Strain response of an instrumented intramedullary nail to three-point bending

Objectives:?An experimental biomechanical evaluation of an instrumented intramedullary nail (TriGen® META Nail, Smith&Nephew®) was undertaken. The objectives were two-fold. The first was to identify the most sensitive strain gauge positions and orientations on the nail, and the second was to demonstrate that the nail was capable of detecting changes in stiffness of the nail–bone composite. The function of the instrumented nail is to quantify fracture healing objectively and directly, and so to predict delayed repair or non-union 2 months before current methods.

Methods:?Eight flat pockets were machined onto the surface of the nail and three strain gauges attached in each pocket. The instrumented nail was inserted into fourth generation biomechanical grade Sawbones® tibiae with three different fracture configurations as well as into a non-fractured bone. The nail–bone composite was loaded in three-point bending at five positions to determine the strain changes in each of the eight strain gauge pockets located along the length of the nail. To simulate callus in the simplest way and to increase the stiffness of the nail–bone composite, loops of duct tape in multiples of four were applied over the fracture locus. A three-point loading jig was used to obtain the change in strain with increasing stiffness. Relative displacement of the bone ends was quantified using radiostereometric analysis.

Results:?There was no single position of greatest strain sensitivity for all fracture types. The greatest change in strain occurred when the strain gauge pocket and fracture line were closest. Applying the loading moment directly over the strain gauge pocket also maximised its sensitivity. The duct tape callus simulation showed that the instrumented nail was able to detect a change in stiffness of less than 4.1 Nm/°.

Conclusions:?It has been shown that the instrumented nail can detect physiologically relevant changes in stiffness, and so to provide a useful function as an objective monitor of fracture repair.     

Structural integrity of extracted teeth restored using three different post-and-core systems: An in vitro comparative study

AimThe objective of the study was to assess the in vitro fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored using different post-and-core materials.Materials and methodsExtracted human mandibular premolars (n = 36) were extracted teeth and equally distributed into four (4) treatment groups: cast metal post-and-core, milled zirconia post-and-core, pre-fabricated post with composite resin core and control group. These samples were then each subjected to the load to fracture test using a universal testing machine. Fracture resistance data were compared among groups by analysis of variance and Fisher’s exact test.ResultsThe highest mean fracture resistance value was observed in the zirconia post-and-core treatment group (1567.26 ± 317.66 N), followed by the cast metal (1355.92 ± 621.56 N) and lastly the pre-fabricated post with composite resin core (725.67 ± 251.05 N) treatment group. Differences among groups were not statistically significantly different (P = 3.77).ConclusionEndodontically treated mandibular premolars with a zirconia post-and-core system exhibited the highest robustness against structural failure based on its mean fracture resistance value. In addition, extracted teeth restored with cast post-and-core resisted a greater stress load than those restored with fiber-reinforced posts. Zirconia showed a more favorable fracture mode than the other restorations.     

Validation of multiple subject-specific finite element models of unicompartmental knee replacement

Accurate computer modelling of the fixation of unicompartmental knee replacements (UKRs) is a valuable design tool. However, models must be validated with in vitro mechanical tests to have confidence in the results. Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric knees with differing bone densities were CT-scanned to obtain geometry and bone density data, then implanted with cementless medial Oxford UKRs by an orthopaedic surgeon. Five strain gauge rosettes were attached to the tibia and femur of each knee and the bone constructs were mechanically tested. They were re-tested following implanting the cemented versions of the implants.Finite element models of four UKR tibiae and femora were developed. Sensitivity assessments and convergence studies were conducted to optimise modelling parameters. The cemented UKR pooled R² values for predicted versus measured bone strains were 0.85 and 0.92 for the tibia and femur respectively. The cementless UKR pooled R² values were slightly lower at 0.62 and 0.73 which may have been due to the irregularity of bone resections. The correlation of the results was attributed partly to the improved material property prediction method used in this project. This study is the first to validate multiple UKR tibiae and femora for bone strain across a range of specimen bone densities.     

应变率成像评价自体外周血干细胞移植术后心肌梗死患者左室局部心肌功能的临床研究

目的探讨应变（SI）及应变率成像（SRI）在急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者自体外周血干细胞移植治疗前、后左室局部心肌功能定量评价中的应用价值。方法共有65例AMI患者入选本项前瞻性、非随机、开放试验（其中35例患者为细胞移植组，30例为常规治疗组）。应用SRI、SI和多普勒速度成像（TVI）测定细胞移植组、常规治疗组治疗前、后及30名健康人的左室壁各节段的SI、SRI及TVI的参数变化。结果①65例AMI患者的589个缺血节段的心肌收缩期峰值应变率（PSSR）、舒张早期峰值应变率（PESR）、收缩期峰值应变（PSS）、心肌收缩期峰值速度（VS）和舒张早期峰值速度（Ve）显著降低，舒张晚期峰值应变率（PASR）和舒张晚期峰值速度（Va）变化差异无统计学意义。SRI和SI检出缺血心肌的敏感性、特异性及准确性明显高于TVI[（90％、91％、92％）比（71％、69％、71％），P〈0．01]。②细胞移植组随访期305个经治疗缺血心肌节段中，244个节段的PSSR、PESR、PSS、Vs及ve较术前显著增高或恢复正常，常规治疗组随访期284个经治疗缺血节段中，169个节段的PSSR、PESR、PSS、Vs及Ve较术前显著增高或恢复正常，但两组治疗后改善的缺血心肌节段数比例及SRI、TVI参数比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论SRI和SI能够无创定量评价冠心病缺血心肌节段的运动异常，为临床客观评价冠脉内自体干细胞移植术疗效提供了一种早期无创、敏感、有效的定量分析手段。     

Assessment of Diffuse Thyroid Disease by Strain Ratio in Ultrasound Elastography

The goal of this study was to explore the value of strain ratio from real-time elastography in the semi-quantitative assessment of diffuse thyroid disease. Fifty-one patients with primary hyperthyroidism, 70 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 8 with subacute thyroiditis and 43 with normal healthy thyroids were recruited to measure the strain ratio (SR) of thyroid tissue and sternocleidomastoid muscle (on the same side of the thyroid). SR values of all groups were subjected to statistical analysis. The SRs (mean ± standard deviation) of patients with hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis were 2.30 ± 1.08, 7.04 ± 7.74 and 24.09 ± 13.56, respectively. The SR of the control group was 1.76 ± 0.54. SR values ranked in ascending order were control group < hyperthyroidism group < Hashimoto's thyroiditis group < subacute thyroiditis group. There were statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences in thyroid hardness between groups with different diffuse thyroid diseases. SR values of the hyperthyroidism and control groups did not statistically differ (p > 0.05). It is feasible to assess diffuse thyroid disease with strain ratios obtained with ultrasound elastography.     

三维斑点追踪成像评价2型糖尿病患者左心室应变

目的 应用三维斑点追踪技术评价2型糖尿病(DM)患者左心室应变。方法 对30例2型DM患者(DM组)及30名健康志愿者(对照组)行三维斑点追踪成像,比较两组左心室整体及各节段应变。结果 DM组左心室收缩期整体应变(GS)、整体环向应变(GCS)、整体径向应变(GRS)及整体纵向应变(GLS)均低于对照组(t=2.18、3.27、2.05、3.76,P均<0.05)。DM组左心室前壁及侧壁环向收缩期峰值应变均低于对照组(P均<0.05);前壁基底段、中间段及侧壁径向收缩期峰值应变均低于对照组(P均<0.05);前间隔基底段、前壁基底段和中间段、侧壁中间段和心尖段、下壁心尖段纵向收缩期峰值应变均低于对照组(P均<0.05)。DM组基底段径向及纵向收缩期峰值应变均低于心尖段,中间段纵向收缩期峰值应变低于心尖段(P均<0.05)。对照组基底段环向、径向及纵向收缩期峰值应变均低于心尖段,中间段纵向收缩期峰值应变低于心尖段(P均<0.05)。结论 三维斑点追踪技术可用以评价2型DM左心室整体及节段收缩功能的早期改变。     

三维斑点追踪成像评价冠心病患者左心室缺血心肌节段应变

目的 探讨应用三维超声斑点追踪成像(3D-STI)技术心肌节段应变值评价冠心病(CHD)患者心肌缺血的临床应用价值。方法 将79例临床疑诊CHD但常规二维超声心动图检查室壁运动无异常的患者,以冠状动脉造影检查任意一支冠状动脉主干或主要分支狭窄≥50%作为CHD诊断标准,分为两组,其中CHD组40例,对照组39名。回顾性分析两组超声心动图及临床资料,包括体质量指数(BMI),常规二维超声心动图指标 和三维斑点追踪成像(3D-STI)指标 。并以冠状动脉造影结果为金标准,绘制ROC曲线,分析各应变值对心肌缺血的诊断效能。结果 冠状动脉造影结果显示,左前降支供血区缺血心肌节段共252段,左回旋支供血区缺血心肌节段共95段,右冠状动脉供血区缺血心肌节段共110段。两组间BMI及常规二维超声心动图指标差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。对照组牛眼图颜色均一,各节段曲线分布规律,形态一致;CHD组牛眼图可见缺血节段颜色变浅,应变曲线紊乱、变形、峰值前移、后移或倒置。CHD组左前降支、左回旋支及右冠状动脉供血区AS、CS、LS及RS均较对照组明显减低(P均<0.01)。ROC曲线分析结果显示,LS诊断左前降支、左回旋支、右冠状动脉心肌缺血的敏感度最高,分别为90.1%、89.5%、89.1%,而AS的诊断特异度最高,分别为90.8%,83.1%、89.2%。结论 CHD患者各缺血节段应变值均减低。采用3D-STI可定量评价左心室节段运动异常,在诊断心肌缺血的应变指标中,LS敏感度最高,AS特异度最高。     

XStrainTM技术评价尿毒症患者左心室局部与整体收缩功能

目的 探讨XStrain^TM技术测定尿毒症心肌病患者左心室局部与整体收缩功能的可行性。方法 将28例尿毒症患者分两组,A组左心室非肥厚12例,B组左心室肥厚16例;C组为正常对照16名。经胸超声心动图采集并存储3个心动周期心尖四腔心、两腔心及三腔心切面二维灰阶图像。采用XStrain^TM定量软件进行脱机分析,获得收缩期左心室壁16节段纵向/横向应变及应变率,对16节段应变参数取平均值获得整体纵向/横向应变数据,并对以上参数进行统计学分析。结果 16节段心肌收缩期纵向应变及应变率(除中间段后间隔外)、横向应变(除中间段前间壁和后间壁外)、横向应变率为C组>A组>B组(P均<0.05)。尿毒症患者左心室收缩期整体纵向及横向应变较C组明显减低(P<0.05)。结论 XStrain^TM技术可清晰显示左心室心肌,评估左心室收缩功能,可用于定量评估尿毒症心肌病患者左心室局部与整体收缩功能。     

斑点追踪成像以R波及P波顶点为起始评价正常人左心房功能的差异

目的探讨超声二维斑点追踪成像(STI)以R波及P波为起始测量评价正常人左心房功能的差异。方法对85名健康志愿者进行超声检查,采用二维超声心动图测量左心房被动射血分数(LAPEF)、左心房主动射血分数(LAAEF)、左心房射血分数(LATEF)、左心房扩张指数(LAEI)。分别采用STI以R波及P波为起始测量左心房收缩期应变(Rres、Pres)、舒张早期应变(Rcon、Pcon)、舒张晚期应变(Rpump、Ppump)。结果 Pres、Pcon、Ppump均小于Rres、Rcon、Rpump(P均0.05)。传统超声心动图指标与Pres、Pcon、Ppump的相关性好于与Rres、Rcon、Rpump的相关性。结论测量左心房功能时以P波为起始更准确,STI可准确评价左心房功能,为临床提供了一种新方法。