Device safety assessment of bronchoscopic microwave ablation of normal swine peripheral lung using robotic-assisted bronchoscopy.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the safety of bronchoscopic microwave ablation (MWA) of peripheral lung parenchyma using the NEUWAVE™ FLEX Microwave Ablation System, and robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) using the MONARCH™ Platform in a swine model.

Methods: Computed tomography (CT)-guided RAB MWA was performed in the peripheral lung parenchyma of 17 Yorkshire swine (40-50 kg) and procedural adverse events (AEs) documented. The acute group (day 0,  = 5) received 4 MWAs at 100 W for 1, 3, 5, and 10 min in 4 different lung lobes.

Multimodal Pain Management of Femoral Neck Fractures Treated With Hemiarthroplasty.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a multimodal pain management program incorporating periarticular injections of liposomal bupivacaine after hemiarthroplasty treatment of femoral neck fractures. This retrospective study selected patients treated with periarticular injections of liposomal bupivacaine within the multimodal pain management program (LBUP) ( = 100) and a control group of patients treated without local infiltration ( = 78). Similar pain control was achieved between both groups from day 1 to day 4 postsurgery (min = .

The economic significance of orthopaedic infections.

Musculoskeletal infections are a leading cause of patient morbidity and rising healthcare expenditures. The incidence of musculoskeletal infections, including soft-tissue infections, periprosthetic joint infection, and osteomyelitis, is increasing. Cases involving both drug-resistant bacterial strains and periprosthetic joint infection in total hip and total knee arthroplasty are particularly costly and represent a growing economic burden for the American healthcare system.

Effects of the mold temperature on the mechanical properties and crystallinity of hydroxyapatite whisker-reinforced polyetheretherketone scaffolds.

Porous and bioactive polyetheretherketone (PEEK) scaffolds have potential to replace metallic scaffolds for biologic fixation of permanent implants adjacent to trabecular bone, such as interbody spinal fusion devices. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the mold temperature and PEEK powder on the mechanical properties and crystallinity of hydroxyapatite (HA) whisker-reinforced PEEK scaffolds prepared using compression molding and porogen leaching. Scaffolds were prepared at mold temperatures ranging 340-390°C with a 50 or 10 μm PEEK powder, 75 vol% porosity, and 20 vol% HA whiskers.

Do dynamic cement-on-cement knee spacers provide better function and activity during two-stage exchange?

Background: Implantation of an antibiotic bone cement spacer is used to treat infection of a TKA. Dynamic spacers fashioned with cement-on-cement articulating surfaces potentially facilitate patient mobility and reduce bone loss as compared with their static counterparts, while consisting of a biomaterial not traditionally used for load-bearing articulations. However, their direct impact on patient mobility and wear damage while implanted remains poorly understood.

Characterization of PEEK biomaterials using the small punch test.

The small punch test is widely used to characterize the ductility and fracture resistance in metals and ceramics, when only a small volume of material is available. This study was conducted to investigate the suitability of the small punch test for characterizing polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymeric biomaterials for changes in material grade, crystallinity, and molding process. The small punch test reproducibly characterized the mechanical behavior of PEEK and was able to distinguish differences induced by molding process alterations and annealing.