Strong, tough, and elastic poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyacrylamide DN hydrogels based on the Hofmeister effect for articular cartilage replacement.

Traditional hydrogels are usually weak and brittle, which limit their application in articular cartilage replacement because cartilage is generally strong, tough, and elastic in nature. Therefore, it is highly desirable to construct hydrogels to mimic the mechanical properties of the native articular cartilage. Herein, in this work, poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyacrylamide (PVA/PAM) DN hydrogels were prepared by polymerization, which were then treated with Hofmeister series ions (Cit, SO, and Cl) to achieve H-PVA/PAM DN hydrogels.

[Clinical and radiographic outcomes of navigation-assisted versus conventional total knee arthroplasty].

Objective: To assess the early postoperative clinical and radiographic outcomes after navigation-assisted or standard instrumentation total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: From August 2007 to May 2008, 60 KSS-A type patients underwent 67 primary TKA operations by the same surgical team. Twenty-two operations were performed with the Image-free navigation system with an average age of 64.

Mechanical properties and cytotoxicity of nanoplate-like hydroxyapatite/polylactide nanocomposites prepared by intercalation technique.

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) in the forms of fiber, needle, and whisker has been employed as fillers in polymer composites. Herein, nanoplate-like HAp synthesized by template-assisted self-assembly was used to reinforce polylactide (PLA) nanocomposites via the solution intercalation method. Dynamic and static mechanical properties and cytotoxicity of the as-prepared HAp/PLA nanocomposites were assessed in addition to characterizations by XRD, FTIR, and TGA.

[Causes and managements of acetabular fracture during primary total hip arthroplasty].

Objective: To investigate the causes and managements of acetabular fracture during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: Between May 2005 and July 2008, 9 patients (9 hips) suffered from acetabular fractures during primary THA. There were 1 male and 8 females with an average age of 63.

[Management of femoral neck fracture post total knee arthroplasty].

Objective: To investigate the risk factors, management and prognosis of femoral neck fracture post total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: From January 2003 to August 2009, 45 cases of femoral neck fracture post TKA were treated. There were 8 males and 37 females with an age range of 56 - 81 years old.

[Secondary total hip arthroplasty for osteonecrosis of femoral head after failed internal fixation of femoral neck fracture].

Objective: To compare the efficiency of secondary total hip arthroplasty (THA) for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) after failed internal fixation of femoral neck fracture and the primary THA for non-traumatic ONFH and to evaluate if the two groups have significant difference.

Methods: From June 2004 to July 2007, 203 cases of ONFH were treated by THA. In group A, 83 patients (83 hips) with ONFH after failed internal fixation included 56 males (56 hips) and 27 females (27 hips) with an average age of 58.