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.

Complex crown-root fractures in the esthetic zone refer to a type of dental trauma occurring in the anterior region, characterized by concurrent fractures involving both the crown and the root, with associated pulp exposure and periodontal tissue injury. These injuries consistently exhibit critical anatomical features, including a fixed palatal fracture location below the alveolar crest, compromised residual tooth structure, and frequent encroachment of the biological width. To predict treatment outcomes, a risk assessment framework based on the restoration-tooth-periodontium interface was developed. Resistance risk was evaluated by assessing the type of residual dentin ferrule and the length of the root within the alveolar bone, while periodontal risk was assessed according to gingival phenotype and alveolar bone morphology. Based on these risk dimensions and the principles of aesthetics, stability, and minimally invasive treatment, a diagnostic classification system was established to categorize fractures into three types: favorable, intervention and high-risk. Type-specific management strategies were proposed: for favorable cases, crown lengthening combined with deep margin elevation to reduce periodontal risk is recommended; for intervention cases, orthodontic extrusion or surgical extrusion is applied to simultaneously address both ferrule deficiency and biological width violation; for high-risk cases, extraction followed by implant restoration is advised due to limited root preservation value. The presented classification enables clinicians to adopt a scientific and structured approach to treatment planning for these complex crown-root fractures in the aesthetic zone.
Humans ; Tooth Fractures/therapy* ; Tooth Root/injuries* ; Risk Assessment ; Tooth Crown/injuries* ; Periodontium ; Esthetics, Dental ; Dental Restoration, Permanent/methods*

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*

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology and distribution of hand fractures in Singapore. METHODS: A total of 701 hand fractures in 596 patients aged 21 years and above from a single centre were reviewed from 2010 to 2011. Details regarding the patient demographics, occupation, mechanism of injury, associated injuries and treatment were obtained. RESULTS: Hand fractures were particularly significant in patients between the ages of 21 and 40 years 58.9% of the total cases. The relative risk of hand fractures in males was 5.5 times greater than that in females. The majority of hand fractures occurred at the workplace (47.7%), with crush injury being the main mechanism of injury (33.6%). The most common locations of hand fracture were the little finger ray (31.2%) and distal phalanges (37.7%). There were 170 cases that underwent surgical fixation, which accounted for 24.3% of all fractures. Fixation rate was similar for both closed and open fractures but was significantly higher in the proximal and middle phalanges compared to the distal phalanx and metacarpal ( P < 0.001). With regards to surgical fixation methods, wires were commonly used in either tuft fractures (100.0%) or intra-articular fractures (69.9%), whereas plates and screws were commonly used in shaft fractures (65.5%). CONCLUSION The most significant population that sustained hand fractures in Singapore are young to middle-aged males who are skilled manual workers. The most commonly involved ray and location of hand fractures are the little finger ray and the distal phalanges, respectively, as they are in a relatively more exposed location.
Humans ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Hand Injuries/surgery* ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Hand Bones/injuries* ; Retrospective Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal

INTRODUCTION: Radiology plays an integral role in fracture detection in the emergency department (ED). After hours, when there are fewer reporting radiologists, most radiographs are interpreted by ED physicians. A minority of these interpretations may miss diagnoses, which later require the callback of patients for further management. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been viewed as a potential solution to augment the shortage of radiologists after hours. We explored the efficacy of an AI solution in the detection of appendicular and pelvic fractures for adult radiographs performed after hours at a general hospital ED in Singapore, and estimated the potential monetary and non-monetary benefits. METHODS: One hundred and fifty anonymised abnormal radiographs were retrospectively collected and fed through an AI fracture detection solution. The radiographs were re-read by two radiologist reviewers and their consensus was established as the reference standard. Cases were stratified based on the concordance between the AI solution and the reviewers' findings. Discordant cases were further analysed based on the nature of the discrepancy into overcall and undercall subgroups. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity and inter-rater reliability of the AI solution. RESULTS: Ninety-two examinations were included in the final study radiograph set. The AI solution had a sensitivity of 98.9%, an accuracy of 85.9% and an almost perfect agreement with the reference standard. CONCLUSION An AI fracture detection solution has similar sensitivity to human radiologists in the detection of fractures on ED appendicular and pelvic radiographs. Its implementation offers significant potential measurable cost, manpower and time savings.
Humans ; Singapore ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fractures, Bone/diagnostic imaging* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Cost Savings ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Radiography

Osteoporotic fractures(OPF) refer to the fractures caused by minor violence in the state of osteoporosis, seriously threatening the life and health of elderly patients. Drug and surgical therapies have limitations such as single targets, diverse adverse reactions, and poor prognosis. Kidney-tonifying traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has good potential in the treatment of OPF. TCM can promote the healing of OPF by promoting angiogenesis in the early stage of bone healing, promoting osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the stage of bone repair, maintaining the balance of osteogenic and osteoclastic system in the stage of bone remodeling, and regulating the oxidative stress responses throughout the process of OPF healing. TCM can alleviate the pathological state of osteoporosis and promote fracture healing in OPF patients via multiple pathways and targets, demonstrating the advantages and potential of biphasic regulation.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/metabolism* ; Animals ; Fracture Healing/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Osteogenesis/drug effects*