Summary Statement. A porcine model using Yucatan minipigs was found to be very promising for the investigation of healing around transcutaneous osseointegrated implants. Pigs demonstrated surprising agility and adaptability including the ability to ambulate on three legs during the immediate postoperative period. Introduction. Previous non weight-bearing and weight-bearing caprine, canine and ovine models have evaluated design, material, and biological coating variations in an attempt to improve the wound healing and skin-implant seal around transcutaneous osseointegrated implants. Although these models have primarily been used as a window into the application of transcutaneous osseointegrated implants in humans, some important model characteristics affecting wound healing and infection have been missing including: 1) replication of the physiological tissue response, and 2) availability of a transcutaneous site with sufficient soft tissue coverage. Pig skin, like human, is relatively hairless, tightly attached to the subcutaneous tissue, vascularised by a cutaneous blood supply, and healed by means of epithelialization. Swine have been extensively utilised for superficial and deep wound healing studies and can offer ample soft tissue coverage following a lower limb amputation. Development of a porcine model is important for continued understanding and improvement of weight-bearing transcutaneous osseointegration. Methods. Two male Yucatan mini-pigs (9 months, 36kg) were fit with transcutaneous osseointegrated prostheses using a single-stage transtibial amputation and prosthesis implantation procedure. The endo-prosthesis consisted of a cylindrical intraosseous threaded section and a smooth transcutaneous section. The transcutaneous sections were smooth to promote epithelialization and deter direct skin-implant adhesion. The implants were custom manufactured from medical grade Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The exo-prosthesis, consisting of an adjustable length leg and foot, was attached by clamp to the supercutaneous portion of the implant following either one or two days of sling constraint to limit initial weight-bearing. Various exo-prosthesis designs and configurations were trialed. The animals’ behavior and gait were closely observed. Weight-bearing was monitored using a force plate. At 5 and 8 weeks, clinical, microbiological, and histological data were examined to assess wound healing and infection at the skin-bone-implant interface. Results. The pigs demonstrated surprising agility and adaptability. They were able to successfully ambulate on three legs during the post-op period before weight-bearing was permitted. They adapted quickly to changes in exo-prosthesis design, position, and length. Although bacterial colonization was verified, neither of the animals exhibited clinical signs of infection over the respective eight and five week studies. Histological results indicated that there was no skin to implant adhesion but that epithelial growth was progressing towards the implant in one animal. Healing of the transcutaneous wound site showed substantial progress but a definitive skin seal was non-existent at the eight week time point. Discussion/Conclusion. This is likely the first animal model developed, having soft tissue characteristics similar to those found in humans, in which an axially-loaded, weight-bearing implant was successfully used. Results indicated that this porcine model offers many advantages over previous models for the development, evaluation, and comparison of the various techniques being advocated to achieve successful transcutaneous osseointegration in humans. The Yucatan miniature pig's ability to ambulate on three legs during the immediate post-operative period and quickly adjust to changes in the exo-prosthesis design, coupled with their physiological similarity to humans, makes them a valuable model for future studies

Introduction. It is well known that blood flow is a critical key component of fracture repair. Previously, we demonstrated that transcutaneous application of CO2 increased blood flow in the human body. To date, there has been no report investigating the effect of the carbonated therapy on fracture repair. Hypothesis. We hypothesized that the transcutaneous application of CO2 to fracture site would accelerate fracture repair. Materials & Methods. A closed femoral shaft fracture was produced in rats. Transcutaneous CO2 absorption enhancing hydrogel and CO2 adaptor that sealed the body surface and retained the gas inside were used for CO2 treatment. Rats without CO2 treatment served as control. Radiographic, biomechanical and histological analysis was performed to assess the fracture repair. Gene expression of chondrogenic, hypertrophic, osteogenic and angiogenic markers was measured by real-time PCR at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks post-fracture. Results. Union rate, biomechanical properties, and gene expression of chondrogenic, hypertrophic, osteogenic and angiogenic markers was significantly higher in CO2 group compared to control group. Histological evaluation demonstrated that enchondral ossification was promoted in CO2 group. Discussion & Conclusions. Our study indicate that transcutaneous application of CO2 accelerates fracture repair via acceleration of endochondral ossification and vascularization, and may become a novel and useful therapy for promoting fracture repair

Aim: We have carried out a prospective study to compare duplex ultrasonography and transcutaneous oxygen tension as predictors of wound healing after knee arthroplasty. Methods and Materials: 53 patients were included in the study. All underwent pre-operative duplex scans of their lower limbs. In addition, transcutaneous oxygen tension measurements were made adjacent to the proposed incision pre-operatively and on days 1, 3 and 7 post knee arthroplasty. Wound healing was assessed using the ASEPSIS wound score. Results: 4 wounds had evidence of delayed wound healing. Duplex ultrasonography was a poor predictor of such problems; however there was a significant correlation between pre-operative transcutaneous oxygen tension and post-operative wound scores. Conclusion: Pre-operative transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement is a better predictor of wound healing after knee replacement surgery than duplex ultrasonograph, and may be a useful adjunct to the investigation of patients at risk of wound problems post knee arthroplasty

Intraosseous Transcutaneous Amputation Prosthesis (ITAP) is a new generation of limb replacements that can provide to amputees, an alternative solution to the main problems caused by the most common used external prosthesis such as pressure sores, infections and unnatural gait. ITAP is designed as one pylon osteointegrated into the bone and protruding through the skin, allowing both the mechanical forces to be directly transferred to the skeleton and the external skin being free from frictions and infections. The skin attachment to the implant is fundamental for the success of the ITAP, as it prevents the implant to move and consequently fail. In this study we wanted to test if cell viability and attachment was improved using TiO2 nanotubes. Human keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts were seeded for three days on TiO2 nanotubes with different sizes (18–30nm, 40–60nm and 60–110nm), compared with controls (smooth titanium) and tested for viability and attachment. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare groups where p values < 0.05 were considered significant. The results showed that the viability and cell attachment for keratinocytes were significantly higher after three days on controls comparing with all nanotubes (p=0.02), while attachment was higher on bigger nanotubes and controls. Cell viability for fibroblasts was significantly higher on nanotubes between 40 and 110nm comparing with smaller size and controls (p=0.03), while investigation of cell attachment is ongoing. From these early results, we can say that TiO2 nanotubes can improve the soft tissue attachment on ITAP. Further in-vitro and ex-vivo experiments on cell attachment will be carried out

Introduction and Objective. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a frequent disease for which therapeutic possibilities are limited. In current recommendations, the first-line analgesic is acetaminophen. However, low efficacy of acetaminophen, frequently leads to the use of weak opioids (WO) despite their poor tolerance, especially in elderly patients. The primary objective was to compare the analgesic efficacy and safety of a new wearable transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (W-TENS) to weak opioids (WO) in the treatment of moderate to severe, nociceptive, chronic pain in knee osteoarthritis patients. Materials and Methods. ArthroTENS study is a phase 3, non-inferiority, multicentric, prospective, randomized, single-blinded for primary efficacy outcome, controlled, in 2-parallel groups, clinical study comparing W-TENS versus WO over a 3-month controlled period with an additional, optional, non-controlled, 3-month follow-up for patients in W-TENS group. The co-primary outcome was KOA pain intensity (PI) at month 3 and the number of adverse events (AEs) over 3 months. Results. The non-inferiority of W-TENS was demonstrated in both the PP and ITT populations. At M3, PI in PP population was 3.87 (2.12) compared to 4.66 (2.37) (delta: −0.79 (0.44); 95% CI (−1.65; 0.08)) in W-TENS and WO groups, respectively. Since the absolute value of the 95% CI of the between-treatments mean PI difference [−1.71, – 0.12] was above 0 in ITT set, the planned superiority analysis was performed, demonstrating that W-TENS was significantly superior to WO at M3 (P=0.0124). At M1 and M3, the W-TENS group reached the absolute minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for an analgesic (1.8 (2.1) and 2.1 (2.3), respectively), corresponding to a 20 mm reduction in PI (interquartile range: 15–30) on a 0–100 mm visual analogic scale – i.e. 2 points on a numerical rating scale – which equates to “much better”. Conversely, in the WO group, a 0.5 (1.8) and a 1.1 (2.1) reduction in PI were observed at M1 and M3, respectively, while a 1-point reduction in PI is required to be considered as a “slightly better” improvement. In WO group, AEs were the common systemic AEs reported with WO (nausea, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness, pruritus, vomiting, dry mouth). AEs in W-TENS group were local, such as local cutaneous reaction (erythema). Thirty-nine (70.9%) patients wished to extend W-TENS treatment for 3 additional months. Only one patient discontinued this additional period and results were maintained at M6. Conclusions. W-TENS was more effective and better tolerated than WO in the treatment of nociceptive KOA chronic pain and could represent an interesting non-pharmacological alternative to WO

Aims. The Intraosseous Transcutaneous Amputation Prosthesis (ITAP) may improve quality of life for amputees by avoiding soft-tissue complications associated with socket prostheses and by improving sensory feedback and function. It relies on the formation of a seal between the soft tissues and the implant and currently has a flange with drilled holes to promote dermal attachment. Despite this, infection remains a significant risk. This study explored alternative strategies to enhance soft-tissue integration. Materials and Methods. The effect of ITAP pins with a fully porous titanium alloy flange with interconnected pores on soft-tissue integration was investigated. The flanges were coated with fibronectin-functionalised hydroxyapatite and silver coatings, which have been shown to have an antibacterial effect, while also promoting viable fibroblast growth in vitro. The ITAP pins were implanted along the length of ovine tibias, and histological assessment was undertaken four weeks post-operatively. Results. The porous titanium alloy flange reduced epithelial downgrowth and increased soft-tissue integration compared with the current drilled flange. The addition of coatings did not enhance these effects. Conclusion. These results indicate that a fully porous titanium alloy flange has the potential to increase the soft-tissue seal around ITAP and reduce susceptibility to infection compared with the current design. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:393–400

Background: Osseointegrated amputation prostheses avoid soft tissue complications associated with traditional socket prostheses. Forces are transmitted directly to the skeleton resulting in improved function. However, approximately 50% of transcutaneous implants become infected due to the lack of a successful skin-implant seal. Intraosseous Transcutaneous Amputation Prostheses (ITAP) are designed to integrate with the skin preventing epithelial downgrowth and infection. Fibronectin adsorption enhances fibroblast adhesion in vitro; however, in vivo, fibronectin becomes desorbed from the implant surface. Covalent attachment of fibronectin by silanisation has been shown to be durable in vitro. The silanisation process for fibronectin includes a stage of passivation with sulphuric acid which alters surface characteristics. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine if in vitro fibroblast adhesion to silanised fibronectin (SiFn) titanium alloy could be improved by omitting or reducing the length of time of passivation. The study also assessed the effects of SiFn on dermal attachment in vivo comparing the results with adsorbed fibronectin substrates and with uncoated controls. Methods: Scanning electron microscopy, Ra profilometry and contact angle measurement (n=6) were used for topographical characterization of surfaces. Anti-vinculin antibodies were used to immunolocalize fibroblast adhesion sites after 24 hours. The morphology of fibroblasts on each surface was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Subcutaneous plates were implanted onto the tibiae of an ovine model (n=3) in order to evaluate the performance of the modified SiFn surface in vivo. Hydroxyapatite (HA) and adsorption of fibronectin to HA (HAFn) were also tested because HA coatings are currently applied to the dermal section of ITAP in clinical trials. After four weeks, a histological assessment of the percentage of soft-tissue attachment and cell alignment relative to the implant was performed. Results: Passivation produced rougher, more hydrophobic surfaces with numerous microcracks and was associated with poorer fibroblast adhesion and spreading than un-passivated controls in vitro. SiFn with passivation resulted in poorer cell adhesion than SiFn without passivation. Reducing the time period for passivation did not reduce the detrimental effects of passivation In vivo, HAFn and SiFn resulted in higher median values for soft-tissue attachment than simple adsorption of fibronectin; however, the differences were not statistically significant. Cell alignment was significantly different for HAFn and SiFn compared with controls (p< 0.05), with cells on the fibro-nectin treated surfaces orientated more perpendicular to the implant surface. Conclusion: Omission of passivation improves fibro-blast adhesion to SiFn surfaces in vitro. Coating with fibronectin either by silanisation onto titanium alloy or by adsorption onto HA surfaces affected the orientation of cells in vivo, implying that tissue attachment was enhanced. A time course may be of value to determine if fibronectin coatings are lost over time in vivo

Infection is the primary failure modality for transcutaneous implants because the skin breach provides a route for pathogens to enter the body. Intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prostheses (ITAP) are being developed to overcome this problem by creating a seal at the skin-implant interface to prevent bacterial invasion. Oral gingival epithelial cell adhesion creates an infection free seal around dental implants; however this has yet to be demonstrated outside the oral environment. All epithelial cells attach via hemidesmosomes (HD) and focal adhesions (FA) and their expression is an indicator of adhesion efficiency. The aim of this study was to compare epidermal keratinocyte with oral gingival epithelial cell adhesion on titanium alloy in vitro to determine whether these two cell types differ in their speed and strength of adhesion. It was hypothesised that oral gingival epithelial cells attach to titanium alloy earlier than epidermal keratinocytes; with greater expression of hemidesmosomes and focal adhesions. Human oral gingival epithelial cell (HGEP) and primary human epidermal keratinocyte (HPEK) adhesion to titanium alloy, was assessed at 4, 24, 48 and 72 hrs. Adhesion was measured by the number of FAs per unit cell area and expression of HDs using a semi-quantitative scale. At 4 and 24hrs, there was a significant increase in vinculin marker expression per unit cell area of 4.3 and 4.7 times in HGEP compared with HPEK (p=0.000). At 48 and 72hrs there were no significant differences. HD expression was significantly greater in HGEP at 4 and 24hrs (p=0.002) compared with HPEK. Up-regulation of HD expression in HPEK lagged that of HGEP until 48hrs, after which no significant differences were observed. This study has demonstrated that oral gingival cells up-regulate both focal adhesion and hemidesmosome expression at earlier time points compared with epidermal keratinocytes. Expression of hemidesmosomes lags that of focal adhesions, suggesting that focal adhesion formation is a prerequisite for hemidesmosome assembly. We postulate that early attachment of oral gingival epithelial cells to dental implant biomaterials may be responsible for the formation of an infection-free seal

Traditional socket prosthesis (TSP) rehabilitation for amputees is associated with substantial dissatisfaction due to poor mobility and pain from soft tissue squeezing. Osseointegration (OI), eliminates skin compression and prosthesis fit issues, providing superior mobility and quality of life (QOL) for most amputees. The potential for OI to benefit patients with exceptionally poor mobility is understudied. To address this knowledge gap, this project investigated the mobility and QOL changes.

A retrospective review was performed to identify transfemoral amputees who presented with wheelchair-bound mobility (K0) and had at least five years of post-osseointegration follow-up. Outcome measures included changes in mobility (K-level, daily prosthesis wear hours, Timed Up and Go (TUG), 6 minute walk test (6MWT)) and QOL (Questionnaire for persons with a Transfemoral Amputation (QTFA); Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF36). Adverse events recorded included debridement for infection, implant revision surgery, fractures, and implant failures.

9 patients with mean age 48.2±7.7 (range 34-59) years were included. The proportion of patients achieving K-level >2 improved from 0/9=0% to [9/9=100%], p<0.001. The 6MWT improved from 0±0 to 320.65±57 meters (p<0.001). The TUG improved from incapable to 10.68±2.7 seconds (p<0.001). Statistically significant QOL metrics included QTFA global score (33.33±31 vs 68.52±21, p=0.039), SF36 physical component score (30.03±6.3 vs 42.34±12, p=0.023) and the SF36 mental component score (47.89±8.8 vs 51.95±10.4, p=0.332). Six patients required operative intervention to address complications. Five developed infections: three had debridement, and 2 required implant removal and reimplantation.

Osseointegration does confer significant sustained mobility and quality of life improvement for wheelchair bound transfemoral amputees. All 9 K0 patients had statistically improved mobility and QOL after osseointegrated reconstruction. This supports osseointegration as an effective rapid and long-term rehabilitation alternative for patients who have the neurologic and muscular capacity to walk but are unable due to issues related to their TSP.

To try and aid the formation of a soft tissue seal to promote dermal and epidermal attachment to Intraosseous Transcutaneous Amputation Prostheses we compared the effect of titanium surfaces functionalised with fibronectin (fn) or YRGD peptide sequences on human dermal cell (HDF) attachment. We hypothesise that YRGD and fn coatings will significantly increase HDF attachment to titanium alloy substrates. Titanium alloy 10mm discs were polished and acted as control substrates, functionalised surfaces had YRGD or fn adsorbed or silanised onto the polished surface. HDFs were seeded at 10,000/disc and cultured for 1, 4, 24 and 96 hours, fixed and fluorescent immnolocalisation for vinculin was performed. Individual vinculin markers were counted and density calculated as a measure of cell attachment. All assays were performed in triplicate and data were analysed in SPSS 19.0 and results were considered significant at the 0.05 level. Results showed an up-regulation of Focal adhesion density (FA) against controls at all time-points (excluding ad-fn at 4 hours, p=0.057), p values < 0.05, the use of functionalised titanium surfaces may lead to long-term clinical success of ITAP. We have shown a significant positive effect on cell attachment when a synthetic peptide sequence is used. Using synthetic peptide sequence may also be more beneficial from a regulatory stand-point compared with using isolated proteins

Introduction. Following amputation, residual stumps used to attach the external prostheses can be associated with sores, infection and skin necrosis. These problems could be overcome by off loading the soft tissues. Intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prostheses (ITAP) attach external implants directly to residual bone reducing these complications. However, a tight seal at the skin implant interface is crucial in preventing epithelial down-growth and infection. Fibronectin (Fn) and laminin 332 (Ln), enhance early cell growth and adhesion of keratinocytes. Silanization to titanium alloy (Ti) allows these proteins to bond to the metal directly. We hypothesize that silanized dual coatings of fibronectin and laminin (SiFnLn) will be more durable than absorbed proteins and that keratinocyte adhesion will be increased compared with Ti controls and single silanized proteins. Methods. 10 mm diameter Ti alloy discs were polished, sterilized and silanized. The kinetics of silanized single and dual protein coating attachment onto titanium alloy was quantified using radio-labelled Fn(125I-Fn) and Ln(125I-Ln). Coating durability was assessed when soaked in fetal calf serum (FCS) for 0, 1, 24, 48, 72hrs. Data was compared to un-silanized Ti discs with the same amount of adsorbed proteins. In order to study cell attachment 20 × 103 keratinocytes were seeded on the discs (n = 6): silanized (Si), silanized fibronectin (SiFn), silanized laminin (SiLn), silanized dual coating (SiFnLn) for 1, 4 and 24hrs. Adhesion of cells was assessed using mouse vinculin antibody for 2hrs and alexafluor for 1hr which stains focal adhesions responsible for attaching cells to surfaces. Axiovision Image Analysis software was used to measure cell area, vinculin markers per cell unit and per unit cell area on 15 cells per disc. Data was analysed in SPSS and significance was assumed at the 0.05 level. Results. Silanized dual coatings bonded to Ti alloy in significantly larger quantities compared with adsorbed coatings (all p values < 0.05). When proteins were combined on silanized discs the same amount of each protein was attached as when used as a single coating (i.e. non competitive binding). Keratinocytes cultured on silanized dual coatings were significantly larger, produced more vinculin markers per unit cell and per cell area compared with single coatings at all time points. Conclusion. This study has demonstrated that silanized using dual proteins on Ti alloy enhances early keratinocyte growth and attachment in vitro. It also shows that there is non-competitive binding of laminin to Ti alloys in presence of fibronectin. This may lead to improved epidermal attachment to ITAP creating a tight seal at the implant interface, which will prevent migration of the epithelium and subsequent infection in vivo

Patients with above knee amputation (AKA) often experience poor socket fit exacerbated by minor weight changes, sweating, and skin problems. A transcutaneous, press-fit distal femoral intra-medullary device was designed in 1999, such that the distal external aspect serves as a hard point for AKA prosthesis attachment. The implant is placed in a retrograde fashion, followed 6-8 weeks later by stomatisation and connected via direct extention to an AKA prosthesis. Thirty-seven patients with 39 limbs (30 males, 7 females) underwent two-stage prosthesis implantation with the Endo-Exo Femurprosthesis (EEFP) in Germany between 1999 and January 2008. Their indications for surgery were persistent AKA prosthesis socket difficulties with absence of major comorbid physical or mental illnesses. The patients were followed clinically and radiographically for a minimum of 2 years. Assessments included patient satisfaction ratings, functional surveys, pain scores, and oxygen consumption. Fifty-four percent of patients needed at least one revision (20/37); 80% were minor (16/20) and 20% were major (4/20). Most of the minor revisions were due to soft tissue stomal irritation and occurred prior to a design change in the prosthesis. 2 patients sustained traumatic, peri-trochanteric fractures that were treated operatively proximal to the implant, with retention of the implant. 4 implants were explanted due to infection or prosthesis fracture and 2 of these (50%) were later reimplanted successfully. Overall, 94.9% (37/39) limbs had ultimate EEFP implant success. All functional assessments showed statistically significant improvement over baseline except oxygen consumption, which trended toward improvement. This procedure demonstrated a high degree of functional improvement for the majority of AKA patients treated. Despite an initially high revision rate, the EEFP prosthesis achieves an extremely high rate of successful reconstruction for trans-femoral amputees when more traditional options have failed and therefore warrants further scientific study

According to the latest report from the German Arthroplasty Registry, aseptic loosening is the primary cause of implant failure following primary hip arthroplasty. Osteolysis of the proximal femur due to the stress-shielding of the bone by the implant causes loss of fixation of the proximal femoral stem, while the distal stem remains fixed. Removing a fixed stem is a challenging process. Current removal methods rely on manual tools such as chisels, burrs, osteotomes, drills and mills, which pose the risk of bone fracture and cortical perforation. Others such as ultrasound and laser, generate temperatures that could cause thermal injury to the surrounding tissues and bone. It is crucial to develop techniques that preserve the host bone, as its quality after implant removal affects the outcome of a revision surgery. A gentler removal method based on the transcutaneous heating of the implant by induction is proposed. By reaching the glass transition temperature (T. G. ) of the periprosthetic cement, the cement is expected to soften, enabling the implant to be gently pulled out. The in-vivo environment comprises body fluids and elevated temperatures, which deteriorate the inherent mechanical properties of bone cement, including its T. G. We aimed to investigate the effect of fluid absorption on the T. G. (ASTM E2716-09) and Vicat softening temperature (VST) (ISO 306) of Palacos R cement (Heraeus Medical GmbH) when dry and after storage in Ringer's solution for up to 8 weeks. Samples stored in Ringer's solution exhibited lower T. G. and VST than those stored in air. After 8 weeks, the T. G. decreased from 95.2°C to 81.5°C in the Ringer's group, while the VST decreased from 104.4°C to 91.9°C. These findings will be useful in the ultimate goal of this project which is to design an induction-based system for implant removal. Acknowledgements: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – SFB/TRR-298-SIIRI – Project-ID 426335750

Summary Statement. A novel transcutaneous CO. 2. therapy significantly enhanced the antitumor effectiveness of X-ray irradiation in human MFH xenografts The results strongly suggest that transcutaneous CO. 2. therapy could be a novel therapeutic tool for overcoming radioresistance in human malignancies. Introduction. Hypoxia contributes to tumor radioresistance. In the presence of oxygen, reactive oxygen species (ROS) play crucial roles in cellular apoptosis to irradiation. We previously showed that a novel transcutaneous application of CO. 2. can improve hypoxia and that it induces apoptosis and decreases the expression of HIF-1α in sarcoma. Therefore, we hypothesised that a transcutaneous application of CO. 2. may increase radiosensitivity in sarcoma by improvement of hypoxic condition and increasing ROS production in tumors. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of transcutaneous application of CO. 2. on radiosensitivity in human malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) cells. Methods. Cells. We used a human MFH cell line, Nara-H in this study. X-ray irradiation. X-ray irradiation was performed at a dose rate of 0.64 to 0.66 Gy/min. Colony formation assay. In vitro cell viability after X-ray irradiation was assessed by colony formation assay. In vivo studies. Nara-H cells were subcutaneously implanted to 24 nude mice which were randomly divided into 4 groups; CO. 2. group, X-ray group, Combination group and Control group. CO. 2. therapy was performed as we previously reported (1, 2). In combination group, mice were treated twice a week by X-ray at 3.2 Gy shortly after CO. 2. therapy for 2 weeks. The changes in body weight and tumor volume were monitored for 14 days in all 4 groups. The implanted tumors were excised at the end of experiment. We also excised tumors on the first day of each treatment in all 4 groups, and examined apoptosis and ROS expression by FACS analysis. The animal experiments were approved by the Animal Committee in our institute. Immunoblot analysis. The protein expression of HIF-1α, ROS-related proteins (p38 and JNK/SAPK), and apoptosis-related proteins (caspase-3 and PARP) were assessed by immunoblot analysis. FACS analysis. DNA fragmentation and ROS production in tumors were assessed by FACS analysis. Statistical analysis. ANOVA with post hoc test to compare for continuous values. All tests were considered significant at p<0.05. Results. Approximately 50% of Nara-H cells survived after a total of 3.2 Gy X-ray irradiation. Tumor volume in combination group was significantly reduced at the end of experiment (47% of that in X-ray group and 28% of that in control group). In Combination group, apoptosis with ROS production markedly increased when compared with those in Control, CO. 2. or X-ray group at 24 hours after treatment. Immunoblot analysis showed that, in combination group, the expression of phospho-p38, phospho-JNK/SPAK, and cleavage of both caspase-3 and PARP were increased compared with other groups, conversely, the expression of HIF-1α was decreased. Discussion/Conclusion. In this study, we demonstrated that the combination therapy showed more significant effects on apoptosis and ROS production through improving hypoxia in MFH cells in vivo. Our findings strongly suggest that the combination therapy of CO. 2. and X-ray could be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of human MFH, and that transcutaneous application of CO. 2. may be one of the best radiosensitisers

Summary. Osseointegrated Amputation Prostheses can be functionalised by both biological augmentation and structural augmentation. These augmentation techniques may aid the formation of a stable skin-implant interface. Introduction. Current clinical options are limited in restoring function to amputees, and are associated with contact dermatitis and infection at the stump-socket interface. Osseointegrated Amputation Prosthesis attempts to solve issues at the stump-socket interface by directly transferring axial load to the prosthesis, via a skin-penetrating abutment. However, development is needed to achieve a seal at the skin-implant interface to limit infection. Fibronectin, an Extracellular Matrix protein, binds to integrins during wound healing, with the RGD tripeptide being part of the recognition sequence for its integrin binding domain. In vitro work has found silanization of RGD to polished titanium discs up regulates fibroblast attachment compared to polished control. Electron Beam Melting can produce porous titanium alloy implants, which may encourage tissue attachment. This study aims to test whether a combination of biological RGD coatings and porous metal manufacturing techniques can encourage the formation of a seal at the skin-implant interface. Materials and Methods. We developed four different augmented transcutaneous devices: Porous, Porous RGD coated, drilled and drilled RGD coated. These were implanted in tibial transcutaneous ovine model, n=6, for a period of 6 months. Following explantation we performed hard grade resin histology to assess soft tissue attachment at the transcutaneous interface. Results. Histological analysis revealed no statistical difference in epithelial downgrowth and epidermal attachment values between the four augmented devices. There were significant increases (p<0.05) in the number of blood vessels and the number of cells in the Porous RGD devices compared with both drilled implant devices. Both Porous and Porous RGD implant groups observed significant increase (p<0.05) in soft tissue infiltration compared with both Drilled implant devices. Discussion. The use of porous structures and RGD coatings increases tissue ingrowth and revascularisation in ITAP devices despite having no effect on epithelial downgrowth and epidermal attachment in a long-term ovine model. There were no detrimental effects in the transcutaneous interface formation observed. These augmentation techniques may prove beneficial in preclinical and clinical developments of transcutaneous osseointegrated devices

Introduction. Advantages of osseointegration have been reported to include improved functional mobility, better osseoperception, improved comfort, reduced pain, better biomechanical alignment and gait, which all lead to a less restricted lifestyle and significantly improved quality of life. A major concern of the Osseointegrated approach lies in the risk of infections occurring from the permanent transcutaneous opening often referred to as the stoma. Materials and Methods. Detailed analysis has been performed on all osseointegration surgeries performed by the Osseointegration Group of Australia and it's affiliates since 2010. All events leading to a re-admission and subsequent re-operation have been identified through hospital operation records and pooled together for meta-analysis. Events identified include: revision of implants, periprosthetic fracture fixation, surgical debridement due to infections, neurectomies and soft- tissue refashioning. Results. Majority of these cases were performed following the single-stage protocol. Among all cases, there were a total of 399 re-operation events recorded which occurred among 163 patients, indicating a high recurrence rate among the same patients. We recorded a total of 112 washouts, 93 neurectomies, 117 soft tissue refashions, 53 implant revisions and 24 periprosthetic fracture fixations. Conclusions. In this study, we have identified several addition possible reasons in which an osseointegration patient may need to be re-admitted into hospital for additional surgery. It was identified that through the implementation of improved surgical techniques and rehabilitation protocols, the rate of several of these re-operation events can be largely reduced, thus improving the overall outcomes of patients undergoing osseointegration surgery

Introduction. Osseointegration has emerged as a promising alternative to rehabilitating with a traditional socket mounted prosthesis. Advantages have been reported to include improved functional mobility, better osseoperception, improved comfort, reduced pain, better biomechanical alignment and better gait, which all lead to a less restricted lifestyle and significantly improved quality of life. A major concern of the Osseointegrated approach lies in the risk of infections occurring from the permanent transcutaneous opening often referred to as the stoma. Several systematic reviews have indicated that the occurrence of minor infections can be quite common, serious complications are reported to be rare. In addition to commonly anticipated complications including fractures, surgical debridements or revisions, we have identified several significant events in which a patient may require to be readmitted and go through additional surgery. The objective of this study is to examine the rate of occurrence and reports on the best management practices of serious complications across a multi-centre review of more than 1000 osseointegration surgeries. Materials & Methods. A detailed analysis has been performed on all osseointegration surgeries performed by the Osseointegration Group of Australia and it's affiliates between since 2010. The majority of surgeries took place in Australia, the United States, the Middle East as well as in Europe. All events leading to a re-admission and subsequent re-operation have been identified through hospital operation records and pooled together for meta-analysis. Events identified include: revision of implants, periprosthetic fracture fixation, surgical debridement due to infections, neurectomies and soft- tissue refashioning. Results. Over 800 surgeries have been identified with a minimum 12-month follow-up time and included in this study. These included tibial, femoral and humeral, radial-ulnar and transpelvic osseointegration cases. The majority of these were performed using a single stage protocol. While general complications such as infection and soft tissue refashioning are common, serious events such as revision and fracture are rare. Interestingly, the rate of debridements and soft-tissue refashions were found to be higher among patients who were operated using a two-stage surgery. Among all cases, there were a total of 399 re-operation events recorded which occurred among 163 patients, indicating a high recurrence rate among the same patients. We recorded a total of 112 washouts, 93 neurectomies, 117 soft tissue refashions, 53 implant revisions and 24 periprosthetic fracture fixations. Conclusions. Many events leading to readmission after the primary surgery may not necessarily be graded as a complication of the osseointegration technique. This study has identified several addition possible reasons in which an osseointegration patient may need to be re-admitted into hospital for additional surgery. It was identified that through the implementation of improved surgical techniques and rehabilitation protocols, the rate of several of these re-operation events can be largely reduced, thus improving the overall outcomes of patients undergoing osseointegration surgery

Introduction. Approximately 2,000 Skeletal transcutaneous osseointegration (STOI) procedures have been performed worldwide as of 2020, more than half of which have been performed by the Osseointegration Group of Australia using a press-fit technique with either ILP or OPL implant designs. Despite the consistently demonstrated clinical benefits, concerns regarding potential complications following STOI have slowed its widespread adoption. As more patients are followed for a longer period of time, longitudinal studies have confirmed complication rates are very acceptable, similar to those of total ankle and total elbow replacements. One of the major risk category is implant removal. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the complications and technical issues associated with transtibial osseointegration implant removal due to any cause. The focus here will be on the press-fit ILP and OPL implants, including the indications for removal and patient outcomes following removal. Materials & Methods. A review of our osseointegration registry between November 2010 and March 2022 was performed. Inclusion criteria were patients who have undergone removal of a transtibial osseointegration implant due to any cause. Selected patients either had a follow-up of at least two years or had their index osseointegration surgery at least two years prior to when the study was performed. Patients who have had osseointegration at other anatomic levels, and patients who underwent simultaneous total knee replacement with transtibial osseointegration were excluded from the registry search. Results. There were a total of 148 transtibial osseointegration procedures performed during the study period, with 97 (65.5%) performed in males and 51 (34.5%) performed in females. The average age at first stage osseointegration procedure is 50.4 years (range 16.8–87.9, SD 14.1). In the study cohort of 22 cases requiring implant removals, 12 (54.5%) were male and 10 (45.5%) were female. The average age at first stage osseointegration procedure in this cohort is 51.3 (range 37.4–82.6, SD 10.7) and average BMI 30.3 (range 21.9–40.9, SD 5.8). Although men comprised the majority of removals, women had a greater relative risk (Fisher exact test p=0.032). The average duration from time of STOI to removal was 2.6 years (range 0.1–6.8, SD 1.9) within this 11.5 year follow-up period. The most frequent indication was infection (54.6%, n=12) followed equally by pain (13.6%, n=3), aseptic loosening (13.6%, n=3) and implant fracture (13.6%, n=3), and lastly failure to integrate (4.6%, n=1). Conclusions. Of the 22 removals, 12 were reimplanted at the same anatomical level (10 were reimplanted within 6 months, 1 within 12 months, and 1 within 24 months). 11 of these cases currently wear their prosthetic legs for more than 13 hours daily. 1 case was recently reimplanted and still completing their loading program. Of the patients who were not reimplanted at the same anatomical level, 1 required proximal amputation with transfemoral osseointegration. 3 patients converted to traditional socket prostheses (TSP) due to pain, and 1 underwent proximal amputation and converted to TSP due to infection. 3 cases are currently awaiting transtibial osseointegration reimplantation, and 1 patient was deceased. 1 patient was lost to follow-up

Introduction: Transcutaneous Amputation Prosthesis (ITAP) is an alternative for transfemoral amputees to conventional stump-socket prostheses which have many problems. These include: poor fit, stump pressure sores, pain, infections and unnatural gait. ITAP aims to overcome these by being osseointegrated into the femoral medulla with a pin protruding through the skin to which the external prosthesis attaches. Thus, the forces normally encountered by the stump soft tissues are now transferred directly to the skeleton. However, the transcutaneous pin produces a route for infection from the external to internal environment. Therefore, a key feature to the success of the ITAP is to produce a biological seal at the transcutaneous interface. Epithelial cells have been shown to attach to dental transcutaneous titanium devices via hemidesmosomes (HD).2 Focal contacts (FC) are also important in cell adhesion and to the underlying substratum.3 We grew human keratinocytes on different titanium surfaces to assess their morphology, ability to proliferate and produce HD and FC. Hypothesis: Surface topography influences keratinocytes morphology and proliferative capacity and expression of HD and FC. Materials and Methods: 4 titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) surface topographies were used (10mm x 4mm discs): polished, machine finished, sandblasted and hydrofluoric acid etched (HF) and a control – plastic thermanox. Surface roughness profiling of titanium discs were measured (Mitutoyo Surftest SV-400). HaCaT keratinocytes were grown on disc surfaces in wells of culture medium at +37oC, 5% CO2 and analysed at 1, 2, 3 and 4 days. Cells were processed to visualise HD with fluorescence microscopy using antibodies to the 6-integrin and plec-tin. Anti-vinculin antibodies were used to visualise FC. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) secondary antibodies enabled counting of structures (all product: Sigma-Aldrich, UK). Alamar blue (Serotec, UK) measured cell proliferation and SEM (surface morphology, cell area) and TEM were also performed. Cells grown on polished, machined and thermanox discs supported a regular, confluent layer with many cytoplasmic processes and dividing cells. HF and sandblasted discs grew an irregularly layer with fewer cytoplasmic processes and fewer dividing cells (not quantified). Day 3 TEM revealed HD, FC and desmosomes; cells on polished and thermanox were more closely packed and in layers. Conclusion: Keratinocytes are significantly influenced by titanium surface topography. Smooth polished titanium alloy may be the ideal surface for a transcutaneous pin in the ITAP. Further experiments into isolating favourable biological components needed to encourage keratinocytes to attach onto titanium should be carried out. Results: No significant difference shown in cell proliferation between titanium discs but cells on thermanox grew significantly more (p< 0.05). FC and HD numbers increased on all surfaces (days 1–3); a negative correlation between surface roughness and HD and FC numbers observed (lower Ra values = more HD and FC expressed)