Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine whether asymmetric loading influences macrophage elastase (MMP12) expression in different parts of a rat tail intervertebral disc and growth plate and if MMP12 expression is correlated with the severity of the deformity.

Introduction

The response of the intervertebral disc to asymmetric forces may accelerate degeneration through changes in the matrix. Macroscopically, the disc sustains structural changes that may play a part in the progression of a scoliotic curve. Molecularly, disc degeneration is the outcome of the action of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), members of a family of enzymes that bring about the degradation of extracellular matrix components. In this study we measured in vivo the expression of MMPs in a rat scoliotic intervertebral disc and studied the effect of the degree of the deformity on their production.

It was previously postulated that the IV disc wedging is a significant progressive factor for mild IS curves. The present report introduces an innovative comprehensive model of IS curves progression based on intervertebral disc (IV) diurnal variation and the subsequent patho-biomechanics of the deforming “three joint complex”, where vertebral growth occurs.

Throughout day and night, due to sustained loading and unloading, the scoliotic wedged IV disc expels fluid and imbibes it more convex-wise. The convex side of the IV sustains a greater amount of cyclic expansion than the concave side. Consequently the imposed, convex-wise, asymmetrical concentrated cyclical loads to the adjacent immature vertebral end plates and posterior elements of the spine lead to asymmetrical vertebral growth. More specifically the loading on the two facet-joins asymmetrically increases during the day, as the wedged IV space narrows due to expelled water and it asymmetrically decreases during the night, as the IV space swells due to imbibed water.

This 24 hour period cyclic asymmetric loading leads both to asymmetric growth of the end plates and wedging of the vertebral bodies, and to similarly asymmetric growth of the pedicles and arches posteriorly as an effect of Hüeter-Volkmann law. This model explains the well described anatomical findings of the more elongated pedicles and the larger facet joints in the convex side than in the concave in scoliotic spines

The aim of school screening is to identify most or all the individuals with unrecognized idiopathic scoliosis (IS) at an early stage when a less invasive treatment is more effective. The present study summarises the contribution of school screening in research of IS epidemiology, natural history and aetiology. In addition, school screening is a unique tool for research of IS in humans, as in most published articles, all aetiopathogenetic factors are studied in animals and not in humans.

Such contribution is beyond the original aim of school screening but is very important to expand our knowledge and adequately understand the pathogenesis of IS. The role of biological factors such as the menarche, the lateralization of the brain, the handedness, the thoracic cage, the intervertebral disc, the melatonin secretion, as well as the role of environmental factors such as the light and the impact of the geographical latitude in IS prevalence were studied in children referred from school screening. The present study provides evidence to support that school screening programs should be continued not only for early detection of IS but also as a basis for epidemiological surveys until we learn much more about the aetiology of IS

The osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle, depending on the area occupied, causes pain and may progress into osteoarthritis. For the management of osteonecrosis numerous treatment methods have been described, as conservative, drilling, osteotomy and others.

The aim of our study is to evaluate the results of management of knee osteonecrosis with unicompartmental arthroplasty.

We studied 16 knees in 15 patients (all women) with osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle. The size of osteonecrosis was greater than 3.5 cm, as revealed by MRI. The mean age of patients was 72 years (range 64–80 years). The time elapsed from the onset of symptoms to surgical treatment ranged from 3 to 10 months.

All patients were followed clinically and by X-ray 1 to 6 years post-operatively and scored with Knee Society Score. The result in 14 patients was excellent and in 1 was good.

In conclusion, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is a satisfactory method of treatment of osteonecrosis, which provides immediate relief from pain, long-term satisfactory outcome and avoids multiple operations

Melatonin’s concentration is high in early childhood and declines gradually thereafter. In the elderly serum melatonin levels are very low. Melatonin, the “light of night”, among other functions is involved in human sexual maturation and in osteogenesis.

Hormesis is the response of cells or organisms to an exogenous (eg drug or toxin) or intrinsic factors (eg hormone), where the factor induces stimulatory or beneficial effects at low doses and inhibitory or adverse effects at high doses [bimodal dose-response] or vice versa.

At the age around 10 years, when idiopathic scoliosis may appear, the circulating melatonin level is about 120 pg/ml – positive hormesis for menses – and menarche appears. Melatonin deficiency may result in a delay of the age at menarche and consequently the girl is susceptible to scoliosis. In these terms melatonin could be certainly involved in the scoliosis pathogenesis. Around the age of 45 years when the circulating melatonin levels are about 20 pg/ml – negative hormesis for menses, menopause starts and the woman has an increased risk for osteoporosis and fractures.

It is documented the bone-protecting effect of melatonin in ovariectomized rats which can depend in part on the free radical scavenging properties of melatonin. Additionally, melatonin may impair development of osteopenia associated with senescence by improving non-rapid eye movement sleep and restoring GH secretion. Whether modulation of melatonin blood levels can be used as a novel mode of therapy for scoliosis and augmenting bone mass in diseases deserves to be studied

This paper evaluates severe normal trunk asymmetry (TA) by higher and lower body mass index (BMI) values in 5953 adolescents age 11–17 years (boys 2939, girls 3014) whilst standing forward bending (FB) and sitting FB during screening for scoliosis. TA was measured as angle of trunk inclinations (ATIs) across the back (thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbar) with abnormality defined as 2 standard deviations or more. The findings for sitting FB position are reported because the readings express TA free from any leg-length inequality. Relatively lower BMIs are associated statistically with

excess of abnormal TAs, and

BMI is known to be linked to puberty timing and energy balance but not to TAs in healthy students. Similar to girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, we suggest that severe TA is caused by a genetically-determined selectively increased hypothalamic sensitivity to leptin with asymmetry as an adverse hormetic response, exacerbated by presumed lower circulating leptin levels associated with relatively lower BMIs. The asymmetry is expressed bilaterally via the sympathetic nervous system to produce left-right asymmetry in ribs and/or vertebrae leading to severe TA when beyond the capacity of postural mechanisms of the somatic nervous system to control the shape distortion of the trunk

The frequent choice of treatment for tibial shaft fractures is intramedullary nailing. However there are cases where this treatment is problematic and alternative treatments are chosen with satisfied results.

Twenty-nine patients with complex, unstable tibial shaft fractures (13 males and 16 females) aged 18 to 76 years (mean age 49 years) were treated using Ilizarov external fixation, the last decade in our Department by the same surgeon. The indications were open Gustillo III fractures, comminuted fractures of the proximal or distal third tibia near metaphysis, concomitant plateau or pillon fractures and fractures after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). All frames were applied the first day of injury. Patients without concomitant intraarticular fracture or bone deficit allowed to full weight bearing within2 weeks after surgery.

Union and good to excellent alignment with full range of motion in the knee and ankle joints was obtained in all patients. Three patients needed bone lengthening using the initial applied frame after corticotomy in second operation. There were 7 delayed unions in fractures without bone deficit, 10 superficial pin tract infection treated with antibiotics and local care and 1 deep infection which needed surgical intervention.

Ilizarov external fixation gives the solution in difficult and problematic tibial shaft fractures and allows early weight bearing

Introduction: the choice of treatment for tibial shaft fractures in adults is intramedullary nailing. However there are cases where this treatment is problematic and alternative treatments are chosen.

Patients and Methods: 29 patients with unstable tibial shaft fractures (13 males and 16 females; aged 18 to 76 years) were treated using Ilizarov technique, last decade, by the authors. The indications were open fractures type III Gustillo, comminuted fractures of the proximal or distal third near metaphysis, concomitant plateau or pillon fractures and fractures after TNR. All frames were applied the first day of injury. Patients without concomitant intraarticular fracture or bone deficit allowed to full weight bearing within two weeks after surgery.

Results: union and good to excellent alignment with full range of motion in the knee and ankle joints was obtained in all patients. Three patients needed bone lengthening using the initial applied frame after corticotomy in second operation. There were 7 delayed unions in fractures without bone deficit. As complications there were superficial pin tract infection in 10 patients treated with antibiotics and local care and one deep infection which needed surgical intervention.

Conclusions: Ilizarov technique gives the solution in difficult and problematic tibial shaft fractures and allows early weight bearing.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to study Monteggia fracture-dislocation in children and report results of treatment.

Material and methods: Thirty-two children were treated for Monteggia fracture-dislocation during a 12-year period from 1989 to 2001. The Bado classification was type I (n=22, 69%), type II (n=2, 7%), and type III (n=8, 24%). There were no type IV. Mean follow-up was seven years (1–12 yr). Mean age at treatment was six years (3–12 yr). There were 26 boys (81%) and 6 girls (19%). The right side was involved in 62% of patients. Orthopaedic treatment was use for 31 patients. Open surgery was performed for one child.

Results: Early complications were rupture and migration of the osteosynthesis material and transient palsy of the posterior interosseous in one patient. Late complications were malunion with 20° ulnar varus in four patients. Residual posterior tilt of the ulna (up to 10°) was observed in two children and anterior tilt in one other. Elbow function was perfect in all children. For children had minor cubital varus.

Discussion: Thirty-one children were given orthopaedic treatment with closed reduction of the ulnar fracture and radial head dislocation and immobilisation with a brachio-antebrachio-palmar brace. There were no cases of recurrent radial head dislocation, even with ulnar mal-union with 20° deviation. There were no cases of secondary displacement or recurrend dislocation despite rather unstable and oblique fractures. One patient required open reduction of the radial head followed by transcondylo-radial pinning. Closed reduction failed because of a ruptured annular ligament. In this patient, the pin was removed at three weeks because of pin fracture and migration to the wrist.

Conclusion: Early orthopaedic reduction is indicated as first-intention treatment for these fractures in children. The prognosis is excellent for patients treated early. When closed reduction is impossible or in the event of recurrent dislocation of the radial head, open surgery may be needed.