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Objective To determine the sensitivity of conventional sensory assessment in monitoring lingual nerve recovery subsequent to third molar surgery and to evaluate if the assessment methods can be predictive of injury outcome. Method A prospective case series of 94 patients presenting with lingual nerve injuries evaluated using objective mechanosensory and subjective methods during the recovery period of up to 12 months. Results The conventional tests were often unable to diagnose the presence of injury due to variability and they were not predictive of outcome. As a result of this study, we are able to identify patients more likely to have permanent rather than temporary lingual nerve injury at four to eight weeks post injury, using patient reported subjective function. The subjective function test also minimises the requirements for specialist training or equipment providing an ideal method for general dental practice. Conclusions The development of these simple subjective tests may enable us to identify which patients are at risk of permanent lingual nerve injuries in the early post injury phase, thus allowing expeditious therapy when indicated.

Lower urinary tract storage and voiding dysfunction are known to occur after radical hysterectomy [1]. Up to 50 % of patients who undergo radical hysterectomy experience at least one urinary tract symptom over a variable period of time [2]. This is probably due to a decrease in musculo-elastic properties of the bladder wall caused by surgical injury and partial damage to the autonomic innervation of the bladder [3]. Lower urinary tract rehabilitation may be offered to these patients including pelvic floor training, behavioral modification, electrical stimulation, and clean intermittent self-catheterization [4]. In the last years, posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) has become an alternative treatment for voiding dysfunction before proceeding towards more invasive surgical procedures. Van Balken et al. [5] and Vandonick et al. [6] were the first to report the benefit of PTNS in patients with idiopathic nonobstructive voiding dysfunction. However, the literature lacks studies evaluating the effect of PTNS on chronic voiding dysfunction secondary to radical hysterectomy. Here, we report a case that suffered from chronic voiding dysfunction and urinary incontinence for 8 years after radical hysterectomy and treated with PTNS.

Regenerative mechanisms after surgical injury have been studied in many organs but not in the kidney. Studying surgical injury may provide new insights into mechanisms of kidney regeneration. In rodent models, extrarenal tissues adhere to surgical kidney wound and interfere with healing. We hypothesized that this can be prevented by wrapping injured kidney in a plastic pouch. Adult rats tolerated 5/6 nephrectomy with pouch application well. Histological analysis demonstrates that application of the pouch effectively prevented formation of adhesions and induced characteristic wound healing manifested by formation of granulation tissue. Additionally, selected tubules of the wounded kidney extended into the granulation tissue forming branching tubular epithelial outgrowths (TEOs) without terminal differentiation. Tubular regeneration outside of renal parenchyma was not previously observed, and suggests previously unrecognized capacity for regeneration. Our model provides a novel approach to study kidney wound healing.

Immunological and morphological evaluation of immunotherapy with ribothyme in experimental surgical and thermal injuries in mice showed its positive effect on posttraumatic reparative processes.

Uncomplicated Surgical Injury in Newborns Induces a Rise of Serum Procalcitonin (PCT) Levels

Fifty-two patients sustained spinal cord, nerve root or combined injury following treatment conducted primarily by neurological and orthopaedic surgeons. Most patients did not receive the benefit of appropriate conservative treatment. Correct diagnosis was usually not arrived at even though diagnostic studies were performed sufficiently well to permit such diagnosis. Surgical treatment fell below standard in 86 per cent of the cases in which the issue of adequacy was relevant. Post-operative care was also generally inadequate. The surgeons often failed to detect, diagnose, or reoperate promptly and properly for post-operative paralysis. These adverse results were not related to isolated surgical mishaps, to natural course of the disease, or to the inevitable result of treatment. They stem from a general failure of the surgeon to meet his reponsibilities as a practitioner. There are both medical and social implications of this finding.