Isolated interfragmentary compression for nonunion of humeral shaft fractures initially treated by nailing: A preliminary report of seven cases

Introduction Plating with bone grafting is considered the gold standard treatment for nonunion of humeral shaft fractures. However, this complex procedure involves multiple risks. The aim of this study is to evaluate an alternative treatment using isolated axial interfragmentary compression for the dynamisation of humeral shaft nonunion after retrograde locked nailing. Materials and methods Between January 2000 and May 2009, 124 humeral shaft fractures were treated in our trauma department with retrograde locked nailing using the unreamed humeral nail (UHN®, Synthes, Paoli, PA, USA). Nonunion occurred in seven patients (5.6%) – five females and two males, mean age 44 years (range: 17–73 years). The nonunion was treated by applying isolated secondary interfragmentary compression. Mean follow-up was 43 months (range: 8–74 months). The Rommens score and the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score were used to evaluate the global functioning of the upper limb. Results The compression procedure was successful in all seven cases. In each case, the union occurred without any complications in 3–5 months. The mean DASH score was 25/100 (range: 8.3–60.8/100). The Rommens score was judged excellent for five of the seven patients but two were rated moderate. One of these suffered from complex regional pain syndrome type II since the fracture, and another developed a stiff shoulder 6 months after trauma. Conclusion Isolated secondary interfragmentary compression appears to be a simple and successful procedure in cases of humeral nonunion

Integrated Design and PLM Applications in Aeronautics Product Development

Organised by: Cranfield UniversityWell known challenges in Aeronautic industry, namely reducing time to market, risks and development costs, could be reached thanks to innovative design methods supported by PLM technologies. Such methods are based on integrated design or collaborative engineering enabling close exchanges and cooperation between the project partners. The paper proposes a survey on integrated design methods and PLM technologies. It presents the development of a collaborative design platform, as part of SEINE project, which aims to improve partners’ cooperation in the French aeronautics supply chain. The paper also discusses how to include multiple expertises and integrated design in this collaborative platform.Mori Seiki – The Machine Tool Compan

Application de l'analyse de Biggerstaff sur les effets verticaux de la disjonction

Objectif Le but de la disjonction maxillaire est de provoquer une expansion transversale de l'ensemble des pièces squelettiques et d'obtenir un élargissement non seulement de l'arcade alvéolo-dentaire, mais aussi des fosses nasales. Cependant, il est souvent décrit dans la littérature orthodontique un effet de la disjonction sur la dimension verticale du sujet, avec une augmentation de la hauteur de l'étage inférieur de la face. L'objet de cette étude est de déterminer si l'analyse de biggerstaff est particulièrement adaptée à l'étude verticale du schéma facial. Matériel Nous illustrons cette méthode au travers de 2 cas cliniques. Méthode Cette analyse, basée sur des valeurs millimétrées et des proportions complète les valeurs angulaires traditionnelles et permet de mettre en évidence les effets éventuels de la disjonction sur l'équilibre des structures squelettiques et dento-alvéolaires du massif cranio facial. Conclusion L'analyse céphalométrique de Biggerstaff est particulièrement adaptée à l'étude verticale du schéma facial

Time-resolved relaxation oscillations in gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifiers by pump and probe measurements

Pump and probe measurements with femtosecond resolution are performed on a gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifier, a structure that contains a lasing mode. The corresponding relaxation oscillations are observed in the temporal gain recovery of the amplifier. The current dependence of the oscillations is well reproduced by a small-signal analysis of the laser rate equations. The gain recovery can be very fast, we measure damping rates of up to 40 GHz