Association of varus thrust with prevalent patellofemoral osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study

This cross-sectional study investigated (i) the association of varus thrust during gait with the presence of patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) and (ii) patellar alignment in the knees with varus thrust. Participants from orthopedic clinics (n = 171; mean age, 73.4 years; 71.9% female) diagnosed with radiographic medial knee OA (Kellgren/Lawrence [K/L] grade ≥1) were included in this study, and underwent gait observation for varus thrust assessment using 2D video analysis. A radiographic skyline view was used to assess the presence of medial PFOA using the grading system from the Osteoarthritis Research Society International Atlas. The tibiofemoral joint K/L grade, patellar alignment (i.e., lateral shift and tilting angle), and knee pain intensity were also evaluated as covariates. Thirty-two (18.7%) of 171 patients exhibited varus thrust and they presented significantly higher knee pain (46.0 ± 3.04 mm vs. 32.4 ± 2.73 mm; P = 0.024), a lower patellar tilting angle (P = 0.024), and a higher prevalence of PFOA compared with those without varus thrust. A logistic regression analysis with adjustment of covariates showed that varus thrust was significantly associated with higher odds of the presence of mixed and medial PFOA, and trended to significantly associate with any PFOA, including lateral PFOA. This indicates that varus thrust was associated with PFOA in a compartment-nonspecific manner in patients with medial knee OA. Varus thrust may represent a clinical disease feature of more advanced and multicompartmental disease.     

全膝关节置换术前应用双下肢全长摄影对不同体位下肢负重轴线的影响

目的探讨全膝关节置换术前应用双下肢全长摄影对不同体位下肢负重轴线的影响。方法选择在我院接受全膝关节置换术患者138例,均拍摄两组双下肢全长正位片,一组以骨盆正中,下肢呈中立位为标准,另一组以膑骨正中,胫骨覆盖腓骨小头内1/3为标准方案。比较两种体位下的股骨胫骨机械轴夹角等数据,并评估两者图像质量。术后随访,比较术前术后膝关节功能。结果骨盆正中以及髌骨正中下摄影获得的股骨侧弓角(FBA)、机械股骨远端外侧角(mLDFA)以及近端内侧角(mMPTA)比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),且前者明显高于后者,但机械股胫角(mFTA)比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);两种体位下患者摄影图像质量比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);患者术后疼痛、功能、活动度、屈曲畸形和稳定性评分较术前均显著上升(P<0.05)。结论骨盆正中体位的双下肢全长摄影在全膝关节置换术的应用可正确展示患者本身该有的下肢力线,减小人为操作不当引起的误差,同时可以优化下肢力线在不同摄影体位的角度测量。     

Establishment of a novel rehabilitation program for patients with dropped head syndrome: Short and intensive rehabilitation (SHAiR) program

The pathophysiology of dropped head syndrome (DHS) remains unknown, and its treatment algorithm and indication are not standardized. Here, we established a novel rehabilitation program, short and intensive rehabilitation program for DHS (SHAiR program), consisting of cervical paraspinal muscles exercise, range of motion exercise, cervical and thoracic mobilization, deep cervical flexor muscle exercise, hip lift exercise, anterior pelvic tilt exercise, and walking exercise. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of this program. We reviewed clinical outcomes for five consecutive patients with DHS who underwent the SHAiR program (SHAiR group). The outcomes were compared with those of other five patients with DHS who received exercise instruction (control group). Demographic data, the duration from onset of DHS, the apex of sagittal kyphosis on the lateral radiographs, and clinical outcomes including the ability to maintain normal horizontal gaze, chin brow vertical angle, and numerical rating scale (NRS) were evaluated at the initial visit and final follow-up at 7.5 months. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic and radiographic data. The ability of horizontal gaze and NRS of cervical pain improved rapidly for all five patients in the SHAiR group as compared to no improvement for all patients in the control group. Rehabilitation for DHS was considered effective not only for localized rehabilitation such as exercise for training cervical extensor muscle function but also exercises for thoracolumbar posture improvement and the psoas muscle.     

Current evidence on where to end a fusion within the thoracolumbar junction most preferably – A systematic literature review

Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is one main complication in the surgical treatment of adult spinal deformities. Ending within the thoracolumbar junction (TLJ) should but cannot always be avoided to reduce the risk for PJK. With this systematic review we sought to define the most preferable vertebra within the TLJ to minimize the risk for PJK and establish recommendations based on our findings. We conducted a systematic literature review by scanning the MEDLINE database in accordance with the PRISMA criteria. All articles addressing primary long-distance dorsal thoracolumbar fusion of at least three segments to treat adult spinal deformities were included. 1385 articles were identified and three were included to this review. The first study showed significantly higher rates of PJK in patients where the construct was extended to T7 or higher when compared to an ending at T11 to L1. The second article stated that an expansion to the TLJ resulted in significantly less surgical revisions due to PJK reduction. On the other hand, the third article found that a fusion of the whole thoracic spine reduces the PJK incidence postoperatively. Even though the most favorable vertebra within the TLJ to avoid PJK best could not yet be determined, our study identifies several principles that represent the current state of evidence for surgical treatment of adult scoliosis. Proper preoperative decision making based on thorough analysis and interpretation of the patient's sagittal alignment parameters can improve the individual outcome critically.