Clinical and radiographic outcomes of medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy with Anthony-K plate: prospective minimum five year follow-up data.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes, and complication rates, after a minimum of five years of follow-up after medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) using an Anthony-K plate. METHODS: MOWHTO was performed on 35 knees of 34 consecutive patients. A visual analogue scale (VAS), and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) and Lysholm scores, were used in clinical evaluation. Upon radiographic assessment, alignment was expressed as the femorotibial angle (FTA). The posterior tibial slope (PTS) and the Insall-Salvati Index (ISI) were also measured. RESULTS: VAS, WOMAC, and Lysholm scores improved significantly upon follow-up (p < 0.001 for all). The overall mean FTA was 4.68 ± 4.39° varus pre-operatively; at the last post-operative follow-up, the value was 8.43 ± 2.02° valgus. The mean correction angle was 13.1 ± 2.7°. A significant increase in PTS was evident (p < 0.01), as was a significant decrease in the ISI (p < 0.01). The overall complication rate was 8.6 %. CONCLUSIONS: The Anthony-K plate affords accurate correction, initially stabilises the osteotomy after surgery, and maintains such stability until the osteotomy gap is completely healed, without correction loss. The plate survival rate was 97.2 % after a minimum of five years of follow-up. The plate increased the PTS, as do other medial osteotomy fixation plates.

Effect of pentoxifylline on fracture healing: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effect of pentoxifylline on fracture healing in an experimental animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-one male, Wistar-Albino rats were divided randomly into two groups as the pentoxifylline and control groups. Standard, closed femoral shaft fractures were established in all rats using a three-point bending device under general anesthesia. The rats were administered either pentoxifylline or isotonic NaCl injections everyday, beginning after production of fracture until they were sacrificed. Ten rats (11 rats in the pentoxifylline group on the 14(th) day) in each group were sacrificed on the 7(th), 14(th) and the 21(st) days and clinical, radiological, and histological examinations were performed to evaluate bony union. RESULTS: Radiological evaluation of callus did not reveal any significant difference between the control and the pentoxifylline groups in the first, second and the third weeks. However histological callus formation was significantly superior in pentoxifylline group compared to the control group at the end of the first week and callus formation was better in the control group in the third week. CONCLUSION: Pentoxifylline can be used to accelerate fracture union in early phases. Because of its hematological effects pentoxifylline accelerates the hematoma stage of fracture healing. But it inhibits fracture union in the later stages, presumably due to its anti-inflammatory effect. This should be taken into consideration during the clinical use of this drug.

[The relationship between the quadriceps muscle strength and the anterior knee pain occurring after locked intramedullary nailing for tibial diaphysis fractures]. / Tibia cisim kiriklarinin intramedüller kilitli çivi ile tedavisi sonrasi görülen diz önü agrisinin kuadriseps kas gücü ile iliskisi.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between the quadriceps muscle strength and anterior knee pain occuring after locked tibial intramedullary nailing for tibial shaft (diaphysis) fracture was investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients who were treated with locked intramedullary nailing for tibial shaft fractures were included in this study. The patients who had anterior knee pain before the surgery were excluded. All patients were operated on by splitting the patellar tendon in the middle and using superior approach. The fractures were all statically locked. Isometric quadriceps strengthening exercises were begun immediately in the postoperative period. The patients were divided into two groups whether they had anterior knee pain (group 1; G1) or not (group 2; G2). There were 18 patients in G1 (12 males, 6 females; mean age 36.9 years) and 20 patients (14 males, 6 females; mean age 35.4 years) in G2. Quadriceps muscle strength was evaluated with using the Daniel ve Worthingham's manual grading criteria (0-5). The mean follow-up time was 27.4 months (range 11-51 months) in G1 and 30.5 months (range 12-59 months) in G2. RESULTS: Decrease in quadriceps muscle strength was observed in eight patients in G1 and two patients in G2. The relation between anterior knee pain and decrease in quadriceps muscle strength was significant (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Anterior knee pain after intramedullary nailing of tibial shaft fractures is related to quadriceps muscle weakness. However quadriceps muscle weakness is not the only effective factor that leads to anterior knee pain. Anterior knee pain can be reduced mostly with appropriate rehabilitation programme.