Irrigation system equipped on a high-speed air drill--technical note

Usefulness of a high-speed surgical air drill in pubectomy during delayed anastomotic urethroplasty for pelvic fracture urethral injury

OBJECTIVES

Pubectomy is an ancillary technique used to increase exposure of the disrupted urethra and reduce anastomotic tension, which can be difficult for inexperienced surgeons. The objective of the present study was to illustrate the use of an air drill enabling delicate and precise bone resection in pubectomy for delayed anastomotic urethroplasty for pelvic fracture urethral injury.

METHODS

Between 2009 and 2019, 88 male patients underwent delayed anastomotic urethroplasty with pubectomy for pelvic fracture urethral injury. A total of 73 procedures used a high-speed surgical air drill (HiLAN HS; Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) equipped with a short-hand piece. Operative time and blood loss in the air drill patient group (group 1) were compared with that of patients who underwent pubectomy using a rongeur and/or gouge (group 2, n = 15).

RESULTS

In 65 group 1 patients, urethroplasty was carried out using the perineal approach, with partial inferior pubectomy. Eight group 1 patients, whose proximal urethral end was displaced upward superior to the upper edge of pubis, underwent urethroplasty using the perineal and abdominal approach, with a superior partial pubectomy and supracrural urethral rerouting. No difficulty was encountered using the air drill in any of the cases. There was no significant difference in median operative time between the groups (group 1 256 min vs group 2 228 min; P = 0.31). The median blood loss in group 1 was significantly lower than group 2 (149 mL vs 453 mL; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical air drills might facilitate pubectomy in patients undergoing delayed anastomotic urethroplasty for pelvic fracture urethral injury. This tool offers the advantage of a delicate bone resection with reduced blood loss.

Anterior clinoidectomy and opening of the internal auditory canal using an ultrasonic bone curette

OBJECTIVE

During cranial base surgery, use of a high-speed drill for osteotomy has become common. We performed anterior clinoidectomy and opening of the internal auditory canal using an ultrasonic bone curette, and we report the advantages and clinical applications of this method.

DESCRIPTION OF INSTRUMENTATION

The ultrasonic surgical equipment comprises a power supply unit, footswitch, and handpiece (weight, 110 g; diameter, 20 mm; length, 140 mm from tip to angled section). The handpiece tip is 2 mm wide, and the amplitude of longitudinal vibration can be varied from 120 to 365 microm at an ultrasonic frequency of 25 kHz. Cool-controlled irrigation fluid emerges near the tip, through the sheath.

EXPERIENCE AND RESULTS

We performed anterior clinoidectomy in eight cases of paraclinoid aneurysm and opening of the internal auditory canal in six cases of acoustic neuroma without damage to the dura mater or nearby structures such as brain tissue, blood vessels, and cranial nerves. In addition, no damage to the facial nerve or labyrinthine organ resulted from heat or vibration caused by the ultrasonic bone curette.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasonic bone curettage represents safe instrumentation for performance of anterior clinoidectomy and opening of the internal auditory canal without damage to surrounding structures. This technique allows surgeons to perform procedures on deep areas without incurring psychomotor stress.