Aims

Hip dysplasia (HD) leads to premature osteoarthritis. Timely detection and correction of HD has been shown to improve pain, functional status, and hip longevity. Several time-consuming radiological measurements are currently used to confirm HD. An artificial intelligence (AI) software named HIPPO automatically locates anatomical landmarks on anteroposterior pelvis radiographs and performs the needed measurements. The primary aim of this study was to assess the reliability of this tool as compared to multi-reader evaluation in clinically proven cases of adult HD. The secondary aims were to assess the time savings achieved and evaluate inter-reader assessment.

Aims

Pelvic tilt is believed to affect the symptomology of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip by alterations in joint movement, dysplasia of the hip by modification of acetabular cover, and femoroacetabular impingement by influencing the impingement-free range of motion. While the apparent role of pelvic tilt in hip pathology has been reported, the exact effects of many forms of treatment on pelvic tilt are unknown. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of surgery on pelvic tilt in these three groups of patients.

Aims

Some patients presenting with hip pain and instability and underlying acetabular dysplasia (AD) do not experience resolution of symptoms after surgical management. Hip-spine syndrome is a possible underlying cause. We hypothesized that there is a higher frequency of radiological spine anomalies in patients with AD. We also assessed the relationship between radiological severity of AD and frequency of spine anomalies.

Summary Statement

A resorbable and biocompatible polymer-based scaffold was used for the proliferation and delivery of adipose derived stromal cells, as well as delivery of a cell growth/differentiation promoting factor for improved tendon defect regeneration.

Standard evaluation and diagnosis of pincer-type femoroacetabular impingment (FAI) relies on anteroposterior (AP) radiographs, clinical evaluation, and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the current evaluation techniques do not offer a method for accurately defining the amount of acetabular rim overcoverage in pincer-type FAI. Several studies have remarked on the particular problems with radiographic evaluation, including beam divergence, difficulty with defining the acetabular rim, and pelvic tilt. Some studies have proposed methods to mitigate these issues; however, radiographic analysis still relies on projected and distorted images, making it difficult to acquire an accurate quantitative estimate of the amount of crossover. We propose a technique that utilises computed tomography (CT) data to accurately quantify the amount of acetabular crossover while accounting for known diagnostic problems, specifically pelvic tilt.

This work describes a novel method that utilises CT data of a patient's afflicted hip joint region to assess the amount of acetabular overcoverage due to pincer deformity. The amount of overcoverage was assessed using a spline curve defined through the segmentation of the acetabular rim from CT data. To mitigate pelvic tilt, the user selected points to define both the pubic symphysis and the promontory in a lateral digitally reconstructed radiograph. The algorithm corrected the pelvic tilt by adjusting to a defined neutral position (in our case, a 60°), and the user adjusted for slight rotation differences ensuring there was a vertical line connecting the symphysis and the sacrococcygeal joint.

After successfully repositioning the pelvis, the algorithm computed the amount of acetabular overcoverage. The algorithm identified the superolateral point of the acetabulum and the most inferior points of the anterior and posterior rim. A line, the mid-acetabular axis, was constructed between the superolateral point and the midpoint of the most inferior points on the anterior and posterior rims; the mid-acetabular axis was extended anterior and posterior to create a plane. Crossover occurred when the anterior rim of the acetabulum intersected this plane. If an intersection occurred, the algorithm measured the length of the mid-acetabular axis, and the length and width of the section representing overcoverage. These points were then projected onto anteroposterior DRRs and again measured to generate a basis of comparison.

We tested our method on four cadaveric specimens to analyze the relationship between radiographic assessment and our technique. We simulated varying degrees of impingement in the cadavers by increasing the amount of pelvic tilt and defining that as the neutral position for a given trial. Moreover, we assessed interobserver variability in repositioning the pelvis as to the effect this would have on the final measurement of crossover length and width.

The software achieved consistent, quantitative measurements of the amount of acetabular overcoverage due to pincer deformity. When compared with conventional radiographic measurements for crossover, there was a significant different between the two modalities. Specifically, both the ratios of crossover length to acetabular length and crossover width to crossover length were less using the CT-based approach (p < 0.001). Moreover, there were no significant differences between observers using our approach.

The proposed technique can form the basis for a new way to diagnosis and measure acetabular overcoverage resulting in pincer impingement. This computational method can help clinicians to accurately correct for tilt and rotation, and subsequently provide consistent, quantitative measurement of acetabular overcoverage.

Purpose: There are few reports in the literature detailing the arthroscopic treatment of multidirectional instability of the shoulder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of arthroscopic methods in the treatment of athletes with symptomatic multidirectional instability of the shoulder.

Method: Forty patients (43 shoulders) with multidi-rectional instability of the shoulder were treated via arthrscopic means and were evaluated at a mean of 33.5 months post-operatively. The mean patient age was 19.1 years (range 14 to 39). There were 24 male patients and 16 female patients. Patients were evaluated with the ASES and WOSI scoring systems. Stability, strength, and range of motion were evaluated with patient-reported scales.

Results: The mean ASES score postoperatively was 91.4 out of 100. The mean WOSI post-operative percentage score was 91.1 out of 100. Ninety-one percent of patients had full or satisfactory range of motion, 98% had normal or slightly decreased strength, and 86% of patients were able to return to their sport with little or no limitation.

Conclusion: Arthroscopic methods can provide an effective treatment for symptomatic multidirectional instability in an athletic population.

Introduction: The addition of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) showed significant reduction of secondary intervention, fracture healing time and infection rates compared with intramedullary nailing alone in open tibia fractures. However, the upfront price of approx. 3000 € is a barrier to its regular use. The goal of the study was to determine potential cost savings and cost-effectiveness of rhBMP-2 in grade III open tibia fractures from the perspective of the UK National Health Service (NHS) and the German Health Care System and to derive conclusions for other European health care systems.

Materials and Methods: Clinical data from a previously published randomised controlled study with 450 patients (“BESTT study”) were used to generate total treatment costs for each patient for the control and the 1.5 mg/ml BMP-2 group based on the current German-DRG and the NHS for UK. The analysis was performed from a health care system and a societal perspective for a one year time horizon. Furthermore, assessment of the cost-effectiveness of BMP-2 was done by utility analysis.

Results: The use of BMP-2 for grade III open tibia fractures is leading to cost savings of 3183 € per case and, therefore, to net savings for the German health care system. The main driver for cost savings is faster fracture healing with faster resumption of work and reduced expenses for sickness leave payments. For the UK rhBMP-2 is a cost-effective strategy with a cost-effectiveness ratio of approx. £11,000/QALY which is well below the standard £30,000 benchmark for the NHS. From a societal perspective, rhBMP-2 is a cost-saving treatment.

Conclusions: BMP-2 leads to net savings in grade III open tibia fractures in Germany which can be expected for other European countries where sickness payments are provided by health care insurers. For countries like UK where sickness are provided by third parties BMP-2 is a cost-effective treatment strategy from a health care system perspective and a cost-saving treatment from a societal perspective.

Introduction and Aims: There is cumulative evidence that BMP-14 has a role in chondrocyte maturation in endochondral ossification of growth plate. We hypothesise that BMP-14 has a similar role in bone regeneration following fracture. We aim to compare normal versus a gene knock-out mouse to demonstrate histologic, radiographic and biochemical deficiencies in the mouse that lacks the gene for BMP-14.

Method: The brachypodism (bp) mouse has a homozygous form (BMP-14 −/−) that does not express BMP-14 and a heterozygous form (BMP-14 +/−) that does. Closed midshaft femur fractures were created and stabilised in eight-week female mice in both types of mice. Mice were euthanised at differing time points and the femurs harvested for DNA, proteoglycan, collagen determinations. Histology was performed with Tri-Chrome staining. Radiographs were taken at each time point to evaluate callus formation. Analysis for all quantitative measures was normalised and statistically evaluated using a two-way ANOVA.

Results: Biochemical results show BMP-14 deficient (bp) mice having a five to seven-day delay in attaining peak values of DNA compared with controls. The time-dependent change of cellular proliferation reached significance. Peak values of proteoglycan content were three times less in the bp mouse in the early phase of healing in the bp mouse. Histologically, the BMP-14-deficient animals exhibited a delay in peak area of callus and callus organisation in the regenerating femur fracture. Radiographic analysis shows peak callus area was delayed two weeks, and had a decreased magnitude over that two-week span in the bp mice. Callus was less evident in the bp for time points throughout the study.

Conclusion: We have produced evidence in this animal model that deficiency of BMP-14 is associated with a short-term delay in fracture healing. We also can demonstrate that there is a delay in cellular recruitment and chondrocyte differentiation in the first two weeks of fracture repair in the bp mouse. These results support our hypothesis that BP-14 has a significant role in fracture repair. There may be a use for BMP-14 in assisting long-bone fracture repair.