Surgical management of spinal tuberculosis with a two-stage posterior instrumentation with bridging: a case report

Tuberculosis (TB) affects millions of people every year. Spinal TB is a common extrapulmonary manifestation of the disease. Spinal TB can be devastating and carries an unfortunate outcome. Herein, we present an atypical spinal TB that was treated initially based on intraoperative cultures with posterior decompression and instrumentation of T11–L3 with directed antibiotic therapy. Recurrence of the lesion and failure of instrumentation necessitated further investigation and intervention 1 year later. Using a two-stage surgical procedure leaving the infected spine to heal first with directed anti-TB medications. The patient was managed using posterior instrumentation with bridging from T5 to the pelvis, spanning the destructed area and utilizing a bridging technique with multiple rod constructs across the infected spine. Here, we present the benefit of using the bridging technique to promote bone healing and achieve a solid fixation.

Multiple Skin Bridging for No-Touch Saphenous-Vein Grafts Harvesting Can Reduce Wound Morbidity

Background: Reducing the leg wound morbidity is crucial for the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with great saphenous vein (SV) grafts harvested by no-touch (NT) technique. This study was to summarize the experience of skin bridging technique for reducing wound morbidity and the influence of it on one-year bypass graft patency. Methods: According to skin bridging or not, harvesting times, graft length, number of bleeding branches, postoperative subjective perception assessment scale (ASEPSIS) scores and one-year patency rate were analyzed. Results: From June 2018 to February 2019, 60 patients underwent CABG with SV grafts either with open-incision NT or skin bridging NT (30 in each group). There were no significant differences in age (71.4 ± 5.1 years vs. 68.9 ± 5.5 years) or graft length (23.3 ± 1.1 cm vs. 23.9 ± 1.3 cm) between the two groups. The bridging/NT group had a significantly longer harvest time (38.5 ± 4.9 min vs. 18.5 ± 2.6 min; P < 0.001) and a significantly greater number of bleeding branches (1.9 ± 1.2 vs. 0.8 ± 0.8; P < 0.001) than the open NT group. The open NT group had a significantly higher ASEPSIS score (23.8 ± 2.0 vs. 15.7 ± 2.6; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in patency rate at one-year follow-up. Conclusion: Obtaining the SV by the combined NT/discontinuous skin bridging technique is a satisfactory method for patients who underwent CABG. This method has important clinical significance in reducing wound morbidity in the harvest of NT grafts.

Advances of Carbon Capture and Storage in Coal-Based Power Generating Units in an Indian Context

India is a nation with a diverse economy that requires tremendous resources to completely meet the desires of its compatriots in various sectors. In terms of energy resources and requirements, coal-based power plants can fulfill the bulk of these electricity needs. India is very reliant on coal, which is used in power plants as a primary energy source. However, the usage of coal energy at a higher level continuously pollutes the atmosphere. The Indian power market alone accounts for half of the country’s CO2 emissions, which implies that significant action is needed to contain environmental pollution. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a bridging technique and feasible alternative for the carbon fired plant processing of CO2. However, the application of CCS in coal-fired power stations is still uncommon in the nation. At the UNFCCC Paris Summit, India committed to reduce its carbon emission intensity by approximately 30–33% by 2030. In this work, several CCS systems, possible CO2 origins, and emission levels in India are discussed. Various advanced methods for CO2 capture and separation are also highlighted. Furthermore, the current work discusses CCS situations and the applications of CCS in India along with its manifold challenges.

First Experience of Mechanical Thrombectomy Outcomes Without Bridging Technique: A 3-Year Retrospective Analysis

Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy has become the cornerstone and standard of care for acute stroke patients. Early reperfusion in patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke is the most important factor. The motivation behind this investigation is to display the aftereffects of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with large vessel occlusion in anterior and posterior circulation and to demonstrate that it lessens the level of handicap 3 months post stroke. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of patients who presented with acute ischemic stroke at our center from 2015 to 2018 and received mechanical thrombectomy using combined manual aspiration with a stent retriever and with large bore catheters without the bridging technique. Result factors including recanalization rate and modified Rankin Scale at 90 days post procedure were assessed. An aggregate of 30 patients were included. Results: About 30 patients presented at the institute and met the inclusion criteria for the study. Successful recanalization (the Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction Score [TICI 2B]) was accomplished in 90% of patients, TICI 3 score was accomplished in 56% of the patients. 67% of the patients had good modified Rankin Scale score 0-2 result at 90 days. There were 3 symptomatic hemorrhages and 3 procedure and comorbidity-related deaths (10%). Conclusion: Mechanical thrombectomy using combined manual aspiration with a stent retriever and with large bore catheters alone without the bridging technique is an effective and safe procedure for endovascular revascularization of large vessel occlusion presenting with acute ischemic stroke.

Repair Integrity and Re-tear Pattern after Arthroscopic Suture-Bridge Rotator Cuff Repair Abbreviating Medial-row Knot-tying

Objectives: Recently suture bridging technique has become the most popular footprint reconstruction procedure, and many surgeons prefer to perform lateral row fixation after tying the medial-row suture. According to some authors, strangulation caused by medial-row knot can lead to re-tear at the muscle-tendon junction, which is called type II failure. They have reported type II failure occurred 59˜74% in re-tear cases with conventional suture bridging. In order to avoid stress concentration on the medial-row, we prefer to use triple-loaded suture anchors for the medial-row, and perform lateral-row fixation of suture bridging before tying medial-row suture. This is a procedure in which we reduce the cuff to the tuberosity first, then press down the cuff to the footprint by tying the remaining suture. The purpose of this study was to assess the functional outcomes and structural integrity after our suture bridging technique. Methods: From April 2012 to May 2015, a consecutive series of 373 patients (4 bilateral cases) with complete rotator cuff tear were performed arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in our hospital. There were 90 small, 135 medium, 117 large, and 35 massive tears according to Cofield classification. Functional outcomes were assessed using JOA and UCLA score preoperatively and at final follow-up which was 29 months on average after surgery. Repair integrity was evaluated with MRI performed at a mean of 14 months after surgery and was graded using Sugaya classification. In addition, re-tear was divided into 2 groups. Type I failure is detachment from the footprint (group F1). Type II failure is muscle-tendon junction failure (group F2). We also investigated the relationship between clinical outcomes and repair integrity/tear pattern. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t test for comparing clinical outcomes and one-factor ANOVA/Tukey-Kramer test or Kruskal-Wallis test/Steel Dwass test to compare difference between the groups. Results: Regarding clinical outcomes, both JOA and UCLA scores have significantly improved overall from 72 to 95 and 18 to 34, respectively (P <0.0001). Postoperative MRI demonstrated successful repair in 318 shoulders (84.4%: group S) and re-tear (Sugaya type IV and V) in 59 shoulders (15.6%). There were 16 re-tears (7.1%) in small to medium tears and 43 re-tears in large and massive tears (28.3%). Among 59 re-tears, 39 shoulders (66%) were type I failures (group F1) and 20 shoulders (34%) were type II failures (group F2). Postoperative JOA score was significantly improved in both successful and failed repairs: 72 to 95 in group S, 72 to 94 in group F1 and 70 to 91 in group F2 (P <0.0001). Although preoperative scores demonstrated no significant difference between 3 groups, postoperative scores were significantly different between group S and group F2 (P=0.0008) and group F1 and group F2 (P=0.027). Similarly, postoperative UCLA score in group F2 was also significantly inferior to group S (p=0.0008) and group F1 (P =0.036). Conclusion: Our suture bridging technique abbreviating medial-row knot tying demonstrated excellent functional outcomes and structural integrity after surgery. In addition, rate of muscle-tendon junction failure, which proved to be functionally deteriorated compared with type I failure, was obviously lower when compared with previous reports with conventional suture bridging.