Kadir Bahadır Alemdaroğlu

Early results of arthroscopic lateral retinacular release in patellofemoral osteoarthritis

The aim of this study was to define the postoperative course of middle-aged and elderly patients with patellar chondral lesions after lateral retinacular release and joint debridement. Thirty-five patients in their fifth to seventh decades with Grades 2-4 chondral lesions of the patellofemoral joint, with no patellar instability or severe malalignment, underwent lateral retinacular release and patellofemoral joint debridement by bipolar radiofrequency. Both VAS and WOMAC scores in all three lesion grades were significantly reduced postoperatively. The greatest decrease was observed in the first visit at 3 months, and the pain level continued at about the same level over the next 24 months without significant changes. There were no significant differences between the three lesion grades with respect to changes in VAS scores at each visit. Thermal lateral retinacular release improves the subjective condition of the patient by reducing pain, especially in the postoperative first 3 months.

Factors affecting the fracture healing in treatment of tibial shaft fractures with circular external fixator

This study aims to analyse the contribution of various risk factors for the delay of tibial shaft fractures treated by circular external fixator and predicting the high risk fractures for delayed union. 32 extraarticular tibial shaft fractures of 31 adult patients treated with circular external fixator were included. The patients were analysed according to age, energy of trauma, having an open fracture or not, AO classification, obliquity, use of supplementary fixation techniques in surgery, distance of fracture line to neighbouring rings, having a pin-track infection or not, reduction score, and smoking. There were eight delayed unions and two non-unions in our study. Consolidation time was significantly shorter (p=0.01) between the supplementary fixation group and the others. There was a significant difference in fracture healing time between pin-track-infected patients and the patients who did not have pin-track infection (p=0.037). In conclusion, our results indicate that non-union infection and not using supplementary fixation techniques are the major factors that delay the healing time. Supplementary fixation enhances the reduction rate and a low reduction score is related with the occurrence of a pin-track infection.

Three-point index in predicting redisplacement of extra-articular distal radial fractures in adults

INTRODUCTION In distal radial fractures in adults, factors affecting instability have been investigated in many studies in an effort to shorten the preoperative waiting period for the fractures requiring surgery. Numerous factors, aside from the alignment-related indices, have been searched to predict redisplacement. Unlike as in paediatric counterparts, the casting technique and casting-related indices have not been appropriately considered in adults. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the various previously investigated factors in addition to casting technique-related indices such as three-point index, cast index, padding index and gap index, in predicting the risk of redisplacement of extra-articular distal radial fractures in adults and the presence of the ulnar deviation of the cast. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventy-five patients over 18 years who were treated with a cast in our emergency department within 24h after a displaced distal radial fracture, were recruited into the study. Age, alignment-related indices, cast-related indices, extent of the ulnar deviation of the cast, having a non-anatomical reduction, co-existing ulnar fracture, dorsal comminution and obliquity of the fracture line were investigated. Casting technique according to three-point index, obliquity of the fracture line, degree of the ulnar deviation of the cast, and reduction accuracy were the significant factors affecting redisplacement. RESULTS The three-point index had a sensitivity of 95.8%, specificity of 96.1%, positive predictive value of 92%, and negative predictive value of 98% in predicting redisplacement. Logistic regression revealed that having an inadequate cast according to the three-point index (p<0.001), degree of obliquity of the fracture line (p=0.018), decreased ulnar deviation of the cast (p=0.002), and having a non-anatomical reduction (p=0.029) were the significant predictive factors in redisplacement. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the casting technique plays a major role in the success of conservative treatment, which can best be examined with the three-point index. Ulnar deviation of the cast and fracture obliquity are the other dominant factors affecting redisplacement.

Treatment of Clubfoot with the Ponseti Method: Should We Begin Casting in the Newborn Period or Later?

The Ponseti method has become accepted worldwide as the treatment of choice for nonoperative management of clubfoot. However, there has been no research on whether casting should begin in the newborn period (< or = 30 days old) or later (> 30 days but < 1 year old) or on whether the length of the foot at the beginning of casting is predictive of the outcome of therapy. Therefore, we conducted an investigation to compare outcomes in patients started on casting therapy in the newborn period or later. Outcomes were based on Pirani and Diméglio scores. The study population was comprised of 40 clubfeet in 29 consecutive infants with no associated neuromuscular disease, who underwent Ponseti treatment. The median follow-up was 34 months (range, 20-47 months). Casting began in the newborn period on 26 feet of 18 patients (newborn group), and after 1 month of age on 14 feet of 11 patients (older infant group). Final Diméglio scores were significantly worse for the patients whose casts were applied in the newborn period, compared with those who had the first cast applied at a time >30 days postpartum (P = .04). Infants with feet > or =8 cm in length at the start of cast treatment had better final Diméglio scores than those with feet <8 cm. Our findings suggest that casting according to the Ponseti method should begin in infants older than 1 month of age, or with an involved foot > or =8 cm in length.

A Case of an Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of a Metatarsal: Review of the Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Options

UNLABELLED Aneurysmal bone cyst localized to the metatarsus, while not unheard of, is rather uncommon. The differential diagnosis for this lesion can be challenging, particularly in regard to the possibility of the presence of other giant cells containing tumors of bone, such as giant cell tumor, giant cell reparative granuloma, Browns tumor of hyperparathyroidism, and telangiectatic osteosarcoma. We report a case of an aneurysmal bone cyst localized to the third metatarsal in a 14-year-old girl who presented with limping, progressively worsening local pain, and swelling in her left foot. The differential diagnosis for her condition was extensive. Ultimately, an en bloc resection was undertaken and the defect was replaced with tricortical iliac autograft. Pathological analysis of the resected tissue was consistent with aneurysmal bone cyst. There was complete healing with no sign of recurrence 3 years after the surgery. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE 4.

Treatment for cartilage injuries of the knee with a new treatment algorithm

Treatment of articular cartilage injuries to the knee remains a considerable challenge today. Current procedures succeed in providing relief of symptoms, however damaged articular tissue is not replaced with new tissue of the same biomechanical properties and long-term durability as normal hyaline cartilage. Despite many arthroscopic procedures that often manage to achieve these goals, results are far from perfect and there is no agreement on which of these procedures are appropriate, particularly when full-thickness chondral defects are considered.Therefore, the search for biological solution in long-term functional healing and increasing the quality of wounded cartilage has been continuing. For achieving this goal and apply in wide defects, scaffolds are developed.The rationale of using a scaffold is to create an environment with biodegradable polymers for the in vitro growth of living cells and their subsequent implantation into the lesion area. Previously a few numbers of surgical treatment algorithm was described in reports, however none of them contained one-step or two -steps scaffolds. The ultimate aim of this article was to review various arthroscopic treatment options for different stage lesions and develop a new treatment algorithm which included the scaffolds.

Finite element analysis of the stability of transverse acetabular fractures in standing and sitting positions by different fixation options

BACKGROUND Treatment of a transverse acetabular fracture type is possible from an anterior approach, a posterior approach or both. Different fixation methods have been described but whether one is superior to the other is still under debate. The aim of the current study was to test the different fixation alternatives of stabilization of transverse acetabular fractures under two basic physiological loading conditions: standing and sitting utilizing a finite element model. MATERIAL AND METHODS A transtectal transverse fracture model was fixed in five different alternatives: an anterior column plate; a posterior column plate; an anterior column plate combined with a posterior column screw; a posterior column plate combined with an anterior column screw; and a posterior column plate and an anterior column plate. In these models, a load of 400N was applied at standing and sitting positions and the displacements were analyzed by using three-dimensional finite element stress analysis method. RESULTS In the model simulating standing human position, overall motion at the posterior column was minimum when two columns were plated (0.071mm). The second best fixation was posterior column plate with an anterior column screw (0.077mm). Overall motion at the anterior column was minimum by posterior column plate with an anterior column screw (0.0326mm). The plating of two columns was associated with motion of (0.0333mm). In the model that simulates sitting position, the motion at the posterior column was minimum when two columns were plated (0.0478mm), and (0.0517mm) when a posterior column plate with an anterior column screw was used. Overall motion in the anterior column was minimum when posterior column plate with an anterior column screw (0.0198mm) was used, whereas the motion was (0.0203mm) when plating of both columns was examined. CONCLUSION Posterior column plating combined with an anterior column screw has quite comparable results to a both column plating in transverse fractures, suggesting that two column fixations might be unnecessary. This method is also very superior to anterior column plating combined with a posterior column screw in that type of fractures.

Does the method of expression of venous blood affect ischaemia/reperfusion damage in tourniquet use? An experimental study on rabbits

The aim of this study was to compare the ischaemia and reperfusion phases of two tourniquet application models (Group 1: expressing the blood by a sterile rubber bandage and Group 2: elevation of the limb for several minutes) using an analysis of ischaemia/reperfusion parameters and blood pH. Sixteen New Zealand rabbits were used. Muscle samples were extracted from the triceps surae; at phase A (baseline: just before tourniquet application), phase B (ischaemia: 3h after tourniquet inflation) and phase C (2h after tourniquet deflation). Nitrite, nitrate, reduced glutathione, myeloperoxidase, malondyaldehyde were measured in the samples. Blood pH was also measured at each phase. Group 2 had significantly decreased nitrite (p=0.007) and nitrate (p=0.01) levels compared to Group 1 while passing from phase A to phase B. The pH decrease through the phases was significant within Group 1 (p=0.006) and was not significant within Group 2 (p=0.052). Lower levels of NO metabolites nitrate and nitrite, result from tourniquet use with incomplete venous blood expression by elevation. Also, with this technique severe acidosis is less likely to occur than when a tourniquet is used with expression of the venous blood by rubber bandage. These findings may help in the decision of which tourniquet technique is to be used for potentially long operations which may exceed 2h.

Calcaneal Avulsion of an Ochronotic Achilles Tendon: A Case Report

Alkaptonuria is a hereditary disorder of phenylalanine and tyrosine, with an incidence of approximately 1/200,000 to 1/1,000,000. Ochronosis is the accumulation of homogentisic acid and its metabolites in connective tissues such as the tendons, cartilage, and skin. In the present case study, a 50-year-old male presented with a nontraumatic calcaneal avulsion without a previous diagnosis of ochronosis. To the best of our knowledge, little information has been reported of this pathology in the Achilles tendon and the surgical management.

Biomechanical comparison of three different fixation techniques for anterior column posterior hemitransverse acetabular fractures using anterior intrapelvic approach

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to biomechanically compare three different fixation methods for the fixation of anterior column posterior hemitransverse type acetabular fracture (ACPHT). METHODS ACPHT fracture models were created on twenty-four foam cortical shell artificial hemipelvis models. Three fixation methods were assessed - Group 1: posterior column lag screws over a suprapectineal plate; Group 2: Posterior column lag screws over a suprapectineal plate and an infrapectineal plate; Group 3: A suprapectineal plate and a vertical infrapectineal plate. Stiffness and displacement amounts of fixation methods under dynamic and static axial loading conditions were measured. RESULTS In the dynamic and static tests, Group 3 showed the less stable fixation compared to Group 2. There was no statistically significant difference between the stiffness values of the fixation groups. In the static tests, there was no statistically significant difference between Group 1 and 2, although less displacements were obtained in Group 2. CONCLUSIONS A combination of posterior lag screws over a suprapectineal plate and an infrapectineal plate supporting the pelvic brim along both sides of the linea terminalis resulted in a better fixation construct than a suprapectineal plate accompanying with a vertical infrapectineal plate provide better stability with less fracture displacement.