Fixation principles in metaphyseal bone—a patent based review

Osteoporotic changes start in cancellous bone due to the underlying pathophysiology. Consequently, the metaphyses are at a higher risk of "osteoporotic” fracture than the diaphysis. Furthermore, implant purchase to fix these fractures is also affected by the poor bone quality. In general, researchers and developers have worked on three different approaches to address the problem of fractures to osteoporotic bone: adapted anchoring techniques, improved load distribution as well as transfer with angular stable screws, and augmentation techniques using bone substitutes. A patent-based review was performed to evaluate which ideas were utilized to improve fixation in osteoporotic, metaphyseal bone, especially in the proximal femur, and to analyze whether the concept had entered clinical use. Anchoring devices that are either extramedullary or intramedullary have a long clinical history. However, demanding surgical techniques and complications, especially in poor quality bone, are justification that such implants and their corresponding surgical techniques need to be improved upon. Expanding elements have been evaluated in the laboratory. The results are promising and the potential of this approach has yet to be fully exploited in the clinics. Internal fixators with angular stable screws open the door for many new anchorage ideas and have great potential for further optimization of load distribution and transfer. Augmentation techniques may improve anchorage in osteoporotic bone. However, the properties of bone substitute materials will need to be modified and improved upon in order to meet the demanding requirements. If we summarise the development process and the clinical use of implants to date, we have to clearly state that more factors than simply biomechanical advantage will determine the clinical success of a new fixation principle or a new implant. Instead, fracture treatment of patients with osteoporosis really needs an interdisciplinary approach

Quantification of bone strength by intraoperative torque measurement: a technical note

Introduction: Bone strength describes the resistance of bone against mechanical failure. Bone strength depends on both the amount of bone and the bone's quality, and the bone strength may be looked upon as a relevant parameter to judge an osteosynthesis' stability. Information about bone strength was barely available intraoperatively in the past. The previous work of our group reported on development and laboratory evaluation of mechanical torque measurement as a method for the intraoperative quantification of bone strength. With the clinical series presented here we intend to verify that the im gesamten Text DensiProbe™ instrumentation for intraoperative torque measurement and the related measurement method are eligible for intraoperative use based on the following criteria: application of the method may not create complications, the measurement can be performed by the surgeon himself and may only cause a limited increase in the procedure time. Patients and methods: From December 2006 until May 2007 ten patients with a pertrochanteric femoral fracture or a lateral femoral neck fracture eligible for stabilization with DHS® were included in the study after having received informed consent. Any medication and comorbidity that might have influenced bone quality or bone mineral density (BMD) in these patients was documented. Bone strength was intraoperatively measured with DensiProbe®. Complications that were obviously related with torque measurement were documented as well as any deviation from the suggested procedure; 6 and 12 weeks postoperative follow-up included clinical and radiological examination. The time required for torque measurement, the overall operating time and the number of persons present in the operating room were protocolled. BMD values of the contralateral femoral neck were postoperatively assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and compared to intraoperative peak torque values measured by DensiProbe®. Results: No major complication was observed during intraoperative application of DensiProbe®by trained surgeons. The unintended extraction of the guide wire together with the torque measurement probe was reported only once and is looked upon as a minor complication. Fracture healing was uneventful in all patients. The mean time for torque measurement was 2.35±0.9min accounting for 2.2±1.1% of total surgery time. The presence of an additional person was not required to perform torque measurement but to protocol the data. There was a tendency towards correlation between BMD values of the femoral neck and intraoperative peak torque values. Discussion: The data presented clearly indicate that the DensiProbe® instrumentation and measurement principle are eligible for routine intraoperative use by trained surgeons. Interpretation of possible correlations between BMD values measured by means of DEXA and the Peak Torque values assessed by DensiProbe® has to be considered very carefully, because BMD and Peak Torque analyse bone at a different scale. Only within the framework of a multicenter study it will be possible to include a sufficient number of patients for calculation of the methods' predictive value towards implant failure and to verify acceptance of the method by the surgeon

The donor OH stretching–libration dynamics of hydrogen-bonded methanol dimers in cryogenic matrices

FTIR spectra of the methanol dimer trapped in neon matrices are presented.</p

Communication: The highest frequency hydrogen bond vibration and an experimental value for the dissociation energy of formic acid dimer

The highest frequency hydrogen bond fundamental of formic acid dimer, v(24) (B-u), is experimentally located at 264 cm(-1). FTIR spectra of this in-plane bending mode of (HCOOH)(2) and band centers of its symmetric D isotopologues (isotopomers) recorded in a supersonic slit jet expansion are presented. Comparison to earlier studies at room temperature reveals the large influence of thermal excitation on the band maximum. Together with three B-u combination states involving hydrogen bond fundamentals and with recent progress for the Raman-active modes, this brings into reach an accurate statistical thermodynamics treatment of the dimerization process up to room temperature. We obtain D-0 = 59.5(5) kJ/mol as the best experimental estimate for the dimer dissociation energy at 0 K. Further improvements have to wait for a more consistent determination of the room temperature equilibrium constant. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4704827

Stabilisierung sub- und pertrochantärer Femurfrakturen mit dem PFNΑ®

Zusammenfassung: Operationsziel: Primär belastungsstabile Osteosynthese per- und subtrochantärer Femurfrakturen mit intramedullärem Kraftträger, besonders auch in osteoporotischem Knochen. Rasche Wiederherstellung der Anatomie und Funktion des verletzten Beins. Indikationen: Sämtliche per- und subtrochantäre Frakturen der AO-Klassifikation 31-A. Kontraindikationen: Offene Wachstumsfugen und ungeeignete Femuranatomie (pathologische Antekurvation bzw. fehlverheilte Schaftfrakturen). Operationstechnik: Wenn möglich geschlossene, bei Bedarf offene Reposition der Faktur auf dem Extensionstisch. Intramedulläre, unaufgebohrte Nagelung und Frakturfixation durch Einbringen einer Spiralklinge über einen Führungsdraht in das Kopf-Halsfragment. Möglichkeit zur dynamischen oder statischen Verriegelung im Femurschaft. Operative Nachsorge: Rasche Mobilisation ab dem ersten postoperativen Tag mit schmerzadaptierter Vollbelastung. Thromboseprophylaxe für 6Wochen mit Fondaparinux, Rivaroxaban oder niedermolekularem Heparin (NMH), alternativ orale Antikoagulation. Ergebnisse: Im Rahmen einer AO-Multizenterstudie an 11 europäischen Kliniken wurden zwischen April 2004 und Juni 2005 313Patienten (Durchschnittsalter 80,6Jahre, 77% Frauen, 23% Männer) mit 315 instabilen pertrochantären Frakturen mittels PFNΑ® ("proximal femoral nail antirotation") operativ stabilisiert [24]. Bei 82% handelte es sich um 31-A2-Frakturen, bei 18% um 31-A3-Frakturen. Die durchschnittliche Operationszeit betrug 56min für die A2-Frakturen und 66min für die A3-Frakturen. Die durchschnittliche Liegedauer im Akutspital betrug 12Tage. Bei 72% der Patienten konnte ein Repositions- und Stabilisierungsergebnis erreicht werden, welches eine unmittelbare postoperative Vollbelastung erlaubte. Insgesamt wurden 165Komplikationen beobachtet, 117 davon waren nicht auf das Implantat zu beziehen. 46 operationsbedingte Komplikationen führten zu 28 ungeplanten Re-Operationen (u.a. 7Femurschaftfrakturen, 4 azetabuläre Penetrationen). 56% der Patienten konnten über ein ganzes Jahr nachkontrolliert werden. Nach einem Jahr waren 89% der Frakturen konsolidiert. Die höchsten Komplikationsraten wiesen Frakturen der Morphologie 31-A2.3 sowie Patienten älter als 90Jahre auf. Mit dem PFNA® wurde damit eine mit den Resultaten anderer intra- und extramedullärer Implantate vergleichbare Anzahl operationsbedingter Komplikationen (14,6%) beschriebe

Crop Production for Pacific Islands: Instructor Manual

An entry level university course with specific reference to Pacific Island conditions. Instructor's can either use the materials directly from the manual or adapt them to suit their needs. Chapters include: agroecology; climate; world food crops; and crop production. Each chapter contains objectives, vocabulary, lecture outlines, suggested activities, and transparency masters.Funded through the US Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research Service

Posterior pelvic ring fractures: Closed reduction and percutaneous CT-guided sacroiliac screw fixation

Purpose: To assess the midterm results of closed reduction and percutaneous fixation (CRPF) with computed tomography (CT)-guided sacroiliac screw fixation in longitudinal posterior pelvic ring fractures. Methods: Thirteen patients with 15 fractures were treated. Eleven patients received a unilateral, two a bilateral, screw fixation. Twenty-seven screws were implanted. Continuous on-table traction was used in six cases. Mean radiological follow-up was 13 months. Results: Twenty-five (93%) screws were placed correctly. There was no impingement of screws on neurovascular structures. Union occurred in 12 (80%), delayed union in 2 (13%), and nonunion in 1 of 15 (7%) fractures. There was one screw breakage and two axial dislocations. Conclusion: Sacroiliac CRPF of longitudinal fractures of the posterior pelvic ring is technically simple, minimally invasive, well localized, and stable. It should be done by an interventional/surgical team. CT is an excellent guiding modality. Closed reduction may be a problem and succeeds best when performed as early as possibl

Fluoroscopy-Based SurgicalNavigation versus Fluoroscopic Guidance to Control Guide WireInsertion for Osteosynthesis of Femoral NeckFractures: An ExperimentalStudy

Abstract : Background and Purpose: : Long fluoroscopic times and related radiation exposure are a universal concern when C-arm fluoroscopy is used to guide percutaneous procedures. Fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation has been proposed as an alternative guidance method requiring limited fluoroscopic times to achieve precision. The purpose of this experimental study was to compare fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation with C-arm fluoroscopy for guidance with respect to the precision achieved, the fluoroscopic time, and the resources needed. Material and Methods: : 114 guide wires were placed in 38 synthetic bone models using either C-arm fluoroscopy (group A) or fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation (group B) for guidance. Precision of guide wire placement was rated on the basis of an individual CT scan on all fracture models of both groups. The fluoroscopic time, the procedure time, and the number of attempts required to place the guide wires were documented as well. Results: : An average fluoroscopic time of 26 s was needed with C-arm fluoroscopy to place three guide wires compared with an average fluoroscopic time of 2 s that was needed when fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation was used for guidance (p < 0.0001). Precision of guide wire placement and procedure times required to place the guide wires did not differ significantly between both groups. The number of attempts required for correct placement was found significantly reduced with fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation when compared with fluoroscopic guidance (p = 0.04). Conclusion: : Fluoroscopic times to achieve precision are reduced with fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation compared with C-arm fluoroscopy. The impact of this new technique on minimally invasive, percutaneous procedures has to be evaluated in controlled prospective clinical studie

Recent aspects on outcomes in geriatric fracture patients

As the population ages, the number of fragility fractures is expected to increase dramatically. These injuries are frequently associated with less than satisfactory outcomes. Many of the patients experience adverse events or death, and few regain their pre-injury functional status. Many also lose their independence as a result of their fracture. This manuscript will explore problems and some potential solutions to evaluate the outcomes of geriatric fracture care. Specific, system-wide, and societal concerns will be discussed. Limited suggestions will be made for future steps to improve outcomes assessment