Treatment of contaminated radial fracture in Sprague-Dawley rats by application of a degradable polymer releasing gentamicin

Fracture-related infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to establish a simple contaminated radial osteotomy model to assess the efficacy of a biodegradable polymer poly(sebacic-co-ricinoleic acid) [p(SA-RA)] containing 20% w/w gentamicin. A unilateral transverse osteotomy was induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, followed by application of Staphylococcus aureus suspension over the fracture. After successfully establishing the contaminated open fracture model, we treated the rats either systemically (intraperitoneal cefuroxime), locally with p(SA-RA) containing gentamicin, or both. Control groups included non-contaminated group and contaminated groups that were either untreated or treated with the polymer alone. After 4 weeks, the bones were subjected to micro-CT scanning and microbiological and histopathology evaluations. Micro-CT analysis revealed similar changes in the group subjected to both local and systemic treatment as in the non-contaminated control group. Lack of detectable bacterial growth was noted in most animals of the group subjected to both local and systemic treatment, and all samples were negative for S. aureus. Histopathological evaluation revealed that all treatment modalities containing antibiotics were highly effective in reducing infection and promoting callus repair, resulting in early bone healing. While p(SA-RA) containing gentamicin treatment showed better results than cefuroxime, the combination of local and systemic treatment displayed the highest therapeutic potential in this model.     

Schiff-Sherrington syndrome in a 7-year-old zebra mare (Equus quagga)

A 7-year-old plains zebra (Equus quagga) mare was presented to the Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany as an emergency. The owner reported that the mare was unable to stand after a suspected traumatic episode at the home yard. The mare was transported in lateral recumbency in a trailer. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia (up to 102 beats/min), tachypnoea (28 breaths/min), mild fever (38.7°C) and clinical dehydration with elastic skin and dry and red mucous membranes. Neurological examination showed paraplegia with complete loss of nociception of the mid-thoracic region and caudal to it. In contrast, examination of the thoracic limbs revealed marked extensor rigidity and hyperaesthesia resulting in an enhanced acute response to minimal touch of the neck and shoulder region. Lateral radiographs of the thoracic vertebral column led to the diagnosis of a complete fracture of the vertebral body of the 7th thoracic (T) vertebra with suspected traumatic compression of the spinal cord. Post-mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis. Gross pathology revealed a complete comminuted fracture of T7 with marked compression of the spinal cord. This is the first report describing the clinical, radiological and pathological findings of a fracture of a thoracic vertebra leading to a Schiff-Sherrington syndrome in a zebra (Equus quagga).     

纤维蛋白胶复合物促进犬骨折愈合的临床学观察

为了探索纤维蛋白胶(FG)联合人骨形态发生蛋白(rhBMP-2)、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)和妥布霉素的复合物对犬骨折愈合的影响,建立了犬胫骨骨折模型,将FG复合物应用于实验组和空白对照组的胫骨骨折处,在术后2、4、8、12、16周,测定骨折处周围软组织充血水肿消除时间、利用X射线影像学评价骨折愈合程度、测定骨折愈合部位的骨密度(BMD)及骨密度比率、骨痂体积,测定胫骨生物力学强度并进行统计和分析。实验组和对照组比较:术部红、肿、热消失时间显著缩短,术后各时间点的X射线影像学评分更高,术后各时间点骨痂更大,术后16周术部骨骼能承受的最大载荷和最大位移显著增大。结果表明FG联合rhBMP-2、bFGF与妥布霉素应用于骨折部位,可促进骨折愈合过程中软组织的生成,缩短骨折愈合的时间,提高骨生物力学强度。     

Surgical repair of skull fractures in four horses using cuttable bone plates.

Three horses with severely comminuted, open facial bone fractures and one horse with a comminuted, open orbital rim fracture were referred for treatment. Severe facial bone asymmetry and epistaxis were apparent in all cases and subcutaneous emphysema was present in two, however physical and neurological examinations were otherwise normal. Radiography and endoscopy were of some use in assessing the degree of damage, although the true extent of the damage was more apparent at surgery. Surgical reduction of the fractures was recommended to maximise cosmetic and functional outcome. After surgical debridement and reduction of the fractures the bone fragments remained unstable and were not amenable to stabilisation with interfragmentary wires alone, so 2 mm cuttable bone plates were used to maintain fracture alignment. Screw migration occurred in three horses and in one of these horses the plate had to be removed. Other complications were minor and in all horses the fractures healed with good cosmetic and functional outcome. The use of cuttable bone plates should be considered as a reasonable alternative to inter-fragmentary wiring for unstable, comminuted fractures of the facial bones, even where fractures are open.     

含裂纹管道承压能力的评定

应用断裂力学的Ｊ积分理论，推导了含裂纹管道的弹性评定方程和失效评定曲线表达式，对存在表面裂纹的管道承压能力进行评定，并用此方法对输库输油管道的承压能力进行评定，所得结果与现场试验数据相吻合，与美国ＡＭＯＣＯ公司对该管道分析的结论相一致，说明该评定方法是正确的，具有推广应用价值。     

Shear strength of beam splice joints with glued-in rods

Splitting failure in beam splice joints with glued-in rods parallel to grain in endwood subjected to pure shear is considered. A simple theoretical expression based on beam-on-elastic-foundation theory and quasi-non-linear fracture mechanics is presented for calculation of the joint strength. Tests were conducted on jointed beams in a four-point bending test setup in which the joints were located at the point of pure shear force. Hardwood dowels with a diameter of 12mm and a glued-in length of 120mm were used as rods, and various beam cross sections and dowel configurations were tested. The theory presented is found to agree well with test results in all cases in which the edge distance of the glued-in rods is relatively small. Some test results indicate that the theory may be conservative in case of large edge distances.     

木材横纹理断裂及强度准则

以杉木为研究对象从宏观和微观上研究了木才横纹断裂的性质，并阐述了木才的强韧机理。研究表明：木材横纹Ⅰ型裂纹扩展方式是先沿纤维开裂伸展，然后再沿横截面作韧性断裂，其扩展过程分线性、稳定和非稳定性3个阶段；顺纹启裂时的断裂韧性与试件尺寸无关，是木材的固有属性；木材因其多胞及纤维增强的多层胞壁结构，而具有很强的抗横断韧性，不会因裂尖应力奇异性而发生低工作应力破坏，故在对含横纹理裂纹的木构件作安全设计时，建议仍采用传统的强度准则，考虑净尺寸上的常规强度即可。