Flexible conductive fibers have been widely applied in wearable flexible sensing. However, exposed wearable flexible sensors based on liquid metal (LM) are prone to abrasion and significant conductivity degradation. This study presented a high-sensitivity LM conductive fiber with integration of strain sensing, electrical heating, and thermochromic capabilities, which was fabricated by coating eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) onto spandex fibers modified with waterborne polyurethane (WPU), followed by thermal curing to form a protective polyurethane sheath. This fiber, designated as Spandex/WPU/EGaIn/Polyurethane (SWEP), exhibits a four-layer coaxial structure: spandex core, WPU modification layer, LM conductive layer, and polyurethane protective sheath. The SWEP fiber had a diameter of (458.3 ± 10.4) μm, linear density of (2.37 ± 0.15) g/m, and uniform EGaIn coating. The fiber had excellent conductivity with an average value of (3 716.9 ± 594.2) S/m. The strain sensing performance was particularly noteworthy. A 5 cm × 5 cm woven fabric was fabricated using polyester warp yarns and SWEP weft yarns. The fabric exhibited satisfactory moisture permeability [(536.06 ± 33.15) g/(m2·h)] and maintained stable thermochromic performance after repeated heating cycles. This advanced conductive fiber development is expected to significantly promote LM applications in wearable electronics and smart textile systems.
Objective To compare the effectiveness between improved anterolateral approach and lateral approach in the treatment of senile intertrochanteric fracture. Methods The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed, from 61 patients with senile intertrochanteric fracture treated between February 2008 and February 2010. Of 61 patients, 34 patients underwent improved anterolateral approach combined with fixation of dynamic hip screw (improved group), and 27 patients underwent conventional lateral approach combined with fixation of dynamic hip screw (conventional group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury cause, Evans classification, comorbidities, disease duration, or Harris hip scores between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results The operation was successfully completed in all patients. The operation time, blood loss, perspective frequency during operation, drainage volume, hospitalization days, and out-of-bed time in the improved group were significantly less than those in the conventional group (P lt; 0.05). All patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 18.7 months). Bone union was achieved in both groups; the fracture healing time was (11.64 ± 1.28) weeks in the improved group and was (12.29 ± 1.12) weeks in the conventional group, showing no significant difference (t=2.15, P=0.15). Harris hip scores at 3, 6, and 12 months were significantly better than preoperative scores in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05), and significant differences were found among different time points after operation in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05), between 2 groups after operation (P lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of incision infection, limb shortening, coax vara, internal fixation loosening, main screw cutting-out from femoral head between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05), but the incidence of total complications in the improved group was significantly lower than that in the conventional group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Compared with conventional lateral approach, improved anterolateral approach has the advantages of sufficient exposure, reducing muscle damage and surgical risk in treating intertrochanteric fracture. Operating treatment of improved anterolateral approach combined with early rehabilitation after surgery can recover hip joint function as quickly as possible.
Objective To explore the impact of different lamina formation ranges on the biomechanical stability of L5, S1 in spine surgery with unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE), providing a theoretical basis for optimizing clinical surgical plans. Methods A complete lumbar finite element model (M0) was constructed based on CT data of L3-S1 from a healthy male volunteer. Four different UBE surgical models with varying lamina formation ranges (M1-M4) were simulated. M1 model involved initial laminectomy with essentially intact facets; M2 model involved minor facet resection (5-10 mm from the inferior facet joint surface); M3 model involved greater facet resection with partial laminectomy depth >10 mm; M4 model involved complete facet resection to simulate extreme decompression. Finite element analysis was performed to assess the range of motion (ROM), maximum displacement, and maximum von Mises stress of the vertebrae under different physiological activities (flexion, extension, left/right bending, and left/right rotation), as well as the maximum displacement and maximum von Mises stress of the intervertebral disc, and the maximum von Mises stress of right facet joints under left rotation and right bending. Results With increasing forming range, the ROM of the vertebrae in flexion showed a slight increase (0.32° higher in M4 model than in M0 model), and the maximum displacement generally increased in all motion states. For the intervertebral disc, the maximum von Mises stress and displacement increased mildly in flexion and left rotation, which were approximately 17% and 12% higher in M3 and M4 models than in M0 model, respectively. And the biomechanical parameters changed little among different models under extension, right rotation, and left bending. The von Mises stress of the right facet joint increased stepwise with forming range during left rotation (about 57% higher in M3 model than in M0 model) and was higher in all surgical models than in M0 model during right bending. ConclusionExpanding the lamina formation range in UBE spine surgery can lead to reduced stability in flexion and left rotation activities at L5, S1, increasing the mechanical load on the intervertebral disc and facet joints. Clinically, under the premise of achieving adequate decompression, prioritizing a forming range corresponding to the lower transverse width partition (25%-50%) may better balance decompression efficacy with biomechanical stability of the L5, S1 segment, thereby reducing the potential risk of long-term degeneration caused by excessive bony resection.