Effects of fibrin glue on wound healing in oral cavity

Objectives. Healing after oral cavity surgery may be problematic in some cases, because it is a contaminated cavity. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of fibrin glue on healing after surgical procedures in the oral cavity.

Methods. Forty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were used at this study, 24 in study (Group 1) and 18 in control (Group 2) groups. First molars of the rats were extracted with some cortical bone. The exposed cavities were filled with fibrin glue after hemostasis in study group but 5/0 silk suture was used in control group. The rats were sacrified after two, four and six weeks and histologic analysis was performed.

Results. Healing was better in the study group. Foreign body reaction was lower in Group 1 (1/24, 4.1%) than Group 2 (6/18, 33.3%) (p<0.05). Also abcess formation scores were better in Group 1 (3/24, 12.5%) than Group 2 (10/18, 55.5%) (p<0.008, χ²=7). The last significant difference was on necrosis and better results were obtained in Group 1 (2/24, 8.3%) than Group 2 (10/18, 55.5%) (p<0.001, χ²=11.24).

Conclusions. The use of fibrin glue on wound healing in the oral cavity has a positive effect when compared with traditional suture techniques.     

The impact of human leukocyte antigen matching on transplant complications and immunosuppression dosage

Administrative claims data facilitate ascertainment of outcomes not collected by the transplant registry and provide the opportunity to examine prescribed doses of immunosuppressive medications. Here, we examine the impact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching on traditional outcomes, rejection and survival, and use novel methods to examine immunosuppresion doses and complication rates. The central hypothesis tested in this analysis is that HLA-matched recipients receive lower doses of immunosuppression and have fewer posttransplant complications. We break from tradition by examining HLA matching in both living and deceased donor kidney transplants. As secondary aims, we compare the relative impact of class I and II mismatches and describe outcomes achieved with older donors. Medicare claims linked to the United States Renal Data System database for 23,443 kidney transplants were included in the study. A total of 15,793 transplants were DR mismatched (DRMM), 5,340 manifested no DR mismatches (NODRMM), and 2,310 manifested no ABDR mismatches (NOABDRMM). Patients with NOABDRMM experienced lower adjusted risk of rejection (0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.59-0.74, P < 0.001) and lower hazard of graft loss (0.69, 0.61-0.77, P < 0.001) and death (0.76, 0.63-0.92, P < 0.001) compared with those with DRMM. The hazard of cardiac and diabetic complications was similar between recipients of NOADRMM and DRMM transplants, but the hazard of diarrhea was significantly lower (0.82, 0.73-0.92, P < 0.001) in patients with NOABDRMM. The 6-month dose of mycophenolate mofetil was lower in patients with NOABDRMM. This study validates previous studies that indicated significantly lower risks of rejection, graft loss, and death among patients with 0 HLA-A,B,DR mismatches. Use of administrative claims revealed similar rates of cardiovascular complications. However, HLA-matched deceased donor recipients received lower dosages of mycophenolate mofetil and manifested a lower risk of developing posttransplant diarrhea.     

Chimeric thoracodorsal lymph node flap with a perforator-based fasciocutaneous skin island for treatment of lower extremity lymphedema: A case report

Free vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) is applied more and more in the treatment of lymphedema. A random-pattern skin island with VLNT is of use but can have its limitations in flap inset. We describe an option for free VLNT in the treatment of lower extremity lymphedema. We present the case of a chimeric thoracodorsal lymph node flap (TAP-VLNT) with a thoracodorsal artery perforator (TAP) flap (5 × 9 cm) to the lower leg in a 22-year old female patient with stage 2 lower leg lymphedema caused by severe traumatic skin decollement and postoperative scarring after a car accident. TAP flap enabled tailored and tension-free wound closure at the recipient site after scar release and lymph node flap inset. The anastomosis was performed to the anterior tibial artery. The postoperative course was uneventful with no complications or secondary donor-site lymphedema. Follow-up at 6 months showed reasonable cosmetic and functional outcomes. The circumference reduction rate was up to 11% and the patient reported improved quality of life. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of a more flexible lymph node flap inset and tension-free wound closure by harvesting a thin thoracodorsal artery perforator (TAP) skin island together with a thoracodorsal VLNT as a chimeric flap (TAP-VLNT) for treatment of lower extremity lymphedema. Larger series with longer follow-up data are needed to justify its widespread use and demonstrate long-term results.     

Third Generation Ventricular Assist Device: Mid‐Term Outcomes of the HeartWare HVAD in Pediatric Patients

The HeartWare HVAD is a small, third generation continuous flow pump that is intracorporeally placed for support of a failing ventricle in adult patients. This device is small in size when compared to other left ventricular assist devices and can therefore be used in smaller sized pediatric patients. We present our initial experience using the HVAD as a bridge to heart transplantation in the pediatric population. We performed a retrospective, single center, nonrandomized review of 17 pediatric patients who underwent HVAD implantation between June 2013 and March 2016. The primary endpoints evaluated in this study were overall survival to heart transplantation, ongoing device support, or death. In this patient cohort, nine (53%) of 17 patients were male. The median age of the patients was 13.4 ± 3.8 (range 5–17) years. The median body surface area was 1.4 ± 0.4(0.7–2) m². Etiologies of heart failure requiring HVAD support were dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 8), myocarditis (n = 5) and noncompaction cardiomyopathy (n = 4). The overall mean length of HVAD support was 254 ± 298 (range 2–804) days. A successful outcome (bridge to transplant and ongoing mechanical support) was achieved in 13 patients (76.5%). Of the 13 patients, nine (69.2%) were bridged to heart transplantation and four continue to receive support (30.7%) and are eligible for transplantation. Post‐transplant survival has been 100%, with a mean follow‐up of 296 ± 264.5 (range 18–785) days. The most common complication was pump thrombosis (23.5%) in follow‐up. Four patients (23.5%) experienced no complications. The HVAD continuous flow ventricular assist device can be safely used to bridge pediatric patients to cardiac transplantation. Favorable outcomes of this device are comparable to the adult population. This analysis demonstrated safe and effective implantation of the HVAD System in a child with a BSA of 0.7 m².     

Long-term retrospective study on the placement of the cementless acetabular cup and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing femoral head autografting for hip dysplasia and total hip arthroplasty

Background

Placement of acetabular cup in the dysplastic hip is a challenging procedure. Using bulk femoral head autograft to increase the bony coverage of the cup is one of the techniques, which have been described. The impact of cup position on cup and autograft survival is a controversial issue. We aimed to determine whether the position of cementless acetabular cup used in conjunction with femoral head autograft in dysplastic hips affected the autograft-host incorporation with its final radiographic appearance and the cup survivorship into the second decade.

Proinflammatory biomarkers' level and functional genetic polymorphisms in periprosthetic joint infection

Objective

The aims of this study were 1) to identify the level of inflammatory biomarkers interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, C-reactive protein (CRP), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF), ferritin, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum and synovial fluid samples of patients who underwent revision arthroplasty surgery; 2) to establish the relationship between serum and synovial fluid levels; 3) to determine if any of the 11 genetic polymorphisms of TNFα, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, and GCSF on the encoding genes was associated with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI).

Worldwide arthroplasty research productivity and contribution of Turkey

Purpose

Bibliometrics is increasingly used to assess the quantity and quality of scientific research output in many research fields worldwide. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have documented the main characteristics of arthroplasty publications from different countries. This study aimed to evaluate the worldwide research productivity and status of Turkey in the field of arthroplasty using bibliometric methods and to provide an insight into the arthroplasty research for surgeons and researchers.