From June 2008 to December 2012,video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS group) was performed for 24 cases of thymoma.Their operative procedures,postoperative complications,remission of myasthenia gravis (MG),perioperative mortality and oncological outcomes were compared with 19 cases of trans-sternal open thymectomy (OT group).Compared with OT group,VATS group had significantly shorter operation duration,less blood loss,shorter postoperative hospital stay,shorter chest tube duration and less chest drainage amount (P ＜ 0.05).The total rate of postoperative complications of VATS group was 4％ (1/24) and it was less than OT group (4/19) without significant difference (P ＞0.05).The effective remission rate of thymomatous MG was 7/9 in VATS group and it was similar to that in OT group (6/8,P ＞ 0.05).VATS group had a recurrent or metastatic rate of 0％ (0/23) and it was better than OT group with 1/17.And there was no significant inter-group difference (P ＞ 0.05).The total survival rate of VATS group was 100％ and it was similar to that of OT group (16/17,P ＞ 0.05).Thoracoscopic thymectomy is safe,feasible,efficacious and mini-invasive for thymoma.With fewer complications and a quicker recovery,it has similar short-term outcomes to conventional open thymectomy.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of thoracoscopy combined with puncture-positioned internal fixation of multiple rib fractures accompanied with hemopneumothorax.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was used to analyze the clinical data of 68 patients with multiple rib fractures accompanied with hemopneumothorax admitted to Fujian Provincial Hospital from September 2016 to December 2018, including 49 males and 19 females, aged 25-86 years [(47.3±7.4)years]. There were 55 patients with unilateral lung contusion and laceration, and rest 13 patients with bilateral lung contusion and laceration. A total of 36 patients were treated by thoracoscopy combined with puncture-positioned internal fixation (thoracoscopy group) and 32 patients by open reduction group (open reduction group). The incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, chest tube drainage time, ICU hospitalization time, total hospitalization time, and complications were recorded. Numeric rating scale (NRS) score was assessed at postoperative 1, 2, 3, 7 days. The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) was conducted at the latest follow-up.Results:All patients were followed up for 8-34 months [(18.9±4.3)months]. Thoracoscopy group showed incision length of (4.3±1.3)cm, operation time of (66.3±12.1)minutes, intraoperative blood loss of (86.5±23.4)ml, chest tube drainage time of (5.3±1.1) days, ICU hospital stay of (2.3±0.8)days, total hospital stay of (6.8±1.7)days, and total complication rate of 8%, showing significant differences compared to open reduction group [(11.6±2.2)cm, (105.9±19.4)minutes, (191.4±35.6)ml, (8.1±1.6)days, (4.7± 1.4)days, (10.6±2.1)days, 29%] ( P<0.05 or 0.01). In thoracoscopy group, the NRS scores at day 1, 2, 3, and 7 were respective (6.6±1.2)points, (5.9±1.0)points, (4.4±0.9)points and (2.7±0.7)points, significantly lower than those in open reduction group [(7.3±1.2)points, (7.0±1.1)points, (5.7±1.0)points and (3.9±0.8)points] ( P<0.05 or 0.01). The SF-36 score in thoracoscopy group was (86.4±12.1)points, significantly higher than that in open reduction group [(75.6±11.5)points] ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Compared with open reduction and internal fixation, thoracoscopy combined with puncture-positioned internal fixation for multiple rib fractures has the advantages of smaller surgical incision, shorter operation time, less intraoperative bleeding, shorter chest tube drainage time, shorter ICU hospital stay, shorter total hospital stay, and less postoperative complications. The technique can also reduce the postoperative pain and improve the patients' quality of life.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of 3D printing technology-assisted and conventional open reduction and internal fixation of multiple rib fracture.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 61 patients with multiple rib fracture admitted to Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University and Fujian Provincial Hospital from July 2018 to March 2020. There were 44 males and 17 females, with age range of 18-73 years [(45.1±12.9)years]. Unilateral lung contusion and laceration occurred in 31 patients, while bilateral in 30. There were 19 patients accompanied by hempneumothorax and 16 by flail chest. Totally, 31 patients received 3D printing technology assisted open reduction and internal fixation (3D-assisted incision group) and 30 patients received conventional open reduction and internal fixation (conventional incision group). The incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative 3-day visual analogue scale (VAS), duration of pain, indwelling time of chest tube, total length of hospital stay, postoperative bone callus formation time and rate of rib bone plate loosening were comapared in two groups. The short form 36 health survey (SF-36) score (ie, physical function, physical function, physical pain, general health, energy, social function, emotional function, mental health) preoperatively, at postoperative 6-month and at the last follow-up was compareted between two groups. Complications were observed at the same time.Results:All patients were followed up for 18-38 months [(26.4±5.5)months]. In 3D-assisted incision group, the incision length was (5.9±1.3)cm, with operation time for (84.6±7.8)minutes, intraoperative blood loss for (85.5±13.9)ml, postoperative 3-day VAS for (2.5±0.5)points, duration of pain for (5.9±0.7)days, indwelling time of chest tube for (3.4±0.7)days, total length of hospital stay for (7.0±1.0)days, postoperative callus formation time for (2.6±0.7)weeks and rate of rib bone plate loosening for 3.2%(1/31). By contrast, in conventional incision group, the incision length was (10.9±2.4)cm, with operation time for (127.1±12.5)minutes, intraoperative blood loss for (183.0±30.9)ml, postoperative 3-day VAS for (6.5±0.9)points, duration of pain for (11.2±1.8)days, indwelling time of chest tube for (7.8±0.8)days, total length of hospital stay for (15.1±1.2)days, postoperative callus formation time for (4.6±0.8)weeks and rate of rib bone plate loosening for 20.0%(6/30) ( P<0.05 or 0.01). There was no significant difference in preoperative SF-36 score between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 6 months after surgery, the subscores of SF-36 in 3D-assisted incision group were higher than those in conventional incision group except for "mental health" ( P<0.05 or 0.01). At the last follow-up, all the subscores of SF-36 in 3D-assisted incision group were higher than those in conventional incision group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). There were no obvious complications such as pulmonary infection or atelectasis. Conclusions:For multiple rib fracture, 3D printing technology-assisted open reduction and internal fixation is superior to conventional open reduction and internal fixation for it can shorten incision length, operation time, indwelling time of chest tube, total length of hospital stay and postoperative bone callus formation time, reduce intraoperative blood loss, relieve postoperative pain, reduce rate of rib bone plate loosening and improve quality of life of the patients.

Objective We aimed to compared matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in synovial fluid,the phosphorylation level of Smad3 in articular cartilage (P-Smad3),and their correlation with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patterns in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) of liver-kidney deficiency pattern and pattern of intermingled phlegm and blood stasis.Methods Using a cross-sectional field investigation method,KOA patients hospitalized in the Orthopedics Department of Dongzhimen Hospital,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from September 2019 to February 2023 were collected. A total of 112 KOA patients were included,among which 63 cases were diagnosed with liver-kidney deficiency pattern,and 49 cases were diagnosed with pattern of intermingled phlegm and blood stasis. The intensity of knee pain,function,and X-ray imaging result were quantified using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS),Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale,and Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) Grading Scale,respectively. The TCM pattern was identified and quantified using a TCM Pattern Scoring Scale. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the phosphorylation characteristics of Smad3 in articular cartilage,and ELISA was used to measure the contents of MMP-13 and TGF-β1 in synovial fluid. The level characteristics and their correlation with the degree of syndrome were analyzed.Results (i) There was no statistically significant difference in VAS scores,Lysholm scores,and K-L grades between KOA patients with different TCM patterns. (ii) Compared with KOA patients with pattern of intermingled phlegm and blood stasis,patients with pattern of liver-kidney deficiency had higher levels of MMP-13 in synovial fluid and lower levels of TGF-β1 in synovial fluid (P<0.05). (iii) In KOA patients with liver-kidney deficiency pattern,there was a positive correlation between the level of MMP-13 in synovial fluid and the score of TCM pattern (r=0.292,P=0.020),while there was a negative correlation between the level of TGF-β1 in synovial fluid and the score of TCM pattern (r=-0.781,P<0.001). In KOA patients with pattern of intermingled phlegm and blood stasis,there was also a positive correlation between the level of MMP-13 in synovial fluid and the score of TCM pattern (r=0.936,P<0.001). (iv) The mean optical density value of P-Smad3 in articular cartilage was lower in KOA patients with liver-kidney deficiency pattern than in pattern of intermingled phlegm and blood stasis (P<0.05).Conclusion KOA patients with liver-kidney deficiency pattern or pattern of intermingled phlegm and blood stasis have different levels of TGF-β1 and MMP-13 in synovial fluid,as well as varying degrees of Smad3 phosphorylation in articular cartilage,which is consistent with the analysis of etiology and pathogenesis under different patterns. The levels of TGF-β1 and MMP-13 in synovial fluid of patients with liver-kidney deficiency pattern can reflect the severity of the pattern to a certain extent,and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the activation level of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. This study enriches the research content of the material basis of TCM patterns.