Current Issue : July-September Volume : 2025 Issue Number : 3 Articles : 5 Articles
Objective: The present research aims to determine if adherence to the Lewinnek safe zone, when exclusively considered, constitutes a pivotal element for ensuring stability in the context of total hip arthroplasty. This is done by examining the acetabular placement in instances of hip dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methodology: The authors searched 2653 patient records from 2015 to 2022 looking for patients who had total hip arthroplasty at our facility. For the analysis, 23 patients were culled from 64 individuals who exhibited post-THA dislocations, employing a stringent exclusion criterion, and the resultant acetabular angulation and anteversion were quantified utilizing PEEKMED software (Peek Health S.A., Portugal) upon radiographic evidence. Results: Within the operational timeframe, from the cohort of 2653 subjects, 64 presented with at least a singular incident of displacement. Post-exclusion criterion enforcement, 23 patients were eligible for inclusion. Of these, 10 patients conformed to the safe zone demarcated by Lewinnek for both inclination and anteversion angles, while 13 exhibited deviations from the prescribed anteversion and/or inclination benchmarks. Conclusion: Analysis of the 23 patients reveals that 13 did not confirm to be in the safe zone parameters for anteversion and/or inclination, whereas 10 were within the safe zone as per Lewinnek’s guidelines. This investigative review, corroborated by extant literature, suggests that the isolated consideration of the Lewinnek safe zone does not suffice as a solitary protective factor. It further posits that additional variables are equally critical as acetabular positioning and mandate individual assessment....
Aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head is defined as the death of bone cells in the femoral epiphysis due to an interruption of blood supply. Most cases are linked to trauma, but non-traumatic cases also occur and can be associated with several known risk factors. This study aims to describe these risk factors identified in the former Katanga province, a region with significant mining activity. Method and Patients: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over a seven-year period (2017-2024), including all cases of aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head diagnosed in the orthopedic department of Medpark Clinic in Lubumbashi. The investigation of risk factors was based on the analysis of sociodemographic, clinical, radiological, and biological data. Results: Our study included a total of 110 patients with a mean age of 47.5 years. Among them, there were 46 women (41.82%) and 64 men (58.18%). Twenty-five patients (27.5%) reported a family history of osteonecrosis, and 24% were diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Chronic alcoholism was noted in 14 patients (12.73%), while diabetes was present in 8 (7.2%). Four patients (3.64%) were obese, and three were HIV-positive (2.72%). The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was common, and prolonged corticosteroid use was documented in 5 patients (4.5%). Abnormally high cholesterol levels were found in 26 patients (23.6%). One patient had gout, and two suffered from acute rheumatic fever (1.8%). Regarding inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates were within normal limits for almost all patients. Electrolyte levels and phosphocalcic profiles showed no abnormalities. Furthermore, 33 patients (30%) did not exhibit any of the previously mentioned risk factors. Most of these patients lived in the regions of Kolwezi, Likasi, and Lubumbashi. Among this group, 25 patients reported performing physically demanding labor, particularly in mining operations. Conclusion: Our study highlighted well-known risk factors for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). However, it also identified a significant number of cases without any identifiable risk factors, classified as idiopathic. Among these cases, some patients engaged in intense physical labor, often linked to mining exposure....
Objectives: This study evaluated the efficacy of teriparatide (TPTD) and alendronate (ALN) in mitigating bone loss, enhancing bone structure, and facilitating motor function recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: All the rats were allocated into four groups: a sham surgery group (SHAM group), a normal saline group (SCI + NS group), a TPTD treatment group after SCI (SCI + TPTD group), and an ALN treatment group after SCI (SCI + ALN group). The Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scores and gait analyses were used to assess the motor abilities of rats following SCI and the effects of treatment. HE staining, Masson’s trichrome staining, and LFB staining were performed to evaluate the extent of spinal cord tissue damage. Micro-CT was used to measure 12 bone-related parameters of the proximal tibia and create 3D images, and structural changes in the proximal tibial bone tissue were observed under a light microscope after HE staining. Results: After 12 weeks of treatment, the micro-CT data indicated that TPTD significantly increased key bone indicators, such as bone mineral density, after SCI (p < 0.01), whereas ALN did not significantly improve these indicators (p > 0.05). Compared with the SCI + NS group, the SCI + TPTD group presented significantly greater BBB scores and near-normal gait parameters (p < 0.05). Analyses of pathological sections revealed that TPTD significantly reduced the cavity area in the spinal cord after SCI, decreased the proportion of scar tissue, and increased the retention of neural myelin (p < 0.05). However, ALN had no significant effect on these indicators (p > 0.05). Conclusions: TPTD was more effective than ALN at mitigating bone loss and promoting motor function recovery after SCI, and it demonstrated significant advantages in reducing spinal cord damage and improving tissue structure....
Background/Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and progressive joint disease, leading to functional limitations and significantly impairing the quality of life. Muscle weakness, reduced mobility, and compensatory biomechanical changes are common consequences, further exacerbating functional decline. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of hip osteoarthritis on muscle functionality and to evaluate the effectiveness of hip arthroplasty using the MyotonPro device to measure key biomechanical parameters, i.e., tension, stiffness, and flexibility. Methods: This cohort study included 40 patients (17 women and 23 men; mean age 64.55 ± 10.49 years) with advanced hip OA (Kellgren–Lawrence grade III–IV) undergoing hip arthroplasty. Measurements of muscle tension (F), stiffness (S), and flexibility (D) in the gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris were performed at three time points: before surgery, on postoperative days 8–10, and one month after hospital discharge. Pain (VAS), balance (Tinetti scale), and functional ability (WOMAC index) were also assessed. Results: Hip arthroplasty significantly reduced pain levels (VAS: 6.38 ± 0.28 preoperatively to 1.88 ± 0.22 postoperatively, p < 0.001) and improved functional ability (WOMAC: p < 0.001). Muscle tension and stiffness of the gluteus maximus initially increased after surgery (tension: 11.57 ± 0.32 to 12.15 ± 0.38, p = 0.009), reflecting compensatory stabilization but decreased by the final evaluation. Flexibility improved significantly over time (p = 0.014). The biceps femoris muscle exhibited a significant reduction in tension one month postoperatively (p = 0.015), alongside decreased stiffness (p = 0.015) and enhanced flexibility. The rectus femoris muscle showed minor changes in biomechanical properties, with no statistically significant differences detected. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis significantly impacts muscle function, reducing the gluteus muscle tension and stiffness, which compromises joint stability and triggers compensatory activity in the rectus femoris and biceps femoris muscles. Postoperative rehabilitation is essential for improving flexibility and addressing compensatory muscle tension....
Introduction: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) was originally developed for treating rotator cuff arthropathy but is now commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related shoulder degeneration. While previous studies have identified RA to be a risk factor for complications following total shoulder arthroplasty, its specific impact on RSA outcomes remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the post-operative medical and implant-related complications, and healthcare utilization, among RA patients undergoing RSA. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing RSA was conducted using a national administrative claims database from 2010 to 2023. Patients who underwent RSA with and without RA were identified using corresponding diagnoses and procedural codes. Patients with RA who underwent RSA had propensity score matched to a control on a 1:5 basis. The control group consisted of patients who did not have RA and underwent RSA for any other indication. Results: A total of 7232 of RSA patients with RA were matched to 36,054 control patients. The RA cohort had significantly higher rates of 90-day medical complications when compared to the control (p < 0.001), with the highest rates in urinary tract infections (OR: 9.69), pulmonary embolisms (OR: 9.69), and the need for blood transfusions (OR:9.41). Patients with RA had significantly greater odds of developing all implant-related complications within 2 years compared to the control group (p < 0.001). This cohort also had significantly higher fall rates (p < 0.001) and mean lengths of stay (3.42 vs. 2.0 days, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: RSA patients with prior diagnoses of RA face a higher risk of implant-related and medical complications, falls, and prolonged hospital stays compared to the control. These findings suggest that RA is an independent risk factor for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Therefore, these patients should be closely monitored post-operatively to reduce complications, cost of care, and length of stay. Level of Evidence: III, retrospective case–control study...
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