Freehand magnetic needle guidance technology for intra-articular cervical injection in horses
EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION
Authors: Crecente, P.; Arguelles, D.; Cifuentes, M.
Abstract
The use of ultrasound-guided injections is a widely known and well-established procedure in equine medicine not only for intra-articular procedures but also for treating injuries affecting soft tissues. The aim of this study was to compare the conventional ultrasound-guided technique (CUGT) with a modified ultrasound-guided magnetic navigation technique (MUGT) in the articular process joints spaces of the cervical vertebrae. The aforementioned techniques were compared by measuring the degree of difficulty, the time employed and the success of the procedure (injecting blue methylene into the articular process joints spaces of cadavers to allow us to know whether the procedure was successful). Neck specimens from 11 cadavers were used to conduct this study. To compare the two different techniques, the articular process joints spaces of 11 specimens were injected bilaterally using ultrasound guidance, using one technique on each side. One millilitre of methylene blue was injected into the C2-C3, C3-C4, C4-C5 and C5-C6 articular process joints; then, these joints were dissected to verify the success rate of the injections. The results were similar regarding the success rate of the procedure; however, there were differences in the time employed (25.0 s median runtime for MUGT vs. 32.1 s median runtime for CUGT) and the degree of difficulty (1.3 attempts on average for MUGT vs. 2.4 attempts on average for CUGT). According to the results of this study, MUGT involved less difficulty and slightly less time employed to inject the cervical articular processes joints than CUGT; however, further studies in live horses are needed to assess the efficiency of this method, and studies in other joints or soft tissues are needed to validate the method. This new technique could also improve other equine ultrasound-guided procedures, such as nerve blocks, ultrasound-guided tendon/joints treatments or other articular injections.
Outcome of pediatric retinal detachment using high-density silicone oil
INTERNATIONAL OPHTHALMOLOGY
Authors: Mishra, Sanjay; Wadhwani, Meenakshi; Kumar, Ashok; Chauhan, Ravi
Abstract
Background The high-density silicone oil (Densiron), a mixture of F6H8 with silicone oil, has been used in the management of retinal detachment (RD) complicated by the presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) with varying rate of anatomical success and visual outcomes. Methods We conducted a prospective interventional case series of 22 eyes in 22 children less than 18 years diagnosed with complicated retinal detachment complicated by the presence of PVR in inferior quadrant. Results The mean age of the patients was 8.45 +/- 3.36 years. There were 14 male and 8 female children. Five patients presented with total RD, 5 had subtotal RD and remaining 10 with inferior retinal detachment. There were 8 children with PVR C1, 13 with PVR C2, 3 with PVR C3. All patient's had macula off RD at presentation. The anatomical success in the form of attached retina was achieved in 21 (95.45%) eyes. Standard three-port pars plana vitrectomy without scleral buckling under general anesthesia was surgical technique employed in all cases. Conclusion Densiron can be an important tamponade agent in pediatric retinal detachment complicated by PVR with increased success rate of retinal re-attachment.