Refinements in nerve to muscle neurotization

A modified surgical technique is introduced, enabling restoration of muscle function with direct muscular neurotization. Reliable clinical outcomes result from this technique. We report on a series of 10 patients in whom the supplying motor nerve had been lost at the level of the neuromuscular junction as the result of trauma or tumor resection. Our modification of the operative technique ensures a wide distribution of nerve fibers throughout the remaining muscle tissue and produces a mean motor recovery of M4 after a period of 1 to 2 years.     

微创经皮钢板内固定治疗胫骨远端骨折

目的比较微创经皮钢板内固定与传统内固定治疗胫骨远端骨折的疗效。方法自1998年10月至2002年5月，80例胫骨远端骨折患者随机分为2组，微创经皮钢板内固定组与传统切开复位内固定组各40例。结果术后平均随访20个月，微创经皮钢板内固定组中所有骨折均愈合，平均骨折愈合时间为11．9周。传统切开复位内固定组中，骨不连7例，伤口感染6例，钢板外露6例。结论微刨经皮钢板内固定治疗胫骨远端骨折，骨折愈合快，感染率低，是1种较好的生物学固定方法。     

螺旋CT扫描在肋骨骨折诊断中的价值

目的:探讨螺旋CT在肋骨骨折诊断中的应用价值。方法:对比分析其常规X线胸片和胸部螺旋CT资料。结果:100例患者,总计156处肋骨骨折。普通平片显示124处,诊断符合率为79.5%,胸部螺旋CT扫描显示156处,诊断符合率100.0%。结论:螺旋CT扫描对肋骨骨折的诊断有重要价值。     

胸骨骨折和连枷胸的手术治疗

目的总结13例胸骨骨折和连枷胸患者的外科治疗经验。方法连枷胸的手术治疗均采用巾钳重力牵引外固定术,胸骨骨折的手术治疗方法为切开复位,钢板螺丝钉内固定术。结果全部患者均治愈出院,无严重手术并发症发生。结论对严重胸部骨折患者,应选择合适的方法,早期积极手术治疗,效果良好。     

多层螺旋CT诊断肋骨骨折的优势

目的探讨多层螺旋CT诊断肋骨骨折的价值。方法对116例行直接数字化X线摄影(digital radiography,DR)后行多层螺旋CT检查的胸部外伤患者行回顾性分析,分析二者的影响学特征并进行比较。结果胸部DR检查显示肋骨骨折85例(72.3%),未发现肋骨及肋软骨骨折31例(26.7%),其中可疑骨折11例(9.5%);39例(33.6%)发现的肋骨骨折数目少于肋骨CT。多层螺旋CT明确诊断肋骨骨折114例(98.3%)。结论多层螺旋CT与不同重建技术合理组合可以明确诊断肋骨骨折的部位、程度、数目及合并症。与DR相比,多层螺旋CT诊断肋骨骨折具有优势。     

96-Well plates providing high optical resolution for high-throughput, immunofluorescence-based screening of monoclonal antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii

We have developed a method for high resolution, high magnification immunofluorescence-based screening in a multi-well format, using a recently introduced 96-well plate specifically developed for fluorescence microscopy. We report here on the use of these plates to screen hybridoma supernatants for reactivity with specific subcellular compartments of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This has proven to be a powerful screening strategy, particularly when combined with high-throughput immunoblotting, and has enabled us to generate nine different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against either the periphery or structures within the apical end of T. gondii. The availability of a disposable, inexpensive, 96-well plate with optical properties suitable for high magnification imaging could lead to applications in a variety of fluorescence-based screening protocols.     

Screening for congenital colour vision defects

A prospective comparison between the Ohkuma¹ and Ishihara² pseudoisochromatic (PIC) plates was carried out in a group of 400 patients attending a general ophthalmology practice. The sensitivity of the Ohkuma test was compared to the Ishihara test, and the specificity of both was determined by reference to anomaloscopy as a gold standard.
Both tests correctly identified the same group of 24 patients as having a red/green confusion axis, and the Ohkuma test was equally as sensitive as the Ishihara. The grading plates in both tests are unreliable, but the Ohkuma test is quicker, easier to administer, gives less ambiguous responses and has a clearer cut-off score for abnormality. On the basis of this experience the Ohkuma test is recommended as more appropriate for routine colour vision screening than either the 24 or 38 plate Ishihara tests.     

Chest wall dose in MammoSite breast brachytherapy: radiobiologic estimations of late complication risk based on dose-volume considerations

PURPOSE: To estimate the risk of late effects in women treated with MammoSite brachytherapy (MBT), the balloon catheters of which were placed near the ribs. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Upon reviewing 93 plans, 16 patients (17%) treated with MBT were considered to have received a high chest wall dose (>or=120% isodose line in contact with a rib). A dose-volume histogram was generated for this rib, and its distance from the MBT balloon measured. Using the linear quadratic equation, the equivalent dose, delivered in 10 fractions, to the dose that causes a 5% and 50% risk of rib late effects at 5 years using 2Gy per fraction, was calculated to be 37 and 44Gy, respectively. The rib volume receiving greater than or equal to these doses (V37 and V44) was correlated to the balloon-to-rib distance. Chest wall signs, symptoms, and radiologic findings for all 16 patients were recorded. RESULTS: The median balloon-to-rib distance was 4.8mm. The median values of V37 and V44 were 13.5% and 3.3%, respectively. All patients with a V37>or=15% and V44>or=5% had a minimum balloon-to-rib distance of <5mm. Two patients reported treatment-related chest wall tenderness (both had balloons placed <5mm from the chest wall), but neither presented with radiologic complications. CONCLUSIONS: Sixteen patients considered to receive relatively high chest wall doses had less than one-third of their primary rib volume being exposed to the estimated TD 5/5 and TD 50/5 doses. Therefore, we estimate the risk of late effects in women treated with MBT, the balloon catheters of which placed near the ribs were negligible, and believe that MBT remains a safe and effective treatment for selected patients with early stage breast cancer.     

同种异体骨板覆盖预防椎板切除术后硬膜外粘连临床应用

目的探讨同种异体骨板覆盖在预防椎板切除术后硬膜外粘连方面的疗效。方法对58例腰椎间盘突出或腰椎管狭窄患者,行全椎板切除,“H”形同种异体冻干辐照骨板覆盖。观察临床症状及CT、MR I表现。结果术后随访6个月~2.5年,CT、MR I椎管扩大,骨板无倾斜、移位,脊髓无压迫,无排异反应;术后椎管内容物形态良好,骨板两侧已与相邻接触骨组织融合,密度相等。结论同种异体冻干辐照骨板具有良好的生物相容性、生物力学性能和诱导成骨作用,是一种良好的硬膜外覆盖材料,能有效阻止硬膜外粘连,防止椎管术后再狭窄,可用于节段性椎管覆盖成型术。     

Osteomyelitis after Operative Fracture Treatment: A Report of 62 Cases Treated with Radical Surgery and Lincomycin (Lincocin®)

During the years 1967-1975 a total of 62 patients were treated for postoperative osteomyelitis. The lower extremities had been fractured in 89 per cent of the cases and 54 per cent were closed injuries. The fractures, mostly caused by traffic accidents and falls, had been immobilized by plates in 30 and by intramedullary nails or pins in 25 patients.

Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in 80 per cent, 68 per cent of them were resistant to penicillin, but in 84 per cent the organisms were highly lincomycin sensitive and only three patients with four osteomyelitic lesions presented lincomycin resistance.

The treatment consisted chiefly of sequestrectomies and saucerizations supported by 3-12 months of lincomycin treatment. In 30 operations a closed irrigation-suction technique was used, perfusing the wound with lincomycin solution. Stable implants should be left in place until the fracture is clinically solid whereas unstable osteosyntheses should be replaced by rigid internal or extraskeletal fixation.

At follow-up, the results were judged as good in 74 per cent, fair 8 per cent and poor 18 per cent. The amputation rate was 13 per cent.

Plates should not be used in the treatment of comminuted tibial fractures with considerable soft tissue damage.