The Effect of Forearm Shortening on Forearm Range of Motion.

Purpose: Osseous shortening of the forearm is performed during forearm replantation; however, no large clinical reviews have discussed its effects on patient outcomes. A recent cadaver study demonstrated the progressive loss of forearm pronation/supination ranges of motion with increased shortening lengths using external fixation. Our study aimed to quantify the effects of shortening on passive forearm motion using internal fixation after 2, 4, and 6 cm of mid-forearm shortening.

Twenty-Year Review of a Single Surgeon's Experience Using a Unique Surgical Technique to Correct Lambdoidal Synostosis.

Background: Numerous techniques for the surgical management of lambdoidal synostosis have been previously described; however, no best practice technique currently exists. Surgical procedures range from complete posterior calvarial reconstruction to distraction osteogenesis techniques. Our primary purpose is to describe a novel approach to correct unilateral or bilateral lambdoidal synostosis.

Aesthetic Breast Surgery and Concomitant Procedures: Incidence and Risk Factors for Major Complications in 73,608 Cases.

Background: Major complications following aesthetic breast surgery are uncommon and thus assessment of risk factors is challenging.

Objectives: To determine the incidence and risk factors of major complications following aesthetic breast surgery and concomitant procedures.

Methods: A prospective cohort of patients who enrolled into the CosmetAssure (Birmingham, AL) insurance program and underwent aesthetic breast surgery between 2008 and 2013 was identified.

Safety of Aesthetic Surgery in the Overweight Patient: Analysis of 127,961 Patients.

Background: Nearly 70% of US adults are overweight or obese (body mass index, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)), and more such patients are seeking aesthetic surgery. Previous studies have evaluated surgical risk in obese (BMI ≥ 30) or morbidly obese (BMI ≥ 40) patients, with mixed results.

Objectives: This study evaluates BMI 25 to 29.

Axonal fusion via conduit-based delivery of hydrophilic polymers.

Background: Hydrophilic polymers have been shown to improve physiologic recovery following repair of transected nerves with microsutures. Our study was designed to combine hydrophilic polymer therapy with nerve tubes (NT) to enhance polymer delivery to the site of nerve injury.

Methods: Using a rat sciatic nerve injury model, a single transection injury was repaired in an end-to-end fashion with NT + polyethylene glycol (PEG) to NT alone.

Adjuvant neurotrophic factors in peripheral nerve repair with chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-reduced acellular nerve allografts.

Background: Acellular nerve allografts are now standard tools in peripheral nerve repair because of decreased donor site morbidity and operative time savings. Preparation of nerve allografts involves several steps of decellularization and modification of extracellular matrix to remove chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), which have been shown to inhibit neurite outgrowth through a poorly understood mechanism involving RhoA and extracellular matrix-integrin interactions. Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) is an enzyme that degrades CSPG molecules and has been shown to promote neurite outgrowth after injury of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Blocking the P2X7 receptor improves outcomes after axonal fusion.

Background: Activation of the P2X7 receptor on peripheral neurons causes the formation of pannexin pores, which allows the influx of calcium across the cell membrane. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and methylene blue have previously been shown to delay Wallerian degeneration if applied during microsuture repair of the severed nerve. Our hypothesis is that by modulating calcium influx via the P2X7 receptor pathway, we could improve PEG-based axonal repair.