Long-term residual musculoskeletal deficits after femoral shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nailing.

Background: Locked intramedullary (IM) nailing has been recognized as one of the most reliable methods for treatment of femoral shaft fractures. Although IM nails are routinely used in the treatment of these fractures, the long-term effects of retained IM nails are unknown.

Methods: Seventeen patients with radiographically documented healed fracture of femoral diaphysis after locked IM nailing technique were evaluated at a follow-up of at least 18 months postoperatively.

Quantitation of serum prostacyclin-binding in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

We quantitated serum PGI2 binding of 8 normal subjects and two TTP (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura) patients by gel filtration and gel partition methods using a stable PGI2 analogue, iloprost. The dissociation constant (KD) and the binding capacity (or binding stoichiometry) determined for the normals were 94 +/- S.D.