Quartz c-axis fabrics in constrictionally strained orthogneisses: implications for the evolution of the Orlica-Śnieżnik Dome, the Sudetes, Poland

The Orlica-Śnieżnik Dome (OSD), NE Bohemian Massif, contains in its core several gneiss variants with protoliths dated at ~500 Ma. In the western limb of the OSD, rodding augen gneisses (Spalona gneiss unit) are mainly L>S tectonites with a prominent stretching lineation. The few quartz LPO studies have produced somewhat discrepant results. Reexamination of these rocks revealed that texture formation was a protracted, multistage process that involved strain partitioning with changing strain rate and kinematics in a general shear regime at temperatures of the amphibolite facies (450–600°C). Quartz c-axis microfabrics show complex yet reproducible patterns that developed under the joint control of strain geometry and temperature; thus the LPOs are mixed features represented by pseudogirdle patterns. Domainal differences in quartz microfabrics (ribbons, tails, quartzo-feldspathic aggregate) are common in the Spalona orthogneisses but uncommon in the sheared migmatitic gneisses. In the latter rocks, the constrictional strain was imposed on the originally planar fabric defined by high-temperature migmatitic layering. The constrictional fabric of the Spalona gneisses may have developed in the hinge zones of kilometer-scale folds, where the elongation occurred parallel to the fold axes. Other occurrences of rodding gneisses throughout the Orlica-Śnieżnik Dome are thought to occupy similar structural positions, which would point to the significance of large-scale folds in the tectonic structure of the dome

Wound healing complications in patients with and without systemic diseases following hallux valgus surgery

<div><p>There are many defined risk factors for wound healing. Comorbidities and their treatment are identified to be one of them. The aim of this study is to verify whether there are significant differences in wound healing between patients with and without systemic diseases, who underwent hallux valgus correction with Scarf osteotomy. A total of 155 consecutive patients were included into this prospective study. All of the patients underwent Scarf osteotomy for hallux valgus correction. In 60,6% of patients comorbidities were present, most often hypertension (57 patients, 36,8%), hypothyroidism (19 patients 12,3%) and diabetes (7 patients, 4,5%) occurred. Most of the patients were women (96,1%). During the study complication rate was noted. Patients underwent follow-up: 1,2, 3, 6 and 12 weeks and 6 months after the surgery. Preoperatively and during the last visit treatment results were assessed with AOFAS HMI scale. Scar assessment was performed by independent observer with VAS followed by patient scar assessment with VSS. In 30 patients complications were noted (19,4%). Surgical site infection was found in 6 patients (3,9%). In 13 patients (8,4%) partial wound dehiscence occurred, in 5 of them (3,2%) additional skin closure (Steri-Strips) was applied. Treatment results assessed with AOFAS HMI scale were good and very good in both healthy and comorbidity group, and the results improved significantly after surgical procedure. Scar assessment with VAS was on the average 1,5 pts. Average result in VSS was 2 pts. Results in both scales were rated as very good. No statistically significant differences were found in both healthy and comorbidity group in scar assessment. Based on the results of the study authors believe there are no significant differences between patients with and without comorbidities in aspects like: complication rate, surgery result and scar assessment as long as foot surgery is concerned.</p></div

Efficacy and complications of open and minimally invasive surgery in acute Achilles tendon rupture: a prospective randomised clinical study—preliminary report

PURPOSE: Surgical treatment of an acute Achilles tendon rupture can effectively reduce the risk of re-rupture, but it increases the probability of surgical complications. We postulated that a minimally invasive surgical treatment might reduce the number of complications related to open surgery and improve the functional results. METHOD: We enrolled 47 patients with acute Achilles tendon ruptures in a prospective, randomised trial to compare clinical results and complications between a minimally invasive procedure with the Achillon® device and traditional open surgery with Krackow-type sutures. The average patient age was 46 years. The follow up time was 24 months. RESULTS: No Achilles tendon re-rupture or nerve injury occurred in treated patients. There were two cases of wound infections in the open surgery group, and one superficial wound infection occurred in the minimally invasive group. The groups were not significantly different in the amount of pain, range of ankle movements, the single heel-rise test, calf circumference, or time to return to work and sports. CONCLUSION: After a two year follow-up period, we found no significant differences in clinical outcomes between groups treated with traditional open surgery or minimally invasive surgery

Deep-seated gravitational slope deformation scaling on Mars and Earth: same fate for different initial conditions and structural evolutions

International audienceSome of the most spectacular instances of deep-seated gravitational slope deformation (DSGSD) are found on Mars in the Valles Marineris region. They provide an excellent opportunity to study DSGSD phe-nomenology using a scaling approach. The topography of selected DSGSD scarps in Valles Marineris and in the Tatra Mountains is investigated after their likely similar postglacial origin is established. The deformed Martian ridges are larger than the deformed terrestrial ridges by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude with, however, a similar height-to-width ratio of ∼ 0.24. The measured horizontal spreading perpendicular to the ridges is proportionally 1.8 to 2.6 times larger for the Valles Marineris ridges than the Tatra Mountains and vertically 2.9 to 5.1 times larger, suggesting that starting from two different initial conditions, with steeper slopes in Valles Marineris, the final ridge geometry is now similar. Because DSGSD is expected to now be inactive in both regions, their comparison suggests that whatever the initial ridge morphology, DSGSD proceeds until a mature profile is attained. Fault displacements are therefore much larger on Mars. The large offsets imply reactivation of the DSGSD fault scarps in Valles Marineris, whereas single seismic events would be enough to generate DSGSD fault scarps in the Tatra Mountains. The required longer activity of the Martian faults may be correlated with a long succession of climate cycles generated by the unstable Martian obliquity