The aim of this study was to investigate whether clinical and radiological outcomes after intramedullary nailing of displaced fractures of the fifth metacarpal neck using a single thick Kirschner wire (K-wire) are noninferior to those of technically more demanding fixation with two thinner dual wires. This was a multicentre, parallel group, randomized controlled noninferiority trial conducted at 12 tertiary trauma centres in Germany. A total of 290 patients with acute displaced fractures of the fifth metacarpal neck were randomized to either intramedullary single-wire (n = 146) or dual-wire fixation (n = 144). The primary outcome was the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire six months after surgery, with a third of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) used as the noninferiority threshold. Secondary outcomes were pain, health-related quality of life (EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D)), radiological measures, functional deficits, and complications.Aims
Patients and Methods
Psychological factors play a critical role in patient presentation, satisfaction, and outcomes. Pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression are important to consider, as they are associated with poorer outcomes and are potentially modifiable. The aim of this study was to assess the level of pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression in patients with a range of hip pathology and to evaluate their relationship with patient-reported psychosocial and functional outcome measures. Patients presenting to a tertiary-centre specialist hip clinic were prospectively evaluated for outcomes of pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression. Validated assessments were undertaken such as: the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), and the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Patient characteristics and demographics were also recorded. Multiple linear regression modelling, with adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) variable selection, was used for analysis.Aims
Patients and Methods
The incidence of acute Achilles tendon rupture appears to be increasing. The aim of this study was to summarize various therapies for acute Achilles tendon rupture and discuss their relative merits. A PubMed search about the management of acute Achilles tendon rupture was performed. The search was open for original manuscripts and review papers limited to publication from January 2006 to July 2017. A total of 489 papers were identified initially and finally 323 articles were suitable for this review.Objectives
Methods
Recently, the field of tissue engineering has made numerous advances towards achieving artificial tendon substitutes with excellent mechanical and histological properties, and has had some promising experimental results. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the efficacy of tissue engineering in the treatment of tendon injuries. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for the time period 1999 to 2016 for trials investigating tissue engineering used to improve tendon healing in animal models. The studies were screened for inclusion based on randomization, controls, and reported measurable outcomes. The RevMan software package was used for the meta-analysis.Objectives
Methods
This systematic review examines the current literature regarding surgical techniques for restoring articular cartilage in the hip, from the older microfracture techniques involving perforation to the subchondral bone, to adaptations of this technique using nanofractures and scaffolds. This review discusses the autologous and allograft transfer systems and the autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) technique, as well as a summary of the previously discussed techniques, which could become common practice for restoring articular cartilage, thus reducing the need for total hip arthroplasty. Using the
In this study, we compared the pain behaviour and osteoarthritis (OA) progression between anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) and osteochondral injury in surgically-induced OA rat models. OA was induced in the knee joints of male Wistar rats using transection of the ACL or induction of osteochondral injury. Changes in the percentage of high limb weight distribution (%HLWD) on the operated hind limb were used to determine the pain behaviour in these models. The development of OA was assessed and compared using a histological evaluation based on the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) cartilage OA histopathology score.Objectives
Methods
In recent years, the plantaris tendon has been
implicated in the development of chronic painful mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy.
In some cases, a thickened plantaris tendon is closely associated
with the Achilles tendon, and surgical excision of the plantaris
tendon has been reported to be curative in patients who have not
derived benefit following conservative treatment and surgical interventions. The aim of this review is to outline the basic aspects of, and
the recent research findings, related to the plantaris tendon, covering
anatomical and clinical studies including those dealing with histology,
imaging and treatment. Cite this article
The injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is thought to exhibit an impaired healing response, and attempts at surgical repair have not been successful. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is reported to be associated with wound healing, probably through transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1). A rabbit ACL injury model was used to study the effect of CTGF on ligament recovery. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed for detection of changes in RNA levels of TGF-β1, type 1 collagen (COL1), type 2 collagen (COL2), SRY-related high mobility group-box gene9 (SOX9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP-13). Expression of related proteins was detected by Western blotting.Objectives
Methods
The October 2013 Spine Roundup360 looks at: Standing straighter may reduce falls; Operative management of congenital kyphosis; Athletic discectomy; Lumbar spine stenosis worsens with time; Flexible stabilisation?: spinal stenosis revisited; Do epidural steroids cause spinal fractures?; Who does well with cervical myelopathy?; Secretly adverse to BMP-2?
In many papers, the diagnosis of pincer-type
femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is attributed to the presence
of coxa profunda. However, little is known about the prevalence
of coxa profunda in the general population and its clinical relevance. In order to ascertain its prevalence in asymptomatic subjects
and whether it is a reliable indicator of pincer-type FAI, we undertook
a cross-sectional study between July and December 2013. A total
of 226 subjects (452 hips) were initially screened. According to
strict inclusion criteria, 129 asymptomatic patients (257 hips)
were included in the study. The coxa profunda sign, the crossover
sign, the acetabular index (AI) and lateral centre–edge (LCE) angle were
measured on the radiographs. The median age of the patients was
36.5 years (28 to 50) and 138 (53.7%) were women. Coxa profunda was present in 199 hips (77.4%). There was a significantly
increased prevalence of coxa profunda in women (p <
0.05) and
a significant association between coxa profunda and female gender
(p <
0.001) (92% When the presence of all radiological signs in the same subject
was considered, pincer-type FAI was found in only two hips (one
subject). We therefore consider that the coxa profunda sign should
not be used as a radiological indicator of pincer-type FAI. We consider
profunda to be a benign alteration in the morphology of the hip
with low prevalence and a lack of association with other radiological
markers of FAI. We suggest that the diagnosis of pincer-type FAI
should be based on objective measures, in association with clinical
findings. Cite this article: