Subaxial lateral mass prosthesis for posterior reconstruction of cervical spine

Purpose: To obtain the relevant morphometry of the lateral mass of the subaxial cervical spine (C3-C7) and to design a series of lateral mass prostheses for the posterior reconstruction of the stability of cervical spine. Methods: The computed tomography (CT) scans of healthy volunteers were obtained. RadiAnt DICOM Viewer software (Version 2020.1, Medixant, Poland) was used to measure the parameters of lateral mass, such as height, anteroposterior dimension (APD), mediolateral dimension (MLD) and facet joint angle. According to the parameters, a series of cervical lateral mass prostheses were designed. Cadaver experiment was conducted to demonstrate its feasibility. Results: 23 volunteers with an average age of 30.1 ± 7.1 years were enrolled in this study. The height of lateral mass is 14.1 mm averagely. Facet joint angle, APD and MLD of lateral mass averaged 40.1 degrees, 11.2 mm and 12.18 mm, respectively. With these key data, a lateral mass prosthesis consists of a bone grafting column and a posterior fixation plate was designed. The column has a 4.0 mm radius, 41 degrees surface angle and adjustable height of 13, 15, or 17 mm. In the cadaver experiment, the grafting column could function as a supporting structure between adjacent facets, and it would not violate exiting nerve root (NR) or vertebral artery (VA). Conclusion: This study provided detailed morphology of the lateral mass of subaxial cervical spine. A series of subaxial cervical lateral mass prostheses were designed awaiting further clinical application.

Reconstruction of the Denonvillier's fascia and posterior ligament of the external urethral sphincter: Assessment of its effect on urinary continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Objectives: Some studies have shown that rhabdosphincter reconstruction provides an earlier return to continence after radical prostatectomy. We aim to study the impact of this procedure in urinary continence along with comparing two specific surgical techniques for posterior reconstruction. Materials and methods: We studied a group of patients who were submitted to LRP with No Rhabdosphincter Reconstruction (NRR) and another group with Posterior Reconstruction of the Rhabdosphincter (PRR). The latter was further divided into two groups: "Rocco type stitch" group and "Bollens type stitch" group. We used three questionnaires (IIEF-5, ICIQ-SF and IPSS) to assess urinary continence and erectile function 90 days after surgery. Results: Patients of PRR group had a better full continence rate than patients of NRR group at 90 days (96.6% vs 33.3%, p < 0.001). Concerning urinary incontinence (p = 0.116), lower urinary tract symptoms (p = 0.543) and postoperative complication rates (p = 0.738), our results suggested that there were no differences between the techniques studied. Conclusions: Posterior reconstruction of the rhabdosphincter has significant benefits for urinary continence recovery on patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. No differences were observed in continence recovery between the two techniques analyzed. Additionally, reconstruction of the rhabdosphincter appears to be a safe procedure with no increased risk of postoperative complications.

Effect of a novel technique of posterior reconstruction of pubourethralis on ‘early’ return of continence after robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP): A comparative study

Objective: To study the effect of a novel technique of posterior reconstruction of pubourethralis on early return of continence after robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Materials and methods: The study included 206 patients of organ confined prostate cancer managed at our centre between March 2014 and December 2018.The patients were randomly distributed into two comparable groups with respect to age, height, weight and BMI, with 100 patients in control and 106 patients in study group. After standard excision of the specimen, the posterior reconstruction in the form of Rocco stitch was done in control group while in addition to Rocco stitch pubourethralis was approximated posteriorly in midline at the proposed site of vesicourethral anastomosis in study group. Continence was defined as the need to use 0–1 pad in 24 h. The data was collected on day 0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 90 and 180 after removal of catheter. Results: At day zero, 3,7, 15, 30, 90 and 180 days after catheter removal continence rates (⩽1 pad usage per day) were observed to be 18.8% versus 0%, 22.6% versus 0%, 50.9% versus 5%, 72.6% versus 20%, 84.9 versus 32%, 97.1% versus 83%, and 97.1% versus 91% in the study and control group respectively. Conclusion: Despite small number of patients in this study the results with respect to early return of continence are encouraging in the reconstruction group and there by in favour of this technique .Furthermore the technique is easily reproducible and may be seen as one more additional step to be applied in order to enhance the recovery of continence after RARP. However it is necessary to further validate the efficacy of this procedure through multicenteric controlled trials.

Sternal cavernous hemangioma and reconstruction of the anterior chest wall: a case report

Background The sternum is considered an unusual tumor site, corresponding to 15% of all thoracic wall tumors. Primary sternal tumors are even rarer and most commonly malignant. We present the case of a young man who consulted with a painful sternal mass, which after its resection is confirmed to be a cavernous hemangioma. Case presentation A 39-year-old man, with unremarkable medical history besides a 2-year-long sternal pain, non-irradiated, which worsens over the last few months and is accompanied by the appearance of a sternal palpable mass. On physical exam, there was a bulging of the sternal manubrium, with no inflammatory changes. Thoracic CT scan shows an expansive and lytic lesion of the sternum, compromising the manubrium and extending to the third sternocostal joint, without intrathoracic compromise nor cleavage plane with mediastinal vascular structures. The patient is taken to resection of the mass and sternal reconstruction using prosthetic material and pectoral and fasciocutaneous muscular flaps. Histopathological findings: cavernous hemangioma with negative borders and no other malignant findings. Conclusions Sternal hemangiomas can cause defects in the bone structure and show an expansive growth, challenging the differentiation between a benign or malignant lesion. Therefore, they should be considered malignant until shown otherwise. Management involves radical surgery with curative purposes and posterior reconstruction to improve quality of life, as shown with our patient.

Improvement in early continence after introduction of periurethral suspension stitch in robotic prostatectomy

Early urinary incontinence remains a major source of morbidity for patients undergoing robotic prostatectomy. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the introduction of a suspension stitch would improve early urinary continence rates in patients undergoing robotic prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer at our department. We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing robotic prostatectomy with either suspension (n = 119) or figure-of-eight (n = 48) stitching of the dorsal venous complex. The patients submitted EPIC-26 questionnaires before surgery and after 3 and 18 months, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was run to determine the effect of the suspension stitch, nerve-sparing, posterior reconstruction, prostate volume, age and body mass index on early continence rate. The odds ratio of experiencing urinary leaks was 2.1 times higher (95% CI 1.0–4.3) in the figure-of-eight stitch group compared to the suspension stitch group 3 months after surgery (p < 0.05). The early urinary continence rate was 61.3% in the suspension stitch group compared to 35.4% in the figure-of-eight stitch group (p < 0.005). There were no differences between the groups 18 months post-prostatectomy (90.7% in the suspension stitch group versus 81.4% in the non-suspension stitch group, p = 0.1). Ordinal regression analysis identified the suspension stitch, bilateral nerve-sparing and body mass index as independent predictors of urinary continence at 3 months. The association between urinary continence and either unilateral nerve-sparing, posterior reconstruction, prostate volume or age did not reach statistical significance. Our results suggest that the suspension stitch improved early urinary continence following robotic prostatectomy.