The Sit & Stand chair. A revolutionary advance in adaptive seating systems.

A major factor governing independence for the elderly and persons with disabilities is the ability to stand from a chair. Factors such as pain, reduced joint range of motion, stiffness, and muscle weakness frequently limit the ability to stand. Sit-to-stand position is even further reduced in patients whose hands and shoulders are afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis.

Revolutionary advances in adaptive seating systems for the elderly and persons with disabilities that assist sit-to-stand transfers.

The independence of elderly and arthritic patients as well as persons with disabilities is influenced considerably by their ability to stand from a chair. The presence of pain, reduced joint range of motion, stiffness, and muscle weakness often limit the ability to achieve a sit-to-stand position (STS). Realizing the enormous implications of STS performance, physicians, scientists, and industry have joined together to design and manufacture a wide variety of adaptive seating systems that facilitate therising process.

Functional integrity of vascular allografts after endothelial removal.

Several studies have indicated that antigen-presenting endothelial cells represent the primary initiator of acute arterial graft rejection, leading to decreased arterial patency rates. Patency rates dramatically increase upon endothelial removal (denudation) prior to orthotopic transplantation into antigenically disparate hosts. Although patent, the biomechanical and functional changes seen in these allograft vessels (ACI rats to Lewis rats) have not been described.

Arterialized venous flaps for reconstructing soft-tissue defects of the extremities.

Four cases of soft-tissue defects of the extremities are presented. Each defect was covered by a fasciocutaneous venous free flap in which arterial inflow relied solely on the venous pedicle. India ink injection of the saphenous vein in eight cadaver lower extremities revealed that only the subdermal venous plexus supplies the cutaneous island.

Soft tissue reconstruction. Coverage of lower leg. Rotational flap.

The combined orthopedic and plastic surgical approach to the injured lower extremity has permitted successful salvage of otherwise severely injured limbs. Although numerous muscle and fascial flaps have been described for all regions of the leg between the knee and foot, specific treatment regimens have become popular based on the location of the wound. Refinements in flap surgery have permitted the approach discussed in this article to become standard in the care of patients with either chronic osteomyelitis or acutely injured limbs.