Objective: This study was performed to observe the effect of internal Balser plate fixation for treating unstable sternoclavicular joints (SCJ) and displaced medial clavicle fractures. Methods: From April 2009 to September 2016, 17 consecutive patients who underwent open reduction and internal Balser plate fixation for SCJ dislocations or medial clavicle fractures were retrospectively reviewed. There were 11 male and six female patients, with a mean age of 45.6 ± 15.5 years. Standardized treatment procedures consisted of reduction, creating a space posterior dorsal osteal face of the sternal manubrium, an inverted Balser plating, and postoperative immobilization. At follow-up, plain radiographs were assessed for fracture union, implant loosening, degenerative changes, and joint congruity. Clinical evaluation included: completion of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire; determination of the Constant and Murley score and visual analog scale (VAS) score; and assessment of intraoperative and postoperative complications. Results: All patients were followed up, at a mean follow-up of 20.1 ± 7.9 months, each fracture had a solid union, and each dislocation showed no sign of recurrent dislocation. The mean shoulder forward flexion was 162.9 ± 8.1. The mean DASH score was 5.2 ± 5.2 points. The mean Constant and Murley joint function score was 93.7 ± 7.9 points, with 15 excellent cases and two good cases. The mean VAS score was 1.1 ± 1.4 points, showing significant improvement compared with the VAS score preoperatively. Postoperative complications included one wound hematoma which was healed after a debridement and one recurrent instability due to hook migration, which underwent revision reconstruction. All patients were satisfied with their treatment outcome at the final follow-up. Conclusion: Sternoclavicular joints dislocation or medial clavicle fractures can be treated successfully with Balser plate fixation. This technique permits early functional exercise while preserving the SCJ.
This paper presents
a joint experimental and numerical study on
premixed laminar ammonia/methane/air flames, aiming to characterize
the flame structures and NO formation and determine the laminar flame
speed under different pressure, equivalence ratio, and ammonia fraction
in the fuel. The experiments were carried out in a lab-scale pressurized
vessel with a Bunsen burner installed with a concentric co-flow of
air. Measurements of NH and NO distributions in the flames were made
using planar laser-induced fluorescence. A novel method was presented
for determination of the laminar flame speed from Bunsen-burner flame
measurements, which takes into account the non-uniform flow in the
unburned mixture and local flame stretch. NH profiles were chosen
as flame front markers. Direct numerical simulation of the flames
and one-dimensional chemical kinetic modeling were performed to enhance
the understanding of flame structures and evaluate three chemical
kinetic mechanisms recently reported in the literature. The stoichiometric
and fuel-rich flames exhibit a dual-flame structure, with an inner
premixed flame and an outer diffusion flame. The two flames interact,
which affects the NO emissions. The impact of the diffusion flame
on the laminar flame speed of the inner premixed flame is however
minor. At elevated pressures or higher ammonia/methane ratios, the
emission of NO is suppressed as a result of the reduced radical mass
fraction and promoted NO reduction reactions. It is found that the
laminar flame speed measured in the present experiments can be captured
by
the investigated mechanisms, but quantitative predictions of the NO
distribution require further model development.
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