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Biomedical subjects

J M Failla

Publications and source records attributed to J M Failla.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Brachioradialis transfer for digital palsy.

Although brachioradialis tendon transfer is thought to offer limited tendon excursion and finger motion, we have used it to restore active thumb and digital function in eight patients. Three had Volkmann's contracture, one avulsion of forearm muscles and four had tetraplegia resulting in inability to perform activities of daily living and loss of pinch or grasp and extrinsic extension. The brachioradialis was transferred to the flexor pollicis longus, to the flexor digitorum profundus or to the common digital extensors. Except for one patient who had unremitting pain, all were pleased with their improved motion, pinch, grip, and independence. Function, however, remained abnormal in all but one.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Proximal radioulnar synostosis after repair of distal biceps brachii rupture by the two-incision technique. Report of four cases.

In four cases, proximal radioulnar synostosis developed as a complication of distal biceps tendon reattachment through a two-incision technique. The synostosis was excised in all four cases but recurred in two. In each case, the initial reattachment exposed the bicipital tuberosity of the radius anteriorly and exposed the ulna extraperiosteally through a second incision along its subcutaneous border. This two-incision approach may place the patient at risk for synostosis. If two incisions are to be used for distal biceps tendon reattachment, then a limited muscle-splitting approach through the extensor muscle mass, which avoids exposure of the ulna, may be preferable.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Post-traumatic proximal radio-ulnar synostosis. Results of surgical treatment.

During a period of forty-two years, twenty patients who had a post-traumatic proximal radio-ulnar synostosis were treated by excision of the area of synostosis and various concurrent procedures in an attempt to restore rotation of the forearm. The time from injury to operation averaged eighteen months, and the postoperative follow-up averaged forty months. Results were graded on the basis of improvement in the arc of rotation of the forearm. After excision of the area of synostosis in the fifteen patients for whom data were available, the intraoperative arc of passive rotation averaged 121 degrees. At the most recent follow-up, the range of active rotation averaged 55 degrees for all twenty patients. Four patients had an excellent result; three, good; four, fair; and nine, poor. The outcome of this type of surgical treatment varies, but roughly half of the patients can be benefited.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Recognition and treatment of uncommon carpal fractures.

Fractures of the trapezial ridge, hamate hook, and pisiform are often due to isolated, direct injury, but other carpal bone fractures are seldom isolated injuries. Midcarpal fractures should stimulate a search for associated perilunate injury; distal carpal row fractures suggest carpometacarpal fracture--dislocations or subluxations. Crush injury with fracture of the hamate, triquetrum, or trapezium may indicate an axial subluxation of the ulnar or radial carpus. Bone scans can be useful as a screening tool. Diagnosis will often require special radiographic techniques such as tomography. Carpal bone fractures are usually intra-articular, and treatment should be aimed at restoring joint congruity. Small extra-articular fractures and injuries to the pisiform can be successfully treated with excision.

Carpal Bones↗
PubMed1983

Differences in mucus-stimulating serum fractions of cystic fibrosis patients and controls.

In nature, the urn cell complexes which swim in the coelomic fluid of the marine invertebrate, Sipunculus nudus, produce "tails" of mucus in response to bacterial pathogens. Since they produce measurable tails of mucus in vitro, suspensions of urn cell complexes provide a bioassay for mucus-stimulating substances (MSS) in biological fluids, including several human body fluids. Heat-activated seawater dilutions of human serum contain MSS. Serum from 87 cystic fibrosis (CF) homozygotes, 60 obligate heterozygotes, and 45 controls were fractionated on a Sephadex G-200 gel filtration column. After subsequent heating for 4 min at 85 degrees C, the fractions of all normal sera showed two characteristic peaks of MSS activity. The pattern differed in heated serum fractions of CF patients, in that the second peak was lacking in 59% of individual tests. The pattern was intermediate in heterozygote sera. Of the 36 CF serum fractions which did have two peaks of activity, 89% had the predominant activity in peak 1. The frequency of single peaks of activity increased with patient age, from 33% in those under 10 years to 75% in those over 16. The molecular weight of peak 1 is about 75,000 daltons, of peak 2 about 30,000. One may speculate that the frequent lack of peak 2 serum components may be associated with the inability of most CF patients to produce normal mucus following respiratory infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The radioulnar joints and forearm axis: surgeons' perspective.

Forearm injuries are common and can vary in complexity. The fractures are easily diagnosed, but the associated soft tissue injuries may not be as obvious. Treatment results are dependent not only on the fracture healing but on the return of normal relationships about the distal radioulnar joint, the interosseous membrane, and the proximal radioulnar joint. Alteration in any of these elements can result in permanent loss of forearm rotation and stability. Recent anatomic and biomechanical studies have increased our knowledge of these structures and their role in forearm function. The findings from these studies may lead to earlier repair of soft tissue injuries about the radioulnar joints and the interosseous membrane. Further follow-up of these procedures will be needed to validate their indications.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗