Biomedical Review Letter, Volume 2

Currently there are over 300,000 TKA procedures a year in the United States. Figure 1 shows an implanted knee. Patients’ satisfaction has been reported to be around 80%. There is a move to Minimally Invasive Surgery techniques for most procedures done today, including knee replacement. This review covers Minimally Invasive Total Knee Arthroplasty procedures.

The biomechanical and bioelectrical properties of bone can be used in a clinical setting to aid bone healing. While most bone fractures heal on their own, some instances require more treatment than simply fixation. This article reveiws the use of stimulation of bone for fracture healing.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 237,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2006. Fortunately, with the advent of screening, prostate cancer is typically detected at a very early, curable stage. Different treatment options include surgery, radiation, freezing, hormonal therapy and observation. Surgery is an excellent treatment option for patients with presumed early stage disease and has traditionally been performed through a 6 to 8 inch midline incision in the lower abdomen. Following open radical prostatectomy, patients stay in the hospital 1 to 4 days, have a foley catheter in for 2-3 weeks, and return to work in 6-8 weeks.

Cancer vaccines are considered active immunotherapy, since they aim to boost a person’s own immune response. The goal is to produce antibodies and T cells capable of killing tumor cells. Vaccines can be used in prophylactic or therapeutic settings.