Biocompatible osteoconductive polymer (BOP) has been used since 1979 as a substitute for bone in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery. To date, in maxillofacial surgery, loss of bone volume as a result of either trauma or osteoporosis has been compensated for by autologous bone onlay graft or subperiosteal apposition grafts of synthetic materials. Neither of these solutions is entirely satisfactory. Autologous bone is subject to reabsorption, requiring initial overcorrection and multiple reoperations to achieve an acceptable result. Preshaped implants of Proplast, Vicryl, Gore-Tex, or silicone do not offer much flexibility, and coral granules and hydroxyapatite are difficult to handle. Finally, all foreign materials can elicit problems with tolerability. In its SP (solution/powder) form, BOP is a paste that can be molded precisely to the required shape, making it ideal for maxillofacial surgery. This study examined the long-term tolerability and facial alterations after implants of BOP in 11 patients who underwent post-trauma and cosmetic surgery.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis with transpedicular stabilization: a review of 25 cases.

The present study concerns a series of 25 patients submitted to vertebral stabilization and fusion for the treatment of spondylolisthesis. In all of the cases a transpedicular screw system was used. The Steffee plates and screws system was used in 22 cases; the Cotrel-Dubousset (CD) system was used in 3. The listhetic vertebra was L5 in 14 cases, it was L4 in 11 cases. Based on Meyerding radiographic criteria there were: grade I: 8 cases, grade II: 13 cases, grade III: 4 cases. Instrumented fusion was performed at only 1 level in 20 cases, at 2 levels in 5 cases. Mean follow-up was 29 months. Clinical results were evaluated based on the White criteria. The results were satisfactory in 78% of cases. The present study shows that transpedicular vertebral stabilization constitutes a safe method, offering excellent stability essential to consolidation of fusion.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Human articular cartilage in osteoarthrosis. I. The matrix. Transmission electron microscopic study.

The present research has been carried out with the aim of contributing to the understanding of morphological changes in human articular cartilage during osteoarthrosis and to evaluate the usefulness of TEM in this application. Only the matrix was examined in this first phase of study. Fragments from the femoral head of 20 patients subjected total hip arthroplasis, were studied by TEM after treatment with current procedures. The images obtained were considered observing the division of cartilage into superficial, intermediate and deep layers. Patients were divided according to the gravity of their clinical conditions. The least severe forms of pathology seem to involve only the superficial layer, which quickly loses the lamina splendens and may be affected by rarefactions of the matrix, which becomes fissured, while the deep layers are only slightly involved. During the later stages, the pathology progresses with irregularity of disposition and size of the collagen fibres and an increase in the number and size of fissures. The intermediate layer shows architectural disorder in the collagen fibres, even reaching the deep layer. The interfibrillar distance appears greater. As pathology progresses, the superficial layer tends to disappear, while the successive layers undergo progressive alteration in disposition and size of the collagen fibres. Globular aggregations of various dimensions and electron density similar to collagen are present in the deep layer.

Aged↗