The removal of cranial springs used in the treatment of scaphocephaly: A minimal access approach.

The treatment of non-syndromic scaphocephaly with spring-activated cranioplasty offers acceptable outcomes with the potential for reduced surgical morbidity when compared with cranial vault remodelling procedures. A disadvantage of this technique is the need for a second operative intervention to remove the implanted devices. There are many descriptions of the surgical technique for performing spring-activated cranioplasty available in the literature; however, little is documented regarding the procedures used for device removal.

Animal Models for Tendon Repair Experiments: A Comparison of Pig, Sheep and Human Deep Flexor Tendons in Zone II.

Background: This laboratory study compared pig, sheep and human deep flexor tendons in regards to their biomechanical comparability.

Methods: To investigate the relevant biomechanical properties for tendon repair experiments, the tendons resistance to cheese-wiring (suture drag/splitting) was assessed. Cheese-wiring of a suture through a tendon is an essential factor for repair gapping and failure in a tendon repair.

Structural Failure Mechanisms of Common Flexor Tendon Repairs.

Background: This study investigated the exact failure mechanisms of the most commonly used conventional tendon repair techniques. A new method, radiographing repair constructs in antero-posterior and lateral projections before and after tensioning was used. This allowed to precisely analyse failure mechanisms in regards to geometrical changes in all three dimensions.