We obtained simultaneous measurements of sagittal knee laxity in 12 consecutive patients after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), using the Stryker laxity tester and radiostereometric analysis (RSA). The mean anteroposterior (AP) displacement when a 90 N load was applied in both directions was 5.3 ± 2.7 mm with RSA and 9.8 ± 1.6 mm with the external device (p < 0.001). The corresponding measurements at a load of 180 N were 5.7 ± 2.4 mm and 13.8 ± 3.7 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). More than 50% of the sagittal knee movement, as measured by the external device at a load of 180 N, was not true femorotibial displacement of the joint but was due to soft-tissue deformation

Achieving deep flexion after total knee replacement remains a challenge. In this study we compared the soft-tissue tension and tibiofemoral force in a mobile-bearing posterior cruciate ligament-sacrificing total knee replacement, using equal flexion and extension gaps, and with the gaps increased by 2 mm each. The tests were conducted during passive movement in five cadaver knees, and measurements of strain were made simultaneously in the collateral ligaments. The tibiofemoral force was measured using a customised mini-force plate in the tibial tray. Measurements of collateral ligament strain were not very sensitive to changes in the gap ratio, but tibiofemoral force measurements were. Tibiofemoral force was decreased by a mean of 40% (. sd. 10.7) after 90° of knee flexion when the flexion gap was increased by 2 mm. Increasing the extension gap by 2 mm affected the force only in full extension. Because increasing the range of flexion after total knee replacement beyond 110° is a widely-held goal, small increases in the flexion gap warrant further investigation

We studied bone-tendon healing using immunohistochemical methods in a rabbit model. Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament was undertaken using semitendinosus tendon in 20 rabbits. Immunohistochemical evaluations were performed at one, two, four and eight weeks after the operation. The expression of CD31, RAM-11, VEGF, b-FGF, S-100 protein and collagen I, II and III in the bone-tendon interface was very similar to that in the endochondral ossification. Some of the type-III collagen in the outer layer of the graft, which was deposited at a very early phase after the operation, was believed to have matured into Sharpey-like fibres. However, remodelling of the tendon grafted into the bone tunnel was significantly delayed when compared with this ossification process. To promote healing, we believe that it is necessary to accelerate remodelling of the tendon, simultaneously with the augmentation of the ossification

In spite of extensive accounts describing the blood supply to the femoral head, the prediction of avascular necrosis is elusive. Current opinion emphasises the contributions of the superior retinacular artery but may not explain the clinical outcome in many situations, including intramedullary nailing of the femur and resurfacing of the hip. We considered that significant additional contribution to the vascularity of the femoral head may exist. A total of 14 fresh-frozen hips were dissected and the medial circumflex femoral artery was cannulated in the femoral triangle. On the test side, this vessel was ligated, with the femoral head receiving its blood supply from the inferior vincular artery alone. Gadolinium contrast-enhanced MRI was then performed simultaneously on both control and test specimens. Polyurethane was injected, and gross dissection of the specimens was performed to confirm the extraosseous anatomy and the injection of contrast. The inferior vincular artery was found in every specimen and had a significant contribution to the vascularity of the femoral head. The head was divided into four quadrants: medial (0), superior (1), lateral (2) and inferior (3). In our study specimens the inferior vincular artery contributed a mean of 56% (25% to 90%) of blood flow in quadrant 0, 34% (14% to 80%) of quadrant 1, 37% (18% to 48%) of quadrant 2 and 68% (20% to 98%) in quadrant 3. Extensive intra-osseous anastomoses existed between the superior retinacular arteries, the inferior vincular artery and the subfoveal plexus

Aseptic loosening of orthopaedic implants is usually attributed to the action of wear debris from the prosthesis. Recent studies, however, have also implicated physical pressures in the joint as a further cause of loosening. We have examined the role of both wear debris and pressure on the secretion of two chemokines, MIP-1α and MCP-1, together with M-CSF and PGE2, by human macrophages in vitro. The results show that pressure alone stimulated the secretion of more M-CSF and PGE. 2. when compared with control cultures. Particles alone stimulated the secretion of M-CSF and PGE. 2. , when compared with unstimulated control cultures, but did not stimulate the secretion of the two chemokines. Exposure of macrophages to both stimuli simultaneously had no synergistic effect on the secretion of the chemokines, but both M-CSF and PGE. 2. were increased in a synergistic manner. Our findings suggest that pressure may be an initiating factor for the recruitment of cells into the periprosthetic tissue

In normal, physiological circumstances there is ample room in the spinal canal to accommodate the spinal cord. Our study aimed to identify the degree of compromise of the spinal canal which could be anticipated in various atlantoaxial pathological states. We examined paired atlas and axis vertebrae using high-definition radiography and simultaneous photography in both normal and simulated pathological orientations in order to measure the resultant dimension of the spinal canal and its percentage occlusion. At the extreme of physiological axial rotation (47°) the spinal canal is reduced to 61% of its cross-sectional area in neutral rotation. The spinal cord is thus safe from compromise. Atlantoaxial subluxation of up to 9 mm reduces the area of the spinal canal, in neutral rotation, to 60% with no cord compromise. Any rotation is, however, likely to cause cord compression. The mechanism of fixation in atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation could be explained by bony interlocking of the facet joint, reproducible in dry bones

We designed an in vivo study to determine if the superimposition of a microtexture on the surface of sintered titanium beads affected the extent of bone ingrowth. Cylindrical titanium intramedullary implants were coated with titanium beads to form a porous finish using commercial sintering techniques. A control group of implants was left in the as-sintered condition. The test group was etched in a boiling acidic solution to create an irregular surface over the entire porous coating. Six experimental dogs underwent simultaneous bilateral femoral intramedullary implantation of a control implant and an acid etched implant. At 12 weeks, the implants were harvested in situ and the femora processed for undecalcified, histological examination. Eight transverse serial sections for each implant were analysed by backscattered electron microscopy and the extent of bone ingrowth was quantified by computer-aided image analysis. The extent of bone ingrowth into the control implants was 15.8% while the extent of bone ingrowth into the etched implants was 25.3%, a difference of 60% that was statistically significant. These results are consistent with other research that documents the positive effect of microtextured surfaces on bone formation at an implant surface. The acid etching process developed for this study represents a simple method for enhancing the potential of commonly available porous coatings for biological fixation

We analysed revised Mathys isoelastic polyacetal femoral stems with stainless-steel heads and polyethylene acetabular cups from eight patients in order to differentiate various types of particle of wear debris. Loosening of isoelastic femoral stems is associated with the formation of polyacetal wear particles as well as those of polyethylene and metal. All three types of particle were isolated simultaneously by tissue digestion followed by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Polyacetal particles were either elongated, ranging from 10 to 150 μm in size, or shred-like and up to 100 μm in size. Polyethylene particles were elongated or granules, and were typically submicron or micronsized. Polyacetal and polyethylene polymer particles were differentiated by the presence of BaSO. 4. , which is added as a radiopaque agent to polyacetal but not to polyethylene. This was easily detectable by back-scattered SEM analysis and verified by energy dispersive x-ray analysis. Two types of foreign-body giant cell (FBGC) were recognised in the histological specimens. Extremely large FBGCs with irregular polygonal particles showing an uneven, spotty birefringence in polarised light were ascribed to polyacetal debris. Smaller FBGCs with slender elongated particles shining uniformly brightly in polarisation were related to polyethylene. Mononucleated histiocytes containing both types of particle were also present. Our findings offer a better understanding of the processes involved in the loosening of polyacetal stems and indicate why the idea of ‘isoelasticity’ proved to be unsuccessful in clinical practice

Chronic compartment syndrome (CCS) is usually considered to be due to ischaemia of muscle. We have attempted to use the direct measurement of muscle blood flow for diagnosis since the assessment of intracompartmental pressure does not provide accurate knowledge of the vascular state. We recorded simultaneously continuous measurements of the laser Doppler flow (LDF) in muscle and the intracompartment pressure (ICP) after exercise in seven patients with CCS, and in seven control subjects. The mean ICP was 74.1 ± 4.4 mmHg in CCS patients and 24.2 ± 3.4 mmHg in control subjects one minute after exercise, decreasing to 34.6 ± 2.3 mmHg and 15.0 ± 1.6 mmHg at 20 min, respectively. The LDF was 0.80 ± 0.11 arbitrary units (AU) in control subjects and 1.09 ± 0.14 AU in CCS patients one minute after exercise, and 0.41 ± 0.11 AU and 0.27 ± 0.04 AU, respectively, at the end of the recovery period. The ICP showed a progressive decrease over time in both groups. The LDF decreased sharply during the first minutes of recovery in control subjects, but in patients with CCS there was a delayed hyperaemic peak with blood flow reaching 0.84 ± 0.10 AU at nine minutes as against 0.33 ± 0 .06 AU for control subjects (p < 0.01). The ICP increased in both control subjects and CCS patients after exercise with no clear cut-off point between the groups. By contrast, changes in muscle blood flow over time were clearly different between control subjects and patients with CCS. For this reason, LDF should be investigated further as a technique for the diagnosis of CCS

We have reviewed 70 patients with bilateral simultaneous total hip arthroplasties to determine the rate of failure and to compare polyethylene wear and osteolysis between an implant with a cobalt-chrome head and Hylamer liner with that of a zirconia head and Hylamer liner. The mean thickness of the polyethylene liner was 11.0 mm (8.8 to 12.2) in the hip with a zirconia head and 10.7 mm (8.8 to 12.2) in that with a cobalt-chrome head. At follow-up at 6.4 years no acetabular or femoral component had been revised for aseptic loosening and no acetabular or femoral component was loose according to radiological criteria in both the cemented and cementless groups. The mean rate of linear wear and annual wear rate were highest in the 22 mm zirconia femoral head (1.25 mm (SD 1.05) and 0.21 mm (SD 0.18), respectively) and lowest in the 22 mm cobalt-chrome femoral head (0.70 mm (SD 0.39) and 0.12 mm (SD 0.07), respectively). The mean volumetric wear was highest in the 28 mm zirconia femoral head (730.79 mm. 3. ) and lowest in the 22 mm cobalt-chrome femoral head (264.67 mm. 3. ), but if the results were compared by size of the femoral head and type of material there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05). Sequential measurements of annual wear showed that the zirconia femoral head had a relatively higher rate of penetration than the cobalt-chrome head over the first three years; thereafter the rate of wear was reduced and compared favourably with that of cobalt-chrome heads. There was a statistically significant relationship between the wear of the polyethylene liner and the age of the patient, male gender and the degree of abduction angle of the cup, but not diagnosis, weight, hip score, range of movement, or amount of anteversion. Osteolysis was identified on both sides of the acetabulum in six patients (9%). Of 12 hips with acetabular osteolysis, six had a 28 mm cobalt-chrome femoral head and the remaining six a 28 mm zirconia head. Osteolysis was observed in zones 1A and 7A of the femur in two hips (3%) with a 28 mm zirconia head (cemented hip) and in four (6%) with a 28 mm cobalt-chrome femoral head (cementless hip). Our findings suggest that although the performance of a zirconia femoral head with a Hylamer liner was not statistically different from that of a cobalt-chrome femoral head and Hylamer liner, there was a trend for the zirconia head to be worse than the cobalt-chrome femoral head

The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis often includes surgical debridement and filling the resultant void with antibiotic-loaded polymethylmethacrylate cement, bone grafts or bone substitutes. Recently, the use of bioactive glass to treat bone defects in infections has been reported in a limited series of patients. However, no direct comparison between this biomaterial and antibiotic-loaded bone substitute has been performed.

In this retrospective study, we compared the safety and efficacy of surgical debridement and local application of the bioactive glass S53P4 in a series of 27 patients affected by chronic osteomyelitis of the long bones (Group A) with two other series, treated respectively with an antibiotic-loaded hydroxyapatite and calcium sulphate compound (Group B; n = 27) or a mixture of tricalcium phosphate and an antibiotic-loaded demineralised bone matrix (Group C; n = 22). Systemic antibiotics were also used in all groups.

After comparable periods of follow-up, the control of infection was similar in the three groups. In particular, 25 out of 27 (92.6%) patients of Group A, 24 out of 27 (88.9%) in Group B and 19 out of 22 (86.3%) in Group C showed no infection recurrence at means of 21.8 (12 to 36), 22.1 (12 to 36) and 21.5 (12 to 36) months follow-up, respectively, while Group A showed a reduced wound complication rate.

Our results show that patients treated with a bioactive glass without local antibiotics achieved similar eradication of infection and less drainage than those treated with two different antibiotic-loaded calcium-based bone substitutes.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014; 96-B:845–50.

Medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy has been gaining popularity in recent years, but adequate supporting material is required in the osteotomy gap for early weight-bearing and rapid union. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the implantation of a polycaprolactone-tricalcium phosphate composite scaffold wedge would enhance healing of the osteotomy in a micro pig model. We carried out open-wedge high tibial osteotomies in 12 micro pigs aged from 12 to 16 months. A scaffold wedge was inserted into six of the osteotomies while the other six were left open. Bone healing was evaluated after three and six months using plain radiographs, CT scans, measurement of the bone mineral density and histological examination.

Complete bone union was obtained at six months in both groups. There was no collapse at the osteotomy site, loss of correction or failure of fixation in either group. Staining with haematoxylin and eosin demonstrated that there was infiltration of new bone tissue into the macropores and along the periphery of the implanted scaffold in the scaffold group. The CT scans and measurement of the bone mineral density showed that at six months specimens in the scaffold group had a higher bone mineral density than in the control group, although the implantation of the polycaprolactone-tricalcium phosphate composite scaffold wedge did not enhance healing of the osteotomy.

In an attempt to increase the life of cementless prostheses, an hydroxyapatite-coated implant which releases a bisphosphonate has been suggested as a drug-delivery system. Our in vitro study was designed to determine the maximum dose to which osteoblasts could be safely exposed.

Our findings demonstrated that zoledronate did not impair the proliferation of human osteoblasts when used at concentrations below 1 μm. Murine cells can be exposed to concentrations as high as 10 μm.

A concentration of 0.01% of titanium particles did not impair the proliferation of either cell line. Zoledronate affected the alkaline phosphatase activity of murine osteoblasts through a chelation phenomenon. The presence of titanium particles strongly decreased the alkaline phosphatase activity of murine osteoblasts. We did not detect any synergic effect of zoledronate and titanium particles on the behaviour of both human and murine osteoblasts.

We have investigated in vitro the release kinetics and bioactivity of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) released from a carrier of fibrin sealant. In order to evaluate the effects of the FGF-2 delivery mechanism on the repair of articular cartilage, full-thickness cylindrical defects, 5 mm in diameter and 4 mm in depth, which were too large to undergo spontaneous repair, were created in the femoral trochlea of rabbit knees. These defects were then filled with the sealant.

Approximately 50% of the FGF-2 was released from the sealant within 24 hours while its original bioactivity was maintained. The implantation of the fibrin sealant incorporating FGF-2 successfully induced healing of the surface with hyaline cartilage and concomitant repair of the subchondral bone at eight weeks after the creation of the defect.

Our findings suggest that this delivery method for FGF-2 may be useful for promoting regenerative repair of full-thickness defects of articular cartilage in humans.

Although success has been achieved with implantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) in degenerative discs, its full potential may not be achieved if the harsh environment of the degenerative disc remains. Axial distraction has been shown to increase hydration and nutrition. Combining both therapies may have a synergistic effect in reversing degenerative disc disease. In order to evaluate the effect of bMSC implantation, axial distraction and combination therapy in stimulating regeneration and retarding degeneration in degenerative discs, we first induced disc degeneration by axial loading in a rabbit model.

The rabbits in the intervention groups performed better with respect to disc height, morphological grading, histological scoring and average dead cell count. The groups with distraction performed better than those without on all criteria except the average dead cell count.

Our findings suggest that bMSC implantation and distraction stimulate regenerative changes in degenerative discs in a rabbit model.

The biomechanics of the patellofemoral joint can become disturbed during total knee replacement by alterations induced by the position and shape of the different prosthetic components. The role of the patella and femoral trochlea has been well studied. We have examined the effect of anterior or posterior positioning of the tibial component on the mechanisms of patellofemoral contact in total knee replacement. The hypothesis was that placing the tibial component more posteriorly would reduce patellofemoral contact stress while providing a more efficient lever arm during extension of the knee.

We studied five different positions of the tibial component using a six degrees of freedom dynamic knee simulator system based on the Oxford rig, while simulating an active knee squat under physiological loading conditions. The patellofemoral contact force decreased at a mean of 2.2% for every millimetre of posterior translation of the tibial component. Anterior positions of the tibial component were associated with elevation of the patellofemoral joint pressure, which was particularly marked in flexion > 90°.

From our results we believe that more posterior positioning of the tibial component in total knee replacement would be beneficial to the patellofemoral joint.

We have developed an animal model to examine the formation of heterotopic ossification using standardised muscular damage and implantation of a beta-tricalcium phosphate block into a hip capsulotomy wound in Wistar rats. The aim was to investigate how cells originating from drilled femoral canals and damaged muscles influence the formation of heterotopic bone. The femoral canal was either drilled or left untouched and a tricalcium phosphate block, immersed either in saline or a rhBMP-2 solution, was implanted. These implants were removed at three and 21 days after the operation and examined histologically, histomorphometrically and immunohistochemically.

Bone formation was seen in all implants in rhBMP-2-immersed, whereas in those immersed in saline the process was minimal, irrespective of drilling of the femoral canals. Bone mineralisation was somewhat greater in the absence of drilling with a mean mineralised volume to mean total volume of 18.2% (sd 4.5) versus 12.7% (sd 2.9, p < 0.019), respectively.

Our findings suggest that osteoinductive signalling is an early event in the formation of ectopic bone. If applicable to man the results indicate that careful tissue handling is more important than the prevention of the dissemination of bone cells in order to avoid heterotopic ossification.

We used a goat model of a contaminated musculoskeletal defect to determine the effectiveness of rapidly-resorbing calcium-sulphate pellets containing amikacin to reduce the local bacterial count. Our findings showed that this treatment eradicated the bacteria quickly, performed as well as standard polymethylmethacrylate mixed with an antibiotic and had many advantages over the latter. The pellets were prepared before surgery and absorbed completely. They released all of the antibiotic and did not require a subsequent operation for their removal. Our study indicated that locally administered antibiotics reduced bacteria within the wound rapidly. This method of treatment may have an important role in decreasing the rate of infection in contaminated wounds.

Soaking bone grafts in a bisphosphonate solution before implantation can prevent their resorption and increase the local bone density in rats and humans. However, recent studies suggest that pre-treatment of allografts with bisphosphonate can prevent bone ingrowth into impaction grafts. We tested the hypothesis that excessive amounts of bisphosphonate would also cause a negative response in less dense grafts. We used a model where non-impacted metaphyseal bone grafts were randomised into three groups with either no bisphosphonate, alendronate followed by rinsing, and alendronate without subsequent rinsing, and inserted into bone chambers in rats. The specimens were evaluated histologically at one week, and by histomorphometry and radiology at four weeks. At four weeks, both bisphosphonate groups showed an increase in the total bone content, increased newly formed bone, and higher radiodensity than the controls. In spite of being implanted in a chamber with a limited opportunity to diffuse, even an excessive amount of bisphosphonate improved the outcome. We suggest that the negative results seen by others could be due to the combination of densely compacted bone and a bisphosphonate.

We suggest that bisphosphonates are likely to have a negative influence where resorption is a prerequisite to create space for new bone ingrowth.

In order to investigate the osteoinductive properties of allograft used in impaction grafting and the effect of strain during impaction on these properties, we designed an in vitro experiment to measure strain-related release of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) from fresh-frozen femoral head allograft. A total of 40 10 mm cubes of cancellous bone were cut from ten samples of fresh-frozen femoral head. The marrow was removed from the cubes and the baseline concentrations of BMP-7 were measured. Specimens from each femoral head were allocated to four groups and subjected to different compressive strains with a material testing machine, after which BMP-7 activity was reassessed. It was present in all groups. There was a linear increase of 102.1 pg/g (95% confidence interval 68.6 to 135.6) BMP-7 for each 10% increase in strain. At 80% strain the mean concentration of BMP-7 released (830.3 pg/g bone) was approximately four times that released at 20% strain. Activity of BMP-7 in fresh-frozen allograft has not previously been demonstrated. This study shows that the freezing and storage of femoral heads allows some maintenance of biological activity, and that impaction grafting provides a source of osteoinductive bone for remodelling.

We have shown that BMP-7 is released from fresh-frozen femoral head cancellous bone in proportion to the strain applied to the bone. This suggests that the impaction process itself may contribute to the biological process of remodelling and bony incorporation.