Modification of osteoarthritis in the guinea pig with pulsed low-intensity ultrasound treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The Hartley guinea pig develops articular cartilage degeneration similar to that seen in idiopathic human osteoarthritis (OA). We investigated whether the application of pulsed low-intensity ultrasound (PLIUS) to the Hartley guinea pig joint would prevent or attenuate the progression of this degenerative process. METHODS: Treatment of male Hartley guinea pigs was initiated at the onset of degeneration (8 weeks of age) to assess the ability of PLIUS to prevent OA, or at a later age (12 months) to assess the degree to which PLIUS acted to attenuate the progression of established disease. PLIUS (30 mW/cm(2)) was applied to stifle joints for 20 min/day over periods ranging from 3 to 10 months, with contralateral limbs serving as controls. Joint cartilage histology was graded according to a modified Mankin scale to evaluate treatment effect. Immunohistochemical staining for interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-13, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 was performed on the cartilage to evaluate patterns of expression of these proteins. RESULTS: PLIUS did not fully prevent cartilage degeneration in the prevention groups, but diminished the severity of the disease, with the treated joints showing markedly decreased surface irregularities and a much smaller degree of loss of matrix staining as compared to controls. PLIUS also attenuated disease progression in the groups with established disease, although to a somewhat lesser extent as compared to the prevention groups. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated a markedly decreased degree of TGF-beta1 production in the PLIUS-treated joints. This indicates less active endogenous repair, consistent with the marked reduction in cartilage degradation. CONCLUSIONS: PLIUS exhibits the ability to attenuate the progression of cartilage degeneration in an animal model of idiopathic human OA. The effect was greater in the treatment of early, rather than established, degeneration.

Effects of knee injection on skeletal muscle metabolism and contractile force in rats.

OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that intrusion of the knee joint capsule alters quadriceps muscle metabolism and function independently from the damage induced to knee cartilage. METHODS: Adult rats were separated into four groups: intraarticular injections of saline (SAL; n=9); intraarticular injections of papain, a model for osteoarthritis (PIA; n=7); sham injections (SHAM; n=8); and controls (CTL; n=5). 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) was performed after 2 weeks. Spectra were obtained from the left quadriceps: two at baseline, eight during electrical stimulation with simultaneous measurement of contractile force, and 15 during recovery. 31P-MRS data were presented as the ratio of inorganic phosphate (Pi) to phosphocreatine (PCr), concentrations of PCr [PCr], intramuscular pH, and the rates and time constants of PCr breakdown during stimulation and PCr recovery. Intramuscular cytokine concentrations were measured within the quadriceps. Histologic slides of the knees were scored for severity of cartilage damage. RESULTS: The interventional groups produced values of Pi/PCr ratio, [PCr], contractile force and pH that were significantly different from CTL. These changes in muscle function were accompanied by higher concentrations of interleukin-1 observed with PIA and SAL. We did not observe any effect of cartilage damage on muscle function or metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Knee joint intrusion alters quadriceps muscle metabolism with accelerated depletion of energy stores and fatigue during stimulation. This study demonstrates that needle intrusion into the knee joint results in muscle dysfunction, independently from the extent of cartilage damage.

Arthroscopic fixation of intercondylar eminence fractures using a 4-portal technique.

PURPOSE: We report an easy-to-use 4-portal technique for arthroscopic treatment of intercondylar eminence fractures and compare results of 2 groups of cases, adolescents and adults, and 2 types of internal fixation, sutures and screws. TYPE OF STUDY: Surgical technique and retrospective study. METHODS: The study was carried on 2 groups of patients, adolescents and adults, with intercondylar eminence fractures who were treated arthroscopically. For internal fixation, sutures were used in 8 adolescents and screws were used in 13 adults. In the technique we describe, anteromedial superior and inferior, and anterolateral superior and inferior portals were used. RESULTS: The average follow-up period for the adolescents was 27.3 months (range, 11 to 57 months), and for the adults was 19.6 months (range, 7 to 71 months). We did not encounter any cases of nonunion. There were only 3 complications, 1 of arthrofibrosis resulting from a delay of rehabilitation due to a vascular compromise and 2 cases of tenderness over the screw that responded well to its removal. Union occurred earlier in adolescents, but rehabilitation was easier in adults. CONCLUSIONS: Beside satisfactory results obtained by arthroscopic treatment of intercondylar eminence fractures, arthroscopy also provides the possibility to determine and treat associated pathologies. With the experience we gained, the procedure with the 4-portal technique in treating these fractures became much easier as a routine approach.

Arthroscopic resection of bucket-handle tears with the help of a suture punch: a simple technique to shorten operating time.

We describe a surgical technique that has been used successfully for excising bucket-handle tears. The technique is routinely used in our department and has been found to shorten operating time. A suture punch is used to pass the suture through the bucket-handle tear. Manually maneuvering the free suture ends, it is always possible to cut the posterior or anterior attachment of the tear under direct visualization without the need for an additional portal and without the risk of losing the excised fragment in the joint. In our experience, the technique is simple, inexpensive, and reliable, but more importantly, it has shortened operating time significantly.

Anterior instrumentation for the treatment of spinal tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Kyphosis and neurological impairment are the major residual problems of spinal tuberculosis after the microorganism has been eradicated with use of appropriate medications. Spinal instrumentation is needed to support anterior strut grafts in patients who have kyphosis that affects more than two levels. Most surgeons use posterior instrumentation. Anterior instrumentation, despite its advantages, has not been widely accepted, partly because of concerns about introducing foreign material into infected tissue. The purpose of the current study was to address those concerns. METHODS: Twenty-two patients who had tuberculosis of the spine with moderate-to-severe localized kyphosis and sixteen patients who had more than two involved levels had stabilization with anterior instrumentation. Antituberculous medication was used postoperatively according to a standardized regimen. The patients were followed to determine if there was any recurrence of the disease and if the correction had been maintained. RESULTS: The twenty-two patients who had involvement of one or two levels had an average correction of the deformity of 64 percent (range, 58 to 90 percent), and the sixteen patients who had more than two levels of involvement had an average correction of 81 percent (range, 75 to 97 percent). The correction was maintained in twenty-one patients, the maximum loss was 3 degrees in sixteen, and one patient died on the second postoperative day. There was no recurrence of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that anterior instrumentation is more effective than posterior instrumentation for reducing the deformity and stabilizing the vertebral column in patients who have kyphosis related to tuberculosis of the spine.

A new approach to scoliosis.

Despite the advantages that new derotation-based systems have brought to the treatment of scoliosis, the debate continues, especially regarding adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Problems like decompensation, junctional kyphosis, and insufficient sagittal plane alignment are met with new proposals. We now are using a technique and system, the Ibn-I Sina Spinal System (IBS), that we think is able to overcome these problems. It makes use of sublaminar wires, hooks, screws, and rods for correction. The main innovation is that the major corrective force is a controlled translation force acting simultaneously on all segments of the curve. A retrospective assessment of 25 patients treated with this system showed that besides dealing well with decompensation and junctional kyphosis problems, the technique was superior in sagittal plane adjustments, mainly in that it carried the normal kyphosis to its physiologic location. IBS has proved easy and successful in scoliosis treatment, especially with lordotic rigid curves. We encountered no neurologic injury or instrument failure. In addition to these advantages, ease of preoperative planning and application, decreased operation time, easy removal or revision, and versatility and safety of the system has made the Ibn-I Sina Spinal System (IBS) a treatment of choice, especially for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis cases, in some centers in Turkey.

Surgical treatment of malignant tumours of the sacrum.

AIMS: We assessed the results of surgical treatment of malignant sacral tumours and aimed to supply information on incidence and distribution of these lesions. METHODS: Forty-six malignant cases out of 65 tumours of the sacrum were assessed retrospectively. Three of the patients did not accept treatment. Surgical treatment was applied to 23 (65.2%) of the remaining 43 patients. Surgical techniques used were resection and PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) application through a posterior approach, sacral reconstruction, and resection through a combined posterior and anterior approach. RESULTS: Twelve of the lesions were primary while 34 were secondary. Among the primary sacrum tumours, the most common was chordoma (six cases, forming 9.2% of all the sacral lesions). Of a secondary sacral lesions, nine cases of breast carcinoma were found, forming the most common group. The recurrence rate was 23.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Chordoma was the most common primary sacral tumour, but found no incidence of giant cell tumour which has been previously reported as the second most common primary sacral tumour. We believe the posterior approach for resection of the tumour is sufficient in most instances and lumbopelvic instability must be prevented by reconstructive procedures.

Unilateral radioscaphoid synostosis with bilateral hypoplastic thumbs.

A fusion of the right radius and the scaphoid with ipsilateral hypoplasia of the thumb and hypoplasia of the left scaphoid and thumb is described in a 24-year-old man.

[Hospital structure and control measures]. / Krankenhausstruktur und Steuerungsmassnahmen.

A new legislation concerning financial matters of hospitals in Germany requires fundamental changes and adjustment. Formerly grown structures of a high-grade centralization erode into a process of change. Despite hospitals will maintain their non-profit character in public health services, modifications of medical care processes will promote elements of cost-centres. All medical care units as well as hospital management are confronted with rising requirements concerning performance and transparency. Increasingly patients and social health insurances behave like self-confident customers not willing to accept rising costs. Public health services loose their character of a planned economy. Hospitals with features of health-entrepreneurship are on the incline. A process of quality-planning and efficient management has been evoqued.