Biomechanical and Histological Study of Retrieved LARS Synthetic Ligaments.

Background: Synthetic grafts have been used for a number of years in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. One of the more recent additions to the stable of synthetic ligaments is the Ligament Augmentation and Reconstruction System (LARS) ligament.

Purpose: To analyze the biomechanics and histology of LARS grafts retrieved due to failure of the device.

Treatment of extensive post tonsillectomy oropharyngeal stenosis secondary to fibromatosis.

Aggressive fibromatosis is an uncommon, benign tumor of fibroblastic origin with high potential for local invasion. Less than a quarter of these lesions are located in the head and neck, and although extremely rare, associations have been demonstrated with physical trauma. We describe a unique case of oropharyngeal fibromatosis with traumaticetiology, managed successfully with surgical excision of the lesion with negative surgical margins.

Duration of diabetes and its association with depression in later life: The Health In Men Study (HIMS).

Objective: To examine if diabetes and duration of diabetes are direct or indirect causes of depression in later life.

Research Design And Methods: Cross-sectional study of a community-derived sample of 5462 men aged 70-89 years. Men with 'current depression' scored 7 or more on the abbreviated Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), whereas men with 'ever depression' were either currently depressed or reported history or treatment for past depression.

Open access endoscopy in rural and remote Western Australia: does it work?

Background: Access to diagnostic endoscopy is limited in rural and remote Western Australia. Published reports suggest open access referrals may result in over-servicing, this is reduced by adherence to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) guidelines. The aim was to assess whether an outreach surgical service offering open access endoscopy to rural areas was being over utilized.

Changes in calf muscle function in chronic venous disease.

The aim of this study was to assess calf muscle function in patients with chronic venous disease and recently healed venous ulcers. Forty-nine consecutive patients with recently healed proven venous leg ulcers and 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects were entered into this study. Both patients and control subjects underwent duplex scan evaluation of their leg veins and isokinetic measurement for calf muscle strength and endurance.

Effect of exercise on calf muscle pump function in patients with chronic venous disease.

Background: Musculoskeletal dysfunction may be associated with poor calf muscle pump function in patients with chronic venous ulceration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of physical exercise on calf muscle pump function.

Methods: Twenty patients were recruited into a 6-week intensive exercise programme.

Urinary Infection and Catheterization: A Case for a Catheter Team.

Forty-five out of 84 patients undergoing urethral catheterization developed significant bacteriuria. As might be expected, the infection rate grew with the increase in duration of catheterization, and it was higher in the elderly female patient. Some of the work on this problem is reviewed, and it is suggested that the formation of a catheter team might lead to improvements in catheter care.