The escalating demand for medical resources to address spinal diseases as society ages is an issue that requires careful evaluation. However, few studies have examined trends in spinal surgery, especially unscheduled hospitalizations or surgeries performed after hours, through large databases. Our study aimed to determine national trends in the number of spine surgeries in Japan. We also aimed to identify trends in after-hours surgeries and unscheduled hospitalizations and their impact on complications and costs. We retrospectively investigated data extracted from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, a representative inpatient database in Japan. The data from April 2010 to March 2020 were used for this study. We included all patients who had undergone any combination of laminectomy, laminoplasty, discectomy, and/or spinal arthrodesis.Aims
Methods
Osteoporosis is common in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. It plays a substantial factor in the surgery’s outcome, and previous studies have revealed that pharmacological treatment for osteoporosis influences implant survival rate. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of and treatment rates for osteoporosis prior to THA, and to explore differences in osteoporosis-related biomarkers between patients treated and untreated for osteoporosis. This single-centre retrospective study included 398 hip joints of patients who underwent THA. Using medical records, we examined preoperative bone mineral density measures of the hip and lumbar spine using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and the medications used to treat osteoporosis at the time of admission. We also assessed the following osteoporosis-related biomarkers: tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b); total procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (total P1NP); intact parathyroid hormone; and homocysteine.Aims
Methods
Titanium-alloy is a metal with excellent biocompatibility, but its osteoconduction is not as efficient as hydroxyapatite materials. Calcium-ion (Ca-ion) implantation is a surface modification technique that can improve osteoconduction of titanium without an additional layer of coating. We studied the effects of Ca-ion-implantation on osseointegration of a titanium-alloy stem in a bilateral canine THA model. The stem surface was grit-blasted and Ca-ion-implanted by the ion mixing technique. Fifteen mongrel dogs had bilateral single-stage THAs, with a Ca-ion-implanted stem used in one side and a non-Ca-ion-implanted stem in the contralateral side. They were sacrificed at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, and microradiographs were taken. Undecalcified cross-sections were evaluated histologically. For quantitative evaluation, the length of new bone apposition to the implant surface was obtained using computer image analysis. Most implants were well integrated, and there was no apparent qualitative difference between the two types of stems radiographically and histologically. However, Ca-ion-implanted stems had significantly greater new bone apposition than non-Ca-ion-implanted stems at 1 month, although the overall effect of Ca-ion-implantation was not significant. The results showed enhanced osteoconduction with Ca-ion-implantation only in the early postoperative period. This could be related to the previous data of immersion tests that the dissolution rate of Ca-ion from Ca-ion-implanted titanium decreases with time. Clinically, early osteoconduction is desirable and could accelerate rehabilitation and outcome. Although further improvement of the Ca-ion-implantation technique for a sustained osteoconductive effect is necessary, Ca-ion-implantation will be beneficial for early fixation of titanium-alloy implants.
