Treatment of a second carpal bone fracture by removal under ultrasonographic guidance in a horse

OBJECTIVE: To report an unusual 2nd carpal bone (C2) slab fracture and its treatment, using an ultrasonographically assisted, minimally invasive arthrotomy technique, for fragment removal. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS: An 11-year-old crossbred Warmblood gelding. METHODS: A bone fragment, spanning the height of C2, identified on the palmaromedial aspect of C2 was demarcated intraoperatively using ultrasonographically guided needles and removed by arthrotomy. RESULTS: Fracture fragment removal was achieved using a small, ultrasonographically guided arthrotomy. The horse has become sound after treatment and returned to the previous level of pleasure riding activity. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative ultrasonography was used to delineate and facilitate removal of an unusual slab fragment of C2, through a minimally sized arthrotomy. Despite the presence of pancarpal osteoarthritis and partial involvement of the medial collateral ligament, the prognosis appeared to be satisfactory for this pleasure riding horse. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ultrasonographic guidance may be used to optimize the approach to C2 articular bony fragments that may not be observed using arthroscopy.     

Delivery of growth factors using gene therapy to enhance bone healing

OBJECTIVE: To review the delivery of growth factors using gene therapy for enhancing long-bone fracture healing. STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. METHODS: MEDLINE and CAB Abstracts literature search (1980-2004). RESULTS: Non-union and infected non-union are relatively common complications of long-bone fractures in human and veterinary patients. Growth factors are cytokines that regulate many cell functions important in fracture healing. Exogenous growth factors can be delivered to the fracture site as recombinant proteins or using gene therapy. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 and -7 (rhBMP-2 and -7), in particular, enhance fracture healing in numerous experimental and clinical studies. Some limitations with use of recombinant proteins may be overcome by use of gene therapy. Gene therapy involves delivery of the growth factor gene to cells at the fracture site using a viral or non-viral vector. The gene is then expressed (protein synthesis) by cells at the fracture site. Delivery of the BMP gene to the fracture site using gene therapy has been evaluated in laboratory animal models of non-union, with favorable results and without complications. CONCLUSION: Delivery of growth factors, particularly members of BMP family, to the fracture site using gene therapy may be a method to enhance fracture healing. Use of this technology may improve the prognosis for patients with long-bone fractures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinical application of gene therapy could improve the prognosis for human and veterinary patients with long-bone fractures, but has not been evaluated clinically.     

Mechanical performance of a screw-type veterinary suture anchor subjected to single load to failure and cyclic loads

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the mechanical performance of a veterinary bone anchor under static and cyclic loads. STUDY DESIGN: Mechanical testing study. ANIMALS: Cadaveric canine humeri. METHODS: Humeri (6 pairs) were collected from skeletally mature dogs (mean [+/-SD] age, 17.2+/-2.1 months; weight, 20.8+/-1.5 kg). Bone anchors were inserted in the proximal metaphysis using nylon, and were longitudinally extracted. For the opposite humerus, anchors were subjected to longitudinal cyclic load (50% of the load at failure of their pair) for 1200 cycles then longitudinally loaded to failure. Anchors were then installed in a similar and adjacent area of these 2(nd) humeri with nylon and cyclically tested perpendicular to the axis of anchor insertion (100% of the longitudinal holding power of their pair) for 1200 cycles, then perpendicularly loaded to failure. Paired t-tests were used to compare holding power before and after longitudinal cyclic testing. RESULTS: Longitudinal holding power of the screw-type anchor in the proximal humerus was 385+/-30 N. Anchor pullout was the only mode of failure. Anchors in the paired humeri did not fail after 1200 cycles of 50% longitudinal loading, and post-cycle holding strength was not different (335+/-87 N; P=.32). Perpendicularly loaded anchors did not fail after 1200 cycles of 100% of opposite longitudinal holding strength, and had post-cycle perpendicular holding strengths of 514+/-72 N. Suture breakage was the mode of failure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bone anchor holding strength is dependent on orientation of suture load. Screw-type bone anchor holding strength was not affected by longitudinal cyclic loading, and holding strengths of approximately 385 N can be expected in metaphyseal bone of large-breed mature dogs. Perpendicularly loaded anchors have higher failure loads, and holding strength of approximately 514 N can be expected in metaphyseal bone of the proximal humerus.     

Biomechanical comparison of cortical radial graft versus ulnar transposition graft limb-sparing techniques for the distal radial site in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical properties of radial graft (RG) versus ulnar transposition graft (UTG) limb-sparing techniques in the dog. STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric study. ANIMALS: Six pairs of normal canine thoracic limbs. METHODS: In each pair of limbs, 1 limb was subjected to the RG technique and the other to the UTG technique. Limbs were tested in axial loading until failure. Modes of failure and biomechanical properties were compared between the 2 groups. Percent coverage of the metacarpal bone by the plate was retrospectively compared between the limbs that failed by fracture of the metacarpal bones and those that did not. RESULTS: RG limbs had significantly greater stiffness, yield load, maximum load, maximum energy, and post-yield energy. All UTG limbs failed by cranial bending of the plate. Half of the RG limbs failed by caudal bending of the plate and half by fracture of the third metacarpal bone at the distal end of the plate. Limbs with <80% plate coverage of the metacarpal bone were significantly more likely to fail by metacarpal fracture. CONCLUSIONS: The RG technique was biomechanically superior to the UTG technique under the conditions studied. At least 80% plate coverage of the metacarpal bone should be achieved. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Exercise restriction and coaptation bandages should be considered for patients undergoing the UTG technique to minimize potential biomechanical complications.     

鹿茸发生和再生的组织基础及其研究进展

通过对鹿茸生长发育机理研究的整理和总结,阐述了鹿茸发生和再生过程中的组织变化,特别是关于生茸区骨膜和角柄骨膜的研究,取得了重要的成果．生茸区骨膜切除后不能发生角柄和鹿茸,而被移植了生茸区骨膜的位置则生长角柄和鹿茸,证明了生茸区骨膜是鹿茸发生的组织基础,确定了生茸区骨膜中存在鹿茸再生干细胞,为进一步研究鹿茸的生长发育机理提供了重要的依据和参考．     

猪骨粉乳酸菌发酵条件的研究

[目的]优化猪骨粉乳酸菌的发酵条件。[方法]将新鲜猪骨骨粉进行乳酸菌发酵,分别探讨了不同菌种比例、初始pH、加糖量对发酵效果的影响。在单因素试验的基础上,进行正交试验。[结果]最佳发酵条件确定为:菌种比例1∶2,初始pH 6.5,加糖量为7%。在此发酵条件下,发酵后猪骨粉三氯乙酸氮溶解指数(PTA-SN)和磷钨酸水溶性氮(TCA-NSI)分别为0.625 0和0.873 6。[结论]在最佳发酵条件下猪骨粉的营养价值大幅提升,为猪骨的综合利用开辟了新途径。     

Magnetic resonance imaging findings of bone marrow lesions in the equine distal tarsus

Three horses with sudden onset severe lameness were admitted for further diagnostic investigation. All horses had variable changes on radiographs in the distal tarsal region. Because of the sudden onset and severe degree of lameness, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination was performed. All horses showed areas of increased signal intensity in short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images involving the central and/or third tarsal bones. These lesions involved both the subchondral bone and bone marrow and are currently defined as bone marrow lesions (BML). Two horses were treated with shockwave therapy, one received intra‐articular medication. Two of the horses returned to previous athletic level and one is still in rehabilitation.     

两种方法所获鸭破骨细胞数量及活性比较

对直接从鸭骨髓腔机械分离的成熟破骨细胞（osteoclasts,OC）和由鸭骨髓来源单核细胞融合成的OC样多核巨细胞（multinucleatedgiantcells,MNGCs）进行培养,分别进行抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶（tartrate-resistantacidphosphatase,TRAP）染色并计数,扫描电镜观察象牙片吸收陷窝,比较了2种方法获得0C的骨吸收功能。结果显示,2种方法均能分离培养出TRAP阳性且具有骨吸收功能的多核OC,但直接分离获得的成熟OC骨吸收功能更强。     

复方中草药添加剂对大骨鸡生长性能的影响

研究复方中草药添加剂对大骨鸡生长性能的影响,选用1日龄大骨鸡200只,随机分为4组,每组50只,Ⅰ组为空白对照组,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组基础日粮中分别添加0.5%、1%、2%复方中草药添加剂,试验期42 d。在不同试验阶段称量体重和耗料,计算平均日增重、耗料量及料重比。结果表明,在日粮中添加不同比例的复方中草药添加剂对其生长性能有提高趋势,添加量以1%为最佳。