The aim of this study was to report a 3 year follow up of vitamin E add polyethylene in total knee arthroplasty. UHMWPE powder (GUR1050) was mixed with 0.3% of vitamin E before consolidation by direct compression molding. The vitamin E added UHMWPE was applied to the articular surface and patella in 65 patients (mean age, 69.6 years). Joint fluid concentrations of tocopherol and matrix metalloproteinase 9 were measured in vitamin E added UHMWPE cases one year after surgery, and were compared to those of conventional UHMWPE cases and osteoarthritis patients. Concentrations of α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol were measured by using HPLC with ultraviolet-visible wavelength detection. Concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase 9 were detected by using enzyme immunoassay.

The Average Knee Society score were 91.7(clinical) and 76.7(functional). There were three failures (1 supracondylar fracture, and 2 skin necrosis). The average concentrations of α-tocopherol were 281.8μg/dL (10 cases) in the vitamin E group, 371.8μg/dL (15 cases) in the conventional group, and 317.8μg/dL (46 cases) in the osteoarthritis group. There were no significant differences among three groups. The average concentrations of γ-tocopherol were 43.4μg/dL in the vitamin E group, 52.3μg/dL in the conventional group, and 49.8μg/dL in the osteoarthritis group. There were no significant differences among three groups. The average concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase 9 were 83.2 ng/mL in the vitamin E group, 78.4 ng/mL in the conventional group, and 17.4 ng/mL in the osteoarthritis group. There was no significant difference between the vitamin E group and the conventional group. However, The matrix metalloproteinase 9 concentrations of the osteoarthritis group were significantly lower than others.

No cases exhibited measurable polyethylene wear or osteolysis and also no abnormal values relating to vitamin E on joint fluid examinations. At three year follow-up, vitamin E added polyethylene demonstrated the safe use for the human body.

We usually plan surgery for total hip arthroplasty (THA)using pre-operative X-ray templates. However, the technique provides only two dimensional (2D) images and therefore has limitations for planning three-dimensional (3D) objects. Recently it has become possible to describe 3D images using computer programs that use free down loaded computer software (Hip-op) that enable comparison between 3D templates obtained by computed tomography (CT) and 2D conventional X-ray templates.

Six hip joints in 6 patients (1 male, 5 females; age range at the time of operation, 49–77 years) were evaluated. Five of the patients suffered from secondary osteoarthritis of the hip (secondary OA), while the remaining patient suffered from osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). All the patients underwent THA using a cement less femoral stem (ANCA-FIT Wright Medical Technology, Arlington, Tennessee, USA). Pre-operative planning was performed using Hip-op software (Rizzoli Institute, Bologna, Italy). After the THA surgery, we carried out a repeat CT scan that was used to analyze stem fitting in the femur.

In all the patients it proved easy to obtain the pre-operative template. In 4 patients, the correct stem size was selected pre-operatively, while in the other 2 patients, the planned stem size was one size smaller than that actually implanted. In the 4 patients in whom the correct stem was selected, 2 had their template correctly assessed by conventional 2D images, 1 patient’s template was one size smaller than the implant, while the remaining patient’s template was two sizes smaller than the implant. In the 2 patients who received implants one size smaller than the CT template, 1 patient had the stem inserted in the virus position while in the other patient a fracture occurred during implantation

Preoperative planning for THA using a CT-based computer templating system proved to be a useful technique for the orthopedic surgeons.

Combined multi-detector row CT (MD-CT) pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and lower extremity venography (CTV) is an effective method for detection of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, the usefulness of this method after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has not been reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate our screening program in the management of thromboembolism.

Over a 1.5-year period, 30 patients with primary TKA were examined using an MD-CT (Lightspeed ultra 16.GE) before and 7th day after operation. 25 seconds after intravenous administration of 320ml of contrast material, CTPA was performed with 1.25-mm collimation and CTV from the iliac crest to the ankles was done with 0.625-mm collimation 165 seconds after contrastmaterial injection. The mean age of the patients was 72.2 (53–80). Twenty patients had osteoarthritis, nine had rheumatoid arthritis and one osteonecrosis. All patients were received 4 weeks of warfarin therapy and prophylaxis.

PE was observed in A1+2, A3, A6, A9, A10 area. PE was most frequently detected in A10 area of pulmonary artery (6/30). While, DVT was detected in only popliteal vein (6/30). The incidence of PE was 30% (9/30)and DVT 20% (6/30). Both PE and DVT were observed in 3 patients, the incidence was 10% (3/30).

Combined CTPA and CTV is a safe and accurate diagnotic method for detecting PE and DVT after TKA, and the ability to directly visualize emboli of this system is effective as therapeutic tool.

We reviewed the medical records of 115 patients with 130 hips with developmental dysplasia with complete dislocation in the absence of a neuromuscular disorder, spontaneous reduction with a Pavlik harness, and a minimum of 14 years’ follow-up. The mean age at the time of harness application was 4.8 months (1 to 12) and the mean time spent in the harness was 6.1 months (3 to 12). A total of 108 hips (83.1%) were treated with the harness alone and supplementary surgery for residual acetabular dysplasia, as defined by an acetabular index > 30°, was performed in 22 hips (16.9%).

An overall satisfactory outcome (Severin grade I or II) was achieved in 119 hips (91.5%) at a mean follow-up of 16 years (14 to 32) with a follow-up rate of 75%. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head was noted in 16 hips (12.3%), seven of which (44%) underwent supplementary surgery and nine (56%) of which were classified as satisfactory. The acetabular index was the most reliable predictor of residual acetabular dysplasia.

We studied 52 patients, each with a lumbosacral transitional vertebra. Using MRI we found that the lumbar discs immediately above the transitional vertebra were significantly more degenerative and those between the transitional vertebrae and the sacrum were significantly less degenerative compared with discs at other levels. We also performed an anatomical study using 70 cadavers. We found that the iliolumbar ligament at the level immediately above the transitional vertebra was thinner and weaker than it was in cadavers without a lumbosacral transitional vertebra.

Instability of the vertebral segment above the transitional vertebra because of a weak iliolumbar ligament could lead to subsequent disc degeneration which may occur earlier than at other disc levels. Some stability between the transitional vertebra and the sacrum could be preserved by the formation of either an articulation or by bony union between the vertebra and the sacrum through its transverse process. This may protect the disc from further degeneration in the long term.

We performed a paired study of mature patients with Perthes’ disease to compare the radiological results after treatment between conservatively- and surgically-treated groups. One patient was selected from each group to create the pairs for this study. Each pair was strictly matched for gender, body mass index, age at onset, stage at the first visit, necrotic area and radiological at-risk signs and each was assessed by comparing the values of six radiological measurements.

Eighteen pairs (36 hips) fitted the criteria. The radiological measurements which showed a statistically better result in the surgical groups were Mose’s method, the acetabular-head index and leg-length discrepancy. There were no statistical differences in the slope of the acetabular roof and the articulotrochanteric distance. Four hips in the conservative group were in Stulberg class II, five in class III and nine in class IV. In the surgical group, 13 were in Stulberg class II, four in class III and one in class IV.

We conclude that surgical treatment improved the sphericity of the femoral head and provided greater acetabular cover, but did not reform the acetabular roof.

It was noteworthy that a greater leg-length discrepancy and a smaller articulotrochanteric distance were not seen in the surgical group. Our study suggests that surgical treatment is preferable in patients with severe Perthes’ disease.

We undertook a radiographic analysis with pre-operative computed tomographic myelography in 78 patients with idiopathic scoliosis in order to analyse rotation of the spinal cord and to investigate its clinical significance. The angle of rotation of the cord had a statistically significant relationship to both that of the apical vertebra and the size of the primary curve. The relationship between the rotation of the cord and that of the apical vertebra was divided into three types. The cord rotated in the same direction as the apical vertebra in 55 patients and rotated in the opposite direction in the remaining 23 patients. In the first group, the angle of rotation of the cord was more than that of the vertebra in six patients, but less than it in 49 patients. These results suggest that the neuraxis in idiopathic scoliosis may be under tension in the axial dimension.

Dorsal root ganglion neurones with dichotomising axons are present in several species and are considered to play a role in referred pain. Clinically, patients with lesions in the lower lumbar discs occasionally complain of pain in the groin. We investigated the existence of dichotomising afferent neurones projecting axons both to the lumbar disc and to the groin skin, using the double fluorescent-labelling technique in rats.

We observed neurones labelled with a tracer applied at the ventral portion of the L5-L6 disc and another tracer placed on the groin skin in L1 and L2 dorsal root ganglia. Our results showed that the double-labelled neurones had peripheral axons which dichotomised into both the L5-L6 disc and the groin skin, indicating the convergence of afferent sensory information from the disc and groin skin. Our findings provide a possible neuroanatomical mechanism for referred groin pain in patients with disc lesions.

Degenerative changes of the knee often cause loss of extension. This may affect aspects of posture such as lumbar lordosis. A total of 366 patients underwent radiological examination of the lumbar spine in a standing position. The knee and body angles were measured by physical examination using a goniometer. Limitation of extension of the knee was significantly greater in patients whose lumbar lordosis was 30° or less. Lumbar lordosis was significantly reduced in patients whose limitation of extension of the knee was more than 5°. It decreased over the age of 70 years, and the limitation of extension of the knee increased over the age of 60 years. Our study indicates that symptoms from the lumbar spine may be caused by degenerative changes in the knee. This may be called the ‘knee-spine syndrome’.

The application of arthroscopic procedure for osteoarthritic knee is limited to rather initial stages of the disease. Here we report the results of new arthroscopic procedure, which was named arthroscopic posteromedial release, applied to relatively severe cases of medial type osteoarthrits (OA)

Forty-eight knees of 46 patients of OA knees with flexion contracture were treated with arthroscopic posteromedial release. Thirty-two were female and 14 were male. All the patients had been treated conservatively beforehand. The mean age of the patients was 71.6 (range, 47 to 84 years), the average range of motion was 13 to 129 degrees. Only one case was classified stage II in Kellgren Lowrence x-ray classification, 13 and 34 cases were stage III and IV respectively. The average femoro-tibial angle was 183.4+-4.4 degrees.

In surgery, we release the joint capsule along with the medial tibial condyle, arthroscopic debridement including medial meniscentomy was performed at the same time. If some cases, medial collateral ligament was cut transversely to obtain enough joint space. We use hyaluronan intra-articularly once a week for 5 weeks postoperatively. Patients were examined at 3,6,12,18 and 24 months after surgery and evaluated subjectively and objectively with the rating system of Japanese Orthopaedic Association knee score (JOA score). Clinical results were also classified excelletn, good, fair and poor by our criteria.

Eighty-three per cent (40 knees) of patients were satisfied at their last follow up. Sixty-seven percent (32 knees) of the patients were excellent or good. Six knees were converted to TKA because of their persistent knee pain. Twenty-eight knees complained of night pain pre-operatively, but only four of them complained of it postoperatively

Considering that most of the patients in this series were grade IV in x-rays and their joint surface of medial compartment showed large eburnation both femur and tibia, TKA is most preferable treatment conventionally. But our results showed this arthroscopic technique was one of the applicable choices for severe OA knees.

In patients who underwent autogenous iliac bone grafting we studied prospectively injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) in relation to the size (length, depth, width) of the graft. We also examined the neurological deficit, by questioning them about numbness and/or pain in the lateral thigh.

The risk of injury was significantly higher in those in whom the depth of the graft was more than 30 mm. With regard to the length of the graft the incidence of nerve injury was 20% when the graft was 45 mm long or more, 16% when it was between 30 mm and 45 mm long, and 8% when it was less than 30 mm long. We should inform patients of the possibility of such injury, and take size into consideration when harvesting grafts from the ilium.

We examined an39 patients (45 knees) who had undergone Elmslie-Trillat procedure for recurrent or habitual dislocation of the patella with a follow-up of more than ten years. The mean age at the time of surgery was 18.4 years; the mean follow-up was 161 months (120 to 238). Using Fulkerson’s functional knee score, 41 knees (91%) had an excellent or good result at a mean follow-up of 45 months, and this was maintained in 29 (64%) at the final review.

The main cause of deterioration in the clinical results was the onset or worsening of patellofemoral joint pain, not patellar instability.

We have observed the natural history without treatment of 46 limbs in 29 patients with infantile tibia vara and a metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle (MDA) of more than 11°. The femorotibial angle (FTA) and MDA were measured, and Langenskiöld’s classification of radiological changes in the proximal medial metaphysis of the tibia was used. In 22 limbs which were not in Langenskiöld stages II to III the condition resolved spontaneously without treatment. Of the remaining 24 which were in stages II to III, in 18 it resolved spontaneously by the age of six years, but six showed little or no improvement at the latest follow-up. It was impossible to differentiate by measuring the FTA or MDA whether spontaneous resolution could be expected before the age of four years. There was no difference in the rate of resolution of the deformity between those patients who had been treated by a brace and those who had received no treatment. We advise no initial treatment but review at six-monthly intervals until the age of four years, even in patients with Langenskiöld stage-II to stage-III deformity. When a deformity persisted or progressed we carried out a corrective osteotomy after the age of four years.

Based on a study using a retrograde neurotracer, we have previously found that the dorsal portion of the L5/6 disc in the rat is multisegmentally innervated by dorsal root ganglia (DRG) from the level of T13 to L6, and that sensory nerve fibres from DRG of T13, L1 and L2 pass through the paravertebral sympathetic trunks. In this study in newborn rats, we injected crystals of 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylinedocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) into the DRG of T13, L1 and L2 and showed DiI-labelled sensory nerve fibres in the dorsal portion of the discs from the level of T13/L1 to L5/6. Our results show that the dorsal portion of the lumbar discs is innervated by the DRG from levels T13 to L2.

We studied in vivo the talonavicular alignment of club foot in infants using MRI. We examined 26 patients (36 feet) with congenital club foot. The mean age at examination was 9.0 months (4 to 12). All analyses used MRI of the earliest cartilaginous development of the tarsal bones in the transverse plane, rather than the ossific nucleus. The difference in the mean talar neck angle (44.0 ± 8.1°) in club foot was statistically significant (p < 0.001) when compared with that of the normal foot (30.8 ± 5.5°). The difference between the mean angles in the group treated by operation (47.9 ± 6.7°) and those treated conservatively (40.1 ± 7.5°) was also statistically significant. The anatomical relationship between the head of the talus and the navicular was divided into two patterns, based on the position of the mid-point of the navicular related to the long axis of the head. In the operative group, 18 feet were classified as having a medial shift of the navicular and none had a lateral shift. In the conservative group, 12 showed a medial shift of the navicular and six a lateral shift. All nine unaffected normal feet in which satisfactory MRI measurements were made showed a lateral shift of the navicular.

Club feet had a larger talar neck angle and a more medially deviated navicular when compared with normal feet. This was more marked in the surgical group than in the conservative group.

We have examined the process of fusion of the intertransverse processes and bone graft in the rabbit by in situ hybridisation and evaluated the spatial and temporal expression of genes encoding pro-α1 (I) collagen (COL1A1), pro-α1 (II) collagen (COL2A1) and pro-α1 (X) collagen (COL10A1).

Beginning at two weeks after operation, osteogenesis and chondrogenesis occurred around the transverse process and the grafted bone at the central portion of the area of the fusion mass. Osteoblasts and osteocytes at the newly-formed woven bone expressed COL1A1. At the cartilage, most chondrocytes expressed COL2A1 and some hypertrophic chondrocytes COL10A1. In some regions, co-expression of COL1A1 and COL2A1 was observed. At four weeks, such expressions for COL1A1, COL2A1 and COL10A1 became prominent at the area of the fusion mass. From four to six weeks, bone remodelling progressed from the area of the transverse processes towards the central zone. Osteoblasts lining the trabeculae expressed a strong signal for COL1A1. At the central portion of the area of the fusion mass, endochondral ossification progressed and chondrocytes expressed COL2A1 and COL10A1.

Our findings show that the fusion process begins with the synthesis of collagens around the transverse processes and around the grafted bone independently. Various spatial and temporal osteogenic and chondrogenic responses, including intramembranous, endochondral and transchondroid bone formation, progress after bone grafting at the intertransverse processes. Bone formation through cartilage may play an important role in posterolateral spinal fusion.

Sterilisation by gamma irradiation in the presence of air causes free radicals generated in polyethylene (PE) to react with oxygen, which could lead to loss of physical properties and reduction in fatigue strength. Tissue retrieved from failed total hip replacements often has large quantities of particulate PE and most particles associated with peri-implant osteolysis are oxidised. Consequently, an understanding of the cellular responses of oxidised PE particles may lead to clarification of the pathogenesis of osteolysis and aseptic loosening.

We have used the agarose system to demonstrate the differential effects of oxidised and non-oxidised PE particles on the release of proinflammatory products such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) from monocytes/ macrophages (M/M). Oxidised PE particles were shown to stimulate human M/M to phagocytose and to release cytokines. Oxidation may alter the surface chemistry of the particles and enhance the response to specific membrane receptors on macrophages, such as scavenger-type receptors.

We performed a retrospective review of 27 scoliotic patients with syringomyelia using MRI. Their mean age at the first MRI examination was 10.9 years, and at the final review 15.8 years. The mean ratio of the diameter of the syrinx to the cord on the midsagittal MRI (S/C ratio) decreased from 0.49 to 0.24; 14 patients showed a decrease of 50% or more (reduction group). In this reduction group, the cerebellar tonsillar herniation decreased from a mean of 11.3 mm to 6.0 mm, and some improvement in dissociated sensory disturbance was seen in nine of 13 patients. The scoliosis improved by 5° or more in six patients in the reduction group. Our results indicate that spontaneous shrinkage of syringomyelia in children is not unusual and is associated with improvement in the tonsillar herniation, the scoliosis and the neurological deficit.

We describe a 47-year-old woman with sciatic neuropathy caused by compression of the sacral plexus by posterior shift of the uterus.

We studied 23 patients with spondylolysis of the fifth lumbar vertebra (L5) and 20 with spondylolytic spondylolisthesis at this level. All were more than 40 years of age. The transverse processes at L5 were significantly wider in the former group than in the latter. We also dissected 56 cadavers to study the morphological relationship between the transverse process of L5 and the iliolumbar ligament, and found that the wider transverse process is associated with increased width of the posterior band of the iliolumbar ligament.

If a patient with pars defects has wide transverse processes at L5, the lumbosacral junction may be stabilised by wide posterior bands of the iliolumbar ligament and the fifth lumbar vertebra by the ligament, preventing anterior displacement.