A variety of surgical methods and strategies have been demonstrated for Andersson lesion (AL) therapy. In 2011, we proposed and identified the feasibility of stabilizing the spine without curettaging the vertebral or discovertebral lesion to cure non-kyphotic AL. Additionally, due to the excellent reunion ability of ankylosing spondylitis, we further came up with minimally invasive spinal surgery (MIS) to avoid the need for both bone graft and lesion curettage in AL surgery. However, there is a paucity of research into the comparison between open spinal fusion (OSF) and early MIS in the treatment of AL. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the clinical outcomes and radiological evaluation of our early MIS approach and OSF for AL. A total of 39 patients diagnosed with AL who underwent surgery from January 2004 to December 2022 were retrospectively screened for eligibility. Patients with AL were divided into an MIS group and an OSF group. The primary outcomes were union of the lesion on radiograph and CT, as well as the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores immediately after surgery, and at the follow-up (mean 29 months (standard error (SE) 9)). The secondary outcomes were total blood loss during surgery, operating time, and improvement in the radiological parameters: global and local kyphosis, sagittal vertical axis, sagittal alignment, and chin-brow vertical angle immediately after surgery and at the follow-up.Aims
Methods
To investigate the effects of senescent osteocytes on bone homeostasis in the progress of age-related osteoporosis and explore the underlying mechanism. In a series of in vitro experiments, we used tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) to induce senescence of MLO-Y4 cells successfully, and collected conditioned medium (CM) and senescent MLO-Y4 cell-derived exosomes, which were then applied to MC3T3-E1 cells, separately, to evaluate their effects on osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, we identified differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) between exosomes from senescent and normal MLO-Y4 cells by high-throughput RNA sequencing. Based on the key miRNAs that were discovered, the underlying mechanism by which senescent osteocytes regulate osteogenic differentiation was explored. Lastly, in the in vivo experiments, the effects of senescent MLO-Y4 cell-derived exosomes on age-related bone loss were evaluated in male SAMP6 mice, which excluded the effects of oestrogen, and the underlying mechanism was confirmed.Aims
Methods
To explore the novel molecular mechanisms of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) in chondrocytes via RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. Empty adenovirus (EP) and a Aims
Methods
Anatomically specific fixation devices have become mainstream, yet there are anatomical regions and clinical conditions where no pre-contoured plates are available, such as for glenohumeral arthrodesis. In a case series of 4 glenohumeral arthrodesis patients, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at GCUH implemented 3D printing technology to create reconstructions of each patient's shoulder girdle to pre-contour arthrodesis plates. Our aim was to quantify the cost-benefit & intra-operative time savings of this technique in glenohumeral arthrodesis. We hypothesized that the use of 3D printing for creating patient specific implants through pre-operative contouring of plates will lead to intra-operative time and cost savings by minimising time spent bending plates during surgery. This study analysed 4 patients who underwent shoulder arthrodesis by a single consultant orthopaedic surgeon at GCUH between 2017-2021. A CT-based life-size model of each patient's shoulder girdle was 3D printed using freely available computer software programs: 3D Slicer, Blender, Mesh Mixer & Cura. Once the patient's 3D model was created, plate benders were used to contour the plate pre-op, which was then sterilised prior to surgery. Arthrodesis was performed according to AO principles of fixation. The time spent pre-bending the plate using the 3D model was calculated to analyse the intra-op time and cost-saving benefits. For the 4 cases, the plate pre-bending times were 45, 40, 45 & 20 minutes (average 38.8 mins). The intra-op correction time to make small adjustments to the plate was 2 min/ case. 3 plates needed minor (3 degree) adjustment to fine-tune scapula spine contouring. 1 plate needed a 5 degree correction to fine-tune hand position. On average, the pre-bending of the plate saved approximately 38.8 mins intra-op/ case. These shorter anaesthetic and operating times equate to approximately $2586 saving/ case, given an estimate of $4000/hour of theatre costs. We conclude that pre-bending plates around 3D-printed life-size models of an individual's shoulder girdle prior to surgery results in approximately 38.8 mins time saving intra-op when used in shoulder arthrodesis. This is a viable and effective technique that will ultimately result in significant operative time and financial savings.
In the repair of condylar cartilage injury, synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs) migrate to an injured site and differentiate into cartilage. This study aimed to confirm that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, which alleviate arthritis, can improve chondrogenesis inhibited by IL-1β, and to explore its mechanism. SMSCs were isolated from synovium specimens of patients undergoing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery. Chondrogenic differentiation potential of SMSCs was evaluated in vitro in the control, IL-1β stimulation, and IL-1β stimulation with HDAC inhibitors groups. The effect of HDAC inhibitors on the synovium and condylar cartilage in a rat TMJ arthritis model was evaluated.Aims
Methods
Recent anthropometric studies have suggested that current design of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) does not cater to racial anthropometric differences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the exact sizing and rotational landmarks of the distal femur collected and its gender differences from a large group of healthy Southern Chinese using 3D-CT measurements, and then compare these measurements to the five total knee prostheses conventionally used in China. This study evaluated distal femoral geometry in 85 healthy Southern Chinese, included 39 females (78 knees) and 46 males (92 knees) with a mean age of 33.9 years，a mean height of 164.7 cm and a mean weight of 59.9 kg. The width of the articular surface as projected onto the transepicondylar line(ML), anteroposterior dimension (AP), the dimensions from medial/lateral epicondyle to posterior condylar (MEP/LEP) were measured. A characterization of the aspect ratio (ML/AP) was made for distal femur. The angles between the tangent line of the posterior condylar surfaces, the Whiteside line, the transepicondylar line, and the trochlear line were measured. The sulcus angle and hip center-femoral shaft angle were also measured [Fig. 1]. The data were compared with the five total knee prostheses conventionally used in China. In analyzing the data, best-fit lines were calculated with use of least-squares regression. The dimensions are summarized as the mean and standard deviation. Comparisons of dimensions between males and females were made with use of the two-sample t test. A p value of <0.05 indicated a significant effect.Background
Methods
ACL deficiency can have detrimental pathological effects on the menisci in the knee. A database review in Quebec over a three-year period was previously reported (Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, Winnipeg, 2003), which examined the relationship between waiting times for ACL surgery and the requirement of a meniscal procedure. The purpose of this study is to determine if the length of time between an index injury and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgery correlates with the incidence of meniscal repair and meniscectomy in Alberta, and to compare the results to those of the Quebec study. Retrospective study, using procedure and billing codes to search the Alberta Health and Wellness databases for knees undergoing primary ACLR surgery between 2002–2005. Inclusion: Patients sixteen years or older at time of reconstruction. Exclusion: Revision ACLR, duplicate billing and coding, and insufficient database information. For each reconstructed knee, databases were searched for initial injury evaluation date with primary care physician, dates of meniscectomy or meniscal repair procedures, and date of ACLR. Over a three-year period, there were 3382 primary ACL reconstructions performed in Alberta, 3812 ACLR in Quebec. Of these patients, 2583 in Alberta (76%) and 1722 in Quebec (45%) required a meniscal procedure. On average, Albertans waited 1389 days from injury to ACLR compared to 422 days in Quebec. In Alberta, patients not requiring a meniscal procedure waited 1212 days, patients requiring meniscal repair waited 1143 days, and patients requiring meniscectomy waited 1519 days, compared to 251, 413 and 676 days in Quebec, respectively. Three percent of patients in Alberta had ACLR <
three months after injury (114 patients), with 45% requiring meniscectomy. Overall, 61% of patients in Alberta required a meniscectomy for significant meniscal injury, compared to 48% of patients in Quebec. The proportions for each province were statistically significant. Compared to Quebec, patients in Alberta are waiting longer for ACLR, with only a small proportion of cases being treated acutely. The proportion of patients requiring surgery for significant meniscal injury is also greater in Alberta. The higher proportion of patients in Alberta requiring meniscectomy may be due to the delay in ACLR.
