The deleterious effects of smoking in bone mineralization and fibrillar matrix composition.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to verify the effects of cigarette smoke exposure in bone mineralization and fibrillar matrix composition as well as in bone healing after tibial fracture induction. METHODS: C57Bl/6 Mice were assigned according to exposure and surgery: C room air; F room air and tibia open osteotomy; CS cigarette smoke; FCS cigarette smoke and tibia open osteotomy. In order to study fracture healing we performed, under anesthesia, a bone injury through a tibial shaft osteotomy. Bone samples were obtained to evaluate bone histomorphometry, trabecular morphology and volume, trabecular collagen types composition and presence of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. RESULTS: CS exposure significantly reduced the thickness of bone trabeculae associated with decrease in mineralizing surface and mineral deposition rate, leading a lower bone formation rate and longer mineralization time. Resorption surface and osteoclastic surface were greater in the CS group, attesting increased resorptive action. There was a decrease in type I collagen deposition and genes expression in the CS and FCS groups compared to C group and in contrast there was an increase in type V collagen deposition and genes expression in the CS, FC and FSC groups compared to C group. Also, CS exposure induced a decrease in bone forming cytokines and an increase in inflammatory associated cytokines, and these changes were intensified under fracture conditions. CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoke exposure alters bone matrix composition and worsens bone mineralization, leading to bone fragility by increasing collagen V synthesis and deposition and impairing collagen I fibril forming and assembling. And these deleterious effects contributed to the worsening in fracture healing after tibia osteotomy.

Tratamento da síndrome do túnel ulnar pela técnica da epicondilectomia parcial medial do cotovelo / Treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome using the technique of medial partial epicondylectomy of the elbow

OBJETIVO: Analisamos retrospectivamente os resultados de 21 casos de síndrome cubital tratados cirurgicamente com a técnica da epicondilectomia parcial medial. MÉTODOS: No período de fevereiro de 2001 a outubro de 2006, 21 pacientes com síndrome do canal cubital foram tratados pela técnica da epicondilectomia parcial medial do cotovelo associada à neurólise do nervo ulnar. Destes, 12 (57,1 por cento) eram do sexo masculino. O lado direito foi o acometido em 15 (71,4 por cento) pacientes. A média da idade dos pacientes foi de 51,6 anos. Pela graduação de McGowan, seis (28,6 por cento) pacientes encontravam-se no grau I, 11 (52,3 por cento), no grau II e quatro (19,1 por cento), no grau III do período pré-operatório. RESULTADOS: O tempo médio de acompanhamento pós-operatório foi de 25,7 meses. No pós-operatório, os pacientes foram avaliados conforme a escala de pontos de Bishop, sendo que nove (42,8 por cento) apresentavam resultados excelentes, sete (33,3 por cento), bons, três (14,2 por cento), regulares e dois (9,5 por cento), ruins. Nesta série, não se encontraram como complicações a instabilidade em valgo residual, a lesão permanente do nervo ulnar, a recidiva da compressão ou a subluxação do nervo ulnar. As complicações encontradas foram perda do arco de movimento em um (4,7 por cento) caso, infecção superficial em um (4,7 por cento) e um (4,7 por cento) com dor residual. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados apresentados permitem concluir que a epicondilectomia parcial medial do cotovelo associada à neurólise do nervo ulnar é eficiente e segura para o tratamento da síndrome do canal cubital.

OBJECTIVE: The authors made a retrospective analysis of the results of 21 cases of cubital syndrome that were surgically treated with the partial medial epicondylectomy. METHODS: From February 2001 to October 2006, 21 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome were treated with the technique of elbow partial medial epicondylectomy associated to neurolysis of the ulnar nerve. Of these patients, 12 (57.1 percent) were male. The right side was involved in 15 (71.4 percent). Mean age of the patients was 51.6 years. According to McGowan classification, six (28.6 percent) patients were grade I, 11 (52.3 percent), grade II, and four (19.1 percent), grade III in the preoperative period. RESULTS: The mean post-operative follow-up time was 25.7 months. In the post-operative period, patients were evaluated according to the Bishop score scale, and nine of them (42.8 percent) showed excellent results, seven (33.3 percent) had good results, three (14.2 percent), regular, and two patients (9.5 percent) had poor results. The authors did not find in this series any complications represented by residual valgus instability, permanent lesion of the ulnar nerve, recurrent compression, or subluxation of the ulnar nerve. Complications found were the loss of the movement arch in one case (4.7 percent), superficial infection in one case (4.7 percent), and residual pain in one case (4.7 percent). CONCLUSION: The results allow for the conclusion that partial medial epicondylectomy of the elbow associated to neurolysis of the ulnar nerve is effective and safe to treat cubital tunnel syndrome.