Objective To compare the benefits and drawbacks of primary patch expansion versus pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection in patients diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with PA/VSD who underwent primary right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection surgery at our center between 2010 and 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection: a pericardial tube group and a patch expansion group. Clinical data and imaging findings were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 51 patients were included in the study, comprising 31 males and 20 females, with a median age of 12.57 (4.57, 49.67) months. The pericardial tube group included 19 patients with a median age of 17.17 (7.33, 49.67) months, while the patch expansion group consisted of 32 patients with a median age of 8.58 (3.57, 52.72) months. In both groups, the diameter of pulmonary artery, McGoon index, and Nakata index significantly increased after treatment (P<0.001). However, the pericardial tube group exhibited a longer extracorporeal circulation time (P<0.001). The reoperation rate was notably high, with 74.51% of patients requiring further surgical intervention, including 26 (81.25%) patients in the patch expansion group and 12 (63.16%) patients in the pericardial tube group. No statistical differences were observed in long-term cure rates or mortality between the two groups (P＞0.005). Conclusion In patients with PA/VSD, both patch expansion and pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection serve as effective initial palliative treatment strategies that promote pulmonary vessel development and provide a favorable foundation for subsequent radical operations. However, compared to the pericardial tube approach, the patch expansion technique is simpler to perform and preserves some intrinsic potential for pulmonary artery development, making it the preferred procedure.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Masquelet technique on the basis of characterization of hematogenous and traumatic chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted with chronic tibial osteomyelitis who had been treated by the Masquelet technique at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Fourth Medical Center, PLA General Hospital from February 2021 to June 2023. The patients were classified into 2 groups based on the underlying etiology of their conditions: a hematogenous group and a traumatic group. Treatment efficacy was evaluated in terms of infection control rate, bone graft healing time, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, anxiety measured by the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and lower limb function assessed by the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS).Results:A total of 66 patients with chronic tibial osteomyelitis were included in the study. There were 17 cases in the hematogenous group. They were 11 males and 6 females with a median age of 31.0 (15.0, 45.0) years and a median disease duration of 3.0 (1.5, 8.0) months. The median interval between the first and second-stage surgeries was 11.5 (8.0, 13.0) weeks, the median volume of bone defect 25.0 (15.0, 40.0) cm 3, and the median bone graft healing time 4.0 (3.0, 4.0) months. No bacteria were detected in secretion culture in 6 cases and Staphylococcus aureus was found in 6 cases. At 12 months postoperatively, the median VAS score was 1.0 (0.0, 2.0) point, the median SAS score 27.0 (20.0, 32.0) points, and the median LEFS score 78.0 (75.0, 80.0) points. There were 49 cases in the traumatic group. They were 36 males and 13 females with a median age of 52.0 (42.0, 63.0) years and a median disease duration of 6.0 (3.0, 36.0) months. The median interval between the first and second-stage surgeries was 10.0 (8.0, 17.0) weeks, the median volume of bone defect 30.0 (22.0, 53.0) cm 3, and the median bone graft healing time 3.5 (3.0, 4.5) months. No bacteria were detected in secretion culture in 10 cases and Staphylococcus aureus was found in 19 cases. At 12 months postoperatively, the median VAS score was 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) points, the median SAS score 35.0 (28.0, 42.0) points, and the median LEFS score 54.0 (42.0, 60.0) points. According to the McKee criteria for infection treatment, 14 cases achieved complete recovery, 2 ones showed improvement, and 1 case experienced recurrence in the hematogenous group, while 44 cases achieved complete recovery, 4 ones showed improvement, and 1 case experienced recurrence in the traumatic group. Conclusions:Although hematogenous and traumatic cases of chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia differ in terms of age of onset, disease duration, and lesion extent, Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant pathogen in both conditions. Application of the Masquelet technique has proven to be an effective treatment for both conditions with comparable bone graft healing time.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of digital technology-assisted debridement and bone and soft tissue reconstruction in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed clinical data from 38 patients (26 males, 12 females; mean age 45.61±18.36 years, range 16-83 years) with chronic post-traumatic osteomyelitis complicated by soft tissue defects in the tibia, treated at the Department of Orthopaedics, Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital between June 2021 and June 2023. There were 18 cases of traffic accidents, 6 cases of high-altitude falls, 6 cases of heavy objects and 6 cases of low-energy falls. Lesion sites: 12 cases in the upper segment of the tibia, 12 cases in the middle segment, and 14 cases in the lower segment. According to the Cierny-Mader classification, there were 24 cases of type III and 14 cases of type IV. Before the operation, the "3D point cloud technology" was used to plan the debridement range of bone and soft tissue. During the operation, the optical navigation system was used to monitor the debridement range in real time. The flap was designed by combining "Reading Tablet Treasure" with CT angiography, and the amount of bone graft was predicted by AI algorithm. The surgical method adopted is the Masquelet technique, namely thorough debridement, bone cement occupation and soft tissue repair in the first stage, and bone reconstruction in the second stage. Comparing the calculated bone defect amount and soft tissue defect area before the operation with the actual measured values after debridement. The cure rate of infection was evaluated by using the McKee bone infection treatment criteria after the operation. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, lower extremity functional scale (LEFS), and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) were used to evaluate the improvement of the quality of life of postoperative patients.Results:38 patients were followed up with a mean follow-up of 13.53±2.37 months. 37 patients' infections were effectively controlled, and 1 patient had a recurrence of infection, with an effectiveness rate of 97% for the treatment of McKee's infections. The preoperative calculated bone defect amount and soft tissue defect area were 51.05±26.31 cm 3 and 68.42±43.45 cm 2 respectively, and the actual measured values after debridement during the operation were 51.66±26.35 cm 3 and 68.82±43.76 cm 2 respectively. There was no statistically significant difference before and after the operation ( P>0.05). The interval between the first and second stage surgeries was 10.36±1.61 weeks, and all flaps survived after the first stage surgery. Two months after the operation, one case had recurrent osteomyelitis. After palliative treatment, sinus tracts were formed at the infection site. At the 12-month regular dressing change follow-up, there were still purulent secretions in the sinus tracts. There was no recurrence of infection after primary debridement in 37 cases, and the bone grafts healed. The bone healing time was 3.58±0.97 months. The postoperative VAS, LEFS, and SAS scores were 1.00±0.91, 66.68±7.91, and 34.30±4.29, respectively, which were significantly improved compared with the preoperative scores of 7.54±1.52, 21.22±4.29, and 52.70±6.74, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The application of digital technology to precisely design the debridement range of bone and soft tissue, and the real-time holographic visualization monitoring of the debridement range during the operation can achieve precise debridement of bone and soft tissue and personalized and precise repair of soft tissue defects. It is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia.

Objective:To evaluate the safety, efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of the modified double-orifice valve plasty via total thoracoscopy for partial atrioventricular septal defect(PAVSD) through a retrospective analysis of early postoperative results.Methods:Patients diagnosed with PAVSD who underwent the standardized modified double-orifice valve plasty via total thoracoscopy between September 2023 and August 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. Baseline characteristics, surgical parameters, and follow-up outcomes were systematically analyzed.Results:A total of 14 patients(6 males, 8 females) were included, with a mean age of(32.9±15.5) years old and body weight of(55.1±11.6) kg. All procedures were successfully completed. The mean operative time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and aortic cross-clamp time were(266.6±67.2) min, (160.7±34.2) min, and(97.0±31.1) min, respectively. Postoperative ICU stay, hospital stay, and total hospitalization duration were(1.7±1.1) days, (6.4±4.2) days, and(12.6±4.5) days, respectively. The mean follow-up duration was(7.9±3.6) months. Preoperatively, left atrioventricular valve regurgitation(LAVVR) was graded as mild, moderate, or severe in 5, 4, and 5 patients. Postoperatively, 13 patients exhibited mild or less LAVVR, with 1 case of moderate regurgitation. By 3 months, all patients demonstrated LAVVR of mild or lower severity, which remained stable through follow-up. Peak LAVV gradients were(4.6±2.7) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)(range: 1.8-10.2 mmHg) postoperatively, improving to(3.6±0.6) mmHg(3.2-4.0) mmHg at 1 year. Right atrioventricular valve regurgitation improved from preoperative moderate-severe(50.0%) to LAVVR of mild or lower severity in all patients by 3 months. No mortality, residual shunts, or high-grade atrioventricular block occurred through follow-up. By 1 month, NYHA functional class improved to Ⅰ in all patients, which remained stable through follow-up.Conclusion:Standardized modified double-orifice valve plasty via total thoracoscopy for PAVSD demonstrates safety, minimal invasiveness, and rapid recovery, with favorable early outcomes.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of digital technology-assisted debridement and bone and soft tissue reconstruction in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed clinical data from 38 patients (26 males, 12 females; mean age 45.61±18.36 years, range 16-83 years) with chronic post-traumatic osteomyelitis complicated by soft tissue defects in the tibia, treated at the Department of Orthopaedics, Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital between June 2021 and June 2023. There were 18 cases of traffic accidents, 6 cases of high-altitude falls, 6 cases of heavy objects and 6 cases of low-energy falls. Lesion sites: 12 cases in the upper segment of the tibia, 12 cases in the middle segment, and 14 cases in the lower segment. According to the Cierny-Mader classification, there were 24 cases of type III and 14 cases of type IV. Before the operation, the "3D point cloud technology" was used to plan the debridement range of bone and soft tissue. During the operation, the optical navigation system was used to monitor the debridement range in real time. The flap was designed by combining "Reading Tablet Treasure" with CT angiography, and the amount of bone graft was predicted by AI algorithm. The surgical method adopted is the Masquelet technique, namely thorough debridement, bone cement occupation and soft tissue repair in the first stage, and bone reconstruction in the second stage. Comparing the calculated bone defect amount and soft tissue defect area before the operation with the actual measured values after debridement. The cure rate of infection was evaluated by using the McKee bone infection treatment criteria after the operation. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, lower extremity functional scale (LEFS), and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) were used to evaluate the improvement of the quality of life of postoperative patients.Results:38 patients were followed up with a mean follow-up of 13.53±2.37 months. 37 patients' infections were effectively controlled, and 1 patient had a recurrence of infection, with an effectiveness rate of 97% for the treatment of McKee's infections. The preoperative calculated bone defect amount and soft tissue defect area were 51.05±26.31 cm 3 and 68.42±43.45 cm 2 respectively, and the actual measured values after debridement during the operation were 51.66±26.35 cm 3 and 68.82±43.76 cm 2 respectively. There was no statistically significant difference before and after the operation ( P>0.05). The interval between the first and second stage surgeries was 10.36±1.61 weeks, and all flaps survived after the first stage surgery. Two months after the operation, one case had recurrent osteomyelitis. After palliative treatment, sinus tracts were formed at the infection site. At the 12-month regular dressing change follow-up, there were still purulent secretions in the sinus tracts. There was no recurrence of infection after primary debridement in 37 cases, and the bone grafts healed. The bone healing time was 3.58±0.97 months. The postoperative VAS, LEFS, and SAS scores were 1.00±0.91, 66.68±7.91, and 34.30±4.29, respectively, which were significantly improved compared with the preoperative scores of 7.54±1.52, 21.22±4.29, and 52.70±6.74, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The application of digital technology to precisely design the debridement range of bone and soft tissue, and the real-time holographic visualization monitoring of the debridement range during the operation can achieve precise debridement of bone and soft tissue and personalized and precise repair of soft tissue defects. It is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia.

Objective:To evaluate the safety, efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of the modified double-orifice valve plasty via total thoracoscopy for partial atrioventricular septal defect(PAVSD) through a retrospective analysis of early postoperative results.Methods:Patients diagnosed with PAVSD who underwent the standardized modified double-orifice valve plasty via total thoracoscopy between September 2023 and August 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. Baseline characteristics, surgical parameters, and follow-up outcomes were systematically analyzed.Results:A total of 14 patients(6 males, 8 females) were included, with a mean age of(32.9±15.5) years old and body weight of(55.1±11.6) kg. All procedures were successfully completed. The mean operative time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and aortic cross-clamp time were(266.6±67.2) min, (160.7±34.2) min, and(97.0±31.1) min, respectively. Postoperative ICU stay, hospital stay, and total hospitalization duration were(1.7±1.1) days, (6.4±4.2) days, and(12.6±4.5) days, respectively. The mean follow-up duration was(7.9±3.6) months. Preoperatively, left atrioventricular valve regurgitation(LAVVR) was graded as mild, moderate, or severe in 5, 4, and 5 patients. Postoperatively, 13 patients exhibited mild or less LAVVR, with 1 case of moderate regurgitation. By 3 months, all patients demonstrated LAVVR of mild or lower severity, which remained stable through follow-up. Peak LAVV gradients were(4.6±2.7) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)(range: 1.8-10.2 mmHg) postoperatively, improving to(3.6±0.6) mmHg(3.2-4.0) mmHg at 1 year. Right atrioventricular valve regurgitation improved from preoperative moderate-severe(50.0%) to LAVVR of mild or lower severity in all patients by 3 months. No mortality, residual shunts, or high-grade atrioventricular block occurred through follow-up. By 1 month, NYHA functional class improved to Ⅰ in all patients, which remained stable through follow-up.Conclusion:Standardized modified double-orifice valve plasty via total thoracoscopy for PAVSD demonstrates safety, minimal invasiveness, and rapid recovery, with favorable early outcomes.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Masquelet technique on the basis of characterization of hematogenous and traumatic chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted with chronic tibial osteomyelitis who had been treated by the Masquelet technique at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Fourth Medical Center, PLA General Hospital from February 2021 to June 2023. The patients were classified into 2 groups based on the underlying etiology of their conditions: a hematogenous group and a traumatic group. Treatment efficacy was evaluated in terms of infection control rate, bone graft healing time, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, anxiety measured by the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and lower limb function assessed by the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS).Results:A total of 66 patients with chronic tibial osteomyelitis were included in the study. There were 17 cases in the hematogenous group. They were 11 males and 6 females with a median age of 31.0 (15.0, 45.0) years and a median disease duration of 3.0 (1.5, 8.0) months. The median interval between the first and second-stage surgeries was 11.5 (8.0, 13.0) weeks, the median volume of bone defect 25.0 (15.0, 40.0) cm 3, and the median bone graft healing time 4.0 (3.0, 4.0) months. No bacteria were detected in secretion culture in 6 cases and Staphylococcus aureus was found in 6 cases. At 12 months postoperatively, the median VAS score was 1.0 (0.0, 2.0) point, the median SAS score 27.0 (20.0, 32.0) points, and the median LEFS score 78.0 (75.0, 80.0) points. There were 49 cases in the traumatic group. They were 36 males and 13 females with a median age of 52.0 (42.0, 63.0) years and a median disease duration of 6.0 (3.0, 36.0) months. The median interval between the first and second-stage surgeries was 10.0 (8.0, 17.0) weeks, the median volume of bone defect 30.0 (22.0, 53.0) cm 3, and the median bone graft healing time 3.5 (3.0, 4.5) months. No bacteria were detected in secretion culture in 10 cases and Staphylococcus aureus was found in 19 cases. At 12 months postoperatively, the median VAS score was 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) points, the median SAS score 35.0 (28.0, 42.0) points, and the median LEFS score 54.0 (42.0, 60.0) points. According to the McKee criteria for infection treatment, 14 cases achieved complete recovery, 2 ones showed improvement, and 1 case experienced recurrence in the hematogenous group, while 44 cases achieved complete recovery, 4 ones showed improvement, and 1 case experienced recurrence in the traumatic group. Conclusions:Although hematogenous and traumatic cases of chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia differ in terms of age of onset, disease duration, and lesion extent, Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant pathogen in both conditions. Application of the Masquelet technique has proven to be an effective treatment for both conditions with comparable bone graft healing time.

Bone Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Transplantation, Autologous/adverse effects*

Objective To explore the application value of ultrasonic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)and cerebral blood flow parameters in intracranial hypertension caused by AIDS cryptococ-cal meningitis.Methods A total of 27 patients with cryptococcal meningitis diagnosed by Chongqing Public Health Medical Center from February to July,2022 were included.All patients were examined with ultrasound measurement of ONSD and ultrasound measurement of cerebral blood flow of intracranial middle cerebral ar-tery(MCA),including peak systolic velocity(PSV),end diastolic velocity(EDV),peak systolic velocity/end diastolic velocity(S/D)and resistance index(RI),and then lumbar puncture was performed and intracranial pressure(ICP)was recorded.The ICP≥200 mmH2O was defined as the ICP increased group,ICP＜200 mmH2O was defined as the ICP normal group,and 17 AIDS patients without complications were selected as the control group.The baseline data,ONSD and MCA cerebral blood flow parameters of the three groups were compared,and the statistically significant indexes were correlated with ICP,and the receiver operating charac-teristic(ROC)curve of the subjects was drawn to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of ONSD value in predicting intracranial hypertension caused by AIDS cryptococcal meningitis.Results There were no significant differ-ences in gender,age,systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure among the ICP increased group,the ICP normal group and the control group(P＞0.05).There were no significant differences in PSV,EDV,S/D and RI among the three groups of MCA(P＞0.05),but there was significant difference in ONSD among the three groups(P＜0.05).There was a positive correlation between ICP and ONSD in the patients with AIDS cryptococcal meningitis(P＜0.01,r=0.736).The ROC curve analysis showed that when the ONSD cutoff value was 3.965 mm,it predicted the highest efficacy of intracranial high pressure in the patients with AIDS cryptococcal meningitis.The area under the ROC curve was 0.90(95％CI:0.714-1.000,P=0.001),the sensitivity was 90％,and the specificity was 100％.Conclusion Ultrasonic measurement of ONSD can effec-tively predict ICP in patients with AIDS cryptococcal meningitis and guide clinical decompression measures in time,which is worthy of clinical application.

Masquelet technique has become a safe and effective treatment for chronic osteomyelitis of the long limb shaft. The vast majority of osteomyelitis can be ultimately controlled, segmental bone defects repaired and limb functions restored. Accumulation of clinical applications and development of imaging technology have led to rapid progress in determining the infection scope of chronic limb osteomyelitis, precise preoperative design for repair of soft tissue defects, evaluation of bone structure stability, and use of bone grafting materials. This article reviews the progress of Masquelet technique in the treatment of chronic limb osteomyelitis from the aspects of its theoretical foundation, key operations, and selection of fixation methods, hoping to deepen the understanding of current Masquelet technique.