Aims. The aim of this study was to create artificial intelligence (AI) software with the purpose of providing a second opinion to physicians to support distal radius fracture (DRF) detection, and to compare the accuracy of fracture detection of physicians with and without software support. Methods. The dataset consisted of 26,121 anonymized anterior-posterior (AP) and lateral standard view radiographs of the wrist, with and without DRF. The convolutional neural network (CNN)
Aims. Rotator cuff (RC) injuries are characterized by tendon rupture, muscle atrophy, retraction, and fatty infiltration, which increase injury severity and jeopardize adequate tendon repair. Epigenetic drugs, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis), possess the capacity to redefine the molecular signature of cells, and they may have the potential to inhibit the transformation of the fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) within the skeletal muscle into adipocyte-like cells, concurrently enhancing the myogenic potential of the satellite cells. Methods. HDACis were added to FAPs and satellite cell cultures isolated from mice. The HDACi vorinostat was additionally administered into a RC injury animal
Aims. Rotator cuff muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration affect the clinical outcomes of rotator cuff tear patients. However, there is no effective treatment for fatty infiltration at this time. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) helps to activate beige adipose tissue. The goal of this study was to test the role of HIIT in improving muscle quality in a rotator cuff tear
Aims. An objective technological solution for tracking adherence to at-home shoulder physiotherapy is important for improving patient engagement and rehabilitation outcomes, but remains a significant challenge. The aim of this research was to evaluate performance of machine-learning (ML) methodologies for detecting and classifying inertial data collected during in-clinic and at-home shoulder physiotherapy exercise. Methods. A smartwatch was used to collect inertial data from 42 patients performing shoulder physiotherapy exercises for rotator cuff injuries in both in-clinic and at-home settings. A two-stage ML approach was used to detect out-of-distribution (OOD) data (to remove non-exercise data) and subsequently for classification of exercises. We evaluated the performance impact of grouping exercises by motion type, inclusion of non-exercise data for algorithm training, and a patient-specific approach to exercise classification. Algorithm performance was evaluated using both in-clinic and at-home data. Results. The patient-specific approach with engineered features achieved the highest in-clinic performance for differentiating physiotherapy exercise from non-exercise activity (area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) = 0.924). Including non-exercise data in algorithm training further improved classifier performance (random forest, AUROC = 0.985). The highest accuracy achieved for classifying individual in-clinic exercises was 0.903, using a patient-specific method with deep neural network
Aims. Rotator cuff (RC) tears are common musculoskeletal injuries which often require surgical intervention. Noninvasive pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) devices have been approved for treatment of long-bone fracture nonunions and as an adjunct to lumbar and cervical spine fusion surgery. This study aimed to assess the effect of continuous PEMF on postoperative RC healing in a rat RC repair
This study aimed to define the histopathology of degenerated humeral head cartilage and synovial inflammation of the glenohumeral joint in patients with omarthrosis (OmA) and cuff tear arthropathy (CTA). Additionally, the potential of immunohistochemical tissue biomarkers in reflecting the degeneration status of humeral head cartilage was evaluated. Specimens of the humeral head and synovial tissue from 12 patients with OmA, seven patients with CTA, and four body donors were processed histologically for examination using different histopathological scores. Osteochondral sections were immunohistochemically stained for collagen type I, collagen type II, collagen neoepitope C1,2C, collagen type X, and osteocalcin, prior to semiquantitative analysis. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 levels were analyzed in synovial fluid using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Aims
Methods
The optimal choice of management for proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) has been increasingly discussed in the literature, and this work aimed to answer the following questions: 1) what are the incidence rates of PHF in the geriatric population in the USA; 2) what is the mortality rate after PHF in the elderly population, specifically for distinct treatment procedures; and 3) what factors influence the mortality rate? PHFs occurring between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2019 were identified from the Medicare physician service records. Incidence rates were determined, mortality rates were calculated, and semiparametric Cox regression was applied, incorporating 23 demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic covariates, to compare the mortality risk between treatments.Aims
Methods
Introduction. The pathogenesis of rotator cuff disease (RCD) is complex and
not fully understood. This systematic review set out to summarise
the histological and molecular changes that occur throughout the
spectrum of RCD. Methods. We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature
with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results. A total of 101 studies met the inclusion criteria: 92 studies
used human subjects exclusively, seven used animal overuse
Objectives. Cadaveric models of the shoulder evaluate discrete motion segments
using the glenohumeral joint in isolation over a defined trajectory.
The aim of this study was to design, manufacture and validate a
robotic system to accurately create three-dimensional movement of
the upper body and capture it using high-speed motion cameras. Methods. In particular, we intended to use the robotic system to simulate
the normal throwing motion in an intact cadaver. The robotic system
consists of a lower frame (to move the torso) and an upper frame
(to move an arm) using seven actuators. The actuators accurately
reproduced planned trajectories. The marker setup used for motion
capture was able to determine the six degrees of freedom of all
involved joints during the planned motion of the end effector. Results. The testing system demonstrated high precision and accuracy based
on the expected versus observed displacements of individual axes.
The maximum coefficient of variation for displacement of unloaded
axes was less than 0.5% for all axes. The expected and observed
actual displacements had a high level of correlation with coefficients
of determination of 1.0 for all axes. Conclusions. Given that this system can accurately simulate and track simple
and complex motion, there is a new opportunity to study kinematics
of the shoulder under normal and pathological conditions in a cadaveric
shoulder
To evaluate if union of clavicle fractures can be predicted at six weeks post-injury by the presence of bridging callus on ultrasound. Adult patients managed nonoperatively with a displaced mid-shaft clavicle were recruited prospectively. Ultrasound evaluation of the fracture was undertaken to determine if sonographic bridging callus was present. Clinical risk factors at six weeks were used to stratify patients at high risk of nonunion with a combination of Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH) ≥ 40, fracture movement on examination, or absence of callus on radiograph.Aims
Methods
Plating displaced proximal humeral fractures is associated with a high rate of screw perforation. Dynamization of the proximal screws might prevent these complications. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a new gliding screw concept for plating proximal humeral fractures biomechanically. Eight pairs of three-part humeral fractures were randomly assigned for pairwise instrumentation using either a prototype gliding plate or a standard PHILOS plate, and four pairs were fixed using the gliding plate with bone cement augmentation of its proximal screws. The specimens were cyclically tested under progressively increasing loading until perforation of a screw. Telescoping of a screw, varus tilting and screw migration were recorded using optical motion tracking.Aims
Methods
The objective of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing surgical and non-surgical management of fractures of the proximal humerus, and to determine whether further analyses based on complexity of fracture, or the type of surgical intervention, produced disparate findings on patient outcomes. A systematic review of the literature was performed identifying all RCTs that compared surgical and non-surgical management of fractures of the proximal humerus. Meta-analysis of clinical outcomes was performed where possible. Subgroup analysis based on the type of fracture, and a sensitivity analysis based on the type of surgical intervention, were also performed.Objectives
Methods
Injectable Bromelain Solution (IBS) is a modified investigational derivate of the medical grade bromelain-debriding pharmaceutical agent (NexoBrid) studied and approved for a rapid (four-hour single application), eschar-specific, deep burn debridement. We conducted an Specially prepared medical grade IBS was injected into fresh Dupuytren’s cords excised from patients undergoing surgical fasciectomy. These cords were tested by tension-loading them to failure with the Zwick 1445 (Zwick GmbH & Co. KG, Ulm, Germany) tension testing system.Objectives
Materials and Methods
Traumatic brachial plexus injury causes severe functional impairment
of the arm. Elbow flexion is often affected. Nerve surgery or tendon
transfers provide the only means to obtain improved elbow flexion.
Unfortunately, the functionality of the arm often remains insufficient.
Stem cell therapy could potentially improve muscle strength and
avoid muscle-tendon transfer. This pilot study assesses the safety
and regenerative potential of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear
cell injection in partially denervated biceps. Nine brachial plexus patients with insufficient elbow flexion
(i.e., partial denervation) received intramuscular escalating doses
of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells, combined with
tendon transfers. Effect parameters included biceps biopsies, motor
unit analysis on needle electromyography and computerised muscle tomography,
before and after cell therapy.Objectives
Methods
Local corticosteroid infiltration is a common practice of treatment
for lateral epicondylitis. In recent studies no statistically significant
or clinically relevant results in favour of corticosteroid injections
were found. The injection of autologous blood has been reported
to be effective for both intermediate and long-term outcomes. It
is hypothesised that blood contains growth factors, which induce
the healing cascade. A total of 60 patients were included in this prospective randomised
study: 30 patients received 2 ml autologous blood drawn from contralateral
upper limb vein + 1 ml 0.5% bupivacaine, and 30 patients received
2 ml local corticosteroid + 1 ml 0.5% bupivacaine at the lateral
epicondyle. Outcome was measured using a pain score and Nirschl
staging of lateral epicondylitis. Follow-up was continued for total
of six months, with assessment at one week, four weeks, 12 weeks
and six months.Objectives
Methods