BACKGROUND

In the Philippines and other developing countries, access to high-stability external fixators for traumainduced bone fracture management is limited, as modular external fixators, especially those with snap-on features, are manufactured overseas and are prohibitively expensive for most Filipino patients.

This study aimed to assess the biomechanical performance of a locally-developed modular external fixator prototype for tibial diaphyseal fractures in comparison to available external fixators, such as Roger Anderson and Hoffmann. This provides an initial evaluation for the use of the external fixator as an alternative in terms of its stability.

Using axial compression testing compliant with the ASTM F1541-24 standards, the ultimate strength, yield strength, safe strength, and stiffness were measured across various fixator types and tightening mechanisms, with or without the aid of a wrench. Statistical tools such as the t-test assuming equal variances, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey-Kramer test with a 0.05 level of significance were used to determine any significant differences.

The mechanical performance of the external fixator prototype increased by a factor of 1.5 to 2.5 after the clamps were tightened with the wrench. However, when hand-tightened, it still performed sufficiently, showing a comparable mechanical performance with the Roger Anderson Fixator. In terms of the ultimate, safe, and yield strengths, it performed competitively in comparison with the Hoffmann system. However, there is a significant difference in stiffness between the prototype and the Hoffmann system.

The locally-developed external fixator was comparable biomechanically to the commercially available external fixators and the prototypes in different studies.

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare endocrine malignancy with an indolent course but a high risk of recurrence. Diagnosis remains challenging, requiring integration of clinical, biochemical, radiologic, and histopathologic findings. We report a young patient presenting with primary hyperparathyroidism complicated by multiple pathologic fractures and chronic renal failure. Despite initial surgical and medical management, late aggressive recurrence occurred, resulting in significant systemic complications. This case highlights the need for vigilant long-term surveillance and improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Introduction: Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by the neuroradiological triad of an absent or interrupted pituitary stalk, ectopic posterior pituitary, and anterior pituitary hypoplasia. It is typically diagnosed in infancy or childhood due to growth failure or delayed puberty. Diagnosis in adulthood is uncommon and may occur after decades of untreated hypopituitarism. Case: A 34-year-old Malay male with underlying physical and intellectual disability presented after a mechanical fall resulting in left slipped capital femoral epiphysis, an unusual pathological fracture in adulthood. Clinical examination revealed marked infantilism with complete absence of secondary sexual characteristics (Tanner stage I). Laboratory evaluation demonstrated combined pituitary hormone deficiency, including severe central hypothyroidism, profound hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and central adrenal insufficiency. Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 were undetectable, while prolactin was mildly elevated, consistent with pituitary stalk disruption due to loss of hypothalamic dopaminergic inhibition. Bone age assessment showed severe delay, corresponding to 15 years. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the classical PSIS triad: anterior pituitary hypoplasia with partial empty sella, a high T1 signal nodule at the median eminence representing ectopic posterior pituitary, and non-visualization of the infundibulum, consistent with an absent pituitary stalk. Birth history revealed premature breech delivery, a recognized perinatal risk factor. The patient was commenced on hormone replacement therapy, including levothyroxine, hydrocortisone, testosterone undecanoate, and calcium–vitamin D supplementation. Conclusion This case illustrates that PSIS may remain undiagnosed into adulthood, leading to severe consequences of long-standing hypopituitarism such as osteoporosis and pathological fractures. Clinicians should consider hypopituitarism in adults presenting with unexplained fractures and delayed sexual maturation, particularly when supported by a suggestive perinatal history.
Fractures, Spontaneous ; Pituitary Gland

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of systemic thrombolysis(ST)and standard anticoagulation(SA)in the treatment of lower extremity fracture complicated with distal deep vein thrombosis(DDVT).Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 60 patients with lower extremity fracture complicated with DDVT treated from January 2021 to December 2023.When the lower limb venography indicated a calf thrombus burden score ≥3 points,a retrievable inferior vena cava filter(IVCF)was successfully placed in the healthy femoral vein before orthopedic surgery.The patients who received further anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy after surgery were allocated into a ST group(n=30,urokinase ST and SA)and a SA group(n=30,only SA).The two groups were compared in terms of calf thrombus burden score,thrombus dissolution rate,IVCF placement time,IVCF retrieval rate,intercepted thrombi,hemoglobin level,platelet count,D-dimer level,and complications.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the calf thrombus burden score between the two groups before treatment(P=0.431).However,after treatment,the scores in both groups decreased(both P<0.001),with the ST group showing lower score than the SA group(P=0.002).The thrombus dissolution rate in the ST group was higher than that in the SA group(P<0.001).There was no statistically significant difference in the IVCF placement time between the two groups(P=0.359),and the IVCF retrieval rate was 100% in both groups.The ST group had fewer intercepted thrombi than the SA group(P=0.002).There was no statistically significant difference in hemoglobin level(P=0.238),platelet count(P=0.914),or D-dimer level(P=0.756)between the two groups before treatment.However,after treatment,both groups showed an increase in platelet count(both P<0.001)and a decrease in D-dimer level(both P<0.001).There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of complications between the two groups(P=0.704).Conclusions Both SA and ST demonstrate safety and efficacy in the treatment of lower extremity fractures complicated with DDVT,serving as valuable options for clinical application.Compared with SA,ST not only enhances the thrombus dissolution in the calf but also mitigates the risk of thrombosis associated with IVCF.
Humans ; Venous Thrombosis/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombolytic Therapy/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Fractures, Bone/complications* ; Lower Extremity/injuries* ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use* ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult

As a fundamental aspect of bone fracture treatment, fracture reduction plays a decisive role in restoring the structural integrity and function of bones. At present, fracture reduction techniques mostly rely on semi-automatic interaction methods or healthy-side bone templates for registration, which have many limitations in clinical practice. In order to enhance treatment efficiency and accuracy, an automatic fracture reduction algorithm is proposed. This algorithm utilizes the similarity of fracture cross-sections for registration, thereby reducing the workload of physicians and eliminating the need for a healthy-side bone template. Initially, the closed edge is identified and extracted by analyzing the differences in the fracture surface and the calorific value diagram of the roughness distribution. Next, the fracture section is determined by using the identified closed edge as a guideline for regional expansion and similarity matching. During the registration phase, the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm is highly sensitive to distance. Therefore, the geometric features of point clouds are incorporated into the objective function of the registration algorithm to mitigate the influence of noise, and fracture section registration is implemented one by one. Finally, the algorithm is tested and compared on 180 simulated datasets and 16 publicly available datasets. The results show that the proposed algorithm significantly improves the registration accuracy, and the registration error of clinical bone fracture cases is controlled within 1.7 mm.
Algorithms ; Fractures, Bone/therapy* ; Humans

Objective:To compare the outcomes of simultaneous versus staged nasal bone reduction and septoplasty in the treatment of traumatic nasal bone fractures with associated septal fractures. Methods:Patients with traumatic nasal bone fractures, with or without septal fractures, were recruited from two hospitals and divided into three groups. Group A underwent simultaneous nasal bone reduction and septoplasty, Group B underwent staged nasal bone reduction and septoplasty, and Group C underwent nasal bone reduction only. Nasal appearance scores and nasal congestion Visual Analogue Scale （VAS） scores were measured preoperatively, at 2 weeks postoperatively, and at 3 months postoperatively. For Group B, scores were also recorded at 2 weeks and 3 months after the second-stage surgery. Differences were analyzed using statistical software. Results:Two weeks post-surgery, the nasal appearance scores significantly decreased in all three groups compared to preoperative scores （P< 0.01）, with no statistically significant differences between the groups （P= 0.43, 0.71, 0.58）. In Group A, the VAS score for nasal congestion decreased significantly following simultaneous surgery （P<0.01）. In Group B, there were no significant differences in nasal congestion VAS scores between pre-surgery and post-first-stage, nor between three months post-first-stage and two weeks post-first-stage （P= 0.61, 0.13）. However, the VAS scores significantly decreased after the second-stage surgery compared to pre-surgery, and three months post-second-stage surgery compared to three months post-first-stage surgery （P<0.01）. The VAS scores for nasal congestion at two weeks post-surgery in Group A were lower than those in Group B after the first-stage surgery （P<0.01）. The incidence rates of nasal adhesions post-surgery in Groups A, B, and C were 0%, 6.9%, and 4.3%, respectively. Conclusion:For traumatic nasal bone fractures with associated septal fractures, performing simultaneous nasal bone reduction and septoplasty under general anesthesia using endoscopy is more time-efficient compared to staged surgery, and it results in a lower occurrence rate of post-surgical nasal adhesions.
Humans ; Nasal Bone/surgery* ; Nasal Septum/injuries* ; Treatment Outcome ; Rhinoplasty/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Skull Fractures/surgery* ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent

Objective:To investigate the effect of intraoperative ultrasound-guided nasal bone fracture repair on the clinical outcome of pediatric patients with nasal bone fracture. Methods:A total of 83 patients with nasal bone fracture who underwent prosthesis in our hospital from June 2022 to March 2024 were selected and assigned to control group （endoscopic nasal bone fracture repair） and experimental group （ultrasound-guided nasal bone fracture repair） using random number table method. Both groups were treated with the same nursing measures after surgery. There were 41 cases in the control group and 42 cases in the experimental group. The evaluation parameters of nasal bone fracture, nasal ventilation function, nasal appearance and olfactory function score, postoperative complications and satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Results:The operation time and hospital stay were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group （P<0.05）, and secondary repair case （n=0） in the experimental group was significantly less than in the control group （P<0.05）. Compared to preoperative status, the minimum nasal cross-sectional area, nasal volume and total nasal expiratory volume of the two groups increased three months post-operatively, and those in the experimental group were higher （P<0.05）, nasal expiratory and inspiratory resistance, nasal appearance and olfactory disorder scores decreased and those in the experimental group were lower （P<0.05）. The postoperative complications incidence in the experimental group was lower than in the control group （7.14% and 14.63%, respectively, P>0.05）. The overall satisfaction in the experimental group was higher than in the control group（90.48% and 82.93%, respectively, P>0.05）. Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided nasal fracture repair can effectively shorten the operation time, improve the success rate, and promote the postoperative recovery of nasal appearance and nasal function, reduce complications, and enhance the overall satisfaction of children and their families.
Humans ; Nasal Bone/surgery* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Child ; Female ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Postoperative Period ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Ultrasonography

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyze the biomechanics of three kinds of rigid internal fixation methods for condylar head fractures. METHODS: A three dimensional finite element model of the normal mandible was constructed. It was then used to prepare condylar head fracture finite element model and three kinds of rigid internal fixation finite element model (unilateral tension screw, bilateral tension screw, tension screw+titanium plate). The mechanical characteristics and changes of the mandible condyle under the same mechanical conditions were compared among the three different rigid internal fixation methods. RESULTS: The maximum equivalent stress and displacement of the non-free end of condyle under the rigid internal fixation method of unilateral tension screw were 71.03 MPa and 4.72 mm, respectively. The maximum equivalent stress and displacement of the free end of condyle were 78.45 MPa and 4.50 mm, respectively. The maximum stress of fracture suture was 3.27 MPa. The maximum equivalent stress and displacement of the non-free end of condyle under the rigid internal fixation method of bilateral tension screw were 70.52 MPa and 4.00 mm, respectively. The maximum equivalent stress and displacement of the free end of condyle were 72.49 MPa and 3.85 mm, respectively. The maximum stress of fracture suture was 2.33 MPa. The maximum equivalent stress and maximum displacement of the non-free end of condyle under the rigid internal fixation method of tension screw+titanium plate were 67.26 MPa and 2.66 mm, respectively. The maximum equivalent stress and maximum displacement of the free end of condyle were 69.66 MPa and 2.50 mm, respectively. The maximum stress of fracture suture was 2.18 MPa. CONCLUSIONS The tension screw+titanium plate rigid internal fixation method is the most conducive to biomechanical distribution for condylar head fractures.
Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Mandibular Condyle/surgery* ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Screws ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Mandibular Fractures/surgery* ; Bone Plates ; Titanium ; Stress, Mechanical

Pathological fractures after jaw cyst surgery are rare clinically but are a serious complication. Once a pathological fracture occurs, treatment time and economic costs increase, and doctors face difficulty in handling it. This article reports a case of a patient with mandibular pathological fractures after multiple odontogenic keratocyst surgery of the jaw. Mandibular lesions were located in the bilateral mandibular angles and had macrocystic changes. We adopted a conservative treatment plan, and the treatment effect was good. We also discussed and analyzed relevant literature to provide a reference for clinicians.
Humans ; Odontogenic Cysts/surgery* ; Conservative Treatment ; Postoperative Complications/therapy* ; Mandibular Fractures/etiology* ; Fractures, Spontaneous/etiology* ; Male ; Female