Evaluation of factors influencing accuracy of virtual surgical planning in orthognatic surgery.

Three-dimensional virtual surgical planning has become routine practice in orthognatic and reconstructive surgery for the possibility to realize presurgical evaluation of intraoperative bones movements, the prediction of postoperative results and the high level of accuracy. Thanks to surface superimposition between 3D planned and 3D postoperative model of maxillo-facial skeleton, a medium discrepancy less than 1 mm was found in scientific literature, considering 15 different points of maxillofacial skeleton. In our study we decided to evaluate different factors that could invalidate that result in the same cohort of patients, such as sex, kind of dentofacial deformity, asymmetry, type of surgical approach and entity of maxillo-mandibular movements (more or less than 1 mm). We found out no significant differences among groups. We can state that virtual surgical planning and 3D surgical splints are a valid means of diagnosis, treatment and predictivity regardless factors that could influence post-operative results. In conclusion, virtual surgical planning and 3D surgical splints facilitated diagnosis, treatment planning and accuracy regardless of sex, dentofacial deformity class, surgery techniques, entity of advancement and asymmetry.

Investigation of Campylobacter in reared game birds.

A total of 103 pooled samples of neck skin and meat from pigeons for the table and neck skin of pheasant were analyzed bacteriologically to determine the presence of Campylobacter. Colonies suspected of being Campylobacter were grown from 15.8% of pigeon neck skin samples, 12.5% of pigeon meat samples, and 50% of pheasant neck skin samples after culturing, and in 6.9% of pigeon neck skin samples (4 x 10(2) to 2 x 10(3) CFU/g) assessed quantitatively without preculturing. PCR confirmed the presence of Campylobacter spp. in 5.26 and 3.44% of samples of pigeon neck skin and meat, respectively. Species identified from pigeon neck skin samples by PCR were C. jejuni (3 of 3) and C. coli (1 of 3); no C. lari was identified. No species were identified by PCR in pheasant neck skin. We conclude that the small number of Campylobacter-positive pigeon samples presents a low risk of Campylobacter infection to Italian consumers, particularly since pigeon is always well cooked before consumption, although there is always the possibility of cross-contamination with raw or insufficiently cooked foods particularly during food preparation.

A preliminary trial using multi-target polymerase chain reaction (multiplex PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) on the same feedstuffs to detect tissues of animal origin.

A preliminary study using multi-target polymerase chain reaction (multiplex PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was done on the same feedstuffs to detect animal tissues. The results of the two methods differ somewhat: PCR-RFLP did not detect any signal in any sample, but multiplex PCR detected a signal in one sample. These findings could be a basis for further investigations.

Post-traumatic reflex sympathetic dystrophy in the ankle and foot: a study of 32 cases.

The etiopathogenesis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy is still undefined, and diagnosis and treatment are difficult. It is the purpose of this study to propose precise diagnostic and therapeutic criteria for post-traumatic reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the ankle and foot. Diagnosis is pre-eminently clinical. Clinical progression of the disease occurs in three stages: acute, dystrophic, chronic. Radiographic examination cannot be used to classify the stage of the syndrome. Bone scan with Tc 99M methylendiphosphonate aids diagnosis, and helps establish the prognosis of the disease. Clinical symptoms and instrumental tests (x-ray, bone scan, CT scan, MRI) are discussed in relation to differential diagnosis with other pathologies of the ankle and foot. Furthermore, the effective use of drugs, physiokinesitherapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy is discussed. The authors present a study of 32 patients, paying close attention to early clinical signs of the disease. X-ray examination and bone scan were routinely carried out in established diagnostic protocols.

The chondroepitrochlearis muscle: case report.

An extremely rare muscle disorder in the pectoral region is described. It involves a musculotendinous unit which originates from the pectoralis major and inserts onto the medial epicondyle of the humerus. The authors report a case of an 11-year-old boy, affected bilaterally, who underwent surgical treatment to lengthen the chondroepitrochlearis muscle. There was significant cosmetic and functional improvement.

[The Guyon's tunnel syndrome (author's transl)]. / La sindrome del canale di Guyon

The Authors present two cases of compression of the ulnar nerve at the level of the Guyon's tunnel with a peculiar etiology. In fact, in the first patient the compression was caused by dilatation of veins accompaning the nerve and in the second case by the hypertrophic "piso hamata" ligament. The Authors also take the opportunity of making some pathogenetic and someiotic considerations this syndrome.

[Surgical leg lengthening]. / Sull'allungamento chirurgico di gamba

The operative lengthening of tibia and fibula. After a brief bibliographical survey of the principal method adopted in the operative lengthening of tibia and fibula, the Authors consider the risk and complications involved in this operation. They then examine the case histories of patients operated during the period 1969 1973 and discuss the data, the limitations of the operation and the results obtained.

[Fibrous dysplasia of bone]. / Osteodisplasia fibrosa

At hand of 5 clinical and pathological observations, the Authors report on the main features of fibrous Bone Dysplasia. Roentgenological and histological appearances are illustred. In some polyostotic and roentgenologically atypical forms the diagnosis must be histologically confirmed. As for the surgical treatment the Authors state that the result depends considerably on the patient's age.

[Restoration of the opposition of the thumb in paralysis of the median nerve]. / Il ripristino dell'opposizione del pollice nelle paralisi del nervo mediano.

The preferable operation for dynamic renewal in cases of inveterate paralysis of median nerve (where nervous recovery through grafting is impossible) is carried out by transferring to the thumb the sublimis flexor of the fourth finger, basically using S. Bunnell's technique. Condition for operation's success is the integrity of short extensor and especially of the longus abductor, which, nerved by the radial, help to place before thumb's column. The authors discuss the results of eight cases checked from two and five years after the operation. The best results have been achieved in cases of low isolated paralysis of the median nerve.

[The treatment of pathologic calcification of shoulder tendons with E.D.T.A. bisodium salt by mesotherapy]. / Il trattamento delle tendinopatie calcifiche di spalla con E.D.T.A. sale bisodico per via mesoterapica.

The Authors treated at the Physiotherapy Service of the Clinic Orthopedic in Parma, 31 patients affected by shoulder's calcific tendonpathie++ were treated with E.D.T.A. bisodium salt they were painful and showed functional restriction besides they all shared a crystal's hydroxyapatite deposition. It was considered the pain by the Scott-Huskisson analogous--visual scale and the radiographic variation of calcification. It was noticed that with minimum pharmacological doses satisfying therapeutical results were achieved. That was not only as far as pain was concerned (disappeared in 29 patients (93.5%), but it was also obtained a significant reduction (4 patients 13%) or in some cases the disappearing of calcifications (25 patients 80%).

[Dupuytren's disease and cervical arthrosis]. / Morbo di Dupuytren e artrosi cervicale

The Authors, after having briefly discribed Dupuytren's disease in its anatomical and pathological manifestations next discribe the various theories as to causes of the disease. In conclusion they are of the opinion that the theory of arthritis is the most probable, statistically speaking.

[Autoplastic bone-grafting on repair of long bones of hands (author's transl)]. / Innesti ossei autoplastici nella riparazione delle ossa lunghe della mano.

Cortico-spongious autoplastic bone grafts have in reconstructive hand surgery several precise indications. Bone infusion is certain if the technique used is appropriated permitting the cosmetic and functional recovery of the corresponding digital ray. The indications are: post-traumatic non-union, great loss of bone, bone neoplasm. The authors basing their causistic on 28 cases discuss the indications, surgical technique and results.