Ocular sarcoidosis, to screen or not to screen?

Ocular sarcoidosis most commonly presents with symptoms and is first diagnosed before systemic sarcoidosis in at least half of the patients with sarcoidosis. Prevalence of ocular involvement in sarcoidosis varies between 2-80% depending on the study setting, included ocular diseases, and studied population. In many studies, ocular involvement in sarcoidosis has been overestimated mainly because study populations have been collected from eye clinics and because the study criteria have included ocular findings or symptoms that do not require treatment or monitoring. In a screening setting, asymptomatic ocular sarcoidosis has been detected in only 2-5%. 0-1% of the screened sarcoidosis patients have required treatment. For these reasons, ocular screening in sarcoidosis seems generally of little value. Patients with sarcoidosis who present with ocular symptoms should be screened for ocular sarcoidosis in a timely manner because they are at high risk of ocular disease.

The Finnish current care guideline for open-angle glaucoma.

This article is an English translation of the 4th Finnish Current Care Guideline for diagnostics, treatment and follow-up of primary open-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma. This guideline is based on systematic literature reviews and expert opinions with Finland's geographical and operational healthcare environment in mind.

A prototype protocol for evaluating the real-world data set using a structured electronic health record in glaucoma.

PURPOSE: As the first step in monitoring and evaluating day-to-day glaucoma care, this study reports all real-world data recorded during the first full year after the implementation of a prototype for glaucoma-specific structured electronic healthcare record (EHR). METHODS: In 2019, 4618 patients visited Tays Medical Glaucoma Clinic at Tays Eye Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Finland, that serves a population of 0.53 M. Patient data were entered into a glaucoma-specific EHR by trained nurses to be checked by glaucoma specialists. Tays Eye Centre follows the Finnish Current Care Guideline for glaucoma in which glaucoma is defined using a '2 out of 3' rule, that is, ≥2 findings evaluated as glaucomatous in optic nerve head (ONH), retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and visual field (VF). RESULTS: The clinical evaluations of ONH, RNFL and VF were recorded in 95%-100% of all eyes. ONH was evaluated as glaucomatous more often (44%) than RNFL (33%) and VF tests (30%). Progressive changes in any of the three tests were recorded in 35% of the '≥2/3 glaucoma group' compared to 2%-9% in the other groups. The mean IOP at visit was 15 mmHg. The mean target IOP was 17 mmHg, and it was recorded in 94% of eyes. CONCLUSION: The developed structured data presentation enables comparisons between different population-based real-world glaucoma data sets and glaucoma clinics. Compared to a data set from the UK, the proportion of glaucoma suspicion-related visits was smaller in Tays Eye Centre and test intervals were longer.

Low utility of ocular screening in sarcoidosis in Finland.

PURPOSE: Systematic ocular screening is recommended in sarcoidosis, because of a high rate of ocular involvement. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ocular screening is useful in sarcoidosis in a Finnish university hospital population with 0.5 M inhabitants. METHODS: Patient charts of patients with sarcoidosis, without a history of ocular sarcoidosis, without ocular inflammatory symptoms, and with a comprehensive eye exam from January 2014 to January 2021 at Tays Eye Centre, Tampere, Finland, were studied. RESULTS: Five of 262 patients (2%) were diagnosed with asymptomatic uveitis. No other types of ocular sarcoidosis were found. Anterior uveitis without complications was present in three patients, unilaterally in two and bilaterally in one patient. Posterior uveitis was present in two patients, a unilateral choroidal granuloma requiring treatment in one and bilateral punched-out chorioretinal lesions in the other patient. CONCLUSIONS: With this low rate of ocular involvement requiring treatment in sarcoidosis, systematic screening for asymptomatic ocular sarcoidosis does not seem useful in a Finnish population. In Tays Eye Centre, systematic screening of ocular sarcoidosis was discontinued in 2021.

Glaucoma progression in patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate how often glaucoma and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) occur in the same patient and to evaluate whether glaucoma progression is faster in eyes treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF medications for nAMD. METHODS: This single-centre retrospective real-world data (RWD) consists of medical records of 6314 glaucoma and 2166 nAMD patients treated in 2008-2017 in Tays Eye Centre, Finland. To study glaucoma progression, changes in visual fields (mean deviation [MD], dB/year), IOP (mmHg/year) and fundus photographs (progression, yes/no) were compared in glaucoma eyes with and without anti-VEGF treatment for nAMD and ≥1 year follow-up. RESULTS: During the 10-year period, 147 patients with glaucoma received intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for nAMD corresponding to 2% of glaucoma and 7% of nAMD patients. The mean change in MD was -0.70 dB/year (SD 1.8) vs. -0.27 dB/year (SD 1.7) (p = 0.027) in glaucoma eyes with (n = 37) and without (n = 4304) anti-VEGF injections, respectively. In patients with bilateral glaucoma and unilateral nAMD treated with anti-VEGF injections (n = 20), MD declined at -0.62 dB/year (SD 1.9) vs 0.33 dB/year (SD 1.5) (p = 0.654), and glaucoma progression was detected in 14/20 vs 10/20 (p = 0.219) fundus photographs in eyes with anti-VEGF treatment compared with their untreated fellow eyes. CONCLUSION: nAMD and glaucoma were found co-existing in the same eye at rates that were similar to the age-corrected prevalence of the two diseases in the general population. Our results suggest that intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for nAMD may accelerate glaucoma progression.

A Nordic screening guideline for juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this perspective was to shed light on screening of uveitis among Nordic children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS: A literature search was conducted to review predictors of JIA-uveitis and previous JIA-uveitis screening recommendations. RESULTS: Predictors of uveitis in JIA are younger age and positive antinuclear antibody titre at onset of JIA, specific subtypes of JIA (extended and persistent oligoarthritis, rheumatoid factor negative polyarthritis and psoriatic arthritis) and short duration of JIA. Methotrexate and monoclonal tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor treatment reduce the risk JIA-uveitis. CONCLUSION: Children with all of the above risk factors should be screened frequently but if they receive TNF inhibitor or methotrexate therapy, they may be screened less frequently. Children with none of the risk factors do not benefit from long-term screening for uveitis. A guideline for intervals and overall length of screening was prepared considering currently known risk factors for JIA-uveitis, the Nordic population and previous guidelines.

Short interruptions of TNF-inhibitor treatment can be associated with treatment failure in patients with immune-mediated diseases.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of immune-mediated diseases has increased in the past decades and despite the use of biological treatments all patients do not achieve remission. The aim of this study was to characterise the reasons for short interruptions during treatment with two commonly used TNF-inhibitors infliximab and adalimumab and to analyse the possible effects of the interruptions on immunisation and switching the treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This case-control study was based on retrospective analyses of patient records and a questionnaire survey to clinicians. A total of 370 patients (194 immunised cases and 172 non-immunised controls, 4 excluded) were enrolled from eight hospitals around Finland. Eleven different diagnoses were represented, and the largest patient groups were those with inflammatory bowel or rheumatic diseases. RESULTS: Treatment interruptions were associated with immunisation in patients using infliximab (p < .001) or adalimumab (p < .000001). Patients with treatment interruptions were more likely to have been treated with more than one biological agent compared to those without treatment interruptions. This was particularly prominent among patients with a rheumatic disease (p < .00001). The most frequent reason for a treatment interruption among the cases was an infection, whereas among the control patients it was remission. The median length of one interruption was one month (interquartile range 1-3 months). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the interruptions of the treatment with TNF-inhibitors expose patients to immunisation and increase the need for drug switching. These findings stress the importance of careful judgement of the need for a short interruption in the biological treatment in clinical work, especially during non-severe infections.

Uveitis in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: 18-Year Outcome in the Population-based Nordic Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To assess the long-term outcome of uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). DESIGN: Population-based, multicenter, prospective JIA cohort, with a cross-sectional assessment of JIA-associated uveitis (JIA-U) 18 years after the onset of JIA. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 434 patients with JIA, of whom 96 had uveitis, from defined geographic areas of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. METHODS: Patients with onset of JIA between January 1997 and June 2000 were prospectively followed for 18 years. Pediatric rheumatologists and ophthalmologists collected clinical and laboratory data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative incidence of uveitis and clinical characteristics, JIA and uveitis disease activity, ocular complications, visual outcome, and risk factors associated with the development of uveitis-related complications. RESULTS: Uveitis developed in 96 (22.1%) of 434 patients with JIA. In 12 patients (2.8%), uveitis was diagnosed between 8 and 18 years of follow-up. Systemic immunosuppressive medication was more common among patients with uveitis (47/96 [49.0%]) compared with patients without uveitis (78/338 [23.1%]). Active uveitis was present in 19 of 78 patients (24.4%) at the 18-year visit. Ocular complications occurred in 31 of 80 patients (38.8%). Short duration between the onset of JIA and the diagnosis of uveitis was a risk factor for developing ocular complications (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.8). Patients with a diagnosis of uveitis before the onset of JIA all developed cataract and had an OR for development of glaucoma of 31.5 (95% CI, 3.6-274). Presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) was also a risk factor for developing 1 or more ocular complications (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.2-7.7). Decreased visual acuity (VA) <6/12 was found in 12 of 135 eyes (8.9%) with uveitis, and 4 of 80 patients (5.0%) with JIA-U had binocular decreased VA <6/12. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that uveitis screening should start immediately when the diagnosis of JIA is suspected or confirmed and be continued for more than 8 years after the diagnosis of JIA. Timely systemic immunosuppressive treatment in patients with a high risk of developing ocular complications must be considered early in the disease course to gain rapid control of ocular inflammation.

Results 5 to 10 years after cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of cataract extraction with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and uveitis-related cataract. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: All consecutive patients younger than 20 years with JIA-uveitis-related cataract undergoing cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation in 1 or both eyes at the Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, from February 2000 to April 2012 were included. Twenty eligible patients with 26 operated eyes were identified; 14 were girls and 6 were boys. All patients had a follow-up of 5 years and 13 patients (16 eyes [65%]) reached 10 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-six eyes of 20 patients were studied. Preoperative median corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 0.05 in decimal notation. Median CDVA was 1.0 at 5 years and 0.9 at 10 years of follow-up. Two eyes did not reach CDVA 0.5 with the operation, and in 2 eyes, CDVA decreased below 0.5 over the period of 3 to 5 years after the operation. Active uveitis during 3 and 12 months preoperatively was a risk indicator for postoperative CDVA <0.5 at 5 years (P = .005 and P = .007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation provides long-standing good visual acuity for young patients with well-controlled JIA-related uveitis.

Correction to: Proposal for a definition for response to treatment, inactive disease and damage for JIA associated uveitis based on the validation of a uveitis related JIA outcome measures from the Multinational Interdisciplinary Working Group for Uveitis in Childhood (MIWGUC).

Following publication of the original article [1], we have been notified that the author Joan Calzada should not have been included to the team of authors. The authors' team, thus, should be as follows.

Proposal for a definition for response to treatment, inactive disease and damage for JIA associated uveitis based on the validation of a uveitis related JIA outcome measures from the Multinational Interdisciplinary Working Group for Uveitis in Childhood (MIWGUC).

BACKGROUND: JIA-associated uveitis (JIAU) is a serious, sight-threatening disease with significant long-term complications and risk of blindness, even with improved contemporary treatments. The MIWGUC was set up in order to propose specific JIAU activity and response items and to validate their applicability for clinical outcome studies. METHODS: The group consists of 8 paediatric rheumatologists and 7 ophthalmologists. A consensus meeting took place on November 2015 in Barcelona (Spain) with the objective of validating the previously proposed measures. The validation process was based on the results of a prospective open, international, multi-centre, cohort study designed to validate the outcome measures proposed by the initial MIWGUC group meeting in 2012. The meeting used the same Delphi and nominal group technique as previously described in the first paper from the MIWGUC group (Arthritis Care Res 64:1365-72, 2012). Patients were included with a diagnosis of JIA, aged less than 18 years, and with active uveitis or an uveitis flare which required treatment with a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug. The proposed outcome measures for uveitis were collected by an ophthalmologist and for arthritis by a paediatric rheumatologist. Patient reported outcome measures were also measured. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were enrolled into the validation cohort. Fifty four percent (n = 44) had persistent oligoarthritis followed by rheumatoid factor negative polyarthritis (n = 15, 18%). The mean uveitis disease duration was 3.3 years (SD 3.0). Bilateral eye involvement was reported in 65 (79.3%) patients. The main findings are that the most significant changes, from baseline to 6 months, are found in the AC activity measures of cells and flare. These measures correlate with the presence of pre-existing structural complications and this has implications for the reporting of trials using a single measure as a primary outcome. We also found that visual analogue scales of disease activity showed significant change when reported by the ophthalmologist, rheumatologist and families. The measures formed three relatively distinct groups. The first group of measures comprised uveitis activity, ocular damage and the ophthalmologists' VAS. The second comprised patient reported outcomes including disruption to school attendance. The third group consisted of the rheumatologists' VAS and the joint score. CONCLUSIONS: We propose distinctive and clinically significant measures of disease activity, severity and damage for JIAU. This effort is the initial step for developing a comprehensive outcome measures for JIAU, which incorporates the perspectives of rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, patients and families.

Fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (Retisert® ) in the treatment of sight threatening macular oedema of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis.

PURPOSE: We describe eight patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related chronic uveitis, who received a fluocinolone acetonide implant (FAI, Retisert®, Bausch&Lomb) in one eye. All patients had poor visual acuity (VA) due to persistent macular oedema in one or both eyes despite treatment with antirheumatic medication. METHODS: Median age of the patients was 22.9 years (range, 14.1-39.7) and duration of uveitis 13.0 years (range, 6.8-28.4) at FAI implantation. Median preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.1 (range, 0.05-0.4) and Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature, SUN-grade was SUN 2+ (range, 0.5-4.0). All patients had been treated extensively with systemic corticosteroids and antirheumatic drugs by the time of FAI implantation. The median follow-up time was 5.3 years (range, 4.4-6.3). RESULTS: Macular edema resolved in a median time of 0.2 years (range, 0.04-0.39) after the FAI implantation. The median BCVA was 0.5-0.63 (range, 0.1-1.0) from 1 to 5 years of follow-up. Macular edema did not recur in 5 eyes after the implantation. In three eyes, the macular oedema relapsed at 2.7, 2.9 and 5.5 years of follow-up. All our patients needed antirheumatic drugs in addition to the FAI to treat their macular edema. During the follow-up, 7 eyes required further intraocular operations: 4 cataract operations, 4 intraocular pressure -lowering operations and 1 retinal detachment surgery were performed. CONCLUSION: Fluocinolone acetonide implant is a valuable option in the treatment of persistent macular edema associated with JIA-related uveitis refractory to systemic treatments.

Anti-adalimumab antibodies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of adalimumab trough levels and anti-adalimumab antibodies with activity of uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational case series in a clinical setting at the Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland in 2014-2016. Thirty-one paediatric patients with chronic anterior juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis in 58 eyes and who had been on adalimumab ≥6 months were eligible for the study. Uveitis activity during adalimumab treatment, adalimumab trough levels and anti-adalimumab antibody levels were recorded. RESULTS: Anti-adalimumab antibody levels ≥12 AU /ml were detected in nine patients (29%). This level of anti-adalimumab antibodies was associated with a higher grade of uveitis (p<0.001), uveitis that was not in remission (p=0.001) and with lack of concomitant methotrexate therapy (p=0.043). In patients with anti-adalimumab antibody levels <12 AU/ml, higher serum trough levels did not associate with better control of uveitis (p=0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Adalimumab treatment might be better guided by monitoring anti-adalimumab antibody formation in treating JIA-related uveitis.

[Special features of biological drug therapy in children]. / Tulehdussairauksien biologisen lääkehoidon erityispirteet lapsilla.

Several new biological drugs, of which TNFα blockers are being used most extensively, have in recent years been adopted for the treatment of pediatric inflammatory diseases such as juvenile arthritis and associated chronic iritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases. In special situations the children will be prescribed off-label also other drugs affecting cytokines, e.g. IL-1 and IL-6 blockers. Tailoring of the treatment is possible today with the help of drug level measurements and anti-drug antibody determinations. Severe safety hazards associated with biological drug therapy in children are very rare.

[Exemplary cases of individualization of biological therapy]. / Esimerkkitapauksia biologisen hoidon yksilöllistämisestä.

The use of biological drugs consisting of large molecules has in recent years expanded to new indications and new specialties. These drugs are most commonly proteins possessing the structure of an antibody or a receptor, and treatment with them is significantly more expensive than that carried out with conventional small molecule drugs. Determination of drug levels and emerging antibodies form the basis of individualization. They will enable better treatment results with simultaneous avoidance of unnecessary medications, excessive doses--and extra costs. We demonstrate the individualization of TNF-α blocker therapy through patient cases in various situations.

Potential Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors on Trabeculectomy With Mitomycin C for Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Related Uveitic Glaucoma: A Retrospective Analysis.

IMPORTANCE: The majority of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitic glaucoma require surgery to control intraocular pressure. Trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) is a major treatment option, although both chronic inflammation and young age increase risk of filtration failure. Factors that potentially protect from filtration failure are important to identify. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential effect of treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor on the success of an MMC-augmented trabeculectomy for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitic glaucoma. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In a retrospective observational study with a median follow-up of 7.9 years at the Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Hospital, in Helsinki, Finland, 29 eyes of 29 consecutive patients (3.1-20.4 years of age) underwent an MMC-augmented primary trabeculectomy during the period from April 1996 to January 2014. Fifteen patients were treated with systemic TNF inhibitors at the time of their trabeculectomy to control their uveitis, arthritis, or both. No changes were made to the antirheumatic therapy preoperatively. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Successful trabeculectomies, determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis, in which patients have intraocular pressure of 21 mm Hg or lower without antiglaucomatous medications or further glaucoma procedures. RESULTS: The success rate of trabeculectomy for patients who were treated with TNF inhibitors was 73% (95% CI, 44%-89%) at 1, 5, and 10 years after surgery, whereas the success rates of trabeculectomy for patients who were not treated with TNF inhibitors were 57%, 16%, and 0% at 1, 5, and 10 years after surgery, respectively (P = .01). The trabeculectomies of patients who were treated with TNF inhibitors were successful for a median of 3.2 years (95% CI, 0.3-9.9 years), whereas the trabeculectomies of patients who were not treated with TNF inhibitors were successful for a median of 1.2 years (95% CI, 0.6-3.6 years) (P = .14). Nine eyes of 9 patients had previously undergone cyclodestruction, intraocular surgery, or both (ie, prior ocular surgery). The effect of TNF was observed especially in the eyes of patients who had not undergone prior ocular surgery (at 5 years: 83% success rate for patients who had not undergone prior ocular surgery vs 19% success rate for patients who had). A difference in the overall success rate between patients who had and patients who had not had prior surgery was not identified. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our retrospective data suggest that better control of intraocular pressure was achieved in the eyes of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis glaucoma who were treated with TNF inhibitors at the time of their MMC-augmented primary trabeculectomy. The retrospective design of the present study suggests that our data can be used for the planning of future studies but not for making treatment decisions.

Evidence for gamma-actin as a Z disc component in skeletal myofibers.

We investigated the targeting of the gamma-actin isoform in skeletal myofibers. For this purpose we used expression vectors to produce green fluorescent protein (GFP-) as well as myc-tagged gamma-actin in rat flexor digitorum brevis myofibers. We found that the gamma-actin fusion proteins accumulated into Z discs but not beneath the sarcolemma. Instead, the GFP-tagged skeletal muscle-specific alpha-actin isoform was preferentially incorporated into the pointed ends of thin contractile filaments. The localization pattern of the gamma-actin fusion proteins was completely different from that of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex on the sarcolemma. The results emphasize the role of gamma-actin as a Z disc component but fail to reveal an actin-based sub-sarcolemmal cytoskeleton in skeletal muscle cells.

Holding power of bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L/DL-lactide 70/30 tacks and miniscrews in human cadaver bone.

Several bioabsorbable internal fixation systems are currently in use in the field of bone surgery. To test the mechanical properties of recently developed amorphous self-reinforced poly-L/DL-lactide [SR-P(L/DL)LA] 70/30 tacks in comparison with commercially available SR-P(L/DL)LA 70/30 (BioSorbFX; Bionx Implants Ltd) miniscrews, SR-P(L/DL)LA miniscrews (length = 6.0 mm, core diameter = 1.5 mm, thread diameter = 2.0 mm) and tacks (length = 5.4 mm, core diameter = 1.5 mm, thread diameter = 2.0 mm) were applied to human cadaveric metatarsal (MT) bones (6 pairs of fourth MT bones and 6 pairs of fifth MT bones from donors who were from 29 to 56 years of age at the time of death). Pullout force was measured using a mechanical testing machine. Forty-eight pullout tests were carried out for each implant type. The Student test, Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman coefficient were used for statistical evaluation. The pullout force of tacks was 135.0 +/- 26.1 N, and that of the miniscrews was 119.3 +/- 26.1 N ( = 0.04, statistically significant difference). Accordingly novel SR-P(L/DL)LA 70/30 tacks have a statistically better pullout strength than the SR-P(L/DL)LA 70/30 miniscrews when tested in cadaver MT bones.

Comparison of the pull-out forces of bioabsorbable polylactide/glycolide screws (Biosorb and Lactosorb) and tacks: a study on the stability of fixation in human cadaver parietal bones.

The aim of this study was to compare the pull-out forces of bioabsorbable polylactide/glycolide (PLGA) tacks and screws in human cadaver parietal bones. Parietal bone pieces (c. 6 cm x 20 cm) were collected from five human male cadavers (age range: 47-75 years). Forty-nine BioSorbPDX (self-reinforced [SR] PLGA 80/20) tacks (1.5-mm diameter, 4.0-mm length), 47 BioSorbPDX (SR-PLGA 80/20) screws (1.5-mm diameter, 4.0-mm length), and 46 LactoSorb (PLGA 82/18) screws (1.5-mm diameter, 4.0-mm length) were applied. The tacks were applied to drill holes using a special applicator gun (no tapping or tightening). The screws were applied to drill holes in the traditional way using tapping and tightening with a screwdriver. A tensile testing machine was used. All the implants were tested thus: the head of the implant was held by an aluminum jig, and the jig was pulled with wire until implant failure. The testing pull speed was 10 mm/min. Means and SDs were calculated, and the data were analyzed using ANOVA. The pull-out force of the tacks was 115.9 +/- 8.3 N, that of Lactosorb screws was 112.9 +/- 12.1 N, and that of Biosorb screws was 110.4 +/- 8.9 N (statistically insignificant difference between the three groups). The most common reason for failure in the case of tacks was barb breakage (55.1%); it was thread breakage in the case of BioSorb screws (66%) and stem split in the case of Lactosorb screws (56%). Tacks seem to have a similar, perhaps even a little better, holding power to cranial bone as screws and can hence be recommended for clinical application, as the procedure saves time and, consequently, costs.

Holding power of bioabsorbable ciprofloxacin-containing self-reinforced poly-L/DL-lactide 70/30 bioactive glass 13 miniscrews in human cadaver bone.

Antibiotics-plus bioactive glass-containing bioabsorbable self-reinforced (SR) polylactide screws have been developed for antibacterial osteoconductive bone fixation. The aim of the present study was to test the pullout properties of these recently developed miniscrews. Ciprofloxacin-plus bioactive glass-containing SR-polylactide miniscrews (BC) were compared with miniscrews made of neat SR-polylactide (A), SR-polylactide with bioactive glass (B), and ciprofloxacin-containing SR-polylactide (C). BC miniscrews and their controls (A, B, C) (all of length 6.0 mm, core diameter 1.45 mm, thread diameter 2.0 mm) were applied to one pair of cadaveric fibulae. Pullout force was measured using a materials testing machine. We carried out 49-50 pullout tests for each implant type. The Mann-Whitney test and Student's t-test were used for statistical evaluation. The pullout force for BC miniscrews was 114.9 +/- 34.0 (SD) N. Pullout forces for control miniscrews were 162.7 +/- 37.8 N (A), 99.1 +/- 16.2 N (B), and 142.9 +/- 26.9 N (C). Differences between the four groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Ciprofloxacin-plus bioactive glass-containing polylactide miniscrews have good holding power to human cadaver fibulae. However, adding bioactive glass and ciprofloxacin components to neat SR-polylactide results in lower pullout values.