Mid-term survival of the Optimys short stem: A prospective case series of 500 patients

BACKGROUND In recent years,there has been an increase in the number of total hip arthroplasty procedures in the younger patient population.This active group has higher expectations of their prosthesis in comparison to the older population,and there is a greater physical demand for the prosthesis.Short femoral stems were in-troduced to retain proximal bone stock and joint biomechanics and became more common to implant in this specific population.Currently,the long-term survival and functional outcomes of various short stems are still being investigated in different clinics.AIM To determine the 5-year survival of the Optimys hip stem.METHODS This was a prospective multicenter cohort study of 500 patients conducted in two hospitals in the Netherlands.All patients received the Optimys short stem(Mathys Ltd,Bettlach,Switzerland).The primary outcome measure was survival of the hip stem,with revision as the endpoint.The secondary outcome measurements included patient-reported outcome measures(PROMs).Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the 5-year survival rate.Log-minus-log transformation was performed to calculate the 95%confidence interval(95%CI).Mixed model analyses were performed to assess the course of the PROMs during the 1st 2 years after surgery.Analyses were modeled separately for the 1st and 2nd years to calculate the yearly change in PROMs during both follow-up periods with accompanying 95%CIs.RESULTS The mean age of the total 500 patients was 62.3 years(standard deviation:10.6)and 202 were male(40%).At a median follow-up of 5.5 years(interquartile range:4.5-6.7),7 patients were deceased and 6 revisions were registered,for infection(n=3),subsidence(n=2)and malposition(n=1).This resulted in an overall 5-year survival of 98.8%(95%CI:97.3-99.5).If infection was left out as reason for revision,a stem survival of 99.4%(95%CI:98.1-99.8)was seen.Baseline questionnaires were completed by 471 patients(94%),317 patients(63%)completed the 1-year follow-up questionnaires and 233 patients(47%)completed the 2-year follow-up.Both outcome measures significantly improved across all domains in the 1st year after the operation(P<0.03 for all domains).In the 2nd year after surgery,no significant changes were observed in any domain in comparison to the 1-year follow-up.CONCLUSION The Optimys stem has a 5-year survival of 98.8%.Patient-reported outcome measures increased significantly in the 1st postoperative year with stabilization at the 2-year follow-up.

Cemented versus uncemented stems for revision total hip replacement:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The popularity of uncemented stems in revision total hip arthroplasty(THA)has increased in the last decade.AIM To assess the outcomes of both cemented and uncemented stems after mid-term follow up.METHODS This study was performed following both the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Statement and the Cochrane Handbook for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines.Articles were chosen irrespective of country of origin or language utilized for the article full texts.This paper included studies that reviewed revision THA for both cemented or uncemented long stems.RESULTS Three eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis.Analysis was conducted by using Review Manager version 5.3.We computed the risk ratio as a measure of the treatment effect,taking into account heterogeneity.We used random-effect models.There were no significant differences found for intraoperative periprosthetic fractures[risk ratio(RR)=1.25;95%confidence interval(CI):0.29-5.32;P=0.76],aseptic loosening(RR=2.15,95%CI:0.81-5.70;P=0.13),dislocation rate(RR=0.50;95%CI:0.10-2.47;P=0.39),or infection rate(RR=0.99,95%CI:0.82-1.19;P=0.89),between the uncemented and the cemented long stems for revision THA after mid-term follow-up.CONCLUSION This study has evaluated the mid-term outcomes of both cemented and uncemented stems at first-time revision THA.In summary,there were no significant differences in the dislocation rate,aseptic loosening,intraoperative periprosthetic fracture and infection rate between the two cohorts.

Successful hip revision surgery following refracture of a modern femoral stem using a cortical window osteotomy technique:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND The ExeterTM Universal cemented femoral component is widely used for total hip replacement surgery.Although there have been few reports of femoral component fracture,removal of a broken femoral stem can be a challenging procedure.CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old man with a Dorr A femur sustained a refracture of a primary ExeterTM stem,two years after receiving a revision using a cement-within-cement technique(CWC)through an extended trochanteric osteotomy(ETO).The technical problems related to the CWC technique and the ETO played a major role in the stem fatigue refracture.We performed revision surgery and removed the distal cement using a cortical femoral window technique,followed by reimplantation with an uncemented,modular,distally-fixed uncemented stem.The patient experienced an uneventful postoperative recovery.CONCLUSION Re-fracture of a modern femoral ExeterTM stem is a rare event,but technical complications related to revision surgery can lead to this outcome.The cortical window osteotomy technique can facilitate the removal of a broken stem and cement,allowing for prosthetic reimplantation under direct vision and avoiding ETO-related complications.

Total saponins of Panax ginseng effects on proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cells and in a Parkinson's disease mouse model

BACKGROUND： Total saponins of Panax ginseng （TSPG） exhibits neuroprotection against Parkinson＇s disease in the substantia nigra. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of TSPG on human embryonic neural stem cells （NSCs） proliferation and differentiation into dopaminergic neurons using in vitro studies, and to observe NSC differentiation in a mouse model of Parkinson＇s disease, as well as behavioral changes before and after transplantation. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： In vitro neural cell biology trial and in vivo randomized, controlled animal trial were performed at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University between September 2004 and December 2007. MATERIALS： TSPG （purity 〉 95%） was isolated, extracted, and identified by Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica. Recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor （bFGF） and recombinant human epidermal growth factor （EGF） were purchased from PeproTech, USA. A total of 25 C57/BL6J mice, aged 18-20 weeks were included. Twenty were used to establish a Parkinson＇s disease model with i.p. injection of MPTP （1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine） and TSPG alone or combined with interleukin-1 （IL-1）-treated NSCs prior to transplantation into the corpus striatum. The remaining five mice were pretreated for 3 days with TSPG prior to MPTP injection, serving as the TSPG prevention group. METHODS： Primary NSCs were isolated, cultured and purified from embryonic cerebral cortex. Immunocytochemistry was employed to detect specific antigen expression in the NSCs. In vitro experiment： （1） to induce proliferation, NSCs were treated with TSPG, EGF＋bFGF, or TSPG＋EGF＋bFGF, respectively; （2） to induce dopaminergic neuronal differentiation, NSCs were treated with TSPG, IL-1, or TSPG＋IL-1, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： In vitro experiment： the effects of TSPG on NSCs proliferation were evaluated with flow cytometry and MTT assay. Tyrosine hydroxylase expression was determined by immunocytochemistry assay to observe effects of TSPG on dopaminergic neuronal differentiation. In vivo experiment： differentiation of grafted NSCs in the mouse brain was determined by immunohistochemical staining. Behavioral changes were evaluated by spontaneous activity frequency, memory function, and score of paralysis agitans. RESULTS： （1） NSCs were cultured and passaged for more than three passages. Immunocytochemistry revealed positive nestin staining, as well as neurofilament protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein. （2） TSPG significantly increased NSC proliferation, in particular when combined with EGF and bFGF, which was twice as effective as FGF or bFGF alone. TSPG also induced dopaminergic differentiation in NSCs, in particular when TSPG was added together with IL-1, resulting in an effect five times greater than that of IL-1 alone. （3） At day 30 following transplantation, most NSCs in the TSPG prevention group differentiated into dopaminergic neurons, and the scores of paralysis agitans, spontaneous activity, and memory function were significantly increased compared with TSPG alone or TSPG＋IL-1 groups （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： TSPG stimulated NSC proliferation, in particular when combined with FGF and bFGF. TSPG significantly induced dopaminergic neuronal differentiation of NSCs, and the effect was greater when combined with IL-1. In addition, TSPG greatly improved behavior in the Parkinson＇s disease mouse model following NSC transplantation. Following NSC transplantation, TSPG pretreatment exhibited superior efficacy over either TSPG alone or TSPG in combination with IL-1, in terms of behavioral improvements in the Parkinson＇s disease mouse model.

Architecture of stem and branch affects yield formation in short season cotton

The cotton direct seeding after wheat(rape) harvested is under trial and would be the future direction at the Yangtze River Valley region of China.The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of branch and stem architecture on cotton yield and identify the optimal cotton architecture to compensate the yield loss due to the reduction of individual production capacity under high planting density in the direst seeding after wheat harvested cropping system.The characteristics of the stem and branch architecture and the relationships between architecture of the stem and branch with yield formation were studied on eight short season cotton cultivars during 2015 and 2016 cotton growth seasons.Based on the two years results,three cultivars with different architectures of stem and branch were selected to investigate the effect of mepiquat chloride(MC) application on the architecture of the stem and branch,boll retention,and the yield in 2017.Significant differences were observed on plant height,all fruiting nodes to branches ratio(NBR) in the cotton plant,and the curvature of the fruiting branch(CFB) among the studied cultivars.There were three types of stem and fruiting branch structures: Zhong425 with stable and suitable plant height and NBR(about 90 cm and 2.5,respectively),high CFB(more than 10.0),and high boll retention speed and seed cotton yield;Siyang 822 with excessive plant height and NBR,low CFB,and low boll retention speed and seed cotton yield;and other studied cultivars with unstable structure of stem and branch,boll retention speed,and seed cotton yield across years.And MC application could promote the appropriate plant height and NBR and high CFB and thus resulted in high boll retention speed and the yield.The results suggested that the suitable plant height and NBR(about 90 cm and 2.5 respectively),and high CFB(more than 10.0),which was related to both genotype and cultural practice,could promote the higher boll retention speed and seed cotton yield.

A Neural Based Modeling Approach for Drying Kinetics Analysis of Mint Branches and Their Fractions (Leaves and Stems)

This work is aimed at investigating regular mint (Mentha × villosa) drying behavior and assessing how the heterogeneous composition of plants affects their drying kinetics. Drying kinetics and sorption isotherms were evaluated for whole branches and their fractions (leaves and stems). Stems and leaves were characterized by measurement of dimensions, apparent density and initial moisture content. The moisture sorption isotherms were obtained under temperatures of 30°C, 40°C and 50°C for branches, stems and leaves and the data were fitted to the GAB model. Mint branches and their fractions were oven dried at temperatures from 40°C to 70°C?and were obtained kinetic curves for each part. Water sorption patterns were similar for leaves and stems and the GAB model described well the sorption behavior of both materials. At a constant temperature, the drying rates were higher for leaves in comparison to stems and the differences increased as the temperature was raised. Therefore, depending on drying conditions, the moisture distribution in dried branches might be significantly different. Since the leaves constitute the major fraction in branches, the drying rates of branches were closer to those of leaves. The kinetic curves were fitted to a diffusion model based on an analytical solution of Fick’s second diffusion law and to an empirical model based on artificial neural network (ANN). The results showed that the model based on the ANN predicted the drying kinetics of the different parts better than the diffusive model. A single network was built to describe the kinetic behavior of branches and fractions in the whole range of temperatures investigated. The diffusive model based on fitting effective diffusivity did not provide good predictions of moisture content, probably because neither the dependence of effective diffusivity on the moisture content nor the heterogeneity and shrinking of static beds were considered.

The pharmacokinetics of aspirin in combination with total ginsenoside of ginseng stems and leaves in rats

Objective:To investigate the effect of total ginsenoside of ginseng stems and leaves (TGSL) on the pharmacokinetics of aspirin in rats.Methods:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups (n =6),a combined group that received TGSL (625 mg/kg body weight) and aspirin (10 mg/kg body weight) by gavage,and an aspirin group that received aspirin (10 mg/kg body weight) by gavage.The concentration of salicylic acid,an important metabolite of aspirin,was determined by highperformance liquid chromatography in supernatant from blood obtained from the orbital sinus at various time points to examine the effect of TGSL on aspirin.Results:The results showed that the Tmax of salicylic acid was [0.92 (0.58)] hours in the aspirin group and [2.50 (1.22)] hours in the combined group,and was statistically significantly different between the groups (p <.05).Conclusions:TGSL can affect the pharmacokinetics of aspirin at Tmax in rats.

Cemented Müller straight stem total hip replacement:18 year survival,clinical and radiological outcomes

AIM: To present the 18 year survival and the clinical and radiological outcomes of the Müller straight stem, cemented, total hip arthroplasty(THA).METHODS: Between 1989 and 2007, 176 primary total hip arthroplasties in 164 consecutive patients were performed in our institution by the senior author. All patients received a Müller cemented straight stem and a cemented polyethylene liner. The mean age of the patients was 62 years(45-78). The diagnosis was primary osteoarthritis in 151 hips, dysplasia of the hip in 12 and subcapital fracture of the femur in 13. Following discharge, serial follow-up consisted of clinical evaluation based on the Harris Hip Score and radiological assessment. The survival of the prosthesis using revision for any reason as an end-point was calculated by KaplanMeier analysis.RESULTS: Twenty-four(15%) patients died during the follow-up study, 6(4%) patients were lost, while the remaining 134 patients(141 hips) were followedup for a mean of 10 years(3-18 years). HSS score at the latest follow-up revealed that 84 hips(59.5%) had excellent results, 30(22.2%) good, 11(7.8%) fair and 9(6.3%) poor. There were 3 acetabular revisions due to aseptic loosening. Six(4.2%) stems were diagnosed as having radiographic definitive loosening; however, only 1 was revised. 30% of the surviving stems showed no radiological changes of radiolucency, while 70% showed some changes. Survival of the prosthesis for any reason was 96% at 10 years and 81% at 18 years. CONCLUSION: The 18 year survival of the Müller straight stem, cemented THA is comparable to those of other successful cemented systems.

Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids combined with mobilization of bone marrow stem cells to protect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Previous studies have shown that Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids have a neuroprotective effect, but it remains unclear whether Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids have a synergistic effect with the recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor-mobilized bone marrow stem cell transplantation on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Rat ischemia models were administered 0.3, 0.15 and 0.075 g/kg Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids from 3 days before modeling to 2 days after injury. Results showed that Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids could reduce pathological injury in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. The number of Nissl bodies increased, Bax protein expression decreased, Bcl-2 protein expression increased and the number of CD34-positive cells increased. Therefore, Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids can improve the bone marrow stem cell mobilization effect, enhance the anti-apoptotic ability of nerve cells, and have a neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Effect of Rhizobium Inoculation and Supplementation with Phosphorus and Potassium on Growth and Total Leaf Chlorophyll (Chl) Content of Bush Bean <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i>, L.

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of Rhizobium inoculation and supplementation of phosphorus and potassium on growth and total leaf chlorophyll content to the three released bush bean varieties in northern Tanzania. To achieve this aim, the glasshouse experiment was conducted at Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology while field experiment were carried out at Tanzania Coffee Research Institute, in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania between April-July 2014. The experiment was laid out in factorial arrangement. Factor I comprised of three bush bean varieties. Factor II involved two inoculation treatments viz 1) inoculation with Rhizobium spp. and 2) without inoculation. Factor III included four fertilizer levels (0 Kg·ha-1 20 Kg K ha-1, 30 Kg P ha-1 and 20 kg·K + 30 Kg P ha-1). Both screen house and field experiments were replicated four times. Plant growth parameters (plant height (cm), number leaves per plant, stem girth (mm)) were measured at 2, 4 and 6 weaks after planting (WAP). The chlorophyll was extracted by using Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and absorbance was determined at 645 and 663nm using UV/Visible spectrophotometer. Results showed that Rhizobium application significantly improved the number of leaves per plant, plant height, pant girth and total leaf chlorophyll content. Furthermore, compared with the zero treatment control, potassium fertilization significantly increased the number of leaves per plant, plant height, pant girth and total leaf chlorophyll content of the three varieties. In general, these parameters were significantly increased with phosphorus supplied at 30 kg/ha. The combination of these supplies at different levels resulted in significant interactions in some parameters and thus indicating need for these inputs in the study area.

Taper-wedge stem suitable for anterior approach total hip arthroplasty:Adequate biomechanical reconstruction parameters and excellent clinical outcome at mid-term follow-up

BACKGROUND The direct anterior approach(DAA) for total hip arthroplasty(THA) is a less invasive and muscle-sparing approach that seems to improve early function and patient satisfaction. Several studies, however, have reported high complication and revision rates due to the technical difficulties related to the femoral preparation.AIM To evaluate the usefulness and safety of a new stem equipped with a morphometric design and a size-specific medial curvature in DAA for THA.METHODS This retrospective study was based on 130 patients that underwent mini-invasive DAA procedures for THA using the Accolade Ⅱ stem. A total of 144 procedures were included in the assessment, which was based on postoperative complications, survival rates, functional parameters, and patient related outcomes.RESULTS Overall complications were recorded in 6 procedures(4.2%). There were no complications related to the stem implantation and no intraoperative fractures. Only one patient was revised for deep infection. On radiographs, biomechanical hip reconstruction was satisfactory and no stem showed any subsidence greater than 2 mm. Full osseointegration based on Engh scores was seen in all of the implanted stems. Median Harris hip score at final follow-up was 99 points(range 44-100 points), which resulted excellent in 91.3% of patients. The median values of the osteaorthritis outcome score ranged from 87.5 to 95.CONCLUSION The mid-term positive outcomes and low complication rate in our consecutive series of patients support the safety and suitability of this new stem design in DAA for THA.

A Radiographic Evaluation of Short Monolithic Femoral Hip Stem (SMF) for Dysplastic Osteoarthritis: Does Stem Alignment Influence on the Stability?

Background: There have been a few reports of SMFTM stem for dysplastic hips. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of stem alignment in dysplastic femurs on the stability of the implants and on the bone reaction by means of consecutive radiographical analysis. Methods: The preoperative diagnosis is dysplastic osteoarthritis in all patients. Twenty-nine hips in 28 patients after MIS-THA were followed up for two or more years (3.5 years in average). The average age at the surgery was 60. Those who belonged to Crowe’s classification I were 19 and those of II were 10 hips. The shape of the femur was classified as Dorr’s Type A in 5, B in 21, and C in 3 hips. Results: The varus alignment of the stem was 21 hips and non-varus was 8 hips. Crowe’s Grade did not have influence on the stem alignment. The ratio of non-varus alignment was more with Dorr’s Type C than with others. Achieving rate of mediolateral fixation was significantly higher in the varus alignment than in non-varus. The significant subsidence occurred in 3 hips (10.3%) although all stems became stable within 6 months. No revision was necessary. Conclusion: The varus insertion of the stem seemed more secure also in dysplastic femurs, but even non-varus ones seemed acceptable as they brought about no severe problem. Comprehensively evaluating the result, careful selection of the patient is essential to take the advantage of and to overcome the disadvantage of this short stem for dysplastic hips.

Femoroacetabular offset restoration in total hip arthroplasty;Digital templating a short stem vs a conventional stem

BACKGROUND Failure in restoring individual anatomy could be a reason for persistent functional limitations post total hip arthroplasty.Femoroacetabular offset(FAO)plays an important role in anatomic restoration,as loss of offset≥5 mm is associated with altered gait and decreased functional outcome.Preoperative assessment by use of digital templating has shown to be a reliable method for sizing the components in total hip arthroplasty,and can show if anatomic restoration is achieved.In recent years,short stems are growing in popularity as it could allow better restoration due to more variety in placement.AIM To assess whether restoration of the FAO differs between a short or a conventional stem by use of digital templating.Additionally,association of the preoperative offset and caput-colllum-diaphyseal angle(CCD-angle)within restoration of both stems was investigated,and the reliability of measurements was assessed.METHODS A total of 100 standardized hip radiographs were used for digital templating.Restoration of FAO was classified into“restored”or“not restored”,when a<5 mm or≥5 mm difference from baseline value presented,respectively.Differences between the two stems concerning proportions of correct restoration of the FAO were analyzed by use of McNemar tests.To assess association between CCDangle and preoperative FAO with absolute FAO restoration,multi-level analysis was performed by use of a linear mixed model to account for paired measurements.Through determination of the optimal point under the curve in operating curve-analysis,bootstrapping of thousand sets was performed to determine the optimal cutoff point of the preoperative FAO for restoration within the limits of 5 mm.Three observers participated for inter-observer reliability,with two observers measuring the radiographs twice for intra-observer reliability.RESULTS The mean preoperative FAO was 79.7 mm(range 62.5-113 mm),with a mean CCD-angle of 128.6°(range 114.5°-145°).The conventional stem could only restore the FAO in 72 of the cases,whereas the short stem restored the FAO in all cases.CCD-angle was not a predictor,but the preoperative FAO was.A cut-off point of 81.25 mm(95%confidence interval of 80.75-84.75 mm)in preoperative FAO was found where the conventional stem was unable to restore the FAO.Reliability of measurements was excellent,with an intra-observer reliability of 0.99 and inter-observer reliability in baseline measurements higher than 0.9 between the three observers.CONCLUSION In preoperative planning of FAO restoration in total hip arthroplasty,digital templating shows that short stems with a curve following the medial calcar are potentially better at restoring the FAO compared to conventional stems if the preoperative offset is≥80.0 mm.

Calcar-guided short-stem total hip arthroplasty: Will it be the future standard? Review and perspectives

Short stems in total hip arthroplasty(THA)are becoming increasingly popular.In Germany,already 10.4%of all primary THAs are performed using a cementless short stem.The concept of modern,calcar-guided,short stems aims for an individualized reconstruction of the hip anatomy by following the calcar of the femoral neck,a bone-and soft-tissue-sparing implantation technique,and physiological loading.The stem design uses either metaphyseal fixation alone or additional diaphyseal anchoring,depending on the stem alignment and indication.These individualized anchorage types increase the potential indications for the safe use of a short stem.The design features may account for potential advantages of current short stem implants compared with earlier shortstem designs,particularly in cases of reduced bone quality or osteonecrosis of the femoral head and femoral neck fractures.The implantation technique,however,requires distinct knowledge regarding the characteristics of varus and valgus positioning,with the potential for clinical consequences.A learning curve for surgeons new to this technique must be taken into account.Cortical contact with the distal lateral cortex appears to be crucial to provide sufficient primary stability,and the use of intraoperative imaging to identify“undersizing”is highly recommended.Current results of several national registries indicate that calcarguided short stems are among the most successful implants in terms of mid-term survivorship.However,long-term data remain scarce.This review introduces the characteristics of calcar-guided short-stem THA and summarizes the current evidence.

Surgical treatment outcome of painful traumatic neuroma of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve during total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Development of infrapatellar saphenous neuroma(ISN)is a well-recognized reason for knee pain following total knee arthroplasty(TKA).So far,very few studies have addressed the development of painful ISN after TKA and its impact on functional outcome and patient satisfaction.AIM To present the results of surgical treatment for ISN after primary TKA,the level of pain relief,and the improvement of knee motion and function.METHODS Fifteen patients(13 women,2 men)with persistent medial pain for more than six months after primary TKA,due to osteoarthritis,underwent surgical excision of ISN.ISN diagnosis was confirmed with the presence of Tinel’s sign along the course of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve and with pain relief after selective nerve block using local anesthetic.Component loosening,malalignment,instability and infection were excluded systematically in all patients as a source of pain.Pain relief in terms of visual analog scale(VAS),active knee range of motion(ROM),and the Knee Society Score(KSS)for pain and function were evaluated preoperatively and at least six months postoperatively.RESULTS The mean patients’age was 71.3±5.4 years old.The mean interval between TKA and neuroma excision was 10 mo(range,6 to 14 mo),while the mean follow-up was 8 mo(range:6 to 11 mo).All 15 patients experienced almost complete immediate pain relief and resolution of allodynia and hyperesthesia after surgery.Pain on the VAS scale improved from 8.6±1.3 preoperatively to 0.8±0.9 at the final follow-up(P=0.001).KSS pain and function scores were improved from 49.3±5.9 and 62.7±12.8 before surgery to 91.8±4.2 and 75.3±11.3 after surgery,respectively(P=0.001 and P=0.015).Active knee ROM was also increased postoperatively from 96±4 to 105±6 degrees(P=0.001).There were no complications and no further operations required.CONCLUSION ISN should be considered a potential cause of persistent pain following TKA.Neuroma excision not only provides immediate pain relief and resolution of symptoms but may also improve the knee range of motion.

Use of short stems in revision of standard femoral stem:A case report

BACKGROUND Short stems are usually uncemented prosthetics and are recommended in the treatment of traumatic or degenerative diseases of hip.In revision procedures for elderly patients with serious comorbidity,applying a short stem could reduce peri-and post-operative secondary surgical risks to femoral osteotomy,which are necessary for the removal of parts of the implant or acrylic cement from the medullary canal.There are no cases in the literature that apply a short stem for prosthetic revision by acrylic cement anchorage.CASE SUMMARY A male patient had a left hip replacement in 1995 due to coxarthrosis.At the age of eighty the patient reported an accidental trauma and walked with pain in the left thigh.The X-ray highlighted the stem breakage in the distal section without fracturing the femoral cortex.The patient had various comorbidities(diabetes,anaemia,heart deficiency,and arrhythmia)presenting a high operation risk(ASA 4).During the revision procedure,the distal apex of the stem could not be removed from the femoral cortex.Because of the poor general health of the patient,the surgeon decided not to perform a Wagner femoral osteotomy to remove the distal section of the stem and decided to implant a short stem to avoid removing the stem section of the previous implant.The patient had his left femur X-rayed 15 d post-trauma.CONCLUSION A field of application of short stem may be the development of a cemented short stem to reduce the complexity of the revision procedure.

Investigation of Hammering Sound Frequency to Prevent Intraoperative Fracture during Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background: The 1st peak frequency of the hammering sound in total hip arthroplasty may serve as an evaluation index to prevent intraoperative fracture. Fixation of the stem and femur cannot be acquired unless the 1st peak frequency of hammering the stem into the femur stabilizes, and fixation can be judged as acquired when the 1st peak frequency becomes constant. To investigate whether the environmental sound in the operating room can be differentiated from the hammering sound of total hip arthroplasty, the 1st peak frequency of the hammering sound when impacting the stem into the femur with a hammer was identified. Method: The hammering sound of impacting the stem into a biomechanical test material through an impactor was analyzed using a fast Fourier transform analyzer. Environmental sound in the operating room was simulated and the 1st peak frequency of the sound on collision between the operator’s voice and the surgical instrument was measured. The 1st peak frequency of hammering sound was compared between patients indicated for total hip arthroplasty and healthy individuals to investigate whether there is a difference due to bone quality. Results: The natural frequency of the impactor was 3.41 ± 0.05 kHz, and the 1st peak frequency of the femur, stem, and impactor was 2.43 ± 1.45 kHz. The 1st peak frequency of hammering sound on simulated femur in patients indicated for total hip arthroplasty was 2.98 ± 0.73 kHz and that in healthy individuals was 2.15 ± 0.32 kHz. This suggested that the hammering sound in total hip arthroplasty-indicated patients overlaps with the frequency of the collision sound of surgical instruments. Conclusion: To develop a system to prevent intraoperative fracture, countermeasures, such as noise canceling, are necessary to prevent false detection of hammering sounds.

Total hip replacement using MINIMA^(■)short stem:A short-term follow-up study

BACKGROUND Total hip replacement has become one of the most successful orthopaedic procedures.The length of the femoral stem constitutes one of the most important geometrical and mechanical features of the prosthesis.Several different implants are currently available but data are limited concerning the clinical results for some of these implants.AIM To report the short-term clinical and radiological results of a novel squared section,tapered design–with four conicity-short stem in total hip replacement.METHODS This is a retrospective study of a prospectively collected data using of MINIMA?short stem in 61 consecutive patients with at least 1 year follow-up.The collected data included patients’demographics,type of arthritis,bone morphology,perioperative data,clinical results using Harris Hip Score,EuroQol(EQ-5D),pain score and satisfaction rate,complications and radiological results.RESULTS Total 61 patients were included in our study with a mean age of 56 years of age(range 25-73 years).The majority of them(68.6%)were women,thirty seven patients(56.9%)were less than 60 years of age and almost half of patients(45.1%)suffered from secondary osteoarthritis(hip dysplasia,osteonecrosis,etc.).The mean time of follow-up examination was 33.4 mo(2.8 years)with a range of 12-57 months(1-4.8 years).In 35 patients(56.9%)the follow-up examination was more than 3 years.No major complications such as revision,periprosthetic fracture,dislocation or infection were presented.Re-admission 90 d postoperatively or laterwas deemed unnecessary for any reason regarding the operation.Respectively,the mean pain score,mean Harris hip score,and mean EQ-5D were improved from 6.3,58.7 and 77.3 preoperatively to 0.1,95.1,and 79.8 postoperatively.The Satisfaction rate at the final follow-up was 9.9(SD 0.3,range 8.0-10.0).All stems were classified as stable bone ingrowth and no radiolucent lineswere revealed in any of the modified Gruens’zone at the postoperative Xrays.Stem subsidence was within acceptable limits and the incidence of distal cortical hypertrophy was relatively low.CONCLUSION The clinical and radiological results concerning the MINIMA?short stem are excellent according to this first report of this specific design of the short femoral stems.Because of the small number of cases and short-term follow-up of this study,a longer follow up time and more patients’enrollment is required.

Pretreatment with scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid prevents cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

Pretreatment with scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid has protective effects against ischemia and attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this study, rats were given scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid intragastrically at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg per day for 7 days before focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury models were established using the suture method. We then determined the protective effects of scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavon- oid pretreatment on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Results showed that neurological deficit scores increased, infarct volumes enlarged, apoptosis increased and Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression were upregulated at 24 hours after reperfusion. Pretreatment with scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid at any dose lowered the neurological deficit scores, reduced the infarct volume, prevented apoptosis in hippocampal cells, attenuated neuronal and blood-brain barrier damage and upregulated Bcl-2 protein expression but inhibited Bax protein expression. Doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg were the most efficacious. Our findings indicate that pretreatment with scutel- laria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid at 100 and 200 mg/kg can improve the neurological func- tions and have preventive and protective roles after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Above-ground woody biomass allocation and within tree carbon and nutrient distribution of wild cherry(Prunus avium L.)-a case study

Background： The global search for new ways to sequester carbon has already reached agricultural lands. Such land constitutes a major potential carbon sink. The production of high value timber within agroforestry systems can facilitate an in-situ carbon storage function. This is followed by a potential long term ex- situ carbon sinkwithin long lasting products such as veneer and furniture. For this purpose wild cherry （Prunus avium L.） is an interesting option for middle Europe, yielding high prices on the timber market. Methods： A total number of 39 wild cherry were sampled in 2012 and 2013 to assess the leafless above ground biomass. The complete trees including stem and branches were separated into 1 cm diameter classes. Wood and bark from sub-samples were analysed separately and nutrient content was derived. Models for biomass estimation were constructed for all tree compartments. Results： The smallest diameter classes possess the highest proportion of bark due to smaller cross sectional area. Tree boles with a greater amount of stem wood above 10 cm in diameter will have a more constant bark proportion. Total branch bark proportion also remains relatively constant above dl.Bm measurements of 8 cm. A balance is evident between the production of new branches with a low diameter and high bark proportion offset by the thickening and a relative reduction in bark proportion in larger branches. The results show that a single tree with an age of 17 and 18 years can store up to 85 kg of carbon within the aboveground biomass portion, an amount that will increase as the tree matures. Branches display greater nutrient content than stem sections per volume unit which can be attributed to a greater bark proportion. Conclusions： Using the derived models the carbon and the nutrient content of above-ground woody biomass of whole trees can be calculated. Suggested values for carbon with other major and minor nutrients held within relatively immature trees strongly supports the idea of the inclusion of wild cherry within agroforestry systems as an option for carbon sequestration.