Improved cattle behaviour monitoring by combining Ultra-Wideband location and accelerometer data.

Cattle behaviour is fundamentally linked to the cows' health, (re)production, and welfare. The aim of this study was to present an efficient method to incorporate Ultra-Wideband (UWB) indoor location and accelerometer data for improved cattle behaviour monitoring systems. In total, 30 dairy cows were fitted with UWB Pozyx wearable tracking tags (Pozyx, Ghent, Belgium) on the upper (dorsal) side of the cow's neck. In addition to the location data, the Pozyx tag reports accelerometer data as well. The combination of both sensor data was performed in two steps. In the first step, the actual time spent in the different barn areas was calculated using location data. In the second step, accelerometer data were used to classify cow behaviour using the location information of step 1 (e.g., a cow located in the cubicles cannot be classified as feeding, or drinking). A total of 156 hours of video recordings were used for the validation. For each hour of data, the total time each cow spent in each area and performing which behaviours (feeding, drinking, ruminating, resting, and eating concentrates) were computed using the sensors and compared against annotated video recordings. Bland-Altman plots for the correlation and difference between the sensors and the video recording were then computed for the performance analysis. The overall performance of locating the animals into the correct functional areas was very high. The R2 was 0.99 (P < 0.001), and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 1.4 min (7.5% of the total time). The best performance was obtained for the feeding and lying areas (R2 = 0.99, P < 0.001). Performance was lower in the drinking area (R2 = 0.90, P < 0.01) and the concentrate feeder (R2 = 0.85, P < 0.05). For the combined location + accelerometer data, high overall performance (all behaviours) was obtained with an R2 of 0.99 (P < 0.001) and a RMSE of 1.6 min (12% of the total time). The combination of location and accelerometer data improved the RMSE of the feeding time and ruminating time compared to the accelerometer data alone (2.6-1.4 min). Moreover, the combination of location and accelerometer enabled accurate classification of additional behaviours that are difficult to detect using the accelerometer alone, such as eating concentrates and drinking (R2 = 0.85 and 0.90, respectively). This study demonstrates the potential of combining accelerometer and UWB location data for the design of a robust monitoring system for dairy cattle.

Results of 115 Rubis II reverse thumb carpometacarpal joint prostheses with a mean follow-up of 10 years.

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological results of the Rubis II thumb carpometacarpal joint reverse prosthesis, at a mean follow-up of 10 years. Between 1997 and 2008, 253 prostheses were implanted in 199 patients; 115 were reviewed. The survival after a mean of 10 years was 89%. At the last follow-up, 70% of prostheses were painless; the others reported moderate or intermittent pain. The satisfaction rate was 98%. The mean opposition was 9 on the Kapandji scale; the mean QuickDASH score was 30. Wrist, key and tip pinch strengths were comparable with the non-operated side. Of the 115 implants, one was radiologically loose (1%) and 15 had suffered dislocations (13%), 12 of which were caused by an injury. Eleven thumbs had revision surgery. This study confirms that the good clinical results of the Rubis II prosthesis are maintained in the medium and long term, and represents a useful alternative to trapeziectomy for selected patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

[Results of the treatment of basal thumb osteoarthritis by Rubis II prosthesis after more than 5 years. A retrospective study of 118 cases]. / Résultats à plus de cinq ans du traitement de la rhizarthrose par la prothèse Rubis II. À propos de 118 implantations.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of the work was to evaluate the mid-term results of the Rubis II® trapeziometacarpal prosthesis for the treatment of basal thumb osteoarthritis. METHODS: From 1997 to 2003, 118 trapeziometacarpal prostheses Rubis II® were implanted at Saint-Quentin's Hospital. Seventy-seven have been clinically and radiologically reviewed. The average follow-up was of 88 months. Sixteen patients were reviewed by phone. Fourteen patients were lost to contact and two died (13.5% of cases). Nine prostheses were removed (7.6% of cases). RESULTS: Among the reviewed prostheses, 76.6% of patients had no pain, the others had moderate pain. Postoperatively, the average opposition according to Kapandji's scale was 9.52. The average key-pinch force was similar on both sides. All reviewed patients were satisfied or very satisfied. No radiological loosening was noted. Nine removals were necessary; for post-traumatic dislocation in six cases, post-traumatic fracture of the trapezium in two cases, and inflammatory reaction with no infection in one case. The survival rate of the prosthesis was 93% at five years. CONCLUSIONS: The Rubis II® prosthesis presents a satisfactory survival rate after five years and good clinical results. The design of the implant could explain the absence of loosening. The main risk of the Rubis II prosthesis seems to be the post-traumatic dislocation occurring mostly during the first two years after surgery.

[Rubis 2 trapezometacarpal prosthesis: concept, operative technique]. / Prothèse trapézométacarpienne Rubis 2: concept, technique opératoire.

INTRODUCTION: We have implanted 49 uncemented reversed trapeziometacarpal prostheses since 1997. OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE: We used a classical dorsal approach. A good preparation of the base of the first metacarpal will give excellent exposure of the trapezium, the most important stage of the operation. Instrumentation allows easy insertion of the two components and also their adjustment. RESULTS: A follow-up of three years is too short and we intend to give our full results at five years. At the present time the patients are well and seem satisfied. DISCUSSION: The reversed design of this prosthesis is useful because it spares the scarce bone stock of the trapezium. The shape of the trapezial implant prevents not only its sinkage but also any lateral movement.

[Treatment of fresh humeral diaphysis fractures by Seidel intramedullary locked nailing. A study of 23 initial cases after 2.5 years with rotator cuff evaluation]. / Traitemet des fractures récentes de la diaphyse humérale par enclouage centro-médullaire verrouillé selon Seidel. Révision des 23 premiers cas à 2.5 ans avec étude de la coiffe des rotateurs.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The Seidel intramedullary locking nail is one of the alternative methods for operative treatment of humeral shaft fractures. Short follow-up demonstrated persistent pain and stiffness at the shoulder joint. The aims of this retrospective study were first to evaluate results with attention to operative technique, consolidation rate and postoperative complications. Second we studied rotator cuff healing in our first patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-five acute diaphyseal fractures were treated between May 91 and Dec 94. We reviewed personally 23 patients with a mean follow-up of 33 months (range 22-66). The dominant fracture type according to AO was type A. Clinical shoulder assessment was carried out using the Constant score. Isometric strength was recorded in both shoulders with a hand-held dynamometer in abduction, external and internal rotation. Sonographic evaluation of the rotator cuff was performed using a 7.5 MHz linear array transducer in all 23 patients. RESULTS: All but one fracture healed at an average of two months. Impingement was observed in three patients but pain relief and normal shoulder motion have been reached after nail removal. Infection occurred in one patient but final result was good. Constant score averaged 78.7 (range 51-94.2) classifying the result in all but two patients as excellent or good. Compared with the external and internal rotations, strength was significantly reduced in abduction but reached 83.5 per cent of the opposite shoulder. No statistical differences were found in relation with age, gender and side. Compared with the contralateral shoulder, rotator cuff evaluation with sonography was considered as normal in 18 patients. Calcium deposits of the cuff were noticed in the infected patient. In three cases sonography detected hyperechoic line considered as scar in the supraspinatus tendon without any partial or full-thickness tear. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: A median starting point avoids the avascular area and gives a straight access to the medullary canal. This study demonstrates that using this entry portal and a reliable technique antegrade nailing of the humerus does not compromise rotator cuff healing and shoulder function. Technical errors lead to poor or fair results but despite this learning curve, Seidel nail when operative treatment is indicated, is a good choice. Attention must be paid to patients with clinical history of impingement or rotator cuff tendinopathy.

[Carpometacarpal dislocations of the long fingers. Apropos of 26 cases with review of 20 cases]. / Les luxations carpo-métacarpiennes des doigts longs. A propos de 26 cas dont 20 cas revus.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: A retrospective study reports the evolution of patients treated for dislocation of one or several of the four medial carpometacarpal joints. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In five of twenty-six patients, the dislocations were undiagnosed in emergency. Twenty-five dislocations were dorsal. A patient presented a divergent dislocation of the four medial metacarpals proximal ends. The mean age was 25-30 years. Twenty-six patients were treated: ten by closed reduction and sixteen by open reduction. Stabilization by oblique K-wire pining was used in twenty-four cases. Twenty patients were followed for an average of fourty-one months. Six patients were lost for follow-up. Two patients had an an ulnar nerve injury. In eighteen cases, dislocation was associated with avulsion fracture of the involved bone. Eleven fractures of the distal carpal row was reported. RESULTS: The results were assessed by the range of wrist and fingers motion, grip strength, pain and deformity. Three patients had a limited range of wrist motion, five patients had a limited range of fingers motion. Six patients had a loss of fourth and fifth carpometacarpal joint motion. Eight patients had an excellent grip strength. Four patients were pain free and fourteen had climatic pain, or after strenuous use of the hand. Eleven had no deformity or limited prominence and three a disabling deformity. Results were rated good in thirteen cases, fair in three and poor in four. DISCUSSION: Dislocation or fracture-dislocation of the carpometacarpal joints are uncommon injuries. The diagnosis can be easily missed. The authors recommend closed or open reduction but constant fixation by pins and immobilization in a plaster cast. In this study, the majority of results was good when no serious injuries were associated and when reductions were stabilized with k-wires. One out of four poor results had been treated by closed reduction without k-wires, the three others were due to associated injuries.