Search

Objectives/Interrogation: To determine dynamic ultrasound features of the trigger finger that may guide the management of the trigger finger. Dynamic imaging was conducted to determine the presence of adherence around and between the flexor tendons. Methods: 30 trigger fingers and 30 controls[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT)

The functional replacement of tendon represents an unmet clinical need in situations of tendon rupture, tendon grafting, and complex tendon reconstruction, as usually there is a finite source of healthy tendon to use as donors. The microfibrous architecture of tendon is critical to the function of tendon. This study investigates the use of electrospun poly(ɛ-caprolactone) scaffolds as potential biomaterial substitutes for tendon grafts. We assessed the performance of two electrospinning manufacturers (small- and large-scale) and the effect of two sterilization techniques—gamma irradiation and ethanol submersion—on cell response to these electrospun scaffolds after their implantation into a murine tendon model. Cell infiltration and proliferation analyses were undertaken to determine the effect on cell response within the implant over a 6-week period. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to characterize inflammatory response and healing characteristics (proliferation, collagen deposition, myofibroblast activity, and apoptosis). Neither the sterilization techniques nor the manufacturer was observed to significantly affect the cell response to the scaffold. At each time point, cell response was similar to the autograft control. This suggests that ethanol submersion can be used for research purposes and that the scaffold can be easily reproduced by a large-scale manufacturer. These results further imply that this electrospun scaffold may provide an alternative to autograft, thus eliminating the need for sourcing healthy tendon tissue from a secondary site.

SummaryAlthough the oral anticoagulants provide effective prophylaxis against postoperative deep vein thrombosis following fracture of neck of femur there is a need for an antithrombotic agent which needs less laboratory control and does not cause haemorrhagic complications. It has been suggested that drugs causing inhibition of platelet function may fulfil these requirements. A controlled trial was carried out in which aspirin, RA 233, or a combination of these drugs was compared with a placebo in the prevention of post-operative deep vein thrombosis. In thirty patients undergoing surgery for fractured neck of femur the incidence of post-operative calf vein thrombosis, as detected by 125I-fibrinogen scanning, was not significantly different between the untreated and treated groups.

Through a survey of hip replacement arthroplasty the paper establishes the case for objective evaluation of these joints in the patient. It then outlines a simple, non-invasive technique, based on Paul's (1967) locomotion studies, to assess pre- and postoperative functional capability. Preliminary results which establish viability of the procedure are presented.