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Frontal basilar trauma: classification and treatment.

We report our experience with 14 consecutive cases of frontal basilar trauma occurring in children and adolescents aged 18 months to 18 years (mean 9.5 years). Brain parenchymal injury resulting in functional deficit occurred in 5 patients (36 percent), 2 patients suffered bilateral blindness, and 1 suffered unilateral loss of vision. A classification system and treatment algorithm based on the clinical fracture pattern seen by computed tomography are introduced. Type I, central, is confined to the upper nasoethmoidal complex, central frontal bone, and medial third of the superior orbital rims. Type II, unilateral, involves the entire supraorbital rim and the upper lateral orbital wall, extending into the squamosa of the temporal bone and ipsilateral frontal bone. Type III, bilateral, involves fractures of the upper nasal ethmoidal complex, bilateral supraorbital and upper lateral orbital wall fractures, and bilateral frontal bone fractures. This classification was utilized to plan elective orbital and cranial osteotomies, similar to those used for frontal orbital advancement at the time of acute fracture repair. Frontal orbital osteotomies were used to access the anterior cranial fossa, orbital apices, and nasofrontal ducts and to obtain an intact bony template for side-table reassembly of the fracture fragments. There was no significant operative morbidity, one late cerebrospinal fluid leak, and no infections. Reoperation was necessary in four patients (29 percent) for aesthetic indications.

Adolescent↗

Development of an internal dynamic web site to promote quality assurance in a clinical laboratory.

In clinical laboratories, one challenging quality assurance objective is to maintain standardized practices. Meeting this objective entails ensuring information flow, which is necessary to smooth running of the laboratory. To facilitate information flow, we developed an internal quality Web site on our local network. The dynamic generated pages of the site were constructed with EasyPHP v.1.6, a complete freeware package providing PHP dynamic language and databases. The site comprises various sections: general news, specific laboratory units news, documents (quality manual, guidelines, emergency processes), schedules, National Quality Control results, forum, etc. Five to 10 pages are updated each week. This work was facilitated by the use of PHP-written pages and data tables, which enable us to record in real time the operation of our assurance quality project and to improve traceability. This approach could be extended to other aspects of quality management and could help meet the future IS015189 standard requirements.

Computer Communication Networks↗

Improved motion compensation in 3D-CT using respiratory-correlated segment reconstruction: diagnostic and radiotherapy applications.

Conventional respiratory-gated CT and four-dimensional CT (4DCT) are disadvantaged by their low temporal resolution, which results in the inclusion of anatomic motion-induced artefacts. These represent a significant source of error both in radiotherapy treatment planning for the thorax and upper abdomen and in diagnostic procedures. In particular, temporal resolution and image quality are vitally important to accurate diagnosis and the minimization of planning target volume margin due to respiratory motion. To improve both temporal resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), we developed a respiratory-correlated segment reconstruction method (RS) and adapted it to the Feldkamp-Davis-Kress algorithm (FDK) with a 256 multidetector row CT (256MDCT). The 256MDCT scans approximately 100 mm in the craniocaudal direction with a 0.5 mm slice thickness in one rotation. Data acquisition for the RS-FDK relies on the assistance of a respiratory sensing system operating in cine scan mode (continuous axial scan with the table stationary). We evaluated the RS-FDK for volume accuracy and image noise in a phantom study with the 256MDCT and compared results with those for a full scan (FS-FDK), which is usually employed in conventional 4DCT and in half scan (HS-FDK). Results showed that the RS-FDK gave a more accurate volume than the others and had the same SNR as the FS-FDK. In a subsequent animal study, we demonstrated a practical sorting process for projection data which was unaffected by variations in respiratory period, and found that the RS-FDK gave the clearest visualization among the three algorithms of the margins of the liver and pulmonary vessels. In summary, the RS-FDK algorithm provides multi-phase images with higher temporal resolution and better SNR. This method should prove useful when combined with new radiotherapeutic and diagnostic techniques.

Algorithms↗

Determining the number of factors to retain: a Windows-based FORTRAN-IMSL program for parallel analysis.

Parallel analysis (PA; Horn, 1965) is a technique for determining the number of factors to retain in exploratory factor analysis that has been shown to be superior to more widely known methods (Zwick & Velicer, 1986). Despite its merits, PA is not widely used in the psychological literature, probably because the method is unfamiliar and because modern, Windows-compatible software to perform PA is unavailable. We provide a FORTRAN-IMSL program for PA that runs on a PC under Windows; it is interactive and designed to suit the range of problems encountered in most psychological research. Furthermore, we provide sample output from the PA program in the form of tabled values that can be used to verify the program operation; or, they can be used either directly or with interpolation to meet specific needs of the researcher.

Factor Analysis, Statistical↗

[Elimination of tuberculosis in Japan].

According to the operational definition adopted at Wolfheze Workshop held in March 1991 (Table 1), tuberculosis low incidence countries are defined as those where the incidence of all forms of tuberculosis is less than 1 per 100,000. The incidence was 41.9 in 1990 in Japan, so that Japan cannot be considered as a low incidence country. Why is the incidence of tuberculosis so high in Japan? What part of population is affected by the tuberculosis disease? To solve these questions and to make clear the mode of development of tuberculosis, a study was carried out. Fortunately, both the annual risk of tuberculosis infection and the prevalences of persons with healed and/or fibrotic lesion in the lung are known from the results of the National Tuberculosis Prevalence Surveys carried out in 1963 and 1973 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. From these data, the number of newly infected within 5 years and that of remote infections by age group were estimated. The former was divided into BCG vaccinated and non-vaccinated and the latter into persons with fibrotic lesion, with healed foci and without abnormality in the lung. (Table 2). The rates of development of tuberculosis disease according to the X-ray findings of the lung were observed at the five-years follow-up study of all the examinees at the Prevalence Survey carried out in 1968. The ratio of development of the disease in those with recent infections, remote infections with fibrotic lesion, those with healed foci and those without abnormality was estimated as 20 : 10 : 2 : 1. (Table 3)(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

[Cognitive and psychomotor performance following isoflurane, midazolam/alfentanil and propofol anesthesia. A comparative study].

Mental and psychomotor abilities are impaired to varying degrees after general anaesthesia. This has important implications for the time over which patients are monitored in the recovery room and for the discharge of outpatients after day surgery. The present study was undertaken to compare recovery and mental and psychomotor skills in the first 60 min following general anaesthesia with isoflurane, midazolam/alfentanil and propofol. METHODS. A total of 45 patients undergoing microsurgical lumbar nucleotomy were randomized to three study groups. Group 1 (n = 15): anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained with isoflurane; group 2 (n = 15): anaesthesia was induced with midazolam and maintained with alfentanil; group 3 (n = 15): anaesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol. Vecuronium was used for muscle relaxation and the lungs were ventilated with a mixture of 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen. The following were checked 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after extubation: choice reaction times and critical flicker fusion for psychomotor testing; the maze test and a modification of the ball-bearing test for discrimination of motor and mental activities; and short- and long-term memory. RESULTS. Immediate recovery did not differ in the three different groups. In all patients psychomotor function was impaired compared with baseline for more than 60 min after general anaesthesia. However, impairment was significantly less pronounced after propofol, and recovery to preanaesthesia values was faster following propofol than after midazolam/alfentanil, and slowest after isoflurane-anaesthesia (Figs. 1, 2). The flicker fusion frequency, a very sensitive parameter for the persisting effects of anaesthetics, was significantly higher following propofol anaesthesia and remained so throughout the entire study period (Fig. 3). By 30 min after extubation, short-term memory was already normal in patients who had undergone propofol anaesthesia, and a statistically significant difference from the midazolam/alfentanil and isoflurane anaesthesia groups was obvious throughout the entire study period. However, no differences in long-term memory were found. At 30 min after propofol anaesthesia all patients were able to perform the ball-bearing test, as against 13 patients following midazolam/alfentanil and 10 patients following isoflurane (Table 3). The maze test was mostly impaired after midazolam/alfentanil anaesthesia. Patients who underwent isoflurane anaesthesia needed the same time for the maze test at 60 min afterwards propofol patients needed after 30 min (Table 2). Side effects, e.g., nausea, vomiting, and double vision, were observed significantly more often in groups 1 and 2 (Table 4). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. The results indicate that in operations of approximately 90 min duration the return of motor and mental abilities is faster following propofol anaesthesia. At 30 min after extubation following propofol anaesthesia patients had test results that allow their transfer from the recovery room, while it took 60 min for patients in the two other groups to reach the same levels of motor and mental function. This is important for the duration of monitoring in the recovery room and, especially, for day case anaesthesia.

Adult↗

[Results of multidisciplinary treatment of frontal sinus fractures].

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to present the results of our management of frontal sinus fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed records of 101 patients treated between 1996 and 2002, who sustained frontal sinus fractures. 7 patients were women and 94 were men. The average age of patients was 34 years. We analysed: circumstance of frontal sinus injury, frontal sinus fracture patterns, associated facial tissue and bone injuries, central nervous system injuries, perioperative management, timing of operation, surgical procedures and complications. RESULTS: 30 patients had anterior table fractures (type I), 51 had anterior and posterior table fractures (type II = 50, type IV = 1), 20 had posterior table fractures (type III). 22 patients were managed medically, 79 surgically. In 74 cases a combined, one-stage surgical procedure with neurosurgeons was performed, in 4 cases with an ophthalmologist, in 31 cases associated facial bone fractures were surgically managed. The average length of hospitalization was 16 days. There were 19 cases (24%) of postoperative complications, mostly early and late CSF leakage (12 patients). Inflammatory complications included acute frontal sinusitis (3 patients) and postoperative wound infection (1 patient). CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary one-stage surgical treatment of patients suffering from frontal sinus fractures associated with central nervous system and facial injuries optimizes treatment results and minimizes postoperative complications. A significant reduction in early and late postoperative inflammatory complications confirms the efficiency of nasofrontal duct recanalization with frontal sinus reconstruction.

Adult↗

[Ganglioglioma in a child--report of a case].

A seven-year-old boy who was admitted for surgical treatment for intractable epilepsy was found to have a ganglioglioma in his left parietal lobe. Since four years old, he had been suffering from the seizure and treated with various anticonvulsants without satisfactory effects. As its frequency increased, the dose had to be increased. Thus, it was sought for the possible surgical approach. On the CT scans, an egg size low density zone without contrast enhancement was observed in the subcortical region of his parietal lobe. There was marked thinning on inner table of the skull immediately above the zone. He was operated under fronto-temporo-parietal craniotomy. When the dura matter was opened, pale cerebral cortex protruded. Complete removal of the tumor was not possible, since there was not clear boundary between the mass and normal tissue. Based on histological study, it was diagnosed as ganglioglioma, because its main body contained increased number of glia which had deeply stained ununiform size nuclei. After the operation, he showed neither motor paralysis nor sensory disturbance and was able to sustain his activity with less amount of anticonvulsant.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Experience with pericyazine in profoundly and severely retarded children.

The effectiveness of pericyazine in severe behavioural disorders was evaluated in 15 profoundly and severely retarded children. Pericyazine provided significant improvement in such parameters as co-operation, temper, purposeless activities, hyperactivity, communication and mood. It proved to be statistically superior to the minor tranquillizers in improving co-operation and helpfulness, temper, mood, the understanding of commands and table manners, and in reducing self-abusiveness and abusiveness to staff. The safety of this agent was confirmed and photosensitivity was not found to be associated with its use.

Adolescent↗

Left atrial myxoma.

Intracardiac myxoma is a rare condition. In 75 per cent of cases the tumour arises in the left atrium and the number of possible modes of presentation is considerable. An incorrect clinical diagnosis is often made initially (Table 4). Correct diagnosis is of the greatest importance since operative removal is usually curative. If the diagnosis is delayed or is not made, or if surgery is delayed once the diagnosis has been made, the consequences for the patient can be catastrophic.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

Ergonomics in the laboratory environment.

The focus of this report is how ergonomics--the art of making equipment fit the user--is applied to video display terminal (VDT) use in order to improve productivity. It is recommended that VDT operators be made more comfortable by using ergonomic chairs and tables. The placement of computer screens and keyboards at the workstations should be tailored to the body and its natural motion in order to decrease physical stress.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

[Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow in workers using column sewing machines: case reports and follow-up].

Fifteen cases of ulnar nerve neuropathy at cubital tunnel level were observed in women aged between 16 and 37 years employed in shoe factories. The women operated column sewing machines resting their elbows on the work table. Past evidence showed that the interval between the beginning of work and onset of neuropathy was generally more than one year but less than that for similar diseases observed in other jobs where arthritis of the elbow played a more important role and the average age was higher. It can therefore be supposed that arthritis in these shoes workers was of less significance, whereas local trauma, which was not prevented by the use of small soft cushions under the elbows (4 out of the 15 subjects had been using them for some time), seemed of greater importance. A period of less than one year (in one case only a few days) was deemed due to the presence of a pre-existing neuropathy of the elbow which had so far been asymptomatic. Cases treated within six months of onset showed marked improvement. However, rapidly worsening symptoms, independent of the degree of damage reached, often led to early treatment with favourable outcome in a short time, while slow and insidious onset brought a longer prognosis. The primary prevention suggested is to instruct workers as to the correct work posture, i.e., avoiding resting the elbows on the work table. As a secondary preventive measure, bearing in mind the need of early diagnosis and treatment, medical check-ups every six months are proposed.

Adolescent↗

Trabeculectomy with intraoperative 5-fluorouracil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcome and complication rates of trabeculectomy following the combined use of intraoperative, topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and low-dose, postoperative subconjunctival 5-FU injections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one eyes of 41 patients with advanced, medically uncontrolled glaucoma underwent trabeculectomy with intraoperative episcleral application of 5-FU (50 mg/ml for 5 minutes). A variable number of subconjunctival 5-FU injections were administered postoperatively at the discretion of the operating surgeon. RESULTS: Six-, 12-, and 15-month life-table success rates (5 mm Hg < or = intraocular pressure [IOP < or = 21 mm Hg) were 100%, 97%, and 83%, respectively. Mean postoperative IOP was 12.1 +/- 4.3 mm Hg. An average of 2.2 +/- 1.6 (range 0 to 7) supplemental subconjunctival 5-FU injections were administered postoperatively. Corneal epithelial erosions developed in 7 (17%) of the eyes. Five of 7 patients who underwent subsequent surgical procedures maintained successful control of IOP at an average of 11.0 +/- 4.8 (range 5 to 16) months after the secondary surgery. CONCLUSION: Trabeculectomy with intraoperative 5-FU is effective in controlling IOP while possibly minimizing the need for frequent postoperative injections and the occurrence of corneal epitheliopathy.

Adult↗

[The internal thoracic artery in myocardial revascularization in patients with severely depressed left ventricular function].

INTRODUCTION: In most prospective, randomized studies, severely depressed left ventricular function is found to be the independent predictor of increased morbidity and mortality after myocardial revascularization [3]. Surgical treatment in this particular group of patients results in superior long-term results [1, 2]. Internal thoracic artery (ITA) is considered to be superior compared to venous grafts in myocardial revascularization for the majority of patients with ischaemic heart disease. However, its value in patients with already severely depressed left ventricular function (EF < or = 30%) is still a matter of debate. There are no prospective, randomized studies, so far. In some studies it was shown that revascularization with ITA graft resulted in superior long-term results (10- and 15-year follow-up) in all subgroups of patients, including those with severely depressed left ventricular function [4, 5]. Some authors find it still unacceptable, if this result would be possible at the expense of higher early mortality (due to use of ITA). The purpose of this study is to analyze the early and long-term results of myocardial revascularization using ITA graft in patients with severely depressed left ventricular function (EF < 30%). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over the period from November 1986 through March 1999, 2860 pts have received ITA (alone or with additional vein grafts) for myocardial revascularization. In 431 pts EF was < or = 30% (15.1%), average EF being 25.7% (by echocardiography); 33 were women, 29 were diabetics, while average age was 56.7 +/- 8.4 years. The control group consisted of 430 pts, with similar preoperative characteristics, who received vein grafts alone. RESULTS: Operative mortality in the ITA group was 2.55% (11/431), and postoperative morbidity was 7.4% (32/431). In the group with vein grafts only the mortality was 3.25% (14/430) and morbidity 6.7% (29/430)--Table 2. The average postoperative hospital stay was 9.1 days (range 7-32). There was no difference in operative and postoperative parameters (extracorporeal time, ischaemic time, duration of mechanical ventilation, need for inotropic support, mortality, morbidity and hospital stay) compared to the group with vein grafts alone, except for the blood drainage--significantly higher in the ITA group--p < 0.00001)--Table 3. Multivariate analysis showed that independent predictors of unfavorable outcome were the presence of peripheral vascular disease (beta--0.9; p = 0.02) and aortic cross-clamp time (beta--0.02; p = 0.01). Long-term results in 14 pts with ITA graft operated on from 1986 to 1992 (6-12 years of follow-up) showed the survival of 92.7%. DISCUSSION: Superior long-term patency of ITA graft resulted in its practically routine use in myocardial revascularization. However, in some studies it was shown that ITA flow might be insufficient during the maximal effort [6]. This may result in hypoperfusion, low cardiac output syndrome and cardiac arrest. This frequently happens at the end of the operation, and may be accentuated with the use of vasopressors that can further decrease the ITA flow [9]. In patients with already severely depressed left ventricular function preoperatively, the use of vasopressors at the end of procedure when the myocardium may be quite vulnerable, is to be expected. Friesewinkel et al., [18] showed that there was an impairment of the regional contractility of the left ventricle early (up to 4 hours) after myocardial revascularization, when one or both ITA grafts were used. Since this was not the case if vein grafts were used, they advised to be careful in patients with "depressed left ventricular function". However, Elefteriades et al., [1] found no higher mortality in patients with "bad left ventricle" in whom ITA was used, but point out that patients with elective operation and without need for intensive care treatment preoperatively had much better outcome. Jagaden et al., [19] found very good results in these patients, after the routine use of ITA, during a 20-year follow-up. In our study EF < or = 30% was present in 861 patients, 431 with ITA graft and 430 with vein grafts only. There was no difference between groups considering all possible preoperative and operative factors of importance for the outcome. We found no increased early morbidity and mortality in patients in whom ITA was used compared to patients with vein grafts only. In patients operated on from 1986-1992 (follow-up of 6-12 years), we noted the survival of 92.7%. This was not statistically different compared to patients with vein grafts (survival of 88.9%). Despite the small number of patients, we found these long-term results very encouraging. CONCLUSION: ITA graft is a very good and absolutely acceptable choice in patients with severely damaged left ventricular function, particularly if we consider its long-term superiority. These pts should not be deprived of the long-term benefit of ITA graft, since early results are very good.

Coronary Disease↗

Lessons learnt from the EUROSTAR registry on endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: The EUROSTAR project is a multicentred database of the outcome of endovascular repair of infra-renal aortic aneurysms. To date 92 European centres of vascular surgery have contributed. The purpose of the article here is to review the medium term (up to 4 years) results of endovascular aneurysm repair as reported to Eurostar. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients intended for endovascular aneurysm repair were notified to the EUROSTAR Data Registry Centre before treatment in order to eliminate bias due to selective reporting. The following data was collected on all patients: (1) their demographic details and the anatomical characteristics of their aneurysms, (2) details of the endovascular device used, (3) procedural complications and the immediate outcome, (4) results of contrast enhanced CT imaging at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after operation and at yearly intervals thereafter, (5) all adverse events. Life table analysis was performed to determine the cumulative rates of: (1) death from all causes, (2) secondary intervention. Risk factors for rupture and late conversion were identified by regression analysis. RESULTS: By July 2000, 2862 patients had been registered and their median duration of follow-up was 12 mo (range 0-72). Successful deployment was achieved in 2812 patients with a perioperative (30 day) mortality of 2.9%. In 2464 patients enrolled by March 2000 late rupture of the aneurysm occurred in 14 patients for an annual cumulative rate of 1%. The significant factors were proximal type I endoleak (P=0.001), midgraft (type III) endoleak (P=0.001), graft migration (P=0.001) and post-operative kinking of the endograft (P=0.001). Forty-one patients had late conversion to open repair for an annual cumulative rate (risk) of approximately 2.1%. Risk factors (indications) for late conversion were: proximal type I endoleak (P=0.001), midgraft (type III) endoleak (P=0.001), type II endoleak (P=0.003), graft migration (P=0.001), graft kinking (P=0.001) and distal type I endoleak (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair of infra-renal aortic aneurysms using the first and second-generation devices that predominated in this study was associated with a risk of late failure of 3% per year, based upon an analysis of observed primary endpoints of rupture and conversion. Eurostar continues to provide responsible evaluation of the technique for the benefit of both physicians and the industry.

Adult↗

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and management of choledocholithiasis.

The advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has led to a reassessment of the approach to the management of choledocholithiasis. In a consecutive series of 418 patients undergoing LC, common bile duct (CBD) stones were suspected pre-operatively in 130 patients. Forty-five of the patients (35%) were found to have CBD stones on either pre-operative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP; 20) or on operative cholangiography (OC; 25). Common bile duct stones were detected on OC in a further 12 of 288 patients (4.2%) without pre-operative suspicion of choledocholithiasis. Of the total of 57 patients with CBD stones, the duct was cleared by pre-operative ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) in 15 patients. In 13 patients, two of whom had had a pre-operative ERCP and ES, duct clearance was achieved by relaxing the sphincter pharmacologically and flushing the CBD via the OC catheter. One patient had an on-table ERCP and ES with successful stone extraction during LC. Eleven patients were converted to open operation with bile duct exploration. Sixteen patients had a postoperative ERCP. In five patients the CBD stones had passed spontaneously in the time between LC and ERCP. Ten patients required ES to clear the duct of stones. One patient had a failed ERCP and is still awaiting a repeat. The remaining patient was scheduled, but did not return for follow-up ERCP. In summary, pre-operative ERCP was indicated in less than 10% of patients in this series.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Salmonella contamination of hatching and table eggs: a comparison.

This study determined and compared Salmonella contamination rates of pools of surplus, early and culled hatching eggs from layer and broiler breeder flocks, and of pools of early and regular table eggs from layer flocks. Each pool contained 6 eggs. Five methods were used for the isolation of Salmonella. Nine of 126 pools of culled layer hatching eggs, 2 of 126 pools of surplus layer hatching eggs, and one of 126 pools of early layer hatching eggs were contaminated with Salmonella. All 126 pools of broiler breeder surplus, and early and culled hatching eggs tested negative for Salmonella. All 168 pools of regular table eggs tested negative for Salmonella, whilst one of 84 pools of early table eggs contained Salmonella agona. The pools of culled layer hatching eggs and surplus layer hatching eggs that contained S. typhimurium were derived from the same breeder operation. Similarly, the pools of culled and early layer hatching eggs that contained S. heidelberg were derived from one breeder operation. Pools of culled hatching eggs were more frequently contaminated with Salmonella than other hatching or table eggs. Pools containing eggs that were both cracked and dirty were more frequently contaminated with Salmonella than all other pools of eggs. The overall Salmonella contamination rate of the table eggs was 0.07 to 0.4%. Critical control points (macroscopic classification of the eggs as cracked and dirty) were validated microbiologically.

Animals↗

Cranial defect repair using e-PTFE: part I. Evaluation of bone stiffness.

Autologous bone grafts are the preferred material for craniofacial reconstruction, but such procedures lead to increased operative time and bleeding, donor site morbidity, and graft resorption. The efficacy of expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) sheets to increase bone regeneration and remodeling in cranial defects using a rabbit model was evaluated by mechanical testing. New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 3 groups and sacrificed 6 months after surgery. In the Split Table group, (n = 16), a bilateral bone defect was created on the outer table of the parietal bones. In the Full Table group, (n = 16), a bilateral defect was created through both the inner and outer table of the cranium. The control group, (n = 10) was subjected to a sham operation. Indentation testing was performed to determine the stiffness of newly formed bone in and around the defect. Near the center of the defect, Split Table defects repaired with e-PTFE resulted in significantly stiffer bone than regenerated control bone. The Full Table defects repaired with e-PTFE also resulted in bone significantly stiffer than control regenerated bone around the central region of the defect. The data supports the hypothesis that e-PTFE improves the repair of cranial defects in a rabbit model. It is surmised that the porosity of the e-PTFE provides a stable scaffold for migration of tissue regenerating cells, which may be preferentially localized near the cranial suture lines. This porosity may also provide a barrier to fibrous tissue regenerating cells.

Animals↗