Andrzej Grzegorzewski

The role of the acetabulum in perthes disease

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes in the shape of acetabulum from the onset of the disease to the skeletal maturity in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. The study population consisted of 243 patients with unilateral involvement who had reached skeletal maturity at last follow-up. All hips were treated by containment methods (which included bed rest and traction in abduction, Petri cast, brace, varus osteotomy, Salter osteotomy, and shelf acetabuloplasty). Necrosis of the femoral head was estimated according to the lateral pillar classification and late results according to the Stulberg classification. Changes in the shape of the acetabulum were divided into 3 groups: type I-normal, concave lateral acetabulum margin; type II-flat, horizontal lateral acetabulum margin; and type III-convex, sloping acetabular margin. Roentgenograms performed during the fragmentation stage revealed type I changes in 78 (32.1%) hips, type II in 136 (55.7%), and type III in 29 (12.2%). At the last follow-up, there were type I changes in 124 (51.2%) hips, type II in 81 (33.5%), and type III in 38 (15.3%). The statistical analysis revealed no significant statistical difference between the age at the onset and gender with regard to acetabular changes. There was significant statistical correlation between the lateral pillar classification, subluxation of the femoral head, the range of hip abduction, and the Stulberg classification with regard to acetabular changes. A type III was statistically associated with lateral pillar classification group C, major subluxation of the femoral head, limited hip abduction, and in Stulberg group 3, 4, or 5. Only surgical methods of treatment improved the acetabular shape at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). In our opinion, the lateral acetabulum shape plays a very important role during the remodeling of the deformed proximal femoral epiphysis.

Leg length discrepancy in Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of the leg length discrepancy (LLD) in Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and whether there is any correlation between LLD and age at onset, gender, type of treatment, and severity of disease. The study population consisted of 261 patients with unilateral involvement who had reached skeletal maturity at last follow-up. All hips were treated by containment methods (bed rest and traction in abduction, Petri cast, brace, varus osteotomy, Salter osteotomy, and shelf acetabuloplasty). The late results were classified according to the Stulberg classification. LLD was found in 33 patients and ranged from 1 to 5.2 cm (average 2.51 cm). The limb shortening was observed in Herring group B (average 2.18 cm) and C (average 2.82 cm) and was statistically significant more common in group C. The statistical analysis revealed no statistical difference between the age at onset, sex, and type of treatment with regard to LLD; nevertheless, patients in Herring group C with LLD were younger than patients in group B, and LLD was seen more often after varus osteotomy. The amount of residual shortening of the affected limb in Legg-Calve-Perthes disease at the end of skeletal growth seems to depend on the extent of involvement and the presence of a growth arrest. A varus osteotomy produces more significant shortening than other methods of treatments. The age at the onset of symptoms and sex do not influence the amount of LLD, but early onset of the disease can result in more severe limb shortening.

An accurate method of radiological assessment of acetabular volume and orientation in computed tomography spatial reconstruction

BackgroundTwo-dimensional (2D) measurements of acetabular morphology and orientation are well known; there is less information on these acetabular characteristics in three dimensions. One important reason is the lack of standardized reference planes for the pelvis, especially in relation to the spinopelvic unit; another is that no method precisely assesses the acetabulum in three-dimensional (3D) orientation based on its axis rather than on the directions of the edges of the acetabular rim. We present an objective, highly reliable and accurate, axis-based approach to acetabular anthropometry in the measurement of acetabular volume and spatial orientation in both normal and pathologic hips. This was done using reference planes based on the sacral base (SB) and true acetabular axis in 3D computed tomography (CT) pelvic reconstruction.MethodsRadiological examinations of 30 physiologic pelves (60 acetabula) were included in the study. Reliability and accuracy of the method were verified by comparing acetabular angles in 2D pelvic scans with 3D reconstructions. We also applied the method to two pathologic acetabula.ResultsComparison of axis position in the horizontal plane revealed significant positive correlations between 2D angle measurements (acetabular anteversion angle [AAA] and anterior acetabular index [AAI]) and 3D measurement of anteversion angle (p < 0.001 and p = 0.012, respectively). In the frontal plane, there was no difference between abduction angle, measured on topogram, and inclination angle, obtained from a 3D model (p = 0.517). In the sagittal plane, there was a significant negative correlation between AAA and acetabular tilt (p < 0.001). Inter- and intra-observer reproducibility was excellent for determination of the sacral-base plane and assessment of volume, with Fleiss κ coefficients of 0.850 and 0.783, respectively, and intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.900 and 0.950, respectively. Inter-observer reproducibility for evaluation of acetabular axis ranged from 0.783 to 0.883, and intra-rater reliability ranged from 0.850 to 0.900 for all 3D angles.ConclusionsOur method is a new, reliable diagnostic tool for assessing the acetabula in both normal and pathologic hip joints. The sacral-base plane can be used as a stable reference that takes the relationship of the acetabulum to the spinopelvic unit into consideration.

Hip joint pain in spastic dislocation: aetiological aspects

Aim  Children with severe forms of cerebral palsy (CP) are at high risk of hip joint displacement. Various studies have found that the pain from affected joints occurs in 40 to 84% of studied individuals. The purpose of this study was to establish a correlation between the density of nociceptors localized in selected areas of the spastic dislocated hip joint and clinical evidence of hip joint pain in children with CP.

Morphological and Radiological Study of Ossified Superior Transverse Scapular Ligament as Potential Risk Factor of Suprascapular Nerve Entrapment

The suprascapular notch is covered superiorly by the superior transverse scapular ligament. This region is the most common place of suprascapular nerve entrapment formation. The study was performed on 812 specimens: 86 dry scapulae, 104 formalin-fixed cadaveric shoulders, and 622 computer topography scans of scapulae. In the cases with completely ossified superior transverse scapular ligament, the following measurements were performed: proximal and distal width of the bony bridge, middle transverse and vertical diameter of the suprascapular foramen, and area of the suprascapular foramen. An ossified superior transverse scapular ligament was observed more often in men and in the right scapula. The mean age of the subjects with a completely ossified superior transverse scapular ligament was found to be similar than in those without ossification. The ossified band-shaped type of superior transverse scapular ligament was more common than the fan-shaped type and reduced the space below the ligament to a significantly greater degree. The ossified band-shaped type should be taken into consideration as a potential risk factor in the formation of suprascapular nerve entrapment. It could explain the comparable frequency of neuropathy in various populations throughout the world despite the significant differences between them in occurrence of ossified superior transverse scapular ligament.

Quality of life and functional disability in skeletally mature patients with myelomeningocele-related spinal deformity.

The purpose of the study was to assess the quality of life, physical function, self-motivation, and self-perception of skeletally mature patients with spina bifida and scoliosis. This is a prospective study on 19 skeletally mature patients with a mean age of 21.4 years. Several questionnaires were used for the study: Activities Scale for Kids, Quality of Life in Spina Bifida Questionnaire, The Health Self-Determinism Index for Children, Harter’s Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, and the Spina Bifida Spine Questionnaire. This study found no association between spinal deformity or other features related to spina bifida and self-perception, motivation, and overall physical function. More severe scoliosis affects quality of life and is related to the degree of pelvic obliquity and the age of the patients. Individuals with motor-level dysfunction below L3 had significantly better overall physical function compared with those with a higher level of lesions. This was the only factor found to affect physical function. Our findings suggest that most limitations in patients with spina bifida are not related to the degree of scoliosis but to other associated disabilities.

Vascularity of the hip labrum during the foetal period

Tears of the hip labrum have been recognized as a cause of hip pain and clicking. It has been reported that labrum tears are associated with increased microvessel formation. The purpose of this study was to identify the regional vascularity of the acetabular labrum during late foetal development. The acetabular labrum was examined from 21 formalinized foetuses of the age 5th to 10th months of gestation (mean 6.4±0.99). The acetabulum of each specimen was anatomically prepared and divided into four quadrants. The number of blood vessels in labrum quadrants was counted during microscopic examination. A total of 599 of blood vessels were found in all specimens: 159 in quadrant I, 150 in quadrant II, 127 in quadrant III and 163 in quadrant IV. The capsular part of the labrum contained 357 vessels and the articular part contained 242. The total number of blood vessels within the capsular parts of all specimens (357) was significantly greater than the number within the articular parts (242) (p<0.028). There was some evidence to suggest that with increasing foetal age, the number of blood vessels in the labrum decreased. However, taking into consideration the number of vessels in particular quadrants of the labrum, the great frequency of labral tears in the anterosuperior part of the labrum could not be explained.

Hip joint pain in children with cerebral palsy and developmental dysplasia of the hip: why are the differences so huge?

BackgroundsNon-traumatic hip dislocation in children is most often observed in the course of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and infantile cerebral palsy. The risk of pain sensations from dislocated hip joint differentiates the discussed groups of patients. Will every painless hip joint in children with cerebral palsy painful in the future?MethodsMaterial included 34 samples of joint capsule and 34 femoral head ligaments, collected during open hip joint reduction from 19 children with CP, GMFCS level V and from 15 children with DDH and unilateral hip dislocation. All the children were surgically treated.The density of nociceptive fibres was compared between the children with CP and DDH, using S-100 and substance P monoclonal antibodies.ResultsMore frequent positive immunohistochemical reaction to S-100 protein concerned structures of the femoral head ligaments in children with CP and cartilage losses on the femoral head, when compared to the same structures in children with DDH (p = 0.010). More frequent were found positive immunohistochemical reactions for S-100 protein in the joint capsules of children with cartilage losses (p = 0.031) and pain ailments vs. the children with DDH (p = 0.027). More frequent positive reaction to substance P concerned in femoral head ligaments in CP children and cartilage lesions (p = 0.002) or with pain ailments (p = 0.001) vs. the DDH children.ConclusionsSurgical treatment of hip joint dislocation should be regarded as a prophylactics of pain sensations, induced by tissue sensitisation, inflammatory process development or articular cartilage defects.

Suprascapular Notch Asymmetry: A Study on 311 Patients

The most important risk factor of suprascapular nerve entrapment is probably the shape of the suprascapular notch (SSN). The aim of the study was to perform a radiological study of the symmetry of SSN. Included in the study were 311 patients (137 women and 174 men) who underwent standard computed tomography investigation of the chest. A total of 622 computed tomography scans of scapulae were retrospectively analyzed to classify suprascapular notches into five types. Suprascapular notch was recognized as a symmetrical feature in 53.45% of the patients. Symmetry was more frequently seen in females (54.0% versus 52.9%), but not to any significant degree (P = 0.8413). Type III was the most commonly noted symmetrical feature (66.9%) and type II was less common (0.6%). Type III was the most symmetrical type of suprascapular notch, occurring significantly more often as a symmetrical feature in comparison with type I (P < 0.0001), type II (P = 0.00137), or type IV (P = 0.001). Our investigation did not show that the suprascapular notch is a symmetrical feature. However, symmetry was recognized more frequently in the case of type III SSN. No significant differences in symmetry were found with regard to sex.

Phenomenon of painless knee in recurrent patellar dislocation in children.

Introduction Cartilage lesion with patellar malalignment may be correlated with pain. Situations in which patients with recurrent patellar dislocation are painless between episodes of luxation can be approached with considerable curiosity. We evaluated the distribution of substance-P and S-100 protein expression in soft tissue of the knee in children with recurrent patellar dislocation, in order to evaluate the distribution of nociceptors and determine tissue origins of this situation. Material and methods Samples were collected from the medial and lateral synovial membrane, medial and lateral patellar retinaculum, Hoffas body, patellar ligament, and quadriceps’ aponeurosis in 10 children during the Blauth procedure and 10 adults with idiopathic osteoarthritis during total joint alloplasty. The density of nociceptive fibres was compared in the children and adults using S-100 and substance-P monoclonal antibodies. Results Statistical differences between groups were demonstrated for S-100 expression in synovial membrane of the medial knee compartment (p < 0.05) and for substance-P expression in the medial patellar retinaculum (p < 0.05) and synovial membrane of the lateral (p < 0.05) and medial (p < 0.05) knee compartment in favour of children. Conclusions Lack of pain sensations in patients with recurrent patellar dislocation may be associated with non-increased expression of nerve endings in Hoffas body. Increased expression of either S-100 protein or substance-P in synovial membrane and the medial retinaculum did not induce pain development in the knee joints of that group of patients.