François Canovas

Adipose Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Based Therapy for Severe Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Phase I Dose-Escalation Trial

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most widespread musculoskeletal disorder in adults. It leads to cartilage damage associated with subchondral bone changes and synovial inflammation, causing pain and disability. The present study aimed at evaluating the safety of a dose‐escalation protocol of intra‐articular injected adipose‐derived stromal cells (ASCs) in patients with knee OA, as well as clinical efficacy as secondary endpoint. A bicentric, uncontrolled, open phase I clinical trial was conducted in France and Germany with regulatory agency approval for ASC expansion procedure in both countries. From April 2012 to December 2013, 18 consecutive patients with symptomatic and severe knee OA were treated with a single intra‐articular injection of autologous ASCs. The study design consisted of three consecutive cohorts (six patients each) with dose escalation: low dose (2 × 106 cells), medium dose (10 × 106), and high dose (50 × 106). The primary outcome parameter was safety evaluated by recording adverse events throughout the trial, and secondary parameters were pain and function subscales of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index. After 6 months of follow‐up, the procedure was found to be safe, and no serious adverse events were reported. Four patients experienced transient knee joint pain and swelling after local injection. Interestingly, patients treated with low‐dose ASCs experienced significant improvements in pain levels and function compared with baseline. Our data suggest that the intra‐articular injection of ASCs is a safe therapeutic alternative to treat severe knee OA patients. A placebo‐controlled double‐blind phase IIb study is being initiated to assess clinical and structural efficacy.

Total elbow arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis: 20 GSBIII prostheses followed 2–5 years

From 1993 to 1996, we implanted 20 primary GSB IlI prostheses in 17 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The Mayo Clinic performance index for the elbow was used for the evaluation. The average follow-up was 3 (2-5) years. At the follow-up examination, 12 elbows had an excellent result and 8 a good result. The median performance index increased from 30 (15-53) points to 95 (80-100) points. The subjective assessment was excellent for 11 elbows, good for 8 and poor for 1.2 elbows had radiographic loosening with a progressive radiolucent line and a change in the orientation of the prosthesis.

Neural symmetry and functional asymmetry of the mandible

Even in the absence of malformation or skull base asymmetry, the mandible may be physiologically asymmetric and this remains a major challenge in the orthodontic treatment. The mandible is a bone formed by a primary subunit, i.e., the neural part, with different functional secondary subunits, so we suggest that in a normal mandible the asymmetry was caused by the secondary functional subunit and the neural part is nearly symmetric. Eighty-three dry human mandible samples were studied. The measurements of the size of the mandible (corpus, ramus, mandible notch, condylar process, the angle of the mandible) and the neural subunit (the mandibular canal and the position of the mental and mandibular foramina) were measured bilaterally. The left and right sides were compared according to the dental status: 60 dentate and 23 edentulous mandibles. The calculation of the symmetry was based on the paired Student t test, the absolute difference |R−L| and the relative absolute difference |R−L|/|R+L|×100. The mandibular canal and the position of the foramina were symmetric, except for the position of the mandibular foramen in relation to the mandible notch. The symmetry was not modified by the dental status. The total length of the mandible and the length of the ramus were greater on the left side independently from the dental status. The length of the corpus and the mandible angle were symmetric in each group. The mandible notch was always asymmetric and its height was greater in the dentate group. The condylar process was the most asymmetric structure in each group. The primary subunit of the mandible, surrounding the mandibular canal, is a symmetric component of the mandible and is not modified by the dental status. The angle of the mandible between the corpus and ramus is another symmetric parameter that is important for the facial architecture. The ramus and especially the mandibular notch as well as the condylar process are the most asymmetric subunits influenced by the functional matrices.

Study of carpal bone morphology and position in three dimensions by image analysis from computed tomography scans of the wrist

The morphology and positioning of the carpal bones were studied in three dimensions in 18 normal adults on computed tomography (CT) scans of the wrist. The digital data from each CT scan were processed to extract the carpal bones and to automatically characterize their geometry (geometric centroid, principal axes of inertia) using specific software tools. Biometric and angular parameters were defined for this purpose, and most of these parameters showed a normal distribution. The mean distance between the geometric centroid of the capitate and that of the triquetrum, expressed as a relationship to the length of the first principal axis of inertia of the capitate, was found to be the greatest (157.6%±8.4%), whereas the smallest mean distance was between the hamate and triquetrum (91.4%±7.3%). In the sagittal plane, the first principal axis of inertia of the bones of the first carpal row projected in front of the vertical axis of the orthogonal reference system, whereas the first principal axis of the capitate projected behind it. Measurements using this methodology are far more numerous than those from standard plain radiographs and have the additional advantage of being independent of the examiner. Future investigations on normal wrists should provide a normal range for each quantitative parameter, and comparative study of normal and pathologic wrist measurements should help to define the most relevant parameters for specific traumatic pathologies of the wrist.

Carpal Bone Maturation Assessment by Image Analysis from Computed Tomography Scans

Bone maturation is the only reliable indicator of growth and its radiologic assessment with or without automated systems is a qualitative method. Image processing allows the study of bone maturation with quantitative data. Carpal bone maturation was studied in 20 children (13 boys and 7 girls, ages ranging from 4 to 15 years) without any clinical evidence of endocrine disease by image analysis from computed tomography (CT) scans. Each wrist CT scan was processed in order to extract the carpal bones and to measure quantitative data regarding volume, axes of inertia and density for each bone. The volumes and the length of the inertia axes were significantly correlated with age. Whatever the age, there were strong correlations between the volume or the length of the main inertia axis of one carpal bone and that of all others. The decrease in the carpal bone volume measured from the processing procedure compared with the theoretical volume of bone defined from the length of the three inertia axes indicated a change in bone shape during growth. Although the mean density was constant, there was an increase in the standard deviation of density with age. Skeletal maturity assessment with image analysis from CT scans seems to be a good complementary investigation to determine bone age in children.

Carpal bone maturation during childhood and adolescence: assessment by quantitative computed tomography. Preliminary results.

The aim of our study was to measure the volume of each carpal bone during childhood and adolescence by image processing from computed tomography (CT) scans, and to analyze the relationship between the eight carpal bones. Thirteen CT scans were performed in nine normal prepubertal, peripubertal and post-pubertal children, six boys and three girls, aged 5-14 years. Each scan was processed in order to extract the carpal bones. The volume was computed for each bone. There was a significant correlation between carpal bone volume and age (0.55 < r < 0.79), and a very strong correlation between the volume of a given carpal bone and the volume of all the others, whatever the age (0.87 < r < 0.99, p < 0.01). Image processing is a potentially useful method for assessing bone maturation. The constant ratio between carpal bone volumes indicates that these bones interact with each other in wrist bone maturation

Tophaceous Gout of the Navicular Bone as a Cause of Medial Inflammatory Tumor of the Foot

A case of tophaceous gout of the navicular bone in a 24-year-old woman is reported. Emphasis is placed on the conditions that might have been precipitating, i.e., anorexia nervosa and alcoholism, and the mechanisms by which increased uric acid level may be explained. The main radiographic patterns of tophaceous gout of the foot are recalled to avoid unnecessary surgery in future cases.

Efficacy of first metatarsophalangeal joint lateral release in hallux valgus surgery

INTRODUCTION Lateral release of the sesamoid ligament complex is one of the key step to the surgical treatment of hallux valgus. Although numerous techniques are available to perform this procedure, there is no accepted consensus on the method of choice. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of sequential release of lateral soft tissue structures for correction of hallux valgus deformity. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study included 40 patients, mean age 50.9 years old (±17.4), with 49 hallux valgus deformities from mechanical causes. The first metatarsophalangeal angle (M1P1), the intermetatarsal angle (M1M2) and the position of the sesamoids in relation to mechanical axis of M (according to the Research Committee of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society) were determined on preoperative X-rays. During the procedure, lateral release was performed in several steps: sectioning the metatarsosesamoid suspensory ligament then sectioning the phalangeal insertional band (PIB) and complete detachment of the adductor on the fibular sesamoid ligament. We measured the changes in the M1P1 and M1M2 angles during this step-by-step release. RESULTS The M1P1 angle decreased during each step of release and went from 29.9° to 11.1° (P<0.001). The M1M2 decreased by 1.70° following medial capusolorrhaphy. Simple capsulorrhaphy reduced the hallux valgus deformity by 8.2° (44%). Release of the metatarsosesamoid suspensory ligament resulted in a decrease of 3.9° (or 21% of total release), release of the PIB in a decrease of 5.1° (27%) and complete detachment of the adductor in a decrease of 1.5° (8%). Thirty six percent of the sesamoids were reduced after metatarsosesamoid ligament resection, 56% after PIB release, and 60% after adductor release. DISCUSSION Lateral soft tissue release is ensured in most cases by sectioning the metatarsosesamoid suspensory ligament and the PIB. Release of the adductor from the fibular sesamoid has a limited effect. CONCLUSION Lateral soft tissue release should include sectioning the metatarsosesamoid suspensory ligament and detaching the PIB. This release should be enough to correct the deformity without performing any osteotomy in hallux valgus with M1P1<27° and M1M2<10°, as long as a stable medial plane can be obtained. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV.

Stem subsidence after total hip revision: 183 cases at 5.9 years follow-up

INTRODUCTION Secondary subsidence of a revision femoral stem is often a negative predictive sign for successful osseointegration and perfect long-term stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective study in a series of 183 revision total hip replacements between 1996 and 2000 to evaluate the importance and risk factors of secondary subsidence with a cementless press-fit design femoral stem as well as this subsidences consequences to osseointegration. RESULTS Secondary subsidence did not occur in 80 cases (53%), was between 0 and 4mm in 41 cases (27%); between 5 and 10mm in 17 cases (12%) and was greater than 10mm in 12 cases (8%). Mean subsidence of all patients was 3mm (0-30). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between subsidence and the quality of osseointegration (P=0.03). There was no significant relationship between component diameter and stem subsidence (P=0.9). The presence of preoperative bone deficiencies did not increase the risk of secondary subsidence (P=0.2). CONCLUSION In the case of revision with press-fit stems, the importance of secondary subsidence should not be overestimated, because it usually does not negatively affect satisfactory osseointegration.

Surgical treatment of hindfoot inflammatory diseases: 107 arthrodesis

INTRODUCTION In rheumatoid diseases, hindfoot arthrodesis abolishes pain and corrects deformity. The choice between selective and double arthrodesis depends on whether the hindfoot malalignment is fixed or not. Indications for surgery are well codified. The various types of arthrodesis have never been assessed together on a large series. We here report a series that is substantial in numbers and in follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS A continuous single-center retrospective study included patients with native hindfoot inflammatory disease treated by arthrodesis between 1996 and 2009. RESULTS Around 80% of patients were followed up, for a mean 7 years. Fifty-four isolated talonavicular arthrodeses, 14 talocalcaneal arthrodeses and 39 double arthrodeses were performed. 96% of patients had rheumatoid arthritis and 4% spondylarthritis. 62% were completely pain-free at follow-up. The satisfaction rate was 91% and mean AOFAS score 70%. 6% of patients showed symptomatic non-union, mainly associated with talonavicular arthrodesis. In 22% of double arthrodeses and 11% of talonavicular arthrodeses, ankle status required surgical revision. In double arthrodesis, there was no correlation between hindfoot deviation and secondary deterioration in ankle status. Talocalcaneal arthrodesis was associated with radiologic hindfoot varus, both preoperatively and at follow-up. DISCUSSION Non-union was the main complication in talonavicular arthrodesis. The rate of secondary ankle surgery was significantly elevated in double arthrodesis. These findings support Suckels cadaver studies, which, in 2007, reported early deterioration in ankle status in double arthrodesis, due to mechanical overloading. Talocalcaneal arthrodesis proved reliable and simple, free of major complications and with a 100% satisfaction rate. CONCLUSION Double arthrodesis showed the greatest benefit in terms of restoring foot architecture, but was associated with a higher rate of deterioration in ankle status. Preventive double arthrodesis is not recommended in case of isolated arthritis with reducible hindfoot malalignment.