[Postoperative pain control with intrathecal morphine in patients undergoing vertebral fusion with instrumentation]. / Control del dolor postoperatorio mediante morfina intratecal en pacientes intervenidos por fusión vertebral instrumentada.

BACKGROUND: Proper postoperative pain management in patients undergoing vertebral arthrodesis with instrumentation is essential to reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality. Intrathecal morphine may provide effective analgesia minimizing the dose required and adverse side effects. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of intrathecal morphine to control postoperative pain in patients undergoing vertebral arthrodesis with instrumentation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective randomized trial was conducted; it included 46 patients who underwent vertebral fusion with instrumentation. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: one of them received a 0.003 mg/kg dose of intrathecal morphine before closing the surgical wound. The following parameters were recorded during the postoperative period: respiratory rate, PCO2, PO2, need for adjuvant anesthesia and subjective pain assessment with the visual analog scale (VAS), at 6, 24 and 48 hours after the surgery. The results were analyzed with non-parametric tests. RESULTS: Patients who received intrathecal morphine had a statistically significant decrease in postoperative pain within 48 hours after the surgery, with a mean VAS score close to 3. In 24.1 percent of patients had complications associated with the use of morphine chloride, such as nausea and vomiting, without any statistically significant differences compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal morphine is a safe and effective treatment option to control early postoperative pain in patients undergoing vertebral fusion with instrumentation. This leads to a more convenient and quick recovery.

[Sauvé-Kapandji procedure in distal radioulnar joint disorders]. / Procedimiento de Sauvé-Kapandji en los trastornos de la articulación radiocubital distal.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the functional and subjective results of the Sauvé-Kapandji procedure as a treatment for distal radioulnar joint disorders. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted on 27 patients treated using the Sauvé-Kapandji technique from January 2001 to March 2012. The aetiología, age, sex, laterality, articular movement, radiographical signs of joint degeneration, and cubitus varus, were analysed. The Mayo Clinic wrist assessment scale and the DASH questionnaire were used for the postoperative evaluation. The mean follow-up was 24 months (6-48 months). The mean age was 47.2 years, with 66.7% females, and 55% the dominant side. RESULTS: At one year after surgery, 16 cases had mild or no pain (59.2%), 8 cases with moderate (29.6%) and 3 cases with severe pain (11.1%). The pronation-supination went from a pre-operative average of 96.8° to 136.4° postoperative, operatorios, which was a significant statistical difference (Wilcoxon test). The radioulnar ratio went from an pre-operative average of +2.6mm to -0.39 mm postoperative. Full functional recovery was observed in 48%. A grip strength of 50.6%, compared to the contralateral wrist was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The Sauvé-Kapandji technique could avoid the complications common in other procedures, such as cubital-carpal migration. Our study agrees with that in the literature with good results as regards the range of joint movement, with an acceptable improvement in pain compared to the previous stage, but it also demonstrates the frequent loss of grip strength and instability of the proximal radio-ulnar joint.

[Radiologic study on postnatal ossification of the first metatarsal bone]. / Estudio radiológico sobre la osificación postnatal del primer metatarsiano.

BACKGROUND: Classical descriptions of the ossification of the first metatarsal bone show the existence of a single proximal secondary ossification nucleus, mimicking the typical ossification of a phalanx. However, there are studies that show the presence of a second distal ossification nucleus and discuss its nature: epiphysis or pseudoepiphysis. The objective of the study is to establish the prevalence of such distal nucleus, determine its role in the growth of the radius and its relation with different qualitative variables. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study that included 971 dorsoplantar images from 225 patients. We analyzed the presence of such nucleus, the age of appearance and closure, the relation with different qualitative variables and their contribution to the longitudinal growth of the first metatarsal bone. RESULTS: The distal ossification nucleus appears in 40% of all images and in 81.1% of cases ages 4-7 years. Mean age of appearance is 3.07 years, while physeal closure occurs at a mean of 7.67 years. We found a significantly higher frequency of physeal closure in children, patients with Egyptian type foot, flat foot, and index-plus and Egyptian type foot combinations. The definitive length of the first metatarsal bone is greater in patients with a distal ossification nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: We may state the presence of the distal ossification nucleus of the first metatarsal bone that behaves as a fertile growth cartilage.

Intracellular biogenesis of collagen fibrils in 'activated fibroblasts' of tendo Achillis. An ultrastructural study in the New Zealand rabbit.

We have studied the formation of collagen fibrils in 'activated fibroblasts' of tendo Achillis of rabbits. The tendon was in the process of regeneration after experimental partial tenotomy. Samples were taken from the peri-incisional region and analysed by transmission electron microscopy. Ultrastructural examination showed the presence of a 'fine dense granular substance' inside the rough endoplasmic reticulum and procollagen filaments. These come together to form collagen fibrils in the dilated vacuoles of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The possible intra- and extracellular origin of collagen fibrils is suggested. Within the cell biosynthesis of collagen fibrils take place with the formation of collagen substance which gives rise to procollagen filaments. These make contact in parallel apposition to produce striated 'spindle-shaped bodies' which elongate by the longitudinal attachment of more procollagen filaments and form intracellular nascent collagen fibrils.