Clinical Features of Giant Cell Tumor of Bone in Elderly Patients

Background: Giant cell tumor of the bone (GCTB) occurs most often in younger individuals aged between 20 and 40 years. However, it also occurs in a small proportion of elderly people. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the clinical characteristics of GCTB in elderly people, as only few reports have completely examined the characteristics of GCTB in elderly patients. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 69 patients with benign GCTB. Patients’ information on age, sex, anatomical location and size, Campanacci grade, pathological fracture, treatment for primary tumors, local and distant relapse, and outcome was collected. We compared these clinical courses between the younger and older groups. We divided the age groups into three subgroups: ≤54 years and ≥55 years, ≤59 years and ≥60 years, and ≤64 years and ≥65 years. We compared the two groups in each subgroup. In addition, we examined factors affecting local recurrence and distant metastasis. Results: Tumor size was significantly larger in the older group between the two subgroups of 55 and 60 years. Kaplan-Meier curves for local recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival between the two subgroups of 65 years showed significant differences (p = 0.0183 and p = 0.0014). In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, female sex, curettage-only surgical procedure, and denosumab usage before surgery affected local recurrence. Conclusion: Age is unlikely to affect local recurrence and distant metastases in GCTB patients, but local recurrence and distant metastases may be noted in elderly patients aged ≥65 years with GCTB.

Analysis of Degenerative Discs in Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Using MRI T2 Mapping

Background: Spinal instability, including lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS), mainly results from degeneration of intervertebral discs (IVD) and the facet joints (FJ). Characterization of the relationship between IVD degeneration in cases of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS), and T2 values may be useful for accurate noninvasive evaluation and subsequent treatment. Thus, the goal of this study was to measure T2 values of IVDs in cases with (DS) and without (NS) spondylolisthesis, and to characterize changes of IVDs in DS. Methods: A total of 40 subjects who presented with L4 spondylolisthesis comprised the DS group. Another 40 subjects who did not have lumbar spondylolisthesis, constituted the NS group. T2 values of IVDs were measured and compared in these groups. Results: T2 values for IVDs tended to be lower in the DS group than in the NS group, and these values were significantly different (p < 0.01) within the anterior annulus fibrosus (AF). No significant differences in T2 values between Meyerding grades I and II were observed in any areas of IVDs. Conclusions: It is speculated that in the early stages, the degeneration of the anterior AF develops and is related to the onset of lumbar spondylolisthesis, while in later stages, degeneration of facet joints influences the progression of spondylolisthesis.

Anatomic Anteversion of the Acetabular Component Correlates with Polyethylene Linear Wear in Total Hip Arthroplasty: The Three-Dimensional Numerical Analysis

Background: Although abduction of the acetabular component is considered to predict factors for polyethylene wear attributable to osteolysis, other radiographic factors have yet to be elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether anteversion or change in implantation angle of the acetabular component influences polyethylene linear wear by using standing and supine radiographs of the hip joint. Methods: Standing and supine plain anteroposterior radiographs of 62 hip joints in which cementless total hip arthroplasty was performed were examined for polyethylene linear wear rate (mm/year), pelvic inclination, and radiological inclination and anatomic anteversion of the acetabular component. Results: All correlation coefficients of measurements of polyethylene linear wear, pelvic inclination angle, anatomical anteversion angle and radiological inclination angle were calculated highly. And by the three-dimensional numerical analysis, anatomic anteversion of the acetabular component had at least some effect on the degree of polyethylene wear. Conclusion: This study suggests that increased anteversion of the acetabular component reduces polyethylene linear wear in metal-on-polyethylene total hiparthroplasty.

Biomechanical Stability of Open-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy: Comparison of Two Locking Plates

Introduction: Recently, new plates with locking screws have been developed and used for medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO). The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare biomechanical properties of different internal fixations in open-wedge HTO using the two currently available locking plates. Methods: Eight paired fresh-frozen cadaveric lower extremities were vertically embedded in steel boxes. The axial compression load was applied to the legs using the mechanical testing machine. The axial compression load test from 0 N to 550 N and the failure test were performed before and after HTO. One side of the leg of a specimen was fixed with the Puddu locking plate and the other side was fixed with the TomoFix plate to compare the two plates using the same specimen. A mode of failure and vertical displacement of the medial and lateral parts of the tibia at the osteotomy gap was recorded using a video camera in the failure test. The load–displacement data were analyzed to calculate stiffness, failure load, and displacement at failure. Results: The mean failure load was 1471.4 N and 1692.3 N and total vertical displacement at failure was 3.1 mm and 2.9 mm with the Puddu and TomoFix plates, respectively. During axial compression loading, displacements mainly occurred at the lateral osteotomy gap, while the medial gap was well preserved. No significant differences were observed in the failure load, displacement, or mode of failure between the two plates. Conclusions: The Puddu and TomoFix plates had similar biomechanical properties in open-wedge HTO. The results indicated reliable stability after open-wedge HTO without fibular osteotomy.

Analysis of Proprioception of Hip Joint in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Introduction: The instability of the joint is classified roughly into mechanical and functional. It is reported that the postoperative dislocation often occurs by the posterior approach of the THA and may be caused by functionality instability due to the injury of the periarticular soft tissue. We analyzed the joint position sense of the hip according to an approach of the THA and examined effect to give postoperative dislocation. Materials & Methods: 92 patients (184 hip joints) who received THA in our hospital were selected in the study. Cases in which position sensation measurements were insufficient were excluded. As for the classification, the posterior approach (PL groups) was 39 hips, anterolateral approach (AL groups) was 30 hips, and control group was 37 hips. Results: There was no significant difference between the AL group and PL group in the absolute reproduction angle error score (ARAES). The relative reproduction angle error scores (RRAES) for passive internal and external rotations and active internal rotation were significantly lower in the AL and control groups than the PL group. Discussion: This study was suggested that the hip joint position sense in the AL group was better retained for the preservation of the soft tissue.

Superior Retinacular Artery Did Not Occlude in a Rat Model of the Non-Traumatic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

Non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is believed to be avascular necrosis. Certainly, a disruption of a supplying artery induces necrosis in the supplying artery-dominant region. However, when an abnormality such as cell apoptosis, or another reason, is developed in the supplying artery-dominant region, it induces a disruption of the supplying artery. Therefore, to prove that ONFH is avascular necrosis, it is necessary to demonstrate the disruption of the supplying artery prior to histological osteonecrosis development. Here we investigate histologically, using a rat model, whether disruption of the supplying artery occurs before the initial development of ONFH following corticosteroid treatment. Rats were given imiquimod and methylprednisolone, and were sacrificed 1, 2, 3, 7 or 14 days after the last injection. At the sacrifice, the rat was perfused with 20 ml black Indian ink through the left ventricle. ONFH was observed in the Imiquimod + Methylprednisolone group at 7 and 14 days. The osteonecrotic area was not stained with perfused black Indian ink. However, the lateral portion of the femoral head near the superior retinacular artery was stained with the ink. In conclusion, the present study shows that the superior retinacular artery did not occlude before the initial development of ONFH histologically in rats.