Takao Kaneko

Weekly Injection of Teriparatide for Bone Ingrowth after Cementless Total Knee Arthroplasty

Purpose. To compare bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with or without weekly injection of teriparatide to promote bone ingrowth after cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods. Records of 8 men and 32 women (mean age, 75.6 years) who underwent cementless TKA for medial knee osteoarthritis with (n=20) or without (n=20) once-weekly subcutaneous/hypodermic injection of teriparatide for 48 weeks were reviewed. BMD and bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) of the bone-prosthesis interface of the proximal tibia in 6 regions of interest (ROI) were assessed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months using multi-detector computed tomography. Results. Patients with or without weekly injection of teriparatide after cementless TKA were comparable in terms of baseline characteristics and pre- and postoperative knee range of motion and Knee Society knee and function scores. In ROI 1 (medial), ROI 3 (anteromedial), and ROI 4 (posteromedial), the BV/TV increased throughout the postoperative period in patients with weekly injection of teriparatide and declined after 6 months in patients without weekly injection of teriparatide. These 3 ROIs of the 2 groups differed significantly only in BMD at 6, 9, and 12 months. In ROI 2 (lateral), ROI 5 (anterolateral), and ROI 6 (posterolateral), both BV/TV and BMD showed a decreasing trend, and these 3 ROIs of the 2 groups did not differ significantly. Conclusion. Weekly injection of teriparatide after cementless TKA promoted bone ingrowth mostly in the medial aspect of the bone-prosthesis interface.

Clinical Outcomes of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Adhesive Capsulitis Resistant to Conservative Treatment

PURPOSE To evaluate clinical outcomes of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for adhesive capsulitis resistant to conservative treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study comprised 25 patients (18 women and 7 men; mean age, 53.8 y; range, 39-68 y) with adhesive capsulitis resistant to conservative treatments. TAE was performed, and adverse events (AEs), pain visual analog scale (VAS) score changes, range of motion (ROM), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores were assessed. RESULTS Abnormal vessels were identified in all patients. No major AEs were associated with TAE. One patient was lost to follow-up. The remaining 24 patients were available for final follow-up (mean, 36.1 months; range, 30-44 months). Of the 24 patients, 16 (67%) experienced quick improvement of nighttime pain (ie, VAS scores decreased > 50% from baseline) within 1 week, and 21 (87%) improved within 1 month. In terms of mean overall pain (ie, pain at its worst), VAS scores significantly decreased at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment (82 mm before treatment vs 52, 19, and 8 mm after treatment; P < .001). ASES scores significantly improved at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment (16.1 before treatment vs 41.4, 69.1, and 83.5 after treatment; P < .001). No symptom recurrence or late-onset AEs were observed. Shoulder ROM and function further improved during midterm follow-up. CONCLUSIONS TAE is a possible treatment option for patients with adhesive capsulitis that has failed to improve with conservative treatments.

Bi-cruciate stabilized total knee arthroplasty can reduce the risk of knee instability associated with posterior tibial slope

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between posterior tibial slope and knee kinematics in bi-cruciate stabilized (BCS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which has not been previously reported.MethodsThis computer simulation study evaluated Journey 2 BCS components (Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN, USA) implanted in a female patient to simulate weight-bearing stair climbing. Knee kinematics, patellofemoral contact forces, and quadriceps forces during stair climbing (from 86° to 6° of flexion) were computed in the simulation. Six different posterior tibial slope angles (0°–10°) were simulated to evaluate the effect of posterior tibial slope on knee kinematics and forces.ResultsAt 65° of knee flexion, no anterior sliding of the tibial component occurred if the posterior tibial slope was less than 10°. Anterior contact between the anterior aspect of the tibial post- and the femoral component was observed if the posterior tibial slope was 6° or more. An increase of 10° in posterior tibial slope (relative to 0°) led to a 4.8% decrease in maximum patellofemoral contact force and a 1.2% decrease in maximum quadriceps force.ConclusionBCS TKA has a wide acceptable range of posterior tibial slope for avoiding knee instability if the posterior tibial slope is less than 10°. Surgeons should prioritize avoiding adverse effects over trying to achieve positive effects such as decreasing patellofemoral contact force and quadriceps force by increasing posterior tibial slope. Our study helps surgeons determine the optimal posterior tibial slope during surgery with BCS TKA; posterior tibial slope should not exceed 10° in routine clinical practice.

Transcatheter arterial embolization of abnormal vessels as a treatment for lateral epicondylitis refractory to conservative treatment: a pilot study with a 2-year follow-up

BACKGROUND Abnormal vessels and accompanying nerves are possible sources of pain with lateral epicondylitis. The purpose of this study was to describe the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for lateral epicondylitis resistant to conservative treatment. METHODS This prospective study was conducted in 24 patients with lateral epicondylitis resistant to conservative treatments for more than 3 months, with a symptom duration longer than 6 months, and with moderate to severe pain who were treated with TAE between March 2013 and October 2014. Two patients were lost to follow-up, and the remaining 22 patients were followed up for 2 years after TAE. RESULTS Abnormal vessels were identified in all of the patients. No major adverse events were observed. The Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores at baseline significantly decreased at 1, 3, 6, and 24 months after treatment (50.8 vs 23.4, 8.3, 5.3, and 2.7, respectively; all P < .001). There was a statistically significant (P < .001) change from baseline to the last observed value in all of the clinical parameters, including visual analog scale pain score, Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation score, and pain-free grip strength. Magnetic resonance images obtained 2 years after TAE showed an improvement in tendinosis and tear scores compared with baseline, and no patients showed bone marrow necrosis, obvious cartilage loss, or muscle atrophy. CONCLUSION TAE could be one possible treatment option for patients with lateral epicondylitis that fails to improve with conservative treatments.

Elevation of fibrin degradation product (FDP) values prevents the negative conversion of serum CRP values after total knee arthroplasty

Background It is essential as an orthopedic surgeon to diagnose prosthetic joint infection (PJI) at an early stage and to carry out precise treatment as well as preventing the deterioration of functional prognosis as much as possible. We suspected that PJI might have been caused because the negative conversion of creatinine reactive protein (CRP) has been prolonged after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and patients with no serum CRP negative conversion have been treated with antibiotics to avoid the morbidity of PJI. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the factors associated with prolongation of the negative conversion of CRP, with the exclusion of PJI patients. Methods We performed a retrospective case control study at our institution from August 2014 to August 2016. We classified the patients into two groups based on whether it required ≥20 days (Group A, n = 23) or <20 days (Group B, n = 23) for CRP levels to normalize. Serum D-Dimer and fibrin degradation product (FDP) values were measured at 1, 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, and 30 days after TKA. Exclusion criteria include anticoagulant oral administration cases before TKA, venous thromboembolism (VTE) by postoperative lower limb venous echocardiography before and after TKA, CRP re-elevation cases, and patients with PJI. The cutoff points for D-dimer and FDP levels for screening tests were calculated from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results The ROC analysis of D- Dimer values at 30 days after TKA yielded an AUC of 0.891 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.858-1.000), which indicates nearly an excellent test. The cutoff point of 22.1 μg/dl for FDP value (Younden Index: 22.1 μg/dl) showed a sensitivity of 81.8% (95% CI 70.1-92.8) and a specificity of 80.0% (95% CI 67.9-89.1). Conclusion We revealed that CRP values of patient with an FDP level ≥22.1 μg/dl at 30 days after TKA necessarily showed negative conversion without antibiotic administration, when examining a patient with elevated serum CRP of minor criteria in the definition of PJI proposed by MSIS (other criteria do not apply). Level of evidence Ⅲ.

Use of porous monoblock patella component should avoid for patient with patella baja

Background Although many studies have evaluated the success of porous tantalum component in primary and revision cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) cases, few studies have reported the breakage of porous tantalum monoblock patella component (PTMP). The purpose of this study was to investigate the radiographic outcomes of breakage of PTMP at short-term follow up. Methods This was a retrospective study of 49 consecutive knees in 43 patients who underwent TKA surgery between September 2012 and March 2014. Bone marrow contents/tissue volumes (BMC/TV. mg/cm3) were evaluated using 2-dimensional osteomorphometry software with 2D- multi-detector-row computed tomography (2D-MDCT) to measure fixation of the bone-prosthesis interface with patella at 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Clinical follow up was obtained by reviewing each patient at orthopedic record. Results We experienced a case that resulted in breakage of PTMP without traumatic episode at 26 months after surgery. Relative changes of Bone Mineral Contents per Tissue Volume. (BMC/TV mg/cm3) at ROI. 1 (superior border of the patella) and ROI. 2 (peg of patella) were significantly higher than ROI.3 (inferior border of patella) at 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery (p < 0.001. p < 0.01). Patient with breakage of PTMP has patella baja (Insall- Salvati ratio: 0.72), and the relative change of BMC/TV at ROI.1 and 2 for patients who experienced a breakage of PTMP was higher than any other patients. Conclusion The present study revealed that the use of PTMP should be avoided for patients with patella baja.

Contiguous sagittal split fractures of cervical vertebrae bodies with no neurological impairment

A high percentage of sagittal fractures of cervical vertebrae bodies occur as teardrop, compression, and other types of fractures, or as dislocations, and are frequently accompanied by spinal-cord injuries [1–11]. These cases are frequently seen in level 1 trauma centers. However, the case of isolated sagittal fracture, in which no other kinds of fractures or dislocations occur within the same and/or the neighboring vertebral bodies, is rare [12–14]. We examined how such injuries occur by studying one case of multiple contiguous isolated sagittal fractures with no neurological deficit. The relationship between the mechanism of trauma and spinal-cord damage was also examined. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he consented. Case report