Fragility spinal fractures among cirrhotic liver transplant candidates in Croatia.

INTRODUCTION: Existing data on fragility spinal fractures prevalence in liver transplant candidates are scarce and inconsistent. This may be due to other comorbidities, besides hepatic osteodystrophy (HO), that contribute to bone loss and fragility fracture prevalence in chronic liver disease (CLD). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of spinal thoracic and lumbar fragility fractures among cirrhotic, non-chronic kidney disease (CKD), non-diabetic liver transplant candidates and to explore their relationship with clinical characteristics, laboratory markers and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Merkur University Hospital, Croatia, between February 2019 and May 2023. Adult patients with liver cirrhosis referred for liver transplantation were included. Patients with acute infection, CKD, diabetes mellitus, malignancies, inflammatory bone diseases and those on corticosteroid or antiresorptive therapy were excluded. Clinical, laboratory and radiological assessment was carried out and patients were accordingly allocated into non-fractured and fractured group for the purpose of statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients were included in the study. There was 123 fractures, 87 (70.7 %) in the thoracic and 36 (29.3 %) in the lumbar region. Eighty-nine (72.4 %) fractures were grade 1, 31 (25.2 %) were grade 2 and 3 (2.4 %) were grade 3. Patients in the fractured group were significantly older (p < 0.001). No significant differences between fractured and non-fractured group according to laboratory and DXA parameters were noted. Subgroup with lumbar fractures had significantly lower bone mineral density values at L1-L4 region. Statistically significant negative correlation between bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and hip total BMD (rho = -0.414, p < 0.001) and spine total BMD (rho = -0.258, p = 0.014) values was found. CONCLUSION: Present study confirmed detrimental impact of CLD and HO on bone strength. DXA measurement correlated with the presence of lumbar fragility fractures. A combination of standard X-ray imaging and DXA is needed for adequate bone evaluation in pretransplant period and BALP could be useful for detecting HO in CLD. Searching for other risk factors and implementing bone turnover markers and additional imaging techniques for bone loss evaluation in liver transplant candidates is needed.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 and its role in bone diseases.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) has been casually linked to numerous hypophosphatemic bone diseases, however connection with bone loss or fragility fractures is still a matter of debate. The purpose of this review is to explore and summarise the known actions of FGF23 in various pathological bone conditions. Besides implication in bone mineralisation, elevated FGF23 showed a pathological effecton bone remodelling, primarily by inhibiting osteoblast function. Unlike the weak association with bone mineral density, high values of FGF23 have been connected with fragility fracture prevalence. This review shows that its effects on bone are concomitantly present on multiple levels, affecting both qualitative and quantitative part of bone strength, eventually leading to impaired bone strength and increased tendency of fractures. Recognising FGF23 as a risk factor for the development of bone diseases and correcting its levels could lead to the reduction of morbidity and mortality in specific groups of patients.

Lateral Inverted Osteochondral Fracture of the Talus: Case Reports and Review of the Literature.

Lateral inverted osteochondral fracture of the talus (LIFT) is a rare variant of stage IV osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT), where the fragment is inverted in situ by 180°. The management of LIFT lesion is very challenging and early recognition crucial, given that treatment options depend on the articular cartilage condition and sufficiency of the adjacent bone of the displaced fragment. We describe two LIFT cases referred from other institutions after unsuccessful conservative treatment of OLT. They presented with pain, swelling and tenderness over the anterolateral aspect of the right ankle. We recognized the LIFT lesion on the magnetic resonance imaging scans in patient 2, while in patient 1 the orientation of the fragment was recognized upon direct visualization during operative treatment. Both patients underwent arthroscopic procedure. Due to articular cartilage damage and insufficiency of the adjacent bone of the fragment, both patients were treated with excision fol-lowed by microfracture. Treatment of the LIFT lesion should start arthroscopically to allow clear evaluation of the osteochondral fragment, assessment of the talar defect and identification, as well as treatment of associated disorders. If the articular cartilage appears intact with sufficient subchondral bone, fixation of the fragment is optimal management, otherwise excision and microfracture can be the treatment of choice.

Clinical and MRI Outcomes After Surgical Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus in Skeletally Immature Children.

BACKGROUND: The literature on the osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) in skeletally immature children is scarce and little is known about the clinical outcomes and the radiologic appearance of these lesions after surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to assess mid-term clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes after arthroscopic microfracture (AM) of OLT in skeletally immature children. METHODS: Thirteen patients with OLT treated by AM before skeletal maturity were included in the study. The Berndt and Harty outcome question, the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation question, and the Martin questionnaire were used to obtain patients' subjective satisfaction with their operated ankle. Functional outcomes preoperatively and postoperatively were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. MRI scans were performed postoperatively using a magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) scoring system for 11 ankles. RESULTS: The median age was 15 years (range, 13 to 16 y) and the median follow-up period was 5.6 years (range, 3.8 to 13.6 y). According to the Berndt and Harty outcome question, good clinical results were reported in 10 (76.9%) and fair in 3 (23.1%) patients. The postoperative AOFAS score was significantly improved when compared with the preoperative AOFAS score, with a mean increase of 35 points (P<0.001). The overall MOCART score was 65 (range, 10 to 75). MRI variables of the MOCART scoring system showed no association with clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: AM seems to be an effective surgical method for the treatment of OLT in skeletally immature children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-therapeutic studies, case series.

Removal of Osteoid Osteoma of the Calcaneus Using Subtalar Arthroscopy.

Intra-articular calcaneal osteoid osteoma is a very rare condition and the diagnosis as well as the treatment is extremely challenging. We report a case of a 19-year-old male with intra-articular osteoid osteoma of the calcaneus, initially treated for peroneal tenosynovitis with unsatisfactory results. Thorough diagnostic procedure revealed the superolateral location of a calcaneal osteoid osteoma, near the sinus tarsi. A cherry-red elevated lesion typical of an osteoid osteoma nidus was completely removed arthroscopically using the anterolateral portal and the middle portal for subtalar arthroscopy. Histopathology confirmed the suspected diagnosis. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful with immediate pain relief and full weightbearing and movement allowed soon. The patient had no recurrent pain and normal joint mobility 8 months postoperatively. Considering the accessibility of the lesion, intra-articular osteoid osteoma of the calcaneus can be successfully treated arthroscopically using lateral approach for subtalar arthroscopy. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level IV: Retrospective, Case report.

[Underestimated frequency of resistant hypertension in predialysis nondiabetic patients]. / Ucestalost rezistentne hipertenzije u hipertenzivnih nedijabetickih kronicnih bubreznih bolesnika (I.-IV. stadij) je podcijenjena.

The real prevalence of resistant hypertension (RH) is unknown. Studies suggest that it affects 10%-15% of patients treated for hypertension by primary care physicians. RH is defined as blood pressure (BP) remaining above the goal despite the use of optimal doses of 3 or more medicines of different classes (including a diuretic). It means BP >140/90 mm Hg for the general population and >130/80 mm Hg for patients with diabetes or kidney disease. Prior to diagnosing a patient as having RH, it is important to document medication compliance and exclude white-coat hypertension, inaccurate BP measurement, and secondary causes. The role of aldosterone in RH has gained increasing recognition. There is strong evidence for the use of spironolactone as a highly effective antihypertensive agent. Aldosterone plays a significant role in RH pathogenesis, primarily due to its vasoconstrictive effects and the possibility of altering vascular compliance. In RH, there is a high prevalence of cardiac and extra-cardiac target organ damage. It is known that BP control in chronic kidney disease is the key factor for reducing cardiovascular risk and renal disease progression. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of RH in predialysis nondiabetic (CKD stage I-IV) patients.