Objective: An updated bibliometric analysis is needed to address the lack of comprehensive understanding of Ilizarov technique’s research trends and hotspots, fostering collaboration and technology adoption. CiteSpace was utilized to perform co-citation analyzes on authors, countries, institutions, journals and cited journals, authors and cited literature, along with keywords. This approach aimed to identify leaders, collaborating institutions, and research hotspots associated with the Ilizarov technique, while also predicting future development trends.
Methods: Data relevant to Ilizarov technologies from 1994 to 2023 were extracted from Science Net’s core collection. Excel was utilized to develop an exponential function for forecasting annual publication numbers. CiteSpace V5.5 was used to conduct co-citation analyzes, which included authors, countries (regions), institutions, journals, citation journals, authors, citations, and keywords. Burst detection algorithms were applied to analyze countries (regions), institutions, and keywords, with keyword clustering achieved using the logarithmic likelihood ratio.
Results: A total of 2030 studies were collected, with annual publications on the Ilizarov technique fitting an exponential model Y = 3E-37e0.0439x (R2 = 0.7979). Morasiewicz Piotr from the University of Opole in Poland emerged as the most prolific author. The leading countries included the USA and China, and notable institutions included the Egyptian Knowledge Bank and the Ilizarov National Scientific Center for Restorative Traumatology and Orthopaedic. Research outputs appeared primarily in orthopedics and surgery, with a focus on keywords such as management, the Ilizarov technique, external fixation, distraction osteogenesis, reconstruction, and the Ilizarov method.
Conclusions: Based on current global trends, the number of publications in the Ilizarov field will continue to increase. Future studies will likely place more emphasis on advancing application concepts and device development.
Objective: Many publications on telerehabilitation for hip or knee arthroplasty have been published in recent years. However, no specific studies have attempted to characterize research hotspots, global research collaborations, or trends related to telerehabilitation after hip or knee arthroplasty. Therefore, the aim of this bibliometric analysis was to provide an overview of the current status of research and map the research landscape on telerehabilitation for joint replacement to understand current trends, identify research gaps, and guide future research directions.
Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed were comprehensively searched to identify all relevant English-language documents published from 2003 to June 7, 2024. Data from these published studies were then cleaned and structured. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to conduct the bibliometric visualization and comparative analysis of countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords. Then, the map illustrating the research hotspots and knowledge structure was plotted based on the analysis results.
Results: A total of 229 records were obtained, and the number of articles published has increased steadily over the investigated period. The largest increase was observed in 2022. With the highest number of publications and centrality, the United States was the most influential country. The University of Sherbrooke was the most productive institution. Author Boissy P. ranked first in terms of the number of publications, while Tousignant M. ranked highest in cited authors, with 7 publications and 65 citations. The Journal of Arthroplasty published the greatest number of articles, with 29 publications. The most popular keywords from 2018 to 2023 were “home telerehabilitation,” “older adults,” and “physical therapy”. In terms of the strongest citation burst, the top five keywords were associated with “total knee arthroplasty,” “in home tele rehabilitation,” “physical activity,” “motion,” and “range.” The frontier keywords were “patient satisfaction,” “mobile application,” “self-efficacy,” “fear avoidance model,” “home assessment tool,” and “cost benefit analysis.”
Conclusions: The current status and trends in telerehabilitation for hip or knee arthroplasty are presented. A major concern at present is physical therapy for home telerehabilitation in the elderly. In the future, mobile app–based telerehabilitation programs for arthroplasty will continue to be encouraged, and some outcomes, such as “patient satisfaction,” “self-efficacy,” and “cost benefit analysis,” are expected to receive more attention. Our work will serve as a valuable resource, providing fundamental references and a directional guide for future research.
Varus posteromedial rotatory instability (VPMRI) of the elbow is one of the complex elbow instability. The primary sites of injury encompass fractures of the anteromedial coronoid process and injuries to the lateral collateral ligament of the elbow. Some patients may present with involvement of the medial collateral ligament of the elbow. Owing to its distinctive injury mechanism and imaging characteristics, this condition is infrequent in clinical practice and susceptible to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. Literature reviews indicate that conservative management of VPMRI is associated with numerous complications, such as persistent pain, traumatic arthritis, and chronic elbow instability. Consequently, surgical intervention has emerged as the recommended treatment modality. Nonetheless, the lack of systematic research on VPMRI in clinical practice has been inconclusive regarding the optimal internal fixation techniques and surgical approaches. Therefore, investigating the treatment modalities, surgical techniques, and internal fixation strategies for VPMRI associated with coronoid fractures holds substantial importance for informing clinical management. In this review, we systematically synthesize the existing literature on coronoid fractures with VPMRI for offering a valuable reference for future clinical treatment.
Traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (TONFH) refers to ischemic osteonecrosis is resulting from an acute mechanical interruption of the blood supply to the femoral head. The early diagnosis and optimal treatment have been central focuses of research and continue to undergo improvement. Reliable animal models are essential for advancing research into the treatment of the disease. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of tetrapod models (rats, rabbits, dogs, and sheep) and bipod models (emus, ostriches), as well as various modeling methods (traumatic hip dislocation, dissection of the round ligament and ligature of the femoral neck, femoral neck fracture (FNF), reduction and internal fixation after femoral neck fracture, and highly selective disruption of the anterior-superior retinacular vessels). This review examines the advantages, disadvantages, and applicability of each model. Based on blood flow analysis, it proposes a more reliable direction for TONFH modeling: simulating partial blood flow injury in the context of FNF.
Objectives: Delirium is one of the common complications in elderly patients after spinal surgery. Severe delirium can lead to a series of adverse consequences such as drainage tube removal, wound rupture, patient falls, and severe adverse effects. The current research on POD is mostly small sample studies. This study aimed to investigate longitudinal changes in the incidence of hyper-postoperative delirium in patients with lumbar degenerative disease at our institution over the past 11 years and to identify the potential causes of these changes.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study included 7250 patients who underwent surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative diseases at a single center from 2011 to 2021. These patients were diagnosed with delirium through the Confusion Assessment Method and then diagnosed with high activity delirium through the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale, totaling 130 cases. According to the incidence rate of hyper-postoperative delirium within 11 years, the trend test is divided into three groups: S1 upward trend (2011–2014), S2 downward trend (2015–2016) and S3 upward trend (2016–2021). The study collected variables from patients before, during, and after surgery, including gender, age, laboratory tests, anesthesia risk score, New York Heart Association cardiac function grading, number of surgical segments, surgical time, estimated intraoperative blood loss, anesthesia medication, and supplementary analgesic medication in the ward within 3 days after surgery. Kruskal Wallis one-way ANOVA test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, or chi-square test are used to evaluate inter group differences. p < 0.05 is considered statistically significant.
Results: The pooled incidence of hyper-postoperative delirium over the past 11 years was 1.79% (130/7250). The average age of 7250 patients was 54.5 ± 13 years, with a male/female ratio close to 1:1. We statistically analyzed the relevant influencing factors before, during, and after surgery of S1 and S3 in the incidence rate increase group and found no statistical difference between the two groups. Our research results show that the incidence of high activity delirium is correlated with age, number of surgical segments, surgical duration, use of dexmedetomidine, remifentanil, and benzodiazepines, with p < 0.05.
Conclusions: The reduced use of dexmedetomidine, increased use of benzodiazepines, and prolonged surgical time are the reasons for the increased incidence of hyper-postoperative delirium. The joint management of orthopedic surgeons and anesthesiologists during the perioperative period is of great significance in reducing the incidence of hyper-postoperative delirium in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery.
Study Design: Retrospective analysis.
Objective: Kümmell’s disease is an uncommon and complicated spinal condition first described in 1891. Treatment of this disease must be individualized according to the stage of disease and the experience and preference of the surgeon. Nevertheless, the surgical option in Stage III Kümmell’s disease without neurological deficits remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to determine whether PKP or pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) combined with long-segment fixation (LSF) is more effective in treating Kümmell’s disease at Stage III without neurological impairments.
Methods: Between January 2017 and June 2020, 89 patients were treated with PKP or PSO + LSF. The outcomes, including operative time, blood loss, Oswestry Disability Indexes (ODIs), heights of fractured vertebrae, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and kyphosis Cobb angles, were measured at the follow-up time for the PKP group and PSO + LSF group. Fisher’s exact test or chi-square test for number and percentage data was employed to compare statistical analyses between two groups.
Results: Forty-six patients underwent PKP and 43 patients who treated by PSO + LSF. Postoperative measurements showed substantial improvements in kyphosis Cobb angle and vertebral height in the PKP group compared to preoperative measurements. Operating time, estimated blood loss, and duration of stay were all reduced in the PKP group compared to the PSO + LSF group. The PSO + LSF group had better correction of a kyphotic Cobb angle than the PKP group. Short-term monitoring showed that the PKP group had fewer ODI and VAS scores than the PSO + LSF group. In addition, no significant neurological symptoms were found after operation in both groups. The complication rates of PKP and PSO + LSF groups were 10.87% and 9.30%, respectively.
Conclusions: Kümmell’s disease in Stage III without neurological symptoms responded to both PKP and PSO + LSF as safe and efficient treatments. Despite limited correction of kyphotic Cobb angle, PKP patients had better early clinical outcomes, increased fractured vertebral height, decreased blood loss, and less surgical trauma compared with the PSO + LSF group.
Objective: Both blood loss and lower extremity swelling after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can affect a patient’s postoperative recovery. The aim of this trial was to investigate whether different doses of intra-articular tranexamic acid (TXA) can reduce blood loss and postoperative lower limb swelling.
Methods: In a prospective, randomized-controlled trial, a total of 225 patients were randomly assigned to three groups from September 2020 through January 2021: intra-articular injections of 3 g, 1 g of TXA, or placebo (saline solution). The primary outcome indicators were perioperative blood loss and decreased hemoglobin levels. The secondary outcome indicators were lower extremity swelling, functional recovery indicators (hospital for special surgery [HSS] scores, range of motion), visual analog scale [VAS] scores, and transfusion rates and safety outcomes, including thromboembolic events, incidence of wound-related complications, and length of hospital stay. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), post hoc Bonferroni correction, Pearson chi-square test and Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis.
Results: Postoperative blood loss was lower in the 1 and 3 g TXA groups (754.00 ± 409.67 mL and 568.70 ± 408.27 mL, respectively) than in the placebo group (977.32 ± 418.69 mL) (p < 0.001). The maximum postoperative decrease in hemoglobin was lower in the 1 and 3 g TXA groups (2.4 ± 0.9 and 1.8 ± 0.9 g/dL, respectively) than in the placebo group (3.1 ± 1.2 g/dL) (p < 0.001). On postoperative Days 1, 2, and 3, the TXA group presented significantly reduced thigh, suprapatellar, and calf swelling and significantly reduced pain scores during exercise. Compared with that in the low-dose group, perioperative blood loss was further reduced in the high-dose TXA group (p = 0.006). However, while patients in the TXA group had improved pain scores, Hospital for Special Surgery scores, and joint range of motion at postoperative rest, these differences were not statistically significant. There were no significant differences in thromboembolic events or complication rates among the three groups.
Conclusion: Topical TXA in total knee arthroplasty was effective in reducing postoperative blood loss by 24%–43% and in reducing postoperative lower extremity swelling and pain during exercise. Higher doses (3 g) of TXA further controlled perioperative blood loss without affecting postoperative lower extremity swelling, and there was no increase in the incidence of related complications during follow-up.
Trial Registration: This study was a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial (RCT). The trial was approved by the Clinical Trials and Biomedical Ethics Committee at our institution (number: 2018.676), all participants provided written informed consent, and the trial was prospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000035271)
Objective: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common knee issue, and hip joint function significantly affects knee health. Gluteus activation exercises are a promising treatment for PFPS. This study aims to investigate the impact of gluteal muscle activation exercises on the muscle involvement and movement patterns of young male patients with PFPS.
Methods: Our study was a randomized controlled clinical trial study from June 2020 to December 2021, included 18 young male patients with PFPS, randomly divided into two groups: the gluteus activation group (GAG) and control group (CON), with nine cases in each group. The GAG underwent gluteal muscle activation exercises for 40 min per session, three times per week, for 6 weeks; the CON received no intervention. At baseline and after 6 weeks, the integrated electromyography (IEMG), contribution rates (CRs), and activation times (ATs) of the gluteus maximus (GM), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST) muscles of the affected lower limb during stair-climbing exercise were assessed. Additionally, the explosive power (EP) of the lower limbs and the visual analog scale (VAS) pain value of the knee joint were evaluated. Paired sample t-tests and independent sample t-tests were used to compare the differences within and between groups.
Results: After 6 weeks, the GAG showed a significant increase in the IEMG of GM by 118 ± 67.09 µVs compared to CON (p < 0.05), and an increase in the CR of the GM by 6.75% (p < 0.05). Additionally, the AT of the GM and BF was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), and the lower limb EP increased by 14.66% compared to the CON (p < 0.05). Concurrently, there was a very significant reduction in the knee VAS pain score (p < 0.01). The CON exhibited no significant changes in the EMG indices of the lower limbs, EP, and VAS before and after the 6 weeks (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: A 6-week gluteal muscle activation training program for patients with PFPS can adjust and optimize the IEMG, CR, and firing order of the lower limb muscle groups, enhance EP, and alleviate pain.
Objectives: Benign and malignant intraosseous schwannomas are rare, and primarily documented in case reports. This study aims to elucidate the differences in clinical features and imaging manifestations between these tumors. This will help clinicians identify malignant lesions at an early stage, reliable guide treatment decisions, and accurately predict outcomes.
Methods: Eighteen patients who underwent surgery and got pathological examinations in our hospital from 2012 to 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 14 cases were found benign with 4 malignant. In the benign group, patients underwent curettage followed by bone grafting, whereas the malignant group was treated with extensive resection or amputation. Patients’ demographics and radiographic features, including gender, age at diagnosis, symptom duration, tumor location, tumor margin, and the ratio of sclerotic margins were documented and compared between these tumors. All imaging was reviewed by two fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists, who also quantified the sclerotic margin ratio. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to determine inter-observer agreement. The Mann–Whitney U test was applied for continuous clinical variables, and the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables.
Results: In our series, the mean age of these patients was 43.1 ± 14.0 years, six patients were male and 12 were female. Pain was the predominant preoperative symptom. The average duration from symptom onset to initial physician visit was 28.5 ± 25.3 months for benign schwannomas and 8.3 ± 4.3 months for malignant schwannomas (p = 0.012). On plain radiographs, 13 (13/14) of benign schwannomas exhibited well-defined margins of bone destruction, compared to 1 (1/4) of malignant schwannomas (p = 0.019). Furthermore, benign schwannomas had a significantly higher sclerotic margin ratio (75.5%) than malignant ones (16.7%) (p = 0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of cortical bone destruction (p = 1.0). On MRI, both tumors demonstrated intermediate to slightly hypointense signal intensity on T1-weighted images and heterogeneous high signal intensities on T2-weighted images.
Conclusions: Despite their rarity, benign and malignant intraosseous schwannomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with painful and radiographically lytic bone lesions, especially in the mandible, sacrum, and vertebrae. The ratio of sclerotic margins, which we proposed for the first time, in combination with symptom duration and the clarity of tumor margins, provide valuable diagnostic clues for distinguishing the malignancy of the tumors.
Objectives: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has been widely used in the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease (CDDD). Previous studies have demonstrated that the size of implants in ACDF determines radiological and clinical outcomes. However, the principles of choosing an appropriate implant size in ACDF remain controversial. The study aimed to elucidate the influence of the cage size of Zero-profile implant system and offer proposals on the selection of implant size during ACDF.
Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 109 patients who underwent single-level ACDF from March 2011 to April 2020 with the Zero-profile implant system. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the preoperative mean height of adjacent segments (Hm). Clinical outcomes included the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores (JOA), Neck Disability Index (NDI) and visual analog scale (VAS). In addition, radiographical analysis encompassed cervical lordosis (CL), functional spinal unit (FSU) angle, range of motion (ROM) of the total cervical spine and the FSU, anterior and posterior FSU height, C1–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), C2–C7 SVA, the center of gravity of the head (CGH)-C7 SVA as well as T1 slope (T1S) measurements. Besides, bone fusion rates, anterior bone loss, subsidence, and adjacent segment degeneration were also recorded.
Results: Overall, 37 patients in Group A had an implant size ≥ Hm while 72 patients in Group B had an implant size < Hm. The preoperative general data and radiological parameters were comparable between the groups. At the last follow-up, both groups had satisfactory clinical outcomes. As for radiological outcomes, the anterior and posterior FSU heights were significantly higher in Group A compared to Group B (p < 0.05) after ACDF. Besides, both groups corrected and maintained the CL and FSU. However, the average C1–C7 SVA and C2–C7 SVA at the last follow-up were significantly higher in the Group B than in the Group A (C1–C7 SVA: 27.42 ± 9.23 mm vs. 31.76 ± 10.68 mm, p = 0.038; C2–C7 SVA: 14.65 ± 7.27 mm vs. 19.64 ± 8.68, p = 0.003). Additionally, the fusion rates were significantly higher in Group A at the first two follow-up visits.
Conclusion: Our study showed that an appropriate size of Zero-profile implant system is crucial to achieving favorable clinical and radiological outcomes after performing ACDF. Implants with a larger height but not oversize could maintain the cervical sagittal balance and FSU height and achieve early bone fusion. Therefore, a larger height might be a better choice for achieving a satisfactory long-term prognosis if Zero-profile implants of adjacent size both fit the disc space properly.
Objective: During percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID), a range of technologies including medical robotics, visual navigation, and spatial registration have been proposed to expand the application scope and success rate of minimally invasive surgery. The use of robotic technology in surgery is conducive to improving accuracy and reducing risk. This study aims to introduce a precise and efficient targeting method tailored for robot-assisted positioning under C-arm fluoroscopy inPEID.
Methods: This study conducted a retrospective analysis of 107 patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who underwent surgical treatment at our hospital from February 2023 to February 2024 (average age: 43.3 ± 13.3 years; 61 males and 43 females). The method entails constructing a specialized end-effector capable of simultaneous fluoroscopy calibration and robot-to-image-space registration. The average time of the surgical procedure and the average number of fluoroscopy exposures were collected. Preoperative and postoperative follow-up data were collected, including assessment scores from the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Paired t-tests were employed to compare differences in each clinical outcome between the preoperative and follow-up time.
Results: These techniques effectively reduce both radiation exposure and operation time. Clinical data reveals that the average time for robot-assisted positioning stands at 2.5 ± 0.7 min, with anteroposterior and lateral radiographs demonstrating accuracies of 2.4 ± 2.8 mm and 3.1 ± 3.7 mm, respectively, during robot-assisted positioning. Postoperative VAS scores for back pain and leg pain were significantly lower than preoperative scores (1.2 ± 1.8 vs. 4.1 ± 2.3, 0.9 ± 2.0 vs. 5.9 ± 1.8; p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively). Postoperative JOA scores were significantly higher than preoperative scores (26.1 ± 3.5 vs. 14.5 ± 4.9; p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Through the evaluation of the system in robot-assisted positioning during PEID, this study substantiates the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method in clinical applications.
Objective: There are many advantages to stabilize the posterior pelvic ring injuries with a transiliac-transsacral (TITS) screw percutaneously. To identify the correct entry point and insert a guidewire accurately for a TITS screw, we propose a method of specifying the optimal entry point, and introduce a technique of enabling freehand placement of a guidewire with fluoroscopic guidance.
Methods: In this retrospective study, 116 patients who underwent pelvic CT scans and pelvic lateral radiographs at our institution from January 2020 to April 2022 were enrolled. The optimal entry point for a TITS screw was formulated in the strict mid-sagittal CT plane, and then transferred to the pelvic lateral radiograph relying on the sacral cortexes which were easily visible even in the poor fluoroscopy. The relative position of this point to other anatomical markers was checked to confirm its feasibility as an entry point. With the method to locate the entry point, 18 patients suffered the posterior pelvic ring injuries were treated with TITS screws through hammering a reverse Kirschner wire (K-wire) to insert a guidewire assisted by a canula, followed by the validation of the screw placement accuracy.
Results: The transferred point in radiograph was consistently beneath the sacral alar slope, and located posteroinferior to the iliac cortical density (ICD) and anterosuperior to the sacral nerve root tunnel in all 116 patients. In clinical practice, 18 TITS screws were successfully placed in 18 patients without cortex violation. The average operative time for each screw was 20.11 ± 6.29 min, with an average of 14.11 ± 6.81 fluoroscopic shots per screw. At the 3-month follow-up, fracture healing was confirmed in all patients. The average Majeed score was 89.61 ± 6.90 at the final follow-up.
Conclusions: It’s feasible to identify an entry point for a TITS screw based on the sacral cortexes, and hammering a reverse K-wire assisted by a percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) canula is a safe and practical technique for guidewire insertion.
Objective: Charcot arthropathy is characterized by varying degrees of sensory loss and rapidly progressive joint destruction. Historically, limited studies indicated that Charcot arthropathy of the hip joint may be a contraindication for total hip arthroplasty (THA). Yet, some recent studies have shown that good clinical results and acceptable survival rate. Hence, this study aimed to investigate clinical outcomes, radiographic outcomes, complication rates and survivorship of primary THA in Charcot arthropathy.
Methods: We retrospectively included 11 patients (11 hips) with Charcot arthropathy who underwent THA between 1998 and 2016. All involved patients were diagnosed as syphilis. All patients had classic radiographic findings of Charcot arthropathy. The hip braces were used in all patients for six weeks after surgery. Outcome measures included VAS, Oxford Hip Score, and UCLA score. Statistical analyses involved t-tests, chi-square tests, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis.
Results: The average follow-up period was 81.73 months. The average VAS, Oxford Hip Score, and UCLA score were improved significantly. There was higher complication rate of 45.5% after THA. Reoperation was carried out in two patients due to dislocation and acetabular component loosening. The Kaplan–Meier survivorship with an end point of reoperation for any reason was 81.8%.
Conclusions: THA is proved to be reasonable in improving hip joint function, which is suitable for patients with Charcot hip joint. Although the complication rate is high, we consider that THA combined with hip brace may be a valid treatment choice for Charcot arthropathy with detailed preoperative planning and proper precautions.
Objective: Aseptic loosening (AL) is a common mechanical complication following reconstruction of the distal femoral cemented prosthesis (DFCP), often resulting in severe bone loss, which complicates prosthesis revision. 3D-printed personalized implants represent an emerging solution for the reconstruction of complex bone defects. This study aimed to investigate the early therapeutic effects of using a 3D-printed, customized, uncemented stem prosthesis for revising aseptic AL in DFCP.
Methods: From June 2021 to December 2022, a retrospective review was conducted on six consecutive patients who underwent revision surgery due to AL of the DFCP with a 3D-printed customized uncemented stem prosthesis. The study included four male and two female patients, with an average age of 58 ± 11 (range: 46–75) years. All six patients had previously undergone limb salvage surgery using a cemented megaprosthesis after tumor resection. Preoperative imaging evaluation was performed for all patients, and the personalized design of the prostheses was achieved through 3D printing based on CT imaging data. Regular clinical and radiographic follow-up was conducted postoperatively, with the main outcome measures being oncological outcomes, prosthesis survival, osseointegration, complications, and lower limb function.
Results: All patients successfully underwent surgery and were followed up for a mean duration of 30.33 ± 6.15 (range: 24–38) months. All patients were alive at the last follow-up, with no tumor recurrence or distant metastasis. No complications such as infection, loosening, or fracture of the prosthesis occurred. Osseointegration was satisfactory, with a mean MSTS score of 26 (range: 20–28) points.
Conclusion: 3D-printed, customized, uncemented stem prosthesis exhibit immediate initial stability and reliable biocompatibility. Early clinical outcomes are satisfactory, making them an effective method for revision AL of DFCP.
Objective: With the global aging population, the incidence of OA is rising annually, and the number of TKA surgeries is rapidly increasing, placing a heavy economic and healthcare burden on society. As one of the key medications in the ERAS protocol, DXM can significantly reduce postoperative pain, suppress nausea and vomiting, and accelerate patient recovery. However, the safety of perioperative DXM use in patients with diabetes remains unclear. This study aims to clarify the safety of perioperative DXM application in diabetic patients.
Methods: This retrospective analysis involved 285 patients with type 2 diabetes and late-stage knee osteoarthritis who underwent unilateral TKA at the Joint Surgery Center of Peking University Third Hospital from January 2019 to November 2022. After application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 161 patients were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had received continuous intravenous administration of DXM for 3 days postoperatively: the DXM group (n = 66) and the non-DXM group (n = 95). All other treatments and medications were the same in both groups. The patients’ PBG, incidence of PONV, length of hospital stay, pain scores, and clinical data were collected and compared between the two groups.
Results: There were no significant differences in the general preoperative data between the DXM and non-DXM groups. The average PBG and the proportion of patients with levels exceeding 200 mg/dL were not significantly different between the two groups (10.84 mg/dL vs. 11.05 mg/dL and 43.2% vs. 43.9%). The postoperative visual analog scale scores (3.67 vs. 2.48) and the incidence of PONV were significantly lower in the DXM than non-DXM group (40% vs. 16%). The preoperative level of glycated hemoglobin accurately predicted PBG. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of early postoperative complications between the groups.
Conclusions: The administration of DXM after unilateral TKA can effectively reduce postoperative pain and suppress the occurrence of PONV without affecting PBG in patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, the preoperative level of glycated hemoglobin can accurately predict PBG.
Objective: Popliteal artery injury is a rare but serious complication of arthroscopic knee surgery. The absence of comprehensive data and standardized guidelines underscores the urgent need for further investigation. This study examines the incidence, risk factors, management strategies, and long-term outcomes of popliteal artery injury in the context of arthroscopic knee procedures.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing data from 21 medical institutions in Hunan Province, China, from January 2018 to December 2022. We identified patients who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and complained of postsurgical popliteal artery injury. Patients were followed up for 43.1 ± 13.23 months (ranging from 22 to 58 months). The primary outcome was joint function, which was evaluated by a postoperative range of motion (ROM), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores, Lysholm knee scores, and Visual Vascular Quality of Life Questionnaire (VascuQoL) scores. These data from different postoperative periods were compared via paired t-test to assess postoperative recovery. The secondary outcome was vascular patency of the affected limb, which was evaluated through vascular color Doppler ultrasound.
Results: Among the 17,000 knee arthroscopic procedures analyzed, 10 patients were identified with popliteal artery injury (0.059%). The surgeries performed included arthroscopic cystectomy for popliteal cysts, cruciate ligament reconstruction, and posterior horn of the lateral meniscus repair. Treatments for popliteal artery injury included percutaneous intravascular stent implantation (one patient), direct suture repair (four patients), allograft vascular transplantation (one patient), and reconstruction with an autogenous greater saphenous vein (four patients). After a mean follow-up time of 43.1 ± 13.23 months (ranging from 22 to 58 months), no complications were reported. Compared with patients at 1 month after surgery, patients at 2 years after surgery presented improved knee function and ROM. The average Lysholm score increased significantly from 13.8 ± 4.21 to 68.2 ± 15.50, the IKDC score increased from 11.6 ± 2.46 to 48.1 ± 11.75, and the VascuQoL score improved from 54.8 ± 9.54 to 92.5 ± 15.90. Knee extension improved from 13.3° ± 2.36° to 3.5° ± 4.12°, and knee flexion increased from 49.5° ± 12.57° to 107° ± 21.63°. All patients successfully resumed daily activities postoperatively.
Conclusion: Popliteal artery injury is a catastrophic complication that warrants significant attention during knee arthroscopy. This injury can occur in various types of arthroscopic knee procedures. Prompt diagnosis and effective intervention are crucial for minimizing the potential detriment associated with popliteal artery injury.
Objectives: Although total hip arthroplasty (THA) effectively alleviates pain and restores joint function in the end-stage hip disease, challenges remain in achieving precise osteotomy and minimizing subjective dependency on prosthesis positioning. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of preoperative virtual planning and navigation templates compared to conventional techniques, providing new methods to enhance the precision and personalization of THA.
Methods: During the period from 2022 to 2023, we conducted a retrospective case–control study on 74 patients who underwent THA surgery at our hospital, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study included 42 patients in the traditional method group, who underwent preoperative planning and surgical procedures according to traditional methods; and 32 patients in the digital assistance group, who used computer-assisted virtual preoperative planning and three-dimensional printed personalized navigation templates to assist in the surgery. The main parameters of the two groups were compared, including surgical time, blood loss, postoperative femoral anteversion, neck-shaft angle, anatomical-mechanical femoral axis angle (aMFA), leg length discrepancy (LLD), and the angle of hip prosthesis placement. The Harris hip score was recorded both preoperatively and at the final follow-up to assess the accuracy of the prosthesis placement and the prognosis of the patients.
Results: There were no significant differences in femoral anteversion, neck-shaft angle, aMFA, or LLD between the two groups. However, the digital group showed smaller deviations between the planned and actual acetabular prosthesis angles compared to the conventional group, with shorter operative times and reduced blood loss. Follow-up Harris hip scores were significantly higher in the digital group (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Digital technology enhances the accuracy and reproducibility of prosthesis placement in THA, reduces operative time and blood loss, and shows a promising potential for broader application.
Objective: Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a novel orthopedic technique. The workflow of robotic-assisted TKA is quite different from that of traditional manual TKA and may result incompletely different resection parameters. Understanding these parameters may help surgeons better perform robotic-assisted TKA. This study aims to analyze the specific resection parameters of robotic-assisted TKA.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 85 MAKO-assisted TKA surgeries performed by three surgeons at our institution between May 2021 and November 2023. All patients had unilateral primary knee arthritis, and a Triathlon PS (Stryker) knee prosthesis was used. Intraoperative resection plan, radiological outcomes, and clinical outcomes were collected among them. The angle between the transepicondylar axis (TEA) and the femoral prosthesis axis was defined as rTEA, the angle between the posterior condylar axis (PCA) and the femoral prosthesis axis was defined as rPCA. The t-test and the Chi-square test (or Fisher’s exact probability test) were used to determine differences in categorical variables.
Results: rTEA averaged 2.7° (range, 0°–6.7°), and rPCA averaged 4.9° (range, 0.2°–9.6°). The mean resection of the medial distal femur was 7.7 mm (range, 3.0–12.5), that of the lateral tibial plateau was 6.4 mm (range, 1.5–13.0), and that of the medial posterior condyle of the femur was 10.6 mm (range, 6.5–17.5), whereas that of the lateral posterior condyle of the femur was 6.7 mm (range, 2.0–13.0).
Conclusion: Robotic-assisted TKA using the ligament balancing workflow generally resulted in greater external rotation than reported reference values for conventional manual TKA within the existing literature, with reference to both the TEA and PCA. In addition, tibial resection was generally less, and the joint line was generally shifted upwards.
Objective: Type IV fragility fractures of pelvis (FFP IV) are serious and complicated and the treatment is challengeable. Robotic-assisted minimally invasive triangular fixation (RoboTFX) is a new and advanced technique to treat this injury. The objective of this report is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of FFP IV treated with RoboTFX.
Methods: From March 2017 to December 2022, 22 consecutive patients with FFP IV were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical method employed (RoboTFX or robotic-assisted minimally invasive iliosacral screws, RoboISS). Between two groups, we compared clinical data on operation time, intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative fluoroscopy time, favorable fracture healing rate, implant loosening rate, and Majeed pelvic outcome score.
Results: All operations were undertaken from 3 to 15 days (average 5.7 ± 1.7 days) following primary injuries. All patients were followed up continuously 15 months. The average surgical time was 125.3 ± 15.5 (55–190) min in group RoboTFX, 137.1 ± 17.2 min in group RoboISS (p > 0.05). The average amount of intraoperative bleeding was 320.4 ± 25.2 (50–550) mL in group RoboTFX, 302.4 ± 21.5 (50–500) mL in Group 2 (p > 0.05). The average intraoperative fluoroscopy time of the two groups was 23.3 ± 4.5 (15–35) s in group RoboTFX and 40.3 ± 3.8 (10–75) s in group RoboISS (p < 0.05). No patients experienced loss of reduction, 5 of 40 screws had implant loosening in group RoboTFX, meanwhile 13 of 48 screws had implant loosening in Group 2. Four of 20 vertical sacral fractures were healed undesirable including 2 nonunion and the favorable healing rate of 80% in group RoboTFX, meanwhile 8 of 24 fractures were undesirable including 4 nonunion and the favorable healing rate was 66.7% in group RoboISS. Implant loosening rate in the RoboTFX group were all significantly better than those of the RoboISS group (p < 0.05). There were no occurrences of wound infection in both groups, and Majeed scores for the last follow-up were 76.2 ± 3.4 in group RoboTFX and 74.2 ± 2.7 in group RoboISS (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: RoboTFX has the advantages of less intraoperative fluoroscopy and implant loosening rate compared to RoboISS which is better than other methods. We thus recommend RoboTFX as an effective option for treating FFP IV. However, the indications of its operation should be strictly evaluated.
Objective: Due to the poor skin mobility of the heel, there are few reports on the efficacy and safety of skin-stretching devices in the treatment of soft-tissue defects of the heel. Redesigning the claws of the stretching devices may be one of the solutions to the problem. This study was designed to investigate the clinical effect of self-modified skin-stretching device in the treatment of soft-tissue defects in the heel.
Methods: From December 2017 to March 2022, 23 patients with heel soft-tissue defects were enrolled. There were 15 males and 8 females, with a mean age of 50 years (range, 28–73 years). Defect size, time of wound closure, duration of stretching time, and complications were documented. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot score was used to evaluate functional outcomes, and pain was assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS) at the last follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed using t-tests and Mann–Whitney U test.
Results: The mean follow-up time was 14.2 months. Primary wound closure was performed in 6 patients and delayed wound closure in 17 patients. The average time of wound closure was 14.3 days, and the average duration of stretching time was 23.5 days. Complications were observed in 9 patients. Finally, all wounds were healed. At the last follow-up, the average AOFAS score was 86.7, with 9 excellent, 13 good, and 1 fair results. The mean VAS score was 2.6.
Conclusions: Self-modified skin-stretching device is another option for treating heel soft-tissue defects. The technique can achieve good appearance and function with a low price and easy to install.
Study Design: A retrospective and consecutive study.
Objective: To demonstrate the curve evolution of distal non-structural compensatory curves in patients with congenital cervicothoracic hemivertebra (CTH) scoliosis undergoing posterior-only hemivertebra resection and to propose the possible mechanisms of this specific phenomenon.
Summary of Background Data: Though the spinal alignment could be well corrected via posterior hemivertebra resection in CTH patients, the high prevalence of distal curve progression was remarkable. However, the curve behavior of distal non-structural compensatory curves and its possible mechanisms were unclear.
Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of CTH patients undergoing posterior-only hemivertebra resection with a minimum 24 months follow-up. The parameters measured in coronal plane included local scoliosis, clavicle angle, head shift, and the Cobb angle of distal unfused segments. The distal curve was considered as an emerging scoliosis (ES) if with more than 20° progression and the apex of distal curve no less than 2 levels away from the lower instrumented vertebra.
Results: A total of 51 CTH patients with a mean age of 8.5 ± 3.8 years at surgery and a mean 38.0 ± 5.3 months follow-up were recruited. The correction of local scoliosis and clavicle angle was statistically significant (p < 0.05 for all). The distal compensatory curve was 11.8 ± 5.3° before surgery and 6.5° ± 4.1° after surgery (p < 0.001), which was slightly increased to 11.6° ± 10.9° (p = 0.002) at the latest follow-up. During follow-up, the increase of distal compensatory curve was significantly correlated with the change in clavicle angle (r = 0.49, p = 0.038). The ES was observed in 10 patients (19.6%) with an average value of 28.0 ± 2.1° at diagnosis, including 7 patients within 6 months and 3 patients after 5 years postoperatively. The mean value of ES was 31.9° ± 3.1° at the latest follow-up, while no patients required revision surgery. The ES was classified into compensatory and idiopathic types according to the typical curve behaviors. The compensatory ES usually presented within 6 months after operation and was responsible for further reconstruction of head and shoulder balance. While the idiopathic ES occurred at adolescent which may be related to the rapid body growth.
Conclusions: Distal compensatory curve had a tendency toward slight progression during follow-up in CTH patients with posterior hemivertebra resection surgery. The prevalence of emerging scoliosis was 19.6% and the typical compensatory and idiopathic curve behavior were firstly proposed. Close and longitudinal follow-up was thus highly recommended for CTH patients with posterior HV resection surgery.
Objective: Central sensitization (CS) is associated with quality of life (QOL) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, how CS changes after TKA and whether these changes have clinical relevance remain unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify changes in CS after TKA and to assess the clinical significance of these changes.
Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 92 patients between January 2021 and May 2023. CS severity was quantified using the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI). One year after TKA, the patients were divided into groups based on whether CS severity improved by ≥ 1 level (improved group) or did not improve (non-improved group). The differences in preoperative and postoperative characteristics of patients in the two groups were analyzed. These characteristics included demographics, underlying diseases, physical examinations, and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score. QOL improvement was compared based on two different minimal clinically important changes (MIC) in the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Continuous variables were compared using Student’s t-test or the Mann–Whitney U-test. The chi-squared test was used to compare categorical variables.
Results: The postoperative CS severity in patients was significantly lower compared to preoperative levels (p < 0.001). The improved group exhibited a lower HSS knee pain score (p < 0.001). Out of the eight SF-36 scales, five showed significantly greater improvement in the improved group compared to the non-improved group. The mean postoperative increases in scores for all eight SF-36 scales exceeded the MIC in the improved group, whereas half of the scales fell below the MIC in the non-improved group.
Conclusions: CS showed improvement after TKA, particularly in patients with more severe preoperative pain. This improvement appears to be correlated with the improvement in QOL after TKA.
Objective: Reverse obliquity intertrochanteric fracture is an unstable type of fracture. Current guidelines recommend intramedullary fixation, but there are still complications such as screw removal, hip varus, nail withdrawal, and nail fracture. The objective of this study was to use finite element analysis to compare the biomechanical properties of the novel proximal femoral bionic nail (PFBN), proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA), and combined compression interlocking intramedullary nail (InterTan) in the treatment of reverse obliquity intertrochanteric fractures (AO/OTA 31-A3.1).
Methods: The three-dimensional models of PFBN, PFNA, InterTan, and the A3.1 type intertrochanteric fracture model were established by using modeling software such as Mimics and Unigraphics. Different force loads were implemented using ANSYS software to compare finite element biomechanical parameters, such as maximum stress in the implant and maximum stress and displacement at the proximal femur.
Results: In this finite element study, we found that the distribution trend of maximum femoral stress and displacement in the femoral models of the three internal fixation groups was similar, but the maximum stress and maximum displacement were the lowest in the PFBN group, and the maximum stress of the internal fixation implant in the PFBN group was lower than that in the PFNA group and the InterTan group. The maximum stress and displacement of the femur in the PFNA group were 403.71 MPa and 14.274 mm, respectively, the maximum stress and displacement in the InterTan group were 362.72 MPa and 10.678 mm, and the maximum stress and displacement in the PFBN group were 186.23 MPa and 9.7068 mm. In the internal fixation implant model, the maximum stress of the PFNA group was 1445 MPa, the maximum stress of the InterTan group was 919.62 MPa, and the maximum stress of the PFBN group was the lowest, at 911.77 MPa.
Conclusion: Compared to PFNA and InterTan, PFBN designed by the “lever – reconstruction – balance” hypothesis can provide better biomechanical stability. It is a feasible choice for the future treatment of reverse intertrochanteric fracture, and additional clinical studies are required to substantiate its efficacy.
Objective: In the field of diagnosing the adult discoid lateral meniscus (DLM), MRI has undergone extensive research. However, the use of MRI for diagnosing DLM in children and adolescents remains controversial. This study aimed to explore the diagnostic efficiency of MRI for DLM in children and adolescents and to determine the diagnostic value of these indicators.
Methods: This retrospective study included children (aged between 4 and 11 years) and adolescents (aged between 12 and 17 years) from September 1, 2019 to January 1, 2023, who were diagnosed with lateral meniscus (LM) or DLM injury through arthroscopic surgery. All patients underwent a 3 T MRI examination before surgery. The MRI indicators included the LM width (LMW), ratio of the LMW to the tibia (RMT), percent coverage of the meniscus (PCM), tibial width (TW), height of the medial tibial spine (HMTS), height of the lateral tibial spine (HLTS), tibial eminence width (TEW), lateral slope angle of the medial tibial eminence (LSAMTE), lateral slope angle of the lateral tibial eminence (LSALTE), and presence of three “bow tie signs.” A diagnostic efficacy analysis of all indicators was conducted to determine characteristic MRI diagnostic indicators and analyze their diagnostic value. Pearson’s correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlation between diagnostic indicators and baseline information.
Results: This study included 90 patients (26 with LM injuries and 64 with DLM injuries). The average age was 12.81 ± 4.34 years, height was 151.24 ± 23.82 cm, weight was 48.20 ± 21.82 kg, and BMI was 19.69 ± 4.22 kg/m2. A total of 10 MRI indicators were included and evaluated for their diagnostic value. The comparison between the DLM and LM groups revealed significant differences in LMW, TW, RMT, PCM, LSAMTE, and “bow tie signs” (p < 0.05). In the diagnostic efficacy analysis, LMW had a sensitivity of 85.94%, specificity of 76%, and accuracy of 83.13%; RMT had a sensitivity of 95.31%, specificity of 76%, and accuracy of 89.89%; PCM had a sensitivity of 75.28%, specificity of 60%, and accuracy of 75.28%; LSAMTE had a sensitivity of 72.92%, specificity of 84%, and accuracy of 72.92%; and “bow tie signs” had a sensitivity of 80.95%, specificity of 81.25%, and accuracy of 81.11%.
Conclusion: The MRI diagnosis of DLM in children and adolescents can be based on LMW, RMT, PCM, LSAMTE, and “bow-tie signs,” with these indicators demonstrating good diagnostic efficacy.
Objective: Soft tissue defects and postoperative wound healing complications related to calcaneus fractures may result in significant morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether percutaneous minimally invasive screw internal fixation (PMISIF) can change this situation in the treatment of calcaneal fractures, and aimed to explore the mechanical effects of different internal fixation methods on Sanders type III calcaneal fractures through finite element analysis.
Methods: This retrospective analysis focused on 83 patients with Sanders II and III calcaneal fractures from March 2017 to March 2022. Among them, 32 patients underwent PMISIF, 24 patients underwent tarsal sinus incision plate internal fixation (TSIPIF), and 27 patients underwent extended lateral incision plate internal fixation (ELIPIF). The present study aimed to compare various parameters, including the perioperative hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, postoperative drainage volume, incidence of postoperative wound complications, and Gissane angle and Bohler angle data before surgery, after surgery, and at the last follow-up, among the three treatment groups. Additionally, three different finite element models were created to simulate Sanders III calcaneal fractures treated with PMISIF, TSIPIF, and ELIPIF. The models were subjected to longitudinal stresses of 350 and 700 N, and the displacement and stress distribution were analyzed to compare the stability of each model.
Results: Compared with ELIPIF and TSIPIF, PMISIF has several advantages, including shorter operative times, smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, and lower incidences of postoperative complications. At the 12-month time point after the operation, the percentages of patients with excellent and good American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) functional scores were 96.9%, 91.7%, and 96.2%, respectively, for the three methods, demonstrating similar outcomes. Intraoperative blood loss in the PMISIF group was comparable to that in the TSIPIF group and lower than that in the ELIPIF group. There were no significant differences in the Gissane or Bohler angles among the three groups before or after the operation. However, the differences in the Gissane and Bohler angles after the operation within each group were statistically significant compared with those before the operation. Finite element analysis revealed that stress in all three internal fixation models was primarily concentrated on the subtalar articular surface, whereas displacement was mainly observed on the medial side of the subtalar articular surface. The peak stress and displacement of bone fragments and implants in the PMISIF model were lower than those in both the TSIPIF and ELIPIF models.
Conclusion: PMISIF can achieve excellent and good rates comparable to those of TSIPIF and ELIPIF. Additionally, this approach offers the advantages of reduced operative trauma, a lower incidence of complications, and shorter preoperative preparation and hospitalization times. Furthermore, this approach can achieve a similar level of biomechanical stability.
Objective: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is characterized by structural changes. Aging is a major risk factor for KOA. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the role of genes related to aging and circadian rhythms in KOA.
Methods: This study identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing gene expression levels between normal and KOA samples from the GEO database. Subsequently, we intersected the DEGs with aging-related circadian rhythm genes to obtain a set of aging-associated circadian rhythm genes differentially expressed in KOA. Next, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, using the differentially expressed aging-related circadian rhythm genes in KOA as the exposure factors, their SNPs as instrumental variables, and KOA as the outcome event, to explore the causal relationship between these genes and KOA. We then performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to investigate the pathways associated with the selected biomarkers, conducted immune infiltration analysis, built a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, and performed molecular docking studies. Additionally, the findings and functional roles of the biomarkers were further validated through experiments on human cartilage tissue and cell models.
Results: A total of 75 differentially expressed aging-circadian rhythm related genes between the normal group and the KOA group were identified by difference analysis, primarily enriched in the circadian rhythm pathway. Two biomarkers (PFKFB4 and DDIT4) were screened by MR analysis. Then, immune infiltration analysis showed significant differences in three types of immune cells (resting dendritic cells, resting mast cells, and M2 macrophages), between the normal and KOA groups. Drug prediction and molecular docking results indicated stable binding of PFKFB4 to estradiol and bisphenol_A, while DDIT4 binds stably to nortriptyline and trimipramine. Finally, cell lines with stable expression of the biomarkers were established by lentiviral infection and resistance screening, Gene expression was significantly elevated in overexpressing cells of PFKFB4 and DDIT4 and reversed the proliferation and migration ability of cells after IL-1β treatment.
Conclusions: Two diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers associated with aging-circadian rhythm in KOA were identified. Functional analysis, molecular mechanism exploration, and experimental validation further elucidated their roles in KOA, offering novel perspectives for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
Objective: As an effective treatment for spinal metastasis (SM), ERAS protocol can significantly reduce the length of hospital stay and complications in patients. Establishing an ERAS program for perioperative care after SM surgery is a clinical problem that needs to be addressed urgently. We aimed to develop an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program and Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) that conferred clinical benefit to patients with SM and made it relatively easy to manage the condition. We believe that our findings could help establish and promote the continuous improvement of additional ERAS programs for SM.
Methods: This is a modified Delphi study. We used a two-round process using data acquired from a review of relevant literature and involving a multidisciplinary panel of experts from different hospitals in China. The modified Delphi survey was conducted from February 1, 2024 to April 20, 2024. The experts were invited to evaluate each of the current relevant ERAS recommended topics to determine the appropriateness of inclusion in the ERAS program and SSC with the 5-point Likert scale. Used the results to create specific ERAS and SSC (70% consensus) programs. Close to consensus (65%–69% consensus) findings were considered for the follow-up survey.
Results: A multicenter, multidisciplinary group of physicians (n = 75), including clinical workers, researchers, anesthesiologists, nursing specialists, psychologists, nutritionists, and caregivers, with experience in managing patients with SM, were asked to participate. Using the modified Delphi process, we arrived at a consensus for the ERAS program. This included 37 consolidated items in the domains in the following order: preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative, and discharge. The SSC included 37 consolidated items in the domains in the following order: before the induction of anesthesia, before skin incision, and before the patient leaves the operating room.
Conclusion: This study, based on the modified Delphi process, helped us develop ERAS and SCC consensus-driven best practice recommendations, including suggestions related to perioperative anesthesia, surgery, and nursing for SM. We hope that this study, in which we integrated both traditional Chinese and Western medical treatment protocols, can provide a basis for a rapid rehabilitation program for surgical interventions in SM.
Objective: Surgery to correct the cervicothoracic kyphotic deformity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can be associated with serious neurovascular risks. According to the literature, there are no clinical reports documenting the use of vertebral column decancellation (VCD) in the treatment of cervicothoracic kyphotic deformity in patients with AS. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively analyze and evaluate the effect of VCD on cervicothoracic kyphotic deformity in patients with AS.
Methods: Records of eight patients with cervicothoracic kyphotic deformity who underwent VCD at C7 in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. The mean duration of clinical follow-up after surgery was 19 months. The cervical lordosis (CL) and C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were meticulously measured on full-length spine radiographs. The chin-brow vertical angle (CBVA) was measured on clinical photographs. Outcome measures utilized included the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Score, and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for neck pain. The data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0 for Windows. For paired data adhering to a normal distribution, we utilized paired sample t-tests to analyze preoperative and postoperative imaging parameters. Statistical significance was established at a p value threshold of < 0.01.
Results: All eight patients successfully completed the surgery. With an average VCD osteotomy angle of 47.6° ± 8.1° (±SD), the mean preoperative CBVA was 81.1° ± 17.6° (±SD), while the immediate postoperative value was 19.9° ± 5.7° (±SD). The overall average correction was 61.2° ± 18.9°. The mean preoperative cervical sagittal imbalance was 93.4 ± 27.3 mm (±SD), while the immediate postoperative value was 40.2 ± 18.9 mm (±SD). The overall average correction was 53.2 ± 28.1 mm. None of the eight patients experienced intraoperative complications, including nerve or vascular injury, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, or any other related complications. In the cohort of eight patients, the mean values for estimated blood loss, surgical time, and hospital stay were 1313 mL, 248 min, and 18 days, respectively. In comparison to preoperative scores, statistically significant improvement was noted in all patients in the postoperative period with regard to NDI, JOA, and VAS (p < 0.01, using a paired t-test).
Conclusion: The VCD procedure proves to be a dependable and efficient approach for addressing cervicothoracic kyphotic deformities. It achieves remarkable corrections in cervical kyphosis and CBVA.
Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: 2400090375
Objective: Determining the optimal osteotomy length for patients with unilateral Crowe-IV developmental dysplasia of the hip undergoing subtrochanteric osteotomy remains challenging due to the significant variability in pelvic and spinal alignment. Incorrect osteotomy length, compounded by pelvic or spinal tilt, can adversely affect postoperative gait and long-term outcomes. Therefore, this study could introduce a method to calculate the osteotomy length for patients with unilateral Crowe-IV developmental dysplasia of the hip, correcting spinal and pelvic tilt, and improving patient gait.
Methods: This is a retrospective study that included 28 patients with unilateral Crowe-IV developmental dysplasia of the hip collected from June 2019 to June 2020, who underwent total hip arthroplasty with measured subtrochanteric osteotomy technique. The average follow-up period was 4.3 years (last follow-up). Harris scores, pelvic tilt angles represented by iliac obliquity angle (IO) and sacral obliquity angle (SO), and postoperative complications were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using independent sample t-tests for normally distributed data and the Mann–Whitney U test for non-normally distributed data.
Results: Postoperatively, pelvic tilt angles improved significantly. The comparison of preoperative and postoperative 3-month IO angles (8.77° ± 3.31° vs. 5.28° ± 2.29°, p = 0.00), and postoperative 3-month and last follow-up (5.28° ± 2.29° vs. 2.88° ± 1.39°, p = 0.00) showed statistically significant differences. Similarly, the comparison of preoperative and postoperative 3-month SO angles (9.56° ± 3.1° vs. 5.81° ± 2.78°, p = 0.00), and postoperative 3-month and last follow-up (5.81 °± 2.78° vs. 3.59° ± 1.72°, p = 0.00) showed statistically significant differences. Harris scores significantly improved from preoperative to 1-year postoperative (47.35 ± 12.32 vs. 80.5 ± 7.81, p = 0.00), and from 1-year postoperative to last follow-up (80.5 ± 7.81 vs. 90.78 ± 2.86, p = 0.00) with statistical significance. There were no significant differences in adverse event rates between the two groups.
Conclusion: Total hip arthroplasty combined with measurement subtrochanteric osteotomy technique improves pelvic tilt and Harris scores in Crowe-IV developmental dysplasia patients. This technique may serve as a guideline for determining resection length.
Background and Importance: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease. Andersson lesion (AL) is a late complication of advanced AS. Idiopathic spinal cord hernia (ISCH) is a rare disorder of the spinal cord. However, according to our literature review, the simultaneous occurrence of AL together with ISCH in a single AS patient had never been reported.
Clinical Presentation: A 49-year-old male reported a 30-year history of thoracolumbar pain and limited mobility and was diagnosed with AS with dual complications of AL and ICSH. Before correction surgery, physical examination, x-ray, CT, MRI and Blood HLA-B27 examination were performed and a series of radiological parameters, including the degree of kyphosis and the T1-pelvic angle (TPA), were measured. Several days after surgery (Distal PSO was used), we performed examinations to check the patient’s physical condition which showed the patient recovered remarkably. CTA was done, indicating that the patient’s aorta moved anteriorly with the osteotomy side undamaged. A series of morphological parameters were measured again, including TPA, LL, and TK. CT and MRI were performed again, reflecting significant bone-to-bone fusion and successful recovery. The patient relieved the symptoms and regained his daily activities.
Conclusions: We deepen the understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of AS with rare complications of AL and ISCH. Distal PSO could be an effective option for severe AS patient.