Ultrasonic incisions produce less inflammatory mediator response during early healing than electrosurgical incisions.

As the use of laparoscopic surgery has become more widespread in recent years, the need has increased for minimally-invasive surgical devices that effectively cut and coagulate tissue with reduced tissue trauma. Although electrosurgery (ES) has been used for many generations, newly-developed ultrasonic devices (HARMONIC® Blade, HB) have been shown at a macroscopic level to offer better coagulation with less thermally-induced tissue damage. We sought to understand the differences between ES and HB at a microscopic level by comparing mRNA transcript and protein responses at the 3-day timepoint to incisions made by the devices in subcutaneous fat tissue in a porcine model.

Perpendicular blood vessel seals are stronger than those made at an angle.

Vessel sealing devices effectively produce hemostatic seals with minimal thermal damage, but the strength of seals decreases as vessel diameter increases. Because vessels sealed at an angle to the vessel require a greater functional seal diameter than those sealed perpendicularly to the vessel, it was hypothesized that perpendicular seals would have comparably higher burst pressures. Ex vivo, porcine carotid arteries of nominal diameters of 5, 6, and 7 mm were sealed perpendicularly to and at a 45° angle to the longitudinal axis of the vessels, and burst pressures of the sealed vessels were measured.

Healing of reamed glenoid bone articulating with a metal humeral hemiarthroplasty: a canine model.

This study characterizes the healing response of the glenoid after spherical reaming and prosthetic humeral head replacement in a canine model of glenohumeral hemiarthroplasty. The right glenoid of twelve skeletally mature female dogs was reamed to a uniform radius of curvature, removing all cartilage down to bleeding subchondral bone. The glenoid was not resurfaced.

Influence of canine recombinant somatotropin hormone on biomechanical and biochemical properties of the medial meniscus in stifles with altered stability.

Objective: To determine biomechanical and biochemical properties of the medial meniscus in a semi-stable stifle model and in clinical patients and to determine the effect of canine recombinant somatotropin hormone (STH) on those properties.

Animals: 22 healthy adult dogs and 12 dogs with meniscal damage secondary to cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture.

Procedure: The CCL was transected in 15 dogs, and stifles were immediately stabilized.