Objective To summarize retrospectively the clinical technology of repairing osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) by free vascularized fibular grafting (FVFG), and the value of modified instruments in operation. Methods Between March 2011 and January 2013, 35 patients with ONFH (47 hips) who underwent FVFG with modified instruments. There were 24 males (32 hips) and 11 females (15 hips), aged 34 years on average (range, 22-43 years). The unilateral hip was involved in 23 cases and the bilateral hips in 12 cases. The disease duration ranged from 5 to 9 months (mean, 7 months). Based on etiology, 25 hips were classified as alcohol ONFH, 12 hips as corticosteroids ONFH, 3 hips as trauma ONFH, and 7 hips as idiopathic ONFH. According to the Association Research Circulation Osseous(ARCO) stage, 3 hips were rated as stage I, 39 hips as stage II, and 5 hips as stage III on the X-ray films. The preoperative Harris score was 58.2±6.1. Results The time to get fibula was 15-35 minutes (mean, 25 minutes). The operation time was 90-200 minutes (mean, 130 minutes), and the blood loss during operation was 150-500 mL (mean, 270 mL). All the patients achieved primary healing of incision, without complication of infection or deep vein thrombosis. All 35 patients were followed up 12-42 months, with an average of 28 months. The Harris score at final follow-up was 87.3±5.7, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t=102.038,P=0.000). Radiographic results at final follow-up showed good position of fibula; and necrosis was improved in 9 hips, had no changes in 36 hips, and aggravated in 2 hips. Conclusion FVFG for ONFH can improve hip function effectively, and modified instruments can improve operation efficiency.
Objective To evaluate the advantages about video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy with optimized management of surgical instruments package. Methods A total of 200 patients with lung cancer were enrolled, which included 78 males and 122 females, aged 24-83 years at median age of 56.8 years. All of them were divided into 2 groups including a routine group (n=100) and an optimized management of surgical instruments group (n=100). The total operation time, bleeding, instrument weights, utilization rate of instruments, counted and cleaning time in 2 groups were recorded and analyzed. Results The average operation time and average lost blood of the routine group was 117.62±42.52 min and 53.14±50.69 ml, respectively, and the one of the optimized instruments group was 120.48±40.62 min, 56.10±49.87 ml, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.112, P=0.231, respectively). The utilization rate of instruments in the routine group (58.02%±2.39%) was significantly lower than that of the optimized instruments group (94.00%±1.48%, P=0.014). The counted time, the loading and unloading time and the cleaning time of instruments in the routine group was 112.00±26.00 s, 70.00±15.00 s, 1 010.00±130.00 s, respectively, much longer than the time of the optimized instruments group, which was 65.00±23.00 s, 20.00±4.00 s, 665.00±69.00 s, respectively. There was a statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.028, P=0.011, P=0.039, respectively). The value of instruments in the routine group (177 574.00±14 438.00 yuan) was apparently higher than that of the optimized instruments group(132 027.00±10 311.00 yuan), with a statistical difference (P=0.032). Conclusion It is demonstrated that optimized management of surgical instruments package in VATS lobectomy can greatly improve the utilization rate of instruments and work efficiency, with no effects on the operation time and amount of bleeding in lobectomy.