2016年 · 第129卷第21期

Background: Accuracy of implant placement in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is crucial. Traditional extramedullary alignment instruments are fairly effective for achieving the desired mean tibial component coronal alignment. We modified the traditional tibial plateau resection technique and evaluated its effect on alignment restoration. Methods: Two hundred and eighty-two primary TKAs in our hospital between January 2013 and December 2014 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Group A consisted of 128 primary TKAs performed by one senior surgeon. Preoperative measurement of the tibial resection was conducted on radiographs, and the measured thicknesses of the lateral and medial plateau resection were used to place the tibial alignment guide. Group B consisted of 154 primary TKAs performed by the other senior surgeon, using a traditional tibial plateau resection technique. In all patients, an extramedullary guide was used for tibial resection, and preoperative and postoperative full-leg standing radiographs were used to assess the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), femoral component alignment angle (FA), and tibial component alignment angle (TA). A deviation ≥3° was considered unsatisfactory. Data were analyzed by unpaired Student’s t-test. Results: The mean postoperative HKA and TA angles were significantly different between Groups A and B (178.2 ± 3.2° vs. 177.0 ± 3.0°, t = 2.54, P = 0.01; 89.3 ± 1.8° vs. 88.3 ± 2.0°, t = 3.75, P = 0.00, respectively). The mean postoperative FA was 88.9 ± 2.5° in Group A and 88.9 ± 2.6° in Group B, and no significant difference was detected (t = 0.10, P = 0.92). There were 90 (70.3%) limbs with restoration of the mechanical axis to within 3° of neutral alignment and 38 (29.7%) outliers (>3° deviation) in Group A, whereas there were 89 (57.8%) limbs with restoration of the mechanical axis to within 3° of neutral alignment and 65 (42.2%) outliers (>3° deviation) in Group B. The severity of the preoperative alignment deformity was a strong predictor for postoperative alignment. Conclusions: Using conventional surgical instruments, preoperative measurement of resection thickness of the tibial plateau on radiographs could improve the accuracy of conventional surgical techniques.

Background: High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) with folinic acid (leucovorin) rescue is "gold standard" therapy for osteosarcoma. Plasma concentrations of methotrexate (MTX) are closely related to its efficacy and toxicity. Delayed excretion of MTX can lead to serious adverse reactions that may result in treatment cessation, irreversible organ damage, and death. This study focused on the incidence of delayed excretion of MTX in Chinese osteosarcoma patients. Methods: A total of 1277 osteosarcoma patients were treated with HD-MTX chemotherapy (4291 cycles) from 2010 to 2015. Factors that could influence delayed excretion of MTX (gender, age, number of chemotherapy cycles, and serum concentration of MTX) were analyzed. Results: The incidence of delayed excretion of MTX (serum concentrations at 24 h [C24 h] >5 μmol/L) and severe delayed excretion of MTX (C24 h >20 µmol/L) were 6.19% and 0.86% per patient, and 2.31% and 0.26% per cycle of treatment, respectively. The incidence of severe delayed excretion of MTX was associated with gender, age, and C24 h. Conclusions: Precaution of delayed excretion of MTX is needed during osteosarcoma treatment using HD-MTX. An optimal individualized rescue strategy can be created with consideration of gender, age, and C24 h.

Background: A good postoperative alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the key to achieving satisfactory results. We assessed the effect of femoral and tibial resection on the overall alignment after conventional TKA. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 212 primary TKAs in 188 patients. Intramedullary (IM)-guided resection was applied on the femoral side while extramedullary (EM)-guided resection was used on the tibial side. Using full-length X-ray, the preoperative femoral valgus angle and lower extremity alignment, as well as 2-week postoperative femoral and tibial prosthetic coronal alignment and overall lower extremity alignment, were measured. Results: Postoperatively, good prosthetic alignment was achieved in 191 cases (90.1%) on the tibial side and in 144 cases (67.9%) on the femoral side (χ2 = 5.441, P = 0.02). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the effect of different alignment sides on the overall alignment in the coronal plane. Data were divided into five subgroups based on the valgus or varus status of the prostheses. The standardized regression coefficients of the femoral and tibial prosthetic alignment on the overall alignment were 0.666 and 0.414, respectively; in varus on both sides were 0.658 and 0.377, respectively; in valgus, 0.555 and 0.030; femoral side varus and tibial side valgus, 0.702 and 0.211; femoral side valgus and tibial side varus, −0.416 and 0.287. The study showed that the overall low extremity alignment was statistically influenced by the prosthetic alignment, except for the tibial prosthetic alignment when femoral prosthesis was in valgus (P = 0.153). Conclusions: In conventional TKA, tibial side EM-guided resection may offer satisfactory postoperative alignment, and femoral resection relying on IM guide may lead to more undesirable results. Postoperative coronal alignment is mainly affected by the femoral resection. Therefore, femoral side operation should receive adequate attention from the surgeons.

Background: Few data are available concerning intercondylar notch dimensions in female nonathletes with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in plateau region. The aim of this study was to assess the relation of intercondylar notch morphology to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in female nonathletes with knee OA aged 41-65 years from the Chinese Loess Plateau. Methods: The study was conducted on 330 patients with ACL injury (aged 31-65 years; 159 males, 171 females), 141 patients with OA (aged 31-65 years; 59 males, 82 females), and 89 female healthy controls (aged 41-65 years), and this evaluation included identifying the distribution of patients with OA or ACL injury and measuring the intercondylar notch width indexes (NWIs). Results: There was a significant rising trend in patients with OA (the Kellgren and Lawrence grade = 3) with ACL injury (OA-S + ACL) aged 41-65 years, especially in females. We found that the notches of OA-S + ACL had a smaller NWI compared with control and OA without ACL injury (OA-S-only, P = 0.000, 95% confidence interval [CI]= −0.059–−0.030; P = 0.000, 95% CI= −0.049–−0.016). A similar trend was found in notch shape index (NSI), but not in notch depth index and the cross-sectional area. The cutoff of NWI and NSI value was 0.26, and 0.65, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.82, and 0.79, respectively. Further study displayed a significant correlation between a reduced NWI and NSI and OA-S + ACL (P = 0.000, χ2 = 14.012; P = 0.000, χ2 = 14.286). Conclusion: A narrower intercondylar notch and a plateau environment are risk factors of predisposing female nonathletes with knee OA to ACL injury aged 41-65 years.

Background: After total hip arthroplasty (THA), there is a noteworthy inflammatory response. The inflammatory response is associated with postoperative recovery and complications. However, there had been few reports on the relationship between inflammatory response and postoperative complication rate. The aim of the present study was to investigate early inflammatory response in the first 3 days after THA, and to identify the relationship between inflammatory response and estimated complication rate after surgery. Methods: It was a prospective, nonrandomized cohort study. There were 148 patients who underwent unilateral THA in our hospital enrolled. Blood samples were collected preoperatively in the morning of the surgery and at 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in peripheral blood were measured. The modified physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of the morbidity (POSSUM) was recorded pre- and intra-operatively. Based on the score, estimated complication rate was calculated. Harris score was used to assess hip function before and after surgery. Results: IL-6 levels reached the peak at 24 h after surgery and CRP at 48 h. After that, both of the levels decreased. The mean Harris scores significantly increased from 41.62 ± 23.47 before surgery to 72.75 ± 9.13 at 3 days after surgery. The Harris scores after surgery did not have a significant relation with either IL-6 or CRP peak levels (P = 0.165, P = 0.341, respectively). Both CRP and IL-6 peak levels significantly and positively correlated with estimated complication rate after surgery. The estimated complication rate calculated using the POSSUM system was 43 cases of 148 patients. Actually, there were only 28 cases that were observed to get postoperative complications during hospitalization. However, there was no significant difference between estimated and observed complication rates (P = 0.078). In the group with complications, the CRP and IL-6 peak levels were significantly higher than those in the group without complications (both P < 0.001). Conclusions: There were significantly positive relationships between both peak levels of CRP and IL-6 and estimated complication rate after THA. Inflammatory response could predict the incidence of complications after THA.

Background: Although pedicle screw placement (PSP) is a well-established technique for spine surgery, the treatment of patients with primary invasive spinal tumor (PIST) has high surgical risks secondary to destroyed pedicles. Intraoperative three-dimensional fluoroscopy-based navigation (ITFN) system permits safe and accurate instrumentation of the spine with the advantage of obtaining intraoperative real-time three-dimensional images and automatic registration. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of PSP using ITFN system for patients afflicted with PIST in the thoracic spine. Methods: Fifty-one patients diagnosed with PISTs were retrospectively analyzed, and 157 pedicles screws were implanted in 23 patients using the free-hand technique (free-hand group) and 197 pedicle screws were implanted in 28 patients using the ITFN system (ITFN group). Modified classification of Gertzbein and Robbins was used to evaluate the accuracy of PSP, and McCormick classification was applied for assessment of neurological function. Demographic data and factors affecting accuracy of screw insertion were compared using independent t-test while comparison of accuracy of screw insertion between the two groups was analyzed with Chi-square test. Results: Of 51 patients, 39 demonstrated improved neurological status and the other 12 patients reported that symptoms remained the same. In the free-hand group, 145 screws (92.4%) were Grade I, 9 screws (5.7%) were Grade II, and 3 screws (1.9%) were Grade III. In the ITFN group, 192 screws (97.4%) were Grade I, 5 screws (2.6%) were Grade II, and no Grade III screw was detected. Statistical analysis showed that the accuracies of pedicle screws in the two groups are significantly different (χ2 = 4.981, P = 0.026). Conclusions: The treatments of PISTs include total tumor resection and reconstruction of spine stability. The ITFN system provides a high accuracy of pedicle screw placement.

Background: Systemic administration of bisphosphonates has shown promising results in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). However, few studies have evaluated the efficacy of local zoledronate (ZOL) administration in the treatment of ONFH. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether local administration of bisphosphonate-soaked hydroxyapatite (HA) could improve bone healing in an experimental rabbit model of ONFH. Methods: This experimental study was conducted between October 2014 and June 2015. Forty-five rabbits underwent simulated ONFH surgery. Immediately following surgery, they were divided into three groups: model (untreated, n = 15), HA (treated with HA alone, n = 15), and HA + ZOL (treated with HA soaked in a low-dose ZOL solution, n = 15). Histological, immunohistochemical, and quantitative analyses were performed to evaluate bone formation and resorption 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery. Results: Gross bone matrix and hematopoietic tissue formation were observed in the HA + ZOL group 4 weeks after surgery. The immunohistochemical staining intensities for 5-bromodeoxyuridine, runt-related transcription factor 2, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and osteoprotegerin were significantly higher in the HA + ZOL group than that in the model (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.018, respectively) and HA groups (P = 0.003, P = 0.049, P < 0.001, P = 0.020, and P = 0.019, respectively), whereas receptor activator of the nuclear factor-κB ligand staining intensity was significantly lower in the HA + ZOL group than that in the model and HA groups (P = 0.029 and P = 0.015, respectively) 4 weeks after surgery. No significant differences in bone formation or bone resorption marker expression were found between the three groups 2 or 8 weeks after surgery (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Local administration of HA soaked in a low-dose ZOL solution increased new bone formation while inhibiting bone resorption in an animal model of ONFH, which might provide new evidence for joint-preserving surgery in the treatment of ONFH.

Background: Roughly focused extracorporeal shock waves therapy (ESWT) is characterized by a wide focal area, a large therapy zone, easy positioning, and less pain during treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of roughly focused ESWT on the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in osteoporotic fractures in rats. Methods: Seventy-two female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, 3 months old, were divided into sham-operated group (n = 6) and an ovariectomized (OVX) group (n = 66). Sixty OVX SD rats were used as a model of double proximal tibial osteotomy and inner fixation. The osteotomy site in the left tibia was treated with roughly focused ESWT once at an energy density of 0.26 mJ/mm2, 60 doses/min, and 2000 pact quantities. The contralateral right tibia was left untreated and served as a control. Expression of OPG and BMP-2 in the callus of the osteoporotic fracture area was assessed using immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and Western blotting analysis. Results: Bone mineral density (BMD) at the proximal tibia, femur, and L5 spine was significantly reduced after ovariectomy. BMD of proximal tibia was 12.9% less in the OVX group than that in the sham-operated group. Meanwhile, bilateral oophorectomy resulted in a lower trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) in the proximal tibia of the sham-OVX animals. Three months after bilateral oophorectomy, BV/TV was 14.29% of baseline BV/TV in OVX legs versus 45.91% in the sham-OVX legs (P < 0.001). These data showed that the SD rats became a suitable model of osteoporosis, 3 months after they were OVX. Immunohistochemical analysis showed higher levels of BMP-2 and OPG expression in the treatment group than those in the control group. Compared with the contralateral controls, decreased expression of OPG and BMP-2 at 3 days after roughly focused ESWT, followed by a later increase at 7 days, was indicated by real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis. The OPG messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels peaked at 6 weeks after the shock wave treatment, paired with a much earlier (at 4 weeks) increase of BMP-2, and declined close to normal at 8 weeks. Conclusions: Roughly focused ESWT may promote the expression of OPG and BMP-2 in the osteoporotic fracture area in rats. BMP-2 and OPG may act synergistically and may lead to a significant enhancement of bone formation and remodeling.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology holds great promise for treating diseases or injuries that affect human bones with enhanced performance over traditional techniques. Different patterns of design can lead to various mechanical properties and biocompatibility to various degrees. However, there is still a long way to go before we can fully take advantage of 3D printing technologies. Methods: This study tailored 3D printed scaffolds with gelatin and platelets to maximize bone regeneration. The scaffolds were designed with special internal porous structures that can allow bone tissue and large molecules to infiltrate better into the scaffolds. They were then treated with gelatin and platelets via thermo-crosslinking and freeze-drying, respectively. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were measured at different time points after the scaffolds had been made. Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were determined via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Results: There was a massive boost in the level of VEGF and TGF-β1 released by the scaffolds with gelatin and platelets compared to that of scaffolds with only gelatin. After 21 days of culture, the CCK-8 cell counts of the control group and treated group were significantly higher than that of the blank group (P < 0.05 ). The cytotoxicity test also indicated the safety of the scaffolds. Conclusions: Our experiments confirmed that the 3D printed scaffolds we had designed could provide a sustained-release effect for growth factors and improve the proliferation of preosteoblasts with little cytotoxicity in vitro. They may hold promise as bone graft substitute materials in the future.

Background: Despite its severity, coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is still poorly understood. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been recognized as a prognostic factor in some cardiovascular diseases but not assessed in CAE. The aim of this observational study was to investigate the prognostic value of hs-CRP in CAE. Methods: Our analysis evaluated the effect of the baseline hs-CRP on cardiovascular events (CVs) (cardiac death and nonfetal myocardial infarction) in consecutively enrolled stable CAE patients. We used the Cox proportional hazards regression models to examine the association between baseline hs-CRP level and follow-up CVs in CAE. The net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) of hs-CRP were also assessed. Results: We obtained the follow-up results of 540 patients over a median follow-up period of 36 (37.41 ± 15.88) months. The multivariable Cox analysis showed that the hs-CRP was a significant predictor of adverse outcomes in CAE (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-6.81, P = 0.0091). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, the group with hs-CRP >3 mg/L had a lower cumulative 66-month event-free survival rate (log-rank test for trend, P = 0.0235) and a higher risk of CVs (HR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.22–5.77, P = 0.0140) than the group with hs-CRP ≤3 mg/L. Hs-CRP added predictive information beyond that given by the baseline model comprising the classical risk factors (P value for IDI = 0.0330). Conclusions: A higher level of hs-CRP was independently associated with cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction in CAE patients. The hs-CRP level may therefore provide prognostic information for the risk stratification of CAE patients.

Background: There is conflicting evidence as to whether the femoral head should be preserved or replaced in elderly patients with displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures. In this article, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the short- and long-term effectiveness of arthroplasty (AR) and internal fixation (IF). Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched systematically up to January 2016. All randomized controlled trials directly comparing the effectiveness of AR and IF for displaced intracapsular fracture were retrieved with no limitation on language or publication year. Results: In total, eight prospective randomized studies involving 2206 patients were included. The results of our study showed that patients in the AR group reported significantly lower complication (risk ratio: 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38-0.80), re-operation (risk ratio: 0.17, 95% CI = 0.13-0.22), revision rates (risk ratio: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.08-0.16), and better function compared with their IF counterparts, and they were less likely to suffer postoperative pain. No statistically significant differences for the rates of mortality, infection, and/or deep vein thrombosis between AR and IF were found. Conclusions: Based on our analysis, we recommend that AR should be used as the primary treatment for displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures in the elderly. However, IF may be appropriate for those who are very frail.