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Open-Book Pelvic Fracture A 45-year-old man presented to the emergency department after a motorcycle accident. A pelvic radiograph showed widening of the pubic symphysis, an injury known as an open...

Background: We developed a porous Ti alloy/PEEK composite interbody cage by utilizing the advantages of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium alloy (Ti alloy) in combination with additive manufacturing technology. Methods: Porous Ti alloy/PEEK composite cages were manufactured using various controlled porosities. Anterior intervertebral lumbar fusion and posterior augmentation were performed at three vertebral levels on 20 female pigs. Each level was randomly implanted with one of the five cages that were tested: a commercialized pure PEEK cage, a Ti alloy/PEEK composite cage with nonporous Ti alloy endplates, and three composite cages with porosities of 40%, 60%, and 80%, respectively. Micro-computed tomography (CT), backscattered-electron SEM (BSE-SEM), and histological analyses were performed.Results: Micro-CT and histological analyses revealed improved bone growth in high-porosity groups. Micro-CT and BSE-SEM demonstrated that structures with high porosities, especially 60% and 80%, facilitated more bone formation inside the implant but not outside the implant. Histological analysis also showed that bone formation was higher in Ti alloy groups than in the PEEK group. Conclusion: The composite cage presents the biological advantages of Ti alloy porous endplates and the mechanical and radiographic advantages of the PEEK central core, which makes it suitable for use as a single implant for intervertebral fusion.

Introduction: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a fatal infection in patients. It often happens in patients with cirrhosis, cancer or diabetes, and is caused mostly by Enterobacteriaceae. Here we report a rare case of SBP caused by Campylobacter Coli (C coli) infection, which was identified promptly by the matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and received adequate therapy sooner after. Patient concerns: In the present study, we reported a 46-year-old male with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class C) and type 2 diabetes mellitus presented with a 1-day history of fever and abdominal pain. Diagnosis: Based on the clinical examinations, the patient was diagnosed with SBP and the pathogen was quickly identified as C coli by the matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), a rare causative pathogen of SBP. Interventions: The patient received a 10-day antibiotic treatment with Ciprofloxacin 400 mg every 12 hours, and recovered successfully. Outcomes: The patient had a successful treatment outcome. Conclusion: The study demonstrated a new possible infectious cause of SBP by C Coli, which was rarely seen in liver cirrhosis but mostly found in immunocompromised patients. Thus, it might raise an idea of microorganism screening of broader types that might also induce SBP for immunocompromised patients.