Load to failure of common meniscal repair techniques: Effects of suture technique and suture material

Success of meniscal repair with early or immediate motion depends on the ability of the suture fixation to withstand the loads applied. Vertical and horizontal mattress suture techniques were tested using 2-0 Ethibond, and 0-PDS and 1-PDS sutures (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ). Mulberry knot technique was tested with 0-PDS and 1-PDS sutures. Twenty menisci (60 sutures) were tested for each suture material. Sutures were placed 3 to 4 mm from the peripheral edge of the meniscus with double barreled cannulas for vertical and horizontal mattress techniques or a spinal needle for the mulberry knot technique, reproducing clinical techniques of meniscal repair. Mechanical testing of suture fixation was performed to failure at a rate of 10 mm/min on a MTS material testing system (MTS Systems Corp. Minneapolis, MN). Suture pullouts were reported as the load displacement to failure from the inner fragment only, because clinical failure would ensue should a suture pull through the inner fragment of a tear. Vertical mattress technique with 1-PDS suture had significantly greater load to failure than any other combination (P < .05). Analysis of variance showed that the vertical mattress technique had statistically superior pullout strength (P < .0001) compared with the horizontal mattress and mulberry knot techniques, which were statistically similar. There were significant differences (P < .0001) between suture types, with 1-PDS proving best compared with 0-PDS, which was stronger than 2-0 Ethibond. Selection of suture material had the greatest impact on vertical mattress load to failure and was not important to the strength of the other techniques.     

鼓室穿刺治疗腭裂渗出性中耳炎的临床评价

目的　探讨腭裂修复同期 ,鼓室穿刺对腭裂伴分泌性中耳炎患者中耳功能及听力损失的影响。方法　将 80例 ( 14 6耳 )患有分泌性中耳炎的腭裂患者 ,随机分为实验组 ( 78耳 ) :常规腭裂修复术 ,术毕作鼓室穿刺。对照组 ( 68耳 ) :单纯腭裂修复术。术后 6个月两组均进行鼓室图、脑干听觉诱发电位检查 ,并进行比较。结果　实验组术后无论与术前比较 ,还是与对照组术后比较 ,鼓室图、V波反应阈值及轻、中度听力损失 ,均有显著进步 (P <0 0 1) ;术后半年内实验组听力恢复早 ,而且治愈率高 ( 96 2 % ,75 /78) ,明显优于对照组 ( 3 8 2 % ,2 6/68)。结论　腭裂修复同期鼓室穿刺 ,不仅有助于改善伴有分泌性中耳炎腭裂患者的中耳功能 ,提高听力 ;而且可避免或减少粘连性中耳炎的发生     

不同湿热环境下颅脑火器伤死亡因素分析

目的　研究高温高湿环境下颅脑火器伤后生命体征变化特点及死亡因素。　方法　杂种猫 3 2只随机分为 4组 ,火器伤后分别放入A (2 5℃、相对湿度 50 % )、B (3 5℃、相对湿度85% )、C(3 8℃、相对湿度 90 % )、D(40℃、相对湿度 95% )四种环境中。每隔 10min记录一次血压、脉搏、呼吸频率及体温 ,到 6h时结束实验。　结果　常温枪伤组实验过程中生命体征稳定 ,随着温度及湿度的增加 ,各组动物相同时相点的体温、呼吸及心率均明显不同 (P <0 .0 5)。A组、B组动物在伤后 6h内均无死亡。C组 1.5h开始死亡 ,至 5h动物全部死亡 ,平均生存时间为 3 .4h。D组 0 .5h开始死亡 ,至 2 .5h动物全部死亡 ,平均生存时间为 2 .0h。　结论　高温高湿环境对颅脑火器伤时的生命体征变化和死亡率影响显著     

重组生长激素对腹部大手术患者血浆蛋白的影响

目的研究重组人生长激素（rhGH）对腹部大手术患者术后代谢、免疫功能和术后并发症的影响。方法回顾性分析腹部大手术患者79人，其中37人为治疗组，42人为对照组。治疗组手术后第2天开始，每天皮下注射思真（重组人生长激素，瑞士雪兰诺公司生产）8U，对照组给予安慰剂（生理盐水），共用7d；分别在治疗前，治疗后3、7、10、14d检测血浆白蛋白、前白蛋白及转铁蛋白水平。记录切口愈合情况及术后并发症情况。结果（1）治疗前，两组白蛋白、前白蛋白及转铁蛋白水平差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；治疗后3d，两组白蛋白水平差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），且均低于治疗前；治疗组前白蛋白、转铁蛋白均高于对照组（P〈0．05）；治疗后7d，治疗组3项指标均高于对照组。（2）治疗组切口愈合情况明显优于对照组（P〈0.05）。（3）治疗组术后并发症发生率明显低于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论腹部大手术患者术后应用重组人生长激素可以提高免疫功能，促进切口愈合，减少术后并发症的发生。     

Closed suction drainage after orthopaedic surgery: evidence versus practice

Abstract Closed suction drainage systems are commonly used in orthopaedic surgery, particularly in joint arthroplasty. The rationale for the use of drains is a theoretical reduction of wound haematomas and infection. However the benefit of using drains after total hip or knee arthroplasty is controversial. Several reports have shown that the use of drains does not reduce infection and morbidity and is an unnecessary and potentially dangerous practice. In fact most studies highlighted that at best their use appears to make no difference to important clinical outcomes. Recently a metaanalysis raised the question about the usefulness of closed suction drainage again, concluding that it has no major benefits. The purpose of this study was to review the evidences available concerning the utility of closed suction drainage outlining that this practice is not supported by clinical evidence.     

Aortic valve injury 10 years after tetralogy of Fallot repair

Summary Although recognized by pediatric cardiac surgeons, aortic insufficiency as a technical complication after tetralogy of Fallot repair is poorly documented, especially if it occurs late. The case of a boy with aortic insufficiency 10 years after complete tetralogy repair is described. No documentation in the literature other than summary statements in textbooks of this occurence was found.     

Roles of DNA polymerase β on repair of DNA damaged by γ－rays irradiation

ＲｏｌｅｓｏｆＤＮＡｐｏｌｙｍｅｒａｓｅβｏｎｒｅｐａｉｒｏｆＤＮＡｄａｍａｇｅｄｂｙγ－ｒａｙｓｉｒｒａｄｉａｔｉｏｎＣａｉＪｉａｎｍｉｎｇ（蔡建明）；ＺｈｅｎｇＸｉｕｌｏｎｇ（郑秀龙）；ＬｕｏＣｈｅｎｇｊｉ（罗成基）；ＧａｏＪｉａｎｇｕｏ（高建国...     

Raz four-corner suspension for severe cystocele: Poor results

The Raz four-corner suspension for the treatment of severe (grades 3 and 4) cystocele has yielded poor results, and is the subject of this paper. During a 10-month period from June 1988 to April 1989, 27 patients with severe cystocele and genuine stress incontinence were treated by the Raz four-corner suspension. Each patient had full preoperative urodynamic evaluation. Twenty-two patients were available for follow-up examinations at 3.5–4 years. At the 6-week postoperative examination all patients had excellent support of the anterior vaginal wall, including the restoration of the anterolateral vaginal wall sulci. However, within 10 months, 6 patients had recurrence of cystoceles of grade 2 or more. These results led to the abandonment of this procedure. On long-term follow-up examination at 3.5–4 years, 59% (13/22) of the patients had recurrence of cystoceles of grade 2 or more. The possible causes for these poor results are discussed. At present therefore, the Raz four-corner suspension for severe cystoceles is not recommended.     

Recognition and management of patients with high-risk vesicovaginal fistulas: Implications for teaching and research

Vesicovaginal fistulas (VVFs) occurring as a result of obstetric trauma are a vast problem in Nigeria and Ghana, where at least 20 000 women await repair, and fewer than 50 physicians have the necessary expertise. Through a series of conferences those VVFs that are at high risk and those at low-risk for repair failure, were identified. A clinic was established where repair of low-risk VVFs was done on an ongoing basis in a remote region of Ghana. A visiting surgical team was utilized to repair the difficult, or high-risk, VVFs, which included 4–6 cm VVFs (3), recurrent VVF (1), combined VVF and RVF (rectovaginal fistula), a large 5 cm juxtacervical VVF (1), and a vesicouterine fistula (1). Management of these patients and others with VVF repair complications is discussed.     

INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR BY LAPAROSCOPIC SURGEONS: EARLY EXPERIENCE AND ATTITUDES

The introduction of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) has been controversial. A questionnaire was sent to all general surgeons in New Zealand to document the early experience with LIHR and attitudes towards it. Of the 118 replies (response rate 55%). 74 were from laparoscopic surgeons. 26 of whom had performed 564 (201 public. 363 private) LIHR (23 bilateral) until January 1994. Only nine (35%) of these surgeons had assisted an experienced surgeon before performing an LIHR. and only four (15%) were supervised by an experienced surgeon during their first case. The transabdominal preperitoneal technique of LIHR was used by 14 (54%) surgeons. the extraperitoneal technique by eight (31%), and the tronsabdominal onlny technique by four (15%). There were 29 (5%) recurrences, 17 (3%) neuropathies. seven (1.2%) conversions, four (0.7%) miijor perforations. and one (0.17%) death. Of the 26 surgeons who performed LIHR, 20 (77%) were concerned about the absence of long-term results. 14 (54%) considered that the optimal technique had not been established. 13 (50%) were concerned about the unique complications associated with LIHR. 11 (42%) were less enthusiastic about performing LIHR than previously. 10 (38%) were doubtful about its advantages, and six (23%,) were uncertain about its future and considered that it should only be performed within the context of a controlled trial. This study highlights a number of issues that need to be addressed before the role of LIHR can be determined.