Use of allogenous bone graft and osteosynthetic stabilization in treatment of massive post-sternotomy defects.

Thoracic stabilization using transverse plate fixation represents a modern and safe method of sternal dehiscence treatment. However, it still remains difficult to apply in cases of massive loss of bone tissue of the chest wall. An unsatisfactory stability of thorax often results in severe respiratory insufficiency, and also affects healing of soft tissue closure while increasing the risk of development of chronic fistulas and other dehiscences. In the reported case, we opted for a unique treatment of massive post-sternotomy defect using an allogenous bone graft of calva. Transverse titanium plates were applied to achieve stabilization of bone grafts and chest wall.

Survival and infertility treatment in male cancer patients after sperm banking.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between sperm pathology and cancer diagnosis, determine the mortality rate, and evaluate the outcomes of the use of frozen sperm from the sperm bank. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University fertility center. PATIENT(S): A total of 619 male patients were referred for sperm freezing before gonadotoxic therapy from 1995 to 2006. INTERVENTION(S): Semen analysis, data verification in the National Oncologic Register, assisted reproduction technologies, and statistical evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Cancer diagnosis and sperm pathology analysis, survival of patients, and infertility treatment success. RESULT(S): Malignant testicular cancer was diagnosed in 43.6% of patients, and malignant neoplasms of the lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues were found in 31.7% of patients. Azoospermia or severe oligospermia (