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Biomedical subjects

C G Moran

Publications and source records attributed to C G Moran.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Failure of perfusion with oxygenated Krebs-Ringer solution to preserve the eccrine function of the vascular endothelium in bone.

An ex vivo canine tibia preparation was perfused at a constant rate with aerated (95% O2-5% CO2) Krebs-Ringer solution for 24 h. Bolus injections of norepinephrine (0.125-0.5 micrograms) were given and then acetylcholine (5 x 10(-5) M) was used to stimulate endothelial production of smooth muscle relaxing factors. Following 1 h of perfusion the addition of acetylcholine resulted in significant attenuation of the response to norepinephrine (p < 0.001). After 4 h perfusion acetylcholine did not attenuate the norepinephrine response, but addition of L-arginine (the precursor of endothelial-derived relaxing factor) resulted in significant attenuation in the presence of acetylcholine (p < 0.005). At 6, 12, and 24 h the acetylcholine did not attenuate the norepinephrine response. It is concluded that normothermic, continuous perfusion with oxygenated Krebs-Ringer solution results in normal endothelial eccrine activity up to 1 h. Following this period there is substrate depletion but endothelial eccrine function can be demonstrated for up to 4 h. At 6 h this function cannot be demonstrated, suggesting degradation of the functional integrity of the endothelium.

Acetylcholine

Polyethylene wear in uncemented knee replacements.

Isolated wear of the polyethylene tibial component led to failure in five of a series of 108 uncemented porous-coated knee replacements. The clinical features included pain, effusion and instability with progressive varus deformity. In all cases there was extensive wear on the medial side of the polyethylene surface of the prosthesis. The mechanism of such wear is complex, being due in part to the unconstrained nature of the joint and the incongruity of its surfaces. Other design characteristics may have contributed.

Adult

Teaching trauma management in the accident and emergency department.

Since their introduction into the United Kingdom, Advanced Trauma Life Support Courses (ATLS) have preferentially offered places to Consultants and Senior Registrars. It is usual, however, for the initial resuscitation of the seriously injured patient to be performed by relatively inexperienced junior staff. It is incumbent upon those medical staff who are ATLS providers or instructors to design local courses, based upon ATLS principals, to train their junior staff in a structured approach to managing these patients. We describe one such local course which may serve as a model for others.

Curriculum

Dislocation after primary arthroplasty for subcapital fracture of the hip. Wide range of movement is a risk factor.

Dislocation is the most frequent serious complication following total hip replacement for subcapital femoral fracture. We report a prospective study, using matched groups, which compared the range of hip movement following hip replacement for arthritis and for fracture. The range of movement was significantly greater in the fracture group. We suggest that this is a predisposing factor for dislocation.

Aged

Ankle arthrodesis in rheumatoid arthritis. 30 cases followed for 5 years.

We have reviewed the results of 30 ankle arthrodeses performed on 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This procedure was associated with a high morbidity, with wound breakdown and infection occurring in 12 cases. Eighteen ankles had fused, six had pain-free fibrous union, and six required further surgery for nonunion. Clinical evaluation, at an average follow-up of 5 years, was based on a modified ankle-grading system with good or excellent results in 14, fair results in nine, and poor in two. Only 4 patients had some residual pain in the ankle, and so, despite the high complication rate, arthrodesis is an effective method of treating the painful, rheumatoid ankle.

Adult

Survivorship analysis of the uncemented porous-coated anatomic knee replacement.

Ninety-six patients who had a total of 108 replacements with an uncemented porous-coated anatomic knee prosthesis were followed for an average of sixty-four months (range, thirty-nine to ninety-three months). At the time of the most recent follow-up, twenty-one implants (19 per cent) had failed, all due to problems with the tibial component. A patellar component was not used, and no noteworthy patellar problems were encountered after the operation. There were no infections about the prostheses, and no femoral implant was revised. The most common cause of failure was collapse of the anteromedial part of the tibial plateau, which occurred in fourteen knees. The prosthesis loosened without collapse of bone in two knees, and five knees were revised because of gross wear of the polyethylene. When the time of failure was defined as the point at which revision of the prosthesis was recommended, the cumulative rate of survival was 84 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, +/- 7 per cent) at five years and 77 +/- 10 per cent at six years. When the time of failure was defined as the point at which the knee replacement was actually done, the five-year rate of survival was the same. No significant differences were demonstrated between groups that were stratified by age, sex, weight, or primary diagnosis. We therefore do not recommend the use of an uncemented porous-coated anatomic knee replacement of the design that was evaluated in this study.

Adult

Intramedullary locking nails for femoral shaft fractures in elderly patients.

Fractures of the femoral shaft are generally considered to affect young patients, but we have reviewed 24 cases in patients over 60 years who have been treated by locked nailing, usually by closed methods. Most were women with low-velocity injuries, but despite this, 14 fractures were significantly comminuted. The complication rate was 54% with a peri-operative mortality of 17%. Most complications were the general ones of operating on elderly patients. Specific complications included: fractures below an abnormal hip, proximal fracture related to the nail and poor purchase in the distal femur. In all survivors, the femoral shaft fractures united satisfactorily, and the fixation allowed early mobilisation. The locking nail appears to be an effective method of managing femoral shaft fractures in the elderly patient.

Aged

Inguinal hernia repair in the elderly.

Inguinal hernia repairs were performed on 452 patients during a 14-month period. Of these patients, 116 (26%) were aged greater than 65 years. Emergency hernia repair for incarceration or strangulation was more common in the elderly (16.4%) than in those aged less than 65 years (4.4%) (P less than 0.001). Postoperative complications were significantly more common after emergency (58%) than elective repair (22%) of hernias in the elderly (P less than 0.01). There were two deaths (operative mortality 10%) following emergency repair and none after elective surgery. The average length of hospital admission was 5 days, rising to 10 days in cases suffering complications. Because of the high morbidity and mortality associated with emergency repair in the elderly, all inguinal hernias should be repaired electively unless there is an overwhelming contraindication to surgical intervention.

Aged