Cervical tuberculosis treated with closed system abscess evacuation, and percutaneous laser disc decompression combined with secretome derived from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Minimal invasive surgery is preferred as it offers the same benefit with less tissue damage, especially in the cervical area where a lot of critical structure resides. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and its secretome provide a promising regenerative intervention to damaged tissue. We report a cervical spinal tuberculosis case with hemiparesis treated with minimally invasive surgery combined with a regenerative approach. CASE PRESENTATION: A 13-year-old boy presented with weakness in his left arm and left leg, accompanied by hemiparesthesia. The patient was unable to get up from bed, run, and jumpRadiology examination showed compression fracture, intervertebral disc retropulsion, spinal cord compression, and paravertebral cold abscess. The patient was treated with a single minimal invasive surgery consisting of closed system abscess evacuation, and percutaneous laser disc decompression combined with umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The pain, weakness, and numbness were gone two days after surgery. The patient could carry out normal activities, even doing sports such as mini soccer and badminton. This clinical improvement was obtained as he carried out some procedures. The cold abscess aspiration removed infection focus which prevents further vertebra destruction, PLDD which decompresses the retropulsed discs, and implantation of MSCs and secretomes which regenerate and strengthen the destructed bone and surrounding tissue. CONCLUSION: Closed system abscess evacuation, and percutaneous laser disc degeneration combined with secretome derived from UC-MSC are minimally-invasive strategies with promising results. Further studies are required to investigate its efficacy.

Synovial lipomatosis of the ankle joint: A rare case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Synovial lipomatosis is a rare disease that often results in joint discomfort, swelling, and effusion. Only a few reported cases have been documented so far. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported a 50-year-old woman with synovial lipomatosis of the ankle joint. The patient presented with left ankle pain since the least two years, accompanied by swelling and redness. Physical examination demonstrated swollen ankle with warmth palpation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated hyperintensity of the ankle joint on the posterior and anterolateral side, thickening of the synovium, and bone marrow edema around the talar bone, surrounding the sinus tarsi. Histopathological examination demonstrated fatty tissues with nonspecific inflammation, suggesting synovial lipomatosis. We performed synovectomy, and the pain did not recur at 1 year of follow-up. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Synovial lipomatosis is a highly uncommon benign condition. Histopathologically, synovial lipomatosis is characterized by notable adipocyte infiltration into the subsynovial tissue and a villous or frond-like morphology of the synovium. It also features transversely hyperplastic synovial lining cells. CONCLUSION: Synovial lipomatosis of the ankle joint is a rare entity. Further studies are required to investigate this disease and its management.

Isolated posterior cruciate ligament tears in monozygotic twins: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears are not as frequent as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. They are rare as an isolated injury and more commonly occur in a multi-ligament-injured knee. We reported a case of rupture of PCL in monozygotic twins. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old female presented with giving away of her left knee since 4 months ago. She fell from stairs previously. Physical examination demonstrated positive posterior drawer test. Magnetic resonance imaging showed ruptured PCL and lateral meniscal tear. Two months later, her identical twin, also a 19-year old-female, fell from the stairs and complained of giving away. Physical examination showed positive posterior drawer test. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated ruptured PCL and lateral meniscal tear. Both patients underwent arthroscopic-assisted PCL reconstruction using gracilis, semitendinosus, and peroneus tendon graft. At one year of follow-up, there were no graft failures. The twins had satisfactory outcome measured by Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and visual analogue scale (VAS). Both were athletes prior to their injury and they returned to sport. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Although it has never been reported before, this report shows that patients may have genetic predisposition to the incidence of PCL rupture. This is likely because of heritable factors, such as biomechanical, anatomic, anthropometric, and neuromuscular traits. A family history of PCL tear may increase the risk of a PCL tear. Further studies are recommended to examine genetic variants as a risk factor for PCL tears and other knee disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple variables may lead to the increased risk of these twins: the combination of improper neuromuscular control, genetic factors, and possibly hormonal factors contributed to their PCL injuries. Further history exploration, lab tests, and genetic analysis should be done to determine the variables. Both patients returned to sports protocol testing and returned to sports one year postoperatively.

Reconstruction of chronic quadriceps tendon rupture using autologous semitendinosus tendon graft: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic quadriceps tendon rupture is a relatively rare injury that can be challenging to treat. Several techniques have been described for chronic quadriceps tendon repair, including the use of autografts, allografts, and synthetic mesh. We reported a case of 17-year-old male with chronic quadriceps tendon rupture treated using autologous semitendinosus tendon graft. CASE PRESENTATION: A 17-year-old male presented with left knee pain since 8 months ago after he fell into a ditch. Physical examination demonstrated palpable gap on suprapatellar region. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated quadriceps discontinuity and hyperintensity surrounding the insertion of the quadriceps tendon. The patient underwent quadriceps tendon reconstruction using ipsilateral autologous semitendinosus graft. After 3 weeks the patient was sent for physiotherapy to regain his left knee's range of motion. At final follow up at six months, the patient was able to walk with bipedal unassisted normal gait. Active knee extension and straight leg raising was possible. Final knee range of motion was 0° to 130°. DISCUSSION: In this case, we demonstrated a successfully treated chronic quadriceps tendon rupture using autologous semitendinosus tendon graft. For cases of chronic quadriceps tendon rupture with tissue loss, it is advisable to utilise an autologous graft for the purpose of repairing and restoring the structure and function of the quadriceps tendon. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of chronic quadriceps tendon rupture is challenging and lacks evidence-based guidelines. We propose the use of ipsilateral semitendinosus tendon autograft as choice for chronic quadriceps tendon rupture in this report, as it leads to favorable outcomes postoperatively.

Remarkable recovery of lower extremity motor impairment in degenerative disc disease after percutaneous laser disc decompression combined with umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells implantation: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common cause of low back pain, often leading to significant discomfort for patients. Current treatment options such as spinal fusion and physical therapy focus on symptom management rather than addressing the underlying degeneration. Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) has shown efficacy in treating radicular pain associated with disc herniation. However, there is a growing interest in utilizing tissue engineering approaches to reverse the pathological process of DDD. While results in larger vertebrates have been inconsistent, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated promise in small animal models. CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old male presented with low back pain as well as urinary and fecal incontinence. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed disc bulging and foraminal stenosis at the L2-L4 levels. The patient underwent PLDD combined with umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) injection, which later resulted in significant pain reduction and improved motor function. At six months of follow-up, the patient reported sustained pain relief and functional improvement. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Percutaneous decompression techniques not only substantially reduce intradiscal pressure and facilitate the implosion of herniation inward but also concurrently expedite the degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Therefore, in addition to performing PLDD, stem cell injection is also carried out. This report underscores the importance of integrating mechanical and biological interventions for degenerative disc diseases, suggesting PLDD combined with MSC therapy as a promising strategy for managing DDD and potentially reversing its progression. We found that the patient had decreased pain postoperatively; he no longer complained of pain after six months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: PLDD combined with UC-MSCs might be an alternative treatment for patients with DDD. In addition to mechanical treatment, biological treatment with MSC injections is believed to be a potent combination for treating degenerative diseases such as DDD.

Percutaneous laser disc decompression combined with secretome of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in a patient with spinal cord injury: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating medical condition that possesses the potential to exert a substantial influence on an individual's quality of life. Traditional treatments involve surgery, however a less invasive alternative is Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression (PLDD), which offers several advantages over conventional surgery, including reduced invasiveness, shorter hospitalization periods, and faster recovery rates. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old male presented with bilateral limb weakness and back pain. The patient underwent PLDD of L2-3 and L3-4, was followed by the administration of Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell (UC-MSC) secretomes at multiple sites. Postoperatively, the patient had significant reduction in discomfort (VAS score: 2), improved motor strength, and enhanced postural stability. Monthly assessments demonstrated continued pain reduction, bone rebuilding, and positive outcomes in bone mineral density (BMD) at the 3 and 6-month follow-ups. At one year of follow-up, the patient could walk without walking aid, and there was no complication. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: PLDD, conducted within 24 h, significantly alleviated the patient's discomfort. Subsequently, UC-MSC secretomes were administered to enhance the regenerative process. This intervention demonstrated safety advantages and, when combined with PLDD, led to increased bone mineral density (BMD) over three to six months, indicating ongoing spine regeneration. The secretome's anti-inflammatory properties further contributed to disc regeneration. CONCLUSION: We found that PLDD combined with UC-MSC secretomes may help in the regenerative process of SCI. The approach not only provides immediate relief but also contributes to long-term spinal quality improvement, presenting a promising option for those at higher surgical risks.

Association between spinopelvic alignment and the development of degenerative spondylolisthesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Spinopelvic parameter may result in the development of degenerative spondylolisthesis. However, previous studies show conflicting results; some found a significant relationship of some of these parameters with degenerative spondylolisthesis, while others did not. Previously, there was no meta-analysis regarding the association between spinopelvic alignment and degenerative spondylolisthesis. This meta-analysis aims to determine the association between spinopelvic alignment and degenerative spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are based on the selected item reporting method for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA). A literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. Methodological quality is based on the cross-sectional checklist of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) quality check methodology and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) for cohort studies. Statistical analysis was performed using Rev-Man 5.3. Subgroup analyses were performed based on ethnicity and study design to ascertain racial relations and heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of 3236 articles were obtained. Of these, we found that pelvic incidence (mean difference [MD] = 11.94 [1.81-22.08], P = 0.02), pelvic tilt (MD = 4.47 [0.81-8.14]), P = 0.02), and age (MD = 11.94 [1.81-22.08], P = 0.02) were associated with the development of degenerative spondylolisthesis. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis proves that pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, and age are associated with degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Surgical outcome of distal tibia Salter Harris II fracture in osteopetrosis patient.

INTRODUCTION: Osteopetrosis is a rare genetic disorder characterized by increased bone density. This condition is clinically manifested with a brittle intramedullary structure and reduced bone toughness, increasing the risk of fracture. A limited case has been reported on the management of physeal fracture in patients with osteopetrosis. The objective of this study is to report a rare osteopetrosis patient who sustains Salter-Harris II at the distal tibia with its long-term follow-up along with its literature review. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a case of a four-year-old boy with an established a diagnosis of osteopetrosis brought by the parents to the emergency department after sustaining a fall while playing in the playground. Radiological examination revealed a Salter-Harris type II distal tibial fracture. The patient underwent closed reduction and fixation using the cannulated screw. 18-month postoperative patients have an uneventful healing. DISCUSSION: Osteopetrosis is caused by impaired osteoclast function and differentiation, leading to impaired in remodelling. Salter-Harris type II distal tibial fracture can be treated by either closed reduction or open reduction. A closed reduction was performed successfully with cannulated screw in his patient. CONCLUSION: There is a delayed union of fracture in osteopetrosis patient. This will increase the risk of displacement which will eventually resulted in growth disturbance. Delayed weight bearing and stable fixation is highly recommended.

Absorbable vs Nonabsorbable Sutures for Achilles Tendon Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Nonabsorbable sutures are still the main choice for acute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) repair due to strength provided. However, the rerupture rates, infection risks, foreign body reaction, and postsurgical recovery differences between absorbable and nonabsorbable suture materials in AATR repair have not been carefully reviewed. Methods: A systematic review was done on PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase to find research studies in relation to complications associated with AATR repair using the PRISMA guidelines. The risk of bias from each study included will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized study (RoB 2) and Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) for nonrandomized study. Results: Five studies with a total of 255 patients, 105 in the absorbable suture group and 150 in the nonabsorbable suture group, were included for analysis. Risk of rerupture, infection, and foreign body reaction shown no significant difference between groups, and the mean difference of recovery scores were similar. Conclusion: Existing literature shows that absorbable sutures appear to be associated with similar outcomes to nonabsorbable sutures regarding rates of rerupture, infection, foreign body reaction, and outcomes grading following surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon repair.

Sartorius muscle pedicle iliac bone graft for treating neglected femoral neck fracture: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: Femoral neck fractures in patients less than 50 years account for less than 5 % of all hip fractures. Controversy remains regarding timing of surgery, operative technique, and optimal implant construct because of a lack of prospective clinical trials. The blood supply to the femoral head is tenuous and easily injured in the setting of displaced fractures. An alternative using sartorius muscle pedicle iliac bone graft has not been discussed widely. CASE PRESENTATION: Four patients with neglected femoral neck fracture were included in the series; all underwent cannulated screws fixation and osteomuscular pedicled graft using sartorius muscle. All patients achieved bone healing after 6-months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our series demonstrate that sartorius muscle pedicle graft may be a good choice for treating neglected femoral neck fractures. Further studies are required to investigate its outcome and complications.

Surgical techniques for medial clavicular tumors: A report of 3 cases.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Clavicular tumors are rare, consisting of <1 % of all skeletal tumors. In this series, we described our experience of treating medial clavicular tumors. CASE PRESENTATION: We treated three patients with medial clavicle tumors at a national tertiary referral hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. The patients were treated with wide excision following bony reconstruction from fibular bone and one patient was treated by marginal excision. Each patient was treated by surgery and one patient underwent reconstruction using non-vascularized fibular graft and composite using bone cement. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: All patients resulted in restoration of symmetry of the lower neck and upper chest and no post-surgical complication. Based on these cases above and the extension of tumor, we recommend medial clavicle tumor resection classification divided into three type to decide which type of surgical procedure that should be performed. In our report, all patients resulted in restoration of symmetry of the lower neck and upper chest and no post-surgical complication. CONCLUSION: Clavicle resection in management of medial third clavicle tumor is technically demanding. We proposed three types of clavicular resection based on tumor extension. The surgical technique of medial end clavicle in this patient resulted in tumor free margin of medial clavicular, medial scapula, and lateral scapular incision. Reconstruction surgery following clavicle resection can be done in order to restore symmetry of the lower neck and upper chest, protect nearby neurovascular bundle, and rarely associated with significant shoulder function loss.

A novel predictive model of perioperative blood transfusion requirement in tuberculous spondylitis patients undergoing posterior decompression and instrumentation.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model for determining perioperative blood transfusion in tuberculous spondylitis patients undergoing posterior decompression and instrumentation. BACKGROUND: Tuberculous spondylitis is a common infection found in the spine. This condition may result in the need of surgical treatment, especially when there is a delay in diagnosis with inadequate antituberculosis drug treatment. The procedure results in high amount of bleeding on many occasions, leading to the higher rate of intraoperative transfusion. We develop a predictive model that can be used to determine blood transfusion requirement in spinal tuberculosis surgery. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 83 tuberculous spondylitis patients who underwent posterior decompression and instrumentation. The clinical characteristics of the patients were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate regression test. The impact and strength of these variables was assessed to predict the probability of intraoperative red blood cell transfusion presence based on unstandardized beta, standard error, receiver operating characteristic, and confluence of sensitivity and specificity curve analyses. Furthermore, validation of this newly proposed predictive scoring system was performed using a set of 45 patients. RESULTS: The factors that significantly affect the need of blood transfusion during posterior spondylitis tuberculosis surgery were BMI (p = 0.005), pre-operative Hb (p < 0.001), number of affected segments (p = 0.042), and duration of surgery (p = 0.003). Our predictive model showed good sensitivity and specificity values based on a large area under the curve (0.913) and strong Pearson's r testing (correlation coefficient of 0.752). Validation set also resulted a large area under the curve (0.905) and strong correlation coefficient of 0.713. CONCLUSION: BMI, pre-operative Hb, number of affected segments, and duration of surgery became the significant factors which correlated to the presence of red blood cell transfusion in patients undergoing posterior spondylitis tuberculosis surgery. This predictive scoring system can be used to further adjust blood matching and inventory, determine intraoperative blood management, and ensure the safety of surgery in a comprehensive manner.

Intramedullary nailing as a treatment for non-unions of femoral shaft fractures after plating failure: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: The management of implant failure in femoral shaft fractures remains a challenging problem for orthopaedic surgeons. This series aim to evaluate the effectiveness of intramedullary (IM) nailing for treating femoral shaft nonunions after implant failure. CASE PRESENTATION: Three patients presented with pain after walking on crutch and limping with history of fixation using plate for femoral shaft fracture. Implant removal was then performed with subsequent refixation using intramedullary nailing with A2FN. The Lower Extremity Functional Score and Visual Analogue Score evaluation showed excellent result in these patients. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: IM nailing is the mainstay of treatment for patients with femoral shaft fractures. This intervention provides support to fractures and aid in union of fractures. Several advantages have been reported in IM nailing, including shorter length of stay, rapid union, and early functional capacity of the limb. Insertion of IM nailing may preserve anatomical structure in the patients, which leads to better improvement of functional capacity. Nailing also limits soft tissue damage. Thus, in patients presented with previous plate failure similar to our patients, IM nailing with reaming is recommended. CONCLUSION: Nonunion after femoral shaft plating are common. Nailing conversion is one of available treatment options to achieve maximum recover in this type of case.

The Effect of Injection of Secretome of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Articular Cartilage Repair in Sheep Model.

INTRODUCTION: Articular cartilage is an avascular, aneural, and lymphatic tissue with limited capacity to regenerate. Numerous techniques have been employed to repair or regenerate; however, the success rate varies. In fact, most of them result in the formation of fibrocartilage, not hyaline cartilage. The future of treating cartilage defects lies in providing biological solutions through cartilage regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a promising therapy for cartilage regeneration. These cells secrete factors that enhance cartilage repair. This study studied the effects of intra-articular injection of human umbilical cord MSC (hUC-MSC) secretome on cartilage damage in a sheep model. METHODS: Standardized rectangular (5x5 mm) full-thickness chondral defects were created in the lateral femoral condyle of 15 adult sheep and debrided down to the subchondral bone plate. Three treatment groups were tested: 4 microfracture perforations using 1.0mm diameter awls (group 1), intra-articular injection of hUC-MSC secretome (group 2), and a combination of microfracture and intra-articular injection of hUC-MSC secretome (group 3). The osteochondral repair was assessed at 6 months using an established macroscopic and histological analyses. RESULTS: Macroscopically, combined therapy application shows significant cartilage repair improvement compared to microfracture alone (p=0.004). Microscopically, the application of combined therapy shows significant improvement of cartilage repair compared to secretome injection alone (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: Microfracture combined with injection of hUCB-MSCs secretome could be an effective alternative for repairing articular cartilage defects in vivo.

A rare case of 9 years congenital muscular torticollis treated with complete unipolar sternocleidomastoid release: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT), when left untreated, may result in numerous complications such as eye movement disorder, craniofacial asymmetry, neck pain and compensatory asymmetrical spine curvature that worsens with age. We reported a 9-year-old boy with neglected CMT treated with complete unipolar sternocleidomastoid release. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 9-year-old boy presented with his head tilted to the left since he was born. Physical examination revealed tense and uptight sternocleidomastoid muscle. The patient then underwent complete unipolar stenocleidomastoid release. Postoperatively, the patient completed 3 months of aggressive physical therapy thrice a week followed by a home exercise regimen once the patient was discharged from therapy. At six months of follow-up, the active range of motion of his neck was markedly improved in all directions, and his cervical spine was noted to be straight. The CMA was also decreased from 14 to 0 degree. DISCUSSION: It is recommended that, in those with CMT, the surgery should be performed between 1 and 4 years of age. However, in our case, the patient was already 9 years old. Nevertheless, he had achieved regained full cervical range of motion, and significant improvement of CMA angle (from 14 to 0 degree postoperatively) after undergoing unipolar sternocleidomastoid release and three months of aggressive physical therapy. CONCLUSION: Surgical intervention followed by aggressive physical therapy for patients with neglected CMT, despite late presentation, may still carry a favourable outcome.

Acetabular reconstruction with total hip replacement and femoral head autograft following pelvic resection of malignant bone tumour: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic tumors greatly impact survival and quality of life of the patient. Reconstruction following resection of neoplasms involving the acetabulum remains one of the most challenging procedures for orthopaedic surgeons. We reported an 18-year-old female with Hodgkin's lymphoma of the left iliac wing. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 18-year-old female presented left hip pain since one year before admission. Pelvis X-ray demonstrated lytic lesion on the left iliac crest with moth-eaten pattern. However, the contrast-enhanced MRI showed the true extent of the tumour which engulfed the iliac crest and extended to the anterior border of the acetabulum. The acetabulum was reconstructed using femoral head autograft and total hip replacement. At six months of follow-up, CT scan of the pelvis demonstrated no tumour. No complications occurred during 14 months of follow-up. However, the patient died 28 months post surgery. DISCUSSION: In pelvic sarcomas, the utilization of this technique remains limited, as the complex anatomy and the bulk of tumour growth often limits the choice of what procedure can be conducted. Reconstruction techniques have also advanced, albeit difficult and laden with complications, especially when the lesion involves the acetabulum. CONCLUSIONS: The choice of implant for pelvic resection in the developing country remains challenging due to the high cost of implants. However, in cases of pelvic sarcomas, the utilization of this technique remains limited, as the complex anatomy and the bulk of tumour growth often limits the choice of what procedure can be conducted. Reconstruction techniques have also advanced, albeit difficult and laden with complications, especially when the lesion involves the acetabulum.

Oral L-arginine supplementation for fracture healing: a systematic review of preclinical studies.

Introduction: Approximately 5 to 10% of all patients with fractures experience deficient fracture healing that results in fracture nonunions. Previous studies have shown that nitric oxide production from arginine could improve fracture healing by improving local blood supply, supplementing growth factors, and improving collagen synthesis. Apart from its simple oral mode of administration, this amino acid provides a non-toxic and inexpensive option for fracture healing. To date, no systematic reviews regarding oral L-arginine supplementation for fracture healing are available. We present the first systematic review of oral L-arginine supplementation for fracture healing. Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out using PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect until February 1, 2021 using a combination of text words. No date limits were set. Studies investigating the use of oral L-arginine supplementation for fracture healing were included. Reference lists of relevant publications were assessed for additional references. In addition, bibliographies from other reviews were searched. Results: Four studies were included. Of these, 3 were animal studies, and the other one was an in vitro study. Animals that were given oral L-arginine supplementation had significantly increased angiogenesis, reduced defect area, higher osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and higher rate of bone formation compared to controls. Conclusions: The available preclinical studies suggest that oral L-arginine supplementation is a potential new therapy for fracture healing. This amino acid supplement is not only affordable and non-toxic; it is also simple. Further clinical studies are required to investigate the optimal dose of oral L-arginine supplementation for fracture healing in human subjects.

Emergency orthopaedic surgery in the pandemic era: A case series at Cipto Mangunkusumo national tertiary hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia.

INTRODUCTION: Every emergency surgery performed is aimed at saving lives; however, during COVID-19 pandemic, surgeries are often postponed. Many existing recommendations take into account postponing surgery during a pandemic. How these surgeries can lead to increasing infection rates has not been widely published. This study aims to investigate the relationship of emergency orthopaedic surgery and the incidence rate of COVID-19. PRESENTATION OF CASE: This was a case series of 14 patients. The study was performed at the emergency department unit at a national tertiary hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. A total of 14 patients underwent orthopaedic surgery in the emergency room of our institution. The mean age of the subjects was 40.07 ± 20.5 years. Twelve (85.7%) were male patients and 2 (14.3%) were female patients. The average duration of surgery was 125 minutes. The most used type of anaesthesia was general anaesthesia for 6 operations (50%). Patients were hospitalized for an average length of 4 days. Three patients had infiltrates found on plain x-ray examination, which required further examination to determine whether the cause was COVID-19 infection or not. There was no ground glass appearance (GGO) in the three patients in further follow-up examination. CONCLUSIONS: We found that emergency orthopaedic surgery was not associated with increasing number of COVID-19 cases. Factors including duration of surgery, length of stay, types of anaesthesia and comorbidities were also not associated with COVID-19 cases in this study.

An unusual case of extensive contiguous cervicothoracic spinal tuberculosis involving fourteen damaged segments: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Cervicothoracic spinal tuberculosis (CTSTB) is a rare and disabling disease involving the mobile, transitional zone between the lordotic cervical and the kyphotic thoracic spine. Approximately half of those cases involves one or two segments of cervicothoracic vertebrae. We reported a 28-year-old female with tuberculous involvement of fourteen contiguous vertebral segments. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 28-year-old female presented with tuberculous involvement of fourteen contiguous vertebral segments is presented. A series of radiographic and CT scan depicted multiple vertebral body destruction anteriorly, along with facet joint dislocation and mild retrolisthesis of C4-C5 segments. MR images of the cervical region was demonstrated pathologic contrast enhancement on C4 to T7 vertebrae, a total of fourteen contiguous segments. DISCUSSION: Of all spinal tuberculosis, CTSTB accounts for only 5%. In addition to its rarity as a site for tuberculosis, the cervicothoracic junction has anatomical and clinical peculiarities, as a reversal of the mobile-lordotic cervical vertebrae to rigid-kyphotic thoracic vertebrae occurs at this location. Most CTSTB involves only two segments; however, in this case, we found a very extensive case wherein there were fourteen damaged segments. CONCLUSIONS: Our report demonstrates one of the longest involvement of extensive contiguous CTSTB who was treated with one-stage posterior-only approach. However, as this is only a report of one case, further studies are required to investigate the safety and efficacy of such approach for treating extensive CTSTB.

Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells for treating osteoarthritis of the knee: a single-arm, open-label study.

BACKGROUND: Despite being a common cause of quality-of-life impairment, there are no efficacious therapies that could prevent the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). We conducted an open-label trial of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) and hyaluronic acid (HA) for treating KOA. METHODS: This open-label study was conducted from July 2015 to December 2018 at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. Patients diagnosed with KOA were injected three times, comprising of 10 × 106 units of hUC-MSCs in 2-ml secretome implantation and 2-ml hyaluronic acid (HA) injection in the first week, followed with 2-ml HA injection twice in the second and third week. RESULTS: Twenty-nine subjects (57 knees) were recruited. Seventeen (58.6%) subjects were male, and the mean age was 58.3 ± 9.6 years. Thirty-three (57.9%) knees were classified into Kellgren-Lawrence grade I-II KOA (mild OA). hUC-MSCs significantly decreased pain measured by visual analogue scale in severe KOA from initial to 6th month follow-up [5 ± 2.97 to 3.38 ± 2.44 (p = 0.035)]. The International Knee Documentation Committee score significantly increased at 6th month follow-up (53.26 ± 16.66 to 65.49 ± 13.01, p < 0.001, in subjects with grade I-II and 48.84 ± 18.41 to 61.83 ± 18.83, p = 0.008, in subjects with severe KOA). The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis decreased significantly in both groups from initial to 6th month follow-up (from 22.55 ± 15.94 to 13.23 ± 10.29, p = 0.003, and from 27.57 ± 15.99 to 17.92 ± 19.1, p = 0.003, in those with mild and severe KOA, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: hUC-MSCs could be a potentially new regenerative treatment for KOA. The maximum effect of hUC-MSCs was achieved after 6 months of injection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic level II.