Weight-bearing status may influence rates of radiographic healing following reamed, intramedullary fixation of diaphyseal femur fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of weight-bearing status on radiographic healing of diaphyseal femur fractures. DESIGN: Retrospective 1:1 matched cohort study. SETTING: Single-level 1 trauma center. PARTICIPANTS: One-hundred forty-four (N = 154) patients matched 1:1 in non-weight bearing (NWB) and weight-bearing as tolerated (WBAT) groups. INTERVENTION: Non-weight bearing following reamed, statically locked intramedullary fixation of diaphyseal femur fracture, generally due to concurrent lower extremity fracture. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: Postoperative radiographic healing using modified Radiographic Union Scale for Tibia fractures (mRUST) scores. RESULTS: Groups were well matched on age, sex, race, prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use, diabetes mellitus status, Injury Severity Score, fracture pattern and shaft location, vascular injury, open fracture prevalence, and operative characteristics. Radiographic follow-up was similar between groups (231 vs 228 days, P = .914). At 6 to 8 weeks status post intramedullary fixation, the median mRUST score in the NWB group (9) was lower than that of the WBAT group (10) (mean: 8.4 vs 9.7, P = .004). At 12 to 16 weeks, the median mRUST in the NWB group (10) was again lower than the WBAT group (12) (mean: 9.9 vs 11.7, P = .003). The median number of days to 3 cortices of bridging callous was 85 in the WBAT group, compared with 122 in the NWB group (P = .029). Median time to mRUST scores of 12 (111 vs 162 days, P = .008), 13 (218 vs 278 days, P = .023), and 14 (255 vs 320 days, P = .028) were all longer in the NWB group compared with the WBAT group. CONCLUSIONS: Non-weight bearing after intramedullary fixation of diaphyseal femur fractures delays radiographic healing, with median time to 3 cortices of bridging callous increased from 85 days in WBAT groups to 122 days in NWB groups. These results provide clinicians with an understanding of the expected postoperative course, as well as further support the need to expeditiously advance weight-bearing status.Level of Evidence: IV.

Accelerated healing of endodontically treated teeth with a periapical lesion as a result of orthodontic extrusion: evaluation and rationale.

Resolution of a periapical periodontal lesion as determined by radiographic examination may take a year or longer. Orthodontic movement is known to have a positive effect on the bone topography and morphology. The literature presents no information about the effect of orthodontic movement on the rate of periapical endodontic healing following a root canal treatment. The aim of this report was to present the use of orthodontic root extrusion in cases with a periapical lesion, where other options are ruled out. Three case reports involving endodontically treated teeth with a periapical lesion are presented. In each case, the performed orthodontic extrusion resulted with healing of the periapical environment towards a predictable crown fabrication or replacing a hopeless tooth more safely with an implant-supported crown. In all cases presented, signs of radiographic healing were demonstrated in a relatively shorter time than is considered acceptable, following the extrusive orthodontic movement, with no clinical sensitivity to percussion or periodontal pockets. In conclusion, orthodontic extrusion of endodontically treated teeth with periapical lesions presented positive radiographic healing signs along with no clinical symptoms of pain and mobility and a positive effect on marginal bone level and soft tissues, at a faster rate than was expected. This report may assist in supporting a clinical decision to apply vertical extrusive forces on compromised endodontically treated teeth presenting with a periapical lesion. Healing signs may be observed within a shorter time period, which may allow better prediction for the prosthetic phase.

A One-Year Radiographic Healing Assessment after Endodontic Microsurgery Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomographic Scans.

This study aimed to evaluate one-year radiographic healing after endodontic microsurgery using CBCT with modified PENN 3D criteria and to compare the outcome with results evaluated using Molven's criteria. A total of 107 teeth from 96 patients were evaluated one year after endodontic microsurgery by using CBCT scans with modified PENN 3D criteria and periapical radiographs with Molven's criteria. Both preoperative and postoperative lesion volumes were calculated using ITK-SNAP (free software). Radiographic healing assessment using periapical radiographs and CBCT images, and preoperative and postoperative lesion volume measurements were performed independently by two examiners. The assessment using Molven's criteria resulted in 75 complete healings, 18 incomplete healings, eight uncertain healings, and six unsatisfactory healings. Based on modified PENN 3D criteria, 64 teeth were categorized as complete healing, 29 teeth as limited healing, six teeth as uncertain healing, and eight teeth as unsatisfactory healing. With the one-year follow-up, CBCT scans showed a lower healing tendency than did periapical radiography. The volumes of apical radiolucency after the surgery were reduced by 77.7% on average at one-year follow up.

Evaluation of New Cone-beam Computed Tomographic Criteria for Radiographic Healing Evaluation after Apical Surgery: Assessment of Repeatability and Reproducibility.

INTRODUCTION: Conventional 2-dimensional radiography uses defined criteria for outcome assessment of apical surgery. However, these radiographic healing criteria are not applicable for 3-dimensional radiography. The present study evaluated the repeatability and reproducibility of new cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT)-based healing criteria for the judgment of periapical healing 1 year after apical surgery. METHODS: CBCT scans taken 1 year after apical surgery (61 roots of 54 teeth in 54 patients, mean age = 54.4 years) were evaluated by 3 blinded and calibrated observers using 4 different indices. Reformatted buccolingual CBCT sections through the longitudinal axis of the treated roots were analyzed. Radiographic healing was assessed at the resection plane (R index), within the apical area (A index), of the cortical plate (C index), and regarding a combined apical-cortical area (B index). All readings were performed twice to calculate the intraobserver agreement (repeatability). Second-time readings were used for analyzing the interobserver agreement (reproducibility). Various statistical tests (Cohen, kappa, Fisher, and Spearman) were performed to measure the intra- and interobserver concurrence, the variability of score ratios, and the correlation of indices. RESULTS: For all indices, the rates of identical first- and second-time scores were always higher than 80% (intraobserver Cohen κ values ranging from 0.793 to 0.963). The B index (94.0%) showed the highest intraobserver agreement. Regarding interobserver agreement, the highest rate was found for the B index (72.1%). The Fleiss' κ values for R and B indices exhibited substantial agreement (0.626 and 0.717, respectively), whereas the values for A and C indices showed moderate agreement (0.561 and 0.573, respectively). The Spearman correlation coefficients for R, A, C, and B indices all exhibited a moderate to very strong correlation with the highest correlation found between C and B indices (rs = 0.8069). CONCLUSIONS: All indices showed an excellent intraobserver agreement (repeatability). With regard to interobserver agreement (reproducibility), the B index (healing of apical and cortical defects combined) and the R index (healing on the resection plane) showed substantial congruence and thus are to be recommended in future studies when using buccolingual CBCT sections for radiographic outcome assessment of apical surgery.

Radiographic healing after a root canal treatment performed in single-rooted teeth with and without ultrasonic activation of the irrigant: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of a root canal treatment with and without additional ultrasonic activation of the irrigant. METHODS: Single-rooted teeth with radiographic evidence of periapical bone loss were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups. In both groups syringe irrigation was performed, and in one group the irrigant was also activated by ultrasound. Ten to 19 months after treatment, the teeth were examined by using periapical radiography (PA) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Area and volume of the periapical lesions were measured, and the outcome was presented in 4 categories: absence, reduction or enlargement of the radiolucency, or uncertain. Lesions were classified as reduced or enlarged when the change in size of the radiolucency was 20% or more. RESULTS: The recall rate was 82%, and 84 teeth were analyzed. CBCT detected significantly more post-treatment lesions than PA (P = .038), but the percentages of absence and reduction of the radiolucency together revealed by CBCT and PA were similar (P = .383). The CBCT results showed that absence of the radiolucency was observed in 16 of 84 teeth (19%) and reduction of the radiolucency in 61 of 84 teeth (72.6%), but there was no significant difference between the results of the 2 groups (P = .470). Absence and reduction of the radiolucency together were observed in the ultrasonic group in 39 of 41 teeth (95.1%) and in the syringe group in 38 of 43 teeth (88.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Root canal treatments with and without additional ultrasonic activation of the irrigant contributed equally to periapical healing.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and pulsed electromagnetic field in the treatment of tibial fractures: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) or pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on fracture healing through a systematic review of original, English-language clinical research reports. DATA SOURCES: A search of MEDLINE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and ProQuest to identify clinical trials of LIPUS or PEMF with fractures in humans, written in English, published from 1966 through 2004. Key words were ultrasound, fracture, tibial, electric current, and healing. STUDY SELECTION: After search limits were applied, 17 papers were assessed independently by 2 reviewers. Papers were excluded from consideration if they lacked (1) random allocation of treatments, (2) inclusion of skeletally mature patients of either sex with a current fracture, (3) blinding of both the patient and the assessors as to treatment group, (4) administration of either LIPUS or PEMF treatments to one of the treatment groups, or (5) assessment of time to fracture healing or proportion of fractures healed, as determined radiographically, clinically, or both. DATA EXTRACTION: Eight trials met the inclusion criteria. Methodologic quality of all trials was assessed using the PEDro criteria. Outcome measures were tabulated. DATA SYNTHESIS: Heterogeneity among studies precluded direct comparison of the efficacy of LIPUS to that of PEMF. CONCLUSIONS: The studies we included in our review were of generally high methodologic quality. The evidence suggests that LIPUS may speed healing of acute tibial fractures. Comparison studies of these modalities are needed to guide treatment of fractures sustained by athletic individuals.