Aleksandar Matic

Redox Status in Patients with Femoral Neck Fractures

Abstract The femur transfers the body weight from the pelvic bone to the shinbone. Femur fractures are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among the group of locomotor apparatus injuries, especially in the elderly population. Considering that oxidative stress occurs as a result of increased production of free radicals that damage cell function and cause numerous pathological conditions and diseases, the aim of this study was to investigate oxidative stress parameters in older patients with femoral neck fractures. This clinical study included 70 patients, of which 35 had femoral neck fractures (26 males and 9 females), while the other half of the patients formed the matched control group. Markers of oxidative stress (NO2−, TBARS, H2O2 and O2-) and anti-oxidative enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GSH) were measured. Results showed that the levels of O2- increased, while levels of NO2-, H2O2 and all the antioxidative enzymes decreased in patients with femoral neck fractures. These findings indicate that fractures cause oxidative stress, probably because of the reduced activity of osteoblasts and the increased activity of osteoclasts.

Foot pressure distribution and contact duration pattern during walking at self-selected speed in young adults

Foot load observed as pressure distribution is examined in relation to a foot and ankle functions within the gait cycle. This load defines the modes of healthy and pathological gait. Determination of the patterns of healthy, i.e. “normal” walk is the basis for classification of pathological modes. Eleven healthy participants were examined in this initial study. Participants walked over pressure plate barefoot at their self - selected speed. Maximal values of the pressure were recorded in the heel, the first, the second and the third metatarsal joints and in the hallux region. Largest contact duration is recorded in the metatarsal region.

A Framework for Technology Enhanced Education in Orthopaedics: Knee Surgery Case Study

The paper presents a framework for technology enhanced education (TEE) in orthopaedics aimed at employment of ubiquitous information and communication technology (ICT) and digital technologies in order to compensate for an unaffordable learning environment. On the other side, the concept involves both (bio)engineers, ICT specialists, and orthopaedic surgeons in an interprofessional collaboration, leveraging multidisciplinary approaches to improve the quality of clinical-oriented education. Preliminary results indicate increased motivation and satisfaction of both the learners and educators.

Interleukin-6 as possible early marker of stress response after femoral fracture

Bone fracture healing is a complex process which at best results in full recovery of function and structure of injured bone tissue, but all the mechanisms involved in this process, and their mutual interaction, are not fully understood. Despite advancement of surgical procedures, this type of fractures is still a major public health concern. In the last few decades, a lot of attention is focused on the oxygen-free radicals and inflammatory response markers as important factors of skeletal injury. Thus, the aim of the present study was to follow the changes in redox balance and inflammatory response in elderly patients with femoral fractures during the earliest stages of fracture healing, by measuring the values of the observed markers immediately after fracture, as well as the first, third, and seventh postoperative day. Present study was performed on a group of 65 elderly patients with femoral neck fractures, recruited from the Orthopedic Clinic, Clinical Centre Kragujevac in the period from February to May 2015. Redox status was measured spectrophotometrically and evaluated by measuring the levels of index of lipid peroxidation (measured as TBARS), nitrite (NO2−), superoxide anion radical (O2−), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in plasma, while activities of corresponding antioxidative enzymes, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in erythrocytes. The cytokine concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined in plasma, using ELISA assays specific for human cytokines. Our study showed that redox status and TNF-α in elderly patients with femoral fractures did not show statistically significant changes during the early phase of fracture healing. On the other hand, IL-6 increased statistically in first day after intervention. This preliminary study has shown our observations, and we hope that these results may help in better understanding mechanisms which are included at fracture healing. More importantly, this study attempted to create a platform for further research.

Gait parameters identification using video tracking — Case study

In studies so far have been shown that clinical analysis of the gait parameters is extremely important for improving diagnostics and following illness or deficiencies of lower extremities, as well as for analyzing recuperation levels after therapy. Purpose of this paper is to analyze possibility of using easily affordable web cameras for recording knee movement. Recordings are made with web cam on Fujitsu lifebook E laptop. Algorithm for object tracking is made in programming environment MatLAB. Five participants have participated in this research. Results are graphically presented for left and right leg for one gait cycle along straight line and values for anterior posterior (AP) translation are shown in tables for every phase of gait cycle. Acquired study results show that it is possible to measure observed parameter in this way and that values correspond with values obtained in previous studies.

Discoid Lateral Meniscus Incidence During Knee Arthroscopy

Abstract Discoid meniscus is a morphological anomaly of the lateral meniscus that appears in 1–5% of meniscectomies. A precise diagnosis remains difficult to make, and many dilemmas hinder effective treatment. To evaluate the incidence of discoid meniscus in patients who underwent knee arthroscopy, as well as the discoid meniscus type, follow-up problems, combined knee lesions, and postoperative results. This retrospective study included 1357 patients who received knee arthroscopy during the period between January 2007 and December 2013. We analysed the discoid meniscus incidence, sex distribution, type distribution (Monllau classification), noted preoperative symptomatology, rupture incidence and type (O’Connor classification), anomaly presence and other intra-articular lesion correlations. The IKDC score was used to evaluate the operative treatment results. The DLM incidence was 1.03%. The most common type of discoid meniscus was complete 5 (35.71 %). The dominant symptom was pain, which was reported by 12 (85.71%) patients. Eleven (78.57 %) patients exhibited ruptures, and the most common type was horizontal, which was reported in 4 (36.36%) cases. The number of ruptures was significantly higher in patients older than 18 (9 patients; 90%), compared to those younger than 18 (2 patients; 40%). Operative treatment resulted in an improvement for all patients in terms of subjective symptom reduction. The incidence of DLM in our study was 1.03%, and the dominant symptom was pain in the knee (85.71%). The most common lesion of the meniscus was a horizontal split, primarily in patients older than 18 years. Patients also presented with joint intra-articular lesions; the most common type was ACL rupture. In all patients, an improved postoperative IKDC score was reported.

Gait analysis of patients following totalcondylar knee arthroplasty

The aim of this study was to evaluate total knee arthroplasty success, throw gait analysis of patients who were underwent a surgery according to objective indicators. Material and methods: Fourteen patients were participated in our study who suffered from a certain type of gonarthrosis. Data were gathered(collected) using a commercial OptiTrack system for motion recording using six infrared cameras. Markers were placed on patients’ lower extremities, on previously determined anatomical regions. After recording the data were processed using computing environment MATLAB. Results: Observing our lab results we noticed a significant reduction in range of motion (ROM) of arthritic knees in relation to the healthy knees. ROM reduction is primarily related to flexion and extension, as well as to medial and lateral translation. Following the TKA, ROM increases, and these values get close to the values that were measured in a healthy knee. The results were presented using graphs for a healthy, damaged and operated knee, and values of corresponding parameters were given using tables. Conclusion: Using our results we showed that there is a big difference in the movement pattern of patients with gonarthrosis before and after the TKA and that that difference can be determined successfully quickly using Optitrack system. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III-41007: Application of Biomedical Engineering in Preclinical and Clinical Practice]