Relation between the dash score and radiographic evaluation of the wrist in patients with wrist fracture.

Traditionally, the assessment of distal radius fracture outcomes has been based on radiological measurements and self-evaluation scores. However, there is uncertainty regarding how accurately these measurements reflect the patient's perception of their outcome. In this study, we examined the correlation between radiological measurements and patient-perceived outcomes using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand outcome (DASH) score. 140 individuals who had recovered from a distal radius fracture. and had been treated with DVR, Kapandji, percutaneous pinning or closed reduction were included in the study. The retrospective assessment included 78 females and 62 males, with a mean DASH score of 3.54 points.Except for the ulnar variance, the study found little to no significant association between the DASH score and the final radiological measurement.In summary, the DASH score did not always indicate that a superior radiological result translated into a better patient-perceived outcome.

Bioinspiration and biomimetics in marine robotics: a review on current applications and future trends.

Over the past few years, the research community has witnessed a burgeoning interest in biomimetics, particularly within the marine sector. The study of biomimicry as a revolutionary remedy for numerous commercial and research-based marine businesses has been spurred by the difficulties presented by the harsh maritime environment. Biomimetic marine robots are at the forefront of this innovation by imitating various structures and behaviors of marine life and utilizing the evolutionary advantages and adaptations these marine organisms have developed over millennia to thrive in harsh conditions. This thorough examination explores current developments and research efforts in biomimetic marine robots based on their propulsion mechanisms. By examining these biomimetic designs, the review aims to solve the mysteries buried in the natural world and provide vital information for marine improvements. In addition to illuminating the complexities of these bio-inspired mechanisms, the investigation helps to steer future research directions and possible obstacles, spurring additional advancements in the field of biomimetic marine robotics. Considering the revolutionary potential of using nature's inventiveness to navigate and thrive in one of the most challenging environments on Earth, the current review's conclusion urges a multidisciplinary approach by integrating robotics and biology. The field of biomimetic marine robotics not only represents a paradigm shift in our relationship with the oceans, but it also opens previously unimaginable possibilities for sustainable exploration and use of marine resources by understanding and imitating nature's solutions.

A 3D-Printed Soft Haptic Device with Built-in Force Sensing Delivering Bio-Mimicked Feedback.

Haptics plays a significant role not only in the rehabilitation of neurological disorders, such as stroke, by substituting necessary cognitive information but also in human-computer interfaces (HCIs), which are now an integral part of the recently launched metaverse. This study proposes a unique, soft, monolithic haptic feedback device (SoHapS) that was directly manufactured using a low-cost and open-source fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer by employing a combination of soft conductive and nonconductive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials (NinjaTek, USA). SoHapS consists of a soft bellow actuator and a soft resistive force sensor, which are optimized using finite element modeling (FEM). SoHapS was characterized both mechanically and electrically to assess its performance, and a dynamic model was developed to predict its force output with given pressure inputs. We demonstrated the efficacy of SoHapS in substituting biofeedback with tactile feedback, such as gripping force, and proprioceptive feedback, such as finger flexion-extension positions, in the context of teleoperation. With its intrinsic properties, SoHapS can be integrated into rehabilitation robots and robotic prostheses, as well as augmented, virtual, and mixed reality (AR/VR/MR) systems, to induce various types of bio-mimicked feedback.

A 3D Printed Soft Robotic Hand With Embedded Soft Sensors for Direct Transition Between Hand Gestures and Improved Grasping Quality and Diversity.

In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) printed soft robotic hand with embedded soft sensors, intended for prosthetic applications is designed and developed to efficiently operate with new-generation myoelectric control systems, e.g., pattern recognition control and simultaneous proportional control. The mechanical structure of the whole hand ('ACES-V2') is fabricated as a monolithic structure using a low-cost and open-source 3D printer. It minimizes the post-processing required for the addition of the embedded sensors in the hand. These are significant benefits for the robotic hand that features low cost, low weight (313 grams), and anthropomorphic appearance. With the soft position sensors added to the fingers, the fingers' positions can be monitored to avoid self-collision of the hand. Besides, it allows a robotic prosthetic hand to eliminate the conventional way of returning to the neutral full open position when switching from one type of gesture to another. This makes the transition between the hand gestures much faster, more efficient, and more intuitive as well. Further, initial contact detection of each finger is achieved for the preshaping of multi-finger grasps, e.g., tripod grip and power grasps, to improve the stability and quality of the grasps. Combinations of different gestures allow the hand to perform multi-stage grasps to seize and carry multiple objects simultaneously. It can potentially augment the hand's dexterity and grasping diversity. Providing direct transition between the hand gestures and improved grasping quality and diversity are the primary contributions of this study.

Force Control of a 3D Printed Soft Gripper with Built-In Pneumatic Touch Sensing Chambers.

This work reports on a soft gripper with three-dimensional (3D) printed soft monolithic fingers that seamlessly incorporate pneumatic touch sensing chambers (pTSCs) for real-time pressure/force control to grasp objects with varying stiffness (i.e., soft, compliant, and rigid objects). The fingers of the soft gripper were 3D printed simultaneously along with the pTSC, without requiring support materials, using an inexpensive fused deposition modeling 3D printer. The pTSCs embedded in the fingers have numerous advantages, including fast response, repeatability, reliability, negligible hysteresis, stability over time, durability, and very low power consumption. Finite element modeling is used to predict the behavior of the pTSCs under different body contacts and to design their topology. Real-time pressure/force control was performed experimentally based on the feedback data provided by the pTSCs to grasp various objects with different weights, shapes, sizes, textures, and stiffnesses using an experimentally tuned proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller with the same gains for all the objects grasped. In other words, the gripper can self-adapt to different environments with different stiffnesses and provide stable contact and grasping. These results are validated theoretically by modeling the soft gripper in contact with the objects with varying stiffness to show that the stability of the contact motion is not affected by the stiffness of the environment (i.e., the grasped object) when constant PID control gains are used.

Resection of Hibernoma of the Proximal Shin Followed by Foot Drop and Tendon Transfer: A Case Report.

This is the description of the case of a 42-year-old male who presented with a growing, painless lump on his anterior leg. The diagnosis of a rare tumor called hibernoma was suspected after inspection of the radiologic findings. The unusual location of the tumor resulted in superficial peroneal nerve entrapment. The tumor was excised and the diagnosis of hibernoma was confirmed by histopathology. Surgery resulted in foot drop that was successfully treated with a tibialis posterior tendon transfer. Our case illustrates a rare tumor in an unusual location that can be challenging for clinicians to discern and to properly treat.

A 3D Printed Modular Soft Gripper Integrated With Metamaterials for Conformal Grasping.

A single universal robotic gripper with the capacity to fulfill a wide variety of gripping and grasping tasks has always been desirable. A three-dimensional (3D) printed modular soft gripper with highly conformal soft fingers that are composed of positive pressure soft pneumatic actuators along with a mechanical metamaterial was developed. The fingers of the soft gripper along with the mechanical metamaterial, which integrates a soft auxetic structure and compliant ribs, was 3D printed in a single step, without requiring support material and postprocessing, using a low-cost and open-source fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer that employs a commercially available thermoplastic poly (urethane) (TPU). The soft fingers of the gripper were optimized using finite element modeling (FEM). The FE simulations accurately predicted the behavior and performance of the fingers in terms of deformation and tip force. Also, FEM was used to predict the contact behavior of the mechanical metamaterial to prove that it highly decreases the contact pressure by increasing the contact area between the soft fingers and the grasped objects and thus proving its effectiveness in enhancing the grasping performance of the gripper. The contact pressure can be decreased by up to 8.5 times with the implementation of the mechanical metamaterial. The configuration of the highly conformal gripper can be easily modulated by changing the number of fingers attached to its base to tailor it for specific manipulation tasks. Two-dimensional (2D) and 3D grasping experiments were conducted to assess the grasping performance of the soft modular gripper and to prove that the inclusion of the metamaterial increases its conformability and reduces the out-of-plane deformations of the soft monolithic fingers upon grasping different objects and consequently, resulting in the gripper in three different configurations including two, three and four-finger configurations successfully grasping a wide variety of objects.

Low-Hysteresis and Ultrasensitive Microcellular Structures for Wearable Electronic Applications.

Wearable technologies offer the opportunity to record human physiological signals in real time, in a noninvasive way, and the data can be used to aid in the early detection of abnormal health conditions. Here, we demonstrate how the interconnected porosity can be used to increase the sensitivity and linearity of capacitive pressure sensors. The finite element analysis supports the experimental observation that the movement of air during the dynamic mechanical loading is responsible for the high sensitivity observed (0.18 ± 0.01 kPa-1) when compared with the solid poly(glycerol sebacate) sensor (0.0042 ± 0.0002 kPa-1). The porous sensors present strain insensitivity and remarkable linearity over the entire range of applied mechanical pressure (0-6 kPa), capable of detecting both static and dynamic mechanical stimuli (17 nm/s), and a response time of 50 ms, without evidence of fatigue or electrical hysteresis over 10,000 mechanical cycles. The outstanding features of the porous sensors can find a broad range of applications in real-time health monitoring, from demanding movements like walking/running, to small deformations resulting from breathing or heart beating. The ultrasensitive microcellular structures synthesized in this study can be applied to other types of sensing transductions to obtain tunable and function-specific sensors with high sensitivity.

Environmentally Friendly and Biodegradable Ultrasensitive Piezoresistive Sensors for Wearable Electronics Applications.

Highly sensitive, flexible sensors that can be manufactured with minimum environmental footprint and be seamlessly integrated into wearable devices are required for real-time tracking of complex human movement, gestures, and health conditions. This study reports on how biodegradation can be used to enhance the sensitivity and electromechanical performance of piezoresistive sensors. Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) elastomeric porous sensor was synthesized and blended with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and sodium chloride (NaCl). Because of their unique porous characteristics, a single linear behavior over a large range of pressures (≤8 kPa) and an increase in their sensitivity from 0.12 ± 0.03 kPa-1 up to 8.00 ± 0.20 kPa-1 was achieved after 8 weeks in a simulated body fluid media. They can detect very low pressures (100 Pa), with negligible hysteresis, reliability, long lifetime (>200 000 cycles), short response time (≤20 ms), and high force sensitivity (≤4 mN). The characteristics of the developed foam sensors match the sensing characteristics of the human finger to pave the way toward low-footprint wearable devices for applications including human movement and condition monitoring, recreation, health and wellness, virtual reality, and tissue engineering.

Bioinspired 3D Printable Soft Vacuum Actuators for Locomotion Robots, Grippers and Artificial Muscles.

Continued technological progress in robotic systems has led to more applications where robots and humans operate in close proximity and even physical contact in some cases. Soft robots, which are made of highly compliant and deformable materials, provide inherent safety features unlike conventional robots that are made of stiff and rigid components. Soft robotics is a rapidly developing field exploiting biomimetic design principles, novel sensor and actuation concepts, and advanced manufacturing techniques. In this study, we propose novel 3D printable soft vacuum actuators that are inspired by the sporangium of fern trees. These actuators that are directly manufactured using commercial and affordable fused deposition modeling 3D printers offer many advantages such as high actuation speed (5.54 Hz), long lifetime (123,000 cycles), large payload to weight ratio (∼26), and significant output forces (∼16 N). The behavior of these actuators is accurately predicted, and their performance is optimized using finite element modeling. Furthermore, diverse robotic applications such as locomotion robots (a walking robot moving with an average forward speed of vf = 3.54 cm/s, and a hopping robot called Gongaroo hopping with an average speed of vf = 3.75 cm/s), grippers, and artificial muscles have been established and activated using the new soft actuation concept. Finally, to demonstrate the modularity of the proposed actuation concept, soft actuators with multiple degrees of freedom and variable length are established using a series of 3D printable vacuum hinges.

Traumatic inferior hip dislocation: a rare adult case with ipsilateral bifocal hip fracture.

Inferior dislocation is a rare type of hip dislocation, especially in adults. Few cases have been reported; most of them were isolated. This is the case of a traumatic adult hip dislocation after a road traffic accident. Reduction was made under general anaesthesia; a CT-Scan after the reduction showed a bifocal non-displaced hip fracture. In this article, we present a small review of the literature and we discuss the possible mechanism of hip dislocation. We found through our case study that this condition is not exclusive to children and CT-Scan is mandatory after the reduction of hip dislocation to eliminate any associated injury. To our knowledge, a bifocal hip fracture has not previously been documented, in the English language literature.

Unusual case of acute appendicitis with left upper quadrant abdominal pain.

INTRODUCTION: Acute appendicitis is one of the most frequent causes of surgical abdominal pain presenting to the Emergency Department. The diagnosis is confirmed by a set of clinical signs, blood tests and imaging. The typical presentation consists of periumbilical pain radiating to the right lower quadrant with peritoneal reaction on palpation (Mac Burney). PRESENTATION OF CASE: In this article, we report a case of acute appendicitis presenting with a left upper quadrant pain due to intestinal malrotation and we describe the radiologic findings on computed tomography. DISCUSSION: With an Alvarado score of 4 and a nonconclusive abdominal U/S, the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was a long shot. Persistence of pain and increasing inflammatory parameters in her blood exams pushed the medical team to further investigate and a CT scan revealed intestinal malrotation with acute appendicitis. CONCLUSION: An examining physician should not be mislead by the atypical presentation of acute appendicitis and should bear in mind the diagnosis to avoid serious complications.