Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the long-term outcomes of saphenous nerve (SN) injuries from hamstring tendon harvesting during ACL reconstruction, focusing on clinical results and patient satisfaction after at least two years. Additionally, it investigates the incidence, recovery patterns, and impact of these injuries on functional outcomes, daily activities, and ACL re-rupture rates immediately post-surgery and at final follow-up. Materials and methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon grafts at a single institution between January 2015 and January 2020. The incidence of SN injuries was assessed immediately after surgery and at final follow-up. Additionally, the recovery rate and time were evaluated, and the impact of these injuries on functional outcomes was measured using the Lysholm Knee Score (LKS) and patient-reported effects on daily activities. Results: Of the 159 patients analyzed, iatrogenic SN injuries were initially observed in 87 (54.7%) patients post-ACLR. By the final follow-up, paresthesia had resolved in 36 (22.6%) patients within an average of 11.1 months. Persistent SN injuries were recorded in 51 (32.1%) patients, affecting various extents of the infrapatellar branch (IPBSN) and the sartorial branch (SBSN) of the saphenous nerve. Patients with persistent SN injuries experienced a significant impact on daily activities and had lower LKS scores compared to those without injuries or with recovered injuries. Furthermore, a higher re-rupture rate was associated with persistent SN injuries. Conclusions: The study finds that SN injuries during hamstring graft harvesting for ACL reconstruction are common, with a significant portion of patients experiencing persistent sensory deficits for at least two years postoperatively. These injuries are observed to adversely affect patient satisfaction and functional outcomes and to increase the re-rupture rate.
1 July 2016 in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
Introduction: Various psychodynamic, neurobiological, genetic, and sociocultural factors are believed to be involved in the etiology of conversion disorder (CD). Oxidative metabolism has been shown to deteriorate in association with many health problems and psychiatric disorders. We evaluated oxidative metabolism and S100B levels in the context of this multifactorial disease. Methods: Thirty-seven patients with CD (25 females and 12 males) and 42 healthy volunteers (21 females and 21 males), all matched for age and sex, were included in this study. The total oxidant status, total antioxidant status, oxidative stress index, and S100B levels were compared between the two groups. Results: The total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, and S100B levels were significantly higher in patients with CD than in the control group, whereas the total antioxidant status was significantly lower. Conclusion: CD is associated with deterioration of oxidative metabolism and increased neuronal damage.
1 February 2021 in Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation
Background: Implant material may influence interfragmentary mechanics in medial malleolar (MM) fracture fixation. This study aimed to compare stainless steel, titanium, magnesium, and PLGA screws under identical conditions using finite element analysis (FEA). Methods: A CT-based ankle model with a unilateral oblique MM fracture (θ = 60° to the medial tibial plafond) was fixed with two parallel M4 × 35 mm screws placed perpendicular to the fracture plane (inter-axial distance 13 mm). Contacts were defined as nonlinear frictional, and each screw was assigned a pretension force of 2.5 N. Static single-leg stance was simulated with physiologic tibia/fibula load sharing. Four scenarios differed only by screw material. Primary outputs were interfragmentary micromotion (maximum sliding and gap). Secondary measures included fracture interface contact/frictional stresses, screw/bone von Mises stress, global construct displacement, and average tibiotalar cartilage contact pressure. Results: Interfragmentary micromotion increased as screw stiffness decreased. Maximum sliding was 32.2–33.8 µm with stainless steel/titanium, 40.4 µm with magnesium, and 65.0 µm with PLGA; corresponding gaps were 31.2–32.0 µm with stainless steel and titanium, 31.2 µm with magnesium, and 54.1 µm with PLGA, respectively. Interface stresses followed the same pattern: contact pressure (3.18–3.24 MPa for stainless steel/titanium/magnesium vs. 4.29 MPa for PLGA); frictional stress (1.46–1.49 MPa vs. 1.98 MPa). Peak screw von Mises stress was highest in stainless steel (104.1 MPa), then titanium (73.4 MPa), magnesium (47.4 MPa), and PLGA (17.9 MPa). Global axial displacement (0.26–0.27 mm) and average tibiotalar cartilage contact pressure (0.73–0.75 MPa) were essentially unchanged across materials. All conditions remained below commonly cited thresholds for primary bone healing (gap < 100 µm); however, PLGA exhibited a reduced safety margin. Conclusions: Under identical geometry and loading conditions, titanium and stainless steel yielded the most favorable interfragmentary mechanics for oblique MM fixation; magnesium showed intermediate performane, and PLGA produced substantially greater micromotion and interface stresses. These findings support the use of metallic screws when maximal initial stability is required and suggest that magnesium may be a selective alternative when reducing secondary implant removal is prioritized.
10 June 2021 in European Archives of Medical Research