Aims

Second-generation metal-on-metal (MoM) articulations in total hip arthroplasty (THA) were introduced in order to reduce wear-related complications. The current study reports on the serum cobalt levels and the clinical outcome at a minimum of 20 years following THA with a MoM (Metasul) or a ceramic-on-polyethylene (CoP) bearing.

Objectives

Intramedullary fixation is considered the most stable treatment for pertrochanteric fractures of the proximal femur and cut-out is one of the most frequent mechanical complications. In order to determine the role of clinical variables and radiological parameters in predicting the risk of this complication, we analysed the data pertaining to a group of patients recruited over the course of six years.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to compare the results and complications of tibial lengthening over an intramedullary nail with treatment using the traditional Ilizarov method.

Rebound growth after hemiepiphysiodesis may be a normal event, but little is known about its causes, incidence or factors related to its intensity. The aim of this study was to evaluate rebound growth under controlled experimental conditions.

A total of 22 six-week-old rabbits underwent a medial proximal tibial hemiepiphysiodesis using a two-hole plate and screws. Temporal growth plate arrest was maintained for three weeks, and animals were killed at intervals ranging between three days and three weeks after removal of the device. The radiological angulation of the proximal tibia was studied at weekly intervals during and after hemiepiphysiodesis. A histological study of the retrieved proximal physis of the tibia was performed.

The mean angulation achieved at three weeks was 34.7° (standard deviation (sd) 3.4), and this remained unchanged for the study period of up to two weeks. By three weeks after removal of the implant the mean angulation had dropped to 28.2° (sd 1.8) (p < 0.001). Histologically, widening of the medial side was noted during the first two weeks. By three weeks this widening had substantially disappeared and the normal columnar structure was virtually re-established.

In our rabbit model, rebound was an event of variable incidence and intensity and, when present, did not appear immediately after restoration of growth, but took some time to appear.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:862–8.

Introduction

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressively debilitating disease that affects mostly cartilage, with associated changes in the bone. The increasing incidence of OA and an ageing population, coupled with insufficient therapeutic choices, has led to focus on the potential of stem cells as a novel strategy for cartilage repair.

Objectives

To review the systemic impact of smoking on bone healing as evidenced within the orthopaedic literature.

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the sensory innervation of bone might play an important role in sensing and responding to low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and explain its effect in promoting fracture healing. In 112 rats a standardised mid-shaft tibial fracture was created, supported with an intramedullary needle and divided into four groups of 28. These either had a sciatic neurectomy or a patellar tendon resection as control, and received the ultrasound or not as a sham treatment. Fracture union, callus mineralisation and remodelling were assessed using plain radiography, peripheral quantitative computed tomography and histomorphology.

Daily ultrasound treatment significantly increased the rate of union and the volumetric bone mineral density in the fracture callus in the neurally intact rats (p = 0.025), but this stimulating effect was absent in the rats with sciatic neurectomy. Histomorphology demonstrated faster maturation of the callus in the group treated with ultrasound when compared with the control group. The results supported the hypothesis that intact innervation plays an important role in allowing low-intensity pulsed ultrasound to promote fracture healing.

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 order to evaluate the relationship between acetabular and proximal femoral alignment in the initiation and evolution of osteoarthritis of the dysplastic hip, the acetabular and femoral angles were calculated geometrically from radiographs of 62 patients with pre-arthrosis and early osteoarthritis. The sum of the lateral opening angle of the acetabulum and the neck-shaft angle was defined as the lateral instability index (LII), and the sum of the anterior opening angle of the acetabulum and the anteversion angle of the femoral neck as the anterior instability index (AII). These two indices were compared in dysplastic and unaffected hips. A total of 22 unilateral hips with pre-arthrosis were followed for at least 15 years to determine whether the two indices were associated with the progression of osteoarthritis.

The LII of the affected hips (197.4 (sd 6.0)) was significantly greater than that of the unaffected hips (1830 (sd 6.9)). A follow-up study of 22 hips with pre-arthrosis showed that only the LII was associated with progression of the disease, and an LII of 196 was the threshold value for this progression.

The purposes of this study were to define the range of laxity of the interosseous ligaments in cadaveric wrists and to determine whether this correlated with age, the morphology of the lunate, the scapholunate (SL) gap or the SL angle. We evaluated 83 fresh-frozen cadaveric wrists and recorded the SL gap and SL angle. Standard arthroscopy of the wrist was then performed and the grades of laxity of the scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) and the lunotriquetral interosseous ligament (LTIL) and the morphology of the lunate were recorded. Arthroscopic evaluation of the SLIL revealed four (5%) grade I specimens, 28 (34%) grade II, 40 (48%) grade III and 11 (13%) grade IV. Evaluation of the LTIL showed 17 (20%) grade I specimens, 40 (48%) grade II, 28 (30%) grade III and one (1%) grade IV.

On both bivariate and multivariate analysis, the grade of both the SLIL and LTIL increased with age, but decreased with female gender. The grades of SLIL or LTIL did not correlate with the morphology of the lunate, the SL gap or the SL angle. The physiological range of laxity at the SL and lunotriquetral joints is wider than originally described. The intercarpal ligaments demonstrate an age-related progression of laxity of the SL and lunotriquetral joints. There is no correlation between the grades of laxity of the SLIL or LTIL and the morphology of the lunate, the SL gap or the SL grade. Based on our results, we believe that the Geissler classification has a role in describing intercarpal laxity, but if used alone it cannot adequately diagnose pathological instability.

We suggest a modified classification with a mechanism that may distinguish physiological laxity from pathological instability.

Platelet-leucocyte gel (PLG), a new biotechnological blood product, has hitherto been used primarily to treat chronic ulcers and to promote soft-tissue and bone regeneration in a wide range of medical fields. In this study, the antimicrobial efficacy of PLG against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) was investigated in a rabbit model of osteomyelitis. Autologous PLG was injected into the tibial canal after inoculation with Staph. aureus. The prophylactic efficacy of PLG was evaluated by microbiological, radiological and histological examination. Animal groups included a treatment group that received systemic cefazolin and a control group that received no treatment.

Treatment with PLG or cefazolin significantly reduced radiological and histological severity scores compared to the control group. This result was confirmed by a significant reduction in the infection rate and the number of viable bacteria. Although not comparable to cefazolin, PLG exhibited antimicrobial efficacy in vivo and therefore represents a novel strategy to prevent bone infection in humans.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma on the proliferation and differentiation of rat bone-marrow cells and to determine an optimal platelet concentration in plasma for osseous tissue engineering. Rat bone-marrow cells embedded in different concentrations of platelet-rich plasma gel were cultured for six days. Their potential for proliferation and osteogenic differentiation was analysed. Using a rat limb-lengthening model, the cultured rat bone-marrow cells with platelet-rich plasma of variable concentrations were transplanted into the distraction gap and the quality of the regenerate bone was evaluated radiologically.

Cellular proliferation was enhanced in all the platelet-rich plasma groups in a dose-dependent manner. Although no significant differences in the production and mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase were detected among these groups, mature bone regenerates were more prevalent in the group with the highest concentration of platelets.

Our results indicate that a high platelet concentration in the platelet-rich plasma in combination with osteoblastic cells could accelerate the formation of new bone during limb-lengthening procedures.

This study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of biological repair at the tendon-bone junction in a rat model. The stump of the toe flexor tendon was sutured to a drilled hole in the tibia (tendon suture group, n = 23) to investigate healing of the tendon-bone junction both radiologically and histologically. Radiological and histological findings were compared with those observed in a sham control group where the bone alone was drilled (n = 19). The biomechanical strength of the repaired junction was confirmed by pull-out testing six weeks after surgery in four rats in the tendon suture group. Callus formation was observed at the site of repair in the tendon suture group, whereas in the sham group callus formation was minimal. During the pull-out test, the repaired tendon-bone junction did not fail because the musculotendinous junction always disrupted first.

In order to understand the factors that influenced callus formation at the site of repair, four further groups were evaluated. The nature of the sutured tendon itself was investigated by analysing healing of a tendon stump after necrosis had been induced with liquid nitrogen in 16 cases. A proximal suture group (n = 16) and a partial tenotomy group (n = 16) were prepared to investigate the effects of biomechanical loading on the site of repair. Finally, a group where the periosteum had been excised at the site of repair (n = 16) was examined to study the role of the periosteum. These four groups showed less callus formation radiologically and histologically than did the tendon suture group.

In conclusion, the sutured tendon-bone junction healed and achieved mechanical strength at six weeks after suturing, showing good local callus formation. The viability of the tendon stump, mechanical loading and intact periosteum were all found to be important factors for better callus formation at a repaired tendon-bone junction.

We have evaluated the effect of the short-term administration of low therapeutic doses of modern COX-2 inhibitors on the healing of fractures.

A total of 40 adult male New Zealand rabbits were divided into five groups. A mid-diaphyseal osteotomy of the right ulna was performed and either normal saline, prednisolone, indometacin, meloxicam or rofecoxib was administered for five days. Radiological, biomechanical and histomorphometric evaluation was performed at six weeks.

In the group in which the highly selective anti-COX-2 agent, rofecoxib, was used the incidence of radiologically-incomplete union was similar to that in the control group. All the biomechanical parameters were statistically significantly lower in both the prednisolone and indometacin (p = 0.01) and in the meloxicam (p = 0.04) groups compared with the control group. Only the fracture load values were found to be statistically significantly lower (p = 0.05) in the rofecoxib group. Histomorphometric parameters were adversely affected in all groups with the specimens of the rofecoxib group showing the least negative effect.

Our findings indicated that the short-term administration of low therapeutic doses of a highly selective COX-2 inhibitor had a minor negative effect on bone healing.

External fixation of distal tibial fractures is often associated with delayed union. We have investigated whether union can be enhanced by using recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-7 (rhBMP-7).

Osteoinduction with rhBMP-7 and bovine collagen was used in 20 patients with distal tibial fractures which had been treated by external fixation (BMP group). Healing of the fracture was compared with that of 20 matched patients in whom treatment was similar except that rhBMP-7 was not used.

Significantly more fractures had healed by 16 (p = 0.039) and 20 weeks (p = 0.022) in the BMP group compared with the matched group. The mean time to union (p = 0.002), the duration of absence from work (p = 0.018) and the time for which external fixation was required (p = 0.037) were significantly shorter in the BMP group than in the matched group. Secondary intervention due to delayed healing was required in two patients in the BMP group and seven in the matched group.

RhBMP-7 can enhance the union of distal tibial fractures treated by external fixation.

There are many methods for analysing wear volume in failed polyethylene acetabular components. We compared a radiological technique with three recognised ex vivo methods of measurement.

We tested 18 ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene acetabular components revised for wear and aseptic loosening, of which 13 had pre-revision radiographs, from which the wear volume was calculated based upon the linear wear. We used a shadowgraph technique on silicone casts of all of the retrievals and a coordinate measuring method on the components directly. For these techniques, the wear vector was calculated for each component and the wear volume extrapolated using mathematical equations. The volumetric wear was also measured directly using a fluid-displacement method. The results of each technique were compared.

The series had high wear volumes (mean 1385 mm³; 730 to 1850) and high wear rates (mean 205 mm³/year; 92 to 363). There were wide variations in the measurements of wear volume between the radiological and the other techniques. Radiograph-derived wear volume correlated poorly with that of the fluid-displacement method, co-ordinate measuring method and shadowgraph methods, becoming less accurate as the wear increased. The mean overestimation in radiological wear volume was 47.7% of the fluid-displacement method wear volume.

Fluid-displacement method, coordinate measuring method and shadowgraph determinations of wear volume were all better than that of the radiograph-derived linear measurements since they took into account the direction of wear. However, only radiological techniques can be used in vivo and remain useful for monitoring linear wear in the clinical setting.

Interpretation of radiological measurements of acetabular wear must be done judiciously in the clinical setting. In vitro laboratory techniques, in particular the fluid-displacement method, remain the most accurate and reliable methods of assessing the wear of acetabular polyethylene.

Our aim was to determine the most repeatable three-dimensional measurement of glenoid orientation and to compare it between shoulders with intact and torn rotator cuffs. Our null hypothesis was that glenoid orientation in the scapulae of shoulders with a full-thickness tear of the rotator cuff was the same as that in shoulders with an intact rotator cuff.

We studied 24 shoulders in cadavers, 12 with an intact rotator cuff and 12 with a full-thickness tear. Two different observers used a three-dimensional digitising system to measure glenoid orientation in the scapular plane (ie glenoid inclination) using six different techniques. Glenoid version was also measured. The overall precision of the measurements revealed an error of less than 0.6°.

Intraobserver reliability (correlation coefficients of 0.990 and 0.984 for each observer) and interobserver reliability (correlation coefficient of 0.985) were highest for measurement of glenoid inclination based on the angle obtained from a line connecting the superior and inferior points of the glenoid and that connecting the most superior point of the glenoid and the most superior point on the body of the scapula. There were no differences in glenoid inclination (p = 0.34) or glenoid version (p = 0.12) in scapulae from shoulders with an intact rotator cuff and those with a full-thickness tear. Abnormal glenoid orientation was not present in shoulders with a torn rotator cuff.

Our aim was to investigate the relationship between urinary excretion of deoxypyridinoline (DPD) as a marker of bone resorption, and Perthes’ disease. There were 39 children with Perthes’ disease in the florid stage who collected first-morning urine samples at regular intervals of at least three months. The level of urinary DPD was analysed by chemiluminescence immunoassay and was correlated with the radiological stage of the disease as classified by Waldenström, and the severity of epiphyseal involvement according to the classification systems of Catterall and Herring. The urinary DPD levels of a group of 44 healthy children were used as a control.

The median urinary DPD/creatinine (CREA) ratio was significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) in the condensation stage and increased to slightly elevated values at the final stage (p = 0.05) when compared with that of the control group. Herring-C patients showed significantly lower median DPD/CREA ratios than Herring-B patients (p = 0.03). The significantly decreased median DPD/CREA ratio in early Perthes’ disease indicated a reduced bone turnover and supports the theory of a systemic aetiology. Urinary levels of DPD may therefore be used to monitor the course of Perthes’ disease.

Trochlear dysplasia is an important anatomical abnormality in symptomatic patellar instability. Our study assessed the mismatch between the bony and cartilaginous morphology in patients with a dysplastic trochlea compared with a control group.

MRI scans of 25 knees in 23 patients with trochlear dysplasia and in 11 patients in a randomly selected control group were reviewed retrospectively in order to assess the morphology of the cartilaginous and bony trochlea. Inter- and intra-observer error was assessed.

In the dysplastic group there were 15 women and eight men with a mean age of 20.4 years (14 to 30). The mean bony sulcus angle was 167.9° (141° to 203°), whereas the mean cartilaginous sulcus angle was 186.5° (152° to 214°; p < 0.001). In 74 of 75 axial images (98.7%) the cartilaginous contour was different from the osseous contour on subjective assessment, the cartilage exacerbated the abnormality.

Our study shows that the morphology of the cartilaginous trochlea differs markedly from that of the underlying bony trochlea in patients with trochlear dysplasia. MRI is necessary in order to demonstrate the pathology and to facilitate surgical planning.