How effective is proximal fibular osteotomy in redistributing joint pressures? Insights from an HTO comparative in-silico study.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) represents a widespread degenerative condition among adults that significantly affects quality of life. This study aims to elucidate the biomechanical implications of proximal fibular osteotomy (PFO), a proposed cost-effective and straightforward intervention for KOA, comparing its effects against traditional high tibial osteotomy (HTO) through in-silico analysis. METHODS: Using medical imaging and finite element analysis (FEA), this research quantitatively evaluates the biomechanical outcomes of a simulated PFO procedure in patients with severe medial compartment genu-varum, who have undergone surgical correction with HTO. The study focused on evaluating changes in knee joint contact pressures, stress distribution, and anatomical positioning of the center of pressure (CoP). Three models are generated for each of the five patients investigated in this study, a preoperative original condition model, an in-silico PFO based on the same original condition data, and a reversed-engineered HTO in-silico model. RESULTS: The novel contribution of this investigation is the quantitative analysis of the impact of PFO on the biomechanics of the knee joint. The results provide mechanical evidence that PFO can effectively redistribute and homogenize joint stresses, while also repositioning the CoP towards the center of the knee, similar to what is observed post HTO. The findings propose PFO as a potentially viable and simpler alternative to conventional surgical methods for managing severe KOA, specifically in patients with medial compartment genu-varum. CONCLUSION: This research also marks the first application of FEA that may support one of the underlying biomechanical theories of PFO, providing a foundation for future clinical and in-silico studies.

In-silico study of the biomechanical effects of proximal-fibular osteotomy on knee joint contact pressure in varus-valgus misalignment.

The aim of this work is to investigate in-silico the biomechanical effects of a proximal fibular osteotomy (PFO) on a knee joint with different varus/valgus deformities on the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). A finite element analysis (FEA) of a human lower extremity consisting of the femoral, tibial and fibular bones and the cartilage connecting them was designed. The FEA was performed in a static standing primitive position to determine the contact pressure (CP) distribution and the location of the center of pressure (CoP). The analysis examined the relationship between these factors and the degree of deformation of the hip-knee angle in the baseline condition. The results suggested that PFO could be a simple and effective surgical treatment for patients with associated genu varum. This work also reported that a possible CP homogenization and a CoP correction can be achieved for medial varus deformities after PFO. However, it reduced its effectiveness for tibial origin valgus misalignment and worsened in cases of femoral valgus misalignment.

Epidural administration of ropivacaine and midazolam is superior to intra-articular administration as postoperative analgesia after isolated arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstrings autograft: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Reconstructive surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is quite common, previous studies have documented that adequate pain control in the early phases of the postoperative period translates into early mobility and a rapid start of rehabilitation. Therefore, the search for new strategies for postoperative pain control is justified. The aim of this study was to compare intra-articular to the epidural administration of ropivacaine and midazolam as postoperative analgesia after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft (HA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Double-blinded, prospective randomized clinical trial included 108 consecutive patients aged from 18 to 50 years that had undergone arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with HA. The patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The first group received intraarticular ropivacaine and midazolam. The second group received epidural ropivacaine and midazolam. The need for rescue analgesia, the postoperative pain experienced, side effects and complications of the analgesic drugs were evaluated. RESULTS: The intra-articular group received statistically significantly higher mean doses of rescue analgesia on the first two days (2.8 â€‹± â€‹1.0 vs. 1.3 â€‹± â€‹0.6 in the epidural group; p â€‹= â€‹0.001). Visual Analogue Scale scores at flexion were statistically significantly higher in the intra-articular group over the entire study period. The intra-articular group also reported a statistically significantly lower range-of-motion 87 â€‹± â€‹15 vs. 102 â€‹± â€‹11 in the epidural group (p â€‹= â€‹0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Epidural administration of ropivacaine combined with midazolam in patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction with HA was clinically and significantly better relative to rescue analgesia and the intensity of pain in the first 48 postoperative hours when compared to intraarticular administration. There was no difference in terms of adverse effects and complications.

Mid-Term Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Lateral Meniscal Allograft Transplantation with Suture-Only Fixation Plus Capsulodesis.

Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) is an effective reconstructive procedure for treating a symptomatic postmeniscectomy syndrome. It consists of replacing the lost meniscal tissue aiming to improve the clinical outcomes and prevent progressive deterioration of the joint. The aim of this study was to evaluate meniscal graft survivorship and report on the radiographic (in terms of graft extrusion and joint space width and alignment) and the functional results through a midterm follow-up of lateral MAT performed with a soft tissue fixation technique after capsulodesis. In total, 23 patients who underwent lateral MAT as a single procedure were included. The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Lysholm, Tegner, and visual analog scale scales were used for patient assessment. Magnetic resonance imaging and a complete radiographic protocol were conducted to determine the degree of meniscal extrusion and the changes in the degree of osteoarthritis and coronal alignment. Assessments were performed after 2 and 7 years of follow-up. A significant improvement in all the scores, relative to preoperative values, was found after 7 years of follow-up. This improvement remained consistent throughout the first and second follow-up periods. A mean absolute extrusion of 2.2 mm ± 1.6 and an extrusion percentage of 28.0% ± 11.43 were found, with no significant differences throughout the follow-up periods. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of the frontal mechanical axis and joint space narrowing between the preoperative value and at the first and second follow-up periods. A survival rate of 85.7% was found after 7 years of follow-up. Capsulodesis results in a low degree of meniscal extrusion in isolated lateral MAT fixed with a suture-only technique, which is maintained after 7 years of follow-up, with a high graft survival index (>85%) and satisfactory results on the functional scales.

The distal tibiofibular syndesmosis is a reliable landmark for 3° varus tibial resection in total knee arthroplasty: a radiological evaluation on 1296 cases.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and the accuracy of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis (DTFS) as landmark to perform controlled varus tibial resections during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The hypothesis was that DTFS can be used to perform an accurate 3° varus tibial cut. METHODS: A retrospective analysis on a consecutive series of standard weightbearing full-length anteroposterior views of the lower limbs radiographic images was conducted. For each radiograph, the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle, the angle between the tibial mechanical axis and the line connecting the centre of the tibial spines and the DTFS (tibiofibular angle, TFA) and the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) were calculated. Each measurement was carried out twice by three independent observers, and intra- and inter-observer measurement reliability were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1296 lower limbs were analysed from a series of 648 weightbearing full-length anteroposterior radiographs. The ICC were > 90% for all measurements. The mean TFA value was 2.94 ± 0.68 (range 2.38-3.51). No differences were detected comparing the mean TFA value on the right and left limb (p = 0.795) as well as comparing the values in male and female patients (p = 0.691). Linear regression analysis did not find statistically significant correlation between TFA and MPTA, or TFA and HKA angles, respectively. CONCLUSION: The distal tibiofibular syndesmosis is a reliable and easy reproducible radiographic landmark that can be used when planning a 3° varus tibial cut. Future studies are needed to confirm the validity of this method also in clinical settings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective case series.

Effect of Injury to the Lateral Meniscotibial Ligament and Meniscofibular Ligament on Meniscal Extrusion: Biomechanical Evaluation of the Capsulodesis and Centralization Techniques in a Porcine Knee Model.

Background: Previous biomechanical studies of the meniscotibial ligament have determined that it contributes to meniscal stability. An injury to it can cause the meniscus to extrude, and reconstruction of that ligament significantly reduces extrusion. Purpose: To assess the biomechanical effects of sectioning the lateral meniscotibial ligament (LMTL) and the meniscofibular ligament (MFL) with respect to the radial mobility of the lateral meniscus and to evaluate the biomechanical effects of the capsulodesis and centralization techniques. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: The lateral meniscus of 22 porcine knees was evaluated. They were mounted on a testing apparatus to apply muscle and ground-reaction forces. The meniscus was evaluated at 30° and 60° of knee flexion using 2 markers placed on the posterior cruciate ligament and the lateral meniscus after applying an axial compression of 200 N to the knee joint. Measurements were recorded under 5 conditions: intact lateral meniscus, injury of the LMTL, subsequent injury of the MFL, the use of the open capsulodesis technique, and the reconstruction of the LMTL and the MFL with the centralization technique. Results: The distance between the 2 markers was significantly greater in the extrusion group (combined lesion of the LMTL and MFL) than in the intact or reconstruction groups (capsulodesis and centralization techniques; P < .001 in all cases). In the cases of load application, no significant differences were observed between the control group (intact meniscus) and the groups on which the reconstruction techniques were performed. There were also no differences when comparing the results obtained between both reconstruction techniques. In all settings, the distance between the 2 markers increased with the increase in the knee flexion angle. Conclusion: In a porcine model, the LMTL and the MFL participated as restrictors of the radial mobility of the lateral meniscus during loading. Their injury caused a significant increase in lateral meniscal extrusion, and the centralization and the capsulodesis procedures were able to reduce extrusion. Clinical Relevance: This study demonstrates the capacity of the LMTL and the MFL to restrict the radial mobility of the lateral meniscus during loading and how it is affected when they are injured.

Isolated lateral extra-articular tenodesis in ACL-deficient knees: in vivo knee kinematics and clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE: To carry out an in vivo kinematic analysis of isolated modified Lemaire lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) to explore its ability to modify the stability of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knees. The secondary aim was to look at the clinical outcomes of the isolated LET to analyze whether biomechanical changes have an influence on clinical improvement or not. METHODS: A total of 52 patients who underwent an isolated modified Lemaire LET were prospectively studied. Twenty-two were over 55-year-old patients with ACL rupture and subjective instability (group 1). They were followed up for 2 years postoperatively. Thirty were patients underwent a two-stage ACL revision (group 2). They were followed up for 4 months postoperatively (up to the second stage of the ACL revision). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative kinematic analyses were carried out using the KiRA accelerometer and KT1000 arthrometer to look for residual anterolateral rotational instability and residual anteroposterior instability. Functional outcomes were measured with the single-leg vertical jump test (SLVJT) and the single-leg hop test (SLHT). Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the IKDC 2000, Lysholm, and Tegner scores. RESULTS: A significant reduction of both rotational and anteroposterior instability was detected. It was present both with the patient under anesthesia (p < 0.001 and p = 0.007 respectively) as well as with the patient awake (p = 0.008 and p = 0.018 respectively). Postoperative analysis of knee laxity did not show any significant variation from the first to the last follow-up. Both the SLVJT and SLHT improved significantly at the last follow-up (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011 respectively). The mean values of both the IKDC and Lysholm and Tegner scores showed an improvement (p = 0.008; p = 0.012; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The modified Lemaire LET improves the kinematics of ACL-deficient knees. The improvement in the kinematics leads to an improvement in subjective stability as well as in the function of the knee and in the clinical outcomes. At the 2-year follow-up, these improvements were maintained in a cohort of patients over 55 years. Following our findings, to reduce knee instability, an isolated LET in ACL-deficient knees may be used when ACL reconstruction in patients over 55 years is not indicated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Histopathological, ultrastructural, and biochemical traits of apoptosis induced by peroxisomicine A1 (toxin T-514) from Karwinskia parvifolia in kidney and lung.

Peroxisomicine A1 (PA1) is a toxin isolated from the Karwinskia genus plants whose target organs are the liver, kidney, and lung. In vitro studies demonstrated the induction of apoptosis by PA1 in cancer cell lines, and in vivo in the liver. Apoptosis has a wide range of morphological features such as cell shrinkage, plasma membrane blistering, loss of microvilli, cytoplasm, and chromatin condensation, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies that are phagocytized by resident macrophages or nearby cells. Early stages of apoptosis can be detected by mitochondrial alterations. We investigated the presence of apoptosis in vivo at the morphological, ultrastructural, and biochemical levels in two target organs of PA1: kidney and lung. Sixty CD-1 mice were divided into three groups (n = 20): untreated control (ST), vehicle control (VH), and PA1 intoxicated group (2LD50). Five animals of each group were sacrificed at 4, 8, 12, and 24 h post-intoxication. Kidney and lung were examined by morphometry, histopathology, ultrastructural, and DNA fragmentation analysis. Pre-apoptotic mitochondrial alterations were present at 4 h. Apoptotic bodies were observed at 8 h and increased over time. TUNEL positive cells were detected as early as 4 h, and the DNA ladder pattern was observed at 12 h and 24 h. The liver showed the highest value of fragmented DNA, followed by the kidney and the lung. We demonstrated the induction of apoptosis by a toxic dose of PA1 in the kidney and lung in vivo. These results could be useful in understanding the mechanism of action of this compound at toxic doses in vivo.

Efficacy of whole-body cryotherapy in the treatment of chronic low back pain: Quasi-experimental study.

STUDY DESIGN: Single arm, quasi-experimental study design. BACKGROUND: To describe the effects of whole-body cryotherapy on pain, disability, and serum inflammatory markers in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: A quasi-experimental trial was performed on adult patients between 18 and 65 years with chronic low back pain. After obtaining informed consent, participants underwent 20 sessions of whole-body cryotherapy (at -160 °C) during a 5-week time span. Patient reported pain and disability measures (Pain Numerical Rating Scale [PNRS], Oswestry Disability Index [OSI], and Roland Morris Questionnaire [RMQ]) were obtained at each of the twenty sessions. Blood samples were obtained to analyze serum inflammatory markers at baseline, 10th and 20th session. RESULTS: Forty-one participants were included in the study. A significant decrease was observed between the initial and final PNRS, ODI, and RMQ scores (p < 0.001). A significant reduction in the PNRS was found after 4 sessions of whole-body cryotherapy (p < 0.001). We observed decreasing values of pro-inflammatory serum marker IL-2 (p = 0.046) and a significant increase in the anti-inflammatory serum marker IL-10 (p = 0.003). No adverse events were reported during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-body cryotherapy is an effective therapy for pain and disability treatment in chronic low back pain. It also produces changes in serum markers of inflammation, decreasing pro-inflammatory markers and increasing anti-inflammatory markers.

Good clinical outcomes can be expected after meniscal allograft transplantation at 15 years of follow-up.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate graft survivorship and report the functional and radiographic results of Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) throughout a minimum 15-year follow-up period. METHODS: Fifty-one patients that had undergone an isolated MAT procedure during the period studied were included. The results were assessed with the Lysholm and Tegner scores as well as the Visual Analog Scale. Magnetic resonance imaging and a complete radiographic series were carried out to determine the degree of meniscal extrusion and joint space narrowing. A comparison was made between the radiological findings of the last follow-up, the 5-year mid-term follow-up and those from the preoperative period. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were available for the final follow-up. The mean follow-up was 17.4 years. There were 23 (60.5%) medial menisci and 15 lateral menisci (39.4%). Meniscal extrusion increased from the 29.7% ± 14.9 obtained at the 5-year follow-up to the 72.5% ± 22.5 seen at the end of the follow-up (p = 0.0001). The joint space distance was almost unchanged from the initial evaluation (3.3 ± 1.5 mm) to the 5-year follow-up measurement (3.1 ± 1.7 mm, n.s.). However, it did decrease at the last follow-up (1.9 ± 1.5 mm, p < 0.05). The functional outcomes improved from the preoperative period to the mid-term follow-up and later worsened at the final follow-up. The mean preoperative Lysholm score at the initial follow-up was 61.5 ± 9.6, 86.9 ± 10.9 for the 5-year evaluation and stood at 77.4 ± 11.5 (p = 0.0001) at the final follow-up. Regarding the Tegner score, those pre-operative scores were compared to the ones at the last follow-up (median: 3; range 0-6 vs. 5.5; 3-6, respectively; p = 0.0001). The VAS went down from 6.6 ± 1.7 at the initial evaluation to 2.5 ± 1.9 at the final follow-up (p = 0.0001). The joint-space width remained unchanged from the initial evaluation (3.35 ± 1.5 mm) up to the 5-year follow-up measurement (3.1 ± 1.7 mm, n.s.). However, this joint-space distance had decreased by the last evaluation in the long-term follow-up (1.9 ± 1.4 mm, p < 0.05). Five patients (13.1%) presented with a MAT failure at 5 years, which was followed by extirpation of the meniscal graft. At the final follow-up, a total of 16 patients (42.1%) presented with a failure. At that time, there were 4 more MAT removals and seven patients that required a total knee replacement. The mean time to failure of the meniscal graft was 206.2 months ± 13.4 (18.0 years). CONCLUSIONS: Meniscal allograft transplantation produces good functional results at a minimum 15-year follow-up. However, degenerative arthritis in the affected compartment progressed during that period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The morphology of the femoral footprint of the anterior cruciate ligament changes with aging from a large semicircular shape to a small flat ribbon-like shape.

PURPOSE: Compare the differences in the morphology of the ACL femoral footprint between the cadavers of the young and elderly in consideration of the degenerative physiological process that occurs with aging. METHODS: The femoral footprint of the ACL was dissected in 81 knees of known gender and age (45 male/36 female). They were divided into four groups by age and gender, establishing 50 years as the cut-off point to divide patients by age. Three observers analyzed the femoral footprint dissections, and the shapes were described and classified. The area and morphometric characteristics of the femoral insertion of the ACL were determined and these were compared between genders and age groups. RESULTS: The femoral footprint of the ACL from the cadavers of males younger than 50 years of age presented a semicircular morphology in 90% of the cases. In males aged more than 50 years, a ribbon-like morphology was found in 96% of the cases. In women less than 50 years old, the semicircular morphology was observed in 93.7% of the cases. In women aged over 50 years old, the ribbon-like morphology was found in 95% of the cases. A significant difference was observed between the prevalence rates of the morphologies, area size and measurements of the younger and older groups (p < 0.001 for both genders). CONCLUSIONS: The femoral insertion of the ACL presents variations in its morphology, area and morphometric characteristics over time. It goes from a large semicircular shape that almost contacts the posterior articular cartilage to a smaller, flattened ribbon-like shape that moves away from the edge of the articular cartilage. It is bounded anteriorly by the lateral intercondylar ridge. These findings should be considered to avoid employing reconstruction techniques in which femoral tunnels with oval or rectangular shapes are used in patients under 50 years of age because they do not correspond to the morphology of the femoral insertion of the ACL in this age group.

Lateral extraarticular tenodesis improves stability in non-anatomic ACL reconstructed knees: in vivo kinematic analysis.

PURPOSE: To carry out an in vivo kinematic analysis to determine whether adding a lateral extraarticular tenodesis (LET) for those patients with subjective instability and objective residual laxity after a transtibial (TT) anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) reduces anteroposterior and rotational laxity and to evaluate the 2-year follow-up clinical outcomes to analyze whether biomechanical changes determine clinical improvement or not. METHODS: A total of 19 patients with residual knee instability after TT ACLR who underwent a modified Lemaire LET were prospectively evaluated for at least 2-year follow-up. Preoperative, intraoperative, and 6 and 24-month postoperative kinematic analyses were carried out using the KiRA accelerometer and KT1000 arthrometer to look for residual anterolateral rotational instability and residual anteroposterior instability. Functional outcomes were measured with the single-leg vertical jump test and the single-leg hop test. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the IKDC 2000, Lysholm, and Tegner scores. RESULTS: A significant reduction in anterolateral rotational instability was detected with the patient under anesthesia (from 3 ± 1.2 to 1.1 ± 1.1 m/s2; p < 0.05) as well as with the patient awake (from 2.1 ± 0.8 to 0.7 ± 1.4 m/s2; p < 0.05). A significant reduction in anteroposterior instability was only present under anesthesia (from 3.4 ± 1.9 to 2.1 ± 1.1 mm; p < 0.05), while no difference was present without anesthesia (from 2.3 ± 1.1 to 1.6 ± 1 mm; n.s.). Postoperative analysis of knee laxity did not show any significant variation from the first to the last follow-up. Both the single-leg vertical jump test and single-leg hop test improved significantly at the last follow-up (both p < 0.05). The mean values of both the IKDC and Tegner scores showed an improvement (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively), whereas that was not the case with the Lysholm score (n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: The modified Lemaire LET can improve the kinematics of a non-anatomic ACL reconstructed knee with residual subjective and objective instability. These kinematic changes were able to lead to an improvement in subjective stability as well as the function of the knee in a small cohort of recreationally active patients. At 2-year follow-up, the kinematic changes as well as the level of activity of the patients and the IKDC score show their improvement sustained. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Gunshot wounds during a period of increased violence: Experience in a single orthopedic training centre.

OBJECTIVE: Firearm violence has a high economic impact, representing the third most expensive injury and associated with the fourth highest hospitalisation cost. This study was performed to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with injuries due to firearm projectile during a period of increased violence related to organised crime in our country. METHODS: A retrospective study (2010-2017) was conducted to analyse the clinical data of patients admitted due to firearm projectile injury. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of each patient were recorded, and patients were stratified by sex and age. Compared low-energy versus high-energy gunshot injuries, complications and treatment. RESULTS: A total of 1309 gunshot wounds in appendicular skeleton and spine fractures. The mean age of the patients was 29±11.5 years. Upper extremities wounds in 358 cases, lower extremities wounds in 727 cases and 224 fractures in spine region. There were no significant differences between low-velocity and high-velocity projectiles in anatomic affected region, complications and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that firearm projectiles cause a variety of injuries both in soft and bone tissues and caused a major rate of complications in our patients even with low- or high-energy weapons. The majority of patients affected were the civilian population. Most patients with gunshot wounds were young males. We observed a low mortality rate in our patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III; retrospective cohort study.

Fixed-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty provides a lower failure rate than mobile-bearing unicompartimental knee arthroplasty when used after a failed high tibial osteotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite the fact that the choice of bearing design has been thought to influence the functional outcomes and longevity of unicompartimental knee arthroplasty (UKA), there is a lack of clinical evidence supporting the decision-making process in patients who have undergone high tibial osteotomy (HTO). A systematic review of studies was carried out that reported the outcomes of fixed-bearing (FB) or mobile-bearing (MB) medial UKA in patients with a previous HTO. A random effect meta-analysis using a generalized linear mixed-effects model to calculate revision rates was done. Seven retrospective cohort studies were included for this study. Regarding the fixation method, 40 were the FB-UKA and 47 were MB-UKA. For both groups, the mean post-operative follow-up was 5.8 years. The survival rates were 92% for the FB-UKA with a mean follow-up of 10 years. For the MB-UKA, it ranged from 35.7 to 93%, with a mean follow-up of 4.2 years. For the FB, the time to revision was reported as 9.3 years, while 1.2, 2.5 and 2.91 years was reported for the MB. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the revision rate for the patients receiving a FB-UKA after failed HTO was 8%, compared to 17% in those who received an MB-UKA. The results of the review suggest that the use of the FB-UKA is associated with lower revision rates and a longer survival time than the MB-UKA and have similar functional ability scores.Level of evidence: III (systematic review of level-III studies).

MRI evaluation of the peripheral attachments of the lateral meniscal body: the menisco-tibio-popliteus-fibular complex.

PURPOSE: To determine, identify and measure the structures of the menisco-tibio-popliteus-fibular complex (MTPFC) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in knees without structural abnormalities or a history of knee surgery. METHODS: One-hundred-and-five knees without prior injury or antecedent surgery were analyzed by means of MRI. The average age was 50.1 years ± 14.8. All the measurements were performed by three observers. The peripherical structures of the lateral meniscus body were identified to determine the location, size, and thickness of the entire MTPFC. The distance to other "key areas" in the lateral compartment was also studied and compared by gender and age. RESULTS: The lateral meniscotibial ligament (LMTL) was found in 97.1% of the MRIs, the popliteofibular ligament (PFL) in 93.3%, the popliteomeniscal ligaments (PML) in 90.4% and the meniscofibular ligament (MFL) in 39%. The anteroposterior distance of the LMTL in an axial view was 20.7 mm ± 3.9, the anterior thickness of the LMTL was 1.1 mm ± 0.3, and the posterior thickness of the LMTL 1.2 mm ± 0.1 and the height in a coronal view was 10.8 mm ± 1.9. The length of the PFL in a coronal view was 8.7 mm ± 2.5, the thickness was 1.4 mm ± 0.4 and the width in an axial view was 7.8 mm ± 2.2. CONCLUSIONS: The MTPFC has a constant morphological and anatomical pattern for three of its main ligaments and can be easily identified and measured in an MRI; the MFL has a lower prevalence, considering a structure difficult to identify by 1.5 T MRI.

Anatomy of lateral meniscus.

The anatomy of the lateral meniscus underlies the understanding of its unique biomechanics. Moreover, the knowledge of its microscopic structure, its vascularization and its ligament insertions can make us understand the rationale for its surgical treatment. It is well known as the respect of the anatomy leads to better results in reconstructive surgery. Knowing the differences in the shape and in the areas of insertion of the meniscal roots can be useful in case of reinserting a root or when performing a meniscal transplant. Learning about the capsular insertions, the anchoring ligaments and the areas of greatest mobility of the lateral meniscus is useful during meniscal repair and replacement surgery. This information can let us choose the most appropriate technique and the best device to face any kind of meniscal lesion. In this article, we will consider both the micro and the macro meniscal structure in order to be able to give a description as complete as possible of this fundamental structure. We will consider the interrelation of the meniscus with the neighboring anatomical structures with which it contributes to the biomechanical control of the joint. It is important to understand the interrelation with both anterior and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) given that frequently a combined meniscal and ligamentous reconstruction is necessary.

Comparación de cuatro técnicas quirúrgicas para el manejo de la espondilitis tuberculosa de la columna torácica en adultos.

OBJETIVO: Comparar la eficiencia de las cuatro técnicas quirúrgicas más utilizadas para el manejo de la espondilitis tuberculosa. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo en el que se incluyeron pacientes adultos con diagnóstico confirmado de espondilitis tuberculosa, afectación de dos niveles vertebrales o menos y sin deformidad vertebral grave. Se recopilaron y revisaron los expedientes médicos, los estudios de imagen y los datos demográficos de los pacientes intervenidos para analizar retrospectivamente los resultados clínicos y funcionales de cada grupo. Las variables primarias fueron la erradicación de la infección, la fusión vertebral y las complicaciones. Entre las variables secundarias se estudiaron el sangrado intraoperatorio, la estancia hospitalaria y el tiempo quirúrgico. RESULTADOS: Entre los grupos analizados no hubo diferencias significativas (p ≥ 0.05) en la mayoría de las variables analizadas, pero sí (p ≤ 0.001) respecto al sangrado, el tiempo quirúrgico, la estancia intrahospitalaria y las complicaciones, a favor del abordaje posterior único. CONCLUSIONES: El abordaje posterior único logró una eficacia clínica similar a la del resto de los abordajes en términos de erradicación de la infección y fusión vertebral; sin embargo, se asoció a menores tiempo quirúrgico, sangrado, estancia hospitalaria y complicaciones. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency of the 4 most used surgical techniques for the management of tuberculous spondylitis. METHOD: Retrospective study in which adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis, involvement of two vertebral levels or less, and without severe vertebral deformity were included. The medical records, imaging studies, and demographic data of the operated patients were collected and reviewed to retrospectively analyze the clinical results of each group. The primary variables were cure of infection, spinal fusion, and complications. The secondary variables included intraoperative bleeding, hospital stay, and surgical time. RESULTS: There were no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) in most of the variables analyzed, however, there were (p ≤ 0.001) regarding bleeding, surgical time, hospital stay and complications between the groups analyzed, with a lower result in all cases for the single posterior approach. CONCLUSIONS: The single posterior approach obtained a clinical efficacy similar to the rest of the approaches in terms of eradication of the infection and vertebral fusion, however, it was associated with less surgical invasion (surgical time and bleeding), a shorter hospital stay and complications.

Manufacture and mechanical properties of knee implants using SWCNTs/UHMWPE composites.

This article focuses on obtaining ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) material reinforced with functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (f-SWCNTs) and the manufacturing of unicompartmental knee implants via Single-Point Incremental Forming process (SPIF). The physicochemical properties of the developed UHMWPE reinforced with 0.01 and 0.1 wt% concentrations of f-SWCNTs are investigated using Raman and Thermogravimetic Analysis (TGA). Tensile mechanical tests performed in the nanocomposite material samples reveal a 12% improvement in their Young's modulus when compare to that of the pure UHMWPE material samples. Furthermore, the surface biocompatibility of the UHMWPE reinforced with f-SWCNTs materials samples was evaluated with human osteoblast cells. Results show cell viability enhancement with good cell growth and differentiation after 14 incubation days, that validates the usefulness of the developed nanocomposite material in the production of hip and knee artificial implants, and other biomedical applications.

Prevalence of Morphological Variations Associated With Femoroacetabular Impingement According to Age and Sex: A Study of 1878 Asymptomatic Hips in Nonprofessional Athletes.

BACKGROUND: Radiographic findings related to the cam and pincer variants of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) include measurements of the alpha angle and lateral center-edge angle (LCEA). The function of these radiographic findings has been put into question because of high heterogeneity in reported studies. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was 3-fold: (1) to determine the prevalence of cam and pincer variants according to sex and age on anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs from an asymptomatic nonathletic population, (2) to identify the most common radiographic signs of cam- and pincer-type variants, and (3) to determine if there are variations in the prevalence of these radiographic signs according to sex and age. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: There were 3 independent observers who retrospectively analyzed the 939 AP pelvic radiographs (1878 hips) of patients aged 18 to 50 years who did not have hip symptoms and who were not professional athletes. The prevalence of the cam and pincer variants according to the alpha angle and LCEA, respectively, and the presence of other radiographic signs commonly associated with these variables were determined in the overall population and by subgroup according to sex and age group (18-30, 31-40, and 41-50 years). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the study sample. RESULTS: The mean age of the included population was 31.0 ± 9.2 years, and 68.2% were male. The prevalence of the cam-type variant was 29.7% (558/1878), and that of the pincer-type variant was 24.3% (456/1878). The radiographic signs that were most associated with the cam and pincer variants were a pistol-grip deformity and the crossover sign, respectively. Significant differences (P < .001) in the prevalence of these variants were identified between men and women in both variants. No differences were observed in the alpha angle or LCEA according to sex or age. CONCLUSION: Radiographic findings suggestive of FAI had significant variations with respect to sex and age in this study sample. This study provides information to determine the prevalence of these anatomic variants in the general population.

Tranexamic acid versus aminocapróic acid in multiple doses via the oral route for the reduction of postoperative bleeding in total primary hip arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

To compare the effects of oral ε-aminocaproic acid (EACA) as a hemostatic agent versus the use of oral tranexamic acid (TXA) administered in multiple doses pre and postsurgery in patients undergoing elective primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). We enrolled 102 patients that were randomly divided into two groups: received three oral doses of EACA (2000 mg per dose) or three oral doses of TXA (1300 mg per dose). The medication was given according to the following schedule: 2 h before surgery and 6 and 12 h after surgery. The variables analyzed to compare the effectiveness of the hemostatic agents were total blood loss, hidden blood loss, external blood loss, transfusion rate, intraoperative blood loss, decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit values, surgical drainage output, visual analog scale, and surgical complications. There were no significant differences between any of the study variables for the group receiving oral TXA and the group receiving oral EACA (P > 0.05). Our study showed that the use of oral EACA was similar to its counterpart TXA regarding the evaluated parameters. TXA did not have superior blood conservation effects, safety profile, or differences in functional scales compared with EACA in THA. We consider the use of multiple oral doses of aminocaproic acid at the selected dose to be effective as a standard protocol to achieve less blood loss and a lower rate of transfusion and adverse events related to the medication in patients undergoing a THA.