Tissue expansion is a technique used by plastic and restorative surgeons to cause the body to grow additional skin, bone or other tissues. For example, distraction osteogenesis has been widely applied in lower limb surgery (trauma / congenital), and congenital upper limb reconstruction (e.g. radial dysplasia). This complex and tightly regulated expansion process can thus far only be optimised by long-term animal or human experimentation. Here the intent is to develop an in vitro model of tissue expansion that will allow to both optimise the extension regime (µm/h, continuous/ intermittent) and investigate using proteomic techniques which molecular pathways are involved in its regulation. Cells cultured onto sheets of polymer (PCL) can be stretched at very low, adjustable speeds, using a stepper motor and various 3D printed and laser cut designs. The system utilises plastic flow of the polymer, enabling the material to stay extended upon strain being released. Tensile tests have displayed the plastic behaviour of the polymer sheet when stretched, and digital image correlation (DIC) has been used to analyse homogeneity of the strain field. Further analysis involving nuclear localisation of yes-associated protein (YAP) aims to link cell response to this strain field. Nuclear orientation analysis has demonstrated a morphological response to strain (1 mm/day) in comparison to not being stretched, and this is in the process of being linked to nanoscale changes of the substrate (using atomic force microscopy) during the stretching regime. Future work will identify how strain is affecting the cell cycle, before a mass tagging approach is used to identify protein changes induced by strain

Aims

Chronic osteomyelitis (COM) of the lower limb in adults can be surgically managed by either limb reconstruction or amputation. This scoping review aims to map the outcomes used in studies surgically managing COM in order to aid future development of a core outcome set.

Purpose. Pain and stiffness from elbow arthritides can be reliably improved with arthroscopic osteocapsular ulnohumeral arthroplasty (OUA) in selected patients. Post-operative continuous passive motion (CPM) may be helpful in reducing hemarthrosis, improving soft-tissue compliance and maintaining the range of motion (ROM) established intra-operatively. There is only one published series of arthroscopic OUA and CPM was used in a minority of those patients. We hypothesized that a standardized surgical and post-operative CPM protocol would lead to rapid recovery and sustained improvement in ROM. Method. Thirty patients with painful elbow contractures underwent limited open ulnar nerve decompression and arthroscopic OUA at our institution by a single fellowship trained upper limb reconstruction surgeon. All patients underwent CPM for three days in-hospital with a continuous peripheral nerve block, followed by gradual weaning of CPM at home over two weeks. ROM using a goniometer was assessed at discharge, cessation of CPM (2 weeks) and final follow-up. The main outcome was elbow flexion, extension and total arc of motion. Paired students t-test was used to compare pre and post-operative ROM. Results. The median age was 45 (14–68) years, 77% were male, 73% had the dominant side affected and the most common pre-operative diagnosis was arthritis (50% post-traumatic, 30% primary osteoarthritis). Mean last follow-up was 7 months (range 2 weeks to 2 years). The mean pre-operative range of motion was 119 flexion, −32 extension and a total arc of 8719. At cessation of CPM, the mean flexion was 135, extension −7 and total arc 12711. At last follow-up flexion was maintained at a mean of 134 (p=0.6) but some extension was lost (mean −15, p<0.05) and total arc of motion decreased to 11820 (p<0.05). However, only two patients failed to maintain a functional arc of >100 and the amount of pre-operative contracture was correlated (r=0.73) with final arc of motion. Complications included only two transient ulnar neuropraxias. Only three patients required post-CPM bracing or physiotherapy. Conclusion. We present excellent improvement in short-term ROM following arthroscopic OUA using a standardized post-operative CPM protocol. These results are equal or better than open and non-CPM results published in the literature and alleviate the need for lengthy post-operative physiotherapy and splinting protocols in the majority of patients. A comparative study of CPM and non-CPM post-operative regimens after arthroscopic OUA is warranted to determine the true influence of CPM

Purpose: Therapeutic options for shaft reconstruction are allografts, shaft prosthesis, and autografts, which may be vascularised or not. The purpose of this work was to assess mid-term results and complications after upper limb reconstructions using a vascularised fibula in children and adolescents undergoing surgery for tumour resection. Material and methods: A vascularised fibular graft was used for reconstruction in ten patients who underwent surgery for resection of upper limb tumours between 1994 and 2000. The patients were seven boys and three girls, aged seven to seventeen years. the vascularised fibula was used for reconstruction after tumour resection in the same operation for eight patients and to salvage a proximal humeral prosthesis in two patients. The eight single-procedure reconstructions concerned four resections of the humeral shaft and four resections of the radius. Tumour histology was: classical osteosarcoma (n=7), low-grade osteosarcoma (n=1), Ewing tumour (n= 1) and aggressive enchondroma (n=1). Six patients were on chemotherapy at the time of the fibular transfer. Graft lengths varied from nine to 21 cm (mean 14 cm). Plate fixation was used in most cases. All patients wore a cast for six to twelve weeks after surgery. Results: Results were analysed retrospectively after 3.9 years follow-up (range 1 – 7 years). Mean time to bone healing was three months (range 1.5 – 5 months). Five of the six humeral shaft reconstructions fractured due to trauma, requiring revision surgery in four cases. All patients who were reoperated achieved bone healing rapidly. One radius had to be revised to add supplementary bone. The mean functional score (MSTS) was 25.5/30 (range 21 – 30). One patient died from lung metastasis and the others exhibited complete tumour remission. Discussion: Vascularised fibula reconstruction of the upper limb provides good radiological results, particularly for the radius. For the humerus, the results are better for younger children because the bone can grow in thickness. Certain mechanical complications may occur if normal sports activities are resumed too early. Functional outcome after these shaft reconstructions is nearly normal

Purpose: Reconstruction after resection of malignant bone tumours remains a major challenge. Free vascularised fibular grafts may be a useful alternative in this indication. Material: Thirty children (nine girls, twenty-one boys) were treated between 1993 and 2000. Mean age was eleven years. Tumour histology was: osteogenic osteo-sarcoma (n=20), Ewing tumour (n=5), justacortical osteosarcoma (n=3), synovialosarcoma (n=1), and chondrosarcoma (n=1). Tumours were located in the femur (n=17), the tibia (n=6), the humerus (n=5), the radius (n=1), and the distal fibular (n=1). The length of resection varied from 100 mm to 260 mm (mean 160 mm). Internal fixation was used in 27 cases and external fixation in three. The adjacent epiphysis was preserved in 22 cases and initial arthrodesis was performed in eight. Method: Patients were followed clinically and radiographically. A bone scintigram was obtained in all patients at least once during the postoperative period. Radiological assessment was based on the hypertrophy index of the graft using the method described by DeBoer and Wood. Functional outcome was assessed using the Enneking criteria. Results: Mean follow-up was 51 months (range 2 – 9 years). Early amputation was required in two patients due to local ocological complications. One patient died at eight months follow-up due to lung metastasis. Among the remaining 27 patients, primary bone healing was achieved in 22. The five other patients exhibited clear signs of non-vascularisation. Successful healing was achieved in four of these patients after a complementary autologous graft. All cases of stress fracture healed after simple immobilisation. The twenty-two patients who achieved primary bone healing developed a hypertrophic graft (mean 61%, range 22 – 190%). Graft hypertrophy was not observed in the five cases requiring a secondary graft after the scintigram demonstrated lack of vascularisation. Hypertrophy of the vascularised fibular graft was more marked for lower limb reconstructions than for upper limb reconstructions. Functional outcome was satisfactory in all cases. On the 30-point Enneking scale as modified, our patients achieved a mean 26 points (range 19 – 30). Discussion: Outcome was directly related to patency of the vascular anastomoses. Bone scintigraphy, performed one month after reconstruction surgery, was an important element for assessing prognosis. In case of unsuccessful vascularisation, a complementary cortico-cancellous graft should be used. Early weight-bearing is advisable using adequate protective devices. Dynamic osteosynthesis systems should be helpful in improving graft hypertrophy

Aims

The use of 3D printing has become increasingly popular and has been widely used in orthopaedic surgery. There has been a trend towards an increasing number of publications in this field, but existing literature incorporates limited high-quality studies, and there is a lack of reports on outcomes. The aim of this study was to perform a scoping review with Level I evidence on the application and effectiveness of 3D printing.