Pseudarthrosis repair. Autogenous iliac crest versus femoral ring allograft

Pseudarthrosis repair in the lumbar spine is one of the most challenging problems faced by spine surgeons. Historically high failure rates with posterior repair have led to the use of anterior lumbar interbody fusion with tricortical iliac crest autograft in these difficult cases. More recently, femoral ring allografts packed with autograft bone have been advocated as another method that would decrease donor site morbidity. Two series of patients underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusion with anterior instrumentation to repair pseudarthrosis (Group I, 33 patients with tricortical autogenous iliac crest and Group II, 20 patients with femoral ring allografts). At minimum 2-year followup, there was no difference in fusion rates (Group I, 32 of 33 versus Group II, 20 of 20). Patients in Group I had radiographic fusion develop more rapidly than patients in Group II (12 months versus 18 months), but a significant proportion of patients in Group I (35%) had an average of 2 mm of graft subsidence. Despite excellent fusion rates in both groups, functional outcomes were not as good with only 28% of patients in Group I and 36% of patients in Group II returning to work. Using anterior instrumentation, anterior interbody fusion offers an excellent method to repair pseudarthrosis using femoral ring allografts or autogenous iliac crest. However, femoral ring allografts offer the potential to decrease donor site morbidity, allowing the surgeon to treat multiple spine levels.     

改良充填式无张力股疝修补术20例报告

目的探讨改良充填式无张力股疝修补的效果。方法回顾性分析我院2002年1月至2008年6月使用网塞及平片行改良充填式无张力股疝修补术20例,均经腹股沟切口,高位游离疝囊,网塞充填于股环上方薄弱的腹膜前间隙内,常规使用平片并与陷窝韧带、耻骨梳韧带固定。结果20例手术顺利,恢复良好,随访6~36月均无复发。结论经改进的充填式无张力股疝修补术可有效避免压迫股静脉,防止股疝复发,预防直疝和斜疝新发,为股疝治疗合理手术方式之一。     

带血管蒂髌骨移位修复股骨内侧髁下关节面缺损的应用解剖

目的：研究用带血管蒂髌骨移位的方法修复股骨内侧髁下关节面缺损。方法：用３７侧成人下肢标本，经解剖、厚切片和铸型研究髌骨的血管。观测３０块髌骨和股骨内侧髁下关节面的形态和面积。结果：（１）供应髌骨血液的各支动脉先在髌骨周围吻合成髌周动脉环，再由该环发支进入髌骨；（２）于髌骨内下方参与形成髌周动脉环的膝降血管关节支的髌下支蒂长、径粗、走行位置恒定；（３）髌骨和股骨内侧髁都有宽广的关节面。结论：带血管蒂髌骨可移位至股骨内侧髁，修复下关节面缺损，以期最大限度地保留膝关节的功能。     

高位腹膜前股疝无张力修补(附28例报告)

目的探讨高位腹膜前股疝无张力修补的临床效果。方法1999年10月~2006年4月使用聚丙烯网塞及平片治疗股疝28例。术中旷置股环,游离疝囊,不做高位结扎,游离疝囊颈部以上平面的腹膜前间隙,疝囊推入腹腔,将聚丙烯网塞展平置入腹膜前间隙内,平片置入子宫圆韧带或精索后方。重点加强股环上方的腹壁缺损区。结果28例手术顺利,恢复良好,随访0.5~4年无复发。结论行疝修补术时应该重新正确认识股疝的解剖结构,最大限度地恢复局部正常解剖,避免压迫股血管。     

Femoral ring versus fibular strut allografts in anterior lumbar interbody arthrodesis. A biomechanical analysis

STUDY DESIGN: A comparison between femoral ring and fibular strut allografts in anterior lumbar interbody arthrodesis, as assessed by biomechanical analysis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the difference in stability and rigidity provided by the femoral ring allograft versus that provided by fibular strut allograft. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Two commonly used techniques for spinal arthrodesis at L4-L5 include the femoral ring allograft and the fibular strut allograft. The postoperative stability has not been evaluated biomechanically. METHODS: An anterior lumbar interbody fusion on seven cadaveric specimens was performed using femoral ring and fibular strut allografts. Biplanar radiography was used to measure the 6 degrees of motion of L4 with respect to L5 during a range of loading maneuvers. RESULTS: When an extension moment was applied, the femoral ring allograft extended 4.2 degrees more than the intact specimen, compared with 1.6 degrees with the fibular strut allograft (P = 0.18). When the flexion moment was imposed, lateral bending increased by 2.2 degrees with the femoral ring, compared with 0.7 degree with the fibular strut allograft (P = 0.06). During lateral bending, increased lateral translation was observed to be 0.9 mm with the fibular strut allograft compared with 1.4 mm with the femoral ring allograft (P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Although not statistically significant, the fibular strut allograft creates a more rigid construct immediately after surgery during flexion-extension, lateral bending angulations, and lateral translation. One should consider using the fibular strut allograft over the femoral ring allograft, as it is more stable and rigid construct in the immediate postoperative period.     

Primary total hip arthroplasty with the Karl Zweymüller first-generation cementless prosthesis: A 5- to 9-year retrospective study

A consecutive series of 72 primary total hip arthroplasties were performed in 70 patients using the first-generation Zweymüller cementless titanium press-fit femoral and threaded acetabular components (AlloPro, Baar, Switzerland). Twelve hips were excluded from the study because of insufficient follow-up evaluation, including one patient who underwent a socket revision within the first 2 weeks. Sixty total hip arthroplasties with an average follow-up period of 80 months (range, 60–108 months) were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical results were graded excellent or good in 54 cases (90%), fair in 3 (5%), and poor in 3 (5%) with 2 early implant failures (1 acetabular cup and 1 femoral stem in 2 hips). Cumulative survival rates at the 6- to 7-year interval, with failure defined as revision and/or loosening are 98.47% (SD, 2.0%) for the femoral component (1 single septic and loose stem, revised at 5 years), 97.08% (SD, 2.72%) for the screw ring (2 unstable but only 1 revised), and 95.56% (SD, 3.36%) for both components. This encouraging experience with the first-generation prosthesis supports the rationale for continued use of the new Zweymüller Alloclassic stem and open-back screw ring available since 1988.     

Femoral ring allograft for anterior cervical interbody fusion: technical note

OBJECTIVE: Cadaveric fibula with locking plate internal fixation has been reported to be associated with fewer complications and better long-term results, compared with autologous iliac crest. With the knowledge that cortically dense allografts collapse less with time, new machined femoral ring allografts were developed for anterior cervical fusion after anterior cervical discectomy. We describe the system and the technique for placement. METHODS: The femoral ring allograft set consists of color-coded graft-sizers that correspond precisely to the size of the precut grafts. The purple set is primarily intended for petite cervical vertebral bodies; the purple sizers and grafts are 11 mm wide and 11 mm deep and vary in height from 5 to 9 mm. The green sizers and grafts are 14 mm wide and 11 mm deep and vary in height from 5 to 11 mm. The blue sizers and grafts are 14 mm wide and 14 mm deep and vary in height from 5 to 11 mm. The rostral and caudal faces of the grafts are corrugated, to improve their holding capacity in the interspace. The bone is sterilely packaged in vacuum-sealed bottles, the tops of which are color-coded and precisely labeled. The set also includes a graft holder (to facilitate insertion into the interspace), impactors, and a barrel-shaped cutting burr (to prepare the endplates for fusion). RESULTS: After anterior cervical discectomy to treat spondylotic radiculopathy or myelopathy, a femoral ring allograft was inserted, with allogeneic demineralized bone matrix and a locking cervical plate, in 20 cases, with no complications. Use of the system decreased the operating time by an average of 10 to 15 minutes. CONCLUSION: The femoral ring allograft system is easy to use, and there have been no complications to date. The long-term fusion rate remains to be determined.     

Evaluation of an absorbable ring for vascular anastomosis.

An absorbable ring for vascular anastomosis was developed, composed of a copolymer of L-lactic acid and glycolic acid (7:3 mole percent). It has an external diameter of 3.0 mm, a thickness of 1.0 mm, and an inner diameter of 1.0 mm, with six stainless steel pins and six opposed holes. With this ring, femoral artery anastomoses were performed in 27 rabbits. One, 2, 6, and 30 weeks after anastomosis, the femoral artery was harvested and patency was evaluated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Absorption of the ring occurred within 30 weeks. Of the 27 animals, the anastomosed vessel was patent in 24 cases, for a patency rate of about 89 percent. Vascular anastomosis with the absorbable ring is useful, and the device may compensate for some of the drawbacks of manual suturing and the conventional non-absorbable ring.     

耻骨肌孔与旷置股环的股疝无张力修补术

目的 评价耻骨肌孔的解剖概念在股疝无张力修补中的应用.方法 采集我院1999年10月至2010年2月使用聚丙烯网塞及平片治疗的股疝患者50例,经腹股沟入路,将疝及内容物还纳后,将网塞充分展平,修补耻骨肌孔,而不是封堵股环,保持股环的旷置状态,将平片放置于腹横筋膜浅面.结果 50例患者均术程顺利,恢复良好,随访6个月至5年,无复发.结论 采用修复耻骨肌孔、旷置股环的手术方式可以恢复局部正常解剖,同时可以避免压迫股静脉.     

Do the dimensions of the femoral canal play a role in the genesis of femoral hernia?

Summary The possibility of a biometric explanation for the genesis of femoral hernia has motivated several studies on the anatomy and dimensions of the femoral canal. However, because of methodologic flaws, there is still a lack of consistent results regarding this matter. The aim of this paper was to improve the understanding of the biometry of the femoral ring and canal and development of femoral hernia by a preperitoneal access. The longitudinal and transverse diameters and the depth of the femoral canal were measured in 50 male cadavers between 22 and 76 years of age. A great variability of diameters was found, and the right longitudinal and transverse diameters (1.65 ± 0.28 and 1.71 ± 0.37 cm) were significantly larger than the left (1.53 ± 0.26 and 1.53 ± 0.34 cm); p=0.021 and p=0.013, respectively. However, the depth of the left femoral canal (1.60 ± 0.41 cm) was significantly larger than the right (1.40 ± 0.38 cm); p=0.011. The wider femoral ring could explain the higher incidence of right femoral hernias. On the other hand, the great variability of diameters found, as large as 2.58 cm with the absence of femoral hernia, indicates that femoral ring diameter is not the only factor involved in the etiology of femoral hernia. We conclude that widened dimensions of the femoral ring alone are not a sufficient condition for the genesis of femoral hernias, but play a role in their formation, explaining their higher incidence in the right groin.     

Direct current stimulation of titanium interbody fusion devices in primates.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The fusion rate for anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) varies widely with the use of different interbody devices and bone graft options. Adjunctive techniques such as electrical stimulation may improve the rate of bony fusion. PURPOSE: To determine if direct current (DC) electrical stimulation of a metallic interbody fusion device enhanced the incidence or extent of anterior bony fusion. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: ALIF was performed using titanium alloy interbody fusion devices with and without adjunctive DC electrical stimulation in nonhuman primates. METHODS: ALIF was performed through an anterolateral approach in 35 macaques with autogenous bone graft and either a titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) fusion device or femoral allograft ring. The fusion devices of 19 animals received high (current density 19.6 microA/cm2) or low (current density 5.4 microA/cm2) DC electrical stimulation using an implanted generator for a 12- or 26-week evaluation period. Fusion sites were studied using serial radiographs, computed tomography imaging, nondestructive mechanical testing and qualitative and semiquantitative histology. RESULTS: Fusion was achieved with the titanium fusion device and autogenous bone graft. At 12 weeks, the graft was consolidating and early to moderate bridging callus was observed in and around the device. By 26 weeks, the anterior callus formation was more advanced with increased evidence of bridging trabeculations and early bone remodeling. The callus formation was not as advanced or abundant for the allograft ring group. Histology revealed the spinal fusion device had an 86% incidence of bony fusion at 26 weeks compared with a 50% fusion rate for the allograft rings. DC electrical stimulation of the fusion device had a positive effect on anterior interbody fusion by increasing both the presence and extent of bony fusion in a current density-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive DC electrical stimulation of the fusion device improved the rate and extent of bony fusion compared with a nonstimulated device. The fusion device was equivalent to or better than the femoral allograft ring in all evaluations. The use of adjunctive direct current electrical stimulation may provide a means of improving anterior interbody fusion.     

Failure of a new constrained acetabular insert: a report of 2 cases

A new constrained total hip arthroplasty (THA) is currently in use. We report on one patient with 2 failed Trilogy constrained acetabular liners in the same hip (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN). We are not aware of any other published reports concerning failure of this implant. Both times, the constrained THA seems to have been properly assembled. Impingement of the modular femoral head skirt on the polyethylene liner appears to have caused the reinforcing ring to disengage and the THA to dislocate. Skirted modular femoral heads should probably not be used with this implant.     

复杂股骨粗隆间骨折的手术治疗

目的 探讨治疗复杂性股骨粗隆间骨折的手术方法,以提高手术疗效。方法 对我科自1995年～2004年收治48例复杂的股骨粗隆间骨折病人分别采用DHS（动力髋螺钉）,DCS（动力髁螺钉）和Gamma钉治疗进行回顾性分析。结果 本组病人手术后无切口感染及其它手术后并发症。术后随访10个月至18个月,手术后优良率达93．3％．仅3例发生髋骨翻。结论 对于复杂的股骨粗隆间骨折,要视不同的情况采用不同的方法处理。DHS为股骨粗隆间骨折固定的常用方法,在使用中要强调股骨距,小转子的复位和固定。DCS适合于不稳定粗隆间骨折（A3型）,Gamma适合于严重的粉碎性骨折（A2型）。     

Biomechanical comparison of translaminar screw versus pedicle screw supplementation of anterior femoral ring allografts in one-level lumbar spine fusion

Pedicle screws (PS) can provide initial stabilization of anterior interbody femoral ring allograft (FRA) lumbar constructs. Translaminar screws (TLS) have also been advocated for this procedure. The objective of this study was to use an in vitro human cadaveric model to compare the stability of one-level anterior interbody lumbar constructs stabilized with PS and those stabilized with TLS. Five human cadaveric spinal motion segments (L4-S2) were biomechanically evaluated in the intact condition and using the follow- ing methods of stabilization: anterior interbody fusion with FRA, anterior FRA supplemented with PS, and anterior FRA supplemented with TLS. Stability was determined for each construct by measuring construct displacement as a function of applied load under the following conditions: compression, flexion, extension, lateral bending to each side, and axial torsion. There were no statistically significant differences in construct stability between FRA supplemented with PS and FRA supplemented with TLS under any of the loading conditions. In selected cases, supplementation of anterior femoral ring allograft with translaminar screws is a viable alternative to supplementation with pedicle screws.     

Use of allograft femoral rings for spinal deformity in adults.

Anterior structural support plays an important role in spinal deformity surgery. Femoral ring allografts have been widely used for this purpose despite numerous alternative implants such as cages. The literature and the authors' experience support the use of femoral ring allograft as a structural and biologic compatible implant to reconstruct anterior column defects. Pseudarthrosis rates and the rate of subsidence and loss of correction are low. No long-term studies exist that show that cages are superior in correction of deformity. Femoral ring allograft remains a viable, cost-effective, and biologic sound alternative.     

Two cases of femoral nerve palsy after radical prostatectomy

We report two cases of femoral nerve palsy after radical prostatectomy due to compression ascribed to the use of a ring retractor. The first case is in a 69-year-old man who fell when getting out of bed on the first postoperative day. Physical examination revealed hypoesthesia around the patella and weakness of the quadriceps muscle. The second case is in a 66-year-old man who complained of numbness of the anteromedial aspects of the right thigh and inability to extend his right knee on the first postoperative day. Postoperative femoral nerve palsy is not a well-recognized complication in urology. The literature was reviewed and the management of postoperative femoral nerve palsy was discussed.     

Cause of wound complications in elderly patients with above-knee amputation

Seventy-six above-knee amputations performed on elderly debilitated patients were reviewed. Fifty-one wounds healed without complications; 25 amputation wounds developed postoperative complications. The quality of the femoral pulse has a significant effect on wound healing after an above-knee amputation. Other significant conditions that appear to influence the frequency of wound complications are hypertension, a failed bypass procedure to the groin, and angiographic evidence of stenosis or occlusion of the common femoral or the profunda femoral artery. Multiple variable analysis suggests a beneficial effect of antibiotics in patients with a diminished or absent femoral pulse. Age, presence of cardiac disease, diabetes, associated diseases and the use of drains have no significant effect on the outcome. Before an above-knee amputation, patients with a diminished femoral pulse should undergo arteriography and perhaps reconstructive surgery. Primary hip disarticulation may be the initial procedure of choice in the presence of multiple risk factors.     

Treatment of femoral hernia in children

From 1975 to 1988 at the Department of Pediatric Surgery in Graz 20 femoral hernias in 16 children were diagnosed and treated by an operative technique, described by Sauer in 1964. Under this method the femoral canal is closed in level of the femoral ring by a pedicle flap, constructed from the transversalis fascia. All patients underwent follow-up examination and were symptom-free. No relapse occurred. For the development of femoral hernias the previous inguinal hernia repair could be a favored factor.     

Delayed neuropathy of the sciatic nerve after total hip replacement with an acetabular reinforcement ring

AIM: Lesions of the sciatic or femoral nerve after THR are typical complications. Delayed neuropathies of the sciatic or femoral nerve are rare conditions. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a delayed neuropathy of the sciatic nerve after THR with reconstruction of the acetabulum with an acetabular reinforcement ring. After electrophysiologic evaluation we performed a revision of the sciatic nerve. Intraoperatively we found an impingement of the sciatic nerve between the dorsal aspect of the acetabular reinforcement ring and scar tissue. After revision of the nerve, resection of the scar tissue and interposition of a fat pad the patient was out of any complaints but reported some sensory deficits of the first toe. CONCLUSION: Using acetabular reinforcement rings for reconstruction of acetabular defects care has to be taken of the correct position. In anatomically cramped positions a protruding of the dorsal edge of the ring may cause a lesion of the sciatic nerve.     

Modifiable determinants of bone status in young women

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contributions of exercise, fitness, body composition, and calcium intake during adolescence to peak bone mineral density and bone structural measurements in young women. University Hospital and 75 healthy, white females in the longitudinal Penn State Young Women's Health Study were included. Body composition, total body, and hip bone mineral density (BMD) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), exercise scores by sports-exercise questionnaire during ages 12-18 years, and estimated aerobic capacity by bike ergometry. Section modulus values (a measurement of bending strength) cross-sectional area (CSA), subperiosteal width, and cortical thickness were calculated from DXA scan data for the femoral neck and femoral shaft. Calcium intakes were calculated from 39 days of prospective food records collected at 13 timepoints between ages 12 and 20 years; supplemental calcium intakes were included. Section moduli at the femoral neck and shaft were correlated significantly with lean body mass, sports-exercise scores (R(2) = 0.07-0.19, p < 0.05), and aerobic capacity (R(2) = 0.06-0.57, p < 0.05). Sports-exercise scores correlated with BMD at the femoral neck and shaft. Average total daily calcium intake at age 12-20 years ranged from 486 to 1958 mg/day and was not significantly associated with total or regional peak BMD or bone structure measures at 20 years of age. It was shown that achievable levels of exercise and fitness have a favorable effect on BMD and section modulus of the femoral neck and femoral shaft in young adult women, whereas daily calcium intake of >500 mg in female adolescents appears to have little, if any effect.