quality of life and voice performance preservation in opera singers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in the ENT Department of Clarós Clinic and included 18 opera singers: 16 women (8 sopranos, 5 mezzos, 2 contralto, and 1 unclassified) and 2 men (1 tenor and 1 baritone). Patients underwent either cosmetic or functional rhinoplasty. We excluded patients with previous nasal surgery, allergic or vasomotor rhinitis, laryngeal pathology, nasal pathology except septal deviation, hormonal or psychiatric disorders, psychic lability, or younger than 18 years of age. We evaluated the fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, maximal phonation time, Voice Handicap Index-10, and subjective perception of the patient before and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Rhinoplasty was indicated for aesthetic reasons in 12 cases. Six patients also associated nasal obstruction due to septal deviation. The fundamental frequency presented no variation and jitter, shimmer and the maximal time phonation improved slightly. Voice Handicap Index-10 scores decreased after the intervention (5.3 vs 5) and the overall perception of the surgical intervention was considered positive both aesthetically and vocally. CONCLUSIONS: Singers evaluated long-term influence of rhinoplasty as positive. Over 88.8% admitted a beneficial effect on vocal emission and function while 11.1% perceived no change regarding their previous voice.

Long-term result of a second or third two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty for infected total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Persistent or recurrent infection after two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the treatment of an infected TKA is a dreaded complication. The purpose of the current study was to determine the ability of a second or third two-stage revision TKA to control infection, evaluate the long-term survivorship of the TKA prosthesis, and measure the functional outcome after a second or third two-stage revision TKA for reinfection. METHODS: We evaluated 63 patients (65 knees) with failed two-stage TKA treated with a second or a third two-stage revision TKA. There were 25 men and 38 women (mean age, 67 ± 10.2 years). The mean follow-up from the time of a second two-stage TKA revision was 15.1 years (range, 10 to 19 years) and the mean follow-up from the time of a third two-stage TKA revision was 7 years (range, 5 to 10 years). RESULTS: Overall, infection was successfully controlled in 49 (78%) of 65 knees after a second two-stage revision TKA was performed. In the remaining 16 knees, recurrent infection was successfully controlled in 12 knees (75%) after a third two-stage revision TKA. Survivorship, free of implant removal for recurrent infection, was 94% at 15.1 years (95% CI, 91 to 100%). Survival free of revision TKA for mechanical failure was 95% (95% CI, 92 to 100%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that a second or a third two-stage revision TKA is a reasonable option for controlling infection, relieving pain, and achieving a satisfactory level of function for patients with infected TKAs.

Long-term results of a randomized study comparing open surgery and laparoscopic surgery in elderly colorectal cancer patients (Eld Lap study).

BACKGROUND: We reported favorable short-term results of laparoscopic surgery in a randomized study comparing open and laparoscopic surgery for elderly patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The purpose of this study is to clarify the long-term outcomes of the laparoscopic surgery for elderly patients with CRC. METHODS: The inclusion criteria were ≥ 75 years, adenocarcinoma, ≤ T4a, M0 and elective surgery. The patients were randomly allocated to open or laparoscopic surgery according to the tumor location. The survival rates, recurrence and reasons for death were compared. RESULT: One hundred patients (right colon 43, left colon 28, rectum 29) were included in each group. Eight patients who underwent open surgery and 2 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery were excluded from the analysis because of metastatic diseases and other malignancies found during the operations. One hundred ninety patients (98 open, 98 laparoscopic) were analyzed. There was no difference in the backgrounds excluding more patients with vascular invasion in the laparoscopic rectal cancer. There were no differences in the 5-year overall survival rate (open vs. laparoscopic; 78.9% vs. 82.1%, p = 0.638), 5-year disease-free survival rate (70.5% vs. 62.8%, p = 0.276), 5-year recurrence-free survival rate (76.1% vs. 72.1%, p = 0.419), or 5-year cancer-specific survival rate (86.1% vs. 80.5%, p = 0.208). No differences in survival were detected in the analyses of stage and tumor location. There was no significant difference in the overall recurrence rate or recurrence site. However, distant lymph node metastases and local recurrences were more common after laparoscopic surgery than after open surgery. There was no difference in the cause of death. More than half of the patients died from other diseases in both groups (57.9% vs. 52.6%, p = 0.765). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery showed similar long-term results compared to open surgery in elderly patients with CRC. Laparoscopic surgery is an effective surgical procedure for elderly patients with CRC.

Late clinical outcomes of manual aspiration thrombectomy for a massive acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

PURPOSE: We investigated the late outcomes of patients who underwent manual aspiration thrombectomy for acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent manual aspiration thrombectomy between December 1995 and June 2002. All patients were discharged after the procedure. Patients' statuses were checked by medical record examinations and telephone interviews. The median follow-up was 162 months (116-208 months). RESULTS: Five patients died during follow-up; two for malignancy, one for septic shock, one for cerebral infarction, and in one patient the cause of death was unknown. There were no pulmonary thromboembolism-related deaths during the period and no recurrence. The 1-year survival rate was 100%, the 5-year survival rate was 75.0 ± 12.5%, and the 10-year survival rate was 75.0 ± 12.5%. CONCLUSION: Patients who undergo manual aspiration thrombectomy for acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism show acceptable outcomes.

Long-term results of triple-layered small diameter vascular grafts in sheep carotid arteries.

There is an urgent clinical for small diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) for use in the treatment of coronary artery disease. Moreover, biodegradable SDVGs are drawing increasing attention because they have the potential to restore vascular function with the degradation of vascular graft and tissue regeneration. In this study, we designed triple-layered SDVGs to mimic the native arterial structure, with each layer contributing its unique porosity to the porous structure. We evaluated triple-layered SDVGs in a sheep carotid arterial replacement model. After implantation for 12 months, two grafts were patent and indicated the feasibility of using grafts in large animals. Nevertheless, it was determined that both grafts formed aneurysms at the proximal end. The prevention of such aneurysms remains a challenge for future investigation.

Long-Term Influence of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) on Dental Implants after Maxillary Augmentation: Implant Survival and Success Rates.

The atrophic maxilla often requires bone augmentation before implant placement to ensure long-term implant success. A previous prospective clinical trial examined the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) during maxillary augmentation. The short-term results showed no positive effect of PRP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the same patient collective of the previous study regarding the PRP long-term impact on the survival and success of dental implants. Fifty-three patients from the previous study diagnosed with maxillary atrophy and augmented with autologous bone grafts from the iliac crest and dental implants, were included in this study. Treatment was carried out on both sides in 34 patients with a split-mouth-design in which one randomly chosen side was treated additionally with PRP, the other side was the control-side. Nineteen patients were treated only on one side and were assigned to the PRP-or the control group randomly. Implant follow-up of the patients from the previous study was performed after an average time of 13 years. Implant success was evaluated using two different success criteria. Thitry-seven patients (25 women and 12 men) were investigated in this study. Seventeen patients (12 female, 5 male) were included in the PRP group, while 20 patients (13 female, 7 male) participated in the control group. A total of 210 implants were inserted. Of these, 102 implants (48.57%) were placed in the PRP group and 108 implants (51.42%) in the control group. Out of 102 investigated implants in the PRP group, 6 were removed (survival rate 94.1%). While two of the 108 implants in the control group were loss (survival rate 98.1%). In the PRP group, the cumulative probability of survival after 15.1 years was 94.1% and in the control group, was 98.1%, with no significant difference between the two groups. Higher significant difference for the control group was found in the cumulative success probability using Albrektson criteria (p = 0.05). Positive impact of PRP on long-term implant survival and success could not be found.

Long-Term Influence of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) on Dental Implants after Maxillary Augmentation: Retrospective Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

: The long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of dental implants inserted in augmented bone treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has not been well addressed in the literature yet. This study is based on a collection of patients from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that did not report any short-term positive effects of PRP on bone healing after sinus lift surgery using autologous iliac crest bone graft. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term impact of PRP regarding clinical and radiological outcomes on the inserted implants in the previous RCT. For this evaluation, we considered the following variables: plaque index, probing depth, bleeding index, mobility grade, Periotest® values, and radiological bone loss. Out of 53 patients (n = 306 implants) included in the previous study we were able to reinvestigate 37 patients (n = 210 implants) in two centers (31 in Giessen, Germany and 6 in Erlangen, Germany). Clinical and radiographic parameters suggested overall healthy conditions of the peri-implant tissue. The PRP-group and the control group did not differ significantly in the majority of the parameters. The overall evaluation showed that result data of the PRP-group was inferior to the control group in 64 percent of the evaluated parameters. The present study cannot provide evidence of a positive effect of PRP on the long-term implant clinical and radiological outcomes. In fact, a tendency towards inferior long-term results in the PRP-group was detected without reaching a significant threshold. Further controlled trials need to be conducted to investigate this correlation.

Late Clinical Outcomes of Hybrid Catheter Intervention for Acute Massive Pulmonary Thromboembolism.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of patients undergoing hybrid catheter intervention for acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with hemodynamic impairment were treated with mechanical thrombus fragmentation, an intrapulmonary injection of mt-PA, and manual clot aspiration between August 1999 and June 2002. All patients were discharged after the procedure. Patients' statuses were checked by medical record examinations and telephone interviews. The median follow-up was 141 months (115-168 months). RESULTS: Ten patients died during follow-up, five for malignancy, three for septic shock, one for cerebral infarction, and one for heart failure. One patient had recurrence of pulmonary thromboembolism because of drug withdrawal by self-judgment. No chronic pulmonary thromboembolism was observed. The 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates were 87.5 ±6.8%, 83.3±7.6%, and 74.5±9.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients who undergo hybrid catheter intervention for acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism show good long-term outcomes.

Standard and accelerated corneal cross-linking long-term results: A randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To compare long-term results between accelerated and standard corneal cross-linking protocols in the treatment of progressive keratoconus and compare their effectiveness between central (cone in the central 3 mm) and peripheral (cone beyond 3 mm) cases. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, we compared 31 eyes treated with accelerated corneal cross-linking (18 mW/cm2, 5 min) and 31 eyes treated with standard corneal cross-linking (3 mW/cm2, 30 min), 16 central and 11 peripheral keratoconus in each group. In this report, 4-year changes in vision, refraction, topography, corneal biomechanics, and corneal cell count were evaluated. RESULTS: Uncorrected distance visual acuity improvement was better with standard corneal cross-linking (0.19 ± 0.30 logMAR) than accelerated corneal cross-linking (0.08 ± 0.35 logMAR), but the intergroup difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.283). Cylinder and spherical equivalent significantly increased similarly in both groups. Among topographic indices, anterior Kmax-3 mm showed more reduction in standard corneal cross-linking than accelerated corneal cross-linking (1.35 ± 1.39 vs 0.36 ± 1.10 D, p = 0.011). Anterior Kmax-8 mm reduced by 1.50 ± 1.82 and 0.37 ± 1.58 D in the standard corneal cross-linking and accelerated corneal cross-linking groups, respectively (p = 0.029). Compared to 18-month results, none of the indices at 4 years showed any significant intergroup difference (all p > 0.05). In cases with peripheral keratoconus, changes in anterior Kmax-3 mm (+0.03 ± 0.66 vs -1.17 ± 1.15 D, p = 0.012) and anterior Kmax-8 mm (+0.43 ± 1.09 vs -1.57 ± 1.40 D, p = 0.003) were greater with standard corneal cross-linking. In central cases, no significant intergroup difference was observed. CONCLUSION: At 4 years after the procedure, standard corneal cross-linking offered better anterior corneal flattening in the center and periphery. These differences concerned cases of peripheral keratoconus, and the two protocols were similarly effective in central cases. Beyond the 18th month, the two protocols appeared to be similarly effective.