Aims

Assessment of bone health is a multifaceted clinical process, incorporating biochemical and diagnostic tests that should be accurate and reproducible. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the reference standard for evaluation of bone mineral density, but has known limitations. Alternatives include quantitative CT (q-CT), MRI, and peripheral quantitative ultrasound (QUS). Radiofrequency echographic multispectrometry (REMS) is a new generation of ultrasound technology used for the assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) at axial sites that is as accurate as quality-assured DXA scans. It also provides an assessment of the quality of bone architecture. This will be of direct value and significance to orthopaedic surgeons when planning surgical procedures, including fracture fixation and surgery of the hip and spine, since BMD alone is a poor predictor of fracture risk.

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Prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms within the Trauma & Orthopaedics (T&O) literature has greatly increased over the last ten years. One increasingly explored aspect of AI is the automated interpretation of free-text data often prevalent in electronic medical records (known as natural language processing (NLP)). We set out to review the current evidence for applications of NLP methodology in T&O, including assessment of study design and reporting.

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Paediatric pelvic ring fractures are rare but severe injuries, presenting significant treatment challenges. This study aimed to analyze patient characteristics and explore trends in incidence, treatment methods, and mortality associated with these injuries.

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The diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains a challenge, as no single diagnostic test shows high diagnostic accuracy. Recently, the measurement of synovial biomarkers has shown promising results. The aim of this study was to present a novel multiplex micro-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for the rapid and simultaneous measurement of alpha-defensin, interleukin (IL)-6, and calprotectin developed in a model buffer system and human spiked synovial fluid.

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We aimed to develop and validate a novel prediction model for osteoporosis based on serotonin, fat-soluble vitamins, and bone turnover markers to improve prediction accuracy of osteoporosis.

Aims. Machine learning (ML) holds significant promise in optimizing various aspects of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), potentially improving patient outcomes and enhancing surgical decision-making. The aim of this systematic review was to identify ML algorithms and evaluate their effectiveness, including those for predicting clinical outcomes and those used in image analysis. Methods. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for studies applying ML algorithms in TSA. The analysis focused on dataset characteristics, relevant subspecialties, specific ML algorithms used, and their performance outcomes. Results. Following the final screening process, 25 articles satisfied the eligibility criteria for our review. Of these, 60% focused on tabular data while the remaining 40% analyzed image data. Among them, 16 studies were dedicated to developing new models and nine used transfer learning to leverage existing pretrained models. Additionally, three of these models underwent external validation to confirm their reliability and effectiveness. Conclusion. ML algorithms used in TSA demonstrated fair to good performance, as evidenced by the reported metrics. Integrating these models into daily clinical practice could revolutionize TSA, enhancing both surgical precision and patient outcome predictions. Despite their potential, the lack of transparency and generalizability in many current models poses a significant challenge, limiting their clinical utility. Future research should prioritize addressing these limitations to truly propel the field forward and maximize the benefits of ML in enhancing patient care. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2025;6(2):126–134

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To establish cut-off values for lateral pubofemoral distance (PFD) measurements for detecting hip dysplasia in early (four days) and standard care (six weeks) screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

The February 2025 Hip & Pelvis Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Postoperative periprosthetic femoral fractures after hip arthroplasty: quantifying the other half of the picture; Hip arthroscopy in patients with borderline dysplasia: how do we know when it will not work?; The morbidly obese patient remains a challenge for arthroplasty surgeons; Unexpected positive cultures in aseptic revision hip and knee arthroplasty: does it make a difference?; Failed spinal anaesthesia in hip and knee arthroplasty surgery; Clinical failure of femoral neck fracture is associated with varus necks; Navigating the angles: how variations in femoral and acetabular versions influence hip pain and treatment; High-tech or hands-on? Similar outcomes in direct anterior total hip arthroplasty.

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In this study, we aimed to evaluate incidence trends and potential risk factors associated with Perthes’ disease in Denmark, using publicly available data.

The February 2025 Research Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Walk your way to longer life: quantifying physical activity’s role in extending longevity; Is information about musculoskeletal malignancies from large language models or web resources at a suitable reading level for patients?; Contemporary surgical management of osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma; L-arginine and tendon healing; What you can’t hear might not stress you out as much.

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Older adults with hip fractures are at high risk of experiencing complications after surgery, but estimates of the rate of specific complications vary by study design and follow-up period. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of complications in older adults after hip fracture surgery.

The February 2025 Oncology Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at:The role of bone grafting versus bone cement in the treatment of giant cell tumour of bone: a systematic review and meta-analysis on the risk of recurrence in 1,454 patients; Tumour necrosis drives prognosis in osteosarcoma; Correlation between post-chemotherapy MRI and histopathology of malignant bone tumours treated with extra-articular resection; Real-world referral pattern of unplanned excision in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma; Assessment of artificial intelligence chatbot responses to common patient questions on bone sarcoma; Chondrosarcoma of the pelvis and limbs at ten years; Chest wall resection and reconstruction for primary chest wall sarcomas: analysis of survival, predictors of outcome, and long-term functional status; Ewing’s sarcoma in the paediatric population: predictors of survival within the USA; Pulmonary metastasectomy for sarcoma: insights from a referral centre cohort.

The February 2025 Spine Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: The effect of thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthosis wear time and clinical risk factors on curve progression for individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; Does operative level impact dysphagia severity after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion? A multicentre prospective analysis; Who gets better after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy? A responder analysis from the multicentre Canadian spine outcomes and research network; Do obese patients have worse outcomes in adult spinal deformity surgeries?; An update to the management of spinal cord injury; Classifying thoracolumbar injuries; High- versus moderate-density constructs in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are equivalent at two years; Romosozumab for protecting against proximal junctional kyphosis in deformity surgery.

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The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a deep learning-based model for classification of hip fractures to enhance diagnostic accuracy.

Aims. Radiostereometric analysis (RSA) is considered the gold standard for in vivo migration analysis, but CT-based alternatives show comparable results in the shoulder and hip. We have previously validated a CT-based migration analysis method (CTMA) in a knee phantom compared to RSA. In this study, we validated the method in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our primary outcome measure was the difference in maximum total point motion (MTPM) between the differing methods. Methods. A total of 31 patients were prospectively studied having undergone an uncemented medial pivot knee TKA. Migrations were measured up to 12 months with marker-based and model-based RSA, and CT-RSA. Results. Mean precision data for MTPM were 0.27 mm (SD 0.09) for marker-based RSA, 0.37 mm (SD 0.26) for model-based RSA, and 0.25 mm (SD 0.11) for CTMA. CTMA was as precise as both RSA methods (p = 0.845 and p = 0.156). At three months, MTPM showed a mean of 0.66 mm (95% CI 0.52 to 0.81) for marker-based RSA, 0.79 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.94) for model-based RSA, and 0.59 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.72) for CTMA. There was no difference between CTMA and marker-based RSA (p = 0.400), but CTMA showed lower migration than model-based RSA (p = 0.019). At 12 months, MTPM was 1.03 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.26) for marker-based RSA, 1.02 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.25) for model-based RSA, and 0.71 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.94) for CTMA. MTPM for CTMA was lower than both RSA methods (p < 0.001). Differences between migration increased between the methods from three to 12 months. Mean effective radiation doses per examination were 0.016 mSv (RSA) and 0.069 mSv (CT). Imaging time for performing RSA radiographs was 17 minutes 26 seconds (SD 7 mins 9 sec) and 4 minutes 24 seconds (SD 2 mins 3 sec) for CT. Conclusion. No difference in precision was found between CTMA and marker- or model-based RSA, but CTMA shows lower migration values of the tibial component at 12 months. CTMA can be used with low effective radiation doses, and CT image acquisition is faster to perform than RSA methods and may be suitable for use in ordinary clinical settings. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2025;107-B(2):173–180

Aims. Around the world, the emergence of robotic technology has improved surgical precision and accuracy in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This territory-wide study compares the results of various robotic TKA (R-TKA) systems with those of conventional TKA (C-TKA) and computer-navigated TKA (N-TKA). Methods. This is a retrospective study utilizing territory-wide data from the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System (CDARS). All patients who underwent primary TKA in all 47 public hospitals in Hong Kong between January 2021 and December 2023 were analyzed. Primary outcomes were the percentage use of various robotic and navigation platforms. Secondary outcomes were: 1) mean length of stay (LOS); 2) 30-day emergency department (ED) attendance rate; 3) 90-day ED attendance rate; 4) 90-day reoperation rate; 5) 90-day mortality rate; and 6) surgical time. Results. A total of 8,492 knees from 7,746 patients were included in the study. Overall robotic use had risen to 20.4% (2023 Q3 to Q4: 355/1,738) by the end of 2023, with Mako being the most popular at 10.3% (179/1,738). R-TKA had the shortest mean LOS compared with N-TKA and C-TKA (5.5 vs 6.3 and 7.1 days, respectively; p < 0.001). Only Mako (9.7%) demonstrated reduced 90-day ED attendance compared to C-TKA (13.1%; p = 0.009), Cori/Navio (15.0%; p = 0.005), and Rosa (16.4%; p < 0.001). No differences in 90-day reoperation rate and mortality were observed between all groups. Mean surgical times were longer in R-TKA groups by 20.6 minutes (p < 0.001). Conclusion. R-TKA use has increased in recent years, and has been shown to reduce hospital stay despite having a slightly longer surgical time, proving a promising candidate to alleviate the burden on healthcare systems. Individual differences between R-TKA systems contributed to variable clinical outcomes. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;6(1):12–20

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The aim of this study was to perform an incremental cost-utility analysis and assess the impact of differential costs and case volume on the cost-effectiveness of robotic arm-assisted medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (rUKA) compared to manual (mUKA).

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Functional alignment (FA) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) aims to achieve balanced gaps by adjusting implant positioning while minimizing changes to constitutional joint line obliquity (JLO). Although FA uses kinematic alignment (KA) as a starting point, the final implant positions can vary significantly between these two approaches. This study used the Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee (CPAK) classification to compare differences between KA and final FA positions.

Addressing bone defects is a complex medical challenge that involves dealing with various skeletal conditions, including fractures, osteoporosis (OP), bone tumours, and bone infection defects. Despite the availability of multiple conventional treatments for these skeletal conditions, numerous limitations and unresolved issues persist. As a solution, advancements in biomedical materials have recently resulted in novel therapeutic concepts. As an emerging biomaterial for bone defect treatment, graphene oxide (GO) in particular has gained substantial attention from researchers due to its potential applications and prospects. In other words, GO scaffolds have demonstrated remarkable potential for bone defect treatment. Furthermore, GO-loaded biomaterials can promote osteoblast adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation while stimulating bone matrix deposition and formation. Given their favourable biocompatibility and osteoinductive capabilities, these materials offer a novel therapeutic avenue for bone tissue regeneration and repair. This comprehensive review systematically outlines GO scaffolds’ diverse roles and potential applications in bone defect treatment.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(12):725–740.