Posterior Knee Capsulotomy for the Relief of Patellofemoral Joint Pain: Long-Term Follow-up.

Lack of full extension of the knee is a disabling condition that sometimes needs to be treated by a posterior capsulotomy of the knee. However, it is not clear if the full extension acquired can be kept throughout long-time follow-up. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 20 patients diagnosed with minimal flexion contracture of the knee who underwent open posterior capsulotomy between 1990 and 2010.

Diabetic Rats Present High Mean Platelet Count in the Presence of Oral Infections.

Platelet count is associated with inflammatory diseases like diabetes mellitus (DM), which in turn, is related in a bidirectional manner with apical periodontitis and periodontal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of apical periodontitis and/or periodontal disease on mean platelet count in a rat model of diabetes mellitus. Eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=10): control (C), apical periodontitis (AP), periodontal disease (PD), apical periodontitis with periodontal disease (AP-PD), diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetes mellitus with apical periodontitis (DM-AP), diabetes mellitus with periodontal disease (DM-PD) and diabetes mellitus with apical periodontitis and periodontal disease (DM-AP-PD).

Factors affecting the periapical healing process of endodontically treated teeth.

Tissue repair is an essential process that reestablishes tissue integrity and regular function. Nevertheless, different therapeutic factors and clinical conditions may interfere in this process of periapical healing. This review aims to discuss the important therapeutic factors associated with the clinical protocol used during root canal treatment and to highlight the systemic conditions associated with the periapical healing process of endodontically treated teeth.

Interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility of hallux valgus angular measurements and the study of a linear measurement.

Background: The intermetatarsal angle (IMA), the hallux valgus angle (HVA), and the lateral sesamoid malalignment in relation to the first metatarsal are among the most commonly employed parameters to estimate the severity of the deformity. The aim of this study was to compare HV angular measurements and a linear measurement among 4 observers to determine its intraobserver and interobserver reliability, to find out whether this linear measurement technique is more reproducible than those already-described angular measurements.

Methods: The IMA, the HVA, and the distance between the lateral cortex of the first metatarsal and the lateral cortex of the lateral sesamoid bone were measured from 50 standing, nonoperated hallux valgus feet.

Surgical treatment of advanced hallux rigidus by interpositional arthroplasty.

Background: While arthrodesis is the gold-standard for end-stage hallux rigidus, it leads to loss of mobility. The purpose of this paper was to report our clinical results with modified interpositional arthroplasty for the treatment of advanced (Grade III and IV of Coughlin and Shurnas) hallux rigidus.

Material And Methods: Twenty-five feet with Grade III and IV hallux rigidus underwent cheilectomy, minimal proximal phalanx resection (modified Keller) and interposition of the dorsal capsule and EHB.

Comparison between a static and a dynamic technique for medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to compare the technical difficulties and the results of the use of two different types of femoral graft fixation for medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction in patients with patellar luxation.

Methods: Twenty-four matched pair patients, assigned to two groups of 12 patients each, underwent medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction using one of two techniques: the adductor magnus rigid and the semitendinosus tendon dynamic femoral fixation. Results were assessed using a scale for activities of daily living before and after surgery.

Mechanical changes induced by thermal stimulation in collagenous tissue.

Radiofrequency thermal stimulation is used as a therapeutic procedure for joint laxity, but its thermal effects are still controversial. Although collagen shrinkage may be expected, this conclusion is empirical and not universally accepted. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanical response of collagen to thermal stimulation.