The epiphyseal scar joint line distance and age are important factors in determining the optimal screw length for medial malleoli fractures

AimThe screw length is important to achieve a stable fixation for medial malleoli fractures. We aimed to evaluate the optimal screw length for different age groups in surgically treated medial malleoli fractures. The second aim was to identify the utility of the distance of epiphyseal scar to joint line or joint line to medullary space for assessment of screw length.Material method368 X-rays and computed tomography (CT) images of ankle joints were retrospectively evaluated for optimal screw length, epiphyseal scar to joint line distance, joint to medullary space distance. The mean screw length for each decade was calculated. The correlations of screw length with age, screw length with distance of epiphyseal scar to joint line, and screw length with distance of joint line to medullary space were evaluated.ResultsThe optimal screw length was obviously decreased in patients in 61–70 and >70 years old group (p = 0.002). As the distance of epiphyseal scar from joint line was increased, the optimal length of screw was also increased (p = 0.001). The distance of epiphyseal scar from joint line was decreased by age (p = 0.011).ConclusionThe optimal screw length was decreased by age and the epiphyseal scar to joint line distance could be a clue for optimal screw length in medial malleoli fractures.     

Dopaminergic transmission in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus to produce acupuncture analgesia in correlation with the pituitary gland

Acupuncture analgesia (AA) caused by low frequency stimulation of the acupuncture point (AP) was abolished by hypophysectomy and adrenalectomy. Termination of the AA producing pathway from the AP to the pituitary gland was in the medial hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (M-HARN). The origin of the descending pain inhibitory system associated with AA was in the posterior HARN (P-HARN). AA in the hypophysectomized rats, and enhanced neuronal activity in the P-HARN that were abolished during acupuncture stimulation, were both restored by intraperitoneal microinjection of 0.5 mg/kg morphine or 0.1 micrograms beta-endorphin into the P-HARN during acupuncture stimulation. Of the analgesia produced by dopamine or beta-endorphin injected into the P-HARN, that caused by beta-endorphin disappeared after denervation of the M-HARN. The P-HARN neurons that responded to acupuncture stimulation also responded to iontophoretic dopamine, but not to iontophoretic morphine nor ultramicroinjected beta-endorphin. The transmission between the M-HARN and P-HARN may be dopaminergic, and beta-endorphin might presynaptically modulate this transmission. Reduction of sodium ions may have been the reason for abolition of AA after adrenalectomy.     

Laparoscopic Medial-to-lateral Colon Dissection: How and Why

Laparoscopic colectomy is a difficult procedure with a long learning curve. We describe in this study our technique for right- and left-sided laparoscopic medial-to-lateral colectomy. The medial approach involves division of the vascular pedicle first, followed by mobilization of the mesentery toward the abdominal wall, and finally freeing of the colon along the white line of Toldt. This approach allows immediate identification of the plane between the mesocolon and the retroperitoneum and renders the dissection fast and safe. Our series of 50 consecutive laparoscopic colectomies supports this concept. We believe that surgeons familiar with this technique will have an important tool in their armamentarium to circumvent some of the challenges of laparoscopic colectomy.     

Extacorporeal shock wave therapy unsuccessful for chronic medial epicondylitis

Medial epicondylitis is a chronic noninflammatory condition resulting from mechanical injury. Despite many treatment options, including rest, medications, physiotherapy and operative interventions, the results are too often poor; thus new treatment options are sought. We treated 4 men with chronic epicondylitis (5 affected joints) with extracorporeal shock wave therapy after failed attempts of other treatments. The patients’ complaints were graded with the Nirschl scoring system prior to and six months after therapy. The treatment consisted of three sessions, at 20-day intervals, of 3000 pulses of ultrasonic shock waves from a Piezolith 3000 unit (energy dosage was gradually increased to reach step 10 equaling 0.9 mJ/mm²). At the 6-month follow-up, no patient was pain free. Three cases had slightly lower Nirschl scores than prior to the procedure but the patients rated this difference as insignificant; two cases were unchanged. No complications were observed but all patients rated the procedure as very unpleasant. The well recognized biologic effects of ultrasonographic waves (heat generation, oscillations, cavitation, etc.) that result in functional and structural changes of cellular membranes with sonochemical reactions (acceleration of normal metabolism, oxygenation and reduction in water solutions, polymer degradation, etc.), even if present in our cases, did not result in a noticeable decrease of symptoms, even though we used high energy and more impulses per session. Significant variations in methodology make inconclusive the results of numerous reports on the use of extracorporeal shock waves in epicondylar degenerative problems, although ineffectiveness of such therapy is the conclusion of a review by Haake and colleagues.     

The action of(±)-MDMA on medial prefrontal cortical neurons is mediated through the serotonergic system

The mechanism of action of systemitically administered(±)-MDMA (3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) on spontaneously active neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFc) of chloral hydrate anesthetized rats was examined using standard single unit extracellular recording techniques. Intravenously administered MDMA dose-dependently decreased the firing rates of the majority of mPFc neurons in control rats. In contrast, in rats that were pretreated withp-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), which depletes the brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) content by inhibiting tryptophan hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of 5-HT, MDMA was largely ineffective in inhibiting the firing of mPFc cells. In PCPA-treated animals, the administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), which presumably restored the brain 5-HT content, but notl-DOPA, reinstated MDMA's inhibitory action in PCPA-treated rats. In rats that were pretreated withα-methyl-p-tyrosine (AMPT), which depletes the brain dopamine (DA) content by inhibiting tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of DA, MDMA inhibited the firing of all of the mPFc cells. MDMA's effect on mPFc neurons was reversed by 5-HT receptor antagonists such as granisetron and metergoline. These results strongly suggest that MDMA exerts its action on mPFc cells indirectly by releasing endogenous 5-HT.     

Arthroscopic irrigation - a cautionary tale

A fit 38-year-old female patient developed absent foot pulses following a routine arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy. Irrigation fluid, which was delivered using an arthroscopic flushing set, had extravasated through a ruptured Baker's cyst into the popliteal fossa causing vascular compression and spasm. The pulses gradually returned to normal following the procedure. Knee arthroscopy is a common procedure and a Baker's cyst is a common sequel to degenerative disease. With the increasing popularity of pressurised fluid irrigation systems, this previously unreported complication is both relevant and important.     

带血管蒂舟骨瓣移位术的应用解剖

目的:为治疗距骨骨折提供新术式的解剖学基础.方法:在30侧灌注红色乳胶的成人下肢标本上,对舟骨背侧面形态、血供来源进行观测.结果:舟骨背侧面动脉主要来自内踝前动脉、跗内侧动脉以及足底内侧动脉浅支,分别发3～5支、1～3支和1～2支外径在0.2～1.0mm之间的骨膜支,形成骨膜动脉网.结论:以内踝前血管为蒂,可切取舟骨背侧2.0cm×1.0cm×0.5cm大小的骨瓣,用于距骨颈骨折修复.术式经临床应用证实,手术简便,效果可靠.     

关节镜辅助下的同种异体半月板移植(附4例术后20个月以上随访报告)

目的:介绍同种异体半月板移植并总结4例关节镜辅助下的同种异体半月板移植的初步临床效果。材料和方法:2005年6月～7月,4例半月板切除术后的患者接受关节镜辅助的同种异体半月板移植手术,其中男性3例、女性1例,平均年龄30.78±7.71岁(21.5～38.5岁)。3例内侧半月板移植,1例外侧半月板移植。随访采用症状询问,体征检查,IKDC、Lysholm和Tegner评分及KT2000测量关节稳定性的方法。4例患者均每半年进行一次X线片及MRI检查,分别观察膝关节的关节间隙改变及移植半月板状态。对所得结果,因病例只有4例,故只进行数据描述,不进行统计学分析。结果:对4例患者均进行了平均21.80±0.81(20～22)个月的随访。所有患者随访时关节活动度均正常,均无明显的膝关节疼痛和肿胀,原来长时间活动后被切除半月板的间室不适完全消失。患者可以胜任日常活动和体育锻炼,无并发症出现。IKDC、Lysholm、Tegner评分均较术前明显提高。KT2000测量发现术后膝关节的稳定性有所改善。X线片检查提示术后患者关节间隙无明显变化。每半年一次的MRI检查提示移植半月板术后1年时替代存活已经很好。结论:关节镜辅助下的同种异体半月板移植安全可行,半月板移植可缓解半月板切除后出现的关节疼痛、肿胀等症状,促进关节功能恢复并使膝关节的稳定性有所改善。