The incidence of infrapatellar plicae in the elderly Welsh population.

There are several studies reporting the incidence of suprapatellar, medial, and lateral plicae, but there is very limited information regarding the incidence of the infrapatellar plica. The purpose of our study was to record the incidence of infrapatellar plicae in the elderly Welsh population suffering from knee osteoarthritis. A prospective study was performed and 90 knees with severe osteoarthritis of the knee joint (Kellgren-Lawrence type III and IV) were investigated during total knee arthroplasty surgery. Documentation was performed at every total knee replacement surgery for the length of the study. Knee replacement was performed by one senior surgeon. Infrapatellar plica was investigated by a medial parapatellar approach and was classified into five types according to Kim's classification. The overall incidence of infrapatellar plicae was 37.7%. The most common type of plicae was the separate type (23.3%). There was no significant difference found between male and female patients. The fenestra type was the least common (2.22%). The incidence of infrapatellar plicae in the elderly Welsh population suffering from knee osteoarthritis was significantly lower when compared to a study that recorded the incidence of infrapatellar plica in young patients. Possibly, the degenerative changes of the knee joint can cause the resorption of the infrapatellar plica, thus decreasing its incidence in the elderly population.

Hip pain and pseudo-lengthening of the leg due to iliopsoas haematoma following implantation of an uncemented component in acetabular cotyloplasty technique.

We report early symptomatic (groin pain and apparent limb lengthening) findings in our 12 consecutive patients who underwent total hip replacements using a cementless acetabular cotyloplasty technique. This report is the first in the literature to mention such an early complication in a large number of patients and also to describe early detection and treatment in these cases. During the period of January 2007 to December 2010, 12 patients (seven female, five male) with dysplastic hip underwent total hip arthroplasty. The mean age of the patients was 57 years (range 52-61 years) and the mean follow-up time was 18 months (12-36 months). A cotyloplasty technique was performed and uncemented acetabular and femoral components were implanted in all these 12 patients. All patients were reviewed postoperatively for clinical and radiographic assessment at six weeks, three months, six months, and one year, and then annually thereafter. During the first one to two months (mean time 22 ± 16 days), all patients complained of a constant pain in the groin that started in the early postoperative period. A pseudo lengthening of the operated hip and pelvic tilt was found on clinical examination at the three-month follow-up. The True length did not reveal a significant leg length discrepancy. Hip pain, pseudo lengthening, and pelvic tilt resolved within 123 ± 17 days post-op. A cotyloplasty technique using an uncemented acetabular implant can cause an intrapelvic hematoma of the iliopsoas muscle giving rise to temporary groin pain, pseudo lengthening on the operated side, and gait disturbances to the patient in the early postoperative period. Symptoms resolved completely in all of our cases. Iliopsoas physiotherapy could be useful and should be encouraged during the symptomatic period. Patients have to be informed during consenting and reassured about this symptomatology. Awareness of this likely complication would help surgeons to detect the problem and initiate treatment early.

Long-term survival in advanced ovarian carcinoma following cytoreductive surgery with standard peritonectomy procedures.

The impact of cytoreductive surgery with standard peritonectomy procedures has not been extensively assessed in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. The aims of the study are to report the long-term results of patients with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing cytoreductive surgery with standard peritonectomy procedures and to identify the prognostic indicators that may affect outcome. The records of 74 women with advanced ovarian cancer were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical indicators were correlated to survival. The hospital mortality and morbidity rates were 13.5% and 28.4%, respectively. Complete or near-complete cytoreduction was possible in 78.4% of the patients. Overall 10-year survival rate was 52.5%. Complete cytoreductive surgery, small-volume tumor, low-grade tumor, the absence of distant metastases, the use of systemic adjuvant chemotherapy, performance status >70%, and limited extent of peritoneal carcinomatosis were favorable indicators of survival. Complete cytoreduction (P= 0.000) and treatment with systemic chemotherapy (P= 0.001) independently influenced survival. Recurrence was recorded in 37.8% of the patients and was independently influenced by the tumor grade (P= 0.037). Cytoreductive surgery with standard peritonectomy procedures followed by adjuvant chemotherapy offers long-term survival in women with advanced ovarian cancer who have limited peritoneal carcinomatosis and no distant and irresectable metastases.

[Detection of periodontal pathogenic microorganisms in atheromatous plaque. Preliminary results]. / Nachweis parodontal pathogener Mikroorganismen in atheromatösen Plaques. Vorläufige Ergebnisse.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies suggest that chronic infections, including those associated with periodontitis, increase the risk for coronary vascular disease. We hypothesize that oral microorganisms including periodontal bacterial pathogens enter the blood stream during transient bacteremias where they may play a role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To test this hypothesis, 34 human specimens obtained during carotid endarterectomy or bypass procedures were examined by use of specific oligonucleotide primers for Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Bacteroides forsythus in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. RESULTS: Twenty (59%) of the 34 specimens tested positive for bacterial 16S rDNA. Subsequent hybridization of the bacterial 16S rDNA positive specimens with species-specific oligonucleotide probes revealed that 32.4% of the 34 atheromas tested positive for at least one of the target periodontal pathogens. Further analysis of the results in the bacterial positive group (n = 20) shows that 55% of the atheromas tested positive for at least one of the target periodontal pathogens. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that periodontal pathogens are present in atherosclerotic plaques, where they may play a role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis leading to coronary vascular disease and other clinical sequelae.

Clinical and microbial findings on osseo-integrated implants; comparisons between partially dentate and edentulous subjects.

Clinical and microbiological parameters in partially dentate and edentulous patients treated with oral implants were compared in this study. Twenty-four subjects including 9 males and 15 females, aged 33 to 70 were treated with 98 Brånemark fixtures. Plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth, implant mobility and crevicular fluid flow rate were measured. Latex agglutination tests identified the presence of Actinobacillus Actinomycetem-comitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia. Partially dentate patients accumulated more plaque than edentulous patients (P = 0.05), whereas crevicular fluid flow rate was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the partially dentate population. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia were more frequently detected (P < 0.01) in partially dentate patients. These results indicate that the presence of natural teeth alter clinical and microbiological parameters which could in turn affect the long term success rate of implants.

Fixation strength of the ulnar component of total elbow replacement.

After clinical failure of ulnar component fixation by olecranon fracture occurred, this study examined different component designs to find the strongest type. Components requiring square cuts or rounded cuts to prepare the proximal ulna with short or long stems of polyethylene or metal were implanted in paired cadaver bones and tested to failure. Loads were applied through the articular surface in an anterior-posterior direction, causing bending fracture of the olecranon. The main findings were a higher strength if the bone was prepared to take a rounded rather than a square-shaped prosthesis body, a slightly higher strength with a metal component compared with a similarly shaped polyethylene component, and slightly less strength if a longer stem was used. We recommend the use of a polyethylene component with a rounded shape and short stem, because it will be thinner, entailing less bone excavation. Additionally, it is less costly than a metal-backed design.

An intramedullary aligned bone cutting jig for elbow replacement.

One of the main post operative complications of total elbow replacement has been dislocation and fracture of the olecranon. This has been associated with rotational malalignment of the bone cuts of the proximal ulna caused by the current free hand cutting method. This paper presents an intramedullary aligned bone cutting jig which gives rotational location on the ulna for the bone cuts, without notching the olecranon.

Clinical and microbiological status of osseointegrated implants.

Peri-implantitis, an inflammatory response around implants, has a poorly defined etiology and pathogenesis. To better understand the role of specific microorganisms in this disease process, clinical and microbiological parameters were examined in 24 patients with 98 osseointegrated implants. Sites were evaluated for probing depth (PD), plaque/calculus index (PI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), mobility, and crevicular fluid flow rate (CFFR). Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia in subgingival plaque were identified by latex agglutination assays. Clinically, a statistically significant correlation (P < 0.001) was observed between probing depth and the length of time an implant was present. Mobility was also significantly greater (P < 0.001) in the maxillary than in the mandibular implants. Subgingival sites harboring one of the three microorganisms had significantly greater PD, GBI, and CFFR than non-colonized sites. Implants in partially edentulous patients more frequently were colonized with P. gingivalis/P. intermedia than edentulous patients. The incidence of these microorganisms also correlated with fixture longevity. Implants present for 3 to 4 years had a significantly greater frequency of test microorganisms than implants present for 1 to 2 years. These findings suggest that microbial pathogens associated with periodontitis occur more commonly around implants exhibiting gingival inflammation (GBI) and may contribute to peri-implantitis.

Gingival health and salivary function in head and neck-irradiated patients. A five-year follow-up.

Gingival health and salivary gland function were evaluated for a period of 5 years in 14 patients who received head and neck irradiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (seven patients; total dose greater than 60 Gy, nasopharyngeal field) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (seven patients; total dose less than 50 Gy, "mantle" field). Plaque index (PII), bleeding index (BI), gingival recession (GR), whole saliva flow rate (WSFR), left parotid sialographic morphology, and salivary gland radioisotopic activity were assessed immediately before radiotherapy and annually thereafter. The nasopharyngeal group had perfect correlation between postradiation depression of WSFR and the sialographic and scintigraphic scores (R = -1.00 and -0.96, respectively). The degree of gland dysfunction correlated negatively with BI and the BI/PII ratio (r = -0.497) and with GR (r = 0.681). The same correlations were noted in the group with Hodgkin's lymphoma during the first 3 years of follow-up. However, recovery of parotid gland function (WSFR and scintigraphic scores) and morphology (sialographic scores) and return to the preradiation relation between WSFR and both BI/PII ratio (r = 0.75) and GR (r = -0.71) were noted in the fourth year. The differences between the nasopharyngeal and Hodgkin's lymphoma groups are attributable to the delineation of the radiation field employed in each group.

Humoral antibody responses in periodontal disease.

Several forms of periodontal disease are considered to be infectious diseases with associated specific bacteria. This study examined the humoral antibody levels as assayed by ELISA to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia in adult periodontitis (AP), localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP), rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP), and in periodontally healthy subjects (HS). Sixty-two of the 64 (96.9%) patients had significantly elevated antibody levels to at least one of the three organisms. Elevated levels of antibodies to P. gingivalis occurred in 82.8% of the RPP, LJP, and AP patients with all 3 disease groups showing greater responses than HS controls. Antibodies to A. actinomycetemcomitans were found in 59.4% of the RPP, LJP, and AP patients and were significantly higher in both LJP and RPP patients. Only 21.9% of the RPP, LJP, and AP patients showed elevated levels to P. intermedia with only significantly higher levels in the RPP and LJP groups. Antibodies to A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. intermedia were rarely found alone (only 5.1% and 2.6% of the patients respectively) but were usually accompanied by P. gingivalis. These results suggest that one or more combinations of these 3 bacteria may play a role in the pathogenesis of these forms of periodontal disease.

CPITN application in regular dental practice.

The periodontal status of 8862 dentulous and partially dentulous inhabitants of the Federal Republic of Germany was investigated in various dental practices, using the CPITN, developed by the World Health Organization. The results show that a total of only 4.3% of those examined have a healthy periodontal apparatus and thus require no periodontal treatment. At least detailed oral hygiene instruction needs to be given to 95.7% of all subjects. Furthermore, 80% patients with periodontal disease require scaling or root planing, and 10% of them require periodontal surgery. The treatment of shallow gingival pocketing (CPITN 3) is predominant in every age group, and every fifth patient aged 35 years or more is need of periodontal surgery. This high frequency rate of periodontal disease illustrates the urgent necessity in regular dental practice for each and every patient to undergo periodontal screening. Such screening, based on the time saving CPITN, is to be recommended as it ensures fast, reliable determination of the periodontal status of each individual patient and the treatment needs involved.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil chemiluminescence in periodontal disease.

The oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP, n = 19), localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP, n = 10), adults periodontitis (AP, n = 10) and healthy control subjects (HS, n = 39) was compared using the luminol chemiluminescence (CL) method. Possible influences of the isolation procedure on CL were circumvented by replacing starch with Haemaccell 35 as the sedimentation agent. In all groups, CL was significantly higher with autologous serum than with normal pooled serum (NPS) and there was a significant linear relationship between the two values. Comparisons of both pooled and autologous serum between patient groups and their matched controls were not statistically significant. There was a suggestion of serum-induced defects in 2 patients and 1 control. The range of individual values within each group was very heterogeneous, probably because of the many factors that are able to influence both the production of CL and the basal levels of CL observed.

[The etiopathogenesis of periodontal diseases: the role of microorganisms. A review]. / Atiopathogenese der Parodontalerkrankungen: die Rolle der Mikroorganismen. Eine Ubersicht.

The microbiology of periodontal diseases as well as associations between certain microorganisms and types/stages of periodontal diseases are discussed and the ecology and the composition of the subgingival plaque are included in this discussion, too. Furthermore, the possible role of microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases, their pathogenic mechanisms and their virulence factors are treated in the present article. Periodic upsets of the host-parasite equilibrium seem to be responsible for the bursts of disease progression. Several plaque hypotheses (specific, non-specific, opportunistic) have been proposed as likely models to explain the nature of periodontal infections and diseases. However, none of these theories is widely accepted at the moment. Therefore, we suggest that further investigations concerning the complex bacterial interactions and the manner in which the host responds to the mass and the composition of the dental plaque must be carried out in the future.

[Periodontal status in Rio de Janeiro city (Brazil)]. / Parodontalzustand in Rio de Janeiro City (Brasilien).

The periodontal status and the treatment needs were investigated in 1854 residents of Rio de Janeiro City (Brazil) by means of the CPITN. The results of the study showed that 2.5% of the examined individuals were healthy (CPITN 0), 8.1% displayed an increased tendency towards bleeding on probing (CPITN 1) and 23.2% presented with calculus and bleeding on probing (CPITN 2). Shallow pocketing (CPITN 3) was observed in 51.4% and deep pocketing (CPITN 4) in 14.7% of the examined subjects. Since 97.5% of the examined population were in need of periodontal therapy, the necessity for organizing an oral health program with emphasis on prevention and treatment of periodontal disease is strongly indicated.

[Sulcus fluid in periodontal diagnosis. A review]. / Die Sulkusflüssigkeit in der parodontalen Diagnostik. Eine Ubersicht.

In the present review, the composition of the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) as well as its important role in the diagnosis of periodontal disease have been discussed. Furthermore, the different sampling methods and the subsequent analytical procedures have been described. Some of the GCF-components, such as elastase, prostaglandin, arylsulphatase and beta-glucuronidase, are examined for their use as suitable markers of future disease activity. At the present time, the interest of research is focussing on the host-parasite interaction, the prediction of disease activity, and the identification of risk groups of patients. Therefore, GCF is considered a valuable research subject and a possible diagnostic marker.

[Clinical indices in periodontal diagnosis. A review]. / Klinische Indizes in der parodontologischen Diagnostik. Eine Ubersicht.

In this review, are described the most common clinical indices. Further, is discussed and criticized their application as well as usefulness in the clinical diagnosis and patient management. Although, there exists a variety of clinical indices, only a few of them could be sufficient for monitoring diagnosis and treatment in the general practice.

[Gingivectomy]. / Die Gingivektomie.

The gingivectomy is the oldest surgical approach in periodontal therapy. During the centuries, the technique has been modified. Just at the middle of our century, gingivectomy was the most important surgical method in periodontal treatment. Indication for performance of the gingivectomy is the complete elimination of the periodontal pocket (gingival overgrowth/e.g. hyperplasia, subgingival caries, subgingivally located crown margins. The physiologic design of the free gingival margin by surgical means, gingivoplasty, must be taken under consideration. Depending on the long and painful healing for the patient, gingivectomy should be preserved for the indications above. Wherever possible, is recommended a flap procedure like the apically repositioned flap.

Gingival crevicular fluid elastase-inhibitor complex: correlation with clinical indices and subgingival flora.

This investigation analyzed, in a cross-sectional study, the possible relationship between gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) elastase-like protease (ELP) levels and the periodontal clinical parameters or the presence of specific bacteria in subgingival plaque. A total of 388 periodontal sites from 8 adult periodontitis patients were examined for plaque index (PII), gingival index (GI), pocket depth (PD) and alveolar bone loss (ABL). GCF ELP levels were determined as ELP alpha-1 protease inhibitor (ELP-alpha 1-PI) complex levels with a commercially available ELISA. Subgingival plaque samples were tested for the presence of Bacteroides gingivalis, B. intermedius and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy. GCF ELP-alpha 1-PI levels were then correlated with clinical periodontal indices and proportions of IF-positive bacteria per site. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between GCF ELP-alpha 1-PI concentrations and subgingival Bacteroides proportions. When the sites examined were analyzed depending on the level of each clinical parameter, the levels of these correlations changed. A. actinomycetemcomitans correlated highly (r = 0.716) with ABL for sites with low GI score. The correlations between GCF ELP-alpha 1-PI and B. gingivalis (r = 0.642) or B. intermedius (r = 0.774) were the highest for ABL less than or equal to 20% and PD less than or equal to 3 mm, respectively. The strong association between GCF ELP-alpha 1-PI concentrations and subgingival bacteria previously associated with advancing periodontitis indicates that measurement of GCF ELP-alpha 1-PI concentrations may be useful in the evaluation of periodontal sites, especially those with very little or no tissue destruction.