PURPOSE To perform a systematic review of the described anterolateral ligament (ALL) reconstruction techniques, biomechanical performance, and clinical outcomes of ALL reconstruction in the setting of concurrent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochra...

Recto-neovaginal fistula is an abnormal communication formed between the rectum and newly formed vagina, following vaginoplasty for vaginal agenesis. It results in soiling of neovagina by fecal matter and inflicts great deal of physical, social and psychological handicap on the sufferer and is one of the most dehumanizing conditions that affect women. The aim of this study was to review our exp...

BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated that anal reconstruction with a gracilis graft pressing the dominant nerve could be used to treat fecal incontinence. However, the detailed mechanism by this remains unknown. Herein, we evaluated the alteration in muscle fiber types and contractility of the peroneus longus muscle in rats after pressing its dominant nerves. MATERIAL AND METHODS The rat sole...

BACKGROUND Harvested hamstring tendon length has received scant attention in published anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction literature, yet length can limit the ability to increase graft diameter by folding the tendon over more than once. Indeed, some ultrashort tendons may be too short to yield a clinically useful graft after being folded over just once. Ultimately, the total length...

BACKGROUND A patient's sex is likely to play an important role in facial paralysis reanimation, with women being superior in terms of development of brain plasticity after reanimation. The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of movement dissociation and spontaneity of men versus women reanimated with gracilis transfer neurotized to the masseteric nerve. METHODS We conducted a retros...

In the flagellated protozoon Euglena gracilis, characterized nuclear genes harbor atypical introns that usually are flanked by short repeats, adopt complex secondary structures in pre-mRNA, and do not obey the GT-AG rule of conventional cis-spliced introns. In the nuclear fibrillarin gene of E. gracilis, we have identified three spliceosomal-type introns that have GT-AG consensus borders. Furth...

Traumatic brachial plexus root avulsions are devastating injuries, and are complex and challenging to reconstruct. Double free muscle transfer using the gracilis muscles is a potentially effective method of restoring upper extremity function. The authors report on the first two patients treated using this technique in Canada. Both sustained traumatic brachial plexus root avulsion injuries resul...