Strontium-rich injectable hybrid system for bone regeneration.

Current challenges in the development of scaffolds for bone regeneration include the engineering of materials that can withstand normal dynamic physiological mechanical stresses exerted on the bone and provide a matrix capable of supporting cell migration and tissue ingrowth. The objective of the present work was to develop and characterize a hybrid polymer–ceramic injectable system that consists of an alginate matrix crosslinked in situ in the presence of strontium(Sr), incorporating a ceramic reinforcement in the form of Sr-rich microspheres. The incorporation of Sr in the microspheres and in the vehicle relies on the growing evidence that Sr has beneficial effects in bone remodeling and in the treatment of osteopenic disorders and osteoporosis.

The benefit of bone marrow concentrate in addition to a glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite for bone regeneration: An in vivo ovine study.

This study evaluates the ability of a Glass Reinforced Hydroxyapatite Composite (GRHC), in a new microporous pellet formulation with autologous bone marrow concentrate (BMC), to enhance bone regeneration and new bone formation. Ninety non-critical sized bone defects were created in the femurs of nine Merino breed sheep and randomly left unfilled (group A), filled with GRHC pellets alone (group B) or filled with GRHC pellets combined with BMC (group C). The sheep were sacrificed at 3 weeks (three sheep), 6 weeks (three sheep) and 12 weeks (three sheep) and histological analysis (Light Microscopy-LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histomorphometric analysis (HM) were performed.

Impact of preoperative analytical values on post-operative mortality rate of intertrochanteric fractures.

Introduction: Intertrochanteric fractures incidence has been increasing over the past few years and therefore so have all the problems associated with it. It is important to search for possible ways to reduce comorbidities as well as postoperative mortality. We decided to assess the impact of some routine pre-operative analytical values on post-operative mortality of patients with inter-trochanteric fractures 65 years or older.

[Trauma scores in the management of politrauma patients: which one and what for?].

Background: The improvement rescue and transport of politrauma patients (PTP) increases the number of patients admitted to the Emergency departments in very severe conditions. The early prediction of later complications and bad outcomes is paramount for a good strategy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the severity of PTP in the Trauma Room (TR) of a Level 1 Hospital, using the ISS, RTS, TRISS scores and define variables associated with bad outcomes, namely ICU admission (ICU), ARDS, MODS and Death.

[Vitamin D measurement in Portuguese patients with fragility fractures].

Objectives: Osteoporosis is a «silent epidemic», resulting from a combination of many possible causal and risk factors, which prevalence depend on particular features of the population. The authors propose to characterize some of these elements, with special attention to vitamin D (vitD) levels, in a Portuguese population at risk, selected on the basis of a history of prior fragility fracture.

Methods: Participants were selected from the computerized list of discharges from all hospitalized patients in a Central Hospital in Oporto, between the dates 1/1/2002 and 31/12/2004, with the diagnosis of low-impact fracture of the wrist.

Upside-down radial head: a rare complication after an unrecognized Jeffery Type 2 lesion.

We report a case of an unrecognized Jeffery Type 2 lesion in a child complicated by a complete reversal of the radial head during closed manipulation.

[New perspectives on degenerative disease treatment].

The degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a chronic and multifactorial condition of the intervertebral disc that can manifest itself by axial pain, radiculopathy, myelopathy and spinal stenosis. It constitutes an increasing cause of lumbar pain and morbidity in Western Societies, with important socio-economic implications. The available treatment options do not modify the intervertebral disc degeneration process and they are not always capable of relieving symptoms.