Objective To provide the biomechanical basis of plantaris tendon for clinical autotransplantation. Methods Fifteen plantaris tendons from 8 fresh adult cadavers were cut into 56 segments with about 6 cm lengths in each. The segments were divided into 3 groups: upper,middle,and lower segments. Fifty segments were taken for the tensile test,while the other six segments were loaded under 30 MPa,40 MPa,and 50 MPa respectively. The histologic structure of the tendons was observed under the microscope after presumptive load. Results The average limit load,tensile strength and elastic modulus of the plantaris tendon were (83.19?42.52) N,(60.32?21.80) MPa,and (714.83?285.44) MPa respectively. The tensile strength of the lower segments was significant higher than the upper and middle segments. Conclusion The biomechanical property of the plantaris tendon is accommodative for autografting.

Objective To explore the feasibility and efficiency of the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF)and posterolateral fusion(PLF)procedures in which unilateral pedicle screw fixation was used.Methods From December 2006 to August 2008,78 cases with the lumbar degenerative diseases who received lumbar posterolateral fusion were analyzed.There were 48 cases of which underwent TLIF and PLF procedures with unilateral pedicle screw fixation(unilateral group),including 25 males and 23 females with an average of 47.6 years;and 30 cases of which underwent TLIF and PLF procedures with bilateral pedicle screw fixation(bilateral group),including 21 males and 9 females with an average of 50.5 years.The clinical effects between the two groups were evaluated with Oswestry disability index and visual analogue score(VAS)index.The operation time,blood loss,fusion rates and intervertebral collapse rates were also compared.Results Oswestry disability index,low back pain VAS index and skelalgia VAS index in both groups showed statistical significance between preoperation and 3 months,or 3 months and 1 year postoperatively.There was no difference in score improvement between the two groups.There were difference in operation time,blood loss and cost of hospitalization between unilateral and bilateral group.The former was lower.There was no difference in postoperative length of stay between the two groups.The fusion rate of unilateral group and bilateral group were 91.7%(44/48)and 93.3%(28/30),respectively.Conclusion Auto graft combined with unilateral pedicle screw fixation provids better spinal instant stability.TLIF and PLF with unilateral pedicle screw fixation was a satisfactory method in treating degenerative disease of lumbar vertebrae.

Objective To compare the effect of continuous saphenous nerve block (SNB)with femoral nerve block (FNB)under multimodal analgesia for early analgesic effect and rehabilitation af-ter total knee replacement (TKA).Methods Sixty patients scheduled to undergo TKA,23 males and 37 females,were randomly divided into two groups:group A (continuous SNB)and group B (contin-uous FNB ).The patients received PCA after surgery by the catheter placed near nerve with ultrasound-guided.The loading dose was 0.5% ropivacaine 25 ml and 0.1 mg epinephrine,back-ground dose was 5 ml/h,bolus dose was 5 ml and the locking time was 20 min.The first time to walk and total steps,the knee joint range of motion,postoperative hospital stay,general anesthetics and additional analgesics dose and the side effects were also recorded.Results The first time to walkand walking distancein group A were better than group B [(25.4±2.1)h vs (34.0±2.7)h,(7.6±1.8) steps vs (3.7±1.3)steps,(P<0.05)].The range of motion in group A was bigger than in group B [12 h:(75.8±4.3)°vs (65.4±4.7)°,24 h:(93.3±4.2)°vs (81.8±4.3)°,48 h:(102.1±4.1)° vs (95.1±2.6)°,P<0.05].The average length of postoperative hospital stay was shorter in group A than in group B [(5.3±1.2)d vs (7.4±1.4)d,P<0.05].The additional analgesics and the side effects were similar between the two groups.Conclusion The continuous SNB combined with multi-modal analgesia was more beneficial to patients with the early postoperative rehabilitation for TKA.