Giuseppe Argento

Are MRI-based, patient matched cutting jigs as accurate as the tibial guides?

PurposeThe aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of VISIONAIRE (Smith & Nephew Inc., Memphis, TN, USA) Patient Matched cutting tibial jigs in comparison with extramedullary (EM) tibial instrumentation by analysing data as detected by intra-operative use of VectorVision knee navigation software from BrainLAB (Redwood City, CA, USA).MethodsTwelve patients were selected for unilateral total knee replacement (TKR). They underwent a full-length weight-bearing anteroposterior (AP) radiograph and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During surgery, once the EM guides were placed and fixed on the tibia, the orientation in the coronal and sagittal planes was checked by the navigator and then compared with the data obtained by measuring the orientation of VISIONAIRE Patient Matched cutting tibial jigs. An unsatisfactory result was considered an error ≥2° in both coronal and sagittal planes for the tibial component as a possible error of 4° could result.ResultsIn the coronal plane the mean deviation of the EM tibial guides from the ideal alignment (0°) was 0.7 ± 0.39° and of the VISIONAIRE was 129 ± 1.55° (P = 0.22). In the sagittal plane the mean deviation of the EM tibial guides from 3° of posterior slope was −1.62 ± 1.78° and of the VISIONAIRE was +1.16 ± 4.29° (P < 0.05). Negative values indicate a more posterior slope from the ideal and positive values an anterior slope.ConclusionsThis preliminary study documented only a fair accuracy of the method with a consistent risk of error of more of 3° especially in the sagittal plane. We could speculate that the problem in the sagittal plane was due to the fact that the pre-operative protocol does not include a lateral X-ray projection of the knee and only includes an AP standing X-ray of the straight leg and MRI.

Could early rheumatoid arthritis resolve after periodontitis treatment only?: case report and review of the literature.

AbstractRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated polyarthritis; currently no pathogenic agent has been identified as a disease trigger. A patient with RA, presumably caused by periodontal infection, whose remission has been observed after periodontitis treatment in absence of specific RA therapy, is reported here for the first time, to our knowledge.A 61-year-old male patient presented migrant arthritis associated with antibodies against citrullinated protein antigens positivity. The clinical features allowed to make RA diagnosis according to the 2010 European League against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology RA classification criteria. X-ray of the second upper molar showed chronic apical periodontitis. After its treatment, arthritis remission has been observed in the absence of specific RA therapy.It has been suggested that periodontitis may have a trigger role in RA pathogenesis. This could be explained by the enzymatic action of Porphyromonas gingivalis, probably leading to break tolerance to collagen. The identification and subsequent treatment of periodontitis should therefore be considered pivotal in RA prophylaxis and management.

Imaging Progression despite Clinical Remission in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients after Etanercept Interruption

The aim of this preliminary study is to evaluate clinical and imaging response in twenty patients with early Rheumatoid Arthritits (eRA) treated with Etanercept (Etn) + Methotrexate (Mtx) and to investigate whether clinical and MRI remission may be maintained after biological therapy interruption. Assessment included: radiography, Visser score and anti-CCP antibodies at baseline; disease activity score in 44 joints (DAS44), rheumatoid factor (RF), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of hands and wrists at baseline (T0), 12 (T1), and 24 months (T2). MRI was scored for synovitis, bone oedema and erosions (OMERACT study); patients who reached clinical and imaging remission at T1 were considered eligible for interrupting Etn. At T1 8/20 (40%) patients showed a total remission [DAS44 from 5 (T0) to 1.4 (T1); p<0.02], whereas the other 12/20 (60%) showed an improvement, without complete remission [DAS44 from 4.8 (T0) to 2.8 (T1); p<0.05]. Etn was therefore interrupted in the first group of patients (group A), whereas it was continued in the other group (group B). At T2, group A maintained clinical remission and group B showed further not significant DAS44 reduction from T1. At T1, a significant reduction in synovitis, bone oedema and total score (p<0.01) was observed both in group A and in group B. At T2, group A showed an increase in all the MRI scores that was significant for the synovitis and total score, whereas group B exhibited a further not significant reduction. This preliminary study reports an excellent clinical and imaging response in eRA patients treated with Etn with total remission in 40% of them after a 1-year therapy period. However, it indicates that joint damage may progress, despite a sustained clinical remission, after Etn suspension

Therapeutic management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and associated interstitial lung disease: case report and literature review:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can present different extrarticular manifestations involving heart, lungs and kidneys. In recent years there has been a growing awareness of the central role played by the lungs in the onset and progression of RA. In particular interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common pulmonary manifestation that may be related to the inflammatory process itself, infectious complications and to the treatments used. Management of patients with ILD/RA is still a challenge for clinicians, both synthetic [mainly methotrexate (MTX), leflunomide] and biologic immunosuppressors [mainly anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α] have in fact been related to the onset or worsening of lung diseases with conflicting data. Here we report the case of a 61-year-old male patient with severely active early RA, previously treated with MTX, who developed subacute ILD, along with a review of ILD/RA topic. Tocilizumab (humanized monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-6 receptor) was introduced on the basis of its effectiveness in RA without concomitant MTX and the ability to overcome the profibrotic effects of interleukin (IL)-6. After 3 months of treatment the clinical condition of the patient strongly improved until it reached low disease activity. He no longer complained of cough and dyspnea and bilateral basal crackles were no more present. Considering its distinctive features, tocilizumab, in such a challenging clinical condition, appears to be a safe and effective therapy, thus it enables RA remission without deteriorating ILD, at 1-year follow up, as confirmed by ultrasonography of the affected joints and chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).

Can an adjustable-loop length suspensory fixation device reduce femoral tunnel enlargement in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction? A prospective computer tomography study

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare bone femoral tunnel enlargement in patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) transtibial reconstruction using an adjustable-loop length suspensory fixation device and a fixed-loop length suspensory fixation device. METHODS All patients treated for ACL reconstruction with an ipsilateral hamstring between March 2013 and March 2014 were evaluated. Subjects were assigned to Group A (TightRope™ (TR) femoral fixation) or Group B (EndoButton® (EB) femoral fixation). All patients were evaluated with the Lachman test, pivot-shift test, 2000 International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) knee examination and KT1000 arthrometer. The subjective evaluation was performed using the 2000 IKDC Subjective Knee score, the Lysholm knee score, and the Tegner activity scale. CT examination was performed to evaluate femoral tunnel enlargement at four different levels. All patients were assessed at a 12month follow-up visit. Power analysis was performed a priori in accordance with the femoral tunnel enlargement values from the CT scans. Differences with P-values of ≤0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS The groups were homogenous at baseline with regard to age, gender, BMI, dominance and disease duration. At the final follow-up, no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) were found according to subjective and objective clinical outcome measures. According to the femoral tunnel enlargement, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION In transtibial ACL reconstruction, the use of a fixed or adjustable-loop length device products, on the femoral side, led to similar clinical and radiological results.

Nanohydroxyapatite promotes the healing process in open-wedge high tibial osteotomy: A CT study

BACKGROUND The aim of this prospective and randomized study was to evaluate the effectiveness of adding nanohydroxyapatite (NHA) to heterologous bone graft in open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) by measuring the bone density of the tibial osteotomy gap. METHODS Twenty-seven patients (26 knees) were operated by OWHTO and randomly divided into two groups: pure graft group, in which the osteotomy gap was filled with only heterologous bone graft; nanohydroxyapatite group, in which the osteotomy gap was filled with heterologous bone graft and NHA. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) examination within one week after operation (Time 0), and after two months (Time 1) and 12months (Time 2). CT volume acquired Hounsfield Units (HU) were calculated and the mean value of bone density on three planes was measured. RESULTS At Time 0, the mineral density of the nanohydroxyapatite group appeared significantly higher compared with the pure graft group, due to the presence of NHA. At Time 1, the mineral density of the nanohydroxyapatite group had decreased relative to Time 0, while in the pure graft group it remained unchanged. At Time 2, the mineral density in the nanohydroxyapatite group had further decreased, reaching values close to the mineral density of normal bone. In contrast, in the pure graft group the mineral density had increased, probably due to the lack of reabsorption of the graft and the development of sclerosis in the osteotomy borders. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study show better osseointegration of the heterologous graft when nanohydroxyapatite is added.

Isolated Asymptomatic Short Sternum in a Healthy Young Girl

Congenital sternal defects are rare deformities frequently associated with other anomalies of the chest wall and other organ systems. Although pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, and cleft sternum can present as isolated deformity, in most cases they are associated with heart and inner organs anomalies and described as symptoms of syndromes like Marfan syndrome, Noonan syndrome, Poland anomaly, and Cantrell pentalogy. In contrast, the etiology of an isolated defect is not well understood. We observed a short sternum (dysmorphic manubrium, hypoplastic body, and complete absence of the xiphoid process) in a completely asymptomatic 13-year-old woman. A comprehensive instrumental exams panel was performed to exclude associated anomalies of the heart and of the other organ systems. The patient was completely asymptomatic and she did not need any medical or surgical treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first case of isolated short sternum reported in literature.

Hybrid imaging of musculoskeletal infections

This review article highlights the role of radiological and nuclear medicine techniques in diagnosis of musculoskeletal infections with particular regard to hybrid imaging of osteomyelitis, prosthetic joint infections, sternal infections and spine infections. Authors conclude on the complementary role of the several techniques with indications for an appropriate diagnostic flow chart, in the light of the recent European Association of Nuclear Medicine guidelines on infection.