Use of Navigation-Enhanced Instrumentation to Mitigate Surgical Outliers During Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Computer-assisted orthopedic surgery improves mechanical alignment and the accuracy of surgical cuts in the context of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A simplified, navigation-enhanced instrumentation system was assessed to determine whether the same effects could be achieved with a less intrusive system. Two cohorts of surgeons (experienced and trainees) performed a series of TKA cuts using models with and without navigation-enhanced instrumentation.

The Effects of Pelvic Incidence in the Functional Anatomy of the Hip Joint.

Background: The spine-pelvis-hip interaction during postural change should be considered in the functional anatomy of the hip. The component parts of this anatomy and how they influence hip function are important to know. Pelvic incidence (PI) is one of these components.

Improved Range of Motion and Patient-Reported Outcome Scores With Fixed-Bearing Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty for Suboptimal Axial Implant Rotation.

Background: Suboptimal implant rotation has consequences with respect to knee kinematics and clinical outcomes. We evaluated the functional outcomes of revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for poor axial implant rotation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 42 TKAs undergoing aseptic revision for poor axial implant rotation.

Spinopelvic mobility and acetabular component position for total hip arthroplasty.

Aims: Posterior tilt of the pelvis with sitting provides biological acetabular opening. Our goal was to study the post-operative interaction of skeletal mobility and sagittal acetabular component position.

Materials And Methods: This was a radiographic study of 160 hips (151 patients) who prospectively had lateral spinopelvic hip radiographs for skeletal and implant measurements.

Blinded Clinical Evaluation of a New Toothbrush Design.

Objective: The purpose of this single-blind, crossover study was to compare plaque removal associated with a new manual toothbrush, the O'Nano and a best-selling, commercially available manual toothbrush, the Oral-B Indicator 40. The O'Nano toothbrush has a patented "one-piece molded design" made of Thermal Plastic Urethane, a plastic that has been used in medical devices.

Methodology: Over a six-week period, 40 subjects participated.

Effectiveness of root planing with diode laser curettage for the treatment of periodontitis.

This study investigated the effectiveness of scaling/root planing using closed approach, closed approach with laser-curettage, closed approach with laser-curettage/laser-sealing, and an open approach (papilla reflection/flap closure) in treating moderate-advanced chronic periodontitis. All treatments resulted in a reduction in probing depth and bleeding upon probing. The closed approach therapies: SRP, laser-curettage/SRP, and laser-curettage/SRP/laser-sealing resulted in less gingival recession than the open approach (papilla reflection/flap closure).

The effectiveness of scaling and root planing with adjunctive time-release minocycline using an open and closed approach for the treatment of periodontitis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of scaling and root planing using a closed and open approach (papilla reflection) with and without a locally delivered antibiotic (minocycline hydrochloride microspheres) in the treatment of moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis. Twenty-five periodontal recall patients with four or more probing depths of 5.0 to 9.

Effects of nutritional supplementation on periodontal parameters, carotenoid antioxidant levels, and serum C-reactive protein.

Few studies have focused on the role of nutrition in periodontal disease. The purpose of this trial was to determine the effect of a nutritional supplement on gingival inflammation, bleeding, probing depth, clinical attachment level, carotenoid antioxidant level, and C-reactive protein. The test supplement, consisting of a standard multivitamin formula, as well as several phytonutrients associated with antiinflammatory/antioxidant effects, provided modest benefits in reducing inflammation; however, further studies with larger populations and longer intervention are warranted.

An investigation of dentists' and dental students' estimates of diagnostic probabilities.

Background: Research in medicine has shown that physicians have difficulty estimating the probability that a patient has a condition on the basis of available diagnostic evidence. They consistently undervalue baseline information about the patient relative to test information and are poor intuitive calculators of probability. The authors could not locate in the literature any studies of diagnostic probability estimates from baseline information and test data for dentists.

Cement technique changes improved hip resurfacing longevity - implant retrieval findings.

Background: Most designs of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing utilize cement for femoral fixation, but the amount, application, and distribution of cement varies considerably according to implant design and surgeon preference. In one type of hip resurfacing system (Conserve Plus), the objective was to achieve a 1-mm cement mantle and several millimeters of penetration. In early cases of the senior investigator's (HCA) series, cement fixation failures were noted, and this prompted changes in femoral head preparation and cement application techniques.

Research on hand dexterity and the practice of dentistry: reality and myth.

A brief review of the literature finds that studies of digital dexterity fail to confirm that dental students or dentists possess aptitudes that are different from the general population or that those with higher aptitudes achieve superior levels of performance. It is suggested that the complex nature of modern dental practice requires such a broad range of skills that digital dexterity contributes only a small increment or that technical dental procedures are completely trainable in the course of dental education.

Tweezer dexterity aptitude of dental students.

The rationale for using the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) as a component in admissions decisions for dental schools is that candidates vary in an underlying aptitude that is predictive of degree of success in technique course performance and perhaps in clinical performance. There have been periodic attempts to identify tests that more directly measure manual dexterity aptitude that would supplement the predictive power of admissions decisions. Previous research has demonstrated that a commercially available "speeded" tweezer dexterity test (Johnson O'Connor Test #32022) is not associated with performance in dental school or dental practice.

Longitudinal evaluation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and periodontal status in HIV+ patients.

The study aim was to determine whether prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) could serve as a risk factor for periodontitis in human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV(+)) patients. Clinical measurements, including gingival index (GI), plaque index, bleeding index, probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL) and GCF samples were taken from two healthy sites (including sites with gingival recession, GI=0; PD< or =3 mm; AL< or =2 mm), three gingivitis sites (GI>0; PD< or =3 mm; AL=0) and three periodontitis sites (GI>0; PD> or =5 mm; AL> or =3 mm) of each of the 30 patients at baseline and 6-month visits. GCF samples were also taken by means of paper strips.

Blinded clinical evaluation of a new manual toothbrush.

Objective: A new manual toothbrush with an innovative design has recently been introduced into the marketplace. The purpose of this single-blind, crossover study was to compare plaque removal associated with this new manual toothbrush (Curvex) and a best-selling commercially available manual tootbrush (Oral-B Indicator 40).

Methodology: Over a five-week period, twenty-one subjects participated in this investigation.

Crevicular fluid elastase levels in relation to periodontitis and metabolic control of diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) elastase levels, clinical measures of periodontal status, and metabolic control of diabetes in insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes (NIDDM) patients. Sixty patients were recruited from the Diabetes Center at the University of California in San Francisco. Thirty subjects were type 1 diabetics and 30 subjects were type 2 diabetics.

Longitudinal evaluation of GCF MMP-3 and TIMP-1 levels as prognostic factors for progression of periodontitis.

Background: To determine whether matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) could serve as prognostic factors for the progression of periodontitis, we monitored GCF MMP-3 and TIMP-1 and periodontal status of selected sites in 40 medically healthy subjects over a 6-month period.

Method: Clinical measurements including gingival index (GI), plaque index, bleeding on probing, suppuration, probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL), and GCF samples were taken from 2 healthy sites (including sites with gingival recession, GI=0 PD < or =3 mm; AL < or =2 mm) and 2 periodontitis sites (GI > or =1; PD > or =5 mm; AL > or =3 mm) of each patient at baseline, 3-month and 6-month visits by means of sterile paper strips. GCF levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 were determined by sandwich ELISA assays.

Angiotensin-II increases cytoplasmic calcium, cell number and total DNA for human periodontal ligamental cells in vitro.

The identification and the development of potential growth factors for the cells of the periodontal ligament is an important and novel stratagem for the regeneration of tissue destroyed by periodontal pathogens. The problem is that growth factors are difficult to synthesize, very immunogenic and expensive. The purpose of our study was to determine if angiotensin-II, a naturally occurring octo-peptide with growth-factor like properties in cardiac muscle, could also stimulate cultured human periodontal ligament cells.

Crown lengthening: a surgical flap approach.

In many instances it is not possible to place a restoration margin without encroaching on the periodontal attachment apparatus. A surgical crown-lengthening procedure can provide a good solution to this common clinical problem. This article discusses indication and contraindication for surgical crown-lengthening procedures and presents an appropriate surgical technique.

Redemption of a perforated furcation with a multidisciplinary treatment approach.

A long-standing lesion associated with an undetected perforation of the furca in a mandibular molar was successfully managed using a multidisciplinary treatment approach. The sequence of therapeutic procedures involved conventional endodontic retreatment, an initial orthograde sealing of the perforation, guided tissue regeneration, and a subsequent orthograde resealing of the perforation with Ketac-Endo and Intermediate Restorative Material.

Free gingival grafts. Current indications and techniques.

The free gingival graft is a simple, predictable technique for increasing the zone of attached gingiva. Dentists interested in performing minor surgical procedures should include the free gingival graft in their armamentarium. Indications and contraindications have been established, but the decision regarding the adequacy of the attached gingiva remains one of clinical judgment.

High pressure liquid chromatographic determination of furazolidone in turkey tissue.

A high pressure liquid chromatographic method for determining furazolidone in turkey tissue has been developed. Tissues are ground with methanol and centrifuged. For lower levels of furazolidone, 2--40 ppb, the supernate is evaporated to dryness and redissolved before it is injected onto the liquid chromatographic column.