Vacuum myofascial therapy device for non-specific neck pain. A single blind randomized clinical trial

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a vacuum myofascial therapy device (VT) for improving pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), range of motion (ROM), neck pain-related disability, pain, and quality of life in patients with non-specific neck pain.MethodsA randomized controlled trial in which thirty-eight participants with non-specific neck pain (NP) were randomly assigned to either an experimental (VT) or a comparison physical therapy program (PTP) group. The VT group (n = 19) received five sessions of treatment with a vacuum myofascial therapy device while the PTP group (n = 19) received five sessions of massage, ultrasound therapy (US), and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) over two weeks. The outcome measures were the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), range of motion, quality of life (SF-12), neck disability Index (NDI), and PPTs at the end of treatment and at one-month follow-up.ResultsAlthough both groups experienced improvements in pain, neck disability, range of motion, and pressure pain, these only were statistically significant in the VT group. At one-month follow-up, the VT group still showed improvements in pain, neck disability, and range of motion.DiscussionVacuum myofascial therapy applied with a device offers similar results to other vacuum-based techniques such as cupping therapy. Moreover, in this device the parameters are digitally controlled, which allows for the precise reproduction of treatment.     

Wound conditioning by vacuum assisted closure (V.A.C.) in postoperative infections after dorsal spine surgery

The use of vacuum assisted closure (V.A.C.) therapy in postoperative infections after dorsal spinal surgery was studied retrospectively. Successful treatment was defined as a stable healed wound that showed no signs of acute or chronic infection. The treatment of the infected back wounds consisted of repeated debridement, irrigation and open wound treatment with temporary closure by V.A.C. The instrumentation was exchanged or removed if necessary. Fifteen patients with deep subfascial infections after posterior spinal surgery were treated. The implants were exchanged in seven cases, removed completely in five cases and left without changing in one case. In two cases spinal surgery consisted of laminectomy without instrumentation. In two cases only the wound defects were closed by muscle flap, the remaining ones were closed by delayed suturing. Antibiotic treatment was necessary in all cases. Follow up was possible in 14 patients. One patient showed a new infection after treatment. The study illustrates the usefulness of V.A.C. therapy as a new alternative management for wound conditioning of complex back wounds after deep subfascial infection.     

封闭式负压引流治疗软组织感染

目的探讨封闭式负压引流治疗软组织感染的疗效。方法应用封闭式负压引流治疗开放性骨折发生软组织感染18例。结果18例均获随访,时间6个月-1年6个月。软组织感染均愈合,骨折正常愈合12例,延迟愈合6例,无慢性骨感染发生。结论封闭式负压引流治疗软组织感染,可短期控制感染,为进一步治疗创造条件,尤其适用于深部软组织感染患者。手术简单,疗效可靠,适合基层医院应用。     

Endoscopic sealing of infected bronchus stump fistulae with fibrin following lung resections

Summary Bronchus stump insufficiency following lung resection, with an average incidence of 4%, is a serious complication which carries a mortality of up to 90%. Operative transthoracic approaches have been largely unsatisfactory because of the high operative risk and rapidly spreading infection. In an experimental study on 18 pigs, endoscopic occlusion of infected bronchus stump fistulae was achieved with fibrin sealant (1 ml, 500 units/ml thrombin, 3500 units/ml aprotinin) applied via a flexible bronchoscope. During autopsy, all bronchus stump fistulae were found to have healed after the second postoperative week. Transitory local abscesses of the pleura could be prevented by high-dose systemic antibiotic therapy for 5 postoperative days but not by antibiotics added to the fibrin sealant. This endoscopic method has already been performed successfully in 3 clinical cases; additional sclerotherapy with (2–3 ml Ethoxysclerol applied around the fistula orifice was carried out before fibrin sealing to stimulate fibrosis. Endoscopic controls demonstrated fistula closure by granulation tissue after 2 weeks. This procedure could become the method of choice for infected postoperative fistulae of the bronchus stump and should be attempted in any case before operative approaches are considered.     

真空敷料装置在暂时性关腹中的应用

目的 探讨一种新的暂时性关腹方法一真空敷料装置的临床应用。方法 用聚丙烯薄膜、手术巾、塑料黏贴膜和引流管等构建真空敷料装置。记录使用此装置患者的各种临床资料和并发症。结果 有13例患者共使用真空包扎15次进行暂时性关腹，其中5次（33．3％）是因为腹内压增高无法获得无张力的筋膜对合，4次（26．7％）是为了再次手术探查，2次（13．3％）是因为损伤控制，4次（26．7％）是上述多个因素的联合。7例（53．8％）患者最终完成腹壁全层对合关闭，5例（38．5％）患者无法直接对合腹壁缺损，最后行创面断层皮片植皮；3例（23．1％）患者出现腹腔内脓肿，无1例出现消化道瘘，无内脏脱出。1例（7．7％）在试图关腹之前死亡，与真空包扎无关。结论 真空包扎可使患者获得直接腹壁肌肉筋膜层关闭，并发症发生率低、易于掌握，是一种较好的暂时性关腹方法。     

Time-dependent changes of insufficiency fractures of the sacrum: intraosseous vacuum phenomenon as an early sign

Sacral insufficiency fractures develop over a period of time and show time-dependent changes. We report on 15 CT examinations of 5 patients with early-stage insufficiency fractures of the sacrum. In 4 patients only irregular sclerosis without distinct fracture lines was present in 7 of 8 fractures. Of these 4 patients; 3 exhibited intraosseous gas inclusions in a ventral part of a lateral mass; 5 of 8 fractures disclosed a ventral cortical break. When distinct fracture lines had developed in 1 patient, intraosseous vacuum phenomenon had disappeared. Fracture lines evolve over weeks to months and show central bone absorption. The fractures can heal as demonstrated in 4 of 6 fractures in 3 patients, can persist over 1 year without significant changes or can progress to pseudoarthrosis with bone destruction similar to neuropathic joint disease. Intraosseous vacuum phenomena can persist to this stage. Intraosseous vacuum phenomenon is recognized as a potential finding in the early stage of sacral insufficiency fracture, which also is true for irregular sclerosis and ventral cortical disruption. Correspondence to: A. Stäbler     

不同方法预防儿童第一恒磨牙龋坏的效果评价

采用窝沟封闭、氟凝胶、含氟泡沫、口腔卫生宣教(OHI)对泉州市二年级儿童(7~8岁)第一恒磨牙龋坏的预防效果进行评价,尝试寻找最适合群体儿童的第一恒磨牙龋坏预防方法。方法 2017年采用整群随机抽样的方法在泉州市区选取5所学校的二年级儿童1 768名,检查第一恒磨牙萌出情况及患龋情况,分为5组,分别为空白对照组(n=313)、口腔卫生宣教组(n=421)、氟保护漆组(n=267)、含氟泡沫组(n=438)、窝沟封闭组(n=329),观察两年后五组学生防龋效果。结果 五所小学共有1 748名儿童完成两年的观察研究,随访率为98.87%。干预两年后,氟保护漆组新增龋均及龋面均高于其他四组,窝沟封闭组新增龋均及龋面均低于其他四组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。 结论 4种预防方法对7~8岁儿童第一恒磨牙防龋效果不同,窝沟封闭对龋齿预防效果最好。     

Change in granulation tissue coverage and bacteriological load using Low Cost Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in acute musculoskeletal wounds

BackgroundLow cost Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) dressings have been considered as an alternative to traditional daily dressings. There is scanty literature evaluating the change in the percentage area of wound covered by granulation tissue following application of low-cost NPWT. The change in the bacteriological flora following application of low-cost NPWT devices has also not been evaluated.MethodsPatients above the age of 18 years with acute musculoskeletal injuries of <3 weeks duration which underwent a surgical debridement and required subsequent wound coverage were included in the study. Area of the wound and the area covered by the granulation tissue as well as the bacteriological count were measured before and after application of NPWT. A low cost NPWT using wall mounted vacuum device was put on the patient giving a constant negative pressure of 125 mm of Hg for 2 days. The findings before and after application of NPWT were compared and analyzed using Wilcoxin Signed-rank test.Results21 patients with mean age of 35.52±15.075 were included. The pre-NPWT granulation tissue area ranged from 122 mm² to 8483 mm² with a mean of 1648.38 mm² (SD = 1933.866). The post-NPWT granulation tissue area ranged from 234 mm² to 7847 mm² with a mean of 2364.48 mm² (SD = 1857.716). The mean increase in granulation tissue was 716.1 mm².The pre-NPWT wound area ranged from 422 mm² to 10847 mm² with a mean of 4009.62 mm² (SD = 3026.209). The post-NPWT wound area ranged from 326 mm² to 9143 mm² with a mean of 3410.33 mm² (SD = 2636.206). The mean reduction in wound size was 599.29 mm².The pre-NPWT bacteriological count ranged from 3000/ml to 130000000/ml with a mean of 12616761.90/ml (SD = 29664589.37). The post-NPWT bacteriological count ranged from 1000/ml to 380000000/ml with a mean of 26401523.81/ml. The mean increase in bacteriological count was 13784761.91/ml.ConclusionThere was a statistically significant decrease in wound size (p = 0.001) and statistically significant increase in percentage area of granulation tissue coverage (p = 0.000) following low cost NPWT application. However there was no statistically significant increase in bacteriological clearance in these patients.     

负压封闭引流联合银黄洗剂冲洗治疗下肢静脉性溃疡的效果观察

目的:观察负压封闭引流联合银黄洗剂冲洗治疗下肢静脉性溃疡的临床疗效。方法:将52例下肢静脉性溃疡患者随机分为对照组和治疗组各26例,对照组给予负压封闭引流联合生理盐水冲洗治疗,治疗组给予负压封闭引流联合银黄洗剂冲洗治疗,疗程均为28 d。比较两组患者创面的面积及状态评分(气味、肉芽形态及疼痛的评分)、相关炎性指标(白细胞计数及超敏C反应蛋白值)的变化情况及总有效率。结果:治疗组的总有效率为88.46%,高于对照组的61.54%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与治疗前比较,两组治疗后创面的面积及状态评分明显改善,白细胞计数及超敏C反应蛋白值明显降低(P<0.05),且治疗组较对照组改善更明显,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:负压封闭引流联合银黄洗剂冲洗治疗下肢静脉性溃疡可有效促进肉芽组织生长、改善创面状态并降低炎性反应,明显提高创面愈合率。