In vivo evaluation of the effect of intramedullary nail microtopography on the development of local infection in rabbits.

Background And Aim: Fractures of the tibia and femoral diaphysis are commonly repaired by intramedullary (IM) nails, which are currently composed of either electropolished stainless steel (EPSS) or standard, non-polished titanium-aluminum-niobium (TAN). Once the fracture has fully healed, removal of IM nails is common, but the strong adhesion of bone to standard TAN complicates removal. Polishing the surface of TAN IM nails has been shown to reduce bony adhesion and ease implant removal without compromising fixation.

Polycystic kidney disease in the pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis).

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) was diagnosed at necropsy in a captive aged female pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis), which presented with numerous cysts in both kidneys, the liver, and the duodenum and with one single cyst in the pancreas. There were no premonitory clinical signs of a nephropathy observed prior to its death. Similar findings were made in a male cage mate 6 mo later.