The reliability and accuracy of plain radiographs, MRI and CT Arthrography to detect the presence of loose bodies was evaluated in twenty-six patients with mechanical elbow symptoms. The location of loose bodies found by the imaging studies was compared to arthroscopic findings. Overall sensitivity for the detection of loose bodies was 88 – 100% and specificity was 20 – 70%. Plain radiographs had a similar sensitivity and specificity of 84% and 71% respectively. MRI and CT Arthrography were similar to plain radiography, suggesting that routine use of these modalities is not indicated. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical utility of MRI and CT Arthrography (CTA) to reliably and accurately predict the presence of loose bodies in the elbow. Twenty-six patients with mechanical elbow symptoms underwent plain radiography, MRI and CTA, followed by standard elbow arthroscopy. Three musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed the ‘blinded’ plain radiographs with both the MRI and CTA at separate sittings. The location and number of loose bodies on the MRI and CTA were recorded. The preoperative plain radiographs, MRI and CTA were compared to the arthroscopic findings. Agreement between radiologists was higher for the number of loose bodies identified in the posterior compartment (ICC=0.72 for both MRI and CTA) than in the anterior compartment (ICC=0.41 and 0.52 for MRI and CTA respectively). The correlation between the number of lose bodies observed on MRI and CTA compared to those found arthroscopically was also higher in the posterior compartment (r=0.54–0.85) than in the anterior compartment (r=0.01–0.45). Both MRI and CTA had excellent sensitivity (92–100%) but moderate to low specificity (15–77%) in identifying posteriorly located loose bodies. Neither MRI nor CTA were consistently sensitive (46–91%) or specific (13–73%) in predicting anterior loose bodies. Overall sensitivity for the detection of loose bodies in either compartment was 88–100% and specificity was 20–70%. The preoperative radiographs had a similar sensitivity and specificity of 84% and 71% respectively. MRI and CTA were similar to plain radiography in the prediction of elbow loose bodies

Aim

This study reviewed the efficacy of a CT arthrogram in clinical decision making for wrist disorders.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of a steroid and local anaesthetic subacromial injection as a prognostic tool for patient recovery following arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD). Methods: A prospective study of all patients seen in our unit with a clinical diagnosis of subacromial impingement syndrome was carried out between 1/00 and 9/01. All patients were diagnosed clinically, followed by a local anaesthetic/steroid subacromial injection test. In the event of a negative result to the injection test, the diagnosis was confirmed by CT arthrography or MRI scanning. All patients underwent standard ASD, with clinical evaluation via the Constant score preoperatively, at 3 weeks, 3 months, and at discharge. The eventual functional outcome was correlated with the results of the impingement test and the operative findings. Results: One hundred and one patients (53 male, 48 female), with a mean age of 52 years (range 21–77) were entered into the study. Patients were followed up for a mean of 14 months (range 3–24). All patients had an impingement lesion noted at arthroscopy. The mean preoperative Constant score for the entire group was 48 (20–67) with a postoperative mean of 81 (46–98). 16 patients had a negative preoperative injection test. The mean improvement in this group was 21 points (47 rising to 68) compared to 35 points (48 to 83) in the positive group (p< 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). The groups were otherwise similar for age, sex and operative findings. Conclusions: The subacromial injection test is a useful tool both diagnostically and prognostically in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. In patients with a confirmed diagnosis but a negative test there is still a significant improvement in the post operative Constant score, but this is of a lesser degree than in those with a positive injection test. This does not appear to be related to age, impingement grade or cuff tears, and may represent a true difference in the underlying pathology

Introduction:. Most cases of hip osteoarthritis (OA) are believed to be caused by alterations in joint contact mechanics resulting from pathomorphologies such as acetabular dysplasia and acetabular retroversion. Over the past 13 years, our research group has focused on developing approaches for patient-specific modeling of cartilage and labrum in the human hip, and applying these approaches to study hip pathomorphology. The long term objective is to improve the understanding of the etiology of OA related to hip pathomorphology, and to improve diagnosis and treatment. The objectives of this presentation are to provide a summary of our subject-specific modeling approach, and to describe the results of our analysis of hips from three populations of subjects: normal, traditional dysplastic, and retroverted. Methods:. A combined experimental and computational protocol was used to investigate contact mechanics in ten normal subjects (normal center edge angles (CEA), no history of hip pain), ten subjects with hip pain secondary to acetabular dysplasia (CEA less than 25°), and ten patients with a radiographic crossover sign, pain and clinical exams consistent with acetabular retroversion. CT arthrography was used to image cartilage and bone. Volumetric image data were segmented and discretized, and subject-specific finite element models were produced using validated methods [Fig. 1]. Boundary and loading conditions were obtained from instrumented implant and gait data. Contact mechanics were evaluated on the acetabular cartilage and labrum. Labrum contact area and peak contact stress were evaluated. Cartilage contact area, peak and average contact stress were evaluated in six anatomical regions in the acetabulum. Results:. Hip contact patterns were subject-specific, but distinct patterns emerged in the groups. Dysplastic hips had a larger contact area in the lateral region of the acetabulum, while normal hips demonstrated a more distributed contact pattern. The labrum in dysplastic hips supported significantly more load than the labrum in normal hips in all activities [Fig. 2]. Contact in retroverted hips tended to be focused medially and superiorly [Fig. 3]. Retroverted subjects had smaller contact stress and area in most regions. Discussion:. The differences in labrum mechanics between the normal and dysplastic groups provide clear support for the mechanical importance of the acetabular labrum in dysplastic hips. There were only minor differences in cartilage contact stress and area between normal and dysplastic groups, because of a lateral shift in the location of contact and subsequent loading on the acetabular labra in the dysplastic hips. The larger labrum load support and contact area in dysplastic hips indicates that the labrum compensates for the shallow acetabula. Clinically, this may account for the pattern of OA onset in dysplastic hips. The results for the retroverted group do not support the commonly held belief that concentrated posterior loading in retroverted hips leads OA because there were lower contact stresses and areas in the posterior regions of retroverted hips. Further, these results suggest that rim trimming may be appropriate for retroverted hips. The preferred surgery likely depends on subtle patient specific aspects of hip pathoanotomy in both retroverted and dysplastic hips

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical application of the PJI-TNM classification for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) by determining intraobserver and interobserver reliability. To facilitate its use in clinical practice, an educational app was subsequently developed and evaluated.

The April 2014 Shoulder & Elbow Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: arthroscopic capsular release successful after six months; MCIC in cuff surgery; analgesia following arthroscopic cuff repair; platelet-rich fibrin; and cuff tear and suprascapular nerve neuropathy?

The December 2013 Hip & Pelvis Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Enhanced recovery works; Acetabular placement; Exercise better than rest in osteoarthritis patients; if Birmingham hip resurfacing is immune from pseudotumour; HIV and arthroplasty; Labral tears revisited; Prophylactic surgery for FAI; and Ceramics and impaction grafting

The October 2012 Research Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: whether you can escape your genes; oral prophylaxis for DVT; non-responders and the internet; metal-on-metal, mice and damaged livers; sleeping on the job; cartilage contact stress in the normal human hip; and a perfect reason to subscribe to 360.